Hi guys Azza here!
So first off all reviews with questions were answered in PM form.
Second, I know I said Rider's character sheet would be at the end of this chapter but I've rearranged things a bit so that won't be in this chapter.
Truth be told I've decided to try and rush the end of this arc, its beginning to drag on far too long, I'm letting you all know now because there will be several fights I had planned that aren't going to occur on screen anymore.
Apologies for those that do want me to not speed this up but I'm beginning to grow tired of this war, its been going since Chapter 97 so I think we definitely covered most of the important bits.
Don't worry though, the ending of the war and all that will still have full focus its mainly the fights and stuff I'm scaling back.
Anyway, on with the story!
I do not own Fairy Tail, One Piece or the Nasuverse.
Natsu And Ahnk's Gamble
/Marineford – Lower Half/
Ritsuka had seen many things since the Grand Order had begun. He'd travelled to countless time periods throughout Human History and even to some conjured from fantasy. Although this was a world that certainly did exist, his mind still seemed to struggle to comprehend what he was dealing with all the same.
It was similar in the Elemental Nations, in fact. Nine Tailed Beasts borne from one singular entity that in of itself was a creation of Gods and Devils was already a hard pill to swallow. Throw in the fact that a half a Grail War was mixed up into it and he knew firsthand this was something far larger than anything he'd dealt with up until that particular Singularity.
They hadn't been able to witness the conclusion of the Elemental Nations Singularity nor its half of the Realis Grail War. Natsu had personally yanked them back, using his power to forcibly remove them before they could be wiped out.
He told them they would have certainly perished, they stood not even a point zero-one percent of a chance at surviving.
That was a rather terrifying thought.
Yet now here he stood as he watched Servants he'd summoned back at Chaldea such as the mighty Iskandar, the stoic and calm Artoria, the mighty and proud Leonidas I and even the calculating yet peerless Caesar shift uncomfortably as they prepared to face the enemy charging toward them.
It was concerning, to say the least, that a roster of Servants that could effortlessly overrun a country back in his own world would fear the opposing force before them. During their time in Chaldea, not once had he seen them worried about their predicament despite knowing that all of existence was on the line and yet …
"Senpai," a soft voice muttered as his side as Ritsuka snapped himself back to reality, slightly startled as he turned to face the grim face of his Kouhai, Mash Kyrielight. "Senpai, are you alright?"
It was a rhetorical question, of course. Mash knew he was far from ok right now; she wasn't faring much better than he was. Yet, despite knowing that things were down, she also knew that things weren't as hopeless as they appeared.
"Senpai, we'll make it through this," Mash said as she placed a hand onto Ritsuka's shoulder comfortingly. "We survived multiple Singularities already; we can do this!"
"We've never dealt with something this big before though Mash," Ritsuka replied shakily as he looked out to where the two groups had engaged each other. "The Singularities had their battles … but this war is-!?"
Mash looked down at Ritsuka's hands, noticing how they shook violently against his will and knew he was scared. He was still just a young teen, a Mage with almost no real experience before all this began and yet he'd been practically thrown into this mess regardless.
"You fear death, don't you boy," a smooth yet cunning voice asked as both Ritsuka and Mash looked to their left before leaping backward in shock, Mash jumping to stand in front of Ritsuka automatically.
Iskandar immediately turned back to see what had startled the young Master and skidded to a stop mid-charge upon seeing who had simply appeared right behind their lines. With a small grin on his face, Grand Avenger stood with his hands in his coat pocket in an almost laid-back manner.
They all knew why though; he wasn't worried in the slightest.
"G-Grand Avenger!?"
"I've been interested in meeting you two, the last Master of Humanity and his Demi-Servant Companion," Grand Avenger continued, ignoring the fact that Iskandar had abruptly spun around and started charging in his direction.
"Y-you've wanted to meet us," Mash asked shakily as they both took several steps backward.
"Well, I've been more interested in meeting Ritsuka admittedly," Grand Avenger replied with a shrug, his smirk only growing in size as the two teens narrowed theirs. "A young boy fighting to defend the right for the existence of not just himself, but those who would sooner see him disposed of …"
"Wh-what do you mean by that," Ritsuka asked only for a blade to pierce Grand Avenger through the back and out his front, purple lightning coursing throughout the man's body as Iskandar landed what would have otherwise been a lethal blow.
Ritsuka and Mash could only gape in a mixture of horror and disbelief at the still beating heart at the tip of Iskandar's blade. The Grand Avenger likewise stared at it with some interest before bursting out laughing, prompting Iskandar to yank his blade free and vanish to Ritsuka's side in an instant.
The man's heart had dropped to the ground for but a moment before vanishing and reappearing in the hole Iskandar's blade had made, the hole itself simply vanishing like it had never been there at all moments after as the Grand Servant chuckled at their mortified looks.
