DRAGON FORCE
DARKNESS ENGULFED Natsu as he was crushed by the immense weight of the lifeless realm around him. He floated helplessly; lost in the silence he heard screams in the distance. He concentrated, sifting through the cacophony and realising that they were his friends in peril.
Like shimmering lights, they appeared all around him, far out of his reach in yellow glows that failed to illuminate the abyss. He tried to speak, but couldn't hear his own voice – his hand failing to reach them as they disappeared out of sight. He gritted his teeth in frustration, unsure of what to do as darkness caved in again.
Light came once more in the figure of Erza, her body floating helplessly though he could tell that she was breathing. Reaching out to her, he tried desperately to touch her – fighting the numbness that filled him as he inched forth. His finger met hers and his face lit up when she suddenly began to disintegrate – turning to dust that whisked away.
Anger moved through his hand tremulously as he clenched it – his knuckles turning white and veins spreading through his forehead. The blackness engulfed him, devouring all hope as he sank deeper into the numbing emptiness of despair.
"THAT WAS almost too easy." Rusty adjusted his glasses as he walked toward Minerva and Midnight.
"Well, let us keep moving then." The raven woman wrapped her scarf around her neck. "Don't wanna keep Mr Varg waiting any longer."
"It's sad really." Midnight looked at the ground – an unsatisfied snort escaping him. "They went down without putting up much of a fight."
Rusty laughed and followed them as they began to leave, stopping when the ground abruptly began to shake. "What was that?"
Fire erupted out of the ground in heavy fury – sand spraying outward and wizards flinging through the air as the earth broke apart. The Fairy Tail mages flew all around, falling against the ground and onto trees nearby. Erza groaned as she pushed herself up – turning her head stiffly as she saw Natsu standing in a crater.
An inferno poured out of the Dragon Slayer, enveloping the ditch and engulfing the wizards around him. Lyon, Sherria, Ichiya, Lucy, Happy, Levy, Yukino, Rogue and Sting jerked back in shock as the fires spread, Erza raising her arm to shield herself, her eyes widening in surprise as the flames wove around her and her fellow wizards – looking forward and seeing a deep crimson furnace stand before her. Natsu slowly rose to his feet – his eyes turned white and his body silhouetting in the raging fury.
"Natsu …"
"Whoa! How did we get outta there?" Lucy stood up.
"It's Natsu." Happy climbed on her shoulder. "He burned the magic that was devouring us."
The pink-haired wizard turned stiffly to Midnight, Rusty and Minerva – soullessly studying them as the blaze intensified. Roaring wildly, he sprung toward Rusty and threw a punch, colliding with Midnight who forged an invisible barrier to block the attack. The impact directed tremors outward, shoving the raven-haired wizard back, throwing the others off their feet and rattling the trees. Natsu grabbed his neck and soared to the skies, chucking him to the ground and holding his arms apart.
"Fire Dragon Secret Arts: Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!"
Igniting his arms, he spun his torso, propelling coiled tubes of fire downward that swelled into a massive tornado. The raven-haired mage slapped his hands together and thrust a palm upward; creating a huge magic circle that impeded the blast and resulted in a wave that blew through the forest.
ERZA AND Minerva hit each other on a footpath, bouncing backward and exuding powerful auras. The redhead garbed her Lightning Empress Armour, soaring high and charging up her spear. "Morning Star!"
She swung the weapon down, sending out a giant beam at Minerva who teleported out of the way and held her arms at her side. Creating a ball of plasma, she shot a wave at the mage, knocking her out of the sky and smashing her onto a hill. Flipping to her feet, Erza fired an arc of lightning at Minerva who appeared behind her and punched her in the neck, slamming her face on the ground.
Donning her Flight Armour, Erza sped away from her and summoned her Lightning Empress Spear, shooting bolts at her while darting around rapidly. The raven-haired mage evaded each of the strikes and lunged at her with a punch, getting caught off as Erza slashed at her and grazed her back – receiving a swift kick to the face. Steadying herself, Minerva summoned plasma balls around her fists and threw a punch – colliding in a big explosion.
