Hello to all my followers. I deeply apologize for the long wait. I have been extremely busy with school, work, the holidays, and other fics on here that I have been getting MULTIPLE requests to update; finding time to work on my stories has not been easy. Anyway, thanks for waiting, this is a chapter I'm sure you'll like.
I own neither Fairy Tail nor Devil May Cry.
Code: ETD
Dante and Modeus both sat in their cell in the dungeon of the tower in the Royal City. Natsu and Wendy had only just been taking to have their magic extracted, painfully; the red-clad Devil Hunter was rather impatient in terms of getting out.
"That's it, I'm out!" Dante got up, ready to bust his way out.
"Dante, I understand your eagerness right now; but what is your plan?" Modeus questioned.
Dante looked out the cell slightly to see two guards at the walls of the bared-door, and further down the hall was a silver case attached to a wall, which had all his weapons inside. Dante also happened to glanced down to see one of the guards have a ring of keys attached to his belt. Dante smiled.
"Hang on." Dante told Modeus before he walked to the door. "Hey! Edolas Dumbasses!" Modeus looked in surprise as Dante began to rant, while the Edolas Guards looked rather peeved.
"Why don't you two come in here and I make you my pretty little bitches?!" Dante taunted, causing both guards to have anger marks pop on their head as they walked to the door.
"You'll have to shower for weeks!" Dante continued as one guard used his keys to unlock the cell door. "But you'll never get the smell off you!"
The cell door was opened and the angry guards we're ready to beat the hell out of Dante for talking to them like that as they ran inside; a series of beating sounds we're heard from outside the cell as both guards we're sent flying out and slammed against the wall before falling unconscious. Dante walked out, dusting his hands while Modeus followed.
"Not what I had expected, but it worked." Modeus commented.
"I live for pissing people off." Dante said with pride before he picked up the ring key from one of the unconscious guards. "Come on, it's time to arm up."
Both walked to the cabinet where Dante unlocked it and revealed all his weapons: Rebellion, Ebony & Ivory, Cerberus, Nevan, even Agni & Rudra.
"Dante!" Agni exclaimed.
"We've been stuck in here for hours!" Rudra exclaimed as well, but Dante pointed to both of them before they could continue.
"Remember what I said?"
"No talking." Agni and Rudra both said at the same time.
"Good" Dante commented before he took both of them and clipped them to his belt. He took both his pistols and placed him in his jacket, and sheathed Rebellion along his back. Meanwhile Modeus took Nevan and slung it across his back while placing Cerberus inside his jacket.
"We'll need to hurry." Modeus said. "Lucy and Lisanna are both in the tower several floors above us; and it may not be long now till they begin the extraction process with Wendy and Natsu."
"Yeah, come on lets go." Dante agreed as they both ran down the hall to rescue their friends.
Meanwhile; in the main castle, King Faust sat at a table with his servants Byro, Hughes, Sugarboy, and Panther-Lilly, all sitting at the table with him; and Nelo Angelo leaning on a pillar near the table, with Coco hiding behind the King's chair, far away from Nelo Angelo.
Byro snickered. "It's as the legends foretold. We have reason to believe that the magic the Earthland wizards posses come from within their very bodies."
"As opposed to those in Edolas who rely on magic tools for their power." Nelo Angelo added. "Earthland wizards are never defenseless, at least not in their world."
Sugarboy gave a slight 'Hmm' as he put his hand to his chin. "They're much like the Exceeds in that regard."
"Be careful not to inflate their abilities, the Exceeds are far more powerful." Byro replied.
Nelo Angelo gave a disagreed grunt. "I warn you not to underestimate the Earthland wizards. While we did indeed capture the ones who tried to attack us, its only because they lack their strength; we're they to have access to their power here in Edolas, I guarantee they'll be more than a nuisance."
"I think you're giving them too much credit." Hughes stated to the Black Angel. "We even captured that one Dante-guy you made such a fuss over."
"For now. He is far more resourceful than you think."
"Hold on, you mean that Lucy girl has magic in her to?" Coco asked.
"Indeed she does." Byro confirmed.
"What about that other girl?" Coco questioned. "That one with the white hair?"
"Lisanna." Nelo Angelo said. "I believe that she may be just a wizard from the Fairy Tail here in our world."
"I find it rather odd why Earthland wizards let an Edolas one tag along with them." Sugarboy commented.
"So what do we do with them your majesty?" Hughes asked the King.
"They must be terminated, both of them." Faust stated.
"What about that Dante-fellow and his friend in black?" Sugarboy asked as well.
"Them to!" Faust replied. "The Exceed's Queen Shagotte has given explicit orders, any discussion to the contrary is a waste of time and breath."
"The order came from the queen herself?" Coco questioned in slight surprise.
Sugarboy and Hughes both looked serious. "Then it's settled." Sugarboy relented. "We cannot defy the will of the Exceeds."
Hughes placed his palm to his forehead in frustration. "Man. But this is like such a humongous waste, you know?!"
Nelo Angel rolled his eyes at the mention of the Exceed Queen, completely disgusted by the Exceed's position in power; to him, they knew nothing of true power. If all went according to his plan, the Exceed's will soon learn their place in the face of a true deity.
"However, our technology is lacking at the moment." Byro stated.
"That is right, we have extracted magic power from lacrima crystals before, but never an organic body such as the two Dragon Slayers currently in our midst." Nelo Angelo agreed.
