The end battle between Natsu and Mard Geer rages on as the Fire Dragon Slayer battles the Underworld King while getting the back up of Sting and Rogue who jumped right in.
"Holy Ray!" Sting exclaimed as he unleash a rain of white magic beams at Mard Geer who deflects them all with a simple wave of his right hand.
"weak." Mard Geer stated with a smirk before he turns and dodges a shadow strike from Rogue who appears from behind him. "slow."
"Eiryu no Zangeki!" Rogue started to swing his hands around in sending shadow claw strikes at Mard Geer who blocks them all before sending the Shadow Dragon Slayer flying with a powerful hand thrust. "gaaah!"
"Rogue!" Sting shouted before he gasps in pain when a thorn root bursts out of the ground and hits him in the stomach then sends him flying. "aggh!"
"unlike the first one, the two of you aren't worth Mard Geer's time." Mard Geer chuckles before his eyes widen and he quickly jumped to the front to dodge a large fireball that came down upon him. the Underworld King looks at the attack before to where it came from as his eyes widen even more when Natsu came and delivers a diving drop kick right on his stomach. "guh!"
Looking down at his foe, Natsu immediately kicks him away before he pulls back Chitetsu with both hands then unleashes a rain of red energy slashes down at Mard Geer who gets bombarded with the attack when he crashed.
Natsu soon lands to the ground with a knee down as Sting and Rogue quickly join his side.
"did that do it!?" Sting asked, thinking that Mard Geer went down after receiving Natsu's attack.
"no." Natsu stated as he sees the Underworld King arising from the dust smoke. "my attack injured him, but not too much."
"Those two sons of dragons are no threat to me, but you are." Mard Geer stated as he looks straight at Natsu while hardening his gaze. "perhaps Mard Geer is supposed to erase them first before you."
"You think you can!?" Rogue asked while readying his magic that made shadow cover his hands.
"What's your deal?" Sting exclaimed while swinging a hand to the side. "Why do you demons want to get rid of all the magic on the continent anyway? What we did to you anyway!?"
"Did I never explain? Pardon Mard Geer's manners." Mard Geer stated with a scoffing smirk. "very well, Mard Geer shall tell you." He then waves his hands outwards. "With all magic gone from the continent, Master END will reign supreme!"
"Master END…another demon of Zeref's books?" Rogue stated
"END is the true Master of the Tartaros guild. As well as the most powerful demon from the Book of Zeref." Mard Geer spoke out while waving a hand to his chest. "in his absence, Mard Geer takes his place as the substitute of the guild Master. As his servant, I devised the plan to make use of you human's Weapons; Face in order to rid the magic in this continent so that he may be revived and so that we demons will finally be able to return to our Lord Zeref."
"if that's what you want, why don't you just go back to him?" Sting asked. "why the need for all of this to happen in the first place?"
"Let me ask you this." Mard Geer asked as he waves a hand to the side. "Have you ever wondered why did the Black Mage Zeref created demons in the first place?"
"what do you mean?" Rogue demanded.
"I doubt none of my underlings have realized the truth." Mard Geer stated before he close his eyes and smiles a bit. "Maybe Kyoka or Sayla because of their incessant curiosity." He opens his eyes and looks at his foe. "We etherious demons from the Book of Zeref have a compulsive need to return our creator. It is a command given to us at the genetic level. 'Return to Zeref.' 'Wish to meet Zeref.' 'Do anything for Zeref.' These single emotions all lead to one outcome." He then points a finger upwards. "One underlying truth." The demon images the back of Zeref who is surrounded in darkness. Zeref saw his eternal youth as a curse to be lifted, as such he wished to die. In order to grant his wish, he created beings that he perceived were capable of killing him. The creation of the Book of Zeref and the demons therein are an attempt of suicide by Zeref himself!"
"Just for that he made monsters?" Sting asked with a shocked look on his face.
"This is why Tartaros plans to wipe out the magic of this world!" Mard Geer stated while looking up and wave his hands out. "to bring back Master END! The most powerful demon of Zeref's books! The one who will kill him!" he soon looks down and glares in hatred at Natsu. "but because of this one foolish human's action, our guild's dream…our ambition! Everything becomes worth of nothing!"
"so what?" Natsu asks as Sting and Rogue looks and sees the salmon haired mage looks uncaring towards Mard Geer. "your ambitions, I crushed them in order to protect dozens of innocents."
"even with the lives of those who might be dark mages?" Mard Geer asked before smirking. "a human can never understand us Demons' dream and feelings."
"I never have a care of my enemy's feelings or anything alike." Natsu stated as his eyes glows red. "and you should really be aware of your surroundings more, fool."
Mard Geer looks at Natsu with a hardened gaze for a moment before he notices yellowish red glow coming from beneath him. the Underworld King looks down and sees dozens of demonic markings just surrounding him in a big circle.
"this is Jackal's…" Mard Geer spoke out before he gets engulfed in a big explosion after Natsu snaps his raised left hand's fingers.
The explosion was big as it engulfed Mard Geer entirely.
"N-Natsu-san…just what?" Sting asked as he and Rogue looks baffled beyond their own comprehension.
"be prepared." Natsu stated as he swings Chitetsu around before he goes into a drawing stance. "he's going to come soon."
Sting and Rogue looks at Natsu in confusion for a moment before they turn to the smoke of the explosion that suddenly blows away to reveal a large black object.
"that is…?" Rogue spoke out before the large black object suddenly shifts itself and spreads large black wings and reveals a demonic monster. "what the!?"
"a mere human…a mere human use the power of the Curses bestowed to us by Zeref…a mere human use that power like it is his own!?" the demonic monster spoke out as it is revealed to be Mard Geer in his Etherious Form, the transformed demon looking in pure rage towards Natsu. "HOW IMPUDENT!"
"Move!" Natsu exclaimed out loud before Mard Geer flies in at high speed and rams himself against the salmon haired mage. "ugh!"
"Natsu-san!" Sting exclaimed as Mard Geer takes Natsu away. "Natsu-san!"
"let's go, Sting!" Rogue shouted before he runs off to go after Mard Geer.
"r-right!" Sting replied.
The Twin Dragon Slayers started running, only to get thwarted by a big dust explosion that came in their path.
"the heck!?" Sting exclaimed as he shielded himself from the dust explosion.
"so this is where they are…." A voice spoke from within the dust as a pair of glowing red eyes appeared. "I had grown tire of trying to find worthy prey…"
"the heck…" Rogue spoke before he began to look tense in fear. "t-that's not possible!"
"y-you are!" Sting exclaimed as the dust dissipates and reveals the former Sabertooth Master; Jiemma who looks entirely like a monster. "Master J-Jiemma!?"
"so the two weak brats remain weak and pathetic, huh?" Jiemma spoke out as he glares down at the Twin Dragon Slayers but his gaze is more specific to Sting. "it aches.." his eyes soon glows in rage. "my wound from that day..it aches!"
Sting could only look in fear as he remembers how he blasted a bloody hole into Jiemma's stomach on the night before the last match in the GMG.
"for myself to be injured by a pathetic and weak brat!" Jiemma exclaimed in anger as his body radiates a darkish purple aura. "how insolent!"
Before Sting and Rogue could even blink, Jiemma slams his large fists as their stomachs hard, causing both to bend forward while coughing out blood.
"raaaahh!" Jiemma roared as he sends the two Dragon Slayers flying nearly 10 feet into a large wall that crumbles when they crashed.
