"speaking"
"Thinking"
On with the story
Catastoras runs on the land of Pazingua as Natsu rides the war horse towards an eastern empire that is large as Dragnof and had soldiers patrolling around the perimeter of its walls
"they must've expanded when I escaped last time" Natsu said as he pulled the reins, making Catastoras stop running
A scope appeared in Natsu's hand as he monitors the empire's surrounding
He sees guards and guards before more guards. But he soon spots some carriages coming into the empire's front gates
Keening his eyes, Natsu sees that the carriages were cart with cages on them
"slaves..nothing changed in this empire" Natsu said as he sees in the cages were a bunch of beastmen in captivity "the humans in this kingdom never learn"
Natsu looks around as there was no way on getting into the kingdom nor infiltrating it without being spotted
"no way of infiltrating it anymore, huh?" Natsu said as he put his scope away before he got off Catastoras and looks around the place "if I remember correctly, the remnants were right around…"
Natsu walks a few steps to the side before he finds something golden buried in the dirt
"here" Natsu said as he crouches down and sweeps the dirt away with his hand before finding what appears to be a long golden hammer buried deep into the dirt "I can't believe I'm using this weapon again"
In the empire's borders, the soldiers patrolled around while some were letting the carriage of capture beastmen in
"hey, you think on going to the brothel tonight?" one soldier asked another who was checking on the beastmen carriages
"nah, I'm having dinner with my betrothed's family tonight" the soldier replied before letting a carriage go in "I promised to be on time and never be allowed to go there anymore"
"sucks being engaged, huh?" the soldier who asked replied with a smirk before yawning
The soldiers worked on their duty before they heard a loud boom from a distance
"you heard that?" the soldier asked the other
"hear what?" the other replied
"a boom" the soldier said looking to the distant land "it sounded like it was coming from there"
"you must be hearing things" the other one replied before another loud boom was heard again "now I hear it too"
"where is it coming from?" the soldier said as he takes out a scope to see the distant
He checks the area before he sees something coming at their direction
"you see something?" the other soldier asked as the scoping soldier was checking on the thing that was coming
"I see something..it looks like.." the soldier said as he sees that it was something large and flying at them "GET DOWN!"
The soldier shouted before a giant golden spinning hammer halberd came flying above them and destroyed a part of the giant wall of the empire
Some of the soldiers started to panic as part of the wall broke down before crumbling its rubble down to the ground
"an attack!?" "the wall got destroyed!" "what's going on!?" "where did that thing come from!?" the soldiers shouted at each other as they were panicking
The giant hammer halberd soon fell with the crumbling wall as it destroyed the wall even more in its fall
As the soldiers were panicking, Natsu was slipping by their nose by getting over the wall in the confusion
"I guess some things have changed," Natsu said as he looks at the panicking soldiers before he gets to the other side of the wall undetected
At Dragnof, a war was raging on for the kingdom within a storming hail
Grandeeney roared as the Sky Dragon flaps her wings once before unleashing a tornado to the frozen ocean water, causing some of the ice to break and spin within the tornado
the tornado flies towards the many battleships which were all stuck within the frozen ocean water and the tornado instantly destroyed them all and blasted away all the enemy soldiers
some enemies tried charging by running on the frozen ocean water while firing blasts of magic with their mages or magic weapons
Dragnof soldiers stood on top of the giant ice wall as they started firing magic blasts from their own capability of their own magic weapons, in retalation against their enemy
while the enemy was charging their way to Dragnof, the ice near Dragnof's frozen sea gate exploded
Hyrus rises out fo the frozen water and roared. the Hydra soon spewed out a blast of acid at the charging soldiers, all instantly running away while some unlucky ones were melted to their bones
At the northern part of the kingdom, a battle rages on
"push them back!" Gildarts shouted as the citizens of Dragnof went onto war against invading forces
Ogres, Dark Elves, Kobold, all available fighting capable beastmen went on the attack as they push the invading forces back with all their might
Rains of arrows, swings of swords and spears, magic blasts fired everywhere as the war was shedding blood from both sides
Gildarts swings a giant club as he sends some invading soldiers flying to the air with his powerful swing
The Oni soon lifts his club up as he blocked some arrows that nearly hits him
"there's so many of them!" Gajeel shouted as he and the 12 Dragnof special brigades were fighting with all their might
"just push them back for as long as we can!" Gildarts shouted as he punches some soldiers away before swinging his club down, sending more flying "we got to stand our ground!"
they all charged and annihilated a brigade of 3025 soldiers but was soon faced with more
"look at them" Gildarts said, noticing some individuals leading the march
"great" Gajeel said "i know some of them."
