Chapter 12
Don't Own Fairy Tail or anything else Only The Oc
'thought'
"Speech"
"Powerful Creatures Speaking, like a dragon or a god"
"Text via book or newspaper... when those are around..."
The boat sloshes underfoot as we cut through the sea.
Natsu lays face-down, letting out pained gurgles of nausea.
I gaze out towards a large spire in the distance. It appears to be almost exclusively made of twisted metal and pipes.
My fist clenches lightly.
"So... that's the place, huh?" I hum idly.
"What an eyesore." My eyes narrow slightly.
Erza had told us about her time here...
The tower of heaven...
Her village was attacked by cultists of Zeref... the adults slaughtered and the children taken...
All to build that large spire.
Of course, I already knew this...
But... knowing it does not cause my anger to simmer or lessen.
I glance over my shoulder towards the back of the boat where Erza is stood, hands lightly shaking.
Scared... Isn't a good look on her.
After restraining Erza's old friends and leaving them with the park's security, we all hopped on a boat, seemingly the one Erza's attackers had used to get to the amusement park, and took off into the sea.
It was then just a short two-hour sail across open water.
A quest has been completed:
'Hm?'
A Phantom's Scheme:
Phantom Lord wishes to use Lucy Heartfilia as an excuse to enter a guild war with Fairy Tail. They seek to kidnap her and use her as ransom, forcing her father to pay them for her safety. However, Fairy Tail does not like when their own are targeted! Put a stop to them!
Objectives:
Defeat Phantom Lord: [-]
Bonus Objectives:
Singlehandedly Defeat Phantom Lord: [?] {I mean, technically you did this if you really squint at it. We'll give you a tenth of the EXP for it}
Defeat one of their S-Class Wizards by yourself: [-]
Defeat Jose: [-]
Solve this peacefully... somehow...: [x]
Bonus Reward:
25000 Experience, four items worth up to 30000 Gil/Gold Pieces each
"..."
That's a level up.
Well.
That makes what I want to do a lot simpler... mainly the GIL thing. I'll buy myself a Turbo Elixer, then convert the remaining money into 'Crafting Components'... not now, of course, but after this debacle is over and done with.
Anyways, I can use my Eiconic spells merely by spending mana... I don't need to meet the typical 'level requirement' for spells of their level. So...
"I'm going to let them know we're here." I decide.
"H-Huh?!" Levy blinks. "Merlin! That's a bad idea!"
"Levy, they already know we're here." I deadpan over my shoulder. "This boat isn't very subtle... what I'm about to do is really let them know WHY we're here."
She blinks. "Huh?"
"..."
"Observe."
Levy blinks as she watches two bat-like wings sprout from the back of Merlin.
It... is sort of like Happy's wing magic now that she looks closer.
He blasts off into the sky, flying high above the boat.
"What is... he doing?" Lucy whispers.
"An attack?" Levy mutters. "I think?"
There is a pillar of light in the sky that causes the night to briefly turn to day, Levy blinks slowly, her finger quickly darting through the air next to her.
A pair of Binoculars appear in her hand.
She peers through them.
What-
Merlin has changed... six large reptilian wings sprout from his back. His arms are clad in blade-like scales fingers tipped with large claws.
His wings curl in front of him slightly as he holds out both hands, a large magic circle seems to form, one that grows bigger and bigger.
Then...
It breaks.
DOZENS upon DOZENS of beams seem to spew from Merlin himself, streaking through the night sky like shooting stars.
They lightly curve as they shoot towards the island.
Natsu sits up abruptly, seemingly forgetting about his nausea for but a moment.
"What... What is that?" he breathes.
White flashes begin to envelope the island, crackling booms and explosions reaching their ears, echoing out across the ocean waves.
The entire island is shaken, rubble sent in all directions, the blast seems to be targeted towards the base of the tower.
And suddenly...
It's over.
The island is marked by numerous craters, metal and pipe falling from the tower as it creaks ominously.
Levy notes that the spell itself was highly inaccurate, however. The sheer destruction it caused...
That...
That could have leveled an entire town...
She... She didn't know Merlin had that level of power.