In the rubble of the wall, Sting and Rogue gasps and coughs in pain as both Dragon Slayers felt like they are in a world of pain.
'h-he instantly broke 5 of my ribs!' Rogue thought in pain as his body trembles and aches.
'he's s-stronger than before…he's…' Sting looks in utter fear at the sight of Jiemma who is coming close to the two. 'h-he's a monster!'
"once I'm done with the two of you, I'll go to Sabertooth and destroy every weaklings that have infested it!" Jiemma exclaimed with a mad look. "the strong will devour the weak! that is the true way of Sabertooth!" he stops and soon grabs Sting and Rogue by their heads and lifts them up. "you weakling infested yourself in my guild! My nest! You shall pay with your lives!"
"ugghh! Aahhhggg!" Sting and Rogue cries out in pain because their heads are getting crushed under the pressure of Jiemma's grip.
"hahahaha! I have waited for this day to come! I have waited for the day when I see the both of you de-aaghh?!" Jiemma was instantly thrown off by Mard Geer who crashed to his back, causing the big demon man to let go of Sting and Rogue.
Jiemma and Mard Geer flew a few feet away as Sting and Rogue falls but slowly got back up.
"w-what was?" Sting spoke out before hearing footsteps as he turns and looks in surprise to see Natsu walking towards his downed foes while his form becoming more demonic by the passing second. "Natsu…-san?"
"why do you fear a ghost of the past?" Natsu spoke out as the black markings from his right arm spreads up to the right side of his face that made his right ear become pointed and a small pointed yet jagged horn to grow on the right side of his temple. "why do you fear a foe that is weaker than yourself?" he stops and then glances down at Sting and Rogue. "you fought battles harder than this. Don't be afraid of something like him."
Sting and Rogue looks at Natsu in confusion and surprise before they turn when they hear an explosion. The two seeing Mard Geer and Jiemma arising as the two demons just look in pure hatred and anger towards the Fire Dragon Slayer.
"Rogue is one thing, but Sting. You're the new Master of Sabertooth, right?" Natsu asks as he swings Chitetsu to the side before the katana's blade ignites in reddish black flames. "if you cannot stand against an old foe because of being afraid. Best you leave the title as Master to someone else."
Natsu squatted down a bit before he dashes in and went straight for Jiemma and Mard Geer. The Fire Dragon Slayer fighting both at the same time.
Sting and Rogue stays in their place as the two just watch how Natsu fights against the two demons at the same time.
"Sting…we…" Rogue spoke out as Sting nods.
'Natsu-san's right! We don't have a reason to be scared!' Sting gets back up as he staggers a bit but held in the pain.
'No reason to run!' Rogue added in while readying himself.
'We're moving forward!' both Dragon Slayers soon runs in as the two goes straight for Jiemma who they unleashed a combination of light and shadow attack.
"Leave him to us!" Sting shouted
"We will defeat him!" Rogue proclaimed.
Natsu merely nods to the two before he swings Chitetsu in effort to deflect a claw strike from Mard Geer.
"you weaklings will defeat me!?" Jiemma exclaimed as he roars and unleashed a blast of purplish white energy at Sting and Rogue. "don't make me laugh!"
"oraaaahh!" the Twin Dragon Slayers goes on in their battle as they just run around before coming in with another combination attack against their old Master.
At a distant part of the land, the members of Fairy Tail are retreating as they had finished their part of the battle and are leaving the rest in the capable hands of their guild's most strongest members.
"everyone, be careful!" Cana shouted as she and the others quickly ducks down when Igneel came flying over their heads and then soars into the air to continue the battle against Acnologia with Draco's aid.
"if this is hell, we're looking at it!" Elfman shouted while carrying some injured members on his shoulders. "this place ain't for us anymore!"
"less talking and more retreating!" Macao shouted while being helped by Wakaba and Romeo. "we got to get back to the guild and inform Master about the current situation!"
"right!" Lisanna nods before she yelps when a powerful gust of wind came blowing from above because of Draco who unleashed bolts of lightning at Acnologia that caused exploding shockwaves.
"still! This battle! It's just insane!" Alzack stated while helping Bisca. "demons, dragons, it's like a festival for monsters!"
"or perhaps a festival of chaos?" a voice spoke as everyone looks surprised for a moment.
They all turn to the voice and sees Ryujima appearing after a black blur.
"w-who are you!?" Romeo exclaimed, thinking that it was an enemy.
"wait! That's Ryujima!" Cana shouted. "he's the previous Emperor of Lingyue!"
"the previous Emperor of Lingyue!?" Macao and many others exclaimed in shock.
"Why are you here!?" Elfman asks the man who looks around before turning to the sky where the battle between the dragons is taking place.
"I had sensed something dangerous coming from Ishgar and had immediately rushed from Lingyue to arrive here just a few hours ago." Ryujima stated before he looks down and turns towards Cana. "tell me, where is my son in law? Where is Natsu?"
"i-I don't got a clue on where he is." Cana replied while shaking her head before she turns and looks at the remnants of Plutogrim then focuses to where she could see explosions coming from one part of the land. "all I know is that he and along with a few other of our guild members are fighting off Tartaros' last forces. He might be there with them."
"I see.." Ryujima nods before he turns and did a quick high pitch whistle.
In an instant, Ayame appears kneeling behind the Previous Emperor.
"you called, Ryujima-sama?" Ayame asked while bowing.
"assist the group in their retreat to their home." Ryujima spoke to the group as he turns and looks to the remains of Plutogrim. "I shall go and find Natsu."
"Ryujima-sama, forgive me for speaking against your words." Ayame spoke out while raising her head. "even if you are the previous Emperor, you should still have at least the protection of 3-4 Generals. Just venturing to danger with only Yamika is…"
"I shall be fine." Ryujima stated in a rather stern voice. "I don't need the luxury of my previous title."
"but still…" Ayame spoke out but Ryujima raises a hand and stops her midsentence.
"go." Ryujima told the Wood General who went silent for a moment before bowing with a nod.
Ayame stands up before performing several hands signs that ends with the Monkey Hand seal.
"Moku Bunshin no Jutsu" Ayame chanted before she splits apart with her body becoming wood as she made clones of herself.
The Wood General and her copies went around as they grabbed the members of Fairy Tail before taking them far away.
"will you really be alright?" Cana asks Ryujima while standing near the real Ayame. "you might be the Previous Emperor and Natsu is the current one. But if something happens to you…"
"I shall remain alive for as long as I wish." Ryujima stated as he watches an area that has fire exploding followed by a flash of white light. "i am still tasked with guiding that boy with his duties as Emperor of our Homeland and also…" he turns and smiles a bit proudly towards Cana. "I have my grandchildren to spoil rottenly too!"
Cana looks at Ryujima for a moment before she sighs with a smile while shaking her head.
"Ikaruga sure does have a weird dad…" Cana stated before she turns with Ayame. "good luck."
Ryujima nods before Cana left in a blur with Ayame's help.
"now then…" Ryujima whispers before he glance behind to see Yamika appearing from the shadows while kneeling. "did you retrieve it?"
"yes." Yamika nods before she presents a small wooden box out to Ryujima. "it is here."
Ryujima turns and takes the wooden box then opens the lid to reveal the content which is a very old looking white talisman paper that has Lingyue symbol writings that seems to have been written with blood that has dried up.