RUSTY FISHED out a purple rose. "I summon from the depths of the Underworld, the Hound of Hades; Cerberus!"
Deep purple energy exuded out of the ground before him, forming a large magic circle that glowed dimly. Out of the abyss came a giant paw that clawed against the sand – a great beast crawling out and standing over the wizards. Reaching around ten feet in height, the creature had three heads manacled with chains attached to its neck and ankles and wrapping around its snake tail.
"The parfum of fear is pungent!" Ichiya posed like a skater. "Man!" He fished out two vials and stuffed them into his nose, speeding away for dear life.
"This's crazy!" Lucy backtracked fearfully. "How could he summon a demon that powerful?"
"Why couldn't it be a giant fish?" Happy whined.
"I could summon the sea beast, Kraken, if you'd prefer." Rusty smirked and held his arms apart. "A concert of fire and water would entertain me."
"Really? You'd summon a giant steaming fish?" Happy's eyes bulged with excitement, drool dripping from his mouth.
"Are you out of your mind!?" Lucy growled.
"White Dragon Roar!" Sting spat out an energy beam.
"Shadow Dragon Roar!" Rogue sprayed a jet of shadow.
The twin dragons unloaded on the beast and it shrugged off the attack, roaring at them and creating a wave that hurled them aside and rattled trees nearby. The behemoth charged at the wizards, swinging at them as they desperately evaded its claws. Lucy jumped back and fell on a rock, unable to move as the monster descended upon her. Happy swooped down and grabbed her, hovering over the forest as they watched the creature rampage below.
"How're we gonna stop this thing?" Happy strained. "It's gonna kill us!" He groaned. "You need to lose some weight! It's like I'm lifting the monster itself!"
"Shut up, cat!" She frowned and her eyes darted around – sifting her mind in a panic. Looking down at her keys, she picked up one and stared at it intently.
"What're you doing?"
"Something crazy." She sighed. "Hope this works." Holding her arm forward, she exuded a yellow aura. "Open Gate of the Lion! Loke!" A magic circle appeared before her and adult Loke fell out, shooting to the ground. "It worked!" She cheered triumphantly.
Seeing the beast below, he thrust his fist forward. "Regulus Impact!" He summoned a magic circle and shot out a fireball shaped like a lion.
The flame spiralled and shot past Cerberus, speeding towards Rusty who jumped back and held his arm before him. Transforming the appendage into a yellow shield, he blocked the attack – the force pushing him back as his feet grazed against the ground. Chuckling, he stood up and turned his arm back to normal.
"I call upon the armies of Muspelheim, the legion of Surtur, the Fire Demons!" He held his hands out, summoning two magic circles that poured out several burning humanoid giants that charged at the wizards.
"Oh, come on!" Sting groaned and he jumped away from Cerberus who stomped at him.
The demons surrounded the wizards when lightning struck the ground, dispersing them and blinding Cerberus slightly. Laxus shot out of the blast, flying upward and charging electricity between his hands above his head. "Lighting Dragon, Heavenward Halberd!" Forging a lightning ball, he shot his arms down at the demon army, creating a giant energy spear that hit them and exploded in a decimating blast.
"Laxus!" Lucy smiled when a Fire Demon lunged at her.
"Fairy Machinegun!" Evergreen swooped down above the blond and fired small energy balls out of her hand, pushing the monster back to the ground.
"Let's go, babies!" Bickslow flew up to the creature via his tiki dolls as several spun around his arm, charging green energy. He shot at the demon, destroying it and began blasting the others below.
"Dark Écriture: Absolute Shadow!" Freed crashed in the middle of the demon horde, sending many airborne. The dust cleared, revealing his dark black armour as he sped on, smacking each of them aside.
Mirajane hovered high above them in her demon form, gathering energy between her hands. "Soul Extinction!" She shot the beam at Cerberus, creating an explosion that destroyed it.
