Hi everyone, welcome back. Today, we have a very special chapter planed, one that is sure to answer many of your questions (not all, but most). Things are only going to get more dramatic for our heroes as we are approximately halfway done with this arc (not 100% sure how many chapters it'll have at the end, this is a rough estimate). I hope you guys are prepared for the battles that are to come as Fairy Tail takes their fight to the Neo Oracion Seis, and the Order of the Sword has something of in-fighting among their own ranks.
A New Devil Awakens
Having entered the ancient castle, Kyrie continued to lead Nero and Coco through what they believed was the secret base for the Order of the Sword and Neo Oracion Seis. For the moment, they hadn't encountered any guards, patrol, or any form of security really, which was unsettling to say the least.
"I didn't have much time to search the entire castle." Kyrie began to explain as they made their way in deeper, walking through what appeared to be the dungeon of the castle. "But, I did try to go underground because it seemed like the best place to hide something."
"That does make sense." Coco nodded. "Sparda literally buried a piece of the Infinity Clock in an old tomb, so His Holi… I mean Sanctus, probably would want to do the same thing."
"So, what exactly are we supposed to be looking for?" Nero questioned as they made their way down a long hallway and appeared to reach the end.
"This." Kyrie stopped them as Nero and Coco gazed down in clear shock at the sight of a deep and massive hole that shot straight down. It was so deep; they could barely see the bottom.
"Whoa…" Coco's eyes widened in shock.
"That's one big hole…" Nero kicked a rock down the pit and watched it fall.
"There's definitely something down there." Kyrie said. "If Sanctus and the Neo Oracion Seis are hiding anything, it would be here."
"Alright, hang on tight." He picked up Kyrie bridal style, something that caused her to smile faintly with a blush before Nero leapt down to a platform on the other side of the hole, approximately ten feet below, with Coco using her own ability to run down the sides of the hole; all three of them slowly making their way down to the bottom.
Fiore
How long has he been in this bar today? Not even he could give a direct answer, if not because he's drunk, but because he honestly didn't care. Ever since resigning from the Rune Knights seven years ago after the Tenrou Island incident, nearly all his spare time had been spent in this bar. He appeared to be a shadow of his former self; his clothes worn out, his hair a tattered mess, he was barley even growing a beard.
He sat at the bar, a mug in his hand and his face down on the bar as he was approached by four Fiore soldiers with mocking grins on their faces.
"You make me sick." One of them spoke. "The country's in a state of emergency, and you're just getting stinking drunk?"
"What do you expect from Gryder? He's got a reputation to uphold, biggest booze hound in town."
"Man, he's got it easy, doesn't he? Getting tanked to the gills while we're out there risking our lives for justice."
That spurred him a bit. "Justice…?"
"You heard him! The Oracion Seis are back and we're fighting with all we got to try and stop them!"
"We're working hard to save the lives of citizens every single day. You have a sense of right and wrong, or did you drink it all away?"
Without another word, he slammed his mug across the face of the soldier who spoke to him last and knocked him down.
"I don't wanna hear about any of that garbage! So, leave me alone!" He exclaimed.
"What's wrong with you?!"
"You made a big mistake by attacking a Fiore soldier!" Suddenly, he teleported behind that soldier as well to smack the mug at the back of his head before doing the same to the third. As he was about to strike the fourth one from behind, he felt his wrist being grabbed and looked to see his former comrade had stopped him.
"You've gotten rusty, Doranbolt." Lahar said to him. "You can't win, so stop this."
Doranbolt pulled his wrist away with a look of disgust. "My name is Mest. The legendary traitor, Mest Gryder."
"You still insist on using that name?" Lahar asked with concern before getting serious. "No matter. We need to talk, come with me."
Doranbolt followed Lahar outside, all the way to the outskirts of the town where they could discuss classified information without any civilians overhearing it. Though Lahar was technically breaking the rulers as Doranbolt was officially a citizen upon his resignation, Lahar needed his help, and he told him everything about the current situation.
"You're at odds with justice." Lahar said to him. "What happened to you?"
"You know perfectly damn well what happened." Doranbolt spat in disgust. "I betrayed and abandoned them, the Fairy Tail guild… Wendy…" His look faded into remorse as he remembered her. "A twelve year old girl, a child, who trusted me as a comrade and I abandoned her and everyone else. And you call that justice?!"
"You're right to feel frustrated with all that." Lahar replied. "Even with the animosity between Fairy Tail and the Magic Council back then, I hated the idea of leaving them behind. But I also had the responsibility of protecting my own men. It's no excuse and you can hate me as much as you hate yourself for that."
"And now you need me to help invade a country and take down some kind of militarized demon cult, isn't that right?" Doranbolt questioned.
"I wouldn't put it like that, but more or less." Lahar explained. "Currently, we have no concrete evidence that the Order of the Sword and the Neo Oracion Seis are connected with each other; but that doesn't change the fact there are lives in danger and I need your help. But before you say 'no', there is something else you need to know. Wendy, as well as all those who were on Tenrou Island seven years ago, they're alive."
Doranbolt gasped as he turned around in shock towards Lahar, looking at the man as if he had just grown a second head. "What…?"
"We're not certain how exactly, apparently they were kept in a form of stasis all this time and have only recently awakened." Lahar replied. "They're now involved in this conflict as well."
Doranbolt couldn't believe it, he actually fell to his knees and looked like he was about to have a heart attack. 'They're alive…? She's alive…? How…?'
"I understand you're in shock, and I'm not under orders to tell you that, but I really need your help right now." Lahar continued. "I won't ask you to rejoin the Magic Council if you don't want to, that's entirely your choice. But I can't do this without you."
Despite still being in clear shock at the recent revelation, he could tell that Lahar was being serious about this. Was the situation really that dire that he'd actually come here to plead with a drunk who was way out of practice? He stood up as he tried to wipe the surprised look from his face.
"Lives are in danger? Are you sure about that?" He asked.
"One hundred percent certain." Lahar confirmed. "There may even be more lives in jeopardy than we suspect. That's how grave it is."
Doranbolt gave a long sigh before answering. "Alright, I'm in. But I have three conditions."
"Name them."
"First, you tell me everything. I don't give a damn if it's classified, I'm not going to run around in the dark anymore. Second, just because I'm helping you doesn't mean I'm going to rejoin the Council; I'm done with them. And third, I don't answer to the name 'Doranbolt', it's 'Mest'."
Lahar did his best to hide his sigh of relief. "Alright Mest, you have a deal. So, sober up, we need to get moving."
Meanwhile; the team consisting of Dante, Natsu, Lucy, Michelle, and Elfman found themselves in the middle of a downpour just outside of a church, facing off against Gilver and a group of one Alto Angelo and four Bianco Angelos.
"Well, well, look who came to play." Gilver teased as he held his katana. "Ready for another dance, Dante?"
"Yeah, and it's gonna be your last one you bandaged-faced bastard." Dante glared as he drew Rebellion.
Michelle glanced up toward the right from behind to the top of a small cliff to see none other than Byro standing present as well. The others followed her gaze and noticed him as well.
"If you ain't gonna help us, then just stay out of the way! We'll deal with you later!" Natsu told Byro, who said nothing and was simply content with observing the situation.
Without saying another word, Dante rushed Gilver, colliding swords before they engaged in a brutal dual. As they fought, the Angelo soldiers flew towards the rest of the Fairy Tail wizards, who scattered and forced the Angelos to split up as well.
"Get out of our way! Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" Natsu threw a flaming fist toward the Alto Angelo, who quickly shielded himself, thought the impact caused him to slide back on the ground slightly, where Natsu pressed the advantage by throwing a large fireball at his enemy. However, the Alto Angelo's shield proved strong to withstand the flames.
"I don't know what the hell kind of freaks you guys are, but you sure ain't real men!" Elfman exclaimed, facing two Bianco Angelos. "Take Over: Beast Soul!" He transformed into his massive beast form and leaning toward them to bring his fists down, but the Bianco Angelos both flew back to avoid the devastating impact right before they lunged their lances at him, forcing Elfman to brace himself with his arms.
"Open! Gate of the Crab! Cancer!" Lucy summoned the celestial spirit, Cancer to her side. "Cancer, you take one of the Angelos, I got the other!"
