Disclaimer: I do not own Negima in any form or any character or borrowed from an outside source. Any such idea will be marked and accredited to its rightful source at the chapter's end notes. This would chapter fallows the events of chapter 225-28 as close as possible (I took the translations of Cent 128 from Manga Helpers cut and pasted them into word and referred to one manga's scans for the action) until Nodoka shows up. Everything up to that point is completely Ken Akamatsu's creation and Cent 128's translation.

Caution: this chapter contains 'apparent' character death, and as such may qualify as Mature! Please save flames until after next chapter as it MAJORLY change the course of the story.

Chapter 8, Wakeup call. The Mentalist's revival

The negotiations were anything but peaceful from the start, but Negi soon found himself under fire from his most trusted partner. Faced with those around being used as hostages Negi found himself in the mist of agreeing to forsake this world for the sake of safe passage for him and his students, when Asuna made her objections known.

Just as so many times before Negi found strength in the girl's words and a sense of certainty that made the choice before him clear. He thought back to his master's words. There is no such thing as a perfectly 'right' choice, is there… Master?

"So? Negi-kun?" Fate asked impatiently

You heard her, Fate." Negi answered firmly. " My answer is no!"
"Very well... Then we are done negotiating." With that Fate turned his attention elsewhere as moments later a lance like ridge of stone jutted from the floor appearing to impale Setsuna. Asuna called out for her friend to her and Fate's surprise Setsuna advoided the strike almost completely, only suffering a small tare in her suite as she now held the seved spike under one arm and her drawn sword in her other hand.

"Don't take me lightly, Fate." Setsuna cautioned Fate before she summoned the Sica Shishikushiro and sent four copies of the sword hurtling towards the still seated foe. Fate managed to deflect three of the swords almost effortlessly, but one struck Setsuna's real target, Fate's still clasped hand. Setsuna was sure that once she forced its release, they'd find the reason that Fate was so confident in making such a deal

"Dear me, Kagurazaka Asuna... always you persist in interfering with my plans at the crucial moment" Fate spoke calmly as he got up from his chair. "However, I must thank you. In truth, I am glad that he was right and this crude strategy was a failure. It would be boring to simply steal his son's free will, catching him in a simple trap. Finally the two of us are truly enemies, rivals in deciding this world's fate. My wish has been granted."
What?! What does he mean 'I am glad that he was right?' Setsuna thought in response to Fate's words.

"Now then, Negi-kun, I shall take my compensation..." Fate started only to find himself cut off by the boy lunging at him. He effortlessly avoided the boy's punch, mockingly leaping on to the fist aimed at his face. "I see... Magia Erebea." Fate commented with an insaine look on his face before spring boarding off the boy's fist and beginning a chant, "Visju Tal Li Sjutal Vangèit O Tartaroi Keimenon Basileion Nekron..."

Negi recognized the spell as the one that leapt into the air beginning his chant, "Agite Tenebrae Abyssi, Ensis Incendens!! Et Incendium Caliginis Umbrae Inimicitiae Destructionis Ultionis!! Incendant Et Me Et Eum Sint Solum Incendentes!!Incendium Gehennae!!! "Complexio!!"

"Dear me... I had heard that you were training with Thousand-Blades Racan... so I expected something of you...but this is High Daylight Walker Dark Evangel's personal skill." Fate said calmly as he recognized the skill."

" It comes as something of a surprise that the technique was passed on, but... it is a tiresome choice you have made." Fate said as he took a defensive stance, as Negi closed in for a strike. However the difference in skill was clear as Fate deflected the attack and used the boy's momentum against him sending his young foe hurdling into the pillar below

"Feeding upon the user's body and soul to grant power many times that of an ordinary human... The power of Magia Erebea..." Fate explained as he slowly descended on to the pillar.

That was the Hakkeshou. As I thought... Negi thought to himself as he pushed a piece of the pillar off of him. He rushed into another barrage of strikes.

"...It's little more than a form of doping. A simple increase in pure power. Did you think that a technique of that nature would allow you to fight on a level with me? No matter the power behind your attacks, if they fail to connect with your opponent, they may as well have none. Huh... you almost buckled before me mentally and physically too, you fail to impress..." He continued to explain as he blocked Negi's barrage of strikes. "A real pity." He said smugly as he effortlessly prepared a stone spear to finish the boy adding, "Once more... my hopes have been dashed" just before he lunched the attack.

