Natsu, Zeref, and Acnologia materialized in the boundless expanse of the Battle World, their presence heralding the onset of an epic confrontation.
As Acnologia took a menacing step forward, Zeref raised his hand towards him, his command cutting through the air with an aura of authority. "I want to fight my brother now. Leave," Zeref ordered, his voice laced with a hint of disdain.
Acnologia scoffed at the audacity of Zeref's command, his primal instincts bristling at the notion of being ordered around. "You? Commanding me? I'll show you," he growled, his eyes flashing with defiance.
With a wave of Zeref's hand, Acnologia was banished to the far reaches of the Battle World, his presence fading into the distance. "That will buy us about 20 minutes, more or less," Zeref remarked with a smirk, his confidence unwavering.
Natsu observed the spot where Acnologia had vanished, a sense of anticipation coursing through his veins. "You are... stronger than anticipated," he admitted, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for the battle ahead.
"Of course, I too am a Transcended Being now, a Transcended Demon," Zeref declared proudly, his aura pulsating with dark energy.
"Now, let's see," Zeref said, turning his attention to Natsu. "Have you reached the same league? Or do you still have work to do?"
Natsu braced himself, his determination burning brightly within him. "Let's find out," he replied, his eyes locking onto his brother's with unwavering resolve.
Natsu Dragneel - ArchDemon Cambion - 10 Billion
Zeref Dragneel - ArchDemon - 10 Billion
With a fierce battle cry, the brothers launched themselves at each other, their movements Massively Faster than Light.
The very fabric of reality seemed to warp and bend under the force of their clash, as each punch and kick carried the weight of their indomitable will.
Natsu aimed a kick for Zeref's midsection, aiming to catch him off guard with a sudden burst of speed. But Zeref was ready, his reflexes honed to perfection as he deftly sidestepped the attack, his movements fluid and graceful.
As Natsu's foot sailed past him, Zeref countered with a powerful punch aimed at Natsu's chest, his fist encased in a dark aura that crackled with malevolent energy. But Natsu was equally prepared, his senses heightened as he raised his arm to block the blow with a swift and precise motion.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the force of Zeref's punch meeting Natsu's block with a resounding clash. For a moment, it seemed as though the very fabric of reality trembled under the force of their confrontation, the sheer power of their blows threatening to tear asunder the world around them.
But Natsu remained steadfast as he pushed back against Zeref's assault with a series of rapid strikes. His fists blurred with speed as he unleashed a flurry of punches, aiming for Zeref's defenses with pinpoint accuracy.
Zeref, however, proved to be a formidable opponent, his movements fluid and precise as he evaded Natsu's attacks with a grace that belied his immense power. With each strike, he countered with a calculated precision, his own blows aimed at exploiting any weaknesses in Natsu's defense.
As Natsu and Zeref separated momentarily, a tense silence hung in the air, broken only by the crackling energy that surrounded them. With a determined glint in his eyes, Natsu wasted no time in initiating the next phase of their battle.
"Demonic Dragon King's Twilight Claws!" Natsu's voice echoed across the battlefield, his words infused with raw power as he called forth his formidable spell.
In an instant, Natsu's hands became engulfed in a swirling vortex of Twilight energy, a potent blend of darkness and light that crackled with unrestrained power. The aura surrounding him pulsed with intensity, casting an ominous glow that illuminated the battlefield with an eerie brilliance.
With newfound speed and strength, Natsu surged forward to engage Zeref once more, his movements fluid and precise as he closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Zeref, caught off guard by the sudden surge of energy, struggled to keep pace with his brother's relentless assault.
As Natsu's Twilight-clad fists surged towards Zeref, the air crackled with the clash of their opposing energies. Zeref, recognizing the imminent threat, wasted no time in responding to Natsu's assault with his own formidable magic.
"Black Art - Arcane Collapse!" Zeref's voice boomed across the battlefield, his words dripping with dark power as he called forth his devastating spell. Raw arcane energy erupted from his hands, swirling around him in a vortex of pure destruction.
With a resolute determination, Zeref met Natsu's barrage of strikes head-on, his own hands now enveloped in the crackling aura of his Black Arts. The two brothers clashed with a ferocity that shook the very foundations of the Battle World, their blows landing with the force of a cataclysmic storm.
