Craig and Cana were both faced with some petrified villagers who were still reeling from the events of last night and how to deal with the problems that followed, but as fortune had it for the two, they had their own problems to deal with, which involved the wrath of Fairy Tail's S-Class Mage, Erza Scarlet. And she was pissed.
Her death glare was leaving a shadow over her eyes, giving her a very foul appeal, and a dominating stature that left many to bend to her will. While a lot of people were already bowing to her, however, in the open central village, Cana and Craig both opposed her, the former with less calm than the latter.
"Do you have any idea on what you have just done?" Erza questioned.
Cana clenched her fists. "Erza, listen, I know you're mad at us for breaking guild rules, but…"
The brunette was cut off when Erza's sword in hand pointed directly at her. Despite the large proximity between them, she could feel her breath hitching.
"You are in no position to argue. You two, you had the audacity to break the guild rules…in turn betraying Master Makarov." Her glare darkened further. "Both will be lucky if you will be able to walk after what might happen to you both."
Craig's spiteful expression was followed by a scoff. "And by what might happen, you mean lift this fog and get the stolen lives back to where they belong. Because that's the way it's going down." He said in a matter-of-fact tone, with a mixture of his incredibly rude demeanor.
Erza didn't seem to care. "You're wrong. You broke the rules of the guild, thus you will be given punishment."
Craig narrowed his harsh gaze. "No."
Cana blinked and she glanced over at Craig. What went through her ears was divine shock. Was Craig deliberately defying Fairy Tail's most stern mage?! Was he beyond crazy?! The answer seemed obvious.
"I'm sorry, wrong answer." Erza said.
Craig shook his head. "You pea-brained scum. You just might be as big as an idiot as that bottomless pit that you call a Dragon Slayer. Let me run that by you a second time, so pay attention, because I am not repeating myself a third time." Craig's voice turned into a hazardous growl. "I ain't going nowhere, and if think I'm taking a punishment, I'll fight back."
Erza's sword aimed at Craig. "So, you're defying the rules and Master Makarov, and you don't regret it a single morsel? If anyone is scum, it's you."
"Call me a bastard why don't ya? At least I know when enough is enough." Craig shook his head and gestured around himself towards the villagers. "Get glasses and have a look. You really wanna pick a fight rather than help these guys in their time of need? Do you not see their frowns?"
"I see them well, but the actions you and Cana have committed have left Master disappointed."
"Then he shouldn't have expectations to begin with."
Erza's eyes widened. "You dare mock the master?"
"I mock everybody. And if they piss me off, they'll be sorry, just like you'll be. You try pulling us out of this, and if you have a heart and a conscience, then I guarantee that you won't be able to sleep at night knowing that you left people to rot!"
Erza growled and her grip on her sword tightened greatly. "I am aware of that, but you were sworn and bound to the guild yourself! You are equally to blame!"
"The guild can turn upside down for all the hell I care. I said that I don't have any appeal to your little affairs. I just do as I please…" He leaned in towards her, his gaze actually narrowing and sharpening to a hazardous point, which left Erza a little uneasy. "You're either with me, or you're against me. If you're against me, then there will be blood."
Cana looked towards Craig and back at Erza. She looked more than uneasy, and the events that transpired with Fogbound and beforehand certainly left her to ponder about the ideals that had sunk in. She wasn't trembling, but her inners were starting to weaken from the pressure the two put together were giving off. She was caught in between; bound by rules, or being a rebel. Erza and Craig were opposites, and if she were honest, the right side might be residing in her conscience.
She shook her head, snapping back to the reality of matters. 'What the hell am I thinking? Did I just forget why I'm doing this?'
"Cana, return to the guild peacefully, and the punishment will not be as severe." Erza warned.
Even with the heavy threat at hand, the brunette could feel something in her gut. Every time she wanted to step forward and face away from the problem, it always hurts. It was really her gut and her heart actually telling her to say no. Her mentality was at the mercy of Erza's wrath, but even with that at hand, how could she just abandon everybody like this? And all for the sake of guild reputation and upholding rules?
Even after all of that confliction, she made up her mind and found her answer. Her gaze shot back at Erza. "No way, I'm not leaving this mystery unsolved."
Erza's glare became as sharp as her sword. "Then you will face the same grave punishment as Craig."
Cana shook her head. "Go ahead, punish me…at least I'm not being a coward and walking away from what I know should be done." She saw the look on Erza's face; she was starting to tremble, a sure sign she was getting to the redhead. Cana gestured to Craig. "Look, I really hate this guy…"
"The feeling is mutual."
"…and he may be a rebel, and is pissed all the time, and has no regret when barking at someone, but at least he knows to never quit. So since I'm stuck with him for the time being, I may as well see this through to the end, and no way in hell you're stopping me."
Erza's body was starting to tremble; not out of fear, but anger. This was the second, maybe third, time anybody stood up to her. The definite time anybody stood up to her was Gray, and that was back on Galuna Island, and the ironic mark was that it was in the exact same predicament that was happening now. History was repeating itself, and she'd be damned if she would let that happen again.