"So what are we to do with the two Dragon Slayers?" Panther-Lilly questioned.
"Those two are not quite human." Byro replied. "They are some sort of human amalgam."
"The same could be said of Dante as well as Modeus; they aren't quite human themselves." Nelo Angelo added. "I believe that if we play our cards right; we'll be able to extract a great deal of power from them and the Dragon Slayers; we have ourselves a grand opportunity."
"But the Queen said those two need to go!" Coco commented, Nelo Angelo glared at her, causing her to shrink behind the King's chair in comic fright.
"They don't have to know what we're planning." Nelo Angelo commented. "The Exceeds aren't as powerful as your folklore has led to believe, I have seen real power for myself, and they pale in comparison."
Lilly looked rather surprised and suspicious towards Nelo Angelo when he said that, while Sugarboy and Hughes we're both shocked.
"I'd be careful what you might say, Angelo." Sugarboy warned.
"If the Exceeds heard you say that, who knows what they'll do." Hughes added.
"I'll burn that bridge when I get to it." Nelo Angelo replied.
"That's enough." King Faust ended the discussion. "Byro begin your experiments, and as an added precaution, begin the magical extraction from the Earthland lacrima immediately."
"Right away."
With that the meeting had ended; Nelo Angelo was the first to walk out with Hughes, Byro, and Sugarboy behind him. Coco hung as far back from Nelo Angelo as she possibly could.
"It totally blows my mind to think we're gonna have all that magic power!" Hughes exclaimed in excitement and awe. "It's gonna rule!"
Sugarboy gave an agreed 'Hmm'. "It is an amazing thought."
Nelo Angelo gave a quiet scoff. "Fools." He began to think to himself. "You will all learn what real power is soon enough; when Lord Mundus brings the Exceeds and this worthless world to their knees."
As they all walked away; Panther-Lilly still hung back in the meeting room with the King.
"Is there something troubling you Panther-Lilly?" King Faust questioned.
"My Lord, if I may ask about this recent surge in our armory…" Before Lilly could say anything else, King Faust gave an intense glare with his eyes, that was all Lilly needed. "I see, please excuse me."
Panther-Lilly stood up and walked out of the room, leaving the power-mad King alone.
Prison Tower
Lisanna and Lucy both leaned against the wall and onto each other slightly; still bound as before in the silk-rope. They had tried for hours to get out, they we're lucky enough to peel off their gags, but that was as far as they got. After an exhausting few hours they got some rest as they leaned against each other slightly to the back of the cell they we're in.
"It's hard to believe it, Happy and Carla are these Exceed-creatures." Lucy stated.
"Yeah." Lisanna replied. "Exceeds here in Edolas are the equivalent of angels, and their queen is revered as a goddess; above all the people here. We're insects to them. Their queen has complete control over everything, even who lives or dies."
"Its crazy! How can anyone chose to live like this?!" Lucy exclaimed.
"I don't know." Lisanna confessed as she looked down. "We don't think about the Exceeds at the guild too much, just surviving the Royal Army is exhausting enough."
"Understandable." A third female voice spoke up. "We've been chasing you around so much, even I'm getting frustrated of it."
Lucy gasped while Lisanna looked in fear as a certain scarlet-haired woman walked to the cell.
"Erza Knightwalker." Lisanna said under her breath. Knightwalker gave a taunting smirk as she opened the cell door. "Where are Natsu and the others, what have you done with them?!"
"They're quite safe, for now."
Lucy gave a sigh of relief. "That's good news."
Knightwalker was mildly surprised. "You're attitude is puzzling to say the least. Do you understand the situation you are in? Its far from envious."
"Yeah, you have a point there." Lucy stated. "It's just… you look and sound exactly like the Erza that I know."
"My Earthland doppelganger?"
"And in our world, you're one of the strongest and most loyal members of Fairy Tail we've ever had." Lucy revealed.
"Is that true?" Knightwalker replied in surprise.
Before Lucy could say anything else, Lisanna spoke up. "Lucy, you need to know that this Erza is nothing like the one you know. She's cruel, sadistic, and evil!"
Lucy looked shocked at that, while Knightwalker almost had a smirk on her face. "The term 'evil' is relative, but I will say that I earned the title of Fairy Hunter and I enjoy watching my enemies cower in fear."
"Who would that be? Because I'm not afraid of you." Lisanna told her.
"Are you sure?" Knightwalker questioned with her smirk still present.
"Positive." Lisanna replied with a glare. "You are no Nelo Angelo."
Knightwalker's smile vanished as her eyes had a brief flash of anger. "I would prefer you do not mention that name in my presence."
Lucy looked a bit confused. "Um, isn't he supposed to be your comrade or something?"
"Its not any of your concern!" Knightwalker replied.
Lisanna caught note of her tone of voice and she gave a slight smirk. "I get it, you're jealous."
Lucy looked rather surprised, while Knightwalker's eyes flashed once more with anger. "What?!"
"She's jealous?" Lucy questioned.
"Erza Knightwalker was once the famed 'Fairy Hunter' and the most feared in Edolas." Lisanna explained. "Until Nelo Angelo showed up. He destroyed entire guilds all by himself; he's done A LOT more than she did. She's jealous, because she's not number one anymore. The Black Angel is now at the top spot."
