A/N: ModernRogue11 here and Happy Holidays. It's been nearly two months since my last chapter and for that, I'm sorry. There was just too much stuff at work that needed my attention. Since it was the end of the year, my workplace needed to submit year-end reports so my focus was more on completing those reports than finishing this chapter. It feels so good to finally publish this and continue the story. I'd like to thank everyone for waiting patiently for this chapter so, without further ado, here is the continuation.
Chapter 16: Secrets Revealed
Natsu and Lisanna shared a glance before returning their gaze to the young girl in front of them. To say they were shocked would be an understatement. Madeline Dragneel, as she revealed, claimed to be their daughter from the future. The bewildered mages don't know whether to believe or dismiss the words of this stranger. But looking at her, all of them could see the resemblance to her supposed parents. She had Lisanna's face and bright sapphire eyes while inheriting her father's wild, untamed salmon-colored hair. It was truly uncanny.
"… You're our daughter?" Natsu asked, breaking the silence that pervaded the atmosphere.
"I am," the girl replied with a weak and tired smile. "I came here to warn you…."
"Warn us of what?" Lisanna questioned, not at all expecting something like this to come out of the time traveler's mouth.
"The future…this kingdom…is…in danger…."
Madeline's answer came to an abrupt end when she suddenly lost consciousness. Seeing her like this, Natsu and Lisanna felt a tug in their hearts as they quickly rushed to the falling girl. Lisanna got there first and managed to catch her before hitting the ground. Natsu was already by the young Strauss' side when she laid the sleeping girl gently onto her lap.
"Is she alright?"
Lisanna could hear the concern behind Natsu's voice. Looking over the child that claimed to be their daughter, she could see the fatigue all over her face. She was so young, yet she had to go through so much to be in this state.
"She's tired," the younger Take-Over answered. "Natsu?"
"What is it?" the dragon slayer asked.
"Do…do you believe what she said? That she is our daughter from the future?"
"She has our scent, Lisanna," Natsu revealed. "I'm not sure if what she said was true, but I'm sure about her scent."
"This girl..." Karin walked up to the two mages with her sister and the other members of Fairy Tail behind her. "This girl has a considerable amount of spiritual energy."
"What do you mean?" Mirajane asked as she passed the Soul Reaper, kneeled beside her sister, and curiously observed her supposed niece.
"She's like Orihime," Yuzu answered for her twin, gaining some surprised and curious looks from the others. "That scarf of hers is tied to her spiritual energy. It's like all her emotions and resolve are in that fabric she's wearing like Orihime's hairpins."
"Meaning?"
"She's a Fullbringer," Yuzu answered with certainty.
While the others were baffled to find out the girl was like Orihime, Lisanna was more concerned about Madeline's well-being. "Wendy!" she called the young dragon slayer. "Please do something to make her feel better."
"Right." Wendy did as told and placed her hands on the unconscious girl's chest. "Whatever she's gone through, she's lost so much energy," the bluenette remarked. "It'll be a while, but Madeline will be alright."
"Thank goodness," Lisanna let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Let's get her out of here. We need to get back to the inn so she could get a better place to rest."
"Let me carry her," Natsu offered, which Lisanna quickly accepted. Placing his arms under the girl's knees and the base of her neck, he gently lifted her and carried her in a bridal fashion. He looked to Lisanna, whose eyes share the same emotion as his own, a mixture of confusion, doubt, and concern. "She'll be alright, Lisanna," he assured. "If she is our daughter, then we'll take care of her…the two of us."
Lisanna gave him a warm, bright smile before her eyes fell onto the slumbering girl in Natsu's arms. She ran a hand over Madeline's hair, brushing away the strands so she could get a good look at her. Her eyes then turned to everyone else and gave them a nod, signaling that it was time for them to leave.
Kagura ducked under the swing of a massive Khyber sword strapped to a long piece of cloth. The gigantic weapon nearly managed to hit her, cutting a few strands of her hair that stood up while she got down. She didn't notice a second sword, this time shaped like a trench knife, flying to her directly from the owner. The swordswoman raised her weapon to block the incoming projectile just in time. Upon contact, Mermaid Heel's ace felt the impact like a dragon swinging its tail at her, and with a surprised yelp, she went crashing into a random house.
Ichigo pulled back both blades of Zangetsu and spun the larger one beside him while holding the smaller one firmly in the other. He looked to the other mages he engaged, taking note of their wariness of him. The reaper caught a glimpse of Kagura, who had just gotten up from being sent into a building. Despite what seemed like a severe attack, the Gravity Magic-user stood pretty much unscathed.
The confrontation began not long ago, about ten minutes in; after all, six wizards converged in the plaza. There were brief exchanges early on, magic and fists flying everywhere to defeat the other. Ichigo could say that these five were indeed the best their respective guilds could offer. From Jura the Iron Rock to the Light Dragon Slayer, he was getting the fight he wished. Still, Ichigo knew that their showing was far from their actual prowess. They were holding back.
