The Demon Eyes of Fairy Tail

by Michael Shadow

Itachi is given a second chance at life for an unknown reason. He is sent to Earthland where he ends up in the tower of heaven, meeting a certain little red haired girl that becomes his little sister. Join them on their adventures with the Fairy Tail guild. Rated M just in case. I don't own Naruto or Fairy Tail. Re-write for chapter 1-33 will happen in the future.

50. Universe One!

Chapter 49: Universe One!

Raining down from the skies in the southern isles of Ishgar, were rays of golden divine-like light. Soaring in the heavens above like a jumping firefly, was Jellal, sending rays of light raining down upon the black wizard Zeref. The source of his sins, the source of the darkness that rooted itself in Ishgar, was right before him. Jellal wouldn't miss this opportunity to take Zeref down. This was his goal, his final goal.

"Such rage and fury, and such killing intent. It rivals even that of my Etherious demons. My, you must really hate me." Zeref smiled as he casually weaved and dodged the rampant attacks unleashed by the rampaging Jellal.

Invel stood on standby per his Emperor's command. "Jellal Fernandez, once a worshipper of his majesty. Now an enemy. It seems quite poetic for him to die at his majesty's hand." Invel's attention was diverted as coming rushing in were Mystogan and Itachi, having finished off Obito they returned to deal with Zeref. "It seems Neinhart's soldier failed… No matter, I will just deal with this myself." His men backed up in terror, as Invel unleashed his aura. This tropical island paradise started to feel like the Antarctic. The sunny sky became clouded, and a snow storm filled the air.

"It seems we have another nuisance to deal with." Mystogan stated as he felt the presence from Invel.

"Indeed." Itachi in return unleashed his own demonic aura. Entering Stage 2 of his Demon form with his arms getting cloaked in darkness and turning into demonic claws. And just like that, the air got colder, as bloodlust filled the air.

"The King of Edolas, and his majesty's own creation E. I am the Winter General Invel of the Spriggan Twelve. Prepare for death." Invel's very being was releasing this cold air, his aura changed the clear blue skies into dark and clouded in the blink of an eye.

Itachi despite his demonic aura, felt a shiver run down his spine from this cold air. Itachi didn't waste anytime and flashed a set of hand seals, blood dripping from his eye as his Mangekyou Sharingan began rotating. "Fire Style: Inferno Fireball!" Itachi spewed out a gigantic fireball, the blazing fireball cloaked in the black flames of Amaterasu.

Invel held his dominant arm out, a magic circle coming to life beneath his feet as the cold air intensified. "Ice Age." Just like that the entire island was cloaked in ice, and Itachi's fireball froze into solid ice. Despite the intense heat brought by the Amaterasu, Invel's ice froze the fire in such a short amount of time. The frozen fireball still soared towards Invel, who caught it with his dominant hand, and just like that it shattered into tiny ice shards.

Invel gasped as Itachi suddenly closed in the distance between them, Itachi looking more like the Demon of Extinction with the cold look in his eye as he lifted up his dominant arm, with the darkness morphing into a gigantic blade. Invel created a shield of ice as Itachi swung down the demonic blade. The blade clashed with the ice shield, and shattered it in an instance. Invel groaned as he attempted to jump back but was still cut by the blade. The cut wasn't too deep, but it went down from his right shoulder and towards his abs.

Invel sweated a bit, he had underestimated the strength of E even in its earliest stage of transformation it still held quite the power. Invel froze the cut on his torso to stop the bleeding, backflipped and unleashed a rain of gigantic train sized ice shards raining down onto Itachi.

"Fire Style: Demon Inferno Blade!" Itachi cloaked his demonic blade with the black flames of Amaterasu, as he swung his arm to the side unleashing a spray slash wave of Amaterasu onto the ice shards. The sheer force of Itachi's swing caused the giant ice shards to be cut in half, as well as catch ablaze in flames. The flame slash wave tore through the ice shards and continued to advance towards Invel.

However, as it got closer Invel froze the slash waves in ice and shattered it before it got too close to him. Invel once again gasped as Itachi closed the gap between them once more, this time Invel was ready however. As in the blink of an eye the Winter General froze Itachi's entire body in a block of ice. "You got too careless, E." Invel taunted the frozen Itachi, although then suddenly the frozen Itachi before him combusted into a massive fiery explosion.

Invel flew out from the explosion, his clothes burnt and burn marks spread across his body. The Winter General rolled around on the icy floor, groaning in pain as he looked ahead, seeing Itachi standing with Mystogan. "H-How?" Invel picked himself up, cooling off his burnt body with a cold breeze emitting from his body.

'Amazing, in the blink of an eye Itachi created a shadow clone of himself. The first time he jumped Invel like that he tested the waters of Invel's reaction speed. Knowing full well he wouldn't fall for it a second time, Itachi sent in a clone the second time to test the strength of Invel's power, whether Invel had frozen him or not he would have fallen for the trap of Itachi's self-destructing clone.' Mystogan looked in awe as he saw how everything played out with Obito's sharingan.

"Ankhseram Formula 1: Death Ball!" A black sphere rocketed itself towards Itachi. The sphere gave Itachi a sense of death and despair, he could feel it if any person touched this they would die. Luckily Itachi wasn't a normal person. Itachi held out his demonic claw, catching the sphere. Yet the force of the sphere was so strong that Itachi was sent skidding backwards. Itachi finally managed to push the sphere away, by redirecting it into the air. "Ho? Not bad, as expected of my dearest E." Zeref taunted Itachi.

"Jiu Leixing!" Nine lightning made swords swope down and pierce into the body of Zeref, the levitating swords dragged Zeref up into the heavens, where above were magic circles in the form of a constellation. "Grand Chariot!" Beams of light rained down onto Zeref, the sky and the earth shook from the tremor of the explosion as Jellal continued his attack on Zeref.

"Your majesty!" Invel was about to jump in to attack Jellal, but found himself surrounded by various staffs lodged into the ground.

"Five Layered Magic Circle: Sacred Song!" Five magic circles formed above Invel, and unleashed a violet beam of light onto the Winter General. Invel buckled under the pressure, groaning in slight agony at Mystogan's spell.

"Three versus two doesn't seem rather fair, does it?" Zeref appeared on the ground, looking unharmed despite the ferocious attacks from Jellal.

"When one opponent is immortal fair goes out the window." Jellal threw back as he stood with Itachi and Mystogan.

"And there is no such thing as fair in a war." Itachi rushed at Zeref, being an Etherious Demon Itachi was the only one that could kill Zeref.

"Did that blue cat give you some valued intel?" Zeref asked as he dodged a slash from Itachi's demonic blade. Itachi narrowed his gaze, Happy had told him essentially what was going on. And that Natsu was E.N.D according to Zeref, not to mention Natsu was also apparently Zeref's younger brother.

"About Natsu, yes." Itachi elbowed Zeref hard in the face, shattering the black wizard's nose. Zeref healed in a near instance, and blasted Itachi with a sphere of black energy. The sphere shredded some skin off from Itachi's shoulder, leaving a nasty scar.

"I see, did you find out perhaps what should happen to you if I die?" Zeref tauntingly asked, and judging from Itachi's reaction Zeref could tell Itachi didn't know anything about it. "As a demon of the book of Zeref, should I die, you shall die as well." At this Itachi halted his blade mere inches from Zeref's neck, looking stunned at the revelation. "That's right, all my Etherious demons are connected to my life. Should I die, they all die with me, you included. Only Madara has learnt how to severe our connection."

"Itachi…" Jellal uttered as he tried to get a look at what sort of facial expression his friend must be making. This meant that if they killed Zeref. Itachi, Natsu, Kisame, Sasori and Kakuzu would all die as well.

"Now then, please do continue." Zeref taunted Itachi who stood frozen on the spot, unsure on what to do.

One thing went through Itachi's mind at the moment, and that was Mirajane. If he died, he would leave her alone, and they had just gotten married and everything. Itachi gritted his teeth, and swiftly punched Zeref across the face launching him several feet into the air. Itachi followed up, looking like he was teleporting over to Zeref midair and smacked the Black Wizard with a haymaker that sent Zeref crashing into the ground.

Zeref felt confident in this moment, confident that Itachi couldn't go through with killing him now. It wasn't that Zeref assumed Itachi in particular cherished his life over others. But the fact that if Itachi killed him here, he would kill his own friend Natsu as well in the process, as well as Kisame, Sasori and Kakuzu. Not to mention the fact that he would leave Madara to wreak havoc in this world with no one left to oppose him.

Itachi didn't know what to do, he knew that at this very moment he could not kill Zeref. If he were to kill him at some point, it would be preferably after Madara has been dealt with. As Itachi was trying to figure out a strategy for this very battle happening right now, a set of images went through his mind. One of his clones had been taken down, and what is more he saw who did it, Madara.

This was it, what he was waiting for, for Madara to show himself. Itachi knew what he needed to do, he needed to take down Madara. No, Itachi knew that there was one thing he needed to know from Madara first. As it was brought recent to his attention, that Madara somehow severed his life connection to Zeref. If Itachi could find out how to severe that connection, then Natsu, Kisame, Sasori, Kakuzu and Itachi himself wouldn't need to die. 'Warren patch me through to Mest, I need him to teleport me right away!'

"Huh, al-alright, ey yo Mest! Itachi needs assistance!" Warren spoke through the telepathy link he had established with Itachi and Mest. "Madara, I assume, I am on my way." Mest was quick to reply.

In the blink of an eye, Mest appeared before Itachi, Mystogan and Jellal. "Whoa!" Mest looked a bit spooked as he saw Zeref and Invel as well. "Y-You called me to take you to Madara, right?" Mest asked a little nervous, he knew he wouldn't be much help against one of the twelve or Zeref for that matter.

"Yes, sorry Jellal, Mystogan. But I-" Itachi didn't like leaving the two of them behind alone to fight Zeref and Invel, especially since Itachi was the only one present who could kill Zeref.

"We understand." Jellal was quick to say, giving a reassuring smile to Itachi.

"We'll be fine, you are needed elsewhere." Mystogan added as he stood with his Earthland counterpart. "Make sure you beat it out of that Madara how to sever you connection with Zeref. Mirajane would go on quite the rampage if you were to die like that." Mystogan teased.

"Okay, hold on… I don't have enough to teleport us all the way to the northern battlefield. But I can get you close enough so you don't waste any energy on your own to get there." Mest informed, he could only teleport to such a long distance, and he could only teleport such a number of times.

"Thank you." Itachi gave a light bow, and then they teleported. Making their way all the way from the southern isles of Ishgar, and all the way to the northern battlefield.

Mystogan and Jellal were left behind, standing before Zeref and Invel. There was the Alvarez imperial army in the background as well, but they looked like they wished to stay out from this battle. "Well, Earthland me, are you ready?" Mystogan span one of his staffs within his hand as he stared the Black Wizard and his Winter General down.

"I have been ready for this moment for the past eight years." Jellal declared as he went into a battle stance.

"Seems E escaped us." Invel couldn't help but feel a bit relieved that Itachi left the battle, that made things much easier for him and Zeref.

"Indeed, I wonder… Can Itachi manage to get the information out of Madara?" Zeref had a menacing smirk on his face, his fist was trembling. His body leaking with killing intent and bloodlust. The idea of Itachi severing their connection, made the Black Wizard feel enraged. "Forgive me, Jellal, Mystogan… For I shall take out my anguish on you." Zeref's eyes turned red as he stared with nothing but malice at the two Jellal's.

In the northern continents of Ishgar. There was a long silence that followed with Madara's question, both sides looked to be backing down a bit. Sting still shakingly stood up front, ready to engage in battle. Yet Sting couldn't help but feel discouraged at how Madara brushed him off like that. "Well? Who wants to go first? The Alvarez Empire? Or the forces of Ishgar? Pick now, or else I will decide for myself." Madara looked between the two armies, these so-called grown men trembling in their boots like frightened children. Madara smirked, and instantly everyone flinched. "Well, I will decide then… Both armies come at me all at once."

In that moment both sides of the conflict looked past each other, and all saw but one enemy on the battlefield, Madara. Gathering their courage, they all unleashed a mighty battle cry, both sides rushing at Madara at once. Madara stood there smirking as both armies approached him from both sides, his demeanor calm, his muscles resting at ease. Madara casually looked up seeing multiple people nearly right up in his face, and in that moment Madara widened his eyes activating the sharingan. From the center of the pile of people echoed a sonic boom.

Sting, Minerva and Rogue gasped as they saw people being flung out from the pile one by one. After a devastating shockwave from a mere attack by Madara, a mere punch or kick, a solider either from the Alvarez Empire or the forces of Ishgar were launched out from the pile, dead.

Madara avoided punches, swords that came slashing his way. Grabbing onto one Alvarez Knights wrist, breaking his arm in a swift motion and taking the knight's sword out from his hand, and decapitating the knight before he even had a chance to cry out in pain. Madara casually weaved and dodged, as he hacked and slashed at people with the sword.

A mage sweated in fear, swiftly he raised his staff and fired a magic bullet, Madara leaped up and grabbed onto the magic bullet and chucked it right back at the caster. The caster gasping in fright as he, and several others were blown away by the blast.

A mage came charging up at Madara from behind, with raging fire generating from a magic circle at his palm. Madara swiftly turned around, ducking whilst turning causing the mage to launch the blast into one of his comrades who cried in pain as he was lit on fire. Madara then threw a heavy punch into the fire mage launching him several feet away, his upper body laying buried in the snow as he kept skidding back, his blood staining the white snow.

Madara delivered a spin kick into an Alvarez Knight's head causing it to rotate at a 360 angle. Madara used the dead knights falling body as a spring board to launch himself into the armada of Alvarez Knights. Madara crashed onto a magic mobile tank, creating a massive dent in it that bended the tank in half, rendering it disabled. Taking a backflip, Madara span his body delivering a kick into an unexpecting knight launching him into the Ishgar forces like a cannon ball, knocking several Ishgar mages over.

An Alvarez knight attempted to thrust a magic infused spear at Madara. Madara yanked the spear out from the knight's grip, breaking it over his knee and throwing the spear head end into the knight's face. Using the other end, Madara grabbed a knight from the back of his head and stabbed his face through the wooden staff. Using the now dead knight as a jumping board, Madara leaped into the air.

"Fire!" An Alvarez Knight commanded as their magic mobiles fired of cannons, out from those cannons came gigantic laser like beams. Madara casually eyed the beam, generating his demonic marks into the palm of his hand. Madara caught the giant laser beam. The Imperial army and the forces of Fiore looked in shock as it appeared as if the laser was getting absorbed. But no, it reflected off of Madara's palm and into a crowd of mages.

The laser fried and burnt anyone who got in its path, knights and mages alike started to flee. But Madara chuckled as he dragged the beam across the ground, the beam burnt through the ground and annihilated anyone it touched to ashes. A wave of fire had burnt across the battlefield, leaving a scar that would remain for centuries to come in the earth's soil. Madara eventually directed the beam towards the magic mobiles that had originally fired them, causing the Alvarez Empire to lose its ground vehicles as they all blew up.

While free falling, Madara took in the sight of the explosion and the burning field of corpses and ashes before him. He then gracefully landed back in the center where he had begun this massacre. "Anymore toys you children wish to play with? Or are you ready to have a proper dance?" As he said that, a spiraling swirl of magic energy knocked into Madara. Madara backflipped midair and landed a few feet away, eyeing his attacker.

Minerva stood with Sting, Rogue, Rufus, Orga, Yukino and two more figures lingering further in the back who were Sorano and Sasori. "Don't underestimate Sabertooth!" Minerva hissed at the Ghost of the Uchiha clan.

Madara casually dusted off some snow from the shoulder plate of his armor. Minerva clicked her tongue in frustration as her attack clearly had done nothing. Holding his hands into a hand seal, Madara inhaled his breath. "Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!" Madara sprayed a massive wave of fire from his lips, the blazing inferno melting away the surrounding snow.

"That attack is enormous!" Orga backed away in terror, as the flames spread so far and wide there was no escape for anyone.

Rufus rushed through the crowd. "Memory Make: Lagoon!" From magic circles sprayed out waves of water to clash with Madara's fire. A total of a thousand water mages from Ishgar and Alvarez joined forces and launched their strongest water spell to counter the fire.

The Edolas versions of Gray, Juvia and Lucy all jumped before the attack as they together flashed the same hand seals. "Water Style: Explosive Water Shockwave!" All three spewed out a massive amount of water, and drew water from the snow around them. Together they created a massive towering tsunami wave that clashed against the fire.

"Water Style: Raging Sea!" Sasori jumped into the mix, cannons forming out from his palms as he fired out waves of water. Thanks to his demonic power Sasori could turn parts of his body back into a puppet at will. Sasori wasn't alone as jumping in with three more clones was Itachi's wood clone. "Water Style: Water Wall!" All four Itachi Wood clones sprayed out massive waves of water that rose to tsunami like waves. And thus, Itachi's Wood Clones, Sasori, Edolas Gray, Juvia and Lucy, Rufus and a thousand water mages had managed to keep Madara's fire jutsu at bay.

As a result, a gigantic steam cloud overtook the entire battlefield. "This is just too easy a second time…" Madara chuckled as he remembered what he did to the Shinobi allied forces. Jumping up Madara flashed a set of hand seals. "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb!" At once Madara unleashed at least ten thousand of fire blasts. Onto the unsuspecting crowd of mages.

