One of the things I find I hate the most about growing up is that the passage of time speeds up so much. I swear I blink and it's been months since I've posted a chapter. I hate getting older, it's not fun.
Enjoy!
Ultear stared at the ground in surprise, watching as the last wisps of Mezevera disappeared into the wind.
"What have you done?" She asked quietly. "What did you do?" Geras let out a weak laugh as he shouldered the bright red blade he's killed her with.
"Only what needed to be done," he replied. He reached into his shirt and pulled out a medallion, which began to glow. "You should find a way to flee, Fullbuster. With Mezevera dead, her Circle will soon collapse. Twelve has become Eleven.
Hearing this made something snap in Ultear's mind. Third Origin had not faded yet. This battle was NOT over.
Getting to her feet, she launched herself at Geras and raised a hand, preparing to erase him from existence.
Her attack went right through him as he faded into nothing. Turning back, she saw he was gone. She'd let him escape. Ultear grit her teeth angrily as the world around her became to rumble.
"That's one," she said to herself. "I hope the others are having better luck than I am." She needed to table that worry for later. Right now, she needed to find a way out of the Circle before she died with Mezevera.
As if on cue with her worries, a white portal appeared before her, humming with positive energy. She stared at it in surprise, feeling warmth wash over here.
"...Anhkseram?" She asked, "Are you showing me the way?"
Silence was her answer. Frowning but out of options, Ultear made for the portal as the ground began to disappear.
The 1st Circle disappeared behind her as she entered the portal, the last traces of Mezevera disappearing.
"Ha...Hahahahaha!"
The battle was interrupted by Hades laughing. Damien made a face as he peered through his arms that were blocking his face.
"That's one!" Hades roared. He glowed with power that made Damien queasy. "One of the Demon Lords has fallen! It's already started!" Damien's eyes widened at this, almost unable to compute what he was hearing.
"Xisplate, what the hell is he talking about?" He asked. Xisplate was silent for a moment before he replied.
"Mezevera has fallen," he said in a voice barely above a whisper. "She's been killed."
Damien stood there quietly for a moment, refusing to believe what he'd heard. One was already dead? How was that possible? It simply could not be true.
"Damien, we have no time to ponder. We must survive this battle at all costs. Do you understand?! We cannot allow Hades to defeat us!"
This was no longer a battle to defeat him. It was a battle for his life. Their lives. If Damien died, Hades would win. The chains holding Zomrus down would be undone and restart a dark age for humanity. It couldn't happen.
He couldn't allow it.
Natsu could not place it, but something was very wrong. What was it?
He was following after Philotis and Nashi as they followed a trail of magic power deeper into the 2nd Circle, but he sensed somethin was off. He felt like he was missing something vital, but what was it? Was there some other part of this he was forgetting?
"What is that dagger you showed us anyway, Philotis?" Nashi asked the girl.
"Oh, this old thing?" The redhead asked, lifting up the small dagger to show her. "It's a blade forged to kill the Demon Lords. See this little gem in it? It's got your power in it! Remember, when you gave it to us?"
"Oh...yeah, I remember." Nashi replied. Natsu made a face at this, looking down at his feet. Was that what had happened? Nashi had given it to them? That didn't sound right. No, actually, it sounded normal. Maybe?
"So you use that on his 'core' or whatever, and he dies?" Natsu asked. This sentence alone made him feel anxious.
"Yep!" Philotis replied with a bright smile. "Either the demon himself or his core works just fine. Once I do that, this entire Circle will collapse and Drakhosz' entire being will return to Zomrus, weakening the chains placed on him. Once we've finished off all Twelve, Zomrus will wake up."
"What a great plan!" Nashi exclaimed. Natsu wasn't sure what he thought.
"Thank you, Nashi!" Philotis said with another smile as bright as the sun. "You're so sweet to me. Doing alright, Natsu?"
"...I'm fine," Natsu mumbled, rubbing at his temples. "Just woozy."
"You exerted a lot of energy back there," Nashi said with a worried expression, "do you need to sit down."
"No...Yes? Maybe. I'm not sure. Let's just get out of here already." Natsu turned his gaze to Philotis, and saw she looked alarmed. She very quickly masked it, however, and smiled back at him. This sent a chill down his spine, but why? Why was he so unsettled.
As they walked, Natsu tried to make sense of it. It had to be the Circle, right? That must have been why he was so unnerved. This whole place made him feel like something was horribly wrong. Casting a glance around at the jagged rocks and chains hanging from a ceiling he could not see, it just made him even more uneasy. He just wanted to get this over with.
"How are you both so pathetic that you're being manipulated by this woman?" A voice demanded. Natsu balled his fists and whirled back, seeing Drakhosz standing before them. He didn't seem to affected by his earlier beating, looking perfectly fine.
"You shook that off easy, huh?" He asked. Drakhosz snorted.
"Did you think it killed me?" He demanded, "I'll give you credit, you've sealed my strength into my Circle. Unfortunately for you, you're still in it!"
Drakhosz launched himself forward, wings propelling him. Natsu jumped in front of the girls and blocked the attack, gritting his teeth and digging his feet in as Drakhosz attempted to slash him. With a roar of defiance, he grabbed a hold of Drakhosz' arm and swung him up into the air, far away from them.
"Go!" He shouted at Nashi and Philotis, "I'll distract him!" The girls nodded in unison, but Nashi looked worried.
"Be careful, Dad," she warned. They shared an understanding nod before they ran off, Natsu looked back up for Drakhosz. All he heard was a laugh.
"Humans really are pitiful," his voice echoed from the fog overhead. "How can you not see what's plainly in front of you?"
"Stop talking in Circles and fight me, if you can." Natsu replied.
