Hi everyone Azza here.
Ok if you're here I'm assuming you read the last chapter so here is how speech between Igneel, Natsu and our demon friend will work from this chapter onward.
"Igneel."
"Demon."
"Natsu."
Nice and simple I know anyway I won't delay you all any further enjoy the chapter.
Reuniting With Family … And Yourself
"Igneel … it can't be … you're here!"
"Settle down Natsu I'll explain everything later I promise but for now we've got a major problem."
"Yeah you've got us out there getting killed by that Harbinger guy and he isn't just your average bad guy strong he's 'look at me I'm harnessing the powers of Achnologia himself' strong!"
"Um look I'm not really sure what's going on here, Igneel where are we and who is that guy?"
"Well Natsu we are inside your mind and as for him well … I think you'd better discuss that with him."
Ignoring the fact that Igneel just said they were inside his mind Natsu turned around to face the demon looking version of himself.
"So who are you exactly?"
"Well I guess I shouldn't be surprised you don't know who I am my existence has been expertly hidden, I am you … well I'm a part of you I guess. I am the result of experiments Zeref performed on you when you were a kid when you … died."
"I … died, Igneel is that true?"
"Yes you died a long time ago I'll get into the specifics with you later since you seem mature enough to know now, right now however we have but one thing to discuss.
"The Harbinger," Natsu sighed.
"Listen he isn't Felix anymore he's nothing but a puppet of Achnologia now."
"A puppet with monstrous power I might add."
"So what should I do I haven't come here before when I've gone unconscious so I'm assuming you brought me here for a reason?"
"Well yes we have a reason but it's important that we properly explain what we are planning on doing and why before you accept."
"But I thought there wasn't any time to waste?"
"You know Igneel Natsu always trying to settle things as quickly as possible, take my advice and hear us out alright then you can decide what your gonna do."
"Fine let's get it over with what are you guys planning?"
"Take a look over there Natsu at that black tower and tell me what you feel."
"I feel … nothing, no magic, life or anything abnormal about it."
"To keep things short let's just say that right there is where much of your power lies dormant, power that you would receive from me."
"I thought I'd forgotten something you said you were me but didn't elaborate on it," Natsu said as the other version of himself nodded.
"Yes I didn't say anything because you would probably have attacked me straight away once you found out who I was even though I'm not how you would think I would be. What you are looking at is E.N.D Natsu or as Zeref called us Etherious Natsu Dragneel."
"So I'm …. a demon … from the books of Zeref?"
"Yes and no see whilst we are a demon our power isn't able to be confined to a book like the rest since it is derived directly from Zeref's God like powers that he has, Zeref has this process where he can turn a human into a demon with regular black magic but with us he used his Ankhseram Black Magic to create us so we are far superior."
"But therin lies the problem Natsu you are E.N.D which means that your sole purpose should have been to kill Zeref however that wasn't the case and you proceeded to do whatever you pleased similar to how you do now completely oblivious to your own power."
"What Igneel is trying to tell you is that you have an ungodly amount of untapped power within you that you haven't been able to use both from me and him."
"So what's the plan then?"
"Well first off you are going to have to trust me when I say this but you're going to have to give control of your body to him until I've managed to explain things in greater detail and unlock your full power that was stunted when you pulled that Fairy Sphere stunt."
"Don't worry all I'll be doing is fighting that Harbinger bastard and Irene if she shows up other than that I'll be staying put."
"Well I guess that's fair so how do we do this?"
"Close your eyes and simply think about me having access and it should work."
Natsu nodded and a quiet pop was heard and E.N.D was gone.
"Alright Natsu now pay attention because there is much to discuss and I don't want to repeat it alright!"
Outside of Natsu's mind the Harbinger had placed Natsu's body on an altar when it suddenly became surrounded by Dark Magic.
"You continue to defy Lord Achnologia Natsu Dragneel the end is inevitable all life will be extinguished cease all resistance."
