Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.
WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS! Read at your own risk. There's still original stuff in here, but if you haven't gotten to this point in the anime/manga, then some things may be ruined for you. I advise catching up to the anime/manga if you haven't already (for more reasons than just reading my story)! Thank you and enjoy!
Fairy Tail—The Master and the Dragon
Chapter 96
Inside of the Fairy Tail guild hall, Makarov sat on the bar counter in a meditative stance. Magic power encased his body as he focused on his magic spell. At another table, the Archaeological Society, Freed, and Levy were pouring over documents, trying desperately to decipher anything they could about the Infinity Clock and Real Nightmare.
"Thanks to the old Master's magic, we're being protected from Real Nightmare," Wakaba sighed. "I hope he can hold out. Who knows how long this will last?"
Macao grumbled under his breath, frustrated at his own uselessness during this crisis. He crossed his arms and leaned back on his chair. "Have we heard anything from the search party?"
Wakaba scratched the back of his head. "Well, Freed's runes should hold out for several more hours, but so far there's no trace of Kinana."
Macao then turned to Ash. The young girl was standing against the wall close to the door leading to the infirmary. Her head hung and her eyes were downcast. "How's Sky doing?"
"She's still sleeping," Ash replied softly. "Her wounds were bad, so she needs a lot of rest."
Macao began tapping his foot. "Damn it, I'm feeling impatient. There has to be something that I can do."
"The Master should just sit quietly with dignity," Wakaba joked.
"Hoh! Actually, we've finished deciphering it!" Jean-Luc cried.
Makarov opened one eye, but remained still. "You discovered how to stop Real Nightmare?"
Jean-Luc nodded. "Actually, it seems the only way is by erasing the carved seals on the Infinity Clock, thereby negating ownership. And to do that, those who have placed their seals upon it must be defeated. Then the Infinity Clock will no longer acknowledge them."
Levy smiled as she removed her special red glasses that allowed her to read through text rapidly. "This means that Happy's hunch was right! I'm glad Warren was able to tell us so we could validate it."
"Grim Reaper and Racer have been defeated," Makarov said. "That means that only four remain."
"Cobra, Angel, Brain II, and probably Michelle, right?" Ash counted on her fingers. "I hope we beat them fast."
"Then Lucy will be saved," Levy said.
"Actually, once the Infinity Clock and Real Nightmare are stopped, Lucy Heartfilia should be released," Jean-Luc confirmed.
"Our friends will defeat the new Oración Séis," Romeo said confidently.
"Yeah, there's no way anyone will let anything more happen to her. Especially Natsu," Levy agreed.
"We should let the others know what we found quickly," Freed added.
"Got it! So Happy was right!" Warren said excitedly as he listened to the telepathic report from the team on the ground. "I'm glad that everyone is already getting started on defeating all of the new Oración Séis. It saves us some time in execution."
"And when no one controls the Infinity Clock, Real Nightmare will vanish," Carla said.
"What about Lucy?" Wendy asked worriedly.
"According to what Jean-Luc said, if the seals are wiped out, Lucy should be released," Warren replied.
Wendy held onto Carla a little tighter. "I'm glad."
Carla looked up at the young Dragon Slayer. "What's wrong, Wendy?"
"The sky…it feels like it's in turmoil."
"Maybe since two of the six members' seals have disappeared, the effects of Real Nightmare are weakening."
"It almost feels like the Infinity Clock is struggling to protect the remaining engraved seals," Wendy said.
Laki clasped her hands together. "Everyone…move quickly! Save Lucy and stop Real Nightmare and the Infinity Clock! I know you can!"
Flying along the outskirts of the hovering Infinity Clock, Happy and Panther Lily looked high and low for Lucy.
"I can't find her. I can't find Lucy," Happy sobbed. "What do we do, Lily? If we don't find her fast, Samuel will kill her."
"You can't lose your head, Happy," Panther Lily said sternly. "This place is huge. Sammy won't find her so easily."
"Legion wants to stop the Infinity Clock just as much as we do. So why? Why aren't they working with us? We can stop the Infinity Clock without killing Lucy if we work together."
"That's the decision Sammy made. His viewpoint is different than ours," Panther Lily said simply. "But he's completely mistaken."
"Can't you do something? I mean, you're brothers," Happy asked hopefully.
"I have no memory of becoming his big brother!" Panther Lily snapped.
"I don't want Lucy to die," Happy sniffed. "I would be sad. And Natsu would be devastated. He loves her so much."
"Stop thinking negatively already. We will find her. And even if we don't find her first, you can bet that Natsu will get to her."
"Get out of my way, Michelle! I won't hesitate to hurt you if you keep me from Lucy!"
Natsu's powerful footsteps propelled him towards the Infinity Clock's core where Lucy remained trapped.