"A magnificent blow, King Of Conquerors, if a tad overdramatic," Grand Avenger said as he dusted off the spot the hole had once been. "Luckily for you, I don't really feel like killing you right now."
"What do you want with Master Ritsuka," Iskandar replied sharply as Grand Avenger looked off into the distance to see that Sir Tristan was aiming at him with his bow. "Why are you not up with the other members of Tiberius Sqaud!?"
"My reasons are my own, King Of Conquerors, and yet I find myself facing a rather perplexing dilemma. I wondered if young Ritsuka could aid me in solving it?"
"A dilemma," Ritsuka muttered confusedly. "What could I possibly do to help a Grand Class Servant?"
"I merely wish to know why you would fight to continue existence in its current state?"
That question threw all three for a loop, as explosions rained down around them, they could only stand there and ask one question.
"Are you stupid," Iskandar snapped as he levelled his sword at the Grand Avenger who clearly wasn't threatened in the slightest. "Why do you think young Ritsuka fights!?"
Grand Avenger chuckled once again, but this time there was clearly something behind it that none of them had detected before as they could feel the man's power flicker for the briefest of moments.
"I suppose my wording might seem rather strange to one such as you, Alexander, but I assure you that my question does indeed carry merit."
"You think I have to even think twice about stopping the Mage King's Incineration Of Humanity," Ritsuka snarled, eliciting merely a raised eyebrow in response. "Who do you think you are questioning that!? You should be helping to stop them, not join them!"
"Ahh, the righteous fury of the ignorant," Grand Avenger sighed wistfully. "It's been thousands of years since I've found it so amusing. Most of the time I'd just brush you off, but that look in your eyes boy … I can see weight behind the words you wield."
Another explosion went off atop the levitated half of Marineford which drew Grand Avenger's attention for a brief moment. The man chuckled to himself again as he spun around on his heel and started walking toward where the main battle between the Servants and Admirals was taking place.
"Has your journey thus far not taught you an inkling of what my question truly is, Ritsuka," Grand Avenger asked aloud as he extended his right hand outward, an ominous red glow beginning to wash over many of the dead bodies scattered about the area. "Have you not yet found the strength to question the shackles of reality? Do you not consider the weight of the words of those you have felled on your quest?"
"What are you talking about," Ritsuka asked, clearly beyond confused at Grand Avenger's words. "If you're trying to make me switch sides then it won't work!?"
"Such naivete, yet I can't help but applaud your courage all the same," the powerful Grand Servant chuckled as the bodies around them began to rise up and shift in appearance. "Perspective is the greatest weapon in mankind's arsenal, Ritsuka Fujimaru. Where you see disaster, destruction, an anomaly … I see the future."
To the shock of those witnessing Grand Avenger's actions, the dead from both sides of the war had morphed into entirely new figures. These figures wore black battle armor, helmets obscuring their faces with a strange symbol, the reared back tail of a scorpion etched onto its surface.
"Consider my words Fujimaru Ritsuka," Grand Avenger muttered as he simply vanished from view. "Consider their worth, their weight … and you will understand my truth."
Ritsuka was completely stumped as he turned toward Mash who was looking equally as confused. Looking up to Iskandar, he could tell the man had some inkling of what the man was doing, but wasn't going to just speak his mind on it just yet.
"Master Ritsuka, are you unharmed," Sir Tristan asked as he flashed in next to him.
"I-I'm fine … just confused," the teen replied. "What was he talking about …?"
"We have little time to ponder his words," Iskandar said suddenly which snapped Ritsuka out of his funk. "Knowing that man, he likely does have a purpose for what he did, yet that purpose could be founded upon nothing more than mere amusement."
Adjusting his blade, he moved to stand in front of Ritsuka as the armoured troops Grand Avenger had created aimed their guns in the small group's general direction.
"It seems we shall need to find time to ponder this once we've escaped Marineford," Iskandar muttered as Mash also moved to stand beside Iskandar. "I must make my way back to the front, the others undoubtedly need my strength."
"Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain shall be here shortly," Tristan replied eliciting a nod from the larger man. "Leave Master to us."
"There might not be much we can do to stop the likes of Grand Avenger," Iskandar said as he placed a hand on Ritsuka's shoulder. "But we can certainly face the likes of the Admirals and Generals the World Government has assembled, so do not fear for we shall all return together!"
There was always something about the way Iskandar spoke that inspired Ritsuka, he couldn't help but nod confidently which brought a smile to the larger man's face. And then, faster than it had appeared, it vanished, along with the man himself as he charged toward the battle once more.
"I really hope Iskandar's right," Ritsuka sighed only for his hair to be ruffled in a rather rough manner.
"I hope you two aren't seriously giving up?"
"Mordred!?"
"No need to yell, I'm standing right here," the taller version of their friend huffed before grinning in their direction. "I have to say, talking back to a Grand Class Servant is rather ballsy, I'm impressed!"
