DRAGON FORCE PART 2

ALREK RAISED his arm to the sky, summoning several energy runic circles. "Prepare to die!"

A gust of wind swept past the wizards as Gildarts punched him and sent him flying many feet back. "Gildarts!" Mirajane smiled.

"Thought we were goners for a second." Sting pushed himself to a knee.

"You couldn't have picked a better time." Lyon winced.

"You need to get outta here now." Gildarts frowned.

"Where'd you come from?" Laxus rose up. "I thought you were on mission."

"I just finished one a few months ago and I heard about this one. Something didn't sit well with me, so I decided to investigate. This man standing before you is no joke and what he's trying to do will destroy the world as we know it."

"Well, we don't need any more convincing." Levy laughed slightly.

"We tried to stop him, but we failed already." Yukino strained.

"Then it means he's awakened Sethos. If he manages to regain his power, I won't be able to hold a candle to him." Panic filled Gildarts voice. "Get outta here, I'll take care of this." He looked around. "Where're Natsu and the others?"

"Natsu and Erza are off fighting Midnight and Minerva and the others are still looking for the artefacts." Mirajane rose to her feet.

"Find them and get off the island."

"Wait, we can help you." Lucy descended via Happy.

"Now!"

Laxus looked around him, seeing several of the wizards injured. Helping Lisanna stand, he moved up to Mirajane. "You heard the man, let's go!"

"But we can't just leave him alone with that guy!" Lucy turned to him, frowning determinedly.

"We don't have time to argue this! Let's go now!"

Jerking back in surprise, Lucy swallowed hard and nodded, following him as the mages began to leave hastily, the least injured among them – Laxus, Mirajane, Sting, Bacchus and Freed – aiding the wounded as they retreated. Alrek laughed to himself as he rose to his feet, his body slowly exuding energy.

"Ah, the great Gildarts Clive, strongest Fairy Tail wizard." He wiped blood from his lip. "Didn't expect you here."

"Well, you wouldn't expect me to pass up an SS Class mission, would ya?" Gildarts smirked.

"Yes, it's a grave mistake I've made. Let me rectify it."

The two wizards stared each other down, Gildarts glancing back repeatedly to see how far the others had gone. Alrek cocked his neck and smirked, red energy exploding from his body and shrouding his body in the thick aura. Gildarts' fists clenched tightly as he released his force as well, matching Alrek's as his body appeared as a silhouette in the intensity.

"Whoa!" Bickslow gasped. "Don't wanna be there to see that fight."

"Let's keep moving then!" Mirajane moved faster.

Their energies dissipated and a silence fell, quickly driven away as they shot toward each other and collided with powerful punches. A shockwave spread, the two mages pushed apart as they skidded against the ground. Alrek shot fire out of his palm, engulfing everything its path as it sped toward Gildarts who sent out an energy net.

The net collided with the flames and disintegrated, shocking Gildarts who jumped out of the way. "That's impossible; my disassembly spell nullifies any magic attack."

"Not this kind." Fire burst out of Alrek.

"No." Fear showed on Gildarts' face. "Y-you absorbed Sethos' magic?" Alrek didn't respond. "You fool; you can't control that kind of power!"

"Let's find out." He held his palm out. "Regni Mortuis: Mille Manus!" The ground beneath Gildarts came alight.

He jumped and landed on a tree stump, seeing an energy arm jut out of the ground. Several portions of the earth lit up and he leapt away, avoiding another energy appendage. He hopped around and sped towards Alrek – every step he made igniting another magic trap as limbs rose to grab him.

"Crushing Evil, Spreading the Truth: Empyrean!" He waved his hand, dismissing the spell Alrek cast and shot toward him with an uppercut that launched him into the air.

Alrek balanced himself and waved his arm, pointing around the ground. "Regni Vincula: Iustitia!"

Gildarts jumped toward him when an energy chain grazed against him and exploded, hurling him through the air. Several links appeared over the ground before him and he was bounced off each of them, flung around by the detonations and smacked against a tree. Panting heavily, he opened his eyes, seeing chains intertwined around him and winced, feeling the sting of the burns on his body.