"Everyone, look out!" Itachi's wood clones seeing the fire blasts coming with their sharingan, shouted a warning. Yet his warning fell on deaf ears, as the cries of several could be heard along with the scorching sound of flames bombarding into them.

Madara rushed through the smoke cloud, grabbing onto one of Itachi's clones by the neck, without any hesitation Madara snapped the clones neck causing it to vanish. "That should send words to him…" Madara snickered as he mowed down anyone that he laid his eyes on. Butchering anyone regardless of their affiliation with the Empire or Ishgar, young or old, man or woman. Madara slaughtered anything in his path.

Suddenly the raining torrent of fire balls stopped, Madara gained a slight confused look as he was certain he had created enough fire balls to rain down for a total of ten minutes. "Ah yeah! Let's get wild!" An engine roared across the battlefield, Madara turned his attention to this obnoxious loud vehicle, with an equal loud and obnoxious driver. Edolas Natsu rushed through in his magic mobile, as a cannon on top of the hood had sucked in all of Madara's fire balls.

"Fire Style: Dragon's Raging Roar!" From the front of the car, what looked like a metal mouth opened and spewed out fire onto Madara.

Madara smirked, finding this sort of creative way to use ninjutsu to be amusing. But still, at the same time it was mediocre at best in his eyes. "Foolish child, technology can never beat the real deal. Observe carefully." Madara flashed a set of hand seals as he stared down the fire wave rising over him. "Fire Style: Uchiha Fire Domination!" The fire unleashed by Edolas Natsu's car suddenly split apart before Madara, making two gigantic rising walls of fire. Madara rushed through the opening, and dropkicked the hood of Natsu's car. Edolas Natsu yelped a bit in surprise. Smoke emitting from his sweet ride as it was trashed.

"Aww, man! Not cool!" Edolas Natsu who usually would be terrified without his car, stepped out and shouted in rage that his ride was trashed. Looks like over the years he gained some courage and confidence.

"Outta the way babe'!" Lucy Ashley jumped in swinging a lightning infused whip towards Madara. The Uchiha caught the whip, wrapping it around his hand. With a mighty yank Madara pulled Lucy Ashley to him and grabbed her by the throat. "Agh!" Edolas Lucy wheezed out as she was getting choked.

"Lucy!" Edolas Natsu jumped Madara in an attempt to tackle him to the ground, but without batting an eye Madara kicked the Edolas mage launching him into an incoming Edolas Gray. The two best friends fell rolling into the snow.

"You want to dance with me as well, young lady?" Madara tightened his grip on Lucy Ashley, holding just enough back as to not snap her neck straight away.

"Star Dress: Libra!" A voice rang from Madara's left, and suddenly gravity began increasing onto him. Madara widened his eyes a bit at this sudden increase in gravity, his knees buckling a little under the pressure. Such an insult to his pride, Madara thought in annoyance as he quickly straightened his posture.

Yukino stood before Madara, dressed like a belly dancer in the exact same style as her spirit Libra who stood next to her. Both carried bracelets that had weights decorated onto them. "Libra Judgment!" The weight of the gravity around Madara increased by at least a thousand.

Madara dropped Lucy Ashley to the ground, and Libra quickly acted in cancelling the gravity around Lucy Ashley only so that Edolas Natsu and Gray could get her out of there. Then they resumed increasing the weight onto Madara. Madara grunted as the ground itself was pushed down, forming a crater. Yet Madara wouldn't even bend the knee before all this gravity.

"My turn!" Jenny of Blue Pegasus wearing some red mech armor jumped in, launching rockets from her wrists. The rockets soared towards Madara, bombarding into him and the gravity field creating a series of explosions.

"Foolish children." Madara's calm voice echoed from the black smoke, a speck of darkness shot out and knocked the air out of Libra as it clashed with her gut. The spirit being out for the count thus retired to the Celestial Spirit realm.

The gravity eased a bit, and Madara was still standing tall. With black demonic marks beginning to form around his face. "I am Madara Uchiha, I bend the knee to no one!" Madara flashed his explosive aura, cancelling the gravity around him and knocking Yukino to the ground. "No emperor, Dragon King, God, can ever make me bend the knee. In fact, all shall bend their knees before me!" Madara raised his arm up, and then in a swift motion pushed it down. A dome of darkness formed over them all, and the intense gravity pushed everyone face first into the dirt. Whereas Sasori, Sting, Rogue, Itachi's wood clones all fell to their knees. "Now, that is a better picture. All kneeling before my might."

Yukino groaned, still in her Libra dress, she managed to use Libra's powers to cancel out the gravity Madara put around them. "Ho? So, your Celestial Spirit gives you full control over gravity, is that it? Well, try this on for size." Madara flicked his fingers and the gravity pressure resumed, this time tenfold to which even Sasori, Sting, Rogue and Itachi's clones fell face first into the ground. Madara listened to the Alvarez Imperial army, the forces of Ishgar all crying out in pain. The sound of the ground cracking and breaking apart from all this pressure. Then it all stopped, as Madara removed his own demonic darkness.

"Wh-Why?" Sting groaned, Madara could have finished them all if he wanted to so why cancel his spell.

"You ask me why? Well to put it simply, I'm simply not content with this dance of ours yet." Madara crossed his arms as he allowed all of the fallen knights and mages to crawl back up to their feet. "Now then, shall we continue? Do entertain me more. I've still yet to break a sweat."

Madara then avoided a blade from a knight, although something was different. He had already killed this knight earlier, yet he was still moving. "What's this?" Madara backflipped to avoid the knight's slash. But more started to appear, the dead were rising from the ground. "Ho? I see, a puppeteer master, eh?" Madara snickered, it wasn't everyday he encountered a master of the art of puppeteer ninjutsu.

Sasori used the steam cloud to his advantage, using it as a cover to latch one of his thousands of puppet chakra strings onto a dead person. Even if they were dead, Sasori still had access to using the powers they had when they were alive. He had several of the dead mages launch magic blasts at Madara. "If you aim to tire me out, you will find it to be a useless effort." Madara as he twirled and danced around the dead puppets, he spat a ball of fire in Sasori's direction.

Sasori gasped that he was found so easily, he had made sure to conceal his chakra to his best of abilities. A wall of white furred creatures however, shielded Sasori as Sorano came to his aid. "You alright, Sasori-kyun?" Sorano embraced the puppet master.

"Who the hell are you calling Sasori-kyun?" Sasori seemed a little flustered, his grandmother must be laughing at his misery from heaven. "… But thanks." Sasori thanked Sorano for the save, quickly entering his Etherious form, Sasori used the black demonic scorpion tail to block a strike from Madara whilst shielding himself and Sorano.

"There you are, Sasori of the Red Sand. I have heard of you. Once feared as the greatest S-ranked missing nin to ever come out of the Hidden Sand. And now you are a protector of some woman I see." Madara chuckled at seeing the frown on Sasori's face.

"Eat shit old Uchiha geezer." The demonic scorpion tail extended and flew with its tip aimed for Madara. Madara didn't flinch and smiled as he tilted back a bit and grabbed onto the demonic scorpion tail. The tail wiggled a bit in his grasp. Sasori growled at Madara who condescendingly smirked at him.

"My quite the vile tongue on you." Madara chuckled as he backflipped to avoid a second scorpion tail Sasori grew out from his back. Madara held his hands to his hips as he looked on in amusement. Sasori looked in shock seeing all his dead puppet bodies having been sliced in half, and lit on fire. "The weakness of any puppeteer master, once you destroy their little toys, they are left wide open without any defense~" Madara tilted his head to the side as he avoided a lightning enhanced punch from Orga. "You are quite the big fella, aren't you?" Madara grabbed onto Orga's wrist and casually lifted his massive muscular body over his head. Orga could only gasp in fright as Madara body slammed Orga to the ground. "A Lightning God Slayer, eh?" Madara noticed the black flickering lightning, and in a swift motion he broke Ogra's arm.

"Argh!" Orga cried out in pain. Madara released him from his grip to which Orga rolled over to the side. As he rolled however, Orga unleashed a breath attack. "Lightning God's Bellow!" Orga unleashed a huge blast wave of black lightning at Madara. Madara took the blast head on, not even putting in the effort to block or dodge it.

"Magic designed to slay a God… Honestly some would say it is fitting to use such magic against me. However, I am far above any God." A blue skeletal ribcage surrounded Madara, as a massive blue spectral skeleton hand emerged and grabbed a hold of the black lightning breath attack. The lightning flickered and sparks dug through the ground, yet Madara with a simple squeeze from his Susano'o negated the wave. The collapsed breath attack sent a shockwave around the battlefield. "I must say, you bunch are doing much worse than the Shinobi Allied Forces from my world. I mean, at least back there I was an immortal reanimated zombie with unlimited chakra. Here I am flesh and blood. Granted I have much more power than I used to back then… But I have been making an effort of using the same amount of force as back then. And yet, none of you have even scratched me. But perhaps I am expecting too much, you mages who hardly even know proper hand to hand combat. Honestly, this is why I stayed out of this war until now. Because I knew I would get bored."

Madara looked over to Sasori and Itachi's wood clones. "Even with two former Akatsuki members on your side, you manage to bore me. Itachi, hurry up and get here so that I at least can break a sweat… Before I crush Zeref and his dreams, and break Acnologia's back like a twig over my knee. Or better yet, present me mine and Ur's child."

At this Itachi's clones visibly flinched, Madara knew of Ultear? Two of the clones rushed at Madara, each creating their own upper body Susano'o. At this Madara smirked. "Seems I touched a nerve… So, one of those in that photo really is my child?" Madara mumbled to himself, an image of the picture of Ur and two young boys one with silver hair and one with black hair. Itachi's two clones had their Susano'o bring down their swords at Madara. However, their orange red blades were grabbed by blue spectral hands as Madara formed his upper body Susano'o. "Clones are no fun." Madara crossed his arms as his Susano'o jabbed two swords straight through Itachi's clones and their Susano'o.

The clones vanished leaving Itachi's lone remaining Wood Clone behind. "You will go, no further!" Itachi's clone slammed his palms together, as massive tree roots stuck up from the ground. "Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!" The roots grew into a miniature forest that clashed into Madara and his Susano'o. Madara struggled to keep his balance as his Susano'o was raised into the air and him with it.

Awaiting Madara midair, were Sting and Rogue, both reeling their dominant arm back, generating a sphere filled with a massive amount of magical power. "Unison Raid: Holy Shadow Dragon's Flash Fang!" Merging their white and shadow energies, the two thrusted their arms forward and in a burst unleashed a massive destructive wave of energy. The wave clashed against Madara. The shockwaves generated even blew some nearby Alvarez Knights away with it. Sting and Rogue both looked in shock however, as although Madara's Susano'o cracked it sustained and brushed their attack off. The Susano'o swatted its blue arm into the air, knocking the twin Dragon Slayers down to the ground in a loud smash.

The miniature forest pushing Madara was sliced by waves of blue energy from his Susano'o, creating a wooden platform made up out of the tree stubs. Madara's Susano'o unleashed a mighty roar that shook surrounding people to the core. They trembled in fear at the ancient Uchiha's awesome power. Madara looked to Itachi's wood clone. 'Compared to Hashirama, his wood style lacks the same level of durability and mass. However, for a clone this is far more impressive than I would have expected. Almost compares to my own version of Wood Style.' Madara would never give praise out loud unless it was well deserved, like Might Guy with his taijutsu skills or Hashirama with his godlike power. But otherwise, never, not out loud anyway.

"My turn." Madara said menacingly as his Susano'o raised its four arms, each arm gained a sword. Then Madara slashed the swords of his Susano'o sending towering waves of energy slashing throughout the battlefield. The screams of mages and knights echoed around him, as he watched several bodies rise into the air with the waves. "Now…" With a flick of his fingers, Madara had his Susano'o create belts of Yasaka Magatama beads. "Time to end this."

"To end you." Sasori snarled as he pulled his arms back.

Blue strings of chakra turned visible on Madara's forearm, the confused looking Uchiha was yanked out from his own Susano'o. 'His tail… he attached the strings onto me when I grabbed his tail!' Realization dawned on Madara, but quickly he found himself surrounded.

"White Dragon: ROAR!" Sting followed by Rogue unleashed their breath attacks on Madara. "Shadow Dragon: ROAR!" Orga and Rufus both joined in as well in the assault. "Lightning God's Charged Particle Cannon!" Orga unleashed a huge concentrated blast of black lightning onto Madara. "Memory Make: A Night of Fallen Stars!" A set of golden rays of energy rained down from the sky onto Madara. "Territory Explosion!" Minerva created a highly concentrated explosion onto Madara. Sasori had his demonic scorpion tail open the tip, generating a blast of demonic darkness. "Finishing Cannon!" And finally, Itachi's wood clone jumped in with its Susano'o. "Yasaka Magatama!" The Susano'o chucked the spinning bead onto Madara, all attacks combined created a massive explosion that eclipsed the entire sky, and rocked the earth bellow.

"Did they, do it?! Did they get him?!" Yukino like the rest had to cover their eyes as the dust from the explosion blew all around them, stinging their eyes making them a bit watery.

Everyone took a moment of silence to watch the smoldering black smoke cloud in the air left by the explosion. "A valiant effort." Madara's voice made everyone back away in fear. Half of Madara's samurai armor had been shattered, however his body remained unharmed as he was covered in demonic markings. "If it weren't for this enhanced durability my body gets from these demonic marks… I might have severely burnt my arm. Since Itachi was the only one to use a jutsu, I couldn't use my Rinnegan to absorb your combined effort. Although, I suppose I could have always used Shinra Tensei to negate the attacks. But by taking on this combined attack… I got a good idea on how powerful you all are. And I must say, I am unimpressed."

"All that… all our power… and he isn't even scratched?" Sting trembled, with their master in fear all of Sabertooth looked ready to give up.

"Now, don't sell yourself too short. I am scratched, see?" Madara showed his forearm, which had a bruise mark as well as some blood dripping down from it. "In simple terms, you lot are strong. But I am Madara Uchiha, to me true strength is in another realm all together compared to you lot. But I will give praise where it is earned… Sasori, seeing as the Itachi here is a clone, I can say without doubt you are the strongest opponent present. And did most damage to me in this battle. Oh, and out of all you that originate from this world, those two Dragon Slayers down there are the strongest here."

Madara's eyes then landed onto Itachi's wood clone. "And you, I must say, for a mere clone you are strong. Makes me all the more curious on how strong the original has become over the past year." Madara stood there with his arms crossed as he didn't acknowledge anyone else present, they were all like mere grains in a sandstorm to him. To him, they were nothing. Grains of sand flew by Madara, black sand. Madara flinched, they were up in the snowy mountains and there was sand?

Sasori took a deep breath as he stepped forward, slamming his palms together. "Iron Sand: Gathering Assault!" Black sand poured out from a ninja scroll Sasori wielded in his hand, generating into gigantic waves of black iron sand. The sand gathered through magnetic forces, forming a gigantic spear head, a blocky hammerhead and needles.

"This is similar to that young Kazekage brat's magnetism… only it is black iron sand instead of regular." Madara mumbles as he analyzed this jutsu Sasori pulled from his arsenal. 'This… is the jutsu of the Third Kazekage, rumors had it he was the strongest Kazekage of the Hidden Sand in all of history. I never thought I would witness this lovely black sand with my own eyes.'

Itachi's wood clone looked in amazement as he gazed towards Sasori. 'How long have you had this in your back pocket?' Itachi couldn't help but wonder, if Sasori possessed such a mighty weapon why not use it before now?

'Using my demonic power… I transform my body into that of a puppet, and back into that of a human. However, that is not all there is to it. Using my knowledge from the Shinobi world, I can specifically design my puppet body to be modified the way I wish. If it involves the magnetism ninjutsu of the Third Kazekage, then I can do it. Because I have studied every aspect of the Third Kazekage and his ninjutsu, I even knew how it worked better than the Third ever did himself. However, I am still limited in my use of it. This scroll is the only one I have, containing the black iron sand. Unlike the Third Kazekage, I cannot materialize iron sand as well from surrounding metallic iron material.' Sasori's red hair blew in the wind, dragging his hand through his hair he pulled his bangs out from his eyes as he glared at Madara.

Sorano looked in awe at Sasori as he stood over her, her cheeks turning a bit red as in her eyes Sasori looked to be at his coolest in this very moment. "Sorano, get back… I can't fight well if you get in the way." Sasori stepped towards Madara, whilst everyone else had backed away. Sasori walked up the colossal tree stumps, and onto the wooden platform, alone. "I am your opponent, leave the rest out of it."

Madara cracked a smirk as he gazed upon the massive weapons made out of the iron sand floating behind Sasori. "Heh, former Akatsuki member or not. Facing me on your own is an insult. I created that organization. And a mere pawn I handpicked for Obito and Zetsu to recruit, dares face me alone?"

"Scared I might drag the name of the mighty Madara Uchiha through the mud?" Sasori threw back, smiling himself as he gazed upon Madara. "If you aren't scared… then come at me you shitty old Uchiha geezer." Sasori's smile faded, as his expression turned cold and stoic like that of a puppet.