Merlin lands on the deck, letting out a panting huff. He looks normal yet again, he falls to a knee for a moment before he takes another breath, closing his eyes.
He stands a moment later, now more or less fine.
Levy freezes in place, hands briefly shaking at the sheer aura now surrounding the white haired teen.
Magical power flickers around him. A near-suffocating amount. Fluttering gently around his body. It doesn't appear as if it is leaving any time soon.
"That. Is how you make an entrance." He shoots them a small grin.
"Merlin... did you spend all your magic?" Lucy whispers.
"In that attack?" He questions. "Yes. But I recharged back to full using a magic item."
"You- you what?" Levy blinks.
"It was highly expensive. But worth it." He continues.
"So." He continues. "With my first attack I have determined something."
He steps up onto the railing of the boat, placing his hands on his hips. "That tower absorbs magic... at its core is a massive Lacrima that must be charged with an immense amount of magic... not even one hundred of me could fill it entirely. You'd need to hit it with..."
His voice slowly dies off as he gains a pondering expression.
"You'd need to hit it with Etherion... as for its effect... Supposedly, with a human sacrifice... it'll allow someone to revive something."
"Revive?" Levy whispers.
"It probably won't work, though." he shrugs. "Regardless, this building is the source of so much pain and suffering... one that I refuse to allow to stand for even a moment longer than necessary."
"Lucy. Use Virgo to tear away at its base... it was designed to absorb magic so any attacks on it will be worthless... the same can't be said about the ground underneath the foundations. If all goes to plan, our enemies will come to us after their shitty tower falls over."
"Alright." The girl agrees.
"That being said. That requires us to get close. They'll probably try and prevent that... even now I can see a couple of strange flying monsters fluttering around the island... there's certainly less than there was originally. I vaporized most of them. But it's still quite a large amount. Levy. You are going to need to protect us as we grow close as Natsu is functionally useless on this boat."
"Two word. Flak Cannon. Use it to shoot down any attackers as we approach."
"Right." Levy nods, quickly moving towards the center of the deck, beginning to quickly write in the air what she was told.
"Gray. You hit whatever she misses. Conserve your energy, though. There's no telling what we'll face... and according to Erza... Jellal... or Siegrain is one of the ten wizard saints. He'll be a hard opponent to beat." Merlin frowns.
"You..." Erza quietly whispers, a single tear dripping from her eye. "Thank you... thank you all."
Pov: Elsewhere
A blue haired man sits upon a wooden throne.
A low hum leaves his lips as he glances towards a chessboard.
A man with long black hair steps into the room. "Sir! We are under attack."
"I am aware of that." He states. "It was hard to miss the sky being overcome with light."
"We lost around forty five percent of our forces!" The black haired man continues.
"Hm. The power of an amateur." The man sitting on the throne huffs. "To waste so much magical power on an attack that the tower of heaven would have just absorbed."
"This fight will end swiftly if that was their best plan..." He slowly reaches out, knocking over a pawn.
A pawn... is perhaps a bit too little for the wizard who did that attack, but he has the brain of one. To waste his magical power like that.
He's taken himself out of the fight entirely. There's no way for him to recover after that. No way to recover enough magical power in time to be useful, that is.
Once they take a step on this island... and enter the tower... the battlefield for his glorious game... he shall accomplish his goals... his sacrifice shall arrive and then the great Zeref will be revived!
He gazes across the pieces.
An owl, a little Miko, and a guitar on one side, then on the other, a knight, a dragon, a key, a spire of ice, a little book and a finally a little prone pawn.
"Prepare yourself... allow them to come to us. To enter the tower of heaven... allow them to enter our home so we will hold an advantage.
Pov: returned
*BANGBANGBANG*
There are numerous explosions in the air as the deck shakes and shudders.
The island looks like it was hit by an airstrike honestly. Numerous large craters dot the landscape, punching holes in cliff faces, the dock, and hammering at the base of the tower itself revealing blue crystal underneath.
Large brass bullet casings pop out of the four-barreled gun that Levy is sitting atop, each made of the word 'Casing'
"Levy when did you get so strong?!" Erza whispers, causing the corner of Levy's mouth to turn upwards as she continues shooting upwards at the strange wyvern-like beasts.