"How about we cut to the chase and just go all out?" the Kurosaki patriarch remarked, raising some eyebrows. "I know all of you are holding back. If you think I wouldn't notice, then all of you are wrong."
"I could say the same thing to you, Ichigo Kurosaki," Jura retorted.
"True," Ichigo admitted. "But I'm only holding back because all of you are doing the same thing."
"Fair point."
"So, what are you suggesting?" Ichiya questioned, curious about the reaper's intentions.
"We cut loose," Ichigo answered. "Cut this warm-up and give the audience a fight worth their money."
"I like that idea," Bacchus expressed. Hearing the suggestion made his blood boil in excitement.
While the others seemed to respond positively, Kagura and Sting were unresponsive. Their gaze was focused on the other competitors, more so on Ichigo than the rest. In their eyes, he was the biggest threat in this collective. Giving anything less than their best would be wrong, considering this individual was a relative unknown in the magic world. That said, they will keep most of their skills secret to give them an advantage.
"I'm going to force the two of you to give your all in this fight."
The two tense wizards snapped from them, pondering when Ichigo spoke up.
"I know what you're thinking," he began. "You're thinking that you can't beat me if you don't go all out but decided to keep some of your skills hidden to get some sort of advantage over me."
Wide-eyed, Kagura and Sting then narrowed their eyes on the black-clad reaper. How he figured out their strategy was baffling.
"It seems that no matter what kind of approach I could think of to fight you, it still would be useless," Kagura commented. "You're just too perceptive, Kurosaki."
"How did you even find out what's in our mind?" Sting asked with slight wonder and confusion.
"That brief exchange earlier told me a lot about you," Ichigo replied while his gaze moved from mage to another, "…all of you."
"So, there's nothing we can hide from you?"
"I wouldn't say that. But when it comes to fighting, my instincts are rarely wrong."
"You don't say…."
"So," Ichigo's spinning blade came to a halt, and he gripped the handle firmly. "What will it be?"
"I guess with all things considered," Jura stood tall while looking over the others. "We should give the people the spectacle they've been waiting for since the start of the contest. And I, for one, have been eager to test all of you with all my power." The bald monk's gaze then landed on one specific person. "Especially you, Ichigo Kurosaki."
The mentioned reaper grinned in satisfaction. It seems that Kenpachi's influence was rearing its head. "Then I wouldn't have it any other way."
Just as those words left his mouth, the air surrounding the combatants became heavy. They sense each other's magic slowly rising, building up to levels beyond the standard mage. The sensation itself was making Ichigo's hairs on the back of his neck stand up straight. He was excited. Finally, the mages unleashed their magic power. Columns of bright, magical power burst from their bodies like a fountain. The ground they stood on cracked, and the air became saturated with energy.
Not wanting to be outdone, Ichigo's spiritual power shot up. A torrent of black reiatsu towering over the mages' power, all the while flickering with red whisps. The display didn't deter the wizards. It only made them even more motivated for this fight.
They stood ready; weapons, fists, and spells all prepared for the eventual battle. Their energies slowly dwindled, eventually fading, yet the attention given to each other did not falter. Everyone was ready, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
They all moved at the same time. Ichigo stopped for a moment to realize that all mages were heading in his direction. No surprise there. Reacting quickly, he held his giant sword in front to block an unsheathed slash from Kagura while throwing the smaller one at Bacchus, causing the drunken mage to avoid the weapon, thereby halting his advance. Jura summoned multiple rock spires in his direction. Ichigo jumped to avoid a rather pointy dilemma and sensed a presence behind him. Maneuvering his body, he came face-to-face with Ichiya, all muscled up and ready for a decisive blow. Fueling himself with spiritual energy, Ichigo felt his arteries empowered, a sign of Blut Arterie. When the Blue Pegasus mage threw his punch, the reaper managed to catch it, much to the wizard's surprise. The reaper then chucked the muscular man into the street, creating an indentation on the pavement while safely landing on the ground. His senses once again were in red alert, feeling a large amount of power gathering. Ichigo looked to the source and saw Sting inhaling deeply, charging for a breath attack. He raised his hand, index and middle finger pointing forward. Spiritual energy began converging on the tips of his finger, slowly becoming more extensive and illuminating the area with a vibrant red glow.
"Light Dragon Roar!"
The attack tore through the air like a beam, headed straight to Ichigo with the intent to hinder. Realizing the reishi he gathered for the attack was enough, the reaper let it loose.
"Cero!"
The reishi-charged blast met with Sting's signature spell. The collision created a shockwave that blew chunks of the ground and shattered the glasses on the windows of buildings. The mages not in the power struggle covered their eyes from the intensity of the two warring energies.
