Hi guys Azza here!
Reviews
Erasenpai946 – Some of those characters you implied for part of the harem are already taken so it can't happen. Some also won't get into a relationship with him until waaaaay down the line such in the case of Esdeath who attached herself to him obviously beyond the events of what we're up to.
As for Moria I know he's annoying but I'm going to make use of making his powers broken and the final fight against him will be one I don't think anyone is going to have seen coming so hopefully that is something to look forward to.
As for Robin's powers she will come into them both pre and post time skip kind of like how Seilah is still evolving in hers even now. Mordred on the other hand is also going to be receiving a MASSIVE buff soon but I won't say anything more on it aside from that I've had it planned since about the beginning of the Ninja War in Vol II.
Anyway on with the story!
I do not own Fairy Tail, One Piece or the Nasuverse.
Reveal Of Vampiric Terror
/Mordred's POV/
Skidding to a stop Mordred knew instantly what had happened the moment an explosion went off atop the roof of Moria's castle. The smoke being blasted away as she barely made out the two shadowy forms clashing against one another relentlessly.
"Well it looks like Seilah found Moria first though it'll be interesting to see if he can snatch her shadow away."
"B-but Mordred, Lola and the others back there said that-!"
"Settle down little raccoon dog," Kupo cut in as he floated past the pair. "If the Seilah you're talking about is the same one I'm thinking of then Moria won't have her shadow easily."
"But he can get it," Mordred asked as Kupo shrugged.
"Depends on how strong she is right now, Seilah I know could rip a guy like Moria apart without even lifting a finger."
"Our Seilah butchers humans but ... really?"
"Oh yeah she's downright brutal, poor old Lev didn't know what hit him when Chaldea caught him in Septe-AHAHA ... forget I said that!"
Shaking her head as another explosion went off on the roof Mordred looked toward Chopper who was situated firmly atop her right shoulder and nodded.
"We're gonna go on and try and help Seilah out! She's plenty strong but from the information she brought back combined with how strong some of these guys have shown themselves to be since we arrived I don't plan on taking any chances."
"Well if you guys insist I'll go back and help Nami, Usopp and the others then since you seem to be packing enough power to spare."
"Do whatever you want but know that if I find out you hurt them I'll bring you to the brink of death and hand you over to my Master."
"Can you stop with the threats already," Kupo sighed exasperatedly. "I get I'm not a contracted Servant but I'm trying my best to help you guys out!"
Kupo flew away as Mordred shot off toward the castle with her inhuman speeds, Chopper clinging to her shoulder like a lifeline as she cleared the distance between them and the castle in under thirty seconds.
"H-how the hell are you gonna stop!?"
"Like this," Mordred grinned as she kicked off from the ground, using the force from her sprint to propel her up toward the eighth story window, and smashed through one of the windows with her blade instantly tearing apart several undead in the process.
"HOLY CRAP!"
"ITS ONE OF THE STRAW HATS!"
"Oi Chopper get into that antler form and funnel em toward me," Mordred called out as she grabbed said reindeer and threw him down toward the end of the corridor.
"DAMN IT DON'T TOSS ME AROUND LIKE THAT! Rumble: Horn Point!"
Eating the strange capsule Chopper morphed into his reindeer form, his antlers increasing in size, as he began to charge toward the nearest group of undead and sent them flying through the air toward Mordred's waiting blade.
"Batter up," Mordred grinned as she sliced apart the latest group. "Oops, I used the sharp part!"
"YOU AREN'T SORRY AT ALL," the undead cried out in horror at Mordred's cheeky grin before being flung toward her by Chopper's attacks.
"Oi you damn Servant bitch, leave my zombie soldiers out of this!"
Slicing apart another group Mordred spun around and saw a scowling Absalom standing at the end of the corridor which only served to widen her grin as she planted the tip of the blade into the carpet and leant on it.
"Ho? Those sound like fighting words from a pathetic perv who I one shot earlier, surely I misheard you?"
"Laugh all you want because I'm gonna destroy you!"
"Seems you have some fight in you after all eh," Mordred grinned as she grabbed her blade and entered an offensive stance. "Alright then let's do it!"
