Chapter 60 – Freedom of Religion
The 60th chapter guys! This story is getting super long!
To Recap:
With everyone on edge, they all spread out to find the remaining clock pieces scattered about, with Nic's group heading overseas and talking briefly to archeologists before reaching a desert, where they descend deep into an underground city. There, not only did Nic sense a Plate, but they meet Coco and Dan of the Legion Corps and quarrel briefly, though Dan was more caught in his infatuation with Lucy. Soon, Coco, Lucy, and Vanessa all end up separated from the rest briefly, but within that time got to have an understanding. Meanwhile, after Erza's 'first picnic', her group reached the Library of Sorcery, where Sophie led them to a clock piece.
Chapter 60 – Freedom of Religion
Natsu jumped into the air and puffed his cheeks. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" He released a strong stream of fire down at Dan, but the Spearman of the Legion Corps was confident in his abilities and used his large shield to deflect the fire, quick ended up destroying more stone walls all around.
Nic balled his fists. "That shield and spear are both troubling."
Pavo took up a stance. "Truly. A strong offense and defense to boot."
Nic used his speed and started running towards Dan while the latter thrusted forward. At the last second, Nic sprung overhead and while in midair glowed and shifted to his Splash Plate Form, and landed behind. He quickly pivoted and became covered in water. "Aqua Jet!" He shot ahead like a torpedo and made his mark in Dan's back and the knight stumbled forward, to which Pavo took advantage of.
The peacock-dressed man sprung up in the air and two images representing peacocks appeared and he glowed a pink aura. "Peacock Capoeira!" He sprung in as Dan lost momentum, and let loose some barrage of kicks on Dan's armor. The barrage of kicks was in rhythm as Pavo began to cartwheel forward. Finally, he did a handstand and spread his whole legs out and did a spinning kick, which struck Dan's face and he shot back into a large statue.
"Nice shot peacock guy!" Natsu shouted.
Pavo got back to his feet and remained on guard as the dust settled and Dan stood up. Nic stood among the three as Dan was seen smirking despite the damage he's taken.
Dan smirked. "Now this is the kind of fight I was looking for. You three are going to pay the ultimate price when I'm done with you." He guaranteed. To prove his point, without so much as looking, he pointed his spear behind him and poked the statue he struck. Everyone watched as the statue instantly grew in size by an immense margin, as it went from being twenty feet to at least eighty feet tall.
The sudden growth caught the three off guard but still able-bodied. With the weight being unstable, the statue began to fall forwards. Natsu was readied to move, but Nic wasn't budging.
"Pavo, now!"
"Gotcha!" Pavo sprang into action and jumped up towards the descending statue. With a harsh battlecry and a crazy face, he closed the distance and spun around and struck the statue with the point of his shoe. The shockwave spread throughout the statue and the entire structure shattered apart into tiny fragments. The small rocks fell below, landing all around the four, turning the territory they were in into what seemed to be a quarry.
Dan eyed his three opponents at once and grinned wider than before. He was having a blast. He wanted to have the thrill of a battle such as this, and to take out Salamander and Luminous alike would be a major bonus for the Legion Corps.
The knight snickered. "Tell me something, Nic was it?" Dan asked. "Is it true that you and your guild traveled through time?"
Nic wasn't sure what Dan was implying, but he did ask a question with a basic answer. "Yes, we did."
Dan then chuckled. "Then that explains why you all feel so weak. Salamander's Magic especially."
Natsu grew angry. "Say what?!"
"Your Magic, I was thinking about it from before. Your power isn't comparable to mine, because mine beats yours by a large margin. There's no way you can defeat me!"
Dan's boast was like a Venipede using Bug Bite because they all grew annoyed of Dan's false accusation. Of course Nic could remind him of what happened the last time, but he didn't because that would lead to giving away the only advantage they would have.
From the last fight he and Erza had against him, they both learned that Dan relied on his spear and shield the most, which left his close-range combat weak. If he could get Dan away from those items, or at the very least neutralize their effects, they could finish him off.
Natsu took lead and cloaked his arms in streaming flames. "Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" His flames went lashing at Dan, but as excepted his shield took the full blunt, and the fire went dispersing in sharp fragments all around, destroying even more stone walls than last time. The backfire shot back at Natsu, and the Dragon Slayer shot backwards into a skid.
"Natsu!" Nic shouted and quickly turned back ahead. He watched as Dan pulled out his spear and the tip glowed green and he began to relentlessly jab once again. He jabbed and thrust in succession and Nic and Pavo both dodged the shots by either zooming with excessive reflexes or by the use of dancing.
"Face it! You guys don't stand a chance against a strong defense and offense like I have!" Dan shouted. He ceased with the jabbing and aimed the spear to the ground, where a small pebble was, and he poked it. The small pebble immediately glowed into a huge sharp rock that went at Nic, Pavo, and Natsu.
"Oh no you don't!" Nic jumped after the sharp stone and his arm was coated in spiraling water in the shape of a large crab claw. "Crabhammer!" He jabbed forward and the entire stone completely fell into small fragments that flew in all directions. As it all shattered, Dan appeared in front of Nic and jabbed. Nic leaned back as the spear aimed for his head and watched it go over him.
Dan retracted his spear and he and Nic both gained distance in between. Nic glowed once again and shifted from the Splash Plate to the Psychic Plate. Dan recognized the 'Requip' and immediately grew uneasy due to last time. Nic's Trick caught him by surprise, but as long as he had the other weapon, he might as well be okay.
Nic clasped his hands together. "That spear and shield are strong, but now we'll see what they can do when their effects are suppressed." He closed his eyes and opened them once more. "Magic Room!"
Nic shined a white light and the remaining individuals looked around to find the space around them beginning to distort. The space began to get all wavy with a dimensional room with white lining and shifted with distortions continuously.
"What the heck?" Natsu wondered.
Dan frowned but remained nonchalant. "Alright, so you made a bizarre room. That won't stop me from having Habaraki skewering you like a kabob!" Dan pointed his spear at Nic and lunged after him.
Nic remained calm and extended his ram out. "You may be able to do so, but…" When the spear reached him, he grabbed the tip and used his raw strength to suppress and keep the spear from poking his skin.
Dan realized that Nic wasn't shrinking upon contact, and that he couldn't increase either. He blinked and grew worried. "Wait hold on!" Realization dawned upon him and he looked around the Magic Room.
"That's right." Nic said. "You may have the use of your shield and spear's powers, but with Magic Room, they're nothing more than tools." His eyes narrowed. "Natsu! Pavo! Now!"
Dan's eyes widened and he turned around to find Natsu and Pavo in midair and leaping. Natsu had a flaming fist set and Pavo had his legs out and ready.
"Glory's Integrity!"
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Pavo let loose a 360 roundhouse kick that struck Dan's shield when he pulled it up, but when the kick landed, it didn't bounce off, which made Dan get caught by surprise. Following through with the kick, his folded up cape followed and swiped the shield's side, leaving it to get knocked away and Dan was left open for Natsu.
"You'll never understand that even though you may be stronger than me, you don't have a prayer when we work together! HYAH!" Natsu punched with all his might, striking Dan so hard that he shot right through the Magic Room, leaving a shattered area of it and he continued onwards with his fall downwards.
While the fight escalated, Lucy, Michelle, Romeo, Happy, and Vanessa all were inside of what appeared to be an underground church with the Zentopia emblem on the wall in front. Despite being underground, the church was surprisingly lit well.
"So you think it's here?" Happy asked.
Lucy pulled out her book and opened to a page. "Yeah, I'm positive. There's a line in here that relates to this location." She recited it. "It says 'Long in silent had the key rested, embraced by reverent prayer'."
"Prayer?" Michelle wondered. "You mean like a church?"
Vanessa put her hands to her hips and turned about. "Well I guess when you think about it, it kind of makes sense."
"Still, there aren't many places to look now, are there." Romeo pointed out. "I guess all we can do is just look around and-"
One of the windows above broke when a projectile shot through and crashed into the ground behind them. They all swiftly turned around and looked on with deep shock as they saw the dust settling and Dan was lying among the debris, unconscious and defeated.
