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Chapter 17: Awakening Nightmare
(Que Fairy Tail OP)
"The R-System." said Lucy, "No..."
Erza turned her attention to Lucy seeing a peculiar look in her eyes.
"What is it?" wondered Erza.
"I don't know but this place is related to Zeref somehow." said Lucy. It was a half-truth; she knew perfectly well of the connection of Zeref and the R-System, "I heard it once in my travels with Cynthia. It was a magic that was supposed to break the barriers of life and death."
"Now that you mention it," said Juvia, "ever since we've entered these waters, I've been getting this awful feeling. Like something isn't right here, and shouldn't be allowed to exist."
Cynthia nodded. "In one of our little 'raids' on a dark guild, there was one group that sought this R-System, also known as the Tower of Heaven, for their own ends since they worshiped the Black Wizard like a god of some kind. After all, he is - wasn't called the most powerful dark wizard ever."
"When my friend, Jellal went insane," said Erza, "he was so obsessed in reviving the wizard, but for what I don't know."
Lucy scowled to herself and thought. 'Fool. If only he knew that bastard is still alive. All this senseless suffering and slaughter for nothing. Damn you, Zeref.'
Cynthia held Lucy's tightening hand when she sensed her discomfort. Lucy looked down and her eyes expressed Cynthia's understanding and consoled the tension building up in the Demon Slayer.
"You sound like you have some vendetta against this Zeref guy." noted Gray. He could sense their killing intent at just the mention of him.
"You could say." Cynthia answered vaguely then turned to Erza, "And about your formal friends, I guess they are victims in this as well. No doubt this Jellal is so twisted, he turned them on you for his own goals."
"That's not true!" shouted a newcomer. They looked to the entrance and found Sho at the point of tears. "Why?! Why are you lying to them?!"
'This is just too sad and cruel to watch.' thought Cynthia, even by her hidden sadistic standards.
Sho began retelling the "truth" how Erza's magic was so volatile she burned down the ships that they were all trying to escape on. He began to shed tears from the traumatic betrayal. If the boy's sanity was this loose, it alarmed Cynthia how unpredictable he would act if Sho found out the truth.
'Good grief what a mess this Jellal has done here.' thought Cynthia, having a bitter taste in her mouth.
"Sho, it's true." said a dark, phantom-like voice.
From a veil of shadow appeared a giant of a man named Simon. He then went to explain that he knew the evil of Jellal and that he waited for someone strong enough to bring him down. That person he thought of was Natsu as he was a famous Dragon Slayer, but he also had high hopes in Lucy seeing how she broke the magic ropes with her fury. What kept Simon going all these years was the memory of Erza herself.
After hearing all of this, Sho was kneeling on the ground on all fours crying.
"So you knew all along?" asked Erza.
"I always believed in you, Erza." replied Simon, "I mean those words from the bottom of my heart."
Cynthia smirked. 'Oh yeah, I already know this guy is head-over-heels for Erza. Another victim to tease.'
Erza and Simon embraced. It was slightly awkward to see since Simon's height rivaled Makarov's with his Titan magic, but it was very sweet. Erza turned to the sobbing Sho, and embraced him as though she was comforting a sibling.
"What makes you think that Natsu can take down Jellal?" asked Gray, his tone obviously holding his suspicion.
Simon answered. "None of you can comprehend the extent of the Dragon Slayer that is Natsu Dragneel. Once he awakens the true dragon's power within, nothing can stand in his way."
Contray to that...
"A-CHOO!" sneezed Natsu in the inside of a cat helmet, "Ew, my head is stuck in this thing and I can't get it off!"
Natsu was too engrossed in trying to pry the cat head off of him to realize Millianna and Wally fighting over killing or sparring Natsu, or as the cat girl refers as the cute kitty.
(Time-Skip)
Simon, Cynthia, Juvia, Erza, Gray, and Lucy found themselves in a dark hall when a smooth voice halted them.
"I welcome you to the Tower of Heaven," said Jellal, "I am the one known as Jellal Fernandez, and welcome to Heaven's Game. As you may know, Erza Scarlet will be used as a sacrifice for us to open the gates to heaven. If you persist to stop me, all you have to do is to stop me and you win the game. Careful now, I may be outnumbered but I make up with quality for players on my side. And there's a time limit. If neither side is able to reach their goal in time, the Council shall launch an Etherion blast and all in the tower shall be obliterated."
"WHAT THE FUCK!?" screamed Cynthia.
Jellal concluded. "And so let the games begin."
When Jellal's voice wasn't heard again, it left a silence in the room. Simon broke the silence as he said, "Jellal could be anywhere in the tower. I suggest we split up and-"
He was cut short as Sho used his magic to trap Erza in a card, and ran off before anyone could stop him.
"Sho, what are you doing?" demanded Erza.
