"Don't falter! Do what you can to take them down!" An armored angel shouted as he charged with his eyes shut tight. He felt his armor get pierced before the shock sent him crashing down on the cloudy floor, knocking him out.
Erza released her sword as she and Jellal continued walking through the now mostly empty streets of Exahelm. Another soldier several feet away gawked at them both with fear in his eyes.
"W-what's going on?! These two are just abnormally strong!" The soldier exclaimed, pointing his spear directly at them.
Erza stopped in her tracks and glared at the soldier which sent shivers down his spine. He immediately dropped his weapon and ran away, screaming.
Jellal furrowed his eyebrows at Erza. "You really do strike fear in many people…"
The red haired wizard didn't respond as the two walked out to a more open area. They were surprised how quickly the civilians evacuated, even though most hid in their homes. Abandoned fruit rolled on the floor, flags were tattered and buildings were damaged. Enemy numbers dwindled more and more in their area, meaning most of them were dealing with the other wizards.
"Jellal, how is your physical condition so far?" Erza asked.
"I should be asking you that, since you've used more magic than me." Jellal commented. "But I'm fine, don't you worry."
Erza placed a palm on her chest and took a deep breath. "I'm fine too, nothing I can't handle."
The two continued their casual walk through the empty streets as right in front of them lay the castle far in the distance. The two could see a battle going on by the front entrance, but Erza notices something else. A little higher than the battle below, she saw a bright glow coming from what seems to be a balcony area.
Back in the castle, Carla was leading in the front while Chelia watched their backs. They hugged the walls and peaked in every corner before continuing their infiltration in the empty hallways. Carla gestured to Chelia to continue searching after spotting no one in every corner they came across. They peeked through some rooms that took interest but they were all empty as every other area in the building.
"What's the point of all these rooms if no one is going to be using them…?" Carla whispered, sounding annoyed.
Chelia giggled slightly. "Rogue was right, this place is completely empty…"
Carla's ears suddenly perked up and quickly turned her head back to the room they entered in earlier. She heard an explosion and shouting outside as she squinted her eyes. Chelia followed Carla's gaze and raised an eyebrow.
"It looks like someone *couldn't* wait and started fighting those guards out front…" Carla groaned, having a feeling on who it was. She proceeded to grab Chelia's back. "Let's hurry to the top floor, but keep your eyes peeled." She advised before flying up and taking off towards the stairs.
While swiftly flying through the castle, the two continued to not spot a single angel. Chelia looked up at Carla and gave a big smile.
"The coast is still clear! We'll be there in no time!" Chelia beamed.
"Good, not much longer then!" Carla was relieved.
"Yeah! We're almost there! Uh, almost to what?" A third voice was heard as Carla and Chelia darted their heads next to them and saw Sync flying right next to them.
"Ah!" The two shrieked before Sync grabbed her scythe with both her hands and prepared to strike. Carla flew lower and ducked as the yellow haired angel swung her weapon right above them at abnormal speed, which caused Carla to lose her momentum. The two fell to the ground and slid a couple inches while Sync landed right in front of the two gracefully, blocking their path.
Sync crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks. "No one is allowed in the castle! Who are you two?!" She grumbled.
Chelia picked herself off the ground. "W-where did she come from?!"
Carla growled and glared at Sync. "No! We're so close!" She cursed before standing up and going on guard.
"Carla, are you doing okay?" Chelia asked as she approached Carla.
Carla dusted herself off and stopped Chelia from getting any closer. "I'm fine, but you should stay back. We need to find a way to get past her!"
Sync twirled her scythe before pointing it directly at the two girls. "You two are the enemies aren't you! I won't let you pass!"
"Fire Dragon's Iron Leg!" Natsu engulfed his left leg in flames and swung it directly at a soldier that was chasing after him. He sent him hurling towards more guards that were right behind him and were sent back. Natsu wiped his mouth and grumbled. "These guys just don't let up!"
"Aye, but I guess it makes sense." Happy said as he saw more angels coming after the two. "...They do have a lot of soldiers for a peaceful kingdom though…"
Natsu put one palm forward and reeled his other fist back. Before one enemy could strike him with a spear, he grabbed the weapon and snapped it in two before striking the soldier's face bare handed. Another soldier came and thrusted his spear towards his head but he dodged it just barely. The fire dragon slayer proceeds to strike him down as well with his elbow.
At the castle gates, Balrus and the guards watch in disbelief as Natsu takes down several of their soldiers with ease. The Tenhei member slammed his fists together and they began to glow.
Natsu's ears perk while striking down another enemy. He turned around and saw a huge rock hurling towards him. His eyes widened. "Happy, get down!"