Lucy and her group were caught in a state of confusion until they retraced their eyesight upwards towards the hole in the window, where they found three figures looking down on them.
"Yo. Sorry to drop in all of a sudden." Natsu smiled and waved down to them and jumped down to meet Lucy and the others. Nic, in his normal self, and Pavo were in tow and landed right beside him.
"Natsu!" Lucy stated. "Thank goodness!"
Pavo struck a pose with a leg out from behind, having his humungous grin plastered on his face. "Oh don't be silly! We clipped this ugly duckling of his wings is all!"
Nic nodded. "It took a little longer than we had thought, but we managed to suppress his equipment and finish him." He looked around and noticed that the Plate signal within him began to get crazy. With this sudden pulse, he grew a little uneasy, but that meant they were probably right on top of it.
Still, he kept a façade. "So is this the place?" He asked.
"Most likely." Lucy informed.
The Zentopia insignia on the wall in front of them shined a bright light, which caught their attention. They all turned to face the wall to see the entire diamond shape now glowing. The entire structure itself shined so strong that they all narrowed their eyes.
"What's this light?!" Vanessa shouted.
"I don't know, but it looks like we'll find out!" Nic shouted through the light shine.
Finally the light began to dim, and the wall itself began to fade away, concealing something behind. Nic's Plate sensory went crazy, and at that moment he realized that not only did they find a Plate, but when the light faded, it revealed what appeared to be a clock piece. It was a giant, silver ring with another, smaller ring inside of it. The inner ring was brown with gray bulges. The two rings were bound by chains. Encasing the rings was a giant red ring, similar to Saturn in a way. The ring was trimmed in silver and had gray knobs; four in total in all positions similar to a clock. Floating in the dead center of the inner ring was a shining, rectangular plate that seemed to be made of iron.
"Whoa." Lucy muttered.
"Double whoa." Vanessa added. "That thing's huge!"
"Is that the clock piece?" Happy asked.
"If so, it'll be heavy to carry." Nic added. He then saw something in the middle, as it was something he was looking for all along. His eyes widened as his radar was going blank as he had reached his destination. He gasped as he saw the iron-like Plate slowly rotating in the center.
"Wait, is that what I think it is?" Lucy pondered, seeing the Plate in the middle.
Nic nodded. "There's no mistaking it. It's gotta be the Iron Plate." He ran ahead of the group and hauled himself up towards the rings. Everyone watched as Nic soon found himself just mere feet from the Iron Plate.
The Iron Plate in the center reacted by glowing brighter than before and Nic remained still as the Iron Plate slowly drew itself towards him as he was atop of the ring. He looked down as the Plate drew closer and touched his chest. When that happened, a flash of light blinded everyone and Nic felt the merging with the Plate.
Unlike the previous first couple of times like the Dread Plate and Stone Plate, and with him merging with so many, the merging didn't sting in the slightest. The light faded, and Nic felt a dense flow of iron swell within him, making him feel as though he was heavy, but the feeling faded away with the light.
Natsu and everyone else smirked. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"
Vanessa smiled happily. "Alright! I think that only makes two left, right?"
Nic nodded. "Yeah." He looked down at his hand and slowly clenched it. "I finally found another one. The Iron Plate."
Hiding from view atop the window Dan crashed through, Coco witnessed everything and found herself outmatched by a large margin. She never would have a prayer.
'I have to find a way to steal that clock piece from Michelle and them all.' She thought as she laid low.
Dan jerked up from his unconsciousness and got everyone's attention. "Hold up, wha…?" He was still trying to process stuff, but he wasn't fast to comprehend as he was still tired from his fight.
Nic, Pavo, and Natsu gave hardened glares towards him, not giving him an inch. Natsu held up a fist in pre-meditated retort. "You still want some more?"
Dan crossed his arms. "No, I'm afraid you beat me fair and square." He sat down on the ground and crossed his legs. "I admit defeat. I surrender."
Michelle stepped forward. "So, will you tell us why you're gathering the clock pieces?"
"Yeah, and just who are you exactly? And why are you chasing after a girl like Lucy?" Happy asked rudely.
Lucy huffed. "I don't like your tone, cat."
Dan took the question and took action by standing back up. "So, you want to know my backstory do ya?" In a sudden out of the blue moment, he presented a picture of himself on a stand. "So you want to know of my tale? Very well then! You shall experience my life story in unadulterated detail, starting from the beginning!"
Everyone sweatdropped at the sudden display of a picture on a stand. They didn't have any way of processing this and they were blanked out.
"Uh…r-really?" Vanessa questioned.
Dan started anyway, and he flipped the picture to show a little town. "I, Dan Straight, was born in the glorious town of Cedar. Ah, Cedar, what a happy time." He then flipped to another picture, showing him as a young kid and with a bunch of knights. "Such a nice town, home to an ancient brotherhood of knights, and as a successor to this line of knights it was my sworn duty to keep going with the knights' tradition." He flipped to a picture of himself training with a sword. "And so I lived a happy childhood of the finest of respect from my fellow knights with the greatest of fruit juices."
Vanessa raised a brow at hearing fruits involved, one of them hopefully being lemons, her favorite.
Dan then flipped to another picture, where the church was on fire and knights held up their arms and weaponry of all forms. "But then out of nowhere, a civil war broke out and the entire city of Cedar was split into two."
"Wow, never knew you had such a bad time." Romeo said.
Michelle began to tear up sourly. "And your family had to struggle in order to survive!"
"Actually…" Dan, flipped the picture, showing what actually happened, which were knights shaking hands and looking happy. "The fight only lasted half a day, and no one was seriously injured. We got along again very quickly too!"
"Wow, that was quick!" Happy said with surprise.
"We've had more intense brawls in the Guild Hall before lunch." Lucy countered, but Dan got up to their faces.
"Hang on to your skirts, because the story's just getting started!" He then flipped to another picture, to which showed Dan, older. Having flowers in hand and admiring a girl looking a lot like Lucy. "A long time later, I come across the most beautiful girl, my first love." He then flipped to a picture where he was looking at the darkened sunset with battleaxes and sword embedded into the ground. "But I was soon forced to go to war, and when I returned I searched for her…but she was nowhere to be found."
Lucy looked relatively startled. "So this girl went missing?" She gasped as she came to a quick conclusion. "You don't think she got caught into the war?!"
Michelle, once again, began to tear up. "She must have lost her life! How tragic!"
Pavo began to cry strong waterfalls onto the floor. "Bohohohoo! Oh the misery of losing love in fighting!" He cried out.
Dan had sparkles in her eyes. "Her beauty was unlike anything in the world. Actually Lucy resembles her very much."
As Michelle and Pavo shed even more tears, getting the ground beneath them wet, Lucy looked towards Natsu. "Now I guess it makes sense, but now…I feel kind of bad."
"So what? Did you find her body somewhere?" Natsu asked.
Dan still had sparkles in his eyes. "Actually…" He flipped the picture again, revealing the woman from before. "She was completely unharmed!"
"Are you kidding me?!" Everyone exclaimed in disbelief.
"I know, right? Only our reunion didn't turn out quite as I intended it to be." He flipped the picture to find her running and turning away from her constantly. "My daily marriage proposals made her so happy that they always frightened her, and in the end her fear won and she decided she wasn't worthy of my heart."
"You know, I could be wrong, but I don't think the pictures and the stories match up." Michelle figured.
Lucy groaned. "It's obvious she couldn't stand him."
Dan showed a picture of himself crying. "And even though she was right, the truth hurts. I cried for three whole days and nights. Not long after, I decided to set out on a journey to ease my sorrows and heart…" He then flipped a few pictures of ladies that he'd met. "And of course met quite a few charming ladies."
"So basically you went out on a journey to find a girl that doesn't remind you of your first love." Michelle figured.
"Nah I'll never learn true love if I limit myself to one chick." He gave a thumbs up. "The entire world's a buffet, and every girl is a dish I'm dying to try."
"And the respect level drops back to zero." Vanessa sighed.
"It makes you wonder who painted those pictures anyway." Happy said.
"Oh, Hughes and Sugarboy did. They used my travel journey entries and some old photos as references." Dan sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Of course the guessing was a dilemma, so the pictures may not be entirely accurate."