"you do?" Gildarts replied while taking a few deep breaths
"yeah" Gajeel replied "Arown Chase, Venessa Cernunnos, Aristaeus Volt, and the list goes on. but those guys; they're famous beastmen hunters and slavers"
"beastmen hunters and slavers?" Gildarts said with a raised eyebrow before looking at the many beastmen hunters and slavers "looks like we have to pray that we get through this alive"
"yeah" Gajeel said
"Let's go!" Gildarts let out a battle cry as he started running towards the enemies with Gajeel and the others following behind
At the western part, Atlas roared as the Hellfire Dragon flaps his wings once, creating a wave of flames that burns the land forcing enemy soldiers to fall back
The fire Dragon soon spewed out flames everywhere as he burns the land, creating a giant firewall in doing so
"this shall burn for a while" Atlas said as he soon flies away to aid the other area
Enemy forces fired their catapults at everywhere as the giant stone golems stood their ground in defending Dragnof's borders
They threw large boulders at the enemy forces as they crush enemy soldiers down
Cerus howls as the Cerberus runs in the enemy line, biting down enemy soldiers to their death
Before long, Atlas came flying in as the Hellfire Dragon spewed out flames at the enemy, burning them all
The battle rages on as the citizens of Dragnof were taken to shelter while the war rages outside
Lucy and the other mates were taken to shelter as well, they all were guarded by soldiers with the other citizens
The sound of explosion was heard even inside the shelter as the citizens prayed
Touro and the other children were huddled close with their mothers as they were sleeping before Eis woke up and started squeaking in his cry
"it's alright, it's alright" Lucy whispered as she petted the hatchling's head to calm him down "just go to sleep, it's alright"
Eis soon calmed down as the little hatchling went back to sleep with his siblings
"no matter how much we try to run from war, it always comes to attack us again" Erza said with a frown while looking at her daughter who sleeps with the other
"we just have to pray for the best" Lucy stated before they heard a loud explosion that shook the shelter
"I should be out there helping my father in battle" Kamika said as she stands up "Ultear is doing her best to help with her powers. so should i"
"no, you shouldn't" Éclair said "we were told to stay here with the citizens, your father specifically told you himself"
"but I can't just let my family fight on their own" Kamika retorted
"we know how you feel but you're also Noir's one and only mother" Kagura stated "if you don't come back, how would Natsu or Noir feel?"
Kamika frowned a bit as she looks to her son who was sleeping peacefully before she sat down
"you're right..i'm sorry" Kamika said
"don't worry, we know how you feel" Cana said while patting her pregnant stomach "hell, I would be out there too if I wasn't pregnant"
"but I'm sure your father wouldn't allow it" Erza said
"buzz off, that old man isn't the boss of me" Cana said with a huff as the girls giggle a bit before they heard another loud explosion
"I hope they're all alright" Kagura said as every available soldier went to battle
"we all hope so" Eclair added in "if not….Dragnof might fall"
Natsu was within the empire as everything seems to be eastern themed (Japanese)
He hides in the shadows as he watched the citizens roam around the place and sees some beastmen working as slaves
"same as always" Natsu muttered out as his armor soon disappeared before he went and grabbed some hanged clothes, putting them on as a disguise "I can't believe this empire still thrives after 10 years"
Natsu soon heads into the streets where he blended in with the citizens
The day turned to dark as Natsu was in an inn where he stayed for the night
"97 beastmen in total" Natsu thought as he spend the entire day checking all areas that had beastmen slavery "all old, young, and even children. This empire never learned"
Natsu went to the window and slides it open to see the night sky
He glanced down and sees soldiers patrolling around in the night
"so many soldiers…" Natsu muttered out before closing the window and sat down
He grabs a piece of paper that was laying on the floor beside him as it was a wanted paper
"Nurarihyon…" he whispered out as the wanted paper was for the capture or death of an elusive beastmen called the Nurarihyon that had been terrorizing the empire during night "..i can't believe that you are still doing this, you old fart"
Natsu soon hears a loud bell ringing in the street as it was the Empire's way of calling out soldiers from an attack
"it's time, huh?" Natsu said as he stood up before his face was slowly covered in black markings and his eyes soon turned black "hope he isn't as elusive as ever"
Natsu soon heads out as he sinks into the shadows of the night
At a certain area of the street. A building was on fire as it appears to be a brothel, human citizens were running out while screaming in fear before soldiers came running in
"what's going on!?" a soldier shouted before an arrow came and pierced his head, killing him instantly
"there!" another soldier exclaimed as he pointed to the top of a house's roof where there were three shadows standing while covered in black mist that soon covers them and vanish
"it's them again! That Nurarihyon and the Parade!" a soldier shouted before another came to his side
"all the enslaved beastmen are all gone from the brothel" the soldier stated
"that resistance…" the soldier stated while looking frustrated
In a dark alley, the three shadowed figures appeared as they all were gathered with female beastmen who all former enslaved prostitutes from the burn downed brothel.