"Silence!" Knightwalker exclaimed as she grabbed Lisanna by the throat, much to Lucy's shock, and silencing Lisanna. "Do not even dare compare me to him!"
"Erza please, put her down!" Lucy pleaded, but Knightwalker used her other hand to grab Lucy by the back of her restraints and began to drag both girls out of the cell and towards a balcony.
"I have had enough of both of you." She threw their bound bodies towards a railing.
"Erza please, you and I aren't enemies!" Lucy tried.
"No she is Lucy." Lisanna disagreed. "I've seen what she has done, she's not the same Erza you know; she's a monster! A lackey to the Kingdom and to Nelo Angelo!"
"Shut up!" Knightwalker exclaimed as she took out her staff and jammed an end into the silk restraints that bound both their bodies and hung both tied up girls over the railing and dangling above a massive drop to the Royal City below.
"I am no lackey!" Knightwalker gloated over both frightened girls. "And where's all that talk? No more wisecracks? Nelo Angelo is a mere fraud, I'll show him a true warrior soon enough! But you two won't live to see it. Any last words?"
Lucy had teary eyes as did Lisanna, who gave a glare towards Knightwalker. "Yeah, I do. You won't win. I promise you, that you will loose."
Knightwalker looked surprise before she smiled once again. "That's just your opinion. Goodbye."
She threw her staff out, sending both Lucy and Lisanna falling down and both screamed as they fell.
"Lucy! Lisanna!"
Both girls looked in surprise to see two certain flying cats heading toward them.
"Happy! Carla!" They both exclaimed at the same time.
They soared down in an effort to catch the falling girls. Knightwalker could only look in surprise as she saw this. "Those Exceeds!"
"Hang on! We're coming!" Happy shouted as he flew down and caught Lisanna's restraints, while Carla caught Lucy. Both girls regained their breath and took a slight time to slow their hearts down.
"Thank you!" Lisanna breathed.
"Yeah, thanks. Wait, how come you're wings are working again?" Lucy questioned to Carla.
"Our wings we're fine, but our hearts we're weak." Carla explained.
The cats both flew back up with their friends, and reached a level equal height to where the stunned Erza Knightwalker was standing.
"But why?" Knightwalker questioned in confusion. "The order… the queen… She gave the order. These two we're to be executed immediately."
"The order has been rescinded." Carla firmly stated.
"I'm sorry." Knightwalker began. "Although you may be an Exceed, you don't have the power to overturn a directive handed down by the queen herself." Lisanna, Lucy, and Happy we're starting to get a bit worried. "I respectfully request that you hand them both over at once."
Carla's look never wavered. "Do you not know you're place? Bow down! You are in the presence of greatness here, of royalty. I am the eldest daughter of Queen Shagotte but you may call me divine princes Carla of Extalia"
Erza Knightwalker had a look of complete and utter shock as her mouth hung open. Lucy, Lisanna, and Happy we're all surprised as well as they gasped.
Erza Knightwalker immediately bowed down onto her knees. "I beg your forgiveness your grace."
Happy's, Lucy's, and Lisanna's eyes became tiny white circles as Carla began to speak.
"Where is Wen… I mean where are the two Dragon Slayers?"
"In the basement of the West Tower." Knightwalker answered immediately.
"What of the white-haired swordsman clad in red along with his companion?" Carla asked as well.
"In the lower levels of this tower."
"I command you to release them all immediately!" Carla commanded.
"I'm afraid that I can't, I don't have the authority. I am really sorry." Knightwalker stated, still on her knees.
"I will not accept your excuses!" Carla exclaimed.
"Yes its unacceptable but…"
"Erza! Those two are Fallen Exceeds" She turned to her left to see Panther-Lilly as well as several Edolas Soldiers running towards them. "They have been officially banished from the Kingdom of Extalia!"
"That doesn't sound good." Lisanna commented.
"Who is that guy?" Lucy questioned.
"No, but he's gotta be the biggest cat I've ever seen…" Happy tried but was interrupted by the sounds of screaming.
All eyes turned toward the other end of the hallway as several more Edolas Soldiers all ran screaming in terror away from something, or someone. A few more guards turned around and aimed their guns in that direction, but they couldn't get the chance as a flash of red came in and sent them all flying back, knocking them towards Knightwalker and Panther-Lilly, who ducked out of the way and all looked in surprise at what they saw.
Dante surged through a large pack of guards with Rebellion in his hand. He slashed through all their weapons and came in with multiple punches and kicks all to their heads and chests; knocking them all out with one hit and sending them flying.
"Dante!" Happy and Lucy exclaimed in joy at seeing him again.
"What?!" Knightwalker questioned. "How could he have escaped?!"
Right above Dante, Modeus jumped up above Knightwalker and gave a flying kick towards Panther-Lilly, who blocked it by crossing his arms, but this allowed Modeus to quickly sweep his feet, knocking Lilly off his feet, and with a powerful hand-thrust, sent Lilly back towards his group of soldiers.
Dante meanwhile came down with Rebellion toward Erza Knightwalker, who was quick enough to block it with her staff, but Dante used her surprise to his advantage by head-butting her. While she was disoriented, Dante gave a powerful roundhouse that sent Knightwalker flying to the wall.
"Lets go!" Modeus told Dante as he jumped toward the ledge near Happy, Carla, Lisanna, and Lucy.