"Actually the pictures are more accurate than him." Vanessa whispered to Nic, to which he nodded in agreement.
Dan then flipped to another picture, showing him alongside the Legion Corps. "And soon I found myself joining with the Legion Corps. Since then, I've dedicated my life to Lord Byro and gathering the clock pieces!" Dan showed a happy smiled as he showed a slide with a big 'THE END' on it. "And that's how I got to grace you with my presence!"
Lucy rubbed her head with slight agitation. "That's great and all…but we were just wondering of the story of the Legion Corps."
Vanessa sighed. "You trade to get a Graveler but instead get a Golem." She groaned.
Happy held up on of the slides. "Yeah, and if you didn't tell us that, then why'd you tell us your story with poor production value?"
Dan had sparkles in his eyes. "It's obvious! So my Lucy-pie can learn more of her future husband! My sweet love~! Let us embrace under the watchful eyes of God!"
"NO~! Stay away!" Lucy began to run all around the church, with a lovey-dovey Dan dragging himself to follow her for a loving moment, but the blonde only sped away faster.
Natsu hunched over. "Ugh. I'm getting a headache from all this."
Nic put his hands to his sides. "Well I suppose there's nothing more to do. All we can do is wait for the others to rendezvous with their clock pieces to our location since ours is going nowhere."
Michelle looked around to notice something out of place. "Wait, wasn't there another member here?"
Hearing that, Coco swallowed and hid behind the window to conceal herself.
"You mean Coco?" Vanessa asked. "Now that you mention it, I wonder where she is?"
"Bet she turned and ran!" Happy stated.
Romeo began to look stuck up like Happy. "Why worry? She is our enemy, remember?"
"Maybe she is, but she's still young." Vanessa defended. "Besides, she's not all bad."
Hearing that, Coco felt a little better.
Watching over the whole scene, a shadowy figure looked on with a frown plastered on his face. It was hard to tell of his facial expression since he was concealed, but he obviously didn't look too thrilled. Seeing them all chilling and Dan fawning over Lucy left him bitter, not that he was to begin with.
"How disappointing." The voice started, getting Nic to jerk at the resemblance of the voice. His sensory and instincts got a bad feeling, and he and his friends (and family) looked around at the voice.
Coco's eyes widened. "Wait, that's…"
"Your actions resulted in failure, and thus you left my patience to rot. That's unforgiveable." The escalating voice was followed by a heavy quake that left the church to tremble. The thing they knew, a giant octopus crashed and broke through the wall, destroying the sacred church, but left Nic and the others unscathed, as well as the clock pieces.
Quickly collecting herself, Coco scrambled to her feet as dust blew away and small rocks fell down. "Lord Byro, sir!"
Standing atop of Kanaloa, Byro had a scowl that could put Makarov's to shame. "I can't seem to understand why is it that you two are having such a difficult time."
Dan stood up and found himself at the mercy of Kanaloa and Byro. "Gah! L-Lord Byro, sir! I beg for your forgiveness, for I have terribly shamed myself!" Although a smile then perked him. "Though on a much light-hearted note, this is where I met the girl of my drea-!" He was cut short by a falling rock on his head, which left him to fall unconscious on his back.
Coco looked startled as she saw Dan fall backwards into la la land. "Well I can't say that I wasn't expecting that." She muttered.
"You two, fall back and reflect on your incompetence. I'll have to clean up the mess made here." Byro's words were strict, absolute, and stern.
Natsu balled his fist. "Octo-Geezer!"
Nic, remembering how persistent Byro was before, began to grow uneasy and very annoyed. "You…"
Byro scrutinized the ones below him and recognized their faces and the clock piece in Michelle's care. And what left him bitter to the core even more was Nic, who had control over the dragon that demolished him last time, according to what he thought.
"I will claim what is rightfully Zentopia's; the clock pieces, relinquish them immediately." He demanded.
"Gahahahaha! Check it out guys! He's riding that giant octopus while being all mighty!" Natsu laughed, which completely contradicted what was meant to be a serious dilemma on their hands.
Romeo looked uneasy. "I wouldn't laugh at them if I were you, Natsu. He held their own against Gildarts, remember?" He reminded the Dragon Slayer.
Natsu shrugged it off. "Yeah, yeah. He's powerful and all…but he's on a giant octopus!" He just couldn't contain his laughter and Kanaloa, offended, slouched a bit.
Suddenly, realization dawned upon him this time. "Wait…if I beat Octo-Geezer here…" A large smirk came across his face. "Then it's like showing up Gildarts!"
"Natsu's such a terrible role model." Happy commented poorly, much to Vanessa's sighing of agreement.
"Everyone be careful!" Nic shouted and warned. Unlike Natsu, Nic wasn't being overconfident, and was keeping himself weary.
Byro's face didn't change in the slightest. "We'll destroy you. Kanaloa!"
The giant octopus responded by shooting acid-like ink at Nic and the group. Sprinkles of it dripped as it was launched, melting and sizzling small bits of the ground beneath.
"OOOH! We are gonna be smoked and served as calamari!" Pavo shrieked.
Nic and Vanessa took action as both Pularis siblings got in front, bit arms extended out.
"Protect!"
"Aura Guard!"
Nic made a turquoise, translucent shield while Vanessa's arms glowed a teal aura and swiped them in opposite arcs, making a large dome of solid aura that encased the group of any acid ink that deflected off of Protect.
Everything else around them, however, was melted and steaming in sizzling ink. Both siblings lifted their defensive moves and looked wearily about. Vanessa looked the most uneasy of the two. "Reminds you of Acid?" She asked.
Nic nodded. "No question, only of a higher caliber." He noticed the acid-like contents and with the move Acid mentioned, something clicked inside his head. He came to a realization and jumped ahead in front of the group.
"Nic, what are you doing?!" Romeo shouted.
The answer came in the form of Nic glowing and seen with a new look. Everyone looked with awe as Nic's eyes opened again, and his attire consisted of a lighter gray t-shirt with his sunglasses hanging on the collar as usual. He had on aluminum colored-like baggy pants that tucked into dark gray boots. His coat consisted of a metal-gray solid color with what appeared to be metallic scales. The edging was dark gray, as well as the ring and Fairy Tail symbol on the back. The belt was a similar gray to the t-shirt.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." He assured.
"Such arrogance." Byro extended his staff out, which was the signal for Kanaloa to shoot ink at Nic.
Initially, Vanessa got worried, but her worried dimmed away when she realized what Nic's intentions were. She remained cautious as she and the others kept their distance while Nic was enveloped in melting ink.
Byro sneered at Nic's foolishness, but his eyes widened when a sudden beam of silver energy blasted right through the ink. The attack shot Kanaloa, making a silver explosion that made the giant octopus back up several feet.
"What?!" Byro jerked when he saw Nic unfazed as not even his sunglasses were melted. He remained standing in the middle of a melted crater, frowning with seriousness at his opponents as his Flash Cannon move caught them by surprise.
Pavo took a shocked pose. "HWHAAAA-?!"
"No way! That didn't even faze him!" Happy shouted.
"So that's why." Vanessa figured, getting everyone's attention. "Nic must have known that the ink was like Acid, a Poison-Type move. And Poison-Type moves are ineffective on Steel-Types!"
Nic jumped up and his hands glowed a metal-gray color and elongated. "Metal Claw!" He slashed diagonally on Kanaloa's head, which only agitated the octopus when he took the hit. He whipped one of his tentacles at Nic from the side and Nic covered up as he took the attack on his right. He was sent towards a wall, but got footing and jumped off the wall, evading another tentacle that broke through the wall.
Natsu jumped. "Alright! Now it's my turn!" He puffed his cheeks and spewed fire. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" His attack shot at Kanaloa, but the octopus saw it coming and spit out ink, which cancelled out both attacks that shook the ground and made the air smell foul.
Nearby, Coco was looking back and forth at the raging battle and then Dan, who was out with a smile on his face. She looked heavily hesitant as the recent events of Lucy and Vanessa and the different point of views left her uneasy.
Looked down at the ground in confusion. "What do I…what do I do?"
"Aura Guard!"
