Despite how rugged he felt, Makarov made it to his feet and pointed at Threshol. "Everyone!" He started. "No matter what happens, take down the last king! With his fall, the third shield shall be open! Let's hit him with what we have!" He rallied them as best he could, but the numbers were dwindled severely from Threshol's shockwaves. They were brutal, and the results were evident from the first few that wiped out too many numbers to count. Still, the small numbers should break through as long as they worked together. This was their big break, and they could have nothing holding them back.
Erza used an arm and requipped a sword while still supporting an injured Natsu. "You heard the Master, let's go!" Everyone of course was moved and they began charging in with magic behind them, but Erza's eyes turned towards Natsu. Her voice softened into worry. "Can you stand?"
Natsu smirked. "Yeah…" He adjusted and Erza let go, but not without some hint of disappointment as they had such a close proximity for that brief period. Natsu didn't seem to notice and cracked his neck. "Oh, yeah! That feels much better!" Enflaming his fists, he charged on in.
"Let's go!" He yelled.
Happy flew overhead. "Don't forget about me!"
Everyone's feet hit the ground and a stampede raged on after Threshol. They were all a wall and were closing in.
"High speed!" Using his magic, Jet sprinted at unimaginable speeds. He made it to his opponent and readied an attack on the spot. "Falcon Heavenward!"
He shot a powerful kick, but Threshol held up his golden gauntlet and the kick rattled through it, making a boom sound rage. To Jet's surprise, his attack didn't faze Threshol, and the king then blinked. When he did blink, another shockwave raged on, cracking up the dead earth beneath.
Jet was sent flying, screaming from being too close. Fortunately Droy was there and he used his Plant Magic to throw seeds and make them sprout to make cushions made of leaves. Sadly that did no help as the shockwaves rattled the plant itself and the roots were all but demolished. The plant and Jet alike fell onto Droy, knocking both out.
"Iron Rock Wall!" Jura pointed two fingers forward, making a thick wall of rock. The defense maneuver blocked Jura from the flying shockwaves and strong winds that raged with heavy intensity. As the shockwaves kept on going, the Iron Rock Wall was starting to crack up.
Jura's eyes widened. "The shockwaves are so powerful!"
"Then how about we put this joker on ice?" Lyon put his hands together and ice began to surge with great potency. As the ground's quaking kept on going, he aimed at Threshol with as much concentration as he could. "Ice-Make: Snow Dragon!"
A serpentine dragon made up of ice was launched at Threshold, roaring with pointed fangs made of ice. The fearsome beast made of ice only made it so far until Threshold enacted.
"Foul creature! Begone!" He twirled his staff around and the large tip slammed into the dragon's snout. The beast almost instantly fell apart, shattering like glass that flew in the catastrophic winds that blew away more members, Lyon included as he was pelted by pieces of his creation.
Wendy was assisted by Carla to gain altitude. "Okay, now it's my turn!" She took in a deep breath of air and then opened her mouth. "Sky Dragon's Roar!"
"How's about a second dragon to go with that?!" Gajeel took in a large breath of his own. "Iron Dragon's Roar!" He fired a tornado of iron that ripped through the incoming shockwaves. The ground rattled intensively from the double angle assault.
Both roars converged onto Threshold as he brought his staff around and twirled it with high speed. "Hmph!" He grunted as he jabbed forward, thrusting his staff to meet with the two breath attacks. A ripple of energy flowed all around, and then the energy erupted into booming shockwaves. The magnitude of them completely shattered the ground, as well as overpowering the roars. Members covered up and Gajeel, Lily, Wendy, and Carla all screamed as they were sent flying like the others.
Cana got to a knee to remain low as a random mage flew over her head. "Everyone! Pull it together!" She yelled, but the roaring of the shockwaves rampaging didn't make her vocals reach out to anybody. "Damnit!" She angrily pulled out a tarot card. "Sun's Strength!" She fired her cards that burst into fire and streamed through the air.
Threshol turned to see the incoming attack and used his staff to block. He prepared for the attack and took in the explosion, engulfed from within.
Many of members still conscious cheered. Natsu was the first. "Aw, yeah! Nice one!"
The flames dissipated, showing Threshol unnerved by the attack. He huffed out at his opponents and looked more than a little irritated. "Seems you're stubborn. This shall shut thee up!" He pointed the bulbous end into the earth and stabbed the ground hard. A perfect circle rippled outwards, rolling beneath everyone. Following the perfect circle was the ground glinting before the debris and dried rock exploded. The erupting rock was followed by a maelstrom of shockwaves.
"Deep Turmoil!" Threshol announced.
The shockwaves continued outwards to where Craig could have been. When they reached him, he stopped cold and stood in shock. As they came towards him, he grew despondent with impatience. "You've gotta be kidding me." He pulled out his blood red sword and prodded it into the earth, using it as an anchor as the debris and wind flew over his head.
"Damn Threshol, can't you ever learn not to go out with a bang?" Craig sneered through the roaring rubble.
Master Bob fell over onto his back. "Owie!" He groaned and slowly sat back up. "Oh boy. This meanie is such a pushover." His stare was towards Threshol, and it wasn't an easy stare. "Perhaps…Ichiya! Trimens!"
"M-man." Ichiya groaned as he had a number of sizzling bumps on his head from debris pelting his face, but was still making as much style noticed as he naturally does.
"Yes, Master?" The Trimens also stood up, though they had less bumps compared to the ridiculous amount Ichiya had.
