Ladies and gentlemen, we're back with yet another action-packed chapter! So far this is easily the longest one of the bunch, and the reason for it will soon be clear! However, rather than bore you with the details, I figure it's best we just get right into the action! Still, I'd like to thank my dear friend one last time. This is the last fight he helped me out with, and it's thanks to him that the arc got done as fast as it did.

Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo and Shounen jump. Fairy tail is owned by Hiro Mashima and weekly shounen magazine. I own NOTHING. This is all just for fun.


Simon ran around the corner of the hallway, running into a double spiral-styled staircase going dozens of floors up as the 4 of them raced to catch up to Erza Scarlet. Time was running out, and he knew the way forward better than anyone else on their side. It was for this reason that he was told by Liltotto to take the lead. Fear of failing Erza, his long-time friend filled his mind as he ascended the tower, but he couldn't let any of that slow them down! He looked behind in the direction he came from then and called out to his allies, "This way!" before they started running up one of the stairways before Natsu, Gray and Liltotto followed behind him.

As they ascended, Liltotto could not only sense Erza but also 6 very powerful mages near her. Bambietta and Candice were some of them and were closing in on her which was good. However, Liltotto could also tell one of the others was Quilge, the person who captured Erza in the first place. This isn't good, at this rate one of the enemies will catch up to Erza. Damn it, maybe I should use hirenkyaku to reach Erza more quickly? Liltotto wondered. While sticking together as a large group had been part of her plan, that had fallen apart as soon as the guild master of Death's Head Caucus had separated the lot of them. Saving Erza was the main reason they were here after all, and if she could get to her fast enough...

She shook her head then. No, running on ahead by herself could just as easily end up with her as a hostage. Right now, it was best if she stuck to the plan.

Just as they made it to the top of the stairs and into a massive room with high walls, the four stopped as they saw none other than Driscoll Berci standing at the other end, giving them a confident smirk as he stepped forward. "Well, well, well. Look who it is: Two little fairies that have lost their way and two traitors guiding them." He then stepped to the side, revealing two battered and beaten bodies.

"Wally, Sho!" Simon cried out as he quickly recognized them.

"Oh don't worry, they're still alive," Driscoll said as he took a step forward. "Jellal gave us specific orders to bring back his old friends alive...With the exception of you, that is. Seem's he didn't take well to your little plan to save Erza for all these years."

Damn it! Liltotto thought as she prepared to fight, creating her bow in a flash. Out of all the possible enemies here, we just had to run into this battle-obsessed nimrod, didn't we?

Gray stepped up then standing in front of her, narrowing his eyes at Driscoll. "Liltotto. You go on ahead to save Erza. You're faster than the rest of us anyways and it's important we get to her fast. I'll handle this guy."

Liltotto looked at Gray from the corner of her eyes, uncertain if she should do what he suggested. Driscoll Berci was far from the abilities of the average wizard, or Quincy for that matter. And from what she was currently sensing...

"Don't worry, Lil," Natsu said, earning a surprised look from the petite Sternritter as she turned to the pink-haired young man's confident smile. "I can handle 'mutton chops' here."

Natsu's words made Liltotto flustered as she continued to inwardly debate about what to do. Damn it all, I'm stuck between choosing between making sure your ok, and going after Erza...Of all the decisions to be left to make. In a sense, she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Finally, she sighed and nodded at Natsu with slight concern as she spoke. "Please...don't die on me...Ok?" before using hirenkyaku to emerge behind Driscoll where another doorway was and took off running.

Driscoll looked over his shoulder where Liltotto was, the small Quincy already gaining distance before he turned to the other three wizards in front of him. "Liltotto was always considered a prodigy amongst the Sternritter, I always did like that about her but it doesn't matter how strong or smart she is. She's running straight to her demise. You've all doomed her by letting her go ahead."

Natsu only scoffed with a cheeky grin. "I've got faith in her. She may not be a giant like you but Lil's got a lot of strength. Besides, we'll catch up to her after your butt's been kicked."

"Is that so?" Driscoll spoke like he was intrigued. "Alright then. Who amongst you has the courage to fight me first?"

"Me," Gray said, removing his entire shirt and showing his muscled frame. "I'll take you on. I've been itching for a fight since we got here."

"HEY!" Natsu shouted as he angrily stood beside Gray. "I'm fighting this guy! Stay out of it, ice boy!"

"Don't call me 'ice boy', you flame brain!" Gray shouted back at Natsu, looking quite irritated. "And anyway, I already challenged him first!"

"Don't call me 'flame brain' you damn nudist!"

"I'm not a nudist, idiot! I've still got my pants and shoes on!"

"Well nobody wants to see you topless! Now let me fight him!"

"No way! He's my opponent, so butt out!"

Their bickering continued and Simon and Driscoll couldn't help but watch on in utter bafflement as the two allies seemingly fought each other rather than the opponent before them. It seemed like it would go on, and on until they finally decided to settle who would fight Driscoll via rock, paper, scissors. Gray won much to Natsu's vexation. "Alright. Like I was saying, I'll take you on." Gray said, satisfied with beating Natsu in their game to decide who would fight, frozen particles of air surrounding his fists.

"You cheated, I'm sure of it!" Natsu cried out.

How do you even cheat in rock, paper, scissors? Simon wondered.

"Good. I was getting impatient, waiting for you and your friend to finish your little squabble," Driscoll said before raising his fists in a fighting stance. On his hands were Tekkō shaped weapons, no doubt what he had used against Totomaru and Juvia. Gray narrowed his eyes as he looked at them and the energy gathering in Driscoll's hands as they formed into a pair of large lances. Reeling his right hand back, Driscoll shouted, "Take this!" and threw one directly at Gray.

Holding both hands in front of himself, Gray yelled out, "Ice-Make Wall!" Emerging in front of him immediately, the tall, wide, thick, and rectangular wall of translucent ice attempted to stop the attack. Driscoll's weapon pierced into the cold construct but was stuck in the middle of it. Gray was a little surprised, finding the strength behind his opponent a little impressive but quickly got over it as the lance vanished. "Two can play at that game," Gray said before using another spell when putting a fist over his palm before holding them in front. "Ice-Make Lance!" Out of the magic circle he created, multiple extending ice lances launched towards Driscoll from many angles in front of him.

Swinging his second crafted weapon, Driscoll made the lances shatter before he grinned "I hope this isn't the full extent of your power, boy," he said before creating another spear and ran towards Gray with both weapons held behind himself. "Because it's painful to fight somebody who's weak!"

Gray lowered himself to have a more firm stance, readying his hands the same as before. "Ice-Make Arrows!" The ice called into his hands took the form of a large bow but before it quickly broke apart into dozens of arrows firing towards Driscoll at high speeds in a scattered shot.

Driscoll kept running and as he spun or turned in his momentum, his lances twirled and swung rhythmically to break away the projectiles. He laughed as though amused, unfazed by the volley of ice being pelted towards him. "If the larger sized pieces of ice ammunition weren't going to do anything to me, it doesn't matter if you make more with smaller sizes to go faster! And if defensive walls or ranged attacks are all you can do, then you must truly be a weak opponent after all!"

Despite his taunting, Gray maintained his composure as he raised his hands above his head. Slamming them to the ground as he shouted, "Ice-Make Floor!"Just then, the entire ground in front of him became coated in a thick layer of ice spreading out quickly. Only as he finished countering the remaining shots of Gray's arrows did Driscoll notice the ground beneath him was frozen and his last step made him slip, yelling out as he fell back and hit the side of his head on the floor as he turned. Rolling over to get on his back, Driscoll gasped from seeing a large column of ice forming above him. "Ice-Make Hammer!" As its name suggested, the ice formed a large hammer right above Driscoll, dropping with great force that made the entire room rumble. Simon wobbled but Natsu looked nauseous as he fell on all fours, holding in the feeling like he was gonna puke. The ice hammer remained in place, laid over where Driscoll was, Gray couldn't help but smile proudly as he crossed his arms. "There's a whole lot my kind of magic can do. I'm more creative than you give me credit for."

Just as Natsu overcame his motion sickness and stood, he sighed in disappointment. "Man, I wanted to take on that big guy. He seemed like he would have been fun to fight."

"We're here to save Erza, not have fun. Remember?" Gray said, glaring at Natsu with irritation.

The ice hammer rumbled, surprising Gray, Natsu and Simon as they saw Gray's last spell start to crack up. All the fault lines connected within moments just before the ice broke and turned to cold air that dissolved away just as quickly. Driscoll grunted as he stood up and dusted off bits of frost from his shoulders. "Okay. Admittedly that was impressive," Driscoll said when looking at the still-surprised Gray. "But you'll need to do better than that if you want to cause me any real damage with my blut vein!." Raising two more newly made lances, he impaled them into the ground and made all the ice on the ground break apart. He rushed to Gray again but threw one of his lances at him.

"Ice-Make Shield!" Waving both hands apart, ice rose up in front of Gray, taking the form of a floral wall with seven petal shapes, leaving a large waft of cooled air all around him. The lance went right through, however, breaking it apart and much to the shock of Natsu and Simon, pierced into Gray's chest from what they saw on his silhouette within the misty spot behind where his shield once was.

Driscoll let out a bellowing laugh and continued running to Gray with his other lance held firmly. "That shield of yours seems thinner and smaller compared to the wall you used before! Why didn't you use that again since it stopped my lance last time?! Are you so afraid of seeing my strength with your own eyes that you can't think logically?!" He stood across Gray with his lance ready to swipe right as the air cleared but stopped mid-swing when he saw the first spear was stuck through not Gray FUllbuster, but rather some sort of ice sculpture that merely looked like him. "What the Hell?!"