"Coco! Look out!" Lucy quickly pushed Coco out of the way while Vanessa made a dome of teal aura to keep them from harm from an incoming tentacle. Although the octopus's attack did rough up the defense as Vanessa lost footing and yelped as her shield broke, but quickly regained footing while Coco and Lucy both hit a wall from their tumble, small bumps on their heads appearing.
Lucy looked concerned. "Are you alright Vanessa?"
Vanessa nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine!"
"And what about you, Coco?"
Coco turned towards Lucy, disregarding her bump. "I give that 7 points…wait! Is Dan okay?!"
Natsu held Dan with one arm as he fumed at the octopus while Nic landed nearby. "Hey Octo-jerk! Did you forget who was on your side?!"
Pavo pointed a finger at Byro. "What's the matter with you?! Do you not value your bonds with Dan and Coco?! Well?!"
Byro stood tall atop of Kanaloa, looming down at everyone below. "I'm fully aware of their allegiance to Zentopia, however as members of the Legion Corps, they are prepared to do whatever it takes to win this Holy War."
"That's crazy!" Lucy spatted out. "She's not your slave! You are in no position to speak for her! She doesn't belong to anybody or Zentopia! She can make her own decisions!"
"Coco can do whatever she pleases! Her life is hers alone!" Vanessa exclaimed.
Coco's eyes were all shaken with shock as she was caught touched by the girls' defense. She looked down and looked even more contemplative than before.
Byro was unfazed as he glowered down at them. "You are in no position to reprimand me, fools! This Holy War has many more lives at stake than you might think."
Natsu didn't hesitate to act as he jumped up with a flaming fist to attack. "This Holy War crap ain't our style!"
"Kanaloa." Byro ordered. The octopus responded by lashing one of his tentacles that struck down Natsu. The Dragon Slayer crashed into the ground, a heavy and thick tentacle keeping him pinned.
The Dragon Slayer was left unable to budge. "Gah! So heavy!" He then saw the giant octopus pointing its mouth at him, ready to spurt ink. "W-wait! Hold on-!"
"Vanessa now!" Nic shouted. He threw a Poke Ball up into the air. "Greninja, Dark Pulse!"
Vanessa followed her brother's motives and threw her own Poke Ball. "Venusaur, Venoshock!"
Both Pokémon appeared out of their Poke Balls, and Greninja appeared in the air, and wasted no time as he made dark rings with purple outlining and launched it at the ink spitting at Natsu. Venusaur appeared out on the ground and let out a quick roar as he let loose a thick stream of purple liquid from the opening from his bulb.
The Dark-Type and Poison-Type moves traveled fast, and both attacks made it just in time, intercepting the ink spray that would've melted Natsu.
"Just in time!" Lucy shouted.
Natsu grinned, despite the close call. "Thanks you guys!"
A purple fire emanating from Romeo's hand far away stretched out like a fishing line and coiled around Natsu's arm. With a quick yank, Romeo pulled Natsu out from Kanaloa's hold. "I gotcha!"
"It's like Natsu fishing!" Happy commented.
Pavo gave a thumb's up. "Only this catch can't be thrown back."
Natsu found himself perched atop of a small structure, overlooking Kanaloa. "Romeo, can you get the mouth open?"
"Just leave it to me!" Romeo made a lighter shade of purple flare in his hand and threw it. "Purple Net!" The flame went into the opening of the octopus's mouth, opening into a flaming web that forced his mouth to open wide.
Natsu jumped off the structure and puffed his cheeks. "Alright, now to-!" His attempt to shoot fire into the octopus's mouth was in vain as one of Kanaloa's tentacles snagged Natsu, yanking him in the air. The Dragon Slayer's fire diffused, as did Romeo's Purple Net.
Byro shook his head, "Don't be foolish. Kanaloa's a veteran warrior such as myself. Such pitiful attacks will not work."
"Such experience." Nic commented.
"Yeah, and look." Greninja noted, and everyone took notice as to how Natsu was getting pale and ascertaining puffy cheeks. "He's getting sick."
"We have but one piece left to collect. Kanaloa, seize the clock hand, if you would." Byro said.
With a spare tentacle, Kanaloa raised it and shot at Michelle, who had the clock hand in her possession. The dark blonde shut her eyes as the tentacle zoomed in towards her.
"Pincers off the girl and clock hand, you creature!" Pavo came in between the tentacle and Michelle and raised a leg. With accuracy and elegancy of a peacock, he kicked the pincer end away in one fell kick, strong enough to deflect it away.
"Pavo!" Michelle happily announced, to which Pavo responded by posing and spinning in place with satisfaction.
"Hoh! Anything for a friend!" He stopped spinning and pointed a finger at Byro and the octopus. His demeanor suddenly changed to a darker tone. "Now! To be rid of you both, and get back our pal!"
Byro's patience grew thin. "You fools don't seem to understand. Do you not see that defying us is the ultimate sin?"
"The only sin we care about is letting our friends down!" Romeo backlashed.
Nic kept a heavy glare. "Byro, what is it that you hope to gain from commandeering Lucy's keepsake? Tell us." He demanded.
Byro's eyes narrowed. "You really want to know, despite it being Zentopia's business alone?" He asked. "Fine, since you have gotten involved enough. Those clock pieces belong to the Infinity Clock. The Archbishop has demanded that we retrieve them."
"The Infinity Clock?" Lucy parroted.
"But…why?" Michelle asked.
Greninja and Venusaur both looked up at Byro as he looked down below, looking in contemplation as well.
"If you must know…"
In a room lit solemnly by candles, a short, elderly man laid in bed as Byro bowed before his eminence.
"Time ticks forward, on towards inevitable chaos." The archbishop restated. "I don't suppose that you'd understand what that phrase stands for, right Byro?"
Byro kept his head bowed while on a knee. "My apologies your grace, but I do not."
The archbishop did not seem bothered in the slightest. "Once a century, the Infinity Clock released the Magic Power it has accumulated, and becomes active. It is said if all six scattered clock pieces are gathered when it is active, then…" His gaze grew worrisome, which made Byro uneasy. "…Then the clock shall begin to tick down to a new era."
"This cannot be." Byro said, showing mild surprise.
"According to the cardinals, a fellow mage guild is looking to assemble the clock pieces. Byro, we are the only ones that are between them and the end." He looked down at his sheets. "Prepare…for a Holy War."
Lucy grew even more confused as she processed what Byro reiterated from his tale. "Tick down…towards inevitable chaos?"
"So that's what the inscription meant. If we gather all the clock pieces…" Michelle trailed off.
Venusaur crouched a little. "Then it'll be the end." He finished.
"Thing's just got a whole lot more serious around here!" Happy shouted.
Byro glared down to them all. "Now you see? A mere guild doesn't have the power the uphold the world on their shoulders. Relinquishing the Infinity Clock pieces shall bring this Holy War to an end."
Everyone looked down, uncertain as to what should be done. On one hand, they want to keep Lucy's father's wish alive, but another part of them didn't want such a burden. However, two individuals stepped forward, and said duo caught everyone's attention.
Nic and Greninja alike crossed their arms and stood tall. "You're so naïve." Nic stated.
"What was that?!" Byro retorted in deep offence.
"Even if this world were held in your hands, it wouldn't belong there to begin with. You believe that you were given power by a higher ranking, but we all know that's nothing more than a lie, and I should know. The stars no longer in the sky are by a God, someone who has entrusted their power to me, and me alone."
"And on top of that." Greninja added on. "It won't change the fact that you'll regret acting against us. Whoever this Archbishop is, he has no right, nor the power to keep the world safe, nor the universe."
Byro showed something that he's never shown before – anger. A dark shadow cascaded over his face. "You…" He growled. "You dare question, no! Defy Zentopia and the Archbishop?!"
"My Pokémon and I will defy anyone. We won't be held down by rules we will never be obliged to." Nic swiped his arm. "Damn us for all we care! The Infinity Clock will not be yours! Nor the burden of the universe's life!"
"Sinners like you do not have the power to stop Zentopia!" Byro shouted. "Kanaloa!" In response, the octopus raised a tentacle high, which was the one that had Natsu held, which triggered his sickness yet again.
Nic turned towards Vanessa. "Vanessa, now!"
