The Demon Eyes of Fairy Tail

by Michael Shadow

Itachi is given a second chance at life for an unknown reason. He is sent to Earthland where he ends up in the tower of heaven, meeting a certain little red haired girl that becomes his little sister. Join them on their adventures with the Fairy Tail guild. Rated M just in case. I don't own Naruto or Fairy Tail.

54. Reclaim our Home!

Chapter 53: Reclaim our Home!

Resting underneath a tree, sleeping cradled together were Itachi Uchiha and his wife Mirajane. Having taken a well-earned rest for the night, after a long and hard-fought battle. The sun rose up from behind some mountains, with its light stretching across the clearing and onto the hill where Itachi and Mirajane slept. As the sunlight hit his face, Itachi opened his eyes. "Another day…"

Mirajane let out light moans in her sleep, as she held her arms tightly around her husband. Itachi smiled, as he held his wife close by holding his arm around her back. Itachi's eyes fell onto his wife stomach area, he gently reached out and began rubbing her stomach. Itachi's eyes seeing the growing energy of their unborn child within Mirajane brought him indescribable joy. "I swear, I will make sure to secure the future for you. For all of us."

"Mmh…" Mirajane opened her eyes, looking with a loving gaze upon seeing her husband talk to their unborn child. Mirajane held her hand over Itachi's, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Morning sweetheart."

"Morning." Itachi kissed his wife's forehead.

"I had the most wonderful dream… the war was long over. And you and I were sitting together like this, cradling our baby in your strong arms as we watched the sunrise. Then we had to get back to the guild, and you had to start your daily duties as master. Makarov would counsel you, while he dotted on our baby like a grandpa. I would work at the bar, watching as the whole guild welcomed our little baby into the family." Mirajane sighed, as she longed for those days to come. Seeing his wife daydream, Itachi held her closer.

"We will make that dream come true." Itachi assured.

"I've also been thinking of baby names. I've already decided on Mikoto if it is a girl." Mirajane really intended to honor Itachi's deceased mother in such a fashion. Hearing this brought Itachi even more feelings of joy. "What about you? Thought of any names?"

Itachi felt a little put on the spot at the question, but he found himself humming trying to think of a good name. They had already settled on the name Mikoto for a girl, but they needed a name for a boy. Only one name really resonated with Itachi in that moment. "Sasuke… I think Sasuke would be a good name for a boy."

"Sasuke, huh?" Mirajane smiled and hummed at the idea. She really liked this sensitive side of Itachi, who never stopped adoring his younger brother. "I think that is a wonderful name."

"Yes, whatever our child will be, boy or a girl. Let's go and ensure their future, as the good parents we are." Itachi stood up, and offered his hand to pull Mirajane up to her feet. Mirajane accepted her husband's hand, and together they stood looking over a valley of mountains. The area looked cold and isolated, and resting on top of a spiky rock top formation, rested the Fairy Tail guildhall. And standing before this mountain range, the town of Magnolia and a sea of Imperial soldiers. "Let's go and reclaim our home."

Standing outside the Fairy Tail guildhall was Zeref, his eyes locked onto the hill where even from a distance, Zeref could see the two standing figures of Itachi and Mirajane. "This sensation… E, huh?" Zeref smiled as he sensed it was Itachi on that hill. "You want your guildhall back? Well, come and get it." Zeref looked on with a twisted smirk as his eyes turned red. And appearing around Zeref, were what remained of the twelve. August, Irene, Larcade, Dimaria, Invel, God Serena, Brandish, and Jacob. Standing ready by their master's side.

Itachi and Mirajane were not the only ones, from every corner people rallied themselves up. On top of another hill, Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Juvia. On another were Laxus, Elfman, Freed, Evergreen, Bickslow and Edolas Mirajane. Erza with Jellal, Wendy, and Sherria from another. Mavis stood on a rock, as behind her were Makarov and an army of guild wizards not just from Fairy Tail but all of Ishgar, and Edolas Fairy Tail. And in their way, a whole sea of Alvarez Imperial soldiers. "Forward!" Mavis commanded and they all unleashed a war cry, as they jumped into the fray.

In each corner of the three paths leading to the goal which was the Fairy Tail guildhall, three figures stood guard with an armada of Imperial Knights backing them up. "Beta team, report in." A slight elder looking man, with long silver hair tied into a ponytail, with a tiny mustache over his lip, looked on with ice cold blue eyes. He was dressed in a similar outfit to that of Invel Yura, only all black. This was Invel's Second in Command, and the leader of the Beta team which consisted of all the second in commands, Arthur.

"Second in Command of Larcade squad, Samuel reporting for duty." A young man with wild spiky blond hair reaching to his upper back, dressed like priest with a black trench coat. He looked on the forces of Ishgar with a menacing gleam in his eye as well as a crazed smirk. "All in the glory of his majesty, and most of all. All in the glory of Larcade-sama."

A second voice, sounding laid back and calm responded on another end. "Second in Command of Jacob squad, Lugh reporting." Lugh looked with a piercing gaze onto the army of Ishgar. Wielding a giant sword made up out of the broken daggers of his sister Linda. "Watch me, Linda. As your older brother, I shall not lose." These three, Arthur, Samuel and Lugh were the last three out of the second in commands, the last of Beta squadron for the Imperial army. The Spriggan Twelve are without a doubt Alpha squadron, so it should only make sense their second in commands are Beta squadron. These three were the last ones standing of the second in commands, and by far the three strongest.

Arthur scoffed on his end. "So, it is true then… Linda, Grim, Heine, Juliet, Kareem, Bakel, Marin, Blitzkrieg, and Neinhart's traitorous four are all dead." Upon Arthur mentioning Linda, with his tone carrying the sentiment of disappointment. Lugh clenched his fists, but didn't dare speak against his superior. He would just kill Arthur when he least expected it.

"Mm, and here I thought Linda-chan, Heine-chan, Juliet-chan, Grim-kun and Blitzkrieg-kun were all strong… The other seven I kind of expected." Samuel sounded mournful, but Lugh and Arthur could tell there was no feelings of grief or sympathy in the maniac priest's mind. "Oh well, guess they were all just too weak. Compared to us they all were anyway."

"Shut your mouth…" Lugh spoke from his end.

"Hm?" Samuel smiled and looked with a mischievous grin.

"I will kill you, if you even utter another word." Lugh looked to his left, his eyes glowing green as he was laser focused to Samuel's armada at the far-left side. Suddenly a green blast bullet hit Samuel from more than a hundred meters away. The bullet blasted into Samuel's face, going through his cheek and blowing off his lower jaw.

"Nice shot~" Samuel smirked as his jaw grew back in an instant. Both Lugh and Samuel, on both their sides of the battlefield suddenly froze, as their arms and bodies began twisting in place.

"Lugh… if you so wish to kill Samuel. Wait until after the enemy is dead." Arthur scolded the two, as he was merely twisting his fingers a bit to have this effect on both Samuel and Lugh.

"Arthur-kun, don't worry~" Samuel despite having his body getting twisted around smiled calmly. "I don't mind at all. This is just one way for me and Lugh-kun to increase the bond of our friendship~"

"I swear… once this war is over. I'm killing both of you." Lugh despite his situation looked calm and collected, but had sweat dripping down from his forehead.

"Heh, very well." Arthur smiled as he released the two from his hold. "The enemy is advancing."

Zeref watched from the top where the Fairy Tail guildhall stood, his emotionless eyes looking at his own soldiers like mere pawns. And the charging forces of Ishgar as if they were Mavis' pawns in a chess game they were playing. "So, Neinhart is dead, huh?" Zeref said as he sensed August approach him.

"Yes, but not to worry. I have taken over Neinhart's Historia Tensei spell. Although he only had the Ice Witch Ur, and Hashirama Senju left. They should serve us well." August declared, having received an enchantment boost from Irene controlling Hashirama Senju shouldn't be an issue.

"A shame, Neinhart never was able to learn the secrets of Devil Slayer magic. And how to awaken the Devil Force state." Zeref said as if he tried to sound remorseful, but August could tell Zeref had little care for even the Twelve. And even little care for August himself.

"Neinhart never discovered you actually deciphered the ancient texts left behind by the first Devil Slayer?" August asked his emperor, revealing that Zeref knew all this time the secrets to Neinhart's ambitions. But had not shared it with Neinhart. But for what reason? Did Zeref not trust Neinhart from the very start?

"No, he never did. The texts were easy to decipher if I am honest. But, if I revealed it to him, Neinhart would have had no reason to serve me. So, I kept it from him so he could continue to be of use to the Empire." Zeref revealed, showing just how little regard he held for any of the Spriggan Twelve. And he even openly admitted so to August himself, who didn't even seem bothered by it. "To awaken the purest form of Devil Slayer magic. One must not allow feelings of temptation like revenge, madness, insanity and hatred consume one self. Only by escaping the maddening power of Devil Slayer magic, that befalls all users. As they are forced down a path of darkness. By avoiding this path, regardless of the heartache. Only then, shall one awaken the "Devil Force"." Zeref quoted from the ancient texts of Devil Slayer magic. "Now that I think about it… It would have been pointless to keep this from Neinhart. He would never have achieved Devil Force regardless due to his personality."

"I see, no wonder no Devil Slayer has yet to achieve this form." August commented as he stroked his beard.

"Indeed, and I doubt any human will ever be capable of such things. The Gods played them well, the key to awaken Devil Force requires one to be the opposite of a Demon." Zeref scoffed with a humorous chuckle. Although Zeref's mood quickly changed, his smirk turning into a frown. And dark clouds filled the sky, blocking out the sun. "Even so, the humorous irony of Neinhart's failure is not enough to overshadow the long list of failures from my, so-called 12 Shields."

Zeref placed his right hand onto a solid stone wall, that cracked open as Zeref whilst dragging his left hand through his black hair, unleashed a sickening black aura. "Ajeel, Bloodman, Wall Eehto and now Neinhart! Why is it, that members of the Twelve… A group made up out of the so-called 12 strongest mages in the world! Fail me!" Zeref's sickening black aura broke apart entire mountains, his eyes turning blood red as he unleashed his wrath. Out of the remaining Twelve, all but August, Irene and Larcade backed up in fright.

"There you go saying such cruel words. Has there ever been a time where I haven't met your requests to your satisfaction?" God Serena composed himself despite the frightening aura unleashed from Zeref.

"You lot have yet to annihilate Ishgar. Each of the Twelve have the power to singlehandedly annihilate entire armies and continents. So why? Why do you fail to crush Mavis and her forces?! Why do you fail to bring me Fairy Heart?!" Zeref turned to face all the remaining members of the twelve, who in the face of their master had all but August, Irene and Larcade stiffen up in fright. "In the past, I have overlooked your shortcomings due to your rank and status as members of the Twelve. But now, I'm starting to question myself why you lot even exist!"

All the remaining Spriggan members fell into silence, all but their leader. "I do not know what to say. We simply overlooked Ishgar long enough, for them to produce mages of our caliber." August sounded, and looked calm and composed. His eyes lacking fear, as he knew where he stood with Zeref.

"Well, and some of their allies are creations of yours. Your majesty." Irene carried a tone of respect in her voice, she wasn't one to stand against her Emperor. But because Irene also held her Emperor in such a high regard, she also understood why Zeref's brilliant creations such as Itachi, Natsu, Kisame, Sasori and Kakuzu pose to be a problem. Not to mention, Irene also acknowledged her own daughter was probably a prominent player for Ishgar.

"Indeed, the renegade creations of yours my Lord are bound to be difficult. It was your brilliance that became too much for some of the Twelve to combat." Larcade as well acknowledged the might of Zeref's creations. After all, it was bound to be Zeref's own brilliant creation that would stand in their way. "Regardless, as your humble creation… I shall crush these renegades myself." Larcade declared with a sinister smile.

"Yes, it is as they say your majesty. Your brilliant mind simply unwillingly ended up powering up Ishgar's forces in a sense." Invel agreed with Larcade and Irene, and was quick to suck up to Zeref. Jacob, Dimaria, God Serena all sounded in agreement. While Brandish was the only one who remained quiet. Brandish looked with a conflicted gaze, her mind thinking of her own mother, Layla and Lucy now as well. What would Brandish do? Betray her Emperor and her new homeland? Or betray her mother's wishes?

"So, you lot blame me, for your own shortcomings?" Zeref gave them a dangerous glare. The pressure around them intensified, and instantly Jacob and Brandish fell to their knees. Dimaria, Invel and God Serena both buckled their knees a bit, and sweated in fright. Whilst August, Irene and Larcade stood tall, not even flinching all with calm and composed looks on their faces. Larcade was even smiling.

"Y-Your majesty…" Brandish mumbled although the pressure increased so she and Jacob fell face first into the ground forming craters. Dimaria, Invel and God Serena were now on their knees kneeling before Zeref.

Zeref gritted his teeth, seething with anger as he growled at his own elite soldiers. "Eh, August?!" Zeref snarled the name of the Spriggan leader as the pressure continued to build, with the sickening black aura of Zeref spreading around them like a cloud of mist. Irene and Larcade both flinched, and sweated a little now. August remained stone faced, and stood tall before his Emperor. "August!" Zeref snarled, as he unleashed his full power which this time brought Irene and Larcade both to their knees. And Dimaria, Invel and God Serena joined Brandish and Jacob face first on the ground. Zeref's aura of death tore apart entire mountains and terrains, causing all vegetation in the surrounding area to wither away. Yet the twelve, who Zeref thought of as nothing but mere pawns were unaffected by this aura of death. Zeref's intense aura gathered gushes of wind creating a giant black whirlwind of death that pierced the dark cloud. The black whirlwind formed itself around this rocky platform holding the Fairy Tail guildhall, like a giant barrier of death.

Zeref stood right in front of August, glaring up at his right-hand man, and the leader of his 12 Shields. August remained stone faced as his red eyes stared back into the eyes of Zeref. Zeref had a smirk creep up on his face, as August still remained standing and showed no sign of budging. "Kneel." Zeref ordered, and without hesitation August went down on one knee and lowered his head to his Emperor. August's might, topped with his loyalty for Zeref, is what made August the Emperor's right hand and favorite servant. The Emperor's Fist, his main enforcer. And the heir to the Alvarez Empire. August even with his head lowered, remained stone faced. His body not even flinching facing the full power of Zeref.

"Lift your head, August." Zeref placed his hand onto August's shoulder. It felt like the touch of death itself, Zeref's hand was as cold as that of a corpse. August lifted his head, and met the terrifying gaze of Zeref. "Well? Are you lot saying the shortcomings of you lot are my fault?"

"No. Your majesty." August calmly responded not even showing a hint of fear or concern for his own life. "Only Ajeel was killed by your own creation. Bloodman, Wall Eehto both fell to wizards from Fairy Tail. And Neinhart fell to the King and Queen of Edolas. There is no excuse for their incompetence or weakness. It is just as I said, when we weren't paying attention. Ishgar grew and groomed wizards of the Twelve's caliber. Ajeel, Bloodman, Wall Eehto and Neinhart all lost because their enemy had grown stronger than them. That is all there is to it." August said as images from the deaths of Ajeel, Bloodman, Wall Eehto and Neinhart all replayed in his mind. "Ishgar has simply grown stronger than expected, and we underestimated them. We will not make that mistake again."

Zeref brushed his hand to August's chin, and smiled. "Well said." Zeref lowered his aura, and the pressure was lifted off the Twelve's shoulders. The ones on the ground, rose up to kneel before Zeref like August, Irene and Larcade were. "This will be the final stand against Mavis and her forces. Crush them."

"As you command, your majesty." August acknowledged his new orders.

"Your majesty, I will get right to it…" Invel declared, he looked fearful that he was losing his favor with Zeref as his advisor. Invel in that moment decided, he would put an end to Ishgar's forces. And eliminate the greatest threat to Zeref, Natsu Dragneel. Other than Mavis Vermillion, Natsu was the thing that tied Zeref to his humanity. What is more, if Natsu could access the power of E.N.D he might prove to be a problem for Zeref.

"I've already crushed a good deal of the Wizard Saints. I will not fail you in annihilating these weaklings." God Serena boasted with confidence.

"I have confirmed the targets. I shall annihilate all of Ishgar's forces." Jacob declared, determined to show his worth as the world's greatest assassin.

"All in the glory of you, my Lord." Larcade lowered his head to Zeref, all with a smile on his face.

Brandish looked in silence, which didn't go unnoticed by Dimaria. "Randi, you okay?" Dimaria asked sounding actually concerned.

"… I'm fine." Brandish held up a stone-cold expression, not daring to show her conflicting feelings on the matter. Dimaria however, did not look convinced and kept an eye on Brandish.

Meanwhile, rushing down a hill were Natsu along with Happy and Lucy. Although Natsu had to halt in his tracks, already out of breath and sweating a bit. His head was aching like crazy with pain. Natsu felt as if something was in his head, banging its fists against the walls of his head trying to break out. "Natsu!" Lucy quickly rushed back to Natsu, helping him remain standing.

"Shit… my head still doesn't feel right ever since the fight against Zeref." Natsu groaned, he felt his heart beating in his ears.

"Hey, what's wrong with flame-brain here?" Gray pulled up with Juvia shortly following her beloved.

"I… I don't know." Lucy shakingly replied as she held onto Natsu, stroking him comfortingly across his back.

"Natsu, pull yourself together!" Happy with his teary eyes, placed his paws onto Natsu's hand. Desperately trying to pull Natsu with him to advance on the enemy troops.

"Heh, if you're feeling sick Natsu, just sit back while I do all the work." Gray scoffed at Natsu and went on ahead with Juvia, the latter took a quick concerned look back at her friends.

"Gray-sama, don't you think that was a bit harsh?" Juvia mumbled to her beloved, she understood Natsu and Gray had their rivalry. But judging the circumstances, this wasn't the time for a contest of strength.

"Nah, just watch." Gray smiled as suddenly a flaming hot ball of fire raged by them.

"Ain't no way in hell you are showing me up, popsicle!" Natsu roared as he charged towards the enemy soldiers.

"I know how to motivate that moron." Gray smirked at seeing his friend rush in to battle in high spirits like usual.

"Rush home you brats! Clear this rift raft away from our guildhall!" Makarov smacked down his gigantic hand onto a group of imperial knights, squashing them and crushing their bones.

"Reinforcements incoming!" Mavis called in, as all of Ishgar's forces came leaping in to battle. All except for one squadron.

"Where are the Saints?" Makarov asked as he couldn't help but notice one of their elite reserve squads missing from the battlefield. Grabbing onto his Wizard Saint medallion, Makarov used it is a commlink. "This is Makarov Dreyar, calling all the Wizard Saints. Can anyone read me?"

Makarov's facial expression became twisted with concern, his old brow furrowing at the deafening silence he got in responds. "Anyone? Warrod-sama! Jura! Hyberion! Mitsurugi! Anyone?!"

"Ugh… Beatrice, reporting in." The sound of an injured Beatrice finally reported through the commlink. The Amazonian, and the strongest Wizard Saint was currently recovering from her encounter with Larcade. Beth, Risley and Arania from Mermaid Heel helping their master recover.

"Beatrice, I'm glad you are okay. Any word from the others?" Makarov let out a sigh of relief, as he continued to smash away soldiers, and toppling over magic mobile tanks.

"None, I'm afraid… I am approaching your position… although with daytime, I am afraid I won't be as useful. But I shall try my best." Beatrice responded sounding timid, as with her daytime persona coming to light.

"Makarov…" Mavis having overheard the discussion looked with a distraught face. "Is Warrod…?" Mavis trembled at the thought, her friend, and other than her the only other living founding member of Fairy Tail, gone.

"First master… I'm sorry." Makarov had to face reality, if no one else responded to that call it meant one of two things. One, they had lost their medallions, but all of them losing it at once was highly unlikely. Or two, they had all been killed in action.

"Yes! All the lot are dead!" Eight colored snake dragon avatars came crashing into their forces. Pushing away all of Ishgar's mages, like a line had been drawn in the sand. "Fiona, Wolfheim, Mitsurugi, Noel, Jura, Warrod and Hyberion… all dead." God Serena presented himself in a flashy manner as he stood before Mavis and Makarov. "And once I kill you, Makarov! Only Beatrice will be left, though I plan to save her for when nightfall comes. For now, I will capture Fairy Heart for his majesty!" God Serena confidently declared.

"God Serena!" Makarov hissed at the former top Wizard Saint. "Are you telling me you killed the other Saints?!" Makarov grew in size, and with a golden magical aura enveloping his giant form.

"Indeed! Well, Warrod and Jura were both killed by August! But the rest, were slain by yours truly!" At hearing this Makarov groaned in anguish. If the Saints had faced God Serena and Magic King August, there is no wonder the Wizard Saints fell. If only he had been there. Makarov cursed himself for being unable to come to the other Saints' aid.

"Who is August?" A colossal wave of golden magic power exploded around Mavis, her magic power enveloping the entire army of Ishgar. All of them having golden auras like Mavis, and suddenly they all found themselves energized.

"Push them back!" Elfman with this new golden aura from Mavis, launched away fifty soldiers in one single punch. Cana obliterated an entire advancing armada with a single strike of Fairy Glitter that shook the earth, and left a scar on the land.

Mavis' radiant magic power, even in the face of someone like God Serena, far eclipsed the Spriggan. God Serena actually found himself trembling. 'What is this…?' God Serena reached his arm to his brow, feeling his brow was wet, God Serena shakingly lowered his arm seeing sweat. 'Is this… fear? It is as if I was standing before his majesty himself.' God Serena's smile faded, as he eyed the form of Mavis, a young frail looking girl, was emitting this kind of pressure. All because of Fairy Heart.

Mavis' once warm green eyes, now looked cold and heartless like that of Zeref himself as she glared at God Serena. "Bring this man named August to me." Mavis commanded, seeking retribution for the death of her friend.

"First master! Calm yourself!" Makarov pleaded with Mavis. This would only draw the attention of more of the twelve. And on que, Mavis's magic power was frozen in ice for a brief moment. Although the violent output of the infinite magic of Fairy Heart, broke through and shattered the ice like glass.

"Astonishing." Invel flicked his glasses, as he hungrily stared at the price his majesty so desired. Mavis Vermillion, the wielder of Fairy Heart. "God Serena, do not falter. In this moment, forget your desires… forget your dreams… forget your fears… forget all, but your Emperor." Invel advised God Serena, and despite Mavis' power heavily outclassing his own. Invel without any fear stood here to claim his Emperor's price, and earn his Emperor's favor.

A wall of fire and ice, a nebula cannon of water, and a dropkick that split the ground. All came in between the two Spriggan and Mavis. Lucy in her Taurus Star Dress, dug her heal out from the split ground as she glared at the Spriggan. Natsu and Gray stepped before the fire and ice. And Juvia came riding in on a wave of water. "Leave these chumps to us. Gramps, first master… you go on forward." Natsu declared as he pushed his fist forward launching a cannon of blazing fire.