Imitatia stood her ground atop the stairs. "This is the final warning you will receive; don't come any closer to Big Sister. Leave us alone. If you obey this warning, your lives will be spared."
Natsu took the steps of the stairs several at a time. "To hell with that! You think I care about my life being spared if Lucy's is in danger? I'd risk anything for her!"
A single tear leaked from Lucy's eye as her consciousness started to return to clarity. "Natsu…"
Natsu leapt at Imitatia with flame-enveloped fists. "Now let me save her!"
"I said stay away!" Imitatia snapped as she thrust out her shield. Natsu was able to put up a block to avoid serious damage, but it forced his momentum backwards. He landed roughly on the floor at the base of the stairs, cracking the stones beneath his feet. Imitatia pulled back her shield and watched Natsu closely.
"Natsu!" Elfman called out. He and Coco had finally entered the room after Natsu had left them behind. His eyes widened once he saw the scene before him. "Lucy! Are you okay?"
"Release the Princess now!" Coco demanded.
"Elfman…Coco…," Lucy said sadly. "Michelle, please!"
"Don't worry," Imitatia said without turning around. She couldn't provide Natsu with any openings. She could tell how serious he was to take Lucy from her. He was willing to risk anything. And that made him dangerous. "I will protect you, Big Sister."
"Protect her from what?" Coco asked. "She doesn't need protection from you; she needs to be saved from you!"
"Coco, if Elfman and I provide an opening for you, do you think you could grab Lucy and get out of here?" Natsu asked.
"Absolutely!" Coco said confidently.
Natsu cracked his knuckles. "Perfect. Then let's do this!" Flames collected into a condensed orb in one of his palms. He aimed his hand at Imitatia and fired. "FIRE DRAGON PULSE!" The orb shot out like a missile. Imitatia leapt out of the way of the incoming projectile just before the flames burst apart on the stone steps. She was even able to angle her body so that she was traveling out of the way of the discharge.
Elfman was prepared for this. He had a hunch that Imitatia's combat abilities would allow her to dodge Natsu's attack. So once Imitatia was airborne, he leapt up to meet with her. His right arm took the Iron Bull form as he drew it back. "I've got you!"
However, as Elfman threw his punch, Imitatia somehow managed to draw her legs tightly into her body and dodge the blow. Her new position then allowed her to land both feet sharply into a surprised Elfman's back. The large man went crashing into the ground below—right onto the stairs that Coco was trying to climb. Coco was caught off guard when the large body slammed in front of her, sending out chunks of stone in all directions. She went tumbling off the side of the stairs with a small cry. She would have fell down into the abyss if Elfman's reactions weren't sharp. He reached out and grabbed hold of Coco's arms before she could fall.
"E…Ei…Eight p…p…points," Coco stammered with a frail voice. She knew she had just been a split second away from death.
Imitatia landed on the ground and slid to a stop. She readied herself to charge back towards Lucy.
Natsu launched a powerful Fire Dragon Roar at Imitatia to keep her still. "Elfman! Coco! Are you okay?"
"Yeah, we're okay. But be careful, Natsu! She locks onto vitals!" Elfman called out.
Imitatia raised her shield. Sharp, blade-like petals shot out of the shield and spun like a chainsaw blade. "The human body is interesting, isn't it? No matter how strong a person may be, if you strike a weak spot…" She paused to draw an iron sword from behind her shield. The blade was narrow near the hilt, but grew significantly wider in both directions as it went. The tip was like the edge of an axe. A rose and stem decoration sat directly in the middle on both sides. "…they suffer intense pain and lose control of their body." She leaned forward, blade and shield ready to take Natsu out.
Natsu shifted his stance. "I find it hard to believe you're the same crybaby, klutzy, gluttonous Michelle we knew."
"That's because it was nothing more than a performance so I could blend in with your guild. However, I thought for a moment my cover was immediately blown. That Nikolias…I could tell he was suspicious. Fortunately, he couldn't figure anything out. Oh, and by the way, my name is not Michelle. My name is Imitatia. I am a member of the new Oración Séis."
Elfman pulled Coco to safety and then charged forward to join Natsu. He leapt over Natsu and his right arm took the form of the Jet Black Sword. "You damned liar!" he bellowed. His arm extended as he swung it downwards.
Imitatia was able to put up her shield to avoid being crushed and hold his attack at bay. She pushed his arm off to the side and dashed forward. In what seemed like an instant she was passed Elfman's defenses and slashing through his side with her sword.
Elfman felt the blade tear through his skin. He hissed in pain as he fell roughly to the ground.
Imitatia didn't have time to react much to Elfman. As soon as she had moved passed Elfman, she found herself face to face with Natsu. Her emotionless blue eyes widened in surprise.
Flames encircled Natsu's right fist. "Intense pain and losing control of your body is what you get from THIS!" He unleashed his Fire Dragon Iron Fist, connecting squarely with Imitatia's body. She felt the wind knocked out of her as she went careening into the side of the room.