"Crushing Evil –,"

"Regni Vincula: Obumbrabit!" Alrek thrust his arm down.

sent a giant net made of the energy chains that covered the area he was in. He waved his arm, directing a web of his own that cut through Alrek's, turning them into cubes and shooting towards him. Dodging the attack, Alrek swiped his hands through the air, ready to cast another spell.

"Not this time!" Gildarts lunged onto him.

Tackling him, he shot through the air at great speeds – flying over the forest and speeding over the hills. He smashed him through a hill, turning it into cubes that fell around, nearly hitting Erza who jumped back as they rained upon her, Kagura and Minerva. Entering another forest, Gildarts tossed Alrek onto a river, landing on him with a double-legged kick, drawing blood and sending up a huge wave.

Alrek kicked Gildarts off him and flipped back, launching into the air and swiping his hand around. "Regni Vincula: Serpens Lacum!"

Gildarts jumped at him when an energy chain ran past him, nearly hitting him and diving into the water. He leapt onto the riverbank and looked around, seeing the giant manacle move around like a snake and rise over him. He sped off and the monster made chase – moving past trees and creating explosions as it made contact with them.

Alrek watched from above as he hovered, frowning as his attacks were dodged. "Regni Mendacium: Madidus!" A dark mist exuded from him and shot down to the forest, spreading out and disappearing.

Gildarts glanced behind him and frowned. "Crushing Evil, Spreading Truth –,"

A clone of Alrek appeared beside him and he punched it, jerking back as it disappeared into thin air. He looked at his hand, seeing the metal darken and a weight overwhelm him. He frowned and jumped aside as the chain sped toward him and dug into the ground, springing out and creating a large explosion that knocked him back.

He shot into the sky clenched his fist. "Crushing Evil, Spreading Truth: Empyrean!" He waved his hand, dismissing the energy chain and shadow clones that appeared on the ground.

Alrek threw a punch at him and he dodged, blocking two strikes and upper-cutting him, sending him hurling back. Alrek sent fire at him and he swerved out of the way, tackling him and punching him toward the ground, creating a crater. Alrek struggled to his feet, panting as flames slowly rose around him.

"What's happening? I have Sethos' power, but my spells don't have an effect on you." He looked at his hands.

"You're way in over your head." Gildarts descended. "I don't know what you did to absorb his power, but you need to reverse it before it's too late."

"No, it's not! I can't lose like this! All that money and technology to find him – I've given too much!" Fire exploded out of him and he laughed. "I've been going about it all wrong! I've been using my own power instead of using his to defeat you!"

"No don't!"

Alrek spat fire at Gildarts who jumped aside, flying high up as the flames spread out and gutted a large part of the forest. He panted as he saw the destruction, turning to the mage who walked toward him slowly – fires spreading on the ground around him. Alrek thrust his hands at him, sending a volley of fireballs his way.

Gildarts dodged the blasts desperately, swooping down as they exploded mid-air and sent out shockwaves in the sky. Alrek shot his hands forward, pouring out a massive wave at him. Gildarts looked around and dove into the river, steadying himself and raising his fist.

"Mizuwari!" He punched the water, raising a pillar of it that blocked the fire, creating a cloud of steam.

Stepping onto the riverbank, he squinted as he looked around and saw a light shine as Alrek walked towards him. He laughed as he approached – his fire markings steadily spreading over and cracks splitting his skin. Fire exploded out of him in bursts, burning things sporadically as the forest went ablaze.

"Guess I have no choice. I've gotta put a stop to this." Gildarts interlocked his fingers, holding his arms before him. "Come forth power of the heavens, Spark of Creation!" A giant, white magic circle appeared above his head, causing the ground to shudder.

He separated his hands slowly – light seeping between his fingers as strips of energy swirled around. He spread his arms out, releasing a small energy ball that grew rapidly, sucking air around it. The sphere expanded into a dome, covering the entire forest and breaking apart the gorge rimming it.

