Chapter 38: Pain and Pleasure
Erza continued to sob as pleading her two childhood friends to stop their fighting. "Stop this conflict...both of you are friends and shouldn't drive to something like this!"
"Erza..." Natsu and Gray whispered still utterly stunned by his friend's teary eyed face.
"Gray..." The ice mage turned to see Juvia and was holding Miyaka up by her arm. "Hey...sorry, I had you worried."
"Miyaka..." Gray muttered as he was surprised to see the former marine was safe and fainted as Miyaka caught him in her arms.
"Love...rival..." Juvia muttered with envy, though a soft expression quickly formed on her face. "But, I'm glad that Gray is fine."
Natsu felt exhausted from the craziness and fell then he felt a pair of arms caught him. "I was so worried..."
"I'm sorry..." Natsu spoke exhaustedly.
"Natsu!" Happy hugged his best friend.
Wendy walked over to Erza. "Erza, I felt a crazy energy wave and it was so powerful. On top of that, it wasn't magic." Erza was quiet for a moment before she glanced at the young girl. "Roger...Whitebeard...saved us...more likely, they saved Makarov."
Wendy was puzzled at the response. "What do you mean?" Erza smiled warmly at the girl. "I'll explain later, for now, Makarov is taking a break, so, we'll be taking things from here."
Wendy understood. "I see, I'm just glad that you guys and Master Makarov are safe."
Erza chuckled a bit. "Yeah, the others will surely meet up with you as soon as they finish off the remaining soldiers and two Spriggan Twelve that are on the battlefield."
"Yes, I believe there's a few more that haven't appeared yet," Wendy said counting her fingers.
"Not for a counting, we need to keep moving," Carla stated as the others nodded.
M
Jellal and his group were fighting against August, however, they were outmatched. Jella, Midnight, and Cobra were the only ones conscious.
"This is insane, how could one man wield so much power," Jellal thought.
Cobra attempted to do a sneak attack using his mind reading. "I can still read his mind, so, I'll able to counter his moves!"
"I can hear your thoughts as well!" August abruptly turned taking Cobra by surprise and pointed his staff releasing a strong yellow bright light at the poison dragon slayer sending him flying away.
Racer running toward the Wizard King. "You're not so fast!" However, in a flash, August vanished before the former Orcicon Seis member could get close to him.
He suddenly felt a strong block strike the back of his head which was August who just hit him with his staff.
"Spiral Pain!" Midnight swung his left arm unleashing a strong spiral vortex.
"An interesting spell indeed...that is why I mastered it many years ago!" August used the same spell except the one he used was just as powerful and swallowed Jellal and his team.
"There has to be a way to beat him," Jellal thought.
"Once we get to the underground basement, Chopper can treat Gray and Natsu, the rest of us too," Lucy said.
"Sanji is looking around for some snacks for us to eat," Happy added.
"Great the pervy cook is there," Lucy sighed.
Erza suddenly sensed incoming danger. "Get down!" She alerted as she and the others dodged the magic blast that erupted.
"Where'd that come from?" Happy groaned.
Erza looked in the direction where the magic energy was coming from. There approaching was one of the Twelve and stopped looking in Erza's direction. "It's been quite a long time, hasn't it, Erza?"
"You know this person?" Lucy inquired holding onto Natsu.
"No, tell me, who are you?" Erza asked.
Wendy thought had a strange feeling upon looking at the other older woman. "It's weird, they look similar."
"Who am I..." Irene had a darkened expression on her face. "One could say that I'm you...and you are me."
Rogue and Minerva were exhausted as their enemies Bloodman and Wall disappeared.
"It seems we won, they're disappearing," Rogue pointed out.
Minerva had a speculation about this. "They were already dead when the fight began, so, it's probably us that defeated them, or the caster that was controlling them was defeated."
Rogue had another thought. "I do wonder what kind of power that was just unleashed was, though, I can sense it wasn't magic power."
Minerva had to agree. "You're right, it was a power that I never felt before."
"Hey, you guys!" Usopp was running toward them.
Minerva got into a defensive position. "Who are you?"
Rogue put his arm out in front of the woman. "Easy, he's a friend, he's one of the Straw Hat pirates."
"That's right, my name is Captain Usopp, a leader of one thousand men," Usopp boasted.