The Twilight energy emanating from Natsu's fists clashed against the raw arcane power of Zeref's Black Arts, creating a dazzling display of light and darkness that illuminated the battlefield with an otherworldly brilliance. Each blow reverberated through the air with a deafening roar, sending shockwaves rippling across the landscape.
Separating once more, both brothers prepared to unleash even more advanced versions of their spells, their auras pulsating with escalating intensity.
"Black Art - Arcane Demon Embrace," Zeref intoned, his voice resonating with dark power. The energy that had once only enveloped his hands now cloaked his entire form in a dark purplish aura. His eyes transformed, becoming silver slits that gleamed with a sinister light. A smirk played on his lips as he regarded Natsu.
"Chaos Art - Twilight Aura," Natsu responded, his own voice filled with determination. Instantly, he was enveloped in a fire-like silver aura, interwoven with strands of blue and purple energy. His silver eyes glowed with fierce intensity, and silver accents streaked through his hair, mirroring the power that coursed through his veins.
Natsu chuckled as he noticed the change in Zeref's eyes, which now mirrored his own. "Cool eyes, brother," he remarked, his tone tinged with both amusement and respect.
The two brothers stood facing each other, their auras blazing with raw power and determination. The battlefield seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with anticipation as they prepared for the next phase of their epic clash.
With a sudden burst of speed, Natsu launched himself at Zeref, his Twilight Aura flaring brightly around him. He aimed a powerful punch at Zeref's midsection, the force of his strike amplified by the chaotic energy that surrounded him. Zeref, his Arcane Demon Embrace providing him with unparalleled strength and agility, sidestepped the blow with a fluid grace, countering with a swift kick aimed at Natsu's ribs.
Natsu twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the kick, and retaliated with a series of rapid jabs aimed at Zeref's face. Zeref parried each strike with deft movements, his hands a blur as he blocked and countered with precision. The brothers moved with blinding speed, their forms almost indistinguishable as they exchanged a flurry of blows.
Each strike that landed sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the ground beneath them cracking and splintering under the sheer force of their attacks. The dark purplish aura of Zeref's Arcane Demon Embrace clashed violently with the fire-like silver aura of Natsu's Twilight Aura, creating a storm of energy that crackled and sparked around them.
"Death Magic - Dark Fall," Zeref intoned, raising his hand towards the sky. High above, a massive orb of Death Magic formed, pulsating with malevolent energy. With a flick of his hand, Zeref sent it hurtling towards Natsu, its dark presence casting an ominous shadow over the battlefield.
Natsu responded swiftly, taking a deep breath and unleashing a powerful "Demonic Dragon King's Roar!" A massive beam of intertwined darkness and light erupted from his mouth, meeting Zeref's orb head-on. The collision of these titanic forces resulted in a series of massive explosions, each one a cataclysmic paradox of combining dark and light. The energies warred against each other, causing a chain reaction of blasts that grew exponentially in size.
In less than a second, the explosions expanded to the size of a country, continuing to grow until they encompassed the entire planet. The battlefield was consumed in a blinding maelstrom of destruction, the planet's surface obliterated by the sheer magnitude of their power.
Amidst the remnants of the shattered planet, Zeref flew, dodging hundreds of spears made of light, each one the size of a continent. His agility and precision allowed him to evade the deadly projectiles, but the relentless barrage drove him towards the moon.
Landing on the moon, Zeref found himself trapped as darkness enveloped it, gathering into a single point and creating a black hole. The gravitational pull threatened to consume him, the void a testament to Natsu's strategic prowess.
Natsu waited patiently on the next planet, his aura still blazing with Twilight energy. As Zeref manifested in front of him, a smirk played on Natsu's lips. Zeref, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, acknowledged his brother's skill.
"That was nice, Natsu. Very smart and expertly done," Zeref complimented, wiping the blood from his lips. Despite the damage, his eyes glinted with a mix of pride and determination.
"Thanks, brother," Natsu replied, his voice steady and confident. "But we're just getting started."
Suddenly, Natsu unleashed the full force of his power in this form.
Natsu Dragneel - ArchDemon Base Form Full Power - 16.3 Billion
Zeref smirked at Natsu's sheer raw power, knowing full well that his brother had two more forms.
