Hi guys Azza here!
Before the reviews I just want to ask those of you who know the One Piece story your opinion on something because as you all know stuff is about to start going down on the Upper Yard and there is a certain group who I just hate.
So I ask what do you guys think about the Shandians because honestly with Wyper as their leader I think they suck, like really really suck to the point that in my first draft I had Berserker kill him without so much as batting an eye.
Probably an extreme haha but I'm curious to know what you guys think because obviously they will have to be included in the events to come so if you all kind of hate them or just Wyper then I will GLADLY kill them off.
Anyway onto the reviews!
Shadow465 – Yeah I'm taking things a bit easier since I wanted to finish up Vol II and firmly establish Vol III before returning to an upload schedule that didn't have me staying up until 4am.
As for your question surrounding Berserker the best example I can give you of his power in Servant form is a comparison feat. Remember that one part in the story where a certain someone who if they fully released their power it would incinerate the planet, yeah not quite at that level but maybe at least a continent at full power.
Sorry for being vague but its spoilery for those who don't know yet!
Guest – Sometimes it is easy to do that which I had been doing up until recently but I like to make sure my work has a certain level of quality too. Since I don't have a beta or anything it's up to me to ensure that my work doesn't devolve into an incoherent mess you guys can't understand so that is why I only release one chapter at a time unless its for a specific reason like a milestone or something.
I will admit though I do have certain chapters already written for certain parts of the Volumes and simply edit them later but that's more to keep me on track with where I'm writing than anything else.
Anyway on with the story!
I do not own Fairy Tail, One Piece or the Nasuverse.
Servants Of God
/Mordred's POV/
'Damn this bastard,' Mordred hissed as she ran a finger over a cracked piece of her armor. 'No matter how many hits I land he just regenerates! I wonder if this is how Natsu's enemies feel when they fight him?'
Blocking a slash from her left Mordred and Alphonse head butted each other as they pushed against each other's blades with equal strength. As she fought for dominance countless strategies were running through her mind on how to defeat her opponent in a way that would at the very least render him incapable of moving.
'Ok so I can't chop off his limbs nor can I stab the bastard to death which means I'll have to get creative, but how can I hold this guy back with strength matching my own?'
"You are beginning to tire Mordred," Alphonse said bluntly as he began to push her back. "My stamina is infinite in this form, I will not fatigue no matter how long I fight."
'Well there goes that idea …'
Alphonse pushed Mordred backward with enough force to send her skidding along the ground as he waved his right hand manipulating the ground around him to rise up, firing large rocks at her forcing Mordred to begin slashing away at them in an attempt to avoid being hit any more than she already had.
The rock barrage sped up as she found herself hacking and slashing with astonishing speed until suddenly Alphonse himself was in front of her landing a powerful punch to her gut, denting the armor and sending her flying in the process.
"It was rather foolish of you to try and deflect all those rocks, you left yourself wide open for a surprise attack!"
Hitting the ground face first Mordred quickly got to her feet noticing that her helmet had been cracked right down the middle obscuring her vision. With a scowl she reached up and smashed a hole in the front of it to see better deciding that some protection for her head was better than none at this point.
"If you keep this up Mordred you will lose, I would hate to defeat you here when you are on the good side."
"Shut up will ya," Mordred snapped back in annoyance. "I'm not about to lose to someone who isn't even an actual knight! If I want to become King then I've gotta keep fighting and overcome everything thrown at me just like Father did otherwise my claim won't seem as legitimate!"
"What?"
"My Father fought all sorts of crazy enemies when she was alive from fearsome Dragons, Demonic beings from the darkest pits of hell, evil mages like Morgana Le Fay herself and yet none of them could do more than make her budge slightly!"
Mordred grinned as her blade began to emit red sparks which began coursing throughout not just the blade but her whole body as she took a step forward, cracking the ground beneath her as she spun the blade around experimentally.
"But despite all the countless evils she fought in life only I was able to kill her, only I was able to match such frightening power! If I can match Father when she wields the lance that holds the power of the world within its confines then what the hell are you to me Alchemist?"
"You might have been able to match the power of King Arthur in life Mordred but as a Servant her power far exceeds yours," Alphonse replied truthfully as Mordred's grin returned to a deep scowl.
"What …"
"As a Servant King Arthur wielding both the Holy Blade Excalibur and the Sacred Lance Rhongomyniad could bring about your end Mordred, this is no mere jest but simple fact."