"Keeping you safe." said Sho, "I won't let him touch you."
"Wai- Dammit!" cursed Lucy.
"We can't stop him." said Simon, "I was wrong to think Sho could handle the truth. The best we can do is find Jellal before he does."
Lucy suddenly was distracted by her favorite aroma in the air. The spicy, cinnamon was no mistake to be Natsu, and by the smoky scent in the air he was currently in the middle of a fight.
"Natsu." spoke Lucy before she sped off in a random direction.
"Flamebrains are idiots in the end." grumbled Gray, "I'll get her if she gets in trouble."
"I'll follow." added Simon, "It is imperative we keep both Lucy and Natsu alive in this fight."
Soon, there was only Cynthia and Juvia left alone. Their faces faulted that their friends just left them like that in the dust. Juvia was sulking that her dear Gray didn't take her.
"Let's go." said Cynthia, pointing to a path that neither party took, "We have a chance still to find this Jellal guy and beat him to a pulp."
"Okay..." responded Juvia sadly.
"Aw, don't be like that." consoled Cynthia, stretching a hand to pat Juvia on the back, "If you beat Jellal, then Gray will be so happy for you."
Instanly, Juvia's gloomy mood brightened like the clouds parting for the sun. Before Cynthia knew it, Juvia grabbed her arm and dragged her down the hall with monstrous speed and strength.
"I shall defeat this Jellal for my Gray." stated Juvia.
'What did I get myself into?' cried Cynthia inwardly, shedding anime tears.
(Juvia and Cynthia)
The pair found themselves in an underground chamber damp from dripping sea water. Branching tunnels spotted the sides of the round chamber. For all Cynthia knew, most of these could lead them in a room flooded with water.
"Ugh, how did I get stuck with you?" grumbled Juvia, a bit upset she wasn't in the presence of Gray.
"You freaking dragged me!" screamed Cynthia.
There were interrupted by the loud screech of a stringing guitar above them. From one of the tunnels above, Cynthia and the God Slayer looked up to find what could only be described as a man with white face paint, black lips, and ridiculously long black hair. His attire was the most gothic with a bare white chest and blue pants even by Cynthia's standards as the two girls gave the man a deadpan expression.
"Really?" said Cynthia. (This was literally my reaction to this guy.)
"I am the wing of Trinity Raven." announced the man, making a disturbing motion with his tongue, "When they cry my name, Fedaldaz Taka, they are sure in pain."
Cynthia sighed. "Yep, I've basically had enough."
Cynthia and Juvia raised hands aimed at Taka and charged their magic. However, the shot of a gun sounded from another tunnel and the two paused to dodge a bullet crashing into the floor at their feet.
"That was a warning shot." said a gruffy, masculine voice. From another tunnel stepped a tall stick of a man with a black fedora and trench coat. Grey gloves adorned his hands, and a cigar could be seen ignited on the man's mouth. The bullet lodged in the floor glowed blue and careened through the air back to the owner.
"That's some impressive gun magic." noted Cynthia.
"Oh." said Taka, "I see you're one of those special solo mercenaries Jellal picked up. Brandon, right?" (With a name as generic as that, you know he's gonna die horribly.)
"I can easily point this gun at you and get a bigger cut." threatened Brandon.
Taka only laughed like a madman because he is one. He started that little jingle as his finger swapped between Cynthia and Juvia until he stopped on the rain goddess.
"Looks like you'll be my opponent bluenette." said Taka, to which Juvia accepted with a blank stare.
Cynthia looked up to Brandon. "I'll go take care of stick man."
After avoiding some shots from the gunner, Brandon retreated deeper into the tunnel. Cynthia climbed up using her Titan magic but all she saw was darkness. Her warning was a gun shot, and Cynthia managed to spring out of the way and the bullet grazed her thigh. She could just make out the shadow of Brandon just ahead, but she was too distracted as the bullet zipped in midair to change direction. It made it into Cynthia's thigh, making her cry out in pain.
"Fuck!" hissed Cynthia.
"I dread to think who you kiss with that mouth." noted Brandon in his empty voice.
"Only those who deserve it." Cynthia shot back, "Mirror Flower, Water Moon."
A gold magic circle glowed to life at Cynthia's feet. Brandon was already under the control of the spell as he fired in all directions under Cynthia's complete mercy. Or so she thought. Before she noticed, the walls glowed with a familiar blue light and Cynthia suddenly gasped in pain that tore through her whole body. From all directions, bullets rained down on the girl creating bloody wounds all over her body. One made its way through her mid-line.
After coughing blood choking her throat, Cynthia collapsed on the ground. Her blood pooled on the ground and she struggled to get up. Then, her movements stilled as though life had left her.