Happy turned around and saw the rock getting closer. "Huh? AH!" He screamed and quickly flew out of the way, the rock landing directly where they were floating. The blue Exceed reoriented himself and glanced back at the castle entrance and saw a stone catapult being loaded up with another boulder.
"Where the heck did that catapult come from?!" Gawked Natsu. The two then saw the rock get launched directly at the two. Natsu engulfed both fists into flames and smirked. "Don't dodge this one Happy, I got this."
Natsu proceeds to effortlessly smash the boulder into pieces with just a single punch. He points ahead and shouts. "Alright Happy! Let's take care of whoever is over there!"
"Aye sir!" Happy agreed as he took off at high speeds, leaving a gust of wind behind.
Balrus witnessed Natsu smash the boulder and get closer. He exhaled steam out of his nostrils and stomped forward, passing by the guards. "Keep on guard! Tis won't take long…" He smacked his fists together.
As the two get closer, Natsu recognizes the tusk like mustache from the obese angel before cracking his flamed knuckles. "Heh, it's this guy huh?"
"Stone Make! Wall!" Balrus summons a long stone wall that erupts from the ground in front of him, blocking the path instantly. However, Natsu crushes the blockage with ease which surprises the obese angel.
"Move it tusky! Or I'll pound you to ashes!" Natsu threatened with a glare.
"On the pride of Exahelm, thou shalt not pursue any further!" Balrus declared, smacking fists together as both of them are engulfed in stone. "Stone Make! Gauntlets!" His fists connect with Natsu's but they do not break.
The Tenhei member grips Natsu's fists before swinging him and Happy in circles before throwing him back several feet away from the castle. Happy almost drops Natsu but quickly reorientates himself again.
"This guy is annoying! Happy, fly higher!" Natsu requests.
"Aye!" Happy shouts as the two take off up high. Natsu takes a deep breath, preparing to unleash a large flame breath by the entrance, but notices that Balrus is suddenly gone as only the guards were looking at them.
They then notice shade covering the area and Natsu's nose twitches. The two turn around and see Balrus right behind them holding a large stone hammer, his size blocking the sun from their view.
"Stone Make! Hammer!" Balrus swings the hammer and directly hits the back of Natsu's head, sending the two crashing down. Their impact caused an explosion of cloudy mist as Balrus lands, blocking the castle entrance once more. Before Natsu pulls himself up, the armored Tenhei smacks his fists extra hard as a large magic circle appears below his feet. "Stone Make! Bunker!" Balrus places both palms on the ground before several stone walls erupt around him, Natsu and Happy.
Natsu grunted, rubbing the back of his head before noticing that he and Happy were completely shut in with stone forming a ceiling above them as well. He popped his neck and cracked a cocky grin. "Heh, you *really* think something like this is gonna keep me in?"
Balrus exhaled more steam, face not budging any emotion. "Ye shouldn't doubt thine stone, land walking fiend…" He opens a palm as a passageway opens behind Natsu and Happy. The two then see several soldiers run inside and surround the entire bunker in a circle. Balrus clenches his palm into a fist as the wall closes, sealing them all inside once more.
"My role as a Tenhei…is the captain of the soldiers and guards of this kingdom. Don't take me lightly!" Balrus chastised, speaking normally for a moment.
"Great! We're trapped Natsu!" Happy exclaimed.
Natsu pounded his fist on his palm, creating a spark of flame. "I'm getting fired up! I'll take care of you all faster than Happy's max speed!" He then lets out a roar as his entire body erupts in flames, making the area extremely hot as Happy was already sweating.
Balrus was not phased as he squinted his eyes and thought. "Just how longth will he last…"
Torian dusts himself off before summoning his blue halberd once more. He hoists it over his shoulder and points at Gray. "You humans play dirty, you know that?"
"Tch. He's surprisingly tough, despite how he looks." Gray scoffed.
"There are less soldiers in this area now, shall Juvia assist you?" Juvia asked, standing by Gray.
Before Gray could answer, he senses something off and notices a bright light shining behind him. He also sees Torian's reaction as the angel looks up and widens his eyes. Gray turns around and glances up only to gasp loudly.
Suddenly, dozens of magic bullets began to rain down at Gray, Juvia and Lucy. The ice wizard swings one arm and looks at the two girls. "Watch out! Above you!"
Juvia and Lucy noticed the magic bullets raining at them and narrowly dodged them. Gray also leaps back to avoid the bullets as they create a line in front of the ice mage. However, the two couldn't get time to fully grasp the situation as more began to fly up in the air and rain down on them.
