The first duel has started. Natsu had 1600LP with Hades having 3400LP. Natsu had his Fire Dragon Slayer, but it was trapped in defense mode at 2200def points. Hades had his field spell, Grimoire Field, and just activated Alter of the Underworld. Natsu was in a tighter bind because Asuka was in the area and if he failed to stop Hades from summoning his Underworld Lord, she'll be lost to the darkness.
"I've got no choice, but to end my turn." Natsu said.
"That's right." Hades said and drew his next card. "With that, one of the torches will be lit." One of the torches from his trap lit a dark flame. "I summon Grimoire Gremlin to the field in defense mode." A small demon with a staff showed up with 400def points. "Thanks to my field spell, I'm also able to summon another Grimoire Spider." Another spider appeared on the field with 600def points. "I end my turn
"With three monsters, in defense mode he'll gain three more counters next turn and that will be all he needs." Lucy said.
"I'm not going to let that happen." Natsu said as he drew his next card. 'I have to stop him before he can bring out his Underworld Lord. That means I have to clear the field.' He thought. "I activate Passion Draw. This allows me to draw a card for every monster on your field. That means I can draw two cards." He looked and saw the cards were just what he needed. "I activate De-Fusion. This will split a fusion monster back into the monsters used to summon it. I hate to do it, but I've got to get rid of Fire Dragon Slayer." His monster split back into Fire Dragon Iron Fist, Talon, and Winger at 1600, 1500, and 1000atk points.
"That's not going to save you." Hades said. "I activate Grimoire Gremlin's ability. It allows me to change the battle position of one monster on your field. Back down, Fire Dragon Iron Fist." Gremlin shot out some static and Natsu's monster went into defense mode with 1200def points.
"No. Now there's three monsters in defense mode." Lucy said.
"I'm still going to cut it down." Natsu said. "Fire Dragon Talon and Winger, take out both his monsters with Blazing Stomp and Whiplash Flames!" Talon jumped up and crushed down on the gremlin and Winger shot out his flames that lashed against the spider and destroyed it. "I place one card facedown. You might still get a counter, but at least I minimized it."
"Even that won't be enough." Hades said. Meanwhile, Macao and Alzack were looking for their kids. They decided to head up in a building to try and get a better view and away from the light.
"Where could they be?" Alzack said.
"Alzack, over here!" Macao called out. Both of them headed over to a window and they saw the duel going on.
"It's Natsu!" Alzack said.
"Look behind him." Macao said. They looked further back and they saw poor Asuka trapped and terrified.
"Asuka!" Alzack called out and got everyone's attention.
"It's Alzack and Macao." Natsu said.
"At least we found her safe. We just need to wait until the duel is over." Macao said.
"You're wrong!" Lucy said. "If Hades summons an Underworld Lord, she'll be lost. Her spirit will be absorbed."
"Are you serious?!" Alzack said.
"I intend to make sure that doesn't happen." Natsu said. "It's your move, Hades. Come on. Let's get this over with."
"Very well, but you asked for it." Hades said as he drew his next card. "Since it's my standby phase, another torch lights up since there's one monster in defense mode." Another torch lit up and that left only two. "You tried to stop the inevitable and you failed. I activate Dark Counter. This allows me to place a counter anywhere on the field. I just need to sacrifice 100LP for each counter."
"No!" Natsu shouted.
"That's right. I only need to lower my life points by 200 to light the last two torches." Hades said. His life points dropped to 3200 and the last two torches caught fire. "With all four torches ablaze, I now have the power to summon my Underworld Lord!" A pillar of light shot out as the temple crumbled.
"Lucy, hold onto me." Natsu said and Lucy did just that. Inside the light, something formed and it started beating. "What is that thing?"
"It looks like some sort of heart." Lucy said. Natsu's mark glowed brighter and it formed a barrier around the two of them. "Jellal was right. Your mark is protecting us."
"Yes, but it won't save the little girl." Hades said.
"No!" Natsu said as they all looked towards Asuka. They saw a light starting to leave her body as her body was fading to nothing.
"She's fading away!" Lucy said.
