Chapter 12: Tower of Heaven: Undisputed Dragon
"Natsu! Stop emptying the buffet!" Lucy exclaimed as the dragon slayer stuffed his mouth directly from the food tray, gaining disgusted glares from the other guests who were staying in the high class resort, and the mentioned pink head? Well he didn't give a damn.
His mate and mistress, who finally managed to walk after yesterday's night and today's morning, shined like exotic candy stars in the crowd, especially the added glow of having great sex did nothing but attract the people, both males and females. They both wore slit dresses, the beautiful Scarlet mage in a purple one that showed her lean pale back while two straps that were attached to either side of the breast went into a cross and around her neck, holding her heavenly mounds and a long slit on her left leg that travelled from her foot to her hip and showed her strong creamy legs. She had a set of cards in her gloved hand that was covered up to a few inches above her elbow.
Her hair was kept elegantly in a bun with few locks styled to stay in the front. Two earrings were on either one, the red ruby that hung dangled every time she made her head move. The stone wasn't expensive looking nor exotic, it was simple in most people's eyes and the only reason it matched for an occasion like this was because of her beauty that could make anything go with it. But for the Scarlet woman, it was part of her, something that her beloved made for her with his own bare hands because he did not have enough to buy her any ornaments. In short, she will proudly wear this armature made jewellery to the grandest of functions because it was something that had a connection with her mate.
Looking over her loving idiot who was stuffing his mouth with everything he could reach, Erza smiled warmly "Full House. Again the victory goes to Ms. Scarlet." All the people around her groaned as this were the eighth round she was consecutively winning.
"Care for another round boys?" Titania gave a devilish sexy smirk as she cracked her knuckles. None of them could reply, well except for a soft giggle of amusement that came from her side.
Controlling her giggles on how the men groaned as they all lost once again, the platinum girl came behind her lover and wrapped her cream colored gloved hand around Erza's flat stomach and placed her head on the redhead's right shoulder. "Come on now Erza, you already have fifty million, we can check something else, how about Blackjack?"
The Strauss matriarch was also wearing a slit dress which was dark bluish. The main difference was the huge amount of bust that she showed with her strapless dress and around her neck was a beautiful red ruby that was similar to Titania's and of course given to her by her dragon. In her embrace, Titania groaned as the ex-demon planted her soft lips on the joint of the scarlet woman's neck where a strange red dragon tattoo was placed.
The people around them were having huge amounts of blood loss from their noses as they, both males and females, watched the light affectionate gesture that made their arousals shoot to a new degree. The men had problem with their pants while the women shifted uncomfortably on their legs at the wetness of their panties..those who at least had them underneath.
BOOM!
The loud sound of explosion in the buffet corner was followed by the sudden darkness. Both the marked women were almost left blind, but due to certain abilities that were transferred, both of them could make out the white lines of the people that were running around in panic. Except for two. One massive fellow and a small guy.
"Been a while...big sister..." The smaller of the two spoke, not knowing that the two women know they were able to see them. He raised two cards and threw at them, but to the bigger man's surprise, the two women dodged the odd cards and saw it hit a by runner who got hit by it in the darkness and turned into a card.
"Sho..." Erza's voice cracked, which was all the distraction the said tan boy needed.
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Meanwhile at the buffet things spiced up for one pink dragon slayer as he continued to stuff the huge amount of food in his plate. And although his senses were completely on his stomach's satisfaction, the same wasn't the case for his two friends. Lucy had a suspicious look on her face, which was directed at a certain sharp dressed man in a blue suit who was made up of geometrical pieces and had his black shaded eyes at them.
SLAP!
The blonde was snapped out of her thoughts as a roasted steak slapped, smack dab right in on her face, the culprit was a dragon slayer who didn't even know the Steak flew away from his hands that already had tons of stuff. But when he saw what happened, he did the right thing and quickly peeled it off and stuffed it back into his mouth.
Ten minutes later.
"Alright! Spit it out! Why did you attack Erza and Mira?" Natsu's eyes were stoned up and a thin layer of fire blurred in and out. He may be an easy going guy, but no way was he going to be one when his women are in danger. The scenario, as expected has turned out rather obvious, right after the blackout, none of the hostiles were kept standing, and now, the group of four assailants were kept on the ground, no shackles or ropes, because they knew better than to tick of the dragon slayer any further. The five Fairy Tail mages and the blue haired ex-Phantom mage stood around
"I claim full responsibility of their actions, please let them go." The big man with the metal jaw stated, and the sadness in Titania's eyes were very much open. He was the worst injured in the lot, beaten to pulp, right after his second attempt to grab Erza where he accidentally pushed Mirajane and she hit her head on the pool table, nothing serious except for the small angry bump on the side of her forehead and Lucy was attending to it. But that injury awoke a demon in Erza and without mercy she crushed her childhood friend brutally.
"Erza?" Natsu concededly looked at his mate. The call seemed to have worked as she fell down to her knee and jumped to embrace the captured people. The scene would have drawn suspicion if not for them being in Natsu's room. On the bed sat Lucy tending to Mirajane's bump which the bubbly barmaid of Fairy Tail winced, but she tried to put up a smile. "Erza, you know these guys?"
"Sister.." The dark tanned teen spoke, and that was all Natsu needed to know, to realize who these people were.
"Shô?" The boy turned to Natsu in confusion when the dragon slayer called his name. "You're Shô aren't you?" Natsu confirmed.
"How do you know my name?" Shô wasn't sure, but this man seemed to be very happy or at least excited to some extent and had a mixture of anger and sadness.
"There's not a single day that went by without my Erza not thinking of you people, Shô, Millianna but who are you two? Blockhead and Steel jaw?" Natsu looked at Wally and Simon, trying to figure out who these two were.
Ignoring the Dragon Slayer, Shô shouted, pulling himself away from Erza. "You betrayed us big sister!" While Millianna was more happy to be in Erza's embrace.
"I.." Erza began, but her partner cut her off.