"Honey muffins, go! Call for the reinforcements! Bring our beloved into the battle!" Bob declared.
Ichiya's eyes widened. "B-but…"
"You seriously want us to use Christina?" Ren exclaimed.
"But I thought you said…" Eve was caught just as baffled.
Bob turned towards them with a frown. "Do it!"
Ichiya struck a pose, glimmering with sparkles. "Man! Very well then! Come, my brothers in arms!" Ichiya pivoted and turned away, only for him to jump in midair and end up flying away by another shockwave emitted, though this one was weak, yet effective as he stylishly was blown away.
Meanwhile, Erza managed to cut her way through the weak shockwaves emitted this time and managed to get in close. "Hrah!" She brought her sword down, but Threshol only served to use his staff and block the sword. The S-Class Mage sliced and attacked again, but her slashing was always blocked and parried by golden gauntlets and the gold staff. Each strike had an ear-splitting ring that was worse than nails on a chalkboard.
When Erza attacked again, she was stopped by another sudden shockwave. This one was brutal as it whisked her off her feet, but she covered up as dust and strong winds carried her off. She landed on her feet and slid back. When she regained her breath, she looked composed. "I think we're getting to him."
"Let's go, Loke!" Lucy declared.
Loke reeled a fist cloaked in light back and looked ready. "You bet! Your pretty voice is what'll get me going alright! Regulus Impact!" He fired a strong beam of light, one that was shaped into a roaring lion's head. The beam went shooting through the air after Threshol, and the recipient twirled his staff around and let out another grunt.
He thrust his staff forward, contacting the beam. "Particle Break!" His magic surged through the staff, unleashing a red ripple that had a vile intensity. The beam of light fused with the red energy and made a huge shockwave field. The very particles and molecules erupted and made red sparks within the shockwaves, giving a burning feeling.
"Everyone, hang on!" Lucy pulled out a key as the shockwaves were gonna hit her. "Open: Gate of the Ram – Aries!"
In front of Lucy appeared Aries. The wooly Celestial Zodiac looked sheepishly all around as the land rumbled.
"Miss Lucy…?" Aries was about to question, but Lucy hurriedly intervened.
"I'll explain, but first we need you to stop that shockwave!" She implored, pointed at the incoming field. It was traveling fast, and many members were screaming. The attack was so powerful that Jura himself was sent flying as his Iron Rock Walla was reduced to rubble.
Aries nodded. "O-okay!" The ram swiped her arm. "Go, Wool Wall!"
She summoned a large wall of pink, fluffy wool that sprouted and expanded very fast. A vast majority of the area was surrounded, acting like a bunker for a lot of members. They used the Wool Wall and ducked for cover. The shockwaves soon reached them, and the wall violently rattled as Lucy and everyone had taken cover. Red shockwaves beamed over their heads, and the ground cracked some.
When the shockwaves settled down moments later, Loke smiled. "That was some nice thinking you two."
Lucy smiled. "Good, this should keep that royal pain from causing much damage. Good job, Aries!"
Aries smiled. "Thank you, sorry, Miss Lucy."
Erza looked over the pink wall. "That being said, we can't get near him like this. He has the advantage. And I could be wrong, but there's a weakness."
Gray stared ahead. "Mind filling us in-WHOA!" He ducked in time along with everyone else still active behind the sizable bunker of wool as another shockwave raged on from Threshol. They all held it together as the waves reached outwards.
As the shockwaves dialed down, Cana again fired back with tarot cards. "That's it, try this!" She threw more cards at Threshol that went right through the winds. The glowing cards met the last king and he used his heavy red robe as a defense. The explosion by the cards made him slide backwards several feet.
"Thou fools!" He sneered.
Cana smirked. "Yeah, I got it down. His shockwaves are powerful, but after he uses one, there's a ten second opening. That's where we get him."
"Then let's hit him now!" Natsu puffed in a ton of air, in which fire could be seen readying. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" He unleashed a searing volume of fire that went after Threshol, and he wasn't the only one who took the lead. Many mages used long-range spells comprised of various magic.
Erza's eyes widened. "Stop firing! It's over ten seconds already!" She yelled, but the mages were all taking the chance and used their spells to deliver blows.
As the various magic attacks were launched, Threshol saw them all come at him. "Tch, thou are fools indeed." He twirled his staff around and gave it a slanted slam towards the earth. "Ground Squall!"
The slamming against the ground made a seismic explosion, one that was so powerful like the beginning of the fight where all of the spells were stopped by flying rock and debris. The Wool Wall Aries created was of no match as the dust and high winds created made a maelstrom that whisked everyone up again. The turbulence of debris and ground caused tremendous pain again towards all, and they all fell to the ground with heavy thuds. However, the more fortunate members like Cana landed right on the Wool Wall, flopping and having her thud absorbed.
She managed to sit up on the wool, but her body was still sustaining heavy injuries. "Damnit. He's pulling out shockwaves even from the ground straight up.
"Thou cannot hide from my attacks. My blasts see all, as does my judgement. You all are pitiful, and thou casts you out!" Threshol declared.
"Not in a million years, buddy!" Gray shouted.
"Yeah, screw that! We're casting you out!" Natsu yelled as he and Gray both charged right for Threshol. A hammer made of ice and a flaming fist were about to collide with Threshol, but the king swatted them away with his staff. The brushing impact made a strong shockwave brush in an arc, slashing through the dead earth and driving Natsu and Gray both into submission.
