Dusk scattered into the sky, blackening the sun's last rays and leaving the only source of light being the pinch of yellow along the valley. The daytime animals were nesting back into their burrows and homes as the nighttime prowlers came out to snack and hunt. The dead trees didn't supply any comfort for the dormant since no leaves shrouded them, leaving the avian predators to snack on tree dwellers. Crickets chirped and hopped about, and yet their chirping was but a muffle compared to the crackling of a bonfire in the huge clearing.
The alliance had a successful day involving the first shield. Following Ore's defeat, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who were all lined up were taken down by the mages of Fairy Tail, Lamia Scale, and Blue Pegasus. Most of the numbers were given credit to the cold-blooded beast that some dared to say was Craig, if not a tyrannical predator.
Reinforcements in the image of the Magic Council's Custody Enforcement Unit had immediately taken action when called. They all incapacitated the fallen numbers, as well as held Ore as a prisoner within the confines of the unit's base camp several miles east, far away from the bustle and hustle of the alliance and their celebratory campgrounds. The campgrounds moved from where it was originally as of yesterday to about a quarter of a mile within the area of what was formerly the first shield. Lamia Scale certainly perked up compared to their spirits as of yesterday.
As the commotion was nothing but an uproar, Lucy couldn't help but grow a smile. "I can't believe how boisterous everyone's gotten." She nervously smiled. "Makes you wonder if they'll get any louder and break into a riot, huh?"
Carla sat her tea down with high dignity. "Don't jump to conclusions, will you? We need to conserve our strength for tomorrow's advancements."
"Everyone's just excited, that's all." Levy assured, sitting alongside the small group in front of their tent. "We did take out five thousand soldiers of course, so that is a reason to celebrate. I know I would."
Wendy glanced over towards them as they talked, now entering the conversation herself. "Yeah, it's been such a crazy day."
"That's putting it lightly." Carla remarked. "But what scared me the most was not the ruffians we faced, but the ruffian we house. I mean seriously, his barbaric demeanor resulted in red staining the ground. Even I know that's borderline inhumane."
"I-I wouldn't go that far, Carla." Levy interjected. "I mean, even though Craig was a little…overzealous in the blood shed by his swords, he did manage to down the numbers to the upmost minimum."
"Yeah. He swiped and took down so many at once in a single move." Wendy recounted the men flying, disregarding the showering red that left her distraught for a bit.
"But that also brings up the question of what exactly did he do. Was it magic embedded into his swords?" Lucy questioned. She gazed outwards into the woods as the rays of yellow dimmed further into nighttime sky. "…no, doubtful. We should've sensed it then and there."
"Well for all we know, Craig may have the skill to filter out his magic." Levy suggested.
"Rather than fiddling around where our noses belong, I prefer we focus more on recuperating for tomorrow. We still need more Magic Power since we were practically exhausted from today." Carla pointed out.
"Good point." Wendy broke into a yawn, apologizing hence after the evidence of exhaustion.
In another section of the new campsite, Natsu stretched over his head. "Awwww man, that was a nice chow down." After the alliance's major success in not only defeating one of the three kings, but also penetrating the first shield, Natsu had decided to reward himself with a copious of meats and edible quantities. Of course he didn't come out unscathed; he winced every now and again with the bandages all around his arms and limbs. The battle with Ore and the numerous soldiers did a number on him.
With a bloated belly stuffed full of food that was to be digested in no time, the Dragon Slayer let out a small belch and sighed. "Now this was a day, right Happy? Happy?"
Natsu looked over his shoulder, seeing Happy lying among a pile of fish bones. He was out like a light, a sight that made Natsu get drowsy on the spot.
"Good thinking." He yawned, and he fell onto his back with a thud. Without even getting inside the tent nor without a pillow, he went asleep.
Erza was not too far away, once again sharing her tent with him. Last night, she got a light stomach since she happily shared the tent and space with Natsu, much to the Dragon Slayer's mutual agreement. Erza sat back against her tent and softly smiled as she watched his chest rise and fall with his sound breathing. When she looked down at her well-endowed figure, she too had bandaged up limbs. She knew best than to recall the gruesome battle, so she relented and instead thought of how her heart raced when Natsu was inside gold. 'What's with all these feelings? My heart can't stop beating, nor can it slow down. It's like…'
"Well someone's been hit by the love bug." A familiar but surprising voice chimed from behind. Erza's eyes widened and she swiftly turned around to find the culprit of the voice.