"That's right; prepare to face the might of my Zombie Army!"
Mordred's grin faded slightly at the man's exclamation since it meant he was likely going to flee again however when several heavily armoured figured marched in from behind him Mordred's grin was reignited full force.
"No way, you guys actually have high tier undead here!?"
"That's right, now prepare to meet your end," Absalom cried before turning invisible and revealing the entire hallway to be completely flooded with more of the heavily armed undead.
"M-Mordred ... are you sure about this?"
"Come on Chopper there's no need to be scared," Mordred grinned as she placed a hand in-between his antlers and gave him a gentle pat. "They might look tough but the two of us are more than enough to take em on."
"B-but look at them, there's so many ..."
"True, but think about it like this," Mordred sighed as she took several steps forward, her blade beginning to emit Crimson Red flame. "If we don't fight these guys then the others might have to, Lola, Spoil and all those other guys who Moria and his crew have held hostage here. Do you think those guys are gonna be able to face all this?"
"No," Chopper sighed. "You're right Mordred, but I'm-!"
"Scared?"
"Y-yeah I am, but also sad."
"Sad?"
"Kupo said Doctor Hogback was the one who helped create all these zombie soldiers which means each and every last one of these zombies in front of us was once a person he should have saved, a person who he killed and used his medical genius on for ... this!"
"Then what are you gonna do about it," Mordred asked as Chopper cocked his head to the side confused. "I know what I'd be doing if I were you."
"What do you mean?"
"This Hogback guy just shattered one of the reasons you became a Doctor right?"
"Well ... yeah."
"Then beat the shit out of these undead of his, find the prick and kick his teeth in for what he's done!"
Chopper's eyes widened at Mordred's words, his mind not even registering how close the undead had gotten to them as she began to raise her blade above her head.
"Prove to that bastard that he's wrong," Mordred shouted as the loud sound of crackling flame began to drown out her words. "Prove that you're a thousand times better than he'll ever be! Clarent – Camlann Memoria!"
Swinging her blade downward brought with it a sea of flame that crashed into the undead, instantly destroying the weaker ones and searing away the flesh and armor of the stronger ones before setting off a series of explosions that rocked the entire hallway.
The moment her attack concluded and the smoke began to clear the section of flooring before them collapsed, cutting off the undead from their position as Chopper's eyes moved to stare at Mordred's back.
"That is what anyone who truly cares about something would do," Mordred said before turning around and walking toward the other end of the hall. "Now let's go find this guy so you can knock some sense into him!"
"You're right Mordred," Chopper nodded slowly as he looked back at the melted pile of flesh and metal. "Hogback needs to pay for what he's done to all these people!"
"Don't worry buddy I'll be right there with you," Mordred smiled as the pair turned down the corridor and headed toward the only door available to them.
/Seilah's POV/
"Stand still," Moria hissed as he hacked apart the room the pair had found themselves drawn into as a result of their ongoing battle. "All you seem to do is dodge so cut it out and fight me!"
"Do not get ahead of yourself Moria," Seilah retorted as she faded into a nearby wall right as Moria sliced it apart revealing that she had vanished. "You might believe that you hold the upper hand however all you've been doing from the very beginning is falling right into my carefully laid trap."
"WHAT," Moria snapped just as all four walls became covered in the pitch black void substance used by Seilah to travel. "A Shadow Prison!?"
"Correct, one of your own making," Seilah replied as two Crimson Red eyes and a haunting mouth with razor sharp teeth appeared on the far void wall. "Within this space you are mine to play with Moria ..."
"As if I would ever play second fiddle in a game of shadows," Moria screeched as his two shadow blades faded away and he held out both his hands as if clutching both void walls. "Least of all to some pathetic slave to Dragneel of all people!"
Seilah was surprised when Moria managed to not only grab onto the walls but ripped a hole right through them, forming a massive sphere out of the two walls as she readjusted her position to an adjacent one.
"I am the master of Shadow, Gecko Moria! Watch as I show you the fear that once terrorized the entire world! Shadow Shadow: Black Babel!"