However Negi would prove that he had learned more than the art of "doping", as he not only managed to doge the attack, but make use of the small opening to deliver a shocking right hook to Fate's ribs sending the boy flying several yards along the pillar "What was that just now, Fate? Are you sure it's not you who needs to train a little harder?"

Fate flipped forward in order to catch himself, digging into the pillar with one hand while holding his side with the other. "Your attack just now... That power didn't just come from your "doping" Fate said in realization as he slide to a stop, only to find the boy once again right in front of him with flames shooting from elbow and fist, about to start another assault. This time managing to plant a hand firmly on his chest before, with the declaration, "Gokuen Houzan Takutenshou!!" releasing a mighty pulse of energy carrying Fate back, but Negi was not going to give him any time to recover this time.

Negi appeared over head and called out "Sinistra Emittam Sagitta Magica: Series Lucis!" as he released barrage of light that engrained Fate into his own pillar. I can do this...! Negi thought"Ras Tel Ma Scir Magister Locos Umbrae Regnans Scáthach In Manum Meum Dedo Iaculum Daemonium Cum Spinis Triginta…" taking in the attack as soon as it was complete. I can beat him! If I can take him out...right here...right now!! Negi thought as he charged downward towards his foe. Landing with force, his framing out Fate's sides and shouted "Dextra Emittam!" With that Negi released the Iaculatio Fulgoris he absorbed earlier, right as his fist was barely a foot from Fate's chest. However Negi met with a shock as somehow his spear had missed its mark, finding itself clasped in Fate's hand, somehow diverted just inches from Fate's body.

"I see... so this is the result of your training. Since I have never needed training myself, naturally I would not be aware...and yet it interests me just what could have improved your abilities to this extent. I'll grant you this. You are an opponent worth fighting." Fate told him, staring hauntingly as he still held the spear.

It's not working...!! Did he completely block my attacks with a barrier?! Negi thought to himself as to the spear's deviation, but his thoughts were cut short as the other consequences of the attack presented themselves. The spear priced clear through the pillar, and both fighters soon found themselves falling though the air as the stone beneath them disappeared

Negi panted as he slides to a stop in the water below where they fell, the battle was taking its toll on him, but his opponent looked no different from when they began.

"Now, then... Let us do battle, Negi-kun. That is why you gained that power, is it not?" Fate said landing perfectly on the water, not even breaking the surface, appearing unfazed by Negi's attacks.

Negi was astounded at the ineffectiveness of his attacks. I already knew he was formidable... Just concentrate. He thought to himself trying to regain his composure. Once he did concentrate he notice what had been creating the problem. What on Earth is that mandala-esque barrier...? Is this what was blocking my attacks...? That's no human technique! Unfortunately Fate used this moment of deduction to attack; striking with a kick of incredible force. Negi blocked with his right arm brace with the left at the elbow, yet was still thrown spiraling back crashing on the water a

He certainly is powerful... but... It's not like before. Negi assured himself as he chanted, Ras Tel Ma Scir Magister Κενότητος ἀστράπσατω δὲ τεμέτω! Δίος τύκος! I can fight him Negi thought as he struck, only to find the attack blocked by a massive structure of stone, long segments as wide as the bridge behind the jutting out in every direction. The fight soon moved on to the structure itself.

"Lovely. Very nice, Negi-kun. That's what I'm looking for." Fate taunted Negi as he pursued the boy around the structure. Finally the boy stuck again, invoking the Ensis Exsequens spell rebounding off one of the rock faces he lunged at Fate. Fate dodged, spinning quickly to the floor below he formed a great stone sword of his own, and struck back.

The weight of the sword carried Negi off to the side; Negi spun in the air to recover, and ended up behind his opponent. The two exchange a glance and attacked an again. However, in the heat of the moment he misjudged the factor of terrain. Given his position he expected Fate leap into an attack and lunged the arm enchanted with the Ensis Exsequens spell straight forward, but Fate came at him from below with the sword above his head. Negi struggled to block the heavy stone blade with his free hand. However, as Negi quickly realized this left him open to an attack from Fate's free hand, an attack that came with enough force to send him crashing straight through the part of the structure that they were fighting on and make a good dent in the one behind it.