"Little marionet, I will cut your strings for good." Madara tightened his fist, bloodlust filling the air around him as his mighty aura exploded in a blue burst of energy. Madara vanished in a flash, and Sasori quickly acted crossing his arms as he caught a kick from the Uchiha.

Sasori could hear his wooden puppet arms cracking, but is quickly launched backwards from the force of Madara's kick. Out from Sasori's body shoots out hands of demonic darkness that latches themselves onto the tree platform. The darkness holds on, as Sasori is skidding backwards, and manages to prevent Sasori from falling off the edge just in time.

Through the cracks in Sasori's arms, Madara spots the hidden magnets within the wooden arms. "I see, so that's how you can use magnet style. Quite cheeky, but I admire your creativity." Madara commends, Sasori pays him no mind and swings his arm down. A massive shadow forms within the air over Madara. The Uchiha looks up, seeing the iron sand hammer head coming crashing down.

Madara quickly forms his Susano'o, the blue blade thrusted at the iron sand hammer. However, upon contact the blade of Madara's Susano'o breaks in half. "My, my, it's quite denser than I anticipated." Madara's Susano'o stretches its four arms out and catches the hammer. The four spectral blue arms appear to be twitching, as the Susano'o struggles to hold the hammer back due to the magnetic force pushing it down.

Sasori thrusts his right palm forward, launching the massive iron sand spear head spinning towards Madara and his Susano'o. Madara looks at the incoming spear head, and looks in shock as the spear pierced through the body of his Susano'o. Madara jumped away, avoiding the spear head, and the hammer that came crashing down.

'The pure density of this iron sand is stronger than that of the Fifth Kazekage's sand. And added with the sheer magnetic force, and the added speed turbulence. It holds even more power than the granddaughter of Hashirama's punch.' Madara thought back on his battle against the Five Kage, and how Tsunade had managed to crack his Susano'o, and sometimes even break through. With his fist infused with demonic power, Madara countered an incoming iron sand needle with a punch, causing it to spin midair.

Madara narrowed his gaze, as his demonic coated fist was grazed by the giant iron sand needle. Madara saw the blood leak from the cut on his hand. 'Even with the durability of my Stage 1 Demon state, the iron sand still managed to pierce my flesh? Getting hit by more of those would be bad.' Madara eyed Sasori, who had the iron spear head, the hammer head and the needles float back around him. 'He doesn't seem to have enough iron sand on him. I can either overwhelm him with clones. Or up the durability of my body with more demonic power, or even with my Perfect Susano'o. Or use the Rinnegan.' Madara cracked a smile, seeing the many ways he could best Sasori. But this was the greatest challenge Madara had faced yet in this war, so he decided to enjoy it and play the long game.

Sasori of course knew Madara was holding back, he knew not to get overconfident just because he pierced through the unarmored upper body state of Madara's Susano'o. Sasori knew his chances of winning were near zero, but that wasn't his goal, he was stalling for time. Once Itachi arrived, they could team up to take Madara down.

Sasori unleashed a showering barrage of the iron sand needles upon Madara. In responds Madara unleashed the black aura of his demonic power, then unleashed a wave of darkness to catch the needles. The darkness working like an acid to melt away the iron needles. "Well? What will you do now?" Madara asked.

Humoring Madara, Sasori responded with. "What indeed? How about this?" Up from the ground flew out Sasori's demonic scorpion tail, aimed at Madara's back.

Madara unleashed his Susano'o once more, catching the scorpion tail in one of its four hands. "Predictable." Madara's Susano'o yanked at the tail, only to discover it wasn't attached to Sasori.

"Predictable huh?" Sasori floated above Madara and smashed down the giant iron sand hammer. Madara had his Susano'o grow armor as it punched at the hammer, knocking it aside.

"Yasaka Magatama!" Madara's Susano'o tossed multiple spinning yasaka beads at the floating Sasori. In responds Sasori grew wings of darkness from his back, and weaved and dodged the incoming beads of destruction.

Madara analyzed Sasori's hand movements, retelling the exact movements within his own mind. 'Left. Right. Right. Up. Left. Forward.' Madara leaped away as the massive spinning iron sand spear flew at him. The iron spear soared in the sky, and towards a nearby mountain. The spear pierced through the mountain, leaving a gapping hole in the mountain side.

Sasori smiled as he weaved his arm, and the spear did a U-turn. Piercing through the mountain once more, breaking off the entire top half. Madara widened his eyes, as the spinning iron spear looked bigger than before. The spear swopped down, and took the head and nearly all of the torso off of Madara's Susano'o. 'His iron sand didn't just get bigger, but stronger as well.' Madara quickly regrew his damaged Susano'o, trying to analyze the situation. It quickly dawned on Madara when he looked to the damaged mountain.

"I see, the mountain. You took the iron and metal from the mountain." Madara caught on, but Sasori didn't flinch. With the extra iron and metal, he created more weapons, increasing the number of spear heads.

The spear heads began spinning at a rapid speed. Sasori stretched his hands out, and launched the spinning giant iron sand spear heads at Madara. Madara responded with creating multiple yasaka beads, throwing them into the spear heads. The iron spear heads exploded upon contacts with the destructive blue beads. The iron sand scattered around them, yet Sasori remained unfaced and stoic.

"I must commend you. You are stronger than I had originally thought. But for your sake, I hope you keep things interesting for me. For if I get bored, well I think you might know what will happen." Madara mocked the struggling puppeteer master.

"I have just been warming up. I am a puppet master. I don't fight directly." Sasori raised his arms, and a wave of the iron sand raised along with his movement. The iron sand gathered together into one iron sand giant golem. "This is my perfect puppet. My art." Sasori declared as he stood on the head of the iron giant.

"Heh, well guess I will respond in kind." Madara's Susano'o exploded with an intense aura. It grew in size, grew legs as it rose to a height rivaling that of the iron giant. "I am not done yet." Madara flicked his fingers to which his Susano'o gained armor. "Now then, let us see how this iron puppet of yours matches up to my Perfect Susano'o." Madara's Perfect Susano'o spread its wings, and drew its sword. Just by drawing the sword, mountain tops were sliced off in the blink of an eye. But that was good news for Sasori.

Gathering the iron and material from the destroyed mountains Madara cut down, Sasori's iron giant grew wings and wielded a spear. "We shall see." Sasori would sweat if he could, he was feeling the fatigue. Thankfully due to his puppet body it wasn't showing.

Sasori had his iron giant fly at Madara, thrusting the iron black sand spear at the Perfect Susano'o. Using the wings of his Susano'o, Madara blocked the strike. 'The defense power of his Susano'o is greater than before…' Sasori took a leap back with his iron giant.

Madara had his Susano'o swing down its blade upon Sasori's iron giant, who responded by raising its arm to block the blade. However, like a hot knife through butter, Madara's Susano'o cut off the iron giant's forearm. "Ho, seems that is it for you." Madara had his Susano'o cut off the second forearm of the giant.

"Not yet." Sasori raised his arm, and the severed iron forearms halted midair, floating just a bit over the ground. The forearms clenched into fists, and soared at intense speed towards Madara. The fists clashed into the Perfect Susano'o, knocking it back a few steps.

"Amazing…" Sorano looked in awe at the battle between Sasori and Madara.

"I see, he just uses his magnetic ability to levitate the severed arms. Which means, no matter what Madara does to the giant, Sasori can reattach any severed part or use it as a weapon." Rufus analyzed the battle.

"Glad we have him on our side…" Sting let out a sigh of relief, although did feel a bit useless at just sitting here doing nothing. But truth of the matter, anyone present would just get in the way.

"These Shinobi, are powerful." Rogue admitted, from what Itachi, Madara and the former Akatsuki members have demonstrated, they are in a class above that of mages. Then again, all of them are considered high ranking warriors in the Shinobi world, and Madara was apparently considered a God.

Sasori reattached the giant's forearms, and had it swing down the iron sand spear. Madara's Susano'o blocked the spear with its sword. From the wings of the iron giant, Sasori unleashed a bombardment of spinning iron spear heads. "Out of tricks geezer?!" The iron spear heads at the speed they rotated, made small cracks in the Perfect Susano'o, yet not enough to break through.

"Foolish boy, you think I cannot destroy your giant?" In the blink of an eye, Sasori's puppet arms were sliced off. Sasori gasped seeing a second Madara next to him on top of the giant, with his arm cloaked in darkness at the shape of a long blade. With his arms gone, Sasori lost the magnets. And thus, the giant began to crumble as Madara's Perfect Susano'o cut it to pieces. Without his arms and the magnets, Sasori was unable to reattach or even move the iron sand.

The Madara next to Sasori kicked him off the giant and down to the ground. The Madara in the Susano'o vanished, being revealed to be a wood clone. The real Madara jumped down after Sasori and landed onto the puppet master, stomping his foot through Sasori's chest. "I must admit, it was fun playing around with that iron sand of yours. It is the first I have ever fought it in direct combat. But now, I think I am done toying with you."

Sasori groaned, and glared at Madara. "Toying with me, huh?" A compartment in Sasori's upper left chest opened, revealing a magnet. The iron sand gathered over them like a tsunami wave, Madara leapt away from Sasori, landing a few feet away from him.

"A third magnet, eh?" Madara smiled in amusement as let Sasori get back up, wanting to see what other cards the puppet master had to play.

'I am running low… I have enough in me for one attack. Hopefully Itachi is closer to getting here in time.' The iron sand cloaked itself around the black demonic scorpion tail growing from Sasori's lower back. The head of the scorpion tail looking more like a spear. Sasori rushed at Madara at full speed, and Madara in kind did the same.

The ribcage of his Susano'o forming around Madara, growing into a skeleton that later grew flesh and then armor. "This is the end, Sasori of the Red Sand. I shall remember you, as the greatest puppet master of all time." Madara's Susano'o raised one of its arms carrying a sword, ready to cut Sasori down.

However, unknown to Madara, the iron sand around Sasori's scorpion tail. Was not only denser and stronger due to all the gathered iron sand, but also packed more power from the demonic darkness that had fused with it. Sasori let out a war cry as he thrusted the demonic scorpion tail forward, the iron headed spear piercing straight through the Susano'o armor. Madara's eyes widen in shock, as the tail advances forward and pierces into Madara's left shoulder. The tail continues to advance like a spear, and thus rips off Madara's entire left arm in the process.

Sasori gains a smirk, as he was able to injure the Ghost of the Uchiha. His smile didn't falter, even as Madara's Susano'o brought its sword down upon him and shattered his body to pieces.

What follows is a long silence, everyone looks on in awe as Sasori managed to take the legendary Madara Uchiha's arm off in that last strike. The Ghost of the Uchiha suffered an injury for once. But one voice, cried out in horror. "Sasori!" Sorano's shrieking voice echoed through the battlefield as she was only focused on the shattered body of Sasori.

Madara breathes a bit heavily for a few moments, his Susano'o fading away as he looks to his severed arm. 'None have injured me this much since Hashirama and Might Guy…' Madara felt a sense of respect towards Sasori in this moment. Madara walked through the parts of Sasori's puppet body, reaching down he grabbed a cylinder-shaped object. Sasori's core. "You have fought valiantly." Madara squeezes the core, his intent fully on crushing it and thus killing Sasori.

In that moment, fangs latched themselves onto Madara's remaining arm. Madara watched in awe, as a wood dragon sprung to life beneath him and dragged him up into the air with it. This sudden force caused Madara to drop the core of Sasori, to which Itachi's wood clone jumped in, grabbed the core and tossed it to Sorano.

Sorano without question caught the core, and watched in awe as Sasori's body parts moved towards it. Gathering themselves back into Sasori, although his head was backwards. Then the head span around, smoke emitted from Sasori's body as he reverted back into his human body. "Damn that was close." Sasori fell back into Sorano's arms.

"You okay, Sasori-kyun?" Sorano hugged him close, holding his head to her breasts.

"I'm fine. And who the hell are you calling Sasori-kyun?" Sasori groaned as he laid back to catch a breather.

Madara with ease breaks free from the wood dragon, and burns it into crisps. Madara backflips mid air as he lands onto solid ground. 'That surprised me…' Madara had a wave of darkness come out from the damaged flesh where his arm used to be. The darkness flew over to the severed arm connecting with it and taking it over to Madara, reattaching it. Madara rotated his wrist a bit, testing the flexibility of his arm. 'To think that puppet master managed to take my arm, had it not been for my demon DNA I would have had to live without it. Or get a mechanical one.' Madara for once missed the usefulness of a white Zetsu.

Madara looks to Sasori. "I have to commend you. The poison hidden within that iron sand of yours is quite lethal. If I didn't have demonic DNA which makes me immune to poison. That last attack of yours might have brought me close to death." Madara said implying he would have had a way to survive an injury from Sasori's poison. 'That Sasori, he is strong enough to rival some of the stronger members of the twelve. If one of the twelve joined the battle, I might have had need to use more demonic power.' Madara thought as he sensed both Irene and Larcade observing him from afar, and Bloodman who seemed occupied with something else.

In the woods nearby the slaughter Madara was causing on the battlefield, were a small company composed of Gray, Juvia, Lyon, Gajeel, Levy, Pantherlily and now Edolas Levy. "What?! The main company is under attack by Madara?!" Gray looked terrified for a split second, and in the next he looked determined and rushed towards the battlefield. There was instantly one thing on Gray's mind. "Where is Ultear?"

"We had her and Meredy along with another company scout out the southern area of the forest, she's not near Madara right now. Last reports say that they engaged two reanimated enemies in battle." Lyon informed, neither of them in particular wanted Madara to meet Ultear both fearing what might happen if they do.

"And Itachi?" Gajeel asked, if they were going to fight Madara they needed their seventh guild master.

"His clone is with Sting's company, so he knows Madara is here. Probably informing the original as we speak. So, we can expect Itachi here soon… Even though he is on the other side of the continent." Gray threw his coat aside, embracing the cold air. "We'll aid the others in holding Madara off in the meantime."

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that…" A creepy echoing voice rang around them, followed by what appeared as a black cloud. The cloud formed into this hulking monstrous hooded figure. His presence sent chills down Gray and Gajeel's spines, his magic power was on a different level.

"One of the twelve…" Gray readied himself, this hooded figure is without a doubt one of the twelve. Looks like they had to get past him in order to get to Madara, but why was he in their way? Madara wasn't just slaughtering their troops, but the Alvarez Empires knights as well. "Why are you standing in our way? Madara is killing your people as much as ours, isn't he?"

"Yes… indeed he is." The figure sounded so relaxed and calm, he wasn't bothered at the thought of his soldiers getting massacred. "But we aren't losing anything we can't replace. Lady Irene instructed me to keep any interference away from the battle… letting Madara shorten your already lesser numbers suits us just fine. We don't care if we lose a few hundred soldiers in the process."

"Bastard!" Lyon hissed, although his body was trembling and refusing to budge. The presence of this being was too much for him. How could Gray and Gajeel look so calm? More so, how could Juvia?

"Now… perish." The hooded man chuckled.

"Watch out!" Levy using solid script magic slapped a mask over everyone's faces the moment this hooded figure began releasing a strange mist. "It's bane particles. He is the one Blue Pegasus warned us about, Bloodman."

"Ho? So, the servants of that odd bald man have already given out intel regarding my abilities?" Bloodman still sounded calm and relaxed, as if this knowledge made no difference.

"Bane particles?" Edolas Levy questioned and just ripped the mask off from her face. "Sorry, but in Edolas that stuff ain't no problem. We have no ethernano in our bodies to begin with after all~"

"Hmm?" Now Bloodman seemed a bit on guard. "Edolas? Yes, I've heard of it… What exactly are people from Edolas doing in Earthland? What possible aid can you weaklings provide? Being immune to the toxins of bane particles will do you little good, if you don't have power to beat me."

Edolas Levy gave an annoyed glare at Bloodman, flashing a set of hand seals in the process. "Bastard, who said I was powerless? You oversized bitch." Edolas Levy puffed her cheeks as she inhaled her breath. "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb!" Edolas Levy sprayed out fire from her mouth, like an actual fire breathing dragon. The scorching fire clashed into a shocked Bloodman.

"The fact that she is like Salamander kind of pisses me off…" Gajeel mumbled in the background while Levy looked in awe at her Edolas counterpart.

"Interesting, so Edolas have discovered a different source of energy? Interesting." Bloodman chuckled, his body having dispersed into the black mist and thus having dodged Edolas Levy's attack with ease. "In any case, looks like I need to dispose of you first!" Bloodman whilst in this mist form soared in the air towards Edolas Levy. 'Your mine!' Bloodman smirked as his body seemed to return into solid form, although the moment he did a pillar of iron smacked into his solar plexus. Bloodman was sent flying straight into a boulder, as multiple iron pillars stabbed through his body.

"Oi, I don't care if she's from Edolas… you don't lay a hand on any Levy. I will send you to hell!" Gajeel snarled at Bloodman, veins bulging around his temple with this feeling of rage bubbling withing the iron dragon slayer.

"Gajeel…" Levy mumbled, her cheeks a tiny shade of pink.

"The hell dude…" Edolas Levy on the other hand looked intrigued at seeing Gajeel turn his arm into iron. "You Earthlanders got it sweet with your magic, man I'm jealous."