"you all save here" one of the figures stated as a secret underground entrance appears "now, go in"
One by one the beastmen went in as they went into the entrance
Two of the three shadowed figures went in as the last one was going to walk in when stopped
"who is there?" the figure spoke as Natsu appeared out of the shadows in his demonic look
"it's been 10 years, Nurarihyon. I can see that you're doing well with your Demon Parade" Natsu said with a chuckle as he walks towards the figure "and your resistance too"
The moon shines its light as it illuminated in the alleyway revealing the shadowed figure who appears to be a woman
"y-you..you're not Nurarihyon.." Natsu stated in surprise as he looks at the woman
She had long pink hair, wearing a nearly black kimono like outfit that is barely covering her chest, long getta heels, and she was surrounded in black vapor like smoke that was coming out of a Kiseru, A Japanese smoking pipe.
"you who have laid eyes on a secret.." the woman said as the hilt of a katana came out of the black smoke that was soon grasp and pulled out "…shall die with the secret"
Natsu looks at the woman as he could tell that she is not someone any mortal should fight against
"I guess we have to talk the hard way" Natsu said as he holds his right hand up as his fingers turned into claws
Natsu stood face to face with the mysterious female beastmen as the two holds their weapons against each other
"that katana…" Natsu thought as the woman holds a long black katana that glimmers from the moonlight "it's his….then she would be"
The women soon dashed at Natsu as the man swings his claw blocking a blade attack
"strong!" Natsu gritted his teeth as he pushed the sword back before his left hand had the fingers turned into black claw that soon went at the woman's face but she just turned into black smoke "that move.."
The smoke formed behind Natsu as the woman appeared while having a smirk
"die in the night" she stated as she lifts her sword up and was about to swing it when a hand appeared and grabbed hers "wha?!"
"that's far enough, Ikaruga" a voice spoke as an oldman with a weird looking head appeared out of nowhere "that is not anyway to treat a guest"
"grandfather? Why did you protect him?" the named Ikaruga stated while looking at the old man
"grandfather, huh?" Natsu said as he turns to face the two "has it been that long, Ryu?"
