Drake turned and made a face as an explosion rang out in the distance. He watched as a plum of flames appeared in the distance, and he smiled to himself.
"Couldn't wait, eh Natsu?" He asked.
Neptu watched his opponent carefully, unsure as to his next move. Considering the fire he'd unleashed from his mouth, Neptu had to assume that Natsu was some sort of Slayer like himself. If that was the case, the two of them bounced off of each other way to well. Neptu couldn't really hurt him, nor Natsu him.
"Neptu, sir!" Neptu looked around as their battlefield soon became swarmed with Hunters coming to check out the explosion. "Are you okay?" It didn't take them very long to see Natsu, and they tried surrounding him.
"Well, you saw through the enchantment on the tent?" Neptu asked. Natsu just glared at him.
"Of course I did." He snarled. "I'm not dumb." Neptu nodded.
"I never said you were." he replied. "Although judging from what you used to blast me out here, we may a have a problem if it comes to a fight."
"I know that." Natsu replied. "We both use fire magic. Not only that, but Fire Slaying Magic. We can't hurt each other with it."
"Than what do you plan to do, Natsu?" Neptu asked. "Will you still fight me and my Hunters?"
"Hunters?" Natsu asked, before he laughed. "Unless you want to lose every man surrounding me, you'll order them to back off." Neptu tensed at this. He had no doubt Natsu wasn't playing around with a threat like that. With the amount of magic power coming off of him passively, he'd easily wipe through most of the people there. Sighing. Neptu cleared his throat.
"Hunters." he called out." Leave me and my friend here. Here's not an opponent even all of you at once could defeat."
"Neptu. sir! We can help you!"
"We can help you take this guy down!"
"Don't make us leave!" Neptu sighed as his Hunters started to call out arguments to him.
"Leave!" he shouted. "Go find The Members of The Cross and help them if they need it. I sense this is about to be a full blown fight." None of his men seemed interested in leaving, but soon they all started to back up. Soon the area was deserted save for Neptu and Natsu, and the two were still silent.
"So," Neptu started. "What now?"
"What now?" Natsu asked. With this, he lowered his gaze slightly and glowered at Neptu. "I'm going to take you out, that's what is happening now."
"That right?" Neptu asked, tensing up. "You gonna use your fire on me?"
"I don't care what I have to use." Natsu replied, body beginning to glow. Neptu was right, he had a massive amount of magic. "I have to take you out. I can't let you near her." Neptu made a face.
"What?" He asked. "What do you mean?" Natsu, however, just glared at his feet.
"I can't..." He muttered, just barely loud enough for Neptu to hear. "I can't let you near her...I can't!" Neptu tensed as Natsu shot forward, an explosion of red and purple flames as the two connected. Neptu struggled against Natsu's superior physical strength, and met the mans eyes.
Fiery rage stared back at him.
"I won't let you lay a hand on her." He seethed. "I don't care what happens to me...As long as she's safe."
Nashi had heard the explosion ring out in the distance, and she'd had her eyes glued to the horizon outside the dark city ever since. A faint glow came from outside the walls, but overall nothing else seemed to have happened.
"Does it look okay?" A voice asked. Nashi turned to find Mira standing behind her, smiling at her.
"...Yeah." She replied weakly, looking back at the horizon. "I just hope that it goes okay."
"You trust the others, don't you?"
"Of course I do." Nashi replied. "Especially my dad, Gray and Juvia. But..." She shifted and leaned against the wall of the guild halls wall. "I have a bad feeling about those Hunters is all." Mira chuckled.
"It'll all be okay." She said. "Besides, we have to stay here and make sure the city stays safe if that fight out there escalates."
"I know..." Nashi mumbled. "I'm just antsy."
"Hm..." Mira hummed, leaning against the wall as well.
"...How's Damien?" Nashi asked, changing the topic. "Wendy still working on him?"
"She took a break." Mira replied. "But he's looking good. She says that with all the damage done he'll be out for a while."
"I mean, I assumed." Nashi replied. "He's lucky he's alive."
"Yeah, he sure is." Mira agreed. She stared out into the darkness for a bit before she laughed weakly. "You know, I expected to be pissed at those Hunters for what they did...But I'm not."
"Why not?" Nashi asked, confused.