"Gee, can you stop boasting so much," Run came flying down.
"Who is that?" Rogue asked.
Usopp rubbed his head. "That's a long story, but, I'll explain as much as I can."
Yukino and Sorano saw the defeated soldiers. "Not sure who managed to defeat them, but, whoever did must've been strong."
"Yeah, Yukino!" Lector and Frosch were flying toward their guildmate.
"Lector, Frosch!" Yukino hugged the two Exceeds. "I'm glad you two are safe."
Sorano smiled at the touching reunion.
A sound of footsteps was heard. There coming at them were Zoro and Jula.
"Zoro, Jula!" Yukino greeted.
"Yukino...glad, to see that you, Lector, and Frosch are safe," Jula said looking relieved.
Sorano was puzzled but mostly at the female creature. "Yukino, who is she?"
"Who are you?" Zoro asked.
"It's fine, big sis..." Jula and Zoro were taken by surprise. "Big sis?"
Sorano sighed. "I'm not her sister, but, my name is Sorano."
"I'm Jula, a Squid Fishman from Fishmand Island." Jula introduced.
"Fishman Island..." Sorano inquired looking puzzled.
Yukino chuckled awkwardly. "Heheh...it's a long story, but, I can assure you that these two are friends."
Jula nodded. "Yes, Yukino and her guildmates helped save my home."
Sorano chuckled softly. "I see."
Zoro then felt a strong presence. "Enemy nearby!" He turned in the direction and looked upon a distorted rock hill.
"You sensed me already, quite impressive," A bright light shined on the ledge of the cliff. "So many gone by the power of the legendary pirates, Gol. D Roger and Whitebeard are one of the four emperors. Therefore, if I ever want to face my father again, I must pay for this."
There stood Larcade sitting in a cross-leg position. "Is he like an angel?" Lector speculates.
Frosch agreed easily. "Oh yes, I think so too."
Yukino could pretty much guess who this individual was. "I'm pretty sure that this guy is one of the Twelve."
Sorano scoffed. "Is that so, you think you can defeat us by yourself."
Zoro had other thoughts about this. "Either way, this should be fun."
Jula felt on edge. "This guy's magic power is strange, so mysterious."
"Perhaps I should clarify that I intend to repay everyone meaning that...everyone that opposes us should be subjected to my punishment!" Larcade declared unleashing a massive bright light that flashed the entire area.
Sorano began to moan while hugging herself glowing in a white light. "Sorano, what's wrong?" Yukino asked.
Zoro was quite weirded out. "Why is she moaning like that?" He heard a faint moaning from Jula, who was beet red and was hugging herself with her eight arms.
Minerva was affected by this too. "What...is...I can't...take it..." Rogue was puzzled by what his friend was feeling.
"Don't touch me..." Minerva warned.
Usopp was weirded out. "What the hell is going on?" He saw Rogue collapse. "Not you too."
Run was flabbergasted at this display of his new comrades. "What the hell is going on?"
The other wizards were affected by the spell.
Gildarts began to roll over moaning slightly covering his face. "Gildarts!" Cana went over to her father. "Are you okay?"
Oden was concerned about the man who looked like his former crewmate. "Is he okay?"
Gildarts removed his hands from his eyes with a pleasure-like expression on his face. "Whatever is it, stop being creepy!" Cana barked comically punching her father.
Luffy and Ace saw their comrades acting weird.
"Why are you acting so strange?"
Ace had one guess. "Must be one of the Twelve's doing."
Mavis saw Laxus and Temukai acting weird. "This magic is strange...only the adults...are affected." She noticed Warren wasn't reacting like the others.
August could sense the magic power that was just unleashed. "Larcade's doing, that godforsaken spell of his."
M
Irene confronted Erza. "You and I share quite a bit more than you imagine." Soon Larcade's spell began to affect her. "Damn...not now...Larcade..."
Erza was alarmed by this. "Quickly, Lucy take the others and get them to safety!"
Lucy nodded while standing back up carrying Natsu on her back.
"Wait, what about you?" Carla asked.
"I need to get some answers from her!" Erza lunged at the other red-haired woman.
Despite the effect of Larcade's spell, Irene was able to point her staff forward and release a red blast of magic energy creating a smoke screen.
