A/N: Episode 243.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX: WENDY VERSUS EZEL

"Carla, go faster!" Wendy instructed.

"I'm trying!" Carla replied.

"If we don't get a move on, we won't make it in time! We can't let all Magic throughout the continent be extinguished!" Wendy said.

"But how are we going to stop Face?" Carla asked.

"I don't know! But we have to do it!" Wendy answered. "That's what Natsu-san would do. We will stop it! Carla, go faster! Give it everything you've got!"

Carla narrowed her eyes in determination as she kicked up her speed.

"What the...?" Natsu questioned.

"I don't believe it..." Lucy muttered.

"What's happening? Why is his soul..." Happy trailed off.

It was revealed that Franmalth had transformed his soul into Hades. "Master Hades!" Lucy exclaimed, her hand covering her mouth in shock.

"No. It's a warped version of him!" Natsu informed. "Your body's just weird!"

"Not scary." Lucy claimed.

"I don't care how I look. I am Hades! Hades, remember?" Franmalth said.

"So you say..." Natsu mumbled.

"So you don't know it, eh? The fearsome might of Master Hades..."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that." Natsu said.

"We're pretty familiar with it." Lucy stated.

"I think you're the one who doesn't know it!" Happy added.

"Fine. I shall enlighten you ignorant fools. Um, the master of Grimoire Heart, formally the strongest dark guild, a brilliant wizard who dove too deeply into the darkness. That is Master Hades!" Franmalth exclaimed.

"Yes, we know that." Lucy said.

"Hey, are you listening to us?" Happy questioned.

"I was tracking down Zeref-sama seven years ago when I happened upon this body. This man was the closest thing to a demon while still being human. How much magic does he possess? How much?" Franmalth said.

"Do you know how Hades kicked the bucket?" Happy asked.

"No, not even I know that." Franmalth responded.

"We took him down!" Natsu charged forward, lighting his fist on fire and punching Franmalth to the wall. "Even if they come back, I ain't afraid of anybody I beat once before."

"Yeah, right? We've already won once." Happy agreed.

"On your own?" Franmalth countered as he leaped into the air, attacking Natsu and sending him flying through the wall.

"Natsu!" Lucy shouted out.

"Appearance aside, this Magic is the real thing." Franmalth claimed as Natsu charged forward once more. "It's the power of one who was close to the depths of Magic."

Franmalth used Hades Chain Magic as Natsu dodged. Franmalth then grabbed onto Natsu's leg. "There. Connection! I'm going to take your soul!"

"Think so?!" Natsu countered, blasting fire at him. "Lightning Flame Dragon Mode!"

Natsu got surrounded in lightning as he skidded on the ground. "Lightning Flame Dragon's Roar!" He releases a breath attack of flames and lightning towards Franmalth. The impact also sent Lucy, Akame, Zack, Hana, Chii, Jim, and Happy flying as well.

"That's a nice soul." Franmalth muttered. "Absorb!"

Franmalth began absorbing the attack, shocking Natsu. "No way!" Lucy exclaimed.

"He absorbed the magic's soul?" Happy questioned. "In fact, what is a magic's soul?!"

"Sounds like a bunch of nonsense if you ask me." Akame commented.

Franmalth cackled. "Is that even possible?" Natsu wondered.

"You're the one who defeated Jackal-san, aren't you? But I would advise you not to underestimate us. We're the demons of the Books of Zeref! We are biological weapons born from the demonic books that the dark wizard Zeref wrote long ago. Do not forget that just one of us has the power of an entire army!"

"With my Curse power, Macro, I can control anyone I cast it on, making that person carry out my will." Seilah explained.

"So that's how you manipulated Elfman. I see..." Mira began to glow purple. "I'm going to make you pay. You hurt my little brother and sister, and now I'm going to make you pay!"

Mira transformed into her Satan Soul and charged forward. "Mira-nee! Don't get too into it! Don't let her provoke you!" Lisanna warned.

"Humans are slaves to their emotions. But I manipulate people from high above as I spin my story. You cannot beat me." Seilah claimed as multiple books appeared and were flung towards Mira.

Mira then kicked Seilah, sending her back a few feet. "Don't assume that everything's going to work out the way you want it to." She said, sending a punch to Seilah who crossed her arms.

"Satan Soul, Mirajane... I'm going to eliminate you for Kyoka-sama's sake, too!" Seilah said.

"Mira-nee! Look out!" Lisanna called out as books went flying towards Mira.

