Chapter 127
Final Sin
"Speaking"
'Thoughts'
"Flashback"
"Magic"
Location/Date/Time Change
"You did well to take notice in that short instant." Neinhart confessed. "Indeed, what you are all witnessing is your historia… the magic that lies in your heart. I can gaze into people's hearts, there are a myriad of emotions and sentiments to be found there. And with my magic, I can materialize those emotions intk reality. The recreation of life, that is the beauty of historia."
Simon started turning into a glowing powder as Kagura rushed forward, tears in her eyes. "Calm down! It's merely an illusion created by the enemy!" Jellal shouted.
"Silence!" The swordswoman angrily yelled back.
"I'm insulted, calling my creations mere illusions…" Neinhart declared, holding up his hand as it glowed. "You witnessed it, did you not? The life I create can use magic, it has the memories and a personality as well."
Jellal rushed forward and tackled Kagura as a massive blast tore through the ship, sending them both to the ocean. Neinhart snapped his fingers and Erza turned around just in time to block a sword strike. "You're…"
"Did you forget about me already, Miss Erza?" The assassin asked.
"Ikaruga… my beautiful historia." Neinhart declared.
The two started trading blade strikes before Erza was pushed back, holding her cut shoulder. "You're clearly not your usual self, Miss Erza." The construct chuckled. "I feel none of the sharpness you had in the past."
"It's her injuries, no doubt." Erza froze at the voice from behind before turning to face Azuma. "Erza at her best is far stronger than this. Now, I sure would like to bear witness to that incomparable strength of yours once more!"
Erza jumped back from rising vines before Ikaruga struck again, forcing her to dodge from multiple attacks before vines exploded in front of her face. Both illusions attacked at the same time, sending her crashing to the ground.
"The historia of one who overcame countless powerful foes… how magnificently beautiful!" Neinhart cheered from his vantage point as Kyouka returned, the three ghosts standing over Erza. "Behold! This is my magic... the power to conjure the very history of all your battles! These souls, which originally had never intersected before, my historia is binding them together. This is the epitome of elegance and beauty!
"Now, extend even further! My historia of corpses!" All over the battle field, ghosts of the past returned and started attacking the allied forces. But Neinhart was more focused on the 'show' in front of him. "Show me some quality entertainment! Souls which bloom from the battlefield… go forth!"
Kagura pushed herself out from under Jellal, looking up at the surface of the water. 'I need to go help Erza at once!' She turned around and stared at the trapped man. 'This scoundrel is responsible for murdering my brother…' Reluctantly, she freed Jellal and swam him to the docks before performing mouth to mouth.
"I can't believe the pathetic show Dimaria and Wahl put on ." Neinhart declared. "Overpowering these buffoons is easy task. For me at least." The revived trio charged at Erza, who blocked the blades as best she could before getting hit with an explosion from behind. She tumbled on the deck before forcing herself up, summoning a second sword to protect her from Kyouka's claws.
The demon and Ikaruga swung their metal apparatus before Erza looked up, a shadow blocking her light. Jumping at Azuma, she kicked him in the face only to find him smiling back. "That's what I want!" He cheered before punching her in the gut, sending her crashing to the deck.
Kyouka rushed forward and swung her claws, cutting her gut and sending her back into Ikaruga. A single strike of her sword cut Erza's side as she stumbled back into another explosion from Azuma. Erza crashed to the ground as Neinhart looked down at her. "That rage in your eyes is delicious… I've no doubt you'll make a lovely historia… once we're finally done with you…"
"Pull her up." Kyouka ordered Azuma. Vines rose up and held Erza up by her wrists and ankles. "This takes me back. What about you doesn't Erza? How fondly I remember our time together. Would you like another less in my love and care?" Her claw glowed before it turned into a whip and struck the red head, making her cry in pain. "Isn't this a wonderful trip down memory lane?" She asked, holding Erza's face.
"I've had more than enough of this little reunion…" Erza declared, blood dripping from her wounds. "It's true all of you were once powerful foes, obstacles to my path. However, you all tasted defeat, if not by my hands, then by friends." She looked up and glared at the three. "You are nothing more than empty copies!"
"Be quite!" Kyouka swung her whip again and again but Erza never flinched.
The red head merely stared at the three, a wave of magic and malice streaming off her. "Get out of my sight, you damn ghosts! Before you feel the bite of my blade once again!" The ghosts of her past faded into smoke and vanished from sight, shocking Neinhart as her bindings disappeared.