"You bastard," Mordred hissed as her rage began to take over with her vision becoming red. "How dare you say something like that to me … ME! I'm the one who actually SLEW King Arthur at Camlann NO ONE ELSE!"
"Is that so? From where I'm standing if someone like you could actually defeat King Arthur then she must have been rather … weak."
Mordred had vanished in a flash of red reappearing in front of Alphonse who barely had enough time to raise his blade to block the brutal swing from Mordred as she began to hammer away at his blade, shattering it repeatedly forcing him to create a new one before being struck by the powerful blows.
Eventually it seemed Mordred grew tired of simply hammering away at him and decided to change things up the next time she shattered his blade. Once it broke she lunged out and grabbed a hold of Alphonse's arm and threw him over her head toward the castle, knocking down an entire wall as a section of it collapsed from the sheer force behind the throw as she charged toward his location.
"That's it … use that rage Mordred, unleash it all and show me the true foe King Arthur fought!"
Mordred didn't hear him as she leapt through the hole in the wall and kicked Alphonse in the chest as he tried to rise to his feet sending him flying into the nearby grand staircase with enough force to shatter what was left of the windows.
Stalking forward Mordred didn't even look up as the massive golden chandelier snapped from its suspension wires and came hurling toward her instead simply spinning around and kicking it at Alphonse just before it hit the ground
Before it could hit him however the entire room began to glow as the walls began to shoot out toward her like lances with some stopping the chandelier mid flight allowing Alphonse enough time to rise to his feet.
"Not bad … but I don't plan on letting you rampage without bothering to mount some sort of defence," Alphonse said as Mordred jumped out of the way of the wall lances before slicing them apart and charging forward.
The carpet that led to the stairwell suddenly reared up to attack as it morphed into a stone golem and raised its massive sword to strike with Mordred blocking it with her right arm before batting it aside and jumping up to kick the lumbering golem in the face knocking it into a nearby wall before slicing its arms and legs off and continuing forward.
More runes began to appear as the glass began to fly into the air and formed a large bird like creature that shot toward Mordred who pointed her blade at it and fired a bolt of red lightning at it which caused it to shatter, raining down shards of glass over the room which was completely ignored by the pair who didn't even feel it thanks to their armor.
Reaching the stairwell Alphonse formed a much thicker blade and clashed with Mordred's however he soon found himself being pushed back as he began backpedalling up the staircase before moving to the right side corridor.
With his free arm Alphonse snapped his fingers as two steel gargoyle statures burst to life and charged toward Mordred, one flying and the other running on all fours with an axe clutched firmly with its tail allowing Alphonse a moment to fall back and catch his breath.
Truth be told the cold and calculating look in Mordred's eyes in that moment reminded him of the King Arthur he'd met on the Throne of Heroes when he'd seen her fighting against another fellow Saber. Though Mordred's eyes were an emerald green colour and King Arthur's were more an icy blue in this moment he couldn't honestly distinguish the pair.
Yes now Alphonse could see why Mordred was considered Arthur's child as she marched toward him demolishing everything in her path. This was the determination that brought about the golden age of Arthurian Legend which Mordred had inherited, a determination that would drive her forward to achieve her goals no matter what stood in her way.
"So this is the legacy of King Arthur," Alphonse said in awe as he watched Mordred dodge a strike from one of the gargoyles and punched it in the face sending it flying through a nearby wall before turning toward the other one and blocking its axe attack with no effort from her free hand and moved to slice it apart with her blade before setting her sights solely back on him.
Retreating back through several rooms Alphonse knew fighting her in a close quarters environment wouldn't work well so he made a hasty retreat toward the stairwell however he was surprised by her charging through the wall nearest to him noticing she had smashed through over four walls to reach him.
Jumping out of the way he narrowly avoided a slash attack as his feet landed on the bottom of the steps belonging to the stairwell Alphonse began to ascend the stairs whilst transmuting the railing and steps into various beasts such as snakes and attack dogs.
Unfortunately Mordred simply began to release sparks from her body that struck the constructs down as soon as they were created before leaping up over two flights of stairs to catch up with him, narrowly missing him with her blade as she sliced apart the wall behind him.
Blocking another strike he was punched in the helmet knocking him into a wall, forcefully bouncing himself off of it in time to avoid another slash attack as he shoulder charged her into the wall opposite his own before moving toward the next set of stairs.
