Chapter 52

Warmachine375- Why should I bother to use any of your suggestions if you keep neglecting important information in my fics? No offense, but you keep on doing that for some reason. I told you before that the Dark Elves were here for a long time, yet you keep on forgetting that important detail. So, Lilea wouldn't have been surprised at Fukuro at all. Like, c'mon. Stop doing that. You're better than that. I know you are.

Also, you realize that the Chaos Gods have other Chaos Champions other than the ones revealed in Total War Warhammer, right?

Heck, you even forgot important information in canon too. Ultear was the one manipulating Jellal, not the other way around. C'mon man, don't you know anything? Why you gotta do this?

Also, hate to say it, but your idea for the Eight Head Captains is not going to work as you think it would as most, if not all, will have to end up dead by Chaos Champions or even just standard Chaos Warriors. I'm not joking. If we do them for reals, I'm going to have to kill them one way or another by Chaos-affiliated factions to show how powerful and threatening they are. Along with a few other Fairy Tail characters potentially.

Natsu

"You're even more of a fool than the rumors make you out to be." Commented Jellal as he watched Natsu lay the unconscious Erza down on the ground of the new crystalized Tower of Heaven. "By knocking out your friend, you just lowered your chances of victory. Not that they were high, to begin with. Not only that, but did you enjoy it? Did you enjoy striking down your friend while she was defenseless?"

"I didn't do it because of that." Said Natsu, surprisingly calm, resulting in Jellal raising an eyebrow. "I did it because she was crying. Her voice was so weak and fragile. Her voice was trembling with fear." Jellal then watched as flames gathered around Natsu. He then soon sensed Natsu's power growing as flames gathered around his fists. "I don't want to see her like that. I've always looked at her as a strong warrior and friend. And when she wakes up from this nightmare, I want her to feel like her old self again." He then glared at Jellal with embers flying all around him, anger clear in his eyes. "If you want to get to Erza, then you're going to have to go through me first!" Jellal smiled at this display of power from Natsu, intrigued.

"Well, I must say I'm intrigued, Dragonslayer." Said Jellal as he readied for a fight. "Very well, if you're so eager for a fight, then I'll be more than willing to provide one. Especially if you're going to get in my way!"

Natsu roared as he charged straight at Jellal, sending a punch right at him. Jellal easily dodged the attack in time, but he couldn't counter in time when Natsu sent a roundhouse kick to his face, sending him flying into a chunk of crystal. As he crashed into the chunk of crystal, Natsu attacked him again with a flurry of punches and kicks along with a few of his special moves. The attacks soon caused Jellal to break through the crystal. As he flew in the air, Natsu filled his mouth with fire before unleashing it all against Jellal.

"Fire Dragon Roar!" Yelled Natsu as he unleashed a storm of fire that hit Jellal straight in the chest and sent him crashing into the ground, creating a puff of smoke in the process.

"Good." Said Natsu as he looked at the puff of smoke. "That ought to teach him a lesson." Though it looked like Jellal was defeated, he really wasn't, which he proved by coming out of the puff of smoke with barely any, if any at all, scratches on him.

"Is that all you can accomplish?" Asked Jellal as he tossed his ruined cloak away while looking at the stunned Natsu, not believing that Jellal was still standing. "I expected more from you Natsu Dragneel. After all, you're the son of Igneel. If that is all you can do, then I'm disappointed."

"Why you!" Yelled Natsu, angry that he just insulted him and his power. As he ran straight to Jellal, he was stunned when Jellal used his magic, Heavenly Body, to fly above him in a flash of yellow light, before striking him with a kick to the head. He then did the same trick again and delivered an uppercut to the jaw, sending Natsu flying. The Dragonslayer, however, recovered quickly and resumed the fight against Jellal. When Jellal tried to use the same tactic again, Natsu was prepared this time.

"Not this time!" Yelled Natsu as he got ready. When Jellal appeared behind and was about to launch a kick, Natsu turned around and tried to punch him in the face, but Jellal just dodged it by using his Heavenly Body Magic again to dodge before counterattacking with a punch to Natsu's right cheek.

"Give up!" Yelled Jellal as he continued to attack. "You'll never defeat me and my Heavenly Body Magic. If this is all you can accomplish, then this won't take long at all!"