"Ice-Make Geyser!" The real Gray was at Driscoll's left side, hands glowing with magic before hitting the ground. He froze the ground much like his Ice-Make Floor spell except this time the ice emerged over the ground as it reached Driscoll before shooting up like a spiked tower in a curve formation all around him. Driscoll was fully concealed in the ice as Gray sighed with relief, looking to where he trapped the Sternritter. " You really think I didn't have some sort of plan? I used an 'Ice-Make Clone' while the frozen air was up behind my shield. That's why I used it instead of my wall. It may not be as strong as Ice-Make Wall but it doesn't use as much magic energy. You could easily break through both techniques with how much strength you've got. But I knew that you'd think you managed to land a hit on me when you struck my clone and that would give me the opening I needed to finish you off." Gray then smirked. "Do you want to know why you lost? It's because you underestimated a Fairy Tail mage."

Gray turned around and walked back to Natsu and Simon, the former muttering angrily about how he never had a chance to fight against Driscoll. As he was halfway to them, however, Gray's geyser was destroyed with a burst of energy. Everyone looked in surprise as Driscoll stood there, a little cut up all over and covered in pieces of ice but otherwise unharmed. "Not bad at all boy! You actually managed to nick me. Been a while since that's happened."

"No way," Gray said in near silence while bug-eyed at how little damage one of his stronger spells actually did. "How did he break out of that?"

With hirenkyaku, Driscoll grabbed Gray by the face and slammed him to a wall, prompting worry from Natsu and Simon as Gray yelled out in pain from his force of impact making a crater into the wall. Gray felt dizzy as he tried to get free, only for his vision to clear up just enough to see Driscoll create a lance in his free hand while still holding Gray down. "If that's all you're capable of then it's time I killed you already! Rest in peace boy!"

The lance was about to impale Gray's chest but in a fire-powered leap, Natsu moved in on Driscoll and delivered a roundhouse kick to Driscoll's temple, sending him skidding across the ground across the room before Natsu landed to the ground. "Okay Gray, you had your chance. Now it's my turn."

Getting up and holding the spot on his head where he was kicked, Driscoll groaned and leered at Natsu with frustration before standing and making two new lances into his hands. "You've got some nerve interrupting a fight between two other people."

As Natsu punched a fist to his other palm, flames sparked from his knuckles for a moment and he gave a cheeky, toothed grin. "I saw an opportunity to show you what I'm made of, so I took it. Besides, you said you wanted a real fight right? Well, now I'm gonna give you a real fight."

"You're pretty bold," Driscoll said as his visage slowly turned to an eager smile. " I like that. Maybe you can actually give me a better fight after all. Don't disappoint me."

Natsu smiled more, holding his hands out as fire formed from his open palms. "Oh yeah. I can tell you're gonna be a lot of fun to fight. I'm all fired up now!"

The two stared down with the same battle-loving smiles for a few moments before they both charged towards each other. Driscoll tossed a large lance at Natsu, but the Dragon Slayer had seen the attack plenty of times with his fight with Gray and dodged under it just at the right moment before running through the barrage of Lance's Driscoll created. The Dragon Slayer closed in on Driscoll and cried out "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" before punching Driscol right in the chest, before then calling out "Fire Dragon's Talon!" and kicking him in his ribs. However, while the attacks connected, they did little more than slightly singe the man before him. Driscoll then created a large lance in his hand and spun it around in an attempt to hit the dragon slayer, but each of the swings never hit home.

This process continued for about a minute or so, though Driscoll's attacks never hit Natsu as he managed to dodge, duck, and evaded in any other way he could, Natsu's fire-covered punches that made contact didn't seem to do any significant damage. Driscoll hardly even flinched or reacted. "You've got strength and there's a method to your attacks, too. Seems you're not just some greenhorn," Driscoll said before reeling his foot up to kick Natsu back before throwing one of his lances. "But you're no match for me unless you fight seriously!"

In the middle of his arial rollback, Natsu saw the incoming lance and released a jet of flame from his hands to evade then regain his footing. "You want me to fight seriously? Okay. You asked for it," With his fists clashed together, Natsu inhaled deeply. "Fire Dragon Roar!" As he exhaled, an expanding wave of fire streamed towards Driscoll, covering him everywhere.

The towering flames were extinguished as Driscoll made a three-hundred and sixty-degree turn with both lances out surprising Natsu just as they locked eyes again. "I said 'fight seriously'. That means you hit me as hard as you can. I'd hate for you to die before you fought all out."

A groan of annoyance escaped through Natsu's frown while his brow furrowed. "Okay. Fine. Lil was talking about how bad it would have been if we accidentally destroyed the tower, but I guess I'll just fight how I usually do! How's about this?!" Rushing to Driscoll with his arms held back as they lit up with fire, Natsu leaped midway into the air. "Fire Dragon Wing Attack!" The fire around Natsu's hands became streams and as his arms swung, the magically formed fire lashed at Driscoll. As they came into contact, he grunted and was flown back across the ground.

"Not bad," Driscoll said, getting over his twinge of pain. "Still not enough though."

"I'm not done yet!" Natsu said bravely, still in the air before diving towards Driscoll, one of his fists reeled back while covered in a bigger ball of fire. "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" He hit Driscoll in his chest and made him grunt more audibly before hitting the ground and leaving a crater trail. Natsu landed on the ground, one hand and knee to it before looking at Driscoll where he laid. "And if that's not enough, I've still got more," Standing upon his hands, the hot-blooded wizard rotated around as his feet were covered in fire. "Fire Dragon Claw!"

Driscoll stood up and cracked his neck but looked curiously ahead, seeing the concentrated fire moving towards him. He ducked, only to be surprised as he saw that areas of the Tower of Heaven's inner structure had a black trail of burnt metal where the streams hit. The second stream from Natsu's other leg almost hit him as he ran around the edge of the room, making new lances and throwing them one right after the other. Natsu was on his feet again, sidestepping each projectile that lunged at him as he ran towards Driscoll, the Quincy now displaying a great smile! "Now this is more like it!" Driscoll said with a maniacal laugh, almost stabbing Natsu with his lances only for them grabbed by Natsu at the areas near the spearheads. "You're much more like the kind of opponent I enjoy fighting! A man who's more of a beast than a human and has a thirst for blood and violence!"

"Hey!" Natsu said as though offended but managing to keep a hold of the lances. "I'm fighting seriously just like you asked! Don't talk to me like I'm a mindless monster that only fights for no reason!"

"I mean, you kind of are," Gray said from the distance, looking deadpanned.

An angered vein emerged on Natsu's temple as he turned his head to where Gray was, growling with more jagged teeth and annoyed whitewashed eyes. "Shut up Gray! Nobody was asking you!" After venting at his comrade, Natsu turned back to Driscoll and inhaled. Driscoll quickly realized what was coming, looking quite worried when Natsu shouted, "Fire Dragon Roar!"

From the point-blank range, Driscoll could do nothing as he was covered in fire. He grited his teeth and clamped his eyes shut, trying to ignore the searing pain all around him but he soon let out a cough of pain when he felt something big and dense slam into his stomach. It was Natsu, giving Driscoll a mighty headbutt while his whole body was covered in fire. "Fire Dragon Sword Horn!"

Driscoll glided over the ground, unable to react as Natsu's head stayed against his stomach. Natsu glanced his eyes up, seeing Driscoll's face. Man, even after all these hits, his body doesn't seem any more damaged even though he's reacting to them! I know Lil said he was one of the tougher melee fighters of those Stern-whatever-they-were-called but this is crazy! I need to make a finishing blow already so we can save Erza!

Once the back of Driscoll hit the wall at the other end of the room, Natsu stood in front and made a fist ready for an uppercut. An intense flame burst out from his elbow as he shouted, "Fire Dragon Flame Elbow!" and sent Driscoll to the ceiling, making him choke as he hit it the ceiling before falling to the ground again, Natsu moving out of the way and seeing the man a few feet deep into the ground. "Yeah! That's right, pal! You wanted me to fight seriously? Well, you got what you asked for!"

A little proud as he walked back to his allies, Natsu didn't realize Driscoll was getting up and used hirenkyaku to emerge behind him. Simon gasped before warning him. "Natsu, behind you!"

At first confused as he looked back, Natsu yelped at the sight of Driscoll towering over him. Before he could do anything, however, Natsu felt himself being backhanded and sent across the room, knocking into Gray as they both toppled to the ground. Driscoll smirked. "Overall, not a bad effort, but if that's the best you can do, I'm quite underwhelmed."

As Gray got up, he groaned and looked down at Natsu. "Don't let your guard down, you cocky flame lizard!"

Natsu growled, getting up and in Gray's face as the two bickered yet again, pressing foreheads together and trying to push each other back. "I'm not a lizard, frozen freak!"

"And I'm not a frozen freak, flame freak!"

"Real creative, ice boy!"

"That's what you call me most of the time, so who's really not that creative?!"

"At least I actually managed to hurt him more than you did, loser!"

Gray was going to say more but he soon broke out of his anger as he looked at Driscoll again with a more calm disposition. "Alright, look. We can't keep squabbling like this. Erza is in danger and I for one am more than willing to put our differences aside for her sake. We can't waste time fighting each other when we should be fighting the people holding her prisoner."

As his words came to Natsu's ears, the dragon slayer eyes widened with the revelation before he turned to Driscoll with the same relaxed demeanor. "You're right. We'll continue this after we save her. But how are we gonna beat him? It's like he's invulnerable or something. I could try going all out but then I might not have enough magic for later."

"Huh, never thought I'd hear you thinking strategically," Gray spoke. "First time for everything I guess."

"Oh shut up!" Natsu retorted. "You got any better ideas!?"

"I don't like admitting this but… I guess we'll have to fight together." Gray said reluctantly.

"Oh, barf! Did you actually suggest that?!" Natsu said with a cringing expression as he looked at Gray. Quickly remembering Erza's life was on the line, however, Natsu sighed as he faced Driscoll again. "Fine. If it'll help out a friend in need. We'll work together."

"What do you know?" Gray said in surprise as he smirked. "You can use your brain, after all."

Growling with grit teeth with an upset grin, Natsu muttered a warning, "Don't push it."

Natsu and Gray faced their opponent then, side by side as Driscoll narrowed his eyes and smirked. "Ah, I see. So it'll be two on one from this point on? So be it! I accept your challenge!"