"Even in her Satan Soul form, Mira-nee is on the defensive?!" Lisanna asked herself.

The books surrounded Seilah once more as Mira gritted her teeth. "Damn demon..." She cursed.

Ezekiel charged forward at Kyoka with two swords in his hands as Kyoka blocked his attack. Ezekiel continued slashing at her as Kyoka dodged.

"She's strong..." Ezekiel muttered as he landed on the ground before stopping Kyoka's attack. "I'll ask you once more! What is your purpose?! What do you mean by 'being returned to Zeref'?!"

"Zeref created us. In order to have an audience with our creator, we are going to carry out his will and fight on his behalf!" Kyoka replied.

"It's not going to work out for you! I'm sure my comrades along with my Nee-chan's are already on their way to stop Face!" Ezekiel claimed.

"It's not going to work out? Is that what you say?" Kyoka asked.

"What?"

Kyoka chuckled. "Has she already made her move?" Ezekiel wondered.

"You don't have the leisure of thinking about anything but here and now." Kyoka claimed.

Wendy and Carla continued flying. "Hang in there, Carla!" Wendy told her.

"I'm fine! I've still got a lot of flying left in me!" Carla reassured.

In another part of the castle, Tartaros soldiers charged forward at Elfman, who punched them out of the way.

"Th-This guy is..."

"...strong!"

"Is this all you've got?! It's not nearly enough for a Man to redeem himself!" Elfman claimed as more soldiers charged forward and Elfman easily took him down. "Where are my big sister and Lisanna?!"

"Juvia understands how frustrated you must feel, but Mira-san and Lisanna-san wouldn't be beaten so easily! Surely they're fine!" Juvia tried to reassure him.

"Yeah, you're right. Wait for me, Sis and Lisanna!" Elfman said.

"A cavern in Cowbane Valley! There it is!" Wendy exclaimed as Carla dived into the cavern. "It's deep!"

"I wonder where Face is!" Carla said.

The two of them finally landed as Carla laid on the ground. "Wendy, I'm sorry. It seems I used up too much Magic." Carla apologized.

"Not at all. Thank you." Wendy said as she looked around. "There's a cave. Let's check it out."

Wendy carried Carla in her arms as she walked deeper into the cave, looking around.

She was unaware that someone was watching her from above.

"To begin with, your magic power can't beat our Curse power. On top of that, Face will go off in ten minutes, eradicating the magic of all the wizards on this continent. Do you understand? The age of wizards is about to be over!" Franmalth claimed.

"I can't believe that all the magic on the entire continent would disappear!" Happy said.

"Horologium! How much time is left?" Lucy asked.

"Nine minutes and 43 seconds." Horologium replied.

"Everyone is in the middle of battle... If we suddenly couldn't use Magic at a time like this..." Lucy thinks to herself.

"Another one!" Juvia warned as a glob-like monster appeared in front of her and Elfman.

"Let's kick its ass and then go find my sisters!" Elfman said.

"Crap! We're separated from Master and the others." Wakaba said.

"More importantly, where's that guy who has the anti-magic particles?" Macao questioned.

"I don't know, but if we fight, we'll probably run into him sooner or later." Wakaba replied.

"Let's get this over with so I can sit down with some tasty booze." Macao said.

Gajeel knocks one of the soldiers out. "Sheesh!" He said as Makarov, Warren, Jet, and Droy were running.

"Just... nine minutes left." Lucy said to herself. "If we couldn't use our Magic now, we wouldn't stand a chance! Wendy, please!"

"I'm sure it'll be okay! I'm sure it'll be okay! Carla's with her, too. Carla's really smart!" Happy reassured.

"It's gotten dark. The light from above doesn't reach this far. I can't really see where I'm stepping." Wendy said as Carla groaned. "Carla, are you all right?"

"Fine. I'm just tired. Forget about me. We need to find Face, and fast." Carla reminded.

"But how should we look for it when we don't even know its shape or size? What would Natsu-san do at a time like this?" Wendy questioned.

"Probably go on a rampage and destroy the cave." Carla replied.

"If I had more power..." Wendy trailed off.

"Keep it together. There are things you can do, too. Concentrate and feel your Magic." Carla said.

"Got it. I'll try." Wendy said, closing her eyes shut as she focused. A bug soon crawled on her leg, making her scream in fright. More flying bugs appeared as she ran away.

Wendy paused to catch her breath. Water dripped on the back of her neck, making her scream again and run away.