The energy dissipated, leaving a dust cloud that slowly dissipated and left the forest and gorge in ruin. Alrek stood in the middle of the wreckage – steam rising from his body as he groaned in pain. He fell on one knee, breathing heavily as he spat out a lot of blood.

"Crushing Evil, Spreading Truth: Ikazuchi!" Gildarts flew towards him and punched him in the face, releasing a flash that hurled him across the field. He walked towards him and fell to a knee, chuckling as he saw him unconscious. "Guess my work's done." He fainted.

SETHOS WALKED through a forest – the trees and earth around him erupting in flames as he moved in a furnace. His yellow eyes narrowed as he looked around, his red body nearly camouflaging in the inferno with the black marks across his torso contrasting. Chains wrapped around tattered trousers he wore, going down to his ankles and clanging as he walked.

"Where is she?" He mumbled to himself repeatedly like a mantra as he searched.

Natsu hovered over him, descending and raising a brow. "What the hell are you?" The being turned to him then walked on. "Hey, don't ignore me!"

"Leave me, human."

"Yeah, that's not gonna happen." He landed in front of him, crossing his arms with a wide smirk. "I'm gonna put you back where you came from, Red Face."

"You annoy me." Sethos growled and swung at him, missing as the mage jumped back and laughed.

"Alright, let's do this!" Natsu shot toward him.

Sethos looked up at him as he approached, his eyes drooping as he smacked him aside like a bug. The mage flung through the air, smashing through several trees and rolling to a stop on the ground. Natsu growled as he pushed himself up, feeling his wound bleed again.

"Oh, I'm fired up now!" He slammed his fists together, summoning a magic circle. "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"

He shot toward the demon that stopped and turned to him, receiving the blow lazily as it barely made him budge. The mage jerked back in surprise, setting his arms on fire and punching him in the gut repeatedly. Sethos huffed as he watched him land blows repeatedly, grabbed his head and tossed him through a tree.

"Don't bother me."

Natsu winced and threw himself up, smashing his fists into the dirt. "I'm not done yet!"
He dashed toward him and jumped into the air, descending with a heavy elbow that made the demon stagger back. With a wide grin, he attacked again; punching him twice and kicking him in the chest, making him skid back. Sethos frowned as he stood up, looking at the wizard disinterestedly as he ran toward him.

He frowned and fire burst out of him in waves, making Natsu stop in his tracks as it spread rapidly through the forest. Shielding his face from the force, he looked around as the flames gutted the trees – engulfing animals nearby and a wizard who sat near a campfire. His eyes dilated in a panic and he stomped on the ground, slapping his hands together and sending the flames backward.

"You deflected my fire." Sethos frowned.

"I'm a Fire Dragon Slayer; you can't hurt me with that!" Natsu smirked. "Fire Dragon Roar!" He sprayed fire onto the demon, unable to faze him as he took the hit point blank. He blinked as the attack had no effect, frowning. "Tough guy, huh? Well, how's about this!?" He ran up to him. "Fire Dragon Wing Attack!" He flew toward him – arms ablaze – and smacked him twice. "Sword Horn!" He landed a diving head butt to the chest.

Sethos merely skidded back, sifting his mind as he looked at his smug smile. "You deflected my fire. What kind of power do you possess? Show me, human."

Natsu cracked his knuckles. "You're gonna regret asking me that!"

He lunged at him and elbowed him in the neck, kneeing his face and giving him a roundhouse kick. The demon staggered and raised his head, receiving a mighty left hook that pushed him back, crashing him through a tree. The being remained standing, his eyes focussed on the Salamander who backed up in surprise.

"Huh, fire didn't hurt you and I'm failing to knock you down. Gonna have to try harder!" He pounced on him with a kick.

"Enough, human." The demon grabbed his leg and chucked him aside. "You're wasting my time." He stepped forward. "I must burn this world to bring her here."