"Well now isn't that a nice little speech wouldn't it be great if I actually gave a shit."
As Natsu sat up his body began to morph and change into that of E.N.D however the hair kept some pink strands through it.
"Dark Magic signature matches Zeref, which demon are you," the Harbinger asked as he surrounded himself with black and green flames.
E.N.D simply grinned as he became surrounded in black fire. "Dunno if anyone really thought I existed but you're looking at E.N.D though unfortunately for you I won't let you run away, the stain of Achnologia needs to be purged from the world!"
"The mightiest of all Zeref's creations cannot even hope to stand against the power of the Dragon King, all life including those of Demon kind will be purged from the lands."
"Just try it pal I've been waiting hundreds of years for some action and I'm bursting with power!"
"So be it your sentence is erasure stand ready for the end, you face the Harbinger Famine with flames that spread disease and death across the land and scorching all in the name of the Dragon King."
"Yeah look that's great now bring it on!"
"Harbinger's Rite: Apocalypse Dragon's Sickly Flame."
The flames that had previously surrounded the Harbinger were suddenly shot towards E.N.D who simply grinned as it impacted him full force.
"Foolish these flames possess the power of famine which will infect all life with disease and eventual death to willingly allow yourself to be harmed by them is most foolish indeed."
"You really do talk a lot even though Achnologia barely speaks a word you know," E.N.D said as he emerged from the flames unharmed.
"This is illogical all life should be ruined by those flames."
"Hate to break it to you pal but I'm anything but logical, how could one who hasn't been touched by the Gods hope to stand against one that has been engineered for their destruction? That's right I am a being designed to kill Zeref who is a God which means in order to perform such an action I must be able to fight against him and all he has."
"In other words you possess traits similar to those of the Gods … it matters little the Gods themselves fear the power of the Dragon King that is why they cower in Terminus too afraid to come down and face him knowing that they would be torn from their thrones and consumed by the everlasting apocalypse."
"While that might be somewhat true it really doesn't matter Achnologia will be destroyed by Natsu and peace will return to Earthland once more, the time for talking is over Harbinger allow me to bring about your E.N.D!"
/Nearby Forest/
Elise had just arrived back at camp and was shocked at what she saw; Gildarts was struggling to hold back a large demonic looking creature whilst Erza, Wendy and Solomon attacked it from all sides with no effect.
"Damn what the hell is this thing made out of," Gildarts growled as the demon roared and began to thrash around in his iron grip once more.
"None of our attacks have any effect on it what do we do," Erza shouted as the demon locked eyes with Elise and stopped all movement.
"That can't really be …"
"YOU …. YOU MADE ME LIKE THIS YOU'LL PAY!"
Elise watched on in shock as time completely stopped in the area and the demon easily freed itself from Gildarts' grip before charging at Elise tearing up the earth behind it as it took off.
Elise blocked the strike with her forearm however there was much more force behind the blow than she'd anticipated and as a result she was sent flying through the forest tearing up the trees and dirt as she skidded to a stop.
"That can't be her she's using Time Magic, the Gods took it away from her when I brought her to Terminus she shouldn't be able to do this normally let alone on this scale!"
"COME AND FACE ME WAR GOD SLAYER PAY FOR WHAT YOU MADE ME BECOME!"
"I didn't make you this I left you with that Brandish woman from there I have no idea what happened!"
"LIES, ALL LIES! YOU'LL DIE FOR YOUR SINS AND PERHAPS THEN LORD ZEREF WILL GIVE ME MY LIFE BACK!"
"Zeref …. no way she became a demon because of him?"
Elise didn't have much time to ponder her thoughts as Dimaria rushed her once more, closing her eyes and reopening one of them she quickly matched the force of Dimaria's blow.
"I don't know what happened to you but you are a threat and must be eliminated, tell me though how are you able to use Time Magic when the Gods stripped you of all magic?"
