Hahlos couldn't feel anything on his body right now, not even the soft pillow-like clouds he laid on nor the amount of pain his body was inflicted with earlier. It was like his entire body was numb. He was still conscious as he stared up in the clear blue sky. Despite everything that happened, the sky remained the same.
"...For the first time…I have utterly failed as this country's guardian…" Heaved Hahlos. "No…it wasn't the first time, not even close…" He admitted, slowly shutting his eyes tight.
The angel was shaking, the pain he received began to come back as he forcefully raised his right hand and reached out to the sky. "Did I make the right choice…Carine?" Hahlos wondered. He then began to hear loud coughing and hacking nearby. He was able to narrow his head over to his right as he plopped his arm back down.
"Erza! You need rest!" Chelia urged.
"She's right, you're in no physical shape to move right now!" Carla chided.
Hahlos noticed that the girl that resembled his friend had transformed back into her Exceed form. He began to hear footsteps coming from his right. Jellal began to approach the group as Erza continued to struggle to stay up, clenching the hilt of her sword tightly.
"...Hahlos…are you still conscious?" Erza asked, her back facing him. She coughed out more blood and nearly collapsed but still held on.
Jellal stopped right next to Hahlos, narrowing his eyes down at him. Hahlos looked back up at the sky and sighed deeply. "Indeed, but I cannot move." The angel responded.
Erza paused as she stared at the ground. She clenched her teeth, struggling to stay up. Carla and Chelia continued to urge Erza to rest but she did not listen. "Carla…Chelia…go on ahead without us." She requested.
"What are you talking about? Are you asking us to just *leave* you here?!" Carla objected.
"Natsu is up ahead…Jellal and I will catch up in a bit…" Erza insisted, unable to lift her head up.
The two were hesitant, especially Carla. However, Chelia's eyes met with Carla's as the dark pink haired girl gave a nod to the Exceed. Carla placed his paws on her hips and sighed. She grabbed onto Chelia's back and prepared to take off to the other cloud island.
Hahlos watched as Carla and Chelia left, paying more attention to Carla as she got further and further away. He narrowed his head back at Erza's direction who had not moved an inch.
"Your loyalty surpassed mine, this victory is yours." Hahlos congratulated.
Erza coughed. "I'm…n-not so sure about that." She disagreed, managing to turn her head towards Hahlos' direction. "Are you sure you were fighting us as a loyal guardian?"
"What a ridiculous question." Hahlos scoffed. "This whole time I fought for the protection of this country."
Jellal crossed his arms and glanced ahead. "I wonder if that's the complete truth…"
Hahlos furrowed his brow at Jellal's statement. "What exactly do you mean?" He wondered.
"What is Carla to you?" Erza bluntly asked.
Hahlos turned his head away from the swordswoman. "She is nothing to me, as I do not know her."
"Your emotions say otherwise." Erza countered. "I saw it in those eyes of yours, they read sorrow and regret. From the mere moment Carla and Chelia showed up, all the way until the end."
Hahlos paused, Jellal taking notice of the angel's unchanging emotion. Hahlos continued to look away as he sighs. "That is none of your business, why do you intend to pry information out of me now?" He bickered.
Erza cracks a smirk. "I guess that's fair." She lowers her head. "However, I have seen eyes like that before. I can tell that you have something clouded over your so-called loyalty."
Jellal glances over at Erza and softly smiles.
"I will admit that I hardly know the extent of your country and its affairs, me being an outsider and all." Erza admits before turning her head back at Hahlos. "But I can tell that you are stuck in the past."
Hahlos turns his head back at Erza and glares at her. "You have some nerve to lecture me. If you truly believe that I'm stuck in the past then what should I have done for the benefit of this country?"
"Live and struggle." Jellal answered, which got the attention of Hahlos. "Sacrificing life won't pave for a better future, it will only cause more unnecessary pain."
"Buildings can be replaced, but life cannot." Erza continued, as she managed to slowly stand back up. She wobbles slightly but manages to stand up straight. "Throughout our time here, we've heard and witnessed how this place operates. You may not listen to my input, but if you all continue to live like this then it will only shatter your peace." She proceeds to release her sword as it vanishes in a yellow aura.
Jellal walks past Hahlos and approaches Erza. "This country may have peace, but it doesn't have freedom." He states before helping his friend stay on her feet by wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "It was especially prevalent today."
Hahlos lays the back of his head on the floor and stares up in the sky again. As Erza and Jellal prepare to leave, they are interrupted by the angel speaking up.
