Hi everyone, thanks again for waiting. We are getting closer to the climax of the Tenrou Island arc. Last where we left off, Azuma, the strongest of the Eight Kin of Purgatory, has tipped over the Tenrou Tree, rendering most of the Fairy Tail members helpless, all save for Dante and Erza who are left alone to face him. Things are going to be epic as I've got more than a few twists planned to make this chapter differentiate from the cannon episode. So, let's get started.

Titania and The Crimson Knight

The once and mighty Tenrou Tree had fallen, it's broken form laid in the ocean next to the island, as a result, all those who bore the emblem of Fairy Tail had felt their power drain to a near absolute zero, not just magic power, but physical stamina as well.

The group consisting of Natsu, Lady, Lisanna, Lucy, Trish, Wendy, Cana, Happy, Carla, and the unconscious Makarov laid on the wet ground as the rain continued to pour down onto them.

"What gives…?" Natsu stuttered as he had the unconscious Makarov on his back. "What's happening to all of us…?"

"I… I can't move…" Lady stuttered as well as she tried to move her arms forward.

"Feels like… all my energy just… drained out of me…" Trish could barely move as well.

"Yeah…and my head is spinning in circles…" Lucy felt her forehead. "I may hurl… I'd roll out of the way if I were you Cana…" However, she noticed her partner wasn't responding as she laid face-flat on the ground. "Cana…? Come on, this isn't funny… you have to get up…!" However, Lucy fell to the ground.

Lisanna held onto the weakened Wendy, despite the fatigue she was feeling as well. "Wendy are you…?"

"I'm so tired… my vision's blurry… Is this some kind of spell…?" Wendy muttered as she fell deeper into Lisanna's grip, who in turn, fell to the ground as well.

Happy was barley on his feet as his eyes became swirls. "Why is everything spinning…? I just ate some fish, so I know I'm not hungry… but I'm still dizzy….! I'm done for… I can't go any further…" The blue Exceed fell flat on his back.

"I think… we're all losing magic power…" Carla assumed. "There's no other way…" She fell on the ground as well.

Meanwhile; Zeref continued to lay unconscious by a tree as Gray stood alongside Ultear. "That shaking….? Do you know what it was?" Gray asked the woman from Grimoire Heart.

"Azuma, the strongest of the Eight Kin." Ultear answered as Gray suddenly fell to his knees.

"Ah man, I feel so dizzy…" Gray's strength had just shot down to zero as well. "What the hell is going on?!"

"It seems as though the Tenrou Tree has been uprooted." Ultear assumed. "Now it will act as a garrote for anyone who bares the Fairy Tail emblem. It's only a matter of time"

"So, you knew about this." Grey narrowed his eyes at the daughter of his former teacher and adoptive mother. "Was this your plan all along?!"

"It was an option, and it would seem Master Hades choose to go with it." Ultear replied.

At the same time, Meredy, who had just recovered had pulled the unconscious Juvia out of the swamp to try and find some shelter.

"And now I'm aiding a fallen enemy." Meredy said to herself in minor disbelief, though she couldn't help but be concerned for her. Call it kinship or something she shared with her through their Sensory Link, but that didn't necessarily mean she liked it. "What in the world have you done to me?"

Meanwhile, in the twisted roots of where the mighty Tenrou Tree once stood, Azuma stood over his two opponents, Dante and Erza, the two glaring daggers at the man who just put all their friends and family at death's door.

"Is this part of your master's orders?" Erza questioned Azuma.

"This is indeed part of Hades' plan, yes." Azuma confirmed. "Felling the tree was the easiest way to deal a death-blow to Fairy Tail."

"How the hell does your boss even know something like that?" Dante questioned. "You say he knows the ins and outs of this island, how?"

"I don't know, I never asked." Azuma replied simply and honestly. "Now then, are you two going to give me the fight I want or not? Make your decision."

"Don't really have a choice, do we?" Dante muttered as he and Erza exchanged a serious look before they both nodded. "You want an ass-kicking that badly? You got one!"

"However, since you insist on a fair fight, we expect you to return our friends' power once you've lost." Erza stated to their enemy.

"You have my word." Azuma assured. "Believe me, I'm not fond of these methods either. Of course, you still have to win."

Dante drew Rebellion as Erza quipped a pair of swords in her hands. "Let's go!" Dante exclaimed as they shot at Azuma.

The red-clad Devil Hunter was the first to strike Azuma with Rebellion, which he blocked with his obsidian-arm before Azuma shot out a multitude of large vines from roots around him which took the form of fists. The first tree-fists were enough to knock Dante back, but he was quick to recover and slice away the tree-fists with Rebellion.

"Requip: Heaven's Wheel!" Erza had transformed into one of her most well-known armors. "Scattered Petals!" She launched a series of swords at Azuma who seemed focused on Dante, but this proved to be false as he was quick to raise a root dome over him to protect himself from the blades.

Dante leaped from the root he was on to one at a higher level before propelling himself directly at Azuma with Rebellion in his right hand and Ivory in his left. He opened fire with his pistol, but Azuma raised a root-wall to block it. Once Dante was close enough, he, cut through the root-wall with Rebellion just as Erza was about to attack Azuma from behind. However, Azuma was quick to jump away just as they swung their swords, resulting in Dante and Erza clashing swords on accident, much to their surprise.