She spread her legs apart. "You betray Master Makarov and Fairy Tail alike? All for giving a few smiles? You've gone wayward, Cana."
It was then that Craig trudged in front of Cana, opening his mouth and lowly roaring at Erza. The viciousness in his roar was enough to make the S-Class Mage tremble.
"You heard Brownie, she's with me." Craig warned. "That means she isn't facing punishment either." He spread his legs apart, a low growl coming from his throat. "So who are you or I to make her not be a rebel? Rules were meant to be broken, and I'll break them all and you if they don't mean the right thing for others' happiness!"
"Silence!" Erza finally went on the offensive, slashing her sword directly at Craig. The blow was swift and quick, and not even Cana could've kept track.
A sudden shatter sound boomed, and the area's residence all winced away from the impact. They heard no splattering sound, which was odd, but the answer became visibly seen when a pair of jaws snapped down on the sword, stopping it and cracking it apart.
Erza's eyes were wide with disbelief. "He stopped my sword…with his bare fangs?"
Craig adjusted his vast footing and hunched over, looking more primordial as he dragged the sword with his sharp teeth that pierced the blading. With a violent tug, he yanked, breaking the sword like it were paper.
Craig looked back up and snarled at Erza. "Looks like we got ourselves a disagreement."
Erza requipped into her Black Wing Armor, holding up a larger sword than before. "You'll be lucky if you come out of this alive and intact."
Cana stepped back, let alone scooted back a lot of paces. As much as she wanted to say stop, she valued her life, and this was going to get very ugly. She was well aware of Erza's strength. She was the strongest female mage in all of Fairy Tail, the only problem was that the brunette has yet to understand Craig's level of power. He's killed before, and has done so with willpower and violently ripped apart a lot of parts with only his bare teeth. His jaws were a heinous weapon, and if Erza's limbs were caught, she would most definitely lose it. And then came the usage of Craig's swords. He was savage enough to use a number of blades at once, and on top of that, he sliced Grander and that hysterical mayor back on that very hot week. There was no telling how much atrocities will happen.
"This is bad. Really bad." Cana mumbled. She clutched her fists out of frustration. "I agree with Craig, when this is a wrong time to fight, but I still can't believe it'd come to this…"
"We've could've gone back with peace, but instead you chose conflict. Another regrettable act." Erza scowled.
Craig bared his sharp teeth. "I told you this wasn't the time nor place to fight, but since you intend on standing in front of me rather than help the cause, then there's nobody at fault but your own conscience and gut…come at me."
"In honor of Fairy Tail and its reputation, repent for defiance!"
Erza rushed ahead and appeared in front of Craig. She brought her sword back and slashed diagonally downwards. As shocking as it was, Craig brought an arm around and sideswiped the incoming blade, deflecting it without flinching but for a moment. With Erza still using momentum, Craig clutched the same fist and reeled back fast.
"Smash!"
He dealt a violent punch across Erza's face, the impact being so forceful that it was like hearing a wrecking ball. Erza could feel her cheekbone crack apart as she flew back and slammed on the ground several feet away.
Erza's cheek swell with pain as her nerves went numb. "What strength-!" She was met with Craig clutching her ankle. The grip was like hardened titanium. The redhead felt the whole world turn into a blur as she was hurled into the earth by Craig slamming her overhead into the earth again, making the ground crack a little and dust blew.
Craig growled and he stepped back, his head and neck hunched over as he spectated the dust cloud. He didn't at all look surprised as he saw Erza's figure standing up. His brow raised despondently. "Should I guess that was a warmup?"
Erza seemed to be smiling eagerly. "Looks like your punishment will come early by my hands and not the master's." She requipped a second blade, one that was large and had a honed edge.
Craig reached for behind him. "Alright, you wanna have that kind of fight? Then just try and put me down…I'll just stand back up."
Erza rushed ahead with her swords. Viciously, she slashed them both, but in a flash they suddenly shattered apart, more like sliced apart into broken bits that hit the ground. Erza was taken aback by the sudden flash, but she realized that it came from Craig as he had drawn his blood red sword. Grunting over the shift in dynamics, Erza jumped and used her wings to gain altitude, as to where Craig looked up an opened his mouth to roar lowly, baring his sharp teeth again.
Finding an angle, Erza dive bombed while requipping another blade. That last attack caught her by surprise, as her Black Wing Armor was to supposedly increase her power, and yet Craig just outclassed her swordsmanship just like that. She raised her blade and slashed.
"You will suffer punishment!" She slashed, but again another furious glint flashed. Erza's world again went hazy when she felt her body go numb, then she found herself hunched over as her sword was in shambles like before. She was feeling a swift wind, and then felt a sudden pain running along her side. A red gash on her right side opened up and her right wing hit the floor, and blood spilled while Craig was behind her and looked away as Erza cringed.
Cana stared with horrific shock as Craig completely blindsided her with another swipe then and there. That blow was swift, and extremely precise. "Whoa, he just ripped her Black Wing Armor…"
Craig turned around to face Erza as she had her back turned to him still. The look he gave had a clear-cut view of him being pissed. He held still while his own feet clawed into the dirt.
