At the Fire General's town, Gray and Juvia were on the ground, defeated by Raikou who stood a few feet away from them, the Lightning General having a bored look at their opponents.
"when will you two learn that no matter what you do in attacking and defending, my lightning can pierce through it all" said Raikou while scratching his chin. "these are the people that Daimou trust with his life? He chose such wrong people"
"don't mock our friend!" said Gray while getting back up even with the sizzling pain from his wounds.
"you can mock us as much as you want….but never mock our friend!" added Juvia, the Rain Mage wincing in pain.
"even if your friend is a murderer?" asked Raikou as this made Gray and Juvia's eyes widen. Raikou sighs while shaking his head before he said. "judging by your expressions, both of you and any of your friend have never been told of Daimou's sinful past, right?"
"murderer? Natsu?" said Gray as Raikou nodded.
"it happened nearly 13-15 years ago" said Raikou as his face hardens. "Daimou killed an entire village where Gojin grew up on, as well as killing Yamika's father, Kazane's elder sister, and Akari's elder brother, the three were the previous 8 General's members before them"
At the Wind General's Palace, the building caught on fire as it is burning down to the ground. While inside the burning palace, Erza and Gojin were in a deadlock, both pushing their weapons against another with no intention of backing down from each other.
"these flames! This scene! It's just like that day!" exclaimed Gojin with his eyes filled with pure hatred. "just like that day! When everything and everyone I loved were all taken away from me!"
"what are you talking about!?" said Erza before both warriors pushed each other away then dash for another close blade combat against another.
"that traitor! That murderous traitor, he took it all! He killed them all!" shouted Gojin as his eyes were slowly glowing red while black flame markings were starting to appear and spread from his neck up to the left side of his face. "you fools never knew the truth, did you!? That ally of yours! That bastard Daimou! He is no innocent man! He's a sinful murderer!"
Gojin swung his Kama down as his weapon broke Erza's sword in half. The Fire General soon headbutts Erza's head as this made the Scarlet Knight stagger back.
"years ago, I've looked up to him! Wanting to be a strong and respected man like himself! But he murdered my family and my entire village in cold blood!" shouted Gojin with eyes of rage as the black markings on his face started to spread before the left side of his face is covered in a bone mask that looks similar to the skeletal head of bird that is growing and slowly covering the man's face. Gojin continued "you people have been living with a murderer of Lingyue who also murdered the previous Emperor, Ryujima! His own mentor!"
The flames around the building rages as they started to fly above Gojin before forming a large magic circle, from the magic circle came out a large flaming bird as it is Houo of the East Sky.
Erza looks at the fire bird of Lingyue as the Phoenix let out a loud squall while flapping its flaming wings multiple times.
"once I get rid of you! I will find him and make him pay for his sins!" shouted Gojin as he soon dash at Erza who summoned on her Adamantite armor then slams both shields together. Gojin swung his Kama as he went pass Erza.
"w-what?!" gasped Erza as her Adamantite Armor and its shield shatters to pieces. "s-so fast!"
"burn in the flames of the Houo!" shouted Gojin as Houo of the East Sky flaps its flaming wings two times before rains of burning feathers came down on Erza.
"gaaaaahh!" screamed Erza as explosions occurred around her.
The battle on the islands escalates even higher as the 8 Generals' power were increasing to the next level. But our attention is to the fly rock pedestal which Lucy and the others are riding on.
"there's going to be a Lingyue Moon on Lingyue?" said Lucy and the others to Genbu, the Turtle hermit spirit nodded while controlling the rock pedestal that flies straight through the beach of the Fire island before into its forest area.
"once every 4 centuries upon Lingyue, there is a grand convergence of the stars" stated Genbu, explaining the Lunar Moon of Lingyue. "upon that time, when the stars unite as one; the Moon will take form of a Lunar Moon and the crescent moon together, the Ying Yang moon or the Lingyue Moon"
"the form of a lunar moon and the crescent moon together? is that even possible?" asked Elfman, knowing that the moon only takes those forms by month and days that pass.