"First master, please… let's leave it to these brats. They are strong." Makarov pleaded with Mavis to follow him and advance on the guildhall. Makarov had full faith in the strength of his children. Mavis reluctantly nodded. Mavis would just find this August later. Mavis followed Makarov and a group of wizards towards the guildhall.

Invel's gaze followed that of Mavis, and directed his hand at her ready to unleash a spell to trap her. But instead, he was met with a wall of blazing fire coming in between him and Mavis. "Nuisance." Invel clicked his tongue, and froze Natsu's fire whilst also turning the battlefield into a winter wonderland in the blink of an eye. But Mavis was lost amongst the crowd of soldiers.

Gray suddenly even flinched at this change of environment. 'I feel… cold.' Gray looked in bewilderment, him an Ice maker wizard/Ice Devil Slayer felt cold. "Two of the Twelve… one for each of us, eh, Natsu?" Gray not wasting any time grew black demonic marks from his arm. He needed to use his Devil Slayer power to counter this chilling feeling he got from Invel.

"Yeah! The bozo with the big orange hair is mine!" Natsu declared as he emitted a huge amount of fire from his very being. Natsu simply wanted the fight the stronger opponent, he could smell it, God Serena's power was greater than that of Invel.

"Hmph, a mere fire dragon wants to face the newly born God of dragons?" God Serena's eyes turned black, and his pupils glowed yellow as he emitted a destructive aura of power that shook the entire battlefield. "Haha! I've already killed the Wizard Saints, what makes you think you can stand against me?!"

"Shut your mouth." Natsu snarled, his tone of voice annoying God Serena as veins bulged around his temple and his gaze narrowed at Natsu. "The Saints… were powerful wizards. Jura… old man Warrod were both amazing. Gramps is amazing. I may not know the rest of them, but I know they were all amazing. And you bragging about killing them… pisses me off!" Natsu rocketed at God Serena, clashing his fiery covered body straight into the former top Wizard Saint's gut.

God Serena gasped in shock, his body bending forward and getting pushed back from the force of Natsu's attack. Natsu followed with a straight flaming upper cut to God Serena's jaw, and God Serena was hoisted a few feet off the ground. Natsu doubled up with a spinning fiery kick to God Serena's side sending him propelling into a group of Imperial Knights.

The imperial knights were incinerated and blown away, as God Serena unleashed his power. God Serena chuckled as he looked at Natsu. "That was a nice combo attack. Dragon boy~" God Serena seemed hardly faced from Natsu's onslaught of attacks, and smirked. "But what is this? You seem not to be in top shape~" God Serena taunted as he saw Natsu was already out of breath. Clutching onto his chest like he was in pain, Natsu sweated. The pain in his body was increasing, Natsu felt close to passing out. "I will do you a favor and end your misery now. In a God-like fashion!" God Serena posed as he also puffed his cheeks.

"Gale Dragon: Song of Moon and Wind!" God Serena unleashed a destructive flashing blast wave of energy from his mouth. The blast unleashed a blinding light, and its destructive force tore away at the landscape before it. Although then suddenly, cracks began spreading across the attack like a cobweb and it imploded in a flashing display of destructive vibrating energy.

God Serena gasped in confusion. A giant cloud of dust had gathered across the battlefield. And the ground was cracked open. Natsu stood with Lucy and Happy by his side, all looking caught off guard and confused as to why the attack did not hit. "Did my attack fail?" God Serena blinked his eyes in confusion.

"What happened?" Natsu himself looked in disbelief.

"The magic of his attack, just vanished…" Lucy muttered in disbelief as well.

Gray seeing the distinctive cube shape of the cracks however, cracked a smirk. "No, it was broken." Gray smiled as a shadowy figure was revealed to be hidden in the dust cloud.

The dust cleared away revealing a cybernetic arm, and a cloak dancing in the wind. A tall muscular man with long flowy orange hair and a growing beard stood there smiling in the center. "Yo." Gildarts Clive greeted as he stood face-to-face with God Serena.

"Gildarts!" Happy and Natsu both cheered enthusiastically.

"Took you long enough." Cana smiled from the sidelines at seeing her father again after all this time.

God Serena frowned his lips at this man who had broken his Godly spell just like that. Not liking the look from God Serena, Gildarts returned with a death glare of his own whilst smiling and his stomach rumbling. "I'm hungry as hell… step aside boy. I'm going back to our guild." Gildarts told off God Serena. Gildarts unleashed the full force of his aura, which caused the winter wonderland of ice that had become the battlefield to shatter. Invel was left in awe at seeing his ice broken from getting in contact with Gildarts' aura alone.

"This man is dangerous." Invel acknowledged the power of Gildarts, and from the looks of it so did God Serena.

"Heh, nice… I will play with you for a bit!" God Serena unleashed his own power to match Gildarts' destructive aura. Their combined powers were enough to split and tear apart the ground. The land the two of them were standing on rose up like a pillar, while the rest of the land sank. Both fighters jumped and threw a heavy punch, their fists colliding and generating mighty shockwaves. "This sheer sense of battle experience. And your intense and well-honed battle spirit. You are an S-class mage, right?"

"And you seem like an overconfident brat that needs to be put down a peg or two." Gildarts smirked as he unleashed a blast wave of energy that knocked God Serena backwards.

'His magic… it carries as much destructive power as Dragon Slayer magic. A true monster…' God Serena sunk his feet through the rocky surface and halted himself from skidding backwards. God Serena smirked as he looked at his bruised fist. "That was a nice punch." God Serena licked his bloodied fist. "For once, I feel like I have come across a fellow godly opponent to talk to."

"What would we have to talk about? I'm meeting you for the first time, and already I can't stand your ugly mug." Gildarts tossed aside his cloak, rotating his shoulder and clenching his mechanical fist.

"That so? And here I was going to ask you to join the Spriggan Twelve." God Serena had truly been impressed with Gildart's strength. It further proved how shallow the Wizard Saints were, if Gildarts was not a member with such power.

"Read the emblem and weep kid. I'm with Fairy Tail." Gildarts pointed to his guild emblem as he stared down God Serena.

"I see…" God Serena vanished from sight leaving behind a trail of lightning. God Serena appeared before Gildarts, jumping down and getting to boxing. God Serena threw heavy punches at Gildarts, one fist infused with blazing fire and the other with a storm twister. Gildarts utilized his Crush magic and broke through God Serena's punches, their fists smashed and clashed against each other generating multiple series of shockwaves. "Why waste your talents with a mere wizarding guild?! With such power you could rise to great heights! Aren't you sad?! Your talents go unseen and wasted, and in time no one will even remember your name!" Both slammed their forearms against each other, Gildarts clenched his teeth and groaned while God Serena smiled from ear to ear. "Why is that? Why pick the rowdy guild wizard life, when you can stand with the elites? As a fellow talented mighty wizard, I just cannot comprehend it!"

"The answer is simple. I just can't stand obnoxious pricks like you!" Gildarts once again blew God Serena away with a shockwave of his magic power.

"This is why I hate Ishgar… The Ten Wizard Saints… they hold true powerful mages back!" God Serena unleashed a giant tornado twister with a single wave of his arm, the twister clashed into Gildarts who with one single pulse of his Crush magic dissolved it.

Meanwhile, down below the giant pillar of earth the collective powers of Gildarts and God Serena had created. Invel was left facing off against Natsu, Gray, Lucy and Juvia. Invel's death glare was focused onto Natsu, the younger brother of his emperor and the only one keeping Zeref tied to his humanity. "Natsu Dragneel. You were lucky to survive the skirmish against his majesty earlier. But this time, I shall end you." Invel directed his hand at Natsu, and unleashed a giant pillar of ice aimed to pierce through Natsu. However, suddenly the ice all got sucked up. The ice turned into small crystals as they were broken down and inhaled by Gray Fullbuster.

Gray exhaled as he finished eating Invel's spell, cold air emitting from his breath as his black Devil Slayer marks grew across his body. "I'm your opponent." Gray declared, he saw the shape Natsu was in and knew he wasn't at his best. Natsu was panting, and from the looks of it burning up with a fever. As despite the cold winter land created by Invel, Natsu was sweating.

"You are… Gray Fullbuster." Invel acknowledged, he had studied on all notable wizards from Ishgar. And amongst them, was their only Devil Slayer, Gray.

"Gray… back off, I can handle this chump." Natsu groaned, although he, Lucy and Happy were suddenly snatched up by a giant hand. Lucy squealed in fright, and Natsu gasped seeing as they were snatched up by Brandish.

"I will take these three and deal with them." Brandish told Invel as she walked away before Invel could say anything.

"Very well. His majesty's true price is Mavis Vermillion after all. I suppose I could leave Natsu Dragneel to you." Invel allowed Brandish to walk away with Natsu, Lucy and Happy. Neither noticing that Dimaria eyed from a distance, and decided to follow after Brandish.

"Guess it's two against one. Ready, Juvia?" Gray and Juvia both got into a battle stance.

"Yes! Gray-sama!" Juvia was overjoyed of being able to fight by her beloved's side.

"Count again." Both Gray and Juvia's body suddenly began twisting. Their limbs restrained and both groaning in immense pain as they felt their insides turning.

Invel smiled upon the arrival of his second in command. "Arthur." Invel greeted.

Juvia froze, her eyes widened and her body trembling. Juvia and Gray both eyed Arthur, and felt his immense power. "Another member of the Twelve?" Juvia mumbled. Arthur felt so powerful to her that he might as well be a member of the Twelve.

"Not quite yet, sweetheart." Arthur gracefully presented himself. "I am the commander of Beta squadron. And the second in command of Invel-sama's squad. But after this war, someone is going to need to fill in the empty spots of the Twelve."

'This guy… he is stronger than gramps.' Gray acknowledged. Arthur was stronger than the likes of Makarov Dreyar, in fact Arthur was nearly as strong as Neinhart was. Gray widened his eyes as suddenly ice spikes grew out beneath Arthur's feet and had him take a leap back. Gray had broken Arthur's concentration and thus broken his hold on them.

"Arthur, deal with the water woman. Gray Fullbuster is too powerful for the likes of you." Invel had to admit, the power he sensed from Gray was impressive. No wonder Bloodman had faced defeat at the hands of Gajeel and Gray.

"As you command." Arthur lowered his head to his master.

"You ready Juvia?" Gray for once in battle didn't dare remove any extra layers of clothes, he couldn't believe it but he was freezing just by being in Invel's presence.

"Ready, Gray-sama." Juvia herself was also feeling the cold air. Juvia also couldn't help but be a little worried, the Twelve were no joke and by the looks of Arthur neither was he. Juvia may have gotten stronger since last year, but was she stronger than the likes of Makarov? Well, only one way to find out.

Invel smirked and with a flash of his aura, Invel generated a colossal snow storm. It covered the entire area, it was just like Ajeel's sandstorm over Magnolia, only Invel seemed to require no effort on his part in creating this storm. It was supposed to be summer time around this time of year, so many were not prepared for this storming blizzard. Several mages and knights, ended up freezing to near death. And if this storm continued, they would all be dead.

Invel being the center of this storm, was completely unaffected by its chilling effects. And Arthur although he shivered a little, he seemed relatively fine. Invel flicked his glasses, as he glared at Gray. "You know, this war has been one of many firsts for us in the Empire. Usually, we only need to send one of the Twelve to annihilate an entire nation, or on occasion Arthur and his Beta Squadron gets the job done. But against you lot, not only have we unleashed the full might of the Twelve. But you wizards of Ishgar, have done what was thought to be impossible. You have not only killed one, but four of the twelve. And that is a first, since the founding of the Twelve Shields. Usually, we kill each other for rank and status, or to replace a current member. And most infuriating of all… this has been the first time. Our emperor has questioned our worth." Invel's eyes boiled with rage, as the blizzard intensified.

"Maybe if you stopped worrying about kissing up to Zeref's ass. And actually, trained to better yourselves, your worth wouldn't have been questioned." Gray responded with a snarl. Gray hated Zeref with a burning passion, the man was responsible for all the misfortune in his life. "But if you want, go ahead and bitch about it. For I am about to turn that number into 5 dead Spriggan Twelve members." Gray countered with his Devil Slayer powers, the black markings spreading across his body and his hair floating upwards.

"Heh, I can't say I dislike that confidence." Invel smirked as he held his hand out, unleashing a spinning whirlwind of snow to clash into Gray. "I am well aware of your Ice Devil Slayer abilities. I have no intention of acting as a powerup source for you to devour my ice."

Gray groaned and stretched his arms out, causing the giant spinning whirlwind to freeze into a pillar of ice. "There it is." Invel smirked and waved his hand aside, causing the frozen whirlwind to move like it was frozen liquid, the frozen liquid danced around and suddenly Gray was slashed across his body.

Gray groaned as he was cut across his body with small gashes. 'He hid small ice blades in the frozen liquid…'

"I am the Winter General, Inver Yura, I control the purest form of Ice magic in any shape or form. Solid, liquified, gas…" As Invel finished Gray coughed up blood, feeling his lungs were freezing to ice. Gray however, quickly turned the tables with his Ice Devil Slayer powers, he converted the ice attempting to freeze his lungs into power. "I see, marvelous, your ability is quite extraordinary." Invel complimented as he launched Gray flying backwards by unleashing a blast of snow.

Gray groaned. His arms bruised. It was as if Invel waited for the perfect moment to turn his snow, into solid ice to damage Gray, and quickly turn it back before Gray could eat it. "Ice Devil: Zeroth Long Sword!" Gray blitzed Invel and slashed the Winter General with his long sword. The violet-colored Devil Slayer ice inflicting damage onto Invel's body, as it froze the area it cut.

"Interesting…" Invel backhanded Gray with a spiral of snow coating his fist, Gray backflipped away from Invel. Brushing his hand against his busted lip where blood was dripping from a cut. It was like Gray had been cut by a razorblade. "Your Maker magic, added with the power of a Devil Slayer… makes you quite the versatile opponent." Invel dragged his hand across the cut, and it was like the ice was pulled off and converted into Invel's hand. Invel held a ball of the converted ice, molding and shaping it with spikes as he pleased. Throwing the ball into the air, Invel smirked as he flicked his fingers as the spiked ice ball scattered off into hundreds of ice blades.

The ice blades rained down around them, and Gray heard the echoing cries of people getting stabbed. "What did you…" Gray mumbled.

"I just converted your attack for my benefit. And used it to attack some nearby mages from Ishgar battling our forces." Invel revealed, and seeing the smirk on the Winter General's face had Gray boil with rage. "That is quite the glare you have there. Seems you are closer to falling into darkness after all."

"Shut your trap!" Gray jumped at Invel and threw a heavy right hook, Invel easily blocked it off with a shield made of snow. The shield exploded as a cannon ball of ice shot through and into Gray's stomach. Gray grabbed onto the ice ball, attempting to eat it, but it flung itself out from his hand and back to Invel.

"I thought I told you. I have no interest in fueling your power." Invel continued to taunt Gray, and quickly had a pillar of ice emerge from Gray's blind spot. Gray groaned as he was launched into the air, as the ice pillar clashed into his upper back. Invel proceeded to direct the storming snow blizzard, into sending a gust of wind blasting Gray crashing down to the ground from the heavens. 'Go ahead, Gray Fullbuster… despair and become consumed by the darkness of Devil Slayer magic. Then, I shall arrange a death match with your hated foe, E.N.D.' Invel snickered to himself as he looked at Gray groveling in the snow. 'Once Arthur kills that woman, you will get your revenge on Arthur, and then take his place as my second in command.' Invel's thoughts revealed his true intentions, yes, he never wanted to kill Gray. After all, Gray was the only known living Devil Slayer now that Neinhart was dead. He would be far more useful as an ally than a foe.

"Ice Devil: Rage!" Gray unleashed a breath attack, a destructive blast of ice shards capable of leveling an entire town. And Invel bare handed grabbed onto it, and with a mere twist of his hands he negated the blast.

"It's pointless. Huh?" Invel twitched his brow, as suddenly he felt cold. A chilling sensation spreading from his fingers, to his arms. "Would you look at that?" Invel quickly converted the newly acquired ice on his hands into liquid, as it dripped off and was formed into a ball floating in Invel's hand. The floating ball suddenly solidified itself into an ice ball with spikes. Invel with a thrust of his fingers launched the spiked ice ball at Gray.

Gray attempted to absorb the spiked ice ball. However, his efforts were in vain. Gray's face grimaced in pain as the spiked ice ball slammed into his gut. The piercing spikes making holes, and scratches across his bare body. 'What's going on…? I can't eat this ice… No wait…' Taking a look at the spiked ice ball, it was colored in a violet shade same as Gray's ice devil slayer magic. 'That's it! I can't eat it because it is my own ice!' Gray realized a fundamental flaw of Slayer magic. A Slayer could not replenish their magical power by eating their own attacks.

"Yes, I can tell you've realized a fundamental fact. I control all types of ice, even your special Devil Slayer ice. I can convert your attacks into liquid, and make them solid again to my own design. I don't have to use my own ice to fight you, when I can just exploit the weakness of Slayer magic, and use your own ice against you." Invel was the master of Winter, the bringer of the Cold embrace of death. The Winter General with his unique and mastery over anything related to ice or the cold, made him invincible in the face of other ice users.

Gray gritted his teeth, and grabbed onto the spiked ice ball. The spikes stabbing through the palm of his hands, yet Gray clenched his grip tightly onto the sphere as it cracked and broke apart. "I'm not so sure about that, bud!" Gray formed a pair of ice gauntlets around his damaged hands, and punched the ground hard enough to cause the surrounding snow to blow up like a smoke screen.

'Is he trying to flank me?' Invel remained stoic, as with a wave of his arm he cleared out all the snow only to find an ice arrow soar towards him. Invel gasped as he barely dodged the ice arrow, as it slashed his shoulder.

"Ice Devil's Zeroth Destruction Bow…" Gray still stood in the same place, having used the smoke screen as a cover up while he prepared a counter attack. "Earlier, you couldn't turn my Zeroth Long Sword into liquid in time, and ended up getting slashed. Meaning, all I have to do is be faster than your damn ice manipulation ability!" Gray gave a taunting smirk at Invel, who quickly removed the ice left by the slash wound from the arrow on his shoulder.

"… Very observant. Marvelous." Invel however, smirked as this only further proved that his thoughts on Gray's abilities were justified. Just by this brief exchange of blows with Gray, Invel could tell Gray's power surpassed some of the Spriggan 12 members. Gray at the moment was stronger than Neinhart, Ajeel, and Jacob. And either surpassed or rivaled Wall Eehto and Brandish. Gray was even quite close to Bloodman's strength level.

Gray on the other hand, was slightly trembling. He could tell Invel was stronger than him, and stronger than that Bloodman guy was. Gray knew, that back when he and Gajeel killed Bloodman, that neither he or Gajeel could have killed Bloodman on their own. Truth of the matter, Gray had assumed Bloodman would be one of the Twelve's strongest members. But there were still those like Invel around that proved otherwise. 'The question on whether or not I can beat him… doesn't matter. I just have to do it. I have to surpass my limits, and take this guy down!' Was all Gray could think of as he clenched his fists.

Juvia in the meantime, was struggling against Arthur. The second in command of Invel, redirected a stream wave of water from Juvia with ease. "Water Nebula!" Juvia created multiple spinning columns of water at Arthur.

Arthur huffed, and merely pointed out his index and middle finger at the incoming columns of water. As the spinning waves of water clashed against his fingertip, the water from Juvia's attack divided and spread into various rays of water. "Murky Lance." The spread water rays, formed themselves into lances of water as they were redirected and sent flying back at Juvia.

Juvia gasped, as the water lances penetrated through her body. "Ho? Water body, eh?" Arthur hummed as he twirled his mustache, seeing Juvia's body mass turn into water and the lances merely phasing through her. "In all my years, I have fought over dozens of fellow water mages… and amongst them, only three others used Water Body magic. Do you know what became of them, miss?" Arthur said and with a wave of his arm, he had Juvia thrown to the side as he manipulated her very body mass of water and flung her into the wall of a ruined building. "They all died against me. My power allows me to bend water, and also…" Arthur noted as he noticed Juvia made her body solid again, only for her to writhe around on the floor in agony. "… to bend blood."

Juvia whimpered and groaned in agony, as her arms and legs were twisting in uncomfortable angles. Arthur continued to torment Juvia, her voice turning into frighten weak whimpers. But suddenly, Juvia's limbs twisted back into place much to Arthur's shock. Juvia surrounded herself with a spinning whirl of water that rose several story feet into the air. 'She turned her body into water to seize my blood manipulation… Still, no matter…' Arthur focused on bending the water around Juvia, causing the spinning whirl to explode. "Hn?" Arthur widened his eyes as suddenly a fist clashed into his chest. Juvia had propelled herself out from the water whirl at the last second, and slammed her fist into Arthur's chest.

Arthur coughed violently, his ribs cracking and blood erupting from his lips. Juvia had turned her fist into a blade of water, to pierce through Arthur's chest. "Juvia is a rain woman… Juvia is also not the same as the other water wizards you have faced in the past! Juvia shall never lose, as long as Gray-sama is by Juvia's side!" Juvia declared as she threw a second punch, this time with a spinning whirl of water surrounding her fist.

Arthur was launched more than ten feet into the air from Juvia's upper cut punch. "… This woman, she fought back against my water manipulation?" Arthur the moment he had been stabbed by Juvia, had manipulated the water blade enough to not pierce deep enough, but Juvia had still managed to keep it sustained despite Arthur's attempt to dissolve the water blade.

Juvia glared up at Arthur, she threw her arm back and thrusted her palm forward launching a giant pillar of water towards Arthur. Arthur raised his arm, and swung it down in a karate chop strike causing the soaring water pillar to divide itself. "Murky Water Barrage." Arthur manipulated the divided water pillar, turning it into several eagle shaped projectiles that he launched towards Juvia.

Juvia holds her arms out, and generates a massive wall of water to catch the barrage attack from Arthur. The wall however, parts away as Arthur jumps towards Juvia. Arthur draws his blade, and aims for Juvia's neck in a swift slash. "Hmm?" Arthur raises his brow, seeing his arm stopped in its track, as Juvia had bound it with a water serpent. Arthur narrowed his gaze at the serpent, trying to compel it to release him. For a brief moment, the water serpent's grip on Arthur's arm loosened, only to quickly tighten as Juvia clenched her hand into a fist. "Naïve." Arthur wasn't faced, his eyes widened and flashed in a blue color, as suddenly Juvia's body once again began twisting in pain.

Juvia cried out, and the water serpent dissolved as Arthur swung his blade down. "Water Slicer!" Blades of water emerged between Juvia and the blade of Arthur, who could only look in shock as despite Juvia's body twisting and turning from his blood manipulation, Juvia managed to make an attack. Sparks generated as the water slicers pushed against Arthur's blade.