'My historia… she defeated them with mere intimidation!?' The invader thought to himself. 'That woman… scarlet hair, her power… it cannot be… Lady Irene's…'
"Erza!" Kagura and Jellal rushed forward as the girl slid next to the red head, the man staring in shock. "She's badly injured. Erza, talk to me!" Kagura froze as she felt Jellal staring up at Neinhart, anger in his eyes.
"Here and now, I shall commit just one more sin." He declared as the sky opened up above the ship, showing the void of space. "The light of the seven stars shall be your judge!" He placed his hands together as dots in the sky started glowing.
"I know your historia all too well!" Neinhart declared, Simon reappearing in front of him. "Yes, this is Simon! Your former friend whom you betrayed and murdered! You cannot possibly attack! Or do you wish to kill Simon once more?!"
In blinding speed, Kagura jumped up and slashed her 'brother'. "This abomination is not my brother!" She shouted, the copy of Simon smiling at her resolve. "Do it, Jellal!"
"Grand Chariot!" Seven beams of starlight shot down and obliterated the ships, blasting Neinhart into the water. The sun returned to the sky as Erza leaned over and smiled at the sunrise.
Fairy Tail Guild Hall
"I've made up my mind!" Natsu declared as he slammed the table. "I'm going to bring the pain to that bastard coming from the East!"
"You're going to face him alone? That's reckless, even for you!" Macao replied.
"I'm going too!" Lucy added, Happy nodding as well.
"I cannot agree to this…" Makarov said.
"I can't just sit around! You expect me to just wait here for the enemy to waltz in and go to town on us!?" The Dragon Slayer asked, butting heads with the guild master.
"We're talking about the most powerful member of the Spriggan 12!" The elder snapped back.
"You are mistaken. It would be more accurate to say he is the strongest 'individual'." Everyone looked over to see Brandish walk forward, arms crossed.
"How the hell did you escape from your cell!?" Macao shouted in horror.
"I let her out." Natsu answered, stunning everyone. "She's not a bad person, so I figured what's the harm?"
"What do you mean by that?" Lucy asked her would be killer.
"While it is true that August could be called the strongest among us, there is one other who shares the same title." Brandish explained. "If August is the strongest man, then she is the strongest woman. Irene Belserion, the one who carries the moniker 'The Scarlet Despair'."
"So, I see you've finally come around and are willing to share information with us." Makarov surmised.
"This is a one time deal." She replied. "I'm a citizen of Alvarez first and foremost, I simply cannot betray my homeland. And that is exactly why I refuse to become your ally in any way. That said, I'm in debt to Lucy, and for that reason I'm willing to negotiate with August for you."
"Negotiate?" Natsu repeated.
"Excluding Irene, there's no mage in existence who can stand up to August." Brandish explained. "One is known as the 'Calamity', the other 'Despair'. In Irene's case, we share no personal relationship and thus there is nothing I can do to stop her. As for August, I've known him since I was young, as a result, I may be able to persuade him to pull back."
"Master! You can't just believe her words!" Mest shouted. "This has to be part of her plan to escape!"
"Believe me or don't. It makes no difference to me." The Alvarez native replied.
"I believe her." Lucy spoke up, shocking Mest.
"Then it's decided." Natsu said, slamming his fist into his palm. "I'll be the one to beat the crap out of August!"
"Are your ears just for show!?" The blonde asked, slapping his head.
Hargeon
Erza groaned as she slowly opened her eyes, resting in a bed. "You've finally awoken." Kagura cheered as the red head pushed herself up. "Relax, you mustn't overexert yourself."
"Your wounds were terribly deep, so it will take a bit of time for you to fully recover." Wendy explained from the side, holding Carla. "But there won't be any lasting damage."
"Everyone…" Erza mumbled, looking around the room. "W-what happened on the battlefield?!"
Gray smirked as Millianna tackled Erza into a hug. "We took back Hargeon!" He declared. "Jellal and the others are still chasing out the rest of the Alvarez troops, but at this point, it's just a matter of time before they're taken out."
"I see…" She replied with a soft smile.
"For the time being, we're going to return to the guild." Juvia explained. "We're worried about everyone back at the guild is fairing."
"In that case, I too shall…" Erza groaned as she pushed herself up.
"You can't! You still need time to rest!" Kagura shouted as she pushed her 'sister' back onto the bed.
"I do not have that luxury." The red head replied. "What became of Laxus?"
"After fighting two intense battles back to back, he's down for the count." Wendy chuckled.
"Erza…" The swordswoman turned to find a blushing Kagura. "I… I'm not sure how ro put this but… please forgive me…" She grabbed the redheads face and pulled her in for a kiss, shocking the entire room. "Please accept my apology…" Kagura explained, leaving an even more confused Erza.