"Hmph. Is that all, though has to offer?" He questions,
"Not at all." Cana managed to get to her feet, standing up despite what injuries she had ascertained. "You think you have an unbeatable offense and defense? We'll see. Fairy Tail does not have surrender in its dictionary, so but better stop underestimating us, pal!" Again making a counterattack, she fired tarot cards that brimmed with magic within. "Icicle!"
Her magic infused with the cards unleashed massive icicles that unleashed themselves onto Threshol. The large sharp spikes soared through the air and made it to him.
Threshol swung his staff, hitting the icicles and shattering them like he did with Lyon's Snow Dragon from before. The bits of ice blasted at Cana and everyone else near her. The brunette hit the Wool Wall and bounced right off, landing harshly on her front.
"Aw, man…" Cana groaned with distaste as she coughed. Waving away any dust, she got a vision of something overhead. Standing above her wasThreshol himself, and he looked ready to finish her off.
In his Beast Soul Take-Over, Elfman's beastly body clenched a fist and reeled it back. "Hands off the lady and keep to yourself like a real man!" He yelled.
"Rubbish coming from thou. HRMPH!" Without so much as even looking at Elfman, Threshol jabbed the man's chest with his staff, making a gruesome ripple bellowed outwards. Elfman felt his vision go all hazy and he had no control when shot backwards by a hardy shockwave. Again, more members were sent flying, and many were already down for the count.
Threshol looked down at Cana as she flew onto her back due to the shockwave being in one direction. "Another life lost in this world? No need to worry, for the great Essence shall have a great meal to satisfy his infinite hunger. So long!"
He raised his staff and swung it down onto Cana, and the brunette again saw her life flash before her eyes.
A harsh blur slid in front of her, using the swirling dust as cover. The figure swung an arm upwards, and a titanium hard armband on the forearm blocked the staff from crushing Cana's skull. A massive boom rippled all across the area in a perfect circle, dispelling any and all sense of dust and motion. Everyone turned stiff and their eyes widened in shock when they saw Threshol's attack completely stopped.
The figure was revealed to be someone they all never saw coming, though they probably should've guessed.
Threshol's eyes narrowed. "Thy mortal ruffian."
Cana's mouth gaped open and she looked up with shock, but then that shock turned into despondency. "Seriously? Again?"
It was revealed to be Craig, and he seemed to be somewhat smirking in the side of his face as his forearm still blocked and had the staff in a stalemate. "If I'm always gonna have to save your hide, try making appointments, will ya?"
With a heavy grunt, Craig clenched his right fist and ferociously punched Threshol's abdomen. Despite there being golden armor underneath, the king felt the shock of Craig's punch rattle through his veins. Threshol yelled as he fell on his back and slid onwards to a painful halt.
Craig kept his eyes set on Threshol, but his argument was with Cana. "Do you not know how to fight? Because I loathe how you can't even hold yourself up. It's like running a nursery."
"I'll put you into one if you keep that up." Cana testified.
Craig rolled his eyes. "You're welcome."
Cana looked away with a bitter twist on her face. "Shut up."
"You first." Craig said. "After all, ladies first."
"Actually, it's beasts first."
"Exactly."
"Oh! You just started a war now!" Cana fumed, not knowing she was back on her feet. "Where the hell is your sympathy?"
"Still napping." Craig watched as Threshol got up with heavy grunts. His eyes narrowed. "Right now, thanks to these pain in the rears, I'm just wanting to put you all in dirt."
"You're always pissed, ya brat of a beast!"
"I said I want to, not that I will." Craig spread his legs apart. "Please, as if I'm that stupid to turn my back from this guy to roar in all of your faces."
"Thou shall stop his interception!" Threshol twirled his staff behind and slammed it in front. A linear shockwave went booming at Craig and no one else. Everyone watched as the shockwave past them all, and Craig dared not move.
He pulled out a single sword, his dark red sword. He held it straight up and gave a strong huff as he sliced straight down into the ground at the point of impact with the linear shockwave. The clang rattled with a vibration that quaked everyone's knees. The ground suddenly split apart and the linear shockwave split into two, bypassing Craig and exploding far behind him.
"He…split the shockwave in two?" Elfman muttered.
"That's just crazy." Gray said.
"I'll only say this once…" He sheathed his dark red sword and cracked his neck. His teeth bared outwards. "Don't touch the lady. HRAAHH!" In a second, he became savagely violent and went lunging after Threshol.
"Take this, fool!" The king raised his staff and attempted to smite Craig with it, only for his attack to meet Craig's forearm again on the same armband, which absorbed the vibrant impact. The ground beneath Craig cracked apart, but he remained standing still and dealt a kick to his abdomen. Taking the hit, Threshol stepped back and drew a punch, missing Craig as the recipient leaned away. The punch had his Shockwaves involved and they rippled out, but no substantial target was met with. Craig then elbowed him, scoring another hit. Threshol's own elbow was overhead and Craig reeled away to avoid the elbow towards his head.
Gaining ground back, Craig brought his fist back. "Smash!" He drove his fist forward and collided it with the golden staff's bulbous end, making a rattling halt in which the staff absorbed.
Your tenacity if most strong, as is thou will. Thou remembers well of these traits." Threshol snarled.