Gray held out a hand to his side, frozen air swirling near the palm before he shouted, "Ice-Make Sword!" The air solidified, taking the form of a long, double-edged sword with a septuple crossguard in a snowflake shape. With his weapon in hand, he ran towards Driscoll.

Reacting quickly enough as Gray swung at him, Driscoll crossed both his lances and blocked Gray's weapon. "You're planning to fight me up close with a handheld weapon? Foolish. Have you not noticed I have far greater muscle strength than you? What makes you think you can out-fight me like that?"

Looking up when sensing something ahead of him, Driscoll noticed Natsu leaping into the air with a flaming fist at the ready. Driscoll leaped back just before Natsu could land a punch on him but the fire dragon slayer made a small crater in the spot where he stood. In the middle of his backward air dash, he saw Natsu backflip up and behind Gray right as his guildmate held his hands out and shouted, "Ice-Make Saucer!" Emerging out of the magic circle was a giant disk with serrated edges like a buzzsaw that spun rapidly before soaring towards Driscoll in a straight line. Though the weapon moved fast, Driscoll avoided it easily by using hirenkyaku. Right as he landed on the ground again, he saw Natsu above him while holding the ice sword Gray made and swung it down. Driscoll blocked it with both lances like before but this time he was pushed into the stone ground, making it crack as he sank in a few inches. The Quincy seemed to be straining as he tried to hold off Natsu, and almost lost his balance. To keep his stance strong, he attempted to set one foot back.

"Ice-Make Floor!" Right as Driscoll's foot touched the ground, he slipped and fell back with Natsu still standing over him with the ice sword held firmly.

"Agh, not again!" Driscoll grunted, annoyed that the same trick from Gray earlier managed to work on him. Crossing his lances apart from each other, his strength sent Natsu flying up and backward but Natsu maneuvered himself mid-air to regain himself and chucked the weapon at Driscoll. It shattered as Driscoll threw one of his lances and though it came close to Natsu, he reacted fast enough to grab it before crushing it in his hand.

"Oh, looks like you're getting stronger the longer this battle wages on!" Driscoll commented. "Interesting!" He rushed forward with Hirenkyaku then, lance raised above his head to strike down Natsu but before he could hit the dragon slayer, his attack was stopped by Gray forming Ice-Make Wall in front of his attack, before Natsu jumped over the ice Construct and shouted out "Fire Dragon's Crushing Fang!" And swung his fist, hitting Driscoll hard across the face, sending the Quincy back as his feet skid across the floor before he came to a screeching halt. He glared at Natsu then, his nose now bleeding. "Now that I felt, but it won't be enough to-"

"Ice-Make Cannon!"

Almost instantly, Driscoll felt a powerful impact of cold as a large cannonball made of ice crashed into him, causing him to stumble back from the attack. His attacks are getting stronger as well!? He was about to use Hirenkyaku to attack Gray then but before he could Natsu jumped in front of him his fists blazing with flames before he called out "Dragon Slayer Secret Art! Crimson Lotus: Fire Dragon's Fist!" and began to hit Driscoll with a powerful barrage of flaming fists. Despite defending himself with Blute Vein, each one of his attacks was beginning to bruise and burn his body, the large Quincy grunting in pain with each blow! Again and again, the dragon slayer continued to wail on him with furious abandon, with no sign of slowing down, until Driscoll finally decided to change from Blute Vein to Blute Atertie and swung one of his lances's with a powerful wave of his hand, sending Natsu rolling back.

The Quincy panted then as he looked at his body. Despite the defensive power of Blut Vein, he was now covered in various kinds of burns and bruises all over. His body ached in a way it never had before in this new world...and he smiled. "Natsu Dragneel was it? I haven't had a fight like this in a long time! I'll be sure to remember your name!" He was prepared to continue his battle with Natsu, but Gray leaped in front of him with a magic spell ready."Ice-Make Lance!"

The dozens of lances coming from Gray's magic circle shot out, sticking into Driscoll at parts of his body and spilling blood. Though he reacted in pain, it wasn't as much as Gray expected and he began to rush forward. "Attack's like this could never defeat me, Boy! How have you not realized this yet!?"

But just as he closed in on Gray, the Ice Mage smirked. "Yeah, I figured they wouldn't be enough...but this will! Ice-Make Rose Garden!"

A powerful wave of Ice came Crashing towards Driscoll, the Quincy smirking as he saw the large torrent of Ice come his way. "Now that's more like it boy!" Before tossing his Lance at the oncoming Ice, only for it to freeze entirely and the attack continued to hurtle his way! "What!?" He switched to Blute Vein, hoping to defend himself, but it was too late, the massive ice barrage quickly forming into roses that surrounded around his entire body and freezing him entirely before he was completely frozen solid, almost the entire room now covered in an Ice Garden. Gray fell to one knee then as he panted.

"Wow, I gotta admit Gray, that's one hell of a move," Natsu said, giving Gray a rare compliment as he walked over to his guildmate. "That a new technique you made or something?"

Gray took a few more breaths before he spoke. "Actually...that was one of Ur's techniques. It's the first time I've ever tried to use it myself honestly. But...compared to hers-" He slowly got up to his feet than before he overlooked his Ice Rose Garden. "It's nothing more than a pale imitation. Hers would have been way bigger."

"Way bigger huh?" Natsu said as he slowly glanced at it as his respect for the Ice Mage grew. Man, Grey's teacher really must have been strong if that's the case. Not as Strong as Igneel but-

"Man, is this guy made out of steel?" Gray spoke as he looked inside of the ice garden. While Driscoll was indeed frozen inside of the Ice, parts of him could still be moving, such as a finger twitching, and his mouth moving slightly. "I can't believe he can still move inside of that thing."

"Well he ain't' going nowhere any time soon, so I say let's go save Erza. Besides, we should really catch up with Lil." Natsu said with a smile. Nodding their heads in agreement, Gray and Simon began running along with Natsu to the other doorway.

Watching the trio run, Driscoll growled through the grit teeth in his frown before shifting his focus to the pocket of his jacket. Quickly using Blute Arterie, and a yank of his arm, he tore his hand free within the ice and reached into his pocket, taking out a large medallion with the symbol of the Quincy on it before it glowed light blue. "Bankai... Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū!"

Thunder boomed loudly at the roof of the room, making the trio of wizards stop in surprise as they looked up. "A storm? Inside the tower?" Simon muttered in confusion. "That shouldn't be possible!"

"I don't see any storm clouds," Gray said as he looked out of one of the tower's windows, just as confused as the others before realization hit him, his face quickly becoming one of worry. "Oh crap, guys this is his-"

A crack of lightning shot down, making the three of them flinch as they shielded themselves from the light as it moved to Driscoll. When reaching halfway, it formed a dome shape of lightning which released several thin streams of lightning at the ice roses still holding him down in their grasp before they shattered. Now free from his bindings, Driscoll groggily stood up and held the medallion tightly in his hands and chuckled when the dome of lightning above him grew pillars around him. "I commend you both for pushing me to the point I would need to rely on this ability! Your strength is far greater than I initially gave you credit for. And that will make killing you all the sweeter! Fighting powerful opponents is something I yearn for! That is the only true way for a warrior to test themselves. To risk your own life in battle and taking the lives of your foes is the best way to finish it!"

Aiming one hand up before slamming it in front of himself, Driscoll called a lightning bolt down towards Natsu, who barely avoided it by jumping back. Gray started running towards Driscoll but was nearly shot by another bolt of lightning when Driscoll waved his hand again. "Damn it! I can't get close enough!" Gray growled irritably, still avoiding the ethereal attacks coming towards him. "Ice-Make Wall!" Despite creating a powerful barrier of Ice to block it off, the construct instantly shattered and Gray was hit with the lightning, making him cry out in pain.

"Gray!" Natsu said in concern at his ally being hit before diving and rolling away from another lightning strike. As he got to his feet, Natsu inhaled deeply. "Fire Dragon Roar!" The flaming gust was struck in the middle by another bolt of lightning, making it all disperse around Driscoll, right before another bolt of lightning came at Natsu. After yelling in pain from being hit and falling to his hands and knees, Natsu looked to Driscoll with one eye clamped shut and grunted, "I don't like admitting this but this guy's lightning is almost as powerful as Laxus's."

"Getting close isn't an option!" Gray said as he got to his feet. "We got to hit him from a distance! Overwhelm him!"

Creating his Ice-Make Cannon once again, Gray began to pelt Driscoll with his ice cannonballs, while Natsu tried to hit him with a flurry of Fireballs. However, each and every one of their attacks was stopped in its tracks by the Bankai's lighting. Driscoll Smirked as they continued to try. "Don't you see it now!? This Bankai has the ultimate offense and defense! You can't win!" Despite his proclamation, the pair tried, again and again, using any of their attacks to shoot at Driscoll from a distance but even on the chance they weren't blocked, their power didn't seem to deal any significant enough damage. "Is this the best Fairy Tail is capable of? How unfortunate. You're strong of that there can be no doubt, but not as strong as I had hoped." Driscoll said before the lighting above swirled faster and grew.

Both Natsu and Gray were then simultaneously hit with the biggest and most powerful bolt, yet. Falling to the ground, the two found themselves gasping for breath as pain rattled their bodies. Gray slowly raised his head to look up then, trying to figure out his next move, when his eyes quickly caught onto the glow of Driscoll's medallion, before he looked back at Natsu. "Natsu, use one of your strongest spells at the same time as me!"

Natsu gave a terse nod before getting up to his feet. "You got it!."

"Whatever you two are gonna try, it won't matter!" Driscoll said as he readied to release lightning down on both of them. "This Bankai will be your-" He flinched when seeing nothing but darkness around him and frantically looked around. "What's happened?!"

Simon, still a little strained and tired from his earlier battle with Fukuro, was now using his own magic on Driscoll and turned to his comrades. "Now, while I still have him trapped within my 'Dark Moment' spell!"

