Author's Note:Well I am rather late on this chapter. About a week or so I think. Maybe more. This would took some planning on my end, and then I got distracted. As per usual sadly. Anyway, here is the fourth chapter to this marvelous idea. If it seems like things are escalating too quick, take note that pacing is far from my strong point and I abhor filler, though for the sake of the story I wish to craft, you all shall see me attempt some good old-fashioned, mind-rotting filler. Hopefully I am decent at writing up something entertaining for it. In this chapter there will be an example, or four, of OOC-ness. You will notice it if you have finished the anime.
Once more, call out to DZ2 and his "The Danger Zone" for giving me this idea. Review, don't review, hope y'all enjoy. Let's begin
Chapter Four
Mystical Abomination
Going through the purple, rippling water-like sky, Harry once more found himself in a plane of existence far beyond one's imagination. The world was still the same design as where they left it, yet here, the air was heavy and thick with a toxin that drove his instincts wild with adrenaline. The sky was purple and cloudless, the only things comparable to clouds being the dark purple pigmentation scattered about the sky, and no sunlight shined down.
Only an endless, purple sky that never knew night or day.
Though already, even without looking at the beast they were hunting, he could feel that Natsu and Laxus were battling it with fervor. Turning his gaze upwards, he saw a streak of dark red and a streak of electric yellow battling it out with the creature he hadn't seen in many years.
The creature in question was not with a name, but instead was best described as a great bastard born from three great creatures. It possessed the ferocious head and tail of a dragon, the mighty, majestic wings of a phoenix, and the torso and legs of a griffin. The only thing worse about it was the blazing golden feathery scales across its body, comparable to that of a dragon's scales. And true to its description, he had long ago nicknamed it the Great Bastard.
And like a younger him had done before, Natsu and Laxus were figuring out quite quickly that its scales were nigh impenetrable.
"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!"
"Raging Bolt!"
Shaking his head at the futile attempts, he scanned the body of the Great Bastard to see if it was indeed the same. For a moment, he thought it wasn't, but finally he saw the faint outline of a once deep scar left on its chest, right across the flesh covering its heart. It had faded over time, but still retained a slightly ashen pigmentation, a constant reminder that he had nearly slain it.
"Damnit! This thing's scales are tough as hell!"
"Fine! Then aim for its eyes! I'm sick of the way this thing is looking at me!"
The mid-battle banter was greatly amusing to Harry. It was to him the sign that already their team was forming proper bonds, now if only-
"Oi! Harry! Get your ass up here and help us out!"
"Stop being a lazy fuck!"
Okay. He was going to smear their faces across the ground once he was done with this beast. Once more launching into the air, he coated himself in a fiery red aura, his scales changing to that similar to a Fire Dragon, and shouted "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
The beast caught sight of him, and for a second seemed to recognize him, but in that second, he connected a heavy left hook into its jaw, and relished in its painful roar. Not letting up, he threw his head back and unleashed a Fire Dragon's Roar that vaporized the water in the air.
Unable to dodge, the Great Bastard took the attack head on and roared in agony… that soon turned into diabolical draconic laughter. That second, Harry remembered all too well that this battle hadn't been an easily-fought one.
"Harry, its laughing isn't it,"
"Yep,"
"We're fucked, aren't we?"
"Oh we'll definitely be feeling this in the morning,"
"Please tell me-"
"LETS DUST THIS BITCH!"
Without warning, Harry launched himself at the beast, leaving Laxus and Natsu to stare ahead, gobsmacked at the raven-haired Dragon Slayer's fearlessness. Then, as if not to be outdone, both launched forward, shouting "Leave some for us!"
Fear. That was one thing Makarov felt the most as his guild took every mission available, made temporary teams, and booked it once the Four Gods of Ishgar arrived. They would claim it was to keep the guild's good name and reputation intact, he knew otherwise.
Bloody cowards abandoned me without a second thought! He raged within at the injustice and brilliance of it all. They left a poor old man like himself, the mere Fifth Wizard Saint, to host the surprise visiting top four Wizard Saints. Cowardly as it was brilliant.
