"speaking"
"Thinking"
On with the story
Natsu and Zeref flied above the land of Ishgar before they landed down to a dead land
Trees were withered and black, the soil was muddy and bubbling, the wildlife all dead as the only thing remains are skeletons
"the Black Forest of Sardonia" Zeref said while looking around the land "even after centuries, this land will remain a wasteland, huh?"
Natsu walks around as he steps on bubbling mud soil that was sticky upon contact
"better coat yourself with magic" Natsu told Zeref as his legs ignite in flames, burning off the sticky soil mud before he started walking away "this place's terrain is unforgiving to normal mortals"
Zeref followed behind as the two ventured into the dead wasteland without noticing a shadow that looms around upon the land. A crazy smile appeared as it had unnatural sharp teeth while letting out a small cackling like sound
The shadow soon followed the two brothers as it followed them with utter silence
Upon the sea, Kaithen and Levia swam towards Ishgar while Ignisia flied above them carrying their other siblings on board her back
The Dragon Children went to Ishgar while on their tail were Grandeeney and Atlas Flame, both Elder Dragons chased after them while on board Grandeeney's back were Lucy and the other mates except for Dimaria who stayed behind, the mothers decided to chase after their kids before Natsu knows that they left Dragnof without him knowing, yet again
"it's been a while since we've been to Ishgar, right?" Lucy said, her hair flowing because of the wind while the Hakutaku watched the very familiar continent
"more like a long time" Cana said while holding a sake bottle before taking a chug from it "I know that things are a bit this and that, but is it sure good idea that we should come?"
"what do you mean?" Erza asked
"we all know just how there are still beastmen hating kingdoms around and its taking all of Natsu's effort just to try make a peace meeting with them" Cana stated before looking at the continent, they were approaching "what I'm trying to say is that, should we even consider Ishgar our home? Not that I'm mentioning of how I'm from Panzingua or anything. But Ishgar is kinda home for me a bit"
"she has a point" Éclair added in before looking down her lap "I still dislike…no..i truly despise some of the kingdoms in Ishgar…as one of them was the reason…"
"we know, Éclair. You don't have to force yourself to say it" Kagura told Éclair while patting her shoulder once, Éclair looks to the Kraken Girl as she nodded in gratitude
"even if we could never come to live there..i still think Ishgar as our home" Erza said "even if I lost someone close to me there"
"but…with the coming of peace meeting of the Partanis Kingdom..i'm sure" Hisui stated in, trying to ease the little tense situation at hand
"sure isn't a comforting word" Sorano said while folding her wings in front of her chest "I've seen how some kingdom…treat their beastmen slaves..they were treated like….toys.."
"and mere..objects as well" Kamika added in, the Kunoichi seeming to know the act of what beastmen haters do
Hisui frowned as a Princess of the Fiore Kingdom and a bridge of Dragnof with Fiore, it was her duty to ensure that all beastmen would live peacefully and out of harm in Fiore but there is also the matter of beastmen hating kingdom that could come just to get rid of them
The tense atmosphere lingers for a good one minute before it was broken by the sound of squeaking
Everyone looks down as they see Tanit, Callista, and Kageya; the three were playing around with each other playfully before they look at them with innocent eyes
"I think…" Ultear muttered out before looking to the others "…it's worth a shot for us to make peace with the other kingdom…."