Erza requipped in a bright flash. "I must say, that was a surprise, but now I'm focused." When the flashed ceased, it revealed her in The Giant's Armor. She had a spear in hand and had her stature facing Craig. "This is among my heaviest of armors, I doubt you can push me down now. You will lose, and we shall make you face punishment."
Craig tilted his neck and the bones crack. He said nothing, but instead frowned disapprovingly. He ducked the instant Erza swung her spear, missing its mark. Even after the duck, Craig still frowned. Erza slashed again, but missed. Every time, her mark was missed and Craig was not moving much. She repeatedly attacked, but Craig either leaned, ducked, or shifted off to the side. Even after all of that, he was still frowning with a still face.
"Why won't you take this seriously?!" Erza exclaimed.
She swung again, but Craig blocked with his forearm. Her armored arm stopped dead in its tracks against Craig's monstrous strength. There was a huge stalemate and Craig gave Erza a serious look.
"What makes you think I'm not taking this seriously?" He rebuffed. "I'm just smart enough to know to be patient and break your face…like right now! Smash!" With his sword in hand still, he dealt a violent blow again, but this time Erza was prepared and she blocked with her other armored arm. The impact of Craig's fist and knuckles made her wince in pain. She could feel her forearm's pressure being cut off from the dent. Craig's sword being held then glinted from the lighting of the torches, and that's when Craig adjusted his blow and sideswiped with the blood red blade.
A massive slicing down reverberated through the area. The armored gauntlet Erza's arm was coated in was sliced right off, glove and everything. Her open hand and arm both had blood from the various cuts ensued. With herself in shock, Craig raised his arms and interlocked his hands, his blood red sword sheathed. In a fashion similar to Laxus's Lightning Dragon's Jaw, Craig clobbered Erza overhead, making her gaze white before she smashed into the earth, making a humungous clanging sound.
Craig reeled back again and glared down at Erza with a battle-ready posture. "Seriously, do you not get it? There's a ton of people here who lost a lot from this fog, and you're suggesting we just run? That's only a coward's choice, and you know it."
Erza planted a foot onto the ground, her sliced heavy armor sustaining serious damage, but she got up with some serious panting. Her cheek bone was numb, and her head hurt like crazy. She was borderline disoriented, but she was far from giving up.
"I already told you. I refuse to have Fairy Tail's name sullied and unforgiven." She huffed. "If you do break guild rules, you have no pride."
"I never had pride or honor to begin with." Craig said, "Not even once."
Erza held up her spear, the bottom end held out and lit ablaze, like rocket thrusters. "Then you call yourself human if you have no pride!"
She threw the spear with such great might. The merciless throw shot the spear at such a rate that it almost shook the ground. It was like a rocket, and Craig stood there with a mad gaze. In his eyes, there was a reflection of the incoming spear. When it came to a point, his eyes sharpened, and he brought an arm around loosely and in a moment's notice closed his eyes and grabbed the entire spear, pivoted, and redirected it towards the ground of elsewhere. The spear punctured the ground entirely, and an explosion happened several meters away from Craig.
Cana and Erza's eyes were both wide with astonishment. Never before had the spear been deflected. To say that it was a shocker is putting it lightly. And Craig did it with his eyes shot, showing not pure guts…but overwhelming sense of focus.
As he kept his throwing stance, his glare was overshadowed. "So, you judge my humanity now, do you? That's a low blow, even from you." He stood back up and glared at Erza again, this time with a hyper sense of irritation. His gaze, it was menacing and predatory. If he wasn't mad before, he was now.
"You can't go and call someone weak or a coward without knowing yourself. Listen to yourself. You act like you're the boss of me, when we both know that's not true. You'd rather stick up for reputation and your master than principle. I'm not telling you nor caring how you live your life, but use common sense why don't ya." He held up a fist, and Cana and Erza could see the veins pulse with blood. "When I say I'm gonna break your face, by any means, it'll happen, even with unorthodox methods."
Erza glared harshly back. She spread her legs apart again. "There is something you'll understand, even if it's the hard way…"
A bright flash from her requip and Craig felt a sharp slash across his side. The blow to his right side was caused from Erza as she posed in a slashing motion in her Flight Armor. Standing back up, she turned back towards Craig's back.
"Not only does Fairy Tail always come out in the end, but I always win." She finished.
Cana looked with shock as Craig didn't budge. The cut wasn't deep, but it was pretty harsh nonetheless. Erza and Cana could've sworn that it would've been a delayed reaction, but Craig only turned his head back, looking peeved.
"Well there's always a first time for everything." He darkly scolded. He gripped more of the sheathed behind him at that instant, and Erza and Cana both went wide-eyed as Craig unveiled what was his trademark swordsmanship style. The dark red sword and double mouth blade twirled in the air, coming down on Craig. He looked up and opened his mouth, catching his mouth blade and using his spare hand to catch the dark red sword. He had legs spread apart and gave a menacing glare to Erza. "Bring it on!"