Juvia continued to scream in pain from having her limbs and insides twisted around. The water slicers began wavering under the pressure, showing how far Juvia was being pushed. Juvia's back began bulging, as if something was pushing its way to the surface. "Once I'm done with you, I shall twist that ice Devil Slayer's neck and pop his head off like a champagne cork." The moment he mentioned Gray, Juvia's twisted her head to the side and glared with murderous killing intent at Arthur. "Huh?" Arthur stared in bewilderment, as the bulging back of Juvia, exploded with massive waves of water.

Arthur grunted as the waves clashed into him, pushing him back. The sound of groaning flesh and bones echoed in Arthur's ears, he looked in shock seeing Juvia stand on her own two feet. Her legs and arms twisting themselves back into place. Juvia's blue bangs fell over her left eye, as her right eye had her pupil shrunken to nearly a mere dot. "You dare… threaten Gray-sama's life in Juvia's presence?" Juvia's voice dripped with anger and venom, as the water emerging out from her back took shape. Arthur widened his eyes bit, gazing upon the beauty of a blossoming butterfly. Giant water made butterfly-like wings emerged from Juvia's back, with these wings Juvia looked like a water Fairy.

'How did she twist her limbs back into place? It shouldn't be possible, unless she could manipulate the flow of her own blood… No, wait… she turned her body into water, that's it.' Arthur for a moment had a look of worry on his face, he had thought for a moment that Juvia might be a blood manipulator like himself. But instead, by turning her body into water Juvia had reverted her damaged limbs back into place.

Gray was thrown for a loop, as Invel used the converted Devil Slayer ice to bombard Gray with a series of cannon balls. The cannon balls upon crashing hard into Gray's skin, exploded in a violent explosion. Gray groaned in light pain. Gray didn't take as much damage as he should. Ever since becoming a Devil Slayer, ice attacks didn't damage him nearly at all anymore. But with Invel, it still fucking stung.

'I have to get up nice and close!' Gray rushed through the bombardment, as Invel continued to manipulate the remnants of Gray's used ice attacks. "Ice-Make: Meteorite!" Gray formed a gigantic ice made meteor, that blocked out the entire sunny sky above.

"Fool." Invel snorted and instantly shattered the entire meteorite, converting it into several smaller meteorites that he rained down onto Gray. Gray cried out as he was crushed underneath the meteor shower. "Let's see if he is still-" Invel suddenly felt cold on his right, and turned around to see Gray right up in his face with a raised fist. Gray smashed his fist square into Invel's face, shattering the Spriggan's glasses and sending him flying into a wall.

Gray rushed up to Invel, and kneed the Spriggan in the gut causing Invel to buckle over in pain. Invel snarled and punched Gray square in his cheek, yet Gray did not budge and instead pushed back. Gray followed up with a haymaker punch knocking Invel off balance, in terms of brute strength Gray had Invel outclassed.

Invel quickly used the converted ice from the meteor shower, and unleashed a hail of ice blades stabbing into Gray's back. However, the Gray before him turned out to be an ice clone. "What?!" Invel gasped and looked down seeing Gray kneeling before him, charging up an attack.

"Ice Devil: Rage!" Gray spewed out a massive whirl blast of ice, at point blank range into Invel's face. Invel could only grunt as the blast fully enveloped him, and started freezing his entire body. "Heh, well… guess it was worth a shot." Gray smirked as Invel appeared out from the cold misty cloud of the blast, with light injuries and tears in his clothing.

"Nice tactic." Invel commended Gray, and redirected the Ice Devil Rage attack back into Gray who cried out in pain. "You made an ice clone to take on the meteor shower. And then the blades. But you didn't have time to make one now, did you?" Invel lightly taunted as he kicked Gray square in his jaw while he was down.

Gray rolled over in pain, and quickly shot his arm out firing off an ice lance square into Invel's chest. "Too bad, my reaction speed is quite top notch." Invel taunted as he turned the ice lance into liquid. Invel then converted the ice lance, into an ice cannon ball and slammed it into Gray's back.

Meanwhile, Juvia unleashes a war cry, the butterfly wings made out of water expand and generate giant spinning torrents of water circling around her. Sending them spinning towards Arthur, the Beta Squadron leader with two mere fingers divided up the water drills and negated the attacks. "No matter how many times you try, miss… It's all useless." Not thinking much of the sudden appearance of water butterfly wings from Juvia. Arthur, with a twitch of his fingers had the butterfly wings move strangely and turn into spikes threatening to pierce through Juvia. Although the spikes came to a halt, and began retracting as the water regained its butterfly wings shape.

Arthur hummed with intrigue, stroking twirling his mustache. "Ho? I see, you are trying to gain control over the water yourself. In this kind of situation, it will be a battle of willpower. Huh?!" Arthur suddenly found himself for the first time in awe and genuine shock. He could not manipulate Juvia's water anymore. "Impossible…" Lifting his sword high into the air, Arthur created a colossal towering water serpent dragon. "Serpent of the Abyss." The serpent lunged itself at Juvia, although was blocked off by the water butterfly wings.

"… You threatened Gray-sama…" Juvia spoke in a cold and dangerous tone, as the water serpent imploded and the water from it added to Juvia's wings that grew in size. "For that crime… Juvia shall rip your body in half." Juvia threw her arms forward, as they stretched out like water tentacles and smashed down onto Arthur.

Arthur gasped as he tried to negate the water tentacle whips, only to feel his mental power being pushed back. 'What is this?!' Arthur groaned as he was slammed into the ground by the water tentacles. The tentacles sneered themselves around Arthur like snakes, squeezing hard onto his body in an attempt to crush him. 'How?! Her control over water… overpowers my own!' Upon achieving these water wings, Juvia's control over water itself has grown exponentially. Through the stress put on her body by Arthur constantly bending the flow of Juvia's blood, Juvia desperately tried to push for more power and gain control. And in doing so, achieved these wings.

"Die!" Juvia snarled and jumped towards Arthur, her wings generating massive twisters of water threatening to crush Arthur.

Arthur widened his eyes and lets out frustrated groans. "I don't think so!" Arthur raised his arms up, his fingers extended and veins beginning to bulge across his temple. Juvia froze midair, as her body began twisting around once more from Arthur's blood manipulation. However, this was on a different level than before. Arthur was not only manipulating Juvia's blood, but also Gray's and every surrounding wizard for miles.

Elfman, Lisanna, Evergreen, Bickslow were all writhing in agony further away on the battlefield, their limbs twisting in weird directions as they let out cries of agony. Makarov as he tried to push through the snow storm, came to a halt, falling on one knee as his giant form deflated. "Wh-What's going on?!" Makarov cried out in pain as his arms began twisting behind his back.

Juvia let out muffled screams as her arms and legs were twisting. Her blood was being manipulated, her neck even twisting as Arthur tried to break her neck. Arthur drew out his blade, as he made Juvia walk towards him. Shakingly Juvia moved her legs, forced to comply as Arthur twisted the blood within her veins. Juvia's water butterfly wings lost their form and turned into puddles of water on the ground. "Your resistance is admirable. Such resistance is normal amongst fellow water mages. In all my years, fellow water mages have always been more resistant to my blood manipulation than any other type of mage. But you in particular, are quite extraordinary." Arthur complimented as he noticed Juvia attempting to take a step backwards away from Arthur, whilst also generating a water whip to strike Arthur. Arthur grunted, blood dripping from his nose as he strained himself to the extreme. Veins popping on his temple as blood dripped down onto his face.

"Given a few years, you could perhaps become a fellow blood manipulator. Too bad, that I dislike the competition." Arthur stabbed his blade straight through Juvia's heart whilst also dissolving the water whip into drops of rain. Twisting the blade, Arthur then proceeded to yank it out letting blood spray from Juvia's chest.

Juvia collapsed before him, taking a moment to feel if she was actually dead. Arthur used his blood manipulation to feel if her heart was still beating. The beat was small, faint and fading. 'It's over.' Arthur sheeted his blade as he felt Juvia's heart coming to a stop. "I suppose I should see if Invel-sama requires my aid." Arthur took his focus away from Juvia now that she was dealt with, however Arthur continued to push himself and torment all surrounding wizards except for Invel. However, Arthur looked in surprise as Gray fought through Arthur's blood manipulation.

Gray continued to struggle against Invel, who looked on with intrigue. 'Why hasn't Invel-sama finished him off yet? Gray's movements are restricted quite a bit by my blood manipulation, so why does not Invel-sama cut him down?' Arthur visibly grunts and looks with great suspicion upon his commanding officer. "I suppose I should put my full attention onto Gray Fullbuster… if Invel-sama won't kill him, I will." As he said that, Arthur heard the sound of dripping water. Arthur widened his eyes in shock as he turned around.

Juvia had jumped up, her eyes filled with bloodlust at seeing Arthur attempting to attack her beloved Gray. Juvia had formed a blade of water around her arm, as she shot forward like a jet riding on water waves. 'She's not dead!' Arthur was quick to manipulate Juvia's blood instead, only to discover Juvia had turned her entire body into water. The water that was Juvia splashed into Arthur's face, blinding him for a short moment.

The water reformed back into Juvia behind Arthur. 'I will just manipulate all the nearby water!' If he couldn't see, Arthur would focus on all surrounding water making Juvia's water jets come to a halt.

Juvia however, jumped at Arthur and her water blade turned into solid ice. Arthur having regained his vision looked in shock. "Cryo-Ice Silver Blade!" Having named the attack after her beloved Gray's deceased father, Juvia charged at Arthur. 'She's learned to turn her water into solid form?' Arthur could only manipulate that which was liquid based, thus he could not touch ice. Yet Juvia was able to manipulate her water into solid form! 'I have to quickly manipulate her blood!' Arthur desperately tried to act on the charging Juvia with his blood manipulation.

If it had been a mere nano second faster, Arthur would have been successful. But Juvia was a tad bit faster. "Witness the love Juvia holds for Gray-sama! For Gray-sama Juvia learnt how to use ice!" Arthur had managed to twist the blood in Juvia for a short second. But with Juvia's declaration of love for Gray, she slashed her ice blade through Arthur's torso before he could break her body from within. Juvia had learnt this move to surprise Gray, wanting to have more things in common with her beloved. As well as to act as Gray's support and fuel for more magical power in a battle.

Juvia had dealt the finishing blow. She had cut Arthur's body in half severing his upper body from his lower body. In that moment, all surrounding wizards were released from Arthur's blood manipulation. Further out on the battlefield, Elfman, Bickslow, Lisanna and Evergreen all gasped finding themselves able to move. Similar to Makarov, who gasped and took a moment to regain his breath. "Well done… whoever defeated the blood manipulator. Well done." Makarov smirked as he had a feeling it was one of his brats that had accomplished this feat.

Juvia fell to the ground and skidded forward in the snow. "Juvia won… Gray-sama." Juvia smiled as she reached out to Gray, who diverted his attention from Invel for but a moment.

"Juvia! Look out!" Gray called out and instantly rushed to her.

"Huh?" Juvia gasped in confusion, turning around she noticed Arthur was not dead. Arthur stayed alive, by desperately using his own blood to connect his severed lower half to his upper half.

"I must commend you… never before has someone caught me off guard like that. You are quite the talented water wizard, who rival myself and your nations Wizard Saints. Now, die." Arthur slashes his blood at Juvia, like a blood slash it cut straight through Juvia's body.

"J-Juvia… cannot die here!" Juvia groaned, having turned her body into water she survived the blow.

"We sure have quite similar abilities…" Arthur said as his blood was beginning to pull his upper body onto his lower half, in an attempt to reattach itself. However, before the blood could reattach Arthur's body, Gray jumped in and froze Arthur's blood in ice.

Juvia gasped at seeing Arthur's blood freeze, Juvia let herself be shocked for a mere second. Juvia steels her gaze, as she responds by spitting out a bullet of water that pierced through the frozen connected blood. Arthur gasped, as his upper body broke off and fell in a thud into the snow. 'My blood is frozen… If Invel-sama could just unfreeze my blood, I should be fine.' Arthur shakingly looked to Invel, who instead of seeming interested in saving Arthur. Seemed far more intrigued with Gray and Juvia. Arthur knew that look, Invel had no use for him anymore and was thus looking for a replacement. 'I see… then this is it…' Arthur's eyes lost their light and turned lifeless as with his blood frozen, his entire body shut itself down.

During his battle with Gray, Invel had seen the unique potential. True Arthur had his uses, and has been quite the effective second in command. Invel viewed Arthur as a valued business partner, but now their business came to a close, and Invel needed to invest elsewhere. Arthur had grown rather old, and his powers had peaked. With Gray, Invel saw someone that could take him up further into Zeref's graces. With Gray, slaying all the renegade Demons of the Book of Zeref would be much easier. 'I know you understand, Arthur… this is all for the greater glory of the Empire.'

Invel stepped before Gray and the downed Juvia. The sheer aura unleashed by Invel, was even freezing Arthur's body into solid ice and made Juvia shiver from the cold. "Juvia!" Gray himself started feeling cold as well, disrobing Gray attempted to use his clothes to warm Juvia up even if just a little.

A bullet of ice, then suddenly shot through Juvia's chest causing her to cry out in pain. Gray flinched and looked up at Invel in anger. Invel having shot the ice bullet from his finger tip, glared back at Gray. "It is useless. Her being a water mage, makes her the worst possible opponent for the likes of me. She will turn into a mere popsicle at this rate." Invel declared as he stood over Gray. "My ice bullet is already infesting her body from within, slowly freezing her blood and inner organs. She will die."

"No! I will not let her!" Gray unleashed a war cry, unleashing his Devil Slayer ice to counter Invel's. The clash of their two auras, caused all of the surrounding area that was covered in ice to crack.

With Arthur's frozen severed body splitting into several ice crystals upon falling to the ground, it resonated like broken glass as Gray held onto Juvia. "Juvia! Hang in there! Juvia!" Gray held tightly onto Juvia, she was losing a lot of blood, and Gray was doing his best to freeze the wounds shut so that Juvia could focus on restoring herself within. Having a body made of water, made it easier for Juvia to heal than most from internal damage, but with this cold weather and the ice freezing her from within, she was instead dying slowly.

"Pointless. She is going to die. My ice is freezing her body from within, she is beyond saving." Invel had by no means any intention of killing Gray. In fact, Gray could prove to be the perfect tool. The last, and only living Devil Slayer in the world. Gray was needed should the empire kill the rogue demons of the Books of Zeref. "I could end the process and save her… Should you devote your life to serving me, and his majesty Zeref."

At the mere suggestion of such an offer, Gray's pupils shrank in anger and veins were bulging around his body. "Bastard…! Don't underestimate Juvia! She is strong enough to survive this! Her will is damn unbreakable!" Gray declared as he recalled despite all his rejections to her advances, Juvia had not been discouraged and continued to pursue him. Clenching his fists with regret that he did not accept her advances sooner. "And you can take that offer and shove it up your ass! I could never look Juvia in the eyes again if I accepted that offer! I will not betray my friends!" Gray snarled, veins bulging from his forehead feeling the anger taking over. As the black devil slayer markings spread across his body. Gray's anger and hatred for Invel was bubbling within, although his burning anger was extinguished as he felt the hand of Juvia grab onto his hand.

Gray's eyes froze wide, as he looked down onto Juvia who smiled at him with nothing but love. While Gray, looked close to being overcome by despair at the thought of losing Juvia. His face saddened and tear building up in his eyes. "Gray-sama… Juvia is overjoyed at your praise and care. But please, do not make such a pained face… To Juvia, Gray-sama looks his best when smiling. Like when we first met, and you saved me from my loneliness. To Juvia, Gray-sama is her sun and moon. So, please… do not dampen the warm illuminating light that is Gray-sama… the Gray-sama Juvia came to love with all her heart."

Gray's facial expression softened. "Don't speak… dammit." Gray sobs as tears drip from his eyes onto Juvia's face. Gray leans in closer, as he also lifts Juvia's body up. Gray places his lips onto Juvia's. Breathing air into her. Juvia's eyes go wide, and her body turns boiling hot as she swoons over the moon from having her lips touch Gray's. Gray forgot all of his hatred and anger in this moment, all he focused on was his love for Juvia and his guild. The guild, yes, they didn't have time to waste on Invel. They had to go and reclaim their guild, reclaim their home.

Gray stands up, as he lifts Juvia up bridal style. "Let's go home to our guild, Juvia…" Gray smiles as he looks at the flustered blushing face of Juvia.

Invel flinches as he suddenly feels a change in the air. The air around Gray had shifted. 'What is this? He is not despairing? That woman is going to die you know! My ice within her body is making sure of it! It will freeze her from within and kill her!'

Gray's black hair starts to float upwards, its pitch-black color turning snow silver white with still some mix of his original black hair color. The black Devil Slayer markings grow across his body, his skin looking pitch black like darkness with only the side of his eyes and ears not covered. Gray's finger tips turn into claws. Gray's eyes flashed and turned dark purple, and a third demonic eye opened right on his forehead. Aura of dark blue ice like fire burned around his body, and appeared as flaming horns from his forehead.

"Gray-sama…" Juvia mumbled in awe, despite the cold power that emerged from Gray that made Invel's seem like a cold breeze in comparison. Juvia despite the cold, had never felt warmer than she was in Gray's arms.

"It can't be… this power…" Invel was trembling in fear, as he was backing away in fright of Gray. His body couldn't stop shaking, he was feeling cold. Invel then remembered what Zeref had told August about the ancient Devil Slayer texts Neinhart were so obsessed with."To awaken the purest form of Devil Slayer magic. One must not allow feelings of temptation like revenge, madness, insanity and hatred consume one self. Only by escaping the maddening power of Devil Slayer magic, that befalls all users. As they are forced down a path of darkness. By avoiding this path, regardless of the heartache. Only then, shall one awaken the "Devil Force." By not having despaired when his beloved Juvia was near death. By not having been consumed with hatred towards Invel, and instead only focused on his love for Juvia. Gray awakened the power no other Devil Slayer before him could achieve, Devil Force. 'This is… Devil Force?'

Gray's dark purple eyes fell onto Invel, and the pure pressure of his gaze made Invel feel as if he had been disemboweled. Invel saw before him that his intestines were falling out, and his head was flung into the air after being decapitated. All this was only in Invel's head, feeling the sheer power of Gray's gaze made Invel envision his own death in this battle. 'I don't stand a chance…. Gray's power, it is far greater than what Natsu Dragneel showed in his battle against his majesty. Gray Fullbuster… he just surpassed all of the Spriggan Twelve in the blink of an eye. He has reached August and his majesties level of power, just like that.'

Invel in fear, reached his hand out to end Juvia. If he could get Gray to despair, maybe he would lose this newfound power as a result. However, nothing happened. Invel tried to use the ice he had planted within Juvia's body to kill her, but it wasn't there. Invel gasped as he felt the ice he had planted in Juvia's body, gone. 'When did…?! Don't tell me!' Invel's eyes widened in realization. 'Gray absorbed the ice within her body with that kiss?!' Gray by kissing Juvia, in what Invel had thought was an attempt at CPR, had in fact been Gray absorbing the ice Invel had planted within Juvia's body.

Invel snarls in the face of Gray, who's facial expression remains stoic. "No! I will not fail his majesty! Forget this! I will kill you!" Invel's body explodes in a chilling power, as he envelops his entire body in a knightly armor of ice. "True-Ice Kamui!" Invel wielding an ice lance, rushes at Gray and Juvia. 'My strongest spell! With this I can freeze anything I touch! Even other ice wizards, and those immune to the cold will freeze before my might! As his majesty's advisor, I shall cleave your head from your body!' Invel left everything in his path frozen over in hundreds of layers of ice, the air itself turned into frozen snow.

Gray stoically looked at the approaching Invel, and exhaled his breath in a sigh. The ice-cold weather made Gray's exhale and hot breath create a cloud of steam. Gray's third demonic eye then pulsed out with magic power and glowed. Invel jumped at Gray, and slashed straight through him and Juvia. "I got him! I know for certain my hit landed!"

To Invel's shock and horror, he had cut down an ice statue of Gray holding Juvia. Feeling a chilling cold sensation run down the nape of his neck, Invel whimpered as Gray still holding Juvia bridal style had instantaneously moved behind him. The fear Invel was feeling prevented him from turning around, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back as Gray dealt a swift kick to his back. Invel's ice armor broke to pieces, as his body was flung out from it.

Invel's body as it was flinging around midair, had his terrified gaze fall onto Gray Fullbuster. In his Devil Force form, holding onto Juvia in a near blinding snow blizzard storm. Invel suddenly found himself frozen in midair, as Gray was slowly approaching him. It was as if Gray's ice power had reached the point, where he could freeze time itself. Not since the time he joined the Twelve, and fought August, has Invel ever felt so outmatched.

His body unable to even tremble in fear, as he was frozen stiff from fear. Invel could only watch as Gray walked up to him, expecting to be cut down. Gray instead walked right past him, and whispered something into his ear. "Devil Slayer Secret Art: Presence of the Devil King." Gray walked straight past Invel, who suddenly had the entire air around him break apart. The sound of shattering glass, as Invel's body was enveloped by a giant pillar of ice blue flames similar to Gray's new aura.

Invel unable to even scream, could only gap with a pained expression twisted across his face. His eyes pure white, with his pupils not even visible. The pillar then froze into a tower of ice, before shattering as Invel's body collapsed and fell into the snow. Invel was letting out pained gasps, as his body continued to twitch in pain as he laid there in the snow. As Invel collapsed, the snow storm came to a sudden halt and the summer sun pierced through the darkened clouds.

Gray couldn't care less about Invel, he couldn't bring himself to care enough to kill the beaten fool. All Gray cared about in this moment, was the beautiful blue haired woman in his arms. "Juvia… I feel like, I am finally able to express my feelings."

Juvia's heart was beating with anticipation, her eyes not having moved away for a second from Gray's face since he held her in his arm. Gray leaned in closer, staring intently into Juvia's eyes. "I love you, Juvia." Gray whispered, causing her heart to skip a beat. "Would you be my girlfriend?" Gray asked.

Juvia was near tears, as joy overfilled her heart. "Yes, Juvia wholeheartedly accepts…" Their lips touched once more in a passionate kiss. Despite this surrounding winter land, the atmosphere felt warm.

Meanwhile, on the far side of the battlefield, the second in command of Larcade suddenly flinches and gasps in shock. "Arthur is dead?" Samuel questions himself in disbelief, he had not thought that his commanding officer would bite it first, at least not before Lugh. "No! Oh, this is such a tragedy! Why God?! Why?!" Samuel falls to his knees, his hands covering his face as he begins to weep. "Arthur, oh brave Arthur…" Quickly recovering, Samuel stands back up on his feet. "I shall avenge you, my mentor." Not once from this "sadness" did Samuel's body language change, his shoulders did not drop, in fact he stretched his arms wide open and smiled, as the tears continued to run down his face.

"Advance forward men!" Rufus of Sabertooth, was seen coming rushing in towards Samuel and his forces. Rufus ran next to Yukino, and with a whole battalion of Sabertooth wizards behind them. "Memory Make: A Night of Falling Stars!" Rufus' body glowed in a golden aura, and like shooting star the aura generated into a beam and shot to the heavens.