"I have no idea where we are now." Wendy said.

"Stay cool. Breathe deeply, Wendy." Carla instructed.

"Breathe deeply..." Wendy repeated as she did so. "The air is fresh here..."

"Maybe that's because of the low temperature and high humidity." Carla guessed.

"I have a feeling that's not all it is." Wendy stated.

"Wait, Wendy. I think... I think we're on to something important..." Carla said, confusing Wendy. "I'm so exhausted that I can't get my thoughts in order. But I have a feeling it's really important..."

"What's with this munchkin?" A voice said. "Damn you, Kyoka. This slip of a girl won't fill me up!"

Wendy stepped back as Ezel charged forward. "Why'd she foist this task on me?!" He complained as an explosion appeared, sending Wendy back.

"Tartaros?!" She exclaimed. "Then you're the one who activated Face!"

"That's right! Kyoka told me some fools might be coming to stop Face, and that I could just devour them. So imagine my disappointment when it turns out to be a little girl!" Ezel replied as he attacked again.

"What should we do?! This is no time to be fighting something like that!" Wendy claimed.

"Get back here!"

"We should get away! You're no match for that guy on your own!" Carla responded.

"There's nowhere to run! I'll have to fight!" Wendy informed as she stopped and turned.

"No, Wendy!" Carla said as Wendy sets her down and prepares to fight.

"Elemental resistances rise! Deus Corona! Physical abilities rise! Deus Equus!" Wendy chanted as she glowed green. "Ile Arms! Ile Armor! Ile Vernier! Enchant!"

"So you're an enchanter?" Ezel questioned.

"Sky Dragon's Roar!" Wendy sends her breath attack at Ezel.

However, Ezel appeared from the wind, shocking Wendy. "Is it okay to let loose on you? Is it okay to let loose on a runt like this?" He questioned.

Wendy leaped forward. "Sky Dragon's Claw!" She shouted, wind coming from her feet as Ezel grinned.

"No effect!" Wendy exclaimed.

"Five Peerless Swords!" Ezel shouted.

"Wendy, dodge!" Carla warned.

"Ogre Circle!" Ezel finished as blue light rushed past Wendy, splitting a rock in half.

Ezel laughed and struck Wendy, sending her flying into rock as she screamed.

"Rosary Circle!"

"Wendy!" Carla shouted out.

Wendy crossed her arms in front of her. "Even though I added layers of defensive Magic! How...?!" She asked herself as an explosion appeared, followed by Wendy's scream.

Wendy's clothes were tattered as her body skidded on the ground and Ezel landed on top of her.

"Look."

Wendy looked up, seeing Face in front of her. "This is Face." Ezel said.

"This is..."

"It'll go off in five minutes. And since we're right next to it, there's an extremely dense concentration of Ethernanos. I can't stand the stink." Ezel complained.

"Ethernanos..." Carla mumbled to herself.

"But those Ethernanos things destroy Magic. After the continent is robbed of Magic, our Curses will rule the world!" Ezel continued.

"Ethernanos... That's right. What popped into my head before..." Carla said.

Wendy struggled under Ezel's grip. "But before that, I'm going to pulverize you!" He claimed, crushing her arm further.

"Let go of Wendy! You big brute!" Carla ordered.

"Carla..." Wendy muttered.

"Let her go!"

"Don't! Get away!"

"Let go of Wendy! You stupid..."

Wendy widened her eyes. "Carla, fly away!" She exclaimed.

Ezel had grabbed onto Carla. "What is this cat? Are you edible?" He asked.

"Don't! Please!" Wendy begged.

Ezel opens his mouth as he moves Carla towards it. "No!" Wendy screamed.

"Wendy, the air..." Carla informed, making Wendy widen her eyes.

"The air... Fresh air... A high concentration of Ethernanos floating in the air near Face... This is why the air felt so fresh. If I can get them in my body, maybe I could become like Natsu-san!" Wendy thinks to herself as she opened her mouth, clenching her fist.

Ezel and Carla went flying. "What the...?!" Ezel said in confusion.

Carla dropped to the ground as Wendy stood up. "Wendy was weak and timid before... but now... She has the Dragon Force!" Carla thought.

Wendy appeared with pink eyes together with longer hair, now pink instead of blue, that curved and pointed upwards. She also had white scales, similar to that of Grandeeney's, that sprung out of her back, and smaller ones on her hands and feet.

A/N: First update of the new year! Happy 2024, everyone!

Thanks for reading!

~ Kaleb.