Disclaimer: The following is a fan-based parody. God of War is owned by Sony Entertainment and David Jaffe. Fairy Tail is owned by Funimation and… zzzz… zzz… zzz… hchk! – and Hiro Mashina. Please support the official release. Oh god, why is there so much natural light?!
Chapter 3: Nordic Fury
As the wizards of Fairy Tail braced themselves for a life-and-death battle, they all froze when Master Makarov stepped ahead of them all. He had discarded his cloak in the same motion, leaving him in only his shorts and the many bandages around his torso. The sudden action from the short man even gave Atreus pause.
And then to his godling and fae's further astonishment, Makarov produced a vivid golden glow and grew in size and muscle mass. In just a few seconds, Makarov was standing with trees hardly coming to his knees with a body rippling with muscle and an overbearing presence.
'Is - Is he a Giant?' Atreus idly thought but put his curiosity in the back of his head.
"GET TO THE SHIP!" Bellowed Makarov, his voice thundering across the entire island.
"Okay, tiny man is big now," Mimir announced with wide eyes. "H-He's big now. That's a first from a human."
The whole island shook as Makarov and Acnologia crashed against each other. Makarov had his arms around the dragon's long neck but despite his increased size the master of Fairy Tail could not make Acnologia budge at all. It took all the strength his form granted him to keep the dragon in place.
A horrid thought shot through Makarov that Acnologia was more than likely playing with him. His surrogate children stared at the titanic clash with wide eyes.
"What is he doing!?" Gray exclaimed. "He can't fight that thing. The master hasn't even fully recovered."
"Master, please don't play the hero," Erza cried. "The guild needs you to stay alive."
Despite the distance between them, Makarov heard his guild's protests as he bellowed out a reply. "GET OUT OF HERE!"
That only made the mages protest more to join the fight with Makarov. Their voices soon melded over each other into a pot of incoherent vows to stay and fight. The only ones who stayed silent were Atreus and Mimir. Both of them looked in surprise at how the people once so scared were willing to die in battle alongside their aged master.
What kind of man was Makarov to inspire such loyalty?
"A man in a million," Mimir murmured the answer to the unspoken question.
Atreus clenched his jaw in frustration. A man like Makarov didn't deserve to die like this. His hands tightened around his bow. Within the back of his mind, the sound of drums grew louder.
Yet the response the guild awaited was not what they expected as Makarov turned around to face them with gritted teeth. "WILL YOU BRATS SHUT UP AND HONOR YOUR MASTER'S FINAL WISH!? GET OUT OF HERE NOW!"
His words seem to dampen their fighting spirits. They were too in shock at the declaration of the man they looked up to as their spiritual leader and surrogate grandfather stated his intentions in giving his life. Natsu, the most stubborn of Fairy Tail, still had a fiery temper to join the fight.
"I am a Dragon Slayer," Natsu cried. "This is what I was born to do-"
Natsu was cut off when Laxus grabbed the salmon-haired teen by his scarf and dragged him away. The son of Igneel was about to protest, but the words were cut off when he noticed the trail of tears from the bulky blonde. Laxus' departure was the pebble that started the avalanche. Erza cringed in hesitation before following Laxus and was then followed slowly by the rest of the guild. Even as they ran to the docks, their faces were downcast trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill out. Atreus followed but only autonomously. It didn't stop the weight on his heart.
Soon, Makarov was left alone with the dragon and his thoughts. 'My dear children. I know it may be hard to believe, but this is for the best. I will gladly give my life for your future. I only ask this of you. You must grow and learn and LIVE!'
Willing to give his life, Makarov was fighting with everything he had and beyond. He ignored the loud ache in his bandaged wounds and simply pushed through. The old master was putting all his body and soul into keeping the dragon away from his youngsters.
"YOU FOUL CREATURE!"
Putting one-twenty percent of his power allowed Makarov to drag Acnologia's body into the cliffside. The massive rock formation crumbled into dust upon impact with the dragon's body. Yet not even a scale on the black beast's body was chipped. Makarov pushing himself beyond his limits was doing nothing to the dragon of the apocalypse. He might as well be a heavy breeze to him, but the old man was persistent in continuing his suicidal fight.
But with his supposed children running towards the dock, there was a change. Suddenly, Natsu, who had been dragged the entire way, broke free of Laxus' grip and ran towards the clashing titans. His seemingly suicidal charge made his comrades gasp at his audacity.
"Natsu, get back here!" Erza cried out in indignation and disbelief.
"I'm not leaving Gramps!" Natsu growled, unceasing in his sprint.
"We can't fight that thing," Gildarts argued. "That's why Makarov's fighting him. He's giving us time to get away with our lives."
"FUCK THAT!" Natsu roared, turning around to face everyone. "I am not going to abandon Gramps. How many times has he stuck out for us when we messed up?! And we're just gonna leave him to die!? After all he's done for us, I will not leave him."
Natsu paused in his rant to flash a sharp grin. "Besides… when have we ever listened to the master's orders?"
His words had a slow effect on the rest of the Fairy Tail mages. Eyes went from Natsu to Laxus looking to him for guidance. Laxus was locked in place clenching his fists till his shoulders slackened in defeat.
"Fuck," Laxus cursed. "When you put it like that Natsu…"
"We're doing this?" Atreus asked. "Are we actually doing this? Going back there to fight a dragon?"
"Well, here's lesson one, newbie," Laxus said, raising a fist sparking with lightning. "Fairy Tail doesn't leave its own behind."
"Alright," Atreus said with a sigh. "If we're going in for a fight, then it's better if you are all healed up. I might have something to give us an edge."
Atreus fingered at his quiver to count the arrows he had left. He cringed when the number came up to three, including the one he withdrew. A rune glowed on his yew bow, but he did not nock the arrow. The mystic of the power flowed through Atreus' body and focused on the arrowhead, making it glow a soft blue. The godling took some steady breaths to calm the onset of nerves.
This was probably not going to work considering the kind of rune he was trying to use.
"Hope this works," Atreus said, before firmly planting the arrow into the ground. "Ratatoskr!"
Atreus felt the spell flow from the arrow and into the ground, but nothing happened at first. Before doubts could be made, the ground groaned and rumbled at their feet. Glowing blue cracks formed where the arrowhead was planted as if something was trying to pierce through.
Within a space beyond normal comprehension where the Yggdrasil lay, a single branch grew into the void of Ginnungagap guided by Atreus' summon. It grew more and more into the void. None noticed the phenomenon except for a very confused god squirrel watching the phenomenon. Why would the Yggdrasil suddenly grow a branch so far into the void for a simple summoning?
It continued to grow until it finally found its destination. Invisible to most types of sight, but the will of the Yggdrasil was beyond such things. Once its branch found its target, it simply ensnared this alien space to make its own and then hooked onto it as the branch pierced through.
Atreus and Fairy Tail jumped back as an ivory branch sprouted out from the ground. With it came a spectral blue squirrel that dropped a mighty heaping of Healthstones and Ragestones.
Atreus smiled brightly. "It worked."
The spectral squirrel, Bitter, was not of sound mind. "Where the fuck am I?!"
The Fairy Tail wizards stood in shocked silence. They couldn't even muster the questions about the absurdity that Atreus' spell had brought by summoning a pale root from the ground that somehow brought a spectral squirrel. But one part of their minds they all agreed on one thing; Atreus was going to fit right in their guild. Their eyes went to the stones that the spectral squirrel and the ones that Atreus seemed to have hoped to have come.
"Quickly, stomp on a green one to heal you," Atreus explained. "The orange ones will make you stronger."
Natsu was the first to go without hesitation. His feet stomped on both a Healthstone and a Ragestone. His eyes widened feeling his remaining wounds fade away and the sudden power flowing through his body. He took a moment to look at himself before flashing a toothy grin to Atreus.
"Now I got a fire in my belly," Natsu announced.