It was Mirajane. The white-haired mage smiled down at Erza. "Good evening."
"Mira. Hello." Erza managed to hold off her surprise within her tone by the barmaid's sudden appearance. "What brings you here?"
"I was just getting some fresh water from the east base camp. It was quite the trip, but nothing that me and my brother couldn't handle." She continued smiling as her blue eyes took notice of Erza's defensive body language as she was close to a sleeping Natsu. She didn't need words from Erza to get a clue, the body language and the soft smiling she was giving Natsu earlier was all the proof needed.
She crouched down and stuck out her index finger. She gently poked Natsu's cheek as he slept, making him nudge his head away with a grumble. She giggled. "Well he's certainly had a long day."
"I'll say. We all have." Erza chuckled as she saw Natsu stir onto his side, his face turned towards Erza's knees. The redhead softly smiled as she watched Natsu sleep like a baby. It was actually cute.
Mirajane thus got to the point. "This skirmish is leaving us all in some deep water huh? Perhaps you should swim with a buddy?"
Erza turned towards Mirajane with inquiry. "What are you saying?"
Mirajane winked. "Come on, Erza. I think I know what your game is. I've seen that gaze given to Natsu by you every now and again." She internally hit the jackpot when Erza looked like she was fidgeting in place and turned sharply towards Natsu as he slept. "I can tell that you have an eye out for him~."
"Sssshhh!" Erza's face flushed red as she turned back and silence Mirajane. She was embarrassed heavily, and she thanked the lord so much that no one heard that. When Erza caught onto her actions, she grew stiff and then remorseful.
In retrospect, Mirajane was right on the money. When she looked at Natsu again, she had this small desire to run her fingers through his pink locks.
"You can try asking him for a date when we get back to the guild." Mirajane suggested. "I think that'll really tie your guys' knots together."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Erza denied and looked at her knees, noticing the shade they were with the bonfire.
"Well you wanna get your feelings out there for him to notice, right? It's fine as long as you know to not wait it out too long." Mirajane spoke.
Erza heard crickets chirp happily as they hopped in the roots of dead trees. The desolate dead forest was like a cornering mechanism, squeezing the hope of two brave souls together in their hours of connection and understanding, like those tales of runaway knights who find honor through dishonor. It was all experience that got her and Natsu this close. She remembered taking him to Solidaster, the numerous battles they've fought, the times they were by the other's side, the times they smiled, and through it all Erza had to admit that in her mind, replaying those thoughts twenty times over, Mirajane was right again.
She may have a deadline or an expiration to tell Natsu of her feelings for him, so if she were gonna be bold, it would be now. Who knows when they may be on the brink of death again?
Mirajane watched with a coy smirk as her matchmaking powers were a success. She watched as Erza softly ran her fingers gently through Natsu's pink hair, albeit like a gentle pet. The Dragon Slayer smiled in his sleep as a good sign.
"Bring it on…I won't…" Natsu was mumbling in his sleep, budging or rolling over sometimes as Erza watched. "I won't…lose to you…"
"…we'll see." Erza said.
Mirajane smiled with a big perk. "That's the Erza we all know."
At another section of the base camp, the bonfire kept the Masters warm as they were contemplating yet enjoying their victory while it lasted. Master Bob seemed the most fatigue since he got a hit in with Ore earlier, and Obaba's spinning sure enough left her in quite the daze. The only one sane was Makarov as he only suffered a little bit of Magic Power loss from using quite a bit today. Still, the three had enough conscience to stay up with a conversation regarding the events that transpired.
"Has Hibiki gotten details as of yet?" Makarov asked.
Bob shook his head. "Not yet. He says that he should have a full-scale analysis and data stockpiled by tomorrow. We should be fortunate that we all still have some Magic Power after that battle."
Makarov nodded in agreement. "Our numbers are looking good. The wounded should be fine now thanks to Wendy. We'll be at full strength in the morning. When Hibiki runs an area perimeter check, we'll be able to find what powers the shields."
"Although technically, the generator for the first shield." Bob corrected.