A wave shot out of him, hurling Natsu aside as the raging fires spread – engulfing the trees and rocks in the area. A group of wizards camping nearby turned and gasped as the flames approached – quickly scattering and getting swallowed by the furnace. Natsu pushed himself up and looked around – his mouth agape as he saw the inferno around him and saw the mages burn.

"No." He gritted his teeth and charged at him. "Damn you!"

Sethos flicked his wrist, blowing him away with a force that spread the fires out further. Natsu bounced off a rock and smashed through a tree, crashing onto the ground and rolling to a stop, falling unconscious.

KAGURA SLASHED and missed Minerva's midsection as she jumped back – continued her attack and swinging her blade at her head and chest. The raven mage flipped back and launched into the air as Erza sliced at her – colliding with Kagura's sword. Minerva landed on a hill above them, frowning as she sifted her mind for a spell when she sensed something.

"Hmm?" She raised her head and looked at tubes of smoke in the distance. "Sethos' awakened again."

Erza frowned and turned to where she was looking. "What're you talking about?"

Minerva sighed and placed a hand on her hip. "His spell must've failed." She huffed. "Well, don't wanna be on this island when he restores his power." Adjusting her scarf, she looked down at Erza. "I'm afraid we'll have to cut this short, Erza – change of plans."

"Oh, you're not going anywhere." Kagura jumped toward her.

"Until we meet again." Minerva waved and teleporting away, evading a slash from the mage.

"Dammit!" She frowned and huffed, sheathing her sword. "She got away."

"She said something about a spell." Erza donned her Flight Armour. "We need to go toward the smoke, that's where the others are."

"I can sense a very powerful force and Natsu's there as well." Kagura jumped down.

"We need to move."

NATSU GROANED as he pushed himself up and got to a knee – his vision clouding in the thick smoke that surrounded him. He gasped as his eyes roamed the area, seeing fire burning the entire forest. He looked to his left, seeing a pond that once stood nearby now lie as a dry trench.

"Crap!"

He flew onward, looking down at the burning wasteland within the gorge as fire steadily headed for the beach. His frown deepened as he saw destroyed tents nearby, clenching his fists as he worried for his friends. He looked to his right and sighed in relief as he saw his guild's ship at the shore.

Continuing his search hastily, he turned and saw Sethos walking ahead of him – diving down with a punch. The demon stopped as he shot toward him, grabbing his fist without looking and tossing him toward a hill. He flipped and spring-boarded off the rocks, darting back and punched him – flinging him against a tree.

The demon punched him in the gut, knocking the wind out of him and sending out a wave that made the flames around them flicker. He grabbed him as he fell, piercing his stomach with his bare hands and throwing him on the ground. The mage skidded across the earth, sinking as a trench formed and buried his upper body.

Fighting the pain, the wizard moved rocks aside, pushing himself up and sitting in the furrow. He winced as he looked down, seeing blood cover his abdomen and begin to drench his trousers as the wounds sent pangs all over him. He turned to his right and saw a charred corpse, averting his eyes and seeing Erza and Kagura headed his way to his left.

He gritted his teeth and forced himself up – one foot at a time hitting the earth and vibrating the pain through his bones. Breathing heavily he clenched his fists and parted his legs – looking at the sky and mustering all the strength he had. Sethos stopped and turned to him – walking back and cocking his neck. Glancing at Erza, Natsu closed his eyes and dug deep.

Golden flames exploded out of his body, spreading through the gorge and engulfing the furnace. Sethos jerked back in surprise, his eyes dilating as his fire was turned against him. The Salamander screamed at the top of his lungs, erupting with thunderous power as the inferno halted its progression.

The earth rumbled as fire tore through it – bolts of lightning rising up as the flames swirled into a massive tornado that rose into the sky. Erza and Kagura quickly stopped as they saw the column, unable to get near it in the immense heat. Wizards all over the island watched in awe, Laxus smirking confidently and Gildarts grinning with pride.

"Atta boy, Natsu."

