CH27: Mind Over Matter

The battle raged on as both Natsu and Gajeel fought to regain Zancrow's free will. Once they bring his mental focus down as well as exhaust his body, it should be easier for Wendy to break Ankhseram's hold over him. The only problem was, beating him. Both Dragon Slayers had gotten in one lucky hit which disoriented Zancrow for a bit. But after that, it has been a one sided battle.

The Flame God Slayer had been making short work of his opponents. He sent Gajeel into the ceiling with his Flame God Bellow and blasted Natsu with his Chaos Sphere. Both Dragons Slayers were exhausted and were having no luck against him. At the same time, Erza was keeping Ferrous at bay, preventing him from giving Zancrow backup while they tried to give Wendy an opening.

Erza had little trouble facing Ferrous as he did not expect her to be this powerful. But she couldn't' help but notice the trouble Natsu and Gajeel were in and then it occurred to her that they might just need to switch dance partners.

"Natsu, Gajeel! I have a plan that I think will work. You both have to switch opponents with me!"

At this point, both of them were only too happy to comply. They immediately took over Erza's job in kicking Ferrous' ass and she went to handle her brainwashed ex.

"Zancrow, I didn't think there was much brain for Ankhseram to control. To this day you never cease to surprise me." Erza said smugly.

"What? You little whore." Zancrow rushed towards Titania and landed a hit on her side while she countered with an uppercut to his chin. They continued to fight as neither of them could get the upper hand over the other. Erza's Adamantine armor deflected almost all of Zancrow's flame attacks while he dodged all of her sword swings.

"This isn't getting us anywhere."

"I agree woman." Zancrow then grabbed Erza by her face like he did Cana and attempted to incinerate it. But Erza saw her chance now that she was at close range and sent a massive punch to Zancrow's stomach. He retracted in pain and held his core as if he was going to throw up. Erza then landed a couple more blows on the God Slayer. But by then he had enough. Zancrow outstretched both of his arms for one massive flame attack but Erza had one more trick up her sleeve.

With lightning speed she appeared inches from his face and went in for the kill shot. Zancrow was stunned as he soon realized that Erza was kissing him. When she pulled away he realized something else; She had reequipped into her Purgatory armor.

"I hope you can forgive me Zancrow." With one massive swing, Erza collided her sword with the God Slayer sending him flying towards the ground leaving a crater where he landed.

"Wendy, NOW!"

Upon Erza's command Wendy encased Zancrow in her healing barrier and began to attempt to expunge the mind control. Once again, Zancrow started screaming in pain, holding his head as if he had a migraine.

"I think I got it this time!" Wendy shouted. She certainly didn't feel as much resistance as before, but something was wrong. She had contained Zancrow in her spell for some time now but he still possessed the sigil on his forehead.

"Erza, I don't think Ankhseram's influence is going to be nullified at this rate."

"What do you mean?"

"It's almost as if Zancrow doesn't want to be released."

Erza looked at her comrade and took pity on him but was also furious. "Zancrow, if you don't fight against this hold, I promise you, you will live to regret it. Your putting your guild, and all of Earthland in grave danger. NOW SNAP OUT OF IT!"

Zancrow's eyes darted open and he struggled to gain his bearings. "I've never felt power like this before."

"It's not worth it! Come back to me!"

"Why, so that I can be rejected again? By you, by my guild. Tossed aside without a second thought?"

"If that's the way you feel that's fine. But we will never be able to sort out our personal problems if you don't think for yourself. Remember what master said, the only true power that matters, is that of family!"

Zancrow…was PISSED. He had been used as a weapon against his friends, and almost lost his chance to take down Ferrous. But now that was the least of anyone's worries. There's no telling how far along the ritual has proceeded or in what condition Laxus was in.

"I'm nobody's puppet!"

Zancrow took both his hands and placed them on his forehead. He then ignited them and attempted to burn off his own flesh. "GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" After a couple of seconds burning his forehead, there was a blinding flash of purple light.

Once the flash receeded, everyone saw an angry Flame God Slayer without the "A" sigil. Zancrow used his own powers to burn off Ankhseram's influence whilst knowing full well his own fire wouldn't harm his wellbeing. Without the sigil amplifying his evil side, Zancrow was in complete control of himself again.

"We've wasted enough time with this sidetracking. Wendy, stay with Cana and make sure she's alright. Erza, these bozos may need help taking down Ferrous, I leave them in your hands. I'm going to find Laxus and stop the ritual dead in its tracks."

"NO!" Ferrous yelled as he charged towards Zancrow. His assault was stopped short however by Erza who hit him with her massive sword like a baseball bat to a ping pong ball.

Zancrow found a set of stairs behind the throne pedestal and sprinted his way up them. By the time he finished climbing them, he decided he hated stairs. He emerged on what looked like the very top of the shrine. It had a ceiling and pillars elongated their way up in symmetrical formation almost as if he were inside a massive bird cage. He could see for miles in either direction. He spotted the Fairy Tail wizards on ground level handling the enemy forces outside while Mira, Evergreen, and the other flying wizards took down the ones in the sky.

He made his way towards the center of what seemed like an ancient rune. It had six points and each was connected to the other via carvings on the ground like an ancient Star of David, only more, methodical. He walked to the nearest point and saw a cloak on the ground much like the one Ferrous used to wear. But that was all that he saw. Cloaks at every point but no wearers to be seen.

'What happened here?'

Zancrow stepped into the rune and sensed immense magic energy coming from the center. In the middle of the shrine he saw a massive figure. Human in form but godly in essence. He was very muscular and had a lightning bolt scar on the right side of his face.

"LAXUS! Thank God. I was beginning to worry that the ritual had succeeded. But it looks like you took care of the goon squad eh?"

Zancrow looked over Laxus. He was shirtless, and his arms had weird tattoos he had never seen before. He walked around to make eye contact with him when he realized, there were no eyes. His eye sockets were glowing a holy white and his emotional features were neutral. Zancrow backed off freaked out.

"Laxus?"

(WHAM)

Zancrow found himself lodged between two massive blocks of stone. He turned his attention back to Laxus and saw him generating a magic circle in the palm of his hand. No doubt that was the attack that sent him flying back.

"What the hell…"

Zancrow stood dumbfounded as he felt the earth rumble with each step Laxus took.

"Your friend Laxus is gone. With the completion of the ritual marks the dawn of a new age. The age of the gods."

"Ankhseram." Zancrow stated with distaste. He braced himself as the god in Laxus' body began to speed towards him, eager to wipe him out from existance.