"You got it, baby!" He drew his scissors and rushed one Bianco Angelo, clashing his small scissors like ting blades against the lance and shield of the enemy, while Lucy drew her Fleuve d'etoiles to try and ensnare the second one, but that Bianco Angelo hovered in the air to avoid the whip before rushing down with its lance.
Dante and Gilver clashed blades again as the latter's katana lit with lightning, increasing the speed and cutting power of his own blade, which knocked Dante back before he pulled Ebony and Ivory, opening fire at his hated enemy. However, Gilver's katana generated an icy-mist before throwing it down onto the ground to generate a make-shift ice-shield and block the bullets. Dante's attack was able to tear through, but when the ice shattered, Gilver was gone.
He suddenly appeared behind Dante and was about to get the drop on him. "Beowulf!" Dante, having quipped into his gauntlets and grieves disappeared in the same fashion and repapered behind Gilver to strike from behind. However…
*SLICE!*
Gilver sliced past Dante, his katana glowing a bright yellow light. The red-clad Devil Hunter felt his side as he was cut, blood spraying out. Though this was nothing new for him, it was irritating all the same.
"You tried to get the drop on me from behind like I just did. Nobody likes a copycat, Dante." Gilver mocked, resulting in Dante glaring. "I told you before, I have counter for every single technique and style you got. Call me the Anti-Dante."
"Keep talking, asshole. It'll be all the more worth it when I shut you up for good."
"Tell that to sweet old Nell." Gilver laughed sadistically, causing Dante to growl before attacking again.
At the same time, the team consisting of Gray, Lisanna, and Freed sat in a rowboat floating across a lake, powered by a lacrima which Gray was supplying with his magic. Freed sat in what one could assume was silent meditation while Lisanna simply glanced off to the side with an odd expression on her face.
"You've been pretty quiet, Lisanna. Everything okay?" Gray asked.
Lisanna was slightly startled before settling down. "Eh… yeah just… lost in thought."
"There's no need to worry." Freed said, opening his eyes. "It is true that seven years has past and we may be 'rusty' in a sense when compared to the rest of the world; but I'm certain we can win this."
"It's not that…" Lisanna replied. "I mean, that is pretty important yeah, but… I can't help but think about what Dante said before we left. The teams that were made… I can't help but think maybe there were better combos we could have made."
"I see your point." Gray seemed to agree. "Juvia and mine's magics work well together, and Freed's got a good dynamic with the rest of the Thunder Legion."
"While I agree as well, Cana's divinations haven't led us astray before, I see no reason to doubt her now." Freed commented.
"I trust Cana and her magic, but I also trust Dante's instincts." Lisanna said. "And he wasn't wrong when he said we've been one step behind the Order and the Oracion Seis during this whole mess. We still have a lot of questions that we don't have answers for and that makes me more than a little nervous."
"Well, if Cana's predictions were right, we're probably gonna run into one of those guys here soon." Gray said. "And we can interrogate them all we want, after we kick the crap out of them of course."
"You are right to be concerned, Lisanna." Freed added. "We have many unanswered questions, and we do face strong adversaries. But we can't afford to let ourselves get distracted by those concerns. So, focus on the task in front of us, and we can worry about everything else afterward."
"Yeah... okay." Lisanna knew they were right. She couldn't let herself get too hung up over this, but she also couldn't shake this sinking feeling in her gut that something was very wrong here.
At the same time, the team that consisted of Modeus, Erza, Evergreen, and Max walked up a mountain toward their destination, though not everyone appeared to be enjoying it as Evergreen appeared to be walking a bit farther behind everyone else.
"Come on, slow down!" Evergreen practically whined. "My feet are killing me!"
"Maybe you shouldn't have worn heels for mountain-climbing." Max told her.
"Sorry Max, but I am a fairy after all." She replied. "Owie, owie…"
"If you are a 'fairy' as you say, can you not simply fly and give your feet some relief?" Modeus asked.
"I'd rather save my magic for when we face the enemy." Evergreen answered. "Given we had our tails handed to us last time, I'd want to conserve as much as possible…" She then winced as she felt the pain in her feet again.
"If you're acting that rational when it comes to combat, perhaps you should have had the same mentality when you choose your attire." Erza said, standing at the front of the group. This really seemed to irritate Evergreen.
"Please forgive me, Queen Erza! I thought I might get a bit of sympathy from my teammates, but obviously my pain just annoys you!" She complained.
"You seem to have plenty of energy." Erza stated. "Instead of wasting it on a hissy fit, how about you just keep moving?"
Evergreen gasped dramatically as she stopped, placing her fan to her face. "Well, I never! She just doesn't understand the concept of being strong and lady-like."
Max and even Modeus inwardly winced at that comment. "Uh oh…" Max gulped.
Erza flashed Evergreen one of her titular death-glares. "What was that?! Say it again!"
"That's quite enough." Modeus stood in-between, hoping to prevent any violence from occurring. "We have a mission, and we must focus on it. Lives are at stake."
Erza appeared to calm down. "Of course, Modeus. You are correct. We must keep moving."
"Right, I suppose a little foot pain is irrelevant after all." Evergreen said sarcastically as the group proceeded to move on.
"Sorry, it must suck to be the mediator between two harpies." Max said to Modeus.
"It's no problem." He replied with a reminiscent smile. "Sparda had dealt with similar issues between myself and my brother in our youth, so I am simply trying one of his tactics."
"Yeah, but this team-up still kinda sucks. Don't know if Cana just threw her cards at random, or if all that alcohol finally rotted her brain." Max commented.
Fairy Tail guildhall.
Cana gave a rather loud sneeze, so much so it rocked the table she was sitting at. "I guess that means I must be getting a lot of compliments today."
"Ya think?" Alzack asked. "Cause I wouldn't be so sure."
"What do you mean by that?!" Cana looked at him with a comic glare.
At the same time, the Exceed squad walked along the pathway to their intended destination, before sitting down to catch a quick snack-break.
"Well in my opinion, there's nothing wrong with each of us being a little different." Carla said as she sipped her tea.
"I couldn't agree with you more." Happy said. "I think fish are yummy, you like to drink dark healing tea, and Lily likes…"
"Kiwis." Panther-Lily held a kiwifruit in his hand. "The skin is actually quite nutritious; it has a lot of fiber. But the best part is the sweet-tart flavor to it." He popped a whole kiwi in his mouth. However, an odd scent filled the air as a familiar presence made himself known.
"There's only one choice for me: mushrooms sauteed in butter sauce." Samuel revealed himself, with a plate of the aforementioned food.
"It's Sammy." Panther-Lily gripped his sword.
"There's no need for hostility, brother. I'm not here to fight." Samuel said as he put a fork-full of mushrooms into his mouth. "To the contrary, I need your help."
Back with Dante's team, the youngest son of Sparda continued to engage in his duel against Gilver. This time, Dante had quipped his ice-nunchucks of Cerberus and spun them before slamming them on the ground to send a trail of ice Gilver's way. However, Gilver's katana lit on fire before he sliced forward to send a wave of flame that cut through Dante's attack and toward Dante himself. But Dante sliced Rebellion to cut apart the fire-wave before moving in closer.
"Agni! Rudra!" Switching out for his dual-blades, Dante spun Agni and Rudra in each of his hands before slamming them together to create a vortex of wind and flame around Gilver. However, the vortex was quickly quelled by what was later revealed to be a whip of water that came from the hilt of Gilver's sword, his blade having transformed from a solid blade to a water-whip, which he used to block, parry, and flail at Dante as he brought Agni and Rudra together for a double-edge sword, engaging in another duel as fire and wind clashed with water strikes. However, Gilver jumped back and flailed his water-whip to ensnare Dante with it before it froze solid, trapping Dante in ice and leaving him open for Gilver to drive his blade into his chest, which surged with lightning to electrocute Dante from the inside-out.
"Dante!" Lucy exclaimed upon seeing the state he was in.
"He's in trouble!" Michelle also exclaimed just as Lucy leapt back to avoid the lancing thrust of the Bianco Angelo she was facing.