Meanwhile, Coco was trying desperately to pull Lucy from the Infinity Clock. However, no matter what she tried, Lucy wouldn't budge. "You're not coming out!"
"Owowowowowow!" Lucy whined as Coco pulled desperately at anything she could grip.
"It's useless," Imitatia said bluntly as she landed back on the ground. Her back and neck seemed to have snapped out of place, yet she was still talking and moving around like a doll on strings. "My body doesn't feel pain. It doesn't matter what I'm hit with. I'll never give in." With a sickening crack, her back snapped forward. With another crack, she stood up straight and looked forward. "Likewise, I won't be taken in by any silly emotions."
"Silly, huh?" Natsu growled. "Then tell me; why is your eye like that?"
"My eye?" Imitatia asked quizzically.
"Yeah, your eye. Somebody who fights with confidence has a stronger brightness in their eyes, even if they're evil to their very core. They don't have a hesitant look in their eyes like you do."
Imitatia readied her sword and shield again. "There is nothing for me to hesitate about! This is all for Big Sister's sake! My heart won't be swayed!"
Flames erupted around Natsu's body as he punched his palm. "You keep spewing that crap! If you really wanted the best for Lucy, you wouldn't have her trapped in there! I swear I will bust her out of there and take her home!" He leaned forward. "If Happy's hunch is right, the only way to save Lucy is to wipe the floor with you. So that means I'm going all out!" He inhaled deeply to draw in flames and charged towards Imitatia. "FIRE DRAGON ROAR!" he bellowed as he unleashed a powerful column of fire.
Imitatia held up her shield and blocked all of the flames. "That doesn't feel hot at all!"
"Then take this!" Elfman roared from above Imitatia. His right arm took the form of the Iron Bull.
In spite of dealing with two attacks, Imitatia was not deterred. She nimbly bent out of the way of Elfman's punch while sending out thorny vines that had been wrapped around her body. The vines ensnared Elfman like ravenous snakes, holding all of his limbs tightly against his body. He felt sharp pain shooting throughout his body as if the vines were crawling around inside of him and slashing at his vital organs.
"My cilice sends out thorny vines that bring pain to all of its victim's vulnerable spots," Imitatia explained coolly.
Natsu leapt high and put his hands together as flames swarmed around them. "FIRE DRAGON BRILLIANT FLAME!" He swung his arms down, creating a massive explosion that engulfed Imitatia.
However, because of the raging flames and thick smoke, Natsu could not see or react quickly enough to the approaching thorny vines. Just like Elfman, he found his entire body being wrapped tightly and sharp, shooting pain spreading throughout his body.
Coco paused her attempts of freeing Lucy to stare dumbfounded at the scene before her. Natsu and Elfman were on the ground, writhing in agony, while Imitatia stood emotionlessly over them, weapons at the ready. She grit her teeth and shouted, "So this whole time, tricking and using Lucy Heartfilia was your duty?!"
Imitatia turned towards the girl. "Duty? I don't follow such thoughtless things such as duty. I follow my own heart and decide what to do. It's exactly because my heart aches that I have such strong feelings. Magic is the heart. And no one can defeat the power of my feelings."
Natsu struggled against the vines that made his body feel numb. "D…Damn it. I won't be beaten here!"
"Natsu," Lucy whispered. She felt her heart ache at seeing her friends suffering so much for her.
And then suddenly, Lucy felt her mind slip away. The light in her eyes disappeared, as if she had entered a trance. It was as if her body was swimming in a pool of nothingness, but there was no feeling. She felt like she was seeing everything in front of her through a large lens.
'Huh? Where…Where am I again?'
"Stay on your guard, Gracie," Erza warned as she equipped her Black Wing Armor. "Cobra is a difficult opponent."
"Yeah, I remember from the ruins," Gracie said while taking a battle-ready stance. A big grin split her face. "I didn't get to try fighting him before. He uses sound, right?"
"He does use Sound Magic, yes," Erza nodded. "He's also a Poison Dragon Slayer."
"Dragon Slayer, huh? Now I'm getting excited!"
Cobra clicked his tongue in irritation. "I can hear it. You won't stop screaming 'Let's go!' over and over again. What an obnoxious pest."
"Whoa, he can read minds?" Gracie gasped. "That makes things tricky. But I like the challenge!" Without another word, Gracie burst forward before leaping towards Cobra.
At the very last moment, Cobra moved out of the way of Gracie's attack with minimal effort. "I can hear it."
Gracie was caught off guard by the inhuman reactions of Cobra, but quickly regrouped. She landed on the red beam, spun on her heels, and charged again all in a split second. She lunged with her right katana, but Cobra evaded the attack by leaping to a higher beam. "Damn, he's quick."