"Two times, I have experienced the world beneath us." Hahlos revealed. "The second time…was when I went to retrieve your friend. Throughout my entire life, I had always been interested in humans and their world. To the point where I wondered if humans and angels would be able to live together. It was because of my curiosity that led me to finding out about Wendy in the first place." He explained before sighing deeply.
Jellal glanced at Hahlos and stared at him for a brief moment as he recalled something from when he worked at the Council.
~~~Flashback~~~
"A boy with a halo and wings…descriptions made him out as an angel…" Jellal, who went by Siegrain at the time, was sitting by his desk as he read past reports by the Council to gather information if they would be useful for his R System plans.
"Supposedly, the only victim in that village that was found could have also been one of those angels." Ultear, who stood by his desk, showed by pointing at the section of the victim. "There was no information about this girl in this country so they were unable to define her name or family."
Siegrain held his chin as he scanned through the report. "A whole race of angels living high above us, now that's certainly interesting." He chuckles before giving the paper back to Ultear. "If they live in a country isolated and unable to be reached, then that continues to prove that freedom does not exist in this world."
~~~Flashback End~~~
"Whenever the possibility of angels and humans living together doesn't concern me." Erza admits bluntly. "Especially now that it's less likely due to both our actions." She glances back at Hahlos. "The only thing that concerns us right now, is getting Wendy back."
Hahlos chuckles. "Then I guess we are both selfish, you and I." He lifts his head up as he watches the two leave. He slowly closes his eyes before speaking up to the two again, interrupting them.
"One more thing…I have a message…from Wendy. I may as well deliver it under my respect for her."
The air was extremely hot, which was a rare feeling for those living in the sky. The reason wasn't for any weather change, but a single person standing in the middle of the ranchers' land as his body produced an unbearable amount of heat. Many ranchers stayed clear of the fire mage, but the effects of his flames caused nearby objects like wood and gardens to melt.
Izanagi swiped his head as he began to sweat. He stood several feet away from Natsu who was glaring daggers at the god. The god took note that his flames appeared darker than usual.
"Careful everyone!" Izanagi warned as he swung one arm. "Those flames could melt your own clothes off if you get near!" Despite his warning, he was smirking.
Natsu leaped in the air and gathered his flames into his left arm. He flipped and prepared to land a punch at Izanagi. The god gawked and quickly flew backwards, narrowly getting hit by the flames. Once he made some distance, he felt a burning sensation on his head. The god peeped his eyes up and saw that his hair caught fire.
"AGH! HOT HOT!" Izanagi gripped the singed part of his hair and suffocated the flames with his palms. Once the fire was out, he blew on his palms as they were red from getting burnt.
Natsu bent on his knees and ignited his entire body. "Fire Dragon's…" He stretched his body back, preparing to launch himself. "Sword Horn!" He flew right towards Izanagi.
Izanagi flew to the side, dodging the attack. He had no time to assess the situation as Natsu immediately stopped in his tracks and unleashed a fire dragon roar attack in the god's direction. He gasps and thrusts his palm towards the flames. He conjures large amounts of black winds as he uses them to block the attack.
"This is going nowhere, I've been bedridden for weeks!" Izanagi thought, squinting his eyes from the hot air. "I haven't gotten used to moving yet, I don't know how long I can keep up this pressure!" He manages to blast the flames away with his winds before whipping his hand.
Natsu stomps his left foot and lifts his right foot. He swung his right leg quickly and conjured another flame attack. Izanagi widened his eyes and ducked under the attack. The flames crashed right into a wooden house, catching it on fire. The owners of the house quickly ran away as they screamed.
Izanagi lifted his head back up. "Hey now, don't you think you're going overboard?!" He criticized. "Someone could get hurt, you know."
The fire dragon slayer didn't listen as he growled at the god. "You're…going to pay!" He cursed. He whips both his arms and charges at Izanagi. "Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" He swings both arms down and creates a path of flames aimed at the blue haired angel.
Izanagi flies upward in the air as the flames pass right by him. He looks back and notices the flames making their way towards the ranchers that were running away from their burning home. To the god's shock, the flames curved right past the angels.
Natsu continues his nonstop momentum as he keeps throwing attack after attack right at Izanagi. Despite how many times he dodges each upcoming attack, he witnesses the flames completely avoiding the civilians, but any house or garden was struck in the process.
"He truly lives up to his reputation…" Izanagi notes. "He completely mastered his abilities where he can control fire to his very will."
The god lands in a more open area as he watches Natsu charge another large scale attack. "No wonder she looked up to him so much…" Izanagi smirks.