"Ho?" Samuel smiled brightly at the shining ray of energy. The beam then scattered into several shots and rained down onto Samuel and his forces. The cries of his men echoed around him, and Samuel's body was riddled with holes and electrocuted by lightning that was contained in the blast. "Ho? My, oh my, that was quite the fast attack. It was just like Lugh's…" Samuel looked with a twisted smirk, as his body regenerated from any damage. "Ah, that stings…" Samuel moaned from the pain. "It is only fitting, for a sinner such as myself to endure this pain. But you are not free from sin either… do not worry, in the name of Larcade-sama, I shall cleanse you of sin." Samuel smirked as he pulled out a sawed-off shotgun from his coat.

Upon the now frozen pillar of earth and stone, God Serena and Gildarts clashed their fists against each other. The sheer force of their fists causing the clouds to disperse and be blown away. With a burst of their collected aura, the entire pillar proceeded to crumble. Gildarts grabbed onto the earth of the platform they were standing on, and proceeded to hoist it up causing it to flip spinning across the air like a flipped coin. The earth platform crashes violently further away into the battlefield, crushing several Imperial soldiers and their magic mobile tanks underneath it.

God Serena emerges out from the rubble, the burst of his aura scattering the various rocky debris causing them to circle around him like two rings. "Cavern Dragon: Roar!" God Serena unleashed a mighty breath attack of earth and stone, sending it straight towards Gildarts.

"Hngh!" With a mere grunt Gildarts throws a punch at the breath attack, and dissolves it into a series of cubes. God Serena chuckled at seeing Gildarts dissolve his attack like nothing.

"Amazing! Where have you been all my life?! Hiding under a rock!" God Serena rushed at Gildarts, wondering why such a powerful mage in Ishgar didn't show himself to him before.

"Sheesh, you are a creep." Gildarts on the other hand, did not share the same enthusiasm as God Serena. Granted, in the past Gildarts had been curious how a fight against God Serena would have gone in the past. But after having stumbled onto this war, all Gildarts could care about was help his comrades end this war so that he can share a drink with his daughter.

"Thunder Dragon: Howling Storm!" Black thunder storm clouds took form in the heavens, blocking out sunlight. And bolts of thunder rained down onto Gildarts. Gildarts held his arm up, and caught the incoming thunder bolts which all shattered before his Crush magic. The thunder scattered like specks of light, with a mighty kick Gildarts split open the ground as he launched himself at God Serena.

God Serena had a wicked smirk plastered on his face, letting out small sounding chuckles as he coats his fists with fire. "Purgatory Dragon: Hell Rising Fists!" Throwing a series of punches, God Serena created a storm of fire from the sheer force of his swings. Gildarts raised his cloak, blocking off the fire and with a mighty sideways swing of his arm generated a shockwave that put out the blazing inferno. God Serena threw his flame coated fist, and clashed with Gildarts' heavy fist. White lights, and blazing fire shone from the battle, and burst to life in a mighty explosion. Cubes of the torn open ground floated up as a result of Gildarts' Crush Magic, and were incinerated before the heat of God Serena's flames. "Diamond Dragon: Fortress Crusher!" The flames on his fists were snuffed out, and replaced by mineral diamond made gauntlets.

God Serena's diamond enhanced fist clashed into Gildarts' face, breaking his nose. Blood poured out from Gildarts' broken nose. Gildarts toughened up and fought through it, and dealt an upper cut to God Serena's jaw. The sheer shockwave of Gildarts' punch, sent God Serena propelling into the skies above.

More than a hundred meters off the ground, God Serena rubbed his sore jaw and glanced down at Gildarts. Gildarts vanished from sight, and appeared right over God Serena. Gildarts having blitzed God Serena and taken a mighty leap to the heavens. The ground bellow had further sunken into a bigger crater, and entire mountains were reduced to rubble from the intense force of Gildarts' leap. "Crushing Evil, Spreading the Truth: Absolute Heaven!" Gildarts threw a heavy punch into God Serena's solar plexus, the force of the punch shattered God Serena's rib cage and pushed into his lungs. God Serena gasped and vomited out a puddle of blood. A mighty white explosion erupted from God Serena's solar plexus as he was launched crashing down to the earth.

"Cavern Dragon: Earth Collapse!" God Serena upon landing onto the earth, unleashed a surging green aura that spread throughout the earth. A massive explosion erupted. The screams of surrounding armies echoed as they were obliterated. God Serena dragged up, and tossed a giant chunk of the earth to the sky. It was like God Serena had tossed up an entire island and flipped it over. Gildarts looked up, as the giant shadow of the collapsing island sized chunk of earth fell onto him.

"Mizuwari!" Gildarts punched the falling chunk of earth, and thus generated an intense shockwave that ripped the entire island sized chunk of earth to pieces.

"Amazing! You are an amazing wizard! You just have to join the Spriggan Twelve! Gildarts! Fight me for eternity!" God Serena let out a maddening chuckle as he stared at the falling Gildarts, who was coming crashing down standing on a small cube of earth.

Gildarts grunted, as he kicked himself off from the earth cube and launched himself like a rocket towards God Serena. "Diamond Dragon: Diamond Form!" God Serena coated his entire body in an armor made of Diamonds. Gildarts landed before God Serena, the ground beneath his feet exploding into chunks of dust that flung into the air. Gildarts threw a punch at God Serena, who caught it with his diamond coated hand. God Serena followed up with a punch of his own, that Gildarts caught with his mechanical arm.

Taking notice of the mechanical prosthetic arm, God Serena smirked. "A fine experienced warrior as yourself just has to join the Twelve! It is a rank reserved for the true mightiest wizards in the world! Not a lie like that of the Wizard Saints! With the Twelve, you just have to prove yourself and kill a current member! And then prove your might! You and many others in Ishgar currently have that potential! Yet you waste it! You waste all that talent! All that power! This world is reserved for the chosen ones with power!"

"Do you ever shut up?!" Gildarts headbutted God Serena, staring into the darkening eyes of the former Wizard Saints, who's eyes glowed golden with excitement. "Strength? Power? The world is reserved for the ones with power? You talking like that proves you don't know shit." Gildarts grunted as he continued to headbutt God Serena. The diamond armor on God Serena's forehead even began to crack.

God Serena looked flabbergasted, as despite Gildarts injuring himself as well, he continued to headbutt God Serena. Blood trickling down Gildarts' face from a cut on his forehead, yet Gildarts smiled. "You are nothing but a spoiled brat born with a silver spoon up your ass. The minuet you felt inferior and lost, you cried for more power and got these lacrimas. You were a tool for the council. And you are still nothing but a tool to Zeref."

God Serena's smile faded, and veins began bulging around his temple as he glared at Gildarts. "My Godly power is absolute! I killed the fake Saints! And if you won't join us, I will kill you as well! You may be one of the chosen ones! But my Godly power is still superior to you!" God Serena suddenly gasped as his diamond armor cracked.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever go ahead and cry if you want to!" Gildarts headbutted God Serena one more time, and God Serena's diamond armor completely shattered. God Serena recoiled his head backwards, as a large bruise formed on his forehead. "Cry all you want. I will show you the worth of a true wizard." Gildarts punched God Serena in the stomach, and hoisted the Spriggan up into the air before body slamming him to the ground.

"Darkness Dragon: Fading Shade!" God Serena phased through the ground. No, it was like he phased through into his own shadow. God Serena reemerged out from Gildarts' shadow, with his arm raised. "Sea King Dragon: Encircling Deluge!" God Serena formed a giant and vast highly pressured torrent of water. The spiraling torrent surrounded God Serena's arm as he punched Gildarts' back.

Gildarts cried out in pain, as the highly pressured water shredded at his skin and into his flesh like blades. Unleashing a burst of his aura, Gildarts had God Serena's attack dispelled and as well made the Spriggan recoil his fist back from the pressure. Gildarts turned around and elbowed God Serena in the chest. God Serena groaned and then unleashed a breath attack of blazing fire into Gildarts' face.

The fire stretched out like a beam, and tore through the clouds in the sky. Generating such heat, the gathered clouds turned into a thunder storm. Gale Dragon: Tempest of Snow, Moon and Flowers!" With a swing of his arm, God Serena generated multiple giant wind cyclones from every direction. The wind shredded through Gildarts' cloak, and cut into his skin. "Thunder Dragon: Roaring Heavens!" A series of thunder bolts rained down from several clouds in the sky, and all clashed into the cyclones causing the wind in the cyclones to merge with the thunder. Burns and cuts appeared across Gildarts' entire body.

Gildarts groans in pain, his prosthetic limbs also cracking and nearly breaking apart. Gildarts unleashes a mighty war cry, and spreads his arms out. "All Crush!" Gildarts roars from the top of his lungs, and generates an energy blast in the shape of a dome. And all of the thunder clouds scatter and are blown away, as are the cyclones and God Serena is sent flying backwards through a series of trees. The breaking and shattering of splintering trees echo around them as various trees collapse onto God Serena.

Gildarts was panting, feeling the toll on his body he collapses onto his knee. Sweat dripping down over his face, as with an exhausted glare he looked towards the direction God Serena had been blown away to. The entire forest was eradicated in the face of a blazing fire, as God Serena emerged out from the rubble. "Purgatory Dragon: ROAR!" God Serena spewed out a beam of pure blazing fire straight towards Gildarts.

Gildarts grunted, trying to push himself back up to counter the breath attack of God Serena. However, his body had taken a massive toll, and thus Gildarts collapsed onto his knees. Gildarts stared at the incoming fire wave that was about to consume him whole. A towering shadow leapt down, and the breath attack of God Serena split in half down the middle. The parted fire waves soaring right past Gildarts who smirked as he stared at the towering figure.

The towering Amazonian, and one of the last two members of the Wizard Saints, Beatrice had jumped in and cut down God Serena's attack with a swing of her sword. Beatrice looked slightly flustered, and had a troubled looking face. Yet despite the fear of being near men, Beatrice's eyes looked with a fierce glare. "A-A-Are you okay, Gildarts?" Beatrice fumbled with her words. Her eyes were shut as she turned her head in Gildarts' direction. 'Agh! I can't bring myself to look at him!'

"Yeah, lady Beatrice… you saved me there." Gildarts grunted, and gathered his strength back to push himself up. Taking a few deep breaths, Gildarts collected himself back into fighting shape.

"My, my, Beatrice. I missed you at the Saints reunion." God Serena confidently walked out from the burning remains of the forest, and chuckled as he looked upon the mightiest Saint. "Too bad, I wanted to show off you know. Show Hyberion and Wolfheim just how weak they were compared to me and you."

"Then it is true… Hyberion, Wolfheim, Warrod, Jura, Mitsurugi, Noel and Fiona are all…" Beatrice clutched her hands onto her sword, it being daytime she knew she couldn't defeat God Serena. Not to mention, she still hadn't fully recovered from her encounter with Larcade.

"Dead? Yes, it was quite satisfying I must say. Now, all I need to do is kill you and Makarov, and then I will truly have proven myself. As the mightiest of the Saints." God Serena posed as if he was standing underneath a spotlight.

"Prove yourself as the mightiest of the Saints? That's your reason? That's the reason you killed all of them?" Beatrice trembled with fury, despite it being daytime when she was at her most timid. Beatrice stood up and glared at God Serena. "Just because you lost to me once, you feel the need to prove yourself as the strongest?! That is why you killed them?!"

God Serena chuckled at how frustrated Beatrice looked right now. "Well, I suppose… losing to you did make me open my eyes to the hypocrisy of the magic council and the Saints. So, in a sense, I suppose you could say all this is your fault. Had you let me exterminate that village all those years ago. Those other fools might still be alive." God Serena taunted, and Beatrice's face became twisted in anger.

"… You! You!" Beatrice trembled as tears trickled down her face. 'Sorry, Noel… Fiona, Mitsurugi, Jura, Warrod, Hyberion and Wolfheim… Because of my actions, you all…!'

"Enough bullshit!" Gildarts voiced out and stepped up between Beatrice and God Serena. "Don't you pin their deaths on her, you son of a bitch! The only one at fault is you!" Gildarts pointed at God Serena, veins bulging around his angered face as he glared at the former Saint. "She scolded you, and like a petty child you threw a tantrum! You are no God, no man. You are a giant, arrogant, insecure man-child."

"Gildarts…" Beatrice's face flushed red, looking in awe as she gazed upon Gildarts' back. Even though she was taller than him, she felt like Gildarts loomed over her like a protective wall.

"Heh, trying to act the role of a valiant knight, are we? It is the truth though, had Beatrice claimed my head all those years ago. The Saints would probably still be alive." God Serena ignored Gildarts' lecture, even if deep down those words hit too close to home, and had only further fueled God Serena's anger.

"Then… I will rectify that mistake." Beatrice spoke up, as her body was surrounded by a pillar of light. "I may not be as strong as I am during the night. But make no mistake, God Serena. For the sins you have committed against the Fiore Kingdom, for betraying Ishgar, and killing members of the Ten Wizard Saints. For all of this, you shall face death at the hands of my blade."

"… Bitch, don't talk to me when you are not even at your best!" God Serena surrounded his entire body in light. "Spark Dragon: Augite Heavens!" God Serena unleashed a massive flash of light from his body, and the light blinded both Gildarts and Beatrice. God Serena rushed straight for Beatrice, and dealt a swift blow to her abdomen. "Thunder Dragon: Roaring Fist!" Throwing a lightning infused punch into Beatrice, God Serena launched her far away. "Rest up there, and I will deal with you at nightfall. How can I prove my strength, if I don't kill you at your best." God Serena huffed and decided to ignore Beatrice for now.

Beatrice coughed up blood, her wound from Larcade having reopened itself. "Athena… hurry…" Beatrice mumbled as the God within her blade, began healing her body.

God Serena rushed towards Gildarts, who was too tired to try and run and decided to stand his ground and prepare to fight off the onslaught of attacks God Serena had in store for him. When suddenly magic cards stabbed themselves into God Serena's body. The cards all unleashed an electrical surge, but God Serena didn't even flinch and merely ate the lightning. "Who dares?"

"Get away from my dad!" Cana, daughter of Gildarts jumped in holding her dominant arm out pointed at God Serena.

"Cana! No! Get out of here!" Gildarts frantically called out to his daughter.

"Gather! O river of light that's guided by the fairies! Shine! In order to perish the fangs of Evil! Fairy Glitter!" Cana's arm glowed, as she surrounded a ring of light around God Serena. God Serena tried to touch the ring to break it, but recoiled back as the light of it burnt his hand. The ring then burst into a mighty explosion that shook the heavens, as a pillar of light pierced through the clouds and brought about the sun light.

"Spark Dragon: Light Fang!" God Serena spit out a very thin energy beam that pierced through Cana, right on her Fairy Tail emblem at her lower abdomen. Cana gasped, and her face twisted in pain. The pillar of Fairy Glitter vanished, revealing that God Serena's clothes were burnt. But he had survived without any injury, as he also had on diamond skin.

"D-Dad…" Cana cried out, and Gildarts sprang into action. His entire body burning in pain, yet Gildarts rushed and slammed his prosthetic fist so hard onto God Serena's head, that it broke. And also shattered God Serena's Diamond Form armor.

"Cana!" Gildarts roared in pure rage as he threw punch, after punch into God Serena's body. Kicking God Serena straight into his solar plexus, which launched the former Saint far back. Gildarts rushed and continued his rampage and beat down of God Serena.

Cana fell on her knee, and smiled as she saw her dad continuing to fight against God Serena. "Go dad… beat his ass… I'm sorry, I couldn't be more of a help." Before Cana could fall, Arania of Mermaid Heel jumped in and caught her.

"You girls are…" Cana mumbled seeing Risley and Beth of Mermaid Heel also jump in.

"Hold her still girls." Beatrice stepped up, having fully healed from the damage dealt by God Serena. Placing her hand gently onto Cana's lower abdomen, a warm light emitted from Beatrice and enveloped Cana. Cana looked in awe at seeing her wound having closed up. "You are Gildarts' daughter, yes?" Beatrice smiled warmly at Cana, even if this was their first-time meeting, Beatrice looked upon Cana with such a loving smile and gaze.

"Yeah, I'm Cana Alberona." Cana still in awe at the Mermaid Heel master, could only nod.

"I see, your father is a wonderful man. And I can tell, you are a good-hearted child." Beatrice praised both Cana as well as Gildarts.

"How… do you know my dad?" Cana felt like something was up, and felt a sudden need to ask what Beatrice's relationship was with her father.

"Eh?" Beatrice looked flustered. Her face beet red as she avoided Cana's suspicious gaze. "Well… your father and I… in the past shared a night together. He was the one who made me want to become a wizard. I admire him a great deal. He also was my first so…" The blushing Beatrice held her hands over her red face.

"… Damn dirty old man." Cana sweat dropped and mumbled to herself. Their interaction was brought to a sudden halt, as the echoes of explosions and shockwaves rang all around them.

Gildarts despite his body burning in agony, ran through fire, powerful water and wind currents, thunder storms, earthquakes, raining projectiles of diamonds that slashed his skin, waves of darkness and light. Gildarts ran through all that God Serena threw at him, like a tank Gildarts pushed himself forward his sheer aura negating most attacks that came his way. 'This guy! His durability is insane!' God Serena flinched as Gildarts was up in his face, a sharp fist buried itself into God Serena's cheekbone.

God Serena stumbled backwards, as a few of his teeth was knocked out. God Serena growled, infuriated that Gildarts refused to fall to his godly might. They both were locked in a fistfight, God Serena coating his fists with fire, thunder, water, wind, earth, darkness, light and diamonds. One armed, Gildarts took on the endless barrage of punches and shattered every spell God Serena threw at him. "You fucking hurt my daughter! I will break you!" Gildarts roared and with a heavy haymaker punch knocked God Serena to the ground, causing a massive shockwave to vibrate across the entire battlefield of this entire war.

God Serena yelped as Gildarts attempted to stomp him, managing to roll out of the way, God Serena took a leap back. His body trembling, and cold sweat running down his face. 'Is this… fear? This man is making me… sweat?! No way! I refuse!' God Serena clapped his hands together, and the entire space around them vibrated. "Take this! My strongest spell! Dragon God's Fang!" Eight massive dragon avatars emerged around God Serena, circling around him like giant snakes all carrying one element of his Dragon Slayer lacrimas. "Face the might of my Godly power! God! Night!"

The eight Dragon avatars soared towards Gildarts, who dragged his right leg far back, and reeled his arm back whilst bawling his hand into a fist. "I will put my back into this one!" Gildarts snarled as his very being burst to life with a pillar of a white aura. Gildarts' aura had the entire nation trembling. "All Crush! Secret Finisher Move: Cana!" The powerful aura gathers to his elbow, and fires off like an ignition booster.

Gildarts soars past the eight dragon avatars, who all fall apart before the might of Gildarts' aura. God Serena gasps as he looks down seeing Gildarts crouching before him with his fist vibrating with pure power. "N-No!" God Serena frantically tried to block, but was too late as Gildarts dealt a mighty upper cut punch to God Serena's torso. The force of the punch broke through the sound barrier in a loud "BOOM!" sound as God Serena was launched flying into the sky.

God Serena was gaping in pain, his internal organs feeling like they had been crushed from the sheer weight of the punch. God Serena fell to the ground in a loud thud. Gildarts panted, and fell onto his knees. Both fighters were completely depleted of magic power. Having used it up in their big finisher, Gildarts had come out of the fight as the superior wizard.

Meanwhile, sensing the defeat of God Serena, Irene the Scarlet Despair hummed. "Seems you require a bit of my assistance, God Serena. Well, although I cannot restore your lost magic power, I can at least heal your wounds." With a snap of her fingers, Irene launched a red beam of energy that soared for miles across the battlefield, until it hit God Serena.

God Serena gasped, feeling his bones being put back in place along with his organs. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Fate seems to be on my side!" God Serena stood up. His body mostly healed from Irene's enchantment. "I have to give it to Irene! She knows her stuff!" God Serena ran towards Gildarts, even with no magic power, God Serena would take great pleasure in killing Gildarts with his bare hands.

Gildarts much like God Serena was depleted of his magical power, God Serena tackled Gildarts to the ground and had him pinned down. God Serena smirked as he began punching Gildarts' face, whilst chocking him with his other hand. Gildarts groaned as God Serena slammed his fist repeatedly into his face. Gildarts' right eye was swollen, his lip busted and blood pouring from his broken nose. With Gildarts being in a daze from all the punches to his head, God Serena began strangling the life out of Gildarts.

Gildarts weakly pushed his hand to God Serena, trying to push him off. God Serena easily brushed it off, and put more weight onto Gildarts to make it more difficult for him. Gildarts through his swollen eye glares up at God Serena, his face nearly turning blue from the lack of air. God Serena's smirks and his eyes turn black and emits a strong feeling of bloodlust. "God night to you, Gildarts~" God Serena taunted with his catchphrase followed with a chuckle as he saw the life leaving Gildarts' eyes.

God Serena then suddenly gasped in shock, as a sword pierced through his chest. God Serena's blood splattering against Gildarts' face, who looked in shock himself. God Serena groaned in pain and his grip on Gildarts' throat loosened. It was Beatrice, with God Serena having been overcome with bloodlust she had snuck up behind the traitorous Saint and stabbed her blade through his heart.

"This is for the Wizard Saints." Beatrice huffs and slashes her blade upwards, and thus splitting God Serena's torso open. Eight Lacrima pieces fell out from God Serena's split open torso. And were stomped out by Beatrice, who smashed them underneath her heel. God Serena's hands fall off Gildarts' neck, as he gurgles up red blood, and blood spraying like a fountain from his split torso. God Serena collapses off to the side of Gildarts, who begins coughing and gasping for air.

"Cana… where is Cana?" Gildarts speaks in-between coughs as Beatrice helps him up.

"She's fine. My girls are tending to her." Beatrice is feeling skittish and nervous, but she remembered it was Gildarts. So, she knew Gildarts could handle being in contact with her and not ending up an empty husk.

"Thanks… lady Beatrice." Gildarts gave a bloodied smile at his savior.

"Consider us even, for you saved me from the dull life of a noble woman." Beatrice was grateful for Gildarts, for without him she would still be stuck in her dad's mansion. Without any dreams or aspirations.

God Serena gurgled on his own blood, feeling the life leaving him this time. 'Irene… you useless bitch… heal me! Come on! Heal me!' God Serena demanded telepathically.

"Unfortunately, God Serena. Your wounds are too fatal. I will be sure to tell his majesty of your contribution and sacrifice. But knowing him, he won't even care." Irene's voice could be heard giggling, and taunting God Serena. "You are no exception to any of the Twelve, to his majesty you are, or rather were nothing but a mere pawn. He probably will have forgotten you even existed in a few days anyway. Goodbye, and thank you for your service to the Empire~"

God Serena gurgled up a lot of blood, a whole pool of blood having formed itself underneath him. as life faded from his eyes, God Serena mumbled out one last word. "You… bitch…" God Serena mumbled and then, just like that, God Serena was dead.