"Then it's time to stop playing around!" She flailed her Fleuve d'etoiles whip around the lance of the Bianco Angelo, keeping it stuck for a moment, which was all she needed to use her free hand to draw the Morning Star, which she sent to snap and strike the exposed body of the Bianco Angelo, causing it to explode in fiery fashion like any other demon struck by the weapon.
"How are you doing over there, Cancer?" Lucy asked as she saw her spirit use its scissors to slice at the Bianco Angelo's neck, severing its head before its whole armor vanished.
"All finished here, baby!" Cancer took a pose and snapped his scissors for emphasis.
Meanwhile, Elfman's beast form had managed to punch one Bianco Angelo so hard that most of its armor vanished before it was destroyed. He then reached out to grab the second as it lunged toward him before grabbing a hold of it and smashing it into the ground before it fell apart.
"Fire Dragon Sword Horn!" Natsu delivered a powerful flaming head-but attack with such force and speed that it shattered the shield of the Alto Angelo, allowing him to finish it off with a point-blank breath attack, reducing the sentient armor to a charred mess.
The group then heard Dante's pain-induced yell as they looked in shock to see him struck with an acid-attack from Gilver's katana.
Lucy winced at seeing her cousin in such pain and knew her current spirit wasn't going to cut it. "Sorry Cancer, but I gotta send you back. We need the big guns if we're gonna take that guy down."
"It's cool baby. Just kick his butt." Cancer accepted as Lucy sent him back into the Spirit World before drawing one of her other keys, which she used to plunge into a nearby puddle. "Open! Gate of the Water Bearer! Aquarius!"
Dante was on his knees as Gilver's katana was brought close to his neck. "What's wrong, Dante? Don't tell me you're done already. I'm sure Mommy would be quite disappointed in you." Every word he said made Dante's rage only grow.
"Then why don't we make things interesting?!" Natsu exclaimed. "Fire Dragon Roar!" He unleashed a breath attack just as Aquarius shot a powerful blast of water from her urn, and Elfman, still in his beast-form, threw a large boulder Gilver's way.
However, Gilver seemed prepared for even this as his katana generated a whirlwind around it before it quickly expanded in the form of a tornado to blast away all the attacks before facing the group in front of him.
"You're wasting your time, kids." Gilver told them. "This sword of mine was made from nearly every type of elemental lacrima: fire, ice, water, lightning, wind, acid; you name it, I got it. But I'll play around with you if you want." He glanced behind to see Dante already back on his feet. "Hey Dante, I'm about to send more of your friends and family to the grave, think you can stop me?" He asked with a laugh.
All the while, Byro continued to watch and observe everything that's been happening. There was little doubt in his mind that Gilver was evil. A part of him considered helping Fairy Tail against a common enemy, but he had been tasked with protecting the church and he would not step in until the church was in danger and it seemed Fairy Tail had Gilver's attention for the moment. But the more he thought on the situation, especially the sight of the Angelos fighting alongside Gilver, the more he became uneasy with everything that's been going on since this crisis began.
Fortuna Castle
After having made it down to the bottom of the pit, and walking down the long tunnel, the trio of Nero, Kyrie, and Coco made it to their apparent destination. It seemed like a large chamber, or rather a laboratory, with a vent in the center. On the far wall was a window that led into what appeared to be a smaller laboratory inside.
"Look at this place… what is it?" Coco looked around.
Before either Nero or Kyrie could respond, their attention was caught by Nero's bandaged arm as it began to glow underneath it's wrappings. Kyrie looked in clear surprise, while Nero tried to hide his arm as Coco looked with concern. However, not only was Nero attempting to hide his arm, he could feel an unknown yet familiar presence in this chamber, particularly in the laboratory that was separated from them by the window.
Gazing up, Nero could scarcely make out what appeared to be a katana that hovered in a large tube, surrounded by a blue energy field. Soon, the trio would see a certain man entering the scene, looking down upon them from behind the window. Kyrie's eyes widened as she recognized the same man as the one who was with Sanctus and her brother.
"So, you've come." Agnus acknowledged as he held a clipboard and pen in his hands. "And you've brought friends. I can't say I'm s-s-surprised. An arrogant brat who has no r-r-r-regard for authority, a frightened child who runs at the first moment of trouble, and clever little Kyrie, far too clever for her own g-g-g-good."
"Kyrie, do you know this guy?" Coco asked her.
"He… he was with Sanctus and my brother! He's working with the Oracion Seis as well!" Kyrie revealed.
"Who the hell are you?" Nero glared at the man.
"I am Agnus." He introduced himself with a bow. "Working in secrecy, very few are p-p-p-privy to my existence."
"Funny, to figure an Order official out for a stroll in a hellhole kinda place like this." Nero commented.
"Hellhole?! Watch your words!" Agnus exclaimed. "Just as fouled mouthed as I heard… the rumors prove true. As will the new ones concerning your d-d-d-demise. All three of you."
"Don't you think that's a little harsh?" Nero replied, standing defensively in front of both Kyrie and Coco. "Killing us just because of the way I t-t-t-talk?" He asked, purposely insulting Agnus.
"Uh… Nero… maybe please don't antagonize the man we know nothing about?" Coco suggested.
"What are you planning?!" Kyrie questioned. "I know you and the Neo Oracion Seis have the Infinity Clock! What are you going to do with it?!"
"So, you've been snooping around, haven't you?" Agnus said to Kyrie. "You're far more c-c-c-clever than your irksome brother. Too bad, you'll never s-s-s-see him again."
Before anybody could respond, the three heard a series of sounds, the sounds of machines moving in the walls all around them. Instantly, all three grouped together with their backs to each other, preparing for a fight as Nero drew Red Queen. Suddenly, out of the walls, a series of large blades shot out into the chamber, before they broke apart, revealing a set of wings, tails, and a triangle-shape head, like a reptilian bird almost. These were Gladii
"Great, more demons." Nero grimaced as the Gladii flew around them like predators circling their prey.
"This, this is all Credo's doing!" Agnus growled as he pointed, sending the Gladii their way, where Nero used Red Queen to parry their strikes and keep them at bay, with Coco doing the same, standing on her hands and lashing out with her feet to kick them back; both their movements keeping Kyrie covered as she seemed to be reading her own magic. "It was Credo, who sent you to retrieve the clock pieces in the first place. It was Credo's decision that led to you meeting Dante and that bothersome Fairy Tail. And that has led you here."
"Dante? Didn't you say he was Sparda's son?" Kyrie asked Nero and Coco.
"Yeah, I still have a hard time believing it myself." Coco confirmed.
"Alright, I've had enough of this shit!" Nero grumbled as he gave Red Queen a mighty swing to knock back the Gladii around them. "What the hell is going on here!" He pointed his sword toward Agnus.
"I don't have to answer to you." He responded. "For you are already as good as d-d-d-dead." He directed the Gladii to come at them all at once, however…
Kyrie quickly spread out her arms before encompassing herself, along with Nero and Coco, in a large glow of bright white light just as the Gladii struck something solid. The light faded, revealing that all three were safe in a glowing and transparent diamond-like construct, something that even Nero and Coco were surprised at.
"Sanctuary."
"What…?" Nero stuttered in surprise and amazement.
"Kyrie…?" Coco looked to her in the same manner, while Kyrie simply smiled at them.
"I've picked up a few tricks." She said before lowering the spell, and allowing Nero a chance to attack as he drew Blue Rose to shoot down the Gladii that came his way, with Coco following his lead, running along the wall before leaping at a group of two, which she was able to kick out of the air before landing gracefully on the ground.
"Nine-nine-eight points!" She boasted.
As they continued to battle the artificial demons, Agnus looked with interest. 'Midnight had said how Nero's power seems to have developed, but I haven't seen anything noteworthy. But... Kyrie on the other hand. I had thought she only learned healing magic, but that spell…' He smiled, looking more than a little intrigued. 'There's certainly more to her than meets the eye…'
Meanwhile, back in Fiore, a young petite girl with short dark blue hair and light brown eyes stood just underneath a tree, holding short, green-colored snowman like Celestial Spirit in her arms as she gazed up toward the dark clouds behind the tree.
"I'm afraid we're getting to the end." The girl said to her Celestial Spirit, who gave a slight groan in response. "Hey Nico, how much longer do you think this tree is going to live?" The spirit named Nico gave another groan as a reply, which she was able to understand.