Everyone soon followed Natsu's example, and they were off to Makarov's assistance. However, the ivory branch of the Yggdrasil remained, rooted not only to the island but all of Earthrealm itself on a metaphysical level. There was now a connection while not nearly as strong as the Nine Realms, Earthland was a part of the World Tree. None of them knew of the ramifications of Atreus' runic summon meant for the future of Earthland.
"I don't care why you are here," Makarov bellowed. "But I will not let you hurt my children!"
Acnologia chose that moment to decide he had enough playing games. In an instant, Makarov's strength was thwarted as the beast easily rose till it was almost bipedal. Tenrou Island shook as Makarov's gigantic body was laid down with Acnologia pinning him down with one hand. The dragon's sharp digits started to dig deep into Makarov's chest, causing five rivers of blood to flow from the new wounds. Makarov cried in agony as the claws pierced deeper.
But to Acnologia's confusion, those cries of pain soon turned to laughter. Instead of a whimper, Makarov's face split into a smug grin. Acnologia may have triumphed over him, but ultimately Makarov had won. He will die, but his children will continue to live on. To this old man, that was a victory worth dying for.
'This is what a father does for his family,' Makarov thought, easing his mind as he accepted his fate without protest. 'I have no regrets. I can die a happy man.'
As Makarov allowed himself to sink in blissful, he was suddenly roused by the fast-paced crunch of dirt coming closer. The master of Fairy Tail snapped his eyes open. He knew the sound of those sandals hitting the dirt.
'NATSU?!'
To his disbelief, there was the sight of the most troublesome hothead of Fairy Tail. Without fear, Natsu sprinted towards the black dragon, whose attention was directed at the Dragon Slayer. The beast whipped his tail to smash Natsu, but he rolled out of the way and jumped onto the limb. Another jump allowed Natsu to get high enough to grip Acnologia's forearm with his fingers gaining leverage between his scales.
"We're getting Gramps back, ya hear me!?" Natsu cried.
Acnologia growled lowly in response and shook off the gnat on his arm, sending both Natsu and Makarov crashing into a plateau. The impact knocked Makarov out of his giant form, bringing him back to his original size.
On the other hand, Natsu was still clinging to Acnologia's arm.
His dazed eyes looked up as a shadow overtook him and saw the back of his grandson. A lock of red hair at the edge of his vision soon revealed Erza Scarlet as well standing at Laxus' side. It didn't take long for him to realize all of his surrogate children came back for him.
"I was down with the plan to evacuate," Laxus said casually. "There are a lot of people that'll let an old guy like you take the fall."
Laxus turned around to flash his grandfather a smile. "But not your guild."
Erza signaled everyone on the full offensive with an exclamation, and the air stung from potent magics unleashed all at once with abandon to control. Makarov watched with bated breath as the wizards he witnessed grow up from the little brats that came through his door now fighting more than ever for his own sake.
Rivers of tears streaked down Makarov's face as he whimpered. "You damn kids…"
In the midst of it all was Atreus weaving around the sides to avoid the onslaught of magic. No matter how jagged the terrain, Atreus traversed it with graceful ease. He pivoted from nook and wall as he prepared an arrow on his bow.
"Mimir, where do I shoot?" Atreus asked.
"Try the eyes," Mimir answered. "It's the only thing that could be squishy when it comes to a dragon. Scales are way too hard."
"Father managed to hurt it," Atreus replied.
"Yeah, but that was brute strength, and this dragon is a lot bigger and meaner than even the likes of Fafnir," Mimir said.
Atreus drew back his bowstring and took a moment to aim his shot. The bowstring glowed a vivid yellow before the godling let the arrow fly like a bolt of lightning. It made its mark on the dragon's left eye, but it made it reel slightly. The electricity only fizzled across the scales and the organ was not even damaged at all.
The only effect was the black dragon's eyes turned to Atreus.
"Oh no," Atreus chirped, going a little pale.
"Well shit," Mimir cursed.
His tail lashed out at Atreus, tearing up chunks of the earth as it went. Atreus was forced to jump into the air to avoid getting hit but the rocks pelted at his body. He tumbled across the ground before recovering into a roll. An arrow was nocked on the bow in the same motion he got on his feet.
'If lightning won't work, then at least I can blind him with light,' Atreus thought as the bowstring glowed blue in the light of Alfheim.
It was his last arrow, so Atreus had to make this one count. A rune glowed on the bow by Atreus' will and imbued the arrow with the runic power. When it was fired, the arrow exploded in midair into a spectral blue murder of crows. Atreus can relay basic instruction but it was enough. The crows cawed as they dove upon Acnologia's face with precise aim at his eyes. For once, the dragon winced as his eyes were assailed by bright flashes from the crows exploding in light as they collided against his body. A window of opportunity was revealed to the Fairy Tail wizards with the dragon distracted.
"I'm out!" Atreus called out to his new guildmates.
To his surprise, Erza responded to his callout. Her free hand glowed momentarily before dissipating to reveal a white quiver filled with arrows.
"Here!" Erza cried before throwing the full quiver to Atreus.
Atreus smiled brightly as he caught the quiver. "Thank you!"
He loaded the newly acquired arrows into his quiver. Atreus remembered how Erza's arrows were significantly longer than the ones he was used to firing, but he would manage. What's a small discomfort in a fight for their lives?
The air was electrified as Laxus roared with power. His ever-rising magical energy caused the ground around him to shake and bolts of yellow lightning course around his frame.
"Alright you guys," Laxus bellowed. "Let's hit this overgrown lizard with everything we got! If you all let loose on him and I blast him with a million volts of lightning, it'll teach this punk to never mess with us again."
That sounded as good of a plan as they could make to Atreus. But there was a glaring problem he took notice of immediately. Natsu was still clinging to the dragon's arm.
"Natsu needs to get out of the way," Atreus warned.
Laxus acknowledged Atreus as he called to Natsu. "You better get out of the way Natsu 'cause here it comes!"
"Hold on just a second!" Natsu exclaimed.
"No, do it now," Erza interjected.
Atreus blinked in bewilderment at the redhead. She didn't just offer Natsu up to the slaughter, did she? Was this a sacrifice or did Erza have that much trust in Natsu surviving a concentrated blast? Natsu was less than pleased.
"I haven't moved yet!" Natsu cried.
Atreus tried to support Natsu. "Uh, I don't think Natsu can-"
But it was too late as Laxus roared unleashing a gigantic blast of yellow lightning, forcing Atreus to shield his eyes from the brightness. His ears picked up the chants from the other wizards as they put their all upon the dragon. Atreus forced his eyes in a squint if only to check on Natsu. Instead, he saw Happy with white wings flying faster than any falcon and managed to grab Natsu from the blast.
Idly enough, Atreus noticed that Gildarts had not participated with any magic of his own and kept a grim look.
Atreus couldn't help but laugh in amazement. The magic of this land proved to him yet again how incredible it was. He saw a talking cat fly!
What other magics did this world have?
All that magical energy hit Acnologia with the sound of a thousand storms. The black dragon was engulfed in the blast but held his ground. Even it proved naught as no scratch appeared on the dragon's body.
Yet they still held out. That may have been a blast a pure magical might, but what could the magic of Dragon Slayers accomplish upon Acnologia, a dragon himself?
"Still smiling, huh?" Laxus said, still keeping up the pressure. "Hey, let's see what you Dragon Slayers can do! You hear me Natsu!"
Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel soared from the skies, carried by their respective Exceed partners to give them flight. They took a deep breath and unleashed roars not unlike dragons themselves with Natsu the loudest among them. Fire, whipping winds, and shredding iron dust mixed and blasted down upon Acnologia. This time, they managed to push Acnologia and sent him crashing into a cliff. The dragon was then buried underneath the rubble. The waves of the ocean were upturned and it caused the island to be rained by seawater.
"Impressive," Mimir complimented. "That ought to the something to that fucker."
"It had to have worked," Levy said, holding a hand to her chest.
"Of course not."
All eyes looked to Gildarts with the still grim face. His body shook from resisting his instinct to run as far away, and his eyes were locked on the giant pile of rubble.
"He's even using half as much power as he did against me," Gildarts revealed. "He's playing with us."
