Chapter 32

"Just what the fuck are you planning?!" Laxus bellowed. He can't fight her. Nobody has the heart to.

"Seriously, that again?" Sael feigned annoyance. "Oh, well, since you're all gonna die here, might as well elaborate it. I'm gonna use the Celestial Spirit Keys of Lucy and that girl inside that sphere to open this book." He pulled a vivid black book with twelve golden keyholes in the cover. "This, my friends is called The Book of Pandemonium. It will allow me to bend Acnologia and Zeref to my will." He smiled triumphantly.

"Luce, snap out of it!" Natsu cried.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. That's no use. She won't hear you and you two trying-hards over there," He looked at Sting and Rogue, "that sphere is called Infernal Sphere and no Magic can tear that apart."

"Aren't you a demon? Why are you trying to overthrow your own creator?" Erza growled. "Give us back Lucy!"

"Simple. To replace him." He smirked. "Now, is there something you want?"

"Yes, that would be for you to release Lucy from your Curse and for your death." Gray replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"Curse, so that's what it was called. I knew there was a difference when I tried controlling you people and in using Abyss Break." His smiled faded and was replaced by a poker face. "Now, Lucy, dear, would you mind killing your friends for me?"

"No." All survivors flinched. This can't be happening.

"Stop this, Sael! There are ten of us here ; five are S-Class and five A-Class Mages. If you do that, wouldn't you be delivering your own defeat?" Jellal tried to use some reverse psychology on the man.

"Oh, whoever said that Lucy here will fight fair and square?" His annoying smirk was once again plastered on his old face. "Now, Lucy, commence nakama extermination." The blonde closed her eyes and began her chant.

"Survey the Heavens, Open the Heavens…

All the stars, far and wide…

Show thy appearance…

With such shine."

"No, that's…!" Laxus can't believe his own eyes. Light soon gathered around Lucy and took the form of glowing orbs resembling planets. The whole area dimmed and stars can be visibly seen twinkling around.

"Lucy, don't!" Erza exclaimed.

"Oh, Tetrabiblos…

I am the ruler of stars…

Aspect become complete…

"Stop that, Lucy!" Gray pleaded.

Open thy malevolent gate…

Oh, 88 Stars of the heaven…"

"SHINE! URANO METRIA!" Lucy finished the final word of the chant and opened her eyes. The orbs glowed brighter and hit all of them with a tremendous attack.

"ARGGGHHHHHH!"

"*huff* *huff**huff*" They all managed to stand up despite the force they have just endured.

"Stop…*huff*…this…*huff*…Lucy!" Erza called out.

"Bunny Girl, snap out of it!" Gajeel supported Wendy as she tried to stand.

"Rival, *huff* …open your eyes!" Juvia said while being held by Gray. Normally, this kind of situation would have thrown her into one of her Love-Love Land but today's not that day.

"She can't hear you. Lucy, would you please?"

"Yes." Ten keys soon hovered in mid-air and encircled her. "Open! Ten Gates of the Zodiac!" Blinding golden light burst from where she stood and there stood in a row behind her was the Spirits of the Golden Keys.

"Stop! You're going to kill her!" Laxus ran towards his bride but was blocked by her Spirits.

"Regulus Punch!" Loke suddenly appeared beside him. He was caught off guard when a large mass of light in the shape of an elongated oval made contact with his cheek. Laxus was sent in a nearby wall by the impact.

"Loke, stop this. We're your guild mates!" Gray tried to reach out to him.

"We can't disregard our mistress' orders. Her commands are absolute and must be executed no matter what the cost is." A tear rolled down The Lion's cheek. His speaking was labored like he was trying resist Sael influence over him.

"Now that you are all weak, maybe a one-on-one battle will suffice." Sael descended and stood beside Lucy.

"Bastard!" Natsu's flames covered him, ready to fight even in his weakened state.

"ANTARES-SADALSUUD MUDSTORM ALDEBARAN!" Taurus brought down the axe. Weak, Natsu doesn't have the time to dodge and took the full blunt force of the swirling mud.