"Yes. If what happened is true, then after the 24 hours, the shield will be back up, cutting off the Custody Enforcement Unit and any possible allies. It would take a Jupiter Cannon five times over to cause that much damage again. Which is why we have to strike the generator down as fast as we can."
Bob nodded in agreement with his perky smile.
Obaba, however, wasn't so willing to have her argument get unnoticed. "Now hold on just a second there! I'll spin ya if I don't get an explanation on what just happened out there today!" She shouted. Bob and Makarov's attention diverted towards her, and she had begun her side of the argument. "Now what about that boy, Makarov?! Why is your reckless bunch of a guild having such a battle weapon?!"
"Old hag, are you implying Craig Crius?" Makarov asked.
"Yeah!"
Makarov looked out towards the bonfire and saw a faraway tent pitched. It wasn't close to any others as said tent had such a big radius, but the reason being was because of the open tent, where the flames flickered and lit up Craig's sleeping face as his head was on a pillow and he was lying on his stomach. Everyone was gonna hit the hay again, and here he was, taking probably his third or fourth nap of the day.
"You know, the hunk of a brute was the most violent I've ever seen. Has he always been in your guild and you never told us?" Bob wondered.
"No." Makarov answered. "Craig's only reason of joining was by a deal he made with one of my own children." He looked off towards a nearby tent, where Cana was downing booze yet again, this time with her tent mates being Levy and Juvia. "I don't even know what kinds of people my children meet on jobs. Apparently they're meeting lunatics who have eating and sleeping problems. The nerve that fool has…not charging alongside us, mocking our guild, attacking our own, and on top of that he doesn't even give a damn about our health."
"Oh, don't be so dramatic. You just need to get to know him better, that's all!" Bob said in a perky tone. "How long has he been in Fairy Tail?"
"Not even a week."
"Well there you go. You just need some more time with the darling…at least I hope he's a darling."
"…we'll see soon enough." Makarov decided to change the subject. "Anyways, we now have one of the three kings in custody, yet he refuses to comply and only declares that we 'shall be sought by the hand dealt by Essence'. I don't know what this Essence is, but it's clear it has something to do with how it's draining away life from all around."
"Isn't that obvious?! Even I knew that you fool!" Obaba barked. "Bah! I can't take anymore of this! Goodnight!" She turned away brashly and entered her tent.
Bob got up and bowed towards Makarov. "Well I'll see you in the morning." He then entered his own tent, calling it a day.
Makarov looked out at the sky as it became heavily dusk. He took in a sigh before looking back at the guilds starting to settle down with their meals and clean up. As they decided to do that, Makarov turned away and entered his tent to sleep off his cumbersome thoughts.
In his own tent, turning his head so his chin was on the pillow, Craig's fourth nap of the day came to an end. His eyes opened up, albeit with a distraught and ever-haunting feeling looming within his conscience. Day after day, night after night, sleep was something that was never easy to bear with him. It was like a curse, as he had what was an unsettling nap.
He groggily turned away, pondering of the events that transpired today. It was a living nightmare back from the dead; and to him, that was saying something. 'I still can't believe it. They're back.' Craig grumbled and sniped his tongue out. His teeth bared against the flickering fire in response to the grotesque ideal of Essence. "Those lily-livered hypocrite, royal pansies. They should've stayed down. Stubbornness is too contagious these days…oh great. Now I'm the hypocrite." He shrugged it off and went along with his growling rants. Those rants soon dialed into tailed off silence, in which grew into disgruntles, painful remembrance.
Only one sentence flowed out as he looked out at the alliance. "Even after I ended Amaren."
The fire flickered on, the flames drawing him towards the heinous night so long ago.
2 ¼ Years Ago
The palace of Amaren was massive and within the confines of crags along the outskirts beyond the Pergrande Kingdom, among the many uncharted domains of the continent, of which Craig ventured through. It was a night where the entire mountain range was a victim to pitch blackness with hundreds of wounded men lying along the ground. It was hard to tell if they were either dead or alive, but it mattered not as they were on the enemy's side.
Among the bodies were the damaged and bruised, and partly bloodied kings. They were the yellow-robed, blue-robed, and red-robed.
Craig was still distraught over losing Tobias. The remembrance of the shoulder length haired man had been drilled into his skull. Tobias was investigating for years on Essence and the kings that worship the life-eater. Only he never got to live to see Essence stopped. Instead, Craig just kept on soldiering on through the castle.