"That's because I'm not using magic little Slayer … once I was turned into this I ceased being human and all those human limitations no longer applied to me. You want to know my magic … then come have a taste, Curse of Time: Paradox Impact!"
Dimaria hit Elise in the face sending her flying through the forest once again though Elise was shocked that the hit had done more than simply hurt her it seemed to have altered her in some way.
"What is this I'm not supposed to be susceptible to time related attacks?"
"Those rules don't apply when two opposites clash or didn't that War Goddess teach you that? Demons use what are known as Curses rather than regular magic which is drawn directly from the Devil Realm and you just took a hit from my Paradox Impact which will allow you the pleasure of feeling my blow a million different ways in a billion different realities!"
Elise grit her teeth in frustration knowing that this fight wasn't going to be easy when it suddenly dawned upon her.
"I can feel emotion … of course when the Paradox Impact hit me … could it have really allowed me to use it?"
Taking a breath Elise began to channel all her magic within herself as Dimaria stepped back, a bright white light engulfed Elise as her other eye opened and her appearance began to change slightly.
"Impossible you look just like-!"
"Like Eliza Goddess of War indeed and I have you to thank for it Dimaria. Somehow your Paradox Impact allowed me to feel emotion which is the next stage in my evolution, if you thought I was trouble before then you have no idea what you are in for now."
"When we last fought you turned into something similar to this though you could just be bluffing?"
"Well for starters last time there was a black aura which signifies my emotion being purged from my body however the clear light represents clarity, to put things simply you might have become stronger but it won't matter in the end as I am now I should be more than a match for you."
"Don't you dare underestimate me!"
"Wouldn't dream of it after all you were the one who granted me the means to enter this state which in all honesty I didn't think was possible at least not in my youth."
Dimaria just growled as she rushed Elise who stood there her blood red eyes boring into her. "Curse of Time: Paradox Impact!"
"War God's Armageddon Fist!"
The two attacks clashed as a large crater quickly emerged with the two firmly in the centre both pushing against the others attack causing powerful gusts of wind to fly out of the crater.
"Give up Slayer and keel over I will have my revenge!"
"You started this Dimaria, joining a madman like Zeref and agreeing to attack the people of Scarlione with no real reason. You brought your fate upon yourself perhaps one day you might realize that … assuming that I let you live of course."
Dimaria just began to roar as the others arrived at the edge of the crater.
"What the hell is going on one minute she was fighting us and the next minute she's down there fighting Elise, speaking of Elise she looks just like Eliza," Erza said as Gildarts kept his Crash Barrier up in front of the group.
"All of you leave this to me and go find Natsu he's fighting Irene Belserion by himself he sent me back to get you all!"
Gildarts cursed at the name but stopped Erza who was about to run off to look for Natsu. "You can't Erza, none of us can."
"What the hell are you saying Gildarts that we leave Natsu to his fate!"
"We have no choice Irene is leagues above even me hell it took a woman who could harness the countries power to take her on, sorry Erza but I won't let any of you get put in harm's way."
"I'm not just going to leave him to die I'm-!"
"Remember what Natsu and I said when we came here, should a situation ever arise where one of us tells you all something is beyond you that you would listen to us without question, Erza Irene is beyond us all the best thing we can do is help Elise and then get the hell out of here!"
"No you just need to run this fight isn't an ordinary fight it's a fight between a Demigod and a Demon all of you are in great danger," Elise shouted as both she and Dimaria separated from their clash and began to trade blows in the blink of an eye.
"No way was that thing that fast before," Gildarts said shocked before regaining his composure. "Alright you heard her we've got to get going!"
As Gildarts and the others began to get clear of the crater Gildarts suddenly looked up to see a mountain falling on them.
"Empyrean!"
With his one arm Gildarts punched above him and sent a massive surge of Crash Magic towards the mountain sized object causing it to be diced into small cubes and falling harmlessly around them.
"What was that," Solomon asked confused as Gildarts pointed ahead.