Vanessa extended her arm out. "Venusaur, Grass Knot!" The Grass and Poison-Type's eyes glowed a bright green in his eyes, and he raised his head and pressed hard on the ground. The ground shook briefly, causing Kanaloa to slow down. The next moment, glowing, twirling vines sprouted rapidly from underneath.
"What's this?!" Byro was caught surprised as the octopus's individual limbs were snared by the wines and tie around him, and then they tightened and hauled all if his limbs to the ground with a grand thud. This action caused Natsu to be freed from Kanaloa's hold and he jumped away.
"Alright! I'm free!" He roared. "Now to send that octopus packing!"
"Everyone! Now!" Nic shouted. He charged up silver and white energy to a single point in front of his mouth and opened it. "Flash Cannon!"
"Emanation Beam!"
"Rainbow Fire!"
"Water Shuriken!"
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
All of the attacks went beaming away towards the incapacitated octopus. Byro jumped at the last second to avoid the all-out attack and left Kanaloa to sustain the entire attack that swallowed him up. A huge explosion quaked the surroundings and debris flew about as the octopus shot backwards from the assault and crashed loudly into a large wall behind. More debris flew all about and Byro looked on with a stern face, hiding his impressed demeanor. He watched the dust settle, and Kanaloa was unconscious.
His eyes turned towards the enemy. "To think they defeated Kanaloa by banning together. Seems that I've underestimated their craftiness." He told himself out loud.
He extended his arm out as Kanaloa had begun to shrink, similar to Minimize. Gradually, the octopus had begun to shrink down until he fit into Byro's firm hand. "You did an excellent job Kanaloa, allow yourself to rest." He then put Kanaloa away and turned towards his enemy.
Natsu pointed at Byro. "No way!" He laughed. "That octopus is pocket-sized!"
Michelle's stomach grumbled. "It's great for a snack!"
Byro grew agitated yet again. "He's a warrior, not seafood!" He then turned towards everyone else. "Now, back to business at hand. I'll be taking the Infinity Clock's pieces."
Natsu punched his own fist and cracked his knuckles. "I don't think so! You heard what Nic said, Zentopia means nothing when the universe is at stake! So you're basically being selfish!" He puffed his cheeks and didn't hesitate in the slightest. "Fire Dragon's Roar!"
Byro waved his staff and the attack vanished into nothing but thin air before it could reach him. The sudden nullification was but a huge shock.
"No way!" Happy shouted.
"He neutralized it." Michelle said.
Natsu jumped into the air, unfazed by that failed attempt. His hands lit ablaze. "Like heck I'm done with you! Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" He lashed his arms and shot streams of fire, but once again Byro was unfazed as his staff glowed and his attack vanished into thin air once more. Natsu was seen falling down towards him and threw a punch, but it was utterly useless as Byro caught it with one hand and drove a harsh knee into Natsu's gut, making the Dragon Slayer gag up a little red and was swung into a broken wall.
"Hang on!" Vanessa shouted. She coated her fists in thick teal aura that shaped into gauntlets. "Try this-!" But then the teal gauntlets vanished away and Vanessa was left started. "What?"
Pavo jerked away with his huge grin becoming a frown. "He's stopping all of our attacks!"
Byro planted his staff firmly on the ground. "My Nullification Magic neutralizes all forms of Magic. You are helpless against me."
Natsu was seen unimbedded from the wall and ran up with a flaming fist. "I've had enough of you!" He jumped at him, but Byro spun around and Natsu's flame vanished, and then a spinning leg kicked him and sent the Dragon Slayer skidding on his back.
"This isn't fair! Quit fighting dirty!" Romeo exclaimed.
"Are you alright?" Lucy shouted in worry.
Natsu wiped the blood from his chin with his sleeve. "Don't worry, this is nothing!" He assured, though Nic and Greninja knew that behind his overzealousness that he was indeed hurt, but they didn't say anything. Instead, they let Natsu have his turn with striking down Byro. He ran up and receive a punch, followed by a staff to the face.
As the fight dragged on, Pavo clenched his fists and Lucy covered her mouth at the barbaric actions before her. Natsu was getting hammered left and right, thrown around like a rag doll. He clearly didn't have the combat experience or training like Nic underwent. While Nic was reflexive, fast, and forceful, Natsu was head-on and bashing left and right, which left him at a disadvantage.
"This is sad." Venusaur morosely stated. "And our point of views are too different for a compromise."
Coco watched from afar, gritting her teeth. "This is so wrong."
Dan jerked upwards, waking up from his unconsciousness. "Huh- sorry sir! Overslept again!" He noticed he wasn't dreaming and sighed. "Oh, it was a dream. Too bad, I was gonna do some one-on-one sparring with…" He looked and Natsu that his enemy, Natsu, was taking a painful beating left and right by Byro, seeing as how he received another staff to the face.
"Happy!"
"Aye sir!" Happy spread his wings and grabbed Natsu and the two were seen flying overhead and circling around Byro.
Without even looking, Byro's staff glowed and Happy's wings vanished, leaving the two screaming as they fell and landed on some broken debris, with Happy getting momentarily dizzy.
"Aye, well that didn't work." The Exceed groaned.
"Damn him." Natsu cursed under his breath. He began to stand back up and he jumped off the debris, standing a distance away from Byro.
The Legion Corps' leader turned towards the Dragon Slayer. "I've told you before, Magic does not work. You should try and use your brain the next time I say it."
"But, without Magic, we're completely helpless." Michelle said with great uncertainty.
"There's gotta be a way." Lucy hoped.
Vanessa was hoping for an idea, but her Aura Magic would be futile, and after she's improved so much from using it before. Then again, she did recount she had something else in the form of Pokémon.
Looking at her Venusaur spectating, she was ready to give a command, but before she could let even a word out, her older brother extended his arm to his side, blocking her. She turned towards her brother, who stared at the battle ahead. Knowing that he was noting her to let Natsu try, she backed off and spectated some more.
"Well, if Magic won't work, then it's back to brute force!" Natsu shouted. He held up a fist as veins popped out, smirking with excitement. "Old Gildarts got nowhere using his Magic, so that means that I'll be showing him up! Man, I'm all fired up!"
"And there he goes again." Lucy sighed.
"Such blasphemy." Byro retorted. "The fate of the entire world is at stake, yet personal affairs clog your mind." He slowly raised his staff and planted it firmly on the ground. "Our burden will always be greater. Such petty guild brats such as yourselves can't relate."
"I beg to differ pal. Nic's got some serious weight on his shoulders, and your little affair or the world means nothing; like he said before, you're not getting the big picture." He then ran in towards Byro with a fist ready. "So I'll just have to beat some sense into ya!"
Byro blocked with his forearm and used his right fist for an uppercut that got Natsu's chin, which was then followed by another punch that sent Natsu crashing backwards. He quickly got up and went to attack yet again. He let out a cry as he kicked, but Byro's staff blocked it and the Dragon Slayer got a foot to the chest, knocking the air out of him and fell to the ground. Byro kicked him up and drove another knee into him, sending him tumbling.
Natsu was barely up as he tumble-rolled, yet he wouldn't stay down. He went in to attack again, but all that got him were pounding as he recklessly kicked and punched, only to receive more pain in his bones. Everyone looked on, but Nic was seen with a blank expression as he watched Natsu take a relentless thrashing. To him it was like having a Pokémon up against a Shedinja with no super effective moves, leaving them helpless.
"This is out of hand." Greninja said low as Natsu took another fist to the face.
Dan sat cross-legged as he and Coco spectated. "The man's got guts. A truly worthy adversary."
Coco flinched when Natsu was pounded some more. "And Lord Byro didn't use a single offensive spell yet."
Natsu punched the ground beneath him and huffed as he was barely recognizable. He was bruised all over, but he still didn't back down. "So you and your pals are willing to risk your lives for your mission huh?" He huffed. "That's a big load of crap."
He stood up again, but not without being all wobbly. "Life isn't something you should throw away, it's something you have to protect and cherish, along with everyone in it. Friends aren't people that you use as tools! THEY'RE WHAT DRIVE US TO SEE THE LIGHT OF ANOTHER DAY! AND NO AMOUNT OF CHURCH BELIEF CAN CHANGE THAT!"