"If I can?" He asked, "I'm immortal, Dragneel. It would take all you have and more to kill me. You've bruised my being I'll admit, but the strength you exerted earlier won't be enough this time."
"Do you have time for that while those two look for your core?" Natsu asked with a smirk. "Philotis told us all about it. It's the center of your power, right? If she destroys it, you go bye-bye."
"And why would you want that?" Drakhosz demanded, "after you went through the trouble to seal me?"
Natsu blanched.
Drakhosz finally reappeared from the fog, slamming his reptilian tail into Natsu's body and sending him flying.
"Tell me Natsu," he shouted as whips formed from veins in his hands, "why do you side with the Child?! She's deluded you!"
"She's my friend!"
"Is she now?" Drakhosz mused as he whipped Natsu relentlessly. "Why would a friend do the opposite of what you want? Why do you want her to kill me after you sealed my power here?!"
Natsu tried desperately to think, but the whips digging into his flesh made it difficult. Gathering magic in his core, he unleashed a wave of flames that forced the whips away and disintegrated stone outcroppings nearby.
"Stop trying to confuse me," he declared, "It won't work."
"Won't it?" Drakhosz asked with a smirk, which was gruesome on his weathered and scarred face. "It's already worked! Philotis is deceiving you, jackass."
Natsu's eyes widened.
"Are you stupid? She's wormed her way into your head. human. Her Friendship magic forces those she targets to view her as an ally. A friend. Did you feel dizzy on your walk with her? Did her smile give you shivers? That was her exerting her influence on you. Subduing you without throwing a punch."
"...T-That isn't true."
"Of course it isn't. After all, of course you'd side with one of the people who killed and tortured your daughter, right?"
It was like a dam broke in Natsu's head.
Philotis was the enemy. She'd been at Tartarus. She was working for Hades and Zomrus.
She'd helped kill Nashi.
"I see the fog lifting from your eyes," Drakhosz said with a snort. "That's good. I can't imagine the sense of betrayal you feel from this. Or the worry you feel for your daughter who is alone with her. It must be delectable." Natsu became acutely aware of the situation. Nashi was with Philotis, looking for the Core of the Circle, and he was stuck here with the demon.
"I've got to go find them," he said.
"Of course you do!" Drakhosz agreed heartily. "And I'm coming with."
"Why the hell are you helping me?" He demanded, still wary of the Lord of Pain. "Why did you free me from her control?" Drakhosz let out another guttural laugh.
"Why?" He asked, as though the answer was obvious. "Because I want to see the pain you experience from having to fight your own daughter. Did you forget? Philotis still has her claws in her, and she won't fight us herself, oh no. She'll make Nashi do it. I need to see the pain of a father forced to fight his daughter."
"You're evil," Natsu said plainly.
"I am but a reflection of humanity." He replied, "what will you do, Natsu? Will you let your daughter and her new friend kill me? Or will you stand in their way?" Natsu grit his teeth angrily. He knew the Demon Lord had him in a corner. He had to stop Nashi before she helped Philotis do something horrible.
"You know my answer," he said finally.
"Of course I do. Here, let me set it up for you." Drakhosz raised a hand, and reality lurched around them violently. Natsu nearly fell over, but he managed to stay upright despite his stumble.
"Dad?" Nashi's voice asked. Looking over, Natsu saw his daughter standing with Philotis, who was watching him warily. As he did, Natsu's heightened defences sensed magic trying to infiltrate his mind. He raised his mental walls immediately, blocking Philotis out of his mind. Her eyes widened. She knew.
"Nashi," he said, "come over here." His daughter raised an eyebrow at him and took a few steps, only for Philotis to grab her arm.
"Nashi, Drakhosz has gotten to him," she warned. "He's had his mind warped by pain."
"Nashi, she lies," he said, making her look back to him. "She's the spirit of Friendship. She's making you think she's your friend. She's the enemy, remember?" Nashi looked thoroughly confused, looking between them rapidly.
"Uh..." She started.
"You believe me, don't you?" Philotis asked. Her words and tone were velvety smooth, each syllable laced with enough magic to blast a building to pieces. She was exerting more influence. "Why would I lie to you, Nashi?" Natsu saw his daughter's eyes glaze over a bit, falling victim to her influence.
"Why would you..." She asked slowly, seemingly in a trance.
"Nashi, why would I lie?" He asked, trying to force his own words to carry weight. "I'm your Dad, remember? I'm always on your side, always looking out for you."
"He says so after abandoning you for your whole childhood.," Philotis said, voice full of venom. "He's not trustworthy, you know that."
"She's trying to sway you," he insisted, "Nashi, you know me. I would never lead you astray. What reason do I have to lie to you?" He could tell Nashi was fighting with herself mentally, it was evident on her face. Despite this, she swayed visibly towards him, the fog in her eyes clearing a little.
"Yeah, Dad has no reason to lie to me..." She said quietly, tugging on the arm Philotis was holding onto, trying to free herself. The Child of Nyx looked visibly distraught that her control was waning, biting her lip. After a few seconds, her eyes went steely, and she pulled Nashi back. Nashi stumbled as she was pulled back, Philotis grabbing her face with her hands and looking right into her eyes, her own eyes glowing.
"Nashi, I have no reason to lie to you," she said. Her coercion was so powerful Natsu himself felt swayed back to her side. "I am your friend, he is the enemy. He wants to tear us apart. Don't let him. Stop him from taking you away from me!"
Any sway Natsu might have had over Nashi disappeared in an instant as magic rolled off of Philotis in waves. Natsu was surprised as the sheer pressure of her magic, not expecting it from someone with magic like her's that let her avoid combat. He'd clearly underestimated her. His Daughter turned back to him, her eyes foggy but determined to stop him.
"Nashi," he started, "Don't listen to her-"
"Why are you getting in our way?" She demanded. "What did Philotis do?"