Rather than using words, Craig twisted his body and flipped atop of the staff. Now above, he drew his blood red sword and swiped downwards. His attack scored a clean hit across Threshol's golden mask, slicing off a diagonal bit of it. The attack left a small cut along the nose line as well.
"GAAHH!" Threshol stumbled back in agonizing pain. "You foolish brat!" He winced in heavy retort and anguish, leaving him in a bitter rage. Raising his staff with one hand while still recovering, he drove the item into the ground. The bulbous tip flashed, and a gruesome explosion erupted.
Shockwaves upon shockwaves bellowed outwards, swallowing up everything in a perfect 360 all around. The ground shockwaves were like tsunami waves that rampaged on, and Craig raised his sword and stuck it into the earth, using it as an anchor as the winds and dust raged pass him. Craig could feel the violent friction against the strong winds, but through it all he persevered and held his sword in the maelstrom while everyone else was tumbling away. Even Erza and Natsu together along with those with heavy defense magic were left to be blown away.
As the strong waves shattered fragments of the earth, driving them forward, Craig hung low and kept his sword in the earth. "IS THAT THE BEST YOU GOT?! COME ONE! YOU TORE APART MOUNTAINS!" He reprimanded harshly with his loud roaring.
Threshol was extremely challenged to the bitter degree. His blood boiled up through his magic and the bulbous staff end became a vile red. He let out an extremely loud yell and an explosion of Magic Power was unleashed.
"Turmoil Infinity!"
A boom could be heard from hundreds of miles away. The world's loudest gunshot went off and a super dense red shockwave went in every direction. It was a single one, but everything completely flattened. Everyone ducked for cover before being blown sky high. All around, the earth had a violent magnitude, completely leveling the nearby mountains into solid plateaus. The shockwaves roared like that of a monster, and the ground was leveled to the brim.
The dust settled, and Threshol was panting. He had exhausted a massive amount if his reserves, but if it meant defeating or blowing Craig away, it was worth it. "Have you said thy prayers…?"
The dust and rock slowly dwindled back down to Earth Land, and yet there were two swords prodded in the ground. Threshol's eyes widened in pure disbelief.
"This…can't be…"
Craig coughed harshly as he was on both knees and had himself anchored to the ground with the dark and blood red swords. His body had several scrapes and bruises, and his sea green t-shirt was barely intact; in fact, it thinned, but not enough for all to see through.
Threshol couldn't find his strength as that attack drained too much power. "No…monster!"
Craig panted heavily as all of the allies around him were starting to come around, albeit weakly and barely standing, but managing nonetheless. Dirt covered his face as his eyes narrowed, "Yeah, may as well label that on my forehead…by the way, you might wanna look up."
"As if I would listen to a novice like yo-!"
A white bomb dropped from above, exploding when it struck Threshol. The white explosion sent strong winds again all around, though they were not as violent and Craig held onto his swords with beyond-iron gripping.
Natsu was seen with a question mark over his head. "Wait, what?"
Cana looked up at the sky, seeing that the sun was being blocked out. She pointed at the massive flying ship with Pegasus features, and it was a sight to behold. "Look! Up there!"
Everyone looked up, where they saw the same structure flying overhead. They saw the bottom of the flying ship having cannons that were steaming, meaning shots were fired.
"The Christina!" Jenny smiled. She gave a wink up to the flying Blue Pegasus ship and gave a big thumbs up. "Nice timing, boys!"
Inside the ship, Hibiki was using his Archive Magic and tapping keys to manually operate the ship and piloting it. He smiled. "No problem. We were fortunate to get here in time. Eve is managing the cannons as we speak."
Eve looked through the firing hole, a target set on Threshol as he looked up. "Got another one! Fire!"
A white bomb went shooting downwards onto Threshold like an asteroid, and all watched in amazement.
"WOW!" Natsu shouted with wide eyes. "That's totally freakin awesome!"
The white bomb was met with Threshol's staff. The attacks of Christina's bombs and shockwaves made white bellow and roar, almost blinding the midair separating the target and the sender.
"Thou has nothing against me! Essence shall feast eternally!" He declared. With a shove of his staff, the last bits of shockwaves stopped, leaving him to falter to a foot.
Craig slid a foot underneath him, startling Threshol to an insane degree. The king's eyes widened in horror.
"Well I say you can tell me and whoever the same malarkey over and over…but we got our own lands and freedom! Destiny isn't for you to decide!" His swords sheathed, Craig had brought a fist from underneath and drove an uppercut.
Threshol's eyes dilated. 'No, I'm not gonna make it in time! Essence, feed onwards! This shall not be accepted! This cannot be!'
"Soaring Pain!"
Craig's uppercut to the exposed chin was like a thunderclap. The jawbone cracked apart from inside and Threshol's eyes turned solid white as he shot upwards into the air around ten feet. Craig's knuckles were red, but he gave no damn as he watched the red-robed king unable to move.
"What the hell?! Fry him!" He yelled.
Snapping back to reality, everyone saw this as their opportunity. Erza gave the command to have an open fire on the spot, and everyone followed her lead as she requipped into her Heaven's Wheel and used her Circle Sword, in which Natsu complimented that with his Fore Dragon's Roar. Everyone unleashed a barrage of spells in one fell go, and they all closed in onto Threshol.
The king violently screamed in agony as he was struck by magic altogether. A volatile explosion again erupted, this one causing everyone to look in awe as they saw a blinding light that was all of their efforts. The eruption of light bellowed out, and they all watched as the attacks stopped at once.