Zeref Dragneel - ArchDemon Base Form Full Power - 16.5 Billion
Natsu thought in his mind, 'Did I get stronger? I wasn't holding back so much at first. I've grown stronger by almost a quarter, and it's only been a few minutes.'
The Crown responded, 'You possess more power than you thought, Young King. It is the fighting of a fellow Transcended that awakens it from its slumber. Go on, stretch your wings and cement thyself as King.'
With this newfound confidence, Natsu's aura flared even brighter, his determination unwavering. He lunged at Zeref with blinding speed, his fists a blur as he unleashed a relentless barrage of punches. Each blow carried the weight of his immense power, the air around them crackling with energy.
Zeref met Natsu's onslaught head-on, his own strikes precise and devastating. The brothers moved with such speed that they seemed to disappear and reappear across the planet, their clash creating shockwaves that reverberated through the air.
Natsu's fist connected with Zeref's jaw, sending him skidding backward, but Zeref quickly recovered, countering with a powerful kick that Natsu blocked with his forearm. The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, causing the planet beneath them to tremble. Blow by blow, hit by hit, Natsu's power began to surge, growing stronger until he started to overwhelm Zeref.
With a determined glint in his eyes, Natsu summoned the Yamato, the katana in its upgraded form. Zeref smiled and summoned a sword of his own, a katana similar to Yamato's original appearance. The hilt was simple, made of black leather, with steel at its bottom. The guard, however, was composed of four small spikes or horns curving toward the blade at its corners. The blade was silver in color and had runes etched into it, and the sheath was black with additional runes.
"Muramasa, my own blade, created at the same time as the Yamato," said Zeref, examining Natsu's sword. "Though I see the Yamato went through some modifications."
Natsu dropped into a stance, his grip firm on the Yamato. "You know? As far as I knew, I was the only Dragneel to wield swords, well, until my wives and meeting Nero. Someone said, 'All Dragneels are gods with a blade.' I've been away for the past 400 years, so it must be you or your brats."
Zeref chuckled. "So you know of my children?"
"Oh yes, even your grandkid," said Natsu, which shocked Zeref a bit.
"Grandchild?" asked Zeref, surprise evident in his voice.
"You didn't know? August's kid, apparently. Mavis figured it out immediately. Didn't even have to introduce Nero; she just knew he was her grandchild and from who," Natsu explained.
Zeref's expression softened for a moment, a rare glimpse of vulnerability crossing his features. "Nero... So Mavis recognized him right away, did she?"
Natsu nodded. "Yeah, she did. She sensed the family connection instantly."
Zeref let out a small sigh, his eyes momentarily distant as he processed this new information. "A grandchild... It's strange to think about."
Natsu tightened his grip on the Yamato, a determined look in his eyes. "We've got a lot to catch up on, Zeref. But first, we need to settle this."
Zeref's gaze refocused, a smile playing on his lips. "Indeed, brother. Let's see whose blade truly reigns supreme."
With renewed resolve, the brothers clashed once more, their katanas slicing through the air with deadly precision. The sound of steel meeting steel echoed across the battlefield as they engaged in a fierce duel, their movements a blur of speed and power.
Natsu's Yamato struck at beyond light speed, aiming for Zeref's vital points. Each thrust and slash was met with Zeref's Muramasa, countering with equal skill and precision. The blades clashed, creating sparks with every collision, the air around them crackling with the intensity of their battle.
Natsu moved with a fluid grace, his strikes a perfect blend of aggression and control. He aimed a rapid series of slashes at Zeref's torso, each one faster than the last. Zeref parried each attack effortlessly, his Muramasa a blur as he matched Natsu's speed.
The force of their attacks sent shockwaves through the air, the ground beneath them cracking and splintering. Natsu pressed the offensive, delivering a powerful overhead strike aimed at Zeref's head. Zeref sidestepped with lightning speed, countering with a swift upward slash aimed at Natsu's midsection. Natsu twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the strike and retaliating with a quick horizontal slash.
Their movements were a dance of deadly precision, each brother pushing the other to their limits. Natsu's blade sliced through the air, narrowly missing Zeref's neck as he ducked and retaliated with a thrust aimed at Natsu's heart. Natsu deflected the attack, their swords locking as they stared each other down, the intensity of their clash evident in their eyes.