"Aside from brainwashing you?" He asked, "she plans to do a whole lot."
"I don't want to fight you, Dad. Don't do this."
"Don't do what? Stop you from helping Philotis kill Drakhosz?"
"You may as well stop trying to argue with her, Natsu," Philotis said with a smile. "She's thoroughly entranced by me. She knows I'm right. Isn't that right, Nashi?" Nashi nodded, making Philotis giggle. "Isn't the power of friendship great, Natsu?"
Natsu felt like that was supposed to be a dig at him, but he ignored it. He had bigger problems anyway.
"I'll leave you two to it!" Philotis called as she walked off. "I've got a Demon Lord to kill!" Speaking of Drakhosz, where was he anyway? He'd sent Natsu here and then screwed off somewhere else. The bastard was probably watching gleefully.
"Nashi, don't let get get to your head," he said. "She's deceiving you."
"No she isn't," Nashi said. "She's right Dad. I can't let you hurt her. If you're going to try and stop her, then I'll have to stop you." Natsu scanned his daughter's face for a few seconds, before he sighed and cracked his neck a few times.
"It's been a while since we fought for real, Nashi." He said. "It was, what, Tenrou Island? S-Class Trials?"
"Something like that," she replied. "Don't think I'm weak like I was back then." He scoffed at this as he tensed his legs up.
"You're the one who needs to be careful," he said.
There was a brief silence between them, the arid atmosphere of the Circle encroaching on them quietly. Seeing as he wasn't trying to seriously hurt her, he waited until she made the first move.
Which she did.
Nashi exploded towards him, raising her fist and gathering flames around it. Natsu grabbed her arm as she got closer and swung her downward, planting her in the earth and holding her arm to keep her immobilised. Nashi spun like a top on the ground, kicking her legs out at his. Natsu had to jump to avoid getting kicked, but Nashi used fire to accelerate her turning and kicked back up, just in time to meet Natsu's fist as it hit her chest, sending her flying back.
Taking his own initiative, Natsu flew after her and above her, slamming her into the ground with another punch. Nashi formed a crater as she hit the ground, but flames soon exploded out of it to make him back off. Flying through her flames like they were nothing. Natsu grabbed her again and flipped her onto her back, wrapping an arm around her neck and applying pressure in a choke hold.
"Go to sleep baby girl," he said, squeezing as she gurgled. "I'll finish this up for us." Hearing Nashi gurgle made him feel horrible, but he had to immobilise her if he was to stop Philotis. He couldn't have her intervening. Nashi's strength started to wane, the flailing of her arms dying away.
Until her back started to glow white. Sensing danger, Natsu had to choice but to release her and fly away. He just narrowly evaded White lasers as he did so, which exploded out of Nashi's back and carved holes in the fog above them.
"White Dragon Magic," he noted as Nashi gasped her air, struggling back to her feet. "You're that desperate?"
"I...I have to stop you," Nashi said. "Philotis must succeed." Natsu frowned in irritation. This was going to be harder than he wanted.
"Then come and get me," he said. Nashi took a few more seconds to gasp for air, her eyes never leaving his. There was another tense moment between them before Nashi's body erupted in flames, the holy light making the fog in the Circle hiss as though it was in pain. She leapt into the air, her flames exploding backwards as she flew high into the sky, into the fog. Natsu was able to track her thanks to the light she emitted, keeping his eyes on her the whole times.
"Holy Fire Dragon's Talons!" Nashi erupted from the smog, swinging her feet towards him. He swung to grab her again, but she veered out of the way and flew back away into the fog. She made a few more passes at him, slashing and firing flames from the fog. This was getting tiresome. Every second he wasted here was another second Philotis got further away.
"I don't have time for this," he grumbled, gathering magic in the core of his body. He protected himself from Nashi's next few passes, the magic building up inside of him. "Fire Dragon Ground-Zero!"
His magic erupted out of him in every direction making him the epicentre of a massive explosion. As the flames burst outward, they pushed away the fog that hid Nashi, revealing her as she flew around.
"There you are," he said. Tensing his legs, he jumped into the air and manoeuvred for Nashi, who was about to raise her arms to defend herself. He grabbed a hold of her again but he didn't waste time with a choke hold this time. Tensing his arms, Natsu made flames erupt from his feet, making himself and Nashi spin in a circle in the air. Natsu increased the intensity of his flame, making them spin so fast everything but his daughter's face was a blur.
"Sorry sweetheart," he said, "but I can't have you getting in my way!" With this said, Natsu loosened his grip on her arm. "Fire Dragon Collider!" Utilising all his strength, Natsu released his grip and flung Nashi as hard as he could. He added magic to his throw, making Nashi quickly turn into a meteor flying through the sky at the speed of light. She soon disappeared into the fog, and then the sound of his magic also disappeared. She'd already flown far away. Natsu didn't bother wasting time to wonder if she was okay, he simply turned and blasted in the direction Philotis had disappeared into.
Rocketing through the air was certainly a fast way to travel, but it meant nothing if he couldn't find Philotis. He had no way of tracking her, or the Core, which made him wonder if she had a way to find it.
Natsu had been about to descend to get a better view of the ground when the world lurched around him, making him dizzy as the world spun. He stumbled but caught himself, hearing a familiar chuckle.
"You're late," Drakhosz said. Natsu looked up to see the Demon Lord standing nearby, at the steps to a small cathedral. The cathedral was made of black bricks and bones, and through the open door Natsu could see a small red orb floating above a brazier.
"I was distracted," Natsu noted. Drakhosz shrugged.
"It matters not. I caught out friend." Natsu made a face at this, before realising their was someone at Drakhosz' feet.
