AN: Thanks Kriim-Sauce786, Goku275, NinjaFang1331, AliceCullen3, Wadeparker, Xerzo LotCN, and arata7kasuga. Kriim-Sauce786, you'll be happy to know that I do intend for Millianna to improve her magic during this arc. What happened earlier is a preview of what is to come.

Wadeparker, I suppose that I would place Natsu's strength as of this chapter as greater than during the war with the Alvarez Empire, but weaker than the Spriggan 12. To be clear, though, part of this is because the magic utilized by the Spriggan 12 is difficult to deal with. In terms of pure power, Natsu could match their weaker members.

arata7kasuga, Natsu would still struggle because there were a number of people far stronger than him in canon. He required outside assistance to defeat a number of enemies, not to mention the ones who were outright defeat by other, more powerful allies. In fact, during the Alvarez War, not only did Natsu only defeat two of the weaker Spriggan 12, the two strongest members were never truly defeated by anyone (spoiler: they essentially committed suicide right after revealing that they were holding back). I plan for Fairy Tail to, by the end of this story, reach the level of being able to fight the Spriggan 12 without needing miracles/plot devices to win.

"Wakaba, we've found the locations of sixteen ex-councilors," Warren told the man. "And we've also managed to get some other guilds to provide bodyguards."

"There's a former chairman in these addresses too," added Laki.

"Good!" praised Wakaba. "Get Macao to send some mages to the former chairman, right away!"

Like usual, despite Natsu being the guild master, Macao and Wakaba were the ones doing all of the actual work. Macao was directing the teams Fairy Tail sent to guard former councilors, while Wakaba was leading the effort to locate more of them.

"Don't worry, they're already on their way," replied Laki. "Two of our S-Class candidates."

"I can only hope that's enough to handle Tartaros," thought Wakaba, painfully aware that there were just too many potential targets for Natsu and the S-Class Mages to handle alone.

"I started cultivating herbs after I retired," explained former Chairman Crawford Theme to his guest. "This is tea made with chamomile I grew myself."

"I don't remember ever tasting chamomile this pleasant," complimented Rufus as he took a sip.

"I'm not much of a tea guy myself, but this does taste good," commented Orga, gulping down his cup.

"So, why exactly are you here?" asked Crawford, dismissing with the small talk. "And how did you know where I live, for that matter?"

"To answer the latter, we utilized an information network exclusive to our guild," answered Rufus. "As for the former, well, we are here because of the recent actions of Tartaros. Our guild master discovered the Dark Guild's objective, and we would like to ask you for more information about it."

"…They're after Face, aren't they?" asked the retired Chairman, his expression turning to one of resignation. "For security purposes, I do not know which three Council Members have the keys to that weapon. In fact, they themselves do not know. It is the ultimate concealment method to protect Face."

"Damnit," cursed Orga. "So much for figuring out who has the keys. Can you at least tell us where Face is? Then we could destroy it before Tartaros activates it."

"Sadly, I wasn't in on the loop for that either," apologized Crawford. "All information about Face was considered highly confidential, with every measure taken to protect it. Honestly, it's a mystery how that Dark Guild knows so much about it."

As Crawford finished talking, the two Fairies heard footfalls outside of the ex-Chairman's house. They jumped to their feet, ready for battle.

"They're here," announced Rufus. "Twenty, by my estimation."

"You should get to a safer room," Orga told Crawford.

Twenty enemies in full-body armor burst through the walls. They were met by black lightning and the remembered flames of a Dragon Slayer.

"Frosch!" exclaimed Rogue, on the verge of tears as his own hand choked his partner. "Please, hang in there! Please!"

He turned to the woman from Tartaros. She had shut her eyes not long after using her power on him. "I'm begging you! Please stop this!"

The woman's eyes snapped open. "Begging? A human can only beg a boon from a demon… in exchange for his soul. Will you sell me your soul?"

As she spoke, Rogue gazed into the woman's eyes and saw only darkness. In his heart, he knew that her claims of being a demon were true in every sense of the word. Yet, he knew what would happen if he did not make a deal with her.

Droplets finally fell from the Shadow Dragon Slayer's eyes as he made the toughest decision of his life.

"Fuck!" shouted Natsu, a horrible thought occurring to him as he and Happy stood in the ruins of their clash with Jackal. "Happy! We need to get to the former chairman's house! Immediately!"

"A-aye!" replied the blue Exceed, grabbing his partner and taking to the sky. After about a minute of flight, Happy worked up the nerve to ask Natsu about his actions. "What's wrong Natsu?"

"Damnit! Why didn't I think of it sooner!?" Natsu berated himself. "Nobody… not even the present Magic Council knows where the old members live! And about Face too! So, why does Tartaros know!?"