"in Lingyue, it is possible" replied Genbu. "and upon that time, the seal of the Great Evil will weaken"
"seal of Great Evil?" asked Lucy before Genbu continued.
"centuries ago, when Lingyue was one; there was a great evil that lies within the continent" Genbu's face hardens as in the back of his mind, the image of a long black serpent like creature with 8 heads appeared, each having separate glowing eyes of different colors. "the 8 headed demon snake, Yamata no Orochi. It is a creature of evil that is unlike any other. That demon snake is also the creature responsible in splitting apart Lingyue as to what it is now"
"so, you're saying that on this day right now. That Lingyue moon is going to appear on nighttime and this demon snake is going to come out? Is that what you're trying to say?" said Cana as Genbu nodded.
"it was a prediction from Kaguya-sama, the first Empress and ruler of Lingyue in the past who is also the one who sealed Yamata no Orochi away in the first place" added Genbu, in his mind appears the image of a woman who looks similar to Ikaruga, but she is wearing a pure white kimono while surrounded with sakura petals. "Kaguya-sama predicted that in the passing 4 centuries of the future, the seal will weaken and the Yamata no Orochi will appear once more in the mortal realm then a great catastrophe will shake the world!"
"so, if we strengthen the seal, this demon snake will stay sealed, right?" said Lucy as Genbu nodded.
"then, let's find that seal and strengthen it with all of our Man Power!" said Elfman with a grin.
"it is not that simple" said Genbu as they are passing above a cliff and now floats in the air, seeing the town in sight. "the Great Seal was performed by Kaguya-sama, and only a direct descendant of her can strengthen the seal"
"descendant? then that means.." said Cana as she looks at Lucy and Elfman then continued. "Ikaruga and the twins, right?!"
"Kaguya-sama stated that the seal will weaken and the Yamata no Orochi will appear once more, but she never told us on how the seal will be broken when only a direct descendant of her can strengthen or open the seal. How will Orochi come out of the seal if there is no one to open it?" said Genbu with fear rising in his heart. Genbu soon envisioned a dark serpent like shadow wrapped around Ikaruga who seems lifeless. The turtle hermit soon muttered out in the most softest voice "c-could it be.."
The rock pedestal flies through the air and the group soon arrives at the town which is devastated and destroyed.
"t-the town…is destroyed?" said Elfman in surprise as everyone sees just how the place is wrecked up.
Lucy looks around before she spotted Gray and Juvia, both Ice and Water Mage are on the ground, looking badly injured.
"there! Gray and Juvia are right there!" said Lucy while pointing a finger down as everyone looks to where she is pointing.
The rock pedestal flies down near the two unconscious mages as Lucy, Cana, and Elfman jumps down before going to Gray and Juvia, helping them up.
"hey, Gray! Wake up! hey!" shouted Elfman while holding up Gray.
"these wounds are so deep!" said Cana as she and Lucy checks up on Juvia who seems to be in a worse shape than Gray.
"it would seem that they could not withstand Raikou's Lightning" said Genbu, seeing the two unconscious mages' wounds. Genbu's left hand retracted back into his shell before coming out, holding an orange gourd that is wrapped in a black and red thin rope string around its body. Genbu went to Juvia as he pours the content of the Gourd into her mouth. "here, this is a medicinal potion made with the healing herbs of Lingyue. This should help them recover their energy and heal their bodies"
After giving Juvia the potion, Genbu gave the rest to Gray as he made sure that the two drinks up all the potion. A minute later, Gray and Juvia wakes up as the two got into a coughing fit but the wounds on their body were steaming away.
"they should be fine now" said Genbu while retracting back his left hand into his shell, along with the gourd for safe keeping.
"w-what….what happened?" said Juvia before seeing Lucy and the others. "Lucy? Everyone? Why are you all?"
"thank goodness, you're awake!" said Lucy with a relieved smile.
"that medicine of yours works fast" said Elfman to Genbu who nodded with a smile before turning towards Gray who punched the ground with an angry face.
"damnit! We couldn't beat that guy!" said Gray with a frustrated face as he and Juvia got taken out by Raikou who didn't even get a scratch from the two. "we couldn't get back for Freed and the others!"