"I-it wasn't anything too special," Ritsuka muttered only for Mordred to shake her head firmly.
"If you knew who you'd just stood up to, you wouldn't be saying that," came the firm reply as Mordred's body became surrounded in a golden light and she began to levitate off of the ground slightly. "Just stopped by to check in on you guys before I head on up to help Natsu. Right Tristan?"
"Indeed, my King."
"Someone had to get the three stooges in order to help you out," Mordred grinned as Gawain and Lancelot finally appeared on the scene, kneeling before Ritsuka.
"Our apologies Master Ritsuka, we've failed to defend you!"
"To think we almost allowed the last Master to be slain by Grand Avenger-!?"
"Oi, shut up you bozos," Mordred snapped as she bonked both of them on the head and hauled them to their feet. "Neither of you would've done shit to Grand Avenger anyway so stop going on about it!"
The whole group looked toward the frozen forms of the soldiers Grand Avenger had summoned. They all seemed lifeless and yet there wasn't any doubt that they would attack the moment Ritsuka went to move.
"Keep him safe you three, I'm counting on you," Mordred muttered as she looked up to the levitated half of Marineford. "I need to be with my Master."
"We will defend Master Ritsuka with our lives," Gawain replied firmly as the trio stood alongside Mash to form a wall in front of Ritsuka. "The war is all but over, ensuring his survival is now one of our top priorities!"
"Good," Mordred nodded as she started floating upward. "We'll talk once all this shit is over, alright!"
Ritsuka nodded to her as Mordred shot toward the levitated half of Marineford, the rapidly increasing power levels worrying her slightly.
'Better not get yourself killed up there Natsu.'
/Marineford – Upper Half/
A shard made from solid darkness sailed past Natsu's head as the man spun around and tossed a ball of crimson flame at Blackbeard's position no larger than a human head. The fireball narrowly missed him and smashed into the rubble behind him, setting off a large explosion that sent the vile Pirate flying back toward his allies.
He'd been fighting Teach for well over half an hour straight, the pair slugging it out as everyone else either took cover or watched from a safe distance. Natsu knew that any minute now, his summoned Demon would be subdued by Blackbeard's crew and he'd be fighting the lot at once.
The man was a coward, it showed in his fighting style. He'd fought countless foes wielding frightening power before, their fighting styles committed to memory in case the need ever arose to wield their tactics against a suitable foe in the future.
He'd fought direct fighters such as August, Achnologia, Terra and Kenpachi. They were fighters who were completely unafraid of what their opponent might throw at them, they'd eagerly charge in and tank damage if it meant dealing damage in return.
He'd fought crafty fighters such as Orochimaru, Jellal, Madara and Alucard. They fought tactfully, never yielding damage without a sign that they could glean victory in some way. They were cunning, wielding a robust set of skills and abilities to compensate for any deficiencies they may have had that may have otherwise brought about their downfall.
But then there were those who were cowards such as Teach. Instead of wielding some kind of strategy or bearing the brute force necessary to bulldoze their way through the enemy, Teach fought only when his foes were deemed weak enough for him to beat. Should the tables turn, his crew jumps in to gang up on his enemies or he beats a hasty retreat, tail between his legs.
He could feel it in every exchange the pair had, the lack of commitment behind the blows as the Pirate would almost always be the one to pull back first. The man wielded a monstrous power yet he lacked the will to stand and wield it properly.
"We don't just have the fat bastard and his lackeys to worry about either," Ahnk chimed in as he projected images of the World Government forces to the forefront of his mind. "They're slowly gathering their bearings and may side with Teach out of fear for the Quake Quake Fruit."
Standing tall as the rumbling died down, Natsu watched as Teach slowly rose back to his feet. The man was bloodied, but not beaten as the darkness slowly started radiating off of his form once more.
"Does this bastard not know when to quit," Natsu hissed as he felt a sharp stabbing pain run through his head. "Not much longer now …"
"You want to tag out for a bit," Ahnk asked in concern, having also felt the sharp pain rip through Natsu. "Scratch that, I think its time we tag out."
"Why?"
"Look at the remnants of Tiberius Squad and the World Government over there," Ahnk replied as he noticed many of the heavy hitters were beginning to advance forward. "I think its about time we really struck fear into these bastards so that way after all this is said and done they leave us alone."
"You've got a plan," Natsu asked aloud as he allowed Ahnk to take control, the strain on his head lessening somewhat as the First Hybrid took the brunt of the strain.
"We might end up a bit low on reserves again after this, but I'm confident," Ahnk responded sharply as he placed a hand onto the hilt of Pallas' Sword.
Many in the World Government ranks were immediately on alert. The few times the blade had been drawn against their forces it had ended miserably for them, this would logically be no exception.
"Come to me, old friend," Ahnk roared, as he held Natsu's left arm up into the air as a Pitch-Black Magic Circle appeared at his fingertips and slowly descended down to his wrist.
