Author's note
Hello and welcome back for another installment. This one was pretty fun to write but I'll hold off on any detailed comments until the end. See you there.
The Greyhound: Part 2, Old Demons
Chapter 20
Erza and Lucy stood in the jungle, breathing heavy. Littering the ground around them were the broken bodies of their would-be attackers. The robed figures were all down for the count, most having already fallen unconscious due to the assault they endured, though some managed to hold off sleep's embrace.
One in particular, was determined to have his voice heard. Crawling his way over he reached out a hand to grasp the armored woman's leg.
Erza reacted calmly to the touch, noticing there was no force in her opponent's grip.
"You can't stop us." the downed man said, looking up at her. " It's already too late."
His words rang true when-
"RAAAAAAAAH!"
-they heard an ear-splitting screech.
"That's bad right?" the blonde asked
"We need to move!" The knight replied, kicking off the man's hand, as they raced towards the sound.
From the dirt, the cloaked man couldn't help but feel pity for the women as they ran towards the icon of destruction. "One way or another, everything ends today. Either we kill the demon, or he kills us."
When Gray stormed through the cavern's entrance he was unprepared for what he saw. He'd replayed what he thought he might see as he ran down the stairs. Visualized what it would be like to come face to face with the demon that ruled his nightmares. But his imagination could never have produced a sight like this.
Deliora.
That abomination was free. Zeref's handy work was free to move about and torment this world once more, and it was starting with him. His body was frozen, eyes locked on the beast but his mind unable to focus. He felt like a child again, in the worst possible way.
Hearing Lyon stumble through the cave behind him wasn't enough to pull him from this stupor.
Noticing his fellow disciple walk past him before dropping to his knees did nothing to wake him either.
But the sound of his friends' sobs did reach his ears. And Lyon's thoughts were all too familiar.
"What have I done? I've killed us all." Reality struck the boy. He'd worked so hard to free this thing, but now staring it in the eye he felt helpless. If Ur couldn't kill this monster how could he?
"...Ur?" Lyon questioned.
The thought of his master made him look towards the ice, seeing the lifeblood of his mentor reduced to water. The liquid had pooled to such an extent it formed a small stream traveling out of the cave. The water was so clear, but as he watched it move the only color he could see was red.
Looking at what was left of his master, he panicked.
"I. I didn't. This was just meant to… to... to kill you. I killed you. I killed you, I killed you..." guilt wreaking havoc on his conscience.
Gray would have stayed petrified, imprisoned by his own thoughts, but hearing that was enough to move him. He'd gone through something similar as a child, and even to this day still felt guilt for what he'd done. For the way he'd pushed Ur into giving up everything.
But he'd be damned before he let someone else, let alone Lyon, feel the same pain he did.
He froze as a child before the demon, and his body was trying to freeze again now. No, not this time. He wasn't a child anymore, he was too old to be cowering.
He knew what he needed to do. Even Ur couldn't kill this thing, so he couldn't even think of trying, but she did seal it. Maybe he could do the same, maybe it was time for him to follow in his master's footsteps… Maybe that was his penance.
He took the stance.
Legs wide, arms crossed...
And with a bit of focus, power erupted around him.
Lyon nearly jumped at his actions spinning his head to look back, and feeling fear crawl through him at what his fellow disciple was doing.
"I don't blame you Lyon." the boy's eyes could only widen.
"When Ur left, even though she gave us so much, she took a lot with her too. You were a kid when everything happened. Hell, what were we 12? You were a child, and the person you most looked up to was gone. Everything you'd build your life around was suddenly taken from you. So I don't blame you for being angry, and I think I understand why you did what you did..."
"Gray what are you talking about? Stop this!" Lyon knew what was coming and only wished he had the strength to stop the fool.
"I'm giving you a second chance here Lyon. Be a little more careful this time around, alright?" The sad smile dancing on his face spoke volumes, but he'd said his piece. He'd promised his friend a second shot at life, and now it was time to deliver.
"ICED SHELL!"
Ultear was ecstatic. "It's alive, it's actually alive!" Hiding in the shadows she'd released her Transformation Magic and now looked like her young, beautiful, FEMALE self. No more pretending to be a man, no more Zalty.
Truly this was a grand sight. She was expecting the demon to be all but dead, yet here it was moving around, and screeching to the heavens. Certainly it was weak, being nowhere near full strength but that could be fixed. Surely Hades had a way to bring the creature's strength back and then they would have a demon they could release on the world. Whether as a distraction or simply to remove a target, the demon's strength would now be theirs.
She was just taking in the sight.