"for the time to come to use this seal…" Ryujima spoke out in a whisper as he frowns a bit to see the item inside the wooden box before he turns and looks at the location of the explosions. "Natsu, you still have to live for my daughter and my grandchildren.."
At the battle, Natsu is clashing his sword against Mard Geer's claws. Both unleashing furies of strikes that gets parried by the other.
'do not succumb to the darkness, my son.'
"Karyu no!" Natsu breathes in air before he unleashes a stream of red fire at Mard Geer. "Hoko!"
"worthless!" Mard Geer exclaims as he swings his claws and dissipates the breath attack. The demon spreads his wings and flies straight at Natsu. "I will kill you, human!"
Natsu readies himself as he outstretched his demonic right hand that grew bone like spikes.
"raaah!" Natsu swings the arm forward and unleash rains of bone needles that flies straight at Mard Geer.
"that shall not..!?" Mard Geer sees the attack coming as he was about to swing his claws to swat them away, but the moment the needles touched his body; they cause a powerful explosion. "agggh!"
Natsu pulls his sword back, squatted his knees, and instantly jumps straight for Mard Geer who gets out of the smoke, only to get a flaming slash from the Fire Dragon Slayer.
"raaaah!" Natsu roared out at Mard Geer who roars back in pain.
Before long both gets engulfed in a big explosion.
Meanwhile at another side of the battlefield, there is Jiemma who gets a double magic imbued punches from Sting and Rogue but he instantly blew them away by swinging his fists out.
"weak!" Jiemma exclaimed. "too weak!"
Sting and Rogue skidded on the ground for a moment as they glared at Jiemma.
"I knew you were crazy, but for you to become a monster like Tartaros…" Sting spoke out as he gets up straight. "tell me! Did you get the princess mixed up in the crap with you?"
"That girl never was of much use, but I still saw the potential within her." Jiemma answered. "I surmised that adding a demon's power would bring that potential to the surface, but-"
"She's your daughter!" Rogue exclaimed while swinging a hand to the side. "to do something like that to you own daughter!"
"That is why what I do to her is no concern of yours!" Jiemma exclaimed. "She is my daughter! A vessel for my legacy!" he outstretched his arms and grips his fists tight. "That means that I am control of whatever becomes of her!"
"you bastard!" Sting shouted as he and Rogue instantly runs straight for Jiemma.
Sting punched Jiemma in the face as hard as he could, making the demon man get pushed back but he managed to stay upright.
"That won't work on me, boy!" Jiemma spoke out as he grabs Sting and unleashed a direct magic blast at him.
"aggh!" Sting gets blown away by Jiemma who is soon faced with Rogue who appears out of the shadow.
"raah!" Rogue strikes his shadow imbued fists at Jiemma who blocks by swinging an arm back, knocking Rogue to the ground. "guh!?"
"Do you whelps really think you can control Sabertooth?!" Jiemma exclaimed before he kicks Rogue away.
"We don't want to control it…" Sting grunted as he got back up to his feet after getting blasted away. "We want to turn it to be the guild it ought to be!" he goes forward and sends a punch at Jiemma. "a guild of comrades!"
"don't make me laugh!" Jiemma chopped him down to the ground. "What Sabertooth needs is to be the strongest! Your sickening weakness has brought nothing but shame and ruin to its name!"
"so what!?" Sting rose from the ground. "So, what if we were weak before?"
"We've gotten stronger since you've been gone." Rogue spoke out as he got back up. "Way stronger!"
"What was that?!" Jiemma bellowed.
"We're stronger than before because now everyone looks out for each other and has one another's backs." Sting shouted. "That's the kind of guild Sabertooth is becoming!"
"A true…guild." Rogue spoke out as his body gets covered with shadows. "We had to start over from square one."
The two soon charges in as they send powerful magic imbued kicks at Jiemma who blocks them with his arms raised.
"That's why you have to go!" both exclaimed in unison as the power behind their attacks pushed Jiemma away.
"A true guild?!" Jiemma cackled. "there's no such thing! Strength can only emanate from the individual! One like me that possesses a strong, iron will!"
"You're wrong!" Sting protested. "There is a guild that is stronger than your 'iron will'!" he instantly thought of the Fairy Tail guild. "We found a guild close by that's kind, strong, honest, and we're way happier than before to know that we are their friends!"
"Insolent fools!" Jiemma slashed Sting and Rogue's shoulders with his claws and pushed them away. "The truly strong stand alone! Those who have to rely on others for strength are nothing less than weaklings! In fact, they are even weaker than that!"
"I don't give a damn what you say! We're going to keep moving forward with the help of our friends!" Rogue shouted as he and Sting started to do a combo of furious magic attacks against Jiemma. "That's what it means to be strong! Fairy Tail showed us how much love brings meaning to life!"
"Enough!" Jiemma roared as he swings his fists outwards, blowing the Twin Dragon Slayers away. "weaklings should stay weaklings! Bark all you want for you are nothing more than weaklings!"
"Rogue! Let's use that!" Sting exclaimed as he and Rogue lands on the ground side by side.
"that? But we still haven't mastered it!" Rogue retorted.
"with how we are now, we can do it!" Sting exclaimed while grinning. "let's go!"
Rogue looks at Sting for a quick second before he nodded.
"begone! Weaklings!" Jiemma roars as he rushes straight towards the two Dragon Slayers while gathering a concentration of his power to his claws.
"raaaah!" Sting and Rogue rushes in as both gathered their magic and raise it to their maximum level.
"die!" Jiemma shouted as he unleashed a magic blast at Sting and Rogue who dash and went pass him.
"Hakueiryu no Ashiginu!" The Twin Dragons unleashed beams of light and darkness that crisscrossed together, piercing through Jiemma's attack and body.
"aggh!" Jiemma coughs out blood as his body twitches and shakes in pain. "t-that is..impossible…I who become the strongest.." he slowly falls forward as his entire strength evaporates after receiving the Twin Dragon's attack. "lose to this weaklings!?"
Jiemma falls to the ground, signaling both his death and the end of the fight.
Sting and Rogue looked back at him as they huffed out a long sigh.
"So long, Master." Rogue bowed his head to his former master
"It's all up to him now." Sting said.
"Yeah." Rogue nodded.
Before a minute could even pass, Sting and Rogue falls as both exhausted their magic with their combination move earlier.
"we're counting on you…Natsu-san…" Sting spoke out before he goes unconscious with Rogue.
Their battle is over and the only thing left is Natsu against Mard Geer. Their battle is by far the strongest and the deadliest there is.
Explosions littered the field as Natsu flies around the air with fire igniting on the bottom of his feet. The Fire Dragon Slayer clashing with Mard Geer who soared with his wings.
"raaaah!" Mard Geer howls as he charges his curse power in between his claws and unleashes a rain of energy beams upon Natsu.
Natsu pulls back his demonic right arm and then thrust it forward with his fingers outstretched.
Mard Geer's beam attack came before they all get covered in sparkles and then exploded.
"Die!" Mard Geer roars as he flies through the explosion's smoke and heads straight for Natsu. "Human!"
Natsu saw him coming as ignites the fire on his feet before he suddenly grew out a black bat like wing on the right side of his back. the Fire Dragon Slayer flies in and clashes against Mard Geer in the air.
"My name is Mard Geer Tartaros!" The demon announced. "I am the Underworld King, and the true, definitive demon!" he pulls back his right claw and charges energy before swinging it forward, to unleash a concentrated white laser. "no human will be able to defeat me!"