Cobra lifted his hand and swung it down, sending an arc of sound magic towards Gracie. She leapt backwards as the attack carved a chunk out of the red beam. "Try all you want. I can hear it all."
Erza flew up on her wings, her sword held high over her head. Once she was in range, she swung in an arc downward. Cobra leapt back away from her as the beam split in two. "If you can hear it all, then you know we won't quit!"
Cobra sighed. "Useless," he rasped. He held his hand behind him, sending up a barrier of sound—just in time to deflect a surprise attack by Gracie. Her two katanas met with unyielding resistance and forced her to fall back down to the beams.
"How did he…?" Gracie grumbled.
"Enough. While Titania was my true target in this fight, I'll have no problem taking you both out at the same time." Cobra snapped his fingers and created an explosion of sound. The pressure created from the blast broke a hole in the side of the ship and pushed Erza and Gracie outside. The two swordswomen landed on one of the massive chain links attached to the ground.
Gracie shook her arms. "Man that stings! I could feel those vibrations go through every bone in my body."
Cobra landed on a link above them. "I can hear it. In spite of the fact that my power far surpasses your own, you still think you can defeat me. But it is impossible. With my sound waves, I can shatter any weapon you use, no matter your skill."
"Well you're right about the first part," Gracie said with a smile. She gripped her katanas tighter. "We do think we can beat you. And we will beat you. Count on it!" Gracie immediately brought her katanas together. She applied pressure and scraped the steel blades against each other. The sound of sharp, scraping metal echoed on the air.
Cobra closed his eye and snapped his fingers again. Concentrated sound waves that magnified the sound from Gracie's attack pulsated outward. Erza and Gracie tried to put up a guard. Their blades rang out and before long shattered into hundreds of pieces.
Gracie was speechless as she looked at the hilts of her blades. "My…katanas. They…They were…actually destroyed."
"Gracie, are you alright?" Erza asked, as she retook her Heart Kreuz Armor.
The hilts of Gracie's katanas disappeared in a small flash of light. Her fists clenched so tightly that her fingernails drew blood from her palms. Her teeth were clenched together like a vice. "Those blades…I've had them for so long. I've been through so much with them. And he destroyed them like they were cheap toys." Gracie fixed her hate-filled gaze on Cobra. "Bastard! I'll make you pay for that!"
"I can hear it. You're growing impatient at trying to bring me down."
"You're damn right I'm growing impatient!" Gracie spat.
"Gracie, keep your head," Erza warned.
"You talk an awful lot for someone who manipulates sound," Gracie continued. She became consumed in light. In an instant, the light was gone and her halberd was clutched tightly in her hands. "Must get annoying. I'll do you a favor and shut you up!" She shot up, drew back her halberd, and swung it down with the speed of an executioner's guillotine.
"Oh? Your attitude has truly changed. I can hear your rage," Cobra sneered. Once again, a powerful pulse of sound spread out in all directions. The pressure from the pulse pushed Gracie back, forcing her to land and focus on her balance on the angled chains.
"Gracie!" Erza shouted as she leapt up to her friend. She put a calming hand on her shoulder. "Breathe, Gracie. You can't allow yourself to become overly angry."
"I know," Gracie replied, her body slightly trembling. "It's just frustrating is all." She closed her eyes and took a slow, deep breath. "Sorry. I really lost my cool there."
"It's alright." Erza turned her eyes toward Cobra. "Did you know, Cobra? I can hear voices as well."
"Hoh?" Cobra said, but offered no sign of interest.
Gracie looked confusedly at Erza. "And I thought I snapped. You good, Erza? Hit your head too hard?"
Erza nodded. "I can hear the voices of my friends, telling me that they won't lose. They're saying we can't lose either."
Gracie smiled. "Ah. I get it. Yeah, I hear those voices, too."
"That's just your own voices," Cobra said. "It's nothing more than a delusion based on what you wish to happen."
"Even if that's true, I don't care. The voices of my friends are always in my head. They're my inspiration and the source of my strength. Tell me, Cobra; don't you hear those kinds of voices in your head?" Erza asked.
The last question triggered a reaction. Cobra clicked his tongue and widened his eye. "Your words grate my ears."
Erza took her Lightning Empress Armor. Lightning crackled around her long spear. "Cobra. You must have gone through a painful experience at the Tower of Heaven, too. Why are you trying to make innocent people suffer in the same way?"
"You're referring to Real Nightmare, I presume. To be honest, I don't give a damn about it." Cobra narrowed his eye. "I lost my friend. Yet you two…you're surrounded by them. You have each other, fighting side by side. I don't like that."
"What, you're jealous?" Gracie asked. "How stupid. If you want it, do something constructive about it. Seriously, even Niky wasn't that hopeless."
"Come out of the shadows and into the sunlight!" Erza shouted.
"Stop talking like you know anything about me," Cobra spat.
"He's really stubborn, huh?" Gracie asked.
