Chapter 44: The Strongest Wizard
The land was turned back to normal.
Fairy Tail members were relieved that their hometown was back to normal.
"The land is back to normal!"
"Men, keep fighting the enemy!" An Alvarez soldier commanded.
Fairy Tail members fought back the remaining soldiers.
"The fight is still on!"
"First master, how should we handle this!?"
"We know the town layout, but keep an eye out for another wave!" Mavis commanded
Laxus was holding Makarov. "Looks like the town is back to normal, we're almost there." Makarov was practically snoring. "Snoring...figures..." He was still glad his grandpa was just doing that and not dead. "Roger...Whitebeard...thank you again."
Mirajane continued her fight against Jacob. "Well, it seems Irene has lost...that woman..."
Mira was surprised to hear that. "One of our beat another of the Spriggan Twelve!?"
"No matter, I'll just have to defeat you!" Jacob vanished again and rushed at her only to crash into a nearby tree. "I still have to get new to the landscape, no matter..." He disappeared and unleashed a barrage of whips using his whip.
"I'm running low on magic power, I got to make it count," Mira transformed into her Satan Soul.
"Mucus Web!" Soon Jacob was covered in mucus and unable to move. "How did this get on me?"
"How did..." Mirajane quickly sensed a strong magic presence and saw Juliet. "Who are you?"
Juliet giggled and a puff of smoke emitted where she was and revealed to be Chelsea. "Chelsea...how did you..." The other girl giggled sneakily. "I'll explain that later, give him a good punch."
Mirajane nodded. "Right." She swung her demon-like claw and knocked the assassin mage out cold.
Ajeel was continuing his fight against Elfman, Lisanna, and Aquapad.
"Time to dry out and wither away!" The sand mage summoned sand once more.
"Let's end this!" Aquapad declared.
"Right!" Lisanna pulled back her arm.
"That's right, manly power!" Elfman pulled back his arm too.
The three delivered a three punch at Ajeel seriously damaging him and sending him flying into the air and he crashed face-on. "Wow, did that work?" Elfman asked a little surprised.
"Three against one and he barely squeaked by," Lisanna commented.
Ajeel lifts his head glaring at the three. "No...I'm not done...I will fight..."
"Stubborn..." Aquapad thought though part of him to admire his fighting spirit in a way. "But, he has a spirit, I'll give him that."
"He's not giving up, I respect that," Elfman commented.
Then an old man stood in front of the young sand mage. "Ajeel, stop all this foolishness."
"Grandpa..."
"Huh?" Aquapad exclaimed with a jaw-drop expression.
"They're related..." Elfman added equally stunned.
"Listen both sides have lost too many loved ones...we can't go on like this," The old man stated.
Elfman sighed. "That's right, something like this happens in every war." He spoke in a serious tone.
Ajeel heard this. "Is that true?"
Lisanna looked away. "Yeah, you probably never realized that because you always won."
Aquapad had a solution. "Old man, if you truly want this to stop, convince your friends and your grandson to leave..."
"Stop it...we don't need pity..." Ajeel attempted to stand up.
Ignoring his grandson's words, the old man lowered his head. "You would truly spare my grandson and our followers."
"Of course," Elfman assured.
Ajeel still wanted to get up until he felt his chest hurt. "Ugh..." The wound on his chest began to bleed. "Ow..."
"Ajeel..." The old man crouched down at his grandson's side. "Are you okay?"
"He's hurt, guess Zoro got a little rough," Elfman observed.
"Hey guys!" The group looked to the street and saw Sanji with Nami, Robin, Brook, and Franky, who met up with them after the spell reversed the land.
"Sanji, Nami, Robin, Brook, Franky!" Lisanna waved.
"Lisanna, you look so beautiful in that kitty form!" Sanji twirled in lover-boy mode.
Bonk
Nami punched the perverted cookout cold. "Cut it out you perv!"
Sanji quickly got up as he quickly was knocked down. "Anyway, old man, your grandson needs a doctor, we'll be happy to bring him to our ship," He said approaching the old man.
"Yes, we have a crew member that's a doctor, though, we have to find him first," Robin added.
"Right, I'm sure Chopper will be able to patch up your grandson," Franky grinned reassuringly.