Erza gripped her two katana and felt challenged. She lunged ahead with such aggressive speed. She fired back at Craig with a flurry of sword slashes. Craig retaliated with a precise and deadly accurate impacts. He did not falter backwards; rather, his sword slashing parried Erza's ferociously fast swipes, what's more is that Erza was feeling overwhelmed as her katanas were deflected and sustained damage with every strike. The mouth blade Craig used when turning his head certainly didn't help her situation as had to reel back and dodge. 'How is he easily reading my fast attacks? What kind of skill level does he possess?' She thought as she planted her feet on the ground.
She felt a sudden draft going around, and her senses caught something of great misfortune. As she turned around, she was met with a pommel to the face. The impact was dealt by Craig as he somehow got behind her and backhanded, or perhaps in this case pommeled her.
The redhead shot backwards several feet and slammed into the ground, kicking up dust.
Cana gazed with a gaping mouth. 'He maneuvered around Erza's Flight Armor speed? I didn't even hear his feet touching the ground.'
Another glow erupted in the dust cloud. Erza shot back up into the air, adorned in her Heaven's Wheel Armor. All around her were about 20 different swords that appeared out of nowhere and started spinning around her like a sideways saucer.
Drawing the two swords in hand, she pointed them at Craig. "Circle Sword!" On her command, the 20 swords all shot at Craig. As to where they went blasting at him, all the recipient really did was jump and started spiraling.
"Spiral Dragon Slice!"
In a vivid shout and a twist of his body, Craig slashed all of his four blades. The attack completely passed through all of Erza's swords, and in bright glints reduced them all to destroyed fragments. The frightening part was that Craig didn't flinch as he went spiraling. He met Erza at eye level and raised a foot. Erza crossed her blades in hand and used them as a shield as Craig stomped down onto her. The fierce blow, however, sent Erza downward and skid back on her feet along the ground.
Craig landed in a crouched position, looking as hostile as ever. His sea blue eyes were sharp, almost like a predator. There was an intense pressure, one that made Erza feel like the weight of the world was against her. Craig was dissing every blow she made, and he wasn't letting up. His body had also tensed up with such force in every impact, something the knight caught whim of. It wasn't just his strength, but it was all sheer will, determination, and there was something mixed into those punches and kicks that made them feel more disastrous. Not magic, nor a rush of blood, but it was like the impacts had their own experience in mind. In that Smash, that punch had its own tale, one that had a road of how it was forged, and how it too got as strong as Craig's fighting spirit and will. The perseverance to shout back against the damned was most admirable, and yet how could he? Did he even know what he was getting himself into out of defiance?
Erza lunged ahead, her two swords crossing in a pentagram motion. "Pentagram Sword!"
Craig pulled the dark red sword in his left hand back. "Humming Pointer!"
Both attacks met together at the center. Both of Erza's swords clashed with Craig's single blade. All the more frustrating part was that He was budging, and the tip of the blade pierced and broke apart Erza's swords. The redhead gritted her teeth and jumped back to gain some distance between her and Craig.
"Like I said you idiot, I'll break rules for as long as I live if it means showing you that doing the right thing means not abandoning a crisis." Craig scolded. He pointed his dark red sword at her tired self. "You call me scum before, but like I give a damn. I've been in battles with greater risks than this sense of pride and honor you have at stake." His eyes narrowed. "I'm not amused in the slightest."
Erza's frustration was peaking, and she flashed again, requipping into one of her more lethal armors. Requipping into an armor that Cana felt uncomfortable seeing, the Purgatory Armor and its mace was unleashed, and a red blue emanated from Erza.
"In this world, there are those who defy for their own selfish ambitions. What is your reason for hating Fairy Tail? Why hate people to begin with?" She jumped into the air, with the mace right overhead. "Do you have a poor view on people?! What do you hope to gain by going against the world?! Anger? Frustration? Attention? Tell me!"
She slammed her mace down hard, and Craig had a dark shadow over his eyes as he raised his left arm, with the titanium armband blocking the mace. The mace's shockwave rampaged all around, causing strong winds to send a few bystanders skidding back. Even with that vicious impact, Craig's arm did not budge.
Erza looked with shock, and she went wide-eyed out of horror from looking into Craig's eyes. It was like she was facing a devil.
"You say too many question…" His eyes sharpened, and this time with a violent sense of pain. "And I take my answers to my grave! Soaring Pain!" He violently struck Erza with an uppercut with his blades still in hand. The swords following with his uppercut to Erza's chin destroyed her mace, and also a fraction of her armor. The redhead felt her whole world go blank. The impact sent her from off the ground and skyward. She plummeted and crashed several feet into the ground with a violent thud.
Craig reeled his fist back. "There are things in this world that you haven't realized that can destroy you in a flash. It can be hate itself, a foul corruption of the mind. Believe me, I'm pissed and I hate the world, but at the same time I don't truly despise it for being cruel to me. It's the individuals and handfuls that I would slice down that have put humanity and love at risk, for that reason I fight…"
"There's more." Erza said as she stood up with a serious frown. "That answer doesn't suffice. I can tell that in your eyes, there is another reason. There's so much confusion in you, I can't understand. So…" Erza requipped again, this time into her bandages and her hakama. She wielded two katana at the same time and dashed after Craig. "Let me understand!"