Hearing the sound of Mordred dislodging herself from the stairs he was already two stories up when he was struck by an aerial slash attack that sliced apart not only his left arm but part of the stairwell and the wall next to him.
Beginning to regenerate his arm he was about to proceed when two armor clad hands tore through the stone stairs at his feet and forcefully yanked him through as he was slammed violently on the ground before being swung into a wall and thrown onto an outside rooftop.
Rolling to a stop Alphonse pushed himself up off of the ground and summoned another sword as Mordred stomped out of the hole in the wall, removing her helmet in the process as it vanished into the ether.
"Now this is what I expected from the start Mordred Pendragon, this is the real power of the Knight of Treachery!"
"Don't act like you know who I really am Alphonse Elric," Mordred replied coldly. "You wanted me to fight seriously well now you're getting it. You can insult me all you want, you can insult all I ever was but the moment you dare suggest that my Father was weak …"
Gripping Clarent tighter Mordred began to emit even more sparks as Alphonse took a cautious step back trying to inch his way toward a certain part of the roof.
"Anyone who dares speak about my King that way will die, there's no two ways about it."
"I'll admit that you certainly are giving it your all now Mordred," Alphonse replied as he jumped up onto the tallest part of the castle roof. "However you have allowed me to reach the peak of this castle, the point where not even you will prevail!"
"I beg to differ," Mordred replied with narrowed eyes as Alphonse held out his hand as part of the roof opened up spitting out an obsidian bastard sword which he caught with one hand as if it weighed next to nothing.
"This blade is one of my own design Mordred and has become one of my Noble Phantasms thanks to this," Alphonse said as he pointed toward the hilt of the sword with her eyes widening slightly as she saw what had been fused into it.
"That can't be …"
"This is a Philosopher's Stone Mordred, a powerful magical artefact and proof of one's mastery in the field of Alchemy," Alphonse said as Mordred felt the power of the blade begin to flood the area. "I created this stone when I was in my early forties and fused it with this blade several years afterward creating a blade that went unrivalled even beyond my death!"
'I can feel the power flowing from that sword, though it isn't on par with Father's sword it definitely could equal mine or any of the other swords used by the Round Table! To think this bastard actually made a weapon that strong!'
Jumping back off of the tallest section of the roof Alphonse landed on one knee before her, the blade in his hand extended outward to his right as the two looked at each other for several moments.
"Does that blade of yours have a name?"
"Lapis," Alphonse replied rising to his feet. "Its short for Lapis Philosophorum, that basically means Philosopher's Stone in Latin but I liked the sound of Lapis since it was fitting to the artefact that granted the blade its true power."
"You really think that'll be enough to stop me from tearing you apart?"
"There's only one way to find out isn't there Mordred," Alphonse replied as the two entered their respective ready stances. "Let us see who holds the stronger blade, my Lapis or your Clarent?"
With grit teeth Mordred vanished at the same moment Alphonse did as the pair clashed once again, shattering the already weakened stone panes on the roof rendering it unstable. Unfortunately for the pair they didn't care as they began to slash away at one another as their battle began to enter its final stage.
/Natsu's POV/
"I'll admit this has been an interesting fight Caster," Natsu said as he continued to counter the palm thrust attacks from Caster's construct. "But I wonder how long you can keep this up?"
"As long as is necessary Natsu, as long as is necessary," Caster replied as he tried to grab Natsu with one of the hands only for Natsu to vanish and appear in front of him.
"Bold words," Natsu said as he landed his first blow on Caster sending him flying through several trees with a well timed kick. "But we've been fighting for awhile now and all that power you've been putting out has been taking its toll on you."
Natsu watched as Caster slowly rose to his feet, wiping some blood from the corner of his mouth as he narrowed his eyes at his words.
"You know the consequences a Servant suffers when they don't have a Master Caster; they sustain themselves through their own Spirit Origin or from specific fonts of power. Now tell me Caster," Natsu asked as he leant up against a tree crossing his arms. "Do you feel any fonts of power around here because I only feel one and it's far from this forest?"
"Why bother asking a question you already know the answer to," Caster sighed. "You know I've been using my own Spirit Origin to sustain myself since my summoning, it's preferable over being bound to the ones I'm testing you for."
"Do you really need to continue Caster; have I not proven I can hold my own?"