"Well Negi-kun looks like it is time for our fight to come to an end." Fate said extending his hand, pointing two of his fingers at him in an all too familiar way.

Negi's mind froze, was this really it? His village un-avenged, his students stuck here, his farther forever missing, so much he still had to do, so many questions left unanswered, this couldn't be it! He had to move, had to avoid the attack, but his body was still not cooperating and he could already see the shine on Fate's fingertips. Then something appeared in front of him just as the light erupted from Fate's fingers, a figure. Negi recognized the figure almost immediately, it was Shield. He had been wondering about the partner of the man that had become as much an enemy of his as Fate, still something always bothered him about Shield, something magnified by this sudden appearance.

Fate's attack clashed against some sort of unseen barrier, but Shield chanted nothing, moved not an inch, yet in that moment she seemed unmovable. Once the attack ended, Shield stood in silent defiance in front of Negi. Negi finally managed to stager to his feet, still rattled by Fate's attack. "Thank you, but why did you?" Negi asked as he approached the robed woman. His answer however would come from a different source.

"Well it seems that you are a dangerous one indeed mind reader." Fate said to the new arrival with discomforting amount of certainty in his words. My complements on the disguise it seems that it is capable of even deceiving your own mage."

"Eh!" Nodoka gasped at Fate's words skipping the question of how the white haired boy knew who she was, and jumping to the fact that now Negi knew who she was, and fear over took her, fear of what he was thinking of her.

Negi too was finding it difficult to think of much beyond what Fate said. His mind instantly rejected the idea, Nodoka working with the man that enslaved Ako and the others, working against… him! It could not be true, and yet he knew it was, he could feel it, from the moment she appeared in front of him. "No…do…ka-san." Negi spoke unconsciously almost hoping to be proven wrong.

"Negi-Sensei, I didn't...." She replied shaking, completely void of the absolute confidence present just a moment ago.

"I must say, I've never seen a barrier of such strength or nature before." Fate cut tiered of the silence. "I am starting to understand what such a frightening man sees in you."

Fate's words shook Nodoka, frightening man coming from someone like Fate could describe a very limited number of people, and Nodoka knew of only one person that had seen a talent for anything other than studying in her. Master wouldn't… Nodoka thought before remembering what kind of person her master was. He did. "When did you and Gem-Sensei meet?"

Negi never thought that a word could hurt worse than the beating he just took from Fate, but hearing Nodoka address someone who he quickly figured to be Sword with the same word as she had used to address him so many times floored the boy to the point that he hadn't even began to process the possibilities that Fate's statement implied.

"We had a friendly exchange just before Negi-kun and I began our negotiations." Fate replied calmly, studying the girl's reaction, which told him that she had no clue that her master intended to meet with him. Still the rate that the girl regained her composure told him there must have been an obvious reason available to her.

Negi on the other hand was finding it hard to make sense of what could be going on, Nodoka called Sword by a different name and even called him her sensei, hide herself from her friends, and was even fighting against him and Kotaro in the tournament, could Nodoka really have betrayed him? Then there was the fact that Fate referred to Sword as frightening, did that mean that the two weren't allies? Negi was quickly snapped out of his thoughts by the feeling

Then the air about Fate turned much grimmer as his voice took on a much harsher tone "He agreed to help me with my plans if I would simply fight you with no allowances."

Nodoka's mind froze at Fate's words. She flashed back the gate port thinking just how easily Fate had nearly killed her friends and after seeing her sensei fight in the tournament rounds she knew just how much stronger the boy had become and yet even that strength was not enough. Still, she had to hold, if not Negi would face the full wrath of the white haired boy, or if she completely failed then it would wound the boy so deep that she doubted he'd ever recover.

She tried to recompose herself thinking her limited advantages: Her abilities were extremely abnormal even Fate might not understand them at first, She had her book as long as she could react fast enough she might be able to doge or even block the most devastating blows, She also had the information in the file, even if Gem had given Fate information about her the idea that the information she had been given was false felt wrong and served no purpose, and most encouraging of all was what her master had put her through almost every day thinking she was going to die and yet her she stood, she could do this. She could at least hold out for Negi to get the others here.