Engulfed in flames, he furiously charged ahead, but Byro waved his arm and dispersed the flame around Natsu as he zoomed in. He uppercut Natsu and he was airborne and left Byro to kick him away, shooting him back to the ground.
Greninja kept a straight face. "It looks like several bones are broken. Despite how relentless he is, those injuries would fall a normal man…but the look of defeat isn't on him."
Natsu struggled to get up and coughed up some blood, but that wasn't holding him back. He soon made it back to his feet, and he gave a grave and serious look.
"Listen guys, stay out of this." He said with a slight choke. "I'm taking this guys down myself. That's a promise." He began walking towards Byro. "Now to rearrange your fa…" He lost footing from his accumulated injuries and fell down with a thud. He could hardly breathe as his ribs felt all broken.
"Get up! Natsu!" Happy screamed.
Lucy began to shudder. "Please, get up."
Vanessa grew anxious as she also grew worried as Natsu struggled with all his might, but alas barely made it to his knees. He looked at Nic to find his facial expression and Greninja's still blank. Was it time for them to step in?
Byro advanced towards Natsu slowly. "You don't have a prayer, not that you would comprehend that."
Natsu constantly struggled again, but his legs weren't making it easy. Byro towered over him, glowering down onto him. "You say that the universe is at stake, and that the stars are gone because of some God. The heavens would never do such a calamity; therefore it is a power acted by the sins of mankind. Corrupted nature has cursed us and so transgressions can't be forgiven." He raised a boot. "Your vendetta is but a low-life's ambition!"
"Natsu!" Lucy screamed.
Pavo gawked and looked away from the Dragon Slayer receiving a boot to the face, only said action was interrupted by a sudden contact. Everyone's eyes widened when they heard the sound and Nic was seen blocking the boot with one hand.
"That's enough, don't you think?" He asked. "This fight is already over."
"Nic!" Lucy and Michelle cheered.
Pavo looked back and cheered happily with a pose. "AH! Such bravery! Nic to the rescue!"
Natsu slowly raised his head. "What the…Nic?" Greninja appeared behind him, looking down at the Dragon Slayer as Nic shoved the boot and Byro away.
Nic stepped forward, engulfed in a golden light and shifted into his Fist Plate Form. He stopped when ten feet away from Byro. "Natsu, you've got guts." He admitted without looking. "But you're in no condition to continue."
"What are you saying?!" Natsu hollered. "I said I'll take him down!" He suddenly felt a sharp pain and he grunted as he fell forward, but before his face hit the ground, Greninja caught and supported him.
Nic looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry…but I don't make promises anymore. Just leave this to me and my combat experience." He sounded more morose than confident, as he knew that Natsu would be really pissed, but he would put up with it.
Greninja didn't say a word as he turned with Natsu as he was hauled away, much to Natsu's disappointment and dismay. As he was supported, that left Nic and Byro alone while everyone watched.
"So you really think that mankind's foolhardy sins caused the stars to be rid of? You think this is a punishment by God? Your beliefs are nothing but misguidance, and you're heavily foolish." Nic scolded sternly.
Byro narrowed his eyes. "You mock the Archbishop yet again? This Holy War is already bad enough with you opposing us, but making a mockery of Zentopia is but deepening your sins."
"There's more chaos out there than what you realize." Nic argued. "Out there, a true sinner among all else feeds off of the evil, and taints and darkens the night, destroying everything, and you only care about your religion." His fists clenched. "Petty matters such as those won't help, and it won't bring the stars back."
"And how would you know?" Byro countered.
"Because my friends and I met a God, and he bestowed me with the power to gradually overcome this darkness. I'm no God, and if you think I am, that'd be a wretched sin, because I have enough of a burden to carry out, and you can't compare."
"Silence!" Byro threw a punch, swift and quick, but Nic ducked and shot a right harsh jab into Byro's abdomen, making the man's eyes widen as he felt the strength and stumbled back. 'Such reflexes and power.'
Byro recovered quickly and Nic rushed in. He went for a palm strike, but Byro dodged right and went to drive a knee into Nic, but Nic twisted and spun in midair and spiral-kicked Byro's face. When his feet planted, he went for a punch that struck his face with the power of a wrecking ball.
Byro stumbled back, having a few bruises on his face. "Grrrrr! A weak-minded fool like you can't bear the world's sins on your shoulder's! You're unfit!" He drove a fist in and struck Nic's abdomen, making him skid back. Nic stopped his skid and stood tall and proud. "What?"
"I've had extensive training, day and night, lifting heavy and large rocks, pounded by waterfalls, meditating in the spiky terrain of Kalos, and fighting and getting hit by my Pokémon relentlessly. Do you seriously believe that that'll do anything against me?"
Byro was caught off guard when Nic rushed in to punch him. He jabbed with his staff, but Nic sidestepped and followed through with his punch that struck Byro's gut.
Byro, agitated, growled and slammed an elbow on Nic's head, making Nic grunt and receive an elbow swing, but he caught it at the last second. Gripping the elbow, Nic swiftly jabbed and elbow swung Byro's face consecutively.
"I…I don't believe it." Lucy muttered.
"Well believe it, because this is Nic." Greninja watched as Nic spun around to dodge a punch and launched an elbow into Byro's ribs. The attack caused Byro to lose momentum and Nic jumped and stomped down on Byro's ribs and backflipped off as the man fell to the ground. "Believe me, we do this every day. To Nic, Byro's just a morning warm-up."
Dan's eyes were wide. "To think Lord Byro is on par with that barbarian…no, not even."
"Byro can barely keep up." Coco muttered. "He's one of the top 5 in Fiore to have such combat, and that guy's bashing him."
Several blows were exchanged, but when Byro struck with his staff, Nic just deflected it with either an elbow or a knee strike and went in to attack. Byro got a punch to Nic's face, but when Nic stumbled back, he immediately recovered.
"Is that all you got?! I took a Shadow Sneak with more force than that!" Nic taunted harshly. With Byro agitated even more, Nic narrowed his eyes and clenched his fist. "Drain Punch!" His fist was covered in a green orb of energy and he charge at Byro with his speed.
Byro's staff glowed. "How impudent! Magic won't work on me-!" Byro was met with Drain Punch to the face, shocking everyone to a grave extent. Dan and Coco were the most shocked as Byro's Nullification Magic was for nothing.
Nic followed through and Byro crashed to the ground some ways away, and green orbs of energy went from the cloud of dust he was in to Nic, and he flashed green. The few bruises on his face were gone and he looked slightly better.
"You don't have your own prayer." Nic said as the smoke cleared, revealing Byro on a knee. "Surrender and leave at once."
Instead, Byro looked dazed and agitated. "I can't be believing this. My Nullification Magic was for naught?! How can this be?! Tell me!" He yelled.
"I come from a world where Magic means nothing. Creatures known as Pokémon help us coincide, and I am bound by their power to rid of malevolence that has fallen from grace." He answered.
Byro was caught with wide eyes. "You…come from a different world?" His surprise was quickly hidden by his hasty anger. "THEN YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!" His staff was held high and glowed a bright light, and everyone could feel the great swell of power building up.
"Wait! No! Byro, you're using Divine Arrow! You'll kill him!" Dan shouted.
Everyone gawked and watched as the bright purple light became a large arrow that pointed at Nic. They saw the power packed inside and watched as Byro threw it with no hesitation.
"Divine Arrow!" Using his staff to guide, Byro threw the huge spear at Nic.
Nic put his hands together and a sphere of light blue was formed. The sphere grew in size a bit as the arrow went Nic's way, and then then brought his arms back and shot with all his might.
"Focus Blast!" The light blue sphere went zooming with such intense force at the incoming arrow. The two attacks met in the middle, creating a large explosion that rattled the earth beneath. The shockwaves were drastic enough that the ground shattered and Lucy and her group was sent flying and screaming. Greninja jumped safely while still supporting Natsu, though Vanessa and Venusaur had a less softer landing, hitting the ground just like everybody else.
The dust and winds settled down, revealing neither party damaged. Nic glared at Byro, who was in disbelief that his Divine Arrow was stopped.
