Hi guys Azza here!
Ok sorry for it being so late I've been busy and there is this last section of the chapter where I go complete, and this is the only way I can describe it, mind fuckery and needed to make sure I worked everything I did properly. I guarantee there will be a lot of confusion but hopefully you all get what happens in the end.
Anyway onto the reviews
Midnightscar17 – I've been waiting for you to catch up, been seeing your reviews popping up quite a bit thanks for sticking with the story for so long! For all those other questions I can answer those in a PM if you want me to since I don't really have the space for all of it here.
As for your question about the mini stories at the end they are little snippets of other stuff going on either during the time of the current story or little snippets into future stuff since we've got a long way to go before we get there.
I've revamped the completed ones and added some new details, making them short little stories under their own title TFTTV which as you probably guessed stands for Tales From The Tale Verse, a concept literally no one who read them and not the main series can't seem to grasp since half the reviews are saying I've got no idea how the characters are haha but I digress.
Basically its expanding characters, lore and all that other stuff outside of what's going on. One thing I've decided to do from now on is each of the story based ones will have Lucifer and Michael in it in some way shape or form since they are technically the cream of the crop when it comes to the higher being tier structure I've made.
The TLDR though is its just a way to further expand the crossover stuff and set up future plot stuff.
Hope this helps and feel free to ask more questions in the future!
Now on with the story!
I do not own Fairy Tail, One Piece or the Nasuverse.
Locking The Gate
/Ruins Of Thriller Bark/
"With this power I won't lose, not again, KAIDO!"
This was the declaration that signified the real counterattack against the monstrosity before them, a mortal being possessed by a Beast of Anti. As Natsu fired his first breath attack at the now terrified Moria, who's fear had managed to overcome the iron grip Sut-Typhon held over him, the rest of the gathered survivors also attacked.
Inwardly, Natsu, the Servants and Carter knew, should Moria not be slain at this critical stage then they would not receive a second opportunity to weaken the Beast. The goal was to drive the massive form back into the ocean however if Sut-Typhon were at the helm their chances would be slim at best.
"You won't take everything from me again, I'M NOT THE SAME PERSON AS BEFORE," Moria screeched as thousands of Shadow Bats rained down upon both Natsu and the entire group, most missing due to Moria's frenzied and delusional state not comprehending how to actually aim his attacks.
"Seilah, Mordred, Liz, Abigail, Kupo," Natsu roared as he put up his wings and began to flap them furiously, firing off powerful wind gusts that blasted back the Shadow Bats. "Defend the others and the ship, I can't fight properly with all of you in the way!"
"Oi, I thought we were all supposed to work together," Luffy snapped only for some of the blasted back bats to set off a series of explosions larger than Moria's former castle.
"If you think you can survive that Luffy then by all means stay and fight," Sanji scoffed as he spun on his heel and began to run. "Besides we aren't just being tossed out of the fight!"
"Yeah, you forget what's back on the ship?"
Luffy looked at the pair with momentary confusion before grinning like an idiot and taking off in a full-on sprint toward the Sunny.
"What's up with him," Mordred asked confused only to see Seilah looking over at Natsu's battling form with a ticked off expression. "And what the hell is wrong with you!?"
"Nothing," she replied sweetly even as all three eyes became a deep red colour. "Nothing at all Mordred, I'm perfectly fine."
"Ya know I'm all for drama between the ladies but maybe this isn't the right time," Kupo half laughed, half stressed as the entire group began to retreat. "And a little support on the defences would go a long way ya know, I'm a legendary Moogle I know but even I can't keep all of this shit off of us!"
"Stop acting like you aren't getting help you oaf," Elizabeth snapped, wiping away the blood that had begun seeping from the corners of her mouth. "Unlike you a certain beauty has had to maintain her Noble Phantasm for over FIFTEEN MINUTES STRAIGHT! Need I remind you all that my Noble Phantasm is an Anti-Army Rank A- one too, all being fuelled by my own power!"
"Ok," Kupo snapped back at the annoyed woman. "We get it you're keen to jump him after this is all over so you're giving it a hundred and ten percent, no need to be a bitch about it!"
"Why you-!"
"Less talking, more deflecting," Kupo said, cutting Elizabeth off as a large piece of earth bounced off of one of his barriers. "I swear if my buddy were here to see this shit-!"
Kupo was cut off as Natsu released another roar, this one possessing more charge than the previous one, shattering the ground around him and kicking up dirt and debris. Unfortunately for the group they were quickly enveloped by it, prompting Natsu to spin around and realize what he'd done.
"SHIT! Oi, you guys alright!?"
Flapping his wings once to clear away the dust he saw a massive black sheet had seemingly absorbed all the debris which now strangely floated within its rather visually odd space. Watching as the sheet shrunk in on itself he was surprised to see Seilah re-emerge in its place looking no worse for wear.
"We will be having a long talk about friendly fire after all this is over, Master."
Inwardly Natsu winced at the tone, noticing the narrowing of Seilah's two main eyes and the hands firmly placed on hips. Yes, this would be an actual scolding, of that he was certain.
Vanishing from place Seilah appeared right in front of Moria's face, right hand raised as her hand turned into the same black coloured void once again.
"Elder Devil's Aura: Void Veil – Repulse!"
As if they had been there to begin with, all the debris absorbed and condensed into the black sheet from earlier reappeared right inside Moria's head. To clarify, the attack did not propel anything at Moria nor did any kind of teleportation occur.
"I-IMPOSSIBLE," Moria screeched as both his eyes snapped toward her before pieces of rock tore their way outward along with a fountain of blood.
The third eye also looked at Seilah however it wasn't surprised in the slightest, rather it merely eyed her with curiosity rather than fear. This was Sut-Typhon's eye, an eye that had already bore witness to the technique used upon his host in action.
"H-HOW DID YO- …"
"The power of True Dark, a Magic on the cusp of reaching the ROOT itself," Sut-Typhon's voice cut in smoothly, his lone eye watching as she landed atop her Master's head. "I see it now, you are solely responsible for this aren't you, Ahnkseram?"
Sut-Typhon didn't get to receive his answer as the rest of the debris burst forth from Moria's skull, his head now missing from the throat upward and replaced with a condensed ball of rubble.
"Seilah, what was that just now?"
"Just like the Beast said," she replied coolly, an emotionless gaze watching the jerking form of Moria's body begin to reform. "Through Lord Zeref, Ahnkseram experimented away in an attempt to give you every possible advantage in fighting the Anti."
"You know its strange but … I actually have no recollection of doing this," Ahnk chimed in with genuine confusion. "I know Zeref and I did a lot of messed up experiments but I think … of course!"
"What?"
"My book, the one Tim has! I would've written down the process on how to perform such a feat within that and undoubtedly wiped my mind of the knowledge afterward! It all makes sense now why Tim said we weren't ready for something like that to fall into our possession!"
"So, you managed to infuse Seilah with whoever Darkness is then wrote down all the knowledge of it into your book and removed it from memory. Ok, why remove the answers to some of these crucial questions though like how that black void stuff works?"
"I-I'm not sure …"
As he looked at Ahnkseram sitting down in the field within his mindscape he couldn't help but cringe. At that moment he didn't look like the powerful sorcerer who held all the answers but instead like an elderly figure who could no longer remember scraps of his own life. The genuine look of frustration as he no doubt rattled his brain for memories that were no longer there was something he couldn't bare to look at and so he returned to the outside proper.
"Seilah."
"Yes?"
"Does … does Darkness actually know what she is?"
"…"
"I'm not afraid I just want to know?"
"She knows some of what she is," Seilah replied after several moments as she placed a hand on her Demonic wings that had curled around her form. "She does not know any more than what Ahnkseram had told he she would need to aid me though."