Now that Azuma had them both in one place, he attacked. "Racus Sica" He shot a volley of razor-sharp branches at a rate identical to that of a machine gun. However, Dante, similar to what his brother would do, spun Rebellion like a helicopter blade to act as a makeshift shield to block Azuma's attack, allowing Erza to leap over Dante and soar at Azuma, slicing both her swords at him, but Azuma proved nimble and quick enough to avoid most of her strikes, and any that did almost connect, he'd block with his obsidian prosthetic arm. Dante, having just finished repelling the last of Azuma's attack, ran along a root to fire both Ebony and Ivory at Azuma. Several bullets did graze his body, causing minor cuts, it was little more than an annoyance as Azuma leapt back to shoot two, much larger, tree fists at Dante and Erza. One was enough to shatter Erza's swords and most of her Heaven's Wheel armor, and while Dante tried to slice at the other with Rebellion, he only cut about half-way through as the force was enough to send even him flying. The pair both crashed through multiple roots before skidding to a halt on two larger roots with Azuma standing above them just like before.

"Come on, I'm hardly even sweating yet, get serious." Azuma told them. "Don't tell me that you're already too fatigue from fighting my comrades, Dante. Is this really the source of your strength?!" He shot several more tree-fists at Dante in particular, however, once they made contact, Dante appeared to have vanished in a puff of black smoke, catching Azuma by surprise.

'A fake?'

"Behind ya, jackass!" Azuma barely had time to register as Dante swung Rebellion at him, though Azuma was able to block the sword with his obsidian arm again, the force was enough to send him flying through several roots before he stabilized himself.

'He must have used his Doppelgänger technique in the confusion. I didn't even notice.' Azuma thought before a small smirk formed on his face. 'Very creative.'

But it wasn't just Dante he had to worry about, something slashed past his side, causing a large cut to form as blood sprayed out of it, causing Azuma to grunt painfully. He glanced back to see Erza quipped into her Flight Armor, one of the fastest in her collection.

"Erza! I got an idea! Take my hand!" Dante exclaimed as he leapt toward her location. Choosing to trust him, Erza leapt from her spot as well. The two were about to meet in mid-air when Azuma tried to shoot out several tree-fists all around them. However, it was too late as Dante and Erza had already grabbed hands. "Quicksilver!"

Both of them vanished completely, resulting in the incoming tree-fists smashing into each other. Before Azuma could react, he was stuck in multiple simultaneous directions all over his body before he was sent crashing and falling through multiple roots. He tried to pull himself up as he saw Dante and Erza falling toward him with their respective weapons.

'Dante's Quicksilver technique lets him slow down time around him, while Titania's Flight Armor more than doubles her own speed. Such a powerful combination.' Azuma's smirk only grew wider. "This is incredible!" He exclaimed as he shot another series of tree-fists at the falling pair, who kicked each other to propel themselves out of the way. However, this ended up separating the pair, as per Azuma's intent. He then focused a majority of his tree fists solely on Erza to knock her off her balance before slamming her down onto a larger root with a massive tree-foot.

Azuma ducked his head out of the way just in time to avoid a flying Rebellion that would have pierced through the back of his head. He then saw the sword return almost automatically to its wielder as Dante outstretched his hand to call back his large blade before clashing with Azuma again, who caught Rebellion in-between his palms and they pressed their strength against one another. Dante however smirked.

"Is there something you find amusing?" Azuma questioned.

"Yeah, you took your eye off the ball." Dante smirked, causing Azuma to turn around in minor surprise to see his tree-foot having been obliterated as Erza had quipped into a heavy silver armor with a massive shield at the arms. Using this minor surprise, Dante swept his feet to knock Azuma down slightly before he jumped down to land next to Erza.

"Your Adamantine Armor." Azuma noted Erza's current attire. "It's said your shield could stop a direct blast from a Jupiter focused magic cannon." His smirk appeared once more. "Excellent! What do you say we put it to the test!" He shot another, more powerful, Ramus Sica attack at Erza, who immediately blocked it with her shield.

"Go Dante!" Erza stated as she acted as defense.

"Beowulf!" Dante instantly quipped into his gauntlets and grieves and shot at Azuma at incredible speed, who tried to stop him with the same kind of Ramus Sica attack; but Dante used his right-grieve to kick up a large chunk of root to block the attack before kicking it again to send it flying at Azuma who swerved out of the way, leaving him open for Dante to deliver a powerful punch with his right gauntlet into Azuma's abs, causing him to hack out some blood before the impact sent him flying and crashing into a larger root.

Azuma tried to pull himself back onto his feet as Dante shot at him again to deliver an axe-kick, but Azuma blocked it with his obsidian-arm. However, he noticed that his prosthetic arm actually cracked a bit before he unleashed another attack. "Tower Burst!" He shot a powerful column of flame out form his body which appeared to have engulfed Dante and send his smoking body flying upward. However, once the flames cleared, a bolt of lightning shot past Azuma, literally shocking him before he looked up at the assailant, that being Erza quipped into her Lightning Empress Armor.