Natsu lets out a battle cry while running right at Izanagi. The god raises both his palms as he surrounds them with black winds. Natsu slams his fist right at them, both attacks clashing. The pressure of the impact created a harsh gust of wind which blew a bunch of the cloudy mist away and caused the civilians to cover their faces.
Izanagi grunted, trying to hold the attack back. The flames were causing him to sweat profusely. The god looks at Natsu in the eye. "Why are you still going at it? You know that it's over right?" He wonders. "If you keep this up, your guild will continue to get hurt! Do you wish to tarnish your guild's reputation even more?!"
"Listen up!" Natsu demanded. "I don't care if you're a good guy or bad guy! I don't care about whatever your reasoning is!" He condemned, igniting his flames even more as blood slightly slid out of his mouth. "But no matter what, if you make an enemy of the guild…then we'll make sure you'll regret messing with Fairy Tail!"
Izanagi flinches, noticing Natsu's magic getting stronger. "Are you sure…that we're the ones messing with your guild at this point?" He argues, attempting to push the pinkette back. "You should be thankful…that the girl removed her mark." He spoke quietly.
Natsu doesn't respond, but continues to scowl at the god. His body was aching all over, but the fire mage refused to back down.
"If you continue to show off that mark on your shoulder…then why don't you take a look around you?!" Izanagi advised.
Natsu darts his eyes around the area. He observed the civilians that were witnessing this battle appearing horrified. Some were trying to put out the fire that was engulfing their homes. He also saw the two ranchers he met when he first arrived. Henry and Alivia watched Natsu with complete disbelief in their expressions.
"This is the kind of reputation your guild has received!" Izanagi chastised. "Going overboard with your magic! Destroying people's property and homes of innocent bystanders!"
Natsu's eyes go back to Izanagi's as he clenches his teeth tightly and growls at the god.
"Your friend however, is nothing like you. She used her magic for a selfless act that benefited the innocent!" The god scolds. "That is why she'll be remembered as a hero! Do you intend to take that away from her?!"
"SCREW THAT HERO CRAP!" Natsu explodes. "What's the point of dying for the sake of others huh?! That'll only hurt the people they care about!" He rants.
Izanagi's right eye twitches. "Naive! She sacrificed herself so you all wouldn't be hurt! Why can't you understand that?!" He debates.
"There will always be another way!" Natsu argues as his flames grow even larger. "We choose to fight and live for our friends! Not to die for them! What's the point of a home…if you don't have the ones you care about there with you?!"
Alivia and Henry were able to overhear Natsu's words which caused them to widen their eyes in shock. However, the rest of the crowd was unable to hear their conversation due to the sounds of fire and wind clashing.
Izanagi raised an eyebrow as he began to feel an unusual sensation on his body. He slowly looked down at it, feeling a warmth on his chest.
Taking the opportunity, Natsu lets out a mighty battle cry as he manages to burst through Izanagi's black winds. The god's arms forcibly spread out as he stumbled back, completely gawked at the fire dragon slayer. Natsu winds his fist back, preparing to strike.
"Fire Dragon King…" The flames on his left fist concentrated into a large ball as they became dark red "DESTRUCTION FIST!" He slams his fist directly at Izanagi's chest.
Izanagi coughs out, feeling immense pain from the impact. The flames spread out behind Natsu as he digs his attack deeper at the god. He lets out a roar similar to that of a dragon before slamming Izanagi on the ground, creating an explosion of fire. The brightness of the flames caused the ranchers to avert their eyes.
As the bright light fades away and the smoke clears out, the ranchers observe in horror. Izanagi laid on his back, his body covered in burnt marks and injuries as he lay unconscious. Natsu was standing over and looking down at him. His hair shadow covered his eyes as he began to breath heavily.
Natsu collapsed on his knees and smacked both of his fists on the ground. His body shook while he grinded his teeth in frustration. The fire mage began to cough loudly as more blood slid from his lips.
A female civilian screams at the sight. The crowd begins to panic, seeing their god taken out by this stranger. Several ranchers looked below their feet to check on the condition of the clouds they stood on while several others watched on in horror. Henry and Alivia had their bodies frozen from shock that it left the two speechless.
Natsu wasn't paying full attention to the reaction of the crowd around him as his mind was clouded with frustration and regret. But his attention suddenly changed as he felt the air shift in his direction. He slowly looked up and noticed that the air around him was being absorbed in Izanagi's mouth. Natsu's eyes sank as Izanagi slowly stood back up while his body was surrounded in a green aura. His wounds and burnt marks began to fade away as more air entered inside him. Once the god was finished eating the air, he exhaled and rubbed his stomach.