"Why don't you ask her."
"Good Gods the Country Demolisher Brandish!"
"None of you can escape Irene's orders. Honestly fighting you all will be such a pain so could you all just line up so I can make it quick?"
"Damn this is really bad, I don't know if I can take her with only one arm," Gildarts said with a frown as Solomon drew his sword.
"It has been a few months since I last fought against a Spriggan I'll back you up, Erza take young Wendy and get back to the mountain base Illyandra needs to know what's happening!"
"But-!"
"No but's you two are the future generation let us old fossils put it all on the line so that you might live, and miss Scarlett … thank you for helping Natsu."
Erza looked at the two who faced down Brandish. "Come on Wendy let's go."
Wendy who was already in tears from hearing Natsu might be dead then being forced to watch Elise begin her own fight was nearly shattered, Erza sighed as she picked her up and began to run into the forest.
"Gee making a little girl cry you lot really aren't that nice huh?"
"You shouldn't have brought a child into a war zone Gildarts Clive," Brandish replied as the three began to exert their magical power.
"If we make it through this I'm gonna need a lot to drink," Gildarts sighed.
"That makes two of us old friend, it is a shame the entire group isn't able to share one last drink as comrades."
"Dunno with the two of us I'm liking our odds you reckon we're screwed?"
"I do not know what to think only that we must buy time to save the young ones."
"Good point," Gildarts said as his magic began to flare all around him. "Guess there isn't any use in holding back anymore huh?"
Solomon just nodded as he began to hover above the ground and a golden Magic Circle appeared underneath him.
"Old people are so bothersome," Brandish sighed as she picked up a small stone and threw it at them. The stone suddenly became as big as a boulder but Solomon easily cut through it with one swing.
"So that really is her power to enlarge and shrink objects at will most troublesome indeed."
"She can enlarge herself too trust me I've seen it."
"Well this isn't going to be fun then again we always seem to find trouble like this."
"Gildarts Clive S Class Mage of Fairy Tail and a mage rumoured to be as strong as the Ishgar Four and Solomon Toukai one of the last Battlemages left on Ishgar, troublesome indeed."
"Hey you confronted us you know," Gildarts said as Brandish shook her head.
"We are nothing but pawns in a much bigger game one that has raged for hundreds of years at least, do you feel that over there atop the mountain?"
Solomon and Gildarts quickly realized the two types of magic erupting from atop the mountain and couldn't believe it.
"The Dragon of the Apocalypse … Achnologia …"
"And … such negative magic could only be a … Demon …," Gildarts and Solomon muttered as Brandish nodded.
"Like I said there are forces at work we cannot comprehend, honestly I'd rather be napping on some nice sunny beach somewhere but orders are orders.
The three began to flare their magic once more before rushing each other in the blink of an eye.
/Elise's POV/
The entire area was barren as shockwaves let loose powerful gusts of wind that tore up all the trees sending them flying off into the distance, in the centre of the wasteland were Elise and Dimaria who were trading blows at a frantic pace.
"You continue to resist little Slayer even after all my polite warnings!"
"Nothing polite about them all you've done is screech and roar like a rabid beast," Elise shot back as her sword clashed with Dimaria's scale covered arm.
"You cannot hope to win against me for I have been touched by Zeref's magic there isn't anything in this world more powerful!"
"But you know he's still scared shitless of Achnologia," Elise muttered under her breath before breaking off the clash. "You probably have no idea what you even are anymore, the power you wield is no longer of this world similar to mine. Yours is a power that has no place here and never will."
"And who are you and those foolish Gods to decide such a fate for people like us, like Lord Zeref! We demon kind who are scorned for simply existing!"
'Her mind is warping to that of a typical demon, so this is the power of Zeref to rob a human of their own will and replace it with one loyal only to him whilst also granting them the sense that they are real demons when they are nothing but hybrids destined to be shunned by both Gods and Demons.'