'Not even half!?' Atreus thought.
Gildarts specifically said that it was the power the dragon used against him, implying it wasn't half of his full might. Just how strong was Acnologia?
'I could use your help, Father,' Atreus thought, his knuckles going white on his bow.
They were truly doomed, weren't they? Not when Atreus was so useless even his arrows couldn't make a scratch on the dragon's eyes. He wasn't super strong or super tough like his father. Despite being a god (a very young god), he was so weak.
He's so weak he can't even protect these people when they need him!
The drums grew louder and the fires burned brighter.
Atreus' dark thoughts were interrupted when the rubble and seawater exploded. A great shadow cast over them, and Atreus squinted his eyes to see the looming form of Acnologia high in the sky. Not a scratch was on his form. For most, it meant the fight was completely lost.
"We tried so hard," Wendy whimpered, and collapsed to her knees. "We gave it everything we had. Our whole guild and three Dragon Slayers and it still wasn't enough!"
Above, Acnologia reared his head back. To most of them, it was an unimportant gesture. But it was the telltale sign of a breath attack on Atreus and the Dragon Slayers. Instead of the lightning that he was used to, there was a blue glow from Acnologia's maw and the air swirling into his maw.
"Breath attack!" Gajeel warned.
"Is it trying to blow up the whole island?!" Cana exclaimed.
"Is this it?" Lucy sobbed. "Are we going to die?"
Atreus wasn't sure if he was magically sensitive, but he felt his skin tingle in whatever power the dragon was about to unleash. He needed to try something. Anything!
A different blue glow answered his turmoil. Atreus' eyes went to the Leviathan axe with its runes glowing a soft blue and cooling breeze surrounding the godling. Tentatively, Atreus put away his bow and took the axe in hand. He'd seen his father throw it across the Lake of Nine and cut through just about anything, even dragon scales.
Maybe this could work.
'I need higher ground though,' Atreus thought, jumping into action to find a better vantage point.
"We need defense magic users now!" Erza ordered.
"My runes need more time!" Freed responded.
"Script magic has plenty of defensive options," Levy supplied. "But I'm going to need more power."
"Quick, everyone needs to hold hands so we can give her the needed power," Lisanna exclaimed.
"There's not enough time!" Gajeel screamed.
Acnologia was the crescendo of his charge and was about to unleash his breath attack. Yet a glint in the air broke through the dread. Something was soaring through the air, spinning like a buzz saw with a mind of its own. Eventually, it reached the dragon's neck, and the world held its breath.
There was a distant squelch of flesh and the cry of a dragon. A cry of pain to be exact. All of Fairy Tail looked in disbelief at the small line across the dragon's neck with the scales cleanly cut through and the flesh underneath sliced through to draw blood. The only misfortunate was that the wound wasn't fatal; not enough to leave a scar. But it was wound still with the dragon putting a hand over it to stem the bleeding.
'And if it bleeds,' Gajeel thought with a wicked smile. 'We can kill it!'
They were questions of 'how' and 'what' made Acnologia bleed. They tracked the glint of light that seemed to hurt it and saw it turning back towards the island. Their eyes widened further when it slowed revealing a familiar axe returning to Atreus' hand, who had climbed halfway up the great tree of Tenrou Island.
"Atreus!?" Exclaimed Wendy.
"The new guy!?" The rest of Fairy Tail exclaimed in shock.
'How did he get up there so quickly!?' Makarov thought in shock.
(God of War Ragnarök - Atreus' Theme)
"ACNOLOGIA!" Atreus bellowed, unintentionally putting his Giant tones into his voice. "MY NAME IS ATREUS. LAST OF THE JOTNAR. AS I BREATHE, YOU WILL NOT KILL ANYONE ON THIS ISLAND!"
Unknown to Atreus, his godly side spiked with every word he spoke. His divinity was small like his youth, but they still affected the world metaphysically. It was a soft rumble through the fabric of reality. No ordinary mortal or Atreus could feel it. Everyone except Acnologia, who regarded Atreus with a deadly stare from his blank eyes.
"I have to give it to him," Gildarts said. "Kid's got balls."
"He deserves them," Laxus said. "He's the only one out of all of us that put a wound on him."
"What's the plan now?" Natsu said with new vigor.
Laxus frowned in thought before speaking. "Listen up! Atreus has the only thing to make this thing bleed. We might not be able to put a scratch, but we can be a good enough distraction for the kid to make an opening for another cut, no matter how many times. Everything that bleeds dies eventually, and it ain't gonna be us!"
The rest of Fairy Tail cheered with Laxus' plan, fueled by a newly ignited hope. A cut was made on the seemingly beast. They have to make sure it will be the first of many.
They might actually win this.
Meanwhile, Atreus and Acnologia were in a staredown, if one could call it that. While Atreus was putting on a brave front, he was jitter of nerves on the inside. He knew wholeheartedly of the ways his father could describe how foolish this endeavor was.
"Are you sure this plan is going to work, brother?" Mimir said nervously.
"Not really," Atreus replied honestly,
"Oh good, glad we're on the same page," Mimir said almost chipper.
Acnologia stared at Atreus for a moment longer. With the eye contact, Atreus noticed something else about this monster. Underneath all that brutality, there was an intelligence in that mind. More than he had seen from Fafnir and only a hint of it from Otr.
What was this dragon?
However, Atreus had to cut his inner thoughts short when Acnologia crossed the distance between them with a single beat of his wings. Immediately, Atreus withdrew his bow and loaded two arrows on the bowstring. One of the runes on the yew glowed as he pulled the string glowing in the light of Alfheim. Atreus didn't fire yet not until Acnologia was the perfect distance.
The dragon's hand was starting to stretch out, either to try and claw or grab him. Seventy meters became fifty. At thirty meters, Atreus could see the string of saliva between his sharp teeth. When only twenty-five meters were between them, Atreus released the arrows and intoned.
"Fálki lið!"
The arrows exploded into a flock of falcons, the fastest-living avians on Earth. They dove onto Acnologia's head and were too fast and close for the dragon to dodge out of the way as they exploded into bright light. It didn't matter if the dragon had better eyesight; a bright flash right in Acnologia's vision was going to disorient him. The dragon veered to the side, barely in control of his flight and missing the tree.
The godling had more to his plan. As his body passed by Atreus, the godling took his axe and leaped onto Acnologia as he passed by with a battle cry. He swung down the axe as hard as Atreus, piercing through dragon scale and digging into flesh. Atreus winced in pain as his ears were assaulted by Acnologia's roars of pain. He retook flight, causing the winds to pelt Atreus with threatening force to fling him off. He stayed in place by planting his feet forward and anchoring the axe deeper.
"We're on top of the dragon," Mimir said. "Now what?"
"I thought I could improvise if I got this faAAAUH!" Atreus said before going into a scream as Acnologia rolled his entire body.
It took all of Atreus' concentration to hold onto the Leviathan axe so he wasn't sent flying off the dragon's back. His vision swam as Acnologia picked up speed, and suddenly land was only sky when he rose to the clouds and went into a dive. Atreus clenched his teeth so hard he swore they would have shattered.
"I'm… not… letting go!" Atreus groaned through his teeth.
His arms were screaming at him to let go, but he pushed through the pain. As Acnologia crashed into the earth and rolled into the ground, Atreus leaped in the opposite direction of his rotation. Atreus was pushed to the limit constantly anchoring the axe into the dragon's back and out fast enough to avoid being squished.
But Atreus knew he couldn't keep this up forever. He didn't risk getting on top of the dragon only to struggle to keep on. What he had to do was give lethal damage.
He may not possess the strength of a god yet, but Atreus knows how to play to the strengths he has. The godling can still cut through the dragon's scales, but he won't be doing any fatal damage if he just keeps attacking the body. Atreus lacked endurance and didn't want to risk the dragon getting more aggressive.
His blue eyes gazed up at Acnologia's body till they landed on his head. It was a path of victory despite how desperate the idea was.
He had to go for the head and keep chopping through the skull.