"I don't find myself convinced that you can handle what awaits you ahead of this trial Natsu, you are strong but it would take someone far stronger than even I to win against God Enel and that thing."
"So if I prove to you my power you'll let me pass," Natsu asked as the old man raised an eyebrow.
"And just how would you prove it?"
"I'll release my power for you and if you think it's enough to defeat this Enel you'll let me pass without any more fighting. I don't feel right fighting someone who isn't a bad guy and is slowly killing himself doing it."
"I see," the old man said as he leant back against the tree he'd landed up against. "So you wish for me to deem you worthy to pass through this test rather than combat?"
"Is that acceptable?"
Caster smiled slightly and nodded in approval motioning for Natsu to show him his power and in response Natsu took a deep breath, exhaled and gave him a serious look.
"I have to warn you that I don't do this very often anymore because of how dangerous it truly is. In addition my power has increased significantly since I recently fought in a war; even I'm not entirely sure what my new maximum is."
"Thank you for your concern Natsu but I'll be fine," Caster said waving off his concerns. "Now show me your power!"
"All right then Caster," Natsu sighed as he clenched his fists as his body began to float upward slightly. "You asked for it!"
A powerful gust of wind immediately began generating from Natsu's position as Natsu's Crimson Red and Galaxy Blue Aura exploded from his body.
"One …"
Caster raised an eyebrow as Natsu began counting down, unsure as to why he would employ such a method.
"Two …"
He was about to voice his confusion when he suddenly felt something within Natsu appear from seemingly nowhere, a floodgate of sorts that was full to the brim of monstrous power.
"Three!"
The wind gusts that already had the trees swaying from their force increased drastically as Natsu hunched over slightly as he began to growl slightly. The wind gusts alone were nothing new to Caster however what followed would be a memory he would be sure to remember for the rest of his existence.
As Natsu began to yell the entire landscape began to shake as pillars of flame and strange tendril like pillars began to erupt from the ground below with the trees and bits of earth that were beings sent flying freezing in place before moving toward Natsu's position as they began orbiting him like the moon would to a planet.
Lightning began to rain down from above in mixtures of blue, yellow and black along with rays of light that almost became too blinding to look at so he redirected his full attention on Natsu.
Not believing he could be shocked further he watched as the Aura shifted into a Blood Red and Midnight Blue colour before momentarily turning Pitch Black and Pure White before yet again shifting into its final state of Aqua Blue as Natsu's hair changed to match with it becoming much sharper, sticking upward more with one black strand and another Blood Red and Midnight Blue one sticking out at the front.
"Wha-what is this power!
/Enel's POV/
Enel had just finished giving out his latest set of orders when he found himself kneeling on the ground in shock at the power suddenly smashing into his senses.
"What is this!"
"Fool, Dragneel has decided to unleash his power!"
"Dragneel is doing this," Enel asked in shock receiving no response as his closed his eyes only to gasp at the display he was witnessing.
"Now you understand why I want things rushed!"
"Yes," Enel said slowly. "Yes I do indeed …"
/Grand Line – Servant State Of Eden/
Arthuria was enjoying her third lunch, a modest serving of thirty burgers made from scratch by the finest chef she had alongside her advisor Merlin and several other nuisances. Moving onto her thirteenth burger her eyes sparkled in pure bliss, her tongue practically tasting the edges of the stacked burger when suddenly she was hit by a wave of power prompting her to gasp and drop her lunch in the process.
"What in the world," Arthuria gasped as she swiftly rose from her seat summoning Rhongomyniad to her side. "Merlin, are we under attack!?"
"No we aren't," the child like mage replied as he continued to eat like nothing was wrong.
"Then what do you call this disturbance Merlin, do you perhaps not sense it as strongly as I?"
"Sit down fool," a rather smug voice said prompting Arthuria to narrow her eyes in its direction.
"Are you too losing your touch O great King of Kings, do you not sense this disturbance that rivals even your power?"
"Oh I feel it alright and recognize it for what it is," the smug King replied as he continued to eat like Merlin was. "I think it is rather amusing you have failed to notice just who is putting out this power."
"What-!"
"Calm down and allow yourself to feel the power surrounding us," Merlin said with his mouth half full of ice cream.
Doing as instructed Arthuria took a deep breath and closed her eyes only for them to widen moments afterward.
"It's him!"
"Indeed, he's putting some mongrel in their place I'll bet. I only wish I was there to see it."