To Irene's surprise, she saw Wendy using her immune spell. "So, she can use immune spells." She was a little slightly impressed. "Guess, I'll have to fight through this."
B
Multiple white spheres were floating in the air Larcade.
"What kind of magic is this?" Lector looked over Sorano.
"Why is it affecting her and Jula?" Zoro questioned.
"My magic is rooted in pleasure and all those that tasted it can't escape its grip." Larcade chanted. "Rentless pleasure can be dangerous as well."
Zoro placed his hand on one of his swords. "One Sword Style: Bird Dance!" He slashed his sword creating a blue projectile and sending at Larcade.
Larcade put his hands together creating a mass of white magic creating a shield. The blue projectile was blocked and shattered into pieces.
"No way!" Zoro exclaimed in shock.
"I ain't done," Larcade's magic took the shape of tentacles and bound Yukino's body.
"It seems like that you were kept in the world of ignorance,"
Lector was caught in a bind too. "What is happening, I feel so bad!" His painful expression was replaced with pleasure. "Nah...I'm feeling good now."
"I think so too," Frosch added with the same expression.
"Third Sword Style...Purgatory" Zoro took out all of his three swords. "Oni Giri!"
He slashed through the white-like tentacles freeing Yukino and the others.
"Thank you, Zoro," Lector praised.
From behind, a large tentacle was coming at Zoro. "Look out!" Yukino pointed behind the pirate swordsman.
The tentacle was slashed by another swordsman. "All this talk about light and pleasure and yet you partnered with Zeref?" There stood Kagura and then she turned to look at Zoro looking impressed. "I can see that you're a lot stronger than I thought."
Zoro chuckled a bit and had to agree with what Kagura just said earlier looking back at Larcade. "Kagura has a point, why do you work with Zeref, is he a friend of yours or something?"
"You all don't understand quite well as you think, Zeref is more to me than you think, he's my father," Larcade replied.
Jellal and his group were defeated by August. "How could this happen, we were defeated by one man." He was glancing at August.
The Wizard King stomped his foot on his head. "I heard that you worship his majesty once, knowing his power. Why would you choose to fight his power."
Jellal had an answer for that. "Because I've seen the light, the radiant of a heart that brighten my darkness." An image of Erza flashed into his mind.
"So, light is good and darkness is evil, how simple-minded," August taunted coldly. "His Majesty was blessed with a son." August lifted his foot off and turned around. "The boy was born into this world with a tremendous power of light."
Jellal couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Zeref...had a son..."
"The child was unloved with no one to share his gift. He walked the path between where light and darkness meet. Good and evil are nothing as slim as black and white. If there was one thing good, perhaps...that would be love." August continued as he walked away.
Jellal clenched his hand tightly as a single tear fell down his right cheek. "I have to get up...now...Erza is in danger, I have to find her."
B
Larcade revealing that he's Zeref's son was quite unexpected. "Are you telling me that you're Zeref's son?"
Zoro was speechless of what he was hearing.
"No way, how can you be Zeref's son?" Jula asked quite not believing this.
Larcade ignored the Squid Fishman's question. "Yes, my name is Larcade Dragneel and my father's name is Zeref Dragneel."
Yukino gasped knowing the last name. "Did he say Dragneel?"
"Hold on, that's Natsu's last name too, isn't it?" Lector inquired.
"It is, Natsu is my father's younger brother which in terms means that he's my uncle," Larcade summarized.
Zoro, Kagura, Jula, and Yukino gasped in shock. "What, that's insane!" Yukino yelled.
"Yeah, you expect us to believe that crap?" Zoro asked with a scoff.
Larcade shrugged his hands. "You can believe what you want, honestly it makes no difference
Jula had a question. "If what you say is true, then who is your mother?" Bringing that up did strike the curiosity of the others.
The Twelve just chuckled a bit. "I guess I could give a little hint...my mother...is...someone that started this."
Lector didn't like that answer. "C'mon, is that all you're going to give us?"
"Yeah, what your answer makes no sense," Zoro scoffed.
Jula had a question of her own. "One more question, what do you plan to do with Natsu?"
"I was looking forward to meeting him during this battle," Larcade replied. "Father seems to care more about him than about me. So, Natsu will have...TO DIE!" He released white blade projectiles downward.
