AN: I forgot to mention last chapter. I have a poll going on about another card game that is also an anime and pretty popular. Check it out and vote while you can.
Natsu has really grown use to Chaotic. He thinks he knows it all. The tribes, the dromes, the creatures, and just about all of it. No one can really know everything about something like this and he's about to find out.
"Hey, guys." Natsu said as he found his friends around a table.
"Hey, Natsu. You're just in time to see the finale of this battle." Lucy said.
"Really?" Natsu said as he turned to the screen, but he was shocked at what he saw. One of the creatures battling was a danian named Kelvedran, but he was battling a creature he's never seen before. Some sort of floating creature with many purple tentacles. "Who is that flying creature?"
"Ritzu'dag, a m'arrillian." Zach said.
"A what?!" Natsu said. Kelvedran tried attacking back as he jumped across some stones in the Riverlands, but the strange looking creature. Natsu was interested in this creature as he watched it unleash a water attack and blasted Kelvedran with it. Ritzu'dag unleashed an attack he has never seen before and blasted Kelvedran with it. That's when he noticed Kelvedran was acting strange. "What was that?"
"Oh boy. This match is over." Erza said.
"What do you mean?" Natsu said as he didn't quite get it. He watched Kelvedran jumped right into the water and the current carried him away until he went over a waterfall and ended up coded.
"Darn it." Zach complained. "Those m'arrillians are as tough as ever."
"Would someone tell me what the heck is going on?!" Natsu said. "What the heck was that creature? What are m'arrillians?"
"You seriously haven't heard of them?" Zach said. "You've been here for months and you never saw someone with one?"
"No. So would someone tell me what the heck they are?!" Natsu said.
"Natsu, you know there are four tribes, right? The m'arrillians are actually a fifth tribe." Lucy said.
"A fifth tribe?!" Natsu said with surprise.
"M'arrillians are a tribe of aquatic-like creatures, but they don't exactly play well with others." Erza said. "They were once sealed behind the Doors of the Deepmines, but they got out one day."
"They were more dangerous than any of the other tribes." Zach said. "They tried to take over all of Perim by destroying it. They tried to flood all of Perim and turn it into a world where they can live and others can't. Those guys would have done anything to get their way."
"Not only did the M'arrillians tried to takeover all of Perim, but they also had the ability to use mind control. They brainwashed others to do their dirty work." Lucy said. "They were dangerous and it took the four tribes coming together to stop them."
"Wow. Were they really that bad?" Natsu said.
"Very. That tribe was practically pure evil." Zach said. "It took Chaor, Iparu, and Maxxor to defeat their leader. Once they did, those aquatic creeps retreated behind the doors again. Although, some players managed to get scans of them and they could be difficult to beat."
"I can't believe I'm just now hearing about this." Natsu said. "I like to see this for myself. Who has a scan of a m'arrillian that I can challenge?"
"Actually, I've got a couple." Zach said. "We can head over to a drome for a one-on-one match."
"You sure you want to do this, Natsu? M'arrillians are tough and dangers whether it's in the drones or in Perim." Lucy said.
"Not as tough as me. Let's do it, Zach." Natsu said, but he really had no idea what he was getting into.
...
The Oron Drome
Natsu and Zach found an open drome and were setting things up for their little match. Natsu was excited to see what m'arrillian can do.
"You ready, Natsu? It's not too late to back down." Zach said.
"No way. Let's do this." Natsu said.
"Players, lock your decks." Both of them locked their decks. Natsu was using Igneel and Zach was using a m'arrillian like he said he would.
"Who is that guy?" Natsu questioned.
"That is Mik'banin. I knew you were going to use and underworlder, like Igneel, and he took on underworlders." Zach said. "His special ability does extra damage to that tribe."
"Whatever. I'm not planning on losing." Natsu said. "So who picks the location?"
"I will. M'arrillians always tried to make sure they had the advantage. That's what I'll do." Zach said. He activated the location randomizer. It spun around and landed on the location. "The Riverlands and it's back when the m'arrillians had control over it. It's pretty different, as you'll soon see."
"Whatever again. Let's go." Natsu said.
"Mik'banin attacks Igeel!" Both of them selected the creatures and became them. Now Natsu is going to see what m'arrillian can do. The area changed into the location, but Natsu could see what Zach was talking about.
"Zach wasn't kidding. That water looks nasty." Igneel said. He was a little shocked to see the location like this. If this tribe did this, he's even more curious as to what the actual tribe can do. He got his answer as he saw Mik'banin emerge right out of the water and blasted Igneel with a water attack.
"Starting to see how tough these guys are, Natsu?" Mik'banin said.
"The battle has just started!" Igneel said as he unfolded his wings and flew into the air. "Inferno Gust!" Igneel unleashed a gust of an inferno, but Mik'banin formed a barrier around himself and was able to block the attack.
"Hydro Balls!" Mik'banin unleashed the attack and blasted Igneel with it. Then, he unleashed a blue beam from his mind and it blasted Igneel. Igneel began to act disoriented and dizzy. "The m'arrillians just love playing mind games and they usually win." Igneel pulled himself together and kept the battle going.
"Flame Orb!" Igneel launched the ball of fire, but Mik'banin jumped back and avoided the attack. Natsu decided to step it up as he pulled out a destructozooka. He fired a powerful blast and it knocked Mik'banin down. "That's more like it."