Elise was drawn out of her monologue when a golden fist hit her square in the jaw sending her through several trees.
"I suppose I should put my thoughts to the side for the moment I am fighting a demon of Zeref after all," Elise sighed as she blocked another strike from the monstrosity in front of her.
"Fall to Etherious, Curse Of Time: Distortion Grenade!"
Elise noticed that Dimaria's fist had left a small bubble on her arm which began to rapidly expand quickly enveloping her, inside the bubble she was bombarded with hundreds of explosions.
Gritting her teeth she began to expel her magical power and channelled it to her sword, slowly she managed to raise her sword above her head and she brought it down slicing through the bubble setting off a large explosion.
"To slice through time … definitely the work of one with the powers of a God," Dimaria growled as Elise emerged with some burns and cuts on her body.
"You know that was pretty low then again you are an abomination so I guess I shouldn't be surprised, I was preoccupied with my thoughts before but I won't be making that mistake twice."
"Keep talking yourself up little Slayer even with this supposedly mastered form of yours you've failed to deal any real damage to me!"
"Like I said I was holding back … but not anymore."
Elise's aura began to shift and the ethernano that once surrounded her changed from a dark blue colour to black.
"Demons aren't the only ones to have access to their own type of magic, Etherious is but one of the many forms magic can take. The magic only those who are either Gods or have strong connections to a God can use simply known as the Gods Aura is one that can match Etherious."
"So the rumour sais … but from what I've seen it isn't even close," Dimaria said in a cocky attitude.
Elise raised her sword which was now covered in the black aura and pointed it at the demon who was no longer laughing.
"Gods Aura: War Gods Fissure Slicer."
From the edge of the blade a large blast of pure magic burst forth and began to tear up everything in front of it until it reached Dimaria.
"What type of attack is that!"
'She wouldn't know because she isn't a true demon just a mere imitation, Zeref's creations may be able to tap into Etherious but they will never hold such power.'
Dimaria had dodged the attack and looked at the results of it in shock, from where the tip of Elise's sword began right up until where she had been standing was a large fissure which now scarred the landscape.
"Do you now understand the difference Dimaria, the one who was playing God and the one who was actually earning said title?"
"You know nothing, Curse Of Time: Time Disruption Dome!"
A large dome formed around the two and Elise could tell it had the purpose of keeping her in place as Dimaria began to race around.
"You are nothing compared to his power, to the power of Etherious!"
"Three."
"You will perish here fall beneath the might of Zeref!"
"Two."
"Then he will march on Fiore and tear those fools off of their ivory thrones and plunge it into a thousand year darkness!"
"One."
"The entire world will be consumed by his will and then it will march onto Terminus and the Gods themselves will bow before the might that is Lord Zeref-!"
"Zero, God's Aura: War God's Shatterpoint Strike."
To Dimaria Elise had moved in slow motion, her demon instincts screamed at her to run, to get away as far as she could or death would be upon her in moments. Unfortunately for her it was already too late, Elise had held her sword next to her and pivoted her sword back until it was next to her body and began to run towards her.
In slow motion Dimaria watched as she slowly swung the sword out in front of her with such cold unfeeling eyes as the entire space within her dome began to shimmer and crack before being sliced in half.
Then as if on cue she slowly felt pain begin to hit her chest as a thin line began to trace its way around her until it had almost reached the end, looking at Elise who simply stared at her with the same cold unfeeling eyes of crimson she almost laughed.
"So this … this is the power of a God."
With those words her body was cleaved in half and blood sprayed out of her body however it was blown back by the force of the attack and continued to follow the attack which began to slice through everything behind it only stopping close to the mountain.
Elise walked over to the now severed body of Dimaria who was looking at her with eyes that displayed acceptance.
"You know I will reform don't you?"
"Perhaps but not here, you have lost Dimaria."
"Maybe but even so Zeref will ultimately win even now his will is being carried out on top of the mountain, do you feel it little Slayer … it's him."