"They're just doing what they think is right." Mira replied. "Sure they hurt my son in the process, and would kill me if they could, but that's only because they've been hurt by people like me and Damien."
"How do you know that?" Nashi asked. Mira smiled weakly.
"It's obvious by the way that Neptu man spoke." She said. "He's been hurt by demons...Beyond caring what kind of person is attached to the demon. And I don't really blame him. After I thought Steph died, I spent a long time despising Xisplate. Almost to the point where it seeped over into my treatment of Damien, even though they're not the same."
"Huh..." Nashi said. "I suppose that makes sense. But still, he's going to such lengths to get Gin..."
"Gin's a Demon Lord." Mira replied. "One of, if not the most dangerous demon type on the planet. He's not giving up because he can't, in his mind." Talking with Mira made Nashi see the Hunters in a different light then a moment before.
"I guess." Nashi said. "We're in deep shit with them regardless."
"Well, that much is pretty true." After this, a hum could be heard in the distance. At first Nashi ignored it, but after a while it became a lot louder. Mira seemed confused. "What's that sound?" She asked. Nashi smiled.
"Huh, that's weird." Mira turned to look at her in confusion.
"What's weird?" She asked. Nashi smiled at her.
"They're early."
Drake dodged another blast of magic and landed on one knee, eyeing Elizabeth closely. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't hear her, and that was a huge problem. Without it, he was going to have trouble dealing with her. Especially because more and more Hunters were running at him to take him out.
Dodging a few that lashed out at him, he punched one in the face and swung him into his friend making both of them land on another three running forward. Drake smirked, but than got hit in the back by another burst. He knew right out of the gate it had been from Elizabeth, because he hadn't heard anyone launch it. Growling, he turned to eye the woman, who had barely moved.
"I don't get it..." he hissed. "Why can't I hear you?" Elizabeth made a face.
"What was that?" She asked. "You're not making any sense, kid." Drake got to his feet and stared at her, unsure of what to do.
"I use sound magic." He told her. "It allows me to hear my opponents thought and movements. But with you, all I get is silence. You immune to it or something?" At first Elizabeth seemed confused, but then she returned to an indifferent look.
"Well, then that explains your confusion." She said. "My primary use of holy magic is enchantments." She explained. "It allows me to protect myself from possibly and probably more powerful opponents."
"Okay, and?" Drake asked.
"Before I go into combat, I generally cover myself with a protection enchantment." She said. "It blocks out magic that effects me internally, like sound magic aims to do. That's probably why you can't hear me."
"I suppose." Drake muttered. "Doesn't mean I can't beat you." Elizabeth stared at him for a moment, before she rubbed her head.
"Can I ask you something, kid?" She asked.
"Call me Drake." He replied.
"Drake." She corrected. "May I?"
"Sure."
"Is your guild stupid?" Drake was confused by this question, but Elizabeth looked up at him. "All we wanted was to end a huge threat to humanity, and yet you people choose time and time again to stand in the way. Why?"
"Gin's no threat to humanity." Drake replied. "He doesn't want to hurt anyone, and yet you people continue to force him. If you just left him alone less damage would have been caused."
"Can you really gurantee such a thing?" Elizabeth asked."You didn't see the carnage he left in his wake. You don't know what he's capable of."
"I beg to differ." Drake replied, thinking back. Between Damien killing Taisho and Silverridge exploding right in front of him, he'd seen plenty of carnage. "I've seen my fair share of carnage."
"Then why?" She asked. "Why do you continue to cause more by standing in the way?" Drake looked down at his feet.
"Because I don't have the same beliefs as you." He replied. "You see a threat, I see a guy being hunted for nothing save being born with a power he didn't want." Drake looked up at her. "I'm not going to let you hurt Gin. I'll hold you off."
"That so?" Drake's ears twitched, and he turned to find a man with black hair and copper colored eyes walking up behind him. "Such nonsense being spouted from this kid."
"Tristan." Elizabeth said. "Why're you here?"
"Pretty obvious, Liz." he said. "Heard those guildies came after their friend. I want in on the action."
"I don't need your help."
"Did I ask if you did?" he shot back, silencing Elizabeth. "This kids got spunk, so I want in on it." Drake's ears twitched, and he ducked.