"Miss Katja!" A priest from a nearby church quickly ran toward her. "What in the world are you doing out here?!"
"I was just looking at this tree." The girl named Katja replied, still gazing at the tree in front of her.
"It's far too dangerous for you to be outside on your own like this." The priest told her. "Haven't you heard what's been going on?"
"Of course, I've heard. There's not too many of us left." Katja said.
"That's true… so…" The priest didn't quite understand where she was going with this.
"That's why I came out here." She said. "In the hopes that this tree might remember me. Just a hope." Nico gave yet another moan.
"Miss Katja, I'm sorry to tell you that Bebritzio was discovered and killed." The priest informed her with regret.
"He was? Then it's very likely that I will be next." She gazed down to the Celestial Spirit in her arms. "If you get too scared, you can always run away, okay?" Nico moaned, indicating that he was not about to abandon her.
At the same time, the team composing of Gajeel, Lady, and Juvia walked across a mountain pass toward their intended destination.
"So, is it really that bad being partnered up with me?" The Iron Dragon Slayer asked his fellow former Phantom Lord member.
"No, it's not you at all Gajeel." Juvia told him. "You're a great friend, I just wish that my beloved Gray was with me, that's all."
Lady gave a sigh. "Okay, you really need to work out your issues, girl. Everyone knows you got it bad for Gray, but you don't have to be around him every single minute of every single day."
"If you love someone, should you not be with them?" Juvia asked. "After all, you and Dante do seem to spend a considerable amount of time with each other."
Lady tried to hide the blush in her cheeks as she looked more than a little irritated. "Okay, first of all, Dante and I are not a thing!"
"Yeah, whatever you say." Gajeel teased with a grin, which Lady ignored.
"And second, even if you got a thing for someone, you don't have to be with them twenty-four seven." Lady continued. "You also gotta give them space, not just for their sake, but yours too. Take some time to spend with friends, or even just a little me-time."
Juvia looked for a minute, contemplating what Lady said. "Me-time? Hmm, would Gray fall for me if we had some space between us? Is that why it hasn't started yet? Because I've been too close all this time?"
"You do know that everything's in one ear and out the other when it comes to her little fantasizes, right?" Gajeel told Lady, who sighed.
"Yeah, well I've said my peace." She commented.
Gajeel then chuckled. "Well you don't have to worry about being scared or anything, I got your back."
"Scared? What makes you think I'm scared?" Lady questioned.
"Well, you're still new with your magic." Gajeel continued in a teasing fashion. "And considering I'm pretty much your senior, you'd be wise to listen to me."
"I'm sorry, what?" Lady said with hands on her hips, looking to Gajeel with a glare.
"Sure, steel might technically be harder than iron, but I've had this stuff hammered into me when I was a kid, and I was taught to use it by a freaking dragon." Gajeel said in a boasting type of fashion. "So, if you end up falling behind a little bit, I'd be more than happy to give you some free advice."
He was quickly silenced by a gunshot, the bullet bouncing off his cheek as Lady glared at him. "I've been hunting demons before I ever had any fancy magic. I can handle myself just fine. In fact, I could probably kick your ass without it. So maybe you should be worried about you not falling behind."
"You really don't wanna take that kind of attitude with me, sister." Gajeel warned as he and Lady literally butted heads with each other.
"Any time, any place, rivet-head." Lady challenged.
"That's enough!" Juvia quickly broke them apart. "We are guildmates, and we have an important mission that could determine whether or not someone lives or dies, that is our priority right now, not whatever competition you think is between you."
"You're right, Juvia. We got more important things to worry about." Lady said, still glaring with Gajeel.
"So maybe we should get going. Let's see you put those big words into actions, copycat." Gajeel said.
"After you, oh wise senior." Lady gestured in a mocking fashion, allowing Gajeel to proceed onward with Lady close behind, leaving Juvia to sigh with a sweat drop on her forehead.
'Another reason why I'd prefer to be with my beloved Gray right now.'
Meanwhile, the team of Trish, Wendy, and Bickslow followed along a mountain trail of their own, having passed a farm of cows and a windmill not long ago. "How you ladies doing?" Bickslow asked.
"Hanging in there." Wendy answered, but she cast a glance at Trish, who appeared a bit further behind as she didn't respond. "Trish?"
"Yeah… Still here." She replied. "It's just…"
"Still thinking about losing your sword?" Bickslow guessed.
"It's not just my sword…" Trish said, venting some of her internal frustration. "It was Sparda's sword, the sword that Dante was supposed to wield but he instead gave it to me. He trusted me with it, and I lost it, and not for the first time."
Wendy quickly ran up to her. "That wasn't your fault, Trish. The Oracion Seis tricked and trapped all of us. We'll get it back, and I know Dante doesn't blame you for what happened."
"But I do." Trish said, still looking away. "That sword isn't just sacred or even personal, it's powerful. A dangerous tool that can cause just as much harm as good, and I let it fall into the hands of the enemy." She was taken by surprise as Wendy took her hand and looked toward her with a reassuring smile.
"It's okay, Trish." Wendy continued. "I know how it feels to be frustrated with yourself, like no matter what you do, you're not gonna be good enough. But you are good enough and thinking too hard about what you didn't do or should have done differently isn't going to change what happened. We'll get this sorted out, all of us. You're not alone, you're part of the Fairy Tail family, remember?"
This seemed to be enough to pull Trish out of her funk, if only slightly, but it was enough to get her to smile. "Thanks kid. I appreciate that." She ruffled Wendy's hair, causing her to giggle slightly.
"Awe, ain't those two just cute?" Bickslow chuckled.
"Yeah, super cute!" His dolls all sang.
Suddenly, the bright blue sky was covered in dark storm clouds, alerting the trio as they immediately went on the defensive.
"Well that just happened." Bickslow commented. "I heard mountain weather was unpredictable, but this came out of nowhere."
Wendy's own Dragon Slayer senses picked up something in the air. "This isn't a natural storm."
"Yeah." Trish immediately pulled out Luce and Ombra. "Looks like we got company."
Almost immediately, the group was forced to scatter as a series of wind-blades, lightning bolts, and even small tornados were shot their way. They were able to avoid getting hit for the most part, but were scathed along the sides before glancing toward their attacker, who stood perched on a large boulder with his scythe over his shoulder.
"Tell me, why do I feel this way? When you said the name 'Fairy Tail' a great rage burns inside me. Why is that?" He asked almost emotionlessly.
"It's that guy who calls himself Grim Reaper." Bickslow stated as the trio regrouped. "He's like one big walking black cloud."
"I've heard of this guy, wasn't he part of this dark guild a while back?" Trish asked.
"Yeah, Lucy said he was part of Eisenwald and tried to assassinate Master Makarov and the other guildmasters seven years ago." Wendy confirmed.
"Seven years ago…?" Erigor muttered. "I barley remember that time. Everything seems to be a bit of a fog… but I do know one thing. I am here to kill you."
"Talk about being direct." Trish muttered. "You know, I'm glad you showed up! I've got all this pent-up anger inside, and I need someone to take it out on!" She immediately opened fire with Luce and Ombre, firing a multitude of electric bullets toward him, but Erigor swung his scythe to generate a wave of lightning that seemed to absorb Trish's attack as the wave came toward the group, but Bickslow's dolls were able to blast it away with explosive results.
"He's got lightening magic?! I thought this guy only had wind powers!" Bickslow questioned.
"Guess he's picked up a few tricks in seven years." Trish commented.
Erigor pointed his scythe at him. "Maybe I could only control the wind before, but now I can create whether patterns that defy the very laws of nature and destroy pesky flies like you. For instance… Tornado!" He shot a concentrated tornado blast from his scythe at the group.
"Hang on, I got this!" Wendy instantly ran in front and seemed to tank the blast herself, being engulfed in a powerful twister.
"Wendy!" Trish exclaimed with worry as Bickslow also gasped in surprise. However, they, as well as Erigor were shocked when they heard a familiar sound of suction. The twister began to shrink considerably, where it revealed Wendy was practically inhaling the raging winds, similar to how another certain Dragon Slayer does so with flames.