The attacks eventually died down, giving the wizards some respite from the powerful collision of magic and reishi.
"Do any of you have a good reason why you five decided to gang up on me?" Ichigo questioned the mages even if he knew the answer already.
"As far as I can see, you're the biggest threat in this entire tournament," came from Bacchus.
"Besides Jura, none of us can defeat you in a one-on-one fight," Sting reasoned.
"How'd you figure that out?" Ichigo inquired.
"Your power," Kagura answered for everyone. "Not just that, but also your strange sword style and abilities not yet seen in the magic world. All of this makes you a wild card and the most dangerous fighter in the entire tournament. If there were ever any chance to win the Grand Magic Games, it would have to be after your defeat."
The reaper listened to their words and nodded, finding their explanation sufficient. "So, what are you going to do about it?"
"Our chances of victory will be better if you're out of the picture; therefore, we must defeat you." Kagura held a firm stance, her form in a quickdraw position. The other wizards did the same thing, ready to pounce on the orange-haired swordsman.
Ichigo let his reishi flow through his veins, eliciting blue lines to appear on his skin. He also allowed his reiatsu to gather over his body, tempering his Hierro to strengthen its already impressive durability further. "No point in holding back now," he thought as his grip on both blades of Zangetsu, the shorter one he just got after throwing, tightly. He closed his eyes and opened them, revealing a pair of eyes with golden irises over black sclera's. The sight unnerved the mages, causing the hairs on their backs to stand up in alarm. There was just something about those eyes that was unsettling. "Smart move," Ichigo remarked as a grin spread across his face. "Bring it on!"
Madeline could feel that she was moving. The wind rushing over her face was proof enough. However, the strange thing was that it wasn't of her own volition. Someone was carrying her. Strong arms held her while she slowly recovered from her sudden fall to unconsciousness. Opening her eyes, she could see the person who had her while she was asleep. Squinting to dispel the lingering doubt in her mind, she came to realize that she was in the arms of her father.
"Papa?"
Hearing Madeline's voice quickly shifted Natsu's attention. "Don't move, Madeline," he advised. "We'll get you out of here and go somewhere safer."
"We?" the child asked. She looked behind her father to see Lisanna and the rest of the rescue team running behind Natsu. "Mama?"
"You're awake," Lisanna says in excitement. "Just rest for a bit. Everything's okay now."
"No, it's not," Madeline retorted. "You don't understand. Things will get worse, and I need to tell you right now."
"I'm sure whatever it is, it can wait," Natsu assured his daughter, but it only made her more agitated.
"I need to tell you right now because the disaster will happen today!"
That got everyone to stop running and look at the young girl.
"Today?" Lucy questioned.
"Today," the time traveler repeated in affirmation. She was gently put down by Natsu, but she still clung to her father. "I came here to warn you of an impending disaster."
"Okay, Madeline," Karin called while stepping forward, coming into view of the young Dragneel. "What is this disaster you were going to warn us about?"
Madeline was silent for a moment, recalling the events that led to her traveling back to the past. "All of you know about the Eclipse Gate and how it works, right?" she asked to which the others nodded. "I used the gate to come here and warn all of you that on midnight, July 7, the whole continent of Ishgar will face destruction. A swarm of ten thousand dragons will attack Crocus. The palace will crumble. The city will burn. The country will face decimation, and countless lives will be lost."
They were speechless.
Ten thousand dragons would destroy everything. All their friends and loved ones would be in grave danger if this were true.
"Madeline," Lisanna approached the child. "Is it true?"
"It is, Mama," Madeline answered, her voice quivering as painful memories came rushing back. "I was born three years from now, and every day was a fight for survival. I never knew if we'd live another day when countless dragons were roaming the world hunting us down. However, the dragons weren't the only calamity that fell onto the world."
"What could be worse than dragons?" Happy questioned.
"About a year after the attack, the Eclipse Gate malfunctioned. The accumulated spiritual energy was too much. Because of that, it opened a portal to a separate dimension to release some of its excess power. That portal was the reason why a disaster far worse than dragons ravaged the world."
Karin and Yuzu became tense once they heard "spiritual energy" uttered. A nagging feeling came crawling into their heads when they came to an idea of what this dimension Madeline was speaking. Both Soul Society and Hueco Mundo got destroyed during the war. That leaves only one realm untouched by all the fighting.
"It's Hell, isn't it?" Karin asked, looking for confirmation.
"It is," the girl answered.
The Soul Reaper ran a hand over her head, trying to comprehend the severity of the revelation. Yuzu was the same, albeit more horrified, as an encounter from her past with the denizens of Hell still lingered in her thoughts.
The others who were shocked before were now outright terrified. It was bad enough that the world would fall to thousands of dragons. Hearing creatures from Hell would wreak havoc just made everything hopeless.