"First your Flight Armor, then Adamantine, now Lightning Empress? You're pulling out all the stops, aren't you Titania?" Azuma asked with an eager smile.

"Dante!" Erza called to him. "There's been a change of weather! One hundred percent chance of thunderstorms!"

Getting her message, Dante recovered from his fall as he grabbed onto a branch and spun himself around before leaping into the air. "Nevan!" Dante quipped his scythe, which he swung to send multiple purple electric spheres at Azuma, who merged with the root he was standing on to avoid it, but hitting Azuma wasn't his intent. Dante leaped from one tree-branch, with Erza doing the same. Both their weapons charged with their respective lightning, which they clashed together in the air, creating a massive and chaotic surge of purple, blue, and even yellow lightning. Bolts shot in nearly every direction, obliterating countless roots. It didn't matter where Azuma would hide, this would flush him out, which proved to be accurate as he was exposed and hit with a powerful bolt that shocked him and brought him to his knees.

Dante and Erza both leapt down to the root he was standing on, Dante on his right, and Erza on his left as they both glared at him, though Azuma chuckled as he pulled himself up. "This is truly remarkable. Titania, your requipping speed is unmatched and your sword technique is flawless. Dante, your power is nothing to scoff at either, your strength and speed are astounding, not to mention your creative use of your various powers and Devil Arms. But, more importantly, your teamwork. It is clear the two of you know how to work with one another and find ways in which your skills complement each other, this is obviously not your first fight together."

"No, it isn't." Erza confirmed. "We spar together quite often."

"Too often." Dante joked slightly. "Honestly, I've lost count how many times we duked it out." He shared a small smile with Erza, who gave a small smile in return.

"Very impressive." Azuma nodded. "Individually, each of you are everything I wanted in an opponent, and the fact I'm facing both of you is nothing short of a dream come true for me."

Despite their previous attempt at humor, neither Dante nor Erza could underestimate this enemy. 'His Arc of Trees is overwhelming. Even with Dante and I fighting together, he's still standing, even after unleashing several of our combo-attacks.' Erza thought.

'Compared to the other Grimoire Heart nutjobs I've fought on this island, this guy's on a whole nother league.' Dante fought. 'No question, he really is the strongest of the Eight Kin.'

"Dante, I don't think we can afford to hold back against this man." Erza told her friend as she quipped into her normal Heart Kreuz armor.

"Yeah, he's not all talk. Time to bring out the big guns." Dante agreed as he swapped Nevan out for Rebellion.

"Does this mean you two are prepared to fight me seriously?" Azuma asked.

"Careful." Dante warned with a serious expression on his face. "You were already on your knees before, one wrong move and you'll lose more than just the fight."

As Dante and Erza glared at him, Azuma actually licked his lips slightly in anticipation. Neither of them moved for a few seconds before all three of them disappeared and re-appeared to clash in the air. Dante swung Rebellion while also dealing out multiple punches and kicks, while Erza swung her armored fists. However, Azuma was fast enough to block and parry each of their attacks, his obsidian-arm effectively blocking Rebellion. However, they were each able to get some effective hits in; a kick to Azuma's abs form Erza, a punch to Erza's face from Azuma's fist, a slice to Azuma's chest from Rebellion, a kick to Dante's right elbow from Azuma.

Azuma leapt back to ensnare both Dante and Erza with a series of roots, which he channeled some extra magic power into, causing them to explode. However, Dante shot out of the smoke with Agni and Rudra in his hand, both blades carrying trails of fire and wind respectively. He swung them at Azuma, who crossed his arms to produce a root-shield, but the power from Dante's weapons caused a small explosion that shattered the root-shield and sent Azuma flying back. He skidded to a halt on his feet on a large root, however, he didn't have time to recover as he could just barley dodge the De-Malevo-Lance, thrown by Erza in her Giant Armor, though it did skid his side a bit.

Erza then grabbed Azuma's leg and threw him down toward a larger root. She tried to throw a powerful punch at him, but Azuma shot his hand forward to send massive tree-fist into Erza, sending her crashing hard through a large root. Dante, still wielding Agni and Rudra, shot at Azuma as he spun his body, generating a vertical field of flames and wind around him, effectively turning himself into a massive shuriken that shot at Azuma. He tried to stop it with a tree-fist, but Dante's improvised technique sliced through Azuma's attack like a knife through butter before scoring a direct hit on Azuma to send him falling deeper into the roots. Though he was quick to stabilize himself.

"Bleve!" Azuma shot a point-blank explosion attack at Dante, which was enough to force Dante to stop with his attack, leaving him open for Azuma to slug him across the face with his obsidian arm, right before Azuma shot another powerful tree fist to send Dante crashing through multiple roots.

However, Erza, now quipped in her Purgatory Armor, shot up from behind to swing her massive, black, serrated blade down onto Azuma. He was however quick enough to jump and avoid the devastating slice that cleaved the massive root in two. She tried to swing at him while he was in mid-air, but he shot out another large tree-fist at her. Though she was able to slice through it, it gave Azuma enough space to fall back and land on root. However, this was a mistake as Dante suddenly appeared behind him.