She wiped her mouth as she mimicked Natsu's smirk. "Thanks for the meal, now I've got a fire in my belly. Sky Dragon Roar!" She blasted her own breath attack at Erigor, which seemed to score a direct hit.
"Nice shot kiddo! That's what I'm talking about!" Bickslow pumped his fist.
"Right… Sky Dragon Slayer, you can eat wind attacks." Trish said with a smirk. "Good work, but another Natsu is the last thing this guild needs." She joked, resulting in Wendy chuckling a bit. However, her eyes widened as she still picked up Erigor's scent.
"Everyone! Move!" She called out in time just as a multitude of lightning bolts shot down around them, forcing them to scatter and barley avoid the blasts.
Erigor was revealed to still be in one piece as he hovered in the air, directing all the lightning bolts from the storm could above him down toward the Fairy Tail trio. However, his hands shook as he remembered seeing the little girl devour his tornado.
"What is this…?" He muttered to himself. "This anger inside me…? It's only growing… Why does this girl anger me so…?!" Just barley, almost as if he were looking through a keyhole, he recalled a fight with a certain flame wielding wizard who had the exact same type of wizard. Just recalling the young man's face only made Erigor's blood boil even further. "Die… Die! DIE! ALL OF YOU DIE!" He shouted in rage as more lightning bolts shot at them.
Trish tried to use her own lightning to intercept the bolts while Bickslow used his dolls' magic to create a shield. "This guy's completely lost his marbles!" Bickslow exclaimed.
"Don't worry, I'll help!" Wendy began to channel her support magic on her comrades as well as herself. "Arms! Armor! Vernier!" Instantly, she, Trish, and Bickslow began to glow and shine with bright cyan-blue, yellow, and green auras respectively as their speed, strength, and defense increased with her support magic.
With their enhanced speed, the trio shot toward Erigor their enemy in the sky. Trish covered her body with lighting to further enhance her speed and shoot directly up at Erigor, but he seemed ready as he sliced his scythe toward her, but she kicked it away by the staff before aiming Luce and Umbre at him, unloading her guns with electric bullets.
"Storm Mail!" Erigor covered his entire body in a raging tornado that seemed to not only block Trish's attack, but generate raging winds that sliced like microscopic blades to blast her back, though she was protected by the Armor Support spell. Wendy was next as she shot herself into the tornado and tried to inhale it once more, adding to her own power and decreasing Erigor's defenses, leaving a spot open for Bickslow to attack.
"Barrion Formation!" His dolls formed a circle and shot a single powerful beam of green magic at Erigor, but he raised his hand and blasted a powerful lightning bolt of his own that collided with the beam. However, Wendy had also finished inhaling the tornado, and with Erigor seemingly distracted, it was the perfect opportunity for her and Trish to attack.
"Sky Dragon Claw!" Wendy shot at Erigor with a kick, her feet covered with her magic, as Trish performed a similar move with her lightning. Both striking Erigor in the center with a pincer-like attack. However, this wasn't enough to stop him as he hovered higher into the air, with the trio regrouping below him.
"Damn this guy is tough." Bickslow muttered.
"And something's telling me he's not even taking this fight seriously." Trish commented, causing Wendy to look a little worried.
"I hope the others are having better luck than us right now." The young Sky Dragon Slayer said as Erigor continued to loom over them with deadly intent.
Meanwhile, Samuel had met with his fellow Exceeds and had told them everything he had learned from his friends after the Infinity Clock's reassembly.
"Hellgates?" Lily questioned. "Portals to the Demon Realm?"
"Yes." Samuel confirmed. "There are five total scattered around Fortuna, each one guarded by a powerful demon. Based on what we've learned, the Order has been using the Hellgates to summon lesser demons in order to harness their power, which is likely how they are able to create those Angelo soldiers you've been facing."
"That actually explains quite a bit." Carla said. "And the leader of the Order of the Sword is in league with the Oracion Seis?"
"That is correct." Samuel said as he looked down. "A man whom I respected, even revered, has deceived all of us. I could never have calculated something like that."
"I'm… I'm so sorry to hear that." Happy said sincerely. "I can't imagine what that's like, having someone you trust turn out to be a liar."
"Samuel, I am sorry that you feel betrayed, but we need to know everything else that's been going on if we are to stop the Order of the Sword and the Neo Oracion Seis." Lily told him.
"Of course, you're right brother." Samuel confirmed. "The first thing you must know is that not everyone in the Order of the Sword is aligned with this. Myself, as well as Nero, Kyrie, Coco, Sugarboy, and Dan have no intention of serving Sanctus any further. And there are countless other innocent people in the Order as well as living on Fortuna. The only ones who appear to be in league with the Oracion Seis besides Sanctus himself are a man named Agnus and… and Credo." He looked away with a conflicted expression on his face, and his fellow Exceeds could hardly blame him.
"We've learned that the Infinity Clock has the ability to distort reality." Carla told him. "If left unchecked, that power could tear the fabric of our world asunder."
"Yes, such power could easily intoxicate those among dark guilds like the one we currently face." Samuel said, getting back to business. "I don't know exactly what they plan to do with hit, but I've made several calculations of what could happen, and every single one of them end in catastrophe."
"And you came here because you want to help us." Happy deduced with a smile.
"Yes." Samuel confirmed. "Our team is currently split into two individual groups. Myself, Dan and Sugarboy are planning to join you in fending off the Neo Oracion Seis, whom we've deduced is behind the church attacks. I was able to meet you, so my comrades are likely on their way to provide aid for your guildmates as we speak. The other group consisting of Nero, Kyrie, and Coco are still on Fortuna Island, hoping to get a better assessment of the situation so we can plan a proper counterattack."
"What about that scary girl with the puppet stick?" Happy asked.
"Mary is… well…" Samuel tried to find the right words. "She found it difficult to accept the facts and went off on her own. Truthfully, I don't know where she is."
"No offense Samuel, but while most of your friends are a mixed bag, Mary is something else entirely." Carla told him. "She's even willing to go so far as to take a child hostage, and that is a step too far."
"Mary is… complicated." Samuel explained. "She was taken in from the Order at such a young age, but before that, she was more-or-less a slave. A minor dark guild kidnapped her when she was just barely out of her infancy and used her to steal from them. She suffered a great deal of physical and emotional abuse throughout that ordeal." The Exceeds continued to listen as Happy looked in a mixture of surprise and sympathy, Carla had a similar expression while Lily simply listened with a stoic expression. "Soldiers of the Order were able to neutralize the dark guild and took her in. She found herself entranced by the legend of Sparda and pledged her allegiance to Sanctus. So, finding out that the man who essentially saved her soul has also been deceiving her… you can expect one to be in a great deal of denial, it's only logical."
"And your friend has my sympathies." Lily said sincerely. "But right now, many more lives are at stake, and we must stop this crisis from getting worse."
"I agree." Samuel got serious as he turned to the only female Exceed present. "Tell me Carla, you possess the power of clairvoyance, have you received any visions of what our future may hold?"
"I'm afraid not." Carla replied, looking away. "Being frozen in time for seven years has all but destroyed my ability. It's as if my power right now is trying to catch up with the current time, so I'm afraid I cannot help."
"I see, that is rather inconvenient but not unforeseeable." Samuel accepted. "So, it would seem the only option now is to proceed along this route to the nearest church and hopefully intercept the Oracion Seis before they get what they want."
"So, you're really going to help us?" Happy asked with a hopeful smile. "We're fellow Exceeds after all
"Yes." Samuel confirmed. "But while I agree Sanctus and the Oracion Seis have to be stopped, and we are indeed of the same species, the Order of the Sword is my home. Rather than see it destroyed, I want to save it. Not everyone in the Order is evil and I know we can do good in this world; I want to help turn the Order into what it was meant to be: a force that stands to protect the innocent. After all, it's what the Dark Knight himself would do, correct?"
"Absolutely." Lily smiled along with Happy and Carla.
"Couldn't agree more." Carla agreed.
"Aye sir! So, let's go kick some evil butt!" Happy declared as the four Exceeds sprouted their wings and prepared to fly to their destination.
Meanwhile, the team of Gajeel, Juvia, and Lady found themselves at their destination, but it appeared they were far too late as the church they were heading to was already demolished and consumed by a raging fire.