"We owe you one!" Gray said appreciatively when standing and preparing his magic at the same time as Natsu, both of them glowing with an aura of light around their bodies. "Ice-Make Gungnir!" Emerging out in front of him, Gray constructed a massive lance with guard shapes at the bottom of the spearhead, before he threw it at Driscoll as Simon's spell wore off. "Natsu Now!"

Natsu leaped right above Gray then generating fire in his hands above his head that expanded quickly before it was thrown at Driscoll, crying out, "Fire Dragon Brilliant Flame!"

The two elements clashed and created a burst of magical power, forming into a symmetrical 'X' shape with Driscoll at the center of it before it all dissolved away, creating a powerful explosion that shook the entire room. As the flame and ice particles vanished, the trio could soon see Driscoll laying face-first onto the floor, grunting with exhaustion.

"Alright!" Natsu yelled out as he grinned. Gray simply smirked, more than happy that the difficult battle was now finally over.

As he laid there, Driscoll twitched in place from the pain of Natsu and Gray's combined attack. With the exception of when he was killed by Yamamoto's flames, he had never been so damaged since his time in the Vandenreich. I...Don't believe it...They managed to destroy my Bankai medallion. Is this...where it all ends? He tried to get up, but soon fell to the ground, unable to find the strength.

"T...Trisha, I..." he muttered before his mind wandered to a time long since passed.


995 years ago. Ireland.

The great war between the Soul Society and the Great Quincy Emperor had finally ended, and a newfound peace had quickly taken over all of Europe. Well, a relative peace anyways. Hollow attacks on soul enriched humans had only temporarily ceased during the great war due to the presence of such powerful warriors. Now, with the war fully settled, the creatures of Hueco Mundo could feast on Humanity once more.

However, humanity was not without its guardians.

In a grassy field with a dirt road trail spanned in the horizon, Driscoll Berci shouted out in a battle cry as he ran towards a hoard of Hollows. His clothing consisted of an attire befitting a night aside from the traditional helmet and covered in Quincy cross and with a distinct cape. He was not alone either, as he was accompanied by many other knights wearing similar armor to his, though Driscoll was the only one who wore a cape that was hooked under his pauldrons. With swords, spears, axes or bows, Driscoll and the other knights fought valiantly until all the Hollows were slain. As he sheathed his sword, two of his men approached and saluted him. "Any casualties on our end?"

"No sir, General Berci!" one of the knights told him formally. "But some of our men have been injured! It's nothing fatal but they're in poor condition!"

"Then send them to the wagons and escort them back to Eldin village so the doctors there can tend to them," Driscoll said as he turned and walked back to the dirt road. "We've slain the hollows here, so our mission is complete. It's time we returned home."

"Yes General!" the two knights said together before joining their allies in carefully handling the injured though as they did, they couldn't help but praise their commander.

"Man, did you see the way the general killed all of those hollows? He was amazing!"

"I know, he even took down that Gillian with little to no trouble!"

"Thank goodness we have him to help lead us through these hard times." A third knight chimed in. "Ever since the Blood War, the soul reapers around here have considerably lessened. Thankfully, he's been able to pick up the slack. But enough reminiscing about our leader, get to work!"

Driscoll smiled at their praise as they prepared for the journey home. They were not Quincy like he was, rather they were simply humans that had enough spiritual power to fight hollows. A catch-all term had yet to be made for them, but he respected their courage and service regardless. Like him, they risked their very lives to protect the village they all lived in, and in his mind, that was all that truly mattered.

With their horses and wagons returning to the rural village from over a large hill, the wounded knights were taken to receive medical attention. Along the way, Driscoll was greeted with various forms of praise by many of the locals he came across, usually consisting of waving of bowing or immense thanks for his service, the large Quincy simply smiling and returning the favor until he finally approached one of the houses at a far edge of the village border, smiling in a more jovial manner when he saw a woman tending to the laundry in the front yard. She was a beautiful young woman with fair skin, green eyes, and chest-length brown hair tied into a low side ponytail on her left shoulder and wore a lavender dress with a white apron. "I've returned, Trisha." Driscoll said when standing at the gated fence of the front yard before opening the small door to meet her.

Once she heard his voice, Trisha's face turned to one of pure joy before she rushed over towards him. "Welcome home, darling. I'm glad you've returned. I take it this means your mission was successful, right?"

Feeling a little proud of himself, Driscoll crossed his arms before he replied, "Of course. I was given the title ' the thousand Hollow Slayer' for a reason. My men and I can handle those undead beasts, easily. I've killed well over a thousand Hollows and I'll kill a thousand more if that's what it takes," His expression was more casual as he held one of Trisha's shoulders but used the other to carefully hold her side ponytail in his fingers. His voice was now softer and sweeter as he gave her hair a soft peck of his lips. "Besides. I have a wonderful fiance I needed to return to. With a child on the way."

Trisha seemed crestfallen looking at her stomach and holding it with her hands. "Will you have time to be here to help me raise it, though? I do love you Driscoll and I'm more than happy to eventually start a family with you but you'll have your duties as a knight. That means you won't be around here very much. If a hollow were to sense the power of our child-"

"You need not worry," Driscoll said, holding both her shoulders and keeping his endearing expression. "I've held the rank of general for ten years. I've spoken with the king and requested retirement for a new general to take my place. I've just been tasked with completing one last mission, tomorrow. Then we can live here in Eldin, peacefully, with our child. My years of service to this kingdom have given me more enough money for the rest of our lives. Besides, I've heard word of the Soul Reapers sending in more of their forces to this area, and they fight Hollows as well. I'm sure they can handle them as they have done for so long."

"But...what of you?" Trisha asked him. "The war-"

"The war has been over for over 5 years now," Driscoll assured her. "I'm certain by now that tensions have died down. The soul reapers have far more important duties to attend to than bother with a single Quincy like myself."

"I see," Trisha said with a grateful grin as she looked back at Driscoll and smiled. "That's a relief. I suppose I must prepare to make your favorite meal for you when you return, to celebrate your retirement. And the new beginning of our lives."

A hearty laugh escaped Driscoll as he said, "Then I have even more to look forward to. I could ask for no better woman to be my fiance than you, Trisha."


The next day soon came as Driscoll finished slaying the last Hollow in one of the forests near the borders of his kingdom's territory. Exhausted from the battle he wiped his brow as the hollow's body dissolved away before he then sheathed his sword. One of the other soldiers approached, saluting him as his free hand while the other held the reins to a horse with a saddle. "That's the last one, General. No more Hollows sighted anywhere."

"Very good. You are all dismissed. Excellent job, all of you," Driscoll said as he walked to the horse and hopped onto its back. Looking at them all one last time, he smiled. "It's been an honor working alongside you as your general. I hope you all continue serving your kingdom as well as you have when I lead you. Farewell, men. May you all have long, fulfilling lives."

Riding his horse off, Driscoll made way right for his home of Eldin village. The sun was beginning to set as the sight of the massive hill was right in his vision. However, he was confused when he saw a massive rise of smoke at the other end of the hill before his eyes widened in fear of what it might have meant. Just as he made it to the top of the hill, he was left in horror at the sight of all the homes and other buildings set on fire. The people screamed in fear and ran about as the blaze spread. But this was nothing compared to what else he saw. What truly shook him, was the fact he saw Soul Reapers slaying the people or using fire-based kido to destroy the homes, if they weren't already set ablaze.

"Hado #63: Raikōhō!"

From his side, Driscoll saw a Soul Reaper aiming their palm at him with built-up yellow energy sparking like electricity before it was released in a massive wave at him. Jumping off his horse, Driscoll avoided the spell but his steed was reduced to a charred corpse upon being hit.

"There he is!" the Soul Reaper who almost hit Driscoll said, getting the attention of the other Soul Reapers as they gathered around him. "The Quincy has returned!"

"Wait, cease this at once!" Driscoll said pleadingly looking around at all the Soul Reapers. " Why have you done this?! My people in this village have done nothing wrong! I was under the belief that you're supposed to kill the Hollows, to protect humanity! Not to slay humans yourselves!"

"They have supported you, a Quincy!" A soul reaper cried out.

"And Anyone helping a Quincy of any kind is just as guilty! Such is the decree of the central 46!" Another added in. "You and your people are a blight on the living world!"

"Creating an imbalance of souls will doom us all!" A third cried out. "You have no place in this world!"

Driscoll could hardly believe the cruelty of the soul surrounding him. Gritting his teeth through his frown, he summoned his bow and aimed it at the Soul Reapers in front of him before he rushed forward. They came at him, kido fired and zanpaktou's raised, but it mattered little. They quickly proved to be no match for him, as he began slaying soul reaper after soul reaper with each swing of his blade.

"I see, he's just as strong as the reports suggested." A lone soul reaper with a bald head, blue eyes and short black mustache spoke to himself as he overlooked the battle. His name was Daichi Kuroki, and he was the 4th seat of squad 1. He had been entrusted with the mission to wipe out any and all Quincy remaining in Europe. So far, it had gone without any difficulty...but this Quincy was different than any he had his men kill before. It had been less than a minute, yet the Quincy had already killed 15 of his men. "I suppose I have no choice then but to get involved myself" Fortunately, the reports from their scouts had given them one piece of vital information that would make this Quincy as helpless as a newborn infant.

Driscoll was just about to impale another soul reaper with his weapon until he heard a voice cry out "Hold it right there!" The spiritual pressure of the one responsible was quite large compared to the rest, so Driscoll bothered to turn his gaze. Daichi slowly approached him, with somebody else held by their hair. Driscoll gasped then when he saw one roughly handled was none other than his fiancee, Trisha. Just as he stepped towards them, with a face full of fury, the Soul Reaper aimed his blade at her throat. "No further. Or she dies. It's become quite clear to us that you're strong and that by the time we've put you down, I would have lost far too many of my men in the process, so here's the deal. We'll let her go, and spare your village if you don't resist."

