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Chapter Thirty

GrayHood`s cruelty

The redhead was on her knees as she stared at the monsters in front of her. Erza Scarlet couldn't believe what was happening but she was losing against some monsters. Each time she managed to defeat one, that guy keep sprouting them out of nowhere and she was getting pressed in fighting all of them.

Those monsters were growing stronger as the fight went on and Erza was sure that they were getting even tougher to beat…or was she the one that was running out of magical energy.

"I am surprised that you are even still on your feet," Sanath told her, a smirk growing upon his face, "You are stronger than the three from…Too bad that you`re our enemy."

Two large monster made their way toward her and Erza stood back up as she glared at the enemy in front of her. The redhead girl transformed into her Cheetah armor as she moved quickly through the enemies like they were nothing causing them to combust like flames, but, one of the monster had somehow caught up to her sending the girl down aground sliding on her side.

"And she bit the dust again," Sanath grinned, "It seems you are slowing down…"

Erza stood back up again, as she glared at the creature that had taken her down. It stood on two hind legs with a wolf like face and glowing eyes. The claws that it had in each paws were covered in blood, Erza`s blood for the girl`s body was filled with the gashes of claw which were dripping with blood.

Damn it, I have to take care of this guy soon, she thought, I am losing too much blood…

Rave was slammed into the ground but she hardly stayed there before she pulled herself away from where she was just as a Scythe landed there. The raven haired girl`s body was covered with the Crystal Shell but part of it had been broken.

Rave was shocked to see that her Shell had been breached. Never before as anyone ever breached the Shell when she summoned it out and now somehow Reaper had been strong enough to cut through the crystal.

She stared up toward her opponent, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Infinite Crystal Arrows," she yelled as a magic circle appeared in her palm, aiming them straight toward him.

Reaper twisted his Scythe around clockwise and a white circle appeared in front of him, blocking the incoming Crystal arrows that were hammering upon it.

"What`s the matter Rave?" he yelled, "Where is the bloodlust that you used to fight the Dragon Slayers with us?"

He charged at the girl who summoned out a Crystal sword and he swung at her meeting the sword with a loud clang. Rave free hand however had the crystal swelled up like a balloon as spike appeared all over it.

"Crystal Dynamic Crusher," she yelled aiming it straight toward Reaper.

The attack hit him straight into the chest causing him to widen his eyes a little at the sudden attack that seemingly came from nowhere at him. Reaper put a hand on the ground as he slid back and unto a crouch.

"Well, didn`t see that one coming," he said smirking.

Rave however had both of her hands swelled up with the large spikes balloons. Her eyes glared at Reaper as she threw them both forward.

"Double Crusher," she yelled.

Reaper jumped above the attack as it literally obligated a house that was behind him. He had a smirk upon his face.

"Well you certainly haven`t lost your edge Rave," he yelled out.

Rave raised her hand toward him.

"Crystal Pillar,"

The tall pillar made out of Crystal aimed straight toward him and Reaper simply sliced through it causing the crystals to turn into pieces around the raven haired girl who covered her face from the falling chards.

"Wide open," Reaper yelled.

Before Rave could move, Reaper sliced at her, and landed behind the girl as the dark haired girl`s eye widened in shock. Reaper glanced back at her as she stood up seeing the girl falling down on the ground.

"Well you lose Rave," he said.

When Rave touched the ground however, she shattered into thousands of pieces, causing Reaper`s eyes to widen in surprise and in shock.

"What the…That was the Crystal Shell?"

Then a magic circle appeared beneath his feet drawing his attention as Rave stepped out of the destroyed house that she had destroyed earlier. Reaper turned his gaze toward her.

"But when did you…?"

"I never planned to fight you with all of my strength," Rave told him, "I wouldn`t want to waste my magical energy before Acnologia get`s here. I am the only one that can fight it off."

Reaper narrowed his eyes at her chuckling crystal rising from the magic circle he was standing on.

"I thought something was strange the way you fought," he said a soft chuckle growing on his lips, "You are as sneaky as ever you bastard."

The Crystal had covered his chest now.

"But tell me Rave, why did you decide to betray us?" Reaper asked her, "At least, you own me that explanation."

Rave stared at the man across her.

"A way to make amends for the wrong that I have done," she said, "But…It`s the only way that I can achieve my greatest desire."

Reaper`s body was covered with the crystal.

"You don't have to hide behind that mask of yours Reaper," Rave said, "You know of what I talk about."

A small chuckle grew from the man.

"Masks?" he said, "I suppose we all carry our own masks so we can face the world."

Then the crystal covered him entirely.

"Crystal Prison," Rave whispered as she walked toward him.

She reached toward him and then touched the crystal.

You didn`t even try to fight me at your full strength Reaper, she thought, you carry the same scars as I do. You may make people believe that you are a monster, but somehow, I knew you are a human being. One with emotions…

Flashback

Rave was drawn out of the place the house the group was staying in. He didn`t know what had woke him up at first before he heard it. The soft humming coming from the world outside, so he made his way toward it and surprisingly finding Reaper seating upon the railing of the place.