In a huge crater not too far from Craig, there lied Threshol. He was severely incapacitated underneath some rubble, and he didn't look like he was gonna get up. He couldn't even groan in defeat.
Craig gave a small huff from the corner of his mouth while the remaining members of the alliance all gave great cheers and applaud for finally finishing what they had started. Their efforts had finally paid off, and they had at last made it to the third shield without any intrusion of the three kings. As they all celebrated, commenting randomly of their victory, many were more emphasized than others.\
"AW YEAH!" Natsu cheered. "That's showing them what we're all about!"
"This was a great victory." Erza said.
"Alright!" Wendy and Lucy cheered.
"Yeah!" Gray exclaimed.
Cana looked very satisfied. "Alright! Now that's the way we kick ass!" She looked more than appeased, but then she looked back at Craig. As to where they cheered, Craig stared coldly at the crater. Cana could've continued cheering a little bit more, but she was more inclined to what Craig had to say on his part.
Craig looked down the crater at Threshol, staring with an intense, sharp gaze. "You were always the more cautious of the three. For a wise guy, you sure got arrogant. Looks like Amaren's rubbed off on you…I pity you."
"Gngh. Save thy pity for someone else." Threshol groaned. His head moved towards the side towards the incoming third shield. "Thou must never forget, though I had fallen, there is still no hope for any of you to reach the great Essence."
Craig looked up at the incoming black dome. It was moving rather fast, and as it was drawn in, the more the ground was looking dry. Craig kept a bleak stare set on the third shield as it drew in closer. 'No hope of reaching Essence? None of us?' His eyes narrowed further. 'Something's off. I know Threshol is one of fail-safe systems, but why would he make a shield around Essence if his power is to eat and drain all ethernano in the area…unless…' His eyes widened a little as he glanced from the corner of his eyes at Threshol. 'I know Threshol uses shockwaves so that none can touch him, so is he implying that principle to the outside world? I wonder…' The more Craig pondered, the grimmer it seemed to get. He was piecing his experience with the personalities and styles of the three kings and looking back at the shields and how they operated. 'Generators for the first shield, then they resort to Organic Link Magic for the second shield, and as a good measure they put the linker…' Realization then dawned and he looked shocked. His head swiftly turned back towards the shield. "…inside the shield."
Natsu looked down at the ground, feeling a leech-like feeling. "Okay, I don't feel so good."
Lucy winced. "What's happening?"
Wendy was looking tired, and not because of the damage she took. "It's coming from the ground."
Cana herself was found on a knee. "What's going on? I feel my magic…no, it's like my being, it's…"
"Man. Can you all hear me?" Ichiya's voice echoed all over the area. "It is I, your noble comrade in arms."
Everyone who stopped celebrating noticed the ground and their bodies gave out, and they heard the voice over the whole area. The sound of Ichiya up from the Christina was a shocker.
"Ichiya?" Juvia asked.
"There is little time to explain. Hibiki, let us proceed." Ichiya pointed towards Hibiki who was beside him. "Carry our friends away from the earth!"
"I'm on it, boss man." Hibiki tapped a sequence of keys on his Archive Magic and pushed the last button. In an instant, a hatch opened up from underneath the Christina and brought down a very long ladder. The long ladder led to the allies.
"You all better hurry as fast as you can. My sensors are showing that the closer Essence gets, the more life is consumed. Yours included if you don't get into the air as fast as possible." Hibiki explained. "You should be safe on the ship, so hurry and get on board."
"You heard him, get moving!" Makarov ordered.
Everyone thus hurried up with climbing the still ladder. The many allies that were still able-bodied managed to carry themselves up onto the Christina, and if possible used their magic to haul the vast majority that were injured up. Safe to say that in a matter of minutes, all three hundred were able to fully dock onto the Christina. The Dragon Slayers used their Exceeds as means of flight to get up to the ship, which surprisingly had them not get motion sick, to which Ichiya made the vessel Dragon Slayer-safe zone.
The last one up the ladder was Craig as he watched with one more glance at the third shield. His suspicions were unable to be shaken up, and he hauled himself upwards and up to the hatch as the Christina finally ascended to an even greater height.
With everyone aboard, the space was pretty cramped with three hundred people. A vast majority were still in the cargo hold and snaking their way around to find themselves moving up towards the deck. The deck was much more open and they all could get a great open view of the blue skies above.
"Oh wow!" Wendy marveled.
"Sweet! So this is what it's like when flying and not by Happy!" Natsu looked around the deck and felt the breeze of open air pass on by. "His smile grew ever so wider. "This is awesome!"
"I must say, this is overwhelming." Erza said.
Makarov looked towards Master Bob. "Master Bob, thank you for the assist. We can't be anymore grateful to how valuable your save was."
Bob put a hand to his cheek and smiled. "Oh don't worry about it. These darlings are too good to lose. That said…" Master Bob turned towards the mages crammed all around. "Everyone listened up!" He sure got their attention as even Gajeel went wide-eyed at how demanding Bob just got. "Tend to the wounded in the lower deck. For those who can still use magic and stand, cast your support towards the upper deck!"
Everyone did as he advised and followed directions. Mirajane and Wendy both stayed on the lower deck to tend to the majority that were incapacitated, and the rest that were able emerged on deck and gathered around to see themselves all above the moving third shield.
Hibiki continued to press buttons on his keyboard on the deck. "Glad you could be here. Guys. It looks like the last king was finally incapacitated…but we can't afford to celebrate just yet. My scanners are reading that the third shield is the last one, and that there is a lifeform inside."