"Cerberus!" Dante shot past Azuma with his three-pronged-nunchuck, creating a trail of ice that almost froze Azuma's lower body. With the enemy temporarily immobilized, Dante spun Cerberus like a helicopter blade to send out a flurry of ice-shards at Azuma. Though he was able to break free of the ice, he couldn't avoid the powerful attack as the ice-shards not only cut him, but the force sent him reeling back toward Erza, who slammed her blade into his back to send him right back into Dante who pulled out Rebellion again as he slammed the flat onto Azuma's back to send him falling and crashing through many more roots, closer toward the bottom.

'Their teamwork is near-perfect. I can't even find an opening!' Azuma thought as the two shot down toward him. However, once Dante and Erza swung their respective blades, Azuma was quick to erect a massive cluster of roots to protect him as their swords could barely cut through the surface.

"Even the Purgatory Armor isn't enough." Erza commented as even Dante was starting to get a little frustrated.

Suddenly, they both found themselves completely ensnared by multiple roots. "The hell…?!" Dante struggled a bit.

'In order to defeat a team as powerful as this… I have to use the strongest attack spell I can muster in this form!' Azuma emerged out from a root above the immobilized pair as he clapped his hands together and struck them with one of his most powerful attacks. "Terra Clamare!"

Both Dante and Erza were engulfed in a massive explosion, one that would shake up the entire island. A wallowing face appeared on the explosion itself and even gave a loud wail that would echo throughout the entire island, and even beyond it.

Azuma took multiple deep breaths as he fell to his knees, not just from the exhaustion of the power, but from all the damage he took from the pair. A satisfied smile formed on his face as he saw the smoke, however, once it cleared, he looked in surprise to see Erza quipped in her Adamantine Armor once again. Her shielded-arms where outstretched to cover both herself as well as Dante, yet despite that, they both looked like they took some of the impact as they were both covered in bruises and burns, even more so as Erza's Adamantine Armor shattered completely and Erza herself almost fell back had Dante not caught her.

"You okay?" He asked her.

Erza had to catch her breath a bit. "Yes… I'll be fine…"

Azuma was nothing short of surprised. 'Unbelievable… she quipped into her Adamantine Armor and used it to shield herself as well as Dante. Even though the armor itself has shattered, it still took most of the impact, sparing the two from an otherwise devastating end. But one thing doesn't quite make sense.'

"Why did you shield him?" Azuma asked the pair as they glanced up at him. "Titania, you should know that Dante is clearly the strongest of you two. You should have used your armor to shield yourself, he would have survived due to his own nature as Sparda's descendent."

"Do I need a reason to want to protect my friends?" Erza asked as she was already up on her feet. "I know what Dante is capable of, but that won't stop me from helping him."

"Guess dark guilds aren't known for watching each other's backs, huh?" Dante said with a small smirk.

"I see…" Azuma seemed to understand. "Yet, you two are still holding back. I know you're capable of much more than this, you especially Dante. Why not strike me down with your full power?"

"Cause I'm saving it for your boss." Dante replied. "You're one tough customer, no question. But this Hades-guy is supposed to be even stronger. I don't wanna waste all my strength for when we get to him."

"I can definitely see the logic in your statement." Azuma said. "You would need nothing less than your absolute power if you hope to even have the slightest chance at surviving Master Hades. However, you still have to beat me."

"You're already on the defensive, we can, and we will defeat you." Erza declared.

Azuma's eyes closed briefly. "I see, so what you're saying is, if I want to bring out your full power, I need to force you into a situation where that is the only way to win. Very well."

The strongest of the Eight King clapped his hands together as he appeared to perform some sort of ritual. Less than a second later, the entire area began to shake, though it was not as devastating as when the Tenrou Tree was uprooted, it was still something to notice.

"What the hell is going on?" Dante questioned. "What are you doing this time?!"

"Sacred of Holly Trees, I summon you!" Azuma began. "I call upon thee through the earthly-land to bring all the magic power in this land and onto me!" As he casted the spell, the ground at the very bottom of the area began to glow a mix between orange and gold as it seemed pure and raw magic power was being drawn into that exact spot. "Rise from the Garden of Eden and bare your fruit: Tree of Life!"

From that glowing spot on the ground, a large and bright shining oak tree emerged and quickly rose toward the same height of the combatants, much to Dante and Erza's surprise, and came to a slow stop once it reached Azuma's level.

"Did he just… grow a tree?" Dante questioned.

Erza however wasn't focused on the tree itself, but what grew from it. From one of the branches on this tree grew an apple, a golden apple that shined almost like a small sun.

"That apple…" Erza muttered. "Why… why does it have… so much magic power…?"

"This is the ultimate technique of my Arc of Tree." Azuma explained to the pair. "By summoning the Tree of Life, I am able to Psyphon all the magic power of the land and condense it into a single point. In this case, I have taken all the magic power from Tenrou Island itself and condensed it into this tree, specifically the apple that grew from it." Azuma plucked the shining golden apple from the branch. "And once I eat it, all of Tenrou Island's magic power will flow through me."