They have no eyes only a large mouth filled with an expanse of teeth.
They are also apparently quite susceptible to FLAK rounds as they appear to lack scales, their skin fleshy and pink, sort of like a human's but a few unnatural shades darker.
With each explosion in the sky, two or three of the dragon-like beasts fall.
The ground itself seems to rumble as a smirk appears on my lips.
The tower tilts, causing me to grin. "I bet you're up there... looking down at us even now, Jellal... plotting. Planning. But guess what? I'm flipping the board."
I point my middle finger up at the tower, hoping and praying that Jellal can see me. "King me, bitch."
At this moment... I'm practically invincible for the next hour...
I have around seven hundred temporary hit points.
Sooo I roughly multiplied my health by ten.
Invincible miiiight be a bit of a strong word, but I bet like this I might be able to take a punch from Mr. Bahamut at the very least.
Huh.
That's an idea.
When I go to fight Mr. Dragon, I do a super giga ultimate megaflare attack, get a bunch of temporary hit points, then use Lucid dreamer to create a 'turbo ether' to refill my mana.
At that point, I'd just start punching away.
I doubt the mega flare would do any real damage... it's just to get that sweet-sweet temp-Hp.
I watch the tower continue to tip and tilt, closing my eyes and crossing my arms.
'and... with that, Jellal would likely make an appearance himself... or order his mooks to take care of us.'
My eyes snap open as I watch a streak of light shoot from the top of the tower, a small smirk appears on my face.
There's a burst of fire as a jet pack wearing... buff owl? Appears?
Huh... I forgot about him.
"Big players are coming!" I shout out to my allies. "The bird with a jetpack! Don't let him eat you! If he does, he will gain your magical powers... permanently killing you and permanently gaining them if you don't get out quickly."
My eyes snap to a pale figure with long blue hair running down the side of the tower, side by side with a pink haired woman with a sword.
"NATSU!" I call out, causing the fire mage to turn his head as he punches a guard in the face. "That blue haired wizard with long hair! Take him out! He has a spell that can control women! Don't let him near the others."
He shoots off like a bullet, propelled by fire. "RIGHT!"
"Gray. The woman next to him practices sword magic. Do what you must." He nods once.
Rushing forwards, ice platforms springing up under his shoes as he begins scaling the tower.
My gaze snaps upwards, my eyes glinting.
A path of yellow light is left in the sky, shooting down like a meteor.
It looks like Jellal is entering the fray. Targeting... Levy...
Heavenly Body Magic: Meteor
Spell Level: 4
Casting Time: Standard Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level
By casting this spell, you envelope yourself in a golden aura that grants a myriad of bonuses, firstly you gain a base fly speed of 90 with perfect maneuverability, next, you gain a modified Haste, your Flight speed is multiplied by 2, next you gain +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. Additionally, you may make 1 additional attack per round at your Highest BAB. This effect does not stack with the likes of a Speed Weapon, Haste, or similar effects. At CL 10th and an additional time for every 10 caster levels you have above 10th, these bonuses improve by 1.
Overcharge:
For every additional 4 Spell Levels you invest in 'Heavenly Body Magic: Meteor' its effects are improved by +1
"Meteor." I whisper.
I blast off the ground, lashing out with a brutal kick.
Jellal's eyes grow wide as I meet him just before he reaches Levy, crossing his arms as my heel makes contact with his forearms.
He is abruptly shoved back, a small gasp of surprise leaving his lips.
He shoots upwards into the sky, causing me to follow him.
We eventually come to a stop, hundreds of feet above the ground.
"Who... are you?" The man glares.
"Nobody important I suppose... the real question is who you are... Jellal Fernandes. No. You're not even a sad mirror of who you used to be... currently being controlled by some basic domination magic that tilts your emotions to darkness and all that."
"Domination magic? No... I have seen the ghost of Zeref!"
"Alright. First off. No you haven't. Zeref LITERALLY cannot die. That's why all of his spells are at the expense of the caster. He has been trying to kill himself for hundreds of years. Second off. Even if you WERE controlled by Zeref- which you're not. I saw an old man on Galuna who knew the exact same type of magic. Zeref must be a lot less special than his tales say."