Natsu paused for a moment, giving Happy time to process his words.

"Some Council member must've leaked it to Tartaros…" continued the dragon slayer. "…someone high up, if they have all that info on the Council."

"And you think it's Crawford?" asked Happy.

"I don't know. I don't want to think it's him, but…"

"Take this!" declared Orga, finishing off the final attacker with a 120mm Black Lightning Cannon. "Nice work, Rufus."

"It was not difficult," responded Rufus. "Suspiciously so."

"Yeah," agreed the god slayer. "Why would they send such weak mages after such an important guy?"

Suddenly, Rufus felt a wave of numbness pass over him. "Orga… I don't…"

"Rufus!" exclaimed Orga as his partner dropped to the ground. Before he could do anything, though, the god slayer also collapsed. The last thing he remembered before losing consciousness was laughter. Oddly, it sounded like former Chairman Crawford's voice.

"Over there Happy!" Natsu told his partner, indicating to Crawford's house.

"Aye!" replied Happy, setting the dragon slayer down outside the damaged home.

Looking around, Natsu could see the ground torn up in several places. Clearly, a fight had taken place. There were no bodies, though, so he moved into the house.

"Rufus! Orga!" shouted Natsu, though nobody responded.

"They're not here, huh?" asked Happy, seeking confirmation that their comrades weren't simply unconscious.

"No… but there are still trace of both their scents," replied Natsu. "What happened?"

Happy sniffed the air himself, only to cover his nose moments later. "I… smell a strong odor of herbs."

"That smell," murmured Natsu, running across the room. He bent down, bringing his nose to a toppled cup that had tea spilling out of it. "Some kind of knockout drug! (I think.)"

"You don't think Crawford put Orga and Rufus to sleep, do you?" asked Happy.

Natsu clenched his hand so tightly that it trembled, before slamming it into the teacup.

"DAMNIIIIIIT!" screamed the dragon slayer, his fire magic erupting from his fist and blasting apart Crawford's home.

"Natsu! You're getting carried away!" panicked Happy, dodging bit of falling rubble. "Look what you've done to the former Chairman's house!"

"That Chairman guy is working for Tartaros!" answered Natsu, furious. In his mind, the fact that there was more than just a crater in the ground was a sign of restraint.

"Is that why Tartaros knows about Face, and how they got the addresses of the former Council members?" asked Happy, recalling their earlier conversation. "Did they take Orga and Rufus away?"

"I'm going to find them and bring them home!" declared Natsu. "A dragon's nose isn't something to scoff at!"

"What have you done with the two men I brought in?" asked Crawford. He was chatting with Franmalth, one of the Nine Demon Gates, as they walked down a hallway inside Cube.

"Kyôka's turning the two of them into demons," said Franmalth mirthfully. "I doubt it will succeed, though. They're likely in for a painful death."

"They had better be," responded Crawford firmly. "If they survive this, they may be able to reveal the assistance I have provided your guild."

"Don't worry," dismissed Franmalth. "First of all, no one will ever be able to find this place."

As if the universe itself was mocking them, the two of them looked out of a nearby window and saw somebody approaching. They were so shocked that neither of them moved as that individual burst through the wall and delivered a knockout punch to Crawford's face.

"I found you!" declared Natsu, unaware that his big entrance had alerted the rest of the Dark Guild to his presence. The dragon slayer turned toward Franmalth and shouted. "Where are Rufus and Orga!?"

"An intruder!" exclaimed Franmalth, too heated to recognize Natsu. "How can there be an intruder!? How much do you think that broken wall is going to cost to fix!? How much!?"

"Give me back Rufus and Orga!" said Natsu, ignoring the demon's words.

"Oh, my! You're talking about the human captives?" replied Franmalth lightly. "You're Fairy Tail, then? Hmm… pink hair and a short temper. That sounds familiar…"

The Etherious gasped, finally realizing who he was talking to. "Could it be that you're—"

"You talk too much!" yelled Natsu, cutting off Franmalth's words with a Fire Dragon's Iron Fist. The demon was knocked to the ground, although he got up moments later, unfazed.

"You dare to hit me!?" shouted Franmalth, spikes erupting from his body. "I don't care if you are his host! As punishment, you will pay the price of 1,000 souls!"

The demon threw a punch, his arm stretching like it was rubber. Natsu dodged the attack, only for Franmalth's arm to twist and wrap around the dragon slayer. Tendrils extended from the demon's arm into Natsu, electrocuting him and draining his strength.

Fortunately, Happy had been on standby, hovering by the hole Natsu made in the wall. The Exceed transformed and drew his sword, cutting into Franmalth's arm. The attack did not sever the limb, but the pain was enough to make the demon release his grip on Natsu.