Bloodman chuckled, as if he wasn't bothered from having multiple iron pillars stabbing through his body. "Touching me, is like touching death itself." Bloodman's arm turned into the black mist and shot straight towards Gajeel. Although before it reached Gajeel, the mist froze in ice. "Huh?"

The already cold temperature around them, just dropped to subzero level. Gray sighed. His breath visible in the cold air. "And here I thought Madara would be the only demon to worry about… But you can't escape my senses… You reek like a demon." Gray grew black devil slayer marks on his body, glaring Bloodman down who flinched a little, the ice reaching up to his body but Bloodman quickly severed his arm from his body preventing himself from turning into a gigantic ice cube. Bloodman turned the rest of his body into the mist to escape the iron pillars restraining him.

"A Devil Slayer, eh? I had heard there was a Devil Slayer in Ishgar, but I didn't expect to meet him so soon. You look younger than I expected." Bloodman solidified back into his body again, this time looking on guard in the face of both Gray and Gajeel.

"This power originally belonged to my old man… And now it's mine, and I will use to slay you, then Madara and then E.N.D." Gray was bold enough to declare, holding his dominant arm up with the Devil Slayer mark, clenching his fist causing a snow blizzard.

"… Slay Madara and E.N.D? Heh, how amusing. You humans are quite the comedians." Bloodman's aura felt like death itself, it was dark, cold and heavy. And the fact that he scoffed at Gray and Gajeel's attempts to attack him so far just showed the demon hadn't gotten serious yet. Although, Bloodman's thoughts suggested otherwise. 'Normally I would turn myself into particles, and get close to my opponents while phasing through their attacks before counterattacking by solidifying myself again. But if I get too close that Devil Slayer boy will just capture me in ice. I need to fight from a distance, not that it is a problem. But I should definitely eliminate the Devil Slayer first before even thinking of turning into bane particles. Then the one from Edolas, after that there won't be any one immune against my toxins to fight back. Then there is only a question of time, before my toxins get through those meaningless masks of theirs and kills them. But still, if I am to take the Devil Slayer down, I cannot fight them all at once. I need backup.'

And in an instant, a second figure jumped out from the trees and to Bloodman's side. "You rang boss?" The man's voice sounded hoarse, like if he was smoking frequently. His attire consisted of a black open cloak with a black turtleneck underneath. He wore camouflaged army cargo pants and boots. But his most dominant feature, was the fact that he wore a human skull as a mask accessory. From the looks of it, he appeared as a middle-aged man in his fifties as one could see the wrinkles around his jawline and cheekbones, along with strays of black hair that appeared to be losing its color making it greyer. Yet despite his age, he appeared to be in good shape.

'Where did he come from? I didn't even smell the guy until he jumped out…' Gajeel looked impressed, as this person had managed to escape his dragon slayer nose. And from the looks of it, Gray didn't sense this person approach either. That is some powerful concealment magic.

"Ah, Grim, yes. I need you to take on the weaker once out of the bunch. The Devil Slayer, the one with the big hair and piercings are mine." Bloodman instructed, and the skulled man looked amongst the rest of the group.

"Plenty of victims, you are too kind master." Grim smirked.

"Hey! I don't care about skull-face here! I'm fighting the big boss himself!" Edolas Levy declared pointing at Bloodman.

"Juvia as well! Juvia will fight by Gray-sama's side!" The water mage remained close to Gray, who smiled a bit at the declaration.

"… It seems I will be taking on these foolish women as well." Bloodman seemed carefree, two extra additions didn't matter.

"Alright, that leaves me with sliver boy, the big kitty and the timid twin blue haired girl." Grim licked his lips as he looked at Lyon, Pantherlily and Levy.

"… Don't underestimate me." Lyon released his aura, it was cold. Nowhere near as cold as the one Gray was emitting, but cold enough to send a shiver down Grim's spine.

"Lily, make sure to protect Levy at all cost!" Gajeel looked to his feline companion. The gigantic hulking muscular panther nodding and held up a massive sword.

"You have my word. He won't be allowed to touch a hair on Levy's head." Pantherlily declared. And Gajeel looked assured, he had full trust in Pantherlily's abilities.

"… Heh, from general of the Edolas army, to bodyguard?" Edolas Levy threw a snarky comment at the giant panther, who appeared to smile a bit.

"No, from general to guild wizard." Pantherlily corrected as he went into battle position. "And I will proudly defend my friends with all my might."

"Heh, now that is the Fairy Tail spirit!" Edolas Levy smiled from ear to ear at hearing that answer.

"Yeah, although I won't let you guys worry about protecting me. I will fight to, for I am too a Fairy Tail guild wizard!" Levy declared, holding her magical pen ready.

"Ho? So, the big kitty is a former fellow soldier? Interesting." Grim pulled out two scythes from his coat. "You will all die spinning anyway, as I shred the meat from your very bones." Rotating his shoulders freakishly behind his back, as if he didn't have any joints to restrain him. Grim began spinning unleashing dual slash waves.

"Ice-Make: Ice Eagles!" Lyon to counter launched two ice eagles, Lyon quickly followed up with a second attack. "Ice-Make: Ice Giant!" A massive foot of ice came crashing down onto Grim. The shockwave of the clash, shook the snow off the trees around them, the snow on the ground rose into the air before falling back down.

"You got him?" Levy looked in awe at the sheer speed of Lyon's attacks, without trouble he was able to create two maker spells in less than a second. But the celebration was short, as red waves shot out from cracks on the giant's foot. Jumping out spinning with his scythes was Grim, red waves emitting from the blades as he danced in the air.

"Heh, little brat." Grim smirked thinking Lyon was a cheeky brat for pulling such a fast one on him. "You look like you got some meat on your bones… Lucky you… And lucky me." Grim jumped into the shades of the trees, and vanished.

Lyon flinched as he suddenly heard Grim laughing, what freaked him out was that it sounded like it came from every corner around him. "Come out of hiding!" Lyon angrily swung his arm around. "Ice-Make: Tigers Claw!" Lyon created a giant ice snow tiger that swopped its massive claws around cutting down surrounding trees in an attempt to flush Grim out.

Pantherlily joined in, extending his sword to a ridiculous length, and then swinging the massive blade cutting down a good portion of the forest. Grim however was yet to be seen, and continued with his sickening laughter. "… I can't even smell him." Pantherlily attempted to use his superior nose to sniff Grim out, but the skull wearing second-in-command of Bloodman remained undetected. "Lyon-" Pantherlily froze, his eyes vibrating as Lyon before him had his throat slit open. "Lyon!" Pantherlily shouted, hearing a gasp he turned around seeing Grim crouching behind Levy with his scythe. The shocked Levy suddenly split in half before Pantherlily's eyes. "NO!" Pantherlily roared and leapt at Grim with his sword raised.

Pantherlily delivered a heavy crushing blow, and Grim blocked the strike with his scythes. The massive tall stature of Pantherlily pushed Grim into the ground, the earth crumbling and sinking beneath Pantherlily's crushing strength. "Damn, kitties got moves~" Grim chuckled as he slipped from right underneath Pantherlily and sliced him in the back.

"Lily!" A voice called out to him, and the next he knew Pantherlily gasped and breathed heavily. Before him were Lyon and Grim clashing against each other. "Lily, are you okay?" And next to him was Levy, having zapped him with a surge of electricity.

"Levy… I-I saw him…" Pantherlily trembled as he shakingly held onto Levy's shoulders.

"I'm fine, Lily, see? Not a scratch on me." Levy cupped her tiny hands around his face.

"Give it time, kitty cat. Soon what I showed you will become reality." Grim snickered as he slashed through a series of ice attacks from Lyon. "There is nothing I enjoy more than bringing a soldier beyond the brink of insanity. After all, as a fellow solider you are bound to understand me, right?"

"He must use some kind of illusion magic!" Lyon created a diamond squared ice shield to block Grim's scythes.

"Nah, just telepathy magic." Grim leaped over the shield and slashed at Lyon's back. Grim snickered, but then his eyes widened in shock as the Lyon he slashed in half turned into ice.

"Is that so? Well let's see how effective it will be once you are frozen!" Lyon appeared behind Grim and slammed his palm onto his back. "Ice Make: Geyser!" A wave of ice exploded around Grim, encasing him in a massive geyser of ice.

"Oi, oi, you got me a second time there, ice boy." Grim spoke within the enclosed ice, which in the next moment collapsed from various slash marks. "Usually, I'm not the type to play around with my food. But now, I feel like making an exception."

"Your food? Somehow, I get the creepy feeling you are referring in the literal sense." Lyon frowned at Grim in disgust.

Grim smiled bitterly for a second, as he knocked his hand onto the human skull he was wearing as a mask. "This ain't fake you know… And I am not wearing it for shits and giggles. This skull belongs to a dear old friend, and a former member of my military squad… After going to war with the Empire, me and my squad were captured. My friend and I, were thrown in a pit for days without any food or water… So, I ate him to survive. And master Bloodman saw potential in me, and brought me in as his second in command."

Levy looked repulsed, as did everyone else. "You ate your own friend? How disgusting."

"Little missy, in all fairness… You all look well feed and healthy. I bet none of you truly knows what it means… to be hungry." Drool started dripping from Grim's mouth as he stared at Lyon. "Oops, my mouth got all watery there… you just look so appetizing. So many muscles, and you look to be blessed with quite the amount of rich Ethernano. That's great, the higher amount of Ethernano in you, the more tender your meat will taste." Grim looked with crazed eyes as he stared at Lyon's bare upper body. Having been driven to insanity, all he craves is human flesh.

"… Is that so? Well then…" Lyon clenched his fist, as a snow storm exploded around him, the cold air intensifying around them. "Just try it, I will put you back in the ground where you belong you ghoul."

"Nice, I like that look on your face. No hint of fear, and an iron strong will to boot." Grim licked his lips as he spans his scythes in his hands. "Makes it all the more fun! Watching you fall into despair!"

Gajeel speed towards Bloodman, throwing his iron coated fist in a heavy punch at the hooded demon. Bloodman raised his arm from underneath his coat, a black demonic arm with claws. Bloodman's claws grabbed onto Gajeel's iron fist, the sharp claws even cutting through the iron armor of Gajeel. "Do you have no concern for your own life? Touching me is as if touching death itself! My body is made up out of Bane particles! Any mage that gets near me ends up dead!"

Gajeel didn't flinch, even as he saw the mist of particles that emitted from Bloodman's very being. The same particles that nearly killed Laxus during the battle against Tartaros, and the same particles that had killed former council member Yajima. Gajeel however, growled and headbutted Bloodman causing the demon to stumble backwards. "Hate to break it to ya, but my lungs are made of iron!" Gajeel boasted, although even he knew it didn't have much to say. With enough exposer to these particles, even Gajeel would die.

"Heh, and so they are. That is fine by me. I shall take this rare opportunity to fight to my heart's content!" Bloodman cackled as his arm extended from some black mist, Bloodman swung his own claw at Gajeel like a whip in an attempt to grab the Dragon Slayer.

Gajeel leaped and twirled over the incoming claw, aiming his foot at Bloodman. "Iron Dragon's Lance!" Gajeel's foot turned into an iron lance, that shot out towards Bloodman. Yet the demon didn't move, as the lance pierced through his skull. Gajeel gasped, seeing Bloodman looking unfaced, as half his face merely turned into the mist of the Bane particles. It was like fighting Juvia with her water body, physical attacks wouldn't work.

"Like I said, my body is entirely made up out of Bane particles! I am essentially the Reaper itself! The guide to the Underworld! Thou may struggle and endure my onslaught! But what of those around you?!" Bloodman snickered, and Gajeel looked in panic seeing Levy looking like she had a hard time breathing.

The ground around Gajeel and Bloodman turned into cackling human skulls, skeletons digging themselves up from the snow, and latching onto Gajeel. "Dammit! No!" Gajeel began panicking, twisting and turning in an attempt to escape the embrace of death itself.

"Ice Devil's Kingdom!" Coating the entire landscape in a light purple layer of ice, freezing the skeletons in place like sculptures. Gray stood next to Gajeel and faced Bloodman, Gray's hair rising up, and demonic marks spreading across his upper body. "Whatever particles you throw at us, I will freeze it." Glinting frozen Bane particles rained down around them. "And I will freeze you to death, grim reaper." Gray flicked his fingers, to which Bloodman flinched discovering his extended arm having been frozen.

"… Crafty." Bloodman didn't seem troubled, as he merely chopped his frozen arm off.

"We aren't going to die here!" Edolas Levy spat out a massive ball of fire at Bloodman, the Spriggan didn't even bother and had a wall of bones crawl out from the ground to catch the fire ball.

"Gray-sama promised to give Juvia an answer after we win this war. So, Juvia will not die! And neither will Gray-sama! We'll take you down just like any other enemy of Fairy Tail!" Juvia liquified some ice behind Bloodman, sending blades of water raining down onto him from behind. Yet the attacks phased through Bloodman and his particle body.

"Standing before me is the equivalent of standing before death itself. Thus, your fates are sealed. This life you wish for shall not come true, as it will all come to an end here and now." Bloodman released a thick sickening black aura around him, as the landscape around them turned into a graveyard of bones. The bones rising up, and breaking free from the ice that once held them back.

Gray, Gajeel, Juvia and Edolas Levy all struggled to stand as the ground began shaking. Giant ribcage bones stuck up around them, acting like a dome in an arena. "None shall escape me. I, Bloodman of the Spriggan Twelve. I shall prove myself as the Emperor's mightiest creation!"

"Oh yeah? How effective can your magic be if it couldn't even do its job in killing Zeref?!" Gajeel retorted at Bloodman, and for once the demon flinched a bit. Gajeel had struck a nerve. "Your magic, curse or whatever you call it! It wasn't strong enough to do its one job, to kill Zeref!"

"… Human. It is not wise to anger death… For now, I shall rob you of everything you hold dear to your heart!" Bloodman was fuming, Gajeel's hand began glowing in a brilliant glow, although it wasn't Gajeel's doing.

"What the?!" The glow around Gajeel expanded, and suddenly exploded in a flashy explosion. Gajeel cried out in pain, while Gray, Juvia and Edolas Levy were all knocked aside from the explosion.

"Bomb Conversion." Bloodman seemed to grow a bit taller, looking more demonic as his body looked like a giant shade with purple eyes and fangs. "Thorn Garden." Stabbing up from the ground were massive thorny vines that pierced Juvia's body, and ensnared around Edolas Levy and Gray.

"This is!" Gray looked caught off guard, what is more he was angered seeing Juvia having been stabbed.

"Gray-sama! Worry not, for Juvia this is nothing!" Juvia assured as her body assimilated itself into water and she took flight. "Water Nebula!" Two columns of water that rotated around each other pushed forward, shredding through the bones that stood in its path towards Bloodman.

"Ho? I see, your body shares some qualities of my own… We are both untouchable to physical attacks. Well then-" Before Bloodman could continue, water shot up around his feet.

"Water Lock!" Juvia had successfully trapped Bloodman in a bubble of water. "Now! Gray-sama!"

Gray froze the vines holding him and Edolas Levy causing them to break. "Thanks for setting up the stage for me, Juvia!" Gray slammed his hands to the ground. "Ice Devil's Deadman Parade!" A massive wave of ice grew out from the ground and clashed at the Water Lock containing Bloodman, the water freezing over in a sphere of ice. "Gotcha, bastard." Gray snarled at the frozen Bloodman.

"Hey! He was my prey! Go find your own Spriggan twelve member!" Gajeel shouted at Gray, somewhat infuriated he didn't get to finish Bloodman off.

Gray's demonic marks faded, and his hair fell back down. "Heh, there are still ten more. You will get your chance-" Gray flinched as a thorn vine stabbed through his torso. Gray groaned, as blood started running down from his lips.

"You let your guard down… Did you honestly think I, one of the mighty Spriggan Twelve, would be this weak?" Bloodman rose from a pile of bones on the ground, as the one entrapped in the Water Lock was revealed to be a massive pile of bones. "Foolish children, you thought water like that could trap me? Even with my Curse powers? You mean you didn't figure out from those early displays I performed?"

A massive torrent of water exploded from around Bloodman. "Gray-sama!" Juvia cried out trying to swim towards the stabbed Gray.

"I'm fine! Stay back!" Gray shouted, the vine that stabbed him having already been frozen in ice, and Gray having closed up his wound by freezing it. "Sneaky bastard!" Gray groaned in pain, reactivating his Devil Slayer mode.

"You figured out I am a demon of the books of Zeref, you learnt I was using Curse powers. Yet, despite those two early displays, you didn't realize why I was one of the Twelve, instead of a member from that pathetic Tartaros guild." The water levels began rising around Bloodman, it was like they were swimming in an ocean. The water didn't reach out of the bone stadium containing them, so Lyon and his group weren't affected. "Tenchi Kaimei." The whole bone stadium was flooded, and Gray, Gajeel, Edolas Levy and Juvia were trapped under water with Bloodman.

'This power… it can't be!' Gajeel widened his eyes in realization, he had faced this dangerous technique before. Torafuzar of Tartaros used this before, when Kisame had stepped in and saved Gajeel and Levy.

"That's right, I have the power of all the Nine Demon Gates!" Bloodman's voice could be heard clearly even under water. "Now perish, for this water is filled with the poisonous Bane particles!"