"Well whatever he's doing he's going to draw a lot of attention onto himself for this little stunt," Merlin said with a grin, one that would have been adorable since he was a kid with a face covered in ice cream until you realize this is actually a fully grown man.
"And he will relish every battle that comes his way, crushing his foes underfoot as they come to try and take him in!"
"Settle down King of Conquerors you oaf," the smug King snarled as a large golden bottle of wine was knocked off of the table only to be smashed on the floor.
"Today is a cause for much celebration; another King has announced his presence to the world! I must prepare my men at once; we march for another island owned by the Celestials on the morrow!"
"I do hope Natsu knows what he's doing," Arthuria sighed as she looked out of the window, her meal astonishingly forgotten as she slowly left the room.
/Sacred Holyland Of Mariejois – Room Of ?/
As the world continued to tick on to the tempo he had created over the last eight hundred years he found himself suddenly grinning like a madman as a large power washed over him. The power was not unexpected in the slightest rather it had been foreseen well in advance.
Opening one Blood Red coloured eye he looked down at the three bounty posters that had been given to him by those mortal fools, his grin widening even further as he picked up Natsu's poster and slowly rose from his throne.
"It's been a long eight hundred years Solomon," the figure said to himself as he began to descend from the throne. "But it appears that he appeared just like you said he would. Your little game is beginning yet again Solomon, do you still believe you control all of the pieces or will he upset your plans yet again?"
Stopping before the door he took one last look at Natsu's poster and began to laugh as it caught fire, dropping it on the floor as the flames closed in on Natsu's face.
"The pieces are set; time to see who will be eliminated first!"
/Grand Line – Neutral Sea/
As those with power began to feel Natsu's presence the local Devil was currently emerging from his cabin after a long night of drinking.
"You look like shit Shanks."
"I think you meant to say that you were seriously concerned for my wellbeing, Benn."
Assistant Of The Devil
Vice Captain Of The Red Haired Pirates
Benn Beckman
"What's the difference," Benn asked with an amused grin as the two moved over toward a couple of crates with Shanks sitting down whilst massaging his temples.
"So how are things going," Shanks asked as Benn lit up a cigarette.
"We hit neutral waters last night, the crew were getting a bit restless about coming but I talked em down."
"Any sign of Rockstar?"
"He's only been gone a day Shanks give him time to get there."
"Yeah I guess you're right," Shanks sighed. "I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid."
"If anyone did anything to get themselves killed on the ship of the strongest man in the world then they deserved death, you and I both know that."
"Doesn't mean I want to see the kid dead Benn."
"Hey I know," Benn replied waving him off. "You must want me dead though, gave me immortality yet I'm still getting grey hairs."
"Benn not even immortality is saving that mess," Shanks laughed earning him a punch to the shoulder.
"Fuck you!"
Both Shanks and Benn froze, their eyes turning Crimson Red as they felt a massive surge of power smash into them.
"What the hell," Shanks murmured to himself.
"You know who this is Shanks?"
"Yeah I do," Shanks sighed massaging his temples. "That's the guy I was telling you I was gonna introduce you to."
"Natsu Dragneel?"
"Yeah."
"What's he doing flaring his power like that?"
"I've got no idea but if he's doing it then it's for a reason though I find it strange that he's doing this after telling me he was gonna try and lie low."
"Lie low," Benn scoffed. "After this the other Emperors are gonna be trying to find out who he is, hell even the stronger guys in the Navy are gonna be looking for him assuming they figure out it was him who did this."
"I know Benn but what do you expect me to do about it, he's old enough to make his own decisions."
"Did you even explain how strong some of the people here are?"
"It might have slipped my mind …"
"Honestly," Benn sighed shaking his head. "Well I guess it doesn't matter now, he's made his bed so now he'll have to lie in it I suppose."
"Hopefully he at least reigns in his power before someone gets a lock on wherever he is," Shanks sighed as he rose from his seat. "If you need me I'll be in my room."
"Drinking?"
"Yep."
"But it's only just gone midday?"
"Duly noted," Shanks replied as he stumbled over toward his room leaving Benn to sigh and shake his head.
/Elsewhere/
"This familiar power … oh my."
"Someone you are familiar with Empress?"
"Indeed it is, that is the one who promised his servitude to me."
"You mean that's Natsu Dragneel putting out all that power!"
"Indeed."
"Should we send emissaries to collect him?"