Lucy looked all around her in elation. "You guys made it! We're totally gonna win this thing! I'm fired up now!"
"Are you still stealing Natsu's lines? You love him!" Happy teased.
"Shut up!"
Laxus soared high above Mirajane, charging electricity through his body. "Let's finish this! Lightning Dragon Roar!"
He spat a beam onto the forest, disintegrating the demon army in one go and destroying some trees nearby. The wave flung Rusty through the air, bouncing him off the ground and crashing him on a tree. Struggling to a knee, he looked onward in terror as the wizards gathered before him. The Thunder Legion, Bacchus and Lisanna joined the Fairy Tail force, striking fear into him.
"No, this cannot be." He scrambled back. "I have the power to create things right out of my mind! You can't overpower me!"
"Well, you don't have the power of Fairy Tail!" Happy dove down, throwing Lucy at him.
He raked his hand through his hair, smirking. "No matter, I shall simply use this fear you've given me to –,"
"Lucy Kick!" She gave him a heavy boot to the face, grazing him against the dirt as she steadied herself and took a heroic pose atop his unconscious body. "And stay down."
"My, my, look at you trying to look all cool while you're flashing other men with your panties!" Happy laughed. "I didn't know you're that kinda girl!"
"I swear, I'm gonna skin you alive, you stupid cat!" Lucy stepped off Rusty.
"I can't believe you made it here in time." Levy held Freed's hand as he helped her up.
"It's just luck that we came when we did." He offered a smile.
"Yes." Ichiya returned. "But you should know that we had everything under control. Their defeat was inevitable."
"You ditched us!" Rogue scowled.
"A strategic retreat." He crossed his arms, pointing upward. "Man."
"We were worried something had happened when you'd been gone for a whole month." Mira smiled as she transformed back to normal. "We're happy you're okay."
"It's been a whole month? How?" Laxus' eyes dilated in surprise.
"It must be a spell that's on the island cuz the Oración Seis said the same thing when they came here." Lucy walked up to him. "Said their employer sent them to retrieve the artefact and he's used it to awaken a demon named Sethos."
"Where're Natsu and the others?" Laxus pocketed his hands.
"Natsu and Erza are fighting Midnight and Minerva and everyone else must be somewhere on the island."
"Well, let's get moving." He walked ahead of them. "We need to find the others and take down the demon before it's too late."
"How disappointing." A foot stomped on the ground, blocking their path with a thunderous thud. "I leave the kids to take care of themselves and they've already made a huge mess of things."
The wizards backed up as they saw the man standing in their way – tensing up and preparing themselves for anything as he approached. Clad in a heavy cloak, the lean, six foot tall man sauntered toward them – his dark boots and trousers matching his shirt that had breastplates and red markings. Pushing back his hood, he smirked at them – the right side of his face covered in Norn runes and the left filled with glowing flame tattoos.
GRAY WINCED as he looked around – his hand held at his side as pain radiated through it. "Man it sucks that we lost our first aid kit."
"Don't worry, my beloved, we should be able to find the others soon enough." She smiled reassuringly. "… Wherever they are."
"At least there aren't any more of those Moon psychos –,"
"Look out!" She pushed him aside as a strip of water shot at them.
"Oh, come on!" He groaned as they split and avoided a water whip from a ninja.
Sizing them up, the assailant wove a tube of water around his torso – looking at them curiously as they shared a nod and charged at him. Flipping over, he shot the water at each of them – Gray dodging and Juvia absorbing the water into her hand and spraying steam around them. The vapour enveloped the area, blinding the ninja who readied himself as he looked around.
"Can't see us now, huh?" Gray's voice came.
The mage threw a punch at the ninja who dodged, grabbing his arm and flipping him over. A hand formed out of the vapour and pulled him, knocking him off his feet and leaving him open for a thunderous roundhouse by Gray. The mist smacked into the attacker repeatedly, bombarding him from all sides and flinging him to the ground.
Gray ran up to him. "Ice Make: Cold Excalibur!" He lunged at him and drove the blade at his head.