"They're blades of light!" Yukino exclaimed.
Zoro put one of his swords away and kept two swords in his hands deflecting the white blades. He charged toward the Twelve attempting the slash the enemy.
Thinking that he was able to cut down the Twelve, he smirked until he heard a calm chuckle and saw that his two swords were blocked by Larcade's fingers. "No way...he's blocking both of my swords using two fingers from both his hands?"
"Honestly, I can't recall when I had to use two hands to defend myself against the swordsman," Larcade commented with an impressed look. "You should be proud, I haven't used both of my hands in such a long time."
"I ain't done," Zoro's arms pumped as his swords transformed into black metal.
For once, Larcade was stunned by what he was seeing. "Did his swords turn black?" He wasn't able to sense magic coming from the green-haired swordsman.
"Two Sword Style: Cross X Strike!" He swiftly slashed Larcade on the chest using two swords and left x gash mark.
"Oh yeah!" Yukino cheered happily.
"Whoa, Sting said that you were strong, but, yikes!" Lector laughed amazingly.
"I think Zoro is strong too," Frosch added raising his paws.
Kagura was stunned by what Zoro had just done. "So, that's Haki...impressive." She felt a little envious.
Larcade began to fall backward in slow motion as blood spurt out. "No...I..lost...or...not..." A faint smile was shown as Zoro knelt in pain.
"What the...how...did..." Zoro felt his side bleeding.
"I admit you got my good and it's been so long since I was wounded in battle," Larcade chuckled as he coughed out a little blood. "Though, unlike your swords, I can deal damage with my bare hands as if they were swords themselves."
"I suggest you leave this battle and leave your buddies behind, it'll save you the trouble and you might be able to-" Larcade turned around and saw the swordsman getting up despite his serious injury.
"Shut up...I don't need your pity...I dealt with injuries more serious than this," Zoro growled with a dark smile. "I was able to cut you and I'll do it again regardless of whether you're Natsu's nephew and Zeref's son. So, spare me the chit-chat, and let's continue this."
Larcade was astonished at the swordman's declaration. "He's tougher than I thought. I never met an opponent like him." He chuckled lightly. "Well, if that's what you want...THEN YOU WILL DIE!"
B
Lucy and the others arrived at the underground basement.
They put Gray, Miyaka, and Natsu on the ground while Porylusica used her healing abilities on the two.
Juvia was sitting on against the ground while Chopper was treating and patching her injuries with band-aids. "There, you should rest for a while and don't push yourself too hard otherwise your injuries will get worse." The water mage nodded.
Brandish was using her magic to shrink Natsu's injuries.
Nami, Brook, and Robin had the details from Happy. The three were perplexed at the states that the three were in.
Nami was the first to speak. "Hold, you saying that Miyaka was injured by this Invel person and that Juvia transferred some of her blood to save Miyaka."
"How incredible, I didn't know Juvia could do that," Brook commented. "Magic has more unique powers than I thought."
Robin had similar thoughts. "Yes, and Miyaka can turn herself into a cannon, very interesting. On top of that, Brandish can use her magic to shrink wounds." She recalled hearing Ace's wound and wondered if magic like that could heal a serious wound.
Porylusica was done with her work. "Their wounds were serious, but, they should pull through."
Brandish looked at Lucy. "Luckily, I was able to use my powers to shrink their wounds too."
Lucy was relieved. "That's good, thanks." She then looked at Chopper. "Also, we have Dr. Chopper with us, he does a great job as a doctor."
Chopper began to do his happy dance with a flustered expression. "Aw...praising me like that doesn't make me happy you jerk face."
"You look happy," Brandish said with a deadpan expression.
"If it weren't for Wendy, Miyaka could've died and if she hadn't made her move, Gray and Juvia's injuries could've been much worse too," Porylusica said.
Carla looked in Natsu's direction. "Main concern is Natsu."
Brandish had to agree. "Earlier ago, I was able to shrink the mass inside him but my magic seems to have lost its effect on it. Whatever it is, I'm not powerful enough to counteract it."
Carla put her paw on her chin. "That's alarming considering that you can shrink an entire island the size of a pebble."
"I wonder what it could be possible to be that resistant," Evergreen wondered.
