"It was like you said Allister..." Natsu slowly walked towards blood daggers' master with lifeless eyes, his hair shadowing the expression underneath. "I grow stronger, I level up every day... tell me.. you enjoy to slaughter the innocent in cold blood for your own sick fantasy... but tell me..." A crimson aura slowly surrounded Natsu's body as he stopped, lifting his head with glowing red eyes. "Would if your roles were reversed?"
"What are you going on about?"
"I'm saying..." His body combusted into flames as he lifted his hand to point a finger straight at Allister.
"Are you ready to be the victims of my slaughter...?"
Natsu's team was completely floored, staring wide eyed at Natsu who's eyes screamed killing intent. The aura that radiated off of his body sent shivers down their spines. Lucy, even if Natsu was a bundle of warmth that enveloped the guild. Even she had to admit right now, she was afraid of him. Gray was shocked to hear such words even come from Natsu's mouth, but at the same time if he was put in his position, he wouldn't hesitate. His friends are at the end of an enemies blade, including his lover. It's be or be killed, and right now staring into his crimson orbs there was a murder spree about to happen in front of their eyes.
"Oh please!" One of the men of Allisters group stepped up with a cocky grin planted on his face. He walked up to the dragon slayer, who's eyes never left Allisters. "Your friends and girlfriend are at our mercy, and so are you, so quit the tough guy act."
Many of the men erupted into laughter, including Allister himself. Gray could only smirk as Erza noticed.
"Gray?"
"What's got you smiling pretty boy?" A member pulled the ice mage up by the scruff his air, edging his blade closer to Gray's neck who's smirks never left his lips.
"You guys picked the wrong fight. Erza, don't judge Natsu for what he's about to do..."
Erza, knowing the situation they were placed in. She gave Natsu a sad smile, nodding her head, saying without words. "Do what you must to protect what you hold dear."
"Why are all of you so confident? He's not going to do anythi-"
In one fluid motion, a blade materialized in Natsu's hand, plunging it through the bottom of his chin through the top of his skull, before forcefully yanking it out as blood spurted out of the man's throat, slathering Natsu's face who stood there emotionless as the body plummeted to the ground.
"One..." He spoke in a cold, emotionless tone, looking down at Shadow Talon in his grasp that dripped with blood. 'The first time I've ever taken a life... I can feel his blood on my face. I can't blame the system for this, even if it holds my life in the palm of its hand... Only the strong will come out on top. I can't... I won't die here. If I must spill more blood.. then so be it.'
"W-what the hell?!"
"Where did he get that sword?!"
A shadowy aura enveloped the blade as Natsu raised it to the remaining members who held his family captive. "Death comes to those who harm my family..."
The men, even though they had the numbers against him. They hesitantly stepped away, feeling his cold, emotionless gaze that leaked with killing intent.
"What are you fools doing?! Get him!" Allister ordered with a snarl. "Or do you want to be the next one I tear apart with my bear hands!"
Even if they were afraid of Natsu, their fear ran deeper than blood when it came to Allister. His methods of torture were only things you could conjure up in their nightmares. They all charged Natsu, leaving his family behind who could only watch in horror.
"Happy... look away, now!" Erza ordered as the blue feline shakily nodded, closing his eyes.
The others couldn't look away, especially Erza who hated Natsu had to resort to this. They've never known Natsu to be a murderer of any kind, especially being this ruthless. It was... terrifying to say the least. Her eyes glanced down at the blade it in his palm, it's shadows leaking nothing but pure evil.
Charging forward, one of the men swung their sword, before Natsu ducked under, impaling his sword into his throat, slicing away his head that went rolling across the ground. Two converged on his back as his body combusted into flames, turning around to stab one in the chest, engulfing his other hand in a blinding flame that left the man flailing, screaming as he felt his entire body begin boil and melt under his touch. More bodies dropped on the floor like flys awaiting their untimely end.