The old man was happy. "Thank you..."
Elfman had his arms crossed and looked at Ajeel. "C'mon, let's go, not for me, but for your grandfather."
Ajeel reluctantly agreed but had one question. "So, who is your female friend?"
"Oh, her, she's the younger sister, we're manly!" Elfman placed his arm over his sister's shoulder.
"Uhh...she's manly..." Ajeel muttered giving the guy a deadpan look.
"Shut up!" Elfman comically barked.
Lisanna giggled. "I never guessed you and the old man were related."
Yajeel chuckled lightly. "You should've seen me in my younger days I looked just like him."
"So, someday Ajeel will look like you," Elfman joked.
"Shut up!" Ajeel retorted like a child.
"So noisy," Brook said. "Then again, we are too...yohohohohoh..."
Franky laughed along with the skeleton man. "That's for sure! SUPER!"
Robin giggled at the soft atmosphere.
"Anyway, let's get to the ship," Nami helped the sand mage by his arm.
Sanji was envious of this. "No fair, that lucky bastard is getting held up by Nami!" He started to slam his fist on the ground.
"What a moron," Elfman sweatdropped.
"Sanji, once we get to the ship prepare a few snacks," Nami commanded.
With that, Sanji was back in lover-boy mode. "Anything for you my love!"
Natsu and his group were outside Lucy's apartment.
"Where are Evergreen and Porylusica?" Happy asked.
"Don't forget about us," Brandish stood by and was holding a small Dimaria.
Natsu approached the blonde Twelve and placed his hand behind his head looking somewhat guilty. "I think I did something to you. Sorry about that, I thought you killed Lucy."
Dimaria was too freaked out to listen. "No...get away from me you monster!" She comically yelped in fright.
"Where will you go now?" Lucy asked.
Brandish turned around and walked away while waving her arm. "Not sure, but I won't be your enemy though it doesn't mean I'll be your ally."
Lucy just smiled. "Well, I guess I'll see you again someday." Brandish didn't stop nor she looked back but she had a small smile. "Sounds like a pain." She turned to the left and went into an alleyway.
"Look over there!" Chopper pointed to see the Thousand Sunny. "It's the Sunny, how did it get here?" He remembered that it was a dock at the beach by Franky. "I'll be right back, I'll check if things are still intact."
He stopped abruptly noticing the ship was still a little far away to reach. "Crap, it's too far away and I can't swim either."
"Lucy!" The celestial wizard shivered upon hearing the male voice.
Sanji appeared and twirled his body right in front of the girl. "Lucy, my love, it's good to see that you're alright!"
Lucy laughed awkwardly. "Nice to see you too."
Natsu noticed Ajeel was being carried by Nami and Lisanna. "Hold up, why is he here?"
"Who's the old man?" Happy asked noticing Yajeel.
"Long story, but, this guy needs medical attention," Nami answered. "Chopper, take this guy to the ship and patch treat his injury."
Chopper transformed in his Walk Point Form. "I see..." He looked at Ajeel's injury. "Wow, that looks bad, I must get it treated, get him inside quickly."
"Can I come on your ship?" Yajeel asked.
"Sure, but, you'll have to wait on the deck," Chopper replied. "Sanji, prepare us some snacks and a few drinks."
"Already ahead of you!" Sanji ran into the ship's kitchen.
"Natsu, we'll handle things from here, you guys go on ahead, we'll catch up later," Aquapad said getting the fire dragon slayer to look in his direction.
"Sure." The fire dragon slayer smiled brightly.
Robin was having a strange feeling about something. "I must get the guild." She walked toward the rail. "Guys, I have to go ashore and get to the guild."
"Why is that?" Franky asked.
Robin glanced at the cyborg. "After what we discussed with Brandish and Dimaria, I think it's time we find out what Zeref is really up to."
Brook had to agree. "Agreed, I'll accompany you." The archaeologist nodded and the skeleton leaped over to the street. "Guys, I'll join Robin, you guys handle the ship and our guests!"
Sanji was unsure but had to let Robin go. "Fine, but keep Robin safe and be careful!"
"Hey guys!" Carla called out flying in the air.
"Carla!" Happy waved with joy.