The ninja disappeared and the mage drove the sword into the ground, smirking as water pooled underneath him as he appeared near a tree. Wrapping around his ankles, the pond flung him against the bark and held him down. Dismissing the weapon, Gray sent out ice lances that pinned him against the bark. Pulling his arm up, the ninja reached for a pendant on his neck – ripping his flesh out of the ice and breaking the ornament. Puffs of smoke appeared all around them as seven ninjas appeared – each of them weaving water across their torsos.
"Let's go, Juvia!"
"Right!" The mist collected beside him, forming into the blue-haired wizard who appeared at his side – wrapping one arm round his waist and interlocking fingers before her.
"Magic Fusion!" The duo summoned a large magic circle above their heads. "Unison Raid!"
The earth rumbled as geysers of water exploded out, releasing clouds of steam in the air. The streams dissipated and icicles rained from the skies, pelting the ground and piercing the ninjas around them. The magic circle disappeared and the wizards parted, panting as they'd exerted themselves.
"We did it." Juvia moved hair behind her ear.
"Your plan was amazing, Juvia."
"Really?" Her eyes lit up, glistening as she held her hands before her excitedly.
"Yeah, it's what saved us here." Tearing up, the girl embraced him tightly, laughing uncontrollably. "Now, now, relax; we've still gotta find the others." He chuckled then winced. "Plus, you're hurting my back."
"Ooh, sorry!" She backed up, her face flushed with embarrassment.
"NIEL WIELG Mion Terse Elcantaeus." Minerva wove her hands before her in a circular motion. "Yagdo Rigora!"
An energy giant statue appeared behind her, casting down a ball of energy toward Erza that exploded in a massive blast that destroyed a hill. Erza appeared behind her and swung her sword down – colliding with her palm as she blocked and flipped above her, kicking her to the ground.
"Hmm, how disappointing; you're still here bothering me." She smirked. "Why can't you just accept your fate?" An energy triangle appeared around Erza as she struggled to her feet. "And die!"
The triangle came alight and Erza gasped, unable to move away in time when Kagura tackled her off it, letting it explode behind them. Pushing herself up, she turned to the wizard who offered her a hand. "Kagura." She accepted it gratefully.
"I saw the fire and came over when Minerva caught my attention." She drew her sword, turning to the raven haired woman who looked down from above. "You should be less flashy, Minerva."
"What can I say? A queen's power is something to be witnessed by all." The wizard charged plasma from her hands. "This'll be perfect, just like the Grand Magic Games! I'll kill you both here and now!"
NATSU SOARED high in the skies, diving down with a fiery fist as he punched Midnight and was hurled back, blown by the shockwave. He shot two fireballs at him and he waved his hands, deflecting the blast and looking upward. He smirked as the Salamander came from above in a sneak attack.
"You cannot fool me anymore." Midnight raised his arm and swung it, smacking Natsu against the ground telekinetically. He flailed him around then drew him close, choking him in place and tightening his grip.
Natsu's aura grew immensely, erupting in an explosion that knocked Midnight back and threw him to the ground. Summoning a giant fireball above his head, he chucked it toward him – missing him as he flew out of the way. Flames exploded from the ground beneath and Natsu swooped down, grabbing his neck and dragging him into the dirt.
Fire shot out of the ground beneath Midnight as he was driven into the ground, burning him while he was strangled by the Dragon Slayer. He kicked him off and jumped back, raising his arm and slamming it down – pinning Natsu into the dirt. Sweat beaded down his brow as he crushed him into the ground, making rocks break apart as he flattened him.
"Your fate is sealed, Salamander." Midnight waved his fingers around. "Amaterasu Formula number 15!"
Several magic circles appeared around Natsu, two above and below and six to the right and left – a vacuum opening and manacling him against the ground. He pushed himself upward, struggling to all-fours and ripping his hand out and clenching it. His aura flared, disrupting the pull as he slowly freed himself. Midnight held out both hands, charging more power and breaking the earth apart.