Gildarts and Beatrice, hadn't even bother to stick around and left the corpse of God Serena to rot. As they made their wave over to Cana and the Mermaid Heel members, they needed to recover and march on forward.

The war continued on, and the battlefield raged on with warriors. Soaring through the battlefield like a snake, black tentacles attached onto a hand that was hardened like iron tore through an armada of Imperial Knights. Kakuzu, the former Akatsuki member leaped over a hurdle of enemies, reeled his fist back and shot his hand straight through an imperial tank. With a mighty heave Kakuzu hoisted the tank through the air, and smashed it down onto a group of Imperial mages.

Two masks emerged from Kakuzu's back, one charging up a sphere of pure fire, the other a gust of wind. Both masks unleashed a violent shrieking sound, as they blasted out a wave of fire that was enhanced by a spinning spiral of wind. The enhanced flames lit up an entire armada of Imperial knights. The knights cried out in agony, as they were cooking alive within their melting armor and vehicles. While the luckier ones up front got incinerated straight upon contact with the blazing flames.

*Clap! The echoing sound of someone clapping their hands rang through the battlefield, and suddenly the surrounding fire all vanished in the blink of an eye. Kakuzu widened his eyes in shock, he couldn't detect anyone nearby present, he was only surrounded by a field of dead Imperial Knights. However, all of a sudden Kakuzu's face and eyes twitched as he experienced a stabbing pain. It was like knives were stabbed into his body, he even saw the stab wounds across his body, yet no blade was visible.

Kakuzu further gasped as blitzing his field of vision, was the Spriggan Twelve member Jacob Lessio. The assassin smirked and dealt a swift upper cut directly into Kakuzu's chest, clashing against his beating heart.

Kakuzu's mask was suddenly filled with blood, he felt like he was choking. "Oh, pardon me." Jacob seeing the discomfort of Kakuzu choking on his own blood, grabbed onto Kakuzu's face mask and ripped it clean off. Blood dripped out from Kakuzu's mouth, as he snarled glaring at Jacob. "Good morning to you good sir. I am Jacob Lessio, of the Spriggan Twelve. And I am here to kill you, Kakuzu."

Kakuzu booted Jacob away with a swift kick to the assassin's chest, sending Jacob skidding backwards. "Ho?" Jacob looked impressed, seeing his coat all dirtied with a footprint. What is more his chest was bruised. "That was a nice powerful kick." Jacob complimented.

"You know who I am, yet you dare face me?" Kakuzu hadn't missed the fact that Jacob knew his name. Kakuzu was quick to harden his entire body, as his skin turned into a dark shade of iron.

"Indeed. You are one of his majesty's demon toys. And a huge threat to our empire. Therefor you must be eliminated. You and all the other traitorous demons his majesty has created." Jacob said referring to Itachi, Sasori, Kisame and even Natsu.

"And you came to me first? Is this your way of saying I'm the weakest?!" Kakuzu was already annoyed by Jacob's chipper polite attitude.

"Oh no, nothing of the sorts good sir. I am just merely paying respect to an elder by going for you first. I know, that out of all the demons his majesty has created, that you are the oldest one. Having already lived nearly 100 years before becoming a demon. Thus, I am merely paying my respects by eliminating your first. All in order to relive his majesty of stress, I plan on eliminating all of his rogue demons. As the world's strongest assassin, I am perfect for such a task."

"World's strongest assassin? What, too many people ahead of you being the strongest being in the world?" Kakuzu's body grew black fire shaped demonic markings, as black tentacles emerged out from his body. "I once fought the man known as God of Shinobi, now he was truly the strongest being in my world during our time. You expect the title of the "strongest assassin" to impress me?"

Jacob doesn't care about Kakuzu's banter, he only smiles as he tightens his glove by pulling it down over his wrist. "I pride myself quite a lot on my work. And I pride myself on being a gentleman. As much as I would enjoy hearing you talk about the ancient days. I am afraid I don't have the time, old man." Jacob vanished right before Kakuzu's eyes, and suddenly a sharp pain jabbed into Kakuzu's ribcage. Groaning Kakuzu saw Jacob had blitzed him once more, and dealt an upper cut to his ribcage.

Kakuzu grunts as he uses his unique body to his advantage, Kakuzu's upper body expands as the black tentacles makes his upper half rise like a snake. Kakuzu flings himself over Jacob, and quickly moves his lower body into the air whilst dealing kicks to Jacob's chin. Reattaching himself, Kakuzu regains his ground and takes a few backflips to create some distance.

'These Twelve… have been quite the unique group. That Ajeel, the sheer range of his attacks and power surpassed Deidara and the destructive range of his explosions. His sheer power was enough to rival Kisame at his current self. That Dimaria… her powers exceeded even that of Pain, I've never encountered anyone with time stopping powers before. When it comes to her, I think out of us former Akatsuki members only Itachi can defeat her. And this Jacob he seems like quite the special case… so far, his speed exceeds anyone I can remember from the Akatsuki. Well, right now Itachi is most likely faster. And those invisible knives he lodged into me… not to mention how he made my attacks disappear. I fear I might be dealing with someone of Pain's caliber, when it comes to having a difficult arsenal of attacks.' Kakuzu had all his senses on high alert, he couldn't afford to let his guard down even for a moment. For the first time in a while, Kakuzu felt the shivers run down his spine. This was a battle that very well could end up being his last. 'With my new demon body… maybe I can manage in a fight thanks to my enhanced durability and regeneration.'

"Hmm, your battle stance… the way you carry yourself. Tell me, Kakuzu, were you perhaps an assassin in your younger days?" Jacob hummed with great intrigue.

"… I was a collector of bounties. Nothing more than that. I was just… a Shinobi." Kakuzu's body seemed to expand, his muscle mass expanded and grew slightly. Kakuzu threw his fist to the center of the crater, and blasting off into the air were giant boulders and a cloud of dust. Kakuzu proceeded to kick several boulders, hurdling them straight at Jacob.

"I see…" Jacob threw several quick jabs into the boulders, breaking them apart with a single punch as they came close. As Jacob punched the last hurdling boulder, he saw Kakuzu on the other side with two masks emerging from his back. Both masks unleashed a wave of fire and wind that consumed Jacob where he stood in a colossal beam of fire.

*Clap! Jacob jumped out from the fire. Jacob's suit was slightly burnt, yet Jacob himself was unharmed. Jacob delivered a swift spin kick aimed at Kakuzu's head. Kakuzu blocked the kick with his forearm, as he noticed his flames vanished once more. 'I see… whenever he claps his hands together. He makes my attacks disappear, but how?' Kakuzu thought as he pushed Jacob's leg off, delivering a series of jabs and punches at Jacob as he was floating midair. Jacob remained airborne, as he used the soles of his feet to kick and block Kakuzu's flurry of punches.

Jacob flipped over Kakuzu, and as he landed, he was quick to throw a backhand strike at Kakuzu. Kakuzu caught the backhand strike, his face slightly strained from the effort he had to put in. Kakuzu countered with a punch of his own, hitting Jacob square across the face.

Observing from the top of the crater, hidden with the dead body of their master Goldmine. Nobarly, Warcry, Semmes and Jager. They had walked by carrying their master's body, when suddenly they spotted Jacob, Goldmine's killer. Tempted to jump the assassin, they were instead left awestruck at seeing Kakuzu going toe to toe with Jacob. Nobarly, Semmes, Jager and Warcry all silently cheered for Kakuzu, not wanting to risk getting spotted by Jacob should they need to help Kakuzu by ambushing Jacob.

Jacob smirked as he used his sleeve to wipe off blood from his busted lip. "That was a nice punch. Held some weight behind it." Jacob taunted, to which Kakuzu groaned in frustration. He was using Earth Style to enhance his body's density and armor, and he was in Stage 1 of his Demon transformation, yet his attacks hardly faced Jacob.

Kakuzu rushed at Jacob, throwing a series of kicks as he jumped up in Jacob's face. Jacob quickly used his forearms to block of the kicks, Kakuzu however landed and crouched down on the ground, spinning his leg into Jacob's causing the assassin to trip. Kakuzu pushed his body up, and quickly slammed his fist into Jacob's solar plexus. The force of Kakuzu's punch rocked the ground in a powerful shockwave, yet Jacob chuckled.

"His majesty sure makes deadly creations. I must say. Your strength is formidable." Jacob commended, grabbing onto Kakuzu's wrist. Kakuzu groaned as Jacob lifted his arm up and began twisting it.

"Shut up! This is not power of that brat's creation!" Kakuzu sprouted a series of giant tentacles that swatted into Jacob, launching him into the air. Three masks circled around Kakuzu's arm, acting as a cannon as he fired off Black God Slayer flames, a giant wind twister, and dark blue lightning.

The shockwave of Kakuzu's blast rocked the earth, and soared towards Jacob. "You never learn, old man." Jacob clapped his hands *Clap! And thus, Kakuzu's attack just vanished into thin air. Jacob reached into his pocket, and pulled out a whip. Jacob kicked the air itself, and launched himself towards Kakuzu like a rocket. Swinging the whip, latching it around Kakuzu's neck.

Jacob landed behind Kakuzu, who groaned as he struggled to release himself from the whip. With a mighty yank, Jacob dragged Kakuzu to the ground. Jacob stomped onto Kakuzu's chest, tightening his grip on the whip as he proceeded to choke Kakuzu. "Guess it is true what they say, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. So far, I have been playing nice with you. But you don't seem to get it, your magic attacks cannot touch me."

Despite chocking, Kakuzu smirked and chuckled. "I know." Kakuzu's body dissolved into lightning, as the lightning clashed and spread into Jacob's body who cried out in pain.

"Lightning Style: Electric Clone." Kakuzu emerged from the ground, stretching his forearm with his tentacles, launching his fist square into Jacob's chin.

Jacob groaned in pain, as he was knocked slightly off balance. "You use Spatial magic to transport my Jutsu and spells into your pocket dimension. You also use Stealth magic to conceal your presence, and to conceal your weapons like your throwing knives." Kakuzu analyzed, he had been paying attention, from the very first moment Jacob attacked him all the way up until this point.

"Heh, my so you did notice? Were all those attacks then just to prove some sort of theory you had?" Jacob dusted himself off, starting to take Kakuzu seriously now.

"You may have attack power and speed… but you are still far from exceeding my battle experience, assassin." Kakuzu declared as he readied himself now that the warmup was officially over for Jacob.

"Indeed, that is why I respect my elders." Jacob vanished from sight, and appeared crouching before Kakuzu with his hand bawled into a fist. Kakuzu felt the sheer killing intent, and was quick to dodge the lightning quick jab Jacob threw at his head. Kakuzu tilted his head to the side to dodge the blow, yet he was cut across his cheek. Kakuzu grabbed onto Jacob's wrist before he could retract the punch, and kneed the assassin in the face.

Grabbing a firm hold, Kakuzu twisted Jacob's hand and began pummeling the assassin in the face with a series of punches. Jacob groaned, and quickly turned the tables by grabbing onto Kakuzu's wrist and began pushing back. Kakuzu couldn't handle Jacob's overwhelming strength, and found his fist getting twisted and bent to the side. Jacob returned the favor, and threw a series of lightning quick jabs with his free hand to Kakuzu's face.

Kakuzu leaped back, separating his elbow from his forearm, although still connected through the tentacles. Kakuzu had the tentacles come to life like snakes, and snare themselves around Jacob's body, latching onto his limbs. Kakuzu rushes at the restrained Jacob, his hardened fist beginning to repeatedly punch Jacob in the face.

Jacob may be faster and his punches carry more weight than that of Kakuzu. But when it comes to taijutsu skills, battle experience, Kakuzu far outclasses Jacob. Kakuzu threw a heavy punch that broke Jacob's nose, causing blood to burst out like a fountain. "Not bad…" Jacob commends Kakuzu once more for his effort.

Jacob manages to break free, grabbing onto the tentacles holding him, Jacob yanked Kakuzu towards him and dealt a swift headbutt strike to Kakuzu. Kakuzu widened his eyes and groaned as he was starting to feel light headed. Jacob continues with a series of lightning quick jabs to Kakuzu's body.

Despite his hardened skin like armor, and the demonic markings, Kakuzu's body ended up quite bruised. Some punches even tore holes in Kakuzu's body, and caused his stitches to rip open. Jacob deals a swift blow to Kakuzu's chin, causing Kakuzu to feel lightheaded and dizzy. Exploiting the window, Jacob jumps and deals a dropkick to Kakuzu sending him propelling backwards.

Kakuzu groaned and managed to halt himself, dragging his hands across the hardened rocky soil of the crater. Kakuzu is panting, noting that his body is heavily damaged, and that he was taking on more damage quicker than he could heal with his demonic power. 'Other than cloaking and spatial magic… Jacob must use some form of strength enhancing magic as well as speed… And the biggest issue, my list of abilities has become limited because of his spatial magic.'

"What's wrong? Do you need to take a nap?" Jacob walked towards Kakuzu, tightening his gloves as he prepared to pummel Kakuzu more with his ferocious attacks.

'He can transport any Jutsu or spell I throw at him… or maybe. Maybe if I use spell revolving around a concept, maybe it will work. At this rate I'm going to lose anyway, so I might as well give it a shot.' Kakuzu focused power into one of his two wind masks, the mask generating a black gravity orb on its back and launching it into the air whilst Kakuzu was locked in combat with Jacob.

Jacob suddenly collapsed onto his knee, as the gravity around them increased in an explosive fashion pushing down the entire ground into forming a colossal crater that swallowed up the destroyed magic mobiles, tanks and the burnt corpses of the imperial knights.

Jacob doesn't fall however. Jacob pushes himself back up regardless of this intense gravity that was increasing by the minuet. Kakuzu however, being the caster was fully unaffected by the gravity's effects. Kakuzu's body was enhanced by demonic markings, as well as his earth style hardening Jutsu. Kakuzu rushed in to finish Jacob aiming for his heart.

Instead, Jacob blitzed Kakuzu regardless of all this gravity. Jacob threw a jab punch straight through Kakuzu's chest and punched out his heart. Jacob shattered the gravity wind mask and pushed out the entire heart. The heart was instantly obliterated from the force of Jacob's punch.

Kakuzu lets out a few small groans, the gravity around them is lightening and returning to normal as Kakuzu collapses onto Jacob. Jacob holds onto Kakuzu, and yanks his fist out from Kakuzu's chest and allowing the former Akatsuki member to collapse onto the ground. "Well, that's the end of that…" Jacob smirked as suddenly four beasts with masks emerged from Kakuzu's back. "Of course, I knew about your multiple hearts." In an instant Jacob punched out all four masks, obliterating all four hearts in an instant with a blinding flurry of jabs. With the masks and hearts obliterated, the monsters turned into mush around Kakuzu's lifeless corpse.

"I should head on to deal with the rest of his majesty's rogue creations." Jacob took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands clean of the blood. And jumped out from the massive crater.

Watching from above the crater, were the four hidden members of Quatro Cerberus. They all groaned as they saw Kakuzu fall, they had gotten their hopes up that someone could finally end Jacob and avenge Goldmine. Jacob flinched as he felt their presence, his eyes diverting over to the frightened Quatro Cerberus members who all flinched in terror upon meeting Jacob's gaze.

"Hmm? What's this? You wish to challenge me as well?" Jacob crossed his arms behind his back, that is until he noticed the four frightened wizards were carrying around the body of Goldmine. "Oh, you are members of sir Goldmine's guild? My, you lot haven't buried the poor old man yet? I feel sorry for him, having such lousy children."

Semmes, Warcry, Nobarly and Jager all trembled in fear, tears leaking from their eyes as they all hatefully glared at Jacob. "Worry not, I have no interest in killing you. For the sake of your master and his final wish, I shall look away once more. Have a good day." Jacob waved and walked away.

The sniffling Quatro Cerberus members climbed down into the crater with Kakuzu. "Poor guy… even someone as strong as him couldn't kill that bastard." Nobarly walked up to Kakuzu's body. "He was able to fight evenly with that bastard… I thought he might even be able to weaken the guy enough so we could avenge the old man."

"We should bury him… and maybe the master as well. Carrying around his body ain't gonna bring him back." Jager said as he looked at Semmes, the weeping giant holding onto the body of their deceased master.

"Bury who now?" Kakuzu groaned as he picked himself up, startling all four Quatro Cerberus members who fell back and screamed in terror like they had seen a ghost. They had seen Jacob obliterate Kakuzu's hearts, how was he even alive?

"H-How?! We saw that bastard rip your heart out!" Warcry trembled in fear.

"I have multiple hearts… Dammit, that assassin was stronger than I thought. He effortlessly took out half of my hearts in an instant!" Kakuzu quaked in anger, never since fighting Hashirama Senju had he been beaten so easily.

"Multiple hearts… are you some kind of monster?" Semmes and the Quatro Cerberus members found it to be incredible, that someone with multiple hearts could even exist.

"Well, I am a Demon. My ability is to take other people's hearts, and use the powers they had in life. Now I need to replenish…" Kakuzu's gaze fell onto the Quatro Cerberus members, who all paled and felt their hearts beating in their throats. Looking like they were about to wet themselves they all piled together to defend each other. "Oh relax, I won't kill you. Your hearts probably wouldn't be worth much anyway… I need to find Kisame or Sasori… maybe if we gang up on that assassin, we can take him down."

The four Quatro Cerberus members widened their eyes, Kakuzu was intending to go after Jacob despite having lost earlier. Exchanging a look, the four nodded and went on their knees. "Wait!" Nobarly called out to Kakuzu before he could leave.

"Hm? What is it?" Kakuzu groaned, not really having time to babysit these weak wizards.

Semmes suddenly presented the body of Goldmine. Kakuzu looked confused at first, but then all four Quatro Cerberus members bowed their heads. "Please… use our master's heart. Use it, and kill that bastard Jacob who killed him!"

"…" Kakuzu was at a loss for words, this was the first time anyone offered him a heart. "Why ask me?" Kakuzu knew there were multiple other people in Ishgar's forces that probably could fight and defeat Jacob. So, why would they ask him?

"Because! You are the only one who can! If you accept master Goldmine's heart, which carries the wild spirit of our guild! Then we will feel as if our master truly has been avenged! All of us are too weak… even our ace member couldn't lay a finger on that bastard! Please…!" All four quivered and lowered their heads into the dirt. "We saw, you were able to keep up with him. You were able to push Jacob. Please, lend us your strength to avenge our father!" They all pleaded, with their salty tears staining the soil.

Kakuzu groans, he remembered the last time he did a favor. He had accepted the impossible task of assassinating Hashirama Senju, and failed miserably. Thinking he could return home to heal his wounds, and his village praising him for his best efforts. He was instead shamed, and maimed for his failure. But then, Kakuzu also remembered what Itachi said during the battle against Tartaros. This was their second chance at life, they no longer lived in the strict unforgiving Shinobi world. They couldn't let this second chance go to waste. Kakuzu's eyes soften a bit, as he looks to be thinking.

Elsewhere, a battalion of soldiers were making their way. "Commander Lugh! We've received report that… Commander Arthur has died!" A soldier shakingly reported the death of the captain of the second in command squad, Beta Squadron. And as such Lugh smirked. "Well, that saves me the trouble of having to deal with that blood manipulating geezer again. Now if only Samuel will kick the bucket as well… No, I want the pleasure of killing him myself." Lugh's face completely lacked any feeling for the passing of his commanding officer. "It's about time…" Lugh held his hand out, and formed a magic circle "Requip: Titanium Spear." A giant long spear weighing over a 100 kg, formed itself out of thin air next to Lugh. "Gravity Magic: Levitate." With a flick of his finger, Lugh had the giant spear take flight beyond the heavens and into outer space.

"Already, Commander?" A knight asked as he swallowed a nervous frightened feeling in his throat. His commander was already taking precautions to win this battle.

"According to my calculations, now would be the best time to launch it. Giving approximately fifteen minutes time, it would have perfectly aligned itself with its target. Let's be sure we're not within a 40 km range of it when it hits, shall we gentlemen?" Lugh had only one thing in mind. Revenge. 'I'm no fool, if my reports indicate anything. My chances of ever beating an opponent like Beatrice in a fair fight is zero. Had it been any other of the Saints, my chances would be fairly favorable. This way, I will at least ensure she, and all of Ishgar's forces will share my fate.' Lugh sighed as he drew out his blade. "Feel free to inform all of our men, and the Twelve… but make sure Samuel doesn't get the warning." Lugh instructed his men, and they all saluted him. 'Well, his majesty will survive anyway, so will Mavis Vermillion. And I am confident so will all of the Twelve. And if my calculations are correct, so will any Etherious Demon enhanced wizard like E. Regardless, all of Magnolia, and the majority of Ishgar's forces will die.' Lugh held onto his long sword, made from his sister Linda's daggers. Lugh clenched his hold on the blade, as he and his troops marched to battle.

Lugh marched down a hill to the battlefield, his troops already opening fire upon a group of guild wizards from the Quatro Cerberus guild. Lugh halted on the hill as his eyes scanned across the battlefield. Drawing out from underneath his coat, Lugh pulled out dual wield handguns. Emptying the magazines of his guns, Lugh fired several shots each hitting the assigned target. His aim was impeccable.

"What was that, a bug bite?" A member of Quatro Cerberus groaned a bit in confusion, it was as if Lugh's gun had fired blank shots. Although the spots where those blank shots had hit, had been lit up with small magic circles.

"Requip: Sniper Rifle." Lugh summoned forth a long-barreled rifle with a sniper scope. Through the lens of the scope, Lugh marked each of the magic circles attached to the members of Quatro Cerberus. "Scatter Bullet." Pulling the trigger, the rifle echoed in a loud boom and the recoil hoisted the gun in the air, as it unleashed a green wave of magical energy. The green wave then scattered into various laser bullets. The magical bullet soared across the battlefield, and clashed straight into the magic circle markings onto the Quatro Cerberus members. The magic bullets tore through the flesh and bones of the Quatro Cerberus members, and they all cried out in intense pain. The bullets also exploded into a series of explosions, and with the collateral damage took out anyone standing too close.

The blank shots from his dual wield handguns, were in actuality homing beacons. Designed to make sure none of Lugh's magic bullets ever miss their target. "Wild Tornado!" Rocker of Quatro Cerberus jumped out from behind a rock, his entire right leg coated in a storm wind twister, Rocker attempted a spin kick at Lugh's head.

Lugh without flinching held his long sword and blocked the twister enhanced kick from Rocker. The intense wind of the twister smashed against the blade created intense sparks. Lugh easily pushed Rocker off, with a quickdraw Lugh fired off his handgun hitting Rocker in the chest, marking him.

Lugh took a leap backwards and aimed his sniper rifle. "Falcon Kick!" Coming speeding in was Jet from Fairy Tail delivering a kick to knock the rifle out of Lugh's hand. "Knuckle Plant!" Plants rose up from underneath Lugh, as Droy from Fairy Tail also joined in.