"Secrets were always a pet peeve of Ahnkseram, even when I was among the regular realities," Sut-Typhon cut in as all eyes turned back toward the once again fully focused Beast. "I would berate you for wasting such an opportunity at striking me down however even I will acknowledge that witnessing a power so close to the ROOT even gives me, a Beast, great pause."
"What do you know about it," Natsu asked only for the Beast to laugh in his face.
"As if I would tell you anything, King Of Balance! What use will such knowledge provide you as the Anti slowly erases your being from conception!?"
"Honestly I didn't expect Sut-Typhon to recover so quickly," Carter sighed, also appearing atop Natsu's head. "However, this only further proves just how weak-willed Gecko Moria truly is."
"Indeed it does Randolph Carter," Sut-Typhon agreed as dozens of gates began to reappear at his side. "However, it also proves that you are not as infallible as you once thought, your plans not as full proof as you once had believed them to be!"
"I believe our last encounter in Salem was all the wake-up call I needed to realize that one," Carter shot back as the Gates began to open. "However, it is as I said previously, there is always one last hope despite all that befalls mortal kind!"
"Then watch as I squeeze the life out of your precious 'hope' and leave him less than nothing," Sut Typhon spat as the Gates began firing out barrages of Aqua Blue energy blasts.
"Master, I shall aid Elizabeth but you will need to find a way to stop Sut-Typhon from firing these attacks!"
"If things get too bad Seilah, get the others out of here," Natsu shouted back as she vanished and appeared at the Servant's side, putting up the same barrier from before in an attempt to shield Elizabeth from the veritable storm of attacks.
"Looks like you'll be the first to go after all!"
"Not if I can help it," Natsu snarled back as he charged forward and tried to bite the Beast only for one of his tentacle hands to reach out and wrap itself around his mouth, snapping it shut.
Natsu struggled as more tentacles worked their way around his neck and he was dragged closer to the Beast before being struck across the face dozens of times by all the tentacles on the opposite arm. After several blows he coated his claws in Anti and began gutting Sut-Typhon in an attempt to escape.
"Tch-insolent little gnat!"
Stabbing the Beast several more times he eventually managed to slice upward, severing several tentacles from the arm that bound his head and forcing the Beast to stumble backward slightly. Pushing up against him with a strong shoulder charge Natsu knocked Sut-Typhon over, the ground shaking as he pried his head free.
"Hybrid's Aura: Apocalypse Dragon Monarch's Anti Cataclysmic Roar!"
Firing the attack point blank at Sut-Typhon had him on the receiving end of his own attack, all according to plan, as he was blasted some distance away from the Beast whose body had been somewhat converted into unstable cubes.
Raising his right claw Natsu began making several motions as the cubes fled from their owner and over to his side.
"Hybrid's Aura: Anti Crash Fission!"
"Careful, playing around with the parts of a Beast could backfire on you!"
"I know that Ahnk but I'm not risking another situation where I get overwhelmed again," Natsu ground back as the parts of Sut Typhon he'd taken began to merge with his Draconic form. "It should only be temporary anyway!"
"Temporary or not you have no idea what it could do to your body!"
"Then why don't you come out here and fight him then since you've got all the plans stashed away in that fat head of yours," Natsu snapped back as the pieces were added to his wings and tail region.
His wings were the first to reform now appearing more shredded then ever with the remaining linked portions made from Demonic tentacles that pulsed and writhed around in a rather disturbing manner. The edges of the wings had become much more angled and sharper with bits of hardened bone now jutting out along the edges seeping a strange black liquid.
His tail however had split halfway into ten equally as large versions of the original however they all bore several key differences to said original. The metal spikes added on by Aava during the Shinobi War had been further added upon with the bladed portion now sporting a thin hole at the end, more of the black substance leaking from within its depths along with more spikes made from the same metal travelling up along the tail extensions until they reached the base.
"You dare take from me, King Of Balance," Sut-Typhon roared in response, his body reforming at a much faster rate than before. "You think you can master MY power!?"
"Your power is derived from Anti," Natsu snapped back as he raised his tails to point directly at the reforming Beast. "Even for you it is nothing more than borrowed power!"
In response Sut-Typhon summoned several more Gates that began unleashing a barrage of tentacles down upon his position. In response Natsu began hacking away at them with his tails, attempting to move in on the still regenerating Beast.
"You want power, I'LL GIVE YOU POWER!"
As Natsu inched closer to the Beast he was forced to jump back as his remaining fist became coated in Corrupted God's Aura as well as another element he couldn't actually identify.
"I will not die here, no matter what you try it is futile! SUBMIT TO MY POWER!"
Using his single remaining arm Sut-Typhon punched the spot Natsu had been mere moments before. Upon impact it effectively shattered the entirety of Thriller Bark as entire sections of the island ship were split apart with the Beast cackling all the while.
"What's the matter, not confident enough to take that one O mighty King!?"
The response was a fierce headbutt that sent Sut-Typhon flying backward where he landed up against what little remained of Moria's castle. Groaning slightly, he held up his remaining arm and caught Natsu by the neck mid lunge and began to rise.
"You think that you can stand against a Beast of Anti alone? Not even the fools of the Counter Force would dare allow such a thing Dragneel so what makes you believe for even a single moment that I will ever be defeated by the likes of you?"
As he rose the other half of his body Natsu had taken finished regenerating, his other swiftly punching Natsu in the face earning nothing more than a vicious growl in response.
"Once I have fully manifested nothing shall stop me as I ravage this pathetic reality. I shall drop it into a pit of unending nightmare and have my fill of their suffering before using my gates and moving onto the next world!"
"A-arrogant much," Natsu gasped out as the grip on his throat tightened.
"Still as cocky as the first time we met-!"
Sut-Typhon was suddenly stabbed through the chest by all ten of Natsu's tails as a phenomenal pressure began to build in the air around them.
"I might not have the best track record against you guys … but that just means I can only go up then, right!?"
"What are you-!?"
"Hybrid's Aura: Apocalypse Dragon Monarch's Anti Scatterslice!"
Ten Aqua Blue beams of light shot out from Sut-Typhon's back and began to move up and down at a swift pace, slicing apart Sut-Typhon's flesh once more until the Beast quite literally fell into a clump on the ground before Natsu. Looking at the flesh Natsu took a deep breath and was about to burn it when he was suddenly grabbed from behind, clumping his tails together into a jumbled heap.
"O-OI! WHAT THE HELL-!"
Clawing at the ground he only had a brief moment to turn back and was shocked to see Sut-Typhon, completely unharmed, was the one dragging him backward. Looking back over at the pile of flesh he was shocked to see it simply vanish entirely before suddenly finding himself being pulled into the air.
"You never learn Dragneel," Sut-Typhon laughed as he summoned dozens of Gates on the ground below. "This is MY nightmare!"
Natsu didn't even have the time to form a response as he was brought down upon the Gates that had opened up, dozens of tentacles shooting out in the process, and finding himself brutally impaled.
The tentacles spared no portion of his body as he let out a pained whine, his mouth unable to even open due to the tentacles that had pierced through his lower jaw and up through his mouth before wrapping themselves around it in order to keep it shut.
"You might be considered powerful in proper reality … but within the Antiverse you are NOTHING!"
Moving toward Natsu's impaled and restrained form Sut-Typhon began unleashing another barrage of attacks upon him from several more Gates he'd summoned until he suddenly found himself being hit by a barrage from behind.
"Ah, almost forgot about you …"
Elizabeth was sweating heavily due to the exertion constantly using her Noble Phantasm had provided. Despite this however she continued to unleash it against the Beast before her hoping that it might buy Natsu some precious moments to escape.