Natsu roared and shot out of the magic circle, punching Midnight through his chest and smashing him on the ground. He skidded to a stop and tore his arm out of the corpse, rising to his feet as he saw the ghastly wound and walked away. Raising his hand, he burnt the blood off and frowned, sensing Sethos' energy faintly and turning to the forest behind him.
"WHO ARE you?" Laxus frowned as lightning charged through him.
"I'm Alrek Varg, a man you do not want to annoy." The man held out his hand, charging energy through it.
"Alrek Varg? You're the CEO of Fiore Lacrima." Lucy's eyes dilated in surprise. "You set up the contest?"
"Yes." He smirked. "I have enough power to dance with gods –,"
"How do gods dance?" Happy stroked his chin, imagining Thor, Anubis and Zeus doing the duggy in the clouds.
Alrek growled and his eye twitched as he continued. "I have enough power to dance with the gods and with the power I've taken from Sethos, none shall stand in my way. Olympus will fall and Asgard will burn by my hand."
"You took Sethos' power?" Lucy backed up.
"I am absolute power."
"Let's test that theory." Laxus smirked, lightning bursting out of him. "Raging Bolt!" He shot his hands forward, directing a blast at the mage.
Mirajane assumed her demon goddess form, holding her hand before her. "Cosmic Beam!" She summoned a magic circle firing an aurora energy beam.
"Dark Écriture: Darkness!" Freed placed an enchantment on himself, transforming into a black beast and charging energy through his body. "Darkness Breath!" A black tornado formed from beneath Alrek.
Evergreen flew round the tornado, leaving particles in the current. "Fairy Bomb: Gremlin!" An explosion glowed within the tornado.
"Regulus Impact!" Loke shot a fireball shaped like a lion.
"White Drive!" An aura burst out of Sting.
"Shadow Drive!" Darkness enveloped Rogue.
The twin dragons charged their energies behind them, concentrating them into balls in their hands and merging them. "Holy Shadow Dragon's Flash Fang!" They flung the energy onward, creating a huge blast.
The wizards unloaded on Alrek, creating a massive blast that suddenly shrank down into a purple magic circle. "What the hell?" Sting shuddered.
"I told you, you're up against someone who can face gods." Alrek smirked.
Thrusting his palm forward, he sent the blast back, engulfing the footpath and trees in its wake. The wizards scattered, Lucy taken into the air by Happy as the energy exploded, creating a giant crater and a shockwave that flung them around.
NATSU RAN through the woods, manoeuvring trees when he heard the explosion, turning to see a cloud of smoke behind the hills. Frowning, he dashed for it when he saw fire slowly spread across the ground. He looked around and saw a wildfire forming, a dark, twelve foot tall silhouette moving through it.
ERZA AND Kagura locked blades with Minerva, pushing her back when the explosion met their ears – jumping back and seeing the smoke cloud in the distance. "What was that?" Kagura frowned, turning to Erza who shared a similar look of worry as she clenched her sword.
LAXUS STRAINED as he pushed himself up, blood trickling from his mouth as he stood up and looked around. "Oh my God."
The forest stood as a burnt field; ash blanketing the ground and tree stumps standing amidst shattered wood. Lucy held her mouth in shock, tears stinging her eyes as she saw her friends unconscious and wounded below. Feet crunched against the earth as Alrek walked toward them, his body exuding a deep red aura.
"What is he?" Laxus' eyes dilated.
"He's gonna kill us all." Lucy whimpered.
Chuckling, Alrek raised his arm to the sky, summoning a series of energy runic circles over the island. "Prepare to die! Regni –,"
A gust of wind swept past the wizards, colliding with Alrek and flinging him several feet back. Sand crunched underneath heavy boots, a cloak calming in the rushing air as a man appeared before them. Rising his head, Gildarts, looked at the mage apprehensively – his fists clenching tightly and his body glowing white.
"Gildarts!" Mirajane cried in excitement.
TO BE CONTINUED