Thanks for all the kind words guys. I've been feeling a lot better, so updates should be more frequent once again.
Enjoy!
Damien was confused. The last thing he really recalled was getting run through, and now he was standing in the middle of a misty field.
"What the hell is happening?" He muttered. "Why am I here?"
"I brought you here." Turning, Damien saw Xisplate standing beside him. From what he could tell, it was just the two of them.
"Xisplate?" He asked. "Where are we? What happened?" Xisplate didn't say anything, he simply approaching Damien slowly.
Once he reached him, he whacked him on the head.
"Ow!" He shouted. "What the hell was that for?"
"Are you serious?" he demanded. "You don't know? How about charging into a battle with Demon Hunters and damn near getting yourself killed?" Damien made a face as he rubbed his head.
"Well, when you put it that way..." He muttered. Xisplate sighed.
"Honestly Damien, you actually just ran out there?"
"I wanted to help!" Damien replied.
"Well look where that got you." Xisplate replied. "Comatose while you're friends pick up the pieces."
"What?" Damien asked, confused. "Start explaining, please." Xisplate rolled his eyes.
"Once you got hit, your friends did everything in their power to bring you home. Once they had, Wendy did some miracle work and saved your ass. So make sure you thank her once your dumb ass wakes up." Damien nodded weakly. "Anyway long story short, the Demon Hunters tracked us down and now a full blown war zone is right outside Magnolia's gates."
"Well..." Damien started. "That's uh, a whole lot that happened."
"Hm." Xisplate replied. "As for where you are, I pulled a portion of your soul into the 12th Circle so we could talk."
"A portion of my soul?" Damien asked.
"How do you think I show up to speak to you all the time?" Xisplate asked. "A portion of me visits you all the time, this time I reversed it." Damien suddenly felt quite chilly. So the 12th circle was a misty field? Interesting.
"Well, uh, thanks?" Damien asked. "Now tell me how to wake up so I can go help my friends." At this, Xisplate threatening raised his hand again, so Damien shied away. "What?"
"Are you stupid?" Xisplate asked. "Not only can I not help you wake up, but even if I could I wouldn't. I'm not letting you run head first into a battle with Demon Hunters like last time. You stay put while your friends deal with the problem."
"Ugh," Damien muttered. "This is so dumb."
"It's your own fault." Xisplate replied. "All you had to do was stay in the bushes like Gin, but no. You couldn't even do that, and now you're comatose with your mother by your side. Apologize to her as well. You and your sister are going to give that woman a heart attack one of these days."
"Are you done chastising me yet?" Damien demanded.
"For now." Xisplate said, nodding. "I guess I can send you back to your body, we're done here. See you around Damien." Damien felt his vision getting foggy, and as everything turned to black, he couldn't help but wonder how things were going out there on the battlefield.
Natsu remained silent from shock as Nashi ran up to him. Why was she here?
"Are you okay, Dad?" He heard her ask as she reached him. She gave him a once over, looking concerned. "Damn, you don't look to hot."
"Nashi..."
"Don't worry though. We can take this guy together. Need a boost?" At this, more flames came to life in her hand. "I'll give you all you need."
"What the hell are you doing?" Natsu managed to get out, making Nashi look confused. "What did I tell you? You weren't to fight Neptu."
"I know." Nashi replied, raising a hand to her neck. "But I had a bad feeling at the guild hall. I can't quite explain it. I could tell you were in trouble." Natsu didn't really care what her excuse was, to be honest. All he cared about was that she got as far away as she possibly could.
"Nashi, you need to get out of here." He said, trying to stay calm. "This isn't your fight, okay? Please, just go help somebody else." Nashi frowned at this.
"Dad, stop brushing me off." She said. "I can handle this, especially if we work together! Why won't you let me help you?" Natsu swallowed hard at this.
"Because you don't understand." He hissed. "You don't have a clue how much danger you're in."
"Help me get one, then." Nashi shot back, crossing her arms. "Why are you being like this? What am I not being told?"
There was so much. So, so much Natsu was hiding from her. END, Zeref, all of it. And that was the whole problem. If Natsu had sealed away his powers and he was still getting so injured from Neptu's attacks, Nashi would surely get even more hurt.