"I always did hate you Servants for stopping me the last time," Sut-Typhon sneered as he began charging a powerful blast within his hands. "Raum's machinations almost brought me through into a pure world that was ripe for the picking … but then HE had to go and ruin everything! That damnable King Of Balance and his precious Chaldea!"
Sut-Typhon's rage suddenly vanished however once he stood before Liz who had finally dropped to her knees from exhaustion, her Noble Phantasm slowly dissipating behind her.
"Since Dragneel ruined my inevitable rise in the future then it is only fitting that I ruin his in the past. Indeed, from this point everything shall be forever changed-!"
Sut-Typhon froze as a massive power signature flared up from out of nowhere. Moving his head to look out toward the sea he could see something that had previously been beyond his sight.
And it made him angry.
"That woman … wielder of the Gentle Darkness!"
/Thousand Sunny – Several Minutes Ago/
"Come on, we need more charge!"
"We're putting them in as fast as we can Franky," Chopper snapped as he ran along behind Nami in his Heavy Point holding a basket full of crystals. "How many have we put in anyway!?"
"Fifty-seven out of one hundred and forty," Robin replied as she scanned through a checklist.
The entire area shook causing Chopper to almost drop the crystals however Robin quickly summoned some hands to catch a set that had fallen out of the basket.
"Oh man … thanks Robin, that was close!"
"Careful with those things Chopper, Natsu said if we mishandle them, they could explode," Franky said as he ran along the floor opening up certain sections of the wooden portion to flip numerous switches. "This is experimental tech, desperate as the situation is, we've gotta be careful!"
"Where are the others, we need more people putting these crystals in," Nami asked only for Franky to point toward the upper deck.
"Seilah put up a barrier around the ship that she hopes will cover what we're doing, as pissed off as she is about what we're doing," Franky replied with a slight smirk. "Turns out she isn't exactly pleased at this but at least is willing to let us go ahead with it now."
"That's eighty crystals Franky!"
"Alright Nami, keep it up! Robin I've got a few switches on this level to do before I have to go topside so take over for me!"
"Of course!"
"And remember you guys, once you put the last crystal in get topside. We've got no idea how powerful this is gonna be so no one below deck when it goes off!"
The trio nodded as Franky flipped the last switch before running up to the top deck where Seilah had her arms fully extended outward, a dome of black just barely covering the ship itself.
"Is it done?"
"Close. Once the last crystal is in place, I've gotta flip a few switches at the helm and we'll be good to go!"
"So, what the hell is going on here anyway," Mordred asked confused as she and Fran carried over a control panel made purely of Red Ebony. "And why the hell is this thing so damn heavy!?"
"This thing you guys have is what we're gonna use to turn the tide of this battle," Franky grinned before looking over to Usopp. "And you're gonna be the one to do it."
"Still can't believe you're trusting me THAT much," Usopp whined as Mordred and Fran placed the Red Ebony panel down next to the helm with an audible thud.
"Alright, now then …"
"What?"
"Just remembering how to hook this thing up … RIGHT!"
Motioning the two Servants over again he motioned for them to push it round to behind the wheel, opening up a section of the deck that had a bunch of empty plug shaped sockets.
"Alright you two its gotta go in here!"
Once the two Servants placed the panel into position the lights on the interface began to line up signalling it was now connected.
"Mind explaining why you guys didn't have this thing hooked up to begin with," Mordred asked with a huff.
"Natsu didn't want Seilah getting pissy at him for it," Franky responded with a cheeky grin when a voice suddenly came through a small speaker near the helm.
"Franky, this is Robin. All crystals are in place and we are returning to the top deck!"
"That's SUPER good Robin," Franky replied in excitement as he began moving and flipping levers, pushing buttons and pulling out latches until a screen popped up above the panel. "Now we're in business!"
"Can you just tell us what the hell this is supposed to be," Mordred snapped only for Franky's grin to grow wider whilst gripping the helm.
"This, is our trump card!"
Suddenly the entire ship began to move upward, the top half of the ship having been split from the bottom half whilst the main deck below also began to split open.
"FRANKY WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO THE SHIP," Nami screeched only for the cyborg's laughter to drown them out.
"I've gotta say that when Natsu suggested this I thought he was mad, at least until he showed me how it could all work!"
From the centre of the deck a massive Red Ebony cylinder that seemed to be manifesting itself from two sets of crystals lining the edges of the hole in the deck. Everyone, including the Servants, were completely shocked at the massive construct that was being built before them however it was when the base of the weapon finally solidified that one couldn't control themselves anymore.
"A MASSIVE CANNON! SO COOOOOL!"
Chopper was bouncing around in excitement with stars in his eyes as the massive cylinder suddenly dropped down to face the wall of Seilah's black dome revealing it to be the barrel of a monstrous cannon.
"Heh, you think that's impressive eh?"
"Oh no … please tell me he didn't-!"
"Alright Seilah, drop the barrier and let's show this guy we're not playing around!"
With an over the top sigh Seilah complied and dropped her barrier as Franky continued to fiddle with controls. The entire group paused however upon seeing Natsu pinned down and it wasn't until Seilah finally spoke that any of them continued what they were doing.
"Get that cannon primed Franky, I want that bastard atomized!"
"You've got it," Franky replied in a less than subdued tone. "Usopp, the targeting controls are all yours."
"R-right," Usopp replied shakily as he moved up toward the controls. "This is actually pretty basic for something this big!"
"Natsu wanted it designed that way," Franky replied as Usopp moved the direction of the cannon over toward the massive form of Sut-Typhon. "He said making it complicated defied the point of it."
"How long till we can fire?"
"Thirty seconds before the crystals are acclimated!"
"All right then," Usopp sighed before placing his goggles over his eyes. "Let's do this …"
/Back On The Battlefield/
Turning his full focus away from Liz, Sut-Typhon rose to his full height and began to move toward the Sunny. Due to his size it would only take him roughly twenty steps to reach it however right as he went to move he felt a sudden spike of power from his right.
Natsu, who was still impaled and pinned down, began to move. His first move was to quite literally rip the front of his face off in order to escape the tentacles that has effectively muzzled him. He then ripped himself through the tentacles, ripping apart his own body in order to slam himself into Sut-Typhon, knocking the Beast over.
"DRAGNEEL! STAY DOWN YOU DISGUSTING PEON," Sut-Typhon roared as he summoned more tentacles in an attempt to bind him however this time Natsu seemed to be using everything he had.
Through the hole that once contained his mouth he released an uncontrolled stream of Aqua Blue and Sickly Green flame that spread out across the area. Although Natsu was caught within his own attack he didn't seem to care, literally throwing his mutilated and bloodied form at the Beast in an attempt to pin him down.
"DAMN YOU DRAGNEEL! THIS WEAPON OF YOURS WON'T STOP ME!"
It was then that Natsu rose up onto his hind legs and again knocked Sut-Typhon over, his mouth now fully reformed as a maniacal grin spread across his face.
"It isn't just any weapon, it's one that builds upon something already devastating using the power of my own Aura!"
"That's right," Franky's voice boomed across the area. "Natsu and I worked hard on figuring out how to make this work but in the end with his power and my knowledge on building and implementing weapons that people say shouldn't work we succeeded in making this! Usopp get ready to fire!"
"GOT IT!"
"This weapon won't be enough," Sut-Typhon growled only for Natsu to begin opening his mouth right in front of him. "NONE OF YOUR ATTACKS WILL EVER BE ENOUGH-!"