Lugh sighed and at blinding speed he slashed all the knuckle shaped plants to shreds. Then moving at blinding speed, he out speed Jet with ease kicking the speeding magician in the face sending him rolling into Droy, and marking both with blank shots from his handgun. Not even uttering a word to them, Lugh summoned his rifle to his hand. Before he could fire the rifle off, Lugh tilted his head aside dodging a rapier sword that flew inches by his face.

Pulling out large a large combat knife, Lugh twirled his body around and clashed with the rapier sword of Freed Justine of Fairy Tail. 'This guy's magic power… is he one of the Twelve? It is far stronger than that robot Bickslow, Evergreen, Ichiya and I fought at the church. Whoever he is, he is strong enough to be a Wizard Saint.' Freed felt a cold nervous sweat of fear running down his back as he stared down Lugh. Lugh was stronger than the mech robot Wall Eehto had sent to attack them at the church at the start of the war.

"Freed! Please tell us you brought Laxus, this guy is bad news!" Jet and Droy trembled in the background, desperately attempting to wash away the magic homing beacon mark on their bodies to no avail.

"No… Laxus is making his way towards the guild." Freed carefully circled around Lugh, and Lugh mimicked his movement as he and Freed carefully circled each other, analyzing each other.

"One minuet." Lugh mumbled out suddenly.

"Huh?" Freed questioned.

"One minuet is more than enough to kill all of you." Lugh gave them all a death glare, filled with bloodlust that had Freed, Rocker, Jet and Droy sweating bullets.

"Diving Falcon Strike!" Jumping down onto Lugh, was the ace member of Quatro Cerberus, Bacchus Groh. Delivering a palm strike that tore open the ground forming a crater. Lugh barely having avoided the strike by jumping backwards. "Oi bastard… You gunned down several of my boys. I will tear you apart." Bacchus had veins bulging around his temple and neck. Having lost master Goldmine, and with several of their guild members dropping like flies. Bacchus was beyond pissed, and needed someone to take his anger out on.

"Bacchus!" Rocker smiled at seeing the strongest and wildest member of their guild.

Freed exhaled in relief, because now he had figured out the perfect strategy to deal with Lugh. "Bacchus Groh! I need you to go wild and distract him for a short bit!" Freed called out to Bacchus, who had no problem with wanting to fight. As Bacchus rushed at Lugh, Lugh instead ran past Bacchus and went for Freed.

"Desperate fools planning a strategy. Like I would let you execute your plan." Lugh with his long sword went in for a killer thrust strike at Freed. Freed clicked his tongue, he couldn't move from this place while he prepares his strategy against Lugh. His Jutsu Shiki required Freed to remain in place and make preparations.

Bacchus however, jumped in and delivered a palm strike to the flat end of the blade. Bacchus having successfully knocked Lugh off balance proceeded to deal a series of heavy palm strikes. Lugh was sent skidding backwards, dragging up the soil of dirt underneath his boots. "Oi, mister cool and silent type. You are the type of guy I fricking hate the most. Where is that wild fiery spirit of yours?" Bacchus taunted.

In a laid-back tone of voice, and with a composed stoic face. "I have no time for your weak puppy guild. Step aside."

"We're the wild Quatro Cerberus guild! A wild monster guard dog with multiple heads! And like a guard dog, I will guard my comrades! You won't get past me!" Bacchus smirked, having a bottle of sake at the ready on his belt. 'Shit this guy is something. Such a cool stoic face, yet such an intense wild fighting spirit. I can tell, I don't have much of a chance in winning. But if pretty boy here has a plan to beat him, I just need to keep him occupied.' Bacchus had resolved himself. He would defend Freed while he prepared a trap for Lugh. "Oi, who even are you? A member of the Twelve? Or some super strong foot soldier?"

"You ask for my name, without giving yours?" Lugh lightly taunted Bacchus a bit, as evident by the sly smirk that began creeping up on Lugh's lips.

"I'm Bacchus Groh! The ace of Quatro Cerberus! Now you." Bacchus went into a fighting stance.

"… Very well. I am Lugh Balor. Second in command of Jacob Lessio of the Spriggan Twelve." Upon the mentioning of that name, something in both Bacchus and Rocker as well as all the surrounding Quatro Cerberus members clicked. This guy, was the second in command of the guy who had killed their guild master.

For Freed, something else was concerning. 'He is only one of the second in commands of one of the Twelve?! He is far stronger than the other second in commands we've come across.' Freed trembled as he remembered Kareem, Bakel and recently Blitzkrieg.

"Your master…" Bacchus hissed at the thought of Jacob, and stomped his foot into the ground causing it to crack and split open. "He killed our guild master. I will take my anger out on you, kay?" Bacchus unleashed his fighting spirit.

"… And someone from Ishgar, killed my younger sister Linda. So, forgive me as I take my anger out on all of Ishgar, you included." Lugh rushed at super speed towards Bacchus, his blade ready to pierce through Bacchus in order to reach Freed. Lugh once again going for a killer thrust strike.

Vines and several plants grew in-between Lugh and Bacchus. And a giant twister rose between them as well. Lugh exhaled as his blade generated green volts of electricity, piercing straight through the twister and erasing all the plants in an instant. Lugh's blade clashed with Bacchus, who once again dealt a palm strike to the flat end of the blade pushing it aside. The blade however, still slashed Bacchus' lightly on the shoulder and through his shoulder padded armor. Bacchus dealt a swift kick aimed towards Lugh's chest. Lugh tilted his long sword down, blocking the kick with the blades' flat end. Bacchus was also thus electrocuted with green volts of lightning that emerged from the blade.

Hiding behind a rock watching the battle, was the Fairy Tail guild telepath Warren. "Okay Freed, how much longer before your plan is ready?"

"Just a little while longer, I need to finish writing the rules of this trap." While Freed had circled around Lugh, he had noticed Warren hiding behind a rock. And thus, they had begun strategizing a plan to take out Lugh through telepathy. Warren had also shared the plan with Jet and Droy, Rocker, Bacchus and the rest of the surrounding Quatro Cerberus members.

Lugh swiftly pushed Bacchus off his blade, and then went in for a killer thrust strike. This time the blade was coated in a green destructive magical aura. Bacchus sweated a bit from the pressure he felt from this attack, yet he faced it head on. Bacchus pushed his palms against the blade, diverting its raw power. The power of Lugh's thrust strike unleashed a massive green energy blast that tore through a sea of soldiers fighting in the distance. Sending various knights and mages flying high to the heavens. Bacchus wasn't finished however, and redirected the power of the strike back at Lugh himself.

Lugh gasped as he was flung crashing into a boulder, that exploded upon impact from the force of the redirected attack. Lugh climbed out from the rubble, and eyed Bacchus. Bacchus was panting, his hands looking burnt and riddled with small cuts, like they had been cut with a razor blade. Even his armored gauntlets had nearly been torn to shreds. "Seems you still receive damage from trying to redirect my attacks. I suppose I need a different approach." Lugh's body began emitting a green aura around him, and his eyes as well glowed green.

Rushing from the side, Lugh dragged his blade across the ground sparking up green volts of electricity. Spinning his body around, Lugh pointed the tip of his blade at Bacchus and Freed. And Lugh unleashed a green lightning energy blast at the two. "Absolute Shadow!" Using his fastest form, Freed grabbed Bacchus and rushed out of the way as the blast soared to the distance. The blast went off creating a giant mushroom cloud explosion, followed by the terrified screams of hundreds of soldiers in the distance.

"Everyone, we must force him to a corner!" Freed spoke through the telepathic link, and rushed at Lugh. However, even with his increased speed, Lugh had no trouble reacting to Freed. And fired a blast shot from his rifle at point blank range. The blast from the rifle tore apart Freed's Absolute Shadow armor and sent him rolling across the ground.

Jet attempted to flank Lugh, but Lugh easily reacted to Jet's presence the moment he was within reach. And Lugh dealt a swift elbow strike to Jet's face breaking his nose, to which blood exploded from his nose. Jet rolled several feet backwards. Droy's plants picked up a giant boulder and tossed it towards Lugh. Lugh coated his fist with a green aura, and punched the boulder into pieces with a single punch.

Lugh backflips to create some distance, and pulls out his rifle. Looking through the scope, Lugh targets Jet, Droy, Rocker and Freed all who are marked with his beacons. Lugh aimed the barrel directly at Bacchus who was running towards him. 'Got you, no way you will take this blast head on. Unless you are an idiot. It won't matter, for you are not my target. Once I fire this shot, I will eliminate all these other pests. Then I shall easily dispose of you.'

Bacchus despite facing the barrel of Lugh's rifle, rushed head on with his arms open. "I won't let you!" Bacchus ducked under the barrel and grabbed onto Lugh's waist, Bacchus lifted Lugh up and pushed him backwards.

Lugh lightly grunted, but was not discouraged. 'I see, he thinks if he can alter the course of my aim, I won't hurt anyone. Too bad, I have your little friends tagged with marks.' Lugh was tackled to the ground, yet he fired off the shot. "Scatter Bullet." The green blast from the rifle split into four different bullets and soared in the direction of its individual targets. However, the bullets did not get far as they clashed against a wall of runes.

Lugh gasped. "A Jutsu Shiki?" Lugh looked towards Freed, who without a doubt was the one who had set this trap. 'I see, this fool pushed himself into the trap with me. But how was he informed of this? Throughout the entire battle, I didn't see any possible signs and suggestive movement from either of them. Do they know each other's moves so well, that Bacchus was able to figure out the Jutsu Shiki caster's plan just from knowing he needed to distract me? No, it doesn't seem likely, they are from two different guilds. They couldn't have communicated and coordinated well enough to spring this plan.' Lugh's eyes then landed on Warren hidden behind a rock. 'Huh? When did he get there? His magic power is so weak I couldn't detect him at all…' Lugh narrowed his eyes at seeing how Warren held his fingers to his temple. 'I see, telepathy. That is how they planned this out!' Lugh grunted and kicked Bacchus off of him.

Bacchus chuckled as he rolled up against the rune wall of Freed's Jutsu Shiki. "We got ya. Mister cool and silent type." Lugh took a moment to observe his situation, he was trapped within a restricted cube. With this limited amount of space to move, he would be forced to fight in close quarters.

Lugh didn't bother to respond, instead he was busy thinking of a battle plan. 'I can worry about breaking out of here later, after I have dealt with Bacchus. With such limited space, my rifle is useless. So, are my handguns with the beacon markings.' Lugh's rifle vanished into his requip pocket dimension. And Lugh pulled out his long sword made from Linda's daggers. He also had his large combat knives at the ready on his belt.

Freed clicked his tongue, he was frustrated. This wasn't how he wanted the plan to play out. But Bacchus had to come up with that last second idea of his. 'I had hoped to trap that Lugh in there for the rest of the battle. And possibly kill him if we could reach some of our stronger members. But now, I suppose the two of them have to fight it out. I just hope that Bacchus being a close-ranged fighter will give him the advantage needed in this fight.'

Bacchus went into his battle stance, while doing some light stretches. "Alrighty then, cool and silent type. Let's see what you got." Lugh responded with a cold chilling stoic glare, upon seeing Bacchus grinning from ear to ear like an idiot. Lugh pulled his left leg backwards, and bent his right knee. Exhaling, Lugh took a giant leap and raised the long sword over his head and went in for a slash attack.

Bacchus looked caught off guard. Bacchus holding his arms up, caught the blade as it clashed into what remained of his armored wrists. "Guess you didn't want to risk me redirecting that thrust strike, huh?" Bacchus taunted, but Lugh didn't respond. "Man, you are dull." Bacchus began pushing back, he had more upper body strength than Lugh did.

Lugh however, pulled his blade back a bit which dragged Bacchus a little off balance. Lugh proceeded to jump once again, using the full weight of his body to push the long sword down and break through Bacchus' guard. In an instant, Bacchus was body slammed face first to the ground, creating a crater that covered the entire barrier in a smoke screen.

Lugh flipped over the injured Bacchus, and rested the long sword on his shoulder. Letting out a sigh, Lugh turned his attention to the barrier when suddenly. "Argh!" Bacchus coughed up blood, he was coughing a lot as he pushed himself back up from the crater.

"Don't underestimate Bacchus! He is one wild bastard!" Rocker cheered from the sidelines.

Lugh really thought he would have bashed Bacchus' face in with that attack, so he looked a bit surprised. "Ouch, that fucking stings like a bitch." Bacchus groans as he stands tall, with blood leaking from a cut on his forehead. "Not bad there, seems you got some muscle on your arms there." Bacchus taunted Lugh with a cheeky grin.

"… You are more durable than I expected." Lugh in a rare moment, praised Bacchus for his dense thick skull.

"Yeah… the old man always said I had a thick skull." Bacchus looked slightly saddened at remembering his guild master. Bacchus shook off this feeling, and rushed in at Lugh. Bacchus began using his Falcon Boxing style, and Lugh gasped as he took small jumps back to avoid the palm strikes.

Lugh was very agile, and managed to weave and dodge all of Bacchus' attacks. Yet, Lugh had never encountered such a random wild fighting style. It was as if Bacchus' body said he was going to attack one place, then at the last second switch up to attack in a different place. Lugh brushed his elbow against the barrier wall, and gasped as he realized he had reached the end. In order to avoid the blow and make himself nimbler, Lugh dislocated his own shoulder. And then ducked underneath a palm strike from Bacchus, which clashed and resonated with the wall in a shockwave.

Lugh ducked and went under Bacchus' arm, whilst also lightly slashing him on the side. Lugh was actually sweating a little, he wasn't that used to close ranged combat. He barely managed to dodge that last strike. Lugh brushed his sleeve against his cheek, where he had a light bruise from the air pressure of Bacchus' palm strike hitting him.

Lugh casually looked at Bacchus, as he pops his dislocated shoulder back into place like it was nothing. Lugh glowed with a green lime aura, causing the ground to rumble around them. Pointing his long sword at Bacchus, Lugh launched several green energy balls at Bacchus. Bacchus gritted his teeth, and jumped onto the walls of the Jutsu Shiki barrier avoiding the energy balls that exploded into the wall of the barrier. Bacchus jumped down towards Lugh, and delivered a mighty drop kick.

Lugh however blitzed Bacchus, with his green lime colored aura his speed seemed to have doubled. Bacchus felt a cold chilling sensation down his neck, feeling death was near Bacchus ducked as Lugh swung his long sword over Bacchus. Lugh then quickly dealt a spin kick to Bacchus, who blocked with his wrist but was still launched far back.

"You are wasting your time. Ishgar is doomed to fall to the Empire. Your struggle is meaningless." Lugh advises as he easily spins around his heavy long sword that emits green lightning.

"Yeah… maybe, we won't win this war. A man has got to acknowledge that being a possibility. But a man, also must stand tall and make sure to win no matter what and say fuck the odds! As long as there is something worth fighting for, I will fight for it! Not just for the land, or our friends in the other guilds! As long as these idiot pups are still wilding around, as their big brother figure in the guild. I won't lose with all of them watching my back." Bacchus' declaration caused Lugh's eyes to go wide, being hit with a sensation of nostalgia. And it made his fellow Quatro Cerberus members sniff trying to keep their tears from overflowing.

"Heh." Lugh smirked as he sheeted his long sword, and flicked out is combat knives. "Your name was Bacchus Groh, right?"

"Yeah, and you were Lugh Balor, right?" Bacchus smirked.

"Yes, my sister's name was Linda Balor. And as her older brother, I made a vow myself. That I shall not lose to anyone." Lugh and Bacchus were actually smiling at each other, and both uncharacteristically actually started laughing together like a couple of old friends. The laughter quickly died down, as Lugh readied his combat knives for battle, crossing his arms and both knives glowing in a lime green light. "Bacchus Groh, you have my respect. After this battle, I shall make sure to engrave your name into memory."

"Heh, well thanks… But I'm one step ahead of you already. I've already memorized your name, Lugh Balor." At hearing Bacchus cheeky reply, Lugh only snorted with a smirk as he sprang into action. Lugh speed blitzed Bacchus and quickly made his mark as he slashed Bacchus on the side.

Bacchus groaned his ears sharpened, and his eyes trying their best to follow Lugh's movement had a hard time blocking the onslaught of slashes. Lugh moved like a blinding blur, he wasn't as fast as his sister was, but he was still quite fast.

Bacchus at this rate was throwing punches into the air. Lugh at this point found Bacchus' movements too predictable and slow, thus they were easy to dodge. Bacchus groans as he is riddled in slashes and cuts. "Hold it!" Bacchus jumps back and grabs onto his gourd filled with prime Sake.

"A gourd?" Lugh looks perplexed as he suddenly sees Bacchus chug the whole thing. 'Is he trying to numb the pain with alcohol?' Lugh questioned himself and quickly swopped in to slash Bacchus once more. Only this time, Bacchus placed his palm onto Lugh's head and jumped over him.

"Woohoo!" Bacchus cheered and Lugh looked baffled. "Ah! Now that was a drink!" Bacchus tossed the empty gourd aside, and turned to face Lugh. Bacchus' cheeks were a little red from the alcohol, but what is more his body language and stance had changed.

'What is this?' Lugh perplexed, rushed in thrusting one of his knives at Bacchus. Despite Lugh's blinding speed, Bacchus was suddenly more flexible. Standing on one foot, and bending his entire upper body backwards Bacchus dodged the blade.

"Whoops! That's dangerous man!" Bacchus cackled as he flipped onto his head and started spinning around. Lugh grunted as he was dealt a serious of kicks from Bacchus.

'Is he… drunk?' Lugh was caught off guard, he had never fought someone with this kind of fighting style before. Lugh happened to be standing near the empty gourd, he swiftly picked it up and took a whiff of the scent. 'That is strong alcohol… I estimate about 45%... no maybe 50. And he chugged the whole thing. It smells like a mixture of Sake and something else… the smell by itself is burning my nostrils.' Lugh tossed the gourd aside, flipping out his knives again.

Lugh rushed in at Bacchus with blinding speed. "Ho! Ho!" Yet every thrust of his blades, every slash, Bacchus sluggishly weaved and dodged every single one. And somehow managed to land a hit on his own while at it. "Ugh! Lugh grunted as he skidded backwards. 'That was a blow to my solar plexus… my kidney… and left shoulder. Somehow being drunk has made him more agile and faster. Not only that, with all that alcohol he is numb to the pain I have already inflicted upon him. I don't have time to wait for him to sober up… I need to end this soon.' Lugh was on a timer. He knew the spear would soon be in perfect position above the atmosphere. He would rather be far away before it was so he could drop it onto the battlefield.

Lugh was about to clench onto his knives, although suddenly found his hands empty. "What?" Bacchus sudden obnoxious laughter then caught his attention. Bacchus had both of Lugh's combat knives in his hands. He must have snatched them during the exchange from earlier.

"Whoops! *Hic!" Bacchus broke the combat knives, smashing them to bits.

"Heh, bold move." Lugh pulled out his long sword, and quickly launched a volley of energy blasts from it at Bacchus. Bacchus danced like a drunkard, and miraculously avoided each and every blast. Bacchus got up into Lugh's face, and smashed Lugh in the gut with a series of palm upper thrust strikes.

Lugh grunted and blood erupted out from his mouth. 'This guy! Heh, nice moves! But still, I won't lose!' Lugh rushed at Bacchus and this time slashed Bacchus chest with his long sword.

"Whoops, ah shit!" Bacchus grunted as he flipped several times backwards. Bacchus had been lucky, and managed to lean back enough for the blade not to cut deep enough. "That was a close one… man talk about dangerous. *Hic!"

"I won't lose, Bacchus Groh." Lugh declared once more.

Flashback

Several years ago, after the Empire's first failed invasion of Ishgar. Many other enemy nations had taken the opportunity to launch their own attacks. Alpha squadron, the Spriggan Twelve of the Imperial army had all been divided out to deal with the enemy on their own front. Whilst Beta squadron remained back home, to defend it.

Seated around a meeting table, Lugh sat next to his sister Linda. As Arthur had begun the meeting now that everyone was gathered. "The enemy stronghold, is just a few clicks off coast. We can ambush them, and end this conflict before our masters return home."

"Mm, but sneaking around isn't really my strong suit. I'm at a loss, Arthur… how can I be of help in this situation?" Samuel sounded like a pouting child.

"Indeed, mein bulky body isn't designed for stealth." Blitzkrieg had to agree on that one.

"I can handle it, nice and easy." Grim chuckled as he tossed his sickle up into the air like it was a toy.

"We will have an easy time~" Juliet arrogantly cheered.

"Not you, you stand out too much." Heine was quick to scold Juliet.

"Eh? That's mean, Heine-chan." Juliet moped around.

"Kakaka! We'll bury those bastards!" Bakel seemed eager to go, already pumping his massive muscular arms.

"I cannot wait for Ajeel-sama to praise our efforts." Kareem silently agreed with Bakel.

"With my spatial magic, sneaking all of us in will be a piece of cake~" Marin arrogantly clapped his hands together, while hungrily ogling Heine, Juliet and Linda.

"Argh! Enough talk! Let's go! Let's go!" Bakel was inpatient, and quickly the room gathered to Marin who would transport them.

"Hang on a second." Lugh heard knocking on the door and went to investigate. He saw one of his knights kneeling before him. Lugh stepped out of the meeting room, so no one else would hear their conversation. "Yes?"

"It is the enemy! They are attacking us from the rear! And they are planning on sending out more ships within the hour from their base! We will be boxed in. Our forces are spread too thin!" The solider sounded to be panicking.

Lugh put a comforting hand on the knight's shoulder and walked past him. Linda then stepped out of the meeting room, to see what was keeping her brother. "Is something wrong?" Linda asked her brother as she saw the shaken-up knight.

"Not at all." Lugh replied without facing his sister.

"Where are you going? That creep Marin is about to teleport us all to the enemy stronghold." Linda curiously asked her brother.

"Ah, that… yeah you lot can handle it. I have to use the restroom. I will catch up later." Lugh casually waved at his sister as he continued to walk away. Linda merely scoffs in annoyance, and doesn't seem to care as she heads over to the others.

Lugh singlehandedly, went to confront the ambushing enemy forces attacking them from the empire's blind spot. The enemy looked shocked to see Lugh standing before them, although didn't falter as Lugh was just one man. "Six, five, four," Lugh thrusted his knife at the first charging soldier, using his signature death thrust. Unleashing a massive green wave of energy that erased the first armada of soldiers. "Three, two," The soldiers in the far back, gasped at seeing their men upfront get annihilated in an instant, unaware of the danger plummeting their way. "One." Lugh finished counting down as something pierced through the heavens, and a giant spear rained down at the speed of Mach 14.

The spear hit in the center of the invading enemy forces, and erased them in the blink of an eye as the moment the spear hit the ground it erupted into a massive explosion. And unleashed a series of destructive shockwaves. Lugh was even blown back by his own attack, causing some rubble to collapse onto him.