Chelia sat out on the roof looking over the city at night. "Are you feeling alright?" She turned around and found a shirtless Lyon walking forward.
"I'm fine!" She replied with a smile.
"That sure was …rash of you." He declared, making her smile fade.
"I'm such a klutz, aren't I?" Chelia sighed out, tears in her eyes. "I went and lost my magic for good…"
Lyon sat down next to her and pulled her in. "That may be, but I'm confident you gained something even more valuable in exchange. Your future, and everyone else's."
East of Magnolia
"August, huh? I wonder what kinda magic he uses!" Natsu chuckled as walked along the road.
"You do understand that we're going there in order to negotiate, right?" Lucy questioned. "Whatever you do, don't go picking a fight with him. I'm asking for Laki's sake."
"If you did end up starting a fight, you would be obliterated that very moment." Brandish warned from the back of the group. "August is actually a gentle person by nature. Amongst the twelve, he is by far the easiest to talk things out with. However, the emperor… Zeref, you called him? At any rate, August's loyalty towards him burns fiercely…"
"If that's the case, how do you plan on reasoning with him?" The blonde questioned.
"Good question." The lackadaisical answer stunned Lucy.
Natsu glanced over his shoulder and stared at a tree. "Come out, Mest. You're standing out like a sore thumb."
His words stunned both the blonde and the spy. "I can't believe that you two actually trust that woman."
"I already told you, didn't I? She ain't that bad." Natsu replied, shocking the memory mage. "So, just how are we getting to this guy? Cause I'm telling you right now, I'm not taking a carriage!"
"I don't think anyone would take us in this situation." Lucy declared.
"I've got an... inspired idea." Brandish confessed before Happy suddenly ballooned into a giant, shocking the Ishgar wizards. "Now we can all ride on this big fuzzy wuzzy guy!" She cheered as she hugged the cat's leg.
Happy leaned down and picked up Lucy in his hand. "I have a feeling I'm the coolest cat in the world right now!"
"Try ice cold!" Natsu cheered.
Magnolia
Fairy Tail Basement
A battered Mavis stood over the exhausted Cana, panting on the ground. "Not good enough. You must use your abilities to the fullest. Channel all your might and destroy me."
"I… can't just do that…" The brunette replied. "You may just be a thought projection, but you're still my friend. There's no way I can just go all out on one of my friends."
"Then think of it this way. You are not trying to attack a comrade, you're trying to save the rest." Mavis replied.
"…alright, one more time." Cana declared, aiming her arm.
Northern Fiore
"Sting! Snap out of it!" Laki shouted as she pulled the blonde off the cross. Around her, a battle had broken out between Fairy Tail and the troops.
"Laki…" The guild master groaned out. "How… how is everyone else?"
"We're here to help you all, so stand up!" She snapped back.
"I'm… I'm so goddamn pathetic!" Sting shouted in annoyance.
"Yo, Green Woman!" Gajeel shouted, causing the other Dragon Slayer to look around.
"What the- the snow…?" Laki mumbled.
"It's melting away." Levy realized as the ground turned to grass.
Two massive figures slowly walked forward and caused Sting to freeze. "Damn it! Goddamn it!"
"They've got three monsters on their side…" Rouge groaned out.
"Ain't that a coincidence…" Gajeel chuckled as the siblings transformed. "Cause we've got six monsters and a genius over here!"
The army charged the group and the battle broke out, Fairy Tail acting a front guard for the recovering guilds. "Sulking isn't a good look for you…" Rogue told the sitting Sting.
"I couldn't do a damn thing…" The blonde mumbled in his hands. "Some master I turned out to be."
Minerva suddenly grabbed his hand, pulled him up, and slapped him across the face, shocking the rest of the guild. "You're the master now, and that means you need to act like one! It's your job to encourage us to be better, not sulk in a corner. Only you can do this…"
Sting hung his head before grabbing her hand. "Thank you, m'lady." He turned to the rest of the guild and raised a fist to the sky. "Listen up! If you can move, then stand up and follow me! It's time for the tigers to hunt!"
The rest of the guild charged back into battle with a cheer. Minerva waved her hand and space exploded around her, a smirk on her face. "These fiends made our master cry, they deserve no mercy!"
A single cloaked figure walked forward onto the battlefield, causing everyone to run from them. Iron spike suddenly shot forward and pinned them to a tree. "I'm gonna make you pay for what you did."
The figure laughed as he looked up, showing red skin. "What thou hast just touched is death itself…"