Natsu released a roar right into Sut-Typhon's face that had the added effect of blowing him away from the Beast. Sut-Typhon endured the attack since it wasn't packing too much power however the blow to his head stunned him momentarily, long enough for Usopp to get a lock.
"THIS IS IT! FIRING IN THREE … TWO … ONE …!"
"FEEL THE POWER OF OUR JUPITER MARK III!"
Franky's shout was all Sut-Typhon heard before the entire area between himself and the Sunny was blown away, a massive attack comprised of Natsu's raw power infused with Aura obliterating anything in its path as it engulfed the Beast before exiting the other side of the island ship, splitting the sea as it faded from view.
Sut-Typhon was still standing, his form however was completely charred black however a smirk was on his face the entire time. His head slowly swivelled over to the Sunny … and it promptly died at the sound of a loud clanging sound.
The barrel began to rotate with the one that just fired turning to a red powdery dust and another cannon manifesting in its place, fully charged and ready to go.
"What-"
"FIRE! SALVO TWO!"
The ship buckled as a second shot was fired, just as powerful as the first that once again engulfed Sut-Typhon's entire form before fading out of view over the horizon. This attack however had the effect of destroying the only piece of land left in its path, the land Sut-Typhon had been standing on as the Beast fell into the ocean.
"N-no," Sut-Typhon gasped as he felt the curse of Moria's Fruit take hold. "This can't be-!"
"FIRE! SALVO THREE!"
Hearing Usopp's voice had Sut-Typhon frozen in horror, the blast engulfing him before he could even contemplate a counter. Just like the previous two shots it quickly vanished over the horizon however this time there was no sign of the Beast at all.
At the conclusion of the third shot the barrel rotated out and vanished as the ship began to return to its original shape. As it did so it was clear that most of the power within it was now drained with some parts struggling to reform themselves.
Natsu, who had barely made it out of the blasts alive, was dragging himself out of the water. Shaking his wings, the extra additions from the Beast fell off before dissolving into the ground.
"I'm honestly surprised the Jupiter Mark III actually worked," Natsu laughed to himself as he shook the remainder of the water off of him. "Then again if it wasn't for your knowledge on Runic Magic it might not have, thanks Ahnk."
"Never in all my years did I think it would be used for this so yes, thanks Ahnk for saving the day," the First Hybrid replied weakly as the pair began to laugh leaving Aava rather confused since she wasn't aware of what they'd done yet.
"Well, now that Sut-Typhon's been taken care of I suppose that I should-!"
Natsu's words died in his throat as he looked up toward what remained of Thriller Bark only to see Sut-Typhon standing there as if he'd never been wounded to begin with, an attack already fully charged between his hands.
"Did you really think it would be so easy?"
Unleashing the attack it engulfed Natsu'e entire form, blasting him all the way back toward what was the new edge of the island before digging his claws in and enduring the remainder of the attack.
Once the attack ceased he felt one of Sut-Typhon's tentacles wrap around his neck and drag him back toward the Beast who was already charging a new attack in his hand.
"H-how could you rebuild yourself from being blown to less than dust!?"
"Foolish King, how many times must I repeat myself," Sut-Typhon laughed as he placed the attack up against Natsu's face. "I am Sut-Typhon and this is MY nightmare!"
Just as Sut-Typhon was about to blast Natsu in the face the tentacle he was holding Natsu with was severed, allowing Natsu to quickly push the Beast backward before clearing some distance.
As he leapt back he caught sight of Liz who had attached herself to one of his wings and quickly placed her atop his head. Nodding thankfully the pair looked over at Sut-Typhon who didn't seem angered in the slightest, merely regenerating his tentacle arm without issue.
"You can keep resisting however my victory is inevitable. I am a Beast of Anti and none of you are capable of defeating me here, not even you Dragneel."
"Just because you keep telling us that doesn't mean we'll stop fighting," Liz snapped back in response.
"She's right, we'll keep on fighting until the last of us falls!"
"Well I suppose that's fine," Sut-Typhon laughed as he began advancing toward the pair once more. "After all, none of you were ever going to leave here alive."
"I really hope you have another plan Natsu …"
"I really wish I did Liz but honestly I'm flat out," Natsu laughed bitterly, erecting a Crash Barrier around them as another barrage of attacks came down upon them. "Not to sound bleak or anything but if we don't survive this, I just wanted to thank you for what you said about me before. I know I'm not actually all those things you said but it was nice to know that you believed in me enough to stand up to this guy …"
"You idiot," Liz sighed as she placed a hand on Natsu's head. "Its because I know how you'll eventually become that I decided to throw everything into this. Who you are now and who you're destined to become … both are equally as deserving of life so for a Servant like me to get the opportunity to help you in such a dire situation is an honour."
"How touching, I do hope this isn't an admission of defeat however."
"Where the hell have you been Carter?"
"Here and there," the man replied dismissively before looking over at Sut-Typhon who now towered over Natsu's form. "He's gotten even larger since before which means he's closer to achieving his full power."
"Definitely couldn't have guessed that one without your help," Liz snorted in response prompting Carter to clear his throat.
"Yes, well regardless of that I feel you should know that there has been a development."
"A development?"
"Indeed, for you see I may have located some more help for you," Carter explained quickly. "Deep below the castle, past the floors that housed Carmilla there were a set of catacombs where Moria and Hogback stored failed experiments and other horrors however there was one person down there who could aid us."
"Really?"
"Are they on Moria's side?"
"Most certainly not, in fact I doubt this person ended up down there by choice," Carter replied before looking over at Sut-Typhon. "You must hold back the Beast for a moment or two whilst I bring this ally to the surface."
"Oh sure, we'll just ask him politely to hold back!"
"Hate to agree with the sarcasm but she's right, Sut-Typhon isn't just going to hold back on us nor do we have enough power to outright match him. If I were at full strength then perhaps I might have been able to buy some time but …"
"Fortunately, another has volunteered to re-enter the fray in order to aid us," Carter responded with a small smile.
Looking back toward Sut-Typhon the entire group noticed another person standing behind him, their coat swaying in the brutal wind and a sadistic smirk on their face.
"Hold on-!"
"That's-!"
"I suppose this is where my second chance was to be put to good use," the figure said as they fully entered the light. "And what a foe to put my life against but a Beast of Anti!"
"What's this," Sut-Typhon said as he turned around to face the new foe. "Alexander Anderson? You dare show your face here after such a pathetic failure against Dragneel's Servant!?"
"Failure? How fortunate that everything in that battle went according to plan for me and I managed to throw off the shackles of that bastard Hogback so that I could turn the blade of God against the true enemy," Anderson growled back as his entire body began to convulse violently. "Your very presence pollutes HIS garden, the very stench worse than the darkest pits of Hell itself!"
"My most sincere apologies for offending your imaginary friend however that does not change the fact that I shall render you nothing more than a sparkling smear across what remains of this land, Servant."
"You think I'll just make it that easy for you," Anderson replied as his entire body exploded into vines mixed with pure God's Aura. "I'm afraid the only thing you'll be getting is a one-way trip back to the Antiverse, Beast!"
Sut-Typhon moved to strike Anderson's vine shaped form however he found he was unable to move his arms and was shocked to find they were already being restrained by hundreds of identical ones. Growling, the Beast tried to move closer to Anderson but also found that the vines had effectively pinned him in place, essentially rendering him immobile.
"I'll pin the Beast whilst you and the heathen hack away at it," Anderson's voice boomed. "My Noble Phantasm should buy us enough time but only if you two do something to keep this bastard occupied!"
"Come on," Liz shouted over Sut-Typhon's roars of frustration. "Let's throw everything we've got at him!"
"Right!"