Atreus to make another leap, but Acnologia had resorted to crashing into a plateau to shake him off. His blue eyes widened at the incoming protrusion of rock. He had lived through his body being bashed through stone, but Atreus wasn't sure he would stay conscious if that hit.
Suddenly, the air grew way too hot. Atreus had to shut his eyes when blazing red fire soared over his head. It spiraled through the air and hit Acnologia's left wing. Despite the power in those flames, it was enough to burn the dragon. However, the force from the impact was enough to budge the wing, causing Acnologia to lose control of his flight. Acnologia twisted through the air, missing the plateau, and instead, crashed landing on Tenrou's shore.
The sands of the shore cushioned the impact, allowing Atreus to receive less of a shake and keep on the dragon's back. Acnologia was sprawled on his belly, slightly disoriented from the unexpected interference. Atreus looked to the sky to see his savior Natsu flying through the air with Happy's assistance.
"C'mon, this is your chance," Natsu cried. "He ain't gonna stay down."
True to his words, Acnologia was already rising to his feet. His swift recovery meant that Atreus couldn't reach the head for the finishing blow. He needed a way to keep Acnologia down. Atreus stared at the axe.
The frost powers of the Leviathan axe can freeze Acnologia in place. But he had just figured out how to recall the axe to the hand. If he had more time, maybe he could start figuring out how to use the axe's ice magic. It's only wishful thinking.
'I have to try anyway,' Atreus thought, focusing his mind like before. 'It's now or never.'
He called upon the connection between him and the axe. Atreus made a mental play of making invisible hands holding the link and pulling with all he had. The godling thought of doing it in the same roundabout way he used the Runic Summons. His mind's eye supplied him an image to focus on. It was the memories of the many times Atreus witnessed his father using the powers of ice from the sweeping arcs to the giant slams.
With the memory replaying in his mind and the link tugged on, the axe responded to his intentions. Atreus was awarded with a sharp chill around his hands and saw the axehead wreathed in a cold mist straight from the heart of Helheim. The power was at his command and Atreus expelled it by pointing the axehead. From the edge, a beam of unyielding cold blasted onto Acnologia's left arm.
For once, the dragon stilled at the unfamiliar cold that assaulted his limb, and it was enough distraction for his limb to be trapped in a miniature glacier. He tried to break free, but it proved more of a struggle than anticipated. The ice was mystical, so cold and thick even under the morning's daylight.
The godling didn't know how long the ice would hold and didn't care. Atreus wasted no time sprinting up the dragon's body, skipping across his neck, and landing on the dragon's head. He raised the Leviathan axe above his head and slammed down. To his dismay, it only left a shallow cut, not even reaching the bone. The scales along the skull were far harder to break through than the rest of the body.
(End ost)
'No!' Atreus cried internally.
"Hit it harder!" Mimir called.
Atreus roared as he brought down the axe again. His aim was off in his frustration, and he missed the cut he had already made. Instead of piercing through the scale, the axe's edge was hit at an angle that it slid off. The godling almost lost his balance as he stumbled.
'I'm weak!' Atreus lamented. 'I'm too weak!'
Atreus gave one last swing of the axe, more so out of frustration than a considerable try. It went through the first cut he made, but his strength failed to reach the bone of the skull. His knees buckled as his resolve faltered and the glow of the axe dimmed.
What met Atreus' failure was deep laughter, shocking the godling to his core. The laugh was so baritone it shook his bones and made a close second to the voice of the World Serpent. This mocking laughter came from below Atreus' feet from the dragon himself.
"Is that all?" Acnologia - the dragon - spoke. "You'll need to try harder than that, little god."
Atreus found himself petrified in morbid shock, unable to form sentences. He knew that dragons like Fafnir were smart since they were once dwarves, but never had he heard one speak in the same tongue. But what most shocked Atreus is that the dragon knew what he was.
Mimir still had his wits. "Look out!"
It was too late when a massive hand swept Atreus in its grasp. His eyes were shut from the sudden constriction around his body. When his sight returned. Atreus was met with rows of teeth inches away ready to shred him into bits of meat. But Acnologia did not throw the half Jotnar into his maw and stared at him with blank white eyes.
The grip on his body tightened before Atreus could speak. He cried in pain feeling his ribs slowly being squeezed. The constriction only stopped before his ribs cracked, but it was hard for Atreus to breathe. The world blurred as Acnologia took flight until it shook violently.
"Atreus!"
Hearing his name, Atreus turned around and realized that Acnologia was looming over the Fairy Tail mages. They all stood in terror within his shadow, but some had worried glances towards Atreus.
The little breath in Atreus' chest was knocked out of him when Acnologia slammed and pinned him down to the ground. A claw pushed against Atreus' head, forcing him to look at the Fairy Tail guild.
"You care so much for them," Acnologia said, and Atreus could hear the sadistic glee in his voice, "Would it not be easier to turn them to ashes?"
"I-It talked!?" Lucy wailed.
"NO!" Atreus exclaimed, struggling against Acnologia's hold on him.
He wiggled an arm out, but the dragon didn't give him the chance to snap his fingers to call the axe. Acnologia had wisened up to Atreus' abilities and slammed him down again with greater force. A gasp escaped his mouth when he felt a rib break in his chest.
"LET THE KID GO!" Gajeel roared.
The young man had leaped to Acnologia's head and swung down an arm shaped into a black iron broadsword. He brought it down with all his might, but it failed to pierce Acnologia's scales, and the conjured sword shattered. Acnologia swiped his left hand at blinding speeds, catching Gajeel by the claws and sending him sprawling toward the group. Gajeel was laid down on the ground with massive claw wounds bleeding profusely on his chest and stomach.
"Gajeel!" Cried Levy, running over to him to tend to his wounds.
"Remember me!?"
From above came Natsu, crashing down on Acnologia's skull with a powerful fist wreathed in lightning and fire. Atreus could feel himself sweat from the pressure and heat, and Acnologia's head budged down if only a little. Eventually, Acnologia put in more effort and overpowered Natsu, sending him flying away. His tail whipped over his body and punted Natsu into the dirt. A long gash went down Natsu's chest to his abdomen where the sharp tip of the tail caught him. The brave Dragon Slayer tried to get up, but his body failed him.
"Leave them alone…" Atreus murmured his vision starting to grow dark at the edges.
The others made desperate charges, from Erza Requipping to Armadura Fairy armor to Gray and Juvia combining their magic. All these powerful magics proved naught to Acnologia. With a wide swipe of his arm, their magics were overpowered and the mages were swept away like a cloud of dust by a broom.
"Beg, resist," Acnologia said as he gathered power into his chest. "It will not change you will all die today."
"Leave…" Atreus mumbled, unable to finish his sentence as his vision darkened.
He thumped against the dragon's grip one last time before everything became muffled. Only Atreus' will kept him barely conscious, but his senses were drowned. He couldn't discern the frantic screams of his new guildmates meters away from him. Whether they were fighting or begging for their lives, Atreus didn't know.
And he probably never will.
But in the darkness of his depleting consciousness, something forced itself to be heard. It was not sensed physically, but heard by the very soul. Atreus is a god, and so a being a worship. And his heart so open to the world, heard his first prayer even when he was blind to the world.
"PLEASE, I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"
Atreus the god heard this desperate prayer. He needed to answer. It was not just because they were his friends or the promise he made to the dragon. His entire being had to act, but he was too weak. His lamentation at his powerlessness bled into bitterness. Bitterness turned to anger.
The anger turned to fury. Fury toward the dragon that dared to threaten the people he vowed to protect. A fury that searched for whatever well of power to draw upon to smite this lizard. At first, Atreus heard the howl of wolves, bears, and other beasts of nature answering the call. However, they were swept away by the roar of fire as hot as the fury building within Atreus' soul.
"Arise, young god. Arise, and burn the path towards your divine throne."
The spark has been ignited. The flames once slow in their burn now blazed into an almighty inferno. With it, the drums of war were thundering through Atreus' mind. A symbol momentarily blazed to life before his mind's eye. It was unfamiliar to Atreus, but he had seen back in Helheim on the mural of Tyr. It was there among the symbols of war.