Shaking in her shoes, Trisha's eyes were full of tears as Driscoll froze in place, angrily glaring at the Soul Reaper holding his fiance hostage. He shook in anger, as the sounds of the slaughter of his own people were still continuing in the distance, as many of his own men were trying, and failing to protect the civilians. Though it pained him to do so, he dissolved his bow and hung his head in defeat. "Very well. If you give me your word spare her, you may take my life."

Daichi simply nodded. "You have my word."

Unable to believe what she heard, Trisha screamed at the man she loved. "Driscoll, no!"

"Trisha," Driscoll said before Trisha could speak further. He looked at her with an apologetic face. "Please. All of my life, all I have been good for is killing. I was quite certain that I would spend my entire life on the battlefield, and die on the battlefield. I never even considered anything else until I met you. You showed me that there was so much more to life than the thrill of battle. The joy of the beautiful sunsets, the value of having a shoulder to lean on. The importance of having something to not just fight for, but to die for." He then gave her a smile. "You've made me so much more than the killer I was. So I insist. You must live and insure our child has a bright future. Please, Trisha...For me."

Crying more, Trisha sobbed and hung her head in reluctant acceptance. Driscoll felt ashamed that this was how he was to meet his end. Not in the glory of battle, but to be cut down like some dog. However, he would rather see his wife live on with their child than to die right in front of him. It was the right thing to do. As he looked to her, his guard dropped and a Soul Reaper from behind him ran up to impale him from his back, piercing through the front and in the back of his neck, causing him to choke and scream before falling to his side. Blood quickly spilled from his wound as other Soul Reapers gathered around and began stabbing wherever they could as he bled out more and more. Trisha almost lost her voice as she turned away from watching her fiance being murdered as he finally collapsed. The Soul Reapers stopped as Driscoll felt himself overheat not from just the flames of his still burning village but from the pain and lethal wounds of his body as well. His vision and awareness was flickering but still strong enough to see the Daichi approach with his wife.

"You've made the right choice, Quincy." The man said with a smirk. "As a reward...I'll allow your wife to join you!" He then tossed Trisha to the ground before drawing out his zanpaktou and stabbed into her back. As she screamed from the pain, Driscolls jaw-dropped, barely raising his head and trying to prop himself up with one hand. "Why? WHY?! You said she would live! You gave me your word!"

"Did you really think we would let that happen?" Daichi said, keeping his blade in Trisha's body and slowly twisting it even as she continued wailing in agony. "She carries the unborn offspring of a Quincy. The less of you there are, the better. Head Captain Yamamoto himself specifically commanded us to slaughter everyone here in Eldin village, no matter who they were."

So many thoughts were rushing through Driscoll's mind. The sadness of the suffering of his wife. The fury at the soul reaper going back on his word. The tragedy of his child not even having the chance to be born into this world. All of this, because of what he was. He looked at his wife as the blade from the Daichi pulled his zanpakutō out from Trisha before he kicked her body. Blood oozed out the corner of Trisha's lips as she choked, looking at Driscoll with tears and a pained frown. "Dris… coll… you have… to… run… awa-"

Her final words were unfinished as the Soul Reaper cut deeply across the back of Trisha's neck, making blood spray out of her before she cried one last time and then, finally, died.

Driscoll's eyes widened and his pupils constricted, his mouth ajar. All of his senses seemed to stop functioning, besides his sight. The pain of his wounds seemed to have vanished as his entire focus, his entire being, was focused on Trisha's bloody body lying there, devoid of any sign of life. Her beautiful face, once filled with kindess...was now twisted with fear and pain. His heart began beating faster and more strongly as the anger in him began to boil over. "Damn you," he muttered as the other Soul Reapers gathered around him with their zanpakutō raised, ready to kill him. "Damn you ALL!"

As he shouted, reiatsu gathered around Driscoll and he immediately stood up with a geyser of it forming around him and knocking back the Soul Reapers around him. All of them looked in awe as the reiatsu coming all over Driscoll formed string-like lines before covering his body in symmetrical patterns all over. "Ransotengai!"

He created a large lance made out of energy and began to move without any physical impediment. So taken by surprise from his outburst combined with the way he didn't react to his injuries, the Soul Reapers were late to rush forward, their zankatou's prepared to land a killing blow. But it was useless. His lance, now empowered by his rage, cleaved through their zanpaktou's and their bodies as if they were nothing. From a distance, 10 or so soul reapers began to fire a barrage of Kido at Driscoll, but with a mere wave of his lance, the shockwave of his weapon caused the kido to disperse before he appeared before them once again with hirenkyaku before impaling several of the soul reapers with his lance. The sole survivor tried to get some distance with flash step, but Driscoll had no intention of letting him escape and thus, he threw his lands as hard as he could, impaling the soul reaper through a tree.

Daichi watched on as his men continued to try and fail to kill Driscoll as he slaughtered them with his lance, fueled by his rage as he powered through any further injures they managed to inflict. "This...this should be impossible. You were at death's door, so how!? How can you be doing this!?"

In less than a minute the remaining soul reapers, with the exception of Daich were all dead and Driscoll panted heavily in pain while at the center of their piled carcass'. Daichi slowly approached him then, his zanpaktou unsheathed before he spoke. "Crush their bones, Burēdooburokku." His zanpaktou quickly changed into a massive ax and smirked. "I didn't think there were any Quincy left worthy of using Shikai left. Your head will make for the perfect Trophy!" before he jumped back and called out "Nadare!"

A massive avalanche of stone came crashing out from his swords, the jagged and sharp rocks tumbling towards Driscoll as the soul reaper grinned. "My zanpaktou's ultimate attack! It has the power to turn even the mightiest of hollows into a bloody mess! You stand no chance, Driscoll Ber-GAH!" Before he could even finish mocking his foe, however, Driscoll has thrown his reishi lance at Daichi's attack, the energy construct completely destroying all of the rocks in its path and impaled through his zanpaktou and Daichi himself through the very same home where Trisha once lived. The soul reaper struggled to get to his feet, his hands moving about frantically as he to move his legs but it was impossible, the large hole in his stomach making any effort to raise to his feet impossible. "You...damn...Quincy...How could I..." His hands soon stopped flailing, his struggles ceased, as he took his final, painful breath.

With the death of his fiancee's murder, Driscoll's adrenaline rush ended, causing Ransōtengai to wear off. Driscoll fell to his side, bleeding out once more as he looked at Trisha's body. As all the heat from his wounds slowly vanished, replaced by an intense, all-encompassing cold as he felt his breath slowing down. Desperately, he tried to reach for his wife's body with his right hand, but they were too far about, and then finally, his arm fell to the ground, and his eyes closed as he finally passed on.

Perception quickly returned to Driscoll as he opened his eyes. To his surprise, he was able to feel the rest of his body as well, and briefly, he had hope that would have just transpired had been the work of a nightmare only to notice his chest was now adorned with a chain. The realization quickly hit him hard. "I...I see...It wasn't a dream after all."

"No, it would appear it would not, unfortunately for you, Driscoll Berci."

He turned to his right seeing the man he recognized from the war 5 years ago, the Quincy kaiser Yhwach, looking down at him with a neutral, yet somewhat somber face. Driscoll looked up at him in confusion, barely able to keep focus but soon, the imposing man began to speak. "You have an immense amount of strength and will among your Quincy brethren Driscoll Berci. And you can become stronger, still," he said as Driscoll slowly got to his feet while looking at the emperor.

"Do you want revenge against the ones who took everything from you?" Yhwach asked. "The one's who wrongfully killed your wife? Your unborn child? This entire village filled with humans? You can obtain it if you serve me. Become a knight once again, with me as your king. Become a member of my vandereich. Then the Soul Society can pay for what they have robbed you of."

Looking into his eyes, Driscoll could tell Yhwach meant every word of what he said. Even though he wasn't used to his current state of being, Driscoll was sure he could properly sense the amount of power just radiating off the Quincy emperor. It was unlike anything he had ever sensed. If he followed his lead then perhaps he could give the Soul Reapers the comeuppance he believed they deserved. The justice his village, his men, and his wife and unborn child deserved. Driscoll narrowed his eyes as he gave a terse nod, before bowing to his knees.

" Yes...I won't stop… until I get my revenge! The Soul Reapers need to pay for everything they've done! Especially that damned leader of their Gotei 13! They're all as awful as any of the Hollows they fight! I will do whatever it is you desire, your majesty."

And so, he would serve the Vandenriech, all so that he could one day face the head captain for all of his sins.


"Not yet," Driscoll growled, catching the attention of Natsu, Gray, and Simon. "I won't fall...so easily. Not like this."

"He's still conscious?!" Gray said in disbelief.

Natsu was flabbergasted. "What the heck does it take to put this guy down?!"

The Quincy slowly got up then as his memories came back to him. He had spent the last several centuries trying to keep this desire of his within himself, to let no one besides his majesty see him for what he truly was. A man who still mourned the loss of his family. The foes he faced on the battlefield needed to be terrified of him, to inflict the same kind of suffering onto the soul reapers who took everything away from him. Thus he conducted a new persona, one that enjoyed the thrill of battle more than anything else. Over the years this personality became more and more real until eventually, it became reality. Fighting was now the only time when he could forget the past, however briefly, and immerse himself in battle. Hiding his true desires to all but the Quincy kaiser. It was like an addiction now, one he fully relished and could no longer live without. Now, however, at long last, was his old desires bared to the world once more.

"My wife...I was told by my guild master, that if we revive lord Zeref...we could also use the tower to revive my wife and my child! You won't stop me...NONE OF YOU WILL STOP ME FROM SEEING THEM AGAIN!" Driscoll said louder, slowly getting to his feet. "Mörder Gottes!" (Murderer of God)

Erupting around him was a flash of light. It momentarily blinded the three facing him as they covered their eyes but as the light died down, they could see the Quincy once more. The Quincy was now sporting large arch-shaped pauldrons on his shoulders, with spikes long enough to impale someone, eight of his lances came out his back like wings. There was no doubt about it, Driscoll was now in his vollstandig and no longer possessed any of the damage from the Unison Raid attack.