Save their skins to fight another day, leave the old to cover their escape, it was brilliant and cowardly at its finest. Now why did he believe if it was a damn dragon threatening to kill them, they'd suddenly have the heart and fearlessness to stay and fight instead of run and live?
"Your mages are sure… eager to do their jobs, Makarov," Warrod Sequen chuckled mirthfully, making the son of Yuri Dreyar sweatdrop. No kidding, he thought humorlessly.
"So, uh, what can I do for you honorable four?"
"A pint of beer would be nice,"
"Do you have any milk? I'm running bone-dry,"
"I wish to see your Dragon Slayers….. And a glass of white wine would be much appreciated,"
"I'll take some apple juice, Makarov,"
"Oi! Stop your childish preferences, Warrod! You're the Fourth Wizard Saint damnit!"
Makarov sighed as the four greatest wizards in Ishgar fell into a squabbling mess. Coming back a few minutes later, he found himself almost immediately snatched up by a very impatient-looking God Serena. "Where. Are. The. Dragon Slayers!?" The First Wizard Saint demanded impatiently, with an almost crazed and angry expression.
Not used to this side of God Serena's personality, Makarov was left a tad floored. God Serena usually did not focus too much on one thing without destroying it if it didn't yield immediate results. So he guessed he was lucky that his Dragon Slayers were gone… though if the guild hall became a casualty of God Serena's wrath, that tune might change.
"They are on a mission in the Water Mirror Valley. The mission could easily take another week to finish," And he wasn't lying. The mission requested Dragon Slayers specifically, and yet the threat level was as ambiguous as the creature in the job description. And only ever beaten by a Dragon Slayer didn't leave him much hope in a speedy mission.
Being dropped like a sack of potatoes was not something Makarov particularly enjoyed, but the thoughtful, almost intrigued, expression on God Serena's face was quite enjoyable. It showed that the asshole had some humanity to him. "Water Mirror Valley…. No, it can't be that," The First Wizard Saint mumbled as he began to pace.
"Two Dragon Slayers…. Two unbelievably high Magic Powers…. One fluctuating one…. Both comparable to that famous Crush Wizard…. No no no…. This couldn't be it,"
It was not only Makarov enjoying the sight, but the other three Wizard Saints were also quite enjoying sight of a now thoughtfully perplexed God Serena. It was not everyday one saw him so stumped. Then as if it couldn't get any better, his shoulders slumped in depressive defeat.
"Makarov Dreyar, I will be meeting your Dragon Slayers. Even that grandson of yours. And I shall not be leaving until I do. I have business with them that will not be put off longer than necessary," God Serena's blue eyes gleamed with a strange determination as his orange hair flowed with a sudden, strangely natural gust of wind. Ignoring the knowledge of his grandson's secret, for his own health, both physical and mental, he agreed. "Two bedrooms, first hallway, top-left corridor. Two rooms on either side. Figure out who shares which bedroom. Room and board is ten thousand a night,"
The Four Gods of Ishgar looked annoyed, befuddled, and scandalized all at the same time. "We're the Gods of Ishgar, you pint-sized twat! You're charging us room and board that we have to share!?" Wolfheim looked positively furious, but Makarov was unrelenting. "And I'll be charging you four for any damages to the guild or the town,"
"We would never cause damages, Sir Makarov," Draculos Hyberion huffed haughtily, only to falter at the short guild master's chuffing laughter. "You four consist of a short-tempered midget," Wolfheim growled. "A former member and founder of my guild," Warrod whistled innocently. "A flamboyant brat with too much power for his own good and no sense of modesty or restraint," God Serena laughed self-importantly. "And someone who I am pretty sure if they spill their milk will make the entire city cry over it," Draculos smirked dangerously.
"Such newfound confidence, Fifth Wizard Saint. Where das it come from?" Draculos' slightly slipped into his native accent, making Makarov smirk smugly at him and the three. "It comes from the fact that I am about to make a killing in damages and collateral from the Four Gods of Ishgar. Oh, and the newspapers will be a joy to read for once. So will that be cash or check?"