A demon running free, mother's ice melting, and the purple moon shining through.
As the glee started to wear off she looked back towards her two former opponents. First the Salamander. Pink hair and Onyx eyes were staring widely at the demon of destruction. Interestingly it didn't look like the boy was scared, just unsure of what to do next.
Then there was Kinzo. Similarly, he was staring up at the demon, seemingly lost in thought. A pity their earlier conversation was interrupted. She would have liked to mess, I mean talk with him more.
Her attention was pulled away from him when two more boys came crashing through the entrance. "Ahh and here come the 'little brothers'" she joked.
Gray and Lyon, both looking to be in pretty bad shape. As they entered one froze and the other fell to his knees.
"Hmm? Is little Lyon finally feeling remorse for hurting Ur? Too bad it took him so long, she's gone now."
Seeing the boy break right in front of her was wonderful, but what came next nearly had her cackling like some B-list movie villain.
Gray Fullbuster, Ur's second disciple, had just taken a stance. Legs apart, arms crossed, with a serious expression. He was going to use Iced Shell, and she couldn't stop a massive smile from forming on her face.
Oh this couldn't get any better. Ur the mother who'd abandoned her was now dead. Lyon was a mess emotionally and mentally, he'd be easy to get rid of quietly after this was over. And here was Gray about to throw his life away.
She couldn't have made this any better if she planned it herself, she'd have revenge on every part of Ur's fake family… but there was still one left, Kinzo.
She wouldn't kill him. After all, Hades wanted to speak with him, alive. So she would enjoy toying with him for a while before handing him over to the man he seemed to hate so much.
The musing was paused for a moment as the object of her thoughts acted. Kinzo was on the move, and he looked rather angry.
Rage, anger, wrath, hatred.
None of those words really seemed to cut it for him. They couldn't quite describe the boiling emotion he was feeling right now. What was he so 'angry' at though?
Was it Grimoire the guild he swore to destroy, or Hades the man running the show?
Was it his mother for leaving him, or Zancrow for taking her?
Was it Gray for pushing Ur into acting, or was he mad at Ur for sacrificing herself to begin with?
Maybe Fairy Tail for getting in his way, or Makarov for putting him on a 'leash'?
Perhaps Lyon for turning on the woman he respected, or Ultear for plotting against her own mother?
It could be that he hated Deliora for existing, or maybe his rage was pointed inward at himself?
In the end, it doesn't really matter why or at who, he was angry all the same. And Right in front of him was a three-story tall punching bag, that he would have no regrets about tearing limb from limb.
He briefly registered what Gray was doing to his right but he couldn't be bothered to yell for the boy to stop. He'd tried using his words already today, but no one was listening. And when words fail what else is there to rely on other than violence.
So he started moving and within a few steps, he was standing right behind Gray.
"ICED SHEL-!"
With his right hand, he gripped the fool's shirt and yanked him back. With a foot, he kicked his feet out from under him and just let him fall. And landing squarely on his back the boy just gasped after the impact.
Not even bothering to look back at the idiot he'd just stopped from committing suicide he continued on.
Deliora was completely free from Ur's ice now and had taken a couple of steps forward.
"KRAAAAH!" it shrieked while looking down at him. He was the closest living thing to it so naturally it focused on him.
He wasn't concerned with the demon's gaze though he was too busy thinking about Ur.
...
"Gray said you took one of her legs right? … I guess we could start there."
The demon continued to roar as it took another step toward him.
"You can stop there, you don't need to move anymore," he told the beast.
"Kinetic Decay."
In seconds Deliora found himself, in the middle of a massive magic circle, unable to move.
The demon struggled, it fought against the invisible binding that held him in place, not knowing that with every movement he was strengthening his own cage.
"That's better." the metal mage said. "Now we can start."
In a flash, in the blink of an eye, he moved striking hard. "Metal-Make: Shifting Blade!"
Forging his signature weapon in its ax form, he shot forward, swinging with all his might.
His blade met the demon's hide, and metal carved through flesh. Bone and Ligaments didn't even put up a fight.
He'd struck at the knee and while he'd managed to damage the joint he couldn't sever it completely the limb was just too big. But the beast was trapped in his spell, he wasn't going anywhere. So the rogue shot in a second time, and a third. Each hit tearing out more and more bone, muscle, and tendon. Until finally Deliora's leg separated from its body.
While the rest of the beast was still held in place the limb slapped against the ground. It wasn't leaking blood, instead covering the ground in, some kind of black liquid. What was he expecting though, it was a demon after all.
Its pain-filled cries rocked the cavern regardless.