Negi rushed to his feat the moment Fate's words registered, he had to get Nodoka out of here before Fate ripped her in two! "Ras Tel Ma Scir Magister…" Negi chanted in the utmost hast, hoping that Nodoka's shield could hold long enough for him to complete not only the chant, but absorption process.

"Sorry Negi-kun, but we will have to continue our fight some other time." With that Fate charged straight for the boy hoping to distract Nodoka enough to weaken her shield, instead he found no shield at all, finding himself less than two from the boy's face by time he realized it, but then he found himself stopped in mid air. Somehow the mind reader had managed to get in-between himself and the boy again, holding her arms crossed and apparently had focused her shield on the area right in front of her arms. The force of the strike sent out a shock wave, a loud crake was heard and then the part of the stone that Negi and Nodoka was standing on gave way under the force of the strike.

Negi was awed by what had just transpired before his eyes, he had barely had time to think to block before Nodoka appeared before him even though he saw Fate pass the girl, not only that but the force that the girl was able to withstand was just amazing. However he was very concerned about that sound just before the rock split, it sounded different than any rock he had heard before in fact it sounded more like bone.

Nodoka on the other hand didn't notice the difference in sound or even the fact that a sound was made; she had more prevalent matters to deal with, like making sure Fate did not notice how she was managing to block his attacks. She had been trained to impose her will on the minds of others and the world around them. However the process of influencing the surrounding world as Gem had explained it would take such a vast amount of detailed knowledge of the physical world that she doubted that it could even be done, certainly not in the timeframe of one summer. She found it much simpler to use for her energy to mold herself, like one manipulated the water in a balloon by controlling the plastic that housed it.

There were a few basic problems with this concept: 1) her body was nowhere near as flexible as water, there were limits on what speed and direction her flesh and bones could bend safely, and then of course there was the pain of dealing with the consequences, 2) While pain was a product of the mind, it keep people from destroying themselves using the same technique her Sensei had taught her to control what her enemy recognized as real she could eliminate the pain but was still had the physical shell that caused it causes that could led to things much worse, 3) in manipulating her body in such a way it she had resist her instincts to fight thing like falling.

Nodoka's main advantage was that Fate would probably lack any sort of details on how Mentalism worked and she had hoped to keep the white haired boy out of the loop as long as possible, but she had few options at this point. Then she heard Fate begin to chant "Visju Tal Li Sjutal Vangèit Βασιλισκὲ γαλεώτε μετά…" From the file she knew of only two spells that began this way and given her position only one made sense for Fate to use, the "Evil Eye of Petrifaction." Now she had to do something! Of Fate's attacks described in the file she understood this the least, but what she did understand was if it worked like light it would be able to bounce off her shield. This normally would be a very good thing, she could end up turning her enemy's attack against him, but the problem was that there were a lot of other people around and any shield large enough to cover both her and Negi would most likely divert the attack towards someone else, as she ran through her options something hit her from behind and took hold of her. She quickly turned to see Negi almost aglow with magic.

Negi was relieved that he had managed to finish his incantation by the time that Fate was midway on his. Still had a problem, no matter how fast the Agilitas Fulminis made him his opponent was almost certainly going to use a beam of light to attack and light was surely faster. He couldn't risk fleeing into the crowd, Fate didn't show the slightest restraint earlier, and now it was painfully clear that his white-haired foe was just toying with him. With only moments till Fate completed his incantation and Nodoka in his arms he rushed towards the waterways through the bridge, hoping he could make it to the other side and take refuge between the supporting arches. He could only hope that Fate didn't hit the people on it.

He raced towards the stone walls of the water's underpass. He managed to get to the tunnel's halfway point by the time he and Nodoka heard "Κακόν ὄμμα πετρῶσεως!" from just a few feet behind them the echoing effect as if announcing Fate's presence at the mouth of the tunnel. Negi's mind froze there was no avoiding it not at this range. Then something rushed up around him cutting him and Nodoka off from the outside world. Not even seconds later did he feel something impact whatever had encased them. Then he heard Nodoka speak up, "Sensei, you can put me down now." Blood rushed to Negi's face as he realized that he was still hold the girl. "Sorry!" He shorted in embarrassment quickly letting her down. However Nodoka did not get her feet but to her knees, and before he could even ask why the girl pulled him in to her arms. The words "Hold on, Sensei," being the last thing that registered before he felt the sphere hurtled towards Fate, the shear speed pressing him into Nodoka.