The bullets returned harmlessly to Brandon's hands and pockets, but he still had his glare on Cynthia. His hand reached into his coat and brought a vile of a silver liquid. He approached the "dead" Cynthia and poured the vial's contents on Cynthia. On contact the liquid sizzled with the pungent odor of cooked skin. The dead Cynthia suddenly revealed more than a little life in her eyes as she screamed in more agony than bullets going through her.
"FUUUUUUCK!" screamed Cynthia, "FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! IT HURTS, IT HURTS SO MUCH! AAAHH! MOTHERFUCKER, THAT - WHAT IS THIS STUFF?!"
"Don't play the fool with me." said Brandon, "The fact this is reacting to you gives me enough proof to what you are."
Cynthia said nothing as her vocal chords were stretched from the still unbearable pain that burned on her skin.
Brandon sighed. "If you won't admit it, then I'll say it. That was silver blood. A fickle thing to get; not everyone has the heart to hunt unicorns. Usually used as a rich commodity, its true purpose was lost to the centuries. But not to my guild."
"Aren't - you a - wizard!?" groaned Cynthia, "Who - are - you?"
"I am not a mage from some child's guild." said Brandon, "I am from one of the last true Hunter Guilds that remain in secret in the shadows of the world. We keep the true monsters and beasts of the nightmares that mankind has eased in tales to scare children. Ghouls. Fell beasts. Were-beings. Gheists. And undead. Such as you."
"I don't know." said Cynthia, "Feeling pretty fucking alive right now. Not so much since you shot me."
Brandon sneered and poured more of the silver blood on Cynthia, making her skin melt like acid.
"FUCK!" cried Cynthia, "YOU - CUNT!"
"Face it." said Brandon, "I had those bullets to puncture every vital organ at least three times. Any human whoever supernatural feat they claim to be would have no doubt died instantly. Yet here you are still running that mouth of yours, you filthy demon of the night."
Brandon kicked Cynthia with enough force to sever her jaw and hurl into a wall. As the dust cleared, Cynthia was still bloody and mangled, but managed to stay up with a crooked jaw. A sickening crack later and her jaw was fixed by itself.
"And there is the proof." announced Brandon, "We Hunters were sure that your kind were long gone from this world. Upon my honor, I shall slay where you stand."
"Honor!?" exclaimed Cynthia, her wounds somehow healing, "Don't make me laugh. And why so adamant to refuse to call out what I am? I'm not exactly proud of it myself."
"The very notion of speaking it leaves a sour taste in my mouth." Brandon said, drawing out two pistols, "Out of the horrid beasts, none are more foul, more cruel, more genocidal than you. The countless souls your kind have made playthings for. The unspeakable crimes against the very laws of nature and sky. I am sick of even looking at you!"
Hearing those words, Cynthia's stance became more healthy. She closed her eyes in concentration. Her left hand twitched as dark magic crackled like electricity at her fingertips.
"If you're so sick about it," stated Cynthia, opening her eyes to reveal her left pupil was like a moon, "then fucking do something about it."
"Tracer Bullets."
Brandon fired off a whole clip from each of his pistols, the bullets streaming through air at their own will. But Cynthia was somehow more keen than even regular human senses. She expertly dodged the storm of bullets. Some may have even gone through her heart, but the wounds quickly disappeared.
"Destruction Make: Night Bolt."
From her Cynthia's left hand, purple lightning blasted out destroying the hail of bullets as they arced forward. Brandon held out a silver star pendent that projected a white light that shielded it away.
"You really think that is going to save you?!" exclaimed Cynthia, dashing forward, "Destruction Make: Lightning Blade."
Her left hand was now a living concentration of purple lightning. With impressive speed, Cynthia darted through the bullets out for her and thrusted her left hand into the light shield. It impacted with the roar of thunder, but the shield failed and Brandon was flung back.
"Hide it away with fake names all you want." cried Brandon, calling back his pistols to recharge them via his guns, "We both know what that magic is."
Cynthia pouted. "I don't give a shit. It sounds cool. Destruction Make: Evil Space."
Reality itself bended to Cynthia's will. Spires shot out from all directions aimed at Brandon. The thin man nimbly dodged them, and a light from his palm negated the magic. Though the effort winded the hunter.
"You leave me no choice." said Brandon, as he withdrew his pistols and pulled out a hand cannon with room for one bullet.
"Uh, that's an awfully large gun you have there." noted Cynthia.
With a flick, Brandon dislodged the barrel where it hanged from a hinge. His free hand grasped a black box, which he unnecessarily crushed to reveal a silver bullet with a size to make Bisca and Alzack shit their pants.
"Forget the gun, what the hell are you doing with a miniature artillery shell?!" exclaimed Cynthia.