"look, what's important that you two are alive, alright?" said Cana to Gray. "we got to get to the others and help them out, we need to get the remaining gems, save Ikaruga, and Haruo, remember? We can't waste time getting payback for Freed and the others"
"are you kidding me, Cana!? That guy destroyed the Sakura cave! Our special place! And the twin's too!" said Gray with an annoyed look.
"Gray, listen! We haven't got time for that! We need to hurry before the Lingyue moon comes!" said Elfman to Gray. "there's going to be a life and death situation if we don't hurry!"
"you should listen to your friends, young one" said Genbu as Gray looks at the turtle hermit. "time is of the essence, and it is not an ally to you"
"who the heck are you? One of Lucy's spirit?" said Gray before turning to Lucy, thinking that Genbu is like her Celestial Spirit that is summoned.
"I am Genbu of the South Sky, I shall explain the situation to you while we head for the Light Island" said Genbu as he tapped the end of his staff on the ground twice, erecting another floating stone pedestal with everyone on board it. Genbu soon turns and looks at the next island as he sees smoke burning into the air. "I suspect that one of your allies is facing Gojin and is in need of help"
"what?" said everyone before the stone pedestal flies away, leaving the wreckage of the Fire island.
After the stone pedestal flies off, Raikou appeared from the wreckage of a house, the Lightning General seeing the group flying away to the Light Island, going to assist Erza in facing Gojin.
"there they go already" said Raikou before he squinted his eyes a bit when he remembers Elfman saying the word 'Lingyue Moon' that caught his attention. "the legend of the Lingyue moon is coming as a reality? This might be a chaotic coming for Lingyue"
Raikou soon turns around as he started walking away before disappearing in a lightning bolt.
Meanwhile down the dark crevice of the Makai no Iriguchi, Wendy and the others face the Temple as they keep hearing Natsu's roars from within every 2 minutes or so.
"what is going on in there!?" said Gildarts, not liking the sound of Natsu's roar that sounded in pain.
"the Genju-san said that if one is to obtain the Jinmenju Fruit, one must overcome past guilt and sins before becoming worthy of it" said Wendy, relaying the information from the Genju. "right now, Natsu-san is facing his past guilt and sins which are becoming nightmares to him"
"but what kind of trials of having nightmares is giving him such pain?" said Lily before seeing Kiara walking towards the Temple as its door slowly opens.
"the doors are opening?" said Charla as Kiara walks right towards the door.
"let's go, we need to help Natsu-san if we can" said Wendy as the others nodded before they followed Kiara, but just as they were about to get a few feet close to the door, a large shadow of a black serpent arises out of the ground and let out a hissing roar at them.
"w-what is that thing!?" said Gildarts in surprise.
The Genju grabs Wendy and the others then pulls them back as the large black serpent shadow hisses before disappearing into the ground.
Wendy looks at the Genju as she hears their whispering voices before she looks back at the temple.
"the Genju-san said that the temple doesn't see us worthy of entering itself and that large black serpent is its guardian" said Wendy after hearing the explanation by the Genju. "Kiara was seen worthy and that she is able to enter in, we couldn't"
"then how do we get ourselves seen worthy?" said Charla as a Genju stands close to the group before holding out a small wooden statue of a snake to them.
They look at the small statue before to the Genju who holds the item, Wendy listens to the whispers of the Genju before nodding.
"the only way to be seen worthy is if we can face our own fears, Natsu-san did the same before and that's why he can enter the palace" said Wendy as she holds her hand up and then touches the small wooden statue's head. "we have to touch this statue and our greatest fear will become a reality"
"w-wait a minute! You just touched it right now!" said Charla as smoke comes out of the wooden snake's mouth.
Everyone backed away from the smoke as it forms thousands of floating sour plums.
"sour plums!?" screamed Wendy before the sour plums flies right towards her. Wendy screams "nooo!" before she started running away from the sour plums.
"is that what she is afraid of?" said Lily with a sweatdrop.
"Wendy doesn't like sour things that much…" said Charla with an awkward face.