"Got it." Dante turned back around to the Fairy Hunter. "Oh by the way, our Erza is much better looking!" He taunted with a smirk before jumping back.
Not wanting to waste this time to escape, Carla flew Lucy away with Happy doing the same for Lisanna; Dante and Modeus both jumped away from the building and landed on a nearby rooftop; the group then began to make their way away from the tower.
Panther-Lilly stood up amidst the pile of groaning soldiers. "It would appear Nelo Angelo was right. We we're wrong to underestimate that Dante-character."
Meanwhile Knightwalker growled; not just for Fallen Exceeds deceiving her, but she was also downed and mocked by one single man; never before had that happened to her. She glared in the direction Dante had fled. "Dante is his name? I promise to end his life! Before this day is over!"
The group had made it far enough away that they stood on top a rooftop away from any soldiers or guards, while Happy and Carla continued to hover with their wings. Modeus unsheathed Nevan as he looked toward the bound girls. "Do not move."
With a series of slashes, Modeus was able to cut all the silk rope off Lisanna and Lucy; both stretched their arms out.
"Thanks, we've been stuck like that for hours, my arms are very sore." Lucy commented.
"And thanks for the save back there as well." Lisanna thanked.
"You are quite welcome." Modeus replied with an assuring smile as he put Nevan away.
"Now that we have reunited we must…" Carla couldn't finish her sentence as Dante pointed his Ebony pistol straight at her face; much to the group's shock.
"Give me one good reason I shouldn't pull the trigger." Dante glared; the look in his eyes indicated just how serious he was.
"Dante what are you doing!?" Lucy exclaimed as she tried to pull his arm down but couldn't.
"Dante now she's on our side! I promise!" Happy exclaimed as well as he flew up to Dante's face.
"Is that right?" Dante questioned, not to convinced. "Do I have to remind you how we ended up like this? She led us into a trap?!"
"But that wasn't her fault!" Lisanna exclaimed.
"Yeah, it was the Exceeds controlling her!" Happy added.
"Its not just that, it's the fact that she lied this whole time!" Dante exclaimed.
"What?" Lucy questioned.
Dante glared at Carla, still pointing Ebony at her. "You want to know why she was sent to Earthland in the first place? Its because hers and Happy's job was to kill the Dragon Slayers, Natsu and Wendy specifically!"
Lisanna and Lucy both gasped at that.
"Is… is that true?" Lisanna questioned to both Carla and Happy.
Happy looked down as did Carla. "Yes it was." Carla confirmed. "Our original assignment was to eliminate the Dragon Slayers, but it was recently changed so that we could deliver them to the kingdom in Edolas so they could extract their magic power for themselves. That was our mission."
Lucy and Lisanna's eyes both went wide while Dante's glaring look never wavered.
Happy looked directly toward Dante. "But we're on your side still; I promise we're Fairy Tail wizards through and through!"
Dante turned toward the blue cat. "I'm not blaming you Happy. You didn't know about any of this; I trust you." His glare turned back to Carla. "Its her that I don't trust. You lied to us, and you got our friends captured, and almost killed! If you told us everything to begin with we probably wouldn't be here right now!"
"Dante, you can't be sure of that. Anything could of…" Modeus didn't finish as Carla raised her paw slightly and all looked towards her.
Carla sighed. "Dante. I am sorry. You're right. I was aware of my mission the entire time, and I should have told you all from the beginning, I understand that now." Carla thought at how ironic this was; it wasn't too long ago that she questioned Dante's trustworthiness when they encountered his brother and learned of his true heritage, but she had no room to talk.
"I promise you that I will answer for what I have done once this is over." Carla assured. "But right now, we must rescue Wendy and Natsu, that is our primary concern."
"How do we know its not just another trap?" Dante questioned.
Happy flew towards him. "Dante, you said you trusted me right? Well you can trust her. Carla is one-hundred-percent on our side. She's sorry for what she's done and she just wants to help!"
Dante sighed. He could trust Happy. He lowered his gun and put it away causing the others to sigh in relief. "Fine, but Carla…" She looked towards him. "Don't think for one moment that you're off the hook."
"I understand. Come along, we have much ground to cover."
"And too little time for it as well."
Everyone turned towards the right and on top of a tower a few feet above them, was the dreaded Black Angel with his dark cape flowing in the wind. Dante and Modeus both glared while Carla, Lucy, Lisanna, and Happy all gasped.
"Nelo Angelo." Modeus glared.
"So you two finally know where you come from." He spoke towards the two Exceeds. "And you choose to aid those of Earthland. That comes as a surprise, considering how arrogant your kind is."
"We may be Exceeds, but we're also Fairy Tail wizards!" Happy declared. "We don't turn our back on our friends ever!"
Nelo Angelo scoffed. "You're the first of these false gods to reject their heritage. Amusing, but futile."
Lisanna caught note of what he said. "False gods?"
Dante gave a slight chuckle. "I'm actually glad you showed up, I've been looking for someone to beat up." He cracked his knuckles.
Nelo Angelo looked even more amused. "Have you forgotten that you lack your strength and power, Dante? And besides, I'm not the only thing you all have to worry about."
There we're some faint noises that they all soon heard after that. "Hold on, what's that sound?"
Modeus caught wind of the sound. "It sounds like… a multitude of cats."
Nelo Angelo chuckled as he pointed in one direction; they all looked in shock to see a massive pack of flying Exceed soldiers.