"Damn it! We were too late!" Gajeel cursed as Juvia looked shocked, while Lady had an angered expression.
"We have failed in our mission…" Juvia said in a mournful tone, thinking about all the people who have likely died here.
Lady however felt an odd sensation. "There's something here, and it's definitely not human."
Before either could respond, they got their answer as a gigantic and inhumane shaped figure emerged from the flames and ruins. "Wow, that was fun! I know it seems rather bad to attack churches, especially since they're technically part of the Order now, but his Holiness' word is also Sparda's word, and we can't question Spada's word."
"The hell is that thing?!" Gajeel questioned. "Is he telepathic or something?!"
"He's a demon." Lady glared. "I can feel it."
"He may not be part of the Neo Oracion Seis, but he is undoubtedly the one behind this attack." Juvia deduced.
Guttman glanced toward the trio. "I spy some filthy guild wizards."
"Why did you attack this church? Kill all these people?" Juvia questioned.
"It is the wish of his Holiness!" Guttman said. "His word is not to be questioned, no matter how awful it seems!"
"I don't give a damn if it's your boss' wish or not, you're getting your ass kicked for this!" Lady flashed her guns, but before she even had a chance to fire, two neon green magic circle appeared around her, she was encompassed in the glow before she screamed in pain and exploded, sending her crashing against a ruined wall.
"Lady!" Juvia exclaimed in shock.
"That's it, you're going down, you demonic freak!" Gajeel leapt at Guttman. "Iron Dragon Club!" He shot his iron club at Guttman, who leapt back to avoid the attack.
"I can tell you folks have a lot of magic power inside. You're gonna be so much fun to play with!" Guttman raised his hand as two magic circles appeared around Gajeel next as well as Juvia, in which they both felt a powerful explosion inside their own bodies, sending him them flying into the air. "What pretty lights! Your ruptures are so cool!"
"The hell did you just do to us...?" Lady questioned as she attempted to pick herself up.
"My demonic power is called Rupture, sweetie." Guttman told Lady with glee. "I can take the magical power of a human, or even the demonic power of a fellow demon, and make it go boom! Just like this!" He caused another rupture in Lady, sending her up in an explosion. "Let's keep playing! I'll rupture all your magic till it's all gone!" He unleashed another rupture explosion in all three of them again. "Oh sorry, did that hurt?! Well, there's a whole lot more where that came from!"
Fortuna Castle – Hidden Laboratory
Agnus continued to observe behind the safety glass as Nero, Coco, and Kyrie continued to defend themselves against the relentless Gladii. As he observed, he took frequent notes, observing each of their techniques, with his main focus being on Kyrie. Her previous Sanctuary spell being used as a shield to protect herself, as well as Coco if she needed it.
Nero proved capable of handling himself with Blue Rose in one hand, shooting down any Gladius that flew around him, while swinging Red Queen to parry the ones that attempted to strike him. Coco continued to run along the wall as a series of Gladii followed after her. However, one suddenly shot out of the wall in front of her, slicing at her side, and causing her to fall to the ground in pain.
"Coco!" Kyrie quickly ran toward her and immediately applied her healing magic toward her. However, three Gladii positioned themselves just above the pair and rushed in to slice them to ribbons when suddenly, Nero appeared to block their path, using his bandaged arm on instinct to bash them away.
However, this also broke apart the bandages, while releasing a blue shockwave that shook most of the lab and even the safety glass a bit. Agnus looked in surprise as he saw the source.
Nero only just realized that his demonic arm was now exposed, and Kyrie had seen it. He turned toward her as she had circular eyes and almost shrunken pupils. Coco looked with a nervous expression.
"Nero…?" Kyrie was unsure of what to say.
"Kyrie… I… this isn't…?" Nero's incisiveness however, left him vulnerable for a single Gladius to appear at his side, ready to strike at him.
"Nero, look out!" Coco warned in time, allowing Nero to grab the Gladius by its throat, which was like the handle for a normal sword. He then glanced toward Agnus, who looked in pure amazement, while he himself glared. Nero channeled his energy into his demonic limb, further increasing his strength before leaping directly at the glass to smash the Gladius against it; shattering both the artificial demon as well as the barrier that separated the two.
Agnus was knocked back by the shockwave as he glanced up to Nero in surprise. "Tha-tha-tha-that's demonic power! Your demonic power! How… How could it have awakened…?"
"Look who's talking, jackass! Now answer my question" Nero scowled as he pointed the blade of Red Queen directly at Agnus as he stood up. "What the hell is going on here?!"
As Kyrie and Coco made their way up into the laboratory as well, Agnus directed his gaze toward the demonic limb, something that Kyrie couldn't take her eyes off either. "How… profound. They said you had power… but for it to awaken in this state… even transform your body. We could have never known it would develop like this."
'Develop?' Kyrie thought as she and Coco didn't like the way Agnus was speaking. It was almost as if… as if he somehow knew about it before hand.
"Okay, did you even hear me?!" Nero swung Red Queen toward him, only for Agnus to catch the sword with his fingers, much to the group's surprise as Agnus appeared to have much greater physical strength than one would expect.
"If you want answers… then I shall give them to you." Agnus revealed before he released Nero's sword and showed the three around his laboratory while explaining everything to them. "Centuries ago, the Dark Knight Sparda founded the Order of the Sword with the purpose of p-p-p-protecting this world. However, a group of Celestial Wizards within the Order sought to create a w-w-w-weapon that could end the age-old conflict against the Underworld. That weapon was the Infinity Clock."
All three of the gasped at the mention of that weapon.
"The Clock has the power to distort reality itself." Agnus continued. "It became too powerful for even Sparda to c-c-c-contain. So, he and the other founders of the original Order had it dismantled and hid the pieces away before disbanding the Order."
"But… it was reestablished at least five decades ago…" Kyrie recalled.
"Yes, yes, indeed it was." Agnus confirmed. "The Order was rebuilt by his Holiness, a descendant of one of the original Order, who wishes to continue the mission of Sparda and purge this world of corruption. Before, we lacked the necessary power to do so, but, but, but… even when searching for the Infinity Clock, we were able to isolate and bind demonic power, to create powerful weapons."
"And you used those fancy gates of yours to summon demons and create the Angelo soldiers." Nero said in realization.
"Yes, yes, the Hellgates." Agnus confirmed. "But… those that you have seen are mere substitutions. My own artificial creations, each powered by a Devil Arm. Of course, the real gate cannot be opened, not without the proper key." He glanced towards the katana that floated in the middle of the energy field.
"Is that sword the key?" Coco asked.
"Not quite." Agnus replied. "Yamato was used by Sparda to separate this world from the Underworld. However, at the time, we knew not of where the blade lay. So, rather than scour the entire world to find it, we attempted to make one of our own. However, Yamato was a Devil Arm of Sparda, containing his own essence. In order to fabricate an effective copy, we need the essence of Sparda himself. With that, as well as the Infinity Clock that lay in our possession, it will enable us to conquer the world. And that, that is the wish of his Holiness."
"What about the Oracion Seis? Where do they fit in?" Kyrie asked.
"They share the same goal as us." Agnus answered. "They recognize how corrupt this world is. With our combined power, we can easily wipe this world clean and rebuild it anew."
"What a crock." Nero shook his head. "And you may as well ditch the efforts pal because Sparda is dead. He's been dead for a long time, so you can forget about extracting his essence or whatever."
Agnus smiled malevolently. "Whoever said I hadn't already?" This caused the three to look in confusion. "Let me show you something." He walked over to a console and typed a series of buttons before pulling a lever. The group turned toward a wall on the far side and saw the metal wall separating to reveal something that made all their hearts stop.
Strapped to a metallic cross, almost like it was being crucified, was none other than the demonic body of Sparda himself! His chest was cut open, almost like an autopsy; with a series of cables attached all across his body and even inside the chest cavity. Saying it was horrifying was an understatement. Coco covered her mouth with a gasp, as did Kyrie, even Nero's face went pale.
"Behold… Sparda!" Agnus revealed in dramatic fashion. "You could not imagine the effort it took to find his body. To this day, we still don't know how he died, but… even in death… he still serves our cause. His biology, his power, everything about him… it is magnificent!"
"It's horrible!" Kyrie exclaimed. "How could you?!"