"Don't bother," the Empress replied. "The frigid bitch Princess already tried and they got their asses handed to them."
"So what should we do?"
"We play the waiting game," the Empress replied as she slowly rose from her seat picking up her massive dai katana as she went. "If Natsu is tasked with exploring this world then he will come to me in due time."
"So we're playing the waiting game then?"
"Tell me again why I'm putting up with you?"
"Because I'm the one that keeps Emperor Kaido from invading our country perhaps?"
"You speak as if it isn't my strength that pushed back that thing; your politics means nothing to a man like Kaido."
"Perhaps not to Kaido but to the rest of his forces-!"
"It means even less," the Empress snarled as her Crimson Red eyes glowed in the darkness. "It is thanks to me and my Shoguns that our slice of territory exists at all, do not forget that!"
"Of course not my Empress."
"I want Natsu back," the Empress sighed. "Times were fun when I was with him yet now all I get is trash like you for company."
"I have no words for that Empress."
"You aren't meant to," the Empress snarled back as she walked back toward her black iron throne. "For a Servant you really are quite pathetic you know, leave me!"
"Of course Empress," the Servant replied bowing before scurrying from the dimly lit room as the Empress resumed her seat.
"This power of yours is as intoxicating as ever," the Empress said barely above a whisper. "I can feel all your raw emotions flooding my very senses, your primal, bestial desires laid bare once more before me …"
The Empress licked her lips as she lifted up one of Natsu's wanted posters eying it with a fond look.
"Our reunion may be far off Natsu but I know you will love all that I have built for us, then you will fulfil your promise to me and life will be perfect …"
Folding up the wanted poster the Empress stowed it away between her breasts before rising from the throne once more along with her dai katana and made her way toward the exit to the throne room.
Her country wouldn't run itself after all.
/Yet Another Elsewhere – But Hidden Better/
"And that is thy report?"
"Indeed."
"Dost thou understand the consequences for thy actions Serenity? Thou hast brought attention unto Natsu, needless attention!"
"My apologies my King I did not believe he would find himself needing to use that much of his power," Serenity said as calmly as she could as King Hassan tapped his remaining skeletal hand on his throne contemplatively.
First Of The Hassan-i-Sabbah
Founder Of The Hashashin
King Hassan (Grand Assassin)
Bounty – 2, 210,000,000 Berries
"Actions by King Natsu defy all expectations Serenity, thou art forgiven this day however learn from thy mistakes and grow stronger lest I be forced to finally claim thy head."
"Do you think Natsu even realizes the consequences of what he is doing?"
"Doubtful but not an impossibility," King Hassan replied. "However it matters not, the world shall indeed come to fear the name Dragneel in due course. You are dismissed Serenity, resume thy assigned tasks as instructed."
"Of course King Hassan," Serenity replied fading away leaving King Hassan alone to his thoughts as he moved a skeletal hand over toward the stump that was all that remained after his fight with the Grand Caster.
"Thou hast grown in strength Natsu but art thou capable of standing against Solomon and his forces, only time shall tell."
/Luffy, Sanji And Usopp's POV/
"Man we've been walking for ages," Usopp sighed. "Is this supposed to be the trial, walking through bogs all day?"
"I'd rather be doing this than have to deal with whatever those tremors are," Sanji replied when suddenly all three were blown violently off of their feet.
"AAAAH, WE'RE GONNA DIE," Usopp screamed as Luffy extended his arms and caught the pair before they were blown away.
"What the hell is this pressure," Sanji growled.
"Whatever it is it clearly wants us dead!"
"I think it's coming from the same direction that massive golden thing was in," Luffy said as the wind gusts began to die down only to be replaced by the earth shaking violently.
"Now I'm really glad we went this way, another five thousand miles of bog please so long as I don't have to fight whatever monster that is!"
"You know guys I don't know why but I've got a hunch that the pressure we're feeling is coming straight from Natsu," Luffy said as the pair looked at each other for a moment before nodding.
"He is a God like being so it could be possible …"
"Hey do you think he's fighting that God Enel guy to try and save us," Usopp asked with tears in his eyes. "I always knew he was a good friend!"
"You've barely known him a week Usopp," Sanji shot back as the trio steadied themselves on the shaky ground. "Now come on we've got to get moving before this ground gives way or else we'll fall back down to the Blue Sea and to our deaths!"
"Death is bad, let's move," Usopp said as he charged forward only to find himself bumping right into someone.