"Are you insane?!" Erza shouted. "No matter how strong you are, the human body can't handle that much magic power! If you consume all of it at once, you'll must assuredly die!"

"I'm well aware." Azuma replied. "Master Hades told me the consequences of this technique. However, if I am to draw out your full power, I have no choice."

"Are you seriously willing to throw your life away just for a freaking fight?!" Dante exclaimed.

"Yes." Azuma said without hesitation. "For me, fighting is everything. And with this power, I shall engage in the greatest battle imaginable!" Before either of his enemies could protest, Azuma had consumed the apple with just a few bites.

Once the apple was completely consumed, an ominous golden-orange aura formed around Azuma's body as the entire area began to shake even more, as if the land itself was trembling at Azuma's growing power, with Dante and Erza looking in absolute disbelief, not just at Azuma willing to put his own life in danger like this, but at just how much his magic power was increasing. It was unbelievable! Azuma's voice echoed as he growled, trying to hold himself together while also manifesting the raw power he was now exerting. His muscles were already growing twice their normal size, and with a powerful yell, a large blast of magic fire-like power shot high into the air and could be seen for miles around the island.

When the blast faded, neither Dante nor Erza could believe what they were seeing. It was Azuma, but he might as well be a completely different person. His muscles were twice as large, but more remarkably, his skin looked as if it had become solid obsidian stone, like his prosthetic arm, which appeared to have effectively merged with the rest of his body, even his hair had become obsidian. A few cracks came up from his wrists and traveled up his arms, almost like veins, with an orange glow, as if the blood inside him had transformed into magma. Similar cracks traveled diagonally from both his shoulders and down his abs, stopping in the middle. His eyes had the same effect as his pupils vanished and there was only the orange glow of magma behind them, complete with an orange aura that shined ominously around him.

"Holy shit…" That was all Dante could say as a nervous sweatdrop fell down his face.

'His power… it's doubled… maybe even tripled…' Erza thought as her body shook with fear. 'Sort of like when Natsu achieved his Dragon Force transformation. Is this the Arc of Tree's equivalent of that?'

"What you see, is my absolute power at its peak." Azuma explained, his voice sounding deeper and something demonic. "The Arc of Tree allows me to manipulate the magic in the land, and as I have absorbed all the magic power from Tenrou Island I can no longer control the land. But that is a small price to pay, as my own strength, speed, and durability have skyrocketed. I can also channel the power that flows through my veins in attacks that can likely shatter even mountains. This is my Eden form!"

"At what cost? Your own life!?" Erza questioned.

"As I stated before, I live to fight." Azuma replied. "If I die in this battle, whether it be by your hand, or by my own power, I will have no regrets. But don't misunderstand me, our agreement still stands, defeat me and I'll restore the power to all your comrades."

"But what happens if we lose?" Dante asked. "You'll still die."

"The power will still return to Tenrou Island." Azuma answered. "But as I will be unable to restore your friends' power, it will be lost forever." Both Dante and Erza gave audible gasps, realizing just how much graver their situation had become. "Now then, shall we get started?"

Meanwhile; Natsu and his group hadn't moved even an inch from their current spot. Despite each of them desperately wanting to get back up on their feet, neither of them had the strength to even lift a finger.

"Alright… we're getting nowhere fast…" Lucy muttered.

"What the hell… happened to us…? Did somebody… drain our power…?" Trish wondered.

"I can't feel my legs… or my arms…" Lisanna grunted as she still held onto Wendy.

"Come on… move damn it…" Lady cursed herself.

"I… I can't move either…" Carla weakly said. "And… I have no idea why…"

"Stop the ride… I wanna get off now…" Happy muttered, his eyes still in swirls.

"This started after… that giant tree toppled over…" Wendy muttered as well. "Do you think… there's a connection….?"

"Pretty sure that tree… wasn't just there for decoration…" Lady commented.

"Doesn't look like… we're in any situation to fix it though…" Lucy said weakly.

"Natsu… could you carry me on your back… the rest of the way…?" Happy weakly asked.

"Sorry, I already got a passenger…" Natsu replied, referring to the unconscious Makarov on his back. "…And I'm afraid he isn't looking to good either…"

"I'm hoping that it's just us… stuck here like this…" Trish grunted. "Cause if not… we're all screwed…"

Dante and Erza continued to stare in awe and even fear at Azuma in his transformed state, otherwise known as his Eden Form. Suddenly, he vanished, and before they could register their surprise, Azuma had re-appeared in front of both of them and slammed both his stone fists into their abs, sending them both flying and crashing through several branches.

Dante's landing was quite hard, and looked in shock to see the transformed Azuma already looming over him and ready to punch him, but Dante flipped and avoid the devastating blow that shattered the root they were standing on. Dante quickly drew Ebony and Ivory and opened fire. Azuma simply stood there and took the bullets, not even phased by them. "Bleve!"Azuma's attack had been amplified, creating an explosion much larger than before that completely engulfed Dante and sent him plummeting down toward the ground.