The man pauses. "Old... man on Galuna? Ultear?"
"Wait... you know them?" I huff.
"They are my servant." He glares. "They wouldn't dare."
"The spell has been cast on you for possibly a decade at this point." I shrug. "Would they have dared when you were nothing more than an innocent child who had no magic?"
"..."
"Tell you what. I'll cut you a deal. How about we fly over there... land... and I cast dispel on you. If you you are still keen on stabbing me through the chest? By all means, I'll give you a free shot to do it. I won't move an inch."
"Because Jellal. Let me ask you this. You might be a wizard saint. And you might be more powerful than I am... but can you honestly think that you can defeat me... then Erza. Then Natsu. Then Gray. Then Lucy and Levy."
He glares and drifts to the side. I follow after him. He crosses his arms as we land on the side of the tilted tower. "I do not believe you."
"Then how about this." With a flash a runic circle appears around me. "This box will trap me inside of it if I lied about dodging your attack after I dispel you."
"Fool." The man smirks evilly. "Go ahead. Try your paltry magic."
I hold out a hand, quietly casting my spell... then...
*FLASH*
Red light flashes around his right eye, he falls to his knee letting out a scream as the red markings seem to hiss and vanish.
"Dispel." I cast again.
"HRRNGGG-" he groans, writhing in pain.
"DISPEL!" I shout.
*Snap*
He abruptly falls back, eyes widening.
A few minutes ago.
"We must use Etherion." A blue haired man begins quietly. His name is Siegrain. One of the newest members in the magic council.
"What?!" The rest of the council gasp, the older of the only two women on the council speaking up. "But that- that could be even worse than the R-System!"
A smaller man speaks up. "What of the potential prisoners that reside on the island?!"
"They are a sacrifice that we must make... I am deeply saddened by this fact, but any of Zeref's spells activating could cause a tragedy far beyond our understanding of the situation. Just look at Deliora. A sole demon from the book of zeref destroyed numerous towns. We are unsure what this 'Tower of Heaven' might do, but merely being created by such a wizard such as him... it could spell darkness over an entire kingdom."
A young woman with straight black hair smiles slightly, her eyes a deep crimson. "I am also in favor of Etherion. We cannot allow such magic to exist in this world... I lost my mother and father to Deliora... I do not seek to find out the capabilities of untested zeref magic might have."
"That is two in favor of Etherion... we need merely four more votes for majority." Siegrain quietly and evenly speaks.
He opens his mouth to say something else, but pauses, the council room seeming to sway slightly.
"..."
Oh, those little bastards. He'll kill them. They've tilted the entire R system!
He reins in his frown.
"You seem displeased." One of the council members observe.
"I apologize." He beings quietly. "I just... I wish there could be more to be done about those poor souls trapped on the island."
Focus.
First, kill the word mage. Her versatility could be dangerous. He doesn't have to worry about that white haired fool. He blew through his magic not that long ago. He should be running on fumes.
'WHAT?!'
He...
He has Heavenly Body Magic... that is- that is his own magic... a LOST MAGIC! How did he learn it?! He made sure to destroy the tome he learned it from so nobody could copy his ultimate magic! It makes no sense!
That white haired fool... his magic is completely full... how did he do this?
Damn... he needs to buy time for the council to come to a decision.
He pauses suddenly, gazing to his companion as the fairy tail wizard's words echo through his head.
No.
She serves him.
Such thoughts of betrayal is ridiculous.
To think such a feeble wizard would claim to be able to 'free him'. Free him from what? He has already seen the light of Zeref. He can do nothing.
Oh? He has trapped himself in a box of rune magic! How hilariously naive! Fine then, Fairy Tail wizard, do it.
He pauses.
Red lines appear in his eye, his pupil distorts and shakes as he falls to his knees, letting out a gut-wrenching scream as he clutches his eye.
"Siegrain?! What is wrong with you boy."
"His brother must be using his blood in some sort of ritual!" Ultear exclaims.
Suddenly...
His mind is clear.
Clear for the first time in...
So long.
Tears drip from his eyes.