Sethos watched in disbelief as electricity and golden flames stood around him – turning his gaze to the Salamander. The Dragon Slayer slowly approached him – his body shrouded in the immense heat as scales spread over his face and shoulders and his eyes glowed brightly. "You are an annoyance human. I must end you."

He flew toward Natsu with a punch and he caught his fist – grinning at his look of shock as waves moved through the ground tremulously. Natsu punched Sethos in the gut, sending him flying into the sky – the resultant shockwave shattering the ground around him. He shot after him; rising over the airborne demon and pounding him back down.

He dove down at high speeds, creating four sonic booms as he punched Sethos into the ground and created a massive crater. Natsu panted as the dust and smoke settled when Sethos suddenly grabbed his face, lifting him into the air and smashing him against the earth, sending rocks flying. The mage spat out blood and the demon raised him again, punching him deep in the gut and causing him to vomit. He threw him down and kicked him, letting him roll on and stomped on him, cracking his bones. He lifted him again and tossed him aside.

Natsu flung through the tornado, flying past Kagura and Erza and slamming onto the ground. The vortex dissipated and turned back to its normal colour, bursting out in an uncontrollable wave. The two women shielded themselves, the redhead donning her Flame Empress Armour and the raven raising her sword that shattered in the force and were sent flying back.

Erza winced as she pushed herself up, looking at Kagura who'd fallen unconscious and turned to Natsu who slowly pulled himself up. "Natsu!" She stood up, ignoring the pain as she came to his side.

"Erza, you need to –," He winced.

"You're injured." She donned her default armour. "We need to get out of here."

"No, you should go." He got to one knee. "I'll hold him off."

"Natsu, he's gonna kill you."

"I have to slow him down somehow." He grunted and wrapped his arm over his bloodied stomach. "Get the others and leave the island."

"What're you going to do?" Her brows stitched.

"I'll eat his fire." He wheezed. "If he's outta energy, he won't be able to do anything. Get back to the Guild and tell Makarov – he'd be able to take him out."

"You can't do that, you could die!" Panic wove through her tone. "This isn't like the Ethernano, Natsu; it's a thousand times more powerful. If you eat it, it'll destroy you."

"Guess we'll have to find out." He walked on.

"Natsu, please don't." She held his hand, halting him. "We should go back to the guild. If we recuperate and –,"

"That thing's power took down Gildarts!" He frowned.

"What?"

"I sensed him fighting somewhere on the island. Someone had some of Sethos' power and it took him down. If only a little did that, then there's no stopping him unless …"

"Unless what?" She read his expression, her eyes dilating in surprise. "You're going to sacrifice yourself?"

"If I empty myself of magic, I can absorb all of his and –,"

"That's insane!"

"I don't have a choice!" He sighed and turned to her. "There's no way to beat this guy." His voice quietened. "What's important is that you guys get out of here safe. We've lost too many people already."

"Natsu, please." Tears stung her eyes. "Don't do this."

He walked onward. "Tell Happy I'll see him around."

Releasing her hold reluctantly, she watched him as he moved toward the flames and let her arm fall. She looked at the ground then back at him, seeing him reach the inferno. "Just promise me you'll come back."

He turned to her once more then shot into the air – the force of his launch breaking a sound barrier as he flew high above the island. Fire exploded out of him, burning brightly across the island and creating a giant ball in the sky. He screamed as the flames intensified and suddenly dissipated, leaving him hanging limply in the air.

Throwing his head back, he breathed in deeply, sucking in air and creating a pull rivalling that of a vacuum as the fire on the island rose into the sky. The infernos flickered and formed tubes converging on the mage – the force of the suction causing powerful winds. Erza shielded her face as her clothes were sent upward as well – the island rumbling in the force.

Wizards all over the island backed up in shock as gale force winds tugged at them – Lucy and the Fairy Tail mages watching the flames rise toward Natsu. The fires shrank and moved into the Salamander's mouth, creating cracks along his skin. His veins came alight as his body pulsated with energy – his skin beginning to dry and fracture from the exertion. He screamed in pain, but continued – enduring the agony as bits of his skin floated in the air.