Coughing he climbed out of the rubble, a little blood running over his face from a cut on his forehead. "That was dusty… Well, the calculations to the range of the blast could use a little tuning." Lugh said to himself.

When suddenly he hears someone huffing and rushing from behind in a panic. His sister Linda emerged just in time to see the aftermath. All that was left of the invading enemy forces, was a gigantic smoking burnt crater. "Oh, Linda… I take it that the battle went well?"

Linda in her rage walked up to Lugh and slapped him. "That was way too careless, that is so unlike you!" Linda accused, her brother was usually laid back and not the type to engage in such a battle.

"What, the enemy's been dealt with, no? I don't see the problem." Lugh lightly chuckled and ruffled Linda's hair.

"I mean it! What if something had happened! You could have been killed!" Linda was in full panic mode. She had nearly lost the only other person aside from Dimaria that she cared about.

"Linda, as your older brother. I swear, I shall not lose." Lugh declared with such confidence, that one couldn't help but take his word for it. "This I vow to you."

Linda snorted and cringed a little. "Yeah, right. Well, you will hear no thanks from me…" In that moment Lugh widened his eyes as he saw Linda extend her hand to him, with a bright smile on her face. "Brother."

"Heh, getting a little cheeky now, aren't you?" Lugh gave a light hearted chuckle at his sister.

Flashback end.

Lugh for once shows anguish and anger overcoming his face, he clenched his hands onto the handle of his sword. "As the older brother, I shall not lose!" Lugh's words actually also manage to draw out something within Bacchus. Bacchus feeling a lump in his throat, holding back his emotions as he remembers a similar lesson from Goldmine back in the day.

Flashback

Bacchus was in the wild rowdy guildhall of Quatro Cerberus, drinking his fill as usual when suddenly Goldmine decided to sit next to him. "Rare to see you not partake in the fight." Goldmine chuckled.

"Haha! Just wait a minute old man! I will school those wild pups in just a minute!" Bacchus declared as he chugged down a mug of ale.

"Bacchus…" Goldmine spoke as he puffed his cigarette. Bacchus always hated the damn cigarettes the master would smoke. The damn smoke always stung his eyes and made him tear up. "You are by far the rowdiest kid in this guild. You are way too wild, son."

Bacchus widened his eyes a bit, Goldmine would only address him as "son" if it was serious. Goldmine continued. "Out of everyone, none in the guild worries me as much as you. You are by far the dumbest kid here. But also, the strongest. Because of that, everyone else looks up to you as their big brother in this guild. That is why, you cannot let them down."

Flashback end

Bacchus grinded his teeth, tears started leaking from his eyes. 'Damn smoke… even in my memories it still stings!' Bacchus' arms were suddenly surrounded with golden dust, like Goldmine's magic. "I trust that you will protect them, Bacchus." The words of Goldmine echoed through his mind. And Bacchus responded with a wild war cry, as with his golden covered arms he rushed at Lugh. He couldn't lose either, not with all his guild mates watching his back. He was in charge now, the alpha of the guild.

The gold dust of Goldmine, their dead master the way it surrounded Bacchus' arms. It made Rocker and the other Quatro Cerberus members watching tear up. It was as if their dead master was guiding Bacchus from the afterlife.

It was the same for Lugh however. His blade, was made up out of his sister Linda's short swords. And it emitted now not only Lugh's green aura, but also the magic remnants of Linda herself. Lugh and Bacchus, showing their newfound respect for each other, look in each other's eyes as they unleash a mighty war cry. Lugh slashes his sword at Bacchus, who swings his arm spreading a cloud of gold dust to hold of the blade.

Lugh's blade bounced off the gold dust, it didn't matter however. Lugh quickly turned up the heat, as green volts of electricity surrounded his long sword as he went in for a death thrust strike to break through Bacchus' defenses. Lugh's long sword pierced through the golden dust cloud, and went right for Bacchus. 'Now!' Bacchus saw his opening and leaned down, however his right dominant arm ended up getting pierced by Lugh's blade.

The thrusting blade tore through the gold dust, muscle tissue and the bone of Bacchus' right arm, tearing off the entire arm from the shoulder and down. Bacchus' face twisted in pain, yet with all the Sake he had drunken, the alcohol in his system was numbing the pain. Bacchus bends his body and readies his left palm. Bacchus delivers a mighty forward palm strike to Lugh's right forearm that held onto the blade. The sudden push to Lugh's forearm, pushed Lugh's arm and his own blade piercing through Lugh's torso.

For a moment, Lugh's eyes widened with shock. In this moment, he also saw that the weight of Bacchus strike had been boosted as the gold dust had pushed Bacchus forward. 'Linda…' Lugh looked to his own blade, as his own red blood dripped onto it.

Bacchus was waiting for this moment. Through the battle he had noticed Lugh's finisher move was his death thrust strike. And Bacchus already knew he could counter it. Bacchus didn't stop however, leaning his body down Bacchus used the full weight of his body in his next strike. Bacchus delivered an upper cut palm strike to Lugh's right hand, as it still held onto Lugh's long sword that was stabbed through Lugh's torso. Lugh's face was not one twisted in pain or anguish. His face was riddled with disbelief that he had lost. Even as Bacchus pushed the blade up cutting through Lugh's torso and right shoulder, Lugh didn't look with contempt or despair.

Blood erupted like a fountain, from Lugh's split open shoulder and torso. Bacchus drunken boxing had made him an unpredictable opponent, what is more, Bacchus even sacrificed his right arm to take down Lugh. All for the sake of his guild mates that he viewed as his brothers. Lugh's eyes for a moment saw the brothers of Bacchus cheering him on, and looking with worry that their older brother had sacrificed his dominant arm. Bacchus however, looked with a strong and firm look of someone only looking to protect his family. Bacchus held no contempt for Lugh, all Bacchus cared about was the safety of his brothers, his guild, his promise to Goldmine. Seeing such brotherly determination in Bacchus eyes, Lugh could only smile. "As expected, of an older brother."

Bacchus stands tall before Lugh, who is starting to fall backwards. Bacchus bows his head out of respect, and slams his left and only remaining fist to his chest. "Thanks for helping me vent out my frustrations… my friend."

'Friend, huh?' Lugh smiles as he falls backwards. 'Yeah, I suppose I would call you a friend. Therefor forgive me my friend, for I must try my best to make good on my vow to Linda.' Lugh's eyes drift up to the sky. 'It's in the perfect position by now.' Lugh thinks and flicks his fingers as he lands in a thud onto the ground. The soil of the earth getting soaked up in Lugh's blood.

The Jutsu Shiki barrier was coming down, as Lugh's body hit the ground. "You did it brother!" Rocker and several Quatro Cerberus member run up to Bacchus, carefully tending to him as Bacchus was losing a lot of blood from having lost his right arm.

Bacchus barely able to stand, and looking rather pale due to blood loss. Looks at his defeated foe. Lugh shakingly lifts his head up and smiles at Bacchus. "My friend, you should have gone for the head…" Lugh mumbles and Bacchus widens his eyes, as he hears something pierce the heavens above.

The giant spear Lugh had sent up into the atmosphere prior to their battle, was plummeting down at the speed of Mach 14. "It's over… As I go, I avenge my sister." Lugh smiles as he looks at the plummeting spear.

When suddenly a giant red spectral arm jumps before the plummeting spear. Itachi's Perfect Susano'o arrived at the scene, holding up the Yata Mirror to block off the plummeting spear. As the spear clashed to the Yata Mirror, it generated violent shockwaves and an explosion that would have wiped out everyone on the battlefield in an instant. "That was close…" Itachi sighed as he held Mirajane in his arms within the forehead of the Perfect Susano'o. "If I hadn't heard it at the last second piercing the heavens, I wouldn't have been able to block it."

"Itachi… he got our message." Warren trembled having nearly pissed himself in fear when he saw the spear plummeting down on them.

"As expected of the Seventh Master." Freed smiled upon seeing their master coming to their rescue.

Lugh's smile falls, he doesn't look disappointed, he looked like he didn't really care about the outcome. 'Ah… I lost. Forgive me, Linda… I was not able to make good on my vow. I wonder, do you look upon me with forgiveness? Or contempt?' The last thing Lugh saw in the heavens above, was the image of his smiling sister Linda, holding her hand out to him. To take Lugh with her to the afterlife. "Forgive me…" Lugh mumbles his final words, and draws his last breath.

Bacchus looks down on Lugh, putting his left hand over Lugh's face and closes his eyes. Bacchus smiles. "I'm sure she forgives you…" Bacchus then collapses onto his back next to the dead Lugh.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield. Samuel, the last standing of Beta Squadron and thus the last second in command of one of the Twelve on the battlefield gasps. "What?! Lugh is dead?!" Samuel gasps as tears starts to leak out from his eyes. "Oh no, by the Gods. My best friend, oh the horror!" Samuel stands tall, his body hardly flinching as he merely holds one of his hands to his face. Busy "mourning" the passing of his friend, Samuel still had no trouble holding off Rufus and Yukino and their fellow Sabertooth Guild wizards. And killing various of the Sabertooth wizards with his ice clones, or his giant ice statue spraying them with a chilling cold breeze that froze them from within.

"Memory Make:" Rufus coughs up blood, his body freezing as a giant statue of ice blew some cold air at Rufus' face. Inhaling the cold air, felt like inhaling poison.

"Ah, such a tragedy. Oh well…" Samuel smiles as his tears vanish. Samuel fires off his sawed-off shotgun, blasting two major holes into Sabertooth wizard's chest. Samuel walked over to Rufus who was coughing up blood. "Oh, dear me, you must be in quite a lot of pain. I can't say I am surprised. My ice particles have frozen up all your inner organs after all. You are slowly suffocating due to organ failure. My such a tragic fate."

"Rufus!" Yukino hearing this knew she had to get Rufus out of here. But ice clones of Samuel got in her way, using her Star Dress Libra Yukino broke the ice clones with her gravity powers.

"Run… Yukino… I can't make it…" Rufus mumbled as Yukino tried to pick him up. Rufus could feel it, he couldn't even walk a single step, his chest was burning hot and he could hardly breathe anymore.

"My, such tragedy. Perhaps you can understand my feelings now, after all I just lost my best friend~" Samuel's smile was taunting Yukino, who glared in anger at Samuel. "Hehe, my such a feisty looking young lady." The giant ice statue blowing the cold air directed its attention to Yukino.

"Run…" Rufus pushed Yukino away, using Memory make to create a giant hand that grabbed onto Yukino and launched her away. Yukino groaned, scrubbing her knees and elbows as she rolled across the dirt ground. Unable to even speak anymore, Rufus looked at Yukino pleading with his eyes to make her run to safety.

Yukino weeps salty tears, as she makes a run for it. "Dammit! Why am I so weak?!" Yukino cried in anguish as she runs away.

"Ho? Such a touching display of a strong friendship. Beautiful, reminds me of my friendship with Lugh. I'm going to miss him. I am certain she will mourn you as well." Samuel has his ice giant spray a group of Sabertooth wizards with its ice breath. Freezing them from within, and making them all suffocate to death.

Rufus is unable to speak, but he glares with disgust and contempt at Samuel. "Such a strong will… Bye now." Samuel pointed his sawed-off shotgun at Rufus' head and pulled the trigger, blowing Rufus' head clean off and splattering his brains across the dirt.

Jacob watching the explosion of Lugh's heavy air strike spear from afar, hummed as he had his hands in his pockets. "So, Lugh is dead… And his final attack was even foiled by that Itachi Uchiha. Lugh's spear falls at the speed of Mach 14, yet that Itachi Uchiha was able to react in time. He will be a difficult opponent to beat." Jacob looked down on the downed Bacchus, who had passed out next to the dead Lugh. "Lugh was by far stronger than Bacchus. However, due to him being trapped in the Jutsu Shiki barrier, Lugh who is, or was a long-ranged fighter was left at a disadvantage. And Bacchus who is a pro close-ranged fighter had the edge. A disheartening farewell, you've served me well for many years Lugh. But worry not…" Jacob raised his hand, holding his finger out like a gun and charging up a magic bullet. "I shall avenge you." Even if he was over 500 meters away, Jacob still had a good aim at Bacchus and was confident he couldn't miss.

Jacob launched a magic bullet from his fingertip, however it clashed with a cloud of golden dust. Jacob widened his eyes, and as he turned around, he was met with a fist cloaked in golden dust. What is more shocking to Jacob, he saw it was Kakuzu. 'What?! I am certain I killed him earlier!' Jacob skidded backwards, a trail of blood dripping from his busted lip. Remaining calm and composed, Jacob held his fists up. "How is this possible? I was certain I destroyed your hearts."

Kakuzu responds with a chuckle, as emerging out from his back were four deformed monsters of darkness wearing masks. Jacob widened his eyes, as he felt a pulse, a heartbeat from each of these monsters of darkness. And he still heard a pumping heart within Kakuzu's chest, the recent added heart of Goldmine pumping strong in Kakuzu's body. "It seems despite being the world's best assassin. You don't know how to kill a demon."

"I see, I miscalculated the number of hearts, eh?" Jacob smirked as he now understood how Kakuzu could possibly still be alive. "I see… no wonder you survived. No matter." Jacob claps his hands together, and in the blink of an eye all four of Kakuzu's hearts vanish before their eyes. Kakuzu widens his eyes in disbelief. "For you don't stand a chance against my spatial magic." Jacob rushes and drives an upper cut punch to Kakuzu's chest, sending Kakuzu flying to the heavens.

Kakuzu groaned, he had managed to harden his body at the very last minute to ease the blow, but he was still dealt some serious internal damage. 'I have to heal with my demonic darkness…' Dark demonic markings spread across Kakuzu's body, and began healing the damage dealt to his inner body.

Jacob in an instant had jumped up to Kakuzu's level trying to pierce Kakuzu from behind with his fist. Sensing the killing intent, Kakuzu in responds grew demonic wings of darkness and swatted away at Jacob. Jacob flipped over Kakuzu's wings, and aimed to strike at his back. Black tentacles emerged out from Kakuzu's back and charged like snakes at Jacob. The assassin wasn't faced, and grabbed onto the tentacles as he dealt an elbow strike to Kakuzu's back shattering his spine.

Kakuzu crashed to the ground, and groaned in pain. His spine already having been restored thanks to the demonic darkness. Kakuzu rolled out of the way, as Jacob came crashing down and stomped his foot to the ground creating a massive crater. "That demonic darkness is quite useful. It grants you near instant healing to your body. But it still drains your powers." Jacob threw a flurry of jabs at Kakuzu, the speed of the barrage of jabs making it appear as a meteor shower.

Kakuzu stared in disbelief, seeing a thousand fists coming towards him. Jacob's jabs were beyond lightning speed and appeared as a meteor shower raining down onto Kakuzu. Kakuzu quickly acted, and used his Demonic wings to shield himself from the flurry of jabs. However, it wasn't enough as Kakuzu began to notice, air cannons blasted through his wings riddling them with holes. Kakuzu with his hardened body, reached his hand out and caught Jacob's fist. Kakuzu's arm was pushed back, yet Kakuzu stood his ground.

"You call yourself world's greatest assassin…! You can't even kill an old man like me!" Kakuzu groaned as he used his demonic strength to push back, and tightening his grip onto Jacob's fist.

"I prefer to look at it, as a sign of respect. You are resilient, Kakuzu. With your age and experience, that is to be expected. But like all old men, you grow weaker, while us the younger generation grow stronger." Jacob with his free hand threw another punch aimed at Kakuzu's head, however Kakuzu grabbed the incoming fist by the wrist. Veins bulging around Kakuzu's forehead as he struggled to push back.

"I'm no ordinary geezer! I'm not like those past their prime! I am at my prime power!" Kakuzu retorted as his hands turned into black demonic claws, his demonic wings expanded in size, black horns grew out from his forehead. Using his Etherious form, Kakuzu's strength doubled. And for once, Jacob began to sweat from the pressure. Groaning as he found himself in pain from Kakuzu tightening his grip on his right hand, and left wrist. Kakuzu was pushing Jacob back. "And now, I will show you how a true assassin operates!"

Black tentacles shot out from Kakuzu's chest, and latched themselves onto Jacob's chest. Jacob's face twisted in pain, as he felt the tentacles pierce through his skin and dug into his body. "I never miss the kill… And I never miscount the number of hearts. I always count on there being some unique opponents… luckily, you are an ordinary man with a single heart."

"You think this will keep me restrained?!" Jacob yanked his right fist back and out from Kakuzu's grip. However, more black tentacles emerged from underneath the ground and latched themselves onto Jacob's right arm preventing him from grabbing the tentacles digging through his chest.

"Heh, you just made this easier." Gold dust coated itself around Kakuzu's free hand, forming into a sharp golden blade that he aimed at Jacob's chest.

"And you are wide open…" Jacob smirked and reeled his head back, then he spat out something at Kakuzu's face. Seeing the glint reflection from the sun, Kakuzu gasped and tilted his head to the side as a blade cut him on his temple. Hitting a vein, as blood poured over the left side of Kakuzu's face. Jacob then dealt a knee strike to Kakuzu's chin, sending Kakuzu a few feet into the air. With the grip on Jacob's left wrist loosened, Jacob yanked his left hand towards his chest and grabbed onto the black tentacles before they could reach his heart.

With a mighty yank, Jacob ripped out the black tentacles from his chest. Blood pouring out from the pierced holes left in his chest. "I must commend your tactic, Kakuzu… I've never met any other old geezers as stubborn as Lord August before. Now then…" Jacob proceeded to pummel Kakuzu with a series of jabs.

Kakuzu groaned as his insides were damaged and the shape of Jacob's fists riddled his torso like craters. Kakuzu's demonic darkness couldn't even keep up with its healing powers, as more damage was dealt instantly. "Time to give you a respectable death." As Jacob was about to tear Kakuzu's head off with a straight punch, his fist collided with something else.

Jacob widened his eyes, as a distortion in the air itself appeared before his fist. An anomaly in space itself appeared before him, and then a colossal explosion blew up in his face. Kakuzu however, was spared from the explosion. It was as if a wall of space shielded him from the explosion. "Need a hand?" Arriving onto the scene, was the mightiest female wizard in Sabertooth, Minerva.

Kakuzu groaned, too stubborn to accept Minerva's hand to help picking him up. Kakuzu stood up, and his body swelled up as he restored the damage dealt by Jacob's fists earlier. "What are you doing here? I half expected a group of idiotic pups." Kakuzu groaned as he sensed the members of Quatro Cerberus still hiding somewhere nearby.

"… Reports just came in, a whole platoon of my guild's wizards had been annihilated. All but one perished, and I am trying to find her and regroup." Minerva clenched her fists as she had heard that Yukino and Rufus' platoon had been annihilated by one man. And only Yukino had managed to escape. "I will hunt the bastard who killed my guildmates down." Minerva's eyes steeled with killing intent. "But then, I found you battling this Spriggan and my sense of emergency told me you required help."

"Well, I'm not opposed to it… This guy is strong." Kakuzu sighed, as annoying having to fight alongside some people have been in the past, Kakuzu couldn't deny that he couldn't defeat Jacob on his own. "Just a heads up. This guy is incredibly fast, uses spatial magic to teleport magical attacks away to a different dimension. And also, to conceal himself and even his weapons. And if you were to take a direct hit from him… well, without demonic darkness to heal like me, I estimate you will be killed in one clean hit." If Minerva was planning on helping out in this battle, Kakuzu was at least willing to have the common courtesy to brief his ally on the enemy's abilities.

"Spatial magic? Well, that suits me just fine." Minerva smirked as she twisted the space before her with her bare hands.

Jacob emerges from the smoke of the explosion, his blazer burnt and a slight annoyed expression on his face. 'A spatial magic user, eh? Guess I have to up my game a bit.' Jacob cracks his neck by bending his head lightly to the side.

Jacob's body starts emitting a neon-colored aura, the sheer force of the assassin's power had the whole landscape trembling in fear. Reaching into his burnt blazer, Jacob pulls out a whip. The whip due to Jacob's concealment magic, was invisible to the naked eye. "Here he comes…" Kakuzu warned as he and Minerva readied themselves for combat. Jacob reeled his arm back, and swung down the whip the sheer force of the swing split opens the ground and separated Kakuzu from Minerva. "He's going to pick us off one by one!" Kakuzu quickly saw through Jacob's tactic.

Jacob pulled out a handgun, the gun glowing with a series of colors down to the barrel. Pulling the trigger, Jacob fired off a magic coated bullet that soared towards Minerva. Jacob was aiming for the most troublesome threat first. 'This bullet is fused with my own spatial magical abilities… It will easily overpower that woman's spatial magic.' Minerva raised her arms, twisting the space before her yet the bullet pierced through her space distortion like nothing.

Minerva gasped, as the bullet blew up in a colossal explosion. Kakuzu groaned as he was even sent flying from this massive explosion, and his skin was severely burnt. Kakuzu widened his eyes, as he stared at the giant mushroom cloud left by the explosion. "That's one down…" Jacob smirked, but it was a short-lived sense of victory. As the smoke cleared Jacob saw a giant ball of gold dust. The gold dust collapsed, revealing Minerva unharmed. Minerva was having a small panic attack, having stared death in the eye for but a mere moment. "That gold dust… he protected her rather than himself?" Jacob raised his brow, form his exchange of blows with Kakuzu, the former Akatsuki member didn't really strike him as the type to defend others.

Kakuzu huffed and panted, black tentacles falling out from his split open mouth. Demonic darkness build itself around Kakuzu's burnt and damaged body, healing him almost instantaneously. 'It is merely the tactical approach. That Minerva, her spatial magic will be crucial to counter Jacob's… With my demonic darkness I can heal anyway… she can't.' Kakuzu groaned as he pushed himself back up.

Minerva using her spatial magic teleported herself next to Kakuzu, helping him stand up. "Are you okay?" Minerva couldn't tell just how injured Kakuzu was, with his healing abilities his physical body was naturally intact. But Kakuzu's spirit and magical power, chakra and demonic power could always suffer and get depleted.

"I'm fine!" Kakuzu grunted and shoved Minerva aside, if she stuck too close Jacob would just exploit the opportunity to attack them both.

"…" Minerva gave Kakuzu a bit of a stink eye for his attitude, but decided to brush it aside. "What are your abilities anyway? You have demonic darkness, healing and gold dust, is that it?"

"No… I can turn my body into iron and manipulate earth. I also had other abilities in the form of my spare hearts, but this bastard transported them all away into his pocket dimension!" Kakuzu snarled as he glared at Jacob who was waiting for the perfect moment to strike. 'As I thought… this woman's spatial magic is a perfect counter to his. Jacob is being very cautious about his next move.' Kakuzu internally smiled as he had been right in his theory. Even if Minerva was much weaker than Jacob, her being a spatial magic user really tipped and evened out the scale of this fight.

"Pocket dimension? Well, let's fix that shall we?" Minerva lifted up her right arm, and held her left hand low as she generated vortexes of space around them. Moving her arms around counter clock-wise, Minerva carved out a hole in space itself. Jacob gasped as he felt a mental breach. Out from the space rift, flew out the black dark monsters that were Kakuzu's extra four hearts.