"Sparda… the Order worships him…" Coco stuttered. "He… He saved the world… multiple times… he's a hero… and you… you did this… how… how could…?"
While Nero himself never took the legends too literally, this was a step too far even for him. Desecrating a man's body like this was crossing the line! He angrily tried to swing Red Queen at Agnus, only for him to duck underneath the swing, grab Nero by the arm and haul him over, sending him crashing into the wall.
"Oh, don't be so emotional, my boy." Agnus told him. "You owe your very existence to all of this. After all, you are only just now meeting your father."
It suddenly became so silent; one could hear a pin being dropped.
"What…?" Nero breathed.
"Replicating the Yamato is only the first step." Agnus explained. "We need someone who is strong enough to handle its power, and the only one strong enough for that, is a Sparda. At first, we tried cloning him, but each attempt ended in failure. So, I opted for a different approach. I extracted his reproductive material and surgically placed it within the ovum of a healthy human woman. She was told she'd bare a child who would one day bring salvation to this world. She gave her life to bring this child into existence. Your mother, Nero. Where did you think your power came from? We made you. You… are a Son of Sparda!"
Nero dropped his sword as he fell to his knees. All of this seemed like it came at him all at once, a hundred times over. Was… was he really Sparda's son? An artificial one at that? A man-made human? Not even a real person? He looked toward his own demonic hand with an expression that it was impossible to read, so many emotions flooding through him.
Kyrie and Coco looked toward him in complete utter shock. This was a bombshell for both of them, but they what they felt was nothing compared to what Nero was now feeling. They each had nothing but complete and utter pity for the poor boy but were both unsure of how to console him.
Suddenly, and without warning, a Bianco Angelo appeared to impale Nero with his lance and drive him to the wall on the far side of the laboratory, almost directly next to Sparda's body. The Bianco Angelo fell back, removing his lance before two more appeared to drive their lances into the wall underneath his arms and pin him there.
Before either Kyrie or Coco could respond, two more Bianco Angelos appeared behind to grab them. One arm wrapped around their bodies to pin their arms to their sides, while the Angelos' hands clasped over both their moves to keep them from screaming.
"See the fruits of our labors." Agnus said as he walked toward Nero. "Those demons we summon from the Hellgates are used to produce these magnificent soldiers, while Sparda was made to produce an heir to inherit Yamato and lead this world to salvation. But, at the time, we did not know Sparda had any progeny of his own accord, and perhaps… all our effort was for naught."
"The hell… are you talking about…?" Nero stuttered, glaring at Agnus with as much hate as he could.
"Your power has developed in a unique way… but it is not powerful enough for what we need." Agnus told him. "However, Dante may meet our requirements, and with the efforts of the Neo Oracion Seis, he is well within our grasp. But don't feel too bad my boy." Agnus walked up to him. "We'll make sure your corpse is put to proper use." He extended his hand, calling a Gladius to him, which he gripped, and it took the form of a solid sword, which he used to impale Nero through his heart.
Kyrie and Coco both screamed, though they were muffled as their mouths were still covered and they were in the grasps of the two Bianco Angelos, with the other three hovering above Nero.
"Dismember him." Agnus order them as they slowly descended toward him, just as Nero's vision went black. But not before he glanced weakly toward the terrified Kyrie.
As everything turned black, unable to see anything, he head his own voice call out. "Kyrie, run!"
He then heard Kyrie's own screams. "Nero!"
"Kyrie! KYRIE!"
Suddenly, something inside him awakened. Something that set his senses ablaze as a surge of raw power flowed throughout his entire body. A dark blue aura formed around him as his eyes began to glow red, his demonic arm glowing brighter, alongside the katana that continued to float. Even the eyes of Sparda's corpse began to glow, almost as if both it and the sword were resonating with Nero.
The immobilized Kyrie and Coco looked in shock, even Agnus turned around in surprise as the katana flew from its energy field and straight toward Nero's demonic hand. The second it made contact, a powerful explosion of power blasted away all the Angelos, freeing Kyrie and Coco, while also sending Agnus flying back.
Acting on instinct, Agnus transformed into his own Angelo form. He resembled a large white humanoid locust. He had two large, curved horns along the side of his head, a single red eye on the left side of his face, two curved glowing antennas on his forehead shaped like a halo, large bug-like wings on his back along with a massive insect-like tail sprouting from the back of his head.
He stumbled upon landing before gazing up into laboratory in clear shock. "How?! How could… could you have gained this strength…?!" He saw the katana in his hand. "Not even I could have… replicated its power! How could you…?! An underdeveloped specimen…?!"
Kyrie and Coco both sat on the ground as they glanced at the transformed Nero with expressions of awe, amazement, relief, shock, and even a little bit of fear. His eyes still glowed red as a blue aura continued to envelop him. But what stuck out the most, was the transparent form of a demon hovering above him, almost as if it was his own spirit manifesting in the real world, while serving as some sort of armor. It had a blue transparent glow to it, curved downward horns with a face that resembled a human's skull. Scales lined its body as well as its arms, with its eyes glowing a pure and bright white. As if beneath its demonic exterior, was a kind and noble soul.
"From that day forth… my arm changed…" Nero spoke, his voice sounding more distorted and echoey. "A voice echoed… 'you have power… use it… to protect those… that cannot protect… themselves. Whatever you may be… demon or man… or both… you must protect them.'"
He absentmindedly swung his sword, sending a wave past Agnus that blew a massive hole in the laboratory. The demonic madman turned around in clear shock to see the hole in his ceiling, not understanding how Nero's power could have grown so much in such a short time.
"This is preposterous! Preposterous!" Like the coward he was, Agnus flew through the hole and escaped.
Once he was gone, Nero's aura faded along with his transformed state, the sword in his hand vanishing into his demonic arm before he fell toward the ground. Or rather, he would have had Kyrie not caught him, along with Coco. They carefully and slowly lowered him to his knees to rest.
Though they were beyond glad that he was still alive, nobody had any idea what to say right now. With everything that was revealed and happening all at once, who could blame them? How would they even begin to process all of this.
"Nero…" Kyrie tried to say something at first, but she was surprised to hear him laughing. It wasn't a hysterical or humorous laugh, it sounded almost sad, as if he were crying and laughing at the same time.
"I'm… I'm Sparda's son… huh?" Nero said in a mixture of laughs and sobs. "That… explains a lot… guess Dante and his friends have an answer… huh?" Coco looked especially sympathetic at that, she remembered how they talked with Fairy Tail in the tomb before the Infinity Clock was assembled, how they would all look into Nero's past for answers about his demonic power. Now they had an answer, but it was not at all what they were expecting.
"Not only am I a demon… I'm just an experiment…" Nero continued in his emotional turmoil. "My whole existence… everything… was manufactured… guess I'm just… another tin soldier huh…?"
He was caught off guard when Kyrie wrapped her arms around him, tears flowing down her own eyes. "Nero… I can't even begin to imagine what you must be feeling right now…" She said with sobs of her own. "But… this doesn't change anything about you."
His heart practically stopped at that.
"You're still the same boy I grew up with." She continued. "The one who was always there, the same kind and heroic young man I fell in love with." She parted from him slightly to grab his demonic hand with both of hers. "Inside you beats a heart, artificially made or not. You're you, and it's you I want to be with. I'm sorry if I made you feel you had to hide this from me, but I don't feel any different about you. I don't know anyone who is as human as you are."
"Kyrie…" He didn't know what to say.
"She's right." Coco looked toward him with a teary-eyed smile. "No matter what Nero, you're still a big brother to me. And nothing will ever change that."
He couldn't stop the tears from flowing as Kyrie and Coco both embraced him, tears still streaming down their cheeks as well. All three of them sat together for quite some time as Nero let all his emotions flow out of him. Once it was all done, he began to stand up to his feet.
"We should go…" Nero said as Kyrie and Coco stood up with him. "If what Agnus said is true… we're in even deeper shit than I thought…"
"They're planning something with Dante. We… we have to find a way to warn him!" Coco stated.
"But… what about…?" Kyrie turned back towards the preserved and dissected body of the Dark Knight that still laid vertically on its cross-table.