On instinct Seilah forced herself out of the shadows as thousands of pitch black spires began emerging from the void like ground, each coated with countless razor sharp thorns that began to spin quickly enough to generate a loud buzzing sound.
"KISHISHISHI! Perish in the depths of the Shadows!"
Jumping high into the air Seilah found herself swiftly dodging through the now twisting and turning spires that were all being directed right at her. Coming toward one of the two remaining walls of shadow she smashed right through it which caused an entire section of the castle they were in to fold in on itself before sending the debris flying outward as an explosion rocked the area.
Increasing her speed as the spires emerged from the destroyed castle and shot up into the air Seilah began charging her own counterattack in her right hand as a swirling sphere of Crimson Red with a Void Black core began to form.
"You want a fight Moria then try handling this one! Devil's Aura: Dark Chaos Stream!"
Spinning around on the spot Seilah fired the sphere that rapidly expanded until finally exploding sending a massive wave of a strange Crimson Red and Black substance down onto the Babel Towers and Moria's location.
"Like before it won't work, Shadow Shadow: Black Wall!"
Converting the Babel Towers closest to him into a much larger wall Moria stood confident as the substance smashed into it, flowing off the sides and onto the castle grounds below.
"KISHISHISHI! No attack will pierce through my Black Wall-!"
The sound of cracking could be heard as a single droplet landed onto Moria's forehead causing an instant burning sensation that had the Warlord screeching in pain as he clawed at his now melting forehead.
"I only needed a single drop to reach you Moria," Seilah said as she floated down to his level. "Shadow so toxic it corrodes all it touches save for its caster."
"D-damn you," Moria hissed as he raised his right hand and with one stroke sliced his head clean off much to Seilah's genuine surprise. "I won't be so careless a second time!"
"Damn," Seilah growled as more Shadow burst from Moria's neck and a new head appeared completely free from any damage. "This isn't good."
"It's time I punished you for causing me so much trouble," Moria said as he summoned a massive wave of shadow from the ruins of the castle around them. "Shadow Shadow: Black Crash!"
Seilah knew evading the attack outright wasn't an option due to its sheer size however it could easily be endured and so she prepared herself in a shadowy cocoon of sorts that took the brunt of the attack Moria had unleashed upon her.
Within her cocoon Seilah felt herself be sent flying down into the earth until she reached an underground chamber of sorts where her cocoon abruptly shattered and she skidded to a sudden stop.
Taking a moment to gain her bearings she first looked up at the top of the hole and saw the smiling Moria wave at her before sealing off the hole with a Shadow. Shaking her head at the stupidity of something like that she was about to fly up and shatter his meagre defensive measure when the sound of something moving within water caught her attention.
Turning her gaze toward the room Seilah froze as she processed just what she had landed into. The sight didn't repulse her in any way rather it simply surprised her that she would see one such as this outside of a Demon's home.
The room was completely coated in blood. The walls had it seeping from every sliver available, the floor was filled up past her bare ankles; the roof had countless impaled humans whose blood slowly dripped down onto the floor below which began coating her form slowly as she wiped some from near her eyes.
"Oh dear, this place was meant to be my own private getaway too ..."
It was then that Seilah saw her, the owner of the bloody room. Laying down in a bathtub filled beyond the brim with blood was a woman who was currently giving her a mere side glance seemingly opting to maintain her relaxed demeanour.
"You bathe in blood?"
"The blood of young women, the beautiful and virginal to be more precise," the woman replied as she moved a hand to slather some across her sizeable bust. "To maintain my figure one must partake in only the purest blood available wouldn't you agree?"
"I wouldn't know since I was created to appear in this form, the human concept of beauty means little to me."
"And yet even despite possessing those horns you are extremely beautiful are you not?"
"My Master believes I am therefore I can only assume that you are correct."
"Ah yes, Master Natsu," the woman sighed as her eyes glowed Crimson Red. "The mighty King Of Balance ..."
Seilah watched as the woman rose from the bathtub to reveal her fully nude and blood coated form, idly wondering how Natsu would've reacted in the current situation before inwardly dismissing the thoughts.