The Magic Circle then swiftly shot upward as a Pitch-Black sword coated in runes manifested into his hand, the raw power of it alone putting the remaining Servants on alert as he slowly lowered it to eye level.
"I'll need my focus for this," Ahnk muttered aloud as he spun the sword around once as it rapidly shrunk down in size and scale.
"A Wand," Natsu asked as the sword fully finished its transition. "You use a Wand?"
"I take it no one ever educated you in the usefulness of them," Ank replied as he levelled it out to his side in a defensive position. "Time for another lesson on why I'm rightly feared back home."
Ahnk's declaration came right on the heels of the World Government troops rallying to fight once again. Blackbeard smirked, along with the rest of his crew as the two sides that should have been foes allied against him.
"ZEHAHAHAHAHAHA! I guess you really are screwed now, eh Dragneel," Blackbeard laughed as the path between him and Natsu was slowly filled out by World Government troops. "Surely you won't hold it against me, letting these guys help me!?"
"Considering how pathetic your performance has been thus far, almost makes it a fair fight," Ahnk responded aloud with a cruel smirk as he levelled his wand toward the enemy. "Like Whitebeard said earlier, your arrogance and carelessness are to be your undoing."
Blackbeard clearly wasn't happy with Natsu's response, but didn't comment on it as Sengoku and Erich stepped forward to respond in his stead.
"Return us to the surface and we will be lenient," Sengoku said only for Ahnk to sneer in response.
"We know you're strong Natsu, but not even you can handle this many at once," Erich added as many of the fodder around them roared in agreement. "Even you have to see its time to surrender?"
"A couple of brats think they can order me to surrender," Ahnk scoffed as the tip of his Pitch-Black coloured wand began to glow, the runes firing up along its surface as they glowed Pure-White. "On the contrary, I think its time to teach all of you a lesson you'll not soon forget!"
With absolute precision, forged over a thousand years' worth of practice, Ahnk seemed to draw the outline of a circle in the air before the assembled forces, filling in its centre with a pentagram that, once completed, immediately had the fodder dropping to their knees from the sheer density of pressure alone.
"What are you making Ahnk, that's just like a Magic Circle?"
"Quite right Natsu," Ahnk grinned as he flicked his wand, the Circle slowly beginning to spin in response. "Remember that I was one of the pioneers of modern mage craft back home, the one who basically streamlined its use for the masses. Remember, all those spells … someone had to be the one to forge them, after all?"
Suddenly, the Circle ceased spinning right as Caster Of The Fey warped into the front lines, slamming the end of her staff down with a firm frown on her beautiful face.
"Those of you who are not of the upper ranks must retreat immediately," Caster barked out as over thirty Dark Blue Magic Circles flared up in front of the assembled forces. "Those of you that can, brace yourselves!"
If Natsu wasn't curious before then he certainly was now as the Magic Circle Ahnk made began to rapidly expand in size until it was the size of a house. The signature coming off of the attack was familiar, despite having only felt its use once prior to this moment.
"The Neutral Arts," Natsu muttered as Ahnk flashed a terrifying grin toward the enemies before him.
At Genesis, power surges forth like an endless tide.
Life sprouts forth, the womb of creation burns brighter than the largest of stars.
Evolution revokes the Genesis, the march to Terminus wages on.
Let Genesis guide my hand!
Performing a rapid spinning motion with his wand, the Magic Circle began to pulsate, large cracks appearing all along its surface as Caster Of The Fey continued to throw up an impressive amount of Magic Circles to defend the World Government forces.
"Elder Hybrid's Aura: Neutral Arts – Lymysedo Nyo Bruapic!"
The moment the last letter of the strange language left his lips, the Magic Circle shattered entirely and, in its wake, a monstrous blast of raw, undiluted power was fired toward the assembled forces before them.
"Much as I suspected," Caster huffed as she twirled her staff, much in the same manner Ahnk had done earlier with his sword, reforming it into her own wand. "The Natsu of this time should not be capable of such feats, leading to but one conclusion!"
The raw energy smashed into Caster's massive array of Magic Circles as she rapidly swished and flicked her wand, dozens more being erected as fast as the blast tore through the old ones.
"Everyone get out of its path," Sengoku cried, knowing full well that Caster's barriers were clearly meant to buy time at best.
And buy time they did as everyone narrowly avoided the spear-like attack that smashed through the last of Caster's barriers, the Servant warping away before being run through herself as the attack cleanly erased everything in its wake.
No one had the time to even ponder what had happened however as loud bangs drew their attention back toward where Natsu was, Caster having warped directly out to face him.
"Not good," Ahnk hissed, his eyes fully narrowed in concentration as he parried over a dozen blue beams of light with a flick of his wand. "I think I might know who this is!"
The veil that had shrouded Caster's face was off completely now, the equally as focused and determined Servant seemingly putting Ahnk on the backfoot as he slowly treaded backward.