'Remember this well! If not for life, nothing be worth living for! The ones who loved you is what gives you the hope for tomorrow! Go, Craig!'
Stained tears were in the corners off his eyes as he was forced to shut the doors, leaving Tobias outside the castle among the other bodies to be caught in the hurricane of darkness. Inside was glowing yellow eyes of a demonic beast, and all Tobias did was let out a battle cry as he charged on in, facing Essence with little regret.
Inside, there was a purple-robed man with a large gold staff and clad in golden body armor. His mask was more than gold, as it was a sheer platinum that reflected Craig's image.
Craig's mouth blade swiped left, slashing and missing Amaren as he dodged. "You guys are gonna regret having Tobias take his life to Essence!" Craig lunged ahead again, his blades coming into contact with Amaren's thick staff. A shockwave made the massive chamber rumble. Craig jumped away again, but then lunged back forward, viciously and swiftly swiping away with great speed.
Amaren parried each blow with greatness and with a stern motion with every pivot and swing. Amaren's thick beard of gray didn't slow him down in the slightest, and he raised his staff and slammed it to the ground. A shockwave sent rock and debris flying, Craig included and he slammed into a nearby wall.
"Thou is too pitiful for such a presence as am I!" Amaren raised his staff again, this time twirling it at lightning speed. When it slammed into the ground, a huge rumble shook the entire castle, as well as the crags it sat on. A linear shockwave went blazing through the ground towards Craig. He jumped out of the way and covered up as he slid toward the side while the linear shockwave destroyed the massive wall entirely, making dust bellow in all directions.
Through the dust, Amaren swiped his arm, brushing every bit of it away with no effort. "You dare defy thy power? He who has no friends, no home? He who has no will to live?!"
Craig's eyes showed bloodshot in the white. He stood back up and his teeth were bared heavily against him.
"Your mouth just crossed the line…" He growled.
Thunder raged outside as the castle was unsteady with all of the damage transpired, but it remained standing.
"What has thou say?" Amaren questioned.
Craig's body shuddered and his bloodied hands clutched tighter on the hilts. His teeth sank into his mouth blade. "You have no place to say!" In a mad dash, he lunged ahead, dodging falling debris left and right. When he got close enough a massive debris chunk of the thin ceiling had fallen. Craig slashed at the falling rock, reducing it to sliced chunks. As they hit the ground, Craig violently slashed at Amaren as he passed him, leaving a large tear in his purple cloak, as well as a gash in his armor.
Craig took the mouth blade out and withdrew all four blades back into their sheaths. The clang echoed, and Amaren grunted from the pain he had taken. The sea-blue eyes of Craig glanced back at Amaren as he glanced back as well, his red eyes glaring daggers at him.
"Thou is a fool indeed! Your comrade's death was for naught!" He pivoted his feet and lunged ahead after Craig. His staff swung around from the side like a bat, but Craig ducked. The shockwaves from the swing's momentum broke an entire wall.
"Soaring Pain!"
Craig drove a huge uppercut to the king's chin, making the jaw bone crack apart as the force was so brutal. Amaren was lifted off the ground and fell backwards. Craig glared daggers at him that were more intense than before, as though he was making holes into the mask. "Tobias didn't sacrifice himself because he was a fool, he did so because he knew I could carry on with his will and vanquish you into oblivion. Essence will be rid of, once and for all."
Amaren looked up at Craig with a defiant growl. There was no way he was gonna have his long time ideal of retribution get annihilated by a punk.
The ceiling cracked very hard, and it was rupturing the entire domain. Small chunks fell, and Craig looked around in confusion. It was hard to take in the sudden earthquake until realization occurred.
The entire ceiling of the huge chamber they fought in was completely lifted. The whole ceiling arose as two huge gauntlets protruding from a pitch black tempest of darkness hauled it up.
"What…?" Craig looked up, shocked as his eyes dilated from seeing the dark tempest rise from above. This was a dangerous turn for the worst as he stepped backwards to gain some leverage from a rising and chuckling Amaren.
"Yes! Yes! Thou shall have the world know that my retribution is at hand! Retribution is at hand!" He chanted.