"LIGHTNING FLAME DRAGON'S FIRING HAMMER!" Lightning and fire engulfed Natsu's right fist and forearm. A devastating blow emerged and went straight to Taurus but The Golden Bull was still unscathed.

"Impossible." The pink-haired mage's eyes widened in surprise as he was thrown into the air by Taurus' axe and smashed into the concrete. Blood spilled from his mouth as he tried to stand but was too weak to do so.

"Sorry, Erza-san but I must abide by the rules-choki." Cancer approached Erza. He'd never thought that a day would come when he will have to face the woman he admired.

Erza took a step back, flinching. Dark spots danced along her peripheral view. That Urano Metria Spell really did them in. "REQUIP: HEAVEN'S WHEEL ARMOR!" Metal armor covered her chest, arms and feet. A large billowing whit skirt with metal plating covered her lower body and large metal wings protruded from her back. With heavy arms, she requipped hundreds of sword and flung it all towards her opponent.

"ALTARF BLADE: THOUSAND SLICE DANCE!" Cancer moved into an unimaginable speed and countered each blade using his scissors. There were only the clink of metal and sparks and when he was done, even Erza's armor was broken.

"You…" Erza knelt down. Bruise and cuts covered her body.

"Erza!" Jellal ran towards her side to protect her. "GRAND CHARIOT!" He placed both arms on top of each other, with the top hand having only the index and middle fingers spread out. Seven Magic Seals appeared in front of him and connected. A powerful blast released from the seven seals and blasted towards Cancer.

"REGULUS BLAST! The blast of light clashed with the Grand Chariot Spell, blocking and cancelling it.

"METEOR!" Jellal's body was then surrounded by a cloak of light, enhancing his speed into superhuman levels.

"Aaarghh!" Jellal punched Loke in different angles. The leader of the Zodiac tried to retaliate but failed miserably because he can't catch his opponent. "Cancer, do it!" The Lion randomly released a burst of light in the air. Cancer sped towards it and caught it in his one of his scissors.

"What's that?" Jellal looked at The Giant Crab and noticed something in the Spirit's right middle finger. He looked back at Loke only to find his face apologetic. "You gave him one of your rings?"

"I'm sorry. Please, please save Princess. Even we are bound to Sael's Curse." Then, just then, light disappeared in The Lion's eyes, his mind finally succumbing to the Curse. "REGULUS GATLING IMPACT!" Loke repeatedly punched Jellal whilst releasing light. The impact sent the blue-haired man flying into the air. Cancer took the chance to perform his attack. "ALTARF BLADE: CLAW OF REGULUS!" A huge crab pincers appeared and clawed at him.

"Stop…" Lucy whispered in a weak voice just as a tear rolled down her cheeks.


A/N: Here's the continuation of the previous chapter but I must say, I have made another cliffy here. I know, I know, I'm really a horrible person for doing such a thing but if I didn't do it, this chapter would look stuffy so, yeah, gomen, gomen! Hahaha! Anyways, this marks the second part of our countdown! I guess I'll be able to update in a regular basis now, considering that the start of our second semester is today *insert sarcastic yay here* and I need to finish this to concentrate on my studies (yeah, like that's gonna happen. Hahaha!) XD

OgaxHilda: I totally agree with you. Badass Lucy is really sexy, not to mention, powerful! I really hope that she'll get her fair share of badass-ness in the current filler arc. It should be, since it's all about Celestial Spirits. And of course, in the manga. :D

supercrazyperson: Hahaha. Sorry about that but I guess, with this chapter, you'll get more irritated at me for leaving another cliffy! Gomen, gomen in advance! Aaaannnddd about Laxus vs. Natsu, thank God that it wasn't that all corny and stupid. About Sael, me too. He's been getting on my nerves lately. Why on Earth did I even created such an annoying character?! Hahaha :D

twilightamanda: It is only fitting since you've been with me from the start. A dedication was the least I can do and thank you for such appreciation. Here's another chapter and believe me when I say that my torturing and traumatizing of our dear blond couple has only just begun (I think so). :D