In a flash, Natsu sliced through a few more men who could only blink, feeling gashes appear across their bodies. Suddenly a red energy erupted from their bodies, pooling out into Natsu's body who's bruises and cuts miraculously healed, shocking Allister who could only gawk fearfully of his men one by one becoming lambs to their slaughter. Blood pooled all over the ground, stopping at Natsu's feet. The men who Natsu had sliced, looked around with terrified eyes, clutching their heads as they screamed to the top of their lungs.
Appearing to anyone, those men were losing their minds, swiping away at things that didn't even exist, until they fell to the ground with wide, lifeless eyes. Their mouths were left wide open, being the only thing they did was scream before they died. The last one fell on his back, slowly crawling backwards on the ground with a terrified expression. Natsu slowly walked up to him, his blade coated in blood as he slowly moved towards him.
"S-stay away from me! Please!" The guy swiped frantically at Natsu like he was a wild animal. "Have mercy!"
"Mercy?" Natsu asked, flames erupting from his body as he snatched the man by his arm, lifting him off the ground with a snarl. "Where was the mercy your victims begged you for? What about their families, their loved ones?!" He brought him closer, glaring deep into his eyes. "Mercy comes to those who are worthy of it... you deserve to burn in the flames of hell..." The flames that leaked out of Natsu's body now completely combusted, engulfing his physical body. What was Natsu, now stood a walking fire, burning away the sinners who dared defy it's righteous flames.
"AHHHHH!!!!!"
Natsu's team winced, feeling every agonizing scream erupt from the man. His grip only tightened, watching as the man screamed, flailed in his grasp. His skin slowly melted off his corpse, leaving only a skeleton in his grasp. His flames receeded, watching ash blow away between his finger tips.
'Natsu... what has happened to you?' Erza watched on with a deep frown, tears streaming down her cheeks. This wasn't the Natsu she grew to love, this... this was someone else.
Feeling his ears perk up, Natsu raised his blade just in time for it to clash against Allister who growled through clenched teeth. "You bastard!" He pushed against the dragon slayer's blade, sparks flying around as his red eyes glared daggers into crimson orbs. "Just because the system granted you this power, doesn't make you invincible!"
"For someone so desperate to obtain this power... you seem afraid," Natsu replied in a low tone, shoving Allister away as he went skidding back on his feet.
Allister simply chuckled, a shadowy aura devouring his physical body. "I fear no one, especially not you Natsu. Let me show you why my guild is named blood dagger..." he rotated the handle of his dagger, plunging it deep into his chest with a sharp gasp.
"What the hell is he doing?!" Gray exclaimed with wide eyes, watching blood drip from Allisters body.
"W-what kind of magic is this?"
Natsu watched with narrowed eyes as a sick maniacal laughter bubbled up from Allister, who slowly pulled the dagger from his chest, blood spurting out as he did so. What was once a dagger, became a long blade, oozing shadows, drops of blood hitting the ground like raindrops.
Blood Make: Crimson Blade
"B-blood maker magic?" Gray's eyes grew wide as dinner plates, clenching his teeth. "That type of maker magic was considered forbidden long ago, Ur told me about it's origin."
Erza could only watch with a worried gaze, biting her lip as Natsu aimed his blade at his opponent. "Natsu... be careful."
"Darn these magic sealing cuffs..." Lucy struggled in vain with a deep sigh, watching Natsu. "I believe in you Natsu, we all do. Win..."
Allister rolled his eyes, twirling around his long blade with a sadistic grin. "It seems they still have faith in you, Natsu. Even after you murdered all of these men in cold blood, brutally I might add," he gestured to some of the corpses that were either charred black, or the ones who died screaming. "I must say, you are a pretty dark mage who is supposedly in the light of Fairy Tail."
"My body succumbed to darkness when the system chose me to be it's pawn... but it doesn't mean I can't use it to my advantage. Remember Allister," Natsu couldn't help but give off a feral grin, clenching tightly onto Shadow Talon. "All those men you let me kill, only made me stronger... I leveled up multiple times."
Allister gritted his teeth, his eye twitching at the cocky grin that Natsu now possessed. "Cocky brat!"
