Natsu was in the process of finishing another battle. He was battling as Gambreor, but it was in a strange place. He couldn't tell which way was up in this strange location.
"Come on, Natsu!" Lucy cheered. "He's just one win away from having a codemaster match against Codemaster Imthor."
"But it's not going to be easy. He's battling in the Carnival of Confusion." Zach said. "The elements get all kinds of mixed up there."
"All we can do is hope for the best." Erza said as they really hoped that Natsu would win this battle.
...
The Battle
Gambreor tried his best to make it through this location, but this location can make your head spin in different directions. On top of that, he had no idea where his opponent was. What he didn't see was some sort of steam forming behind him and it formed a creature called Ustabe.
"Surprise!" Ustabe said as he got Gambreor's attention. "Torrent of Water!" Ustabe unleashed a wave and it blasted Gambreor as he was blown back. Gambreor jumped out of the water and pulled out a cyclance to battle back. Gambreor held out his weapon and launched a blast of wind. It hit Ustabe, but Ustabe flew in the air as he pulled out his pyroblaster. "You won't beat me so easily. The Carnival of Confusion gives me water and earth attacks and my pyro blaster gives me back my fire attacks. So I'm a triple threat."
"And triple annoying." Gambreor said. Ustabe used his battlegear and fired a blast at him, but Gambreor dived into some sort of pool and disappeared.
"Where'd he go?" Ustabe questioned as he looked around for him. Gambreor emerged, but it was above Ustabe and he didn't noticed him.
'I can't lose after coming this far. I just need one more win to get that codemaster match.' Natsu thought. 'I guess it's time I pulled out my surprise.'
"Chorus of Cothica!" Gambreor said as he cast his mugic.
...
Outside
"Nice! That mugic allows him to cast a mugic from any tribe." Lucy said.
"But casting it just alerted his opponent about his location." Zach said. Ustabe heard the mugic and was able to spot Gambreor.
"Apoc-eclipse!" Ustabe generated an orb of power and launched it. Gambreor tried to jump out of the way, but he still got hit pretty hard by that attack and ended up crashing on the ground.
"Ouch. It's a good thing Ustabe didn't had his air attacks or else that could have been a whole lot worse." Zach said.
"But now he has only ten energy left. Whatever he's going to do, he better do it now." Erza said.
...
The Battle
Gambreor isn't going to last much longer. One more attack and that could be it for him. Gambreor needs to make this next move count or else he's in trouble. Ustabe was making sure he didn't get the chance as he kept trying to attack him, but Gambreor kept avoiding his other attacks.
"Here we go. Hymn of the Elements, give me fire abilities!" Thanks to the last mugic he cast, Gambreor was able to cast that overworld mugic and he could feel himself getting all fired up from it. "Plasmarrow!" Gambreor unleashed arrows of plasma and it hit Ustabe hard and he ended up getting coded.
"The winner: Fire-Dragneel."
"Oh yeah!" Natsu cheered. Natsu walked out of the drome and he soon met with his friends.
"You did it!" Lucy said.
"Win number seven. Did you get the call yet?" Zach said.
"Not yet, but I'm sure..." Natsu was going to keep talking, but his scanner was going off and he saw it was Codemaster Imthor.
"Fire-Dragneel, I understand you have won seven matches in my drome. So you are free to challenge me to a match. I will give you twenty-four hours to prepare yourself before out battle. Until then." Imthor said and ended the call.
"You better be careful with this one, Natsu. I hear that Imthor is considered the strongest of all the codemasters." Zach said.
"You're going to need your A game." Lucy said. "So who are you going to use? We already know you're going to use Igneel. What about Drakness?"
"How about Bladez and Magmon? They're your best creatures." Zach said.
"You should also go with Chargola and Rothar." Erza said.
"Guys, stop." Natsu said. "I already have ideas that could work. I just need to get a few scans."
"What is it?" Lucy said.