Elise focused her attention on the mountain and felt two signatures clashing that both horrified her to her core.
"You understand don't you, one bares the gift of the Dragon of the Apocalypse whilst the other is Zeref's greatest triumph."
At that statement Elise focused her full attention on Dimaria's words when the demon hybrid began to laugh.
"That's right little Slayer his final greatest masterpiece has finally awoken the only Demon he was able to create that was as real as any of the others in Tartaros! E.N.D has returned and proving his power by crushing a Herald of Achnologia and with it will wage a campaign of death, destruction and chaos across the realms … it will be glorious!"
Dimaria began cackling madly before fading into a black mist as Elise began to run towards the mountain only to fall flat on her face.
"Well … looks like that took a lot more out of me than I thought," Elise panted as she heard footsteps behind her.
"You really do make me proud Elise never did I think you would access Gods Aura even if it was for a minute at best, I couldn't ask for a better daughter."
"Mother ….," Elise sighed before falling into unconsciousness.
"Rest now dear things are about to get very heated, Natsu you'd better have a good plan."
"Of course he has a good plan he's the son of a Dragon!"
"Xicor excuse my lack of faith but being the son of a Dragon only makes me more worried, he's discovered E.N.D and it has taken hold."
"Shows how little you really know sometimes Eliza though you are still a rookie so mistakes like that are bound to happen."
"So what exactly am I missing here?"
"E.N.D didn't just magically take hold Natsu willingly allowed it to happen, I don't know how or why but they are working together and Igneel is in on it too!"
"Well now that is a rather …. Interesting development, so what do you plan to do?"
"Nothing for the moment after all Lykyria assured me that he still has a ways to go before he masters his Gravity Dragon Slaying Magic so thrusting another set of powers onto his shoulders too soon could send him down the same path as-."
"That won't happen Natsu is nothing like that thing," Eliza said quickly as Xicor let out a low rumble.
"Everyone said that about him too and look at the result … then again the boy has proven his worth time and time again even if we never asked him for it."
"I'm not telling you to do anything Xicor just … just watch him something about him seems to scream legend."
"Is it that ridiculous pink mop of his," Xicor said with a low laugh as Eliza chuckled.
"Perhaps … anyway there is another battle I am keen to observe so if you don't mind we'll have to cut this conversation short."
Eliza looked over in the distance as rocks the size of mountains were being hurled at the ground and either being sliced up or shattered into bits.
"Yes that does look like an interesting fight but what about the boy?"
"What about him?"
"Well he's awakened E.N.D aren't you at least a little curious as to what he can do?"
"Well maybe just a little … but I can't risk Elise going near there in her current state."
"Ah yes she was the one who tapped into the God's Aura earlier wasn't she oh boy that had everyone shocked I'm surprised you aren't back here rubbing people's faces in it."
"Oh don't worry Xicor plans are in place but for now I want to make sure that she has somewhere safe to recuperate, if she can now tap into the God's Aura then she's going to be ready for her next stage of training soon."
"Your successor then?"
"We'll see she's a million miles away from that but we'll see," Eliza said with a smile as she and Elise disappeared into a portal.
/Gildarts and Solomon's POV/
"You know a kid her age having this much power is pretty terrifying," Gildarts said as he fended off another rock turned mountain.
"What about young Natsu he clearly has power on a similar scale?"
"True true but does he throw mountains at people?"
"Perhaps not," Solomon replied as a large fist impacted the area in between them.
"Are you two going senile this is a battle not a meeting at the old folks home?"
"Hey fuck you I'm only in my late thirties," Gildarts shouted.
"Well she's got me there I'm in my late fifties," Solomon replied with a laugh.
"You two geezers are so annoying at first I didn't want to fight you but now the two of you are really starting to piss me off!"
The two collectively sighed as another mountain sized rock was thrown at them, this would be a long day.
Hope you all enjoyed it and I'll see you in the next one.