"Dark Mome-" Simon attempted using the same spell he used to help Natsu and Gray moments before but he was interrupted as Driscoll used his hirenkyaku to appear in front of Simon before punching him in the chest, sending him to a wall, and catching Natsu and Gray by surprise before they tried to counter-attack.

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"

"Ice-Make Hammer!"

Even with a full-on hit with each of their attacks, Driscoll stood where he was, completely unharmed by the attacks. "Nothing you two can do will stop me now," Driscoll said, giving one of his more menacing smiles to them before moving towards Natsu in a mad dash and grabbing him by the face before swinging him around and throwing him at Gray, making them both tumble back before hitting a wall. "In this form, I'm far too powerful for the likes of you! Once I kill you 3, I'll only grow stronger!"

Getting back up to their feet and fighting through the pain, Natsu and Gray tried to fight the Quincy once again as the latter created another construct of ice. "Ice-Make Prison!" A large, intricately designed cage emerged right above Driscoll before falling over him, trapping him inside. However, with a mere swing of his lance, the cage the surrounded Driscoll shattered. "You won't cage me ever again, boy!"

Seeing an opening, Natsu's hands quickly engulfed in fire before he leaped above Driscoll and cried out "Fire Dragon Wing Attack!" His spell crashed onto the Quincy, hitting him dead on and quickly created an explosion. However, out from the smoke, Driscoll shot out and grabbed Natsu by the ankle before spinning in the air. "I told you it's pointless!" he shouted before running Natsu's face into the ground and ran across the room, Gray trying to use his Ice-Make Lance's to try to land a hit to save his comrade. Driscoll was too fast now, however, dodging each of the attacks before he finally lifted up Natsu, revealing his bloodied and battered face before he tossed Natsu at Gray. The ice mage leaped over his thrown partner and created a scythe made out of ice before cried out "Ice-Make Death Sytche!" And swing it down on Driscoll as hard as he could. However, the construct shattered the moment it hit Driscoll before the Quincy grabbed Gray by the face and punched him hard in the stomach, the ice mage crashing into a nearby wall.

"Fire Dragon's Talon!" Natsu delivered a powerful kick to the side of Driscoll's face, hoping to do any sort of damage, but once more, the attack didn't even so much as budge him. "What!?" Natsu cried out before he quickly dodged under a jab Driscoll gave him before his right arm's elbow glowed red with flames. "Alright, how's about this!? Fire Dragon's Flame Elbow!" He delivered a powerful punch then, one that created a small crater beneath the two, but Driscoll simply grabbed the attack before he smirked.

"My turn boy!" The Quincy quickly hit Natsu's head with his own elbow, causing the firey attack to cease before Natsu hit the ground and was kicked across the floor.

Driscoll bellowed out a laugh and created his lances as the energy surged around them more erratically. "With my Schrift, I become stronger the more I kill! And that means my growth is potentially unlimited! I could one day become the most powerful being in the whole world! And I'll make sure the both of you are my stepping stones on my path to greater strength to ensure that I'll be with my wife again someday!"

"Don't think it'll be that easy buddy!" Gray said as he got to his feet, creating a bow made of ice once more. "We're not going anywhere till we save Erza!"

"You're damn right, Gray!" Natsu agreed as he walked right next to him. "I say we hit this guy with everything we got!" Natsu jumped up into the air then, his hands both engulfed in flame before he slammed them together to create a massive ball of fire. "Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!"

Gray took aim with his bow and created a massive bow of ice before he took aim. "Ice-Make: Super Freeze Arrow!"

The two dual elements were then fired at the Quincy, the attack's crashing into him with immense force that caused the floor they were on and those above and below to shake from the power the attack put out. A massive explosion was created, and all sorts of debris and rubble scattered about as the two mages panted with exhaustion.

"Do...you think that got him?" Natsu asked as he panted.

"Had to..." Gray answered as he caught his breath. "Not...even Erza could take...an attack like that...un...scathed."

Gray's words trailed off as the smoke cleared, revealing Driscoll was still indeed standing. He was a little singed and frozen in place here and there, but for the most part, he was fine. He gave the pair a confident grin before he spoke. "Not bad, I actually felt that...But I think it's time we ended this."

Using hirenkyaku to close the distance, Driscoll grabbed both Natsu and Gray's heads before he slammed them together and then shoved them to the ground, stomping on each of their heads before he began to punch down on each of them, every punch causing the ground to crack beneath them as they yelled out in pain. Simon could only watch on helplessly as he was left unable to move as the colossal Quincy gave the two mages a barrage of blows.

Finally, Gray was able to roll out of the way and escaped, creating a sword made out of ice and quicky thrust the blade at Driscoll's chest only for the blade to snap before Driscoll grabbed Gray's and then with a hard twist, a loud snapping sound could be heard as the Quincy undoubtedly broke the Ice mages arm. He punched Gray as hard as he could, causing Gray to roll across the ground in a heap of pain. Driscoll was about to turn to beat Natsu down further, but his eyes quickly caught Gray getting up to his feet.

"You still wish to fight me despite having a broken arm boy? I can't tell if you're either very courageous or very stupid." The Quincy spoke to him.

"You bastards...aren't going to take Erza!" Gray demanded as he slowly walked over to him. "I saw her the day she first arrived in Fairy Tail. She tried to carry a strong front, that she could handle anything. She had the power to back it all up...but I knew there was something more to her." Gray spoke as his mind went back to the faithful day he found Erza crying over Magnolia's river. "But I saw it once, just how much she was hurting inside. I didn't exactly know why, but I knew she was carrying a lot of pain. That was something I could more than relate to. I lost everything before I came to Fairy Tail. My mother, my father, even my master Ur. But Fairy Tail was like a 3rd family for me, and I knew that she needed a place like that. Erza doesn't like to show her pain. But that one time was more than enough for me to know that as much as she cares and protects us, that this guild acts as an armor for her own heart! So go ahead, break more of my bones, I'll still keep on fighting again and again!"

"Because...that's the kind of place Fairy Tail is!" Natsu slowly got up to his feet then, wobbling slightly as he glared at Driscoll. "We don't turn our back on our own, not when they need us. Because it's not just a guild, it's a family! Erza's always been there for us all. She's like the big sister I've never had. She's always there to clean up after all our screw-ups, and she'll always try to stop us from doing something really dumb. She's...She's the only woman I've ever looked up to! I want to be just as strong as her! No, stronger! Erza's one of the strongest people I've ever met, and neither of us is just going to watch you guys just push her around!" Natsu's entire body ignited with flames then as he weakly walked next to Gray. "I know, that she would go through hell and back for any of us, so I'll be damned if I don't give it my all!"

Driscoll could only stare at Gray before he gave him a smile. "I see. You're both warriors of true character. You'll fight through all that pain for a comrade in arms. That is a quality I can truly admire." He then shook his head. "But desire alone is not enough to win a battle. It seems you'll have to learn this the hard way. Still, to honor you both, I'll do what I can to make it as painless as possible."

The three warriors began to run at each other, as the battle waged on once more.


From outside the room, Totomaru had been groggily walking up the very same staircase Natsu, Gray, Simon, and Liltotto ascended earlier. He wanted to go faster, he really did, but the battle with Ryo, the use of Ryujin Jakka's flames, and the long walk up had taken their toll on his body. As he made it to the top, he looked through the archway and perked up, only to see Natsu and Gray fighting the Quincy he encountered back at the casino before, his two allies were once again beaten down to the floor. Oh no you don't, not this time! The flame mage thought. Moving a little faster and drawing his katana, he stood in an open part of the room before yelling loud enough to catch Driscoll's attention. "You!" Driscoll turned with curiosity when he saw Totomaru as he readied a magic circle below himself. "I can finally pay you back for our last fight back at the casino! Fire Magi-"

Even without his hirenkyaku, Driscoll was able to move faster than Totomaru could perceive. One of his lances swiped Totomaru at his side, impacting his arm and sending him across the ground until hitting a wall. Natsu and Gray quickly calling out his name in concern. As the fire wizard laid against the stone, using his katana to help prop himself up, Driscoll scoffed. "Ah yes, I remember you. Eager for more I see. Unfortunately, You don't look like you're in any condition to fight and even if you were, these two are already reaching their limits from my fight with them. So tell me, what do you hope to possibly contribute to this fight?"

Damn it, I was hoping Natsu and Gray could have at least beaten him down enough to do some damage, but now he's stronger than before!?' Totomaru thought, glancing at the Fairy Tail wizards and seeing just how battered, bruised they were. And it seems like they've been working together too, but he's still too much! He's clearly one of the strongest opponents we've faced up to this point. Damn it all, it's clear I don't stand a chance in hell against this guy...but I might just have something that'll even the odds! Taking his katana in both hands, Totomaru took a calming breath, confusing Driscoll. The flames of his mentor swirled around his blade and as Totomaru swung, they flew through the air at Driscoll where he hovered a little over the ground.

His eyes widening with surprise, Driscoll moved to the right just in time to dodge the flames before grabbing Totomaru by the collar of his shirt, glaring into his eyes. "I know those flames boy! They're the same as the ones that killed me all the way back home! I don't know how on earth you have such power, but it hardly matters! Your attack missed by a country mile! Any last words before I send you to the otherworld!?" However, instead of seeing the black and white-haired mages face contouring with despair, what Driscoll was treated to was, in fact, a confident smirk. "What's so funny boy!?"

"I wasn't aiming at you, dumbass," Totomaru responded before he pointed behind Driscoll. "Look over there."

Driscoll turned around then to watch Ryukin Jakka's flames, the fire moving through the air towards Natsu. Realizing what Totomaru was doing, Natsu grinned before running towards the magic attack and grabbed it, making it stop in place before opening his jaw as wide as he could. However, something was different about these flames, and to Natsu's surprise, the flames were actually hot to the touch! It was almost as if the fire in his hands was too intense for even himself! He could feel his hands begin to burn then and he fell onto his knee's crying out in pain. "What...kind of fire...Is this!?" Natsu called out as the flames actually began to consume him!

