This is the town of Woodcliff. A town surrounded by the forest and known for having some of the most beautiful woodcarvings in all of Fiore. When mages came to this town, it usually had to deal with the forest that surrounded the town. Typically animals would come into the town and steal some of the most random things: such as blankets, plates, chairs, bags, pillows and one time, someone's savings was stolen. But the mage who went to find it, found it. Everything was still inside. But every so often, on those rare days, the people would send a request that had to deal with a thief. But every town had to deal with that.
As the sun reached its highest point of the day, the streets below began to become crowded. Mothers were gathering food for that night's dinner, shop owners tending to customers and the children were playing. Many people walked through these streets. People who lived in the town and those who were passing through. Many of those who were passing through were mages from different guilds. Some just passing through as they walked to their destination while some arrived to take on the job request sent to their guild.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Right?
A tall man walked through the town. He towered over everyone he passed, even the tallest of people. No one could see him as he wore a black cloak with the hood on. He spoke to no one as he passed through. Not bothering to stop and watch the street performers or take a sample from the shop owners. The man kept walking and walking, passing a cafe when he heard a few names that made him stop in his tracks.
"Oh, I know! The Fairy Tail Master even appointed three other members to be his bodyguard! This is the captain, he's known as Freed The Dark." One woman said as the two friends drooled over a Sorcerer Magazine. The man growled at the name. Fairy Tail. Oh how he hated that guild.
"Him and Rufus from Sabertooth have such as similar style. I wonder if they're friends or just happen to shop at the same place." The other friend wonder as the man narrowed his eyes and made a fist. Sabertooth. Oh how he HATED Sabertooth with a passion. The man walked off, hearing the girls giggle over the magazine. Though, the man grew curious. He stopped by one of the many magazine booths this town had to offer and picked up a Sorcerer Magazine.
"Ah a new face. Glad to see someone new picking up the new issue. They've been flying off as usual. I hear Fairy Tail's Freed Justine and Sabertooth's Rufus Lore are in this week's issue. I haven't read it, but apparently there's a rumor going around that those two-" The clerk didn't even get to finish before the taller man placed money on the table before walking off. The clerk blinked and just watched as the taller man walked away. "Well then, guess he isn't much of a talker. Oh well, at least he left enough to pay for the real thing."
The man quietly exited the town and walked through two more before entering the forest. It was near sunset when he entered the woods. He walked and walked, going deeper and deeper into the forest. Away from any form of life or light as the trees became closer to one another. That was…until he came up upon a dark castle type building. Hidden away. The man took off his hood as he arrived. From beneath the hood came a dark skin tone man, heavily muscled, large elf-like ears, small white eyes that showed anger and light-colored hair and a beard that jutted out like crazy.
This man was Jiemma. The former guild master of the Sabertooth guild. He walked up to the doors of the building as they opened. Two figures bow to the man as he entered.
"Welcome back Master Jiemma." Jiemma didn't bother to look back as he proceeded forward. As he passed, more figures appeared and bow to their master. Up the stairs he went and straight to his office. The doors behind him closed as he removed his cloak, revealing tattoos all over his body that focused on the left side. He walked over to his desk and he dropped the magazine on top before he sat down.
"Entered." There wasn't even a knock on the door, but Jiemma knew someone was about to knock. The doors opened and a tall man with fair skin, dark blood ready eyes and near pitched black hair entered. The man smirked as he bow.
"Welcome back Master Jiemma. I do hope your travels were at ease." The man asked as Jiemma only gave a nod. "Wonderful to hear."
"What do you want, Thorn? I don't have time for your nonsense." The master hissed. Even after everything he went through, from the loss of his guild, to Tartars and being turned into a demon; Jiemma hadn't changed. He was still strict and even stricter now than he was before. Thorn gave a nod before bowing.
"I'm just here to inform you that while you were away, Viper Bite managed to finish everything that you wished for. Our library of the dark arts has been updated from the earliest we could find to the most updated. We've also managed to grow a bit. From 63 members we now nearly have 75. Currently, we are at 72 members. Of course… I approved them all and made sure they could withstand every single blow we threw at them. On top of that, we've also managed to gather more poisons for our expert. That's grew much I must say. From 174 to nearly 300." Thorn explained as Jiemma gave a nod.
"That's what I wanted to hear." Jiemma said as he leaned back. "I will not allow this guild to fall." Viper Bite was Jiemma's new guild, new dark guild. Viper Bite, named after the Carpet Viper, a snake with a deadly bite.
"Of course, Master Jiemma." The man chuckled as his eyes laid upon a new object on the desk. "Oh so when did you become a fan of Sorcerer Magazine, ay?"
"I'm not. While passing through one of the towns, I heard something that caught my attention." Jiemma explained as he leaned forward and grabbed the magazine. "Someone by the name of Freed The Dark."
"OH I've heard of him." Thorn answered as he sat on top the desk, crossing his legs. "He's from that one guild you hate."
"Fairy Tail." Jiemma replied as Thorn chuckled.
"Ah yes, Fairy Tail." The other said as Jiemma opened the magazine and flipped through until he spotted Freed's name. And to his surprise, Rufus was on the next page. Jiemma growled.