Just as he did, Tristan shot out a barrage of holy magic bursts, all that flew over Drake and blew up behind him. Drake got to his feet just in time to avoid a blast he saw Elizabeth shoot at him. Stumbling as he landed, another barrage came at him, knocking him to the ground. Drake recovered quickly and got up, and his ears twitched again.
He jumped to the side and avoided Quinn's blade by a hair's length. The Base of the Cross got up and laughed.
"Damn, missed him." he said, rubbing his blonde hair out of his face.
"Get out of hear, you fuck up." Tristan growled. "The kids mine."
"Now now, I don't see your name on him!" Quinn replied.
"Quinn I swear to God you're so annoying." Tristan growled.
"Boys." Elizabeth scolded. "Enough." Both looked irritated at this order, but didn't say anything more. Now Drake had to deal with three Members of the Cross, one he couldn't even hear. So basically, he was in a bad place.
"How about this?" Quinn asked. "First one to get the kid to beg for mercy gets three thousand jewel."
"I'll happily take three thousand jewel from you." Tristan replied. Elizabeth only rolled her eyes. "Let's go, Quinn!" Tristan opened up with another barrage of blasts, forcing Drake into a gymnastics routine to avoid getting hit. As he regained his composure, Drake was forced to counter Quinn's blades directly with a blast of poison. Poison and holy light went everywhere as the attacks collided, forcing Quinn back a bit. Quinn had only just backed up when another barrage came at Drake, and he'd only avoided a bit of it before taking the brunt of the attack and sliding back. he had no time to react before a blast from Elizabeth knocked him off his feet.
"Shit..." he hissed. "I can't take on all three of them at once, I need to knock one out." Feeling his paralyzing affect come into effect, Drake stood and shot bursts of it at both men, causing them to dodge around. Quinn took a hit to the leg, and fell down in surprise.
"The hell?" he asked. I'm paralyzed."
"It's poison, jackass." Tristan shot back. "Avoid the kid."
"I got it." Elizabeth said. "Hold still." Drake watched as Elizabeth brought her hands together like she was praying, and her body glowed. Soon, Quinn's leg glowed as well.
"Lord that guides humans towards a bright and peaceful future." She chanted. "Heal this irregularity in the human body to help us fight those who'd wish to disturb this peace." Drake watched in disbelief as the greenish tint to the paralyzed leg disappeared, and Quinn stood up like nothing was wrong.
"Thanks Liz!" he said.
"You're welcome." Elizabeth replied.
"Now," Tristan said, turning back to Drake with a smirk. "Where were we, kid?"
Neptu dodged Natsu's incoming fist and delivered one to the mans stomach, causing him to cough a bit before throwing more punches at Neptu, who did his best to take them.
The two of them had started a basic fist fight instead of using their magic, which neither would be affected by. Neptu had to admit, the older man definitely hit like an incoming truck.
"Got to admit." he said, rubbing his arm. "You're a hard hitter."
"So are you." Natsu said, body glowing again. "But I think our fists aren't going to be enough to end this."
"Agreed." Neptu said. Accessing his flames, Neptu raised a hand and shot out a blast at Natsu, who jumped away from it and shot out a blast of his own. Neptu didn't bother dodging, he simply stood and allowed the flame to strike him.
"Any reason you dodged my attack?" He asked. "If you really are a Fire Dragon Slayer, then I assume fire doesn't hurt you."
"You're right, it doesn't." Natsu replied. "But I don't want to get tempted to eat it and make the fight even harder for you." Neptu made a face at this.
"That so?" He asked. He smiled. "Then I suppose you won't mind if I take a little snack break?" Without waiting for Natsu to say anything, Neptu inhaled and started to suck up the red flames around him, as he did so, he felt his power surging. Once he finished, he sighed and laughed.
"What?" Natsu asked.
"That's gotta be some of the tastiest fire I've ever eaten." He replied. "Got a real spice to it. Though I guess you wouldn't know, not being able to eat it." Natsu didn't reply, he simply rushed at Neptu and he two began exchanging fiery punches. Neptu didn't waste time trying to eat any, as Natsu would simply take the opening to strike him even more.
"Quick question." Neptu said, backing up. "Who am I not allowed near?" Natsu glowered at this.