"This is a catastrophe," Panther Lily uttered in sheer terror.
"H-Hell?" Lucy stuttered.
"Oh, my," Mirajane exclaimed while covering her mouth.
Wanting to know what kind of creatures appeared from Hell as well as putting her suspicions to rest, Yuzu came up to Madeline and asked, "What were the creatures that came through the portal?"
Madeline was hesitant, but she replied, nonetheless. "The 'Chained Sinners.'"
"Togabito," Yuzu muttered in dread before adding, "I was afraid you'd say that." She then walked to her twin and shared a look of concern. "None of them can survive an encounter with a Togabito, especially the ones that come from Hell's lowest levels."
"I know," Karin agrees.
"Ummm…" Yukino slowly made her way to the twins and asked, "What are these Togabito? Are they demons?"
"They're far worse," Karin replied, rattling her niece from her answer. "They are the sinners meant to suffer for all eternity in the depths of that damnable place."
"At least it isn't ghouls…." Yuzu remarked offhandedly.
"Ghouls?" Lucy muttered, not liking the prospect of other eldritch entities existing.
"Let's not go there," the Quincy dismissed. "I don't like thinking about those monstrosities any more than you do."
"Madeline?" Lisanna called her daughter. "Can you tell us more about what happened?"
Madeline didn't respond. The white-haired mother took that as a sign that she asked for something sensitive…maybe even painful.
"Maddie." The pink-haired girl looked up to her mother and saw the same blue eyes as hers radiating sympathy. "It's alright if you don't want to. We won't force you."
"It's okay," the girl reassured. "You need to know everything." Mustering all the courage she had, the girl from the future continued to tell her tale. "After the dragons and monsters from Hell appeared, it all went downhill from there. The strongest mages from Fairy Tail faced off the initial wave and they all died. After that, we went into hiding. It was the time when I was about to be born when Papa lost his life." That revelation shocked Natsu but it didn't stop there. "Papa took on a hoard of one hundred dragons and managed to kill some. However, he was eventually overwhelmed.
"Mama then took care of me until I was ten years old. Somehow, before I was born, she was bitten by a hollow, and that in turn turned me into a Fullbringer."
"I knew it," Karin muttered after her theory was proven true.
Madeline then looked at the two Kurosaki twins. "It was under the guidance of sensei Karin and sensei Yuzu that I was able to harness my spiritual powers." This revelation caused a smile to appear on the twins. "Sadly, I wasn't allowed to fight any of the battles because they believed I wasn't ready. That was the reason why Mama died."
Lisanna was shocked. "How could that be the reason that I died?"
"Because you're the one who told me not to fight."
"I did?"
"You did. When the Togabito managed to find us, you held them off. I saw it all happen as Aunt Levy dragged me away. Those monsters…they cut you down in front of me." Tears were beginning to fall as the memory of that day hurt Madeline. "I could've helped you. I could've saved you." She cried as the tears finally fell and she quickly clung onto her mother. "I don't want to lose you again. I can't lose Mama and Papa again."
Seeing Madeline crying like that broke Lisanna's heart. Her daughter, who moved heaven and earth just to see her and Natsu again, would risk destroying history for a chance to live a life with her mother and father. The white-haired mage's arms moved, wrapping around the sobbing Madeline. Her grip on the young girl became tighter as her instincts she didn't even know she had grown stronger; instincts of protecting what is precious to her.
As for Natsu, there's this feeling deep within his heart that was swelling. It was pride. Pride for seeing the courage his daughter had. Pride for fighting an impossible battle. Finally, pride for never losing faith that she'll see him and Lisanna again. This was his daughter; strong, courageous, kind, and most of all, loving.
Walking up to Lisanna and Madeline, the dragon slayer got down on one knee. The girl saw her father smile at her and before she knew it, she felt something soft press her forehead. Natsu, her father had kissed her. When he looked into her eyes, he had a warm smile that signified his pride for her, and what he said next was everything to her.
"Thank you, Madeline," he said softly, and yet the meaning behind his words never lessening, "Thank you for fighting for our future."
(Haji's Kitchen – Day After Day)
A figure crashed into the ground. The impact was hard. The figure, who was Bacchus of Quatro Puppy, groaned as the pain from the fall coursed throughout his body. He didn't get a chance to get up when something landed on his back. The impact was so severe that he heard some bones cracking. The ace of Quatro Puppy spewed out some blood before losing consciousness.
The man who landed on top of Bacchus stood up. It was Ichigo Kurosaki. The remaining contestants who tried to fight the death god were already suffering from serious injuries. In the instant the orange-haired swordsman's eyes turned black, it all went to Hell. The first one who got defeated was Ichiya. It was a rather quick altercation when the Fairy Tail guildsmen ruthlessly defeated Blue Pegasus' strongest mage. They tried to assist the fallen wizard by ganging up on the swordsman but it was fruitless. They were outmatched not just in skill but also in power. Even Jura who was the strongest among them failed to even put up a decent fight.