Looking downward made his stomach turn. At the Demon Lord's feet was Philotis, her back arced upwards as she writhed in indescribable pain. She was reaching upwards, but there was no help to be given to her. Sweat drenched every inch of her body, making the rock beneath her damp. She could only manage a faint gurgle or gasp every now and then, incapable of anything else because of the pain.
"Don't feel bad for her," Drakhosz said, "she has made her bed. Now she will lie in it."
"She'll get no sympathy from me," he replied. "Do I have to deal with you too? Seems your last beating didn't finish you off." Drakhosz let a fiendish smirk cross his face.
"I won't die to the level of power you output before," he said. "But I have a fun game for us to play!"
Before Natsu could ask, Nashi blinked into existence a few steps away, spinning in a circle before hitting the ground with a groan. Natsu's eyes widened as he stared at her, his eyes darting back to Drakhosz.
"What are you doing?" He demanded. Drakhosz just laughed.
"Whatever do you mean?!" He asked, "You want to prevent Nashi and Philotis from killing me, right?! Then fight her while I try to kill her too! Step between us, Natsu Dragneel!"
There was brief instant where Natsu thought it was a sick joke, but he was quickly proven wrong when Drakhosz launched himself at Nashi. She quickly recovered from her vertigo and swung her own fist at him, a shockwave reverberating around them. This was just fantastic.
He watched as Nashi bounced back from their first scuffle, swinging low and trying to bring Drakhosz' feet out from under him. The Demon Lord took to the air in response, aiming a hand at Nashi. She quickly dodged his blasts of magic, making for Philotis.
She grabbed her dagger.
"Nashi stop it!" He shouted, running towards her. She completely ignored him, launching into the air after the Demon Lord. Natsu turned to follow, but he didn't get the chance as his entire body was assaulted by the worst pain he had ever felt in his entire life. He could just barely hear Drakhosz laughing over the blood roaring in his ears.
"I guess you'll just have to watch me kill your daughter again, Natsu! I bet that will hurt you, right?!" The simple action of lifting his head to see nearly made him black out, but he did so regardless. He watched as Drakhosz and Nashi flew through the air, clashing with each other at break neck speeds. He needed to stop them before things got bad, but how? He was immobilised, Drakhosz was still fighting, and Nashi was trying to kill him. What could he do?
Slowly but surely, his eyes drifted to Philotis still squirming on the ground near him. Of course, that was how.
Natsu wasn't the brightest out there, but he knew that a fundamental rule of magic was that it stopped working if the mage fell unconscious. He just needed to work his way towards her and knock her out.
Moving the few feet towards Philotis nearly killed him. Or at least, it felt like it did. Every inch he moved felt like glass digging into his knees. His fingers that grazed the ground as he pulled himself along felt like they were shaved down to the bone. Worse still, the air he breathed had lit his entire inside alight, his entire body screaming in agony. Eventually, though, he made it to the girl who was in just as much pain as he was.
Natsu raised a shaky fist, realising that striking her would hurt him more than it would hurt her. After all, she seemed to be in a lot of pain as it was. Still, he had too. If her hold on Nashi couldn't be broken, they were in trouble. Gritting his teeth, he steeled his nerves and brought his fist down on the side of Philotis' head.
Pain erupted up his entire arm and into his spine from the impact. It felt like his fingers had been lopped off, his knuckles shattered, his arms used as jump rope for dragons. Still, he'd landed the punch. He looked back at Philotis, groaning when he realised she was still awake. He couldn't do another punch, he just couldn't. So what could he do?
More explosions sounded from behind him, signalling him to hurry up. He didn't have time for this. If he killed Philotis on accident, it didn't matter. Nashi needed to be freed from her spell. Manoeuvring himself as slowly as he could, he picked Philotis up and sat behind her. Once she was positioned, he wrapped an arm around her neck and began to squeeze the air from her. This was all he could think off, plus it didn't hurt as bad to choke her.
"Oh no you don't!" Natsu had just enough time to look up to see a reptilian tail slam into his head, knocking him backwards and freeing Philotis from his grip. Drakhosz laughed as Natsu writhed on the ground, groaning in an attempt to prevent screaming.
"It'd be no fun if you let Nashi onto your team again, Natsu!" He shouted, "don't be a poor sport!" He whirled back just in time to stop Nashi from kicking him in the back of the head, grabbing her ankle and slamming her into the ground. Nashi screamed out in pain, a scream that told Natsu her pain was being amplified.
"L-Let her go!" He shouted, his gums screaming in anger from his own teeth.
"Or what?" Drakhosz demanded, "you'll kill me? Do you think just because you sealed me here that I can't fight you? Hm?"
Natsu watched his daughter get lifted up and slammed straight through a rocky outcropping nearby, making her cry out in anguish. It hurt more than anything Natsu was going through. Gritting his teeth, Natsu reached for his END power. It burned him worse than the pain did.
"Did I mention I removed your own immunity to your flames?" Drakhosz asked. "I bet that hurts a lot, huh?"
It did, but he didn't care. He needed to stop him from killing Nashi. Igniting himself in flames, Natsu launched himself forward and tackled Drakhosz, making him drop Nashi in surprise. In the blink of an eye, he reached down and grabbed the blade from Nashi's hands, tossing it far into the fog. That was one problem taken care of. Quickly turning back, he caught Drakhosz's hand with his own, his bones screaming in protest.
"How long can you fight your own pain, Natsu?" Drakhosz demanded, "or your own daughter, seeing as she wants to kill me? How long can you last trying to stop both of us?!" Before Natsu could respond, Drakhosz had leaned forward and headbutt him.
His skull cracked, it must have. Natsu's entire brain felt like it melted into slurry, turning round and round in his skull like soup. It didn't matter. Natsu had to stop him. They had to get out of here.