The one that blazed in Atreus' mind was the one his father was familiar with.:
Ω
(A/N: L3 + R3)
(Cue "Rage of Sparta")
His eyes snapped open, but the blue they once shone now burned with a fury unprecedented in the boy. Weakness was replaced by an overflow of strength Atreus had never felt before. A mighty bellow erupted from Atreus' throat loud enough to make the ground shake. Most substantial of all was Atreus' 'second wind' came with his body wreathed in pitch black flames.
But with the rush of power came the loss of most of Atreus' critical thinking. No tactics were running through his mind, only a fury barely aimed at the dragon pinning him down. The force bearing Atreus down wasn't so suffocating as before; it felt possible to be free. Atreus desired to be free and so threw a fist at the hand.
"LEAVE THEM ALONE!" Atreus roared.
Unlike before, this fist wasn't thrown with the strength of a pre-adolescent raised in the woods. Not only was it enhanced in black flames, but his godly side came through at a more conscious command for the first time. When his small fist made contact, it was with an impact backed by the strength of a deity.
The air cracked from the blow, and Acnologia's scales bent under the god's knuckles. It was strong enough to make Acnologia let go of Atreus as he staggered back. Everyone in Fairy Tail stopped in their tracks as their eyes were glued on the newly risen Atreus. As if the 'newbie' couldn't surprise them any longer, they had just seen him successfully push back Acnologia with a punch.
Natsu had a more fearful look as he beheld those black flames. "That black fire. It's the same as that Zancrow guy."
Atreus did not mind the stares. Not when his body was filled with so much power and his head thundering with the howl of horns and drums from his very soul.
"Atreus!" Mimir cried, taken back by the boy's sudden transformation. "Are you alright?!"
"I'm…fine…" Atreus groaned.
The effort to speak took a lot of work at this point. It took his lingering will not to bend to this need to this fury that his body wanted to succumb to. He could feel himself slipping.
"Well, have you realized you're on fire!?" Mimir exclaimed.
Atreus' only response was a grunt. His arms were splayed at his sides with each of his fingers twitching like claws.
"...Atreus?" Wendy said, reaching a tentative hand out to the godling.
The son of Kratos looked back at his guildmates, and they all staggered back. They all had shocked expressions and even some held hints of fear before steeling themselves. They were all taken aback by how vicious Atreus looked. It was a face even Natsu at his angriest had yet to make.
But if a late god of Greece were to look at Atreus right now, they would shudder as they saw a reflection of the Ghost of Sparta.
"Get…back," Atreus warned. "Can't control…myself… anymore!"
Wendy looked hurt but stayed in her spot. The rumble of the ground brought Atreus back to the dragon, whose eyes were locked on him. His tail slammed on the earth, shaking the island. The dragon's lips were pulled back, almost like he was smiling.
Atreus moved as if possessed with the ferocity of a berserker. He jumped with the force of a dragon's wing beat, cratering the ground he once stood on. He leaped at a height greater than ever and was able to get above Acnologia's head before gravity took hold of him. But there was no thought to Atreus' method. Perhaps there wasn't any at all. There was only reckless abandon.
The awakened god came down on Acnologia like a black meteorite and slammed down both his arms as if they were hammers. The air warped on impact and Acnologia was sent crashing to the ground. Atreus landed back on the ground and swung his arms for a wide swing. The blow landed with a bang as the black flames around his fists expanded and exploded for a greater impact.
Atreus attacked again and again, not even paying attention to the destruction he wrought. The black flames bursting from each blow lingered, burning the earth around him. Each fist carried the strength of a being far greater than Atreus' stature, enough to make Acnologia get knocked side-to-side.
"He's… pushing Acnologia back?" Elfman gasped. "Holy shit, we might live through this."
Cana bleated. "Dude, shut it. You're gonna jinx us!"
Acnologia retaliated against the assault against him. He pulled back at the last second, making Atreus' next set of punches whiff and throw off his balance. The dragon didn't give him a chance to recover. He swiped at the young god with claws imbued with intense blue energy. It was a precise hit not only knocking Atreus off his feet like a kicked pebble; the tip of one of the claws expertly cut through Atreus' shirt and drew blood via a wound across his chest.
"Gah!" Atreus cried as he was sent flying through the air.
Someone was shouting his name, but he couldn't acknowledge them. His body crashed into a boulder, and the rock gave way before his body. The stone slowly charred black before the flames burned over his body. Yet Atreus rose from the rubble without effort. The divine flames fueled by his divinity pushed the young god's endurance beyond his limits. Bones refused to shatter or break where they should have, and the only pain Atreus felt was the bleeding slash across his chest.
Acnologia held the talons dripping with his blood and brought them to his lips His long tongue licked at the droplets tiny in comparison to his massive proportions. All the while Acnologia did not break eye contact with Atreus.
The Jotnar charged in again with wild ferocity. He raised his right arm to hammer it down, and the flames around the limb intensified to make the coming blow bigger. Acnologia responded as his skull pulsed out a dark blue light before contact. Atreus was thrown into an uncontrolled fall and flung out his hands. His hands held the side of Acnologia's head, his fingers clutching tightly in the vice grip of a bear.
Atreus started pounding his fist against the hide of the dragon. Each blow landed with the same thundering crack. Every strike from his fists sent Acnologia reeling to the side till he was facing away from the wizards he was threatening. Every fist hammering down cracked the scales and damaged the tissue underneath.
Acnologia roared in frustration and rammed his head into one of the many cliff faces lining Tenrou's shore to get the god off his face. Atreus found himself stuck in the rock and looked up to see giant talons coming down to skewer him. On instinct, his hands managed to catch the appendage before his chest was speared through. God and dragon were locked in a contest of strength, the former struggling as hard as he could against the physical strength behind the bulk of a massive beast. On the other hand, Acnologia was finding glee in testing Atreus' limits.
As the pressure continued to mount, the more the fury in Atreus grew. A howling bellow was forced out of his throat. It was a shock to Mimir and everyone to witness the young god unleash a breath of black flames. The divine fire engulfed Acnologia's limb to his face.
"Brother, you're breathing fire!" Exclaimed Mimir.
Atreus didn't even hear Mimir, his mind drowned by drums of war. Despite the power of the black flames, Acnologia only gave a low grunt. A piercing roar blew the flames away and his maw opened as a blue glow grew from his charging breath attack. The finger that threatened to pierce Atreus was now used to keep him in place.
One of Atreus' hands snapped out into the air in an open grasp. In a blur of twirling steel, the Leviathan axe returned to his hand - without clicking his fingers. Once in his grasp, the runes lit up in bright blue light in response to the newly surfaced power overflowing Atreus' body. With a battle cry, the Jotnar swung down the axe backed by his new strength. This time, the Leviathan cleared through the dragon scales like warm butter and cleaved through flesh and muscle.
The dragon made a high-pitched screech of pain and pulled his hand back on reflex. Atreus was free and dropped back to the ground. The runes of the Leviathan axe illuminated further, covering Atreus's left side in an unyielding cold mist in contrast to the smoldering black flames covering the Jotnar's body. Despite the fire licking at the handle, the legendary weapon did not burn under the divine flame's touch, perhaps due to an instinct of the owner.
For the moment, ice and black fire were at the will of Atreus, even as the young god was lost to the rage that continuously fueled the latter. But how did that matter to a dragon that weathered against everything else against him without care? Even if Atreus had his wits about him, he knew deep down he was the only one that could try to deny the monster.
But that didn't mean he had to try completely alone.
"Ile Arms, Vernier, Armor."
The unfamiliar chants from a familiar voice perked Atreus' attention, and the result momentarily dissipated the cloud around his mind. His body was engulfed in a foreign blue glow from a strange runic circle at his feet. He felt as if a single hop would send him to the clouds and his arms could smash through solid iron.