"She created a rift in my pocket dimension?!" Jacob snarled, veins bulging around his temple as he felt outraged.

Kakuzu looked around at his spare heart monsters, and chuckled. "Well, the scale has officially tipped in our favor." Forming a single hand seal, the fire masked monster opened its mouth. "Fire Style: Intelligent Hard Work!" Like a flamethrower, the mask unleashed an ocean of fire soaring towards Jacob. Kakuzu wasn't done however, as the fire mask then began releasing black fire. "Flame God's: Bellow!" Using the God Slayer magic of former Grimoire Heart member Zancrow, Kakuzu powered up his ocean of flames with the added black fire. The intense firepower burnt across the landscape and headed straight for Jacob.

"*Clap!" Clapping his hands, the fire vanished, however it quickly reappeared as Minerva carved out dimensional rifts. Although the dimensional rifts surrounded Jacob making the ocean of flames spray out all around him. "Dammit!" Swinging his invisible whip around, Jacob carved up a magical spatial wall around himself to hold off the intense fire.

"Arc of Embodiment: Tower of Dingir!" Using the wind masked monster, Kakuzu launched the attack of Rustyrose another former Grimoire Heart member who he had stolen a heart from. A colossal tower rose up from underneath Jacob, hoisting him into the air.

"I can't move!" Jacob found himself fully immobilized within the tower. The tower then began to glow, and detonated in a brilliant explosion that sent a shockwave rocking across the battlefield for several miles.

"Yosh!" Kakuzu in his Etherious form, took a giant leap towards the explosion as he spotted the free-falling Jacob. Energy of darkness morphed itself between Kakuzu's wings, the energy condensing itself into an unstable looking sphere of pure vibrating energy. The vibrating sphere of energy, suddenly turned itself into a sphere of blue fire. "Demonic Hellfire: Hell Blaze!" Kakuzu thrusted his arms forward, and launched the blue fire sphere in a vibrating energy blast.

*Clap! Jacob clapped his hands, and vanished as the blue wave of fire engulfed his entire being. *Clap! Jacob appeared hovering over Kakuzu, and elbowed him atop of his head sending Kakuzu plummeting down. Multiple space distortions surrounded Jacob, who could only gasp as they all detonated into a series of explosions. *Clap! Once again Jacob teleported, and appeared behind Minerva.

Minerva gasped although was saved as the wind masked monster carrying Kakuzu got in between them. Jacob punched out the heart within the monster, destroying the heart that used to belong to Rustyrose. Kakuzu then jumped in and dealt a spin kick to the side of Jacob's head. Kakuzu dealt a series of blows, using his taijutsu skills to their fullest to deal a series of blows into Jacob's chest.

Jacob's face was twisted in pain, for some reason Kakuzu's blows felt heavier than before. "Gravity Gattling Impact!" Kakuzu's water mask monster had merged back into Kakuzu, granting him also the use of gravity magic that he used to increase the power of his fists, and lighten the weight of his body to move faster. "Golden Gauntlets!" Kakuzu also used the heart of Goldmine to surround his fists in golden gauntlets, which furthered increased the damage dealt by his punches. "And finally!" Kakuzu in the blink of an eye formed a hand seal, as the lightning masked monster flew above them. "Lightning Style: False Darkness!" The mask unleashed a stream of darkened lightning that didn't clash into Jacob, instead it clashed with Kakuzu himself. Or to be more specific, his golden gauntlets.

The electricity of his False Darkness conducted itself through Kakuzu's golden gauntlets. The lightning easily flowed through the golden gauntlets of Kakuzu and thus electrocuted Jacob with each punch. Jacob cried out in pain, as his body was getting fried from the constant surge of electricity, and his flesh and bones were groaning from the heavy quick punches of Kakuzu. As the electricity had run its course, Kakuzu kicked Jacob in the solar plexus and sent the assassin flying backwards.

Jacob crashed through several rows of plateaus, and finally came to a halt after crashing and denting the tenth one. Jacob panted, his legs feeling like jelly from his body having been electrocuted. Jacob wiped his arm across his nose, seeing he was bleeding pretty badly. "This is getting troublesome… that woman, with her around I cannot transport Kakuzu's attacks away willingly anymore. Clearly, I need to eliminate her first." Jacob vanished in the blink of an eye, having teleported once again.

Jacob appeared standing over Minerva, wielding a switchblade he aimed to cut her throat open. Minerva this time was prepared and generated a wall of spatial distortion between them. Jacob's blade broke in half, yet Jacob just punched through the distorted space wall and the sheer shockwave of his fist was enough to knock Minerva down to the ground.

Kakuzu's fire masked monster and water masked monster came flying in and clashed into Jacob, pushing him away from Minerva. "Flame God's: Scythe!" The flame masked monster created a giant scythe of black fire, and swung it towards Jacob. Jacob glared at the monster, and dealt a back hand strike to the black fire scythe. The fire scythe dissolved from the sheer air pressure of Jacob's punch. Jacob then threw a heavy straight punch at the water mask. Without even directly touching the mask with his fist, Jacob shattered the heart within it, the force of his punch generating an air cannon that shot through the head of the water mask. Pulling out his handgun, Jacob also shot out the fire mask square in the face. The bullet exploded within the head of the monster, causing black mush to splatter all around Jacob. The heart that belonged to Zancrow was destroyed. And Kakuzu was down to his last two hearts.

"Well, Kakuzu… shall we wrap this up?" Jacob kicked the air itself, and launched himself like a bullet at Kakuzu. Reeling his fist back, Jacob threw a punch into the air, and created a massive air cannon that sent ripples through space itself. Kakuzu quickly formed a wall of gold dust before him, but the air cannon tore right through it and clashed into Kakuzu. Kakuzu groaned as he was launched backwards. Blood pouring out from his slit open mouth.

"Need… to maximize the protection of my remaining hearts…" Kakuzu raised his arms, concentrating on the gold dust making it latch onto his body. The cold dust collects itself across Kakuzu's entire body, even his demonic wings and horns. Kakuzu stomped his foot down, causing the ground to sink underneath the weight. Kakuzu stood tall, cladded in full bodied golden armor. His wings of darkness appeared as wings of gold.

Jacob looked in awe at the sight of this golden armored form of Kakuzu. Kakuzu weaved a single hand sign, as the lightning mask within his body unleashed a stream of lightning. "Lightning Style: Fale Darkness." The lightning conducted itself throughout the entire golden armor of Kakuzu. "Yes, let's wrap this up." Kakuzu agreed with Jacob, and then proceeded to blitz the assassin. Kakuzu slammed his lightning infused golden fist into Jacob's gut. Jacob groaned in pain, and suddenly he noticed the lightning turned black. Kakuzu merged his demonic darkness with his lightning, enhancing his speed and attack power immensely.

Jacob teleported away from Kakuzu, and threw a heavy air cannon punch straight into Kakuzu's back. Kakuzu hardly budged or even buckled underneath the pressure. Causing Jacob to go wide eyed in shock, he hadn't done any damage to the golden armor. Kakuzu stared at Jacob from the corner of his eye, and then moved in a zigzag pattern like a bolt of lightning. Kakuzu was jumping on the air, and then clashed his knee into Jacob's chest.

Jacob groaned and threw a haymaker punch straight to Kakuzu's face, the space rippling direct punch tore off some of the gold armor around Kakuzu's face. "I see… a direct blow is needed to shave away at this armor, eh?"

"Iron-Make: Morningstar!" Kakuzu created two massive spinning spiked iron balls, the electricity from his armor conducted itself through the spinning Morningstar's and slammed straight into Jacob's chin.

Jacob smirked as he threw a series of jabs, moving so fast that it appeared as if a thousand fists were raining down onto Kakuzu. The space rippling punches bombarded into Kakuzu's armor, creating massive air cannons and shockwaves that tore apart the entire landscape. While Kakuzu generated volts of electricity that tore at the land, and fried Jacob's body as he continued to hammer the spinning spiked iron balls into Jacob. Kakuzu soared across the battlefield like a bolt of lightning, and Jacob with his instantaneous space teleportation technique.

The two combatants laid waste to the entire landscape. Jacob began tearing through Kakuzu's armor with all these direct space rippling punches. But in return, Kakuzu was numbing and frying up Jacob's body and breaking a few bones with his heavy lightning infused strikes.

Jacob snickered, with more of Kakuzu's armor torn Jacob could result to long ranged attacks again. Jacob threw heavy air cannon punches, trapping Kakuzu in place as the air cannon kept him in place. Jacob began teleporting around, and threw more air cannon punches, eventually he had Kakuzu trapped in a cage of air cannon punches blasting into his body. Kakuzu groaned, blood spilling out from the gaps in his armor and his lightning getting negated from this intense force of air.

'This is like… the eight inner gates!' Kakuzu recognized this move, it was very similar to the Evening Elephant move of the Eight Gate of Death. Kakuzu could not move, he was stuck. Jacob then appeared before him, and dealt a direct drop kick upside Kakuzu's head. Kakuzu crashed into the ground, his golden armor mostly torn asunder.

"Meteor Jabs!" Jacob aimed to finish this with this last move, unleashing a series of lightning quick jabs. Each punch held the same level of power as a meteorite, and these direct blows tore apart Kakuzu's armor, and then at his body.

Minerva had been unable to step in, and could only gasp in fright as a giant cloud of dust gathered from the intense flurry of jabs Jacob dealt to the downed Kakuzu. Flying out from the dust cloud, was the lightning masked monster of Kakuzu, the mask destroyed along with its heart. Kakuzu was down to his last remaining heart, the heart of Goldmine.

Minerva flinched as she heard the sound of footsteps. Jacob walked out from the dust cloud, and dragged with him the torso of Kakuzu. Kakuzu groaned, his entire lower body was missing as was his left arm. And his body riddled with holes in the shape of Jacob's fists. "Now then… want to try and save him?" Jacob chuckled at Minerva.

"Bastard!" Minerva prepared her ultimate move, Yagudo Rigora the spell of one of the eighteen battle Gods. However, Jacob blitzed her before she could even start the chant. Minerva quickly canceled her spell, and put up a wall of distorted space between them.

With a mere air cannon backhand strike, Jacob pierced through Minerva's defenses and launched her crashing into a boulder. Jacob sighed, as he held up the mangled torso of Kakuzu by the neck. His lower half severed, his left arm gone and his torso riddled with holes. Kakuzu groaned as he was suffocating with Jacob tightening his hold on his throat. Jacob was out of breath, exhausted from this intense battle. Once Minerva had acted as a counter to his spatial magic ability, Kakuzu had been able to do some damage with the abilities of his hearts.

But in the end, Jacob still came out on top in this fight. "I've destroyed… all but the current heart in your chest." Jacob reeled his fist back, readying to end this by punching out Kakuzu's last remaining heart, Goldmine's heart. Jacob's fists were bruised and bloodied, him punching through Kakuzu's gold armor had been challenging. But his fists were still strong enough to end Kakuzu. "When you reach the afterlife, give my regards to Goldmine."

At the mentioning of the Quatro Cerberus master, battle cries echoed all around them. Jacob halted in his finishing blow to Kakuzu, looking around bewildered as he saw the vengeful, yet frightened Quatro Cerberus members. Semmes spinning his giant bulky body towards Jacob.

Jacob didn't even bat an eye, as he stopped Semmes dead in his tracks by grabbing onto one of his stretched-out arms halting the giant man mid spin. Warcry then jumped in, tears leaking from his eyes as he unleashed a loud cry that blasted a sonic wave at Jacob. Jacob groaned as the loud pitched sound stung at his eardrums. Warcry was silenced however, as Jacob threw Semmes at him.

A fist threw itself at Jacob's head, but the assassin easily dodged the attempts of Nobarly. The Quatro Cerberus member snarled, as spikes emerged out from his arm, metal spikes that pushed into Jacob's side. Nobarly grabbed onto the torso of Kakuzu, and kicked Jacob pushing him back a single step. Nobarly rolled around in the dirt, while holding onto Kakuzu's torso. "Now!" Nobarly called out.

A giant flytrap then emerged out from underneath Jacob, Jager of Quatro Cerberus jumping in and closing the flytrap shut with a clap of his hands. The flytrap bulged, as fists tore straight through it. Jacob tore the giant flytrap to pieces, his stone-cold glare trained onto the interfering Quatro Cerberus members. "My promise to your master no longer applies, as I am sure you lot are aware." Jacob pointed out, as he had promised to not harm the Quatro Cerberus members on the day of Goldmine's death. Now a new day was here, and Jacob could kill the whole lot without it weighing on his consciousness. "It would seem you are eager to join Goldmine in the afterlife." Jacob rushed towards the frightened Quatro Cerberus members.

Nobarly jumped in fright, and quickly tossed Kakuzu's torso aside as Jacob rushed at him first. Before he could react however, Jacob grabbed and lifted Nobarly off the ground by the throat. "Nobarly!" Warcry rushed in, only to suffer the same fate. Jacob held both Quatro Cerberus members up in the air, strangling the life out of them.

But then, Jacob noticed the trail of golden dust floating around the two Quatro Cerberus members. But also, around Kakuzu. Jacob buckled over in pain, and dropped the Quatro Cerberus members as Kakuzu's right arm had stretched out, coated in gold, and pierced through Jacob's chest.

Kakuzu panted, his darkness acting to reattach his lower half to his torso, and his left arm. "Got you…" Kakuzu smirked. The Quatro Cerberus members in their last-ditch attack, had created confusion for Jacob. And for a split second created a unique opening, and Kakuzu exploited it to the fullest. Coating his right arm with gold dust, creating a golden blade, and stretching his forearm out with his tentacles, Kakuzu had managed to stab through Jacob's chest.

Jacob's face twisted in pain, as Kakuzu's golden covered hand had ripped out Jacob's heart. Twitching in pain, Jacob looks down to his pierced through chest. Kakuzu yanks his arm out, and drags out Jacob's heart. Not even bothering checking its affinity, Kakuzu crushes the heart in his grasp without a second thought. For once thinking outside of his own greed. "I don't need your stinking heart…!" Kakuzu snarls as he throws the mush that is Jacob's destroyed heart aside.

Jacob falls to his knees, and smirks as he looks at the gold dust surrounding Kakuzu, whilst also protecting the Quatro Cerberus members. Truly, it was as if the spirit of Goldmine had come back to haunt him. "Kakuzu…" Jacob vomits out a puddle of blood. "I shall tell Goldmine of you… when I meet him in the next world." And just like that, Jacob collapses onto the ground, dead.

"Take your yapping mouth to hell…" Kakuzu snarls as he falls onto his back. Kakuzu is down however for but a mere moment. As suddenly his body is lifted hoisting into the air, by the cheering Quatro Cerberus members. Kakuzu looks stunned, but doesn't voice a complaint or as much make a sound.

"Hell yeah! That was some wild spirit, Kakuzu-dono!" Nobarly cheered as he and the others tossed Kakuzu up and down. Praising him, singing his praise like if he was their hero. This rowdy bunch, was offering him so much praise for a battle won. When he was used to a mere grunt, or a simple "good job" as a sign of praise in his past as a Shinobi. And torture and maiming upon failure. But not with these rowdy kids, even when it appeared as if Kakuzu had failed once again like he did with Hashirama. These rowdy kids came to his rescue, and helped him getting the opening he needed to get the kill.

"Banzai! Banzai!" The Quatro Cerberus members cheered in joy that their master Goldmine had been avenged. And with great wild fiery spirits, celebrated their champion for helping them get their revenge.

"Loud idiots… the war is still not over." Minerva made a light remark, although smiled a bit warmly at how happy these rowdy fools looked.

Elsewhere, Mavis had long since lost sight of Makarov, her eyes were burning with intense fury. Warrod was dead, and that fact pained her heart greatly. Just by taking a single step forward, Mavis unleashed waves of golden magical power that obliterated any Imperial Knight or mage trying to stand in her way. Erasing their bodies, and leaving only behind clanking bodies of armor in her wake.

Mavis halted in her tracks, as a beautiful crimson aura clashed with her golden power. Mavis' eyes darkened with her anger, she glanced up and spotted the number 2 of the Spriggan Twelve, the mightiest woman in the Empire, Irene floating down to meet her. "Hello again, this time I shall claim Fairy Heart from you."

Mavis didn't care about Irene's boastful claim, she was currently seeing red and had but one demand. "Bring me this August fellow, and you may live." Mavis coldly responded with a glare, that reminded Irene way too much of Zeref himself. Truly, Mavis like her lover was truly a cursed entity.

"Heh, you want the general of the Twelve? As much as I would love to see August face defeat. I don't think you have what it takes, little lady. As much as I despise the old bastard, I cannot deny his might. Now, will you surrender quietly? Or do I have to take you in kicking and screaming?" Irene tapped her staff to the ground, making a giant bubble barrier around herself and Mavis.

"Death it is then." Mavis fully utilized the might of Fairy Heart, generating violent shockwaves and currents of wind that even extended beyond the barrier.

Makarov, held far back against an army of soldiers, gasped as he felt this intense presence. "First master…" Makarov's face washed over with worry, as he sensed the presence of one of the Twelve near Mavis.

Gray still holding onto Juvia, glanced to the direction of this intense power. Feeling the intense rumbling. "First master… We better head to the guild." Gray would put Juvia down, but she was trembling so much at this sensation of power. She didn't understand how Gray wasn't affected by it, whoever Mavis was facing was nearly ten times stronger than Invel.

"Lady Irene… seems she got to Fairy Heart first." Invel having regained consciousness mumbled. Invel shakingly looked up at Gray, who was walking away with Juvia. "Where do you think you are going? Get back here…" Invel demanded, his face twisted with pain. Just moving his arms slightly to push his upper body up, gave him a burning sensation all over his body. "We're not finished here!"

Gray slowly turned to look at Invel, despite everything Gray felt nothing but pity towards the current weak pathetic state of the once famed Winter General. "Let it go, and you may live." Gray advised and turned his back on Invel once more.

"You want to defeat E.N.D, right?!" Invel called out, and quickly Gray came to a halt. At Gray stopping, Invel broke out into a chuckle. "Yes, I know about that… I know, that you want to destroy E.N.D to honor your dead father."

"What of it?" Gray glanced at Invel once more.

"Without a doubt… you have the power to kill E.N.D… I have experienced it firsthand now after all. Yet, you remain blissfully unaware of its true identity." Invel chuckled whilst coughing and wheezing slightly from the pain he felt in his body. "As you know from your friend Itachi… The 'E' in all of the Demons of the Book of Zeref, stands for Etherious. Well… you know E.N.D all too well also… like Itachi, he has been in front of your nose this entire time."

Gray and Juvia both widened their eyes, putting together the initials of E.N.D, only one they knew of matched those with the added Etherious for E. "That's right, you have realized it, haven't you? Your enemy, your goal… is none other than Etherious Natsu Dragneel. Zeref's most prized possession, the demon he made from the body of his own dead younger brother." Invel chuckled as he saw the look on Gray's face as it all dawned on him. Everything was clicking together. "It seems, you have a difficult choice to make… kill your friend? Or risk the demon inside him coming to the surface and kill everyone. I truly pity your life, Gray Fullbuster. First you lose your mother and father. Then your master, and then your father once more… All because of the Demons of the Book of Zeref. And now, you shall lose your closest friend because of it. It is quite comical." Invel weakly chuckled, although was silenced as Gray froze Invel trapped within a block of ice.

The Winter General's body, laid there frozen in solid violet colored ice. The frozen Invel's face being stricken with fear, trying to back away in terror. Trapped in a prison of ice, Invel of the Spriggan Twelve was taken out of commission. Juvia nervously glanced at Gray. She wondered what was going through his head right now. "Sorry, Juvia… but we need to make a quick stop before going to the guild." Gray's eyes looked in the direction Brandish had taken Natsu, Lucy and Happy to.

That's the end for now!

Sorry that this chapter took so long, it ended up being longer than I expected. And I have been busy with moving out of my apartment, and work amongst many other things. Another main issue why this chapter took so long, I struggled getting creative in some of these fights. Even now, I am still not fully satisfied with some of them.

With two more Spriggan dead, and one incapacitated. That leaves us with five more of the Twelve still active. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Let me know which fight was your favorite in the reviews. Other than that, I don't have much else to say.

List of deceased:

Ishgar: Master Goldmine (killed by Jacob), Master Bob (killed by Bloodman), Edolas Jet and Droy (killed by Blitzkrieg), Edolas Elfman (killed by Historia Tensei Rustyrose), Edolas Levy (killed by Bloodman), Sherry Blendy (killed by Dimaria), Ren Akatsuki (killed by Dimaria), Wolfheim (killed by God Serena), Fiona (killed by God Serena), Mitsurugi (killed by God Serena), Noel (killed by God Serena), Hyberion (killed by God Serena), Warrod (killed by August), Jura (killed by August), Rufus (killed by Samuel).

Alvarez Empire: Ajeel (killed by Kisame), Bakel and Kareem (killed by Laxus and Mirajane), Linda (killed by Beatrice), Marin (killed by Brandish), Grim (killed by Lyon), Bloodman (killed by Gajeel), Heine and Juliet (killed by Mirajane), Blitzkrieg (killed by Elfman and Edolas Mirajane), Wall Eehto (killed by Laxus), 4 unnamed knights (Neinhart's officers, killed by Erza Knightwalker), Neinhart (killed by Madara), Arthur (killed by Juvia and Gray), God Serena (killed by Beatrice), Lugh (killed by Bacchus), Jacob (killed by Kakuzu).

Leave a review!

-Later!

(Responds to reviews):

Guest: Thanks!

Shadow Joestar: Thanks! Things certainly heated up this chapter.

Guest: Thanks! And I kind of get what you mean. But I will say I have the entire remaining events of the story planned out. And there will be some scene with Mirajane during labor, so I hope those will be what you were hoping for.

Budang2005: Thank you. And also, Sasori and Sorano are kind of an item now, sort of. So far it is one sided though.

andresskorskiruiz: Thanks. And at least the copy story on Wattpad got taken down.

altajir95: Thanks! Sorry for the long wait.

Mr. Haziq: And the lack of Edolas deaths continues in this chapter. Is there no more Edolas deaths?!

keybladelight: Hashirama could potentially resist the control, but I don't know, August is something else.

christian . heath80: At this point, on our heroes' side there are maybe a few that could stand up to Hashirama. But the one with the biggest chance of winning is Itachi, unless Madara decides to fight his old rival.

springtony: Well, I managed to give a brief exchange between Itachi and Mirajane this chapter. A rather wholesome one if I do say so myself.

Aria . RedMika19: Yes.

Farhadul Zaman: Thanks!

Elite-Ninja2510: I accept your apology. We all make mistakes.

irgendwe: That is true I will admit.

Guest: I hear you. Most of those things have been checked out. Ultear has mastered basic sharingan.

Jiraiya Sensei: Yeah, I get what you mean.

michaelgil0828: Yeah.