As the laser flew, it was absorbed by Natsu's demonic right arm and it made the limb's form bulge with muscles and grew out more bone like spikes on the skin. The Fire Dragon Slayer soon releases the attack in his own version as it was swatted by Mard Geer who soon gets a powerful flash to his shoulder.
"then how about a human who has the power of a demon!?" Natsu exclaims as he puts more power to his slash and sends Mard Geer falling from the air.
"arrrh!" Mard Geer roars in pain for a moment as there is a bleeding cut on his right shoulder. He regains his flight and then flaps his wings once before flying back straight for Natsu. "HUMAN!"
Natsu swings his right claw back and ignites it in a blackish red flames.
"Karyu no Agito!" Natsu hammers the attack down at Mard Geer who gets hit but just charges forward.
"aarrrh!" Mard Geer pushes forward and then grabs Natsu by the face before flying him to the sky and then to the ground. "Begone! Begone to the gates of the Underworld!" The demon roars with enraged glowing white eyes. "Begone and die!"
Mard Geer flew down and slams Natsu to the ground in a big crater before he proceeds to drag him through the dirt.
Natsu grunts in pain as he gets pushed through the dirt before he growls with his eyes going red. The Salamander ignites in flames that burst in rage.
"you!" Mard Geer looks at the flames as they spread to his claw. "this flame!"
Natsu reaches his right arm up and grabs Mard Geer by the face before he proceeds to swing the demon forward and then spins on his back to land a powerful flaming drop kick to his head.
"ugghh!" Mard Geer gets pounded to the ground, but he quickly regains his bearings and spreads his wings to fly into the air.
Natsu lands on the ground and looks at Mard Geer who charges energy in between his pulled back arms.
"Dea!" Mard Geer swings his hands forward and unleashed a mass of intertwined wooden beams that fell straight for Natsu. "Ygdrasill!"
Natsu sees the incoming attack as he squatted down and goes into a drawing stance with his sword.
"Yasha Giri!" Natsu swings the sword upwards and with the echo of screeching metal, the giant wooden beam was cut in half by a powerful air slash that flew straight for Mard Geer.
"What!?" Mard Geer sees his attack get cut in half as he breaks off and goes straight for Natsu. "just a mere human!"
Natsu jumps and he clashes against Mard Geer for the umpteenth time.
"it is time to end this battle with your death, human!" Mard Geer roars out in rage. "it is time for you to die!"
Natsu just roars back his battle cry in return as he pushes his blade forward and unleash a direct fire blast against Mard Geer who counters by hammering the Salamander to the ground with a big crash.
"you shall first hand experience it! the Curse that has the power to kill the might Zeref! The curse that will inflict death to all!" Mard Geer exclaimed as his body glows a dark aura that grew. "Pain! Resentment! Hatred! Jealousy! Vengeance! The very essence of curse power was built upon life itself!"
Natsu gets back up from his crash as he was about to fly back to continue his fight, but was stopped when his body froze by dark shadows that gathered around him.
"this is!?" Natsu looks at the shadows as they climb to his feet and spreads up.
A dark fog gathers around Natsu as darkness shrouds his entire self.
"Now descend into purgatory! Courtesy of the Ultimate curse made to dispose of Zeref himself!" Mard Geer exclaimed as he gathers more Curse power. "The recollection of death awaits…"
Natsu tries to get out, but he was instantly engulfed by the dark shadows that took the form of the dead souls.
"Memento Mori!"
A tower of wailing spirits rose from the ground into the sky above with a deafening boom as Mard Geer basked in the glory of his ultimate Curse.
The attack was seen by many from afar as some looked in shock to see the utter power behind the attack.
"To murder, the immortal Zeref one must understand both concepts of life and death! Those who fall prey to Memento Mori are neither alive nor are they dead, they simply cease to be! Your fate leads to this moment! You will be obliterated into nothing…forever!"
The spirits dissipated and the rumbling stopped, leaving only a massive crater where Natsu once stands.
Mard Geer looked upon his handiwork with satisfaction, he descends and lands on the ground while returning to this normal form.
"I have finally completed the ultimate curse." Mard Geer spoke out while smiling. "now…Mard Geer may now search for an alternative to revive Master END and then…" he turns on his heels and began walking away. "Lord Zeref."
The Underworld King leaves in his triumphant victory but that is proven wrong when he hears small rumbling from behind him.
"this is…" Mard Geer listens to the sound as his eyes slowly widen in shock. "it cannot be.." he turns and looks in utter bewilderment to the crater where something began to arise from within the dirt. "THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!"
The dirt exploded and revealed Natsu who is alive but unlike himself.
Black and scaled layer of dark markings covered nearly half of his body from the right side, a pair of black demonic bat wings, sharp claws that have bones like armor surrounding the fingers on the right hand while the left metal hand had become jagged and spiked while still holding Chitetsu in its grasp, and a pair of long and jagged horns on the head covered with long shaggy yet wild black hair.
Natsu whose skin had turned slightly black and white in mix, he has his eyes closed for a moment before he slowly opens them and reveals that they become black and demonically red demon eyes.
"A partial demon transformation?!" Mard Geer shouted while taking a step back. "no! this is! You're not human!? You're….a DEMON!?"
Natsu glares at Mard Geer as he crouches down and spreads his demonic wings before flying straight at the Underworld King who gets slammed with a powerful black flaming punch from the demonized mage.
"aagghh!" Mard Geer roars in pain as he gets sent flying into the air from Natsu's attack. The latter flapping his wings and flies straight for his foe.
"you insolent!" Mard Geer shouted as he transforms into his Etherious Form once again. "why won't you DIE!?"
Natsu let out his own roar as he flew and clashes with Mard Geer in a power battle that ended with the Salamander overpowering him.
"What is this power?!" Mard Geer tried to recover but Natsu didn't allow it.
The Fire Dragon Slayer pulls back Chitetsu and ignites its blade in pure blackish red flames that rages and explodes.
"raaahh!" Natsu roars before he unleashes rapid fire slashes directly at Mard Geer's body. "aarrhh!" he charges energy in between his horns and fired a powerful red beam straight at the Underworld King who gets blasted into the ground with a big explosion.
"j-just what is this…power!?" Mard Geer grunted in pain as he sees Natsu flying in the air before he came down in high speed with a powerful blazing dive kick straight to the demon's stomach. "aggh!"
Natsu pushes through and started to rapidly stomp his flaming legs down on Mard Geer, pushing the demon deeper into the dirt while inflicting damage.
Dusts and explosions covered the land as smoke flew into the air from how Natsu just rapidly unleash his attack.
Before long a big explosion was unleashed as Mard Geer flew in the air. The Underworld King looking worse to be seen as he is bleeding from his body and fanged mouth that let out small trinkle of blood.
"a mere human…gaining the power of a demon…and yet…to do this much damage!" Mard Geer grunted in pain as he looks at Natsu who stands out of the smoke while spreading out his wings. "just who are you!?"
Natsu glares at Mard Geer before roaring loudly as he charge his power into his right demonic arm that holds Chitetsu whose blade turns jet black and shines.
"YOU BASTARD!" Mard Geer roars as he charged his curse power for one last attack. "DIE!"
Mard Geer soon unleashed a powerful energy blast down upon Natsu who roars loudly before going into a stance.
"Mugetsu Ryu!" Natsu exclaimed as he flaps his wings and flew straight to the incoming attack. "Shin Ougi!"