"Juvia!" Gray called out, and Juvia instantly acted creating a separate water bubble surrounding her and the rest from Bloodman. Juvia's water bubble even had pockets of air in it for them to breathe.

"What good would that do?! The poison will still reach you in the end!" Bloodman mocked as the poisonous black water surrounded Juvia's water bubble.

"We just need it to hold a second." Gray sent an ice-cold glare at Bloodman, as with one movement of his arm, Gray had frozen the entire water Bloodman had created in ice. While the water bubble Juvia made had remained intact and untouched by the ice.

"Holy shit, you are much stronger and cooler than our Gray!" Edolas Levy started laughing in amazement at the power that emitted from the ice wizard.

Gajeel looked in awe as well, Gray had such control over his magic, he was able to freeze all the water besides Juvia's. To manage such a feat, in the blink of an eye one would need incredible control over one's magic power.

One person however, wasn't impressed. "Sonic Demon Roar!" Sonic energy waves emitted from Bloodman, causing the ice to crack and break apart. Gray looked in shock, he recognized that attack. It had been used to burn his hometown to the ground. "I must give you credit, Devil Slayer. You are indeed skilled. But your ice is only second compared to my colleague in the Twelve, Invel, the Winter General."

Gray looked in anger, veins bulging around his temple as he started with killer intent. "That attack… it was."

"Yes, it belonged to Deliora, a former member of the Nine Demon Gates, and the one who originally held the place amongst them that was later taken by that human puppet Silver." Bloodman revealed, Gray officially losing it at hearing Bloodman even mentioning his father, Silver.

"Ice Devil's Rage!" Gray unleashed a breath attack of a massive ice storm. And Bloodman countered with the Sonic Demon Roar attack again. The two breath attacks clashing together, causing a gigantic shockwave to tear the arena around them to pieces.

"Deliora was probably the only demon I ever considered what you humans call, "a friend" I really enjoyed his desire for destruction and terror. Although I must admit, I had a good laugh when I heard of his pathetic fate. Beaten by a mere human woman." At Bloodman's taunt, Gray unleashed a massive aura of power.

"I will slay you, demon trash!" Gray's Devil Slayer markings started to spread further across his body.

Meanwhile, running through the thick dense forest, Lyon, Pantherlily and Levy had their eyes and ears open for any sign of Grim. The echoing laughter of the mad man echoing through the trees. The sound of branches bending and moving echoed around them, as Grim jumped from tree to tree.

Pantherlily cleared the surrounding trees with one mighty swing of his sword, forcing Grim to come out of hiding. Pantherlily froze as once again he saw an image of Levy getting decapitated. "Vile monster!" Pantherlily ignored the images, following his senses he heard someone jump towards him, and smelled a faint scent. Pantherlily's sword clashed with the scythes of Grim.

"Ho?" Grim used Pantherlily's sword as a springboard to jump backwards.

Lyon extended his arm at the fleeing Grim, not willing to let him escape again. "Ice Make: Ice Dragon!" Gigantic ice shards formed into a long serpent like body, that turned into a roaring dragon. The ice dragon swopped down towards Grim.

"Heh, nice one ice boy." Grim snickered as he slashed his scythes into thin air sending slash waves at the roaring dragon. The ice dragon broke apart, and Lyon was hit with a slash wave going over his shoulder. Lyon grunted as blood erupted from his shoulder.

"Lyon!" Pantherlily stepped in front of his comrade, to counter an incoming slash wave with his own blade. However, Pantherlily found himself overpowered as the slash wave knocked the sword out of the giant feline's hands. Grim rushed at Pantherlily and was about to decapitate him, Pantherlily however caught the scythe and headbutted Grim. Grim chuckled as the skull mask absorbed most of the damage.

"Damn kitty cat, you surprise me." Grim looked at Pantherlily's bleeding hand as the scythe had stabbed through. "Huh?" Grim flinched as he heard a crack, before his eyes fell a piece of the skull mask. "Josh…" Grim mumbled, his eyes widened in anger as he stomped his feet onto Pantherlily's shoulders, Grim pushed himself off of Pantherlily and skidded backwards. Grim stroked the cracked spot of his skull mask. "No! No! No! No!" Grim looked to be panicking over having his skull mask cracked.

Pantherlily flinched as suddenly he got disturbing images of a man eating the flesh of another dead man in his head. Pantherlily rubbed his temple, feeling sick to the stomach at what he saw. "Die! Die! Die!" Grim jumped at Pantherlily although was prevented from reaching him as a shield of ice got in his way. "Ice boy…" Grim hissed as he looked behind him, seeing Lyon with both his hands gathered together to create the shield.

"What's wrong? Thought you wanted to eat my flesh? Why bother playing around with an oversized cat?" Lyon taunted the psychopath cannibal.

"Heh, come then, Ice boy." Grim rushes at Lyon, who holds his hand out and creates a sword of ice. Lyon clashed his ice sword against Grim's scythes, only for the ice sword to be sliced into pieces, as well as Lyon getting sliced in the arm by Grim's scythes. "Too bad ice boy." Grim kicked Lyon in the chest, launching the ice wizard into a tree.

Pantherlily jumped over Grim, bringing down the heavy weight of his massive sword onto Grim. Grim with ease slipped from right under the Pantherlily and was about to slash the large kitten with his scythes. "Solid Script: Iron!" A massive block of iron fell in-between Grim and Lily, Grim's scythes slashed onto the iron wall, yet he was unable to cut through. Before Grim could jump back, Pantherlily had jumped over the wall and kneed Grim in the face. Grim flew a little above the ground, his bottom lip busted and bloody.

Grim backflipped in the air, and gracefully landed on the snowy ground. "You pack quite the wallop…" Grim spat out some blood, his bloody teeth smirking at Pantherlily. "I usually don't eat cats… but you, you have quite the amount of Ethernano in ya. Your meat must be very tender."

A snow ice tiger jumped out at Grim, who tucked and rolled to the side avoiding the lunging ice tiger. Grim then slashed his scythes in the air sending slash waves at the tiger. The ice tiger fell apart. "But of course… you are the main course, ice boy." Grim turned to look at Lyon, who had one hand stretched out at Grim. 'A maker wizard able to use only one hand… he must be quite gifted indeed. Looks delicious.' Grim snickered in his mind as he eyed Lyon like a hungry predator.

"For someone who is so obsessed with eating people with a high amount of Ethernano. How come you haven't tried to feed off any of the Spriggan 12?" Lyon tauntingly asked the skull wearing maniac.

Grim's mood then visibly turned sour as he glared at Lyon. "Shut up." Lyon smirked as he clearly struck a nerve. "Wipe that smirk of your damn face, you have no idea what you are talking about!" Grim was shaking, trembling. The sound of the ongoing war still taking place beyond this forest, and Lyon's taunt about the twelve brought up bad memories. Grim was experiencing PTSD.

Flashback

Several years ago, Grim or rather Leonard as he was known as back then. Leonard's nation was at war with the Alvarez Empire who wished to claim his nations resources. Leonard and his special Task Force had been sent behind enemy lines in an attempt to strike a lethal blow to the empire's forces.

Leonard laid on top of a ridge, looking over a lonely pathway through a dark forest. "Okay there Leo?" A man close to Leonard's own age laid down next to him.

"Yeah, just fine Josh." Leonard didn't have time to chat with his best friend, he needed to look out for the enemy patrol. They had their stealth op assignment. They were to eliminate one of the Twelve who was leading the assault against their home nation.

"You've been stressed ever since we came here. You have hardly even eaten anything." Josh looked concerned for Leonard's health.

"I'm not hungry." Was Leonard's simple reply, as he continued to keep a lookout.

"Mm, well, when this mission is over… how about I treat you to some food?" Josh wouldn't let up, and Leonard knew this.

Leonard let out a sigh and smiled at his friend. "Fine, if it will get you to shut up." Leonard quickly redirected his focus, as the sound of marching footsteps drew near. "Hush, here they come boys." The rest of Leonard's squad moved in closer, hiding in the darkness of the forest. "There's that witch."

Leonard looked down on the Spriggan that led the assault on his home nation. She was marching down with a whole platoon of her forces, The Warrior Queen, Dimaria marched up front with her second in command Linda. "Alright, here we go boys…" Josh whispered as they waited for Leonard to do his thing.

The plan was simple, Leonard would use his telepathy on Dimaria and Linda. Show them disturbing images of their whole platoon dying, and then ambush them while they were distracted. Leonard's eyes shined as he began using his telepathy on Dimaria. "I hate these kind of sneak attacks…" A calm cold voice came from behind him. Leonard widened his eyes as Dimaria wasn't down on the pathway with her squad anymore. A cold sweat ran down Leonard's neck, Dimaria stood right behind him and admits his startled squad mates. "… They are no fun." Dimaria kicked Leonard down onto the pathway with her squad.

"Leo!" Josh and the rest ran down to their commanding officer, Leonard got up only to discover they were surrounded. Leonard held out his scythes, he was going to go down fighting.

"Trying to freak me out? Gross me out with the sight of bodies of my squad? The only gross thing about it is your cowardly fighting style. If my squad were to die, then I wouldn't give a damn." Dimaria jumped down before them, wielding her sword as she glared down on them. "Because in the end, I would slaughter those who took my squad down. I'm just too amazing for you losers."

Leonard let out a war cry as he lunged himself at Dimaria, although instead his scythes clashed with the blades of Linda. "Lady Dimaria doesn't have to waste her time with trash." More Linda's crawled out from Leonard's shadow, and slashed him across the back with their blades.

Leonard span around slashing his scythes at the clones, to which they vanished. As he was about to turn around and face Linda, she was out of sight. Leonard kept his senses open, and swiftly turned around to block Linda's blade. Leonard then attempted to use his second scythe to strike Linda. The nimble white-haired assassin, flipped into the air and kicked the scythe out of Leonard's hand. A blade then stuck out from the sole of her foot, as she slashed down on Leonard. Leonard cried out as he was cut right above the eye. Leonard powered through and delivered a kick into Linda, launching her into a tree.

Linda groaned as her back hit the tree. "Die!" Leonard lunged himself at Linda, picking up his second scythe from the ground as he was rushing her. Leonard jumped up and slashed his scythes sending slash waves at Linda. Then suddenly a blade slashed at his side. Linda blitzed his field of vision and appeared behind him, as his slash waves cut down various trees. Linda's eyes glowing in a menacing shade of red. "Little bitch!" Before Leonard could lunge himself at Linda again, the cries of his squad mates caught his attention.

Leonard looked in horror, as Dimaria brutally slaughtered his entire squad. Their blood dancing around the crazed smiling Dimaria like red ribbons in the wind, as she slashed her sword down on them. "That's right! Face your death like men! Like warriors! Head on in direct combat!" Their blood sprays rained down onto Dimaria's face.

Josh was the only one left standing to face Dimaria, trembling he charged at Dimaria. Although in the blink of an eye, the Warrior Queen had stabbed Josh with a dagger. Josh looked a bit pale as he vomited out blood. "No!" Leonard cried out and was about to rush at Dimaria in blind rage.

"Like I said, trash like you isn't worth Lady Dimaria's time." Linda pinned Leonard down, despite her tiny frame she was quite strong. Leonard let out a war cry as he rose up and tossed Linda off his back.

"Die!" Leonard cried out as he slashed his scythes sending a violent torrent of slash waves at Linda. In a split second, Linda had rushed through the slash waves and pierced Leonard's defenses and slashed her blade at him once more across the chest. Leonard gasped as his blood sprayed into the air like a fountain. 'She's too fast…' Leonard collapsed onto the ground. "Not yet… I can't give up!" Despite his injuries, Leonard picked himself back up, his willpower was something to behold.

"Lady Dimaria, this one is quite strong. What are we to do with him?" Linda asked her mistress, as she knew Dimaria always took a shine to strong people. And although Leonard had been easily dealt with, Linda acknowledged the skill and power in Leonard. His telepathy and cloaking skills were incredible. Linda and Dimaria in fact hadn't noticed them until Leonard attempted to freak them out with his telepathy magic showing disturbing images. That and during their short exchange, Linda knew Leonard had been too distracted at the deaths of his comrades to fight properly. If not, he might have lasted longer but the end result would still be the same.

"Hmm, although I don't mind having some strong men to play with…. This one's fighting style doesn't suit my tastes. His majesty wants us to set an example against these insurgents. Toss him and this one here in the hole." Dimaria said as she gave Josh a light kick to check if he was still alive, his groan being all the evidence she needed of the fact. "I owe Bloodman a favor, so let's leave their fates up to him." Dimaria's cold smirk sent shivers down Leonard's spine, in less than a moment, Dimaria had taken out his entire squad without even breaking a sweat. This was the power of the Twelve.

It was dark, Leonard was stuck in darkness, with only a glimmer of a light shining down from the cage above. He was trapped in a warm stinking hole in the ground. Along with his injured friend Josh. He looked up, as the hot sun roasted them from above. "These the ones?" A calm voice asked as two figures approached the hole, looking down on them.

Leonard froze in utter fear, as he looked up at Bloodman who looked like death itself. Although Leonard had grown a sensation of fear towards the twelve, what scared him more was the man next to Bloodman, it was Zeref himself. "Yes majesty, the insurgence who thought they could infiltrate our kingdom." Bloodman bowed to Zeref.

Leonard began breathing heavily, he had never in his whole life felt so close to death. Being in Zeref's presence alone, made this warm stinking hole feel ice cold. Zeref's presence felt like death itself, he felt like something that shouldn't even exist in this world. Now this, was one opponent Leonard didn't wish to fight. He would take his life right now if he could, but he felt too afraid to even pick up his scythe and end it all.

The image of Zeref stuck with him for days, days without food and water. But most of all, the feeling he remembered from being in Zeref's presence had driven Leonard to the point of insanity. Josh had long since died in this hole from his injuries, his corpse began to smell. Meat, there was meat right here. Leonard picked up his scythe as he gulped down a nervous lump in his throat.

Flashback end

"Even the greatest of predators know their limits! Master Bloodman, the twelve, his majesty are all monsters! No, Gods that I do not wish to fight! I live to serve them! And annihilate bugs like you that get in the way!" Grim now on a rampage lunged at Lyon, spinning his body back freakishly far, Grim slashed his scythes at Lyon.

Lyon held off the slashes with an ice shield, but eventually the shield broke and his body was slashed some more. Lyon was pushed back, his body covered in more bloodied cuts. "Ah, is that so?! Then come and I will give you something else to fear!" Lyon smiled like a mad man, exciting the insane Grim, Lyon then gathers his two hands together. "Ice Make: Sword!" Lyon created a massive sword of crystal-clear thick ice.

Grim looks in confusion, as when he clashed earlier with Lyon and his ice sword, Grim's scythes had broken the ice blade. Grim smiled as he rushed at Lyon. "You're mine! Ice boy!" Grim roared and clashed his scythes with Lyon's sword. "Huh?" To Grim's shock, his scythes looked a bit frozen, they were starting to rust. And for some reason, Lyon's ice sword felt stronger and more durable than before. "What's going on? I broke your ice sword last time we clashed! What's going on?!"

"Let me tell you something about maker magic. You need two hands to make something perfect! Using one hand the creation becomes less durable!" Lyon revealed as Grim gasped, recalling that up until now Lyon had mostly used one hand for his creations. It was all a part of his ploy to make Grim gain confidence that his scythes could shatter anything Lyon would make. "And every time you slashed me with those scythes, I casually added some frost to them! All for this moment! Where your scythes would have rusted, and weakened to some degree! Topping off with you underestimating my ice maker skills!" Lyon let out a battle cry as his ice sword shattered Grim's scythes. "This is the moment I was waiting for!" Lyon raised his ice sword, and slashed Grim through the neck and down into his chest.

Grim groans as he takes a few steps backwards. The ice sword spreading ice shards through Grim's body, dealing a killing blow to Grim's heart. The ice sword shatters, and Grim falls onto his back. The skull of Josh over his face cracks, and splits in two revealing Grim's face as he stares up at the falling snow. 'So cold… yet warm…' Grim's red blood stains the white snow.

Grim looks to the cut and beaten-up looking Lyon, their eyes meeting each other. In that moment, all Grim could think of was his past. How he had ended up here, and in doing so, Grim involuntarily and without knowing showed Lyon the images of his past. The torture, starvation, the fear for Zeref and the Twelve, the pain from losing his friends. The salty tears he cried as he ate Josh's corpse.

Lyon closes his eyes, reflecting on all he had just seen from Grim's mind through Grim's telepathy. Lyon slams his right fist into his left palm, and bows his head for this fallen once noble soldier. Taking in a note, that Leonard's fate could just as easily become theirs should they lose to the Empire. "Thank you, for showing me the true importance of winning this war."

Grim looks in confusion, although then seems to realize as he cracks a smile before he draws his final breath. And thus, Grim had died. Watching this from afar, Bloodman sighs. "Such a shame, it's hard to find someone with such skilled concealment magic and telepathy. Oh well, I suppose I shall manage to find a replacement in Ishgar." Bloodman snickered at the thought of putting someone else through the same torture he put Leonard through.