Charging forward with both his claws becoming coated in Hybrid's Aura, Natsu immediately slashed the Beast across the face prompting it to summon dozens of Gates around the area in an attempt to defend itself.
"You can't hide behind these Gates forever," Liz cried as she hacked and slashed her way through the barrage of tentacles that shot directly at her from the ones summoned in around her position. "You're only delaying the inevitable now!"
"The inevitable will be your deaths," Sut-Typhon roared in response before receiving a breath attack to the face followed up by an Aura laced headbutt to the chest that he couldn't even stumble back from thanks to Anderson.
"The Beast rages against HIS restraints, don't relent lest ye be cast to the Antiverse yourselves," Anderson's voice boomed as the vines holding the Beast in place tightened even further.
"This … will NOT HOLD ME!"
As Natsu and Liz continued to attack Sut-Typhon he began to slowly pry himself free from his bindings. To Anderson's credit his Noble Phantasm, whilst certainly designed to restrain even the strongest of Arch Devils such as Alucard, was unfortunately not equipped to handle an irregularity such as Sut-Typhon and so they suffered in overall strength and durability as a direct result.
Holy vines infused with the whispers of an ancient relic long since forgotten, the curse of Alexander Anderson's final act in life … both had mixed together to form something truly remarkable and yet to a Beast it was nothing more than an obstacle to be overcome.
Sut-Typhon turned his gaze toward the focal point of Anderson's vines, the glow in his eyes increasing in intensity as dozens of doors began spawning around him. The tentacles hanging from the Beast's face all rose upward as doors began to open, small bits of light appearing on their tips as they shot through an unknown space to emerge through the slight cracks.
"What good is such sacrifice if it fails to deliver you unlimited power, Anderson? Was the sacrifice of your humanity truly worth the suffering, perhaps that is the reason why you became a Servant … to reg-?"
"Save the lecture, Beast," Anderson spat as his main form was impaled countless times by the tentacles, blood now pouring through large holes in the focal point of the vines. "He who seeks power for powers sake is doomed to the depths of hell, stripped of all its sweet succour. Yet he who seeks power for a higher purpose is destined to arrive at the promised Eden and receive the Lord's final blessing …"
It was then that, to the shock of Sut-Typhon, a single page fluttered through one of the portals and appeared right in front of the Beast's right eye. It happened in a single moment as the page began to glow brightly, rapidly expanding until it formed into the human form of Anderson flanked by hundreds of his signature blades.
"Some of us just have to take the long way round," Anderson grinned as he sunk the two blades he held into Sut-Typhon's right eye. "Divine Aura: Blessed Bayonet Barrage!"
Sut-Typhon roared in protest as he began using the one hand he had to claw at his face whilst his tentacle arm swiped back and forth in an attempt to strike Anderson. Unfortunately, Anderson wasn't quite fast enough to make a hasty retreat and was struck mid-air and sent flying from Sut-Typhon all the way across the island in mere moments, a massive dust cloud and debris being blasted upward upon his brutal impact.
"PATHETIC! DID YOU BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO BLIND ME," Sut-Typhon roared as the blades slowly faded away leaving nothing behind on the Beast's face save for the one crack originating from the wound Natsu had inflicted on him much earlier in the fight.
"ANDERSON!"
"That was a brutal blow … he might have dematerialized back to the Throne on impact," Liz hissed through gritted teeth as Sut-Typhon quickly turned his attention back toward the pair.
"AND YOU'LL SOON BE JOINING HIM, VERY SOON!"
With speed that far eclipsed anything the duo had expected from Sut-Typhon, the Beast vanished. Natsu was suddenly sent flying back into the last remnants of Moria's castle, knocking it down and effectively demolishing what little had remained.
Liz however was knocked off of Natsu's head and instantly slapped to the ground by Sut-Typhon's tentacle arm, the Beast almost instantly following up as it came down upon her. The follow up attack was narrowly dodged as Liz blasted herself out of the way using her own flames however she was caught mid-air by the same tentacle and dragged toward the Beast, struggling relentlessly.
"This is MY nightmare, MY reality to play with! I've had enough of this pointless struggle so now I'm ending this little skirmish, painfully!"
As Sut-Typhon began to tighten his hold Liz began to scream, her bones slowly beginning to crack under the pressure even despite her enhanced form as a Servant. In addition, she was also having her pain amplified as Sut-Typhon's eyes cast a powerful spell over her, quadrupling all feeling within her body.
"Do you feel it yet, has the reality of your worst nightmare set in yet," Sut-Typhon taunted as her cries got louder and louder, blood beginning to pour from almost every visible orifice. "What you endure is NOTHING compared to what I did when I was cast out into the Antiverse … NOTHING!"
"Sut-Typhon, that's ENOUGH!"
Without even missing a beat the Beast spun around and punched Natsu on the top of his head mid charge, smashing it into the ground before pinning him down and crushing his head with dozens of the tentacles he was using as legs.
"Your time fast approaches Dragneel however first I shall give you your greatest nightmare, watching as every last friend and ally is brutally slaughtered before you whilst you are rendered utterly useless!"
As he continued to squeeze the life out of Liz and crush Natsu's skull Sut-Typhon suddenly felt attacks striking him from behind. The attacks weren't of a particularly powerful nature however they did register to him meaning only one thing.
"So, another Servant comes to try and save the day," Sut-Typhon chuckled to himself as he let up on stomping Natsu's head and moved to turn around. "Come to try and achieve the impossible-!?"
Sut-Typhon's words died in his throat as he stared down not just the new Servant but Carter who stood behind him. The man usually had a passive gaze whenever they met yet this time his face showed visible signs of anger.
"That's quite enough, Sut-Typhon!"
"Carter …"
"I-its you," Natsu managed to gasp before having his head crushed once again by the massive tentacle legs of the Beast.
"So, it appears Dragneel already knows this Servant, how interesting. Be that as it may I don't believe for a moment that any one Servant can change the tide of this battle, the proverbial 'Ace' has already found his rightful place below me and there are none left standing here capable of matching my might!"
"Natsu," the Servant muttered as he raised his red handgun slightly higher. "Release him."
"Release him? Hehehehehehe … HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! RELEASE HIM!? Do you take me, the Anti God Of Gate and Key Lord Sut-Typhon, for a fool!? I REFUSE!"
It was then that the Servant lowered his gun and moved his cloak aside, raising a golden cylindrical object upward and pointed it at the Beast. Sut-Typhon, who up until this point had been confident, suddenly faltered in said confidence the moment his eyes met the golden object.
"Ah … so it is YOU!"
"It … does not move," the Servant muttered to himself, seemingly confused as Sut-Typhon began to laugh once more.
"So, it appears even your extra trump card has failed Carter, such a shame!"
"Don't count us out just yet, we'll turn you into the finest seafood platter you've ever seen so don't you worry!"
Emerging from Astral Form Kupo arrived on the scene and landed right beside Carter and the Servant looking overly excited.
"Oh man, you've got no idea how glad I am to see you!"
"Moo-gle?"
"That's right it's your old pal Kupo and-WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE TO THAT THING!?"
"…"
"Damn it, how many times do I have to tell ya that this thing isn't meant to be force fired!? Now I'll have to fix the damn thing … AGAIN!"
"You can … make it move?"
"Make it move? Oh no … oh nonononono, don't tell me you can't remember anything again!?"
"No."
"Damn it," Kupo growled before turning around and looking up at Sut-Typhon who loomed over everyone present. "We don't have time for a Q and A right now ok so I'm gonna go ahead and do the dodgiest patch job this side of the Servantverse, right Kaze!"