"Not saying. I want to to be a surprise." Natsu said.
"What? Come on! You've got to tell us." Lucy said. "I mean, you and I are best friends. You've got to tell me at least."
"Natsu, you know we won't give anything away." Erza said.
"Too bad. I'm porting to Perim to get a few new scans and I'll see you guys tomorrow." Natsu said as he walked past his friends.
"No way. I'm going to find out what his plan is." Zach said.
"Zach, maybe we should let him be." Lucy said. "I'm sure we're going to find out his strategy tomorrow. We can wait till then."
"Lucy's right. I'm sure we can wait." Erza said. They didn't like that Natsu didn't mention anything, but they're dealing with it. Zach looked like he was going to let it go, but he didn't.
...
Natsu
Natsu ported to Perim and was in Fear Valley at the moment for those scans he was talking about.
"It should be this way." Natsu said. He was looking for his scans and Zach was following him.
"What could he be after in Fear Valley?" Zach said. He tried to follow Natsu, but he heard a strange sound. He looked towards the monster shaped mountain and saw it was coming to life. Zach ran for it and took cover. When he looked, he saw things settled down. "Freaky location." Zach looked towards Natsu, but saw Natsu was gone. "Dang it." Zach was going to keep searching around for Natsu. He followed Natsu to a strange cave, but got attacked by fire. He followed Natsu to Chaor's castle, but was nearly attacked by Spyder. Zach followed him to Ulmar's Castle, but some sort of energy attack nearly hit him. They also went to Underworld Collesium, but a bright light blinded Zach and he didn't see a thing. Zach followed Natsu all around Perim and learned nothing.
...
The Next Day
The day has come for Natsu's match. Of course, Zach was tired and annoyed that he never learned anything about Natsu's strategy. The girls weren't too happy with him about it either.
"I thought you were going to leave it alone." Lucy said.
"I couldn't. It's a big match and I wanted to know." Zach said.
"Based on what you said, Natsu must have gotten some pretty good scans. All we can do now is watch." Erza said. Even though they don't know anything, they're hoping the best for Natsu.
...
Natsu
Natsu walked right into the drome. His big match was here and he could not wait to see everyone's surprise when he pulls out a win.
"Fire-Dragneel, you have won seven matches here in the Imthor Drome. You have earned the privillege to challenge the codemaster. Here is Codemaster Imthor." Natsu watched as he saw Codemaster Imthor rise across from him.
"Best of luck to you, Fire-Dragneel." Imthor said.
"Back at you." Natsu said. They put in their scanners and was going to put up their teams. Codemaster Imthor might be considered the toughest codemaster to beat, but Natsu isn't afraid.
"Players, lock your decks." Both of them locked it in, but Natsu's team was a real shocker.
...
Outside
"What the heck?!" Lucy said as she and the others were shocked at Natsu's team. "Ulmar?! Grook?! Kopond?! Hammerdoom?! Agitos?!"
"That can't be Natsu's real team! He can't be serious with that" Zach said.
"At least he has Igneel on there." Erza said. "Still, I'm not sure if those creatures are a good fit together."
"But take a look at Codemaster Imthor's team." Lucy said. "He's got three mipedians on there, but his other creatures are one from each of the other three tribes."
"That doesn't matter." Zach said. "This is Codemaster Imthor we're talking about. He might have a mixed team, but he could still win with that. Besides, I know some of those creatures. Natsu could be in real trouble."
...
The Drome
"Interesting team you have." Imthor said as he was just as surprised as others were about Natsu's team. "I'm interested to see what you're planning to do with this. The first attack is yours." Natsu reached for his location randomizer and gave it a spin.
"The first location...Underworld City. Choose the attacking and target creatures please."
"Igneel attacks..." Natsu didn't know the name of the creature so he tried pointing to it.
"Do you mean Ninren, the bird-shaped creature?" Imthor said.