An explosion erupted from Natsu, the aftershock blowing trees and the water in its wake – leaving a giant cloud of smoke in the sky. "Natsu!" Erza yelled.

Her eyes darted around as she looked through the deep cloud – quickly stopping as she saw a strip fall out. Natsu's body plummeted toward the ocean – clothes burned and skin lacerated. Donning her Flight Armour, she ran toward the beach – changing into her Sea Empress Armour and diving into the water after him.

"WHOA!" HAPPY yelped as he clung to Lucy's leg, doing nothing to impede her as she walked away from the other wizards.

"Lucy come back!" Levy followed her, holding her bruised shoulder as Mirajane tailed her.

"Levy, you should get that covered before you start moving around like that!" The woman winced.

"I can't leave them behind." Lucy clenched her fists.

"But we're not! We're gonna find the others then get back to the ship." Levy stopped as the pain got to her.

"Then what're we doing moving away from the fire over there, huh?" Lucy turned to her. "Natsu and Erza could be injured and they need our help."

"Lucy, get back here!" Laxus growled.

She jerked back then bit her lip, standing her ground. "No, Laxus, I'm not! I'm gonna do anything I can to help them; they're in danger."

"Do you think this is easy on me?"

Her expression flattened as she looked at his fists, seeing them white-knuckling. "Laxus, I –,"

"I know you wanna help, but look at the bigger picture." He gestured to the others. "We're all injured, outta energy and outta magic. If we drew the attention of whatever that thing is, we'd end up getting everyone killed. Once we get everyone back to the ship, we'll send the least injured of us after Natsu and Erza, okay?"

Sifting her mind, the blonde sighed. "I understand … let's go." She walked up to Levy, assisting her as Mirajane helped her walk.

"Man, Lucy, what've you been eating?" Happy snickered. "I can barely get my arms around your leg!"

"You won't have any arms left if you keep looking at my panties, you stupid cat." She growled.

"Sheesh! and I thought Mirajane was the She-Devil." Happy flew off, causing the silver-haired woman to wince.

"Um, I don't like that name –," She stopped abruptly, looking around in apprehension.

"What is it?" Lucy raised her brow.

"You feel it, Laxus?"

He scanned the area as well. "Yeah; someone's coming."

The air thickened as the wizards scoped the forest around them – Ichiya drawing a vial from his pocket. "I sense a powerful parfum in this area."

"Is it Sethos?" Lucy turned to Mirajane.

"No, but it's stronger." The woman frowned.

"Stronger than Sethos?" Happy whimpered.

"In his current state." A heavy voice came.

Several ninjas appeared, massing around the Fairies and heavily outnumbering them. Lucy tensed up as she reached for her keys, sizing up their opponents. "This is bad."

"The Mark of the Moon." Mirajane took her demon form.

"Will that fight off their blood magic?" Laxus glanced at her as he charged lightning through his limbs.

"Let's just hope none of these are their top members."

""There's nothing to fear, your demise is certain." The voice came again.

The ninjas shared glances and nodded, making a path as footsteps approached from behind them. A large cloaked man trod down the footpath from the shore – his face shrouded in shadow as his presence thickened the air. Clad in brown boots, black trousers and a leather top with embroidered water markings, the dark-skinned man walked toward the mages – his deep red eyes and chiselled face covered in black, grey and white paint striking fear into them.

"No matter how many stars are in the sky, the moon will always outshine them." He eyed each of them blankly. "More rise to challenge that truth. Foolishness."

The wizards froze in place as they were manacled – their limbs contorting as they tried to move and failed. Their muscles slid and twisted around as they were forced to their knees, the injured among them screaming as blood spurted from their wounds. Overpowered, the mages were forced to the ground – Lucy gritting her teeth as she reached for her keys. She gasped as she looked onward, seeing Loke pinned down as well.

"Wizards, I should have known." The man walked onward. "Willing to do anything to gain power and ultimately bring their downfall." He looked at the smoke filled skies ahead of him. "You awakened the demon Sethos and hindered everything we've strived for – his destruction. That's unforgivable."