"We don't have time to make him change his feelings. We have to defeat him quickly in order to save Lucy. Are you ready, Gracie?"
Gracie readied her halberd. "Hellz yeah!"
The two leapt forward, their weapons at the ready; one shrouded in lightning and the other reflecting the small fires from below.
"I can't wait any longer," Angel purred. "There is nothing better than destroying a worthy opponent. Come and show me this dark power you possess."
"Careful what you wish for," Nikolias spat.
"Oh, if only we weren't enemies. The coldness of your gaze and the harsh tone of your words send shivers down my spine. But still, I am an angel and you are a creature of the shadows. It was fate that we would cross paths like this."
"The hell are you talking about?"
Angel held out her palm. Four bright coins hovered above her open hand. "The cost is 40. I summon Shamsiel, angel of sunlight!" A ring of light rose from her hand and expanded. From the ring dropped Shamsiel, a large grin on his face.
"Hi! How are you doing?" Shamsiel cooed.
"Shamsiel, now is the chance for payback. You cannot allow this being before you to live after he humiliated you before," Angel ordered.
Shamsiel's smile widened further. "Right!" The pink creatures in his hair glowed brightly. "An angel's sunshine is bright!" The light focused into a concentrated beam that shot towards Nikolias.
Nikolias, however, didn't move. His shadows moved in front of him to form a solid wall that completely blocked the incoming light beam. His eyes narrowed. "Payback, huh? That's my line. I went easy on you in the cave to avoid destruction of the ice cavern, and because of that someone got hurt. I won't make the same mistake twice."
Shamsiel's grin faded. "My light! I…Impossible! It was negated by darkness?"
Nikolias raised his hand straight up over his head. Shadows poured out and collected above him like a storm cloud. As his shadows poured out, he began to swing his arm in circles faster and faster. Soon, the shadows had formed a growing vortex. "SHADOW DRAGON HURRICANE!" Faster and faster his arm spun around. The shadows raged around him like razor sharp blades. As the vortex grew, Shamsiel became engulfed in the shadowy winds.
One shadow blade cut off Shamsiel's left arm.
Another shadow blade cut off Shamsiel's right leg.
A third shadow blade bore a diagonal gash across Shamsiel's chest, practically breaking the angel in half.
It was over in less than a second. Shamsiel's body evaporated from the damage he sustained. In his place, four coins fell to the ground with a metallic clink before disappearing as well. Nikolias stopped his arm and the shadows disappeared.
Angel lurched forward with a pained grunt. Dark rays of black red light poured from her chest. She fell forward from her perch on the temple, plummeting to the ground below. Slowly, she sat up. "You…How could you…?"
Nikolias walked slowly forward. "You underestimate me, Angel. Like I said, I didn't fight your toys with nearly as much as I should have. They are no match for me. You never had any hope of winning this fight." Black blades shot from his forearms and glinted in the light pouring in from the windows.
Angel watched him approach. "You truly are strong."
"Stop flattering me. Time to die."
Angel's eyes widened. "You plan on killing me?"
"That is the plan, yes. It's the fastest way to remove your seal from the Infinity Clock." Nikolias stopped in front of her. "Any last words before we're finished here?"
A blush appeared on Angel's cheeks and a small smile crept upon her lips. Without hesitation, she threw herself upon Nikolias, wrapping her arms around his neck and staring into his golden brown eyes. "Come then. Kill me! Run me through with your blades! Rip my heart out of my chest!"
Nikolias was taken aback. He never expected this. "What are you doing? Get off of me!"
She ran a hand through his hair. "Make my wish come true. There's no one else I would rather kill me than you."
Nikolias grabbed her arms roughly. "Your wish? What do you mean your wish? You wanna die that badly?"
"Yes, my wish is to disappear into the sky, like an angel," Angel sighed. Her face flushed even more. "Please hurry! Send me to the sky like you did the angel!" She stroked his face, causing him to yank his head away. "Send me after him. Pierce my body! Your blades are the scythes of Death himself!"
Nikolias tightened his jaw. 'This girl is nuts. I've never seen anyone act this way when faced with death before. Is that why it's making me feel so uncomfortable? Is it because she's asking for it?' He moved his right hand from her arm to her throat. "If you wanna die that badly, who am I to turn you down?"
Angel's eyes shone. Her smile brightened. "I always knew you were special; my Angel of Death." She released her hold on Nikolias and closed her eyes. "Do what you will."
Nikolias began to tighten his grip on her throat. He lifted her up so her feet were no longer touching the ground. He could hear her struggling for breath, but there were no sounds of panic. A small trickle of saliva began dribbling down her chin. As he gazed upon her face, a look of peace and acceptance decorating her attractive features, he found something inside of him speak up.
'Why…does this not feel right?'