They had to get away, the longer they stayed here the more likely Fate would go after the crowd, and both realized this simple fact. Negi had tried, now it was Nodoka's turn she focused her mind on one thing getting to ruins of the old city as fast as possible, it was the only place that she could think of that Fate couldn't drag bystanders into the fight. It was dizzying how fast things passed, she had gone fairly fast before with this technique, but nothing like this, even earlier with Anya she had restrained the speed for the girl's safety, now she had to go full speed if the hoped to escape long enough to have time to think. Surprisingly it seemed to take no time at all before they were above the rolling mist of the ruins only about thirty kilometers from where she found Anya.

Negi however had a different view of the dash for the old city. For him it hardly seemed to take "no time at all". The same force that pressed him into Nodoka at the start was constant and seemed to be increasing to the point that it was hard to breathe even with the Agilitas Fulminis strengthening his body. He honestly had no clue how Nodoka could even stand to go this fast. Sure his had gone at comparable speeds on his staff before, but that was with a barrier to cancel any force from the acceleration or wind, which was clearly absent from Nodoka's technique. Still at least he understood why she had garbed him so uncharacteristic beforehand.

Suddenly the force stopped and he found himself being thrown back with the same force. He was sent hurdling towards the shield wall, but it vanished before he could hit it sending tumbling into the open air the ground fast approaching he used void instant-movement in hope of saving himself form a full on crash. He managed to rebound in time, just a little more than ten feet from the ground. However the air that he pushed off into was already occupied by a certain student rushing to his aid already occupied the air that he pushed off into. The two collided with each other resulting in their tumbling towards the ground and landing with Negi on top of a very embarrassing position for both of them. "Sorry!" Both shouted, Negi jumping to the right of the girl so she could get to her feet. Even with the embarrassment that just happened, it did not take long for both to remember the severity of their situation. "Nodoka-san, where are we?" Negi asked looking around the area that was clearly the ruined city, but how far into it were they.

"Ah! We are in the ruins of the old city about thirty kilometers from their base. I'm sorry, but it was the only place I could think of without other people around." Nodoka replied nervously surprised by the sudden question.

Negi's eyes widened. How did Nodoka know where Fate's base was? Could this have been some sort of elaborate trap on Fate's part? There were just too many questions to think of with Fate closing in. He decided to simply ask and see how the girl in front of him reacted. "Nodoka-san, how do you know where Fate-san's base is?"

Nodoka jumped at the question. She could not believe how absent-minded she was. "Oh! Gem-sensei gave me a file with information on Fate and his partners last night! He told me their plan for today and the location of the base so I could…" She replied readily before stopping affair of how the boy would take the rest of the folder's contents.

"What! So you could do what?" Negi asked impatiently almost angry. "Nodoka-san, what aren't you telling me. How could he have such information? Why are you even with someone like that?" The boy pressed not even giving her the chance to answer latching on to her and looking up at her desperate for answers to the fearful thought that had been plaguing him since they had first herd of Sword. "What happened to you?"

That amount of hurt and confusion in the boy's face as he looked at her was heart breaking for Nodoka, if not for how young the boy was or how much she cared for him, because she could understand how much she had caused him. However she could not give him an answer as they both sensed the arrival of a threatening and familiar presence. "I too would like to know how someone from the Old World gains such a unique understanding of magic in just a few weeks…" Fate asked loudly from behind the girl drawing Negi's attention off the girl and to the top of a pillar. There Fate loomed menacingly, with a far harsher look then the boy had seen so far. "…, and how someone I just meet today seems to know so much about myself."

Now they had a serious problem if Fate heard about the file then it would be safe to say that he guess the nature of its contents and from there it was only a matter of time before Fate figured her out completely. Negi-sensei! The girl relayed telepathically urgently to the boy hoping to come up with something while Fate questioned her. Is there anything else we can try?