"We'll… come back for him." Nero said. "Once this is done… we'll tell Dante and the rest of Fairy Tail. Maybe they'll… give him a proper burial… or something. Dante was the one who actually knew him… so he should get the final say on what happens."
"Yeah… that's probably for the best." Kyrie agreed.
With nothing else needing to be said, the trio prepared to exit the laboratory. Nero, however, glanced at his arm for a moment as he felt the new weapon that was practically a part of him now.
'Masayoshi?' He thought to himself in surprise. 'Is that your name? Huh?' Whatever was happening, Nero could feel that this sword was now his. It resonated with him, it was a part of him now; and unbeknownst to him, it was his in the same way Rebellion was now Dante's, or Yamato now Vergil's.
Fiore – Lobster Plantation
Meanwhile, the group of Gildarts, Morrison, and Laki had traveled across the ruined plantation to what appeared to be a monastery built into a nearby mountain and were already at the door.
"This must be the Zentopian church for the plantation." Laki assumed. "I doubt anybody would still be inside after the plantation's ruin."
Morrison gripped the handle of the door, only for a sudden shock to strike his hand, causing him to stumble back, much to his surprise. "Ugh… what was that?"
Gildarts lightly tapped the door with his fist, only to see a barrier briefly form around it before vanishing. "This place has been sealed off with magic."
"Which means that there's something inside that we're not meant to see." Laki said with narrowed eyes.
"Then maybe we should take a peek." Gildarts directed his Crush Magic on the barrier, causing it to break apart on a molecular level and allowing them entrance as the door slowly slid open. "After you." He gestured toward the pair.
"Show off." Morrison joked slightly as they entered the monastery.
So far, the entire thing appeared to be empty. If there was ever anything built on the inside, it has likely rotted away and been burnt down by now. It honestly looked more like a regular cave with just support beams than anything else.
"So, any idea what we're supposed to be looking for in here?" Gildarts asked as they ventured further inside.
"I get the feeling we'll know when we see it." Laki commented.
However, Morison glanced upward and saw what appeared to be a shimmer of light. This alerted him to immediate danger as he pushed Laki out of the way. "Look out!"
Right where she stood, a Bianco Angelo had shot down from the ceiling, impaling the ground where Laki once stood with its lance. Gildarts immediately responded with a powerful punch that completely obliterated the Bianco Angelo on contact.
Less than a second later, an entire swarm of Bianco Angelos emerged from the shadows, along with more than a few Alto Angelos in command. It didn't take long for the group to become surrounded.
"These must be those Angelo soldiers we've heard about!" Laki stated.
"Looks like the Order of the Sword's got something here that they don't want other people to see." Morrison said as he pulled out a shotgun.
Gildarts chuckled. "I've heard how these guys are basically empty suits of armor, powered by demon ghosts or something. Either way, they're not really alive." He smirked daringly. "Which means, I don't have to hold back against them."
Fortuna
Sanctus appeared to sit alone at a council table, sitting upon the most well-decorated chair, almost like a throne as he waited. He wouldn't have to wait much longer as two individuals entered the council chambers.
"Your Holiness." Credo gave a humble bow as Mary Hughes was by his side as well.
"Did… Did you need something from us?" Mary asked.
"Yes." Sanctus began. "I have recently discovered that Nero has become possessed by a demon."
"What?!" Credo questioned as even Mary was taken off guard. "How did this happen?! And when?!"
"I cannot say for certain, but young Nero now possesses extraordinary powers." Sanctus answered. "And the demon inside him, is making him act in ways that one could consider… heinous."
'He's possessed?' Mary thought. 'That would explain that freaky arm of his.'
"And what's worse, the demon has also deceived Kyrie and young Coco." Sanctus continued. "They believe themselves to be acting of their own will, but they are mere puppets for the demon."
"Are you certain of this?!" Credo questioned, the very mention of his sister being under such circumstances immediately putting him on guard.
"Absolutely." Sanctus nodded before turning toward Mary, who's expression still carried a great deal of shock at the reveal. "Mary?"
"Y-yes, you're Holiness?"
"Come here, my child." Sanctus requested.
Slowly, Mary walked toward his side and kneeled toward him. Sanctus slowly reached out with his hand to caress her cheek. "You have grown strong, my dear. You were but a weak and frightened child when we found you, and now you have grown into a capable warrior. I know you have a connection with Kyrie, it is my hope that connection will help to save her from the demon's thrall."
"Yes… Yes! I'll save her!" Mary stood up immediately, her face becoming solid and determined. "No matter what! I'll save Kyrie, as well as Coco and even Nero!"
"I know you will, both of you." Sanctus told her and Credo. "Please bring Nero here so that we may exorcise him."
"If that is your wish." Credo bowed. "Mary, let's go."
"Right." She nodded as she followed him out of the chamber. Not long after they left, Midnight and Agnus both suddenly appeared by his side.
"You certainly have a way with words, your Holiness." Midnight smirked, something Sanctus mimicked himself.
"Agnus, you are certain Nero's power has awakened?"
"I have seen it with my own eyes." Agnus confirmed. "He even awakened the duplicate of Yamato! He could serve well for the S-S-S-Savior after all!"
"And what of Dante?" Midnight asked. "We will soon have the opportunity to capture him."
"Continue as planned for Dante." Sanctus replied. "With so much at stake, it wouldn't hurt to have a backup plan."
"Your Holiness, there is one more thing you must know." Agnus confirmed. "Kyrie's magic power… it is more than simple healing. I believe… she wields… the Arc of Seraph."
That took Sanctus and even Midnight by surprise. "The Arc of Seraph? One of the Lost Magics?" The leader of the Neo Oracion Seis questioned.
"One of the first magics ever wielded by mankind." Agnus continued. "Said to be the magic of the angels, thought lost to the ages. But… somehow… she wields it. Incredible, is it not?"
"How very fortunate." Sanctus chuckled. "This will serve us well. Agnus, we have located the final tomb. It lies underneath Kardia Cathedral in Magnolia. I want you to go there and see to it the seal is broken. The Neo Oracion Seis should be on their way to killing the last of them."
"As you wish, your Holiness." Agnus bowed.
"As for you, my dear Brain II." Sanctus looked towards his ally with a sinister gleam in his eye. "I have a very special task for you."
Done.
So, quite a bit has happened already. Lahar has reunited with Mest/Doranbolt, half of the Fairy Tail teams have already encountered enemy forces (Natsu and Dante's team are facing Gilver, with Byro observing; Trish, Wendy, and Bickslow are fighting Erigor; Gajeel, Lady, and Juvia are up against Guttman), meanwhile Happy, Carla, and Lily have been joined by Samuel who wishes to help them.
I also meant to say this earlier, but in the canon DMC4 game, there were three Hellgates, here I put in two more for a total of five. We still got the same bosses from the original game with two new ones, and two new Devil Arms. Many of you have been asking as to who is meant to wield them, all I have to say is that you will see as the arc continues.
But now… we finally have an answer as to how Nero came to be, as well as the Order of the Sword's darkest secret. They have Sparda's corpse! They have been trying to recreate Yamato while also creating an 'heir' to Sparda that can handle the power. Nero is an artificially grown being made from Sparda's own genetic material and a nun who served in the Order (think something along the lines of Terry McGinnis from "Batman Beyond" in the DCAU), which makes Nero a younger half-brother to Dante and Vergil.
The Order tried to make their own 'Son of Sparda' because they had no idea Sparda had any children of his own at the time.
Now Nero has his own version of Yamato, which is called 'Masayoshi'. The word is Japanese for justice, which serves as something in-between rebellion and harmony (which is 'Yamato' in Japanese). Sort of like Nero acting as a 'middle point' between the stark contrasts of Dante and Vergil: he carries the positive aspects of both of them. I hope you see what I did there.
We even know what type of magic Kyrie is using. It is an original Lost Magic of mine called the Arc of Seraph (something she honestly doesn't quite know herself), and it is something truly special. You'll learn more about it as the story progresses.
Now Sanctus has sent Credo and Mary Hughes to intercept Nero's group, and you can expect things to get very intense and emotional there.
Plenty of emotions and surprises are in store for our heroes as this arc continues. Thank you all for your patience and I look forward to bringing the next one to life. Until then, stay safe and stay sane out there. Love you guys.