"Yeah. Ninren." Natsu said. Both of them selected their creatures. Natsu became Igneel, but he was shocked to see how large Ninren was. The area changed to Underworld city with Igneel roaming around. 'Underworld City was where I had my first battle. Things have surely changed since.' Natsu thought. Igneel looked around, but when he heard a screech, he looked up and spotted Ninren flying over the city.
"Blind Fury!" Ninren unleashed a powerful blast of wind. Igneel got hit pretty hard by the attack and was blown back. Igneel took some damage, but he got back in the fight.
"Torrent of Flame!" Igneel unleashed flames, but Ninren pushed through it. Ninren flapped his wings and unleashed another powerful blast of wind that hit Igneel and he was blown through some buildings. Igneel unfolded his wings and took this battle to the air. "What kind of ceature is that?"
"Hampering Winds!" Ninren unleashed another wind attack and Igneel was blown away again by the attack. Igneel tried fighting back with Power Pulse, but Ninren pushed through the attack.
...
Outside
"Natsu's not doing so well. He's getting hammered." Zach said.
"Not surprising considering what type of creature Ninren really is." Erza said. "This is what happens when you face a warbeast."
"Warbeast?" Lucy and Zach questioned. They didn't like the sound of that and Natsu's paying the price for it.
...
The Battle
"Ember Swarm!" Igneel kept fighting back, but nothing was working. Ninren kept pushing through the attacks. Ninren unleashed Cyclone Slam and Igneel got hit really hard by the attack. Igneel soar through the air and crashed into the city and got coded. Losing Natsu's ace from the start is not a good sign for him.
"You already lost your best creature. How do you plan on getting out of this now?" Imthor said.
"You'll see." Natsu said. "I am curious. What kind of creature was that Ninren? I never seen one like him before." Natsu was about to get his answer when he saw his scanner go off and saw it was Erza.
"Natsu, you doing okay?" Erza asked.
"Yeah, but what was that creature?" Natsu said.
"A warbeast." Erza said. "Warbeasts are types of mipedians that have great power, but they do have a great weakness. They suffer from a great amount of recklessness."
"So how am I suppose to beat that? Nothing he did seemed reckless." Natsu said.
"If you want to beat a warbeast, take out the conjuror." Erza said. "Conjurors' are the creatures that control the warbeasts. I'm guessing that's the creature he has in the back." Natsu took a look and spotted the creature. "If you want to take out the warbeast, you have to take that creature out first."
"That's easier said than done since he's in the back." Zach said. "Especially since you lost your best creature."
"Natsu, I hope you know what you're doing." Lucy said.
"I am. Just trust me." Natsu said as he ended the call.
"My attack now." Imthor said as he selected the next location.
"The next location...The Golden Heptagon."
"Unda attacks Ulmar." Both of them selected their creatures with Imthor becoming a female creature made of water.
"I should warn you that this location has a couple surprises itself." Unda said.
"I can handle it." Ulmar said. The area changed to the location. Ulmar looked around and was careful not to get the drop on by Imthor. That failed as Unda flew over him and blasted Ulmar with water and blew him back.
"Ulmar might be smart, but I'm not sure if he's really cut out for this battle." Unda said.
"Is that so?" Ulmar said as he stood back up. Unda unleashed another water attack at him, but Ulmar pulled out his battlegear. Unda and everyone else was surprised by what Ulmar just pulled out. It was robotic black armor and it made Ulmar look bigger and taller. "What is that?!"
"A new piece of battlegear that Ulmar created himself. Sudden Flare!" Ulmar unleashed a flare and it blasted Unda with it as she was pushed back.
"Rainspears!" Unda unleashed spears of water, but Ulmar ran out of the way. Ulmar focused his energy and unleashed an energy blast that hit Unda and knocked her right out of the air.