"Yes" the old man said as he lets go of Ikaruga's hand before facing Natsu "yes it has, Lizardius"
At Dragnof, night had come as the battle had turned quiet
All the citizens of Dragnof were tending to the wounded warriors as the invading forces had fall back to regroup
"it's only a matter of time before they come and attack again" Makarov said as he looks at the map of Dragnof with the other councilmen "there are only five stone golems left from the battle, we need to find a way to fortify our defenses"
"yeah, I don't think we will survive another attack without our king's help" Oldmine stated while crossing his arms
"perhaps we could use one of our advantages?" Oba Baba said "Queen Ultear can create a snowstorm upon the enemy's base camp, giving us time to plant traps of the sort"
"that could work" Bob said "but should we really do such actions? I've heard that Queen Ultear can only do so much in her current state. after using so much in creating that blizzard"
"yes, and even with her power at the disposal. I do not think that it'll be enough to stop the invading forces" Makarov stated as he started scratching his beard "this is truly a hard battle"
Gildarts was flinching in pain as the Oni man was getting bandages wrapped around his left side as his left arm was gone
"this is why you shouldn't be so reckless!" Cana exclaimed while soldiers tended to the wounded man
"this is nothing, Cana-chwan..ow!" Gildarts said while flinching when the bandages were wrapped tight "I can do it all day"
Cana sighs as her father was a reckless and stubborn man after all
Lucy and the others helps in tending the wounded as there was so many casualties from the battle from the day
"here you go" Lucy said as she gave a wounded soldier a meal
"thank you, Lucy-sama" the soldier replied kindly as he takes the meal
Lucy smiles before she looks around as there were so many wounded and so many who had died causing some to mourn in their loss
"there's so many wounded" Lucy muttered out as things were not good in Dragnof
She looks around as she sees Erza and the others helping but there's not much, they could do to help
Lucy frowns as she prayed that they would be able to pass this battle and she prayed that Natsu would return quickly to aid them
Natsu was walking in the hidden entrance as Ikaruga and the old man were leading the way for him
"you know it's a bit hard to believe that you of all people would be creating a resistance against this empire" Natsu said as the black markings on him slowly disappear "you always told me that you have no ordeal in doing such actions knowing your nature and all"
"time can change one's perspective over things" the old man replied as they reached to a stone door that slides open to reveal a hidden underground base filled with many of Pazingua's Beastmen "welcome to the Hundred Demon Parade"
Natsu entered the hidden base as he finds many who seem to be former slave
"quite the number of beastmen, you have here" Natsu said as he looks around the place
"this is barely the number" Ryu stated "there are still numerous of beastmen still enslaved in the empire"
Natsu was soon led into a small house at the very end of the hidden base where there were other beastmen inside
"the numbers we have are merely 90, not perfectly a hundred demon parade" Ryu said as he sat down on a pillow with Ikaruga sitting beside him "but I assume that you had counted"
"I have" Natsu replied as he stood in his place while crossing his arms "so? what's with the whole resistance thing? I know that you have a prideful honor to keep but I never took you for someone who would resist against an empire like this place"
"like I have told you before" Ryu said as he was given a cup of tea "time changes one's perspective"
"and by perspective, you mean your view" Natsu said as he eyed the other beastmen and could tell that they were strong
"perhaps," Ryu said before he sips his tea "what of you? I do not believe that you had come just to simply chat, no?"
"always to the point, huh?" Natsu said with a smile "yeah, I didn't come just to chat; I came to ask for help"
"help? With what?" Ryu asked with a raised eyebrow
Natsu soon explains to him of the coming attack that had already come to his kingdom and the need of any type of help, he can find
"I see…you have become the king of your own land" Ryu said while scratching his chin with his eyes closed
"please, I need all the help I can find. Even with my powers as it is, I do not have the power to fend off thousands of human soldiers" Natsu said as he looks to Ryu who opens his eyes before he sighs
"I refuse" Ryu stated as this made Natsu's eyes widen "I cannot help you"
"why?! You had decided to aid many beastmen in this empire even when you were living in Marashita! you always been a helper to those who are in need! Yet you refuse to help mine!?" Natsu exclaimed "we had an oath! If one needs help the other would come to help! Have you forsaken that oath!?"
"I have not" Ryu stated "do not think me wrongly, I stated that I cannot help you because I am not who I am in the past"
Ryu pulls his sleeves as he showed Natsu black spot marks all over the skin
"that's…" Natsu muttered out while looking at the black spots on the old man's skin
"I have lived nearly for 4 centuries, my life span won't grant me to live another century" Ryu said before he coughs a few times "I will soon depart from this world at anytime"
in the world, specific Types of Beastmen have a certain age limit to how long they can live, and certain types of beastmen can live long but they cannot live forever
"then…you will die?" Natsu stated as Ryu nodded
"I cannot help you no more…nor can I leave to aid your kingdom" Ryu said looking at Natsu "if you are truly a king of a peaceful kingdom, you should know that I shall not leave the innocents at bay in the hands of the empire"
Natsu looks at Ryu as he speaks the truth to him
"then…how about if I help here?" Natsu said as Ryu raised an eyebrow
"in saving the many beastmen in this empire?" Ryu said "I appreciate your offer but even you have limits, do you not?"
"no" Natsu said as he reached into his vest before throwing a scroll to Ryu who caught it "not if you have a contract deal with me"
Ryu opens the scroll as it was a contract scroll with Natsu
"how about it, Ryu?" Natsu asked as his eyes glowed red for a moment "let's make a contract"
That's a wrap!
Bye bye