"Erza never betrayed you, it was that bastard Jellol!" Natsu roared, but Shô stuck on to his words, albeit fearfully.
"Wh-o-o do y-ou think-k y-you are to cla-claim som-something like that?!" He stuttered as he saw the fire in the dragon's eyes.
"I am her. She and I are one; there is nothing between us that can block that link. I and Mira believe in her, so should you, just like that time in the tower. Just like that time when she sacrificed her eye for you!" The gathered Fairy Tail mages and the other related people inside the room could feel the temperature rising.
"Natsu.." The pinkhead felt the soft mounds of his mistress pressing against his back while her arms circled around his abdomen. Her, now unbound platinum hair flew with the ocean breeze as she laid her unhurt part of her head on the dragon slayer's broad back.
"Mira.." Natsu instantly calmed, his eyes softened as he placed his hand over his lover's. Then they hardened, not coldly, but with determination, the fixation to bring back their peace. "Erza, Gray, Lucy and Blue girl. We are going to this goddamn tower! I am ending Erza's nightmare tonight." Natsu spoke leaving no room for arguments. "Mira.." Upon the mention of her name, the Demon nodded, albeit a bit reluctantly. Seeing her nod, he turned to his best pal. "Happy, I'm trusting you to get her home safe."
"Aye sir!" The Exceed gave a military salute.
"Alright. Erza's old friends are going to help us find the tower." It was no request.
"Before we leave, I have something to say." Natsu watched the metal jawed man speak as he got up, preparing for the journey back to the wicked island they were slaves of. "My name is Simon, for those who don't know me."
"Simon?!" Erza gasped, unable to believe her own eyes at the sight of her beloved friend.
"Hey Erza..it's been a while.." They couldn't see the smile, but the happiness in his eyes was clear as glass. The others watched the events unfold curiously, and Natsu felt himself growl from the uneasiness of Erza hugging the giant man, something familiar, something akin to what he felt when people..especially males, stare at his women with a weird look.
"Listen. We don't have much time." Much to the dragon slayers relief, his mate withdrew from the hug. The tall man, Simon stood up cautiously, so as to not cause any aggression from the salmon haired man. "Shô, Millianna, Wally..there is something I have to reveal, Jellal.."
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The small boat climbed over to the sand, making an abrupt stop. In front of them stood the imposing structure of the Tower of Heaven, but the dragon slayer who was revived from his motion sick state, albeit stopped from cheering or making a boast. No, Natsu Dragneel was a man on a mission.
'I'm going to destroy your darkness Erza..even if that means destroying this whole island.' Natsu mentally prepared, lot of blood was about to be spilled. "Come on! The sooner we finish this, the sooner I get to eat Mira's food!" He knew he couldn't lose his cool, especially today.
The group charged in. "Welcome my friends! And it seems you have brought Fairy Tail with you than just Erza..ah I expected such a flaw in you from the beginning. Weaklings will always be weaklings." Everyone else other than Natsu and Simon whipped themselves left and right, trying to locate where the voice was coming from. "Now since we are all here, why don't we play a game? It has simple rules, no one's allowed to cheat and last man...or woman standing or alive can meet their death by my hands." The magical speakers from the sidelines briefed Jellal's voice.
"Tch..arrogant prick.." Gray stated dryly.
"Now I know that all of you are very much capable to dispose the tower guards, so I hired help, now don't worry about the number as there are only three, but worry about their strength. Trinity Raven could be quiet persistent." Jellal let the people get a grasp on what he was talking about.
"Trinity Raven? Isn't that the most notorious mages from an Assassin Guild?" Lucy piped in and Juvia nodded.
"Juvia has heard about those people. Juvia's old guild master tried to hire them to fight Fairy Tail." The Water mage bowed her head in shame.
"Nah, it doesn't matter. You are with us now, right?" Gray casually reassured, but Juvia misinterpreted it into Nah, it doesn't matter. You are with me now and forever, right? Nodding dumbly, her mind immediately shifted off from the current events and to wonderland where she and Gray would make thirty babies.
Returning to the current dilemma, the group stood in front of three tunnels. "Now these tunnels all come towards me, but you will have a member from the Trinity Raven guarding it. So heads up, but the real challenge for you will be time." The dark mage's dark chuckles echoed the walls.
"Time?" Millianna spoke cautiously.
"Oh, nothing much, in about fifteen minutes, this whole tower will be fired on by Etherion. Of course by your beloved council." This earned concerned look from all.
"Ha! He's bluffing! He took eight years to complete this! He won't let it get destroyed that soon!" Although not fully confident in his own words, Wally was more than sure on what he said.
"Oh it doesn't matter if you believe me or not, just start killing! Oh an I will be waiting for you Erza.." And his voice faded away.
"Alright. Take a guy who knows the tower with you-" Natsu was cut off by the golden light that came from his side, and saw Shô running off into a tunnel with a Card in his hand. "Dammit..he got Erza. Guys, I'm going after that kid!" With that the group split themselves.
"I'll take the girls!" Millianna quickly grabbed the hands of Juvia and Lucy, much to the distaste of the former and the horror of the latter, and took the other tunnel. For a young woman, she sure can drag a ton.
Gray shrugged as he watched his guild mates disappear into the darkness of the tunnel before turning around to Wally and Simon. "Well, guess it's us three, let's go and kick some ass before that fireprick takes all the fights."
"Very well, it is a logical choice on your part to help as much you can in this fight. But I must warn you, Jellal is someone with power unlike anything you may have seen." The metal jawed man spoke cautiously to his new naked ally. "Natsu may be strong, but he will need us to help him defeat Jellal."
Gray let out a snort at the huge man's worried words. "Look here man, I don't like saying the lizard head is stronger than me, so let me put this straight. If we don't start moving and get on with the fighting, the whole point of coming here would be a waste." That's when the Ice Wizard noticed his lack of clothing. "Crap! Not again!"