"Do not panic, my subjects!" Izanagi assured them loudly, which got their attention. "I'm quite alright! Nothing to be alarmed over…" He smirks as his wounds fully heal. The crowd ceases their panic as they realize that their god was okay. Izanagi clenches a fist to get a feel of his body. "You on the other hand…" He looks down at Natsu.
Natsu forces his body to stand up as his entire body shakes. Ache marks were present on several parts of his body as he could barely move. However, the fire dragon slayer would not back down as he clenched both his fists.
"You've been fighting all day. I can tell you're at your limit." Izanagi points out as he stretches his fingers. "I didn't think you wouldn't hesitate to try and strike me down like that. You do know what would happen if I actually perished there right?" He warns.
Natsu doesn't respond as he just growls at him. Izanagi sighs before leaning closer to the pinkette and whispers in his ear.
"The girl's soul is resting inside me. So she would perish alongside me…"
Natsu's eyes sank as he gasped. His arms limp as he stares blankly on the ground. Izanagi steps back and stands up straight. He smirks at the dragon slayer, realizing that his will to fight is wavering.
"You should've listened to her last night." Izanagi remarked. "If you all had just left, none of this would have happened. But don't worry, I'll make sure her reputation isn't tarnished…" He assured him.
Izanagi spreads his arms out. "Hear me, my fellow subjects!" He announces. "This is the kind of reality that these land-walkers deal with in their daily lives! The mark on this one's shoulder shows that he comes from a magic guild, where there are many others like him!"
The ranchers listened to the god's speech as some began to chatter quietly amongst themselves. "A magic guild? I think I heard him say he's from a place called 'Fairy Tail'?" A middle aged male rancher overheard.
"But that girl…she didn't have that mark did she?" A female angel wondered. "How did these other land-walkers get here then…?"
"Is this really the world you all desire to live in?! A world where dangerous people like this man roam the streets freely?! A world where your homes and lives are at constant risk?!" Izanagi challenged.
The crowd pauses. They looked at each other and at the destroyed houses. The first one to speak up was a young boy angel.
"N-no…we don't!" He shouted.
After hearing the boy, it sparked the rest of the crowd as they joined in.
"Get lost! You land-walking fiend!"
"You destroyed our homes, monster!"
"Leave! You don't belong here!"
Natsu had not budged from his spot. His sensitive hearing was able to pick up the harsh words from the crowd as they continued to berate him. The tone of their voices were anger and fear at the same time. He continued to stare blankly at the cloudy floor, only hearing the crowd scream at him.
Izanagi lowers his arms and looks down at Natsu. He cracks a smirk before speaking quietly to the fire dragon slayer. "You heard them, Natsu. Get lost."
The sky god slams his knee right on Natsu's gut. The impact caused the fire mage to cough out blood and lift him up slightly. Izanagi follows up with a punching blow at his chin, knocking him on the floor.
The crowd begins to cheer for their ruler as he continues to beat down their supposed attacker. Natsu was unable to retaliate as he was way past his limit. The sky god hadn't used any magic during this beat down.
Natsu lands on his chest after a kicking blow from Izanagi. The god walks over to him while chuckling. Natsu tries to move his aching body before coughing more. He manages to grip the god's left leg before being stomped on.
"...G-give her…b-back…" Natsu shakily demanded.
Izanagi frowns and shakes his head. "Don't you get it? Her soul is inside me now, she's gone. Accept it." He bluntly states as he picks up Natsu by the collar of his coat. His body was covered in bruises.
While witnessing this, Henry was covering his mouth in distraught but unable to look away. While Alivia's eyes stared intently with fury. She clenched her rake tightly, her eyes focused on Izanagi.
The god threw Natsu at a far distance. His body landed near the edge of the clouds as his body tumbled over. Right before falling off the edge, Natsu manages to grab the end of the cloud with one hand as his body hangs over the floofy cliff.
"Oh?" Izanagi raises an eyebrow. He slowly approached Natsu with his hands on his hips. "It's impressive that you're able to hang on."
Natsu grips tightly as he tries to pull himself back up, but the combination of his injuries and reaching his physical limit prevents him from doing so. Izanagi proceeds to point down at the area where Natsu hung on.
"It's sad really, the girl had a feeling you would all come back despite her pleas." Izanagi reveals. "But I still have a duty as a ruler here. I can at least assure you that the name Wendy Marvell will be remembered throughout our country's history. This is goodbye, Natsu Dragneel."
The cloudy area Natsu held on began to fade away. Once they vanished, Natsu lost his grip and proceeded to fall from the sky.
Izanagi lowered his arm and sighed before turning his attention back at the town in the distance.
"Right, I should take care of some important business at my castle now…"