Caster flicked her wand at a pile of rubble, transforming it into a pack of wolves with Ahnk twirling his wand around before making a stabbing motion that fired out a solid blast of air that sent the wolves skidding backward.
With his free hand, Ahnk made an 'up' signal with this index finger as rubble behind both Caster and the wolves was lifted up. This was immediately followed by a 'come' motion as the debris was send flying at Caster's back.
"Didn't expect to see you here," Ahnk muttered as he flicked his wand right, then left, then down as the rubble was transformed into sharp glass. "Of all the ones I could have run into, YOU had to be here!?"
"So, it really is you," Caster replied neutrally as she motioned out to her left with her free hand, sending the wolves flying into the glass' path as they took the hit. "If only you weren't inhabiting the body of my future Husband, I'd use everything to show you my displeasure regarding your timely disappearance!"
"Wait, WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY," Natsu barked out in shock only to go completely ignored.
Flicking his wand downward, Ahnk then immediately flicked it upward as four massive spherical chunks of earth were ripped up to orbit his position. Making a scrunching motion with his free hand, he brought them closer to him right as Caster fired a volley of bright purple beams of light at him.
The purple blasts set off massive explosions, taking good chunks out of the rocks however Ahnk was already half way through his next play as he fully clenched his free hand, the rocks all smashing together to combine into one massive rock.
"Elder Hybrid's Aura: Holder Magic – Mutatio In Tutorem!"
The massive rock suddenly sprouted arms and legs as a hulking humanoid entity burst forth as a result of Ahnk's spell. The entity clutched a large rocky cleaver as it moved to strike Caster.
"A rather impressive Transfiguration for someone who should be out of practice," Caster sniffed as she slashed her wand in the air before her, the cleaver of the rocky beast being deflected instantly. "Spriggans are rather dense constructs, after all."
"I believe I'm the one who taught YOU that," Ahnk shot back as he fired off several blasts whilst warping around. "I know so much Magic that I can't even remember it all, you would be wise to remember THAT lesson!"
Warping behind Caster, Ahnk charged up a Fire Dragon Monarch's Nova and was about to toss it at her back only to be forced to dispel it as a spike of darkness was fired directly at him by Blackbeard.
"Tch-!?"
"ZEHAHAHAHAHAHA! Quite an impressive lot of skills you've got Dragneel," Blackbeard laughed as he waltzed right into the battle, all of his allies at his back. "Wonder how long you can keep going though!?"
"Long enough," both Natsu and Ahnk spat at the same time. "I might be outnumbered, but I'm far from helpless!"
"You ready to finally test this Natsu?"
"Yeah. No better time for a test run than when we're in a do or die situation, eh!?"
"If we do this, we'll have to put this half of Marineford back down though," Ahnk warned him even as he felt Natsu begin to channel the necessary power within. "We've moved it a decent distance from the lower half though, about half a kilometre or so."
"Good enough for me," Natsu smirked as he looked toward Aava. "You ready to regulate?"
"If we all die because this backfires and we blow up, my reincarnation will break into wherever you end up and devour you."
"You say the nicest things," Natsu grinned as he took over the majority of his body again.
"Make sure I get the half with my weapon Natsu," Ahnk said quickly as his entire body became coated in a mixture of Hybrid's Aura and a bright golden light.
Caster was immediately on the defensive with Blackbeard and his allies all taking hesitant steps backward. Natsu simply smirked in their direction, an action that angered Blackbeard as the man began to summon more of his darkness to flood the area with.
"You think numbers are going to be enough to win this, think again," Natsu shouted as his entire body began to flicker before being engulfed by a massive pillar of golden light. "Hybrid's Aura: True Heavenly Body Magic – Dioscuri!"
The pillar of light vanished, smoke clouding the battlefield however Caster simply whisked it away with a wave of her wand. Once she did however, she really wished she hadn't.
Blackbeard was gaping like a fish, his eyes wide and it was a reaction mirrored by most within the World Government ranks excluding the highest calibre fighters. Many of Tiberius Squad who had been merely content to observe the fight shared knowing looks, having already predicted such an action due to their future knowledge of Natsu.
Caster, likewise, remained unmoved. A slight frown was all that there was to signal her concern, but she wasn't shocked at what he'd done.
"Heh, looks like it was a success," Natsu smirked as he walked forward in his Demiurge Form. "I do love it when one of our little projects comes to fruition, don't you, Ahnk?"
That was when a second Natsu stepped forward, this one having black hair with flecks of white sprinkled throughout it. The markings that would normally line his body to signify Aava's presence and use of Anti were absent entirely.
Instead, he simply stood up straighter than the Natsu at his left, wand at his side as he began to chuckle softly.
"Indeed. Even if it is but a temporary and exceedingly rare occurrence, I'm glad I can finally walk the realm of the living in a body."