"Surrender now Fallen Exceeds! Escape is futile! Meow!" Nichiya commanded.
"Whoa! That's a lot of flying cats!" Lucy looked in shock.
"Those are all Exceeds!" Lisanna exclaimed.
"What will you all do now?" Nelo Angelo questioned to the group. "The Black Angel and an Exceed army now descend upon you."
"We need to go now!" Modeus exclaimed.
Dante growled; without his power he couldn't fight this many, and protect everyone at the same time. "Come no. Lets move!"
"Aye sir!" Happy agreed as they fled.
Happy picked up Lisanna again, while Carla picked up Lucy and flew; Dante and Modeus jumped from rooftop-to-rooftop and ran alongside them.
"We'll need to get closer to the ground! We're too exposed up here!" Carla exclaimed.
"That's not such a good idea, they're all over the ground to!" Happy stated as he looked down and noticed an army of Edolas soldiers all over the floor, even Erza Knightwalker, Panther-Lilly, Hughes, and Sugarboy.
As Dante ran alongside them all, he glanced towards the far right, parallel to them, the smirking Nelo Angelo was following them, and he was clearly enjoying this.
"We need to get inside! Now!" Dante exclaimed as they continued to flee.
Near the balcony of a large tower, King Faust noticed the army of Exceed soldiers heading towards the area.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Coco popped up next to him. "The Extalia Royal Guard! They've invaded in pursuit of the Fallens. What'll we do?!"
Faust had a deep intense look on his face with a strong amount of intensity visible in his eyes. "INITIATE CODE: ETD! RIGHT AWAY!"
Nelo Angelo stopped in his tracks when he heard that order, looking in surprise to see everything being quickly assembled, and a few soldiers blowing the call through a series of horns.
"Code: ETD? Now?" Nelo Angelo's smile retuned. "Good. Now the fun can truly begin!"
Several Edolas Royal Flags we're now raised as the Edolas Soldiers all scrambled to their positions.
"We're using Code: ETD?!" Knightwalker exclaimed in shock.
"Whoa! I don't believe it!" Hughes exclaimed in an equal amount of shock as well, while Panther-Lilly glared alongside him.
A series of oddly-cannon-shaped devices we're being assembled alongside the caste's balcony and rooftops.
"This is the last-line of defense in our home-security arsenal, and he went right to it." Sugarboy surmised.
Using this to their opportunity, Dante and all the others found a way inside; Dante and Modeus jumped into a large window; with Happy, carrying Lisanna, and Carla, carrying Lucy, following close behind.
"CODE: ETD! INITIATE!"
With that, the devices' ends began to glow a bright blue as all these devices we're aimed towards the army of Exceed soldiers that Nichiya was leading. At least a dozen bright blue lights were all shot at the flying Exceed army, engulfing them in a bright blue flash.
"What the Hell!?" Dante questioned as his friends all looked in shock, even Happy and Carla
The Exceed soldiers within the massive blue light all screamed and roared in pain as a series of sparks erupted all around them.
"How dare you take up arms against the Exceeds you lowly humans!" Nichiya exclaimed in pain.
The Fairy Tail members we're completely stunned by this, even Dante.
"I thought the people of Edolas worshiped the Exceeds, why would they fire upon them?!" Modeus questioned.
"I haven't the faintest idea!" Lisanna stated.
"What the heck's going on here?!" Lucy questioned as well.
"I don't know, but maybe we can use this to get Natsu and Wendy. Lets go!" Dante exclaimed as they all ran into the building, using this to their advantage.
Erza Knightwalker saw this. "The Fallens! They've taken the prisoners inside!" She summoned her soldiers. "Call for more defenses inside!"
"Yes Ma'am!" Multiple soldiers followed her. As they did, Knightwalker glared as she saw Dante enter, she would have his head for her previous humiliation at his hands.
As the Exceeds continued to holler in pain in the bright blue light, Nelo Angelo couldn't help but smile at their pain, knowing exactly what was going to happen to them. The light condensed as the Exceeds quickly began to vanish.
"You will pay dearly for this humans!" Nichiya swore. "Defying the Queen will cost you your lives! MEOW!"
With that, all the Exceeds had transformed into one giant lacrima in the shape of a cartoonish-cat. It then fell towards the ground, forcing the Edolas soldiers to scatter as it impacted and left a crater.
The soldiers could only look in shock as they muttered and whispered to themselves.
"It turned the Exceeds into a lacrima!"
"This is not good!"
"What was the King thinking?!"
"There are no gods in this world!" The King's voice boomed. All eyes turned towards the King just as Nelo Angelo jumped down and stood alongside him.
"We humans have suffered with scarcity while the Exceeds flaunted their limitless abundance!" The King began. "Horded their wealth of Magic Power while we we're forced to beg for scraps! It is time to grab what has been kept at arms length for al these years! To claim our rightful prize which we have been denied!"
The soldiers all listened to their king while Nelo Angelo's smile only grew wider.
"As of this moment the era begging and subservience is over!" The King continued. "We must fight for the future of humanity! We must rebuild our kingdom on the foundation of limitless magical power for all humankind! We must rise up and take what is ours! Therefore I am initiating Code: ETD! Exceeds Total Destruction! These so-called angels shall meet their extermination by our hand!"
The soldiers all raised their fists and weapons as they cheered. Even Sugarboy and Hughes smiled at this.