The Amnesiac Summoner
Denizen Of A Lost Reality
Wielder Of The Magun
The Fabled Black Wind
Kuroki Kaze (Avenger)
Bounty – 1, 277,080,000 Berries
Kupo flew over to the golden cylinder attached to Kaze's arm as the pom pom on his head began to glow a bright golden colour. He seemed to be grunting, no doubt being forced to put in considerable effort in order to fix whatever was wrong with it however after several moments he backed off and cheered.
Kaze looked down at the cylinder and noticed a glow beginning to shine from the top half of it.
"It … has moved!?"
"Alright Kaze I've got it going for one time but I'll need to work on it if we make it out of here alive," Kupo shouted as he and Carter began to fly away from the man. "Pick the best damn Soil Triad you've got!"
"SOIL, IS MY POWER," Kaze shouted as a large shuriken shaped object shot out of the cylinder and began to spin, the cylinder quickly breaking down into cubes that quickly began reconstructing themselves into a large triple barrelled handgun.
The black heart at the core of the weapon seemed to be beating faster than Natsu had ever seen it as the wind finally began to die down leaving Kaze pointing the completed weapon at Sut-Typhon.
"The Magun … has thawed."
"The Magun? I knew I recognized you from somewhere," Sut-Typhon laughed as he jumped off of Natsu to confront his new foe. "Your world was lost to Anti however some of you managed to perform a miracle and escaped its destruction, fleeing back into proper reality. You must really hate my kind if you'd dare point such a weapon in my direction knowing how utterly futile it would be but go ahead, fire, and try to dispatch one of those responsible for your world's incineration!"
Kaze narrowed his eye and looked down for a moment, contemplating what he'd been told by the Beast before looking back up with a steely gaze and pointing at him with his free hand.
"The Soil Charge Triad to use on you has been decided!"
As the man reached down toward his pouch Natsu lunged at Sut-Typhon's tentacle arm and severed it with a powerful slash, grabbing Liz with his mouth and quickly took up a defensive stance behind Kaze.
"The Darkness That Consumed A Dying World – Void Black!"
Flicking the bullet, it quickly popped into the chamber as a pressure began to build throughout the area.
"The Call Of Royalty Amidst An Inhospitable Land – Moon Silver!"
Flicking the second round it slipped into the chamber as a chilling dread began to set in across the area. Any who were purely human could only shiver in fear as if Death herself had descended to claim them.
"And finally, The Flash Of Light That Cuts Through Darkest Night – Lightning Amethyst!"
Flicking the third bullet into the chamber only increased the chill as the Magun began to unleash a monstrous amount of power, prompting Sut-Typhon to laugh.
"Go ahead Windarian, Summon, and watch as I rend the last scrap of hope you've all fought so hard for into less than dust!"
"HOWL! I summon you – FENRIR!"
Firing the Magun unleashed three singular streams that quickly merged into one and, upon contact, seemingly whipped up a blizzard. Emerging from the blizzard with gnashed teeth was a massive silver wolf with Midnight Blue eyes that unleashed a howl the second it saw Sut-Typhon.
"Natsu, allow me to take Elizabeth to safety," Carter said quickly as Natsu gently lowered her into the man's arms. "Even with Kaze it still won't be easy to defeat Sut-Typhon so you must aid his Summon!"
"Already planned on it," Natsu growled as he rose to his full height and moved to stand next to the massive wolf.
Initially it assumed he was hostile however one stern look from Kaze had it silently nod toward him before the pair looked over toward Sut-Typhon who had summoned even more gates to his side.
"Is this all the hatred you hold within you, Windarian? I had expected something much more grandiose than a mere wolf!"
"Don't underestimate Avenger, Sut-Typhon," Natsu snarled back as the wolf began to crouch low. "Anyone who I've seen who has is no longer within the realm of the living!"
Sut-Typhon struck first as he opened the Gates behind him and unleashed a swarm of tentacles toward the pair. Fenrir howled and blasted back a good portion of them however several managed to wrap around its neck and began dragging him toward the Beast.
Charging forward, Natsu slashed at the tentacles and managed to free Fenrir however he was grabbed by the neck himself as Sut-Typhon used his own regenerated tentacle arms to throw him into the air.
"Big mistake. Hybrid's Aura: Apocalypse Dragon Monarch's Anti Cataclysmic Roar!"
Once he was a reasonable distance in the air Natsu fired a breath attack down upon the Beast who put up a barrier around himself. To the Beast's own surprise however the barrier began to show rather sizeable cracks as Fenrir unleashed a powerful blizzard upon it.
Eventually the pressure was far too great and it shattered, right as Natsu's breath attack reached him eliciting a rather ghastly screech from the Beast as it stumbled out of the direct path of the attack.
"DRAGNE-!"
Sut-Typhon didn't even get to finish one word as Fenrir pounced on him, ripping and tearing away at whatever flesh he could as the Beast continued to stumble further and further backward.
"This … is NOTHING!"
Vanishing with the same speed he'd utilized earlier he appeared in the sky above Natsu and landed a powerful punch to the centre of his back that sent him crashing into the ground below. Almost directly at the same time he appeared next to Fenrir and wrapped his tentacle arm around his muzzle, pulling back and throwing the wolf into Natsu who was still getting back to his feet.
"Beast's Aura: Gate God's Door Of Atrophy!"
A massive door appeared above Sut-Typhon and from it emerged a massive Lightning Spear that crashed into the pair, setting off a sizeable explosion. Several more quickly followed the first however it was then that Natsu realized each attack was in fact cursed with some form of Death and the attacks were slowing down his regenerative abilities.
"Likely the 'Atrophy' part of his attack name. Usually one would include that in a spell that would turn a mortal into an undead however we are far more than mortal."
"Hybrid's Aura: Eight Layered Magic Circle – Hyper Mirror Water!"
Taking Ahnk's input into consideration Natsu decided to fling the attacks back at Sut-Typhon to see what effect they would ultimately have whilst also buying time for both himself and Fenrir to fully recover from the attacks.
Sut-Typhon merely laughed as he batted away the attacks before opening more doors and firing even more attacks down upon them as he reduced the area to nothing more than a scorched earthen environment.
"How much pain and destruction will it take for you to understand the gap between your power and that of a Beast, Dragneel," Sut-Typhon hissed as he vanished and appeared behind Natsu's Magic Circle and severed rear legs in one single strike. "Stop this futile struggle and accept your Fate!"
Instead of responding Natsu simply spun around and released a roar into the Beast's face that sent him sprawling backward as Fenrir began to charge forward.
Claws coated in frost the wolf pounced and landed two powerful slashes to the Beast, one that slashed his face and the other the throat. This attack was followed up by Fenrir jumping into the air and firing a breath attack of his own, one that was comprised of pure ice that quickly encased the Beast fully.
"Fenrir, finish him," Kaze ordered as the wolf looked up into the sky and howled, its entire body beginning to glow as a beam of pure light began to form in its mouth.
Natsu expected Fenrir to strike Sut-Typhon's frozen form however he instead spun around and fired the attack right at the moon with the sinister face. To his shock, the face went from an eerily creepy grin to a horrified expression before being blasted clean in two.
Fenrir ceased his attack and nodded toward Kaze before dissipating as the entire area seemed to begin collapsing in on itself. Looking around it was like reality itself was breaking down as bits of what one would consider to be reality shattered like fragile glass leaving nothing more than a black void in its place.
As the shattering reached his position Natsu was surprised to see that he was suddenly back in his human form standing next to all his friends and allies, Thriller Bark no longer a destroyed hellscape and Sut-Typhon nothing more than a mound of dead tentacles.
"Wh-what happened …?"