He looked behind him to see Wendy with her hands outstretched where they projected a circle aimed at him. Her eyes still had uncertain fear but clad in an iron resolve. Of all the wizards suffering from the hopelessness of the battle, she was the first to step up. Despite the terror of it all, it was the inspiration of Atreus standing valiantly against Acnologia that forced her to act.
If her actions can help Atreus achieve victory, as slim as it may be, it is worth it.
"Thank…you," Atreus grunted before his wits would disappear.
"Win!" Wendy exclaimed.
Mimir had more choice words as he looked at the rest of the wizards. "Thank you, little one. But what about the rest of you!? Are you really gonna stand there pissing yourselves? So what if it's useless? Fight for ya lives!"
A loud snarl drew Atreus' attention back to Acnologia, who rose onto his hind legs to make himself bigger. He unleashed a mighty roar that caused their ears to ring. Atreus, swiftly losing most of his sense, responded with his own roar as best he could. He jumped with a tremendous crack, turning the ground he once stood into dust as he clashed with the black dragon again.
"Dammit!" Gray cursed, clenching his fists as it produced a cold mist. "I'm not gonna be trash-talked by a talking head!"
Gray charged into the fray with reckless abandon. Erza was about to admonish the young man until the other wizards joined too. They were deathly afraid but were more determined to at least go out fighting to the bitter end. Mirajane, Evergreen, and Freed took the air summoning their most powerful magic. Even Gildarts reluctantly took to the fray with every step being a defiance against the fear of Acnologia. Erza felt her spirits rise to join in, but Makarov had stepped in front of her.
"Master?" Erza said, worried for Makarov due to his injuries.
"You brats thinking you can fight in place of this old man," Makarov said, his form covered in a shimmering gold aura, "but you forgot I am still the guild's master! And I have more tricks up my sleeve for this monster."
The air around him surged with his magical energy. Yellow bolts fired from his fingertips on Acnologia, even as they did nothing to distract the dragon. Flexes of his wrists and twitches of his fingers summoned golden magic circles around the dragon to barrage it with golden light.
Natsu would have joined if his injuries didn't keep him down. However, Happy held the Dragon Slayer by his back and lifted him in the air. The Exceed carried him to a waiting Wendy who had finished treating Gajeel.
"Don't try to overexert yourself," Wendy warned as the Iron Dragon Slayer picked himself up.
"I'm about to give this black lizard these iron knuckles," Gajeel growled, jumping back into the fray with his hands turning into solid iron.
Wendy started treating Natsu, waving her hand up and down the wound as it glowed green. The young girl stopped once the wound had faded to a noticeable scar. Natsu threw himself onto his feet but winced from phantom pain.
"Let's go!" Natsu cried, lighting his fist on fire.
He was caught off guard when Wendy ran forward.
"Carla, carry me!" Wendy called.
The white Exceed picked Wendy up at her back and flew into the air with the former's wings.
"Fly me closer to Atreus," Wendy ordered.
"Have your senses left you?" Carla exclaimed, feeling the shockwaves of the dragon and god clashing.
"Just do it!" Wendy shouted, leaving no room for argument. "I'm not letting him do this alone,"
Carla gawked at Wendy's sudden fierceness but relented to her wishes. She soared the distance between her and got reasonably close to the battle without getting in immediate danger. Along the way, Wendy cast more enchantments on her guild to give them an edge.
Wendy stared at the scene of Atreus fighting valiantly against the dragon. At first, Wendy was frightened by Atreus' sudden transformation and the black flames covering his body. Yet he was fighting for them despite the odds.
"Get me closer!" Wendy told Carla.
The Exceed bit her lip in trepidation but complied. She carefully maneuvered till they were a few meters away from the dragon. At that moment, Atreus jumped from the ground and punched Acnologia in the chin. Wendy saw her chance and puffed her cheeks.
With her breath came a shredding whirlwind hitting Acnologia in the neck. It didn't do anything to damage the dragon, but the sudden attack was enough to distract him momentarily. To the dragon, it was barely an inconvenience, but it was a different matter when facing a young god awakened to his powers. Without the dragon on the attack, Atreus jumped through the winds of Wendy's Sky Dragon Slayer magic and slammed the Leviathan axe onto the top of Acnologia's head.
A squelch of flesh signaled it had cut deep through scales to the bone, though not yet cutting through it. Acnologia unleashed a wail of agony more than any he had made before. He thrashed his head, preventing Atreus from getting a proper foothold or getting deeper. Instead, Atreus let out a roar as he forced the axe downward, cutting a bloody line down Acnologia's snout till he was between the dragon's eyes. The gash bled profusely, washing Atreus in dragon blood.
Combined with the pain and anger, Acnologia began whipping his entire body. The wizards reacted accordingly moving out of the way. Unfortunately, Wendy was the exception. The Sky Dragon Slayer was far too close to the rampaging dragon and was struck by his flailing arm. Bones broke on contact and she crashed into the ground with painful force. Carla took the brunt of the impact as Wendy landed on her back but the Exceed unfortunately lost consciousness.
"Carla!" Screamed Wendy.
Wendy tried to reach the prone Exceed, but a sharp pain from her leg caused her to tumble to the ground. Looking down, Wendy saw her right foot was purple around the ankle and broken at an odd angle. Any attempt to move it caused more pain. All she could do was reach and hold Carla to her chest.
"H-Help!" Wendy exclaimed.
At first, Atreus didn't hear Wendy's plea, but Mimir saw the injured girl. His eyes widened, knowing that Wendy was too close for anyone else to rescue her. She was going to get stomped to death if someone didn't get out of there. And the only one who could do it was too busy trying to hack through the black dragon's skull.
Mimir decided killing was less important than letting an innocent bystander die. If Atreus knew he let a life end on his behalf, he would never forgive himself. That wasn't something he wanted the young god to go through.
"Little brother!" Mimir called. "Atreus! ATREUS! Snap out of it! Please, you have to stop. One of the wizards, Wendy, has a broken foot. She's too close. You have to help her or she'll be crushed."
"W-What…" Atreus groaned.
He willed through the cloud of rage assailing his body and mind to look behind him. Through the inferno of fury possessing his body, a well of worry grew when he saw the pitiful state Wendy was left in. Worry turned to horror and he realized Atreus needed to pay more attention to everything else. A significant part of his mind blamed himself for Wendy getting hurt, especially after promising to keep them all safe.
His concern welled up till the fury was doused, and the black fire covering his body flickered away. And with it, the strength of a proper god was sapped from his body as his godly side nestled back within Atreus' being. The drums of war thundering in his head faded away to a dark corner of his mind.
Acnologia roared beneath him feeling his opponent weaken. He thrashed his head once and sent Atreus flying away. The young god righted himself in midair and broke his landing by rolling. A click of his fingers called the Leviathan axe to his hands, slick with dragon's blood. Atreus sprinted to Wendy's side, sliding down into a crouch, and supporting the girl by hanging one of her arms over her shoulder.
"Wendy!" Natsu cried. "C'mon, Happy. Let's them out of there!"
"Don't!" Gildarts warned, grabbing Natsu by his scarf. "They're too close."
"And it looks like the newbie's isn't snapped anymore," Laxus added grimly.
"Fuck that!" Natsu growled, struggling against Gildarts' grip.
He was one of many with the sentiment. Those like Erza were about to jump in to try and save their youngest members, but they would never get the chance to. The air suddenly became charged with energy and was all blasted away by blue explosions of pure magical energy. Acnologia's limbs were covered in an azure ethereal glow, almost like flames. He beat his wings, creating a powerful gust of wind that blew Fairy Tail's wizards farther away, forcing Atreus and Wendy to the ground to brace themselves.
Acnologia waved his tail around, gouging out the ground to make escape impossible. He trapped Atreus, Wendy, and the unconscious Carla in his sight. He was done playing games.
His maw opened and it felt like the whole world was being sucked into his maw. Atreus kept a tight hold on Wendy as he used his axe to anchor themselves. But devouring them was not Acnologia's intention. It was to fill his lungs and charge with his magical might. An intense blue light grew within Acnologia's open maw, and Atreus could feel the mounting pressure of the gathered power on his shoulders.