"Gotta say, things just took a very interesting turn." Hughes commented.
"It was bound to happen sooner-or-latter." Sugarboy agreed.
However, Panther-Lilly growled once he heard all this. "So this is the reason we we're building up our military."
Nelo Angelo gave a slight clap towards the King. "Its about time the Exceeds are put in their place."
King Faust gave an agreeing grunt as Coco looked all around. "When we take the power the Exceeds hold, our kingdom will last for generations to come." Faust said.
Coco turned toward the King. "But your majesty, the Queen will defiantly launch a counter-strike. And they have such a strong army, I don't know if we'll be able to fight them off."
"We have the Black Angel on our side!" The King stated.
"Indeed you do, you're majesty." Nelo Angel agreed. "In addition we will soon have the power the Dragon Slayers have pumping through their veins. The Exceed's will come crashing down!"
King Faust turned toward him. "You have been long looking forward to this, haven't you Nelo Angelo?"
"I have." The Black Angel confirmed. "The Exceeds will now understand that wherever there is a god, there is also a devil!"
Meanwhile Byro was in an underground cavern; where Natsu and Wendy we're being kept. Both we're chained to massive rocks with the carvings of dragons on each rock. Byro aimed a hose-like device at them, ready to begin.
"Now this may tickle a bit." He taunted the two unconscious Dragon Slayers. "You're sacrifice will mean a great deal to our kingdom."
Dante, Lucy, Modeus, Lisanna, Happy, and Carla ran down deeper into the tower, down a long curving flight of stairs.
"Things are getting worse by the minute!" Happy surmised.
"Who knew Edolas was so close to starting a war with the Exceeds?" Lucy stated.
"Did you know this was coming?" Dante asked Lisanna.
"No, not at all. This is news to me to!"
"Not just this." Modeus began. "Nelo Angelo intends to use this power and the Anima to rip a hole into the Demon World and lead an invasion onto Edolas."
"WHAT?!" Lucy and Lisanna both questioned at the same time.
"So it is true." Carla realized. "Nelo Angelo is working for the Demon King."
"Yeah, he told us so himself." Dante confirmed.
"But I thought Nelo Angelo was helping Edolas." Lucy recalled.
"No, he is only using the Royal Kingdom for his true master's goal." Modeus replied.
"Demons? Where… where is all this coming from?!" Lisanna questioned as this was the first time she heard all this.
"We'll explain later." Dante told her. "Right now, Natsu and Wendy are our main priority."
Dante continued to lead the group throughout the tower and deeper towards their friends. They crossed a stone-bridge and down another set of stairs, before Dante stopped and sensed something coming.
"Everyone get down!" He jumped back and pushed everyone back just as a small explosion erupted in front of them.
This explosion was from Erza Knightwalker who held her trident, alongside a squad of Edolas royal soldiers.
"This is as far as you go."
"Knightwalker!" Modeus glared as he stood protectively in front of most of the group.
"Oh come on, I thought you had more important things to do than bothering us!" Lucy complained.
Erza Knightwalker smirked; she turned her attention to a certain white-haired swordsman as he stood up. "You are the one called Dante, correct?"
"That's my name, don't wear it out."
"Nelo Angelo warned us not to underestimate you, saying you had the ability to defeat entire armies." Erza Knightwalker scoffed. "I have yet to see such evidence to support that claim."
"Guess what, he was right." Dante stated. He gave a slight chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Knightwalker questioned.
"I kinda noticed something ever since I came to Edolas." Dante began. "Nearly everyone I've met in this messed up shit-hole world is a double of all my buddies back home in Earthland, I'm even good friends with the Erza in my world to."
"Are you going to try to appeal to me? Tell me that I'm not too different from the Erza you know? If that is the case you're merely wasting your breath." Knightwalker stated.
Dante raised his hand and still smiled. "Oh don't worry, that's not where I'm going. See everyone I've met in Edolas is pretty much the opposite of everyone I know back in Earthland. My Erza is one of the strongest and most brave warriors I've ever met; and if you're really her opposite, that makes you a coward."
The Fairy Tail members looked in shock; while the Edolas guards gasped at that statement. Knightwalker growled at Dante. "What was that?"
"You heard me." Dante taunted. "You're a coward, plain and simple. My Erza charges in headfirst at a strong opponent, even going up against those stronger than her! You pick on people who are weaker than you, and everywhere you go you always have a bunch of tin-soldiers to guard you're sorry ass!" He stated, referring to the Edolas guards who could only look in shock at Dante talking like this.
"He spoke like that to Erza Knightwalker?!"
"Does this guy have a death wish?!"
"You're not just a coward, you're a bully." Dante continued. "Have you ever faced a real challenge? I don't think so. I bet you just back away and let your buddy Nelo Angelo do the dirty work for you."
Lucy, Lisanna, Happy, and Carla could only look in shock at Dante as he continued to speak like this to Knightwalker; while Modeus was not surprised at all.
Knightwalker growled as she clenched her fists. "You dare… No one speaks to me this way…"
"Hey, someone had to." Dante continued.
"I fear nothing!" Erza Knightwalker exclaimed. "And certainly do not fear you!"
"Oh yeah? Prove it!" Dante challenged as he took out Rebellion. "Lets go, you and me, right here, right now! Unless you're too much of a pussy to do anything about it."