"That was Sut-Typhon's Authority," Carter explained as he appeared next to Natsu with the injured Liz. "Nega Nightmare allows Sut-Typhon to basically do whatever he wants, hence why he was able to … how shall we say 'pop' back to full power as if he'd never been damaged to begin with."
"So … if none of that was real then why do we all still retain the battle damage and Sut-Typhon looks like that?"
"It was real, real within the Reality Marble generated by Sut-Typhon," Carter continued as Natsu looked over toward the moon and grimaced.
"We don't have much time …"
"What do you mean?"
"If we don't defeat Sut-Typhon properly then that means we don't beat Moria-."
"And if they don't beat Gecko Moria then everyone without their Shadows will be turned to less than ash."
Natsu, along with anyone else who was still conscious, froze. Emerging from the massive pile of tentacles was a severely wounded, much shorter and younger looking Gecko Moria who now sported several Aqua Blue cracks in his body.
"I have to admit I didn't expect any of you to figure out the trick to my Authority, but it no longer matters," Sut-Typhon grinned as he extended his hands outward, his body becoming coated in the Beast's Aura. "The connection, despite your best efforts, is almost complete!"
"I wouldn't go that far," Carter replied causing Sut-Typhon to almost immediately lose the grin. "To anyone who knows how to detect the level of power within an opponent it is clearly obvious that you've been crippled greatly. All we need is one final push and it's over."
"Perhaps, however the King Of Balance has no power left to spare," Sut-Typhon snapped back as Natsu placed a hand over where his now basically empty Magic Core resided. "Not even the pitiful reserves of the reincarnation will save him this time-!"
Sut-Typhon looked down at a clawed hand that was currently piercing through his chest and sighed. Looking back up at Natsu, even as blood began to pour from the wound, he could only burst out laughing.
"Banking on that, really!?"
Behind Sut-Typhon was Seilah, who's expression was as equally shocked as Natsu's own. It only increased as Sut-Typhon grabbed the claw sticking out of his chest and began to squeeze, shattering the bones in her hand but refusing to let Seilah go, even as she kicked and punched his back.
"I'm afraid this is the end for all of you," Sut-Typhon said as he vanished and appeared behind Seilah and smashed her head into the ground creating a sizeable crater in the process. Lifting her head back up he grabbed her by the neck and floated upward and looked down at the few still left conscious.
"Aside from Dragneel this one was your last hope," Sut-Typhon explained as he slowly began to lift Seilah until she was held out in front of him. "Was."
A loud snapping sound followed by Seilah's entire body going completely limp was all Natsu could process as his pupils began to dilate, steam slowly beginning to emanate from his form as her body was casually tossed back down to the crater from earlier.
"This is the end for you, Dragneel. This is the power of a Beast, the power of true despair."
Natsu clenched his fists, gritting his teeth as his mind continued to replay Seilah's limp form over and over as her mark on his body began to burn hotter than anything he'd ever felt before in his life.
"Really? Even after that you'd still show such hostility toward me-?"
"Enough."
Sut-Typhon raised an eyebrow as Natsu clenched his teeth so hard blood began to seep through the very gaps of his teeth and out from his clenched fists.
It was then that he noticed the slight change in the air. Looking at the hair on his arms, Sut-Typhon looked back over toward Natsu rather curiously.
"So … that's how it is?"
Natsu let out a powerful roar that shattered the ground around him leaving nothing but the single space he was standing on as bolts of Lightning struck all around him. Tears streamed down his face as a smirk made its way onto Sut-Typhon's face, the rest of the people gathered around Natsu freezing in place before fading away.
He could hear nothing, see nothing save for the enemy before him. The voices within him were gone … gone … gone …
All that remained was the burning sensation that continued to grow with unfathomable intensity and then …
A bolt of Lightning struck him directly, wiping away what remained of the ground around him and momentarily blinding Sut-Typhon until he was able to manually adjust his eyes to the sight before him.
Floating before him, clothes in complete tatters, was Natsu. His hair had become the same Aqua Blue as before however it now was much straighter, more refined than before. The single strand of Pitch Black had now melded through the Aqua Blue however it was when he opened his eyes that the Beast's grin faltered slightly.
One eye was now the same Aqua Blue as his own, the other however was missing. In its place was a black smoke like substance with a Pure White dot in place of an eye.
'This Anti feels familiar … like Achnologia's however there is something else mixed in there as well? Wait, this Aura feels just like hers!"
It was at that moment Sut-Typhon's eyes were widened as the form of a familiar woman seemed to almost manifest behind him, filling his own stunned mind in on what he was looking at.
"It can't be," Sut-Typhon growled as he clenched his fists. "You had no power left to spare, I made sure of that!"
"I used all of my regular power, Aava's as well," Natsu replied in a surprisingly calm tone. "But this … this was something I should've used before … before …"
And just like that the calmness vanished as the steam returned once more, this time emitting from the Aqua Blue markings on his body specifically as the visage of the smirking woman licked her lips and vanished.
"Before you KILLED HER!"
Roaring again, Natsu unleashed an explosion that almost looked like he'd self-destructed however he then appeared behind Sut-Typhon and sent him flying right into it.
"SECOND ORIGIN – RELEASE!"
From within the explosion Sut-Typhon summoned a Gate and exited through it, reappearing far above it as he looked down at Natsu in shock.
'This isn't how this was supposed to go! He was meant to submit after I killed her not whatever this is!"
Barely having a chance to block a punch Sut-Typhon found himself blown back before receiving a punch to the gut and a knee to the head. Avoiding a second knee he looked up at Natsu and saw the hatred in his eyes and couldn't help but grin.
"Don't smile at me you bastard," Natsu snarled as he spun around and kicked the Beast in the side of the head, sending him crashing into the earth below where Natsu was already upon him. "I'll show you what a real Nightmare looks like!"
Natsu leant down and delivered a brutal headbutt to the Beast who suddenly found himself laying amidst a field of withered grass. Moving to get up a sudden blow to his chest knocked him back down.
"Wha-!?"
Where once there was nothing suddenly became Natsu, a sadistic smirk on his face as his boot pinned the Beast down. To his shock Ahnkseram appeared next to him sporting the same eyes as Natsu, a look of complete insanity on his visage as he dug into Sut-Typhon's leg and began to strip his flesh away.
"Wh-what is this!?
The laughter of a girl could be heard as a young teen skipped into view, no older than fourteen, and jumped right onto his chest. The girl also sported the same eyes as Natsu gave her an affectionate pat on the head.
"You're gonna pay for what you did."
"You aren't even close to the King Of Nightmares!"
"Daddy's going to let us play with you for a long time," the girl grinned as her ordinary toes became much sharper, her nails beginning to dig into his chest as she quite literally began to dig away at it.
He couldn't even scream as the girl opened up his chest, exposing his internal organs to them. The look on the girl's face in that moment did actually send genuine fear down his spine as she reached down and clutched his heart and ripped it right out.
"Oh … did I steal your heart Mister? Too bad," the girl giggled as all three began to hack away at his body with him being unable to fall into unconsciousness.
'I don't understand … how is he doing this? No, this is definitely 'HER' doing! No way Dragneel had the ability to put someone like me under such an intense illusion!'
Then why don't you hurry up and manifest?"
"Why," Sut-Typhon's cried out despite no longer having the vocal cords to do so. "Why would you want me to if you're watching over this bastard!?"
Why indeed?
It was obvious now that he'd been played right from the beginning. It wasn't by Dragneel or any of his allies and most certainly not by that foolish vessel Moria. No, the moment he'd made a play at manifesting he'd been playing right into the hands of someone far greater, of that he was certain.
Upon this realization everything faded and he returned to Thriller Bark and stood before Natsu whose body began to shimmer.