"How could I let her down? It's going to take a miracle." Natsu said. Just when all hoped seemed lost, a motorcycle shot into the air with Laxus driving it.
"So who called a miracle?!" Laxus said.
"Laxus!" Lucy said as they all were happy to see him.
"Help Asuka!" Natsu said.
"I'm on it!" Laxus said as he landed down near her. Laxus was able to grab onto Asuka before her soul left her body. His mark formed a barrier around the two and saved her as Asuka's body was restored.
"She's safe!" Alzack said as that was all that mattered to him.
"Nice work, Laxus." Natsu said.
"It makes no difference as it arrives!" Hades said. "I summon Underworld Lord Vulturis!" The heart-like object unleashed dark power and the whole place began to shake as something began to rise out of the ground.
"What is that thing?!" Natsu said as they all could not believe what was right in front of them.
"It's huge!" Lucy said. Vulturis was a gigantic dark bird that looked like a vulture with purple markings around with a power of 3000atk points and a horrifying shriek. Just as it was summoned, the other dragons with Erza, Gray, Ultear, and Meldy arrived at the top of some building and saw it themselves.
"Is that one of the Underworld Lords?!" Gray said as it was the biggest thing any of them ever seen. "Is it a bird?"
"More like…a vulture!" Erza said.
"So that's an Underworld Lord." Natsu said.
"That's correct. Marvelous, isn't it?" Hades said. "You have every right to be amazed if this is the first time seeing one."
"Amazed? Marvelous? Give me a break." Laxus said as he trade it off as a laugh. "Natsu, roast that bird with this old fool."
"Yeah." Natsu said. "Just tell me how you like it? Crispy? Extra Crispy?"
"Watch your tone, boy." Hades said. "This creature happens to be my life's work."
"What do you mean?" Natsu asked.
"You see, I use to be the head of a research facility that actually studied the legend of the dragons." Hades said. "Back then my name was Precht. My research led me here to Magnolia."
"Why here?" Natsu asked.
"You mean you don't know. The city's grounds, before the city itself was made, was where the battle between dragons and the underworld happened." Hades said. None of them knew that.
"It all happened here?" Natsu questioned.
"That's right." Hades said. "I spent years studying that legend. When I heard that learned it happened here, I set up a lab under the grounds of the city and continued below. Then one day, I made a great discovery and the darkness that was sealed away was able to be free again."
"That means….it was you!" Lucy said. "Everything that has happened up until now was you're doing."
"Correct, my dear." Hades said. "I unlocked the darkness and I embraced it with the Underworld Lords lending me their power and you're about to see it yourself. First, Vulturis can't be attack."
"I can't attack it!?" Natsu said.
"That's right, but it can attack you even if you have monsters on the field." Hades said. "Underworld Lord Vulturis, attack and send this fool into the darkness!" Vulturis powered up a beam and fired it from its beak. All of them thought it was the end.
"Not so fast! I activate Nova Forcer!" Natsu said as his trap activated. "By sacrificing one monster, I can stop your attack." He released Winger and a fire shield was brought up and deflected the attack, but it hit the building Macao and Alzack was in.
"Impressive that you stopped the attack, but don't forget the damage here is real." Hades said. The top half of the building began to tilt and they all heard a scream.
"That was Romeo!" Macao said.
"It sounded like they came from the roof." Alzack said. All of them look to the roof and saw Romeo on the roof and he was holding on for dear life.
"Romeo!" Natsu shouted.
"Romeo!" Macao called out as he and Alzack made it to the roof.
"Dad, help me!" Romeo said.
"I'm coming." Macao said as he carefully moved closer to Romeo. He was able to grab Romeo.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to help Natsu." Romeo said.
"Let's help him from a safer place." Maco said.
"Hurry!" Alzack said as the two of them hurried to safety.
"Alzack, take Romeo first." Macao said. Alzack reached over and was able to grab a hold of Romeo. He pulled him up and got him back inside and out of the danger of falling.
"Now for you!" Alzack said as he reached for him, but the building lost more footing and Macao was sliding back.
"Macao!" Natsu shouted.
"Macao, don't give up." Alzack said. Everyone wanted him to hang on, but Macao could see he wasn't getting out of this.