The self proclaimed mass murderer was seating upon it, twisting a golden band in his hand as he hummed to himself. The Scythe was lying on the railing beside him.

"Shouldn`t you be asleep?" Reaper asked him.

"That song," Rave said, "It`s a ballad isn`t it?"

Reaper turned toward him.

"Yeah," the man said, "Something I learned before I became the Reaper."

Rave turned his attention toward the ring in his hand.

"Where you married?"

"Once," Reaper told him, "Surprised?"

Rave shook his head.

"Not really? At least, now your motive for your hatred of Dragons and Dragon Slayers make sense," he said, "You lost them during the War."

Reaper didn`t say anything as he tightened his grip upon the ring.

"A Dragon Slayer killed her," he said, the look of anger and hatred crossing his face, "I am simply returning the favor and with Zeref, that favor will be felt through the entire world."

End of Flashback

Rave then whispered.

"Capture Crystal Magic: Retraction."

A light was drawn out of Reaper`s solidified form and was hardened into a small ball of Crystal. Rave holds it in her palm.

One down, she thought, two to go.

The dark haired girl turned her attention toward the sky, throwing her senses out to feel where Acnologia might be…

He will get there soon, she thought, I hope that they had defeated GrayHood and Sanath until then, and Acnologia, you will take me to Zeref…and we will end this, once and for all.

Meanwhile

GrayHood blinked a little noticing the blonde haired girl standing up again. The girl`s body was filled with bruises and he was surprised that she was even still standing. The girl was nothing without her Celestial Keys and GrayHood knew that no matter what the girl do next, he will simply destroy her.

"You run out of tricks girl," he said, "But even so, I am done wasting time with you, step aside and let me kill the Dragon Slayer."

The girl however stood fast in front of the Dragon Slayer who was slowly getting on his feet, thought he seemed to be doing it with some difficulty. GrayHood knew that attack he had given him earlier must still be smarting and most he hit with that attack stayed down, unable to move.

It had been quite amazing that he is still conscious, and then he turned his eyes toward the blonde girl who was standing protectively in front of the pink haired Dragon Slayer, glaring angrily at him.

"I won`t let you touch him," the blonde girl told him.

GrayHood frowned to himself.

"Lucy…," he heard the Dragon Slayer said, "What are you doing?"

The girl raised a golden Key.

"I won`t let him get to you, even if it means my life," Lucy said, "Open Gate of the…"

"I have enough of you," GrayHood yelled as a magic circle appeared in his hand.

Lucy`s body was suddenly drawn toward him and he heard the Dragon Slayer yelling something. He slammed her into a building wall causing the girl to scream out in pain.

"Why would you protect him?" he said, "What good does it does to you to protect his kind while they cause the death of people you love?"

He slammed the girl into another wall with his magic.

"WHY DOES HE GET TO LIVE WHILE SHE IS DEAD," GrayHood yelled at her in anger.

He then slammed her down unto the earth and heard the Dragon Slayer yell out the girl`s name before he winced taking hold of his pained side with a grunt. The girl weakly moved as he walked forward until he stood beside her and slammed his boot against her neck causing her to choke.

"Get off of her," The Dragon Slayer yelled as he charged toward him.

"Pitiful," he said raising a hand toward him as his magic circle appeared again causing the Dragon Slayer to freeze in midair before he was slammed back down unto the ground.

The Dragon Slayer glared up at him trying to move but he couldn't even move a muscle as GrayHood`s magic kept him there.

"Do you know what you are feeling right now Dragon Slayer?" he said staring at the boy`s green eyes, "It is the same feeling that I felt long ago when your kind killed her…"

That seemed to drawn the boy`s attention.

"She was begging, begging to be spared…for my sake" GrayHood continued, "but you killed her…"

GrayHood pulled a hand into his coat and pulled out a long blade which glinted in the sun. The boy`s eyes widened probably getting what he was about to do.

"I won`t let you do it," the Dragon Slayer said, as flames appeared around him, "I won`t let you kill her."

He tried to push himself up but GrayHood pushed him even farther into the ground causing a crater to appear there. The Dragon Slayer raised his head at him.

"I won`t let you," he said, "I won`t let you kill one of my namaka."

"Now, you will feel what I felt on that day," he said as he raised the blade into the air.

Then he brought it down, stabbing the blonde girl on the ground straight through the chest.

Natsu couldn`t move.

He was staring straight at the blade that was standing upon Lucy`s body. He stared straight at the blood that was appearing underneath the girl`s form who was moving weakly from underneath GrayHood`s boots.

"L…Lucy," he whispered.

The girl`s eyes met his and Natsu suddenly had a flash back of the first time he met her….and the many adventures they had went through together, but more ever it brought back memories of how he felt when Lisanna died…

"N…Nat…su…," Lucy whispered before her eyes closed.

Then anger…pure hot white anger pursed through him so strong that it broke the hold that GrayHood`s magic had over him. A tall pillar of flames grew around his form as the roar of a Dragon echo through the city of Magnolia.

A new power rises...

Next time: Dragon Rage

Jacques0 out.

R&R.