In truth Negi did have something else he could try, his best hope of defeating Sword that he and Rakan had managed to come up with since their talk the day before, but he still had a way to go to before it could be used in battle besides Fate would never give him the time to prepare it. No, there isn't enough time. He answered with evident frustration. Listen Nodoka-san, I'm going to charge him when I do…

NO! Nodoka responded immediately not wanting even to hear the rest of plan that she could tell would have the boy putting himself in an almost certainly fatal position so she could escape.

Negi was taken aback by the girl's response, not only because of Nodoka's refusal to go along with the idea, but amount of force in her words, they were cool and absolutely unmovable, as if someone had dropped a mountain on that path. Negi knew that he was not going to get the girl to escape to safety.

I really must say your power is impressive mind reader, magic that cannot only be reformed at will, but can be used while the mage is under an illusion to keep pain at bay." Fate said calmly, probing to see if his suspicions about the abnormal speed that, the girl manipulated her shield, after such a complete shield form out of nowhere there were few other conclusions he could reach.

Nodoka cursed to herself she could not feel surprise flood her face, as she had blocked all sensation from registering, but she knew that the secret was out.

"I see, so you must use your energy to mold yourself, as one manipulates the water in a balloon by controlling the plastic that houses it."

Negi was alarmed by the prospect of such a technique. There were a few basic problems with this concept: 1) the body is nowhere near as flexible as water, there were limits on what speed and direction your flesh and bones could bend safely, and then of course there was the pain of dealing with the consequences. Also while pain was a product of the mind, it keep people from destroying themselves using the same technique Nodoka may have eliminate the pain but was still had the physical shell that caused it causes that could lead to things much worse. The idea that one of his students would use such a technique for his sake was the last thing that he would ever want.

"You're wrong…" the girl snapped, the others combatants expecting her to deny the idea, Negi hoping she would. "…it isn't magic. I am a Mentalist, one trained to impose my will on the minds of others and the world around them. However, the process of influencing the surrounding world as Gem-sensei has explained it would take such a vast amount of detailed knowledge of the physical world that I doubted that it could even be done, certainly not in the timeframe of one summer. I find it much simpler to use it on myself, but if I must then I will do the same to you that I did to the guarding Anya-chan!" The calmness in Nodoka's voice as she said this was truly remarkable, however the others' response far less calm.

Surprise was evident on Fate's face, it was evident that the girl was not talking about ki arts, or even eastern magic, but the idea that there was something entirely was something even Fate had trouble considering. Is she trying to get me to get me to retreat out of concern for my base? Fate asked himself, but quickly rejected the idea as the girl's eyes showed an honest confidence. No, she must be trying to get me retreat and reconsider these new factors.

Negi was also in great shock over the news of the girl's technique. However even more shocking was the news that Fate had Anya, and by the sounds of it Nodoka had stormed Fate's main base, rescued Anya, fought one of the same mages that had nearly killed their strongest members at the gate port, won, and was proud of it. The idea that the girl was putting on an act didn't even enter the boy's mind. The entire image of the kind gentle girl that cared for so much was being torn to pieces right before his eyes. Then he felt Nodoka contact him with telepathy. Sensei, how long do you need for that other technique? His answer was instant. No! Nodoka you can't attack Fate-san! You'll be… Negi could not bring himself go on with that thought. Hoping that it would stop the girl's thoughts, he decided to give a reason. Besides it is too obvious there is no way he'd allow me to complete it! The response that he got was much more puzzling. I do not plan to attack him that way. I just need to know how long I have to distract him. Negi did not know what Nodoka could mean, then he remembered the girl's statement "…,one trained to impose my will on the minds of others and the world around them" then an idea occurred to him. Could the girl initiate some kind of Phantasmagoria confinement spell herself? If so that would explain, a lot of things including what she intended to use against Kotaro. Thr…no two minutes. He answered hesitantly.

Good I am going to see if I can trap him in an illusion. With that the girl initiated the same technique that Gem had used to train her, she could only hope that Fate did not catch on to the fact that he could take control, but given the situation she had little choice in the matter.

"Well if you two will not attack, Negi-kun, then I will." Fate said as he leapt off the pillar dashing towards them, but half way to the pair Fate fell to the ground and slid to a stop Nodoka sinking to her knees at the same time making it apparent that the girl had activated the technique.