"RAAAHH!" Mard Geer roars as he unleash more power to his attack.
"Setsudan Jigen!" Natsu pulls the sword back and swings it upwards. "Zan!"
Natsu swings his sword as his attack cuts the incoming attack and disperses it in an instant.
"T-That!?" Mard Geer looks in shock as his attack was cancelled so easily by Natsu who flies straight for him. "THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!"
Natsu flaps his wings once as he flies straight for Mard Geer and got above him while holding Chitetsu above his head with both hands gripping the handle hard.
"a mere human! A mere human!" Mard Geer shouted before his eyes widen as he sees Natsu's form up close and it shook his mind. "t-that form..that form!"
Flashback
In the past and somewhere in the world.
Mard Geer is found walking amongst a beaten down path, the Underworld King in search of Zeref as it is in every Etherious' instinct to find and kill the Black Mage.
"this is…" Mard Geer spoke out as he arrives to the ruins of an ancient civilization. "Zeref's power lingers in this area."
The Demon ventures into the ruins as he follows the lingering power from Zeref, but just finds himself in a library like chamber that is filled with old and ragged books.
"Zeref was here and no longer here." Mard Geer spoke as he looks at the many books that littered the floor. "how disappointing.."
Mard Geer was about to leave the area when he sensed a dark presence coming from somewhere near him.
"this presence…" Mard Geer turns and looks around. "this aura…it's like…Zeref."
Mard Geer ventures deeper into the library and soon finds himself standing before a stone pedestal that has a book placed on top.
"this book…a demon of Zeref alike with Mard Geer." The Underworld King spoke as he looks at the book's old and ragged cover. "E….N….D? END?" he went near and reaches a hand to the object. "for Mard Geer to not know such an Etherious' name…"
His hand touches the book and when it did, Mard Geer sees a vision of himself standing in a field that burns in dark flames.
"this is!?" Mard Geer's eyes widen as he sees someone standing in the middle of the dark flames. "that figure is….that demon is…!" the figure was a tall young man with pale-ish white skin covered with dark swirling and blazing markings, hands are claws, a pair of long and jagged horns on the side of his head, and a pair of darkish red reptilian yet demonic eyes just glowing menacingly in the black fire. "you are!"
flashback
"that form! You are! YOU ARE EN..!" Mard Geer exclaimed in shock before Natsu swings down his sword and cuts the Underworld King in half. "aaggghhh!"
Natsu flies through as he lands on top of a broken pillar while down on one knee before he slowly stands up and glances back with a glare at Mard Geer who remains split in half before his entire body disperses into black dust like particles.
The Fire Dragon Slayer's demonized body slowly regresses as he now return to his usual self but his right arm still remains in the form of a blackish red demon's arm with white tribal like markings.
"all the demons of this guild have been erased, Natsu."Chitetsu spoke out as Natsu squinted his eyes to see the black dust particles that was once Mard Geer gets sucked away by Sayla who appears below him. "this one is the last one."
Sayla sucks in all the dust particles before swallowing with a big gulp. The black skinned demoness's body pulses a few times before her body flashes in white light and she reverts to her normal form as Sayla; the Goddess of the Chill Moon but her eyes were pure dark and red reptilian that seems lifeless.
"you were lying in the shadows as you feed yourself."Natsu spoke out with a glare at Sayla who stood in silence while a dark aura grew around Chitetsu's blade that changes back its color from black to silver and from there is seen the demonic shadow of the cursed spirit inside. "just who do you think you are, trash?"
"I'm who I wish to be." Chitetsu cackles with a devilish smirk forming upon his shadow. "remember?"
Natsu hardens his gaze at his cursed sword before he hears explosions in the air as he sees Draco falling from the sky as the Celestial Dragon Spirit crashes to the land, defeated in its battle against Acnologia who just roars and dukes it out against Igneel.
"one more." Natsu spoke out as he looks at Chitetsu. "give me more power just one more time." He then looks at Acnologia with a hatred glare. "to give that bastard a taste of my anger!"
The shadow of Chitetsu in the blade of the cursed katana grew and morphs as it forms Natsu's shadow that has a pair of glowing red demonic eyes and a devilish red fanged grin that grew wide.
Acnologia whipped his tail against the right side of Igneel's face, sending the Fire Dragon King spiraling down to the ground below with a big crash. Instantly giving chase, the Black Dragon of Chaos lands and dug his left claw to the red dragon's belly.
"Destruction!" The black dragon repeated over and over as he slash and scraped away at Igneel's body. "Destruction! I shall destroy all dragons!"
Igneel roared in agony as the Black Dragon's claws dug into his body.
"Is this all the power you can muster, King of the Fire Dragons?!" Acnologia roared out to Igneel who just smirks with blood trailing from his mouth to the ground.
"Well I did just wake up from a very long nap." Igneel spoke out as Acnologia just roars, planning to kill the Fire Dragon but gets thwarted with a powerful flaming slash that came from his right blindside. "that.."
Acnologia growls as he turns and is soon met with the sight of a large fireball that has Natsu inside.
"raaarrhh!" Natsu roars as he flew and instantly kicks his fireball straight at Acnologia's face that gets covered in a big explosion.
"Natsu!" Igneel exclaimed to see his son who lands on his chest and faces Acnologia who roars and blew the smoke away.
"the hell you're down there for, old man!?" Natsu shouted as he growls in rage against Acnologia. "you're the one who always tell me that a Fire Dragon's power rages in might against many! Are you getting too old to ignite your fire!?"
Igneel looks at Natsu for a moment before he grins and gets back up by kicking Acnologia away.
Natsu jumps as he got on top of Igneel's head and both father and son roars while igniting themselves in fire.
"let's go! Natsu!" Igneel roars as he spreads his wings and takes flight.
"right!" Natsu roared out before he took a deep breath with Igneel doing the same.
"Karyu no Hoko!" the father and son unleash a combined breath attack as their flames bombarded Acnologia who gets sent flying into the air.
"you vermin!" Acnologia roars as he gets sent flying into the air with a big explosion.
Igneel spreads his wings as he flaps them once before taking flight into the air in an instant. The Fire Dragon King flying straight for Acnologia who blew away the smoke surrounding him with a flap of his wings before getting rammed by the red dragon in another battle of dominance that has Natsu joining.
"raaahh!" Natsu roars as he jumps off Igneel's head and pulls back his demonic right arm that ignites in a swirling vortex of red and black fire that he slams straight at Acnologia's head. "raaah!"
The attack caused a shockwave of an explosion to hit Acnologia who roars and soon gets a powerful flaming punch from Igneel who roars as he did so.
With Tartaros now completely defeated, the last battle is now between Natsu and Igneel who faced against Acnologia together.
At the barren wasteland, there is Lucy and the others who are retreating for safety.
"guys! Look!" Lucy cried out while carrying Mira with Wendy's help.
"it's Natsu-san!" Wendy exclaimed, the group seeing the battle of the dragons that has Natsu just joining in.
"he's fighting with the red dragon!" Kagura stated while carrying Erza on her back, the Mermaid Heel swordsman seeing her Teacher just unleashing a fury of attacks against Acnologia with Igneel following. "how destructive…"
"we can watch their fight from a far!" Gajeel called out to the group while carrying Gray over his shoulder. "right now, we got to get stripper, Mirajane, and Titania away, remember!?"