"I'll fight as long as I have too!" He roared, headbutting Drakhosz back. "Do you know who I am?! I am Etherious Natsu Dragneel! I stopped Zeref! I've fought Dragon Gods! I WON'T LOSE TO THE LIKES OF YOU! ROAR OF THE FIRE DRAGON KING!"
Natsu's breath attack exploded like a bomb, blasting outwards and sending Drakhosz flying. Natsu flew after him in the blink of an eye, driving his fist into the demon's side and igniting his fist, driving flames into the armour itself and torching him alive. He grabbed the demon's face before he could reply, igniting flames at his elbow and driving them back towards the earth. Drakhosz hit the ground with enough force to send them several feet into the ground, gasping as he did so. Natsu reared his fist back and prepared to drive it home into the Demon's skull, but this time Drakhosz pulsed with magic and he was thrown off of him. Natsu righted himself mid-air to watch as Drakhosz burst into the air, whips in hand.
"That's what I like to see, Natsu!" He shouted, "attack with all you've got! Show me more of that face!" He flicked the whip in his direction, the weapon lashing Natsu's face. The wound ignited in horrific agony, but it wasn't over. Drakhosz used both whips to attack him relentlessly, every new wound feeling fatal and what would do him in.
He didn't care. He had to finish this.
Natsu grabbed one of the whips as it hit his face again, growling angrily as he yanked with all his strength and pulled Drakhosz towards him. The demon lurched forward in surprise, Natsu acting quickly and wrapping the whip around his neck and beginning to squeeze. Just as soon as he started the whip disappeared, forced by Drakhosz to disappear. The demon reached over his shoulder and clawed Natsu's face open, freeing himself. Natsu felt like skin was hanging from his face, but he didn't care.
Flame wrapped itself around his elbows, forming into talons at his hands. He knew the horns were on his head as well. He probably resembled Nashi right now.
Speaking of Nashi, he looked up just in time to see her flying through the fog they had come from, Even without the dagger meant to kill Drakhosz, she still looked determined to kill. Now he had to stop her.
Flying into the fray, Natsu threw himself right in the middle of it. He flew between them and blocked an attack from Nashi towards Drakhosz' stomach, turning just as quickly to block Drakhosz' attack with his arm.
"Fire Dragon Roar!" Nashi shouted, flames erupted from her mouth. Natsu turned and swallowed the entire attack, wrapping his hand around Drakhosz face and exploded it against him. After he finished swallowing Nashi's fire, he grabbed her arm and swung, flinging her away again. She flew for a bit but steadied herself with her flames, still flying in the sky.
"Stop getting in my way, Dad!" she shouted, "I have to kill him!"
For the love of all that was Holy, he couldn't do this anymore!
"Yeah?!" he roared in her direction, turning on her. He had no idea what he looked like, but he saw Nashi's face turn to horror when he whirled on her. "You want to kill him, Nashi?! YOU'LL HAVE TO KILL ME FIRST?! YOU HEAR ME?!" She didn't say a single word, and he didn't give her a chance too. He whirled around and blasted towards Drakhosz, using his flames to increase his velocity to absurd speeds.
"Fire Dragon King Demolition Fist!" He roared. He brought his fist down on top of Drakhosz' head, but he could tell the attack had been blocked. The demon grabbed his fist through the smokescreen His dirt covered face sporting a horrific grin.
"You're quite the fighter!" He roared. "Let's see if you can handle this! Pain Of A Million Anguished Souls!"
What happened next could not be described by the human imagination.
Natsu would never, for as long as he lived after this fight, be able to explain the pain he experienced when this spell took effect. Whenever he was asked, he always said the same thing : imagine feeling the pain of every victim of a genocide. Every stab wound. Every broken bone. Every single wound inflicted on them. He felt all of it.
At one point his arm was snapped off his body. His entrails were wrapped around his neck to suffocate him. His legs were lopped off and he was forced to walk on the bloody stumps. These were only a few of the things Natsu was forced to experience.
"Do you feel that?" Somehow, he could hear Drakhosz through the pain. "This is only a sample of what you humans have inflicted on others. Only a million soul's pain. I cannot begin to count the things left to do to you. And yet, it will pale in comparison to what happens when Zomrus arises. What will happen because you refuse to allow us to take Nashi back. Take that in, Natsu Dragneel. This pain will be caused by you if you don't stop this madness."
Natsu wanted to reply, but how could he do that? His tongue had been severed from his mouth and tossed aside. His teeth had been pulled out one by one and stabbed into different parts of his body. Nails had been driven into his gums to simulate teeth.
He died.
And died.
And died.
and died.
and died. Over and over. A million times.
"YOU'LL HAVE TO KILL ME FIRST?! YOU HEAR ME?!"
Nashi had been unable to move when her father said that to her, floating down to the ground as he blasted off after the Demon Lord. She hadn't felt right about this entire interaction, but now she knew something was wrong. She had already confused about why she had to fight her Dad, but she's shrugged it off as Drakhosz' influence.
But no, there was no way. He wouldn't say that to her, not in this situation, not like that.
"She's the spirit of Friendship. She's making you think she's your friend. She's the enemy, remember?"
Her Father's words from earlier echoed around her head. Was he right? Was Philotis controlling her? Surely not, right? She was a friend. She was helping them seal Drakhosz' pow-
No, wait. That wasn't right. Philotis wanted to kill Drakhosz. And so did she! No, that was wrong too. Nashi stared down at her hand angrily, trying to figure out who was lying and who was telling the truth.
"...Why would Dad lie to me?" She asked herself quietly. "He loves me...Right?...Surely it's him telling the truth." The mere idea of doubting Philotis made her sick to her stomach, but that in and of itself made her even more suspicious. If she was the Spirit of Friendship, then...
Growling angrily, Nashi's hand erupted in white light.