"Look," He started. "I know you're confused. Trust me, I get it. But we don't have time to be arguing about this right now. There's, look, there's so much to this."
"Dad..." Nashi started. Her eyes were wide with curiosity. "Come on. What is it? Let me help." Natsu was starting to get frustrated. He knew she meant well, but so did he.
"Nashi, please."He said lowly. "Just go. We'll talk later."
"Is the family drama over yet?" Neptu called over. He'd been watching the exchange quietly up until that point. "We kind of have some unfinished business."
"You'll get yours." Nashi retorted, not even turning to look at him. "Just give us a minute." Natsu slowly looked back at his daughter, but she still hadn't moved. He growled and tried to come up with something to say.
"Alright...Alright." He said. "If you want to help, promise me something."
"I'm helping no matter what your request is." Nashi said. "So don't bother. I'm not leaving you alone against this guy."
"Why are you so God damn difficult?!" Natsu shouted, feeling his temper rising. "I'm trying to look out for your safety here, and all you're doing is trampling on those wishes!"
"Why the fuck do you think I'm out here?!" Nashi shouted back. "I want to help you! I lost you once, I don't want it to happen again!" Natsu stared at her as these words left her mouth, guilt rising into his chest. She wasn't going to back down, but that's because neither of them were wrong.
"Nashi..." He tried, but his voice failed him. He didn't know what he was supposed to say to convince her. Nashi buried her face into her scarf and hugged herself tightly.
"I know you're strong." She murmured. "Even before I met you, I knew. You're stronger than I'll ever be. But I'm not an idiot, Dad. I know your hurt, and this guy is genuinely giving you trouble. If something were to happen, if you didn't come home..." Natsu watched her trail off, silence falling between them. He felt bad now, but she was still in so much danger. What was he going to do?
"Nashi..." he tried again, growling in frustration as nothing came to him. "Look, I'm sorry for yelling. I get your concern, I do."
"Then let me help!" She exclaimed. Natsu swallowed, before he looked over at Neptu.
This was a bad idea.
"Alright...Alright." He said, conceding. "You can help." Nashi smiled at this.
"Thank you." She said. "That's all I wanted." She began to turn towards Neptu, but Natsu stopped her and pulled her back towards him
"Listen to me." he said in her ear. "If this thing goes South and we're going to lose, I want you to run. Run and find Gray, he's out on the battlefield somewhere. Bring him here as fast as you can, if and only this situation gets out of control. Got it?"
"I won't leave you," she said.
"I don't care." He replied. "If neither of us can take this guy down, run for Gray. He'll be able to help. Okay?"
"I...Fuck, okay. I understand."
"Good," Natsu replied, releasing her. "Now, let's get this guy. Stay on your toes, he's-!"
Natsu didn't get a chance to finish his sentence before Nashi catapulted forwards and tackled Neptu it a bright ball of flames. He watched in slight shock as the pair flew away, but he recovered quickly and took after them. Once he reached them he watched the pair duke it out, and watched worriedly as Nashi took a fist coated in the purple flames. She seemed a bit taken a back by how it felt, but otherwise she seemed okay. Shaking his head, Natsu jumped into the fray and grabbed Neptu by his coat and flung him away from Nashi.
"You okay kid?" Natsu asked Nashi. "Does it burn?"
"Sorta." Nashi replied, rubbing her cheek. "It stings really bad, but otherwise I feel okay." This confused Natsu greatly. How was it that the flames hurt him so much but Nashi seemed okay? "I'm kinda light headed too, but don't worry. I'll handle it."
"If you say so," he said. Together the pair rushed Neptu and soon, the man was on the heavy defensive as the pair drove him back. Barely able to defend himself, he brought up a wall of flames between them. Natsu paused, but Nashi rushed right through and continued to attack him.
"I see the daughter has some stones on her!" Neptu shouted as Natsu rejoined the fight. "Did she take after her mother in that sense, old man?" Natsu didn't give him the satisfaction of an answer and continued to attack him with all he had. Soon Neptu brought his hands together and an explosion of purple flames threw both Natsu and Nashi backwards. The flames burned all over Natsu's body,and he groaned in pain as he stood to his feet.