"You wanted to destroy Sethos?" Lucy strained. "We … we're not the ones who awakened him – we came to stop it from happening."

"Interesting, but it doesn't matter." He raised his hand. "You will die along with him."

"Yeah, I've got a better idea!" Gildarts landed nearby, sending an energy net his way. The mesh hit him and turned to vapour, making him huff. "Well, didn't expect it to be that easy."

"Funny, I thought that would actually hit me for a moment." The man raised his hand when he jerked back in surprise as fire hit Gildarts from behind.

The mage fell unconscious, revealing Alrek standing behind him. "I wasn't finished with you." He walked toward him when he saw the cloaked man – his eyes bulging in fear. "Z-Zhu Rong? W-what're you doing here?"

Zhu sighed. "What did I say about mentioning names?" Alrek grunted as he forced him to the ground as well, his hands digging into the ground as he was on all fours. "To be accurate, I should be asking you that question." He walked toward him. "Did the Order abandon you?"

"It fell at the hands of the Table." Alrek strained.

"Hmm, so the Phoenix abandoned you as well. It's sad really; I assumed the Dragon god would have more use for someone so talented."

"No, he underestimated me." Alrek tried to move. "He never saw that I would rise and surpass him. I am stronger than him!"

"Stronger?" Zhu laughed. "This little trick would have no effect on him, yet here you are unable to move." He frowned. "Disgrace." He raised his hand, lifting the mage up as well as he strangled him.

"Master, don't!" A ninja stepped toward him, hesitating to speak. "If you kill him, he will be upset."

Zhu smiled. "See, I like this guy; he knows not to mention names." He clenched his fist and Alrek's head exploded – drawing screams from the wizards as his blood and brains splashed around. He tossed the corpse away and turned to the mages, chuckling. "Let's clean house." He raised his arm then stopped as he sensed something. "Really now?"

Erza lifted Natsu on her back as she moved down the path, stopping when she saw Zhu Rong stand amongst the ninjas. Throwing him down, she donned her Armadura Fairy Armour and lunged at him, instantly manacled in mid-air. Zhu raised his arm and pulled her toward him, frowning as he looked at her.

"I'm getting a little irritated, but you intrigue me." He turned to his right, seeing Rusty Rock limping in the bushes. He cocked his neck and the mage's snapped instantly. "A lot of people are dead here on this island, yet you were close to Sethos and survived. What powers do you possess?"

Closing his hand slowly, Zhu's brows stitched as he studied Erza – watching her rive in pain as veins appeared on her neck. She screamed and reverted to her normal attire, trying with her all her might to move as his grip tightened. The earth shuddered and he turned to Natsu, tossing the woman aside as fire slowly rose from him.

The ground cracked and the pink-haired mage shot toward him with a fiery fist – stopping in his tracks as he was pinned down. He growled and pushed himself up again, flying and punching Zhu in the gut, causing him to skid back. The man frowned and turned to the wizard as he lunged at him – his eyes glowing brightly as he forced him to the ground and drew screams from him.

"You can defy bloodbending?" Zhu's voice vibrated in an unearthly echo, his red eyes exuding an aura. "Who are you, boy?"

He thrust his palm down and wove his arms back, making Natsu scream in pain as his body tightened. A strip of blood flowed slowly out of his mouth causing his pupils to roll to the back of his head. Erza tried to stand, but was forced down – watching in despair as the life was literally pulled out of the mage before her.

Zhu slowly clenched his fist then stopped suddenly – letting the blood splat onto the ground as he stepped back. Looking toward the gorge he squinted and huffed. "Sethos' left the island." He turned to the ninjas and nodded to them, teleporting away with them.

Groans spread as the wizards got to their feet – Lucy rubbing her head as she fought off a headache. "Who was that guy?"

"Natsu!" Happy flew past her.

"Natsu!" Erza knelt beside the mage and turned him over – frowning as she saw his blood drenched face.