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Five minutes into running after his mate, the Dragon Slayer finally spotted her and the dark skinned boy who took her, now facing against someone with pink hair, not salmon, but pink. And what luck he had, because he arrived just in time for the fighter to introduce herself. "I'm called Ikaruga." The strange woman spoke while covering her down half of her face with the long sleeves. That's when Natsu noticed the scent of blood, one from the boy and the other from..
"You attacked Erza..." His voice was rough, his eyes narrowed and his teeth lightly gritted. Erza's armour wasn't there as she was currently clad in only her white blouse. With a roar, the dragon slayer charged at the pink samurai girl in blind fury. The latter never flattered at the charging brute, but with practiced ease that was easily missed by the untrained eyes and that of the superior dragon eyes, Ikaruga unsheathed her sword and slashed, just when Erza yelled.
"Natsu! No!" Natsu stopped abruptly upon the command three feet away from Ikaruga, but Mugetsu-Ryu didn't, its long sharp side was on the dragon slayer's chest. "She is my opponent. You should go and look for Jellal, Shô's gone after him." Erza's face was straight, but she was right, the dark skinned card user has disappeared.
With a swift pull, Ikaruga sheathed her sword, a small smile on her lips."Oh he's not going anywhere anymore, at least without someone else taking his two parts-"
"Alright then." The woman was cut off by the firm voice of the still one pieced dragon slayer. "But be careful Erza, she's having a really sharp sword." He spoke with a small wince as he jumped back to his beloved's side.
"Are you okay?" The Knight asked with concern as she saw the straight, horizontal shallow cut on his chest. But her concern was replaced with relief at the sudden heat that lasted a few second which came off Natsu, that sealed his small long wound.
With a grin he replied while nodding. "Uh huh. Don't worry bout me. That swords real sharp." The dragon slayer's voice was laced with concern.
"Understood. Take care of yourself and go find Shô before he reaches Jellal." Erza smiled before planting her lips on her dragon.
Seeing the dragon slayer run off, Ikaruga was half tempted to stop him, but her logic told her not to, so turning to her opponent, she spoke. "You have a truly remarkable individual there to defend you, now I know who Jellal is going to face as the major obstacle."
Erza let a smirk spread over her face. "He's not just an obstacle, he's a fully armed blockade and I believe in him, but leave that aside, you prepare yourself to face me." Summoning her Purgatory Armour, Erza charged at the other woman with a battle cry. Ikaruga kept her cool as she effortlessly blocked Titania's strike. "What the-" Erza's face showed shock as her armor fell off from her body in pieces.
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"Oi brat! Wait up!" Natsu chased the boy who was taking quick turns here and there, making it extremely frustrating for the dragon slayer. And just when he thought things couldn't get any more annoying..
SWOOSH! BHAM!
The dragon slayer's body shot through the walls and crashed on to a giant boulder in a huge room with many cliffs, making a crater of him on the surface. Albeit not being harmed, it didn't entertain the pink head. "Who the hell did that?!" Natsu roared.
"I will not let you break the rules. I will pass judgement on you in the name of justice! The Warrior of Justice, Fukuro, is here!" The owl headed assassin hooted like an owl as he stood afloat in air using his jet pack.
"Too bad I'm specialized in breaking the rules!" Natsu's mouth started to leak fire before he pulled back his head and fired his basic spell. The owl man dodged, but the structure behind him had a huge hole that showed the ocean and skies, shaking the entire tower from the titanic attack.
Fukuro had a bead of sweat from the destruction that was supposed to turn him into fried turkey. Too engrossed, he didn't notice the giant ice hammer headed his way until the last moment where he dodged it by a feather. "Oi! Fire stick! I'm taking this guy!" Gray yelled.
"No way! I found him first, stripper!" Natsu shot back, igniting his fists.
"You wanna go flame brain!?" The ice and fire wizards stood head pressed against each other.
Natsu suddenly withdrew, much to the surprise and delight of the naked teen. "Yea..you take him out, I gotta go stop that kid before he gets himself shredded." With that the dragon slayer bailed the battle, and disappeared into the abyss of the tunnels, trying to find the scent trail of Shô.
The next moment, Simon and Wally came behind Gray, who stood grinning at the assassin who was in a mixed state of shock and anger. "You will not pass me! After I bring you to justice, I will hunt the other-"
"Oh shut up bird brain! I ain't got no time for your bullshit!" And the battle commenced.
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He was sure. "I'm lost." Natsu sighed as he sat on a rock. The Salamander was lost because of his own mistake. The moment he blew up part of the tower, he let the salty wind in that purged the tower off all the scents. "Great, what am I supposed to do now?" With nothing much to do, he slumped down on to his rock.
"So we meet at last, Salamander..." A voice chuckled from the dark corners. Natsu peeked over his shoulder to see the individual. "I'm afraid you do not know who I am?" It was thick and masculine as the individual stepped out of the darkness.
Natsu, now on his feet looked cautiously at the man who was strikingly similar to Elfman in physical structure, but instead of tan, he was fair in color while his hair was black, reaching his shoulders, in a wavy appearance, as if it was in water and eyes, deep ocean blue. He wore no shirt; instead a dark blue pant was all the clothing he had. Natsu's eyes quickly fell on the tattoo on the stranger's right chest, a blue trident.
"I don't think I've seen you around, one of Jellal's thugs?" The dragon slayer jumped to the point. The man only seemed to grin as he raised his hands and pointed it at the dragon slayer.
"Although I only make it look like I serve 'Lord' Jellal, it was only for the moment we meet." The scent of salt water gathering near the stranger began to invade the dragon slayer's nose. The pink head immediately bent his knee a little and took a battle stance. And he was right in doing so as a long sphere of sea water came at him in bulk quantity. Pulling back his head, the dragon slayer unleashed his signature roar. Both blasts cancelled each other, giving rise to steam that filled the area.
"You have to admit that, my attack wasn't like that of other water mages you have fought wasn't it?" The stranger's grin didn't waver at the sight of the dragon slayer standing in the same spot unharmed, in fact it grew more.
"You are using the sea water aren't ya?" The dragon slayer didn't bother to entertain the stranger, but the man was least affected by Natsu not being interested in pleasantries.