"Are they brothers?" Thorn asked as he looked down at the page.
"No. This wizard…" He pointed to Rufus "Is part of…. Sabertooth."
"Ah the cursed word." Thorn said with a chuckle. "So what caught your attention-"
"Letter Magic, more specific, Dark Ecriture and Jutsu Shiki." Jiemma read the profile.
"Dark Ecriture, ay? I've heard of that. Suppose to be a type of writing magic that has to do with the rules." Thorn chuckled.
"It sounds weak."
"Now don't be so rush to judge Master. I've heard he's quite powerful." Thorn explained as Jiemma looked at him with narrowed eyes. "He has two forms from what I've heard. Absolute Shadow is supposed to increase his power and Darkness is supposed to be his demon form, allowing him to use dark magic."
"Dark magic you say?"
"Yeah I heard he's powerful. The Fairy Tail Master asked him personally to watch over that grandson of his. And that grandson is pretty stubborn and has so much pride that he wouldn't let just anyone protect him. That Freed must be powerful. And from what I heard from a little birdy, he was chosen to take part in Fairy Tail's S-Class examination. And we all know that the only way to become an S-Class mage is to be pretty strong." Thorn smirked as he started to play with a crystal ball that was on the master's desk. "And I've heard that Rufus is powerful too. I mean, you did pick him to take part in the Grand Magic Games."
"Yes and if he wasn't strong then he wouldn't even had made it into Sabertooth."
"What type of magic does he use?"
"A type of molding magic called Memory Magic."
"Oh, now he has to be powerful. I take it he can memorize any type of magic that is presented in front of him?" Thorn asked as Jiemma nodded.
"Yes. Why are you so curious about these weaklings!" The demon demanded.
"Well I do remember that one plan you revealed to me before you left. How you wanted to destroy Sabertooth and Fairy Tail." Thorn explained with an evil smirk. Jiemma studied the dark mage very carefully, as if he was trying to read his mind.
"And why are you bring that up now?" Jiemma asked as Thorn chuckled while he through the crystal ball in the air, catching it as it fell.
"Just hearing their magic sparked a little idea in my head. And I do think…it could work." Thorn was one of Jiemma's two generals for Viper Bite. He could easily come up with a plan to destroy anything and anyone. And it succeeded in the end. Since Viper Bite was form, they've managed many things thanks to Thorn. Such as stealing different poisons, supplies and destroying a few fellow dark guilds. All thanks for Thorn's quick planning and they've even managed to escape from the Magic Council time and time again. The current building they are in was once the home of another dark guild that they very easily destroyed.
"Well then…tell me Thorn. What do these two weaklings have to do with your idea?"
"Welll… Dr. Gail has been working on a new poison I think you would like to hear about." Thorn started, mentioning the guild's poison expert. "He's been working on a mind controlling poison."
"Mind controlling poison? Why the hell is that bastard working on that instead of something useful? I know the mind controlling spells!" Jiemma hissed as Thorn chuckled. "What's so funny?"
"Well yes you do, Master. But he is coming up with a poison that is so strong that only one person can control them. A poison for you to inject to whoever you like and they will follow you and you only. So I couldn't order them to do anything. Anyway, but if somehow they manage to break the mind controlling part, there's still the poison they have to deal with and…it has quite a venomous bite to it." He snickered.
"Continue."
"It's quite fascinating. He's making sure that if someone manages to break the mind controlling part, that the poison will…very slowly kill who you were controlling. A very slow and painful death."
"You still haven't answered my question, Thorn!" He slammed his fist against his desk. "What does this have to do with these two wizards!"
"Use them against their own guilds by using the doc's poison. That way, you can destroy not only your most hated guilds but you can gain two new strong members. And from what I see, you can easily make them study all the dark spells in the library. That'll make them stronger. And if you're sick of them, I'm sure you can easily break the mind control and watch them slowly parish." Thorn chuckled as Jiemma closed his eyes.
'Hmm…use two wizards against their will and serve me while I control every single move they make?' Jiemma though. 'And if I want to easily get rid of them, I can break the mind control poison and watch them slowly suffer as the poison kills them?' "What else can I do with the poison?"
"Oh many things, master. Many things. It's mind control. Anything you wish they will follow. Tell one of them to kill the other, they will. Tell them to drink a poison, won't hesitate. Anything. And of course, the fear that you are known for can also be incorporated. They fail a mission? Make them fear you! Remind them of their dark past. Anything to make them not fail again." Thorn explained as Jiemma reopened his eyes.
"Well then…" The master started as he stood up and looked out the window. "Send in Dr. Gail now! I want to make sure this poison will be ready." Thorn chuckled as he hopped off the desk and placed the crystal back. He then bow to Jiemma with a smirk.
"Why of course Master." Thorn turned to leave as Jiemma began to think of the plan. He turned around and picked up the magazine. Starring at both Freed and Rufus. Jiemma smirked.
"I know you two won't come easy but you both have no choice. Once bitten, you have no other option but to obey me. Once the both of you have destroyed your guilds, we will rise to power as the strongest dark guild in all of Fiore. All will fear the fearsome bite that Viper Bite has." Jiemma said as he dropped the magazine on the desk before turning back around to stare out into the night.