Looking upward Usopp froze at the maniacal glint in the man's eyes however it wasn't directed at Usopp but at the direction of the strange pressure.
"Damn that retarded old man for getting to fight him first, fuck this I'm going in," the man growled only for a strange symbol to begin glowing on his right hand. "Fuck you … I'm going!"
Usopp used this moment to scurry back behind his two friends who both eyed the man suspiciously as he seemed to struggle to take a step forward whilst talking to himself.
"I must fight him; Natsu Dragneel is the only foe I wanna face!"
The man began growling as a strange aura of death settled over the area which seemed to allow the man to take several steps forward in defiance of whatever it was that was keeping him back.
"No one tells me what to do … NO ONE!"
And with a loud cry the man flew up into the sky before charging toward the area where the pressure had been coming from leaving the trio stunned in disbelief.
"Can we leave this forest now," Usopp asked shakily as Sanji slowly nodded.
"Yeah Usopp I think we can definitely leave."
As the pair began walking forward trying to forget the monster they'd just seen Luffy stared off into the distance where he knew Natsu was fighting and frowned. He wasn't the brightest guy around but the person before him felt like death there simply wasn't any other way to describe it.
"Oi Luffy," Sanji called out. "You coming?"
"Yeah," Luffy cried back as the pair resumed walking.
Nodding his head he knew what he had to do once this whole situation was behind them. The training Natsu had promised Zoro, Sanji and himself would be necessary to survive against beings like the one he'd just seen and he wouldn't take no for an answer.
He was the Captain and it was his job to protect his crew, his friends, even if they all didn't really need it.
/Natsu's POV/
Natsu hovered before Caster no longer growling under the strain of forcing much of his power out so quickly, instead he simply looked down upon the gaping old man with a look of indifference.
And then just like that the power vanished, disappeared in a single moment as Natsu reverted to his base form and landed in front of him with a raised eyebrow.
"So was that good enough?"
"I-I think so," Caster said finally taking a deep breath. "So that was your full power?"
"No."
"WHAT," Caster shouted as his eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "What do you mean no!"
"That wasn't my full power, it was my full power before I fought against an Elder God but I've grown stronger from that engagement."
"So how much of your power was that exactly?"
"Around sixty five to seventy percent," Natsu replied almost prompting the old man to faint on the spot.
"You grew that much stronger after one fight!"
"You have to understand the level of the fight I was in to understand why the increase was so drastic. During that war I used every last drop of my power then forced open my Second Origin to tap into further power draining basically all of that too."
"So you pushed yourself beyond even the limits of your extra power just to narrowly win?"
"Yes and believe me my body suffered for a few days after that mess as it began to recover," Natsu sighed. "Anyway my point is don't be surprised about that not being the full extent of my power, I'm a higher being so expect my power to grow even more as I continue on my journey. Oh and don't even get me started on the fact that I'm actually missing some shards of my power still!"
"I think I've heard enough," the old man sighed with a tired smile as he extended a hand toward Natsu. "You most certainly pass this trial Natsu, Enel will be hard pressed to defeat someone as powerful as you."
"Thanks Caster," Natsu replied with a grin.
"I suppose before I let you go I should give you my real name," Caster said as the two shook hands.
Former Chairman Of The Hunter Association
The Man Who Surpassed The Human Peak
Isaac Netero (Caster)
"I swear I've heard of you somewhere before," Natsu said with a frown as he tried to remember where he'd heard the name Netero before. "Ah well I'm sure I'll figure it out later!"
"Oho I'm surprised you actually have some inkling as to who I am," Netero replied. "But yes like you said I'm sure you'll remember later but for now simply follow this path and you should reach the end of this forest."
"Cool," Natsu said as he began walking down the path until a call from Netero stopped him.
"Be careful Natsu upon your arrival at the edge of the forest, Servant Berserker seems overly eager to fight you for some reason."
"Probably knows me I'm assuming."
"A lot of Servants know you Natsu," Netero chuckled in response. "Consider my words a warning from one friend to another."
"Thanks Netero," Natsu replied with a grin. "I'll be sure to keep an eye out!"
And with that Natsu continued his walk toward the edge of the forest wondering just who this Berserker Servant was. Known for their strength Natsu knew he would have a rather brutal fight on his hands if the Berserker decided to truly run wild.
"Ah well I suppose it can't be helped!"
Hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!