Now, Jura, Kagura, and Sting were left standing. With bruises and cuts all over, the three remaining wizards were panting as they readied themselves when Ichigo approached like a hungry predator.
"Is that all?" Ichigo asked the injured wizards with his hollowfied voice. "I thought you said you were getting serious. This is barely the fight I expected from you!" His voice was loud and yet, it gave a sense of disappointment. "Are you even trying to kill me?"
That question surprised the mages.
"ARE YOU MAD!?" Jura yelled in anger. "This is just a competition! There is no need for us to kill each other!" The rock mage didn't get to say anymore when an elbow suddenly embedded itself into his gut. Spit came out of his mouth as his eyes darted downward, revealing Ichigo to be his attacker. The reaper took out his elbow and then grabbed the bald man's chin and brutally slammed his head into the ground.
Kagura and Sting took a step back, frightened at the sight.
"You don't get it, do you?" Ichigo stated as his inner hollow/zanpakūto spirit began to surface. "If you want to defeat me then you must have the instinct to kill your enemies. Anything less won't cut it. The moment your resolve wavers, you will die."
The entire audience, as well as the other mages and the commentators, were left speechless as those words left Ichigo. None of them expected a kind man like Ichigo to say such a thing. It was truly out of character for him. However, Orihime and Kazui knew otherwise. They knew that the head of their family had gone through the worst life had to offer. The matriarch knew this most of all since she fought beside him from the beginning. They faced beings that would make any mage in this world cower in fear. While wizards fought to earn a living, they fought to survive. It was "kill or be killed" …and anything less than the drive to end your opponent was a recipe for disaster.
Down below, the hybrid reaper slowly walked to the remaining mages. Sting and Kagura couldn't help but take a step back after seeing the utter ferocity their adversary displayed.
"Come one, Sting!" Ichigo called out. "Didn't you once bragged that you killed your dragon? Where is that power now?" His attention then shifted towards Kagura. "How about you, Kagura? Where was the skill you showed when you defeated my daughter? Draw out your blade and cut me!"
Ichigo's image fractured from the air and suddenly appeared over Kagura, his sword poised for a deadly strike. The sword maiden barely had time to raise her weapon. She managed to block the strike but the sheer power behind the swing was so strong that her knees buckled and the ground shattered from the force. The impact between the two weapons created a powerful shockwave that blew away Sting and the other unconscious fighters.
Caught in a blade lock, Kagura was struggling to keep the massive sword from hitting her. The enemy was just too strong and in terms of skill, she was hilariously outmatched. Mermaid Heel's ace was now contemplating drawing out her sword.
"What's the matter?"
Kagura looked up to see a grin forming on Ichigo's face.
"You're thinking of finally drawing out your sword. That's good. It'll be less boring then."
"What kind of mage are you?"
"Whoever said I was a mage?"
"You're not!?"
"Girl, you should focus more on surviving than trying to figure out what I am!"
A swift kick landed on Kagura's side causing her to wince in pain. She was grabbing the part that was struck but noticed the smaller sword in the reaper's hand, rearing for a decisive attack. She quickly moved away but got a surprise when Ichigo was behind her. He elbowed her back and grabbed her head only to be chucked into a nearby fountain.
Ichigo's gaze darted towards Sting who was gathering himself. With the eyes of a bloodthirsty hollow, the reaper aimed his sights towards the downed dragon slayer. His steps were slow, like a lion stalking its next victim. The other contestants regained themselves only to see their most dangerous adversary approaching the Sabretooth wizard. They quickly scrambled to catch the orange-haired swordsman by surprise.
Ichiya was the first one to react, pouncing on the reaper but his actions brought nothing. Ichigo was fully aware of everyone. Just as the redheaded midget grew in size and prepared a two-fisted hammer fist, Ichigo slashed his twin blades across Blue Pegasus' ace, leaving a nasty cross-shaped wound that drew blood. He finished the wizard off by gripping Ichiya's face and throwing him across Crocus. The trail left by the unconscious mage destroyed multiple houses, two establishments, and the entire shopping district before crashing into the city's walls.
Ichigo continued on his path towards Sting who was frozen in fear. The next person he felt preparing to attack him was Bacchus. He turned to his left and saw the drunken master running with his fists alight in magic. The Kurosaki patriarch pointed his smaller sword at the incoming wizard. Red condensed spiritual power gathered on its tip and quickly fired. Bacchus was struck in the shoulder, thereby halting his tracks. However, his plight didn't end there as Ichigo continued to fire multiple shots of Bala that were traveling at ridiculous speeds. The ace of Quatro Puppy was pelted with a barrage of what could only be described as bullets of spiritual energy. The salvo of Balas kept on hitting the drunk mage, not giving him enough time to react. The flurry was so intense that a cloud of dust began covering the mage's vicinity.