With her, Porylusica, Evergreen, who was carrying Juvia on her back, and Miyaka were up too. "Is Gray with you?" Natsu asked.
"No, he was with us, but, he went missing!" Carla answered.
"He shouldn't be up and in his condition," Porylusica groaned in frustration.
"Seriously?" Lucy asked.
"He's not the only one, Akame and Leone are gone too," Happy said looking around for the two female assassins.
"They must've went off to the guild." Natsu thought.
Suddenly a strong presence emitted in the town and a loud rumbling noise was heard.
"What is that?" Happy asked.
Luffy and Ace felt the strong presence. "Damn, what is that over there?" Ace pointed to the cathedral.
Natsu spotted the figure. "Someone is on that cathedral."
The entire area turned dark and a strong gravity force was emitting from the ground. "It would seem I'm the last member of the Twelve still fighting...Hear me children of Alvarez and proud members of the Twelve! The time is to offer to devote our souls and bodies to his majesty!"
"His magic is incredible," Mavis commented.
"This is bad, if he uses it then he'll unleash on the Twelve that are still here!" Usopp panicked.
Run gritted his teeth as he saw some children running. "No...that bastard..."
Brandish continued though she was greatly worried. "Meet again...no...not when the Wizard King is angry."
"This old geezer attempting to kill his allies too!" Laxus exclaimed.
Gildarts dived down from the sky and delivered a punch though August blocked but it stopped his spell. "Oops, looks like I wrecked the cathedral."
"Alright, it's Gildarts!" A guild member cheered.
Gildarts landed on the ground and glanced at his friends. "Let me handle this one, guys."
Natsu began to run. "C'mon, I know where Gray is!" Lucy was surprised to hear that but took his word.
"Alright, lead the way!" Brook stated.
Gray arrived at the guild and was the first one too. There he saw Zeref sitting on his seat. "I didn't expect someone like you to make it here first."
"Well, it took a while plus I hate when someone is sitting in my seat," Gray said with a glare.
Zeref chuckled. "You're Gray Fullbuster, one of Natsu's closest friends. A boy who lost his family to Deliora a demon I created and several years your master Ur that fell to him. You must have a great hatred toward me."
"Shocking, you know quite a lot of people that don't mean nothing to you," Gray said with a sarcastic look.
"It's a basic strategy...Lucy Heartfilla the descendant of my old friend Anna.. a positive person who had a great impact on Natsu's upbringing."
Gray narrowed his eyes. "Second is Happy, Natsu's partner and dear friend, the trust they have is strong and unbreakable."
"Fire Fist Ace...the son of Gol D. Roger...who had a difficult past due to the others' hatred toward the pirate king...though, his brotherly bond with Monkey D. Luffy is also unbreakable...I can't help but be a little envious..."
Gray gasped quietly. "How do you know Roger?" Zeref chuckled in response. "You might say I made a trip to the world of pirates."
"Enough of the small talk, I want to know what you want with the Fairy Heart," Gray glared at the black wizard.
Zeref decided to give him that answer. "It's obvious, I want the Mavis' power, you want to protect her body...there lays out conflict."
The ice wizard still didn't understand one thing. "If you have such a massive army and immorality, why would you go through so much trouble?"
"To defeat Acnologia," Zeref replied earning a small gasp from the ice mage. "Can't you see that's a cause worth assisting?"
Gray wasn't buying this answer. "That isn't funny, so cut the crap!"
"Wrong...I intend to take down Acnologia once and for all just like you and your friends, "Zeref informed. "However, that's not my only goal. I have something else in mind."
Unknownst to them, Akame and Leone were already there eavesdropping to keep their presence hidden. Despite the power of Zeref's aura was giving them a sense of deep dread.
Gildarts and August were locked in a combat fight. Throwing a punch at each other.
Gildarts used his Crash Magic against August's body, only to see the wizard king was able to counter it with ease. "Quite the amusing magic you use..." The wizard king threw a punch right into Gildarts' stomach causing him to fly away into a pile of rubble.
Gildarts emerged from the rubble and knelt on his knees. "My Crash Magic didn't work on him...no, it did but he used it against me."