"You split," Caster muttered as she looked between the two Natsu's, her eyes narrowing on the one with the wand. "I wonder if you have taken into consideration all the drawbacks of such a thing, Master Ahnkseram?"
Natsu's eyes widened in mild surprise, but he had already suspected that Ahnk and this Servant had some kind of prior relationship in the distant past. Looking to his right, he could see Ahnk, wearing his own appearance, narrow his eyes even as he chuckled softly to himself.
"I wouldn't be concerned about us if I were you, this was over a years' worth of research, both theoretical and practical, to make it a reality," Ahnk replied coolly as he regarded the Mage before him with a strange gaze Natsu had only seen the man use for him. "Still, I'm rather glad to see even at a glance, you are capable of picking up on the immediate cons to what we've done. You always were a bright one … Morgan."
Servant Of Tiberius Squad
A Figure Of Countless Legends
Grand Caster Class Candidate
King Of Regicide
Morgan Le Fay (Caster)
"Save your compliments, for I have no need of them," Morgan replied as she adjusted the grip on her wand. "We are enemies in this war and I have no intention of leaving in disgrace!"
"No, I don't think you do," Ahnk muttered as Natsu decided to curb his question for after they got out of this mess. "Natsu, you ready to do this?"
"Yeah. Time to see if all the practice we had together pays off," Natsu replied as the pair stood side by side, Hybrid's Aura exploding from the pair as the entire area began to shake. "Is it bad that I'm actually excited?"
"I don't believe so," Ahnk replied as he briefly glanced at his hands to see them shaking with anticipation. "Just remember, nothing big and if we start to run low-."
"I know," Natsu replied with a stiff nod. "I'm slowly beginning to lower us back down to sea level so I can't even go at seventy percent anyway."
Ahnk nodded as the pair looked up to the massive line-up of foes before them. Even with the two of them fighting together, things could still turn out badly for them if they failed to utilize everything they had.
"Alright," Ahnk suddenly snapped, jolting the enemy out of their stupor at seeing two Natsu's powering up before them. "Let's do it!"
Both Natsu and Ahnk charged forward as one, their Auras merging together as Morgan fired off a volley of spells so fast none without Advanced Observational Haki or Aura Sight even saw her move.
The spells weren't directed at the pair, but rather at the environment as rock-like hands erupted from the earth and moved to ensnare them. Of course, Morgan knew this wouldn't work on them at all, but merely used it as a stopgap for her next spell.
Natsu and Ahnk smashed through the rock-like hand barrage, snapping the again stunned World Government forces into action as they immediately opened fire upon them.
"Natsu skidded to a stop as he held out his right hand, freezing all the bullets and cannon balls in place as Ahnk jabbed his wand forward roughly to propel them back.
"With a little extra love," the First Hybrid sneered as all the projectiles sent back expanded in size, making them twice as lethal as Natsu then made a clenching motion with his left hand to set them all off right in the middle of the fodder ranks.
As explosions rocked the area, Morgan twirled her wand and reformed it into a battle staff as she summoned eight dark blue swords made from pure Magic. The swords hovered around her defensively as she smashed the butt end of her staff into the ground hard enough that it shook the entire area.
"Up," Ahnk said sharply as both Hybrid's leapt up at the same time to avoid a dark blue spear impaling them both as it sailed past their position. "Get that Crash Magic ready!"
"On it," Natsu said as he quickly expanded his Crash Barrier outward to encompass both of them whilst Ahnk charged a spell.
"Elder Devil's Aura: Exigo Gladios Terebrare Per Omnia Claustra!"
Natsu was mildly surprised as Morgan activated Elder Devil's Aura, the Blood Red eyes glaring up at them as she sent the blades hurdling toward their position.
"Hybrid's Aura: Crash Arts – Crash Fortress!"
Extending both arms outward, he summoned a large Crash Magic Circle before them that all the conjured swords slammed into. The blades didn't immediately shatter, a testament to their conjurer's strength, however they clearly weren't making any headway either.
"All right, I'm ready," Ahnk said as both he and Natsu warped at the same time to be right in the thick of the enemy. "Hybrid's Aura: Holder Magic – Flagellum Flammae!"
Lashing out in a sweeping motion with his wand, Ahnk conjured a whip of raw flame that tore its way through the totally unprepared troops. He managed to take out many before it was grabbed by a large, golden hand.
"I won't allow any more of the troops under my command to be slain by the likes of you," Sengoku roared, now fully transformed into his Buddha form.
Ahnk immediately dispelled the flame whip right as Sengoku made to yank him closer, immediately firing off a vicious curse that sliced over thirty men in half before crashing into the ruins of a building.
Sengoku clearly didn't appreciate that and launched himself into the air, a powerful palm thrust fully charged and ready to go. Natsu and Ahnk both shot toward the Fleet Admiral however both were forced to warp several metres backward as another member of Tiberius Squad entered the battle.
Saber Of The Abyss.