"You are Seilah, the Assistant of the King Of Balance," the woman said as she stepped out of the tub and slowly made her way across the blood soaked floor toward her whilst licking the blood from her right hand in an almost erotic manner. "How I have longed to finally be given the chance to put you in your place."
"Excuse me?"
"You hold him back from the beast he should always have become Seilah," the woman replied with a slightly more hostile tone. "The great Demon Lord E.N.D should relish in chaos yet he chooses to walk the road between it and peace all because he has you in the end!"
"I don't understand how Master's actions are the result of my influence; I was born to serve-!"
"And born to rein the beast in, keep it docile! My body shivers as I picture that dominant side of him, the one that butchers all in his path and crushes until naught remains," the woman sighed as she ran her hands across her body. "You've likely already seen it haven't you, when he stops holding back with those silly morals and acts on his baser desires?"
"You desire my Master to be like that forever? You wish for him to be nothing more than a heartless, emotionless engine of wanton chaos and destruction," Seilah asked clearly confused. "Why would you ever desire something like that?"
"I have my reasons," the woman sniffed as she seemingly reined herself back in and locked eyes with Seilah. "And with you out of the way I should be able to finally push him into that chaotic state and unleash the monster he was always destined to be!"
Seilah entered a defensive stance as the entire room began to shake, the blood at their feet beginning to bubble as the woman raised both of her hands in the air.
"But first, for delaying the arrival of true chaos YOU must be punished Seilah," the woman's voice boomed as the blood began rising up and onto the woman's form. "This disgusting world will be your end!"
Seilah watched as the blood began to alter the woman's appearance as what almost looked like a gothic themed dominatrix outfit began to form around her, a Golden Ebony staff forming in her right hand as the remainder of the blood in the room began orbiting her form in several opposing directions.
"Those fangs," were the first thing Seilah said upon seeing the woman openly grin in her direction. "You are a-!"
"Vampire? Oh yes very much so," the woman purred as she licked her lips in a seductive way. "The horns aren't real they're more for ... the fantasy."
"A dominatrix Vampiress," Seilah replied bluntly. "Isn't that rather cliché?"
"Wh-what," the woman gasped, almost dropping her staff in the process as her cool and calm demeanour cracked. "How dare you! I am NOT a cliché; rather I am the ORIGINAL that inspired the cliché!"
"And that is any better HOW exactly?"
The woman bit her lip and spun around in order to hide her furious flush of embarrassment before spinning back around and pointing her staff at Seilah.
"I'll kill you for this blatant disrespect you disgusting worm! I bet your blood has already been sullied by countless men and beasts hasn't it so I won't even bother taking it from you!"
"Wh-what did you just say," Seilah growled, eyes flashing dangerously as she took a step forward which cracked the ground in the process. "Did you just insinuate that not only would I lay with any other aside from my Master ... but with mere beasts!?"
"Well it would only be natural for a filthy peasant such as yourself to perform such an act," the woman sniffed in response. "You are after all clearly more closely associated with the bovine portion of the animal kingdom are you not?"
Seilah vanished and appeared in front of the woman with her fist coated in darkness, her eyes glowing Crimson Red as she moved to strike the Vampiress only for her to raise her staff and block the attack as her own Devil's Aura activated in turn.
"That's right, rage Seilah," the woman cacked as the floor beneath the pair was split apart forcing them to break apart from their clash. "It does take a beast to rut another beast after all does it not?"
"I'm going to make your death slow Vampire," Seilah said darkly as she cracked her knuckles and entered an offensive stance. "And for the record I am not a mere cow as you so aptly put it and for the record Master wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole!"
"With you out of the picture anything is possible," the woman cackled as the blood around her formed into a sphere around her and she shot up through the roof with Seilah doing the same with a Shadow based one moments after.
The pair ended up back outside now standing in one of the rundown gardens, both gathering their power in preparation to strike.
"Who are you; I want to make sure I inform Master as to the identity of the one whom I brutalized in his name?"
"You truly do not know my name? And here I thought you would have figured it out by now," the woman sighed whilst shaking her head.