"That's what you say when a comrade dies in front of you?" Gajeel snarled in disgust at the Spriggan member, creating an iron blades Gajeel pierced Bloodman only for the demon's body to part away in Bane particles. Gray quickly acted and unleashed his magic, to which Bloodman took a leap backwards as he solidified himself to avoid getting frozen.

"Comrade?" Bloodman gave a dark chuckle. "I have no need for such things. I am death incarnate. Grim was a useful pawn for as long as he lasted, he served me for many years. Yet all he was, was a frightened man serving death to avoid it. I am death, I am eternal… Therefore, I have no need for comrades. Such things are completely useless, when you have achieved perfection."

Gajeel frowned, lowering his gaze to the ground where he saw skeletons beginning to crawl up. Victims of Bloodman and his rampage. Gajeel knew it as he recognized the bones of the Blue Pegasus' master, Bob. "Heh, man. That's a pretty pathetic existence if you ask me." Gajeel's body turned into steel, with waves of shadows emitting from him. "Iron Shadow Dragon Mode." Gajeel unleashed a huge surge of power that blew away several skeletons trying to grab onto him. "Well, at least no one will mourn or miss your ugly mug when I waste ya!" Gajeel smirked at Bloodman, looking like the devil himself with such a wicked smirk.

"You? Think you can kill death?" Bloodman burst out into laughter, the ground began to rumble as an ocean of bones rose from the snow. "Amusing! I shall entertain you, foolish dragon slayer!" The rising skeletons were infused with bane particles, if they even touched a mage their bodies would end up in critical condition. Gajeel and Gray with their enhanced slayer senses could tell as much.

"Sonic Demon: Echoing Banshee Shriek!" Bloodman's jaw looked like it broke as his mouth opened widely, unleashing destructive sonic waves.

"Argh!" Gray, Gajeel, Juvia, Edolas Levy, Levy, Lyon and Pantherlily all cried out as they covered their ears. The forest was rumbling, none but Bloodman could move as their senses were disrupted. Gray and Gajeel tried to move, but their bodies were unable to move as the soundwaves shook their bodies to the core.

"Ahahaha! See?! You cannot escape death!" Bloodman cackled as he sent his army of the dead, wielding bone swords charging at them.

"No way in hell!" Gajeel focused on his powers, generating a massive shadow beneath him and the rest. Instantly they all sank into the shadow. Using the ability he gained from eating Rogue's shadow, Gajeel was able save himself and his comrades.

"Ah, damn that was loud." Gray rubbed his ears a bit, being in the shadow they were all able to avoid the effects of the sonic waves. "That was Deliora's spell…" Gray mumbled.

"Yeah, what do we do?" Lyon questioned, he himself was heavily injured from his bout against Grim. Lyon had exhausted his magic power and was covered in bloodied cuts.

"I hate to say this… but I don't think we will be much help out there." Pantherlily said about himself and Lyon, both were injured from having fought Grim. But what is more, Pantherlily with his sensitive hearing had suffered the most from those sonic waves. The Exceed having reverted back to his chibi form, unable to even stand.

"Hey! We got a problem here!" Edolas Levy warned as skeletons began entering the shadow, trying to stab them.

"Ice-Make: Ice Sword!" Gray formed a sword of ice and slashed at the skeletons causing them to fall apart in an instance.

"Can we even win? We're talking about one of the twelve here!" Levy looked frightened. They all had felt Bloodman's power. It was overwhelming and filled with nothing but bloodlust and a sense of death and despair.

"My god, I can't believe Earthland me is such a coward!" Edolas Levy slapped Levy across the face, grabbing onto her trembling Earthland counterparts' shoulders. "Listen! It's not about whether we can or cannot beat this freak! We got to beat him! That freak isn't going to let us escape, he will kill us before that happens! To make sure, he doesn't end up being a threat to the rest of us, we have to take him down here and now!" Gajeel looked in awe at seeing Edolas Levy yelling, he couldn't help but feel somewhat excited at seeing Levy like this, even if it wasn't his Levy.

"Juvia agrees, we have to fight…" Juvia like Levy was frightened, but she knew there was no escape. She also had full faith in Gray and Gajeel, their two strongest players in this fight.

"Gajeel… I don't want you to-" Levy cried, but before she could finish Gajeel put his hand atop of her head.

"Listen shrimp, I ain't going anywhere. I'm staying with you until the end." Gajeel smiled, even as more skeletons entered the shadow Gajeel crushed them with iron pillars emitting from his body.

"Bro, cringe." Edolas Levy reeled back in slight disgust at this lovey-dovey atmosphere. Gajeel flinched, as his face turned a bit red.

"Gajeel, you've moved us bellow him yet?" Gray looked up, although he couldn't see through the shadow, he assumed Gajeel could.

"He's right above us." Gajeel nodded with a smirk, both inhaled their breaths.

"Iron Shadow Dragon: ROAR!" Gajeel first unleashed his breath attack, penetrating the shadow above them and clashing into Bloodman who flew into the air. Gray quickly followed up with his attack. "Ice Devil: RAGE!" Gray froze Gajeel's breath attack, and blasted into Bloodman causing him to grunt as he was launched into the air and crash landed a few feet away.

They all climbed out from the shadow, facing down Bloodman who laid face first into the snow. "I see, you have consumed the abilities of another Dragon Slayer…" Bloodman rose up to his feet, his skeleton face having gained a crack in it from Gray's attack. "You all just unlocked the three seals… your deaths are certain."

More bone soldiers charged forward at the group, although this time it was the tiny petite Levy who jumped into the fray. "Solid Script: Shine!" Levy unleashed a bright wave of light, causing the skeleton warriors to back away, as some of them turned to dust in the face of this light.

"This is… holy attribute magic." Bloodman looked a tad bit surprised at this light that even caused smoke to emit from his demonic body.

"Nice going Earthland me! Looks like you actually did some damage!" Edolas Levy cheered in excitement at seeing her counterpart wasn't just a crybaby.

Bloodman chuckled as a wave of darkness unleashed from his body, the darkness completely swallowed up the light. "Holy magic at that level barely tingles. My level of demonic darkness is at the level of an elite demon." Bloodman's entire body looked to be surrounded by demonic darkness, looking like a cloaked being of darkness with purple glowing eyes. "The seals you have unlocked, let me explain them. The first seal, steals your body of magic power from my Bane particles. With the second seal, the door of the Underworld is opened amongst an endless field of corpses."

Bloodman explained, the first seal was opened from the start of the fight due to Bloodman being the Bane particles. The second when he created this sea of bones and skeletons around them. Which meant the third was yet to be used. "And with the third seal, the reaper brings hell's judgment upon thine lives! There is no hope of return, to the living realm once more." Darkness oozed all around from Bloodman.

Gray and Gajeel both stepped forward, fearless in the face of this so-called reaper. "That so? Well, we'll make sure to at least take you down with us." Gray held his dominant arm up, with a flinch of his fingers, ice geysers exploded around Bloodman. The shards spreading out to stab Bloodman.

Bloodman threw his arm back, and with a swing unleashed a massive spiral of flashing fiery explosions. "Exploding Spiral!" The spiraling explosions continued to advance onto Gajeel and Gray.

Gray acted quickly and froze the spiraling wave of fire, making it into a nice-looking sculpture. Gajeel proceeded to jump over it and launched an iron pillar coated in shadows into Bloodman. Bloodman caught the pillar in his claws, and hoisted Gajeel up. "You think you can use Tartaros and their curses to beat us?! Our guild wasted those wannabe demons!" Gajeel unleashed a heavy iron wave breath attack down onto Bloodman. Bloodman swung his arm upwards, making thorny rose vines erupt from the ground beneath him. The vines surrounded Bloodman like a barrier, blocking Gajeel's attack.

"I have never heard a more fitting name for those failures! But I am different!" Bloodman agreed on the wannabe demon statement Gajeel made about the Tartaros members. Bloodman unleashed a wave of demonic darkness, tearing through the vines and powering through Gajeel's breath attack. Gajeel gasped as his attack was overpowered in an instant. The demonic darkness clashed into him, shattering Gajeel's iron plated armor and bringing him out from his Iron Shadow Dragon Mode.

As Gajeel cried out in pain, Gray rushed at Bloodman with his two arms thrown back crossing each other as he created two ice swords. "Ice Devil: Deadman's Parade Dance!" Gray at light speed slashed the ice swords into Bloodman, sending the demon flying and Gray followed him, continuing to slash at his body. In Gray's path followed waves of ice that emitted from his blades, creating a spiraling sculpture of ice in his wake.

Bloodman skidded back a few feet, gaping slash wounds having pierced his demonic darkness and into his body. What seemed like black thick blood squirted out from between the slash marks on his body. "I told you, I will slay you." Gray declared as he created an ice cannon, firing purple ice cannon balls into Bloodman. Bloodman grunted as the cannon balls exploded into his body, and through his armor of darkness.

'That Devil Slayer really is my biggest challenge. I need to kill him first before the rest.' Bloodman concocted his battle plan in his head, his sights set on Gray.

In the meantime, Levy had rushed over to Gajeel. Gajeel looked bloodied and beaten as he laid in a field of bones. "Gajeel!" Levy pushed the bones away by shining light from her solid script magic. "Gajeel!" Levy held onto Gajeel, shaking him awake.

"Damn, that hurt…" Gajeel groaned, his head was spinning and throbbing.

"Gajeel, you okay?" Pantherlily and Lyon both joined Levy in helping Gajeel up.

"Yeah, just got a fucking bitch of a headache." Gajeel looked to Gray clashing with Bloodman, it sort of annoyed him that Gray seemed so much stronger than him. Gajeel didn't openly admit it, but lately he feels that both Natsu and Gray seem to leave him in the dust as they keep growing stronger. "Gray is a Devil Slayer, so I get that he is the best bet against Bloodman… But even so, like the Salamander I am a Dragon Slayer, yet I seem to lag behind. And it pisses me off!" Gajeel stood back up, his muscles swelling up a bit, and thus closing up some cuts on his body.

Lyon also looked to Gray, who had some aid from Juvia and Edolas Levy in keeping Bloodman at bay. Lyon had to admit, Gray had surpassed him long ago. And he was supposed to be the senior student of Ur here. Lyon out of all people, understood what Gajeel meant and was going through. But with him and Gajeel there was one difference at this moment. "Go on, unlike us you are still useful in this battle." Gajeel was still strong enough to fight against Bloodman. While Lyon knew it, if he joined in on the fight, he would die to Bloodman.

"Huh? The hell you on about?" Gajeel frowned as he looked to Lyon, who was a tad bit shocked at Gajeel's attitude. "We all gotta fight this guy, do every bit we can to help. Even Levy can help with her masks, and that holy light of hers. Edolas Levy and Juvia are both attacking that freak from a distance supporting Gray. Even if you think your help won't do much, every bit counts." Gajeel walked past a stunned looking Lyon as he rejoined the battle against Bloodman. "If you sit by and do nothing, we all might die."

Bloodman with a wave of his arm created a strong current of wind acting like a blade. Gray narrowly avoided the blade, ducking under it as it flew over him and cut down various trees. "Whoosh!" Bloodman mumbled creating a massive whirlwind, the spinning tornado growing in immense size and generating up a storm.

The ravaging storm tore up the forest, the intense wind dragging Gray towards it. The Ice Devil Slayer froze his own feet into place to avoid getting pulled in. Slamming his fist into his palm, generating demonic energy into his palm as a cold storm brewed within his grasps. "Ice Devil Zeroth Destruction: Tower of Babylon!" Slamming his hands to the ground, explosions of ice rushed towards the giant twister. The mighty devil slayer ice freezing the storm itself into place, replacing it with a massive ice tower. Gray began panting, using so many spells was starting to drain him.

"I must commend you, Devil Slayer. Had I been any of the Nine Demon Gates, Mard Geer, or even Deliora himself I would have been dead by now." Bloodman commended as he gazed upon the massive ice tower. "But now, lo and behold. A curse power which surpasses that of the Nine Demon Gates, Mard Geer, and Deliora!"

Oozing energy erupted from the ground like snakes, ensnaring themselves onto Gray's legs. "To the underworld, the dead eternally walk." The waves surrounded Gray, keeping him locked in place.

"Gray-sama!" Juvia attempted to rush towards Gray, however found a wall of ice blocking her path.

"Don't come any closer!" Gray warned, he knew this wasn't going to end well. Skulls began rising, as the dark oozing energy acted as bodies for them. The cackling skulls surrounded Gray.

"Third Seal Released: Over Skelter!" The oozing black energy carrying the skulls moved in a vortex, and clashed into Gray who cried out in pain. The vortex of skulls rose up like twister itself, dragging Gray down, like it was dragging him down towards the Underworld itself.

"Iron Shadow Dragon: Jet Black Sword!" Gajeel jumped into the fray, swinging down a massive iron sword cladded in shadows. The massive blade sliced through the oozing black energy restraining Gray. Gajeel hoisted Gray into his arms and jumped out from the skull vortex.

"They escaped from the life stealing whirlpool?!" Bloodman looked surprised, these wizards had more spirit and courage than any he had ever met before.

"You moron… you could have gotten killed." Gray coughed a bit. The Bane particles within that life stealing vortex having entered his body. But to him it didn't matter, Gray froze every single Bane particle in his body. Blood leaked from his lips from some damage the particles managed to do before he froze them, but still he managed to stand.

"You look worse than I do, Gray." Gajeel smirked as despite his bloodied body, Gray looked far paler.

'That damn Devil Slayer, as long as he is around my Bane particles are useless! Even within his own body, he still managed to freeze them!' Bloodman was beyond annoyed with Gray and his ability. Luckily his trap was active.

Snares of the black energy suddenly wrapped around Gray's arms, legs and his neck. "What the hell?!" Gray found himself getting pulled into some black hole. "My body is getting sucked in!"

"The door to the Underworld! Thou shall never return! Never!" Bloodman cackled.

"Gray!" Juvia rushed in, even dropping the usual 'sama' honorific she gives her beloved. Lyon, Levy, Edolas Levy and Pantherlily all rushed in as well.

"Gray! Hang on!" Gajeel extended his arm into an iron club for Gray to grab onto. Gray held onto for dear life, he wasn't going to die here. Not until he had ended E.N.D! That motivation was enough to keep him going. No, it was not the only motivation he had. Gray looked up, seeing Juvia who looked near tears running up to him.

"… Everything I have done, all that I have become, all my strength… all my love. It was all for you, Juvia." Gray had to tell Juvia, as in this very moment, he knew he might never get the chance again.

"Gray… You told me. You told Juvia. You would give me a proper answer after the war. So, don't you dare give up and give it now! Not yet!" Juvia swung a water whip that ensnared around Gray's wrist. Juvia with all her upper body strength pulled, yet Gray would not budge.

"It is futile! There is no escape!" Bloodman formed a blade of darkness around his forearm, and swung it towards Gajeel.

"Fire Style: Pheonix Flower Bomb!" A multi volley of fire balls blasted into Bloodman. The flames burning into his coat. Edolas Levy jumped before Bloodman and the rest as they attempted to rescue Gray. "I will keep big and ugly busy! Get your boy out!" Edolas Levy slammed her foot into the ground to which a chunk of earth popped up. "Earth Style: Stone Fist Meteor Jab!" Punching her tiny fist forward, Edolas Levy unleashed a bombardment of stone fists onto Bloodman.

"It is futile!" Bloodman cackled, as the fists slipped right through him. With Gray trapped, he was free to change his body back into Bane particles to avoid physical damage.

"Ain't nothing over here until you are put six feet under creep!" Edolas Levy flipped dual wield kunai knifes.

Gray continued on to struggle, yet his body got sucked in further. "The suction is too strong! You can't pull me out! If only I could use magic in this state!" A cold breeze suddenly exploded around Gray, but it wasn't Gray's doing. Gray in a state of shock looked up seeing Lyon, both his arms held out generating a cold ice wave onto the vortex. "Lyon!"

"I will slow this thing down! Keep pulling! I will not let my junior student go out in such a pathetic way!" Lyon declared, ice starting to grow from around him. 'It's no use… although. Maybe… Iced Shell would work.' Lyon contemplated the idea of using the mightiest spell, and also the trump card of his arsenal. Even if it meant sacrificing himself, he could save Gray.

"Lyon, don't even think about it." Almost as if he read his mind, Gray warned his senior to not use Iced Shell.

"… Right." Lyon nodded. It wasn't time yet to use such a last resolve. Lyon kept intensifying the ice onto the vortex. Yet the spiraling speck of darkness holding his friend, kept tearing the ice apart. "I'm not done yet!" Lyon let out a war cry as he added all of his power into the ice. Then suddenly, it came to a halt, the vortex slowed down. "NOW!" Lyon signaled as Juvia and Gajeel pulled with all their might.

Gray flinched as two massive paws grabbed onto him, and dragged him out from the vortex. "Phew, thanks Lily." Gray smirked at the giant Exceed, Pantherlily having entered his muscle form for a mere moment to swoop in and grab Gray.

"You… are welcome." Pantherlily turned chibi again, and his wings vanished as he collapsed from exhaustion.

Edolas Levy rushed at Bloodman with er kunai, chucking one of them at Bloodman. Yet the kunai merely phased through his bane particle body. Levy readied her second kunai and flashed through Bloodman using Shunshin jutsu to rush Bloodman at blinding speed. Bloodman solidified himself, seeing as Gray was free again. "Impossible! None have ever escaped that technique before!" Bloodman looked on shock.