Brandon ignored Cynthia as he loaded the bullet into the hand cannon, and with another flick the gun clicked back into shape. Without a word, he sent out the bullet with a blast and it also whizzed with a mind of its own. It was too fast for Cynthia to avoid, and it past through her thigh like a drill, and left her skin to sizzle to prevent her from healing. It passed through her chest and so on, blood flowing everywhere.
"This is your end." stated Brandon as the bullet passed through Cynthia's jaw and neck, "And when I'm done with you, I am going to take care of that demon that you have around."
The finishing shot was going straight for Cynthia's mouth. At last second, the bullet suddenly flashed on impact before going passed Cynthia's lips. Brandon gasped in shock. The smoke cleared to reveal Cynthia holding the giant bullet by an array of sharp teeth.
"...Tha stwug a itte." said Cynthia before chomping down and the bullet turned to dust, "Now you've really got me a bit agitated."
A red glow appeared on Cynthia's wounds and they healed instantly. The air was so heavy with a magical pressure that Brandon sunk to his knees. When he looked back at that pale blue eye, his body shook from a cold sensation: fear.
"That should've killed you." Brandon managed to say.
"True if I wasn't abnormal even compared to my own extinct kind." answered Cynthia.
"Who-Who are you!?" exclaimed Brandon.
"You know," said Cynthia, slowly walking closer, "many like you have tried to kill my ancestors. Generation after generation the so-called elite hunters were sent out, only to fail so miserably in the end. I am the latest of that line and the result is the same, and it is because of one simple truth. Do you want to know why?" Cynthia's lips stretched in a menacing smile impossible for a human. "My full name is Cynthia... Slyvannia Vermillion."
At the word of "Slyvannia", Brandon froze on the spot. He landed on all fours and tried to crawl away like a rat. Cynthia sighed before blasting all four limbs with dark magic.
"Im-Impossible!" screamed Brandon, "You can't! You just can't be one of those! Those devils! There is no way this little girl is a - Carnstein!"
A visible tick mark appeared on Cynthia's forehead and spoke in cute but menacing. "You just - you just had to fucking say it. I was going to kill you quickly. But now - I'm going to keep you around for spare blood. You think you know nightmares? I'm going to remind you of the fear my family put self-righteous dipshits like you through."
Brandon only had the chance to scream before a shadow overtook him and dragged him into the darkness. The man's screams were then drowned by a mad cackle.
(Juvia vs. Taka)
Juvia wasn't having much luck with Taka. Her Water Body saved her from physical attacks, but her water magic was easily absorbed into that freak's hair. And she was getting tired of that awful music.
"Why can't you just die!?" cried Juvia, casting Water Nebula.
Taka only laughed as he dodged out of the way. "No way. You're too much fun. In fact, I'm going to keep you."
Taka started to string his guitar in a fast motion. Magic sparked off the strings in black coating that snaked around Juvia. On contact, she felt her mind numbing.
"Now you are all min-"
"NEVER!" screeched Juvia as black water exploded off her body.
The chamber was flooded with divine water and geysers pierced through the floor. In the center stood Juvia, twitching with fury toward Taka.
"How dare you!" cursed Juvia, "How dare you try make me some into sort of - property! I am not some weak-minded fool. I am Poseidon's daughter, and I won't let some arrogant bigot get away from defiling me!"
The chamber turned into a typhoon that made Taka's smile drop. They shredded through the walls of the chamber like butter, and even affected the wind.
"Sea God's Cleanse."
The divine water concentrated into Juvia's open palm. With a flick, it shot at Taka like a canonball, and he stood there in total fear in its way. On impact, the shot let off an explosion of black, foamy water that drenched the walls, but it did not quell the furious Juvia in the center of the room trying to calm herself down.
"Only my Gray shall ever have the courtesy." said Juvia.
Then, she remembered that Cynthia went into one of the tunnels above to face the other opponent. So far, she hasn't a single thing except gunshots, then nothing.
"Cynthia!" called Juvia, "Are you okay?"
After five seconds of crushing silence, Cynthia poked her head out with an "innocent" smile on her face. She extended her right arm and gave a thumbs up.
"Never better, Juvia." said Cynthia, "Good job taking care of the creep."
"HE-"
Before that word could be uttered, there was a bonk and a thud, but Cynthia still kept up that smile. Juvia didn't know why, but a chill went up her spine seeing Cynthia like this.
"I think we should split up." suggested Cynthia. Juvia nodded and Cynthia disappeared down the tunnel. Though Juvia didn't exactly agree with Cynthia. She just had this awful urge to stay the hell away from the Fairy Tail mage.
I love writing more with Cynthia. Really brings out the sadistic manner in me to full. Add in some of the usual cuteness and voila! For those who understand the reference in Cynthia's name, all I have to say is that I have no regrets and I don't give a single, flying shit and fuck about it!
Next Chapter 18: Spit My Natsu Out
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