"Essence." Makarov said.
Hibiki nodded in confirmation. "That's right. From what we can gather, Essence can drain the ethernano embedded into our bodies, so that means that our lives will be lost if we get too close. The safest bet is to keep a long-range profile, hence why we'll break the third shield from above and use our bombs to hit him with all we have." It sounded like a great plan indeed, to Hibiki and everyone else, but Craig disagreed.
"Idiot." Craig grumbled from within the crowd. When his shoulder was brushed, he bared his teeth at a member and made him flinch and jerk away. Craig growled low and looked at Hibiki without his volume being too high. "He'll immediately suck up ethernano in everything, including magic attacks. Does he really think this'll stop him…no."
"Alright everyone, I have the canons set to full blast! Let's go!" Eve yelled. He put his hands set on the cannon in front. "Everyone cover your ears! Bomb's away!"
The white bombs dropped from underneath the Blue Pegasus ship, dropping like packages on towards the pitch black dome. The attack went down like a bomb, literally, and a blinding explosion rattled the earth underneath. Everyone stared down expectantly, save Craig, as the flashy display finally settled down after a minute.
When it all stopped, the pitch black shield was completely unharmed, much to everyone's surprise.
"That was full power! How did that shield withstand it?!" Ren exclaimed.
Hibiki was gathering data and analyzing as much of the shield as possible. "I'm running an analysis with data comprised by the first and second shields. Everyone, in the meantime, aim at one spot!"
Natsu held up a clenched fist. "Hell yeah! Alright guys, let's show this clown what magic is all about!"
Erza pointed down at the third shield. "Target in sight! Everyone, hit it with everything you've got!"
"Destroy this shield or I'll spin you all!" Obaba yelled.
All mages that were capable open fired down onto the third shield like they did with Threshol. The bombarding assaults all fell like rain onto one spot, and it was an onslaught of magic pouring down onto the third shield. They all poured out even harder, and the ground beneath was quaking from the intensity…and yet despite the ground shaking, the shield was not deterred in the remote slightest.
The attacks stopped, and the mages present all panted and were exasperating out of disbelief.
"How did that not do anything?!" Natsu yelled.
"Even with all of our magic?!" Gray exclaimed.
"What's this shield now? Huh?" Gajeel grunted.
Hibiki was typing away and the monitor showed significant readings; ones that made him go wide-eyed. "…what?" He gasped.
"What is it?" Lisanna asked.
"This isn't looking too good you guys." Hibiki said. "This third shield, it's far different compared to the other shields generated. You know how there's always some sort of mechanism generating a shield?" He paused. "Well I'm afraid that I got data on the third shield, and it isn't helping. The third shield…is not a DNA barrier, but alas…an-!"
"Ethernano barrier!" The voice was brought by a maniacal laughter afterwards. Everyone on deck heard the laughter coming from Threshol, who was hysterically going nuts as he was in an ice prison thanks to Gray. He was all tied up and was handcuffed from behind.
"What was that?" Cana asked.
"Thou has heard me right! Thy mighty Essence, it's as I had told Craig Crius! Thy Essence is untouchable, for the ethernano barrier shall keep all magic wielders and lifeforms from ever disturbing him again!" He maniacally laughed again, swerving like a worm. Many spines tingled at the prospect of what was to come.
"An…ethernano barrier?" Makarov went wide-eyed. He looked over the edged and down at the third shield, seeing as how the attacks didn't leave a mark. "It can't be…"
"It is, old man." Everyone turned to see Craig stepping up from within the crowd. His irritated look was still cascaded on his face and he didn't bother looking at the many terrified faces. He didn't even bother looking at Cana as she looked as shocked as the rest of them.
He stopped when he was in the middle of the deck. "Geez, you're all a bunch of morons. You couldn't figure it out from the very start? Of course it's an ethernano barrier, why else would your magic bounce right off?" He turned to give a sharp glance at Threshol. "So as a precaution to make sure Essence drains nearby ethernano and magic from inside the barrier through the earth, those outside can't even touch him. And I can guess that this yahoo saw that clear, so that no matter what will happen, you would have to be dead or a rock or some useless crap without ethernano to even have a remote chance of getting through that shield…and I can also bet that the only way to bring it down is by putting Essence down, because he's the third shield's Organic Link generator, right?"
Many were left speechless at how Craig was beyond perceptive. It wasn't just because he knew these guys, but with his knowledge of the world and whatever crazy stuff he's been through, he was perhaps right on the jewel. Erza and even Hibiki were shocked to say the least, and the latter was writing down information as fast as he could by Craig's words.
Threshol chuckled low, smirking mischievously. "You were always a very watchful person, Craig Crius. Thou is impressed you decoded that thought clear as day. Yes! No one can EVER touch Essence, for thy third shield shall forever be up since the great Essence is its link!"
Cana gasped as her eyes widened again. "Wait…of course!" She turned towards the third shield down below. "Now it makes sense. Whenever or however we saw it, each shield had its generator inside. The first shield had its two generators inside, the second shield had that one king, and now the last generator is inside the third shield." Cana turned back around, this time more annoyed and looking more despondent. "And since this an ethernano barrier, no human, or living creature, mage…anything with ethernano shall not pass!"
Hibiki was pressing buttons, and a circumference was around the third shield as it was even in the earth. "And even underground it won't help. It goes through the earth as well."