"come on you two" said Gildarts as he touched the wooden snake's head and smoke started to come out of its mouth. "we have to face our fears just like Wendy."
"do we really have to?" said Charla and Lily in unison while sweat drop behind their heads.
5 minutes later.
"Nooooo!" screamed Charla as she is being chased by a horde of Wendy, all wearing weird clothing while doing weird poses to her.
"owaaaahh!" shouted Lily as a rain cloud chases him while thunder rang out. "I hate Thunder!"
Meanwhile for Gildarts, he is screaming while in tears as he is facing the greatest fear for a father and that is seeing Cana walking off with a man and away from him.
"NOOO! CANA-CHWAN! DON'T LEAVE WITH THAT MAN!" screamed Gildarts but he is wrapped up in chains and strapped to the ground.
The nearby Genju looks at them with sweatdrops as they don't know why they have such fears.
While the group are facing their fear, Kiara who is inside the temple walks up the stairs before reaching the very top floor where she finds Natsu who is surrounded in a pool of his own blood.
Kiara squeals before she went near Natsu as the man is covered in bone skeletal armor, his skin turned pale white, and his limbs weren't human limbs anymore.
"so you finally came, huh?" said Chitetsu's voice as Kiara turns and sees the cursed katana nearby. "you are already chosen to be worthy by the guardian of this temple and you have no trials of sins to overcome. Take the Jinmenju fruit and leave"
Kiara squeals as she looks at Natsu whose body started to struggle in the chains before he let out a roar, energy started charging from his horns and soon fired a laser in the temple, but the laser was sucked into a portal before the laser fired out from another portal that is outside.
"if he doesn't overcome his past, he won't survive the trial nor will be able to save his own son" said Chitetsu as Natsu's pale white skin started to have spreading cracks like his body is about to break. "in minutes' time, the darkness inside him will devour his whole body and turn him into a Genju yet again"
Within a dark realm of Natsu's mind, the man walks in the darkness' shadow with a lifeless look as he continued walking before he is face to face with a horde of people, all looking lifeless and like zombies.
"you killed us…" "murderer" "we trusted you" "you killed me" "what did we ever do to you?" "why?" the zombies spoke out in unison as they keep on talking the same thing before they all burned into flames. Natsu looks at them burn in flames before he continued walking but was stopped as the burning zombies latched onto him, begging and pleading him on ending their life, but he walks through with no remorse.
"Papa?" said a small voice as this stopped Natsu who turns around and sees himself alone with Haruo who looks at him confused. "why did you do it Papa? Why?"
"Ha…ru…o" muttered Natsu before his eyes widen as Haruo's body is pooling out blood from his chest that has a large gash mark on it.
"why did I have to die, Papa? What did I ever do?" said Haruo while tilting his head, the boy's eyes dark as the night. "why did you let me die, Papa?"
"Haruo….i.." muttered Natsu before skeletons started to arise out of the shadow and started to pull his legs down into the shadow.
"why, Papa?" said Haruo as Natsu got dragged into the shadows by the skeleton, the man now floating in water.
"why did I let him die?" thought Natsu as he floats in the water and started to sink. "why didn't I save him? Why? I had the power….yet i.."
"YOU KILLED MY FAMILY AND MY VILLAGE!" "HOW DARE YOU KILL HER! MY SISTER!" "WE TRUSTED YOU! WE TRUSTED YOU AS A GREAT LEADER OF OUR GROUP!" "MURDERER!" "DEMON!" "MONSTER!" "DIE!" "DIE!" "DIE!" "DIE!" "DIE!" Louds shouting voices started to echo at Natsu who closed his ears as the shouting keeps on ringing for so long that his mind is nearly on the verge of breaking.
"that is enough" a loud and deep voice spoke out as Natsu's eyes widen before he got pulled out of the water by a large red claw.
Arising out of the water, Natsu sat on the palm of the red claw before looking at the owner as his eyes widen.
"i-igneel…" muttered Natsu as he looks upon his father, the Fire Dragon Igneel.
"it is time for you to face your sin of the past" said Igneel to Natsu
That's a wrap!
Bye bye