Craig narrowed his eyes. "Over my dead body!"
Craig's blood and dark red sword met Erza's double katana in the middle. The impact of the four blades made sparks fly, and the brute force made a shockwave ripple into the earth, making a crater at the two's feet.
Erza kept her footing and dared not falter. "I'm guided by love, and the love I share for my friends and guild. Working together, we drive one another forward!" She clashed again with Craig, parrying his blows, and even though they were both starting to get thin cuts, Erza persevered and did her best. "I get stronger to protect them! And their voices and hearts beat with my own! Why can't you understand?" She clashed again with Craig, dodging his blows as he slashed. She ducked and both backed away from one another, with Craig maintaining a foothold while Erza was panting. It was clear who still had the advantage.
Craig's eyes narrowed again. "What do you know?" He lowly mumbled. His grip on his swords tightened. "You think I'm stupid?"
Erza requipped both her katanas away, and gave forth another katana, one that had a crimson hilt that she held with depth. "The blade that cannot be wield without discarding all means of defense. I will risk it all with my friends guiding me. They are my will, and I shall strike you down as proof of that!"
Craig and Cana could feel an overwhelming swell of Magic Power resonating from Erza. The magic within her was drawing into her sword. A hot pink force overlapped the blade, giving the blade immense power.
Cana's eyes widened. "Erza, are you crazy?! You can't use that on him!"
Erza held the blade close and positioned upwards. Her eyes shut and her level of focus sharpened. 'Though one friend is not enough, I have everyone. Their numbers and courage alone shall make me pursue the darkness and purge it.' She could picture the number of Fairy Tail faces, one after the other. She saw Mirajane, the master's, Lucy, Gray, Happy, Wendy, Team Shadow Gear, and everybody that she held dear. The last face she imagined well…was Natsu and his smile. 'This fool, he shall learn of my true strength, and with you all behind my back, I won't fall!'
The redhead finally lunged ahead, and behind her were all of her friends and allies pushing her forward with determined faces. All of them had strong smiles and Erza raced with them giving their strength to stop Craig.
As the attack went after Craig, he could see the sheer power of Erza's will. The ferocity in her eyes showed absolute zero defense, and yet…he did not feel overwhelmed. He just stood there, bizarrely looking with his hostile gaze.
His grips on his swords tightened, and his teeth clutched tighter onto his mouth blade. There was a force around him, out of sheer will, and it was making nearby residences feel uneasy. What he saw was not Erza charging, rather his brain and heart were both pulsing, and before him were some familiar images and friends.
His throat hitched inside. The remembrance was bittersweet.
"CRAIG! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING! PROMISE ME THAT YOU WILL FIND YOUR LIFE AGAIN SOMEDAY! HRRAAAHHHHHH!"
With one last cry, Habuki was covered in frost and ice as he finally reached the red core, and the Explosive Lacrima went off on contact, and a bright flash engulfed everything.
…
Selano shed one last tear that dripped down his back. "You're a true and pure friend, the best that I've had…"
As the sun's last rays shined on the two, Craig's heart hitched as his teeth showed. He streamed so many tears and his body shuddered when the last of the sparkles and Selano vanished.
"Until we meet again…we'll all be waiting…with warm smiles…"
…
"Grander's gone…we're free at last." Nina cried out more tears of joy. "Craig, Al, I'm so happy!"
"I am too!" Al streamed and sniffled tears with Nina, and Craig quivered as his friends were seeing happiness in their final moments. With everything he had, he smiled proudly, despite the immense pain flowing through his heart. If he was to see them for the last time, it should be with smiles.
Al and Nina opened their eyes one last time, both having smiles at Craig, who had tears of sadness and joy running down his cheeks.
"Craig, you lost everything…but you were everything to us…" Al choked a little as he was starting to get hazy. "We never felt so much hope before. You're a true friend."
"Craig…" Nina's eyes started to close. "Thank you…for letting us see the light of the world again…thank you…Craig…thank you…"
With those words, Nina and Al slowly closed theirs eyes, dying with smiles on their faces. Craig's heart stopped, but the tears never stopped flowing. With a big smile, he curled over and placed his head on the ground, sobbing madly while being happy that he made their lives hopeful.
…
'Craig is a good boy, I was glad to have saved him…'
The blast was seconds from reaching him, much to Craig's screaming through the water.
Nester's eyes finally closed as the attack hit him. 'I'll see you soon! My sweet wife, and brave son!'
With that final thought, the attack reached and exploded upon impact, sending volatile waves through the water. Craig screamed as the vine swung uncontrollably and swung him upwards through the raging current, leaving Craig's crying tears to be whisked through the current while he gasped and cried upon hitting the shores.
…
"You've got a heart man." Vincent said weakly. "A true friend…a friend worth betting on…"
Craig looked down with his tears still going. He shook his head and looked up. "Out of all the crazy guys I've come across, you're the highest bar set."
Vincent snickered., his head tilting towards Craig. "That's another thing to be proud of."