"You alright, Nashi?" He called.
"Just peachy." She replied. "A little woozy, but I'm okay. Ow! Never mind, it burns." Natsu didn't get it. Sure she'd only taken a few hits, but how was she still okay even after those? He'd expected her to be a little more hurt than that.
Wait...
Natsu watched as Nashi rushed Neptu again, this time attacking him with fists coated in flames. Neptu laughed.
"I guess Daddy didn't fill you in." He said, grabbing Nashi's hand. "The flames don't hurt, sweetheart." Neptu ate Nashi's fire and used a breath attack at point blank range. Nashi flew back and rolled to a stop. Natsu watched fearfully, but his daughter stood up slowly and looked over at him.
"A little help, Dad?" She asked. He nodded, but didn't reply to her. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of it before.
Yes, Nashi was part Etherious. That was why despite being a Fire Dragon Slayer, she took damage from the flames.
But she was also part human. Just like her mother.
It made much more sense to Natsu now. Yes, the flames could still hurt and even kill her. But because she was Lucy's daughter she'd, for the most part, be okay from basic attacks. A bit of resistance. It definitely didn't set his mind at ease, but he wasn't as worried as he was a moment ago.
"Just be careful." He said. "Last thing I want to do is carry you back to the guild hall." Nashi managed a laugh at this.
"Same to you, Dad."
Kumi watched the Demon Hunters squirm around under her binding magic, but she didn't expect them to know it nullified their magic powers.
"What the hell is this?!" One shouted. "My magic isn't working!"
"That's kinda the point, buddy." Kumi said with a chuckle, stretching her arms. "The bindings nullify your magic power. Good luck getting up, nyah."
"Why the hell do you keep acting like a cat?" One demanded. "Fuck, you're a weirdo." Kumi made a face and then made a fist. The man in question began to squirm as the bindings began to tighten.
"What was that, nyah?" She asked. "What am I?" The man didn't reply, so she tightened it a bit more. "Hm, seems you've gone quite now. Odd." Kumi looked around her, but she still didn't see anyone else on the battlefield. She must have lost the others after they initially entered the fray, which didn't surprise her. It was a rather large scale fight, after all.
"What the actual hell have I stumbled upon?" A voice asked. Kumi turned to find a blonde woman standing there, regarding the scene before her with a confused face.
"Lady Elizabeth!" One of the men shouted. "Thank God you found us! This chick is crazy!" Kumi made a face and once again tightened his bindings.
"You shush." She said. "What did he call you? Lady Elizabeth?"
"That's me." The woman replied. "And who are you? Another one of this foolish children trying to stop us from getting the Demon boy?"
"Well, yeah. I suppose that's me, nyah." Kumi said, shrugging. "I jumped out of that giant airship cause I heard some of my friends were in trouble."
"I see." Elizabeth replied. "I suppose that means I have to deal with you before this spat ends." At this, the Hunters all over the ground began to cheer.
"Get this crazy cat lady, Elizabeth!" The same man shouted. Rolling her eyes, Kumi tightened the bindings to the point where all the men on the ground fell unconscious.
"Sorry, I was sick and tired of him insulting me." She said. "Are you mad about that?"
"Not much, he wasn't one of my men." She replied. "Judging from his markings on his uniform he's from Quinn's division. Anyways, I suppose I should deal with you before I get to Abigail." Kumi didn't recognize any of the names she was using, but she assumed she was referring to her comrades. When Elizabeth readied herself, Kumi's eyes widened. She'd expected the woman to be powerful, but the magic rolling off the woman was more than she expected. She really doubted she'd be able to deal with this woman on her own.
Oh well. She was on her own no matter how she felt.
Besides, her bindings nullified magic. She'd be okay.
Elizabeth raised her hands and blasted off a gigantic blast of white magic at her. Kumi gracefully dodged the blasted and launched bindings at the woman, which wrapped around her right wrist. The woman seemed irritated by this, and pulled at the bind. Kumi, however, kept a firm grasp on it.