"Look after Romeo for me." Macao said and turned to Natsu. "Natsu, I know you will win this battle. I believe in you and your friends." With his last words said, Macao let his grip go and fell off the building.
"Macao!" Natsu screamed. Macao entered the light and because of that, his body faded away and his soul left it. He was nothing, but a ball of light that was pulled into Vulturis. "He's….NO!"
"I can't believe what I just saw!" Wendy said as none of them could.
"The old man isn't gone forever. You'll be joining him in darkness." Hades said.
"Natsu!" Laxus called out. "Macao entrusted you to win this duel, so don't let him down."
"He's right. Win this for him and everyone who was taken." Lucy said. Natsu didn't understand how serious this all was until he saw what just happened. His trembled in anger as he wanted nothing more than payback.
"You're going to pay for this." Natsu said.
"Is that so?" Hades said.
"Nova Forcer has another ability." Natsu said. "If the monster I sacrificed was not a pyro, we both would have taken damage. Since Winger was, I can add any card from my deck to my hand and I have just the one to take you down." He said as the card he pulled out was Igneel.
"It's your move. You talk big, but let's see if you can back it up." Hades said.
"I will!" Natsu said as he drew his next card. "I sacrifice both my Iron Fist and Talon to summon the beast that will stop you! I summon Igneel the Fire Dragon!" Both monsters vanished and Igneel flew out on the field with 2500atk points.
"While your beast is powerful, it still doesn't have the strength to defeat Vulturis." Hades said.
"You overlooked something." Natsu said. "Since you're Underworld Lord can't be destroyed. There's only one target left. Igneel, roast that target. Attack Hades! Fire Dragon Roar!" Igneel breathed out the flames and blasted Hades with his life points dropping down to 700. "I'll finish you next turn." He said as he placed a facedown.
"I don't think so. I'm not going to fall before the true show begins." Hades said. "Let's see if you really have what it takes to beat me." Hades body glowed and in his pace came Makarov.
"Makarov!" Natsu called out. All of them were glad to see him for a few seconds until they saw he took Hades' place. They heard Hades laughing and saw he was outside the duel.
"Miss your friend? I freed his spirit so he can face you instead of me." Hades said.
"You can't! I won't duel!" Natsu said.
"Natsu, you don't understand his power. He can do whatever he wants." Makarov said.
"I won't duel you, Gramps. Not like this." Natsu said.
"You must. Just look at him." Makarov said. "He doesn't understand the human heart anymore. He's taken everyone. We're all trapped in darkness."
"You coward!" Natsu said.
"I'm sorry, but this must be done." Makarov said as he drew his card. "I know you would rather be sent to darkness than duel me. That's why I need to end this. I activate Giant's Wrath."
"Giant's Wrath? That only has one effect!" Erza said.
"With Giant's Wrath, I can destroy ANY monster on the field and the controller of that card takes damage equal to it's attack points." Makarov said and Natsu could see what he was doing.
"Makarov, no! Don't do this." Natsu pleaded.
"Good luck, Natsu." Makarov said. "I destroy Underworld Lord Vulturis! Find a new pawn, Hades!" Makarov said as a giant ray of light shined down on Vulturis and destroyed it. Makarov was blown back from the attack and lost the last of his life points.
"Makarov!" Natsu shouted as he raced over to him. "Gramps!"
"Natsu, I have faith in you. I know you'll bring us back." Makarov said before he turned black and disappeared like dust.
"Gramps!" Natsu cried as the light vanished. Everyone raced over to Natsu's side.
"I wasn't expecting that." Hades said as the other dark ones, two new ones being in pink and orange mark cloaks. "That's what's wrong with mortals. They don't care for themselves."
"Be kind. They did just lose some friends."
"What have you done with everyone?" Gajeel said.
"Ha! They're with us. You want them back, we're right here or are you too scared!"
"You're the ones who should be scared." Natsu said as he stared at them with great fury. "Scared of what I'm about to do. I wanted to find a way to free all of you from darkness, but after what you just did, every last one of you are done for!" The showdown between the dragons and the underworld has begun.