"Oh no..." Totomaru muttered. He wasn't expecting this! He had always heard tales of Dragon Slayers being able to eat their element, no matter how powerful it was, but this was clearly proving otherwise! Were Ryujin Jakka's flames too much for even Natsu to handle?!

Natsu could feel it something in his belly. Not fire but fear. Flame was his domain, his diet, and his power and yet this flame was one he could not simply devour. It was not like certain flames of the past, their unique magical coloring leading to flavors he could not find appetizing. No, while this looked like any other common flame, its flavor was intense, brutal...

Overpowering.

Still, if he did not devour this flame now, it would kill him. It would kill him and leave him incapable of helping Erza. And that was unacceptable!

"D-Damn it!" Natsu felt the searing flame slam into him, his sandals sliding across the floor even as he held both arms up to bear the burden of the attack. "I'm not strong enough! Not like...Not like..."

Natsu recalled memories from the distant past, the wizard Titania as she stood over him, having won another sparring match. Of Erza as she broke up another fight between himself and Gray. Of Erza being there for him, to pick him up when he had fallen. Of Erza terrifying him when he had done wrong and caused untold damage on a job request. Of Erza when she had stood to Laxus when he called Natsu a fool for looking for Igneel. That and so much more.


"This what's this word is?" Natsu asked. It had been a day now since Erza had agreed to help the youth broaden his vocabulary, Igneel's teaching of reading having only gotten so far. He was, after all, a dragon.

Erza looked up at the job request board, furrowing her brow as she read the message out loud. "'The job request will have a brobdingnagian reward, I assure you.' Which word?"

Natsu looked at Erza. "Brog ding whatever."

"Brobdingnagian," Erza said for him.

Natsu blinked, his attention on the road unwavering. "... No way that's a real word."

"It very much is," Erza continued to say, pointing up at the C-class job request. "And it's good reason for you to take the job request."

"Why, is it some delicious food or something?" Natsu questioned, his eyes lighting up.

"No, it's a descriptive term," Erza said. "It's another way of saying large or big or gigantic."

"So why didn't they just say one of those words?" Natsu asked, the young Dragon Slayer all but dumbfounded.

"It's a good word," Erza said, looking up at it with her own interests. "Yes, I... I think I will commission Elizabeth to make quite the brobdingnagian sword for me one day!"

"Can't say it's a word he's gonna be using very much," Gray said as he walked over to the two of them. "So anyway, I hear you're going on your first A-class mission. Aren't you a little bit scared?"

Erza smiled at him as she heard his question. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous, but more than anything...I'm excited, to be honest."

"Really? I heard that A class missions are way harder than B class, but you're telling me you're excited?" Gray asked. "You're crazy. You know you could die right?"

Erza shook her head at Gray's words. "I don't see it that way at all. Ever since I've come to Fairy Tail, I've wanted nothing more than to pull my own weight. I know this is hard for you two to understand, but as mages of Fairy Tail, we represent our guild every time we go out on missions. The harder the mission, the more our guilds reputation will soar with our success. I want to do nothing more than to do the Fairy Tail name proud. It's the very least we can do for all the guild has done for us."

Erza then placed both of her hands on her hips. "I refuse to fail even one of my missions. To do so would sully the name of the guild I wish for nothing more than to become one of our esteemed S class mages to help spread our guild's fame and reputation as high as it can go. If it's for the sake of the guild, for everyone here, then there is no challenge I will hesitate to take head-on!"


Natsu remembered that look on her face well, one of power and determination. One that simply exuded a future worth looking forward to. One that gave him confidence that he could grow stronger still, to come closer to the Sun that was Erza Scarlet's power. She was a constant in his life, one that gave him hope that he could grow strong enough to find that which he had lost, and so that he would never again allow himself or others to lose what was important to them.

However, the image of that younger Erza began to shift, to change, becoming the one who had fought by his side against both Eisenwald and Phantom Lord both. However, that expression of optimism and strength faded as well, giving away to one he had seen moments ago. One of sorrow. Of pain.

A face of strength covered by a mask of tears.

"No!" Natsu grit his teeth, his eyes narrowing. "I don't care if it kills me! I'm going to eat this flame, and save Erza!" Natsu opened his mouth wide then, letting the flames of Ryujin Jakka flow into him, the Dragon Slayer's eyes blazing with power as it became one with him.

"You damned fool!" Driscoll roared. "It's hopeless! You'll just burn yourself up from the inside out!" He may have been his enemy, but the Quincy didn't wish to see a promising warrior go out like this! To die in battle was one thing, but this was another matter altogether!

Natsu began to scream then, fire practically bursting forth from his very eyes as he drew the power down into his gullet. It roared with agony, the flames licking at his very being as they went down his throat, yet still, he carried on. Natsu clawed at his throat then, the pain threatening to overwhelm him, his very body screaming at him in a rage over his actions that might well destroy it. "What... doesn't... kill you makes you stronger..."

Small errant flames leaked out from Natsu's mouth as he spoke in ragged, painful breaths. Yet even as his eyes burned crimson, all he could see was that Erza's tears. Natsu felt his anger flare up then, forcing himself to see nothing but the Erza he had grown up beside, the one who gave him hope.

These flames, this pain...is nothing! I am Natsu Dragneel, the son of Igneel and there is no flame I cannot eat! The flames began to suck into the dragon slayer's mouth before he gave the Quincy an intense glare. And I won't...let anyone...MAKE ERZA CRY ANYMORE! Driscoll, took a step back as he saw Natsu continuing to eat the very same flame that slew him. "GGGRRREEEEEAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!"

An unholy roar came from Natsu then, the fires of Ryujin Jakka flaring up all around him as if to take on the form of a dragon. Scales were slowly beginning to form upon his flesh in patches, ones that were scarlet in color, fire seeping out from between them. And as he grit his teeth, glaring at Driscoll, the Quincy could only swear that his teeth were beginning to show signs of looking like a dragon's fangs.

"What the hell?" Driscoll shouted. "He... he devoured it all?" Driscoll said, taking another step back. "That shouldn't be possible, even for a dragon slayer! His majesty told all of us to not even bother stealing the head captain's Bankai due to the power of its flames! Even if it's not the bankai's flames...how, how could this boy, this mere human, even begin to contain such power!?"

Once the last bit of fire was fully consumed, Natsu's entire body was completely covered in a geyser of flame and he let out a monstrous sounding roar, almost shaking the whole room. Gray, Simon, Totomaru, and even Driscoll watched in awe while the flames billowed behind Natsu out of his back and his body completely changed. There were scales on his body going everywhere from his eye sockets but also covering the sides of his face at his cheeks, the sides of his legs, his entire arm's, and against the sides of his torso. On two of the spiky strands of his hair were smaller flames that resembled horns. He turned to Driscoll with a menacing smile, almost like a predator eying its intended prey.

"What...is that!?" Simon asked as he looked at the transformation Natsu had undergone. Even from this distance, from the other side of the room, Simon could feel the heat radiating off of Natus' body, the nearby brick slowly melting away from its presence.

"I...I don't know." Gray spoke with honesty. The Ice mage had seen Natsu gain power from eating fire before, but nothing like this!

"Master Jose told me once of a form he had hoped for Gajeel to obtain one day," Totomaru spoke as he watched on in wonder. "The ultimate form of Dragon Slayer magic lost to the pages of history. An unrivaled power, giving the user the strength of a dragon in human form! Dragon Force!"

Though momentarily taken aback, Driscoll laughed. Once more did his lust for battle come back to him. Even despite what he was fighting for right now, hs addiction for battle was something that he could not ignore. It was too intoxicating. Overwhelming. Thusly his desire for a worthy opponent, and his newfound respect for the mages he faced now were giving him something he had not experienced in a battle for a long time. A challange. Every battle befoe this had always been once he had either managed to win with little effort, with the sole exception of Yamamoto. But this? The power he was sensing from the pink-haired mage was nothing short of astounding. Would this be...the first person to truly challenge him in this world? "Now this is more like it!" Driscoll shouted out! "I can sense a great power from within you. Like you've become a dragon yourself! Is this the challenge I've so longed for so many centuries!? Show me how fierce you really are! Show me what a dragon slayer is truly capable-"

(Song of choice, Fairy Tail, Dragon Force)

BAM!

Before Driscoll could even finish his sentence, Natsu had used his newfound speed to close the distance and delivered a powerful punch to Driscoll's face, causing the Quincy's feet to temporarily skid across the ground before he lost his footing and rolled across the floor before he used his large hands to stop his descent. He quickly got up and looked at Natsu before he wiped his now broken and burned nose of the blood that was adorning his face. He couldn't see it, but his right cheek was now covered in burns. That speed...I didn't even see him move! However, but despite the pain and surprise, the Quincy still found himself smiling. "Alright boy, the kid gloves come off! I hope you're ready!"

"Bring it on!" Natsu yelled back. "Because I'm not going to let you, or anyone make Erza cry ever again!"

Driscoll used hirenkyaku to try to attack Natsu by surprise, but the dragon slayer ducked under the punch with ease before delivering a powerful punch to Driscoll's belly, causing the Quincy to groan in pain as he knelt down before Natsu threw a flame covered fist at him. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Quickly activating Blut Vein, Driscoll grabbed the flaming punch him his right hand, but the ground beneath him quickly formed into a crater as he fell to one knee, and the flames began to burn his hand even with blut veins protection. Natsu threw another flame empowered punch, which Driscoll also blocked with his left hand, the crater they were in now growing in size as the Quincy found himself struggling to hold Natus' hand's with his newfound power and flames eating away at he was barely able to hold his ground. This power...it's almost as if I wasn't using blut vein at all! The Quincy thought as he felt the intense heat.