There was only one thing for certain. Atreus and Wendy knew it. The Fairy Tail wizards knew it even as they helplessly watched. It was too late to save them from the blast.
Before annihilation, Atreus and Wendy made their choices. The young god made his last stand, poising the axe before him. He pulled on that mental connection as hard as he could. He needed as much power as he could bring out of the Leviathan axe. In response to his desires, the runes of the Leviathan axe burned bright and even the enchanted handprint of his mother glowed to life.
As for Wendy, she sent a forlorn look to the unconscious Exceed in her hands. Her eyes squeezed shut against the tears building in her eyes. She gave one last look to Carla with a weak smile.
"Forgive me, Carla," Wendy said.
With all the strength her body could muster, Wendy threw Carla as far as she could. Fortunately, her throw was able to make it out of the danger zone. Happy managed to catch Carla in midair and take her to safety.
That was when Acnologia finally unleashed his breath.
"ATREUS!" Natsu screamed. "WENDY!"
"KID!" Laxus cried.
Atreus couldn't hear their desperate screams as the world was drowned out by the scream of the world collapsing on itself. Instead of lightning or typical fire, Atreus beheld a beam of pure magical energy blasting towards him. In defiance, he willed the Leviathan axe to shoot a beam of pure cold from the depths of Helheim. The beams of magic clashed in a titanic struggle blowing away the earth and uprooting trees.
The surrounding area became covered in a thick layer of frost as the axe's ice beam wafted to the sides in the struggle against the dragon's breath. Atreus felt his feet sliding against the ground, and he grunted to keep himself in place.
Eventually, the power struggle between god and dragon had to end. It was not in Atreus' favor. Acnologia leaned back as he poured more power into his breath. The ray of Helheim's cold did not have the force to push it back. The world seemed to slow down as utter destruction came closer to Atreus. His mind raced for a solution to keep himself and Wendy alive.
In the depths of his mind, a foreign voice whispered softly. A voice that strangely enough sounded like her mother.
'Slam the axe down!'
Atreus blinked in confusion, but his desperation did not question the alien thought. He slammed the axe onto the earth, causing the beam he used to dissipate and the dragon's breath to come down without hindrance. Yet the instant the Leviathan axe made contact with the ground, a gigantic mass of blue ice encased Atreus and Wendy in a protective shell. They both shielded their eyes as the light of Acnologia's breath overtook them till the world went white.
From the outside, Fairy Tail watched as Acnologia's breath washed over the glacier that Atreus conjured. Mist and dust clouds blinded their vision, but they did not find any sign of their youngest members. Nothing remained of the spot of land where they once stood as the ocean filled in the space. Whether dead or not, they were not given time to mourn when Acnologia ascended into the air, preparing to destroy Tenrou as he intended.
In the end, all they could do was hold hands.
(In the open ocean)
Atreus' eyes snapped open, only to feel the sting of saltwater hitting his eyes. He gasped, only to clamp his mouth shut when there was no air to breathe. It didn't take much thought for Atreus to realize he was underwater.
Unfortunately, Atreus didn't know how to swim.
The surface was a few swim strokes above him, but he saw a still body floating a few feet away. The long hair and petite frame were evidence enough to be Wendy Marvell. Unlike Atreus, she wasn't thrashing in the water and her body was gently floating in the water. Horror filled the young god when he noticed that no bubbles were coming from her nose or mouth.
His fear mounted as he noticed Wendy slowly sinking deeper into the ocean, and flailing his body desperately to get closer. Despite his lack of skill, Atreus miraculously managed to 'swim' his body close enough. He wrapped one arm around Wendy's body, but now he was in a predicament where he was also slowly sinking.
Atreus tried swimming upwards, but with the addition of Wendy's weight and the use of only one arm, he only made as much progress as he sunk as well. Then, he had the idea of using the axe to freeze the water into ice, which would float them up to the surface. Since it wasn't in his hands, his eyes darted for the axe in the murky depths. His eyes soon caught the Leviathan axe's signature glow below in the dark.
He reached out his remaining hand to it. At first, Atreus tried snapping his fingers, but nothing worked. Perhaps it had to do with his fingers being underwater that prevented them from properly snapping. He still felt the connection to the axe and pulled on it yet again. Atreus tried to imagine it coming to his hand like the many times it did for his father. At his wit's end, Atreus started to plead for the axe to come to him.
'Please. I need your help. I can't save her if you won't help me.'
For a few seconds, the axe continued to sink and Atreus' lungs hurt for needed air. Then as if possessed by an alien force, it rocketed upwards to Atreus' hand. The instant the young god fully grasped the axe, it glowed brightly and Atreus felt an extreme cold as the water around him froze.
His eyes shut from the light but felt how the water rushed over his whole body till he felt his body breach the water's surface. As soon as he felt the touch of the sun on his skin, Atreus took in mighty need of breath. He coughed till his throat hurt and lay his back against the ice that served as their floating bit of land. A single flash of the axe's cold managed to freeze the water into a miniature iceberg and float to the surface. He didn't care if the ice was cold to the touch; Atreus was relieved to be alive.
It was also a wonderful thing to hear Mimir's voice, who was now able to speak once out of the water.
"Atreus, are you alright?" Mimir exclaimed.
"I'm alive," groaned Atreus.
He felt like absolute shit though.
"The girl!" Mimir cried. "Check on Wendy, now!"
Despite the weakness of his body, Atreus scrambled his way to Wendy, who stayed still. He first touched her shoulder for any response. When he didn't receive any, he checked her chest and mouth for breath.
There wasn't any.
"She's not breathing!" Atreus bleated.
"She must have taken too much water!" Mimir said. "Here's what you need to do. Get the girl flat on her back with her tilted back. That will allow airflow."
Atreus did just that and asked. "What next?"
"You have to give her two or three breaths," Mimir said. "Mouth-to-mouth."
Atreus balked. "You can't be serious-"
"Atreus, there are times I can joke, but it's not this time!" Mimir bellowed, his brows creased. "Quick! She might not have a lot of time!"
Atreus didn't give himself the luxury to calm himself, not when it meant Wendy's life was in danger. Shoving away the thoughts of shame, Atreus leaned down and closed his lips over Wendy's. At the same time, he inhaled air through his nostrils and gave his breath to Wendy. He did this two more times with Wendy's chest rising with each breath.
"Good, her chest is rising," Mimir noted. "Now, I need you to do compressions. Make a fist with your dominant hand, put it over a spot below her sternum, and lay your other hand over your fist. Then press down as hard as you can and repeat thirty times. Don't hesitate to press down as deep as you can."
Atreus followed Mimir's instructions as he spoke. Once he had the right stance, he began his compressions down on Wendy's chest. He mentally counted each one while he looked frantically at Wendy's face showing no signs of waking up. After twenty compressions, Atreus was starting to lose hope. When he did thirty compressions, Mimir said that he needed to give Wendy more breaths and start the process all over again.
"Get up!" Atreus pleaded between compressions. "Please, you have to get up! I don't want to die!"
After nearly fifteen compressions, Atreus' spirits rose when he finally heard Wendy make a sound. It was between a gasp and a gurgle. Her eyes snapped open, revealing her brown orbs full of life to the world. She lurched her back and wetly coughed out mouthfuls of water. She rolled onto her front, coughing as much as her lungs demanded, each one jettisoning more water from her chest.
Atreus winced at the not-so-pretty sight. Eventually, Wendy's coughing turned so unforgiving that she started to vomit. The young god gave her the best comfort with gentle pats on the head, even as a pile of stomach fluids started to stink the air around them. Fortunately, the coughing fit died down soon after the violent expulsions of her meal.
"A-Atreus?" Wendy weakly moaned, turning her head to the redhead.
"Uh, hey?" Atreus answered nervously. "I managed to get us out of the water."