"Damnit!" Yelled Natsu as he was hit again, forcing him to run in order to avoid getting hit. "Got to use something different than my eyes if I want to beat him and his speed." Calming himself down, Natsu began concentrating. Using his superior senses, like smell and hearing, Natsu began to realize where Jellal was going and where he was going to strike next.

"Come on, just a little more…Got ya!" Thought Natsu as he launched an attack on where he believed Jellal would come in next. To his shock, however, Jellal managed to avoid his attack easily.

"Is he getting faster!?" Thought Natsu before Jellal appear behind him with a smirk.

"Be glad that you got the hits you did because those will be your last!" Yelled Jellal before launching a barrage of punches at Natsu as he turned around. Using his magic, Jellal sent out a rapid barrage of punches that left Natsu unable to do anything as he was punched rapidly by Jellal. Eventually, Jellal stopped as Natsu fell to the ground, stunned by the attack.

Seizing his moment, Jellal then flew in the air before casting a spell on Natsu. "Now witness the destructive power of Dark Magic." He then created a hand signal with both his hands, causing seven magic circles to appear before him before connecting with each other to form a star constellation. "Seven Star Sword! Grand Chariot!" The magic circles then launched seven blasts of light at Natsu, causing much of the Lacrima tower to shake from the force as cracks appeared on the floor that Natsu was on along with other areas of the tower. After casting his spell, Jellal landed back on the ground to inspect the damage he did to the Dragonslayer.

To his slight surprise, he saw that Natsu was still breathing. Heavily hurt and unconscious from the attack, but still alive.

"That attack has the strength of a falling meteor." Said Jellal, slightly impressed. "I'm surprised that your body is still intact after that attack. Although, perhaps I shouldn't have done it in the first place." Jellal then looked at the damage that the tower took from his attack. "The R-System can't afford to take any more damage or else it'll be rendered useless. Even now I can sense the gathered Magic Energy leaking out from the lacrima. I need to hurry before all is lost." He then looked at the unconscious Erza Scarlet. Smiling at her still unconscious form, Jellal began walking towards her so that he can begin his ritual to revive Zeref.

As he walked towards her, however, he suddenly heard the sound of a pebble skipping towards him. Curious, he looked behind him to see Natsu throwing pebble-sized Lacrimas at him. Having awakened from his unconscious state rather quickly.

"What are you doing?" Asked Jellal with a raised eyebrow. "Do you still intend on fighting me? After all, you've been through? You must be an even bigger fool than I thought." Instead of being intimidated by this, Natsu just laughed.

"You felt that? That was my sneak attack." Said Natsu as he got up. He was shaking a bit, but he was still insistent on fighting judging by the smile on his face. Before Jellal could respond to that, Natsu continued to speak. "You also should keep your mouth shut because I figured out something cause of that mouth of yours. Since this tower is just one big crystal. I'm guessing it's easy to destroy and I'm guessing destroying it will screw up your plans, right?" Upon hearing that, Jellal gasped as he realized what Natsu was about to do. Before he could stop him, Natsu launched a punch to the ground, causing severe cracks to appear on the lacrima floor.

"What are you doing!?" Yelled Jellal in horror as he saw this. Instead of answering, Natsu just smirked at him.

"C'mon. Don't you know that destroying things is what we Fairy Tail members are best at?" Asked Natsu, seemingly fully back to his old self again. "If you think your attacks took me out of the fight, you're dead wrong. I'm all fired up now! Now the real fight is beginning!" Jellal growled at this as veins appeared throughout his forehead.

"I won't let you get in my way!" Yelled Jellal, enraged with the damage to his tower. The two then engaged in battle with one another once more.

Meanwhile

Lilea

"Is the ship ready to depart when I return?" Asked Lilea as she looked upon her captain while embarking on her Wyvern.

"Yes, Lady Lilea." Said the captain as Lilea looked down upon him from her Wyvern. "We'll be more than ready to leave by the time you return. But if I may be so bold, Lady Lilea. What do we do if the Fiore navy comes to us and demands we surrender? Do we fight them?"

"Must you ask such a foolish question?" Asked Lilea as she glared at her captain. "Yes. If you must fight to escape, then do so. Don't bother with trying to disable their vessels. Our holds are filled with enough potential slaves as it is. Destroy them utterly and leave the survivors to die in the ocean." With that Lilea took off for the crystal tower, leaving her captain to once again to command her ship once again.