Happy gasped at the horrid sight – his eyes darting as he saw the lacerated skin of his friend. "What happened?"

"Natsu, are you okay?" Erza shook him. "Natsu? Natsu!"

"MAN, YOU'RE insane, Natsu." Gray chuckled. "I can't believe you tried to eat Sethos' fire." Natsu's voice muffled as his body was covered in bandages – trying and failing to respond.

"It's a miracle he's still alive." Gildarts leaned back against his chair, glugging his beer as he sat amongst Lucy, Levy, Erza, Gray, Juvia and Natsu in the packed Guild Hall. "The human body can't withstand that much energy. Lucky we got out when we did or we'd be cooked when Alrek's body blew up and destroyed the island."

"Well, I'm glad everything turned out well." Erza patted Natsu's head, smiling warmly.

"Not everything though." Lucy sighed. "Burying a member of the Guild wasn't easy."

"Yeah, but there's nothing that could've been done about it." Gray crossed his arms.

"I know. He will be missed." Her voice lowered.

Erza shifted away from Natsu, sifting her mind as she looked around the hall at the many wizards that sported bandages. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and moved to the centre of the room before the bar, clearing her throat. "Listen up, you guys; I have something important to say." She drew their attention and continued: "We took on the SS Class mission a few weeks ago and while Sethos was nowhere to be found, we stopped the people behind his awakening and made it back here alive. But that doesn't excuse what happened. We lost Max that day and it was my fault. If I'd thought things out better, I wouldn't have taken the whole guild and endangered the lives of everyone and I could've made a plan that involved our strongest wizards. I was thinking it'd benefit you all to take on the challenge, but I was wrong and for that I'm truly sorry."

"Erza, we know and we don't blame you for it." Mirajane walked up to her from the bar. "It wasn't your fault." The other mages chattered in agreement.

"But I had a responsibility and my failure cost him his life." She looked around the room. "That is why I'm resigning as Guild Master."

"What?!" Lucy shot up from her seat.

"That's insane!" Gray frowned.

"I've already made my decision and I won't turn back on it." She turned to Natsu who yelled through his bandages incoherently. She smiled at him slightly though unsure of what he was saying. "I've decided that someone else should lead this guild. Laxus."

"What?" The mage raised his brow.

"Your ability to take charge in the middle of the battle showed me how capable you are of rising up to the occasion. I didn't have a handle on things, but you did. You should lead Fairy Tail, not me."

"Whoa … I don't know what to say."

"The floor's yours." She gestured beside her.

Laxus rose to his feet and headed over to the bar – smiling as the Thunder Legion cheered him one. Stepping up to the centre of the hall, he turned to the mages around him – their glad gazes inspiring him.

COBRA PETTED a small snake that wrapped around his shoulders, looking at the shore at a pier at night. Hearing footsteps, he turned and saw Jellal approach him while looking around the dim city apprehensively.

"You weren't followed?"

Cobra raised his brow then pocketed his hands. "What do you have for me?"

"Something big is about to happen." He held up a Lacrima with the image of a soldier with white eyes. "We've been tracking people like this for a while now and they all exhibit the same traits: white eyes, shoot black energy, speed and no past recollection of their actions upon arrest. They've stolen technology from different places around the world and we need you to find out what they're doing."

The maroon-haired wizard received the crystal, looking at the image closely. "Where am I headed?"

"SHIELD."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Welcome to the Universe! It's taken a while, but we've FINALLY completed this book. We'd like to thank everyone who's commented, favourite and followed – your support helped us pull through and finish our work.

In case you didn't know, the RealDone Universe as a whole is a fanfiction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, meaning that every book we write is connected to another one. If you'd like to know the timeline, please visit our profile page and await the awesomeness as we get into the Fourth Arc. Our follow up to this book is a crossover between Fairy Tail and Adventure Time called World Chaos which we're very excited for.

Check out some of our other fics in the meantime, particularly the Legend of Korra: Mark of the Moon which looks more into the history of the dark guild. I'd like to thank you again for your support.