"Then…how are we gonna stop this thing?" Happy asked, worried.
Makarov looked down, looking distressed. "…" There weren't any words that could be said. The silence said it all. No matter how they could see it, the air itself had ethernano, and they couldn't expel any trace of it from their bodies. In truth, it was too grim for words. No matter how they saw it, that third shield will deflect and absorb any and all ethernano, even Etherion. Everyone grew silent over the gravity of the situation.
A sudden fist rammed the deck, catching a few eyes. Happy looked shocked. "Whoa!"
"I can't take anymore of this!" Natsu roared. "Are we supposed to just give up after one go?! Come on!" He tried rallying everyone again. "We're mages aren't we?! We can break through anything as long as we work as a team!"
"Shut up." Craig told him.
"You shut up, buddy!" Natsu yelled. "If you were a Fairy Tail Mage, you would've helped by now!"
Craig looked away, rolling his eyes. There was a shadow over his eyes and he had hands and arms crossed. He shook his head at how wrong Natsu was. It's true that Craig is far from a team player, and he could probably crush Natsu's skull, but even the mutation knew of his brash nature. He knew what exerting anger and frustration was like.
"You didn't even show your magic once! You didn't even use it a long time ago! If you really wanted to keep your magic a secret, then use that secret power right now!"
"Natsu, enough!" Erza ordered, putting a hand on his shoulder and holding him back. "You have no right to take this out on Craig. If his magic is close range, then it wouldn't help in this case anyway." Still, in the back of her mind, Erza wondered what exactly could Craig really do. So far, she hasn't sense even the slightest of Magic Power emanating from him.
Shaking, Natsu gritted his teeth and shrugged Erza away. "The hell with this! Happy!"
Happy took flight. "Aye, sir!" As Natsu jumped, Happy caught him and they sailed down towards the third shield.
Erza looked with wide eyes. "Natsu, wait!"
"Stupid pyro!" Gray yelled. "That shield will block your magic!"
Natsu didn't listen as Happy rushed him down. He let out a cry as his fists were coated in flames and he violently struck the shield with a hefty explosion. He began to pound away at the shield, even with his bare hands when the other wasn't lit.
Everyone watched in awe at how Natsu relentlessly attacked the anti-ethernano shield.
"There's no way I'm lettin' this thing take lives from us! You think I'm gonna have this monster take away everything I know and love, think again!" Natsu was just losing it as he couldn't let up. His fists pounded the shield, but no matter what or how hard, it didn't even dent. When it came to his bare fists, he couldn't break it either, and left his knuckles to bruise badly. "Come on!"
Eventually enough was enough. Everyone above watched on as Natsu violently attacked the shield all by himself, but the shield was rejecting his ethernano and magic in all. As much as it was, they knew they couldn't stop it.
Natsu was panting badly as his breathing was getting heavy. He was feeling more drained by the second as he was punching and letting his anger and frustration run about. His energy settled soon, and Happy saw how bad his pal was beating himself up. It was time to stop, and Happy hauled Natsu back up from the third shield, much to his dismay.
"Happy!" Natsu barked.
"Natsu! Stop!" Happy insisted as he soared back up the ship.
Natsu was wide-eyed as he looked up at Happy as he looked desperate in keeping Natsu alive. The Dragon Slayer looked shocked and he stared up at all the shocked and despondent faces of everyone. In his mind, he was drawing a blank. He looked back down at the third shield and couldn't even fathom how he was unable to break it. He mentally sweared at his fault and Happy set it him back onto the deck, with everyone giving him room to pant.
Gray shook his head. "Seriously man, stop. This isn't helping."
"Gray's right, Natsu. We'll find a way…somehow." Lucy said.
Natsu was on his hands and knees, panting with shadows over his eyes. "Sorry…I couldn't do it…DAMNIT!" He panted a little more and was left to muddle over his impatience. Through his grief and failure, Natsu felt a warm arm slip around and haul him up.
He turned his head. "Erza?"
Though frowning, Erza's eyes were soft. "Don't put this on yourself. We'll find a way."
Craig stared at Natsu as he was being comforted. Craig saw how Natsu was looking grim, but through it, he felt heavy pity. From what he knew through speeches and actions set by the Dragon Slayer, he wanted to protect everyone he cared for, and no matter what see that he succeeds…and Craig hated that concept.
He looked back at Threshol and stared coldly. "And the only way to stop the third shield is by destroying Essence?"
Threshol nodded. "Thou is correct, but no living thing can break through."
Craig stared ahead at the third shield and kept a long pause going. He looked…quiet. While his heart rate was going up, he knew what had to be done. No one could get through because they were mages and had ethernano and magic by their side, but there was one crucial weapon they had that would change everything…
Makarov turned towards Hibiki, looking troubled. "Not even Christina's cannons or our combined attacks can break it. Got any other ideas?"
Hibiki kept his magic scanners set on the area. "I'm trying to find a way…but no, as long as we have magic and ethernano, we can't pass through that shield."
Ichiya was grimacing. "Man. I'm afraid we may have to…"
Cana looked down at the deck and grew despondent. "This blows." She angrily turned towards her side. "Not that you contributed Cra-!" To her surprise, Craig was not there. Her eyes became large ovals and she looked around. "Wait, what?! Where the hell did he…?"