"RaaaAH HeraaaaA!"
As its howls continued, he walked around the beast standing in front of it again. And raising a hand he canceled out his spell.
With Kinetic Decay gone the beast was able to move, but with no left leg all it could do was fall.
Head and torso smashing against the stone floor.
"I suppose that makes you and Ur even then." He voiced to himself "So everything that comes next, is for me."
Screams of pain and rage continued on from the demon, but now unable to stand it could only crawl towards him. Digging its claws into the earth and dragging its destroyed body further and further.
He let the monster get close only a few meters away.
Pushing up to his knees Deliora raised a massive scale-covered hand to crush him. Kinzo waited for the hand to come down before dashing to the side. And casting a Conversion Leap under himself he shot up and twisted his body to face back down.
"Metal-Make: Spike!" Forming in his hand a jagged nail the size of his body he took aim and slammed the edge down. Piercing the monster's palm and pinning it to the rock beneath them.
He struck the earth with such force it seemed to shatter the demon's hand. The bones making up its fingers were contorted in strange directions, plus the muscles and other fascia that kept the structure in one piece were torn and pushed around. It was bulging under the skin in certain areas and more black fluid seeped out underneath. Yet despite all the damage, the demon's palm was still screwed to the ground unable to move.
The creature roared again as its skin was shredded, but wasted no time in raising its other appendage, having not learned from its first attempt.
Deliora meant to attack but this time Kinzo wasn't just waiting around. "Metal-Make: Chains!"
As its second arm struck the ground he wrapped it in metal restraints before twisting the iron around its first hand, locking down both limbs.
The titan growled in frustration attempting to free itself, and given time no doubt he would, but time was something he wouldn't get.
Kinzo was ready to end this. He knew the attack he had in mind would burn through a lot of the magic he had left, but he didn't care. This thing deserved to suffer, so he would make sure it did.
Walking slowly closer to the beast he raised another hand. And it shrieked in protest.
"You've taken so much from this world. Destroyed dozens of cities, killed countless people... but that's not why I'm punishing you."
"No, the reason I'm killing you, is because someone I loved gave her life to keep you locked away. And it pisses me off!" he yelled towards the giant.
"I can't believe she gave up her life, one of the only truly good people I know, for an abomination like you! It should have been someone else, anyone else! … yet here we are."
With an outstretched hand he started to cast the spell "Metal-Make: Archangel's Spear!" and in the air, just above Deliora's head, a massive Halberd formed, with intricate designs decorating its surface.
"We were all content with just letting you rot away for eternity, sealed in ice. But now I think I'd be best for everyone… if you just DIED!"
Ripping his hand away the spear shot down, and as it met the back of the demon's skull, the sound of cracking bone could be heard. The blade continued down undeterred, punching through teeth and mandible before sinking into the earth where it finally stopped.
Deliora's body was seizing back and forth, like a dead fish. Its nervous system unsure how to cope with a hole being punched through its brain. Until finally the demon stilled, and all signs of life left it.
...
The young assassin looked on at his work.
It was over, the deed was done, so why was he STILL SO ANGRY!?
Grinding his teeth together was the only thing keeping him from screaming in frustration. He needed something else to vent on, something else to hurt, something else to Kill-!
"How? How did you beat it? How did you kill the thing that even Ur couldn't!?" His thoughts were interrupted by one Lyon Vastia, and as their eyes met his thoughts went to a dark place.
"Ya, he'll do."
And so step by step he grew closer, until he was glaring straight down at the boy who'd killed their master.
"How-how did yo-!?" he stopped mid-sentence at the sight of Kinzo pointing his revolver down only inches away from his face.
Gray had only watched. After being thrown down, he could only sit back and take in the sight of Kinzo systematically tearing Deliora apart piece by bloody piece. And he'd be lying if he said watching the demon meet a gruesome end wasn't satisfying.
Though he was ripped from his thoughts as he saw the man responsible approaching Lyon. And he jumped to his feet the moment his gun came out, racing toward the two.
"What in the hell are you doing!?" he screeched. Grabbing the assassin's arm and trying to force the weapon away. "The fight is over, what more do you want?"
Black eyes narrowed at the words. "Over, you think this is over because Deliora's dead? HE KILLED UR!" he yelled back while glaring at Lyon.
"That doesn't give you the right to kill him!" Gray started.
"THE HELL IT DOESN'T! When are you gonna get it through your head Gray that sometimes people just deserve to die!"
"I know that! Just not him, not family!" he protested, while desperately pulling on his 'brother's' arm.
"I already told you, he isn't my family! Not anymore!"