Negi was worried about the situation, but he had very little time and now Fate would not waste any after Nodoka's technique was released. He bit his finger and started drawing out the array needed and begain his chant, "Ras Tel Ma Scir Magister!! To Sumbolaion Diakoneto Moi, Basilik Ouranionon. Epigenetheto Aithaloeis Keraune hos Timeis Ptheirei." The boy was then surrounded by ten circles, extending his hand framed out by smaller circles."Iactum Extendentem Circulum Praesentum! Captem Objecta a Primum ad Decimum!Area Constet! Intus se Premant Spiritus ad Pressuram Criticalem! Tribus... Duobus... Modo! Capturam Disjungens! Omnes Spiritus Fulguranoles Fortissime Emittam!! Hekatontakis Kai Kiliakis Astrapsato!! Kilipl Astrape!!!!" All the lightning was released focusing on the boy's extended hand. Stagnet!!! He commanded as the fixed itself into swirling ball of lightning. Then he heard Nodoka moan, and realized two things first Nodoka was alright and second Fate would be back on his feet in mere moments, he had to hurry. Complexio! He thought as he struggled to take in the massive amount of energy.

Nodoka came around to strong gust blowing down on her. "Sensei?" she said as she looking at the source of the wind. Then she saw the huge ball of energy the boy was about to take in. Then she marveled as the ball of lightning was absorbed into the boy.

Fate looked up from where he landed in the dirt and saw what Negi was up to, and his reaction was far less positive, he knew that he could not allow him to use it he charged at the boy readying a more permanent solution to his problem. As he approached the boy absorbed the ball of lightning and was once again aglow, but Fate was ready to attack and last time the boy's technique posed no difficulty. Now just five feet away he was about to release the Breath of Stone when he found the boy's fist logged in his face, the force of the impact hurling him yards backward. He tried to recover, but the boy was already behind him with an elbow embedded in between Fate's shoulders. However Fate still had his spell ready to use all he had to do was wait for the boy to strike again.

Then he got his chance, he noticed a change in the air, then a spark, and then the boy struck again. Now! Goodbye Negi-kun. Fate thought as he was about to release his attack, then the boy suddenly vanished just as he released the Breath of Stone. He quickly located the boy standing halfway between him and Nodoka, and then it hit him. The Mind reader! She must have been reading my mind this whole time! No matter, the boy's spell practically announces his arrival and his strikes are even weaker then before, however I can longer ignore her, and neither will the boy.

Listening to Fate's thoughts, alarm swept Nodoka as it became clear that she had became Fate's new target. Realizing this she did the most natural thing to her, she called out for Negi as soon as the part about targeting her registered. Then Fate busted out of the dissipating remnants of the Breath of Stone rushing towards the girl. Nodoka watched as Negi activated the technique to intercept Fate did the rest of Fate's thoughts register. Somehow, be it her training, adrenaline, or some other factor time seemed to slow to a crawl with the passage of the next few events.

Using the technique Negi managed to intercept the boy, but as his fist collided with Fate he found it only a phantom as the white haired boy had use so many times before. However, unlike before the water did not dissipate, instead it took the form of hands and took hold of him. Negi would have had no trouble breaking such a technique if the electric aura produced by the technique was not being carried through the water and back through his body. He could feel his muscles begin to go numb. It became clear that fate had figured out not only how his technique worked, but how to counter it.

Nodoka looked on in horror at her sensei's situation, but an even worse feeling came over her when she noticed Fate's thoughts. This will end it. Sorry to see it so soon Negi-kun, but I can no longer allow such a threat to my plans. Don't worry the mind reader will be joining you soon. Nodoka's eyes locked on Fate as if the book had given her a map, and there she saw what Fate had meant as hovered in the air behind Negi. Hovering around the white haired boy's arm were three spears of stone and from the angle Nodoka saw it looked as if the target of at least one of the spears was the young boy's head. Almost as soon as she noticed Fate the spears were in flight, barreling towards the boy like bullets. Nodoka did not think after that sight. The next thing she or anyone knew she was back to back with the boy. The sudden almost instantaneous move surprised everyone herself included; she didn't even recall ground she covered. However she was brought back reality by a loud whistling getting louder by the second, then she remembered the spears.