"What's going on?! Is someone attacking us?" Lucy exclaimed.
"Damn it! Ice-Make: Shield!" Gray conjures a large shield above his head as the bullets strike the ice barrier, which causes it to evaporate immediately.
Torian observes the three wizards dancing against the magic bullets as he glances up at the castle and sees a bright light coming from one of the balconies. He cracks a grin and snickers. "Heh heh…Stark eh…?
The tall angel notices Gray's back is facing him. He readies his weapon and spreads his wings out before booking it directly at the shirtless wizard.
Another bright light emitted from where Stark is standing before releasing more magic bullets from his magic gun. He witnesses Gray's group dodging and blocking the bullets and chuckles to himself.
"Just keep on dancing you human scum!" Stark gibed. "Just one strike of these will easily take you out if you keep using your magic like that!" He releases more which cover a good chunk of the sky from his view.
Stark notices a stone bunker by the front entrance and realizes that Natsu was nowhere to be seen. The slender angel ignores that spot since his bullets won't be able to piece through the bunker anyways. He moves on to the next area and sees Argus and Gajeel in another area before aiming in that specific spot.
"Iron Dragon's Club!" Gajeel aims his arm at Argus before it transforms into a steel log and launches out directly at the muscular angel.
Argus coats himself once again in steel coating and takes the hit dead on his chest, but is not phased at it. He attempts to grab Gajeel's iron arm but the dragon slayer immediately retracts it back.
Before Gajeel could retaliate, he sees in the corner of his eye several magic bullets from above flying directly at him. He leaps back, avoiding the bullets and wipes his mouth. However, Argus flies right at Gajeel and slams his steel coated arm directly at his neck. The muscular Tenhei slams Gajeel on the ground which causes the iron dragon slayer to cough up some blood.
Argus towers over Gajeel and gives a big smile. "HA HA HA! Well now, looks like you didn't think this through. You lot got everything going against ya!"
Gajeel scoots back and quickly picks himself off the ground. Argus notices the iron dragon slayer already looking fatigued, seeing him breathing heavily.
"You're not even used to our atmosphere, you punk." Argus grinned, cracking his knuckles.
Arya sat on some broken debris and smoked her pipe while she watched Sting avoid the magic bullets raining from the sky. She puffs out another smoke before the pipe unleashes more pink smoke and it wraps around Sting's leg, tripping him.
"G-gah! What?!" Sting exclaims as he trips and falls. One magic bullet manages to strike his arm as he grits his teeth. The Sabertooth master feels his arm getting numb as he clenches it tightly.
Arya adjusts her monocle and chuckles, looking down at the light dragon slayer. "You should've thought twice before invading our country. We help each other out too y'know." The female angel taunted.
Erza requips two blades and parries each magic bullet aiming at her while Jellal dodges the ones aiming at him, coated in his Meteor spell. The S-Class Fairy Tail wizard notices the same area she saw earlier emit a bright light and notices more bullets coming from that area as they went an unusual route compared to normal magic bullets.
"Those bullets, they're targeted!" Erza realized, slashing through more coming her way. "Damn! I can't reach whoever is doing that from here!"
She notices that the fighting from the castle entrance has ceased as a sudden stone building appears and squints her eyes.
The civilians who hid in their homes looked out their windows and witnessed the magic bullets attacking the ones invading their home and ruining the festival. Eyes glistened with hope in some of their eyes.
"That's Stark's magic!" A young female angel commented. "I just knew the Tenhei would save us!"
Natsu pants and slouches a bit. All the soldiers and guards in the bunker were all taken out with several of their armor having severe burn marks on them. Happy was resting inches away, sweating bullets and appearing exhausted.
Balrus continued to not be phased by the heat as he was crossing his arms, face still not budging and eyes directly at Natsu's. "I see, thou is truly a monster…"
Despite Natsu appearing exhausted, he stands his ground and enveloped his fists with fire. He charges at Balrus and winds one arm back, however the obese angel was able to dodge the strike with little to no effort.
"Thine movements hath gotten more sluggish." Balrus notices. He lands a strike at Natsu's side, causing the pinkette to stumble slightly before getting hit once again in the jaw by the Tenhei member.
Natsu reels back and coughs, covering his mouth. He looked back at Balrus and clenched his teeth. He gets in a fighting stance once more, preparing to launch himself at the obese angel.
Balrus sighs. "Reckless, is what thou are…" He points at Natsu and glares at him. "Thou hath not even adapted to our atmosphere!"
"Shut up! I ain't gonna let that stop me from saving my family!" Natsu shot.