"Now sink..." August chanted putting his hand out. Gildart's feet began to sink into the ground but he quickly placed his hand on the ground shattered into pieces releasing his feet.
"Rip to the Shreds," August chanted creating wind-like projectiles that slashed Gildarts, who managed to swing his arms and break down the attack.
He lunged at the wizard king and threw a punch, but the Twelve blocked him and reappeared behind him. "You should know it's impossible to defeat him."
"You can't win against me," August stated. He then caught of glimpse of tarot cards coming at him in the air.
Cana was seen on a large chunk of rubble. "My old man is capable of making the impossible possible."
Gildarts looked distressed that his daughter was here. "Get away from here, Cana!"
"I think you mean 'thank you' you deadbeat!" Cana remarked on the lack of gratitude.
Upon seeing this scene, a devious smirk was shown on August's face. "A father and daughter moment...how interesting." A black-red aura emitted from his body.
Zeref finished explaining his true goal to Gray, who was completely lost for words. "No...way."
Leone and Akame were speechless upon hearing Zeref's true goal. "Damn, I never expected Fairy Heart could be used like that."
"If that crazy ass bastard does that who knows what might happen...
"You're the first one I told about my plan. None of the Twelve know of this." Gray narrowed his eyes at the black wizard. "Mavis...AKA...the Fairy Heart has the potential to make it happen."
"You're serious about this, there's no way in hell that is possible not even for you," Gray said finding this hard to believe.
"Care to wager a guess of why you're the first person I've told," Zeref inquired.
It didn't take a second for Gray to figure out what Zeref noticed. "It's because Natsu is on his way here and once he arrives...he'll find out that you'll be dead on the floor which leads to grief and then anger..." A darkened smile was shown on Zeref's face. "WHICH WILL AWAKEN THE POWER THAT DWELLS WITHIN NATSU AND FIGHT HIM WITH EVERYTHING HE'S GOT SETTING MY PLAN IN MOTION!"
"That's not going to happen because by the time he's here, you'll be long gone!" Gray declared.
Zeref just chucked a bit. "How delusional, like you said I'm immortal and I can't die. Even if you did find a way to kill him...that would mean that Natsu...would..."
Gray looked away. "Yeah, I'm aware of that." This surprised Zeref not expecting that someone from Fairy Tail would find out about Natsu's true identity.
"E.N.D...Natsu is this ultimate demon..." Leone thought with wide eyes.
Akame couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Natsu..." She began to recall when Happy returned with an unconscious Natsu. "Does that have some connection to why Natsu was unconscious?"
"I'm surprised that you knew about Natsu's true form," Zeref commented.
Gray turned to look back at Zeref. "Even so, he's still a true friend regardless." He clenched his fist recalling the intense fight he had with Natsu. "All this time I was looking for someone to blame for my parent's death including Ur. E.N.D was the perfect, a faceless enemy."
Akame began to recall that must've been how Chelsea felt, even though, the Oarbugh Clan's fate was her and the former team's fault.
"However, everything changed when I found out that E.N.D is Natsu and I decided his life was important to me." Gray continued looking away for a second before looking at Zeref. "I don't give a damn what he is, he's a true friend."
Akame and Leone smiled proudly.
"Whether it's you or I who dies here today, it won't make a difference," Zeref said with an emotionless stare.
Gray put his left leg apart as he put his arms around as a chilly wind blew around the hall.
Leone felt a shiver shake her spine. "What is this...it's so cold..."
Akame couldn't help but feel so cold. "What is he doing?"
"I found a way to beat you without killing you!" Gray declared putting his arms over each other. "ICED SHELL!"
Zeref gasped in shock. "Careful Gray, that cost of the spell is your own life!'
"I know, countless people sacrificed their lives for me and my life isn't the only one I putting on the line!" Gray replied continuing his stance as the wind grew more intense and coldness in the air got more chilly.
Zeref's eyes are wide with disbelief. "This can't be...it's a Lost Spell!"
"A Lost Spell?" Akame thought in question.
"That's right, I don't care if anybody remembers me or not, I will erase my existence to save their lives!" Gray glared at the black wizard as images of his friends flashed into his mind. "So I will convert my boy into magic power...I WILL CAST LOST ICE SHELL!"