'What am I thinking? I've never had trouble killing my enemies before. If someone hurt my friends, I never thought twice about ending their lives. And now here I am, the life of my enemy in my hands, an enemy who is threatening my friend's life. The decision is simple. Kill her, remove her seal, and go help the others. So finish her.'
His grip tightened.
'So then why? Why do I feel so guilty? What is it?'
'No, I have no right to think that. What makes her special? She's my enemy. Kill her! Kill her and save Lucy!'
'Why? Why do I feel sorry for her? This girl who is begging for death…why do I pity her? No, pity isn't right…'
Nikolias's grip tightened further for just a moment before releasing entirely.
Angel fell to the ground, coughing to catch her breath. She looked up at him, confusion in her eyes. "Why? Why didn't you kill me?"
Nikolias looked away. "I don't know the answer to that myself."
"But…you were my…my Angel of Death." Angel's face darkened. She staggered to her feet. "If you won't grant my wish for me, then I'll kill you!" She leapt back onto an old fossilized skull near a temple. She lifted her hands to her chest. Three coins floated above her palm. "The cost is 30. I summon Baraquiel!"
The coins shone brightly. A ring of light rose and expanded. Falling from it was a tall, thin angel in white robes. It had three faces and long, wavy hair that stood straight up. Large, white wings unfolded behind its back. Misshapen arms were folded in front of its chest as a ball of dark, black red energy collected in front of it.
Nikolias leapt back. "Great. I knew I shouldn't have done that. What the hell was I thinking?!"
Baraquiel unfolded its arms. Bolts of energy shot from the large orb in front of it. The bolts broke through temples, plants, trees, and anything else it came in contact with. The bolts travelled in all directions, so there was nowhere for Nikolias to run. All he could do was put up another Shadow Wall to deflect the blasts.
"Destroy him, Baraquiel," Angel ordered. "He pretended to be my Angel of Death. Such a lie is unforgiveable!"
The bolts stopped firing out. Instead, the orb expanded in size before firing out as a beam of powerful magic.
Nikolias threw his head back. "SHADOW DRAGON ROAR!" he bellowed, releasing a monstrous column of shadows to intercept the angel's attack. The two attacks collided, but Nikolias's Roar easily overpowered the angel's magic blast. It pushed through, swallowing up the magic beam as it traveled. The Roar crashed into the chest of the angel, tearing a hole straight through to the other side. The angel erupted in light as three coins fell to the ground.
Once again, dark rays of black red light poured from Angel's chest. Pained cries escaped her lips as she gripped her chest. Her eyes were wild with fear and pain.
Nikolias analyzed Angel. 'She keeps doing that. Every time I destroy one of her angels, that light emanates from her and she hunches over in pain. Could it be…?'
Angel straightened up, her face twisted in anger. She held her hands in front of her as light shone from her palms. "I thought you could be my salvation. But you only wish to cause me pain and suffering. Now it's over! I will destroy you with everything I have! THE COST IS 100! COME FROM THE LIGHT! PULVERIZE THEM IN MY NAME!" She threw the coins in the air. "I SUMMON RAGUEL, THE ANGEL WHO BLOWS THE HORN AT THE END OF THE WORLD!"
Appearing in a flash of light was a large white angel. Two large wings spread out behind its back. Four long arms stretched out from its sides. It stood on stout, hooved legs. Three tails sprouted from its backside; one large, eel-like tail and a smaller tail on either side. The angel had five heads in front and two in the back for a total of seven and each head blew into a horn that was pressed to its lips with a thin arm. Two columns of twisted hair rose up between the two top heads.
"Raguel! Unleash your full strength!" Angel ordered.
Each head blew into their respective horn, unleashing a tidal wave of sound magic that pulsated throughout the entire room. Nikolias once again put up a Shadow Wall, but the sound waves wrapped around the wall, slamming into his body. With the attack eating away at his concentration, his Shadow Wall easily shattered, allowing sound waves to slam into him from all sides and angles. He held his ground, though, wincing as he withstood the attack.
Angel grinned wickedly as Raguel's sound faded away. "Handsome and powerful. I've always thought that about you. However, this is where you meet your end. It's too bad, really." She put a dainty finger to her mouth. "If you had only fulfilled my wish, your life would have been spared."
Nikolias shifted his stance. "Don't get cocky."
"Are you really in any position to scold me?"
"Tell me, Angel; what the hell are you?"
"Excuse me?"
"In all my life, with everything I've done and seen, I've never heard anyone beg for death. Yet you did. You wanted to disappear into the sky like an angel. So answer me; what the hell are you?"
"That should be obvious. I am an angel. No, wait…it's probably better to call me a girl who dreams of becoming an angel. And if I keep thinking about it constantly, I'll metamorphose into an angel! I'm sure of it!"
"Not a bit of sarcasm in your answer. You truly believe that, don't you?"