Ichigo eventually stopped. He waited for the dust to disperse to see Bacchus' condition. He lay unconscious with multiple burns and singed clothes over an area littered with multiple scorch marks. Knowing that Bacchus was no longer a threat, Ichigo proceeded towards Sting. Suddenly, a rock wall appeared in front of the reaper. He lazily tilted his head to the left and avoided a massive fist. Turning around, the orange-haired swordsman caught the next fist headed his way.
Jura stared at the hybrid reaper with apprehension. Never in his life did he face an opponent so powerful before. Even against Zero, the former master of Oración Seis, he could stand toe to toe with. The dark mage was extremely powerful in his own right and after seven years, Jura had already surpassed the dark wizard. However, facing Ichigo Kurosaki was different. He could tell that there was no ill-intent in the warrior and that he fought for the light. That said, it was his eyes that unnerved him. Those eyes: they held more malice than any dark mage, more fury than any demon, and more power than any god.
It was like fighting something incomprehensible.
Jura pried his hand away from the reaper and summoned two hands made of rock to bind the swordsman. He then clasped his own together and summoned all his magic to finish this overwhelming enemy. His body glowed yellow as the energies rose within him. The Wizard Saint closed his eyes to concentrate and when he opened them, all of the gathered power was finally unleashed.
"RUMBLING MOUNT FUJI!"
Ichigo was engulfed in a powerful pillar of magical energy that obliterated where he stood. The tower of power was so strong that it caused the ground of the entire city to rumble, pun intended, and cause small fissures on the ground. Jura kept the attack up to ensure his enemy's defeat but unexpectedly, a hand shot out of the beam and grabbed his face. The shock of his spell not doing its intended purpose caused the Wizard Saint to lose focus and let the beam of magic die, revealing an impassive-looking Ichigo with his Blut Vene and Hierro activated. While his body was completely unscathed, his shihakushō was now torn and ragged. With his left hand on Jura's face who attempted to free himself from his grip, the hybrid raised an open palm towards the bald mage's body. A bright ball of red spiritual energy appeared and began to grow exponentially, covering the struggling mage in his grip. The power behind the gigantic ball of light can only be described as horrific. The guildmasters as well as the other mages present who were still conscious could sense the intensity behind what was to come. Once the attack sufficiently gathered the desired reishi, Ichigo released it at Jura at point-blank range.
"Cero Gigantes."
Jura's screams of pain could be heard throughout the entire city. The attack was so devastating that the blast radius annihilated a good chunk of the capital. The power shook the ground and it felt like an earthquake struck. The audience in the stadium need not look at the screens to witness truly how powerful the blast was. They could see it from their seats as the Cero painted the whole city in its blood-red glow. When the light died down, all that's left of that portion of the city was a smoldering indentation carved on what was once the housing district. At the very end of the hole was Jura. The Wizard Saint was badly burned and barely had anything left that was once his clothes. The great Jura Neeks of Lamia Scale, the 5th Wizard Saint, was utterly demolished.
Ichigo was about to continue his way towards the Light Dragon Slayer when he sensed a blade approaching his head. Turning around, he raised his smaller sword to block the attack to see Kagura Mikazuchi with Archenemy finally unsheathed. The clash of blades caused an explosion that was just as strong a Cero by an Adjuchas. When the dust caused by the explosion settled, the sword maiden saw the reaper smiling maniacally.
"Took you long enough."
Kagura didn't say anything and swatted away the odd-shaped weapon then proceeded to slash and strike her opponent. Ichigo skillfully blocked each swipe aimed at him with ease and finesse. He did raise an eyebrow at how she used her weapon. The reaper could admit that how she wielded her blade was truly impressive and the sword itself can stand against a zanpakūto. However, it felt like she was disconnected from it.
"Tell me, Kagura, how do you view your weapon?" Ichigo asked as he blocked and parried each successive strike from the Mermaid heel mage.
"What kind of question is that?" the mage asked after swatting a sword strike from the older blade wielder.
"Your sword, Archenemy if I recall, is a powerful blade that could cause cataclysm once unleashed. Tell me, how does it feel to have such an impressive weapon?"
"A weapon is a weapon, regardless of what it is," Kagura replied. "A sword is meant to cut, a shield is meant to block, and a spear is meant to pierce. In the end, they are merely tools for the user to exact their desire." She then looked at the unsheathed weapon in her hand. "I obtained this blade for the sole purpose of exacting my revenge on the man who caused my brother's death. Jellal Fernandez will die by this blade after I defeat you."