The water mage chuckled again. "That is correct. Which also means I have unlimited ammo, as we are in the middle of the ocean-" He didn't get to finish his dialogue as a flaming fist came in his direction which he was forced to evade. "It is rude to-" Another melee attack. "-interrupt a person-" Another kick, an elbow and a knee which the stranger pushed away only for the dragon slayer to use that momentum to deliver a flaming spin kick. "-when he is speaking." He finally managed to complete.
His grinning form stared at the frowning dragon slayer, awaiting his words. "You are a dragon slayer?" The stranger gave a smirk.
"Haven't seen one of my kinds before, have you?" Although Natsu didn't understand what he meant by that, he knew this buff man was smug about it. "It seems introductions are in order here, don't you agree?"
"Nah. I ain't into fancy villain stuff." Natsu waving of his words took him by surprise. "Who are you? What are you? All are yesterday's news. You said you are working for Jellal, that means the only thing I need to know is how much sound your bones will make when I break'em!" The dragon slayer let out another fiery roar that was countered by an equally large water twister that came from the breach behind the stranger.
Charging at the half naked man, he covered his arms in fire before barraging the water mage, who countered it with his water covered fists. "But it's my duty to introduce myself." He spoke as he dodged a swipe kick by ducking, before delivering a punch to the dragon slayer's abdomen with a tremendous force that shook the tower, but only managed to stagger the pink head back a few steps, which once again surprised the water mage. "It seems the rumors were true, you are Salamander, the legendary mage who levelled Bethrow islands."
Natsu stopped in mid step, the islands name clicking to his mind. "No. That wasn't me. That was old man Gildarts. But he fixed it with help of some guy who knows how to fix with crash magic. If this is about revenge or any stuff like that, I ain't the person who did it." Natsu raised his arms in firmness.
"Oh. Forgive me, I did not meant to offend you. But I can assure you, I am not here for any sort of revenge." The water mage stated, getting a relived sigh from the dragon slayer. "Now, shall I introduce myself?"
Natsu sighed. "Oh alright..knock yourself out.." Think before you leap. Talk before you hit. Whatever.
"Thank you, Salamander of Fairy Tail." The man took a more relaxed pose. "I am Poseidon, the Ocean God Slayer of the Mount Olympus." The stranger, who was finally able to introduce himself, revealed.
"God Slayer?" Natsu's eyes widened a little. "That is not possible; there ain't a person that can kill a god." The Water mage looked a bit amused at the dragon slayer's lack of knowledge. It was always a charm for him among those who didn't know about the god slayers. This battle maybe over than it could even start.
"Yes. A God Slayer. If Dragon slayers are meant to slay dragons, I am meant to slay gods, that itself makes me a god..Ocean God's Heavenly Axe!" Natsu's disbelieving look allowed the Water mage to attack the dragon slayer with a giant axe made of glistening blue ocean water that send Natsu crashing to the wall. "Ocean God's Tridents!" Not letting the attack stop, the god slayer continued his barrage of attacks with hundreds of tridents made of water went at Natsu, all hitting the dragon slayer head on, who by the way was defending himself using his arms that weren't helping much.
The two attacks devastated the structures floor, the upper four levels now solely depended on this floors outer walls, which also had dents in it. Poseidon stood there, observing his handiworks. "Rargh!" The sudden roar and the solid punch that came from the body which flew out of the rubbles made a clear impact on the water mage. "Fire Dragon's Flaming Talon's!" Natsu's follow up was a series of punches that was reigned down at a rapid rate such that the flaming fists combined with speed and motion, looked like the talons of a dragon. Natsu's entire body was drenched in sea water from the attack with small cuts and bruises from the attacks earlier.
Receiving all of the punches from the dragon slayer, Poseidon grabbed Natsu's wrist and threw him to the side, the dragon slayer landed with a spin and charged back. "Enough! Ocean God's Wrath: Water Seal!" Water pushed the dragon slayer back to the ground before encasing him, the water taking the form of a giant sphere, the dragon slayer constantly being spun around as the water twirled around in all direction over the sphere.
Poseidon held his glowing blue fist up front, indicating that the current attack was being controlled by the limb. "The flames of a fire dragon will perish against the heavenly waters of the gods." The sea water kept on replenishing the water structure that was steaming up every now and then on behalf of the struggling dragon slayer. "Struggle all you want lizard. But you forget your place in front of a god." The water mage did not bother whether the fire mage heard it or not.
As seconds passed, the dragon slayer's struggle began to lessen, his hard motions began to get sloppier and the boiling water began to cool slowly. "Yes..do not fight the inevitable, be happy that you are-"
With a roar, the dragon slayer shined a brilliant golden light, the heat vaporized the water just enough for him to get out. "Shut the hell up you buffoon!" Upon his feet touching the ground, the dragon slayer shot at the Water mage, slamming his foot onto the face of the baffled God slayer. Before he could be taken by the force of his kick, Natsu grabbed the man's long hair, before smashing his much larger frame on the floor, sending him to the below floor. "Rargh!" He gave his fiery roar that was swiftly evaded at the last moment by the god slayer who rolled to the side to avoid the fire storm from the hole above floor, but still couldn't avoid the radiating heat that gave minor burns to his shoulder and biceps.
THUD!
The god slayer quickly got his feet upon hearing the dragon slayer landing where the attack melted the floor. His body emitted steam as the water kept on getting evaporated; the only reason it being a slow process was because of the god slaying magic mixed with the sea water.
"You..ha..you were..saying about gods..." The dragon slayer's breath was laboured as he coughed a bit of the magic water. "..what got me thinking was..if you can defeat gods..then if I defeat you..I'm a god..so, I'm going to beat the shit out of you!" Natsu charged at the god slayer who did the same, the dragon slayer's appearance turning demonic on every step into the battle.