Suddenly, multiple swords appeared around Azuma as Erza hovered above him in her Heaven's Wheel armor. "Scattered Petals!" However, even with the dozens of swords raining down on him, Azuma was fast enough to punch and shatter every single sword without them even laying so much as a scratch on him. He then appeared in front of the shocked Erza and dealt a roundhouse kick that shattered her armor and sent her flying and crashing through multiple roots.

"Quicksilver!" Dante had managed to slow time around himself and Azuma and slashed at him with Rebellion multiple times. When the power wore off, he looked in shock to see Azuma barley even phased. Azuma's fists were then suddenly coated in lava as he rushed to Dante, who desperately tried to block Azuma's lava-fists with Rebellion. Though he blocked the first few punches, Azuma proved far too fast enough as he laid several devastating impacts all over Dante's body that not only bruised but even burnt him. Azuma then grabbed Dante by his head, the lava on his hands already burning Dante's scalp and causing him to grunt in pain before Azuma pulled back a fist and actually punched through Dante! His lava-fist piercing and blasting out through Dante's back! The impact and force also sent Dante falling and crashing down hard on a branch.

A wave of flame was shot directly at Azuma, which he swatted away with a swipe of his hand. He looked to see Erza flying straight at him in her Flame Empress Armor with a flaming sword in hand. She swung her blade at him relentlessly, but Azuma proved far too fast and quick as he avoided all the slashes. He then decked at Erza with his lava-fists. The first punch was across his face before he shot another punch into her abs. Ordinarily, her Flame Empress Armor would grant her resistance to fire-based attacks, but it seems that this was too much for her armor to take as it was already cracking. He then grabbed Erza and pulled her into a crushing bear hug.

"Tower Burst!"Azuma's attack was far more devastating then when he was in his normal form. It was almost as if Erza was caught in the middle of a volcanic eruption as a massive tower of fire shot in the air, almost three times as large and powerful as his normal attack. The mighty Titania screamed as she felt her armor shatter before she fell in a smoking heap and landed near Dante's wounded form. The youngest Son of Sparda attempted to pull himself up as his wound began to heal on its own, but he already had blood pouring out of his mouth as he glanced upward at Azuma who towered over them in his Eden Form.

"Now do you believe me?" Azuma asked. "As you are now, and as I am, you cannot defeat me. There is only one way the two of you can possibly hope to beat me. You can no longer hold back."

"Erza… he's right…" Dante grunted as he tried to pull himself up, while also helping Erza to her feet as well. "We can't hold back."

"Yes… I agree." Erza said before taking a deep breath. "Requip: Armadura Fairy!" In a flash of light, Erza had quipped into her most powerful armor of all, with a sword in each hand.

It wasn't just Titania either. Dante closed his eyes as he concentrated, a red whirlwind soon blew around him before his body was engulfed in a bright red flash. The light faded to reveal Dante fully clad in his Devil Trigger, his Rebellion sword as black as night.

"Well, Azuma? Is this what you wanted?" Dante asked, clad in his demonic form.

"Yes. That is perfect." Azuma smirked.

Both the Devil Trigger Dante and Eden Form Azuma vanished from their spots before they clashed instantly in the middle of the entire area, their clash created a powerful shockwave that shook all the roots, and even splintered a few. It was almost a blur as Dante swung Rebellion at Azuma rapidly, who parried his strikes with his lava-fists or blocked it with his arms. But their clash appeared to leave him open from behind from Erza who leapt at him with her swords, coated in a green aura. She slashed at his back, staggering him long enough for Dante to deliver an airborne roundhouse to send Eden Form Azuma crashing down through multiple roots before he stabilized himself.

Dante then flew down at Azuma who shot a double-Bleve attack from both his hands, but Dante was able to push against it with Rebellion, a powerful red aura surging around his black sword. Erza, like before, tried to ambush Azuma from behind, but he caught both her swords with his obsidian-hard hands.

"I won't fall for the same trick twice!" Azuma declared.

"I didn't expect you to." Erza stated as her swords aura glowed green even more and she sliced at Azuma's hands, causing a slight cut to form on both his hands, which already began to 'bleed' a bit of lava. This left him open for Dante to fly and smash into him with his shoulder from above.

As the Eden Form Azuma was sent flying, Dante flew after him and performed his Million-Stab Technique, further enhanced by his Devil Trigger, to shoot a hail of red-energy blasts like bullets. Azuma crossed his arms to try and defend himself as each of the blasts hit him with explosive results. Azuma slammed through a large root but was quick to stabilize himself and land on his feet. Dante tried to rush him again, but Azuma ducked under his horizontal sword slice to deliver a powerful upper cut to Dante's jaw. This caused the Devil Trigger Dante to stagger a bit before Azuma laid a multitude of lava-fist strikes across Dante's body before shooting him with another Bleve attack to blast him back.

Suddenly, Erza appeared from underneath Azuma, giving him a vertical slash with both her blades, which cut through his obsidian skin, if only slightly. She swung her blades at Azuma, who was quick enough to avoid each slice. He ducked underneath another slice to deliver a powerful kick to her abs, cracking her armor a bit before creating a ball of lava and fire in-between his own palms which he threw at Erza, causing it to explode and send her flying back.