High above, the ceiling was completely engulfed by the black tempest, dispersing and crumbling into ash that fell straight down in front of Craig. The startled man looked back up as the black tempest above let out an astonishing roar that made the walls crack apart.
Craig growled upwards as he was looking into the eyes of what was a beast within the tempest. The tainted yellow eyes were monstrous, and rather large.
Amaren jabbed his staff forward, striking Craig right in the gut. The impact made his eyes widen and gag as he was caught off guard and slid away, breaking into a tumble until landing onto his side. Craig grunted as the sides of his mouth bled.
"Thy holiness! Bring waste to this creature who dares stands no chance! Make him join his ally in Hell! Oh great Essence, hear my call!" Amaren cried out. "Rid of this intruder and feast on his life!"
The whole place shook violently as the yellow-eyed beast roared. A massive black gauntlet with sharp edging, almost like claws, reached down. The hand was the size capable of fitting a single person in each grip.
Craig rushed and got out his dark red sword. He brought it back and thrust it up. "Humming Pointer!" A swift jab from his sword intercepted the hardened palm of Essence's hand. The hand stopped dead in its tracks, giving Craig room to escape the shocked beast.
Essence roared violently down, the yellow eyes narrowing. The hand became cloaked in a bright purple, and the bright purple concentrated into a potent pressurized sphere. Craig sheathed his sword and turned his back to run, barely escaping as the sphere was fired right at him. The entire chamber was engulfed in an explosion of bright purple, and Craig screamed as he was sent flying among the various debris. Amaren seemed to be hysterically grinning in delight despite how he had taken somewhat of a toll from hitting a nearby wall as well.
Craig's mind was in a haze. All he saw was a huge cloud of dust, and above was perpetual darkness. He saw Essence's blurry hand grow larger, meaning that he was reaching to grab him.
Shaking his head to knock out any distraught, Craig then pulled back and drew up his blood red sword, firing another Humming Pointer right into the palm. Essence growled as his hand stopped, allowing Craig to get around him and make a run for it towards Amaren.
Amaren's laughter could be heard through the howling winds. He was living the dream. All Magic infused with life in it shall be forever leeched by Essence. "You shall be slayed yet! Your power is of no bounds. A worthy sacrifice for the great Essence!"
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Craig sheathed his dark red sword in conjunction and attempted to slash. His prolonged fight with Amaren made him all the more irritated some, but that was his own fuel as Tobias's justice was on the line. He pivoted and slashed at Amaren, making the man slide backwards with gashes in his golden armor and bleeding out.
Despite the pain felt, Amaren still maintained immense confidence as a dark gauntlet reached Craig from behind. Craig felt an ominous force from behind his back and he turned around to see the incoming gauntlet. It was too close, and he could only watch as darkness took him in, all while Amaren victoriously laughed out.
Or so he thought it was the end.
The winds continued howling and Craig didn't feel a tight grip around his waist. He opened one eye, noticing how the clutch never had come to pass. 'What the…?' He opened both eyes and looked around. Realization dawned as he was found spared with an open hand and yellow eyes tilting with the beast's head.
"What's this? Essence, what is wrong?! Kill the boy, drain his ethernano and life!" Amaren yelled upwards. He pointed his staff at Craig as a reference. "You are the mighty Essence, he who drains life from the earth and all ethernano within it! Drain his magic!"
The beast growled down at Amaren, shaking the broken castle again.
Amaren's eyes widened slowly. "Essence…what does this mean?" He looked back at Craig as he glared back at him. His stare was very sharp, as were his teeth. His four blades were drawn all together and he crossed them.
"HRAH!"
As Craig lunged at Amaren, questions and disbelief ran through the king's head. 'This young fool…Essence eats ethernano infused with life, magic itself! How is he nit seeing this young one as food?!' Horror was expressed as he stumbled back while Craig advanced on with a primal roar. 'This can't be…what is this cursed being?!'
"For Tobias!" Craig slashed, creating a bright glint as he past Amaren as he was in shock. Shadows were over Craig's eyes as he stood upright, and got all of the sheaths out at once, two in each hand and barely a finger each. The arms were crossed and the fingers slowly pressed the sheathes onto the blades.
"900 Demon Caliber - Bloodlust Blitz!"