Both Hybrids immediately warped to either side of Saber, Natsu drawing Pallas' sword and Ahnk morphing his wand back into a sword as the tall and imposing Saber suddenly summoned a greatshield that blocked Ahnk's immediate slash.
Natsu grit his teeth as Saber parried him with the imposing greatsword, though he wasn't overly concerned. Neither had really put much power into their strikes, instead hoping to push the Saber back somewhat.
But that was when another contender made themselves known as Natsu was forced to break off his clash with Saber, duck to avoid the immediate retaliatory slash from the Servant, whilst also blocking a downward slash attack from the Warlord Dracule Mihawk.
Ahnk, noticing Natsu down on one knee blocking Mihawk and Saber moving to stab him, began rapidly warping around firing off slash attacks in a maddened frenzy. To most, it appeared like a desperate attempt to take out as many as he could.
But it was anything but.
Mihawk was immediately forced to disengage as a massive vertical slash attack narrowly missed him, two aerial ones following that up that had Saber spinning around and planting his greatshield into the dirt, taking the attacks head on.
Natsu immediately vanished the moment he had the opportunity and appeared at Ahnk's back, the pair's eyes meeting in silent agreement on what to do next.
Both flashed back into the thick of things, Natsu and Ahnk back-to-back as they were immediately surrounded by most of the high-ranking officers of the World Government, Morgan, Saber, Sengoku and Mihawk.
"Fufufufufufu! How exciting," the signature chuckle of Donquixote Doflamingo cut in as the main landed amidst the gathered crowd. "You really are as fun as I'd thought Dragneel!"
"ZEHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Looks like him splitting himself was all for show," Blackbeard laughed as he pushed his way to the front. "You talk big but barely ever deliver!"
"What do you reckon Ahnk," Natsu asked mentally as he felt the almost annoyed shrug back.
"They really think we're on our last legs, time to shake them up."
Natsu grinned as his eyes began to glow purple, putting everyone on guard for a brief moment before they were all violently knocked over as the floating mass sharply pulled to the right.
The moment everyone was knocked off balance, Ahnk immediately fired off an aerial slash attack at Blackbeard who fearfully threw a Quake Punch to counter it. Skidding backward, he barked for his crew to help as Shiryu vanished and appeared right in Ahnk's face, sword poised to slash his throat.
But Ahnk didn't even need to move, Natsu's blade parrying the man with a downward slash that knocked his attack off course, forcing him to immediately pull back. As Natsu had turned to deflect the attack, Doflamingo seemed to see that as an opportunity to slash him in the back and made a swiping motion with his right hand that fired off five thin strings.
Ahnk had moved in step with Natsu and slashed at the strings, shredding them with ease whilst also then redirecting the end point of his attack to knock the sword of Saber off course before it could stab Natsu in the ribs.
As he did this, Natsu briefly traded several brutal blows with Mihawk whilst also summoning another Red Ebony Sword to fire off a slash attack at Morgan who was about to slam her staff into the ground again.
Right as he fired it off, he was then forced to use both swords to block Mihawk and was shocked as Mihawk's Black Blade tore right through his Red Ebony one, staggering him as he stumbled back into Ahnk.
Sensing what had happened, Ahnk stomped the ground and Mihawk was suddenly sent sky high as a pillar of earth smashed into him from the right, courtesy of some Earth Magic.
Natsu's free hand was coated in red lightning as he raised it above his head and made a slashing motion with it, calling down a series of powerful thunderbolts that blasted through the enemies on his side.
Morgan warped around the pair, rapidly conjuring Magic Circles of varying colours as both Hybrid's slid into defensive stances.
"Get ready, this is likely going to be rough," Ahnk warned Natsu through their link as the first of a barrage of spell fire began to rain down upon them.
The two Hybrid's joined their senses together as they rapidly began deflecting the barrage, a near perfect three sixty-degree coverage between the two. Every now and then, a stray Haki laced bullet, one of Doflamingo's string-based attacks or an attack from Mihawk or Sengoku would try to crack through their defence, though they were repelled.
The pair rapidly danced around in a circular motion, fending off anything and everything that their Aura sensed as a threat with the World Government forces only growing more fearful of Natsu's strength the longer he held out against the relentless barrage.
The Servants, as well as certain other individuals such as Mihawk and Sengoku, knew the true level of power they were up against which is why none of them had opted to try and brute force their way through and instead relied on the age-old method of whittling down his defence instead.
"As much as I love covering your ass Ahnk, we need to get the hell out of here!"
"Ten more seconds, gather Aura in your blade and warp to this spot," Ahnk replied sharply as Natsu was given a mental image of where to go. "You know what to do!"
It was lucky that he actually did know what to do, the duo having discussed this many times in the past as the seconds slowly ticked by. Right as the two second mark hit, one of Doflamingo's strings managed to get through and cut Natsu's cheek slightly, a sign that they were beginning to tire.