Histories Most Prolific Murderer
Former Countess Of Hungary
Niece Of The No Life King
The Blood Countess
Carmilla (Berserker)
Bounty – 620,000,000 Berries
"I've never heard of anyone named Carmilla nor anyone associated with you," Seilah replied prompting the woman to groan in response.
"You lot truly are foolish, cannot even make the simplest of connections-!"
Carmilla was cut off as the entire area began to shake violently which had both combatants snapping their attention toward the two massive Auras smashing against one another that was clearly visible on the other side of the grounds.
"Well now this should be interesting," Carmilla laughed before turning her attention back toward Seilah. "It appears Uncle is engaging Dragneel as we speak!"
"Impossible," Seilah gasped as she looked at the two massive powers that were simply standing idle across from one another powering up. "Who could hold such power that it would force Master to unleash that much power!?"
"Someone who is a dear friend and ally," Carmilla cackled before entering an offensive stance with her staff. "But it appears you won't live long enough to experience the full might of two Kings clashing against one another!"
Gritting her teeth as she prepared for the attacking Carmilla Seilah cleared her mind of anything to do with Natsu instead focusing on the battle before her.
/Natsu And Robin's POV/
"Are you alright Natsu," Robin asked, concerned at Natsu's frown. "Is something wrong?"
"Seilah is fighting Moria," he replied softly. "And it appears he is stronger than I initially thought."
"Really? Surely he can't be strong enough to worry you?"
"Not me personally however Luffy couldn't even so much as land a single punch on him and Seilah seems to be having a similar issue even using her Devil's Aura. It appears he is the wielder of the Shadow Logia Devil Fruit."
"That one would be rather tricky to combat," Robin admitted as the pair reached the source of the light. "However I'm sure Seilah will defeat Moria, she is after all extremely powerful and cunning above all."
Natsu could only hum in response as the pair emerged from the dark tunnel and arrived into what appeared to be an open space somewhere behind Moria's castle. Looking around he could see the area was largely untended to save for what resided near the back entrance.
"You know I could've sworn we were going downward the entire time," Robin mused as Natsu took several steps forward. "We are outside aren't we?"
"As if we'd never been travelling downward to begin with," Natsu replied as his eyes scanned the area. "Surely it's the work of a Caster or some illusionary Devil Fruit but why go through that much effort?"
Robin was on the same train of thought as Natsu as she tried to think of any logical reason as to why someone would go to such lengths since not even to separate someone would such lengths need to be taken. Had their mysterious foe wanted to they could have used countless other means to draw them to this back garden ... so why?
"DAMN IT GET OUT OF THE WAAAAAAY!"
"Was that-?"
"Look!"
Natsu's head snapped to the spot Robin was pointing and to his surprise Luffy came charging out of the third story window with several zombies flying out in random directions around him. Extending his hand upward he caught the Captain and gently placed him on the ground before them.
"Holy crap ... thanks Natsu! Man there were like a thousand in there!"
"Luffy, what exactly is going on," Robin asked in confusion prompting Luffy to sit down and sigh.
"I found Moria and tried to beat him up but he's a Logia like Croco so I couldn't do anything to him so Seilah took over for me and told me to get back to the others."
"But?"
"But there are zombies everywhere!"
"Obviously," Robin snorted as she watched Natsu crush the skull of the nearest one. "Should we go and try to help Seilah Natsu or are we going to try and regroup with the others?"
"The two of you will head back and find the others," Natsu said in a tone the pair almost believed sounded ... fearful?
"Natsu ..."
"Oi Natsu are you ok," Luffy asked before looking up and seeing what seemed to have Natsu spooked. "OI Robin, look!"
In the distance, high atop one of the tallest towers stood a lone figure whose form was highlighted before the pale full moon at his back. Long black hair blew to the right along with what appeared to be a cloak as two Blood Red eyes shone in their direction.
"Natsu-?"
"Go."
"But why-!?"
"Because if you don't then you will both die."
If Luffy and Robin weren't worried before they most certainly were now as the figure vanished and reappeared atop one of the nearby balconies, fully revealing himself to the group.
"You."
"Me," the man replied with a sadistic smirk.