In a blur, both opponents rushed each other with their signature blades in hand. Sparks flew as their swords clashed. Natsu moved quickly, trading blow for blow. Whatever Allister threw, he blocked, whatever slash came his way, he parried it with grace. Their auras both grew in power, repeatedly clashing against one another. Their movements became blurs to the naked eye, but Erza could see it all. Having mastered swordsmanship long ago, she saw his every movement. The way his feet pivoted, the angles on which he swung. It was... mesmerizing to her.
Natsu's blade clashed against his, pushing each other back for dominance. Fire leaked from Natsu's body, enveloping his shadow blade that bursted forth in a crimson glow. Allister's aura met his as their movements became faster, moving quick as lightning as the only thing anyone could hear was steel ringing out in the air.
"I didn't think the great Salamander was skilled in ways of the blade!" Allister laughed, pushing against Natsu who gritted his fangs together. "Or did the system give you these skills?!"
"SHUT IT!" Natsu roared, lifting his foot to kick Allister who stumbled slightly that the dragon slayer capitalized on. Dropping his blade, his fist ignited into a white blinding flame, smashing against the master's blade that melted under his touch. "All you dark guild members are the same!" His fist collided with Allister's cheek, before plunging his other fist into his gut. "You spout about all this... bullshit!" Natsu moved like a blur, raining blow upon blow that Allister could barely block, due to the speed of which they were thrown. "Think your above everyone!" He shoved his foot into his gut as he spat out blood. "Think if you follow in the darkness, you'll be rewarded. Well let me give you a lesson that none of the bastards that faced me listened! Even in darkness," Natsu reeled his fist back as it increased in intensity, practically blinding everyone that gazed into it's flame. "The light always... WINS!"
FIRE DRAGON KING'S DESTRUCTION FIST!
Natsu's fist collided with his jaw, sending him flying backwards, crashing into the cave wall with a loud thump on the ground.
Erza grinned at his words, blushing at the passion of which he spoke them. Even after everyone he's killed, Natus, her Natsu was still there.
Suddenly, a small fit laughter erupted from Allister who slowly pulled himself to his feet, spitting out a wad of blood. "Don't be a fool Dragneel..." he let out a small chuckle, wiping the blood from his lips with a twisted grin. "You speak of all of this concept that light wins, but what are you using to win this battle, Natsu? Darkness~" A shadowy aura covered his body as he resummoned his blood blade between his grasp. "Darkness is what's driving you... not light. The system is darkness incarnate," the ground began to shake, many stones falling from the caves ceiling.
"It doesn't matter what it is..." Natsu lifted his hand as his shadow blade returned once more in a small spark. "I will do what I have to, kill who I have to... my heart stops beating when I disobey it's rule. So..." A crimson aura once again surrounded his body, bathing in his flames that grew dark in color. "Let's finish this... but I make one promise," his eyes turned into red slits as he let out a snarl. "I won't lose..."
"Let's see about that~"
Natsu's team watched with baited breath, feeling both mages auras leaking from their bodies. It was getting harder and harder to breathe. The intent to kill from both of them was potent to a point Wendy wished she could cover her nose to block out the putrid scent of blood. Natsu and Allister stared at each other for a moment, before both moved in a blur once more, their blades crashing together, sending powerful shockwaves that almost knocked the others over. Shadow clashed against blood in a never-ending struggle of dominance.
Natsu took a short glance to his hud with gritted teeth. 'Damn it, my fatigue is damn near reaching it's max. I have to end this and soon.' He thought, parrying another strike from Allister before leaving him open with a counter he unfortunately blocked. They were even in terms of strength, speed and power. It didn't mean neither would relent in their pursuit of victory, not by a long shot. Red and black blurs flew across the room, leaping off walls as sparks continued to fly. A sharp pain ran across his chest, feeling the master's blade make an indent into his skin that spurted out blood. 'Damn... he's getting strikes in, If this keeps up...' his thoughts were interrupted with a piercing blade Natsu blocked, sending his body flying back. He had zero time to react, watching with wide eyes as Allister immediately closed the distance.