"You insolent fool! Ocean God's Exploding Water Cannon!" The water came in a similar fashion to that of Gray's ice lances. But upon contact with a surface, it exploded with ferocity of a grenade. The dragon slayer dodged most of the water lances, but still got hit by the remaining ones, but kept on moving towards the god slayer. "You cannot withstand the wrath of a god lizard!" The water lances kept on showering as the dragon slayer began to duke it out with them with his hands coated with flames.
"I had it with you and your dammed god complex you stupid idiot!" The dragon slayer joined his hands in a quick motion before separating them. "Fire Dragons Sacred Arts.." A flame ignited between them that got expanded as the distance between his hands increased. "Crimson Lotus Exploding Dragon Fire Sword!" The flames took the form of a giant sword thathe brought down on the god slayer who shielded himself with a sphere of water, but the attack didn't end there as a series of earth shattering fiery explosions raked through the shield sending the dark haired man to the side wall.
A few seconds passed as the dragon slayer looked at the debris where the god slayer was buried under and failed to notice the water taking the form of a human behind him. "You really have to know when to step back. Ocean God's Cyclone Fist!" The god slayer's fist drove into the dragon slayer's spine. "Ocean God's Earth Crusher!" He appeared above Natsu and slammed his foot down on to his back, crushing him to the ground, taking them several levels below.
Blinding white light filled the entire island, submerging the occupants with it. The Etherion has been fired, but the dragon and god continued their fight, not at all affected by the blindness everyone else faced. "What the- I thought it was supposed to hurt when those old geezers fired their shit!" Natsu grabbed both of Poseidon's arms, blocking the offensive and countered with a kicked on the chest.
"Ha! The fool is not that stupid. He's planning to do this." Right after those words left Poseidon's mouth, the light began to fade off, revealing blue crystals everywhere, from the rubbles to the wall structures. "His plan is to harvest the power of the Etherion and use it for the revival of Zeref. Trident of Poseidon!" He brought his right arm above to the side of his head; glowing blue water took the shape of a trident that almost seemed rigid. "Behold. The legendary weapon of the Ocean God!" Behind him a giant blue titan in Greek clothing holding a giant trident, aimed it at the dragon slayer.
Letting out a roar, Natsu flared his flames; they swirled around him in a violent dance, yet in an exotically beautiful way that radiated power. "You are getting on my nerves buddy. Now that I remember, I have that asshole to stomp. I'm ending this you hear?" The form of a Red Dragon came behind the dragon slayer, facing the Ocean God with its wings spread afar. "Dragon Slayer Sacred Arts..Crimson Lotus Exploding Flame Blade!"
The two attacks met in the middle, and the struggle for victory began.
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Top Level, right after the Etherion blast.
"Ha!" Erza pushed Jellal before he could cast the binding spell. "You bastard!" Just a moment ago, he made her almost believe in his words. If it weren't for her slightly heightened senses and the mark on her shoulder that gave an uncomfortable tingling sensation, she would be stuck there, completely immobilized.
"Hmm..not what I expected, in fact, none of my plans for this day is going accordingly..especially that little pink trash and that sentry guard began to fight. I will have to finish this fast, or my tower will be completely devastated for the resurrection." Jellal mostly said that to himself rather than saying it to the audience he had. Shô lay unconscious next to a struggling Simon who was trying to reach Erza.
"Hhahaha..oh you are going to fail Jellal..if not me, it will definitely be my Natsu who will defeat you, if you haven't been beaten already. Your tower is in near ruins." Erza raised her long Japanese katana sword, pointing at the mad blue haired man.
"It has just enough pieces to be left for my final procedure. So prepare yourself, Erza! Meteor!" The Heavenly magic user dashed at the Scarlet knight who evaded the attack with bit of difficulty, and had even more pain in facing Jellal's punches head on. "This isn't even the beginning Erza. You are going to feel a lot more pain before this is over." Placing his hands over each other, Jellal summoned his magic, seven magic circles formed in front of him. "Grand Chariot!"
Erza gritted her teeth before dodging as much of the blasts as possible. 'Dammit..my Black Wing Armor and the rest are still reforming..I have to get him down on the ground somehow..' Erza thought as she took the attacks away from her friends. 'Or..he doesn't have to come down..' A grin came over at the thought of her new strategy.
"Keep running Erza, I want to see how much longer you can evade my attacks.." The meteor equal attack kept on showering down as Jellal followed the dashing Erza. And too late was he to notice her strategy as she ran over the wall and put all the force to her legs, pushing them to make leap, and like a bullet she zoomed through the coming meteor attacks, with her sword held over her head.
"Diamond Flash!" The motion played slowly as Erza brought down her sword on to the blue haired mage, gashing him heavily on the chest.
"Arghahhhh!" He screamed in agony while the injured Scarlet beauty landed on her feet before falling to her knees. She knew her strike could only do little damage, but she did not expect him to give a counter offense back. "You stupid bitch! How dare you..grr..I think it's about time I end this.." Erza suddenly felt imminent danger towards her, she watched as the shadows of everything began to get sucked towards the Heavenly Body magic user. "Don't think I am bluffing Erza, I just need a body that is compatible to that of a Wizard Saint. And I can already name a few potential mages for the same." The magic gathered, took the form of a black portal. "Goodbye Erza..it is sad that you won't be there when Zeref brings the land of true freedom..Altaris!"
'Natsu..' Her last thoughts resonated the name of her mate as she closed her eyes, ready to face the end, but the next second she felt the presence of a large body in front of her and the agonizing screams of the large man who shielded her from her fate. "S-Simon?"
"Aahhhhahhhhhhrrgghhhh!" Simon's teeth clenched as he suppressed his pain, his arms spread out, his muscles all pushed and strained beyond their limits, torn, steam rouse from his form. Erza came out of her shock as Simon's legs gave out and his body fell straight on its back. Erza tried to get up and run but her energy and magic completely run dry, the scarlet beauty crashed on to her knees next to Simon's head.
"Simon! Simon! Why! Why did you do that!" Erza cried as she pulled his head and placed it on her lap. "Why didn't you escape with the others!"
"To...save..you.." Simon coughed blood.