"You're a Servant," Natsu said to which the figure nodded. "One of Moria's?"
"Indeed."
"You know what will happen if the two of us fight don't you?"
"I've waited centuries for this," the figure replied as the glow in his eyes increased. "But you just had to go and disappear for nine centuries!"
"If we fight then this place won't survive, you know that."
"I couldn't care less, not when an opportunity like this has finally come my way," the figure snapped back. "You and I will finally have our battle, I've waited long enough!"
Natsu sighed as he began to float upward and landed atop one of the nearby towers with the figure doing the same on the opposite side of the courtyard.
"Robin, Luffy," Natsu called out as the pair snapped their attention toward him. "Find the others, Seilah and Mordred included, and get back to the ship! Use all your power to escape this place as quickly as you can!"
"But Natsu we can't just leave-!"
"I SAID GO ROBIN," Natsu roared prompting her to recoil in shock at the desperation in his voice.
"Luffy, come ..."
"But-!"
"If he makes it through this I'm sure Natsu will explain who this man is to us all but for now we must trust in him and use the time he is giving us."
Luffy looked up at Natsu with a frown as the pair locked eyes, a look of mutual understanding seemed to be shared between them before Luffy nodded and broke away.
"We'll cut through the mansion since Seilah is in there anyway," Luffy growled. "You'd better not die Natsu or I'll get Seilah to bring you back so we can all kick your ass together!"
As Luffy and Robin made their way toward the back doors Natsu allowed a small smile to slip through before his face became a stony mask and he faced the person opposite him once more.
"When I saw you at the meeting of Kings I thought you would have become one of my allies throughout the Realis Grail War since at the time you didn't have a Master, so how did Moria of all people get a hold of you?"
"Because he offered me something I couldn't refuse," the man replied.
"And what was that?"
"A shot at fighting you," he replied with a twisted smile.
"I don't want to fight you-."
Before the sentence had even left his lips the man had summoned a gun into his right hand and was now pointing it directly at him, his finger on the trigger as power leaked from his form. Sighing and shaking his head Natsu took a deep breath and resolved himself.
"I promised I would protect Luffy and his crew as well as aid in keeping the balance in this world whilst I was here," Natsu said as his eyes locked onto the man's own. "If that means having to fight you ... then I have no other choice."
The man grinned as power exploded from Natsu, his hair flicking upward momentarily as it began to turn Aqua Blue with a single Pitch Black strand forming and hanging loosely from the left hand side of his forehead.
"Good," the man purred as Natsu transformed without so much as a word, not even moving an inch as he entered his strongest form right off the bat. "I've waited almost a millennium for this Natsu ..."
In response more power burst forth from Natsu as the entirety of Thriller Bark began to shake, the man simply beginning to laugh as a massive Blood Red Aura exploded from his own form. As the pair unleashed their power the two towers they'd been standing on were blown away, crumbling to dust along with everything below them as two massive craters began to form.
All of this was witnessed by a shell-shocked Luffy, mortified but now understanding Robin and a shocked Gecko Moria whose double was watching the entire thing from a distance.
The clear skies became filled with black clouds as Pitch Black and Blood Red Lightning crackled around the pair as their expanded Auras finally crashed together.
"Is this what you wanted," Natsu asked as the man summoned a second gun into his left hand.
"We're only just getting started Natsu," the man grinned as his hat blew off, immediately being destroyed the moment it left his Aura bubble.
"Don't forget at the end of all this that you asked for it," Natsu growled as he ceased releasing his power and entered a defensive stance.
"Ahnk, do your best to regulate please."
"On it," the First Hybrid replied without complaint as the man before them charged forward cackling madly.
Former Ruler Of Wallachia
Former Arch Devil Of The Devil's Triumvirate
Servant Of The Thriller Bark Pirates
King Of Vampiric Judgement
The No Life King
Alucard (Archer)
Bounty – 890,000,000 Berries
Tales From The Tale Verse
Pride Seeks The Ultimate Challenge IX
King And Queen Of Imanity
I feel strangely satisfied today as we head over to the palace, home of the supposed King and Queen of Imanity. When I admitted that my Pride was my greatest flaw I didn't feel ashamed like I always thought I would rather I felt relief at finally accepting the truth.