The lost spell began to release frost around the hall freezing the tables, the plants, and the bar nearby.
"Are you serious about using this spell!?" Zeref questioned a hint of shiverness in his voice. "More importantly, how did you get this spell?"
"You might say I learned it from some cult that worships you like a god," Gray was referring to Avatar and he also remembered Taran, who was the one that gave him some details about the group. "Not my line of work, but, it was worth it."
The frost began to freeze Zeref's legs and arms his clothes beginning to get covered in ice. "No...I can't...barely move..." He looked at the ice mage. "If you continue this, then your existence..."
"Will be gone, nobody will remember me, but, that's fine with me!" Gray concluded not stopping the casting. "If I don't do this, then Natsu will die and as long as nobody remembers me, nobody will grieve! NO MORE TEARS WILL HAVE TO BE SHED!"
"This ice won't last forever...in time it'll melt and I'll be free..." Zeref reminded.
Gray smirked. "Until that day comes we'll have peace in Ishgar, so, I call that a win for Fairy Tail!" More ice began to cover Zeref's body, they tried to use his magic to release himself, but the lost spell was too strong to overwhelm.
Leone gritted her teeth. "That dumbass...he's going to destroy himself to seal that bastard in ice."
Akame could understand Gray's reasons, though, she couldn't help but feel something painful inside her chest. "Gray..." She felt the power of the Lost Spell grow stronger and stronger. She clenched her fist. "No!"
Unexpected she dived into her shadow and embraced Gray in her arms. "Akame!" Leone called not expecting her best friend to make a move.
Gray's focus was distracted by the assassin girl as the lost spell began to disappear. "Akame, why are you...wait...how much did you hear?"
Akame didn't look up at the ice mage. "A lot..." She eventually let go and stood in front of the teenage boy though she kept her face lowered. "Honestly, I didn't think you would do something so reckless."
Gray groaned. "Akame, if you were listening then you should know what'll happen to Natsu if-" He felt a hand slap him on the face which took him by surprise.
Zeref was a little surprised himself. "So, she's Akame..." He began to recall his chat with Babara and Taeko.
F
At the Fairy Tail Hall
He was having a conversation with Babara and Taeko. "So, you want to know if someone you met in the past is here, right?"
Taeko and Babara nodded.
"I heard that Jacob had an encounter with a black-haired girl named Akame. He described her as using something called an Aura sensor, quite the handy ability."
"Akame...I remember her," Taeko spoke. "She and I met in a hot spring, we became friends for a while until I found out she was an enemy and that I killed her teammate Cornelia."
Babara heard of this. "To think that someone from the Empire is still alive and what you described, she seems to have left the Empire."
Taeko's eyes were hidden. "Even so, she and her team, the Elite Seven killed the Oarburgh Clan."
"I see, you want revenge, am I right?" Zeref presumed. "You should know even if you and your team kill Akame, Fairy Tail won't take it too well. In other words, for your sake, I think it would be best not to them."
Before Taeko could reply, Babara put her arm out in front of the young girl. "What we do is our business young man. I don't care about revenge, however, I can say this, I noticed one our teammate isn't here by your friend's magic. So I can wager a guess that teammate has survived."
Taeko gasped quietly and could guess who her former leader was referring to. "Either way, what we decide is our decision."
F
Gray placed his hand on his cheek which was slightly bruised by Akame's slap. "Akame, what the hell-" He stopped abruptly he saw tears in the corner of Akame's eyes. "Stupid...you think getting yourself killed is the answer!?"
Gray was lost for words seeing Night Raid's former assassin's tears. "Gray...I'll have you know I tried to do the same thing when I told you guys to leave me to fight my former team!" Akame clenched her hands tightly. "Honestly, before I met you and the other Fairy Tail members. I kept pushing forward and there were times that I felt like dying to end my pain!"
Leone didn't say a word as she had her arms crossed. "You know what kept me going? My new friends...from Night Raid...and I kept remembering those poor villagers and weak that died by poverty or by injustice Imperial soldiers. I knew if I died then I wouldn't be able to help stop the corruption from spreading!"
"Akame..." Gray whispered quietly.