"yeah….to make a better world in Ishgar for them" Erza said as she had a smile in seeing Tanit rubbing her head against Callista who had a smile to his big sister's affections
"and for all" Ikaruga added in as she leans out her hand for Kageya to slither around before climbing up to her mother's shoulder
"we are here" Grandeeney spoke out as they arrived at Ishgar but were still in the air chasing after the Dragon Children
"let's hope that we can get them in time" Cana said before taking another chug of her sake bottle "I don't think Natsu is in any mood for another stress routine"
Natsu and Zeref stepped within the dead wasteland as they were walking around aimlessly
"are you sure that you hear the voice coming from this location?" Zeref asked while checking the surrounding environment "this land seems to be devoid of any life for centuries and is unhabitable"
"I'm sure that the voice is coming from here" Natsu replied as he stepped over a dead branch that cracks from his step "I can still hear it"
Natsu looks around before a black blur passes his legs which instantly causes him to grab hold of his Father's sword and magic gun at the same time
Zeref saw Natsu's action as he reaches his hand towards his black demonic sword on his hilt
The two brothers stood in silence as they were watching the area for a possible enemy movement
Their eyes look around at all area as their senses were heightened to the limits
Before long Natsu pulled out his magic gun and sword before he fired a shot at a dead tree, destroying it instantly but a shadow loomed away from it
Zeref saw the shadow as he draws his sword before swinging it to the ground, erupting black flames everywhere
The shadow looks distraught as it started to dash away from the black flames
"don't let it get away!" Natsu exclaimed as he fired multiple shots at the shadow, trying to hit it but it was fast in speed
Zeref lifted his left hand up before he did several gestures, a magic circle appeared in front of his hand as multiple silver arrows started firing out at the shadow
The two continued firing endlessly at the shadow but it soon disappeared
"Where did it go?" Zeref said looking around as the shadow that they had been trying to shoot at was just gone, vanished
Natsu looks around as he checks every direction before he jumps away from shadow like spears erupting out of the ground, nearly impaling him
Zeref jumped away as well as black thorn vines erupted around him, nearly capturing him but failed
The two brothers jumped to each other's side as they watch black vapor mist started to cover the field, with the addition of black, rotting hands started to arise out of the dead soil ground
"what is this?" Natsu said as from the ground came out zombies looking humans but some looks to be dead beastmen as well
"Undead Calling" Zeref said looking at the many zombies "we might have a necromancer nearby"
Natsu looks around before he spotted a figure hiding behind the shadows of the dead trees
"Found him" Natsu said as he pointed his magic gun at the hidden enemy before firing several shots
The shots were fired as they hit the necromancer mage, but he just turns into black smoke
Several other cloaked figures started to appear all around Natsu and Zeref as they were surrounded
"a cleverly set up trap." Zeref said, his voice sounding to praise the enemy while he wielded his sword with both hands "but not clever enough"
Natsu looks at Zeref as he sees his demonic sword blazing in black flames
"Get down" Zeref said as Natsu ducks down before the Demon King swings his sword in a 360-degree spin, a black flaming circle flied around him, hitting all the mages and the undead instantly
The mages and undead fell to the ground, burning in black flames as Zeref's attack instantly killed them all
Natsu stands back up as his face plate slides open
"finished" Zeref said as he swings his sword to the right before sheathing it
"something's not right" Natsu said as he went near a presumed to be dead enemy mage and picks him up "there were no pain reaction"
Throwing off the cloak on the mage, Natsu finds that enemy mage he was holding was just a wooden looking doll
"puppets" Zeref said as he holds one of them in hand before throwing it away "the real enemy is still hiding around here"
Natsu looks around before his face plate slides closed and his eyes glowed red when he spotted a shadow looming around the ground
"it's back again" Natsu said as Zeref grabs the handle of his sword and grips it tight
Both brothers eyed the looming shadow as it stopped at a certain spot before they see a cloaked figure arising out of it
"very well done from the both of you" a voice spoke out as the cloaked figure was clapping his hands "I'm impressed just how fast your reactions are in handling the situation"
"you are?" Natsu said while holding his weapons in a tight grasp
"oh, where are my manners?" the cloaked figure said while doing a bow "please forgive me, but I have not meet strangers in a millennium"
The cloaked figure grabs a hold of his cloak before he throws it away to reveal his identity as a man looking to be the age of 20 or above, pale white skin, golden eyes, glowing white hair, and a seemingly odd mark on his forehead. He wore an attire of a white robe and was barefooted
"my name is Efam Rouy Nigadoll, please call me Efam" the man introduced himself with a smile and a head bow
"he asked on what you are" Zeref said as he slowly draws out his sword "not your name"
"oh my mistake" Efam said with a smile that turns sinister in a matter of a passing second
The ground rumbles and shakes before it started to shatter
Natsu and Zeref spreads their wings as they flied up before looking down to Efam who stood in his land that floated up while the ground bellow shatters to pieces and started to crumble
"I am a member of the 7. The 7 that gave this world a name" Efam said while floating in the air in front of Natsu and Zeref "the 7 that gave all life upon this land, a reason to live"
Natsu and Zeref looks at Efam as the man's cloak glows white before black wings appeared on his back
"the member of the 7…" Efam said as his eyes glowed black with black and white markings spreading all over his face down to his body "..that shall take your life"
Natsu stared at Efam before he sees his father's sword glowing repeatedly as it was emanating a very hot aura
"It's reacting against him" Natsu thought before he glanced at Efam who looks like some sort of demon angel hybrid "what is this guy?"
Efam smirks before he dashed at Natsu and Zeref who readied their weapons before dashing at their enemy in return
That's a wrap!
Bye bye