However, as she flew back, the Devil Trigger Dante flew straight up to intercept her. They briefly made eye-contact and nodded to each other as they grabbed hands. Dante then spun his body, as well as Erza, at a pace so rapid that not even Azuma could keep track of. Dante then let Erza go and used his own Devil Trigger Strength, plus the gathered momentum from the spin, to shoot Erza at Azuma like a meteor, both her swords pointing at him. It was a direct hit that sent Azuma flying back even further.

Though Azuma was able to stabilize himself, he was forced on the defensive as Erza had already caught up to him and she swung both her blades down on him, forcing him to block it with his arms. However, Dante suddenly appeared behind Azuma to slam Rebellion into his side, causing Azuma to crash through one particularly large root.

Azuma couldn't stop himself from laughing, even as Dante and Erza both shot at him. He was stuck in-between the Son of Sparda in his Devil Trigger and the mighty Titania in her most powerful armor, and despite having to block or dodge their rapid and continuous sword strikes, he looked as if he was having the time of his life.

'Yes! This is perfect!' Azuma thought as he continued to block and dodge, not even having a chance to attack. 'Three incredible warriors in a fight to the death! I've never felt so complete!'

However, that didn't mean Azuma was about to let up yet. "Tower Burst!" Azuma created another massive column of flame that forced Dante and Erza back, while also giving Azuma some room to propel himself to a significant height as he gazed down at the two.

"Titania, Dante, allow me to thank you both." Azuma told them. "This fight right here, where we are all forced to use nothing less than our absolute best to destroy the other… this is the fight I've been seeking. Allow me to repay you. I will strike you with my ultimate attack, and I expect you to do the same!"

The Eden Form Azuma brought his hands together, and in-between his palms, a single sphere of orange and golden energy formed, it quickly began to grow in size and was already twice the size of Azuma's body as he lifted it into the air, and it continued to grow even more. It surged with power, almost like Azuma was creating a sun.

"That power…!" Erza's eyes widened in shock, as even Dante had a surprised expression on his demonic face. "…If he unleashes it… it could obliterate half the island…!"

"Gotta meet it head on." Dante stated as Azuma's attack continued to grow even larger. "But even with my Devil Trigger, I don't know if I can bust through that. Can that armor of yours cut through it?"

"No." Erza shook her head. "However, there might be something that can." She quipped out of her Armadura Fairy Armor and donned her Clear Heart outfit; a series of bandages wrapped around her chest with simple red pants and yellow flames at the bottom. Dante looked in surprise as Erza took a stance identical to that of a master swordsman as a vibrant magenta aura formed around her body. "The blade that can't be held without shedding all armor… my most powerful weapon… Spectral Sword: Crimson Blossom!"

A single katana formed in Erza's hands, one that carried a faint red color, but surged with raw power. "Even this though might not be enough. Dante, will you lend me your power?" She asked her comrade and friend. "And I will lend you mine."

A smile formed on Dante's demonic face. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The Devil Trigger Dante held his black Rebellion backwards toward his side as Erza did the same for her own sword Crimson Blossom. Both their blades crossed at the tips as a magenta aura formed on Erza's sword, and a vibrant red formed around Dante's. Both their auras and power began to mix around both swords as a surge of red and magenta energy formed in-between the blades.

Already, Azuma's attack was massive, yet he could see the powerful attack being prepared by his enemies. 'They never cease to amaze… they're actually combining their powers… into a Unison Raid!' An excited, and borderline maddening, smile formed on Azuma's face. 'Yes! Titania, Queen of the Fairies, Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail! And Dante, the Son of Sparda… no, not just Sparda's heir… but someone who will outgrow his father's shadow: The Legendary Crimson Knight!'

"Dante! Erza!" Azuma called to them as their attack was just about ready. "You two are without question, the greatest warriors I have met in my life! I won't ever forget your names! Show me your power and strength and use it to DESTROY ME COMPLETELY! EDEN'S INFERNO!"

Azuma threw the massive attack right at them, it was the near-equivalent to the sun itself as it burned away everything it came into contact with, not even leaving ashes left.

"Are you ready, Dante?" Erza asked.

"Whenever you are, Erza." He replied back.

They both shot at the massive attack like a missile, a vibrant and red and magenta aura forming around both of them as they stuck their swords out, a bright arrow-shaped energy attack surging with power at the very tip of their blades. "FAIRY KING: CRIMSON OBERON!"

Their attacks clashed in mid-air, halting one another. Despite the enormous size advantage, the Eden's Inferno sphere had over Dante and Erza's unison raid, they seemed evenly matched at the moment. However, it would seem that the larger attack was going to completely engulf Dante and Erza, despite everything they were throwing at it. The massive Eden's Inferno attack grew even more, up to the point where it could be seen by everyone both on and around the island.

Everyone saw it; Gildarts and Bluenote; Gray and Ultear; Meredy, who continued to look after the unconscious Juvia; Rustyrose along with Freed, Bickslow, Elfman, Levy, and Panther-Lily; even Natsu's group saw it as well.

Lady grunted a bit as somehow; she knew who was right in the middle of it. "Dante…"

It almost seemed like they were both stuck in a white void, like something had pulled Erza and Dante into both their minds, and yet, somehow, they shared the same space together.