"we know! but what about the others!?" Charla exclaimed, not knowing that their comrades had retreated earlier on. "we don't know where they are, right!?"
"right! And what about Sting-kun and Rogue-kun!?" Lector added in as he and Frosch are riding on Minerva's shoulders. "if Natsu-san is battling Acnologia, what of them!?"
"Frosch wants to see Rogue!" Frosch cried out.
"they might still be battling Mard Geer." Minerva spoke out with a frown. "as far as I know, he's far stronger than the Nine Demon Gates….they might be…"
"you don't have to worry about that, young lady" a voice called to the group from behind as everyone tenses and turns to see Silver appearing near them while carrying Sting and Rogue over his shoulders. "Mard Geer and the rest of Tartaros are kapoot."
"y-you are!?" Lucy exclaimed, everyone getting prepared for a fight with their new arrival.
"wait, wait. I ain't here for a fight." Silver told the group with a small smile as he slowly puts Sting and Rogue down. "I just came to get these guys back to you."
"Sting-kun!" "Rogue!" Lector and Frosch quickly goes to their unconscious partners.
"you are…." Minerva spoke as she looks tense and hostile towards Silver. "you're the Ice Devil Slayer, Silver."
"Ice Devil Slayer…" Lucy muttered before she looks in shock towards the man. "you mean, he's the guy responsible for freezing Flare's village!?"
"I guess you guys know me much from what I did, huh?" Silver asks while scratching the back of his head. "well, I guess I should be honest and say that what I did at that village was an accident." He raise his arms and shrugs his shoulders. "I thought that the thing inside the fire was a demon and I tried to extinguish it." he tilts his head to the side. "but the place is back to normal, right? Your pink haired friend revived the place and made it go back to normal, right?"
"just why are you here?" Minerva spoke out. "you're members with Tartaros and also a Nine Demon Gates!" her eyes squinted. "for you to say that Mard Geer and the others are done for while you remain…just what are you planning!?"
"easy, I told you that I ain't here to do harm, right?" Silver asks while raising his hands in defense towards Minerva. "I got no scuffle with you guys or your guild now that my guild is done for."
"do you really think we believe in your words!?" Kagura stated after slowly putting Erza down and getting ready for a fight.
"wait." Gajeel calls out as he looks stern and serious at Silver. "I don't think he got anything to do with us anymore."
"how can you say that?" Lucy asks.
"he smells the same." Wendy spoke out as everyone besides Gajeel looks at the little dragon Slayer whose gaze is focused on Silver. "he has the same scent as Gray-san."
"the same scent?" Minerva said with a confused face. "what do you mean?"
"She means what she means," Gajeel stated as he points a finger at Silver and then at Gray "This guy got the same scent as stripper here."
"How is that even possible?" Kagura asks while having a completely confused expression on her face.
"hahahaha! Still can't get over the fact that you Dragon Slayers have some scent!" Silver laughs while placing a hand to the back of his head. "you guys are like bloodhounds!"
"what is so funny!?" Lucy exclaimed, still not buying the whole 'I am not here to fight' stuff from Silver.
"sorry, it's just funny that I got discovered so easily.." Silver spoke while raising hand in defense before he looks a bit serious to the group. "it's what your Dragon Slayers friend had spoken, I have the same scent as Gray there."
"why?" Wendy asks, curious and confused.
"why?" Silver spoke as he scratches the back of his head with his eyes closed before he opens them and looks at the group with a rather embarrassed looking face. "I guess..it's because I'm his dad."
"w-what!?" everyone exclaimed in unison.
"it's the truth." Silver stated while placing a hand to his chest. "my full name is Silver Fullbuster, I'm Gray's father."
"wait a minute! I thought Gray's parents passed away years ago!" Lucy exclaimed. "he told us that he lost his parents to Deliora and then!"
A loud explosion soon cuts her off as the group turns and looks up to see Igneel falling from the sky and then crashing to the ground in a big dust explosion that blew out dust everywhere while causing the land to rumble.
"I think we got to cut the chitchat short for a moment." Silver stated as he shielded his face from the dust blowing straight to the group. "right now, chatting at this place ain't a great idea."
"are we really going to trust this man's words?" Kagura asks while shielding Erza. "this could be a trick."
"Whether he is telling the truth or not, we ain't got the time to worry about that here." Gajeel stated as he looks to the sky where he sees Acnologia going on a rampage against Natsu who is just fighting him while latched onto the Black Dragon's body. "Salamander and his old man are fighting Acnologia and I'm sure as hell don't want to be near to watch who wins at the end."
Everyone looks at Gajeel for a moment before they nod and began to continue their retreat from the area with Silver joining them.
Silver helped carried Rogue and Sting as he took a quick glance to the battle in the sky.
'make sure you don't die, kid.' Silver thought out towards Natsu who roars in rage while unleashing a fury of black and red flaming punches at Acnologia's neck before he unleashes a powerful bright flaming fireball that causes a massive explosion.
"Karyu no Akugeki!" Natsu roars as he unleashes a direct flaming explosion to Acnologia's left eye. The dragon roars before he swipes his claws and swatted the Fire Dragon Slayer off from him. "aggh!"
Natsu flies to the ground below as Acnologia roars and started to charge energy in his jaws for a breath attack.
"kuh!" Natsu regains his flight by igniting his hands and feet on fire, using them as flaming thrusters that let him fly straight for Acnologia.
Acnologia roars before unleashing his breath attack upon Natsu who flew before he grabs hold of Chitetsu who is sheathed to his scabbard, and then draws the sword out in an outstretched fashion.
The action caused a powerful air slash to be unleashed and clashed against Acnologia's breath attack that in turn resulted in a big explosion.
Acnologia growls to see his attack exploding while not taking out Natsu, but before the Black Dragon could continue with its attempt to kill the salmon haired mage. Igneel appears above with his claws raised and ignited in flames.
"raaah!" Igneel roars as he hammers Acnologia's head with his flaming claws, causing an explosion that sends the Black Dragon flying down.
Acnologial falls to the land and crashed in a big dust explosion that blows away when the Black Dragon quickly rises with its left eye glowing red in rage.
"human, demon, dragon! None of you will live for as long as I am here!" Acnologia roars out in rage as he looks at where Natsu and Igneel are at. "destruction! I shall lay waste to your death and destruction!"
"Then we shall defeat you before you can do so!"
Draco's voice is heard as Acnologia turns and realizes that it is surrounded in a large golden magic circle filled with Lingyue symbols that is surrounded with members of Lingyue's 8 Celestial Guardian Spirits who were glowing in their respective element.
"Lingyue Hachiten Jo Jutsu!" the 8 Celestial Guardian Spirits roars out as the golden magic circle glows and flashes a golden light before it erupts in a powerfully bright explosion that engulfs Acnologia in an instant. "Shizen no Ikari!"
Acnologia roars as he is engulfed in the bright explosion that sends pulses of shockwave to shake the land repeatedly.
Natsu and Igneel watches the explosion as it nearly brightened the night sky like the rising sun.
A minute passes as the bright explosion died down and everyone soon sees a large and deep crater that has a huge amount of smoke flying from inside it.
"Did that do it?" Enra spoke out in seeing the result of their combined attack.
"no." Draco said as he hardens his gaze while seeing light glowing from the crater's dirt that explodes and Acnologia arises. "he still lives!"
"for that attack that had once laid waste to Orochi 400 years ago and he still remains alive!" Seiocho spoke out in shock. "just what is with that monster!?"