That was it. Knightwalker could take no more of this. "All of you stay back!" She exclaimed to the soldiers behind her as she took her trident and plucked it from the ground. She pointed it at Dante. "You've just signed your own death warrant."
"Big words from such a little lady." Dante smirked.
Knightwalker rushed forward with a yell as she clashed her trident with Dante's sword. Knightwalker tried to go on the offensive with a series of slashes, but Dante was quick enough to block every single attack. When she tried to jab her trident at him, Dante bounced it off the flat-side off his blade, danced around Knightwalker and landed a knee right to her side, as she flew back Dante slashed with Rebellion at her; causing her to fly back towards a wall, leaving an impression.
The Edolas Soldiers all looked in complete shock; while Happy, Lisanna, Carla, and Lucy we're quite surprised as well. Modeus' expression remained the same.
Knightwalker got up with a bit of surprise evident on her face. She felt a trickle down her left cheek and felt it along her fingers. She looked in even greater surprise to see some blood; Dante had given her a cut on the cheek. She looked to see Dante smirking.
Knightwalker growled almost like an animal. "I'm going to kill you!"
"Get in line." Dante replied before they charged and clashed metal once more.
Meanwhile, deeper in the dungeon; Wendy's screams echoed through the halls, as did Natsu's yells. Byro was extracting the magic from their bodies and it was excruciatingly painful.
Byro was sucking the magic out of Natsu as purple-magic strands we're being pulled from his body into the hose-device Byro was using. It began to fill a large container, which was connected to an even larger machine, and it was growing larger.
Byro couldn't help but be amazed. "What impressive specimens you both are, the magic power you both posses is tremendous."
"Natsu…" Wendy whimpered at seeing him in pain as he regained his breath. Natsu soon had a smirk on his face as he began to chuckle, much to Byro's surprise.
"That all you got you god damn prick?" Natsu taunted with a smirk, taking a page from Dante's book of taunting one's enemies.
Byro growled. "You are a glutton for punishment, aren't you?"
"Natsu?" Wendy tried.
"Come on this is nothing." He turned to Wendy with a serious look. "Dante wouldn't want us giving up, so we're not gonna disappoint him!" Wendy looked on as Natsu continued. "You and I are gonna make it through this! I promise!"
Wendy mustered her smile. This was why she looked up to Natsu so much, he didn't give up, and neither would Dante; so she wouldn't either. "I won't give up… big brother Natsu."
Byro snickered. "So neither of you are willing to give up? Is this bull-headedness a trait among you Dragon Slayers?"
"Oh shut the hell up you piece of shit." Natsu taunted at Byro, who glared at him. "Come on, your voice sounds like cat-nails on a chalkboard; so if wouldn't be too much trouble, would you kill me first, then talk?" Natsu joked; even Wendy gave a slight chuckle.
"Oh I am gonna wipe that smirk off your face!" Byro angrily exclaimed to Natsu as he continued to drain his magic.
"I'd like to see you try." Natsu continued to taunt with a smirk, despite the excruciating pain.
Wendy could merely look on in terror; she did not want to see one of her closest friends in such pain. Natsu, despite the pain, gave her a look that silently told her everything was going to be all right. He reached out his hand, and she took it.
Back upstairs; Dante continued to clash with Erza Knightwalker as the Fairy Tail members and Edolas royal soldiers all watched. Despite lacking his demonic powers, Dante was one of the best swordsmen around, and his own demon-biology made him take much more pain than any human could ever have. He was giving Knightwalker a run for her money.
Knightwalker used the staff of her trident to block a vertical slice from Dante's Rebellion, but this let Dante give a kick to her abdomen, as she faltered back he used his free hand to punch her across the face causing her to stagger back; but she quickly recovered and lunged right at Dante, who swerved a bit out of the way, but the blades of the trident grazed his side.
Lucy and Lisanna gasped in shock at seeing the blood come down from the blades of Knightwalker's weapon as she smirked. But Dante stood up right and turned around with a grin.
"That the best you got?"
Knightwalker's anger returned as she clashed once more. As they clashed, Happy could only look at Dante and was reminded too much of Natsu. The two we're a lot alike, neither of them gave up, even when facing a powerful enemy; Dante did not have his powers back, but he wouldn't give up, he never surrendered, that is what made Happy admire Dante so much. Modeus looked on as well, as he saw Dante, he also saw his mentor Sparda the Dark Knight; the same being who never gave up even in the face of Hell itself. Modeus gave a small smile of content.
"You are your father's son Dante."
Erza Knightwalker caught Dante's blade in her trident and forced him hard to a wall. They both glared at each other as they struggled. Knightwalker's weapon gave an explosion off the end, exploding a large part of the wall above them. Knightwalker jumped back just as the entire wall collapsed on top of Dante, covering him in a large pile of bricks.
Happy, Carla, Lucy, and Lisanna looked more in shock as Modeus glared. Knightwalker's sinister smile returned.
"I admit, he was indeed stronger than I gave him credit for." She turned to the others as Modeus stood protectively in front of them. "But he was just all talk."
As she began to walk towards them, the sounds of stone moving was heard. "Hey." She stopped in her tracks. "Where do you think you're going?" Dante stood up out of the pile; though he was covered in several bruises. "I didn't hear no bell."
"Dante." Lucy breathed as her eyes shook.
"Come on… I know you can do it…" Happy hopped as he clenched his fists.