"I'll solve it myself," she said, planting her open palm with the flame on her stomach. "Holy White Fire Dragon's Purifying Seal." The fire raced across her skin to create the seal, a small cross in the center of it.
The second the circle closed, it was like Nashi could see clearly again. Like she'd put glasses on for the first time. Philotis was lying. Her Dad was right, she was manipulating her. Her Power of Friendship made it so Nashi had no reason to doubt her. She also guessed that was the source of the deep sense of betrayal she felt. It was akin to finding out if Elise or Ultear betrayed her.
She could focus on that later. Philotis was indisposed, and her Dad needed her help. Bracing herself, she flew into the air and flew in the direction the two had gone, and it didn't take long for her to find them. When she did, her stomach turned.
Her Father was on his knees, his head turned to the sky. His arms fell limply at his side, and his mouth hung open in a permanent scream of pain. Despite that, no sound came from his mouth. It was like he was frozen.
"Ah, younger one," Drakhosz said from where he was standing nearby, "so nice of you to join us."
"W-What have you done to him?" She demanded in a frightened tone.
"Oh, nothing much. He's just currently reliving the pain of a million souls. He should come to in, say, a few years." Sadly, they didn't have that much time. Nashi knew if she could get to him and place a Purifying Circle on him as well it would free him, but she sensed that wasn't going to be allowed to happen.
"Let him go," she said, trying to buy time to think.
"Is that the best you can offer?" Drakhosz asked, a frown on his face. "I expected more from you, Nashi. Beg for your life at least." She grit her teeth at this, unable to believe he'd just suggested that.
"Not to you," she said. "Not ever."
"Pity. I would have liked to see you beg." He shrugged and cracked his neck. "I suppose I'll kill you now. Say goodbye to Daddy, okay?" The atmosphere around the two became charged with magic, and Nashi prepared herself to use all the Holy Fire she could throw at him. Surely enough of it would scare him off eventually, right?
However, before either of them could move, her Father bucked in place. He jerked around on his knees, making gargling sounds as he fought against some invisible force. After fighting for a few more seconds, his fists clenched and fire exploded out of him, engulfing both her and Drakhosz. However, she could tell this was not his normal fire. This was END's fire.
Drakhosz roared in pain, the flames catching him alight and sending him running for freedom from the oven her Dad had created. Nashi watched, stunned as her father struggled to his feet, groaning the whole way. His eyes were devoid of any life, his irises all but gone. He was running on instinct and nothing else.
"Dad?" He asked tentatively over the blaze roaring around them. "Are you in there?" She got no response, as he stayed hunched over growling as he emitted heat. He hadn't even tried to aim an attack, just unleashed END's flames in all directions. Even though he was experiencing a million deaths, he still fought back.
She sometimes forgot just how incredible her Dad truly was.
Approaching him slowly, Nashi raised a hand and pressed it to his stomach, drawing a Circle on his body. Just as it did with her, as soon as it closed her Father snapped to stand straight up, life returning to his eyes. He looked at her in a flurry, sweat dripping from his pale face.
"Nashi...?" He asked, panting heavily. "I...Did you...Are you..."
"Free?" Nashi asked, "yeah, I am. I used Michael's holy light to free myself from Philotis' magic. I did the same to free you from that hell you were stuck in." She watched him look down at his chest, examining the mark carefully.
"...Thank you," he said. "I thought...I don't know what I thought. I don't even know if I was thinking at all."
"We can wonder about it later," Nashi said, "Drakhosz is still aiming for me." His face hardened at that, looking around.
"I see I gave us some space," he said. "Nashi, consume this fire I created."
"What? Why? I have my own END fi-" Nashi was painfully reminded that her own alter ego was ignoring her. "Oh, right. I guess I don't."
"Hurry," her father urged. "We need to hurry up and get out of here." Nashi did as she was instructed, moving a bit farther away from her father to do so. Raising her arms in the air, Nashi took the biggest inhale she ever had in her life, and continued to do so as her Dad's fire funnelled towards her mouth and down her throat. It tasted...Odd. Not bad, but it was such an odd feeling. It was like her own END fire, but it was...older, more unrefined. More primal, if that made sense.
Once she was done inhaling, Nashi looked down at her hands and ignited them, watching dark red flames dance in her palm.
"Let's get this asshole," she said. Her Dad chuckled.
"Where'd he go?" He asked. Nashi pointed off to their right, and he gestured for her to go.
"Ladies first," he said with a smirk. Nashi made a face at him.
"Age before beauty," she replied. He snorted.
"You're mine alright," he said. He kicked off the ground into the distance, Nashi following close behind him.
It didn't take them long to find Drakhosz some distance away, standing on the ground. He was still smouldering from her Dad's explosion, coughing up a storm as he did so.
"This power..." The Demon Lord choked out, "it's so...alien, yet familiar."
"Want another taste?" Her Dad asking. He blasted to the Demon and connected his face with his chest-plate, an explosion ringing out. Nashi kept watch from farther away, watching for the demon to reappear. As he did so and tried to gain ground by flying, she took after him.
"You don't get to run after all that shit talk!" She roared, raising a hand. "Holy White Fire Dragon's Beam Burst!" Countless beams of holy fire erupted from her open palm and chased after Drakhosz, who flew like an expert to dodge all of them. Nashi wasn't sure how he did it, but she didn't care. He wanted a fight? He'd get one.
"One uses Holy Light, the other the darkness of the abyss..." Drakhosz snarled as he whirled in the air to face them. "If it weren't for the hair, I wouldn't know you both were related!" The demon raised his hand, aiming it at Nashi. "Pain Of A Million Anguished Souls!"
The spell did absolutely nothing, the spell array on Nashi's stomach glowing brighter as the spell was deflected from her.