"WEAK!" Natsu's blade was knocked out of his grasp, before feeling a sharp pain impale his shoulder that gushed out with blood as the blade ran clean through. The dragon slayer immediately coughed up a wad of blood that spilled from his lips.
Erza watched in utter horror, tears erupting from her eyes as she screamed out. "NATSU!!!"
Allister smirked, jamming his blade completely through as Natsu's head dipped down, his hair shadowing his eyes as metallic liquid leaked from his lips. "I told you, boy that were no match for me... even with all of your levels, you failed to surprise me in this battle. Now it's over. Give me what the system should've bestowed to me!"
A small chuckle came from Natsu, which turned into a small bit of laughter that unnerved the blood make mage. Allister loomed over him with a snarl, narrowed his eyes towards Natsu who continued to laugh. "What is so damn funny?!"
"And here I thought I'd never find an opportunity to use it..."
"What are you-"
"Full recovery..." The dragon slayer weakly chanted, a yellow light engulfing Natsu who slowly raised his head with a feral grin that made Allister's eyes widen in horror, noticing the slayer's wounds slowly dissapearing in front of his very own eyes. "I..." In a quick movement, lifting his hand as his blade appeared. Natsu plunged his sword clean through Allister's chest, blood spilling all over the ground around them. "Win..."
Allister's lungs swelled up with blood that poured from his mouth. Natsu grabbed a hold of Shadow Talon, plunging it in deeper as he gasped sharply, coughing out wads of blood that spilled across the ground. "Y-you... h-how...?"
"You don't know everything, Allister. The system wants me to live, and I'm sure as hell not dying to scum like you," Natsu used his boot to shove the man off his blade as he stumbled back, clutching his chest wound that continued to spurt out blood.
"N-no..." Allister stumbled back on his feet, feeling every bit of strength leave his body. He lifted his head with wide eyes, watching as Natsu's blade grew in size. "B-bastard..."
"Good riddance..." The dragon slayer held his blade in both hands as it built up in power, shadows coursing from its edge. "Abyssal... SLASH!" He swung the blade, sending a large wave of darkness that swallowed the blood maker completely. His silent screams echoed off the walls before everything grew silent. As the waves the shadows dispersed, there was not a shred of a body that still remained, only a pool of blood in its wake.Sending his blade away, his gaze turned to his friends, his lover who stared at him. They were stunned, speechless beyond belief. Natsu lowered his head to look at his hand that was coated in blood. 'What will they say now.. what would gramps think?' A deep sigh escaped his lips, flicking away the blood from his hand. He walked over, his boots stepping through the many blood puddles.
Natsu reached down to snap their cuffs in half before walking over to the large cage that held a woman and a little girl. "Don't worry.. your safe now," his hand grasped onto the metal with gritted teeth, feeling his muscles bulge as he tore the door off it's hinges, throwing it off to the side with a loud clang that startled the mother and daughter. Noticing the blade still lodged into his shoulder, his hands gripped onto the handle, ripping it out as he dropped it to the ground.
"Come on.. your husband, your daddy is waiting for you," Natsu leaned down to grab the woman to secure her body around his own, leaning down to carry the little girl bridal style.
He passed by his team, avoiding their gaze. Natsu couldn't bear to see what they think of him now. A murderer, a liar.. 'Forgive me...'
The small group shared uneasy glances. Erza looked on in horror of the many lifeless bodies, and blood that surrounded a good portion of the cave. She turned back to the group with a frown.
"C-come on, let's get out of here..."
Natsu has officially felt the feeling of taking another's life. His team now knows the truth, including Erza. I know a lot of people might question Natsu's actions in this chapter. Obviously he's completely out of character, but I already put a warning at the beginning this was going to happen. Now you've all gotten a taste test to Natsu's cold, ruthless nature the system forced him to committ.
Next time, Erza learns the full truth of Natsu being a player, and the consequences that come with it. As always I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you all in the next one. Later :)