"Yes, we know Natsu is resistant to heat from the sun and practically immune to other fire spells except for Fire God Slayer," Robin added.
Porylsuica had more to say. "This time he was immune to the time spell and flew into a violent rage when it was cast. I hate to admit it but I'm completely at a loss."
"He's a demon...that's the only way to describe him," Dimaria spoke cruelly.
Upon hearing that, Happy began to realize that maybe Natsu's condition is connected. "A demon...E.N.D." Little did he know that Robin was eyeing him like she was seemingly on to him.
Lucy glared at the Goddess Twelve. "You're wrong about Natsu, he isn't-"
"What exactly do you know about him?" Dimaria interrupted narrowing her eyes at the blond.
Lucy's cheeks buffed annoyingly. "I know him more than you think I do."
A scoff was heard from Dimaria, who gave the blonde a darkened smile. "How naive, people don't know as much about those around them as they think. Even ones you considered precious friends and comrades have a hidden side to them." She looked at Brandish. "Isn't that right, Randi?" The other woman didn't respond.
"Lucy is right!" Nami yelled staring at the other older woman. "I may not know Natsu too much, but, despite his hot-headed and tough guy attitude, I can tell he's a good person."
Lucy and Happy were happy to hear that.
Brook had to agree. "That's right, I may not know how you view people, but, I can assure you that Natsu is a good person even if he is a demon."
Robin had a serious look on her face. "That's right, even what you say is true, I'm sure Natsu didn't mean to rough you up." Then her serious expression was replaced with a smile. "Other than, Luffy wouldn't care if Natsu was a demon or not."
Nami laughed. "That's for sure, if I know Luffy, he would amazed, kinda like how he was toward Brook."
Brook did recall that and how happy he was that Luffy approached him without a sense of fear. "Yohohohohoh...I remember like it was yesterday, despite my appearance, Luffy walked up to me without hesitation."
Brandish was amazed to hear such support and positive words from pirates.
Evergreen smiled at the pirates and chuckled a bit.
Carla was impressed by the pirate's speech. "They certainly know how to be positive." She wasn't too surprised even the other guild members of Fairy Tail would be supportive too.
Nami then approached Dimaria giving her a serious look while crossing her arms. "Look, I think your people skills need work. Honestly, I don't think you know what a real friend is and you shouldn't judge people regardless of what they were or who are they." Dimaria was getting pissed off that she was being talked down to.
Lucy was happy to hear the support that the Straw Hats were giving and she had share her say. "Despite his outbursts and lack of cooperation, Natsu is the reason I joined Fairy Tail, if it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here right now."
"She's falling for him," Evergreen whispered to Brandish with a snicker.
"Ah, that explains it," The Twelve said with a nonchant look.
"Grown up will ya!" Lucy comically squeaked blushing faintly red.
Robin and Nami giggled.
"Wow, so, Ms. Lucy has a romantic feelings for Natsu, how sweet," Brook sighed placing his hands over his chest.
"Shut it you perv!" Lucy comically squeaked again her face more red than it was.
Sanji was walking down the stairs. "Yeah, guys, I managed to hunt down some wild hogs. I also found some vegetables for making stew and a large pot too. It'll be ready soon."
"Good, I'm starving!" Evergreen gleamed.
Robin had some business she had to take care of. "Brandish...Dimaria..." The two Spriggan Twelve members looked at the black-haired pirate. "I have a few questions I would like to ask you two."
This got the other's attention as well.
Chopper walked over the Dimaria and brought the first aid kit box. "While Robin is doing her questioning, I need to treat your wounds too."
Dimaria sneered at the reindeer. "I don't recall asking for treatment, you animal."
"Dimaria!" Dimaria looked over at Brandish, who had a serious look on her face. "He's a doctor and he needs to treat your injuries whether you like it or not. So, let him do his job."
Dimaria sighed reluctantly and Chopper began to treat the woman's injuries. "I get talked by back pirates and Randi orders me around..." She looked at her best friend with a defeated look. "Randi...you have truly changed...more than I originally thought."
Larcade has proven to be a formidable foe for Zoro, though, he isn't going to back down so easily. Will he be able to defeat the man who claims to be the son of Zeref and Natsu's nephew? What kind of questions does Robin plan to ask the two captured Spriggan Twelve?
End of chapter.