The swords sheathed with a loud clang, so loud that it echoed through the howling winds and through the crags. Three huge glints were seen on Amaren as he was stiff. The long glints ran from the gut up to the head and shoulders, making three huge gash marks converging. When the clang bellowed like a gunshot, Amaren's three huge glint marks symbolizing the cuts he had exploded with blood. Craig didn't budge as he kept his eyesight facing away and remained stiff as the ravaged upper body of Amaren was nothing more than gutted ribbons. He didn't look back as he could get the picture. The remains of the king fell to the ground with a thud, the staff clanging against the blood stained ground.
Essence snarled down at the remains of Amaren, getting an overwhelming swell of fresh and raw ethernano. Black gauntlets reached down, hauling the revolting sight into the cloud of darkness.
Craig was spacing out as he recounted his move. He hasn't used it but for a couple times, but every time made him want to spew. For the first time he was able to stomach it, albeit leaving him distraught. He got accustomed to seeing red everywhere, but it's never satisfying to know.
As much as he regrets such desperate assaults that have deadly consequences on the recipient, Craig had to remain forward and used this chance to run back down the long corridor he came from, which was still surprisingly intact.
To finish the fight with Essence, he ran down the corridor outside as the castle went crashing down behind him.
"Craig! Hey, Cranky!"
Snapped out of his distraught memory, albeit with an abrupt shout from Cana, Craig snapped his head towards her, letting out a feisty bellow that resembled a monster. His sharp teeth were all there, and his eyes were sharp.
His territorial demeanor spooked Cana, making her jump back with a gasp at how he snapped at her as such. His look was aggravated, as if she had done the unthinkable. The brunette backed off and when at a safe enough distance decided to engage in bickering.
"What did I do?!" Cana yelled out.
Craig snapped his jaws out towards her. "Trespassing in my space. The hell you want?"
Cana had to power through despite how Craig's usual demeanor wanted to make her kick him in the pants. "Well, you snarky, filthy vermin, I'll have you know that I was just telling you that everyone's gathering. Hibiki and Levy found some answers."
Craig stared at Cana for a few seconds before he turned his head away, the right side of his face lit by the bonfire. "I'll take a rain check on that meeting."
"The Masters said everyone is to-"
"Screw those hounds that bark all day. If they want me, they'll have to just come get me themselves. Otherwise I'm busy."
"Doing nothing and being a slacker?"
"Yes." He deadpanned in a growl, closing his eyes with furrowed brows. "Get lost."
"What's next? Wish me for dead?" She taunted with a frown.
The fire crackled, and there was a still break in between them. Cana blinked as Craig's eyes opened back up, and he was facing away. She looked over and saw that Craig was staring out into darkness with a heavy expression. It was like any anger within him was no longer bubbling, and he was instead…hollow?
Cana remained still. "…Craig?"
His head slowly turned towards her, his eyes absolute. This was a trait Cana only saw a few times, like when he fought Grander, and when they teamed up.
"Brownie, you snitch of a mole, I may be a revolting excuse of human decency, I can be the damned, I can be the most hostile person on the face of Fiore…but I would rather be those than curse someone to die."
It was a hard rock that shot down a bird; a strong statement which slowed like a current in the swelling sea. Cana heard no snark in his tone, but of sheer will inside. It was a sentence of experience and belief. It was a surprise to her of all people, because to her, he was a living wreck. She recovered from the shock of his statement and watched him turn his head away, lying down on the side.
"…okay." Cana relented.
"Brownie, hear me." Craig insisted. "We may be in the same guild…but that doesn't mean anything to me. Anyone get in the front of my problems, and they'll deal with more than a few scars."
Hearing he would assault his own was a hard pill to swallow if not remembering what he did to Gray. Cana knew better than to go against Craig head on, mainly since he could rip the flesh right off her bones – literally. If he were to stay out of others' space and their business, she could only respect on her part…only leaving out the respect.
"Fine, but try and get pass all of us at once. Our guild has might, and won't take tolerance from bloodshedders of its own. Bad night, and hope the mosquitoes bite, Cranky." With that remark, Cana pivoted and turned away, albeit without much scowl and more of a disgruntles revelation.