"our attack didn't destroy him, but it injured him terribly." Houou spoke out as she sees bloody wounds and injuries littered the body of Acnologia. "I would say that he lost nearly half of his strength after receiving the blast of the explosion."
"Then we must unleash more devastating attacks to finish him!" Byakko growls while roaring loudly as the White Tiger spirit summons twisters of air to surround his claws.
"Unleash your full might upon that monster!" Draco roars while getting coated in static of electricity.
The other spirits started to raise their powers as their bodies glows in their respective element.
Acnologia growls before he roars and flies straight to the sky, going to attack the spirits but were intercepted by Natsu and Igneel who flies down and kicks the black dragon on the top of his head.
"leave this monster to us!" Natsu and Igneel shouted as the two gets Acnologia to crash right into the crater once again.
"Draco! All of you! Give it your all!" Natsu shouted as he unleashed barrages of fire blasts at Acnologia's face while Igneel held the Black Dragon down. "give this bastard everything you got!"
"Natsu…" Draco spoke out before he looks at his fellow spirits who nodded to him before he nods himself and looks at Natsu. "understood!"
The Celestial Guardian Spirits started to glow in their respective elements as a large and golden magic circle with Lingyue Symbols appears high in the sky and starts to glow and shines.
"Destruction! Death! Chaos!" Acnologia roars out as the Black Dragon wrestles against the Fire Dragon King who let out his own roar in return. "no matter what you do, you cannot defeat me!"
"let us see about that!" Igneel exclaims before Natsu came and unleashes a charged up flaming fist that directly sends a bright flaming explosion upon Acnologia's face.
"let's see if you can handle two Fire Dragons at the same time!" Natsu shouted before he and Igneel roars in the battle of dominance against Acnologia.
At Fairy Tail, Makarov meets the members of his guild who returned to their town with the help of Ayame.
"is everyone alright!?" Makarov calls out as he sees those who returned to the guild.
"I think so, Master." Cana nods while helping Macao and Wakaba settle down to rest and recuperate.
"hey, where's Papa?" Haruka asked as she and Haruo are looking around for their father. "isn't he here?"
"Natsu might still be battling Tartaros with Erza and the others." Lisanna stated as she turns towards the area where Plutogrim had fallen. "all we know, there's still demons there and they are going to take them down."
"then what about Grandpa?" Haruo spoke out. "what about grandpa?"
"grandpa?" Elfman said in confusion before Makarov give everyone a quick and brief explanation of Ryujima's sudden arrival with Gojin and Daichi who remains inside the guild to look after Ikaruga who is with Ikki.
"if he's here because of Natsu, I think we know what it might be…" Cana spoke out.
"what do you mean, Cana?" Makarov asked as it was Cana's turn to explain the short old man about Natsu's transformation into a large demon monster that faces Acnologia in battle before it became a battle between dragon against dragon that results in utter chaos and destruction.
"right now, I think the battle is still going on." Cana stated as she turns to look a far and still sees the flash of red explosions in the sky that could be seen from afar. "right now, Igneel is facing Acnologia while Natsu is facing Tartaros' guild Master….i think.."
"for it to come to this…" Makarov spoke while starting to understand the reason for Ryujima's sudden arrival to Magnolia and his quick departure to where Natsu might be.
"Master! It's Gajeel and the others!" Levy suddenly cries out as everyone turns to here and they soon see Gajeel's group coming into the scene.
"gramps!" Gajeel called out while carrying Gray. "where's the old hag!? We got some injured and unconscious ones with us!"
"Haruka! Haruo! Get Porlyusica!" Makarov quickly told the twins who nodded before they scurried off to get the guild medic.
"you guys alright?" Levy asks as she helps Gajeel put down Gray.
"you could say that." Gajeel replied with a nod as he turns to where the battle still continues. "but Salamander is still fighting Acnologia on his own with his old man."
"what? what do you mean?" Makarov spoke out.
"the thing is.." Gajeel stated as he gives the brief explanation about Face being stopped by Chitetsu who gets Sayla to become his servant, and left to get to Natsu who finished his battle against Mard Geer, and now joins the battle of the dragons that still rages on.
"Face is gone…that's one thing off the list, right?" Alzack asks while trying to give some relief to the group.
"yeah, but we still got to worry about that Acnologia!" Laki stated with a fearful face. "that monster terrified us all and Natsu is facing him…"
"but Natsu can win right!?" Droy asks. "I mean, he fought against Acnologia head on at Tenroujima years ago!"
"right! If there's anyone who can face Acnologia on his own, it's Natsu!" Jet added in with a grin and a pumped up fist. "there's no way he would lose!"
"I don't think it's that simple." Lucy stated while looking down with a frown. "last time, he could battle against Acnologia because he used his Kojun, a technique that nearly killed himself to gain power to fight. He stopped using it after he failed to fight Acnologia the first time and now…"
"we just have to believe in him." Kagura spoke out sternly as she looks at the group. "Teacher fought battles that were life threatening before this! He will win! I know he will!"
Everyone looks at Kagura for a moment before the slowly nods their head, believing in Natsu that he can win against Acnologia.
Gajeel looks at the group before he turns and notices someone missing in the group.
"h-hey! That guy! where'd he go!?" Gajeel exclaimed as everyone looks at him and his group realized that Silver was gone. "he ain't here!"
"he was here a second ago!" Lucy stated as everyone begins to look for Silver, not knowing that the Ice Devil Slayer is now standing on the roof top of a building nearby before he turns and disappears.
"you guys!" Kagura called out as she looks to the sky far off the horizon, she points a finger while having a surprised face. "that!"
Everyone turns and looks at where Kagura is pointing as they soon became surprised when they see a large golden magic circle appearing in the distant sky that shows the stars and the moon.
"a magic circle? But the symbols inside it.." Lucy spoke out while Gajeel gets a pair of binoculars into his grasp and uses them to see the magic circle.
"hey, those symbols are from Lingyue!" Gajeel exclaimed as he passes the binoculars for Lucy who sees the symbols inside the magic circle.
"he's right!" Lucy stated.
"why is there a magic circle like that?" Makarov asked. "and why it's so big…"
Everyone looks at the large magic circle for a moment before they shielded their eyes as it suddenly glows bright like the sun and nearly brightened the entire night sky.
"s-so bright!" Wendy cries out as the light even reached Magnolia.
"just what in the world!?" Kagura exclaimed before the magic circle suddenly unleashed a huge pillar of golden light that instantly made the land rumble with a large earthquake.
"an earthquake!?" Lucy cries out as she with Wendy held each other in trying to balance themselves.
"for such an attack to cause the very land to rumble!?" Makarov exclaimed as he sees the pilar of golden light just growing its shining light even more before it slowly disperses.
After the light was completely gone, everyone just looks and began to think of what it was.
"what in the world was that light?" Lisanna asks.
"it was like Fairy Law…." Levy spoke out before shaking her head. "no, something even more powerful!"
"if Natsu is there when the light came…" Elfman stated before he looks around. "you guys think that it was from him?"
"It's possible." Lucy nods as she remembers that Natsu has the aid of Lingyue's 8 Celestial Guardian Spirits. "Draco and the others are powerful, and that attack might have been their combination attack."
Kagura looks to be pondering for a moment before she turns and begins running at the direction to where the last battle is taking place.
"Kagura-san!? where are you going!?" Wendy cried out.