"Very good." Unda said as she got back up. "What you probably don't know is that this location allows creatures to use mugic from any tribe. Gear Glissando!" Unda used mipedian mugic and it caused the armor Ulmar had to disappear and fall on his butt. Unda flew back in the air and was going to finish this.
"Smokesurge!" Ulmar unleashed smoke from his mouth and it blinded Unda and dealt a little damage. "I've got mugic too! Improvisational Melody!" Ulmar cast mugic and it came down on Unda with her getting coded.
"Impressive." Imthor said and Natsu felt good about himself. He heard his scanner go off and saw it was his friends.
"Natsu, what was that battlegear you used with Ulmar?" Lucy said.
"On your scan quest, didn't you?" Zach said.
"Yeah. I thought I could gain the advantage with some surprises like I just did." Natsu said. "That armor gave Ulmar extra energy and power so he was more fit for combat. That's not all. I heard that Agitos became more powerful through the use of mugic. At Fear Valley, Rothar was teaching Grook earth attacks. Kopond was training in this strange cave and learned how to use fire attacks. As for Hammerdoom, he changed back from a danian to an underworld, but he learned how to cast danian mugic."
"I'm waiting." Imthor said and got Natsu back in the battle.
"Got to go." Natsu said as he ended the call and gave his locations a spin.
"The next location...The Passage."
"Grook attacks Silv!" Grook charged right at Silv and used Rock Wave and smashed it against Silv and coded her.
"Nom attacks Grook!" Nom blasted Grook with Earth Pulse and he got coded.
"Kopond attacks Nom!" Kopond got blown back from Nom and ended falling down some stairs until he ended up getting coded.
"Seeryn attacks Ulmar!" Ulmar blasted an energy beam from his brain and coded Seeryn with it.
"Ulmar attacks Nom!" Ulmar tried, but Nom used a Thunder Shout and Ulmar got coded even with the armor.
"Nom attacks Hammerdoom!" Hammerdoom used danian mugic to weaken Nom and tossed a hammer at him for him to get coded.
"Hammerdoom attacks Ninren!" Ninren created a powerful gust that blew Hammerdoom around and he ended up getting coded.
...
Outside
"This isn't looking good. Ninren is too strong. I don't see how Agitos can win against him." Zach said as this wasn't looking good.
"He had no choice. From the position his creatures are in, he had to attack that warbeast." Erza said.
"It doesn't matter. Natsu's battling right now and he's got to beat that thing if he wants to win." Lucy said. They watched the battle go on as Agitos ran through a mountain terrain. "Where is he going?" Agitos kept running as Ninren kept following. Agitos dived into a cave as Ninren followed him. They also saw Agitos blast the cave and caused rocks to fall.
"What's he doing?" Zach said.
"We're about to find out." Erza said. Agitos dived right out, but Ninren appeared to be trapped by the rocks. With Ninren trapped, Agitos unleashed powerful attacks until Ninren got coded.
"He did it! He actually beat Ninren!" Lucy cheered.
"All he has to do is beat that conjuror, Neffin, and he wins!" Zach said. The battle already started and they saw Neffin was thorny devil lizard-like creature. Agitos made his way through the Pouril Forest and was sneaking on the creature. "He's got this. Neffin's stats aren't that impressive to begin with."
"Easy. Imthor wouldn't put such a weak creature on his team just to control that warbeast. He must have something planned." Erza said. None of them liked that. It seemed to be going well and when Agitos attack, Neffin got coded.
"Yeah!" Zach cheered. "He did it! He won!"
"Wait. The battle isn't over." Lucy said. Natsu found it strange himself that the battle was going on. It didn't make sense until everyone saw something shocking. They saw Silv, Unda, Nom, and Seeryn all came back at once.
"What?!" Zach said.
"Four of Codemaster Imthor's creatures are back. It's four against one now." Lucy said. They thought Natsu had this. Natsu thought he did too with his surprises, but he was wrong. Now he has to take on four powerful creatures on his own.
To Be Continued...