"To think I was outplayed this entire time, by YOU of all people," Sut-Typhon spat as the entire area shattered again revealing Sut-Typhon to be on his knees.
"That was Sut-Typhon's Authority," Carter explained as he appeared next to Natsu with the injured Liz. "Nega Nightmare allows Sut-Typhon to basically do whatever he wants, hence why he was able to … how shall we say 'pop' back to full power as if he'd never been damaged to begin with."
"So … if none of that was real then why do we all still retain the battle damage and Sut-Typhon looks like that?"
Carter looked down and smiled sadly before motioning toward Natsu's Command Seals, blood seeping from them as his eyes widened in shock.
"Wait a minute-!"
/?/
"Wh-what happened …?"
"That was Sut-Typhon's Authority," Carter explained as he appeared next to Natsu with the injured Liz. "Nega Nightmare allows Sut-Typhon to basically do whatever he wants, hence why he was able to … how shall we say 'pop' back to full power as if he'd never been damaged to begin with."
"So … if none of that was real then why do we all still retain the battle damage and Sut-Typhon looks like that?"
"It was real, real within the Reality Marble generated by Sut-Typhon," Carter continued as Natsu looked over toward the moon and grimaced.
"We don't have much time …"
"What do you mean?"
"If we don't defeat Sut-Typhon properly then that means we don't beat Moria-."
"And if they don't beat Gecko Moria then everyone without their Shadows will be turned to less than ash."
Natsu, along with anyone else who was still conscious, froze. Emerging from the massive pile of tentacles was a severely wounded, much shorter and younger looking Gecko Moria who now sported several Aqua Blue cracks in his body.
"I have to admit I didn't expect any of you to figure out the trick to my Authority, but it no longer matters," Sut-Typhon grinned as he extended his hands outward, his body becoming coated in the Beast's Aura. "The connection, despite your best efforts, is almost complete!"
"I wouldn't go that far," Carter replied causing Sut-Typhon to almost immediately lose the grin. "To anyone who knows how to detect the level of power within an opponent it is clearly obvious that you've been crippled greatly. All we need is one final push and it's over."
"Come on Carter, what do any of you have left," Sut-Typhon laughed as everything began to freeze in place. "Hm?"
"I believe you have underestimated our side and believed yourself infallible," Carter replied with a small smile. "For example, you've already lost."
"Already lost!? Are you mad?"
"Many would say I am mad," Carter replied bluntly giving Sut-Typhon pause. "Yourself included if I recall correctly."
"Randolph Carter, that isn't your real name but one chosen specifically," Sut-Typhon said slowly as Abigail appeared at Carter's side. "Randolph Carter was a fictional character from the works of …"
Sut-Typhon, Beast of Anti and a fledgling Evil Of Humanity, felt his blood freeze at the sudden realization he'd come to. His fear was only amplified a thousandfold as Carter held out his right hand with a book appearing within his palm.
"No … no it can't be!"
"I can tell you have fully manifested in this world now which means that I have succeeded," Carter said as his entire body began to glow a bright gold colour and his form began to shift into that of a middle-aged man whose eyes were now Pitch Black along with his veins.
"I feel bad about lying to the others," Abigail sighed sadly. "And I'm still not happy you didn't tell me about any of this!"
"I know … however this was all done for the greater good, Abigail."
"What have you done," Sut-Typhon growled. "Why would you of all people purposely summon an Evil Of Humanity!?"
"Simple," the man grinned as Sut-Typhon found himself frozen in place. "There is a power at work far greater than anything you could possibly imagine and I have decided to give the proverbial 'Good' side all the help it can get."
"So … that's your game," Sut-Typhon sighed as Abigail began to walk toward the Beast. "To think that all of us, Dragneel included, were nothing more than pawns in a grander scheme."
"Ironically, Dragneel was actually the one who summoned me here," the man explained as Sut-Typhon's eyes widened considerably. "You know the one."
"That big is it? Fine, I admit defeat here …"
The man smiled as his book began to float up above him, revealing a certain name.
Spawn Of Eternal Horrors
An Ally Of Chaldea
King Of Cosmicism
Grand Foreigner Class Candidate
H.P Lovecraft (Foreigner)
"You are the Gate but I am the key," Abigail said monotonously as her form shifted back into her more revealing, pale skinned one holding a massive key. "Noble Phantasm Release – Qliphoth Rhizome!"
Using the massive key, she stabbed Sut-Typhon in the head as a loud clicking sound rang out across the island. Sut-Typhon's body began to shake as the Beast was expelled from Moria and into Abigail's key.
"Very well done Abigail," Foreigner nodded in approval before looking over at the rest of the group who were still frozen in place. "They cannot know of what is to come, not yet."
"What of my Contract with Natsu?"
"…"
"Sir?"
"Keep the connection if you wish however it will need to be altered so that he holds no sway over your actions Abigail. This Natsu is not the one we know, never forget that."
"I know …"
Foreigner sighed as the key in Abigail's hand along with Abigail herself began to float upward and toward the book.
"I shall adjust it for you, for now you must rest."
"Yeah … I am pretty sleepy Sir," Abigail yawned as her form broke down and was absorbed into the book.
As the book snapped shut and landed in Foreigner's hand, he turned it over and looked at the cover before smiling and dispelling it. Looking up he could already feel the movement of the Counter Force responding to the manifestation of an Evil Of Humanity and hoped that Natsu's plan would pay off.
"For all our sakes …"
/Present/
"Abigail used her connection with Sut-Typhon to seal him away … along with herself," Carter sighed as Natsu looked at the man like he'd just been physically struck by him.
"What …"
"Abigail is, and always will be, linked to Sut-Typhon and as a result she is the final resort to banish him back into the Antiverse. Because Abigail manifested in the first place Sut-Typhon was bound to emerge and so in order to save you all she … sacrificed herself."
"B-but surely there had to have been something we could've done!?"
"I'm afraid there just wasn't," Carter sighed as he gestured toward Natsu's battered form. "You have little power left even now, neither do any of your allies. Abigail put off her sacrifice as long as she could because she desired to journey with you however in the end, she showed true bravery and made the ultimate sacrifice so that one day you might meet once again."
"Abigail," Natsu said to himself as he turned toward the body of Sut-Typhon that continued to twitch. "So what about him?"
"Moria? He's dead, Anti has all but destroyed him so all of the Shadows should return to those who lost them."
"Good, at least something positive came from all this," Natsu sighed as several loud thuds reached his ears.
Natsu wasn't the only one who heard it as those who were either mourning the loss of Abigail or celebrating getting their Shadows back all fell silent.
A massive Shadow covered the entire group who all turned around to look up at an imposing figure standing tall atop some nearby rubble.
"So, the threat has passed," the figure said as he vanished and appeared right in the centre of the group. "Since that is the case I can continue on with my mission."
"M-mission," Usopp gasped having been right next to the man.
"I am Bartholomew Kuma, Warlord Of The Sea, and I have come for the head … of Natsu Dragneel."
Yeah so massive chapter and massive mind shenanigans at the end there I know haha warned you all at the beginning! Basically the part where Seilah died and all that was Sut-Typhon tricking Natsu into thinking Nega Nightmare had been truly destroyed when in reality it hadn't however H.P Lovecraft had been mindfucking Sut-Typhon from the moment he'd fully manifested.
Think of it kind of like how Kurenai tried to get Itachi in a Genjutsu but she got Genjutsu'd in the Genjutsu but Sut-Typhon was the Kurenai haha!
Anyway I know for certain people are going to have opinions on that but keep in mind how busted the Lovecraftian mythos is before saying it was bad since stuff like that is almost child's play to entities in it.
Hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!