The two were pulled from their power struggle when they felt another force on the gun. Gray was trying to push the weapon right, Kinzo trying to move it back to the left, but a new pressure appeared and it was pulling the gun down.
Turning to look they were met with Lyon pulling the barrel towards his head. "Just kill me," he whispered.
Gray was so startled by the words he let his grip go "wha-what did you just say?"
That momentary distraction was all the time Kinzo needed to push the barrel flush with his skin. And he was ready to pull the trigger, but Lyon's words beat him to it.
"He's right, I killed her. What else could I possibly deserve, but death?"
Gray was having none of that. "Have you fuckin lost it? You are not dying here! Deliora is finally dead, the ghost that's been haunting us is gone. Why would you give up now!?"
"Shut up, JUST SHUT UP!" he cried at the boy before looking up with teary eyes at the man who would end his wretched life. "Just shoot me. Get it over with. Maybe God will let me apologize in person before I'm damned. Maybe I could tell her I'm sorry that way."
... He wants to apologize in person? That could be arranged.
So with cold uncaring eyes, he answered. "Don't worry, I'll send you straight there." Pulling back the hammer, and hearing an audible click from his gun.
"You're both spitting on Ur's sacrifice by doing this. She gave her life to protect us, and you're just pissing that gift away." Gray spat at them.
Kinzo turned to respond "Says the boy who just tried to kill himself."
That struck deep. The truth behind those words stung. If Kinzo hadn't been here he very well may have used Iced Shell, and his fate would have been sealed. He would have thrown away the life Ur bought for him with her own life. What could he say to that?
"It doesn't matter! Ur gave everything for him, I won't let you kill him!" throwing any hope of reasoning with the man out the window he just charged and tried to get his hands on the gun.
He didn't even manage to touch it before Kinzo struck, dropping him to the ground. All he could do was watch as he lined up the barrel with Lyon's head yet again, and only two words came to mind.
"...you're a monster, and a murderer." the Greyhound didn't even flinch at his words.
Looking down once more to the whimpering Lyon, he met his teary gaze, and his mind couldn't help but travel. Couldn't help but reason that in many ways it was Ur's standing will, that these two boys stay alive. Gray had a point, she gave everything for them, as stupid and hopeless as they were.
Even so, that was before Lyon tortured her for who knows how long. Every night tearing away at what remained of her. Then he replayed what Gray had just said. That he was both a monster and a murderer. Oh how desperately he wished that wasn't true.
But it was.
So he looked down towards the boy who wanted to die, a moment longer, with grit teeth and anger on his features. Before scrunching his face in irritation, and looking away.
*Click, click…*
Nothing, no bang, no pop, no sound at all. He just sighed.
"Get out of my sight," he whispered.
Confused, Lyon looked up asking "What?"
"GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!" he roared. And a very scared Lyon jumped up as fast as his wounded body would allow him to, racing for the cave's exit.
Naturally, Gray rose to follow him, but took a moment to look back at the would be killer.
"The fact that you had to think about that so hard is disgusting." With his mind spoken Gray left, and Natsu who had mainly just observed the ordeal followed him out.
...
So with everything said and done, there Kinzo sat, alone. Resting against the cavern wall. Watching what remained of Ur, flow past him in a small stream.
Author's note
Hey, so Deliora gets freed! and then he dies immediately... not so different from Canon actually. Really though, I have mixed feelings about that fight scene as a whole. I really did enjoy writing it. But it felt like it was lacking something, I don't really know how to phrase it. Hope it was enjoyable, but this chapter really might be one that I come back and edit later because it just feels like it needs something.
Anyway, that's all from me. Till next time, take it easy.
Magic
1) Metal-Make Magic like ice make... but with metal
2) Speed Magic (Potential energy magic- p.s. I made this up so you won't find it on a wiki... I think.) so any time you see Conversion Leap (speed boost) or Kinetic Decay (stealing something else's speed and trapping it in place)
3) Telekinesis lifting things with one's mind etc.
4) Re-Quip no armor just items/weapons
Tools
1) His Revolver- Iron Maiden (two types of ammo revealed. Puncture rounds and Flashbang rounds)
2) The rings his mother gave him - can be molded into other objects and when spun together replay a recorded message.
3) The magic absorbing metal - He can choose to make his weapons out of this or other kinds of normal metal (iron, steel, etc.)
4) The Eye of Talionis - replacing his right eye, it allows the user to see magic (Ethernano)
5) Isacc Colt's journals - three journals belonging to his father
6) metal woven into his hair - this will not play a major role for most of the story but I may as well mention it so people don't forget.