The Edolas soldiers we're more surprised than they have ever been in their life. Dante stood up on his feet as he glared at Knightwalker who had is back to him.
"I stand by what I said before." Dante taunted. "You're no warrior; you're just a coward and a bully. You're no Erza! You're just a wannabe, a cheap knock off!"
Knightwalker turned around with a glare at Dante who held Rebellion in his right hand and made a 'come here' gesture with his left hand.
"Is this what you want?" Dante taunted with his smirk still present. "Well is it? I don't think so, you're scared aren't you?" He chuckled. "Go ahead and run away."
Knightwalker growled even louder as she charged back at Dante, he blocked once more with Rebellion. It was a flurry of sparks as metal clashed upon metal. Knightwalker went in for a jab, but Dante blocked with the flat side of his sword and swerved it around to trip up Knightwalker. Dante tried to bring Rebellion down onto of her; she blocked that attack and jumped backwards. Dante went after her going on the offensive with his strikes.
Lisanna was speechless at this; this man had taken hits that would send anyone to the infirmary and still kept going, even going one-on-one with Erza Knightwalker and made several successful hits.
Dante landed a kick right at Knightwalker's face; causing her to fly back to the wall. Dante tried to jab his blade into her, but he slipped and this gave Knightwalker an opening. She jammed the blades of her trident once more onto Rebellion and plunged it into the ground. She elbowed Dante in the face, causing him to drop his sword. With Dante disarmed, Knightwalker heaved her trident and impaled it right through Dante; causing all the Fairy Tail members, even Modeus, to look in shock. Knightwalker wasn't finished yet. She jammed the blade into the wall and left Dante hanging there as his body went slightly limp on it.
Knightwalker had a smile of satisfactory on her face and chuckled. "What now? Where are those wisecracks and jokes?" She taunted at the seemingly lifeless body. "Oh what's wrong nothing to say? You called me a coward, well this is the price one pays for such insolence."
Knightwalker turned towards the frightened cats and girls, Modeus glared at her as he wielded Nevan to defend his friends.
"Don't worry." She said with a chuckle. "You'll join him soon enough." She chuckled again.
"What's… so damn funny… bitch?"
Knightwalker couldn't believe what she just heard. She slowly turned around to a sight that made her eyes tremble. The Edolas soldiers all looked ready to piss their pants; Happy and Carla's mouths we're both slightly agape, especially Carla's. Lisanna was absolutely speechless with her mind struggling to even comprehend this. Lucy had an equal amount of shock on her face while Modeus was simply just stunned.
Dante lifted his head and grabbed the trident that had impaled him with both his hands. He slowly pulled it out of the wall and out of him, it tugged a bit, but with a strong pull he wrenched it out and threw it down on the floor. He struggled a bit as he fell slightly and held his bleeding stab-wound. He got up to see Knightwalker's trembling eyes and agape mouth.
"What are you gawking at? Huh?" Dante questioned as he stood up. "Come on, what did you think?" Knightwalker could not believe what she was seeing as she instinctively took a few steps back. "That I was just going to die from that?!"
"But I… you… that…. Just I…" Knightwalker stuttered.
"Speechless eh?" Dante taunted as he picked Rebellion back up.
"What are you!? WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU!?" Knightwalker shrieked in a mixture of anger and fear.
Dante's smile turned into a look of seriousness. "I'm every bad guy's worst nightmare."
Erza Knightwalker's look turned into one of pure rage. "Lets see if you can survive a decapitation!"
Before Knightwalker could strike, something came fast down the halls. A rocket was blasted straight at the Edolas soldiers, blowing them all away. Lightning surged all over the ceiling and an ice-mist filled up the entire room.
Dante fell back towards his group, who we're all stunned at all of this; while Knightwalker fell back to what remained of her guards.
"Geeze Dante." A female voice began. "You really like to drag things out, don't you?"
"Hey, blame these guys for getting in the way." Dante replied with a smirk, referring to the Edolas soldiers and Knightwalker. "You guys sure took your sweet time."
"Sorry about that." Another female voice spoke up as four silloutes could be seen on end of the hall. "We we're quite busy on our hand."
"You got some nerve lady." A male voice spoke up directly to Knightwalker. "You know there with us, and you decided to mess with them anyway."
"That was not the smartest move." The first female voice spoke up.
"Anyone who would lay a hand on our fellow guild members, will be dealt with accordingly." A third and more stern female voice followed up.
"Picking a fight with Fairy Tail is going to be the last mistake you'll ever make." The second female voice declared.
Everyone recognized the voices. "It would seem help has arrived." Modeus said with a smile.
Happy and Carla's looks we're one of shock, as we're Lisanna's but hers turned into a look of relief.
Dante smirked as the mist began to clear. "Well welcome to the party guys. Better late than never."
Lucy had a hopeful smile as she recognized her friends as the mist cleared. "Erza! Grey! Lady! Trish!"
Erza Scarlet, Grey Fullbuster, Lady the Devil Hunter, and Trish the lightning she-devil; all of Earthland, had arrived. This party was about to get wild.
Done. The Calvary has arrived for our heroes. The war for Edolas has now officially begun.
Things are about to get crazy.
Once again, I apologize for the wait; hopefully you'll find this chapter to be enjoyable. Get ready for more action as all our heroes and villains collide in the epic battle to come.
Thanks for your patience and for your support.