"Simon! Don't talk! Just stay with me!" Erza pleaded, tears falling from her eyes as Simon strained a smile through his half metal jaws.
"It was al..ways you..you were what..made me con..tinue forward.." More blood came with each word. "You were the only one to make me smile..Erza.." His breathing softened, his eye was growing heavier, but it fell one last time on his childhood friend. "..you were the only one I loved..Erza.." And he was gone.
"Simon! Simon! No..no no..Ahhhhhhhhh!" She screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks endlessly as she hugged the motionless body of her friend, the only person who believed in her from the very beginning.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ahh..ha haha ha!" Jellal laughed hysterically at the sight before him. "Oh I didn't know that worm was still creeping around my tower! But look at the joke he done to himself! He tried to play the valiant hero and got himself killed for nothing! Because whatever or who ever happens now won't matter as none of you is leaving this tower alive!"
Getting up on her wobbly legs, Erza ran with her sword in hand at Jellal who stood there without any intention to avoid it. "Meteor!" He yelled before driving his fist into her abdomen, sending her flying off to a pillar, Erza didn't stop there as she struggled her way back to her feet and charged again, her motions sloppy and slow. "Pathetic..I think I shall end your painful existence.." Jellal once again gathered his magic above his head. He didn't have to worry about time as Erza was struggling to walk now, much less will she be able to escape his Altaris. "This is your final moments Erza! I shall remember you for your fight against my goal when I live in the land of true freedom! Altaris!" What Jellal failed to notice was the grim smile on the scarlet mage's lips, her eyes were overshadowed with her red locks as she waited.
The spell ended with a large boom that shook the tower again. Jellal sighed in relief, ready to make new plans, that's when his eyes caught the unconscious form of Shô who laid in the corner, half covered in debris. "Hmmm..I think I shall keep you to tell the tale of my power to suppress any form of resistance from the coming new slaves.."
"You gotta lotta balls in making future plans after what you have done to Erza..." Jellal's eyes widened as he turned around to where he had thought he made Erza's grave. There, standing tall with narrowed glaring eyes was none other than Natsu Dragneel. He turned around swiftly and crouched next to Erza, holding her in his arms gently, a red fiery aura passed on to her. "I can't heal you much Erza, but I got your wounds sealed..just hang back here.." He pushed the hair hanging over her face and tucked it behind.
With a smirk on his face, Jellal spoke. "Oh so we meet finally..in person..the legendary Salamander..have you come here to fight me?"
"No.." Natsu's answer almost sounded bored.
"What?" Jellal was taken aback.
"You are so full of yourself from the beginning..you think I'll give you the pleasure of a fight? Nah, I'm gonna break every fucking single bone in your body!" Jellal did not expect the dragon mage to be of this calibre as Natsu shot through, covering the distance between them in speeds that his meteor had trouble attaining, but his punch was more devastating than anything as Jellal felt as if his head disconnected from his body.
Jellal recovered in mid air and yelled. "I won't lose! Now face the power of true Darkness Magic!" With a yell he threw a giant golden sphere of magic at the dragon slayer, who began to walk towards the mad wizard, his body flaming up, the fire formed an inverted slow tornado around him, which greedily swallowed the magic thrown by Jellal. "What!" The blue haired mage watched the scene in bafflement.
"Throw all you want..but your fate is already decided.." Natsu's appearance now more wild than before, truly struck the Heavenly Body Magic user's mind more of fear, Jellal didn't stop there though.
"Dark Grab!"
"Darkness Cage!"
"Dark Vanish!" Erza watched in amazement at the spells that were used to take her down being pushed aside. Nothing reached the pissed off dragon slayer.
"I-I will not back down! I won't let you stand between me and true freedom..I will send you all to hell!" He swiped his hand in different patterns and a giant magic circle formed in front of him. Natsu stopped his advance at the feeling of the immense magic radiating from the circle.
Erza's eyes widened at the magic circle. "Are you mad Jellal! You will destroy the entire tower hundreds of innocent people died making for you!" The Requip user shouted, causing the mad man to stop.
"Hmm..that is a big dilemma..but it won't matter..if I can spent eternity in the land of true freedom! Then what's eight more years? No..I'll make it in five years this time!" Jellal laughed maniacally at the Fairy Tail Mages.
Growling in anger, Natsu yelled. "You think you can build a land of freedom by taking away other peoples freedom?!"
"Ha ha ha! You are a fool dragon slayer! All of you are! I am the chosen one! The only one who can hear Lord Zeref! He came to me in my pain, he offered me true freedom! And I won't let vermin like you to be a hindrance to my plans!" Jellal channelled all of his magic.
"Then I will have to show you..." Natsu spoke softly, all of the swirling flames getting sucked to the underside of his foot. "That you are nothing but a stupid puppet!" He roared as he propelled at the dark mage.
"Shut up! Abyss Break!" Jellal unleashed the spell that is meant to be one of the most powerful spells in Earthland. Fire, water, air and earth, all mixed yet, didn't have any of these elements characteristics, but the dark energy had all of their destructiveness. But for all it was worth, Natsu charged through the attack in a red streak, bending the force of the four elements.
Jellal's eyes widened at the sight of Natsu's body enveloped in flames that took the shape of a draconic aura around him, come out of his attack without much damage. "You have to fight that ghost Jellal! Fire Dragon's Breakdown Fist!" Natsu slammed his fist. "You can do it Jellal! Free yourself!"
Erza watched in amazement at the display of power by her lover as Jellal's body hit the tower in a steamy mess, resulting in a series of blasts that took place on all its floors. A little away to the body, the dragon slayer himself landed with a crater formed around him. 'So..this is the power..you have been hiding..Natsu..'
The tower began to shake, having finally reached its limit. "Oh dammit! Erza, we need to get out of here! Where's that kid!" Natsu fell on to his knees in front of her.
"Shô? Oh no!" She looked frantically, finally spotting her little brother equivalent lying in the corner half covered in debris. "There!" Natsu took his injured woman and placed her on his back. "Simon.." Upon hearing the name of the metal jawed man, Natsu saw the body; a feeling respect came over him.