"I'm going to where Teacher is!" Kagura replied while turning her head to glance at the others. "if he used such a powerful attack together with Draco and the other Celestial Guardian Spirits, he might be exhausted beyond his capabilities!"
"s-she's..right…" a voice grunted out as everyone turns and looks in surprise to see Erza waking up. "Natsu…he tends to always overexert himself in battles…he's…g-going to be exhausted and.."
"Erza, stay down." Makarov told the scarlet knight as Lucy and Wendy stops Erza from trying to get up.
"I'm f-fine…" Erza hissed a bit in pain as she looks at Makarov and then to the others. "we need to accompany Kagura,…..Natsu m-might be exhausted and injured terribly in h-his battle against Acnologia. We have to.."
"we got it." Gajeel nods before he looks at everyone. "anyone who is still fit and well, come with me and let's follow after Kagura!"
"right!" Elfman, Lisanna, Wendy, Lucy, and Charla responded as those five members plus Gajeel instantly goes after Kagura.
"there is no need to worry about that child."
A voice spoke out as everyone even Kagura stops when they heard it.
"this voice…" Wendy spoke out as the voice that had spoken sounded very familiar to her.
"Igneel and his son has brought a stalemate to their battle against Acnologia. They will come here in a minute or so."
"this voice..this scent…" Gajeel turns and looks up before he shows a shocked expression on his face. "it can't be!"
Everyone looks to the sky as they all become surprised beyond their own mind because four large winged beings started to descend from high above.
"G-Grandeeney.." Wendy whispers while crying in tears as the four winged beings are dragons of different elements but they are also the parents of the Dragon Slayers.
Back to the battle far away.
The land is completely charred and smoking as the attack that was unleashed by Draco and the other spirits caused the very terrain to change.
At one area there is Acnologia who is on the ground while growling but seeming in pain because his large stature is wounded and bleeding while his entire right arm is gone. The Black Dragon growls as there is a wide bleeding cut mark under his left eye that is glowing red.
Natsu stands upon Igneel's shoulder as he and his dragon father too looked exhausted with Draco and the other spirits who are in the air and are slowly disappearing into sparkles.
"for you to leave me in such a state.." Acnologia growls out while looking in complete anger against his foes. "I will destroy you all!"
"big talk coming from someone who is near death's door!" Igneel spoke out with a grin. "you can bark as much as you want, Acnologia. But we can tell that you're no longer have the strength to continue this battle!"
"Enryuo Igneel…" Acnologia growls before he turns and his left eye glows red in rage towards Natsu who glares back. "and you…." The Black Dragon's wings soon spread out and flaps once to let the Dragon of Chaos to hover off the land. "when the time comes. I shall destroy all dragons and everything of this world!"
Natsu and the others watch Acnologia hover off the land before the Black Dragon turns and flies away. Retreating from the battle because of no longer having any more power to continue his greed for destruction.
"seems that he decided to turn tail." Igneel stated as Natsu nods.
"but he's going to come back again." Natsu said while looking at his demonic right arm as he raise and grips his claws into a fist. "one day, he's going to come back and.."
"but he will return only when he has fully recovered his strength," Igneel stated "I would say that it would take one to two years with how much injuries we have inflicted upon him." he then looks at Natsu. "for now, rest is needed, Natsu."
"right…" Natsu stated before he turns and looks at Draco and the other spirits who are disappearing. "Draco…all of you, thank you for your actions today."
"it is in our duties to protect the world from the darkness as per to our contract with Kaguya." Draco spoke out as he is slowly disappearing into sparkles. "but now…we have exhausted ourselves beyond our limits."
"we shall be taking rest to the Celestial Spirit world." Houou stated. "but in the coming time, when our strength is replenished. We shall return to aid you in the next battle."
"but right now, do what you can to ensure safety to your land, Daimou." Byakko spoke out. "do what you must to ensure that the lives of your land, home, family, friends are all protected without our help."
"I know." Natsu nods. "thank you all for what you've done in this battle. Rest as much as you can."
"Do remember to tell your guild medic to use the herbs I have left for her in your guild's medical room." Genbu added in. "the lives of your inflicted comrades will depend on her skills to create the antidote."
Natsu nods before he sees all the spirits disappearing into sparkles as they left the human world and returned to theirs.
"the Blessings from the Stars, is it?" Igneel spoke out with a grin towards Natsu. "seems that your life being raised in Lingyue came as a blessing in disguise, did it not?"
"yeah.." Natsu nods with a small smile before his body pulses once and aches. "ugh!" he falls to his knees as the salmon haired mage grasps his chest. "n-not again!"
Igneel looks at Natsu for a moment before he notices something nearby.
"you are…?" Igneel spoke out.
Natsu continues to ache in pain before he felt the pain subside when he felt someone place a hand to his back. he turns and looks in surprise to see his father in law; Ryujima appearing behind him.
"Ryujima…-san?" Natsu whispers in surprise
"you're reckless as ever, boy." Ryujima spoke out as he looks focused to Natsu's back that has the old talisman paper placed upon its surface. The object's written inscription glows before it slowly disappears into the salmon haired mage's back. "do remember that if you injure yourself too badly, you will make my daughter and grandchildren cry."
Natsu looks at Ryujima for a moment before he smiles a bit and frowns a bit.
"I'm sorry." Natsu apologizes. "but I had to go beyond my limits to protect everyone and i…"
"you are to ensure that they are all happy as well!" Ryujima stated as he use his free hand to knock Natsu's head hard. "ever since I started to raise you those years ago, you never cease that reckless behavior of yours!"
Ryujima begins to scold Natsu as he continues to do so while Igneel watches in amusement.
'seems that you found yourself a great family, Natsu.' Igneel thought with a proud looking smile.
Meanwhile at a land just a few dozen miles way from where Natsu and the others are.
There is Zeref who stands and looks to the Fire Dragon King and his son before he smiles and chuckles a bit.
"he changed his fate, didn't he?" Zeref asks as he turns his head and looks at someone behind him. "he changed his fate while also distancing himself from you for the first time in years."
"is that supposed to be meaning something to me?" Chitetsu's voice spoke out as Zeref fully turns to face Sayla who just stands in silence without emotions but while holding and cradling the Cursed katana in her arms "he has done so many times over the years. This is nothing surprising."
"you say so, but I can tell that you plan something." Zeref stated. "something that lies in fate for both of you."
"perhaps, but whatever I plan to do has nothing do with you."Chitetsu replied while a dark shadow with glowing red sharp demonic eyes and a white fanged silhouetted mouth that grins devilishly and appears in the cursed katana's blade. "for now."
"for now…is it?" Zeref whispers before he squinted his gaze a bit. "do you plan to revive yourself with a new body? Or do you plan to return to Natsu and fuse with him when the time comes?"
"that is a secret that will be revealed when the time comes." Chitetsu cackles as while Sayla cradles his form, she is also holding the Book of END behind him. "and I'm certain that it is better for you to learn so in such time."
Zeref just stays silent in reply before he smiles and chuckles.
"in time, huh?" Zeref spoke out before his eyes turns dark and emotionless. "I suppose I should look forward to it…"
"indeed." Chitetsu cackles as his demonic shadow cackles in its blade but within its reflection reveals a dark realm filled with darkish red crimson flames that burns while surrounding a black silhouetted figure with demonic features while showing demonic blackish red eyes and having flames burning out of its fanged grin. "indeed, you should."
That's a wrap!
Bye bye