However, the dragon slayer was far from finished and slammed his forehead against Driscoll's causing the Quincy to let go of Natus' hands before Natsu kneed his chin, sending Driscoll flying into the fair. The Quincy quickly formed a massive lance in his right hand and hurled it at Natsu, however before the attack could even get close to Natsu, the flames surrounding him began to melt the arrow as it approached before it was completely incinerated. The dragon slayer then made a powerful leap into the air, jumping above Driscoll, and cried out "Fire Dragon's Talon!" Driscoll tried to defend himself, placing both of his arms in front of his head, but Natsu's kick was too powerful, breaking through his guard and sending the Quincy hurtling to the ground before he crashed.

Driscoll quickly got up, shaking his head, but as he did, Natsu was already hurtling at him from above. Just barely moving out of the way thanks to hirenkyaku, the Quincy formed another lance, this one much bigger than the ones he made prior, and hurled it at Natsu. "Lanze des Todes!" The massive energy construct hurtled towards Natsu, the dragon slayer not having the time to dodge and attempted to stop the attack with his bare hands, the dragon slayer's feet skidding across the ground before Natsu dug his heels into the floor and let out a powerful shot, the large lance then melting in his hands before he used the flames at the bottom of his feet to rocket towards Driscoll. The Quincy attempted to use Hirenkyaku to move out of the way, but Natsu simply moved too fast and bulldozed him through the room and even through a wall before stopping in his tracks.

Driscoll slowly got to his feet in the other room before he yelled as his body was surrounded by reiatsu. "Yes...Yes! This is the fight I've waited for!" Before he formed a lance in his hands, and crashed into Natsu, and slammed his weapon into his chest, the attack sending Natsu back before Driscoll created another "Lanze des Todes" and threw it at Natsu before creating one and threw it at Natsu.

Natsu then took a deep breath before yelling out. "This Tower and all of you monsters are gonna pay for making Erza cry!" Natsu screamed as leaned his head back. "And I'll wipe away those tears and you for good! FIRE DRAGON'S ROOOOOOAAARRR!"

Out from his mouth fired out a massive torrent of flames at the Lances. The two attacks clashed then, creating an explosion that almost covered the entire room. However, before the dust could even settle, Natsu ran through the dust cloud, both arms clad in flames before he swung them at Driscoll. "FIRE DRAGON'S WING ATTACK!" Driscoll's eye's widened in surprise as he used Hirenkyaku to move out of the way, but he was only able to dodge most of the attack, the flames hitting him slightly before he completed the dodge. He switched to Blut Arterie, and with a yell, he punched Natsu as hard as he could, the dragon slayer grunting in pain as his feet skid across the ground before the two clashed once more in a blitzing blur of fire and reiatsu in the air.

The two were now moving so fast, the three wizards below could only see glimpses of them making contact before they seemingly disappeared. Perhaps it was the fact they were still worn out from their own fights. Perhaps Driscoll and Natsu were just that enhanced with their current state of power. Perhaps a little of both. Either way, the two of them were throwing punch after punch, kick after kick, making the room crackle with reiatsu and flame. As the battle waged on, however, Driscoll's thrill of the battle began to wane, as it was becoming quite clear just how powerful Natsu had become in this new form. The Quincy still had a promise to keep, a vow that he had made to himself, to reunite with his family once again, and no one, no one was going to stop him!

Their punches clashed over and over as they flew about in the air, the shockwaves of each clash creating cracks in the walls that surrounded the room, as well as preventing the other 3 mages from even getting close. Gray tried to take a step forward but found the task impossible, the crushing reiatsu from Driscoll and Natsu's intense flames making anywhere close to them nigh uninhabitable for the ice mage. This kind of power is this really Natsu!?

Now fully determined Driscoll managed to grab both of Natsu's hands with his own and kept him pinned to the ground as reiatsu flared around him, preparing. Natsu was straining with effort, snarling with anger as he struggled against the massive Quincy's size before ducking as much as he could before he delivered a swift headbutt under Driscoll's chin, dazing him and making him lose his grip while flying upon his back. Natsu kept his eyes on Driscoll as the Quincy quickly gained control in the air, creating another lance before Natsu shouted out, "Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Fire Dragon Flame Lotus Exploding Flame Blade!" His arms were now completely ignited and generated long torrents of flames from them before they moved to hit Driscoll in a spiraling formation with Natsu turning in place. "RRRAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!" Each connecting strike of the flames generated a powerful, burning explosion that the Quincy was unable to fight back against or escape as he cried out in pain from the spell, repeatedly being battered over and over by the flames until it finally burst in a powerful blast!

The explosion burst near the ceiling. Gray, Simon, and Totomary looking up in awe before the smoke cleared, Driscoll soon crashing into the ground in a crater seemingly unconscious with smolders and steam coming off his practically destroyed clothing. Natsu landed afterward the scales and flames surrounding him quickly vanishing. He slowly looked over to his trio of friends then before he smiled. "I...I think I beat him." He then fell to one knee then, panting with exhaustion as the others came over to see him.

"Natsu...Are you ok?" Totomaru asked with some concern. He had never seen the dragon slayer look so tired before.

"Yeah, I'm...just really tired." Natsu panted out. "I just...need...a minute. But man, those were some super intense flames! If they weren't so intense they'd probably the tastiest I've ever had!"

Gray could only shake his head at his guildmate. "I swear man, you never cease to surprise me at how stupidly stubborn you can be." Still, despite the backhanded compliment, he gave the dragon slayer a genuine smile and offered him his hand to help him get up. "Great work, Natsu."

Natsu couldn't help but grin back as he took Gray's hand. "Yeah well...It was all for Erza you know? She'd do the same thing for any of us. Now, how's about we-"

"I'm...not...done."

Natsu and Gray quickly turned their heads then as Driscoll was now on his feet, the Quincy completely covered in burns as he stumbled forward. "I...Have to win...my...family needs...the life they deserve!" He wobbled forward with each step, getting closer and closer to the pair, before Natsu slowly brushed Gray aside and walked over to him. Driscoll tried to throw a punch, but it was slow and weak, the dragon slayer easily catching it before he glared at him.

"Listen, I'm not going to act like you wanting to be with your family again is wrong...But if you think we're going to stand down just because you're fighting for someone else, think again. We're fighting just as hard for someone we care about. You want to be with your family so bad? Then find another way."

"You...really think...it's that simple?" Driscoll asked as he stared into Natsu's eyes. "You...Don't understand what it's like, to lose everything! To be robbed of everyone you've ever cared for! How could you possibly know!?"

"Maybe he doesn't," Gray spoke up as he walked over to the two of them. "But I do. I told you earlier that I lost my entire family to a demon called Deliora. It was hard trying to live after that, and for a while, I didn't even know if I wanted to go on. But my Master Ur showed me that it was worth it. Not just her, but my entire guild. They both gave me a new purpose in life. You can't just focus on the past. You have to move forward. Otherwise..." Gray's thought briefly drifted back to his clash with Lyon on Galuna island before he spoke again. "You'll be consumed by it." Gray quickly gave the Quincy a hard punch, knocking him to the floor before he looked down at Driscoll. "Take my word for it."

Now having finished their fight, the trio of wizards finally made their way out of the room, but as they did, Driscoll continued to stare at them. The past...will consume me you say? You speak as if it already hasn't. I...I...I- However, before he could try to get up once again, his eyes widened in surprise as he could the visage of his deceased wife before him, looking down at him with a forlorn look on her face. Trisha...why are you looking at me like that? Everything I've done...it's all been for you. Everything!

However, the gravity of his thoughts then hit him like a train, as he thought back to the invasion of the soul society and all the lives he took. No...that's not what you ever wanted...was it? You just would have wanted me...to live my life happily, wouldn't you? Realizing the error of his ways he shook his head. Perhaps...those boys are right after all. His eyes closed then, as he finally lost consciousness.


Writing this fight was by far the most difficult one so far, mostly because I wanted to give all the characters involved justice. Natsu and Gray are obvious fan favorites, so I knew I had to go above and beyond some of my last fights, but to make things interesting, I decided to have them team-up. But against who? After some consideration, I came to realize that Driscoll Berci was a stern ritter who I thought had potential to be a more compelling character, thus he was chosen for the role, though because I this, I felt it necessary to flesh him out a bit.

Oddly enough Driscoll was featured on the first color page of the Thousand-Year Blood War, but his role, while somewhat important due to how it leads to Yamamoto's inevitable demise, was rather small in the grand scheme of things. At least Bazz B and Hatchwalth (who were also on the first color page) had much more things to do. So I simply went off what cannon gave me...which admittedly wasn't much. He clearly loved to battle and was at least strong enough to easily defeat the likes of Hisagi and Chojiro, some of the stronger vice captains...as well as really, stupidly mocking Yamamoto. But that got me thinking. Why on earth would he think doing such a thing would be a good idea? Well, perhaps it was less about winning...and more about revenge.

That thought process is what lead to the backstory I came up with. We know from Yhwach himself that the Gotie of old was, and I quote "A band of merciless thugs." Given the era, and seeing what Unohanna used to be like, it was ultimately what lead me to go in the direction I did. Sure, that's not something Yamamoto would do now, but back then, he was a much more merciless man willing to do whatever it took to get things done.

I had always planned on Natsu using Dragon Force in this arc, since denying him this would have felt...well, wrong, like Goku not going Super Saiyan on Namek, or Ichigo not using his inner hollow to defeat Ulquiorra, Naruto with the Kyubi, etc. Just know that the version of Dragon force he uses here is much more akin to the one he got in Tartaros as opposed to the tower of heaven's version. Why's that? Personally, I'd attribute the main reason to Ryujin Jaka being the source instead of Etherion. The latter was just an influx of powerful magic, but this time around it's nothing but Fire, just on a completely different level than any Natsu's had before.

Also, I'm sorry Sho and Wally got taken care of off-screen, but I'm running out of fighters to go around.

Anyways, it would mean a lot to me if you all left me a review with your thoughts. I worked super hard on this one so it would really help.

MPFS

Simon: 980

Gray: 2670

Natsu: 2820

Driscoll: 3360

Natsu and Gray more motivated: 4000

Driscoll, Bankai: 5000

Natsu and Gray Unison Raid: 5500

Driscoll, Vollstandig: 6000

Natsu, Dragon Force: 9500