As their tears flowed, Vincent kept his half-grin and his blinking slowly stopped, and his eyes shut one final time, his last breath taken and everyone in the room hung their heads down as Craig rested his head on the table, weeping as he held onto his late friend limp hand until the cover was put on. As Craig wept, he never forgot the dead man's half-grin, having living his life the way he wanted.
…
Craig's lips quivered while small drips of tears ran down his face.
"Thank you, for opening up my eyes that brawn must be accompanied by brain, that strength also needs intellect. Both are needed with another, and the Ying-Yang for both means with one going down, so does the other. The Zeldoron and Excalon are gone…but a legacy remains." Hilt smiled. "And so, you're the living evidence Craig. That's right. Keep up a skip in your stride ol' fellow, and make sure to have more adventures and crackerjack stories to tell!"
Hilt smiled with a salute. Craig returned the recorded message's sign of respect and saluted, all before the image finally faded away, finally bidding farewell to Hilt.
Craig hung his head how, silently crying over the bold sacrifice made today.
…
"Craig, I'm going to contain the blast as much as I can. We don't have any choice. You have to keep on going."
"Alena! Don't be damned! C'mon!" Craig shouted. His eyes began to mist up. "Please…"
Alena continued smiling. "Craig, thank you for opening my eyes. I thought there was a utopia on Earth Land, but it was really…here." She pointed to her large chest, more specifically her heart. "I know what you're thinking, but those guys from before, they all knew the risks. I wanna see what wonderful people you've befriended, in the real utopia." Her smiled softened as the pressure built up by Dorizel was starting to make her skin pale. "No matter how you see it, nothing is perfect, and it can never really be. Perfection is a word to define someone or something in an opinion…like you." Tears swelled in her eyes. "I am forever in your debt of kindness…Craig, thank you."
Craig couldn't even swallow before the light shined brighter, and the radiance of the woman disappeared. The earth shook as everything exploded, and Craig looked away as his tears were blown away, along with himself as a ten-mile blast wave shot outwards.
…
Taking the light lacrima with a shaky hand, he accepted and held back choking. "Chris…I'll keep on hiking."
Chris smiled wider as his eyes started to close. "I know it's rough, but no matter how gruesome, a hiker…always looks ahead without any height weighing him down…you'll go far…Craig…"
Chris eyes closed, and his gripping softened. He slumped down, and Craig watched with heated gasps as Chris's lifeless form plummeted into the darkness below, and the monsters in the darkness hollered at the downfall.
…
It was nothing but a tsunami of memories, ones of remorse, but at the same time the countless memories flowing of his friends perishing with high hopes and smiles was what was broke his heart. Of all the memories he shared, the ones most painful was seeing those giving themselves up were those who were selfless, brave, and had no regrets. Those when meeting him gave themselves up for his cause, those who came to respect and give their undying loyalty to him, those who will always be there for him. And it is because of those caring people who tried changing the world, that Craig's veins popped out and one last flow of those countless people erupted in his head.
His eyes mist for a half second…then turned sharp. 'I won't…BE HELD BACK!'
Erza slashed her sword with all her will and might. A light pink wave ravaged in a diagonal fashion. A massive halt was unleashed, and in a hostile and vicious swing, Craig's right mouth blade slashed, trailing winds that went through Erza's attack. Her sword – Erza's prized weapon of choice – sliced apart, and her magic within it was sliced up, dissipating into thin air.
The redhead was severely overwhelmed by her assault failing with a sudden swing. Her eyes were wide as Craig pulled his head back. He savagely roared as he thrust all of his blades while the redhead was in suspense and unable to move.
Horror and disbelief shocked both Erza and Cana as the latter almost puked at the raw and graphic display of Craig's head low with his blades, all three of them piercing Erza through her abdomen and out from the other side in her blood. All three blades went deeper and Erza's mouth spilled blood that sprinkled the ground. The redhead's psyche went blank as her belly was reduced to feeling nothing and layered in red.
Craig violently roared again as he rammed Erza further, ferociously trailing through the ground and shoving her far back. Craig kept ramming her on and on, his heels digging into the soft earth as he kept running, driving Erza into a tent post. Craig dared not stop and crashed right through the tent post's woodworks, splinters flying and Erza's back was completely numb.
The redhead's feet staggered backwards and Craig kept on going. He gave one big shove and retracted all of his swords from her abdomen, each coated in her blood. The redhead's open wounds and petrified face made it hard to tell what she was feeling or her entire condition. What she did catch on was Craig whipping his head upwards and the mouth blade spiraled high in the air. Cana watched the balde go up, but snapped back to the reality of the horror that Craig was unleashing. He roared and pounced at Erza with his free and sharp mouth. He snapped down his jaws into her right shoulder, piercing through the tissue and skin. The redhead uttered screams as she staggered sideways as Craig trudged in that direction, even without the usage of his hands. He budged forward a little more and released his hold. He held himself back by several paces as his budge made Erza tumble off. The knight crashed into the ground, her senses dull and her body twitching. Her abdomen was bleeding, as was her shoulder. She still persevered though, and despite the pain, and how she was overwhelmed, she could not fall. She struggled very severely, and she nearly tripped as she was managing her own footing.