That was all Ichigo needed to hear. "So, that's it then?" the reaper questioned. "Your weapon is nothing more than an implement for your desire for revenge. It doesn't hold any value to you whatsoever."
"The only value I see in this weapon is its ability to kill the man I despise the most."
"If that is your answer, then I can say that you will never defeat me."
Kagura was taken by surprise when Ichigo suddenly appeared in front of her and slashed her. she managed to block the strike yet the force was strong enough to send her back a few feet. She then noticed something unexpected. There were chips in Archenemy's blade.
"This is the difference between you and me, Kagura." Ichigo changed his target, now aiming for the swordswoman. "I'm disappointed to hear that you only view such a magnificent weapon as a tool; an object merely used for revenge and not even an extension of yourself." The orange-haired reaper pounced on the maiden who again managed to parry the deadly sword strike. "I, on the other hand, view my weapons very differently." He let his dual blades glow in their natural power; the larger one gushing in a blood-red glow while the shorter one gleamed with bluish-white power. "These blades are not just weapons to me. They're not even extensions of myself. These blades are called Zangetsu and they are the manifestations of my soul." Ichigo attacked again by crossing the twin swords to perform a double slash. He missed since the younger fighter was able to dodge.
"How can your blades be the manifestations of your soul?" Kagura questioned the reaper, finding his statement to be preposterous. She then retaliated by throwing slashes, strikes, and thrusts at the hybrid
"These very weapons were forged from the essences that dwell within me," the Kurosaki replied while parrying a slash. "They represent not just my desires but also my goals, my dreams, my fears, and my strengths. They are the key to knowing my origins, my lineage, and my identity. They are me and I am them."
The two sword wielders clashed blades once more, their faces inches apart as the edges of their weapons grind each other.
"While you carry a weapon, I am the weapon." The reaper kicked Kagura in the abdomen that pushed her thirty feet away. He plunged the larger Zangetsu into the ground, twirled the shorter sword, and threw it at the woman, catching Kagura's sword arm in the cloth strap and pulling her towards him. Once she was close, Ichigo activated his Hierro and Blut Vene and grabbed Archenemy. "THE BLADE. IS. ME!"
With his right arm, powered with Blut Arterie, he shattered the magical sword, shocking Mermaid Heel's ace. Before she could react, the reaper raised his Khyber sword and gathered a massive amount of reishi into the weapon, and fired a Getsuga Tenshō at the surprised girl, blasting her away in a dazzling display of black and red.
Looking over the girl's unconscious form, the oldest Kurosaki felt a dark presence watching over him. "I know you're there…and you can't HIDE FROM ME!"
That dark entity was a shadow hiding behind the rubble of a destroyed building. He felt the oppressive pressure emanating from the reaper and knew then and there that it would be suicidal fighting this individual.
"Shit! I need to get out of here!" The shadow quickly left the area of battle towards his next target. "I can't fight that guy. He will kill me without a second thought. I'll just kill that pathetic child and be done with it."
Princess Hisui was stunned. During the seven years since the Grand Magic Games were established, no wizard has ever displayed such immense power. If this were any other mage, she would feel excitement but instead, what she had in her was fear. The person behind such devastation was Ichigo Kurosaki, the brother of the two women she just angered. If she had any doubts on whether it was a wise choice to antagonize the twins, those were now put to rest. She just made a terrible mistake.
"Princess Hisui!"
The call shook the green-haired royalty out of her contemplation to see Minister Darton approaching her with a small contingent of soldiers.
"I came here to confirm my suspicion of your involvement in Arcadios' actions. Did you or did you not plan everything concerning the Eclipse Project?"
The minister was met with silence.
"So, you don't deny your involvement in this conspiracy."
"If you understood what was at stake here minister then you will see the merit behind my actions."
"I find no merit in sharing confidential state secrets with civilians!" Darton refuted. "Despite your stature in the kingdom's hierarchy, you committed treason and therefore subjected to punishment!"
"You don't understand!" The princess stood up and called the guards with her to her defense. "A tragedy is coming, Darton. A tragedy, unlike anything history, has ever seen. I had to act so that our country and the continent as a whole will be saved from the coming disaster!"
"Oh? And what would this disaster be?"
"You do know the purpose behind the Eclipse Gate, right?"
"It lets you travel through time by utilizing the unique properties of the Celestial World. What of it?"
"A messenger from the future came to me seven years ago," Hisui revealed causing the minister's eyes to widen in surprise. "He warned me of an impending disaster caused by ten thousand dragons that will attack by the end of this year's Grand Magic Games."
The revelation was shocking, to put it mildly. If this was true then Crocus and the whole kingdom of Fiore will be turned to ashes. However, one word alone can't mean anything if there was no proof. Even if the person who warned the princess was indeed from the future, that individual's words shouldn't be taken immediately.