"It was because of you and Fairy Tail that helped the Revolutionary Army and Night Raid that we were able to survive. I consider you all my friends including the Straw Hat pirates! All of you are my family...my new family!" Akame choked even more as tears dripped down her cheeks to the floor. "My point is, I decided to keep moving forward and try to let go of the past! That's what you guys have been doing after the rough times you experienced, right?"
Gray lowered his head taking in what Akame said to him.
Zeref chuckled a little which got the two to look at him. "Akame...we finally meet."
The former assassin narrowed her eyes at the black mage. "How do you know my name?"
Zeref chuckled once more closing his eyes. "I know a lot that you and your former team are responsible for the destruction of the Oarburgh Clan."
Akame gasped with wide eyes and Leone turned her head with a troubled yet shocking look. "That bastard, how does he know?"
"I had a chat with your friend Chelsea's close friends..." Akame took a few steps back.
"Akame, what does he mean?" Gray asked looking puzzled.
Zeref chuckled with a grin. "I guess Akame never told you about her past, at least, much about it." A darkened smile was showing on his face. "Akame's group including herself is the reason that Chelsea's previous team is gone, the Oarburgh Clan I believe that was the name of that former group."
Gray gasped and looked at the girl in disbelief. "Akame, is that true, I mean, I remember that Chelsea was from a previous team before she joined Night Raid...but...she never gave the name of her previous team."
Akame knew this detail would get out somehow, but she didn't expect it to reach Zeref.
"She's right," Unexpectedly, Juliet appeared at the guild.
Leone couldn't believe it but she did know who the girl was. "How did she get here so quickly, I didn't even see her!"
Zeref was taken by surprise. "Juliet...why is she..." He caught something off about Juilet's magic. "Hold on, you're not..."
Smoke appeared in the spot where Juilet was and Chelsea stood in her place. "Akame is the reason that my former team is gone." Chelsea lowered her head and her eyes were hidden by her hair. "I learned that from Taeko."
Gray had a guess how Chelsea was able to see her former team. "Chelsea saw her old team...must've been Neinhart's doing."
Chelsea clenched her hands tightly still looking down. "I was enraged with shock and disbelief...I lost control...I tried...to kill...Akame..." She felt a sense of guilt and regret built inside her. 'I almost did...but someone helped me...reminded me of what we were fighting for...and someone else helped me...stop myself from..."
Chelsea lifted her head and looked directly at Gray. "Gray, I know this is early to say, but, once this war is over. I will have to leave the guild." Her lips trembled with emotions of guilt, regret, and pain. "I don't deserve to be part of Fairy Tail after what I tried to do and you don't have to stop me."
Leone was taken by surprise and she wasn't expecting Chelsea to declare something like that. "Chelsea..."
Chelsea then looked at Akame. "Akame...I forgive you...though, I don't deserve your forgiveness after I tried to do to you." Tears fell down her cheeks. "However, if I die in this war, it'll be better than dealing with the pain I'm already feeling inside."
Akame's eyes were hidden and she was about to cry again. "ENOUGH!" Natsu's voice rang out from the entrance of the guild.
"Natsu!" Gray exclaimed in surprise.
Akame, Chelsea, and Leone saw the fire dragon slayer wasn't alone, there stood, Lucy, Happy, Robin, and Brook.
"Chelsea, you expect to see you go after the war is over!?" Natsu roared his face lowered. "I get that you lost your old friends and that must've been a hellish nightmare! But, still, you think leaving the guild is going make things right?"
Chelsea's lips curled up. "Natsu...you can't easily look over what I did...I let my emotions get the better of me. I nearly killed someone that was my friend...I don't deserve to be part of this guild."
Gray understood Chelsea's feelings. "Natsu...I don't deserve to be part of this guild either. I tried...to kill you...I lost control...of my emotions! How can this guild accept me!?"
"I'm no different than you two either!" Natsu yelled his face still lowered. "But...I need to know."
The fire dragon slayer lifted his head and tears were falling down his cheeks with sadness. "Chelsea...Gray...aren't we friends too?"
Gray was stunned by Natsu's tear-eyed face.
Chelsea on the other hand wasn't expecting this, Natsu struck her as the tough one, but here he was in tears trying to get her not to leave the guild for a mistake she made.