"Look!" Jura pointed out. On the edge of the ship, something seemed to have fallen off. Everyone's eyes were drawn towards the figure and saw it dive downwards. Many were startled heavily and gasped as a person had went after the third shield like Natsu did.
Cana rushed over towards the edge, watching the figure descend. Her eyes remained wide. "Craig?!"
"Hraaahhhh!" Craig let out a strong and powerful, primal roar as he descended downwards towards the third shield. "I'm coming for you…Essence!"
"You fool! You'll bounce right off like Natsu and all of our attacks!" Gray yelled.
"Get back here!" Makarov ordered.
Hibiki's scanners were beeping, and his eyes casted away from Craig's sudden actions and towards the monitors. His magic scanner was showing signs of…peculiar awareness. The intriguing piece of evidence among the three hundred showed magic imprints and signatures, but there was something wrong.
When Hibiki zeroed in on Craig's falling icon, a smaller monitor showed up, and the magic and ethernano signatures were unlike anything he saw. "What…? No way…"
Hibiki looked back with wide eyes as Craig dove into the third shield, and Cana looked on angrily, but then her anger subsided to shock when Craig swerved right on through slowly before his entire body went through the third shield, being swallowed in pitch black.
"What?!" Obaba yelled. "I don't believe this!"
Jura's eyes were shaking. "The beast of a man…he actually went through the third shield?!"
Natsu, still supported by Erza, looked startled. "What?"
Erza looked just as shocked. "But, this barrier keeps out all magic and ethernano…so how could he have…"
Threshol's eyes widene din horror. "Im…possible…"
Sirens went off on the ship, and all attention went towards Hibiki on the deck's upper bow. They had a lot of questions, but hopefully what Hibiki had to say might provide either a distraction or answers.
"Everyone, you saw that as well as I did." He said. "Craig actually went through the third shield. He's going against Essence…alone."
Cana gaped her mouth. "EH?! I knew he was crazy, but that's just plain psycho! That meat-tearing animal prowling snobbish punk is gonna get himself killed!"
"That's not fair!" Natsu yelled. "How did he get through?!"
Hibiki pressed one more button. "Take a look at this…"
A huge monitor showed the area. The third shield was a solid black dome with a red signature inside, indicating Essence; above were the small dots of everyone, and the one that was suspended was Craig's. Two monitor's showed up, one that was near the Christina, and one with Craig. The monitors showed some shocking detail. The shock everyone had was unimaginable, and they could now see why and how Craig had gotten through.
"T-these levels…" Makarov muttered. "Craig's is…"
Cana was at a loss for words. The monitors showed the scans of all three hundred mages, and the ethernano and magic signatures. While they had signatures, Craig's was…
"…zero?"
A thunderous thud raged about in the area. Craig felt the shock of his landing rattle through his ankles. "Gnngh!" He took a huge grunt and then slowly straightened himself back up. "Damn fall, that'll rattle my stride for awhile." He took notice of how he could visibly see the ground through the darkness all around. He gave a suspicious look left and right as he craned his head about, catching a feeling of this familiar air. "Just as I had thought, as cold as I remembered it."
Taking the wrapped gray jacket with brown sleeves from his waist, he adjusted and undid the tied sleeves. He put the clothing on, putting up the brown hood over his head. "This air seriously feels like death to me. Can't believe I'm still walking and breathing in this stuff again…"
He looked around the area again. When he turned his back, there was a weak thud that made pebbles shake.
"Huh?"
Another thud, this one being harsher, made the rocks jump. Another thud, and then another; each one grew louder and louder. The dark energy eroding from a certain direction caused Craig's spine to shiver.
He brought a leg back and bared his sharp teeth. "…oh great."
"GGRRAAHHHHH!" A high frequency roar bellowed outwards, erupting through the third shield and making everyone cover their ears. Craig twisted his face at the high winds aimed at his face, making his jacket flap.
Craig looked despondent upwards as the roar stopped, wiping the dark saliva off his face with his sleeve. "Well you're no fruitcake yourself, pal."
A pair of yellow eyes were seen high above in the darkness. A low, blood-curdling growl could be heard as a pair of gauntlets clutched along the sides. The great beast stared down at Craig, witnessing his hooded figure and the sea-blue eyes that dared to look at his. The beast's eyes narrowed when coldly staring into Craig's soul.
Despite the size disadvantage, Craig sneered with a smirk. "Remember me?"
"GGRRAAHHHHH!" Essence roared down again, quaking the earth briefly. Craig held his ground as he took one step forward.
As he did, Essence's full figure emerged from the darkness. He was a black beast with upper body armor of pitch black over his purple skin. His face was of upper black helmet gear with devil horns. He had sharp teeth that were as black as night. He had large armored bat-like wings with purple edging. In short, he looked like the world's largest armored reaper with no scythe.
The beast snarled down at Craig again, nearly crouching to intimidate him.
"Yeah, I thought so." Craig cracked his knuckles and looked more fierce than ever. "You know what? I destroyed you before, and you know what that means? I'll repeat history again."
Essence roared down at Craig violently, challenged by his demeanor.
Craig took a running stance and violently cried out with sharp teeth bared. "COME ON!"
Essence, remembering of Craig and that same look, violently roared out at him, and both readied for another cataclysmic showdown; this time, one side will stay down for good.
Like I said, these few chapters have been getting longer, and next chapter will very much be a long one. Hope this chapter piqued some interest! No flashbacks this chapter, but next one will have at least 1 flashback. Review and comment, please! Until next time! :)