"Happy, nice!" praised the dragon slayer, before charging at the Etherious. Franmalth threw a flurry of blows at the approaching Fairy, but Natsu bobbed and weaved through them all before grabbing the demon's face and delivering his own attack. "Fire Dragon's Grip Strike!"

Again, Franmalth fell under the force of Natsu's spell, only to brush it off and shoot to his feet. "Your cost just went up to 2,000 souls, you idiot!"

"Franmalth, that's enough," spoke a human-looking member of Tartaros as he walked up to the group. His demeanor was oddly sociable. "Let me take it from here. You get the Chairman to safety."

"Sir Silver!" exclaimed Franmalth, sweating lightly. "Then I'll leave the host in your hands. I'll see the Chairman completes his duties as soon as possible."

When Franmalth referred to Natsu as 'the host' (whatever that meant), the dragon slayer noticed Silver's eyes narrow and the hallway's temperature drop. However, he forgot those details immediately, distracted by something else.

"You… smell kind of like somebody I know," Natsu told Silver. "Gray…"

Silver's friendly mask dropped instantly, exposing pure, cold hatred as he cast a spell with a swipe of his arm. However, he underestimated his opponent's reflexes.

The moment Silver's magic began to freeze Natsu's body, the dragon slayer activated Fire Dragon King Mode, melting the ice.

"Do not speak that name with your tainted tongue," said Silver, voice filled with a cold fury. "Ice Devil's Laughter."

Countless shard of ice shot toward Natsu, which he vaporized with a spell of his own.

"Fire Dragon King's Roar!" bellowed Natsu as he destroyed his opponent's attack. Brushing aside Silver's odd behavior, the dragon slayer charged at his opponent. "Fire Dragon King's Destruction Fist!"

Silver formed a wall of ice to block Natsu's punch. This succeeded in weakening the strike, though it was still enough to knock the Tartaros mage back a few feet. Silver was far from finished, though.

"Ice Devil's Shiver."

Ice shards grew from the floor in a line, moving toward Natsu. The dragon slayer leaped to the right, avoiding the spell. Just as Silver had anticipated.

"Ice Devil's Rage."

Natsu crossed his arms in defense as Silver released a purple blizzard from his mouth, hammering the dragon slayer.

The attack shredded Natsu's clothing and left sizable gashes across his body. None of the injuries were too deep, though, and he recovered from the assault quickly.

"Is that all you've got!?" jeered Natsu, preparing his own breath attack. "Fire Dragon King's Roar!"

Silver again defended himself by creating a wall of ice, and, just like before, it only served to weaken the blow. Unfortunately for him, the draconic flames and the steam the produced by them hitting the ice were just a cover for Natsu's next strike.

"Fire Dragon King's Destruction Fist!" shouted Natsu as he punched Silver in the face. The Tartaros mage was knocked to the ground, disoriented by the blow to his head. This gave the dragon slayer time to prepare his finishing move. "Fire Dragon King's Brilliant— Arggggh!"

Out of nowhere, a horrible pain tore through Natsu's mind, disrupting his spell. The dragon slayer clutched his head as he dropped to his knees, screaming in agony.

"Defeating both Jackal and Silver in one day," spoke a new voice. A man walked up, words flowing around him from an opened book he held. "You truly have become an excellent host. Unfortunately for you, this book ensures that you are powerless against me."

The man shifted his gaze from Natsu to Silver, who had recovered and risen to his feet.

"Silver, I will overlook your attempt to kill the host if you freeze him now," said the man. "I cannot revive Master E.N.D. while using his book like this."

"I understand, Mard Geer Tartaros."

Those were the last words Natsu heard before his terrible headache gave way to darkness.

Omake

Happy flapped his wings as hard as he could. He had to tell everyone what he had learned!

Crawford's betrayal! Tartaros's base! Natsu's capture!

Aside from these shocking events, one thought entered the Exceed's mind: Why did those demons keep calling Natsu a host? There weren't any parties going on! Even if there were, Natsu definitely wouldn't be hosting one for a Dark Guild.

Not to mention, it was Tartaros's base. If anything, they were the hosts! Shouldn't the demons have been calling Natsu their guest?

These nonsensical thoughts, fueled by panic and concern for his partner, stayed in Happy's mind for the entire journey back to the guild hall.

AN: To be clear, Mard is not rewriting the Book of E.N.D. like Lucy did in canon. He is simply pushing his Curse Power into the book, which interferes with E.N.D.'s (and, by extension, Natsu's) existence. It is a brute force tactic, and the only thing he can do with the book besides reviving E.N.D.

Goodbye for now!