"I see," Drakhosz said as she flew closer, "your holy light from your friend is protecting you from outside influences! I see, I see!" Before Nashi or her father could reach him, he blinked closer in a nanosecond and raised his fist. "I hate it break it to you, though, that I don't need magic to kill you!"
Nashi had no time to dodge, he'd gotten to close. All she had time to do was raise her forearms and block the fist that rained down on her. The impact that followed shattered her forearm to pieces, causing her to cry out as she rocketed towards the ground and impacted it like a meteor. She tried her best to scramble out of the way before he reached her, but she could not. He grabbed her ankle with his free hand and snapped it like one would a twig, making her screech in anguish.
"Did you forget I am a God?!" He shouted. Nashi heard her father roar as he approached, but he was deflected with a flick of Drakhosz' wrist. "I am not to be challenged by mere mortals like these! I am made to judge you, to rule over you! You could not kill me in direct combat, never in a million years!"
She knew that. Deep down, Nashi had always known this was a fools errand. Like he said, they were Gods. Sure they're only objective was to seal their power here, but if they could not weaken them to do so, what did it matter? And even then, Drakhosz was sealed. It didn't matter. They were still in his domain. He could still kill them. Nashi considered giving up, she really did. Part of her argued that laying there and accepting her fate was easier than fighting back.
But then she remembered the others. Her friends, her family. All of them were here, risking their lives for her. There was no way she could just lay down and die. Not until she extinguished the flames within herself.
Growling in rage, Nashi pulled the same move her Father had and sent out a shockwave of END's fire. It wasn't strong enough to wound Drakhosz, but it did send him back with an angry growl.
"That troublesome fire," he said angrily. "Zeref was always such an unknown, even to us." Nashi turned just in time to see her Dad rocket at the Demon Lord, but get stopped with a counter-punch and sent flying to the ground. Judging by his groans of pain, he'd just gotten his arm broken too.
"It's quite incredible, really," Drakhosz noted as he patted out the black flames burning on his chest plate. "Zeref being able to create a being like you, Natsu. He truly was the greatest wizard to ever live, wasn't he?"
"Do not speak of him!" Her Father spat. Nashi knew little of her Dad's feeling towards her Uncle, but he looked livid. "Keep his name out of your mouth!"
"His name out of my mouth?!" Drakhosz asked before laughing hysterically. "He's the most evil wizard who ever lived, not me! Did you forget that, Natsu?! Your brother murdered thousands in his trials to find a way to die. He torn thousands of families apart! I guess ruining the world runs in the family, huh?"
The Demon Lord laughed even louder, slapping his knee a few times.
"And in the end, what did he get for it?! A fake brother created from an artificial soul! Some reject of a human who couldn't even kill him in the end! That's what hurts you most, isn't it Natsu? That you weren't able to put your brother out of his misery!"
"Shut up!" Her father roared, flying off the ground and towards Drakhosz'. The demon easily blocked the flurry of blows that came his way and, with one punch, shattered Nashi's protective seal on his chest.
"Dad!" she cried, unable to get up. She unleashed another wave of black fire, but the power was already waning. "Stay away from him!"
"Or what?" Drakhosz asked, his wings steaming. "You'll blow me up? Please Nashi, I know those flames are not of your own creation. Your precious Daddy gave them to you. Little help it was." Her father was back to reeling in pain, clutching his stomach as he doubled over. Drakhosz snorted as he walked closer.
"Don't touch him!" Nashi roared.
"You're embarrassing yourself, Nashi," he said. "Why do you protect him, anyway? He isn't even human." Nashi made a face at this. What did he mean by that? Of course her Dad was human. "You don't know, do you? Ask yourself Nashi. Why did the Demon Lords never come for your Dad, huh? He's a resurrected soul too, isn't he? Why was he allowed to roam free?"
Nashi stared in stunned silence. She could tell from her Dad's expression he heard that too.
"Do you know why?" Drakhosz prodded. "It's easy, really! Zeref didn't resurrect him! Natsu Dragneel died four hundred years ago. His soul was judged and he went along to paradise. Oh but Zeref couldn't accept that, could he? Never in a million years!"
He kicked her father in the back of his knees, forcing him to the ground.
"Zeref Dragneel did not resurrect his brother!" He said, "He created a fresh, blank soul! Your brother created life, he did not coax in back from the great beyond!"
"Shut up," Nashi said, seeing the expression on her Dad's face.
"Did you never wonder why Hades was never given the Curse of Contradiction?" Drakhosz continued. "Or those foolish takeover wizards from Zoka and Ruli? Why did they get off clean when Zeref did not?! Because death isn't Anhkseram's Domain! It was always Zomrus'! When Zeref created artificial life, he crossed into the Great One's domain and was punished as result!"
"Shut up!" Nashi shouted.
"Natsu Dragneel was never human!" Drakhosz laughed, "he has always been, and always will, the husk of a dead boy piloted by a fake soul! I wonder how painful this is for you to hear, Natsu! Am I breaking you?! Shattering your spirit?! Show me your pitiful expression!" Drakhosz kicked him in the stomach, forcing him to roll over with a grunt.
"Dad don't listen to him!" She shouted. She could see the pain on his face. Those words had cut deep. "You're as human as Mom or Me! It doesn't matter where your soul came from or who created it, you're still here with me! With your daughter, who loves you more than anything! Do you hear me?! I love you, Dad! That's real! That's the truth! Don't listen to the lies he spouts!"
Nashi hated that his words rang with truth. He was right. Why was Zeref cursed, but not Hades or the children? Why was her father spared from the Demon Lords but not her? The pieces fit uncomfortably well in their empty puzzle of information.
"Lies? Where?" Drakhosz asked, comically looking around. "I don't see any. Oh but I understand your plight, Nashi. As the daughter of this empty shell, you're some weird halfling who shouldn't even exist! All of this chaos, this calamity, is your fault! I know you know that is true! Tell me, do I lie?!"