'Is this it…?' Erza thoughts echoed through the void. 'Is this how it ends…? Death…?'

'No way…' Dante' thoughts also echoed. 'This can't be how we bite it…!'

"You're not giving up, are you?"

That voice caused both their eyes to open. 'Who was that?' Erza wondered, not recognizing the voice.

However, Dante recognized it as his eyes shook. 'No way… old man…?'

The face of a man with slicked-back white hair, blue eyes, and a monocle over his left eye appeared. He smiled as he spoke to them. "Don't worry, we're here for you. You're not alone."

Multiple faces that either one, or both of them recognized began to fill the void. They saw the smiling faces of Natsu, Lady, Lucy, Trish, Gray, Lisanna, Cana, Happy, Wendy, Carla, Panther-Lily, Juvia, Gajeel, Levy, Modeus, Elfman, Mira, Evergreen, Freed, Bickslow, Gildarts, and Makarov, and it wasn't just their friends from Fairy Tail they saw. Erza also saw the smiling faces of Jellal, Sho, Milliana, Wally, even the late Simon and Rob. For Dante, he saw Nell Goldstein, the woman who took him in after his parents were killed, made his guns and taught him how to fight; he even saw his broker and loyal friend Morrison; he even saw the face of Vergil, albeit in his childhood when they were still friends; but the one who ultimately reached out to him, was the loving face of his mother Eva.

This was enough to make them both focus and strengthen their resolve. 'What am I doing? I can't give up now!' Erza stated.

'All these people… my friends… my family…' Dante's fists clenched. 'I'll protect every single one of you with every fiber of my being! I got your back! And you better damn well believe I know you got mine to!'

Suddenly, a bright vibrant light, shinning beams of red and magenta energy shot out from the center of Azuma's Eden Inferno attack. Deep inside, Erza and Dante, still clad in his Devil Trigger, pressed forward, the power of their Unison Raid increasing even more as they seemed to be cleaving through Azuma's attack, until finally they shot out, and the second they did, Azuma's attack had been blown away almost completely.

Azuma couldn't believe it. 'I hit them with the full power of Tenrou Island… and they were still able to cleave through it! Not even my strongest attack could stop them?!' The second Azuma saw them shooting at him, he could have sworn he saw the images of all their friends and family around them, but above all, for a brief second, Azuma saw the image of the demonic form of the Dark Knight Sparda himself in front of them. 'Is this the power they were talking about? A desire to protect those closest to them… as well as the trust they share with each other? What an amazing guild!'

Azuma's stone face changed from shock to that of a content and even congratulatory smile. "Well done."

*SLASH!*

Dante and Erza shot past him with their blades, slicing Azuma clean in half horizontally. His obsidian body falling to the ground, lava pouring out of both ends. Meanwhile, Dante and Erza both landed on the branch past where Azuma was once standing. Dante's Devil Trigger worn off as red vapor escaped his body and he changed back into his human form, yet both he and Erza still had smiles on their faces.

However, what nobody noticed was that they didn't appear alone. High above them, on a root near the area stood the same man from Dante's vision, with the same girl in pink who gave Cana Fairy Glitter, sitting on the root and dangling her feet off the edge.

"Do you think it's cheating that we gave them a helping hand in the end?" The man asked in an almost playful tone.

"I don't think so." The girl answered. "All we did was just remind them of who they were fighting for. It was their power together that won the day. Not just their combined Unison Raid, but the trust they had for each other."

The man smiled as he gave a nod in response as he glanced down toward Dante with a proud look in his eyes.

Done.

So, what did you all think? I thought that turned out well. Dante and Erza have defeated the strongest of the Eight Kin of Purgatory (leaving only two left, three if you count Bluenote). You've noticed I had to add and change some things to make this particular chapter stand out. I decided to remove that moment with Jellal, while it was pretty sweet in the cannon series, it felt somewhat Deus Ex Machina that he could connect to her through the 'power of love' or whatever (it was never explained in the cannon).

I gave Azuma some extra powers, including his own 'super' form, if you will, his Eden Form. If you want an idea of what he looks like, look up "Steven Universe Obsidian". I wanted to make Azuma extra dangerous so that he could be a match for both the likes of Erza and Dante, and I think I'm quite satisfied with how it turned out, and I hope you're all satisfied as well.

Dante also has gained his new nickname. Everyone in Fairy Tail's got one (Natsu is Salamander, Gajeel is Blacksteel, and Erza is Titania), so its only fair Dante gets his own: The Legendary Crimson Knight. It's a way to both pay homage to his father, and also to stand out on his own and not stay in Sparda's shadow. I hope you guys like it.

It would seem our two eavesdroppers from before (and we all know who they are), were able to give Dante and Erza the push they needed as they just triggered some memories in their minds to give them the motivation to keep going forward with an epic Unison Raid. Fairy King: Crimson Oberon.

With Grimoire Heart's top tier members near the brink of defeat, the time will soon come when Fairy Tail takes the fight to Hades himself and I'm really looking forward to that. I'll see you soon with the next update, until then, stay safe and healthy out there.