"Yes, I truly do. From a little girl's fancy to a true angel." Angel folded her hands in front of her and closed her eyes in prayer. "This power I possess, Angel Magic, is a miraculous magic that will wash away all of my sins with holy light!"
"Sins? What sins? You mean the cruel things you've done to people?" Nikolias questioned.
Angel's eyes snapped open. "No. The sin of being born a human."
Nikolias's eyes widened. 'That must be it! That must be why!' He changed his gaze quickly to one of a serious nature. "You really believe that's a sin?"
"Yes I do." Angel leaned against Raguel lovingly. "Summoning angels shortens my lifespan, but I could care less. That's the sacrifice I have to make for becoming an angel myself."
"I knew it. Those coins you summon are your life, aren't they? That's why every time I destroy an angel, that light appears and you end up in agony!"
"That's correct!" Angel's smile turned to a frown. "However, it saddens me that the angel wings I so desperately seek are elusive. You see, the more angel power I wield, the more ugliness I can see in the human world. This world is only about people with conflicting desires crashing into each other." She raised a hand into the air, reaching for the rays of light shining through the window behind her. "My wish is to vanish into the sky like an angel. I want to announce it to this filthy world, then leave it behind. I will fade away beautifully."
Nikolias closed his eyes. "Alright, I've heard all I need to hear." His voice was calm and his body relaxed. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth, releasing an ear-splitting shriek. The powerful waves erupting from his throat vibrated the angel's horns violently until they shattered. Once the horns were destroyed, Nikolias closed his mouth, ending his Shadow Wave. He looked at Angel with calm, golden brown eyes. "You're alive yet dead."
"What?" Angel asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You see being human as a sin. I'm curious; what makes you feel like it's a sin? You see this world as filthy. What has made you view it that way?"
"Why are you asking me these questions? Don't tell me you're interested in my life story?" Angel laughed.
"I understand you. That's why I'm asking. I've come to find friends who have changed me for the better. In this world that you view so distastefully, these people laugh, get angry, cry, and love. They are truly alive."
"You really do say the funniest things."
"You haven't answered a single question I've asked, but at least answer me this; have you lived enough to the point where you think it's okay to fade away?" Nikolias asked. "Is that why you want nothing more to do with this world, calling it ugly and dirty?"
Angel furrowed her brow. "Your questions are becoming irritating. And what happened to that cold look? Why are you looking at me with such…sympathy? Stop it!"
"I told you, I understand you. That's why."
"And I want you to stop!"
"Only if you'll stop pretending to be an angel."
Angel's face twisted in rage as she leapt down from her perch beside her angel. "How dare you say that to me?!"
"Forget about disappearing. The way you're acting now, you may as well be gone already."
Cracks began appearing on Angel's body. Flakes of skin chipped away. "You…mock my wish?" she muttered softly. A dark aura shrouded her.
"What's happening to you?" Nikolias asked in surprise.
"Raguel! Annihilate this man!" Angel bellowed.
Cracks erupted all around Raguel's body. It then exploded in a cacophony of magic waves that slammed into Nikolias. He was sent flying backwards into the stairs of one of the stone temples.
Angel smiled wickedly, large pieces of her skin missing. In its place, dark, black red nothingness throbbed. Even her right eye had become pure red light. Her clothes had all but disappeared, save for the feathered frills left over from her blouse and skirt that covered her breasts and hips. "That's right, Raguel! Destroy him! Eviscerate the man who dares mock my wish!"
What Angel was not seeing was that Raguel had ceased to exist. In the angel's place was a mass of flesh that surrounded Angel on all sides. It was throbbing and an ugly black in color with heads and gaping, shrieking mouths poking out from all over.
Nikolias leapt down from the temple while brushing off stone chips from his clothes. "Angel! You need to wake up from this delusion! Look at yourself! You've been swallowed up by your own magic!"
"Stay away!" Angel shrieked. The mass around her responded by forming a thick wall and shooting out errant beams of magic power with no direction or target. They sprayed about wildly. "Filthy human! Filthy creature! Be destroyed!"
Nikolias shot forward with a burst of incredible speed. He broke through the wall of ugly flesh with ease, slicing through it with his black blades. Once he had reached the center of the mass he found Angel, clutching her head. He leapt at her and held her shoulders tightly.
"Let go of me!" Angel demanded.
"I won't!" Nikolias refused. "At this rate, you're gonna be murdered by that thing you call an angel!"
"What?"
"Your magic is taking over. It's destroying you."
"Shut up! I'm not so weak as to be taken over and destroyed! My feelings are stronger than anyone's!"
Nikolias leaned closer. "Would you open your damn eyes and look around you? Look at the thing you call an angel!"
Angel looked around Nikolias and her eyes widened. It was as if she was seeing for the first time just what was going on. The towering mass of flash that had her surrounded, that had a grip on her very being, was not what she had summoned. So what happened?