Edolas Levy panted from behind Bloodman, a smirk on her lips as she no longer held the second kunai in her hand. Within Bloodman's body, laid a kunai knife, with nearly a hundred paper bomb tags attached onto it. "Boom." Edolas Levy smirked as the very next moment, Bloodman's body began moving strangely.

"What in the-" Bloodman gasped as suddenly he went off like a bomb. The explosion rocked the very earth causing everyone to fall over.

Edolas Levy panted as she saw the wizards from Earthland look in awe at her. "Heh, wasted that punk." Edolas Levy smiled brightly at them.

"Heh, well I will be damned. The Edolas shrimp did it." Gajeel looked in awe, Levy jabbing him with her elbow for the shrimp comment.

"Well, damn…" Gray flinched as his senses picked up something, the scent of a demon in the air. Gray leapt forward and rushed towards the unknowing Edolas Levy, as a dark shadow took shape behind her. "Get out of the way!" Gray shouted.

Edolas Levy in confusion at seeing the frightened looks on everyone's faces, turned around although in that moment a bone sword stabbed through her. "Ugh!" Edolas Levy flinched, her eyes widened, blood starting to drip from her lips.

Gajeel in that moment froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. His vision burning with the image of Levy being stabbed, and that bastard Bloodman hoisting her body up while still on the blade. "Levy…" Gajeel began shaking.

"I must commend you little one, that is the closest anyone has ever come to killing me." Bloodman stood tall, solidifying himself. "I was able to turn into bane particles the very brief moment before the explosion… Although it was a close call." Bloodman revealed as he had lost his left arm and upper torso. "Luckily, my demonic power will fix that right up." Bloodman snickered as darkness emitted from his body, restoring and healing the damaged tissue of his body.

Edolas Levy coughed up a puddle of blood, as the blade did further damage to her organs. "You bastard…" Edolas Levy spat blood onto Bloodman's face.

"As for you, nothing will heal you." Bloodman swung his arm with the blade to the side, and flung Edolas Levy's body off of it into a violent crash to the ground. "Now, as you've witnessed, you all shall fall to the reaper like this one." Bloodman cackled as he had fully healed himself, standing like a behemoth of a beast.

Gajeel trembled, his anger bubbling up. His eyes completely focused on Edolas Levy as she laid there in a puddle of her own blood. Her tiny body trembling as she coughed up more blood. "Then I will become the one, who reaps the reaper!" Gajeel roared as he slammed and iron club straight into Bloodman sending him skidding back a few feet.

"Gajeel…" Levy mumbled with a hint of unease in her tone.

Gajeel trembled violently, a greenish aura exploding around him. Gajeel's body exploded with a mighty aura as his body entered the perfect Dragon Force state. His body covered in iron cladded armor with added scales on his forearms and shoulders. It might not have been his Levy, but seeing any Levy hurt like that, made Gajeel's rage explode into a violent storm of emotions. Shadows emitted around him, and merged with his body.

"What's this?" Bloodman questioned as he looked to Gajeel. His iron armor turning into blackened steel scale armor.

"Black Steel Dragon King Mode!" Gajeel's body was surrounded by a black greenish aura. Gajeel jumped forward and wacked Bloodman across the face with a solid right hook. Bloodman was sent flying, the weight of Gajeel's punch had doubled, no tripled in strength. "Bastard! How dare you?! Hurt my Levy!" Gajeel's rage exploded as he pushed forward, punching Bloodman in what appeared as a storm of fists.

"Gajeel…" Levy wanted to help Gajeel, but instead quickly rushed over to her fallen counterpart. "Are you okay?" Levy held her Edolas counterpart in her arms.

Edolas Levy's breathing was slowing down, her voice wheezing out a bit. "T-That's quite the man… you got there…" Edolas Levy smiled, her eyes looking heavy and her skin rather pale.

"He's… strong, brave, but also stubborn and a damn idiot. But yeah, I am hopelessly in love with him." Levy could tell, there was nothing they could do to save her counterpart. So, instead of bawling her eyes out, Levy began chatting with her counterpart.

"Heh, our Gajeel is a lousy reporter… All he's got is his damn looks. Hah, I never thought I would go out this way… in my own arms. It is a weird feeling…" Edolas Levy sighed as she looked up to the sky.

"Yeah, it's weird seeing me die in my own arms…" Levy agreed, fighting back the tears forming in her eyes.

"Hey, tell me… How do you get along with your Lucy?" Edolas Levy sounded curious, as she and Lucy Ashley were bitter enemies constantly bickering back and forth.

"Lu-chan is my best friend, I love her to death." Levy smiled, to which Edolas Levy giggled a bit.

"Lu-chan, huh? My Lucy would punch me if I called her that… That bitch, I hope she makes it. Tell her, I will kick her ass if I see her in the afterlife too soon…" Edolas Levy shakingly clings onto her life as she makes her final request.

"Yeah, I will tell her…" Levy shed a tear that fell onto her Edolas counterparts pale face.

"Heh, if she cries like a bitch, tell her I will be laughing at her." Edolas Levy lets out a humorous chuckle as she closed her eyes for one last time. When her counterpart had died, Levy unleashed all the tears she had been holding back.

Gajeel kept pummeling Bloodman into a bloody pulp, the demon gasped in shock as Gajeel punch tore through his flesh and severed his arm. Bloodman generated a wall of darkness, yet Gajeel ran straight through it. "Inconceivable! How can your attacks hurt me?!" Bloodman unleashed a barrage bombardment of spinning projectiles of demonic darkness.

Gajeel formed pillars of black steel, smacking into the projectiles sending them flying at Bloodman. Gajeel leapt at the demon and kneed him in the chin. Bloodman was rattled, trying to regain his focus. "Gates of Tartaros!" Rising from the ground an armada of skeletons, that latched themselves onto Gajeel. Gajeel flexed his muscles, unleashing his aura that blew away all the skeletons. "No! Impossible! I refuse to accept this reality!" Bloodman swung his arm forward sending a spiraling wave of explosions at Gajeel. The explosions halted Gajeel for a moment, and suddenly a massive bone stabbed up from the ground and pushed into Gajeel.

Bloodman appeared behind Gajeel wielding a blade of darkness he slashed at Gajeel. Gajeel kicked Bloodman in the face, and they both jumped back. Gajeel growled as his black steel armor had suffered a cut through it from Bloodman's demonic blade. "It seems your armor isn't strong enough to hold off my attacks!" Bloodman cackled.

"Shut your trap." Gajeel hissed.

"No human shall ever overcome death!" Bloodman unleashed an ocean of bones that rose from the ground, spiraling around Gajeel.

Gajeel looked unfaced as he inhaled his breath. "Black Steel Dragon King: Shredding Roar!" Gajeel unleashed a mighty destructive breath attack, that ripped right through the spiraling vortex of bones coming his way. Gajeel then rushed Bloodman, aiming to take his head.

Bloodman to escape death quickly liquified his body into the bane particles. "Huh?!" Bloodman hissed in pain as suddenly his particles began to freeze. Gray stood beneath them, unleashing his full devil slayer power, he was even eating ice from Lyon to power up his magic power.

"You are going down demon!" Gray declared, and Bloodman quickly solidified himself to avoid getting frozen to death. Bloodman grunted as his leg had been frozen, the ice spreading up from it. Bloodman quickly cut off his own leg with a blade of darkness.

"Impossible, to think two humans could push me this far…" Bloodman sounded to be in disbelief. None since August had ever injured him to this extent. Having healed his severed arm and leg, Bloodman was taking a quick breather. 'My healing powers are slowing down… If I take too big of a hit next time I might actually…' Bloodman clenched his claws enraged at the mere thought. "Never! I am death! I have nothing to fear!"

"Are you sure about that?!" Gajeel elbowed Bloodman in the face, sending him falling to the ground. "Gray!" Gajeel signaled and quickly Gray slammed his hands to the ground.

"He is all yours, bud." Gray mumbled as he unleashed a wave of ice. "Ice Devil Zeroth Destruction: Tower of Babylon!" Walls of purple ice emerged around Gajeel and Bloodman, boxing them in with a very limited space to move.

"You dare trap yourself in with death?!" Bloodman unleashed a wave of darkness, which Gajeel slapped aside. The wave clashed with the wall, but to Bloodman's horror it did nothing. Gray's Devil Slayer ice holding a certain immunity to demonic darkness. 'No!' Bloodman widened his eyes in horror.

"You got it backwards! I ain't trapped in here with you! You are trapped in here with me!" Gajeel roared and slammed his fist into Bloodman, multiple pillars of steel emerged around Bloodman's body. Bloodman groaned in pain as Gajeel pushed him back.

Bloodman for once was worried for his own life, his own safety. Something he had always delighted in seeing in his victims as they despaired in the face of death. 'Curses! I nearly had the Devil Slayer back there! If only I had managed to kill him back then, I wouldn't be in this predicament!' Bloodman cursed, thinking if it wasn't for the interference of that Edolas Levy he would have won by now.

Gray was freezing every attack Bloodman made, he had also managed to box Bloodman and Gajeel in together with limited room to move. Bloodman couldn't allow himself to phase through Gajeel's attacks, otherwise Gray would freeze his body of Bane particles and thus Bloodman would die. A thought that had never crossed him his whole life, his own death, he was death incarnate. He inflicted death on others, he wasn't supposed to die himself. He wouldn't die! Bloodman had one last ditch attempt of survival.

"If I can't phase through you! I will just overpower you!" Having had enough of the rampaging Gajeel's abuse, Bloodman created a massive lance made up out of bones. The lance was enhanced by demonic darkness that emitted from Bloodman. Darkness swirling around the tip of the lance. "This is my strongest offence attack! I shall pierce your steel armor and send you to hell!" If he couldn't avoid Gajeel's attacks, he was going to overpower them.

"You are the one going to hell you bastard!" Gajeel roared, the death of Edolas Levy still fresh in his mind. Seeing Levy, any Levy, dead infuriated him. And it only brought up bad memories of his and Levy's past, how he was a jerk and ambushed Levy, Jet and Droy like a coward to crucified them to a tree. Gajeel reared his dominant arm behind his back, creating a green magic circle before his fist.

Gajeel's entire being exploded in a mighty dark green aura covered in shadow shades. Gajeel gritted his teeth as his arm turned into a black sword, that expanded into a ridiculous gigantic size to match Bloodman's skeleton lance. "Dragon Slayer Secret Art!" Gajeel roared as he threw his fist, thus his blade forward. "Black Steel Dragon King's Heavenly Sword!"

"Bane Lance of the Grim Reaper!" The lance got surrounded as well with the black mist of bane particles. The two flew towards each other, for one final clash, one last attack. A mere man, faced death head on in a power strike.

Their weapons clashed in a mighty thrust, and the shockwave shatters the walls of ice Gray had created around them. Gajeel roars like a dragon as he powers through, putting in all his power, all his strength. Bloodman responded in kind, using all his demonic power against Gajeel. Although, despite Gajeel's efforts, Bloodman was beginning to push him back. The durability of his lance simply enhanced too much by his demonic power, made Bloodman's attack stronger.

"Die! Human! Take this lesson to hell! One can never escape death!" Bloodman cackled like a mad man. Then, however, the air turned chilly. Bloodman gasped as the Bane particles around his lance began freezing, along with the bones of the lance itself. "You!" Bloodman snapped his face towards Gray.

"A wise lesson, make sure to take it with you when you die." Gray glared at Bloodman who gasped as he heard something crack.

"N-No!" Bloodman screamed as his bone lance started to break apart. Gray's devil slayer ice didn't only freeze Bloodman's Bane particles around the lance, but also the spiraling demonic darkness that cloaked the lance itself. Gajeel let out a feral loud dragon's roar, as his sword penetrated the bone lance, breaking it apart.

Bloodman looked in disbelief, as his weapon was broken and his body had a giant hole blown through it from Gajeel's blade. "Impossible…" Bloodman utters, as his body starts to fall apart. He wasn't able to assimilate himself into Bane particles, his body was withering away as if he had just faced a death wave from Zeref himself. "… death was beaten… by two humans?" Bloodman managed to utter his last words, as his body withered away into nothingness.

Elsewhere in the northern continent of Ishgar, Larcade and Irene both felt the death of Bloodman. Larcade was in the middle of a forest when he sensed it. "Bloodman… lost?" Larcade spoke in disbelief. First Ajeel had died, and now Bloodman. Two of the Spriggan 12 had died.

Irene who was in the mountains on the other hand, smiled. "My, it seems the perfect opportunity has presented itself in this war. To weed out the weaker links of the twelve, and to find suitable replacements~" The strongest woman of the Empire, and the second strongest of the Twelve was hardly concerned over the loss of Bloodman. She was far more concerned with what was descending from the heavens before her. Black wings blew away the clouds, a black dragon descended from the sky. "Hello there, Acnologia-san~"

Gajeel stood in place, over the dead Edolas Levy. "… I got him for you pipsqueak. We got him really good." Gajeel picked up Edolas Levy's body and held her tight. "Dammit!"

"Gajeel." Levy hugged the now weeping Dragon Slayer from behind. His cries muffled. "It wasn't your fault… Besides, I'm sure she would be proud. You took down one of the Twelve."

"I'm sorry… Even though she ain't you, she is… still… you, you know? I just… hate seeing you get hurt. And I am pissed that I couldn't save her!" Gajeel didn't know what to say, he wasn't a guy that would get this emotional. But when it came to Levy, he would just break down.

"Gajeel-kun…" Juvia looked with sympathy towards her oldest friend. Gray held her close by the waist. Lyon and Pantherlily shortly joined them.

"Let's take a moment, to honor the sacrifice of Edolas Levy. Even though she was from Edolas, she was still a member of Fairy Tail. She's still family."

They all stood in silence for a moment, but they couldn't mourn for long. A war was still going on around them after all. "We need to meet up with Sting's platoon, they need help against Madara." Lyon spoke up. The threat of Madara Uchiha still loomed over their heads, Itachi was on his way but even with Mest teleporting him, he wouldn't get here in time all the way from the southern continent.

"To be honest, with us this injured I'm not sure we'll be much help." Gray added, he and all of Fairy Tail remember witnessing Madara's power during the battle against Tartaros, when Madara fought E.

"We still have to try." Gajeel struggled to get up, as he had exited his Black Steel Dragon King Mode.

"Of course." Gray agreed, although he was still uncertain about facing Madara. Was it fear perhaps? For the Uchiha's power? Or learning more of Madara's relationship with his master Ur? Before they could move however, the ground began emitting a red glow.

Earlier back with Irene, the massive black dragon began shrinking into the size of a human. Acnologia stood tall, the wind blowing his cloak over to cover his missing arm. "I shall eliminate all trace of dragons…" Acnologia snarled, sniffing the air for any sign of a dragon. Acnologia then flinched and looked up.

"So, that's your goal?" Irene floated over Acnologia, who frowned upon laying eyes on her.

"Get out of my sight. I've got no business with you." Acnologia would have brushed Irene off, but she was in his way.

"Your strength is terrifying indeed. O mighty Dragon King." Irene flew down to face Acnologia.

"You know who I am, yet you still stand in my way?" Acnologia couldn't decide whether this woman was brave or foolish.

"But of course. O' great Acnologia." Irene casually smiled at the Dragon King.

"When it comes to men I aim to please." The two unleashed their auras, Acnologia's dark menacing blue aura clashing with Irene's bright red aura. "Well then, shall we begin?" Irene in a swift motion thrusted her staff forward, sending a massive red magma blast wave at Acnologia.

The Dragon King widened his eyes, blocking the wave with his forearm. Acnologia grunted as the earth beneath him sank underneath the weight, Acnologia found himself pushed backwards. "An atmospheric enchantment?!" Acnologia was sent flying through a mountain, the mountain broke apart as a massive charcoaled hole was blown through it. Acnologia then crashed into a second mountain behind it, nearly causing it to collapse had it not been for him managing to negate Irene's attack. "The ability to bestow and affix her magic onto all things… A High Enchanter, eh?" Acnologia smirked and laughed as he raised his arm.

Lights emitted from the ground beneath Irene, the lights erupting into a massive explosion. Irene backflipped away from the explosion. Irene looked into the hole left by Acnologia's explosion, the hole seemed endless and dark. Acnologia eyed through the smoke, seeing Irene standing there unscratched. "I must say, considering your magic was taught to you by the Black Wizard, it's fairly impressive. You've caught my interest."

"Why thank you, you are making me blush." Irene playfully added with a relaxed smile on her face. "Your power is as magnificent as the rumors say. I can see why his majesty fears you. However, once Fairy Heart falls into his majesty's hands that will all change."

"Are you implying the Black Wizard will come to surpass me?" Acnologia snickered at the thought.

"I'm acknowledging the possibility." Irene remained calm and collected.

"If you are about to tell me to leave humanity alone, then save your breath." Acnologia had no intention of sparing humanity, he sought for their destruction as much as dragons.

"Oh my, how strange. Seeing as you were a human once yourself… doctor." Irene smirked causing Acnologia to flinch, his fist tightening.

Acnologia launched a blast attack from his hand towards Irene, who with a twirl of her staff negated the mighty Dragon King's attack. "Just who are you?! How did you hear of that?!" Acnologia snarled in anger at Irene.