"What have I done?" He whispers.
Despair wracks his body as the black haired woman lets out a very unladylike curse. "Fuck."
The despair abruptly stops, a seeping rage igniting in his very core.
"What did you make me do?" He seethes, gaze straying upwards.
"Siegrain-" one of the elders speak. "What is the meaning of this?!"
"No... I am not Siegrain... I am a thought projection of Jellal." He speaks slowly, eyes narrowing. "I always have been... You... you have twisted my mind... made me do all those monstrous things?! Why?! What purpose did you have?!"
The members on the council look between the two as Jellal looks to them. "Do NOT fire the Etherion under any circumstance! The tower of heaven requires power to be used!"
"What-"
One of the smaller men's eyes glint as he seems to swivel, glaring at the woman.
"I have deceived you... and have done horrible crimes..." He begins quietly. "And I accept whatever punishment you wish to give me... but do not let this twisted monster leave. She has violated my mind... and forced me to complete the one thing that my mother was murdered because of."
The attention of the magic council seems to shift to the black haired woman.
"Tch. Bothersome. You will regret this, Jellal" The woman growls... then... she disappears. revealing that she was a thought projection this entire time.
"NO!" Jellal gasps.
He... thought she was actually here, but she was just doing the same thing he was...
But... she was so powerful... even with half of her magical power taken up by her Thought Projection...
She seems to have far surpassed him. That is... worrying.
The ground rumbles, causing his eyes to widen,
The ceiling cracks and shakes.
He raises his hands, stopping the ceiling from falling as the building around them seems to crumble.
There's a sudden blast of magical power from one of the older men that utterly erases the roof.
"Seigrain... no... Jellal." The little man frowns. "Explain yourself."
"I... am sorry. This is all my fault."
"No. That was a vile and potent curse she had placed upon you. It is clear while some of the blame is your own, the largest portion is not... so. Explain to us in detail what has happened."
"I... was a slave on the eighth R-System... the Tower of Heaven... that curse was placed on me more than ten years ago... I threatened one of my closest friends into leaving the island, at which point, I sabotaged the boats... claiming it was her... then I forced them all to continue building the tower... or rather, she forced us to... Ultear."
He grits his teeth, clenching his fist. "She- she's around my age, though! To do such a thing- she would have had to cast that curse on me when she was no older than fifteen?! What sort of child could be that... twisted."
He lets out a long breath. "As of this moment, Fairy Tail wizards are fighting on the island the Tower of Heaven is on... they..."
He zones out for a moment, then nods. "They have defeated the Trinity Raven... mercenaries from the Dark Guild, Death Head Cactus which I had hired..."
"Fairy Tail Wizards?"
"Hm. Those wizards always seem to have a nose for trouble." The elderly woman scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest. "How did you break out of the curse?"
"One of the wizards... negotiated with his own life on the line... he claimed he would allow me to kill him if his dispelling attempt didn't work... I-I of course saw that as nothing more than an opportunity to rid myself of a thorn in my side, so I allowed it. My mind twisted into idolizing Zeref, and under the assumption that is what it was... I was entirely expecting it to fail... but... It didn't."
"Jellal. You will need to face justice for your crimes." An old man with a large beard frowns, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Now hold on." One of the other council members begins. "Hasn't this boy suffered enough?!"
"He has put the entire council in jeopardy!" The first exclaims.
"You saw it just as I!" The second replies. "This was all a scheme of that woman! He managed to break through her curse and stopped us from powering the R system!"
"I am fully prepared to face justice for my crimes." Jellal whispers. "I will be arriving to the Akane Beach resort shortly... there, you may arrest me."
The first old man's face softens. "Jellal... I will ensure you face a fair trial. We... are in your debt for revealing that woman."
"I am going to capture the Trinity Raven as well..." Jellal decides, letting out a small sigh. "I only ask that you pardon those four which had caused a disturbance at the Akane Casino last night."
Well... that changes things. Merlin shows his power and Levy makes use of her new abilities. now she's definitely worthy of that S class status she was suggested for in the original series.
Also, I have a patroon where you can get chapters early! Just look for 'Flameclawsxx'