Sullava roared out a challenge as they flew up to the top of the tower. Curious about why her Wyvern roared, Lilea realized why when she spotted what was going on. From a distance, she saw the Fairy Tail wizard known as the Salamander fight a blue-haired human on the upper levels of the tower, their battle having damaged a great deal of crystal in the process.

Assuming the blue-haired human was Jellal, Lilea ordered Sullava to stop before either combatant can hear their approach. She was certain that Natsu can hear from long distances, more so than any normal human, but she wasn't sure about Jellal. Plus, she didn't want to give away her presence to them. Not when she can use it to ambush them and take them hostage. Both for information on the R-system Tower and what happened to it along with her personnel vendetta against Fairy Tail.

In addition to those two combatants, she saw, much to her pleasure, Erza Scarlet. Awake, but laying on the ground. The poison must still be affecting her, which pleased Lilea as it was quite an important poison in her arsenal and it was one of the premier ways that her people capture mages alive. Pleased that Erza was unable to fight and that the remaining two combatants were too busy fighting each other, Lilea decided to let them wear each other out. Just like before, why bother fighting these powerful wizards and potentially die a pointless death when she can have them wear each other out to the point that they can't defend themselves from her when she strikes?

But just to be safe, she ordered Sullava to get ready to move quickly in case either of them notice them and attack them. After getting confirmation from her Wyvern, Lilea ordered Sullava a bit closer so she can hear what they were saying. It only took a few more feet but Lilea was able to hear them with complete clarity thanks to her elven ears.

"You punk!" Yelled Jellal as he launched an attack on Natsu, sending a large ball of light against him. Standing his ground and crossing his arms, Natsu was pushed back by the ball of light, creating deep draglines on the ground as he was being pushed back.

"Natsu!" Yelled Erza in concern upon seeing this. Lilea, however, was uncaring and simply readied herself to fire her crossbows on the two combatants. Having taken another one in case it was needed, Lilea loaded them with bolts coated with the same poison that she used on Erza. Even a single drop was enough to paralyze them until it either wears off or someone gives them the cure, which she wasn't going to give them. Not until they reach the safety of Bosco.

As she loaded her crossbows, she saw Natsu dissipate the ball of light through sheer force before charging at Jellal with a crazed grin on his face.

"What's the matter?" Demanded Natsu as he charged at Jellal. "Too scared of destroying your precious tower to go all out!? Big mistake pal!"

"Don't underestimate me or test my patience!" Yelled Jellal, infuriated with this Dragonslayer, both for his mouth and the damage he caused to the R-system tower. He then launched another attack, this one more powerful than the last, that sent Natsu flying in the air. Natsu recovered quickly, however, and sent an attack straight below him.

"Fire Dragon Brilliant Flame!" Yelled Natsu, aiming straight below him, damaging the tower even further than before. Lilea was interested in this.

"So he aims to sabotage whatever Jellal plans with the tower." Thought Lilea as she looked at Jellal, looking enraged at what he had just done. "And it seems to be working."

"Now, I'm angry." Said Jellal with gritted teeth. "I didn't spend years building this tower just to have some punk destroy it! I won't let you."

"C'mon man." Said Natsu with a chuckle, barely able to stand after that last attack. Between that attack and the damage he sustained from fighting Jellal earlier, he was barely able to stand, let alone move. "Didn't I tell you destroying things is one of my specialties? You should have thought of that before dragging Fairy Tail into this."

"I'll make you pay for all this!" Yelled Jellal before stretching out his limbs above his head and began forming a black sphere of magic in his palms that seemed to feed off the shadows around Jellal. The initial force of the cast sent gusts of winds everywhere, nearly taking Natsu off his feet. Even Sullava was affected by the sudden gusts of winds, but she regained herself after a moment.

"It appears he's getting serious." Said Lilea as Jellal expanded the black sphere of magic in his hands until it almost rivaled his own height. She heard Erza cry out that it'll kill Natsu, but Lilea didn't care. In fact, she wanted to see it happen. She cared little if he lived or died. Either one will benefit her personal goal of seeing Makarov suffer. What she really wanted was Jellal. Both to gain information on the R-system tower as he seemed to be the one behind its construction and because he could have more information that her family can use. Information that can potentially rise her up the ranks in the Dreadwaters significantly.