'Don't worry..I promise to protect her with my life..thank you, Simon.' With a small smile, he raced over to the boy and took him in his left arm. "Hold on Erza! This is going to be bumpy!" He yelled before leaping from floor to floor, all the while avoiding large crystalline exploding boulders.
'Thank you..Natsu...Dragneel..' Natsu's eyes widened at the voice in his head.
'Jellal?' Shaking his head clear he pushed forward, but he felt the tower's shaking lessen a little. 'I don't know if this is your doing Jellal..if it's you..thank you.' Igniting his feet, he jumped off the tower, using burst of fire to reduce the descend of their fall and to guide them away from the tower's immediate detonation zone. With a giant splash the three fell into the sea a few meters away from the island.
"Huh..what happened?" Shô woke up to witness the tower's unbalanced Etherion shooting into the sky. Above them, Fukuro using his jet pack levitated with Ikaruga and a bald Vidaldus, both staring at the sight with as much awe as their bird comrade and past enemies below.
While a boat encased in a water shield floated towards them, containing Gray, Lucy, Juvia, Millianna, and Wally watched the scene in a similar fashion. "No one can survive an explosion of that range!" Wally cried, unable to hold back the tears.
"No..Erza.." Millianna fell on her knees, weeping uncontrollably.
"Are they..?" Lucy looked at Gray tearfully before averting her eyes away to the dazzling tower.
"Its..no..I know that flame stick..he's just waiting for me to say something stupid..besides, he is too stubborn to die in some stupid explosion." Gray gritted his teeth. 'Damn you Natsu! You better be alive with Erza! I won't forgive you if something happens to her you idiot! And don't go fucking self sacrificing before I kick your ass!'
Somewhere towards the other side of the island a few miles away, an average sized navy ship anchored, with a golden flag that had a red swastika symbol in the centre, clearly indicating the vessel being of a foreign Nation. On its upper deck, a huge man covered in bandages sat under the mast. "So, Roy, how was playing...'God'?" A raven haired busty woman with gray eyes, clad in a knight's under grab with the red Swastika on top of her right breast taunted. Her medium long hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, while her lips were full and red.
"Dammit! How many times do I have to ask you to call me Poseidon?!" Poseidon, who was addressed as Roy growled out, earning giggles from the woman. "And I didn't lose! He was just tricky.." Poseidon muttered.
"Yeah if course he is 'Roy'. That's why he is feared for! He's too tricky that people nearly lose their lives if he sneezes, 'Roy'." She kept on adding salt to his wounds. "By the way how come your burnt skin is still unhealed, 'Roy'?"
"I do not know, it may be due to him being the disciple of a King.." Poseidon spoke after thinking a few seconds.
"Or because you were supposed to stick on to the mission and remembered that the only reason you are called a God Slayer is because of that stone in your belly, Roy." Poseidon did not like that.
"Poseidon!" He corrected.
"Roy."
"Poseidon!"
"Roy!"
"Somebody please throw her out of this ship!" Poseidon yelled out.
The woman smirked. "No one's going to do that to me. If they do that to their Captain, then that's mutiny, and in the navy it means treason. Now shut up and go take a hammock and sleep! I have a ship to sail." She climbed over to the Captain's quarters, leaving behind the grumbling man, but paused in mid climb and turned around. "Tell me, have you formed a proper excuse to be said in the brethren?" Her face was serious, so was the water mage's.
"Punishment is inevitable, so I shall go with the truth Commodore Heinsworth." Poseidon sighed as he allowed the sea water over his body, slowly healing him.
"Whatever may it be that you choose, but if you refer to yourself and others to do so as Poseidon, then you shall address me by the name given to me by our masters." The Commodore spoke with a small smirk at the annoyance on the water mage's face.
"I acknowledge, Lady Athena.."
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Natsu sat on the bench under a giant umbrella, picking on his food with the spoon, a highly unusual behaviour for a person who doesn't have the application of a spoon, nor does he leave food in the open for more than two seconds.
The reason was obvious though, it has be two days, Erza has recovered completely, so did he, but Erza's recovered friends, Shô, Wally and Millianna left, wanting to see the world for themselves in a teary farewell.
"Natsu, what's wrong?" The dragon slayer looked up at the blonde who was in her bikini before shrugging and looking back down at the food.
"Ah..Erza's been..she's really sad, and I don't know what to say to her.." Natsu admitted depressingly before looking at the scarlet beauty who sat on another bench near the sea.
"Oh, I know, it's been a wild week eh..but here's a small advice, you really don't have to say anything, trust me Natsu, having gone through enough relationships, I have enough experience." Lucy winked at him, but Natsu unfortunately didn't understand that, but smiled in gratitude for her advice and ran towards his mate.
Lucy watched from afar as Natsu invaded Erza's personal space and draped an arm over her, pulling her close. "Ah. Young love.."
Meanwhile with Natsu and Erza, the latter smiled at her lover warmly, leaning into his chest, soaking in his warmth. "I miss them.." She spoke. Taking Lucy's advice Natsu kept quiet. "...Simon and Jellal.." Natsu curiously raised an eyebrow. "Jellal..even though he did all this, was under the control of someone..I just wish I could have done something to free him.." Natsu knew he had to act fast otherwise she would cry, if she wasn't already, the salty air blocked his smell.
"If it means..anything Erza, Jellal was freed.." The Scarlet mage looked up in confusion. "He..after I punched him, when the tower was collapsing..I heard him..I think, he was the one that held the tower for me to escape with you and the kid.."
"So I wasn't the only person to hear him.." Natsu didn't ask what she heard, although his entire being roared to find out.
"Well, we have to get going..there's a whole day in front of us!"
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The four Fairy Tail mages stood baffled at the sight of their guild, or at least where it used to be, instead, there stood a gigantic building, with a completely new design, with the words 'Fairy Tail' written over it.
"Welcome back!" Mirajane cheerfully opened the door, hugging both Natsu and Erza before dragging them both inside, which was even more different. "Are we at the right place?" Gray murmured.