"This cannot be." Byro testified in a low voice. "My Divine Arrow's purification on you was stopped by your otherworldly power? Such a ridicule! Such injustice have you besmirched me!"
"Never underestimate the power of Pokémon." Nic warned. "What you are doing is but impure. You're not following your heart, and that's what makes you weak!"
"No you're wrong! The only one weak here is you!" Byro retorted. "Such a sin you've committed, a great one at fact. You dare be bestowed the powers from a God, and sent from a world that has nothing to do with ours." His grip on his staff tightened. "These powers you have, they do not rightfully belong to you. They belong to the great one, and you had the audacity to go about and use these powers when this Holy War is at stake?" His eyes sharpened. "I do not believe such a thing! If you are from another world, then you do not belong here! It is you who has cursed us with this! The truest sin has been committed when you've come to Earth Land! Anyone who is not from here must be punished and regarded by enemies by Zentopia!"
Pavo extended out a palm. "You stop right there, you damned fool!" He protested. "Like you have room to talk! You aren't from another world, so how would you know what's at stake?!" He clenched his other fist. "So what if Nic isn't from here?! So what?! You are in no position to criticize on what he has to do to protect us all!"
Nic looked at Pavo with amazement. "Pavo."
"Why don't you put yourself in Nic's shoes and consider his situation! He has the greatest burden in the universe, and not even Zentopia will brainwash him! You guys are nothing more than puppets, because you don't follow the goodness your hearts hold!"
Coco gasped at Pavo's speech, seeing as how he was right. Her heart felt like it was lifted from a burden.
"If you went somewhere, there's always a purpose! I may not have known Nic for long, but he's the purest of any light, even more than your ridiculous Zentopia! Just look at his Pokémon!" He pointed to Greninja. "Greninja doesn't follow Nic because he's absolute, he follows him because he loves him like family, and has his back until the end of time!"
Greninja stepped forward after handing Natsu to Lucy. "I have my morals, and we've all been through hell together, all seven of us! It's because Nic understood us and our hearts is why we always follow him! He would never betray us, as we all would stay together even through death!"
Byro's eye twitched, looking even more frustrated than before. "I can't believe what I am hearing! You dare defy all of Zentopia just to help out an alien?!"
"That's right! And you should have shame on yourselves, for we'll find the right justice without Zentopia!" Pavo shouted.
Natsu smirked. "Way to bring it home, peacock guy."
Nic smiled as he confidently looked at a startled Byro. "You heard them loud and clear. We don't need Zentopia to decide our fate, because that decision was never bestowed upon you to begin with. Arceus trusted me with his life, and we'll repay the debt by saving him!"
Having reached his breaking point, Byro rushed after Nic. "Enough of this!" He punched Nic, but was blocked by his hand. He punched repeatedly, but was either blocked by a palm or a forearm. "Zentopia is absolute! Worms and outsiders can't hold the fate of the world or universe in their hands! This power must not be yours!"
He was silenced when he received a swift punch to the face, causing him to stumble back and receive another powerful elbow strike to the gut. He fell on his back and grunted as he felt pain in all the wrong places.
"Just like Pavo said, you have no room to talk." Nic reiterated. "Zentopia will never confine me, and if this Infinity Clock is what will bring the world to its fate, then I'll deal with it."
Byro got back up and clenched his fists. "Such impudence!" He ran ahead again. "You're impure!"
Nic's arm glowed a red-orange aura, and he ran ahead with Power-Up Punch. His fist collided with Byro's right fist. A powerful shake in the earth was followed as both fists collided and Byro gritted his teeth as the rumbling ceased and Nic was still unwavering.
Nic glared at Byro and let out a battlecry as he punched yet again. The impact from this second punch was like being hit by a bus, as Byro's face felt damaged as he shot back and crashed into the ground.
"You're even more corrupted than what I imagined." Nic stated. "This world's religion means nothing if it can't protect you!" He put his hands together. "Snap out of it! Aura Sphere!" He threw blue sphere of aura at Byro as he was on a knee. The Nullification Mage's eyes widened and he quickly swiped his arm, but it was futile yet again as Aura Sphere struck him and he was caught in an explosion of blue that quaked the field around him.
Everyone's eyes widened as they witnessed Byro being overpowered by the likes of Nic. They all couldn't help but feel at sheer awe. They then saw the smoke clear out and Nic was seen standing. Byro, however, grunted as he accumulated some nasty damage.
"You…I WILL DESTROY WILL!" Byro went after Nic, and they both let out battlecries as they both punched the other's faces at the same time. Byro and Nic both stumbled back, but Nic swung around with a kick and struck Byro.
The mage angrily got back up, and the two were at their physical combat again. Nic ascertained bruises as he still took a few blows, but through it, his bones weren't broken. He parried every blow he could, and he was able to get several of his own blows in. Both were at a fistfight, despite Nic being more nimble and reflexive.
Byro shuddered violently and let out a battlecry. "HRAAHHH! THE INFINITY CLOCK IS OURS! IT'S DESTINY!" He reeled a fist back with all his might, and he closed the distance once more, but Nic let out a battlecry of his own.
"Sky Uppercut!" Nic drove a glowing light blue fist and used the Fighting-Type move to strike Byro's gut with excessive force. A massive crash sound echoed and Byro spilled some blood from his mouth.
As he slowly dropped to his knees, he lost his grip on his staff. 'No. I can't do it. He has too much strength than me!'
Nic grabbed the staff that fell out of Byro's hand. "The Infinity Clock nor everyone's fate will ever be decided by you!" With all his might, Nic slammed the staff down on Byro's head, making the whole piece of equipment break into tiny little fragments.
Byro's eyes were white as time seemed to have slowed down. He was barely handling the situation and Nic clenched his right fist with all his might. "HRAH!" A harsh battlecry bellowed and Nic punched with all of his strength, which could've shattered a rock. Byro felt the bone-crushing force and shot backwards into some debris behind him. The man let out a groan as he laid in the debris, unconscious.
Nic slowly retracted his bruised fist covered in some blood. "You say it's destiny, but we both know that is wrong."
"YEAH!" The whole group cheered. Everyone smiled and cheered loudly as Nic overcame the physical match, despite being bruised in quite a few places.
Greninja smirked. "That took longer than I thought."
"Sorry, but he was a hassle." Nic responded with a smile.
As everyone celebrated, Dan and Coco were at their knees, overcome by sheer shock. "But…but Lord Byro was trained to fight 50 men bare-handed at once."
"Is that so? Well I was self-taught in fighting six Pokémon with immense force." He turned towards Byro's unconscious form. "Looks like we've learned whose training was better."
"My, that was sure a show."
The sudden voice caught everyone's attention, and everyone looked up to where the voice came from. Nic was pleasantly surprised when he saw Erza standing close by.
"Erza!" Vanessa exclaimed.
"Everyone! And they have all the clock pieces!" Lucy shouted with joy. Everyone who was divided up was regrouped and standing with their individual clock pieces. All of them smirked at the show that was displayed.
Erza jumped down and began to walk towards them. "He seemed to have been giving you some trouble." She told Nic, seeing the bruises all over him. "But I didn't expect any less from you."
Nic simply smiled at her after he glowed and shifted back to himself. "He was formidable to say the least."
Sophie appeared in between the two. "Well, this is nice for you lovebirds, but…what now?" She stirred the conversation into the right direction, regarding the Infinity Clock pieces.
Lucy's eyes widened. "Now that you mention it, the six pieces are gathered. So what…now…?" She trailed off as the six pieces were beginning to glow brightly. They all turned towards their individual clock parts and they all witnessed them lifting themselves and converging.
"Big sis, look!" Michelle pointed to the center, where the Infinity Clock pieces were coming together.
"I see it, but what's going on?"
Her answer came as a huge glow happened and her eyes remained wide with awe as the glow emanated a huge tower clock sound. Everyone around watched with uncertainty as the glow emanated millions of small comets all around. In the center of the glow, there lied the twenty-foot tall Infinity Clock.
All over the world, the clouds in the sky moved rapidly and a huge ding was heard. Church people in Zentopia were screaming and panicking.
"What's going on?!" Someone shouted.
"It's the end of the world!"
"Time is ticking towards chaos!"