For far too long I have allowed my pride to get the better of me and there is little doubt that it has cost me dearly in the past on our journey to destroy the Demon King of our world. However as Feitan so aptly put it I have accepted it and the time has come to move beyond it and fix what has become my weakness.
I hope that the rest of this journey is as enlightening, I wonder if Meliodas went through the same thing to become what he is today ...
"And we're here," Jibril chirped whilst dramatically flapping her wings. "Sorry for the lack of fanfare but things have been rather busy as of late!"
"Yet the rulers managed to find the time to talk with us," Feitan asked sceptically which only prompted Jibril to laugh even more.
"Well when I told them why you two had come the King was dying to meet you both!"
"And it definitely wasn't because we're taking what is essentially the power source for the kingdom ..."
"Come on now there's no need to be so negative Feitan I'm sure Jibril explained the situation quite thoroughly," Escanor added prompting Feitan to sigh and shake his head.
"Life was so much easier when I could just outright steal what I wanted."
"If the two of you could please follow me we'll advance to the throne room now," Jibril said cheerfully, seemingly outright ignoring Feitan's last comment as the group made their way to the closed doors leading to the throne.
"Alright then let's do this Feitan!"
"Shut up ..."
"Presenting to the two of you, Elchea's twin rulers Sora and Shiro," Jibril cheered as the doors were blasted open to reveal an average looking teen and a drowsy young girl lounging in the thrones at the end of the hallway. "Don't be shy and go on in!"
Escanor went first and was followed by Feitan moments after as the pair advanced toward the pair, both seemingly gaining interest the closer the pair got. Once they were finally there the King began to speak.
"What's up?"
"..."
"Aww come on, why are you guys looking at us like that!?"
"Is this a joke," Feitan growled only for Escanor to sigh and shake his head.
"I'm afraid it looks like it isn't, these two clearly are the rulers of this place. I highly doubt Jibril would've been able to override the laws of this world and stage something so these two are undoubtedly the King and Queen."
"Sora ... these two want our power source right?"
"From what Jibril told me these two are the guys who plan on taking it, yeah," Sora replied before looking back at the pair. "Why exactly are you guys after that specifically anyway?"
"Because that power source is in fact a fragment of a higher being and we need to collect it so that it may be returned to him," Escanor replied prompting both Sora and Shiro to raise their eyebrows in response.
"So it's a fragment of some uber tier Godlike entity?"
"Whilst the Lord High Arbiter isn't the strongest he is the strongest that is allowed to act freely within the mortal realms," Feitan replied quietly. "He is an extremely important and beloved figure by both the Gods and Devils and represents the fragile bridge between the two polar opposites."
"So you want us to give it back so you can return it to him, robbing Imanity of a power source?"
"The power never belonged here to begin with," Feitan countered smoothly. "The power of the Hybrid cannot be allowed to exist anywhere aside from the Lord High Arbiter and his child-."
"But that power does belong to us," a new voice cut in from behind the pair. "My Grandfather worked hard to ensure that we could draw power from that thing and now you want to take it away from us!?"
"Steph I told you to wait until we were done discussing this," Sora sighed with Shiro patting his head in understanding. "They aren't stealing it but asking for it back, can't you see that from jump that's way better?"
"If you give that back it'll be another crippling blow to Imanity Sora and I can't stand by and watch as my Grandfather's work is destroyed!"
"Have you not considered the drastic consequences should you fail to relinquish your hold over the fragment," Escanor asked prompting the entire room to look at him; most in confusion save for Jibril, Sora and Shiro.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"The Lord High Arbiter as Feitan just said is a beloved figure who keeps the fragile balance between both the Gods and Devils however he also enters countless realities and ensures that the balance is maintained so that they may continue to exist."
"Deprive him of a fragment of himself and we could potentially leave him with a permanent Achilles heel," Shiro concluded with a curt nod. "Tet told us about him, about how he is a rare example of 'violence that has sense' and that he is destined for greatness."