"We're alive?" Wendy wondered, looking at her surroundings. "We're in the ocean? But then where-"
A thundering boom drove their attention to the distance at their left. Far away stood Tenrou Island, and in the sky was the black dragon unleashing his breath upon the island. Before their very eyes, they watched as the entire island was engulfed in a gigantic explosion. They stood in utter horror when the light dissipated to reveal the entire island was gone.
They were shocked by the destruction left by Acnologia, who flew off into the distance fortunately away from their direction. For Atreus, he saw only a glimpse of the island where at the last second a golden dome engulfed Tenrou before impact. He didn't know what it meant but he shared the same conclusion with Wendy.
Their guildmates were gone to the world, and all that was left was a hole in the ocean quickly being filled by seawater.
Before they could mourn, Mimir piped out a warning. "Brace yourselves against the shockwave!"
Atreus didn't bother questioning Mimir. He grabbed Wendy by her back and pressed themselves as low to the ground as possible. Their ears were assaulted by the roar of the wind carried by the force of the explosions. The shockwave passed them by soon after and the two were finally left some reprieve. The young god picked himself up but Wendy stayed prone to the ground. He looked down, his heart heavy the crushing sorrow on her face.
"They're all gone," Wendy whimpered, tears streaming down her face. "Natsu… Carla… Erza… Gray… Mater Makarov… They're all gone… Why? Why did this happen?"
"I'm sorry," Atreus apologized.
His condolences went unheard. Wendy didn't even have the energy to sob and quietly cried herself to sleep. Even as she slept, little whimpers escaped her lips haunted by the loss of her friends.
Atreus didn't have the strength to stand up. Hopelessness flowed through his body like ice in his veins. The world twisted as he denied what he had failed to stop. He promised to protect. He promised to keep them alive. In the end, the young god failed.
'I'm such a useless god,' Atreus lamented.
A wetness caught Atreus' attention and he wiped it with his thumb. When it still came, Atreus blankly wondered why the water was warm. Then it clicked in his head. He was crying.
'I'm so tired,' Atreus thought as his body swayed to the side.
Combined with his exhaustion and stress, his body finally gave in. Atreus collapsed next to Wendy and entered a dreamless sleep. The Leviathan axe was laid beside him, its runes occasionally glowing. Meanwhile, only Mimir was left awake and he looked at the pair with a troubled gaze.
Mimir sighed. "What a fucking mess."
(A glimpse of the future)
"Let go of me!" Wendy cried, trying to pry his arm away from Sting.
"What are you doing?!" Rogue exclaimed.
"Why are you with them?" Sting demanded, ignoring his partner. "Ditch Fairy Tail. Come to Sabretooth. You're a Dragon Slayer. You don't want to be a part of those losers. With us, you can be strong. You can be better than all those weaklings who died by a single dragon-"
Another hand gripped Sting's arm and the blonde cried in pain as it forced his arm off of Wendy. No matter how much he tried to struggle against, his strength failed him against the other's grip. Sting followed the arm's length till he was staring back at Atreus. His eyes once so clear of innocence were now peering at Sting with a smoldering look. Sting put on a brave front, but inside he was shaking with fear.
So what if this random scrub had some decent strength?! He was Sting Eucliffe, a third-generation Dragon Slayer. This guy was nothing.
"You-"
Sting didn't get to finish when Atreus slammed a fist into his face. The strength in it sent Sting tumbling down the street and stopped past Rogue. The surrounding spectators looked at the redhead in shock. The Dragon Slayers of Sabretooth had already garnered a reputation in Fiore, yet Atreus a 'wizard' out of nowhere managed to put one of them in their place. They suddenly looked at Atreus differently despite his thin frame. Rogue looked at Atreus with far more caution. No ordinary person could just do that to Sting.
Atreus looked between the downed Sting and his extended fist. He was willing to walk away, but then he had to get physical with Wendy. Didn't this asshole see Wendy wanted nothing to do with him!? It was probably not the wisest decision to punch Sting in the face, but damn did it feel good.
In fact, he was tempted to do it again.
...
"C'mon, let's see the good and I'll be the judge if they are worthwhile," Brok said, looking Erza up and down. "So far this Heart Shit-"
"Heart Kreuz," Erza reiterated with a glare.
"Same difference," Brok said, uncaring of Erza's glare. "As I was saying, the armor you have on is basic for an amateur. Needs long shin guards though. Welp, let's see the rest."
"Very well," Erza replied and Requipped to her Heaven's Wheel armor.
"Shit!" Brok declared. "That's going into the scrap pile."
"W-What?" Erza exclaimed. "But this armor gives me an enhancement in telekinesis."
"And it makes you look like a whore of Asgard," Brok argued. "You have your entire torso exposed for any lucky fucker to put the pointy end in your guts, and nothing's stopping someone getting a shot at the thigh. There's an artery there you do not want to be cut. Besides, I can whip up a telekinesis enchantment in my sleep with nothing but my scrote. Next!"
Erza changed into her Black Wing Armor.
"Shit," Brok exclaimed. "Same deal as the last. For fuck's sake, you don't even have pants. Fucking waste! Scrap pile it goes."
"B-b-b-but you don't even know what it does," Erza whined.
"I'm sorry, who's the professional here?" Brok said. "ME. That's who! I'm the one who makes the shit you knuckleheads use to fuck shit up and not die! And as a professional blacksmith with some self-respect, that armor's shit. At least you have the shin guards on this thing. Next!"
With a grumble, Erza switched to her Flame Empress Armor.
"An improvement, but a different piece of shit is still shit," Brok surmised. "Decent enchantment at least. Might send this Sindri to fiddle with. And the sword's not that bad. Could use a different alloy though. Next!"
With a sigh, Erza switched to her Adamantine Armor.
"Finally, a decent set!" Broke exclaimed. "But the shield has so much wasted material. Leave the shield so I can make a better one. Schedule another day with me so I can make my adjustments. I can make it so you'll feel like you're air. Next!"
This was going to be a long day for Erza.
...
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Even after seven years, the signs from his prophetic dream still haunt Atreus.
It first started with a rumble of thunder shaking the guild hall. Thunder from a storm that suddenly appeared on a clear day.
"No..." Atreus mumbled.
He could feel it in his soul. This was it. This was the day he dreamed of after killing Baldur. The day he came. It played almost exactly with the winds howling outside and lightning flashing over the guild hall. Only this time Atreus wasn't alone and he was in his father's place.
"Atreus?" Wendy wondered.
"Someone's at the door," Atreus said, picking the Leviathan axe where it hung from its post. "Get ready!"
The rest of Fairy Tail followed his example as they scrambled for defensive positions. As Atreus stomped towards the entrance, a lightning strike made a hole in the roof - just like his dream. Once at the door, he swung it open to reveal all of Magnolia in the middle of a storm. Lightning crashed down around the guild hall like spears from the heavens, burning the stone road. The thunder howled like a thousand lions roaring at once.
But all of Atreus' attention was on the one cloaked man standing unhindered within the storm. Why would he? The storms were at his command. It was him as his dream foretold.
"WHO ARE YOU!?" Erza demanded, pointing a sword toward the giant of a man.
The cloaked man did nothing for a moment until he swept aside his cloak to reveal - that hammer. Gilded in gold and carved with masterful runes, it sparked with the power of a celestial storm, an exact replay of Atreus' dream. Even Erza felt an unmistakable might from the hammer as her hands started to shake.
Both Atreus and Wendy widened in realization of the one who stood before them. Wendy knew from the stories Atreus told her of the one known as the Giantsbane. The God of Thunder. The wielder of Mjolnir. For Atreus, he felt at this moment this day was inevitable. The day Asgard would come to find him. The day that Atreus had to confront the killer of the Jotnar.
The day Atreus met Thor Odinson.
What an explosive chapter. Despite Atreus' power boost, he was unable to triumph over Acnologia, the King of Dragons. But be rest assured the young god certainly left Acnologia a reminder in the form of a scar for all to see. Now we get to the good bit. It's just Atreus and Wendy as the only 'survivors' from Tenrou. How shall their future unfold?
I hope the little sneak peeks I put in.
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