"That's not important. Natsu said. "What is, is that I'm going to beat you. And keep her safe."
"That right?" Neptu asked. He gestured for Natsu to come at him. "Let me see you, then."
"Happily." Natsu rushed at him again, and Neptu prepared himself.
What he didn't see coming was the electricity that began to crackle around the mans fist.
"What the-?" Neptu's sentence was cut off as he blocked the attack, causing sparks and fire to fire off in every direction. Neptu\s felt his body react poorly to the voltage, and he stumbled backwards in surprise. Natsu didn't let out, though. He went after Neptu relentlessly, and Neptu found himself in a bad loop of downing Natsu's flames to keep himself up from the electricity attacks.
Screw this...
"Flame Devil's Rage!" he shouted. Like Natsu had done before, a gout of flames erupted from Neptu's mouth, and since Natsu was so close to him, the man had been unable to dodge it, sending him careening backwards away from Neptu. Neptu watched as the man quickly rolled around to put the flames out, and stood, albeit a bit slower and with a grit of his teeth.
"Something crack, old man?" Neptu asked.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Natsu hissed, glowing again. "Stop with the talk. We're here to fight." Neptu nodded.
"Agreed."
Drake hit the ground and coughed, struggling to get back on his feet.
"Come on kid, I thought you had more than that." He heard Tristan mocking him.
I do, but Elizabeth walls me completely...
"Stop playing with your opponents, Tristan." Drake looked up at this new voice to see the a brown haired woman standing next to Elizabeth. "Just finish him off."
"Abigail..." Tristan said. "Don't tell me what to do. I'll finish him off when he's completely bored me. And I want to play some more." Abigail sighed.
"The kids all tired out." She said. "He's got nothing left."
Drake knew that wasn't true. He had a lot of energy left, but these guys hit so damn hard and he couldn't do any lasting damage to them because of Elizabeth. He needed something to get past them.
And Drake knew what it was.
Getting to his feet, Drake heard Tristan laugh.
"Oh? Want some more kid?"
"Four on one seems a bit unfair, no?" he asked.
"Well, you wandered into our camp." Quinn said. "You're lucky it isn't one on several thousand. We told our regiments to hold off on you."
"Well, maybe you shouldn't have." Drake said. "They'll have their own problems now."
"Like what?" Abigail asked.
Drake simply raised a hand and shot poison high into the sky. The blast faded away high up, and the four enemies were silent.
"What was that?" Elizabeth asked. Drake didn't reply, he simply smirked.
"Who cares?" Tristan asked. "Come here, kid. we aren't do-!"
Drake watched with a wide smile as a golden light blurred past him and tackled Tristan, causing him to fly back and land in a tent. Quinn reacted by going to attack Drake, but he was struck by a bolt of electricity from above. Both of them girls seemed confused, but they too hit the dirt as iron clubs struck them in the back.
"Really now, Drake." A voice said, as the golden glow died away to reveal Simon in his Black Wing armor. "Waiting until it's a four on one to call for backup?"
"Jackass." Elise said, walking over to him from behind the girls getting back to their feet. Steph landed to his left.
"Are you okay?" Steph asked.
"Just fine." He replied. "Thanks for coming so quickly."
"So you had backup waiting on your mark, huh?" Elizabeth asked. "Clever. Sadly, I don't really think it matters."
"No?" Simon asked. "How about we find out?" Tristan smirked as he got to his feet.
"Now we're talking." he said. "Let's see what you kids got!"
"Where are Ul and Gin?" Steph asked.
"I told her to get him out, I haven't see her since." He replied. "We'll have to get past these goons first."
"The Members of the Cross, right?" Simon asked. Elise crackled her knuckles.
"Never been a religious one." She said. "So I don't really have a problem with snapping their pathetic cross into four separate pieces."
"Are you sure, Gray?" Juvia asked. Gray nodded.
"The kids can handle the four of them." he said. "We need to make sure the grunts don't go after them once they're done fighting." Juvia nodded.
"That's fair." She said, moving towards the cliff. "Let's go and get them, Gray. We must make sure Gin is okay as well." They had to do that too. As Gray moved to enter the battlefield, he felt that the battle was only just beginning.
Chapter 249: Backup.