"This battle isn't over yet." Mik'banin said as he pulled out a mugician's lyre. "I always had trouble casting m'arrillian mugic. That's why I have this. Song of EmberNova!" Mik'banin cast the mugic and Igneel got caught in it as he was taking some damage. "Flood Force!" He took some of the water from the river and used it to trapped Igneel in a ball of that nasty water. "Looks like you're all washed up now." He thought he had him, but Igneel used his flames and burst out.
"Skeletal Strike!" Igneel was able to shoot out his skeleton and it smashed against Mik'banin and knocked him down.
'I'm starting to see what Zach was talking about. One more attack and I'm done for.' Natsu thought.
"Not bad." Mik'banin said as he got back up. "Now you're about to see the real power of the m'arrillians." He unleashed an attack that Natsu has never seen before. He tried to avoid it, but one part managed to score a hit and his mind was getting clouded. "Stay still." Igneel did what he said. Mik'banin unleashed another attack and Igneel ended up getting coded. The battle was over and Zach was declared the winner.
"That was... That was..." It seemed like Natsu didn't know what to say.
"I told you." Zach said.
"That was...awesome!" Natsu shouted. "M'arrillians are so cool and so powerful! Now I want one in my deck!" Not the expression Zach was really expecting.
...
The Portcourt
"Are you serious? You want to try and get a few m'arrillian scans?" Lucy questioned.
"Heck yeah." Natsu said. "That crab that Zach just battled as was really strong. I want that kind of power. Besides, imagine all the cool stuff I can do if I could use mind control. Imagine the laughs we could get."
"I'm glad you enjoyed your battle, but the m'arrillians are not really something to joke about." Erza said.
"For real. The ones back in Perim are nowhere near friendly." Zach said.
"So what? Just tell me where I can go to get a m'arrillian scan." Natsu said.
"Oh boy. When you have your stubborn mind set on something, there's no changing it." Lucy said.
"All the m'arrillians were sent back behind the Doors of the Deepmines. However, it is dangerous, Natsu." Erza said. "Some players that ported to the locations behind those doors don't make it out."
"How bad can it be?" Natsu said. All of them knew Natsu pretty well. Once he sets his mind on something, there's no changing it.
"Fine. I'll go with you." Zach volunteered. "Just be sure to have your scanner ready for when we have to port out. Hopefully, once you see how bad they can really be, you'll see that you're in over your head." Natsu was excited about this, but Zach wasn't so sure.
...
Perim
Natsu and Zach were able to get scans of what lies behind the Doors of the Deepmines. Natsu was already impressed because it looked like something you would find underwater.
"Cool!" Natsu shouted, but Zach smacked him on the head.
"Idiot. Keep your voice down." Zach said. "We don't want them to know we're here or else we're done for. Come on. Let's grab a couple scans and get out of here. Being here gives me the creeps." Both of them went on and walked around the place. "Keep in mind that the m'arrillians can survive some harsh environments. That includes toxic waters and such. So be careful with what you touch."
"Hey. Check out this funny looking plant." Natsu said as he found one that looked like red algae. It was the perfect distraction as a carnivorous-like plant was going to take a bite out of Natsu.
"Natsu!" Zach called as he hurried. He pushed Natsu out of the way before that thing could eat him. "Do you not know what being careful means?!"
"Relax. Everything is fine." Natsu said as he got up.
"Nothing is ever fine when it comes to you." Zach said. Before they could argue about this anymore, they heard some sort of noise coming from down the tunnel. Both of them hurried to check it out. When they got there, they saw two m'arrillians sparing against each other.
"Sweet. We found a couple. Who are those two?" Natsu said.
"The green manta is Erak'tabb and the blue one is his alleged brother named Rath'tabb." Zach said.
"Awesome. Let's try and get a scan of them." Natsu said. "Now which one do I get a scan of?"
"Just pick one and let's get out of here." Zach said.
"Don't rush me. I might only get one shot at this." Natsu said. As the two of them were debating about this, Erak'tabb was able to spot them.
"Look, I'll scan one and you scan the other. I'll even let you have my scan if it means we can just get out of here." Zach said.
"Fine with me." Natsu said. Before they could do anything, an attack was shot near them and they were blown back. Both of them looked and spotted the m'arrillians spotted them. "Sweet. Hold still." Natsu tried to get a scan of one of them, but they were about to attack before Natsu could.
"Move!" Zach said as he pushed Natsu out of the way from the attacks. "I told you these guys wouldn't be friendly."
"Uh...Zach." Natsu said as he pointed behind them and saw more of them were coming. Zach knew this would be a bad idea.
...
Chaotic
"You think they're doing okay?" Lucy asked as she and Erza waited around for them to come back.
"All we can do is wait. I'm sure they're doing fine." Erza said. Both of them hoped for the best and their prayers were answered when they saw both of them come back. "There they are."
"Hey, guys. How'd it go?" Lucy said as they both came over. "Did you get a scan of anything?"
"Not really. We ran into some trouble and had to port out of there." Zach said.
"Natsu, what did you think now that you've seen them?" Erza asked.
"I think...they're still cool! I'll go back and try again!" Natsu said as he seemed excited.
"What?! Are you nuts?!" Zach said.
"Do you really need an answer to that?" Lucy said.
"Yeah... I can't wait to try a m'arrillian scan when I do get one." Natsu said. Most people would be cautious or afraid of the m'arrillians, but Natsu clearly wasn't.
"I'm not sure even the m'arrillians would try playing mind games with a twisted mind like Natsu's." Zach said.