"But being destined for it doesn't mean he'll achieve it and he'll need everything if he wants to survive to live the future he's vaguely heard about," Sora added prompting Steph to shake her head in confusion.
"What are the two of you even talking about!?"
"We're talking about a being who keeps worlds from being destroyed Steph!"
"A man who keeps a new war between the Gods and Devils from sprouting simply by existing and travelling across the multiverse doing what he can to keep order."
"Trust me Steph, Lord Tet is powerful however we both fought in the last true war between the Gods and Devils as well as the one against the Titans and Imanity wouldn't even last a microsecond against the forces that would come bearing down upon it for that one fragment," Jibril sighed.
"So right now we're at a crossroads," Sora said bringing the focus back onto the main topic. "The fragment has to be given back, Shiro and I both agree on that."
"But the power problem needs to be figured out before we can do it."
"Because without power-."
"-Imanity will surely perish."
"So basically if we find you guys an alternate power source you'll let us have the fragment," Feitan asked with Sora and Shiro nodding in response.
"Have Imanity made any attempts to try and find alternate sources such as solar, hydroelectric, fossil or even a magic based conversion," Escanor asked prompting Steph to sigh and shake her head. "Why not?"
"Because by default the humans here in this world are more or less sheep," Sora said bluntly which didn't seem to go down well with Steph if her angry expression was anything to go by.
"They are loathe to innovate yet quick to follow one who can, hence why Sora and I now rule this race despite our ages."
"So if that is the case then what should we do?"
"Well if we can't get Imanity to create some kind of alternate power source then we'll just take one from somewhere else," Sora grinned. "Think about it, what race in almost all mediums is good at making stuff like that?"
"Several come to mind however Feitan and I are not from this world and thus cannot answer that since we have no idea how many races exist here."
"Ah ... right, yeah forgot that!"
"He's talking about the Dwarves," Shiro chimed in which seemed to have Steph blow a gasket.
"YOU WANT TO PICK A FIGHT WITH THE DWARVES ARE YOU INSANE!?"
"Come on Steph get with the times we're already doing good with the whole Elchea Federation thing and since we need more power wouldn't getting the Dwarves on our side be the next logical step?"
"B-but Sora the Dwarves are rank eight out of the sixteen sentient races!"
"And?"
"I-I give up," Steph sighed tiredly. "Just go do whatever you want I don't know why I even bother ..."
"See that's the spirit Steph," Sora cheered with Shiro doing a monotonous copy of it in the background whilst waving her arms back and forth. "You've just gotta have faith in your God King and Queen!"
"At any rate if we're going to prepare to try and take the Race Piece of the Dwarves we'll need a solid plan," Jibril chimed in sagely. "I believe we should reconvene after some lunch."
"Lunch ... lunch definitely sounds good," Sora sighed dreamily. "Come on Shiro let's go get some fuel!"
"Can I have a nap afterward I pulled an all nighter?"
"Yeah sure but only if you eat first!"
"Yay ..."
"Are they always like that," Escanor asked as Sora and Shiro left the throne room.
"Sometimes, other times they can be ruthlessly cunning and other times they are far too lazy for their own good. That being said they did beat Lord Tet in a chess match so they more than have the qualifications for doing what they are doing."
"So just to be clear if we help you guys get this Race Piece you'll give us the fragment," Feitan asked prompting Jibril to nod.
"Indeed we shall however do not take the Dwarves lightly for they are far more than their craftsman like nature implies ..."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning that we're in for a wild ride you two so better eat up," Jibril cheered before flying out of the throne room after Sora and Shiro.
"I want to go home," Feitan sighed. "This is getting beyond stupid now."
"All we need to do is aid in the defeat of these dwarves in some kind of game and we're done Feitan," Escanor replied. "Do not fear I am sure we shall succeed!"
"I'm glad one of us can be optimistic because I'm all out of it at this point ..."
"Perhaps some cake will do you good, cheer you up a bit? Or perhaps some drink is more to your liking?"
"Drink. Give me lots of that," Feitan sighed as the pair walked after the rest of the group as plans for the trip to the land of the Dwarves began.
Hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!