In the guild Hall, Kinana was going out of her mind as she laughed crazily.
Makarov stared up at the sky as an ominous wind blew with the clouds. "What is happening?"
"Gah! My ears!" Natsu screamed as soundwaves traveled all over the tomb from the Infinity Clock.
"The tomb is collapsing!" Erza shouted.
"Hurry everyone! We must make like ostriches and run!" Pavo wailed.
"You heard him!" Nic shouted. "We gotta-!"
"Wait!" Everyone turned towards the sound of Natsu, they all saw him sniffing the air, which meant something was on the rise. His nose twitched as his eyes widened. Standing, he bared his teeth. "That smell, how?" His face darkened. "Keep your guard up!"
Dust blew as the Infinity Clock shined. The entire tomb was still shaking and through the dust beneath, up on a taller point than the rest, six figures were seen through the dust, which began to slowly settle. The six figures slowly advanced and their shadows slowly faded, revealing them to be a very unpleasant company.
The first figure to appear was very familiar. The man smirked as his underlings followed behind, revealing them to be an ample white-haired woman, a guy in a black suit with red lines, a blood red-haired man with one eye, a pink-headed bear with a slot belly, and a hooded man with a scythe.
"No way…" Gray muttered.
"The Oracion Seis?!" Lucy exclaimed.
Nic's eyes narrowed. "I was hoping to never come across them again."
Vanessa grew anxious as she took a stance. "I take it you know them beforehand?"
"Yeah, and they're bad news." Sophie said.
"And it appears they have new members." Erza commented, seeing Brain and Hoteye, or Richard as they called him before, replaced by the scythe wielder and the slot machine with a bear's head.
The latter raised his arms. "You got that right! The name's Jackpot, and meet the new Oracion Seis!" He pulled the lever on his side, and the slots spun rapidly. Consecutively, they ended up on saying 'SIX DEMONS'. "May we present, the Reborn Oracion Seis!"
"Did he just say Reborn Oracion Seis?" Everyone exclaimed.
Midnight fiddled with his hair. "You seem surprised. A great deal has changed since the last we've met."
"I remember you! You're Midnight!" Natsu shouted.
Midnight held his hand up to his face. "I no longer go by that name. I am now Brain the Second."
Nic clenched his fists. "What's your business here?"
Midnight stared down at Nic. "It's but one desire: To make my father's dream a reality, to pick up from where he left off. From where you finished him." The last sentence has quite the spite in it, as his anger seemed focused on Nic.
"I still can't believe you're spouting his nonsense." Erza stated.
Midnight and everyone else held their arms high. "We thank you for your assistance, but you are no longer useful to us." The clock above began to emit a foul green aura, and six markings were added onto the Infinity Clock, each saying 'SIX DEMONS'.
"What do we do?" Dan asked.
"For all that is necessary, we have to fight!" Coco stated.
"I'm all for it!" Natsu, feeling better, flamed up a fist and ran ahead, along with Dan.
Midnight scoffed as Dan and Natsu ran ahead. He made a Magic circle and from it, Darkness Magic went shooting out at them. Dan stopped and held up his shield. The shield took the attack, but as it was being shot back, Reflector Magic, Midnight's trademark Magic, engulfed Dan and Natsu, bombarding them with Darkness Magic from all around. The two were seen screaming and hitting the ground.
"N-No way! Dan's shield was useless!" Coco exclaimed.
Dan cried waterfalls as he held onto Lucy's leg. "Lucy-y-y-y! He's making a fool out of me-e-e-e!"
"Quit your wining! I can't do anything!" Lucy retorted, trying to get Dan off of her leg.
Midnight disappeared with a scoff and reappeared atop of the Infinity Clock. "I hope that you are aware that when a Mage brands his or her seal on the Infinity Clock, it becomes their property." His eyes narrowed. "And you know what that means? It now belongs to us."
The clock then ticked once again, emitting strong soundwaves that echoed through the tomb, making it shake even more. The Reborn Oracion Seis listened to the sound and looked unfazed.
Angel had a hand to her ear. "My, such a beautiful sound."
Seeing Angel, Dan's cheeks turned red. "Whoa, s-such a beautiful maiden."
"WHAT?!" Lucy exasperated, seeing how Dan was fawning over her not even a minute ago, and was now huffing and puffing for Angel.
"I can hear it. Your growing desperation and anger. It's building up." Cobra stated.
Racer smirked. "What a laugh."
"Since us malevolent-hearted ones are forbidden from touching it, all we had to do was wait for you guys to assemble it." Angel said elegantly.
"And that's how the game works!" Jackpot enthusiastically stated.
"No way…we were…used all along?" Coco said, unable to believe such a thing.
"But then…what does this have to do with my dad?" Lucy thought.
Cobra's smirked widened. "I hear the anguish, it's beautiful."
Happy got shivers up and down his spine. "You guys feel that?"
Erza nodded. "Yes, this dark Magic Power. It's immense." She said.
Natsu clenched his fists. "Well I say we beat them like before!" He ran ahead and puffed his cheeks. "Nobody uses Fairy Tail! Fire Dragon's Roar!" He unleashed a grand stream of fire that went streaming at the Reborn Oracion Seis.
The hooded man with a scythe appeared in front with a flash and extended his arm out, where a dark Magic seal erupted wind and Natsu's attack was diffused in front of the seal.
"He just stopped Natsu's fire attack!" Gray exclaimed.
"No way." Erza said.
"Wait, that's Wind Magic!" Wendy exclaimed, seeing the wind trump and suppress Natsu's fire.
The wind blew around the man. "Indeed. However my Magic is not just mere wind." The wind was enough to reveal his bald head when the hood came off. "My Magic is far more lethal, for it is like a storm."
Happy grew suspicious when he saw the scythe, but more importantly, it was the blue markings on the chest and shoulders. "Hey, doesn't he seem familiar to you?"
Natsu tilted his head in suspicion. "Now that you mention it, he does remind me of someone."
Jackpot laughed hard as he pulled the lever on his side, making the slots spin. "You got that right! You may recognize him from long ago as the Shinigami of Eisenwald!" The slots landed on three pictures of Erigor. "May I present Erigor!"
"Only these days, I am Grim Reaper." He corrected.
"Wait, that's Erigor?!" Gray exclaimed.
"He's like a completely different person." Erza said.
Nic growled, disregarding his bruises. He remembered those faces, exclude Jackpot, but moral of the point is that he wasn't gonna like where this was heading.
Cobra crossed his arms. "Brain, just how long are we gonna be here? I wanna hear the sound of the end already."
Midnight grinned. "Of course. We have but an urgent matter of causing chaos." He turned towards a fellow member. "Angel?"
"Yes, as you wish." She reached for the medallion atop of her ample chest, which glowed a golden light. "The cost is 30."
Happy pointed to her. "Isn't she the Celestial Mage you went up against Lucy?"
Lucy nodded. "Yeah, and I remember beating her last time too."
From Angel's hand, three shining, golden coins floated. She mischievously smirked. "To think that after seven years, there can be such a gap. I was but a mere child; now, I am an angel."
Pavo pointed at her. "What you blabbing on about, missy?!"
Angel ignored the peacock-themed man and the coins floated up high into the sky. "Allow me to belittle you with the art of my Angel Magic. The very sight of it shall render you to your knees!"
The coins glowed and shined a golden light that radiated all about. The entire tomb quaked violently as a ripple of light bellowed and everyone could hardly see. Appearing within its radiance was but a huge white angel with three stone faces and large wings and arms.
"Shine, and cleanse us of these wretched fools! Barakiel!"
The radiant angel that shook the entire tomb shined a destructive light, and all Nic and Greninja saw was a strong flash before everything around the two was but a complete blank, and them along with it.
Well here's chapter 60, hope the wait was worth it. At the end, I chose to skip the Oracion Seis humiliating them because that's something I'd rather save for next chapter, plus there's something extremely important that'll happen next chapter; that, and I really didn't feel like adding that big of a filler when I'm close to finishing the chapter.
On another note, I have started on the new OCxCana fanfic! It's called One's Road to Remembrance. Hope you guys like it too.
Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter as always! Thanks!
Next Time: Motives Behind Actions