"He's right," Robin spoke. "Chelsea, don't let your guilt get to you, we all make mistakes and I'm sure Akame has forgiven you."
"We're your friends Chelsea, don't let your guilt drive you to something extreme, move forward and I'm sure your former team would've wanted that," Brook added almost on the verge of tears.
"You hear that, Chelsea, Gray, don't you guys think of dying!" Natsu pleaded and he turned to Gray.
Chelsea looked in Akame's direction. "Akame...I..." Before she could get a word in, she felt the other teen embrace her in her arms. "Chelsea..."
Chelsea returned the hug and started to sob tears falling down her cheeks. "Akame...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."
Robin brushed away a tear from her eye. Brook blew his nose on a handkerchief.
Leone smiled proudly. "At last...we can move on...now."
"How touching," Everyone looked at Zeref. "Regardless it doesn't change your fate Natsu. Even if you kill me, you'll die with me."
Natsu stomped his foot on the floor as fire emitted from his body. "I won't be dying..." He gave the black wizard a vicious glare. "You think that's my fate. Well, screw that, I'll burn it to ashes!"
Hearing such a declaration put the others at ease. "Yes, we'll find a way to save you." Happy said quietly.
Lucy felt unsure, but she had to have faith in her friend. "Yes, I believe in you."
Leone chuckled with a grin. "Hey Natsu, give him hell." Natsu glanced at the beast woman and grinned. "You got it, Leone!"
Chelsea and Akame went to stand by Lucy and Leone.
Natsu approached the black wizard and pumped his arms. "Let's do this." Zeref stood still preparing for his brother to strike.
Natsu rushed ahead and swung his fist at the black wizard for his arm to be blocked. Natsu managed to slam his fist on Zeref's head slamming him into the floor. Zeref managed to pick himself up but Natsu countered with two fiery punches then delivered one strong punch sending his enemy into the wall.
Zeref seemingly took damage but stood up then rushed at his brother and jumped above him. Then delivered a kick behind Natsu's head sending him flying across the hall and crashing into the wall.
Natsu stood back up rubbing his head. "That hurt." Zeref wasn't too surprised. "The power that Igneel granted you is gone and now you have no chance of defeating me."
Happy remembered the power Igneel gave him and how much power it gave Natsu. "If I didn't stop him before."
Natsu didn't seem too worried. "That's okay, I still got my power." Suddenly a loud noise was heard above the sky which Natsu heard.
At the Sunny.
Ajeel gasped. "Uh oh...he's here."
Elfman was on the deck. "Crap, something unmanly is arriving." He said looking at the sky.
Lisanna felt a sense of dread a familiar one at that. "Oh no...it can't...be..." Drops of sweat were on her forehead.
Aquapad placed his arm around her. "It's okay, Lisanna." He assured which took the white-haired girl by surprise and she looked at him. "Aquapad..."
She saw a distressed yet worried look on the Marlin Fishman's face. "Someone powerful is coming and it's not friendly."
Sanji's haki picked up the presence. "This can't be good." He looked up to where the noise was coming from.
Ace and Luffy were in awe. "Luffy, do you hear that?"
"Yeah, it's trouble..."
Zoro was with Run and Usopp.
Run felt a severe danger lurking in the sky. "I don't like what I'm sensing."
Zoro felt uneasy about the strong force he was sensing in the sky. "Yeah, whatever it is, it's not good."
Usopp felt frightened. "Crap, we're screwed."
Chopper was puzzled about what he meant. "Huh, he who..." His animal instincts kicked in as he felt a sense of dread. "Oh no...trouble is coming."
Nami was hugging Franky comically. "Oh no, it's another enemy!"
"Damn, sounds like a strong enemy is heading our way!" Franky cursed looking nervous. "I wish I had brought my robot."
Wendy, Erza, Oden, and Usagi were back at the dorm since the land was restored to the way it was. "So, Makarov is safe, right?"
"Yes, he'll be out for the rest of the battle so we'll handle things from here," Erza replied. "We have Roger and Whitebeard to thank for that."
Usagi nodded. "Yes, we shall honor their memory and for what they did."
Oden chuckled a little. "I'm glad they were helpful to you."