Immediately she put up her spherical shield around both Negi and herself, as the walls took shape the energy cut through the arms of water holding the boy and he dropped to the bottom of the shield rolled to rest where the shield found itself cut off by the ground. Once again Nodoka forgot her surroundings, the attention that she should have spent on solidifying the shield walls fixed itself on the boy laying below her. Just as her eyes caught sight of the boy's slow moving chest she felt the spears make contact with her shield her first instinct was to move, but then she realized she had a real problem. If she did one of the attacks could still hit the boy, and if she took it she could fall on the boy and kill him too, any attempt to retract the shield to allow more speedy movement would injure Negi, who was still struggling to even get to his knees.

Her mind raced an incredible speed trying to come up with something, but everything came down to a choice of her or the boy. She could see the spear tips now she did not have long, but her mind was already made up. I am sorry Sensei! She cried out as tears flooded her checks, and with that she took a piece of the shield wrapped it around the boy and sent the young mage barreling through the air until he came to crashing halt thirty yards behind where he was, but Nodoka did not get to see the boy land and the spears ripped through her throat, heart and left lung seconds after he was in the air. By the time Negi had came to a stop the frigate darkness of the End had over taken Nodoka.

Author's Notes: First of all I am so sorry this took so long to update I got my first taste of Senior classes this semester, and I was stupid enough to take three histories and French, which landed me 1500 pages of extra readings plus: papers, exams, the holidays and writer's block. So it hasn't been easy getting this out. Secondly Nodoka is (if you haven't figured it out yet my favorite character, and if you want a clue to want is happening then check the last line it also has something to do with Chapter two).

Next Chapter: The Terror of the mind! /or Death isn't a b**ch the Reaper is ^_^

Oh and Happy New Years!

Βασιλισκὲ γαλεώτε μετά κᾦκτὼ ποδῶν καί κακοῖν ὀμμάτοιν τό φῶσ ἐμῇ χειρί καθίασ τῷ κακῷ δέργματι τοξευσάτω! Κακόν ὄμμα πετρῶσεως! (Basilisk, Lizard with Eight Legs and Evil Eyes! Light Placed into My Hand, Shoot Forth the Evil Look! Evil Eye of Petrifaction!)

Βασιλισκὲ γαλεώτε μετά κὦκτὼ ποδῶν καί κακοῖν ὀμμάτοιν πνοῆν τοῦ ἰοῦ τόν χρόνον παραιροῦσαν! Πνοή Πέτρας! (Basilisk, Lizard with Eight Legs and Evil Eyes! Breath of Poison Stealing Time! Breath of Stone!)

Agite Tenebrae Abyssi, Ensis Incendens! Et Incendium Caliginis Umbrae Inimicitiae Destructionis Ultionis! Incendant et Me et Eum, Sint Solum Incendentes! Incendium Gehennae!( Come Forth, Darkness of the Abyss, Burning Sword! And the Conflagration of Mist, Shadows, Enmity, Destruction, and Vengeance! Set he and I aflame, burning to our very foundation! Hellfire Conflagration!)

Ensis Exsequens (Executioner's Sword) Τό τεῖχος διερξάσθω! Δόρυ Πέτρας! (Pass Through the Wall! Spear of Stone!) Κενότητος ἀστράπσατω δὲ τεμέτω! Δίος τύκος! (Come forth from the void, O Thunder, and cut down my enemy! Axe of Lightning!)

"Locos Umbrae Regnans Scáthach! In Manum Meum Dedo Iaculum Daemonium Cum Spinis Triginta! Iaculatio Fulgoris!" "Scathach, who Reigns over the Realm of Shadows! Surrender unto my Hands Thirty Barbed Demonic Spears! Lightning Spears!"

"To sumbolaion diakoneto moi, basilisk ouranionon. Epigenentheto, apoleia keraune hos timeis pteirei. Hekatonkatis kai khiliakis astrapsato. Khiliarkhou Astrape" (Heed the contract and serve me, lord of the heavens. Come, titan-slaying blazing thunder. Hurl down thy lightning a hundred times and even a thousand times. Thousand Thunderbolts.)

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