She had but no strength left. She couldn't requip, and her defenses were all severed harshly by Craig. His actions and defiance…they surpassed her and her strength given by her comrades.
The twirling mouth blade upwards came down, and Craig jumped. With his mouth open, he twisted along with the blade and caught it in his mouth. In midair, he towered over Erza with a spinning fashion. A monstrous will swelled like a hurricane as he continued to spiral and spin in a relentless fashion. His blades crossed and still spinning, he went downwards and let out a battle cry.
Erza saw nothing and felt nothing but the wind against her. She saw a devil, one who crossed blades with her and surpassed her will. In a red glint, a sound reverberated all throughout the plaza. It was like that of a ghastly wind, and Cana dropped to her knees when she saw Craig pass Erza and pivot along the ground. Craig remained still as Erza's hair shifted in the winds made from his blades and spinning downwards alike. The redhead seemed fine…until Craig took out all of his sheaths at once.
Just like with his most lethal sword attack, Craig used a single finger and sheathed them all, this time he did it with another spin-like pivot.
"Ghost Hurricane!"
The sounds off the double mouth blade and two sword clanging while pivoting emitted a hollow sound, like the shrill wailing of the damned. Craig was looking away as a sudden burst from Erza erupted. The redhead gagged as the winds caught up to her, as if the clanging of sheaths was the trigger. Her mouth gaped as she was suddenly glinting and her body erupted consecutive cuts randomly all over her body, as though it was done by a ghost. The slicing assault's winds even left a maelstrom of cuts and slices at the ground, heavy gashes almost like ditches were fresh and encompassed her.
The redhead was spoiled in red as the delayed sheath assault ceased. And from head to toe, she had cuts and wounds of unbearable caliber.
'Everyone…forgive me…I failed…' The S-Class Mage started falling down to her side, her eyes all hazy as everything was unclear. 'Natsu…everyone…I was wrong…I should've helped them.' Her thoughts passing, the redhead fell to the side with a remorseful thud, defeated and severely wounded.
All around, shock and gasps bellowed as Craig looked away with darkened eyes. "You brought this upon yourself." He reminded.
Cana had a hand over her mouth, sheer horror swelled in her gut. "Why…why…?"
Craig put his swords back behind him and looked forward. He turned away and started walking off. "If you value yourself and what you stand for…please, just stay down and rest."
"She needs a blood transfusion, quick!"
"We needs medicine! Get to the doctor's tent and gather his books and treatments!"
"Hurry towards the tent! She might not last much longer!"
All of the villagers acted accordingly to situation. They all hurried and brushed past Craig as he continued walking off in hollow silence. He didn't look at the numerous expressions swelling with guilt and remorse over what just happened. They even gave Craig the glare, but he only kept walking as he continued walking towards a despondent Cana.
When he tried passing her, she put her hand on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. "It's terrible what's happened, but you're not gonna help her?" She scolded with narrowed eyes.
Craig looked to her, seeing her eyes in pain.
"Craig, even though what both you did was reprehensible, you can't just leave her be and have others clean up your mess!" The brunette wanted to scold more, but Craig grabbed both her shoulders, gripping and restraining her movement.
The look he was giving was a shocker, and paralyzed her. Her eyes were wide.
"It's bad enough that she lost, but if I give her pity at a time like this, her pride and honor will end up being hurt worse than those bleeding injuries I dished out. I know that you think it's the wrong decision, but it's the truth." He turned his head away to look at Erza being placed on a stretcher. "And besides, I could tell she's gonna cling to her life with every ounce of will she has. She has her eyes set on someone, I can tell."
"You…you can?" Cana wondered. "How?"
Craig let go of her. "I just know by looking into their eyes. Call it an instinct." He started walking away somberly deeper into the village. "Do whatever you want, I don't care. There's no turning back from these circumstances."
As Craig wandered off, Cana was left to stare back at Erza as she was carried off. The brunette hung her head low and her feet were struggling to move. She looked to be in pain, seeing a quarrel on such a caliber and on a personal level could leave hearts broken. This was a harsh reality lesson.
In a tent, there were a few people gathered, including Kai as he overlooked the situation. He frowned when he spectated the damage and severity of the situation. Looking at Erza, she was no different from a mummy. Bandages covered her from head to toe, with medicine and ointments to stop the bleeding beneath her cast. Beside her stretcher was an abundance of bags of blood from the donors. She looked like a mess with all of the tubes and needles in her arms. To think the tales of Titania Erza would reduce her to the torn up shambles she was now. It really was a tragedy at heart, but luckily her heart was still beating.
"I've heard tales of this Titania from years back…but to see her fall like this, it's a shock." Kai mourned.
The tent opened up from behind, revealing another person entering. Kai turned around, looking to see Cana stepping in with the tent closing behind her.
"You were with that Craig guy earlier." He said.
Cana ignored his comment and looked at Erza's defeated state. While the medical equipment on hand was nothing that she couldn't stomach, it was the haunting images of Craig's unholy wrath that nearly struck down the strongest female in all of Fairy Tail. She looked towards Kai with remorse. "So, how is she?"