Watching with interest, Lilea raised an eyebrow as Natsu refused to move, seemingly standing his ground against the black sphere that Jellal was making. Shaking her head at this foolishness, Lilea then watched with amusement as Erza begged Jellal to stop, threatening to kill herself by biting her tongue off if he killed Natsu.

That caused Jellal to stop monetarily, but he soon said that he didn't need her anymore as he could simply find someone else to replace her. He then began casting the magic again.

"Heavenly Body Magic: Altairis!" Yelled Jellal before sending the black sphere against Natsu, causing Erza to cry out in concern for her friend. Lilea watched in anticipation as it launched itself at the Dragonslayer, eager to see what would happen. That was when a miracle happened.

Out of seemingly nowhere, a massive human came and stood in front of Natsu, taking the blow from the magic spell instead. Lilea blinked in surprise while Erza cried out in horror and shock as the human took the blow. The attack from Jellal soon caused a massive explosion that caused even more damage to the tower, more so than the other ones before, creating a smoke screen that blinded Lilea a bit from Natsu and the human that took the blow for him.

Soon, the smoke faded away, revealing the human that shielded Natsu still standing. Lilea was slightly disappointed at this, but then witness him collapsing in the ground, barely breathing. She then heard Erza cry out a name in horror, Simon if Lilea bothered to remember, before demanding why he did what he did.

"I'm sorry…" Said the human as he looked at Erza, tears forming on her face. "But I had to. For…your friend. He doesn't deserve to die for trying to save you from this horrid fate. He's…a loyal friend." He then weakly smiled at Erza. "Don't cry. Please." He then saw Erza as the sweet little girl with red hair. The same one that he met in the tower all those years ago, caused him to smile a bit bigger.

"Simon, please. Don't die on me." Said Erza as tears started to flow down her face. "Save your energy. You're not going to die like Shô. Please." His smile started to get smaller as he felt his life fade away, Simon looked at Erza one last time before thinking his last words.

"I'm sorry, but that's not possible." Thought Simon before weakly reaching out for Erza. "I've always loved you, Erza." With that, Simon closed his eyes as tears leaked from them.

"No." Said Erza as she saw her friend die. Tears started to flow down Erza's cheeks freely as she realized that another of her old friends died on her. "No…no." The denial started weakly at first, but then it began growing stronger as reality came down on her. "No. No. No. No. NO!" With tears flowing freely down her face, Erza let loose one final no before bawling her eyes out. Simon, another one of her childhood friends, dead and she wasn't able to do anything to stop it.

Natsu meanwhile, was frozen in shock and horror as he processed what happened. Simon, one of the bastards that kidnapped Erza, but later became a comrade in arms against the real threat, was dead. Saving him from certain death.

Jellal, meanwhile, was laughing in insanity as he processed what happened. Lilea, meanwhile, just chuckled in sadistic pleasure at the sorrow and shock that was permeating the sorrowful scene. As she chuckled, Sullava suddenly moved around to catch her attention, interrupting her.

Knowing that her Wyvern would not do something without good reason, Lilea looked to see where her Wyvern's snout was pointing and smiled sadistically behind her mask.

"It seems that I found another tool to use in securing my victory." Said Lilea as she saw a large bubble floating in the air containing the other Fairy Tail members, Diederick, Wally, and Millianna.

A plan forming in her head, Lilea realized what she needed to do to secure victory. The plan was finalized in her head when she heard Natsu yelling out, amplified for some reason to the point that even a deaf dog can hear it.

Turning back, she saw, to her slight surprise, Natsu roaring out in anger as he exploded in flames that took the form of a dragon. Curious, she watched the Dragonslayer glare at Jellal, who was looking in shock at the recent turn of events.

What Lilea didn't see was that Natsu consumed a piece of Lacrima. A potentially fatal action that nearly cost Natsu his life as Ethernano was made out of various elemental magics, not just fire. In fact, the act actually did near kill him, but he preserved and managed to obtain a significant power boost that he needed in order to defeat Jellal, who was in shock at his foolish actions, even more so when they worked in his favor.

Lilea then witnessed a massive beatdown that occurred between the two humans. Realizing that Natsu had the advantage now, Lilea realized she needed to work fast if she wanted to use her plan to take Jellal for herself. Giving orders to Sullava, the Wyvern went towards the bubble containing her prey.