"How can you be sure that this stranger's words are worth anything?" The old official made his point known. "What if this is just a ruse to use our resources for something nefarious?"
"Don't you think I took that into account? He came from the future so there must be some truth behind his warning. Still, I had my suspicions so I took certain steps to see if he was right. That is why I'm watching to see the games themselves. The winner of this year's tournament will decide if the events of the future will indeed happen."
The minister then saw the princess' face take on an agitated…almost scared look.
"But I've made a grave mistake."
"A mistake?"
Hisui nodded. "Someone has already figured out about my plans and I have just angered them."
Just as the royalty spoke those words, a guard came in running while carrying a viewing crystal.
"Your Majesty! Minister Darton!"
"What is it, soldier?" the defense minister questioned.
"I regret to inform you that the Hungry Wolf Knights have been defeated." The news shocked the two high-ranking officials. Never had they thought that their best assassination regiment could be defeated? But that wasn't the only news the soldier brought as he continued to speak. "We've been monitoring the prisoners in the underground caverns…"
A long pause followed. Not wanting to wait for an answer, Darton yelled at the officer. "Don't keep us hanging, soldier. Spit it out!"
The knight handed the viewing crystal over to the two arguing officials and simply said, "I think it's best to show."
When Princess Hisui and Minister saw the footage of the fight in the catacombs, they were left speechless. How the covert group of knights was defeated was just unbelievable. They could recognize the Kurosaki twins by their attire but they have yet to see how they fight. The strange spells, the exotic weapons, and most of all the sheer ferocity and ruthlessness in their way of fighting made the two officials tremble in terror. They could still remember how the two, spirit warriors impose their presence.
"This is…more serious…than I thought," Hisui stuttered before looking back at the damage done by the oldest Kurosaki sibling. If that is how powerful these siblings were then Project Eclipse is truly in jeopardy. "Guards!" she called. "I want all of you to halt those two women and their associates from leaving the palace! Do any means necessary to prevent them from escaping! THAT IS AN ORDER, NOW GO!"
Darton then saw the princess stand up and head towards the exit.
"Where do you think you're going, princess?" the minister questioned.
"It's clear who will win this year's games," Hisui replied. "By now, Eclipse has gathered enough magic power. We will use that power to simultaneously destroy the ten thousand dragons that will invade Fiore."
"What are you talking about?"
"My true plan behind Eclipse was never to go back in time and kill Zeref. It was to use it as a weapon for the upcoming disaster."
"You can't be serious!?"
Princess Hisui didn't stop walking away from the bewildered minister. The whole situation just got dire. Everything she prepared was crumbling down. nothing is going the way she wanted.
"It's all falling apart." The only thing that could describe the emotions the princess were feeling right now were fear, anxiety, frustration, and desperation. "I never thought that there'll be people who know of my plans. I should've been more careful. Now, Fiore is much closer to its destruction." The images of the twins and their elder brother sprung up in her mind. Their power. Their ruthlessness. Their fury. She should've just left Yukino Agria alone because these people are now out for her. "It was a mistake imposing my power upon them." Then she realized it. "I never had power. I may have influence and authority but that is nothing compared to what they possess. What can I do in the face of absolute power?"
The more steps Princess Hisui make, the more she comes to understand that the disaster she tried so hard to prevent might happen because of her. One rash decision and everything she had done was in jeopardy. It was ultimately her actions that will lead to Fiore's ruin.
Hisui stopped and put her hands on her face. The pressure of her mistakes took over her as her eyes began to tear up. Light sobs could be heard from the princess as she succumbs to the weight of her mistakes.
"It's all my fault."
A/N: ModernRogue here and I have some comments regarding the story. First off, I feel that this chapter could be better so I'll be rewriting it from time to time. Second, we all knew Ichigo would win that 5-on-1 match. That said, I wanted to depict Ichigo as an unstoppable force. He isn't a mage but a death god and a candidate for the position of Soul King. This Ichigo is the one from the end of the series with an added fifteen years to hone his abilities thereby making him a force to be reckoned with. The way I depicted this fight was by making the five mages realize that what they're fighting was something incomprehensible. That's the reason why the moment Ichigo went serious, it all went downhill for Jura and the rest. Third, I wanted some background music for this fight. At first, I planned on using Number One but it didn't capture the atmosphere I was after. The fight scene was a one-sided demolition. I chose Day After Day by Haji's Kitchen because the tempo and the vibe it gives off feel quick, ruthless, and visceral. In a way, this battle can be likened to the fight between Broly and the Z Warriors from the first Broly movie.
I do hope that despite my misgivings of the chapter, you'll find it at least sufficient as a continuation of the story. Don't forget to share your views in the comment section. It helps that you can give insight as to how I can improve this story as it moves forward.
Until next time.