"Gray-sama!" An excited Juvia ran towards Gray, but stopped a few feet away, glaring at the blonde who was standing next to Gray, coincidentally, but Juvia didn't care, and somehow Lucy felt the danger and jumped between Natsu and Erza.
"What's he doing here?!" Gray growled out, pointing at none other than the Iron Dragon Slayer of Phantom. "How dare you show your face in here after what you have done?!" Gray grabbed Gajeel by the collar and pulled the bored dragon slayer up.
"Gray-sama, it was Juvia who recommended Gajeel-kun to join Fairy Tail. It doesn't mean I like him like romantic likeness!" Juvia quickly added. "It is because Gajeel-kun was the only friend Juvia had in Phantom Lord and Juvia couldn't bear to see him all alone!"
"Gray, that's enough.." The ice mage looked to the counter to see the Master nodding his head to let go.
Gray didn't give up and tried to put an argument. "But gramps he-"
"Oh quit it stripper, it's not like he was able to harm Levy and her buddies much, besides, Lucy's cool about what happened at the top of the tower now." Surprisingly, Natsu was the one who came to loosen the tension, another unusual scene, compared to him jumping at anyone to fight.
"I..really don't have any problem.." Levy spoke timidly from behind Jet and Droy who were growling at the dragon slayer.
"I don't need your support Salamander, I'm just here because the Councils on my ass and I need to make some money." Gajeel pushed Gray off him and straightened his jacket.
"Oh don't get too high metal shit! Even though they were only knocked unconscious, if I didn't get there soon, you might have done something worse than those ribs and bumps they had, I'm just doing a solid, dragon slayer to dragon slayer." Natsu smirked. "And now it's easier to keep tabs on you."
"There ain't enough room for two dragons in this sky!" Gajeel retorted.
"Yeah? Anytime any place!" Both had their foreheads pushing against each other.
"Ladies and Gentleman! The beautiful Mirajane!" Max announced as the curtains moved from the stage revealing the Strauss sibling sitting with a guitar. She began to sing her melody, Erza sat and sighed with a piece of strawberry cake adding to her delight with the music, gray took a beer and sat on the stool, Lucy watched enchanted at the performance, Juvia sat ogling at Gray while Natsu sat uncomfortably with a frown from all the changes that the guild went through, suddenly the spot light on the stage went out and when it came back, instead of Mirajane, sat..
"What the hell!"
"I dedicate this song to the guild, it's called 'Best Friend'. Shabeedabidooo!" Gajeel began his song that came out like grinding metal, earning yells and shouts of disapproval with cans, forks spoon, everything people could get their hands on.
"Go Gajeel-kun!" Juvia cheered.
And Natsu finally stopped. "That's it you tin can metal scrap piece of shit!" He jumped at the other dragon slayer, who countered him in mid air, thus began an all out war, but a smile formed on Natsu's face, this was his guild.
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A few days later, everything finally fell into the right places, except one. Jet, Droy and an uncertain Levy stood a few feet away from the Iron Dragon Slayer, who looked at the three with an expressionless dull face. "Guys..uh..we really..don't have to d-do this..let's just g-go back.."
"No way Levy, not after our humiliation that night!" Droy growled out as he held his magical seeds, ready for attack while Jet nodded as he channeled his magic.
"I got better things to do." Gajeel spoke bored, making the two males angrier as they charged at him, first to attack was Jet, he punched, kicked and rammed Gajeel mercilessly who didn't even bother to resist or defend himself.
"Not so tough now, are you?" Droy threw his seeds, that turned into plants and thrashed the Iron dragon slayer who looked like he took an oath of nonviolence. With a kick to his abdomen by Jet, Gajeel flew and slid through the ground, dividing the soil on his wake.
"Stop it! Look! He's not fighting back!" Levy cried, and reluctantly, Jet and Droy realized it too and stopped with glares.
"So this is the piece of shit that trashed my guild.." Team Shadow Gear froze at the voice of the new comer.
Standing in front of the roughed up Gajeel, was none other than Makarov Dreyer's grandson. "L-Lax-us?" Levy shivered at the sight of the huge intimidating lightning mage who looked disgustedly at the downed dragon slayer.
"I don't know what that old fool is thinking..allowing the trash that tarnished, made my guild a laughing stock for others join.." Suddenly lightning began to sprout around the blonde scar faced man before it formed a wheel and took Gajeel with it, obliterating the ground as it went. When it stopped, Gajeel was deeply burned; steam and smoke came off him in wave as he sat with slumped shoulders.
Levy watched the scene with tears in her eyes as she looked at the black clad man. 'He's..he, he just wants acceptance..'
"Laxus that's enough!" Jet yelled, seeing the iron dragon slayer completely downed.
"Who do you think you are to order me trash?!" Laxus sent a huge wave of lightning at Jet and Droy, who both evaded the attack, leaving Levy right in the coming attacks path.
"No! Levy!" They both screamed but were too late.
Levy closed her eyes, preparing to die, but felt a body in front of her, sucking all the lightning into his body. "G-Gajeel?" Levy stared in shock, so did Jet and Droy while Laxus just scowled before walking away.
"If you're done..I better..go.." He walked weakly out of the ground with a teary Levy watching him leave.
Laxus walked with his teeth clenched. "This is not over old man..I won't let you destroy my guild, if I have to get rid of the trash forcefully..then so be it.."
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About this chapter, yea, I didn't want to follow the normal routine of "strong Natsu weakened before his fight with Jellal". I mean my fic's Natsu defeated Deliora when he was a child, held his ground with Gildart's and defeated a god slayer, who by the way is a minor character with a major power boost.
Food Chain from Tower of Heaven ark.
1. Natsu
2. Poseidon
3. Jellal
3. Erza (I don't want to put Erza and jellal in the same line)/ Mirajane
4. Athena
5. Gray
6. Juvia/Simon
7. Lucy
8. Millianna/Wally/Sho
9. Happy
Next Ark: Battle for Fairy Tail
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