Each of the top Wizard Saints grumbled and reached into their pockets for their wallets. "Me and Draculos will share a room," Wolfheim slammed the Jewels on the counter, making the entire building shake. Nonplussed by the shaking structure, Makarov pocketed the money. A sheepish-looking Warrod was on the receiving end of God Serena's sighing.
"You owe me proper tribute and sacrifice, Warrod,"
True to his normal self, as if to retain some semblance of normality on this irregular day, God Serena spread his arms out dramatically and proclaimed "God is going to bed! God bye-bye!" Bursting into sparkling lights was the end to his grand exit, at least until they all heard a loud crash and many expletive curses being proclaimed angrily.
"WHY IS THERE A WALL HERE!?"
The battle with the best was never-ending. Every time he thought they were about to push through its defenses, and strike it down for the last time, it came out unscathered and invigorated or simply refused to stay down, almost relishing the battle on a primal level.
Panting heavily, he stood back up and drew upon more magic than he knew his body should possess. This place. This mirror realm or whatever, it felt like he was surrounded in a sea of pure lightning, the air electrified and feeding him the element he drew power and strength from. It was a miracle if he left this place without the two Dragon Slayers learning his secret.
It'd be an even greater miracle if he wasn't forced to rely on those spells sooner or later.
The Great Bastard- he agreed with Harry, the name suited the abomination- swiped its tail, smashing both brothers back down to the ground, though almost immediately they were up again. Never-ending wells of energy, a primal drive to brute force this thing into the ground, he couldn't fathom how they did it. The air of this realm likely aided them, he was sure to them it was representative of their magic's element, but even he knew that their bodies should be tiring out from the constant battling and beatings they were enduring.
The length of time this had gone on for, he almost didn't want to know, but the way his legs felt like lead and the muscles in his arms burned with the need to keep on fighting, it had gone on far too long. When this was all done and over he would be taking a week off. Maybe a trip to the beach.
A vacation sounds nice, Laxus thought, even as he ignited himself in screaming lightning and launched himself back in the air, lingering defiance in his orange eyes. "Hey freakshow! EAT THIS! RAGING BOLT!"
Feeling his body bounce painfully off the ground, Harry grit his teeth as pain and agony became a constant companion once more. This bastard had only gotten stronger, and the length of time be damned to the unknown, he was going to rip it to pieces or roar.
Rising to his feet again, he wavered, feeling his world beginning to spin as his blood soaked his face. Growling, he let the draconic features of his body soak in his blood, feeling them strengthen and the adrenaline in his veins burn with a fiery intensity. He could feel the dragon within him roaring to be let free, to let loose and raze this mirrored world to the ground, but he refused to submit. Igneel had taught and raised him to be more than a rampaging, mindless hatchling that relied on this instinctual power to conquer his foes.
And his own pride demanded he stand on that hill even if it killed him.
Letting the familiar blue aura surround him once more, he surged through the air, his fist coated in swirling red flames. The bastard was preoccupied with Laxus and Natsu, and never saw him, its greatest foe, coming.
"Fire Dragon's Searing Fist!"
Blood and burning flesh filled the air, as his fist finally tore through the Great Bastard's feathery scales, and its roar of agony was like music to their ears, even as it reared its head back and let loose a beastial roar of wrath and bloodlust. "Now Natsu!"
Both brothers brought their hands to their mouths as they inhaled, bulging their cheeks, before letting loose twin roars. "FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!" Both brothers unleashed twin spiraling breath attacks that surged through the air, burning it and vaporizing the water within it, as they fell back to the ground below.
The two spiraling breath attacks slammed into the Great Bastard's side, searing through its already broken scales and injuring it further. However it wasn't enough, and when it reared its head back, they heard the sound of cackling lightning and felt the electricity in the air amplify impossibly.
"Lightning Dragon's Roar!"