"What the hell is this?" She demanded. "It's sticking to my skin."
"Sorry, nyah." Kumi said as she landed gracefully. "That's kind of the point though." Kumi tugged on the bind and watched Elizabeth stumble forward and she used to her advantage, getting another one around her other wrist. Now the woman was in a pretty bad place. Kumi tugged on the binds, and they began to shorten rapidly. Once she reached Elizabeth, she grabbed her arm and flung her to the ground.
"W-What?" Elizabeth asked weakly. "How did you-?" Before the woman could finish Kumi used the binds to fling her into the open air. It caused her to be released, but that was fine. Kumi would get her again. She watched Elizabeth land and feel her wrists in shock.
"What's the matter?" Kumi asked. "Did I surprise you?"
"What the hell are those tubes?" She demanded. "That's not...You couldn't have..."
"You're confusing me, nyah." Kumi said. "Can you stop?" Elizabeth looked up at her, still looking shook. Soon, however, the look faded.
"Whatever." She said. "I'll just have to make sure I avoid those." She raised her hands together and soon, she began to glow a lot more.
After this, she shot forward.
Kumi hadn't been prepared for the sudden speed and ferocity the woman displayed. She barely had a chance to get her hands up before fists and blasts started hitting all up and down her body. Where had all this come from. She felt herself sailing through the air, whole body rocked by the assault, before a pair of hands grabbed her and they descended much slower than a second ago.
"Ah, I didn't expect to see you again so soon." Elizabeth said. Kumi opened her eyes and looked up. Although at first she was confused, she recognized the similarities of her saviors face quickly.
"K-Keita?" She asked.
"Hey," he greeted. "You okay, Kumi? That looked like it hurt." Kumi rubbed her head as they landed and Keita released her.
"It did, nyah." She said. "What are you doing here?"
"Besides catching you?" He asked. "I was actually after that woman fighting you."
"Her?" Kumi asked. "Why?"
"She took down Michael and Drake. I had to chase her down." Kumi felt shock resonating through her.
"She took both of them down?" She asked weakly, and Keita nodded.
"Yeah, she uses enchantments. She enhances her strength, her speed, all of that. The one she used against those two was one that dealt back attack damage. They didn't stand a chance." Kumi felt a bit more intimidated now.
"Wow, she's stronger than I thought." She said. Keita hummed in agreement.
"That, and she's also unbeatable." Kumi made a face at this.
"That's impossible, nyah." She said. "No one's unbeatable."
"You don't understand, Kumi." Keita said. "We beat her once already. She then got up and looked like nothing was wrong with her. It's some necklace she has that does it."
"Well what do we do?" She asked, looking over at Elizabeth. "And why is she letting us talk?" Keita looked over as well.
"Her biggest strength is letting us come to her." He replied. "She has no reason to instigate combat."
"She did it to me, though." Kumi said. "That doesn't..."
"Whatever. I'll just have to make sure I avoid those."
Kumi's eyes widened as Elizabeth's words came back to her.
"Keita!" She said. "I have a brilliant idea!"
"Let's hear it" Keita said. Kumi nodded and brought out a bind.
"My Binding magic nullifies magic!" She explained. "When I got her, she was surprised. I think my binds nullify her enchants!" Keita's eyes widened.
"Really?" He asked. Kumi nodded.
"Yeah. If she likes for her opponents to come to her, that's why she didn't let me! Cause my binds nullify her enchants!" A grin broke over Keita's face.
"Boy am I glad I ran into you, Kumi." He said, standing up. Kumi did as well, and they both faced Elizabeth. "We need to hold her off until Ken gets back to me. Got it?"
"How long with that take?" She asked, stretching.
"Don't know. Could be a while. But if he has good news, you need to create an opening for me. Then and only then can we go after her with our full strength." Kumi nodded, stomach knotting up.
"So we need to fend off an unbeatable opponent while making sure we don't get beaten until Kenny boy gets back to us?"
"Exactly." Kumi took a deep breath.
"Well, easy fights are boring anyway."
Sure are, aren't they. I hope you guys enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try to get five!
Chapter 260: Blessing Of The Cross