Breaking the lock, Natsu leaped back, then lunged forward with a powerful thrust aimed at Zeref's abdomen. Zeref twisted his body, parrying the attack and delivering a swift kick to Natsu's side. The impact sent Natsu skidding across the ground, but he quickly regained his footing, charging back into the fray with renewed vigor.
Zeref met Natsu's onslaught head-on, their katanas clashing in a series of rapid strikes and counters. The air around them was filled with the sound of their swords meeting, the sparks from their blades illuminating the battlefield. Each brother fought with a fierce determination, their skills and power evenly matched.
Natsu aimed a powerful slash at Zeref's shoulder, but Zeref blocked it with his Muramasa, the force of the collision sending shockwaves through the ground. Zeref retaliated with a quick thrust, but Natsu sidestepped, bringing his Yamato down in a swift arc aimed at Zeref's back. Zeref spun around, deflecting the strike and countering with a horizontal slash that Natsu narrowly avoided.
Their battle raged on, each brother pushing the other to new heights of skill and power. With each clash of their blades, the ground beneath them trembled, the sheer force of their attacks reshaping the battlefield. As they fought, their auras blazed with intensity, the darkness of Zeref's power clashing with the silver-blue light of Natsu's energy.
"Dark Art: Sword Magic - Dimensional Cut!" Natsu shouted, launching a devastating slash attack toward Zeref at full speed. The blade shimmered with an ethereal light, warping the very fabric of space-time as it raced towards its target.
To Natsu's surprise, Zeref met his attack head-on with the same spell. "Dark Art: Sword Magic - Dimensional Cut!" Zeref's own slash mirrored Natsu's, the two dimensional cuts clashing violently in the air. The collision created a rift in the battlefield, the sheer force of their combined powers tearing through the fabric of reality.
Natsu chuckled, a mix of admiration and determination in his eyes. "Of course, you have this too."
Zeref smirked, his eyes glowing with dark power. "I admit, my Space-Time Manipulation is not on your level. But I've learned a thing or two over the centuries."
Their battle took on a new level of intensity as they exchanged blows, each strike more powerful than the last. Natsu aimed a series of rapid slashes at Zeref's torso, but Zeref deflected them effortlessly, countering with a quick thrust aimed at Natsu's heart. Natsu twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the strike and retaliating with a swift horizontal slash.
Zeref sidestepped, delivering a powerful kick to Natsu's side that sent him skidding across the battlefield. Natsu quickly recovered, charging back with renewed vigor, his Twilight Aura blazing brighter than ever. The force of their clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the ground beneath them cracking and splintering from the intensity of their power.
In a synchronized movement, both brothers unleashed another round of their devastating Dimensional Cut attacks. The air crackled with energy as the two slashes collided, creating a blinding explosion of light and dark energy that engulfed the battlefield. The impact was so immense that it seemed to warp the very fabric of space-time, creating a momentary void where nothing existed but the raw power of their clash.
As the dust settled and the echoes of their clash faded into the distance, Natsu and Zeref stood amidst the ruins of their battlefield, their breaths heavy with exhaustion. The air crackled with residual energy, a testament to the immense power they had unleashed in their duel.
Natsu's eyes burned with determination as he gazed at his brother. "This isn't over, Zeref."
Zeref nodded, his expression a mix of pride and determination. "Indeed, brother. But it will not end today." With a calm demeanor, he sheathed his katana, a silent acknowledgment of the temporary ceasefire.
"You're leaving?" Natsu asked, surprise evident in his voice.
"I am satisfied for now," Zeref replied, his tone tinged with a sense of anticipation. "Acnologia will soon arrive back. Now, you DO want to be in peak condition when fighting Acnologia. I look forward to your fight, brother."
With those words, Zeref disappeared into the ether, leaving Natsu alone amidst the ruins of their battlefield. As he watched his brother vanish, Natsu felt a sense of resolve wash over him. The battle with Acnologia loomed on the horizon, and he knew that he needed to be prepared for the challenge ahead.
With renewed determination, Natsu tightened his grip on the hilt of his katana, his gaze shifting towards the sky where Acnologia would soon return. The fight was far from over, but Natsu was ready.