"I don't know about you, but I don't know a single angel that looks like this abomination. Something like this won't take you to any blue sky and fluffy clouds. It will drag you down into utter darkness and despair!" Nikolias shouted.
"So ugly," Angel whispered.
"This is the true form of your magic! It's feeding off of your life so it can spread like a plague! Look at it closely! It's what you are right now!"
"This is…me?"
"Who are you? You're not an angel. You're a human being! A human being who's alive right now!"
"No…sh…shut up…I…I am…AN ANGEL!"
As Angel's cry echoed out, the mass of flesh began to close in around the two in an attempt to swallow them.
"TO HELL WITH THAT!" Nikolias roared. Shadows swarmed around him violently, cutting through the mass as if it were nothing. "You're not an angel, damn it! Hear me when I say that!"
"No…"
"Believe me!"
"No!"
"DAMN IT, LET ME SAVE YOU!"
From his back, Nikolias's black dragon wings shot out and spread wide.
Angel's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight of Nikolias and his wings. "Save…me?"
"I'll save you from the darkness surrounding you! Let me be your light! If you want to fly into the sky, I'll be your wings! I'll help you fly as a human!"
Angel couldn't believe it. 'Such beautiful wings. He really is…my angel.'
Nikolias stood as his shadows kept the mass of flesh at bay. He turned around. "Hang in there. Don't lose any more magic." He collected a massive orb of shadows in his hand and aimed it in front of him. "SHADOW DRAGON PULSE!" He fired the orb at the mass. It got swallowed up but soon exploded, discharging a massive shockwave of shadows. The mass of flesh tore apart and faded away. Over and over Nikolias fired Shadow Dragon Pulses in all directions. "DON'T DISAPPEAR!"
Angel sat up speechless as she watched the mass get obliterated by the shadows. "Disappear…" She shook her head slowly. "No…I don't want to disappear…" Tears stung her eyes. She clasped her hands in front of her and squeezed her eyes shut. "I don't want to disappear! I want to live! I WANT TO KEEP LIVING!"
Nikolias smiled wide. "That's more like it." He fired one final Pulse, completely erasing the mass of flesh. "Go back to Hell, angel."
Angel reached out towards Nikolias's back. 'Beautiful…'
He turned on his heel and kneeled in front of Angel. He gently held onto her slender shoulders. "Then I'll help you keep living." Without another word, Nikolias elongated his teeth into dragon fangs and bit down into Angel's neck.
Angel moaned as a strange sensation flooded inside of her, traveling through every inch of her body. 'Wh…What is this? My body feels so…hot and…light.' Her skin began to return to normal and the dark aura surrounding her dissipated.
Nikolias removed his mouth from her body and sighed. "There. That should do it."
Angel gently touched the bite mark on her neck. "What did you do?"
"I injected you with shadows. They'll help keep your body in check. It's a temporary fix, but it'll help until your magic can stabilize. Also, I should apologize. Those shadows won't ever go away, but on the plus side, their existence will "refund" the life you spent."
Angel looked at him. "Why? Why go so far for me? I'm your enemy."
Nikolias sat beside her. "At first, I wasn't sure why. But I started to piece it together." He looked at her with a gentle smile. "You reminded me of me. Well, the old me."
"You?"
He nodded. "I'm a Half-Dragon; half human and half dragon. In my past, I lost many people who meant the world to me. It made me feel empty inside. I grew to hate the human part of me because it was humans who kept wronging me. I grew to hate the world for taking from me over and over. There were even times where I wished my life would just end so I wouldn't have to feel that way anymore. So you see, I understood what you were saying. There were times I felt the same way. But I was able to change my views because of the people I met recently. I figured you could change your views too if you meet the right people. And that's pretty much why in a nutshell."
Angel smiled softly and closed her eyes. "Honestly. You really are something else."
"So Angel. Will you remove your seal?" Nikolias asked.
Angel held up a finger. "I will surrender and remove my seal on one condition."
"And that is?"
She blushed and looked into his eyes. "You have to let me sit with you and rest on you for a while."
Nikolias blinked at the odd request. Normally he would quickly refuse, but if it would save Lucy he was willing to do what he had to. "Very well."
"Good," Angel giggled as she leaned on Nikolias's shoulder and closed her eyes. "Then I lost. I surrender."
Nikolias inwardly sighed. 'Well, there are worse ways to get the job done. Too bad I'm stuck here now. Best of luck, everyone. I know you can save Lucy.'
While in her trance-like state, with her mind a blank slate, Lucy's lips slowly moved. "One of the engraved seals has disappeared. There are three left."
"LUCY!" Natsu roared. He ignited his entire body, burning away the vines that were wrapped around him. He leapt to his feet, his eyes trained on Imitatia. "You can hear me, right? Stay with me! Don't you dare give up! Keep fighting!" He clenched his fists as his flames roared. "I swear I'll get you out of here safely! Trust me!"