Kai looked back at Erza, who was being applied wet cloths by a few men to wash the wiped blood from her face. "We were lucky to have helped when we did. We managed to find two or three donors of her blood type. We got the blood transfusion underway as soon as we could. Thankfully she's stable and alive, but just barely. She might not wake up for quite some time."
Cana looked back down with a saddened gaze. "I see."
"Your ally…I never thought Fairy Tail would harbor such a beast. It brings up the question: What goes on in your heads? How can we trust mages after they turn on one another?" He sat down on a nearby chair, arms crossed with uneasiness. "What is it that you all are capable of?"
Cana turned away with remorse. She looked crestfallen to say the least with how Craig put the guild in shame. Not only that, but he put Erza out of commission for a bit, and he looked like he was fine in the end. This brings up her own questions. 'How did he surpass Erza so easily? I know he hates us and everything, and he is violent, but…' She shook her own head. 'No, it's like he said, Erza knew what she was getting into. But Master Makarov is gonna freak out. I just hope Craig doesn't go and try and kill the rest of us like a savage.' Her eyes narrowed further. 'What drove him this far, so far as to easily stop Erza-!'
The tent opened back up, with a panting villager entering. "Kai!" He huffed.
Kai and Cana both turned towards the shocked villager. "What is it?" He asked.
The villager took a moment to catch his own breath. He was ready to speak, and he looked frightened.
"The object we moved last night, our beacon…it's gone!"
Cana's eyes widened. "It's what?"
Kai got out of the tent and stepped outside. He turned all around to find that it was indeed a morbid sight. His eyes were wide and his mouth was gaping. He looked distraught as the thick fog was layered all around the village. At this point it would've been thinned out severely, but now it's heavy just like it always was outside of Fogbound.
Cana proceeded out next, seeing as how the fog was thicker than before. "Oh no."
The villager who made it inside the tent proceeded towards the center of the plaza, passing by the destroyed tent and cleaned up mess Craig and Erza made. The gathering of the few handfuls of people around the center of the village was a shocker. Every one of them had frowns and were severely on edge. They were all looking up, scared as the beacon was nowhere to be found.
"W-what are we gonna do?!"
"Those beasts are gonna be all around us again just like last night!"
Many were freaking out in hysterical fashion, of which did not help the situation at all. Kai and Cana looked all around, seeing the abundance of worried faces. Kai clutched his stave tight. "Who could've done such a thing with our backs turned?! Who the hell took it?!"
All of the villagers turned towards one another with fright. By no means that it could've been any of them. They knew better than to take the beacon out of the village. Cana looked all around and very much uneasy as the rest were. The culprit had to be sly, something silent, and someone who was unable to have been recognized so easily…
Cana's eyes widened, and her world went blank. In a sudden shout, she exerted her anger. "CRAIG! YOU SON OF A…"
'I knew this was what they were after. No question. It's no wonder why they were hanging around the village. I should've taken this while I had the chance to begin with! Damn bastards were too hard headed to realize!' Craig was racing through the forest, passing tree after tree. He had no aim, and no place to run to, but all around him was a radius of clear air and no fog. It was low, but it was enough to keep himself distant from everything and everyone else.
In his hand was the shining red gem-like beacon. It was so warm in his hand, and it was like a mini sun. the fog all around within a five-meter radius was gone, but as Craig moved, so did the beacon. He dared not look back as he heard fast-pacing footsteps. The beasts were all hunting for the gem. It was theirs, and their turf. No one could have it. If they did, then hell would rain down. The white monsters closed in and sped on in towards Craig, pacing themselves while being aware of the radius.
Craig jumped over a log and kept on running through the fog, with white monsters all following him. He took ahead with a determined sight, his predator eyes set only forward into the unknown.
"You want this? Come and take it!" Craig shouted as he sped further inti the forest, with an abundance of white monsters tailing behind.
A villager ran up to Kai, looking like he was panting again from running hastily. "Sir…our sentry reported! Not a single white creature is lurking around Fogbound!"
Kai was taken aback from the sudden realization. "What? But how can this be?! I thought they were all for the fog!"
"There's more, it seems that Craig has gone missing. We're not sure of the correlation yet, but I think he's taken the beacon somewhere safe, sir!"
Kai looked down at his clutched hand. "What's going on here? I…I don't understand. Do they want something with that beacon? That's preposterous, it's ours! Drake found it! We have to get that fool and beacon back right now!"
He turned to the side. "Hey, you said he did it, so go and-huh?!" He realized that the spot besides him was vacant, and previously it had a familiar brunette present. Kai looked all around, confused and exasperated. "Wait, Cana?! Fairy Tail Mage?! Where are you?!" He nervously looked back at the beacon, his spine crackling with goosebumps. "What's happening right now?"
Cana fled the village gates and her sandals hit the ground with soft landings each. The grass and soft dirt meant nothing as she ran through the forest with a dead serious look on her face. Wherever she was going, she had an aim.
The brunette looked down at the card in her hand and looked back forward. Quickening her face, she charged deeper into the fog and away from sanctuary.