She wanted to say he was, but that in and of itself would have been a lie. He spoke the truth. This was her fault. Her eyes fell, and they caught her Dad's gaze. They held a stare at each other and, in an instant, Nashi's own message was relayed back to her.
Her Dad loved her. Her family loved her, her friends loved her. That was true. That was real.
A whip formed in Drakhosz hand, and he brought it down on her Father's back. Her grunted in pain, but otherwise kept his eyes on Nashi. In an instant, his meaning was conveyed, and Nashi knew what was about to happen. She swallowed hard, but nodded.
"Show me your face, Natsu!" Drakhosz shouted as he whipped him again, tearing off a chunk of flesh from his back. "Show me the pain on your face!"
"Want to look at me so bad, huh?" Her Dad asked, whirling and grabbing Drakhosz ankle. A dark circle was swirling on his stomach. "Look me in the eyes, then! Watch while I defeat you!"
"What the hell are you-?!
"Fire Dragon King's Self-Detonation!"
Black flames engulfed everything, so thick that Nashi could not see a thing.
It took more than five minutes for the smoke and dust to clear enough for Nashi to see, and get a good look at her Father lying spread eagle near her. She grunted in pain as she pulled herself along with her good arm, trying to get to his side.
That was a spell her father had told her about, many moons ago, but refused to teach her. He explained that it was a last ditch effort spell, one that would leave him unable to move or fight once it was cast. One that exploded every drop of magic power inside of him for one last attack. And he'd just used it.
Drakhosz was nowhere to be scene, either incinerated or blown so far away he had yet to return. Nashi made it to her fathers side and raised her head to look at his face, and saw he was looking at her.
"Got him," he said, giving her a weak grin. She snorted softly and rested her head on his chest, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in her limbs.
"You did," she said. She felt like passing out on top of him, but managed to keep her eyes open. They'd survived, now they just needed to-
"You didn't."
Nashi's blood ran cold.
She slowly looked over her shoulder, hoping she would not see what she thought she would. She was not so lucky.
Standing behind them was Drakhosz. His armour had been blown to pieces, leaving him naked. Despite this, Nashi noted he had no sexual organs to speak of. Soot and dust covered his entire body, and one of his wings had been torn completely off. Not only that, but one of his angry red eyes was missing.
"Damn it all," Natsu hissed, "Really? Everything I had wasn't enough to even knock you out?"
"Of course not!" Drakhosz shouted. "Did you even hear me?! I am a God! A divine being! Just because Zeref gave you the power to kill that which can't be killed doesn't mean you can just blow up and expect me to go with you!" He grunted angrily as he took a step forward, making Nashi swallow hard.
"I won't kill you," he said, "not yet. Not until I extract every iota of pain your bodies have left to give! I will not be satisfied until you both lose al sense of self! Do you hear me?! I'll torture you for eternity! A thousand, ten thousand, a million years isn't enough to wipe away the crimes you both have-!"
Drakhosz stopped mid-sentence, freezing dead in his tracks. Nashi waited for him to collapse and faint, but he didn't.
Golden Ichor began to drip from his forehead as the Circle started to rumble.
"No..." He hissed, staring down at his hands. "No! It isn't possible! She was still-!"
He raised his head to glare at them.
"YOU! YOU DID THIS! YOU KNOCKED ME OUT, EVEN IF ONLY FOR A SECOND AND NOW-!"
Drakhosz doubled over in pain, grabbing at the nonexistent stab wound on his head.
"You've gone and done it now," Drakhosz said. "YOU LET HER DO THIS! PHILOTIS HAS DESTROYED MY CORE!"
Nashi felt like her soul left her body at this.
"YOU JUST HAD TO FIGHT, DIDN'T YOU?!" Drakhosz demanded as he began to crumble inwards toward the wound on his head. "YOU'VE DOOMED US ALL! EVERYONE! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO?!"
Drakhosz lost his legs and arms, but he remained floating as he disappeared. Despite the fact that he was dying, he laughed in a shrill voice.
"I only wish I was there to see the look on your faces!" he roared as his torso disappeared. "What I wouldn't give to see it! TO SEE THE MOMENT YOU REALISE YOU HAVE KILLED BILLIONS OF PEOPLE! I can only imagine the pain you'll feel!"
Only his head was left.
"You better hope you don't come die any time soon, Dragneel," He hissed. "Because I swear I will find a way to torture you for all-"
And then he was gone. A momentary silence lapsed around them, neither Dragneel having a word to say.
"We failed," Nashi breathed. "Drakhosz is dead...We...Oh God..."
"Nashi, now is not the time to panic," her Father said, grabbing her arm. "One dead will not end the world, I promise. Do you hear me? We aren't out of this yet." Nashi stared at her father helplessly, tears welling in her eyes.
"Have we..." She asked, "did we start the end of the world?"
"No, of course not!" He shouted, "you are not to blame for any of this, do you hear me?! None of it! Focus on the now, we can grieve our failure once we get out of here and go back Lucy and Luke!" That was right. Nashi couldn't give up now. They still had a job to do. The other Demon Lords had not fallen yet. There was still hope.
And yet, as a portal formed nearby, supposedly for them, all Nashi could think of was Eastyn.
Of the countless things that occurred on the eve of the New Age, many things were forgotten. Weddings, birthdays, funerals. All were inconsequential when the sun came up the next day.
At The Hollows guild outside New Avalon, a man would drop dead, his body cold before he hit the ground. This would cause a bloodcurdling scream to escape the lips of the little girl who had accompanied him on a walk in the garden, screaming for Neptu and the others.
Eastyn had been given the solace he wished for, only after he'd stopped actively seeking it.
Another lock on the God of Death came undone.
Two down, Ten Remained.