Craig slowly closed his eyes, muttering weakly. "Freakin lightweights. This is my fight, and I intend to end it. Essence…"
Within the second gray layer, it was harder to see through compared to the first shield. It was hazy, and almost like a light black sort of speak. Since it was the midst of night, it was dark as could get. The ground was cracked and lifeless. Any sign of life was gone. Little animals scurried out of the premises to escape what treacherous fate would've fallen before them like the larger and stubborn woodland and crag dwellers.
The trees were nothing more than dead bark that layered the forest and mountains like a graveyard. Among the abundance of lifelessness, the two kings remaining were resting with heads down towards the ground while sitting atop of flat rocks, as though praying.
The blue-robed king opened his eyes. "That meddlesome fool will put a dent into thy plans. Essence needs ethernano, and Craig Crius has lived to tell that tale."
"Not for much longer. The ethernano eater shall have his fill of Fiore until all is desolate, a land where thy mighty Essence can roam free. His satisfaction is our will, and Amaren has done his best." The red-robed king stood back up. "Patience is wearing thin. Essence shall soon move on, and the shield with it. Those fools will make an attempt to stop the first shield from generating…little do they know, their efforts shall be for naught, yes?"
The blue-robed man nodded. "Shall we proceed with advancing?"
"So be it, thou shall take the lead." The red-robed king walked away, leaving the blue-robed man to watch over the vacant scenery from afar. Briefly, the red-robed king stopped. "Oh, and do keep in mind, Ore must be avenged. Failure is something Essence shall not tolerate of his worshippers."
"As I am aware myself." The blue-robed king announced. "I, Hybria, shall make it so that none shall pass!"
The meeting that night was brief. It was what Levy and Hibiki found out. All they could explain was that they found the location of the generator for the first shield, which in their words moved similar like the shields themselves. Since it was late, they saved the thorough explanation for when morning arises.
When morning came, everyone had their share of breakfast and had begun their initiative discussion.
"So, Levy, Hibiki, what data have you collected?" Makarov asked.
Hibiki adjusted his tie. "Well how about we make it so that everyone can understand." He snapped his fingers, making a large translucent monitor, showing the geographical layout of the area. The three large circles represented the shields. The first circle was blinking and was separated, meaning it was gone.
"As you all know, we managed to destroy the first shield yesterday, which is a setback for the enemy. The three layers cover less and less ground as we go in. This means we should reach the second shield layer within a matter of miles."
"So what does that have to do with the first shield?" Gray questioned.
"Because distance means everything with what's in store." Hibiki snapped his fingers again, zooming in on the perimeter of the second shield. Two dots were present north and south of the second shield perimeter. "You see these two points, they're the first shield generators."
"So instead of one they have two, huh?" Lucy inquired.
"Correct. From the data gathered, both shield generators work simultaneously to start up and operate the first shield. It takes a whole 24 hours to get them operating at full capacity. By our readings, we only have a few short hours before they reach full power and the first shield is started back up."
"In which case we'll be boxed in." Levy pointed out.
"Now that makes sense." Gray figured.
"So all we gotta do is bust these things and get on with the second shield? Sounds like a piece of cake." Natsu figured.
"I wouldn't put all of our eggs in one basket yet, Natsu." Hibiki insisted. "We have to divide into three teams. Two teams will target the shields simultaneously, while the third party targets the shield. But be cautious."
"We don't know what traps the second layer holds." Levy warned. "We don't have any data on the second shield, so until we take out the generators, we have to keep optimum awareness around the second shield at all times."
"You heard the two! All of you, get to work!" Obaba yelled. "Fairy Tail, take on that shield! My guild and Bob's will stop those generators, and if we don't succeed, I'LL SPIN YOU ALL!"
"Oh geez…" Sherry sweat dropped.
Makarov stepped forward. "Everyone, let's follow in pursuit and stop those generators, or the Custody Enforcement Unit will be cut off. Victory shall be ours as of yet!"
"YEAH!" Everyone cheered, all energized to take the battle towards the enemy once more.
However, far away in the campsite, there was a tent, and it was vacant. What was a pitched tent with comfort had nothing to comfort. There was something missing, and that would be a person. Whoever was inside, they were gone, having snuck away.
In the dead morning forest, Craig's feet silently snapped some twigs. He prowled up a hill and his eyes were set on the second shield looming above. He looked back at the trail and kept on walking, alone.
With what I have in store, the next couple of chapters will be longer in terms of words. Just so you all know. Still hope this was worth the wait! Until next time!