"NOW," Ahnk roared as they vanished and reappeared a short distance behind the massive force that had encircled them. "LET'S DO IT!"
Both fully opened up their reserves as the stronger fighters immediately moved to avoid what was coming. Morgan warped half way across the battlefield and conjured a powerful personal shield, Mihawk and Doflamingo vanished in bursts of speed and could be seen booking it across the battlefield.
Sengoku had moved to protect his troops, however Saber had other plans as the large Servant broke ranks and charged directly toward them, greatsword slung over his shoulder and his greatshield nowhere in sight.
Natsu and Ahnk stood diametrically opposed, their blades cocked back and brimming with raw power as they both swung inward, their swords meeting as the two powers quickly merged into one.
"Hybrid's Aura: One Sword Style Unison Raid – Balanced Cleansing Sweep!"
It was a variant of an attack Ahnk had used during their battle during the Alvarez/Ishgar War, a powerful vertical slash attack that would ordinarily fire off a deadly blast of wind. This attack however was packed to the brim with Hybrid's Aura and raw reserves and thus, when it was fired, formed an aerial slash attack so powerful it blinded everyone present.
To those who viewed the attack before being blinded, it looked as if it was simply slicing away everything in its path and they wouldn't be far from the truth. Many who were blinded dropped to the ground in the hopes that the attack would sail over them and the stronger fighters knew they had to take drastic measures to avoid being killed by it.
Natsu and Ahnk both fell to their knees, taking the brief moment to recover as their attack decimated the enemy before them. They both looked to one another before Ahnk gave him a tired thumbs up and a grin.
"Not bad for our first practically team up, eh!?"
"Yeah …"
Looking back to their attack, it had finally left the floating half of Marineford which was now coated in a thick layer of dust. Slowly, Natsu and Ahnk shakily rose to their feet and surveyed their work.
"Hold up," Natsu huffed as the floating island jostled a bit. "Touching down now …"
Looking to his right, he watched as seawater was thrown up into the air by the rather rough landing Natsu gave the poor island. They were now firmly back at sea level and could see the battle going on across the other half of Marineford and both shared a dark look.
"We can't do anything for them Natsu, we have to trust in the Servant State and Whitebeard's allies that they can get out of this."
"But what about Luffy, Ritsuka and Mash," Natsu hissed. "And Mordred!?"
"Glad to know you're concerned about little old me, but I'm fine."
Natsu gaze snapped upward to see a lazily floating Mordred, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she slowly dropped down to join the pair.
"Where the fuck were you five minutes ago," Ahnk huffed only to receive a bonk on the head from the blonde. "OI!"
"Shut up Ahnkseram, I tried coming in but the amount of shit flying out of this half of the island made it rough!"
"I doubt me lowering it would've helped either," Natsu added as Ahnk pouted and looked away briefly. "All that aside, glad you're here Mordred because it's been a bit rough."
"I saw, but you guys did great," came the immediate reply. "I mean just look at that, you've butchered them!"
Mordred's words were certainly not far off of the mark. The dust had cleared and the damage was catastrophic to say the least with a sizeable portion of the Marines and Soldiers simply no longer being present, having been utterly vaporized where they stood.
All the important heavy hitters were still alive though, the ones that actually mattered in Natsu's opinion. Even that asshole Blackbeard and his crew were all still alive.
"Such extensive loss of life," a familiar voice said smoothly as the trio looked out into the no man's land to see Grand Avenger standing there with the same amused grin on his face. "So much chaos and destruction, such extensive loss of life!"
"Grand Avenger," Natsu muttered, somewhat fearful of the wild card Servant.
"I wonder, should I step in and stop you slaughtering all these Humans," Grand Avenger asked aloud. "Or should I thank you for it?"
Looking past Grand Avenger for the moment, he could see no one was even attempting to come closer to them. They were all watching from far away as he spoke with the Grand Class Servant who clapped and snapped Natsu's attention back toward him.
"Decisions, decisions …"
Natsu wasn't surprised that he was sweating profusely, he was already far beyond his limits and the boost from Iroh had all but run out. Even now, the Dioscuri Spell was causing Ahnk's form to flicker and he would return at any moment.
The wave of power that crashed over the island had Dioscuri fail immediately, Ahnk returning into Natsu as the man himself dropped to one knee. He didn't even need to look, but he did anyway, as Grand Avenger began powering up.
"I've decided that I'm going to deal with you now," Grand Avenger said as he flexed his gloved hands. "I was content merely observing things and making fun of Tiberius, but now I find myself rather bored of all this."
"What should we do," Mordred muttered softly as Natsu shakily rose to his feet. "We can't take out a Grand, not even if you were to abuse Anti to its limit."
Natsu locked eyes with Grand Avenger who's smirk only widened in response as his mind struggled to come up with a single way to get out of all of this.
And Grand Avenger knew it.
So, Grand Avenger identity reveal next chapter so get hype guys!
Hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!