Erza looked at the samurai. "Oden, I'm in your debt for assisting us against Irene." She bowed her head. "If it wasn't for you and your former captains, Makarov would've been lost to us, I'm in your debt too."
Oden rubbed his head feeling so flustered. "Aw, no need to get all formal on me."
"Why does this remind you of Chopper?" Wendy thought.
"Anyway, what do you want to do with your mother...I mean Irene's body?" Oden asked pointing over his shoulder.
Erza sighed. "We'll handle her body once this war is over." Suddenly she felt a strong presence in the air.
Wendy sensed it too. "Something is coming and it's close."
Oden couldn't help but feel uneasy. "This power...it's strong it's powerful...much like Kaido's."
Usagi prepared to take his swords out. "Stay on your guard!" A strong impact landed on the dirt path.
"I had my fill of this world. I got to find the Black Wizard and do what must be done," Acnologia stated as the four people before him stood in awe.
August felt the strong presence raising his head directly at the sky. "It looks like our time is up."
Gildarts caught those words. "What do you mean by that?" August looked back at the S-Class wizard. "Acnologia has arrived."
Cana and Gildarts gasped at the wizard king's response. "That's what we heard," Cana muttered with concern.
"It's too late, his majesty planned to obtain the Fairy Heart and use it to defeat Acnologia," August stated. "Right now, we won't be able to win."
Gildarts wasn't expecting to hear that from the Twelve. "Well, it sounds like to me you're giving up."
August looked back at the brown-haired man. "We're doomed, Acnologia's wings of destruction will darken the future for all humanity."
Gildarts shrugged his shoulders. "Oh yeah, well, aren't you and your cronies doing the same thing too?"
"His Majesty's wishes are to ensure mankind's future and nothing more," August corrected.
Cana gritted her teeth. "Oh please, we don't believe that crap!" She clenched her hands. "For what I'm standing, you guys are nothing but heartless conquerors!"
Gildarts was taken by surprise by his daughter's outburst. "Cana..."
"The only thing you and your comrades are doing is causing pain. So many lives were taken in this war! Even so, Fairy Tail won't give up the fight because we want to live in peace and see the joyful faces of our friends and our people!" She raised her right arm and the tattoo on it glowed a golden light. "WHETHER WE'RE FACING ZEREF OR ACNOLOGIA, WE GIVE IT ALL WE GOT TO TAKE THEM DOWN!"
The golden light on Cana's arm glowed brighter and brighter which impressed Gildarts. "Wow..."
"FAIRY GLITTER!" She released a beam of magic energy at August which exploded upon making contact and causing a bright golden light the shine the area and smoke to emit where August was standing.
Cana was panting heavily and as soon as the smoke cleared, there stood August, he wasn't even damaged by the card mage's attack. "Seriously..."
Gildarts was surprised that August was able to Fairy Tail's strongest magic power."That old geezer is stronger than I thought."
August continued to gaze at Cana before he spoke. "Tell me, do you care about your father?"
Cana wasn't expecting a question like that as she looked away. "Well, he's not my favorite person, to be honest."
Gildarts' jaw dropped comically. "How can you say that sweetie?" Cana sighed. "We'll talk about our issues later."
August then looked at Gildarts, who looked back at him. "Well...heheheh...kids these days."
"What about you, do you love your child?" August asked.
Gildarts placed his hands on his waist. "You damn right I do!"
"I traveled throughout the world and mastered every spell I came across. The one thing I never understood about..." August tapped his staff on the wall he was standing on. "The love shared between a parent and their child."
Gildarts was puzzled at the wizard king's statement, to him he started to think that the king wasn't familiar about at the love between a child and their parents. "What, it's not too complicated about it."
A sinister smile was placed on August's face. "Is that the truth, then answer me this, it's a simple question. If your child were to perish before your eyes, tell me, what would you feel then?"
That kind of question caused Cana to look at her father, who looked enraged.
Gray's spell is stopped by Akame and Chelsea finally forgives Akame with Natsu's help. Things between the two former Night Raid assassins have been resolved. Acnologia confronts Erza, Usagi, Wendy, and Oden. August's fight against Cana and Gildarts continues.
End of chapter.