"Thou will see the error of thine ways soon enough…" Balrus said before pounding his fists together. "Stone Make! Javelins!" He created several stone-made spears and hurled them directly at Natsu.
Natsu blocks the attacks by covering his body with his arms as each stone javelin struck him and broke apart immediately. But his arms get wounded in the process. Balrus stomps forward and flies at Natsu, headbutting him in the chest which causes the fire dragon slayer to cough up some blood as he is sent flying at the stone wall.
"Natsu!" Happy panics.
Natsu covers his mouth with his arm and coughs some more while Balrus stands a couple feet away from him. The pinkette looks down, hair shadow covering his eyes and takes a few deep breaths.
Balrus closes his eyes and exhales steam from his nostrils. "I can empathize with thou. Losing thine friend is always tragic and painful." He then shoots his eyes open and looks down at Salamander. "However, tis for the future and safety of not just Exahelm, but the world below. Thou must understand."
Natsu sluggishly stood up, leaning his back at the stone wall. His eyes continued to be covered with his hair shadow. Balrus began to approach his opponent slowly, making footprints on the cloudy floor each step he took. Natsu made no sudden movements as the obese angel was inches away from him.
Balrus covered one of his fists in stone and reeled it back. "Tis over, now sleep." He throws a punch at Natsu, aiming for his head.
Happy shuts his eyes and looks away, but hears no impact. He slowly opens his eyes and sees that Natsu caught Balrus' stone fist with just one palm. He clenched it tightly.
"W-what?!" Balrus exclaimed.
Natsu gave a devilish smile as his black eyes met with Balrus' blue eyes. "So all I have to do is adapt, right?!" He challenged.
Balrus widened his eyes and quickly pulled his arm back and backed off right before Natsu engulfed his entire body into dark red flames.
"RRRROOOOOOAAAAAGH!" Natsu roared as the flames around him exploded, his pupils are not present. The flames destroyed the stone bunker and caused the debris to crash in the area before vanishing.
Balrus covered his body with stone coated arms as the shock of the explosion made him slide back a couple feet, his back hitting the castle gate. The obese angel began to feel sweat drip from his body. He notices that Natsu's chest had several unnatural bulges forming. Blood slid from his cheek as well. "T-Thou art insane!" Balrus exclaimed. "Thou trying to get thineselves killed?!"
Natsu's pupils reveal themselves again as he glares daggers at Balrus. "I've handled far worse pain than this! Besides, this pain doesn't even compare to the pain you bastards gave to Wendy!" He retorted before spreading both arms out and twisting his body.
Balrus widened his eyes, realizing that Natsu was about to attack. He quickly slams his fists together. "Stone Make! Three Wall Barrier!" He conjured three stone walls as they erupted in front of the castle gates, forming a line.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art…" The flames around Natsu move directly towards both arms. He twists his body the other direction and swipes both arms in a circular fashion. "Crimson Lotus! Exploding Flame Blade!" The fire dragon slayer unleashes a torrent of fierce flames that barrages through each stone wall effortlessly, destroying them in the process.
Balrus felt his throat dry up, the last thing he saw was streams of flames inches away from his face.
The castle begins to shake as Sync fell over and landed on her bottom. Chelia and Carla stumble a bit before tripping over as well. The three hear an explosion coming from downstairs as the yellow haired angel widens her eyes.
Chelia looks behind her across the hall. "W-was that…"
"It must be Natsu…" Carla huffed. "He surely knows how to make an entrance…"
Sync's ears began to ring as she began to breathe rapidly, clenching her scythe tightly. "S-someone else broke in…?"
"Ga-ah! What the?!" Stark nearly fell over the balcony as his magic gun vanished. He reeled back and shook his head. The slender angel began to smell smoke before gripping the edge of the balcony and leaning forward. He looked downward and witnessed large amounts of flames burst at the castle entrance. Stark's eyes were as wide as dinner plates as he felt a familiar magic presence vanish.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Stark exclaimed, backing away. "Balrus…was taken out?!"
One soldier who was defeated earlier, but was still conscious, witnessed the events that happened as he saw the back of Natsu, standing defiantly at the now destroyed and burnt entrance of the castle. Patches of fire were present in several spots.
Balrus laid knocked out in the main room of the castle as his back laid on the front stairs, his tusk mustache charred and armor showing several cracks and burnt marks. Natsu slowly walked inside with clenched fists and a darkened face, eyes glowing. Happy flew inside as well, landing on Natsu's shoulder since he was no longer channeling his magic. The soldier manages to vocalize something as Natsu and Happy went on inside.
"M-master Balrus was defeated! One of the land-walkers managed to break inside the castle entrance! This is an emergency!"