"Who am I? Well in some sense, I am just a woman visiting her home nation. In another sense, I suppose I am just like you." Irene casually brushed off Acnologia's glare. His nose sniffed and picked up a scent, a familiar scent, a scent he hated and was forced to live with for the rest of eternity.

"I see… I have looked for you for the longest time. You cannot hide your true nature from my nose." Acnologia snarled as he powered up more. At this Irene's smile faded and turned into a frown.

"You know, I feel sort of sad for you." Irene twisted her lips back into a smile, followed by a light chuckle. Acnologia looked confused as he thought he had managed to strike a nerve in Irene. "You keep boasting that you will win, and destroy all life. Yet, there is one man you will never defeat." Irene snickered as she struck a nerve in Acnologia.

"… That man, won't be a problem much longer! After you, he is next on my list!" Acnologia snarled as he prepared to lunge at Irene.

"Is that so? Well, why don't I help you out?" Irene slammed her staff into the ground, her magic power rang across the earth. A red dim light beginning to glow and spread across the earth. "I will help his majesty get his act together. And make sure to put a swift end to this war."

"What is this? A magic unbeknownst to me?" Acnologia looked in shock, as the red wave spread further. "The earth itself… Do you mean to tell me you are enchanting the entire Earth itself?"

"That is correct. All the land of the Kingdom of Fiore to be precise." Irene declared as the entire land of Fiore was covered in her red magic glow. "I am Irene. If you are lucky, maybe we'll meet again. O great Acnologia." Irene smirked as her red light lit up the entire sky over Fiore as well as the ground. The light blinding everyone.

"The sky is shining?" Gray, Gajeel, Levy, Lyon, Pantherlily all gasped as they looked at the heavens.

Teleporting at an alarming rate, Itachi and Mest saw the light glowing across all of Fiore. "What is this? What's happening?" Itachi looked in awe at the light that glowed as bright and red as Erza's hair.

"It's so bright!" Mavis covered her eyes along with Makarov, Warrod and Laxus as the red light began blinding them a bit.

Madara loomed over the forces of Ishgar and the Empire, Itachi's last wood clone laid defeated under his boot. Sting and Rogue looked to be on their last leg as well, while Sasori for once had to be up front on the battlefield, as a puppet master, he always preferred to take the back seat. "You know, I know just the jutsu to make this picture perfect~" Madara slammed his hands together, his blue Susano'o rising along with his hair, and his eyes morphed into the Rinnegan.

The air suddenly shifted direction, everyone awaited in suspense to what Madara's newest attack was going to be. Then a shadow began looming over the battlefield. Seeing the massive shadow eclipsing them, Lucy Ashley looked up and could only gasp in disbelief. "Y-You've got to be kidding me…"

"Wh-What the hell?" Edolas Natsu and Gray both trembled in fear at the sight, cold sweat running down their foreheads.

Sting looked frightened, and was frozen in place as he couldn't believe the magnitude of the attack. "Is this the power of a God?" Rogue found himself asking as he trembled in fear.

Freefalling from the heavens was a gigantic meteorite. "It's enormous, we can't outrun it." Sorano held onto Sasori in fright, the puppet master was at a loss for words. How the hell were they supposed to deal with that? All of Itachi's clones were gone, so no Perfect Susano'o to save them. If it was even possible to be saved from such an attack.

"We're done…" Sasori lowered his arms, there was no point in trying. This was it. This was the end. 'Where the hell are you, Itachi?' Sasori clenched his fists.

"Don't give up yet!" Sting shouted out to his soldiers as they had begun falling into despair. He was their Squad leader, he had to get their spirits back up, he couldn't fail them. "Never give up without trying! Even if all you can do is throw a rock, do something!" Sting ran as coming swooping down was his Exceed partner, Lector. "Lector, get me as close as possible!"

"Yes, Sting!" Lector and soon Frosch with Rogue followed up and flew up towards the incoming meteorite. "Let's go Rogue!"

"Yeah!" Rogue couldn't give up, both Minerva and Frosch were here. He needed to protect them. Both Dragon Slayers inhaled their breath. "Unison Raid: White Shadow Dragon Light Blast Cannon!" Both unleashed a mighty breath attack that vibrated across the heavens. The massive combined breath attack still paled in comparison to the meteorite, yet they did their best. The blast hit the meteorite, digging through the dense gigantic falling rock.

Rushing in from the side, were Ultear and Meredy having just managed to arrive onto the battlefield to aid the rest of their squad. "Ice-Make: Rose Garden!" Ultear created a near endless field of ice rose thorn vines that reached high up into the sky, catching the falling meteorite.

"Hn? That's Ur's strongest spell." Madara flinched as he noticed the massive ice sculpture attempting to catch the meteorite. 'I can sense it, that perfect combination of chakra and Ethernano. My child is down there…' Madara for a brief moment contemplated on stopping the meteor.

"Well, that changes things…" Madara's Susano'o roared as it grew armor, generating Yasaka Magatama belts to blast at the meteorite. However, before it evolved any further, the sky and the ground both began glowing red. Madara halted in the evolution of his Susano'o and looked in confusion. "What's happening? I sense a lot of Ethernano in the air…" From the looks of it everyone else on the battlefield were as confused as Madara as to the origin of this red light.

Down in the southern isles, the islands vanish one by one as Invel freezes them over, and Jellal's continued bombardment of raining beams of energy. Jellal continued to keep his distance from Zeref, using long ranged attacks.

Yet Zeref continued to brush off Jellal's attacks. Jellal was filled with motivation to crush Zeref, Jellal's body released a mighty golden aura as he soared through the sky. The one he had once worshipped like a God, the source of all his suffering. Jellal had swore that he would one day take Zeref down for his sins, and the sins cults and dark guilds have committed in his name.

Zeref chuckles as he creates multiple black magic circles in the heavens. "Ankhseram Formula 19: Death Storm!" Raining out from the black magic circles were a series of dark lightning bolts, chasing Jellal at the speed of light. Jellal weaved and dodged, like a bird during a storm.

The lightning bolts crashed into the ocean, parting the waters aside as the bolt struck the rocky bottom of the ocean. Jellal was growing tired, he had fought the Black Wizard for a long period of time now and was reaching his limit. Whereas Zeref wasn't even sweating, perhaps due to his immortality his body didn't follow the natural laws of the human body and never tired.

"You may not have as much firepower as Natsu… But your wit makes you far more of a challenging opponent. Unfortunately, unless you are a demon, angel or a God, you cannot kill me, an immortal being. Although your Heavenly Body magic has some divine element to it. It's still not enough, it never was." Zeref taunted as he enjoyed this little chase of cat and mouse. Due to his malice all Zeref could see was his desire to kill. "Now die, and pray for a better chance in your next life."

A bolt of lightning was about to strike Jellal, when suddenly three layers of magic circles caught the bolt. "Three Layered Magic Circle: Mirror Water!" Mystogan appeared between the bolt and Jellal through the Kamui dimension. The magic circles let out a clinging noise, and as such the unruly ocean beneath them turned silent and still. The lightning bolt then reflected off of the magic circles and fell onto Zeref himself.

"Your majesty!" Invel had jumped in, blocking the bolt from hitting Zeref with a wall of ice. Although the ice wall shattered into millions of ice shards.

"Ho, that was a close one. Although I wouldn't have died, even I would have taken some time to recover from that attack." Zeref looked on with a laid-back smile.

Jellal and Mystogan landed a few feet away from Zeref and Invel, both panting and a bit out of breath. "Wh-What now?" Mystogan asked his Earthland counterpart.

"I have one last bet." Jellal stretched out his right leg, leaning his body downwards with his arms sticking out diagonally. The air around Jellal shifted as the winds grew more intense. "Heavenly Body Magic: Sema!" The clouds began closing in on each other, the sky darkened. When suddenly a bright dim light of fire glowed in the dark clouds. The clouds parted revealing what appeared to be a meteorite coming falling down onto them.

"Your majesty! If we don't get the troops out of here, they will die!" Invel warned as he was confident only Zeref would survive if that attack hit. Invel wasn't even so sure if he himself would survive this attack from Jellal.

"Yes, I suppose so." Zeref looked up at the meteorite, moving his arms in a circular motion as he connected his palms together. A giant black magic circle formed beneath his feet, and a second formed at his hands. "Ankhseram Formula 15: Spear of the Death God!" A wave of dark purple energy blasted out from Zeref's palms. The wave let out a loud vibrating noise as it soared into the sky. The end of the wave looking like that of a spear as it pierced through Jellal's meteorite. The meteorite crumbled and exploded into pieces. "Now then, shall we continue?" Zeref prepared to launch a Death Wave at the gaping Jellal and Mystogan.

Jellal leapt away from Zeref to gain some distance as the Black Wizard unleashed a death wave. "What's going on?" Jellal looked in confusion as he saw that the ground and the sky were glowing red.

Zeref on the other hand, appeared to know exactly what was going on. "This magic…! Irene don't tell me you actually used it!"

Irene could feel Zeref's anger at her for ruining her fun, but this was for the best. "World Reconstruction Magic: Universe One!"

Mavis standing by the door of the guildhall, shielded her eyes from this blinding light. When the light died down, the ground was rumbling causing Mavis to trip from this sudden tremor. "What happened? Makarov? Warrod? Laxus? Cana? Where is everyone?" Mavis looked around as she was alone, no, she felt a second presence loom behind her. Mavis turned around with a cold look in her eyes, as she sensed death in the air.

"Mavis, my beloved. I had nearly forgotten how cute you looked." Zeref loomed over Mavis, looking down on the petite First Master of Fairy Tail with a menacing smile.

"Zeref, what did you do?!" Mavis snarled at her former lover.

"Sorry beloved, but this isn't my handywork. To be honest this entire situation has left me perplexed as well." Zeref approached Mavis, reaching out to gently touch her cheek. "I have missed this sensation, the warmth of touching someone else." Zeref was blown away by a wave of light from Mavis.

Zeref held his hand to his injured face, revealing half his face had the flesh melted off from it. "My, since when did you like to play rough?" Zeref playfully asked.

"If you didn't cause this, then who did? And what happened to my friends?" Mavis glared at Zeref with a dangerous glare.

"… My subordinate, one of the Twelve, Irene unleashed her spell Universe One. As for what happened to your friends. They have simply been moved. Or rather more specifically, all the landmass of Fiore has been altered." Zeref explained, and Mavis looked more cautious although felt a sense of relief that her friends were at least alive for now.

"So, you're saying all the people within the kingdom were split up and sent to various places?" Mavis backed away a bit from Zeref.

"Of course, that applies for my soldiers as well." Zeref walked closer towards Mavis. "And that's not all, the very landscape of Fiore has grown smaller. I'd estimate 1/20 of its former size." Zeref said with his usual calm demeanor and smile.

"To increase the closeness of our armies and the battles between us and the empire?" Mavis asked.

"Yes, I'd wager that is Irene's goal. She even brought me to you, all to bring this war to a quicker end. Although I would have preferred for an all-out war, this suits me just fine. As my goal Fairy Heart is right before my eyes." Mavis was backed up against a wall, with Zeref standing right before her. "Mavis, if you would be so kind to surrender it would ease my heart. I do not wish to see you in pain."

"Never. I will never give Fairy Heart to you!" Mavis unleashed a golden aura that clashed with the rotten black aura of Zeref.

"So be it." Zeref sighed.

Irene stood on top of a mountain by herself, with Acnologia nowhere in sight. However, before her eyes was a massive meteorite crashing into the vast blue ocean, rising gigantic waves that destroyed nearby ships, before sinking to the bottom of the ocean. "Madara, eh?" Irene giggled a bit at seeing the meteorite. "Lady Irene!" Her two second in commands jumped down.

"Heine, Juliet, how are you darlings?" Irene asked the two young women as if they were her own children.

"Wonderful!" Juliet said with a cheerful smile.

"What happened with Acnologia?" Heine asked.

"Oh, I just put him on a path away from the Emperor. Although, I wonder if we'll ever see Acnologia again, heh." Irene had a menacing smirk on her face, as she giggled at the predicament Acnologia was currently in.

The scenery changes into a deserted wasteland filled with nothing but sand and rocks, only two figures standing on opposite ends of each other visible between the gaps of rocks. One of these figures is the Dragon King, Acnologia. The stormy winds blowing through his long hair and cape. Acnologia growls in annoyance as he stares this second figure down. "That enchanter… sure has a sick sense of humor." Acnologia looks rather annoyed but also cautious, a cold sweat running down his brow.

"Ho? So, the caster of this spell is Irene, eh? She most likely even moved Zeref closer to Fairy Heart… I suppose I should call this a minor setback." The second figure sounded relaxed and calm, his tone carrying a weight of power behind it. Standing tall in his red samurai armor, was Madara Uchiha. "It's been a while, Acnologia." Madara smirks at seeing the cautious approach of the Dragon King. The tension is high, as these two titans stare each other down.

That's the end for now!

Here we are! Sorry that it took so long, I got caught up in my studies and honestly found more inspiration to write Itachi Sitri for a certain period of time. But I haven't lost inspiration for this story, I just want you all to know that. And I plan on updating as soon as possible, I have an exam coming in late August but I plan on updating before the end of August just so you all know. Maybe I can manage to update before the end of this month, who knows.

But a lot to unpack in this chapter, we have Itachi's revelation on his life connection with Zeref and how he is going to plan on severing that connection. We have Madara doing what he does best, humiliate an army or two by himself. The biggest event of all in this chapter I think was the battle against Bloodman. Two Spriggan down, ten more to go. Although judging by the previous chapter maybe a certain Spriggan, being Brandish will have a change of heart? So maybe only nine more to go? And of course, Irene doing her whole Universe One thing which has turned the entire battle upside its head. We will have to wait and see who ended up where in the shrunken changed Fiore in the next chapter. As well as the battle between the two titans.

Now, the list of deceased characters so far in the war.

Ishgar: Master Goldmine (killed by Jacob), Master Bob (killed by Bloodman), Edolas Jet (killed by Blitzkrieg), Edolas Droy (killed by Blitzkrieg), Edolas Elfman (killed by reanimated Rustyrose), Edolas Levy (killed by Bloodman).

Alvarez: Ajeel (killed by Kisame), Bakel (Ajeel's 2nd in command, killed by Mirajane during the attack on Magnolia), Kareem (Ajeel's other 2nd in command, killed by Laxus during the attack on Magnolia), Linda (Dimaria's 2nd in command, killed by the Wizard Saint Beatrice), Marin (Brandish's 2nd in command, killed by Brandish), Grim (Bloodman's 2nd in command, killed by Lyon), Bloodman (killed by Gajeel).

Anyway, leave a review!

-Later!

(Review responds):

Shadow Joestar: Thanks! And now the war has gotten even more crazier as the battlefield just shrank and changed.

andresskorskiruiz: Sorry for the long wait, and thanks.

Kelmoria: Madara will accept as many dance partners as possible XD And it would be a waste to not have Madara and reanimated Ur interact, I'm just saving it for later on in the arc.

keybladelight: Thanks! Itachi's reunion with his reanimated family is not that far away, at least not as far away as Madara's reunion with his family. Ultear and Ur could play some emotional card to stop Madara, but considering Madara's personality and whatever plan he has I doubt they can manage it that easily. Sorry that I have taken so long to update btw.

majikss: Madara is kind of known for his polite, yet sarcastic and condescending personality though. So, I imagine he would say that to taunt Itachi.

Mr. Haziq: Yes, and they still are. I swear I didn't only bring in Edolas to have more characters on Ishgar's side die.

blackcat shoto: Thanks!

Ultimatrix bearer: Glad you enjoyed it, I thought it was a better conclusion for Natsu coming to terms with his identity.

thaqiftalip: Oh snap, Madara gonna bust some heads XD And thanks.

ExcaliburShooter: Ankhseram is the source of the majority of the events that have transpired throughout humanity. I wonder if Madara could beat the God of Death however, even with Fairy Heart. Madara summoned a meteor, although since he was "playing around" it was about the same size as during the fourth Shinobi war. Let's see what he will do when he is more serious, hehe.

ymrgf: Yeah, I kinda have to agree.

Monstrr: Thank you, reading back on it I kind of have to agree with you.

DarkReaderSeiin: Thanks! I think it is obvious at this point that Natsu will use his demon powers at some point. Where Madara goes into battle, chaos shall follow. Sorry that it took so long to update.

Guest: Why is it disgusting? They aren't related XD

Guest: Madara will always be Madara.

mauricemattis17: And something tells me you just read the chapter where it was revealed he had the sickness, skipped right to the final chapter and left this review. His sickness was a real issue, and it got solved. Why I gave Itachi the sickness? Like you said parts of it was to keep the story interesting, but also to humanize Itachi a bit. To show he is still a man that can fall to sickness. And to give him some character building in learning better on how to rely and trust more in others.

Guest: Final chapter BOOM! Itachi goes on a murderous rampage! Nah, I'm kidding. Or am I? 0.0 And yes, I gave the boy MOKUTON which he really hasn't progressed much in yet tbh XD he will tho.

Trevarrius: Yes, by giving him his sickness I am humanizing him and giving him a chance of character building. Itachi didn't honestly even have the sickness for that long anyway.