A/N: Episode 258.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE: FIRE DRAGON'S IRON FIST

Acnologia and Igneel had a stare off with one another while Natsu was lost for words. "That's Igneel?" Lucy questioned.

Levy was supporting Gajeel while Hana was supporting both Akame and Zack, the three Dragon Slayers had finally stopped pulsating and were breathing heavily. Acnologia charged forward as Igneel did as well, their heads slamming into one another, causing the wind to blow through Natsu's hair.

Natsu began to tremble as tears were coming from his eyes. "Dad..." He muttered as Acnologia and Igneel continued circling around one another.

"What did he mean, 'inside of you'?" Juvia asked.

"Don't tell me that inside of Gajeel, Akame, and Zack, too..." Levy looked at the three.

"My heartbeat... is normal again." Gajeel stated.

"Mine, too." Akame added with Zack nodding in agreement.

With Crime Sorciere, Quartz regained his breathing as he had stopped pulsating. Daisuke quickly rushed over to him, helping him up off the ground.

"Quartz, are you all right?" Daisuke asked worriedly.

"I'm fine." Quartz reassured.

"What the hell happened to you?" Cobra questioned.

"I wish I knew." Quartz responded before looking at Jellal. "But something tells me we gotta head over to Tartaros, and fast."

Jellal nodded. "Are you well enough to keep going?" He asked.

"Yes. Whatever was going on with me seemed to be momentarily." Quartz replied.

Crime Sorciere continued on their way, with Daisuke still supporting Quartz.

Sting, Rogue, and Dusk also stopped pulsating as the three of them breathed heavily, still clenching onto their chests.

"Are you okay, Rogue, Dusk?" Sting questioned.

"Yeah." Rogue answered.

"I... think so." Dusk responded.

"More importantly, where did the man with the book go?" Rogue asked.

"Now that you mention it..." Sting started to say.

"He did kind of disappear when that strange phenomenon was happening to us." Dusk finished.

Mard Geer was watching Acnologia and Igneel battle it out in the sky as a smirk grew on his face.

Wendy had finally stirred as she sat up. "Wendy! Are you all right?" Carla questioned.

"Yeah..."

Doranbolt kneeled down next to her. "Don't exhaust yourself." He said.

"I won't." Wendy gave him a smile before she looked up at the sky. "Carla, that's..."

Acnologia roared as Igneel did the same.

"What's going on here?" Cana wondered.

"The black one is Acnologia, right?"

"What about the red dragon?" Reedus asked.

"There's another dragon?"

"I don't get it, but it looks like the other dragon is fighting Acnologia?" Macao questioned.

"Acnologia is the enemy, right? Then what about the other one?" Romeo asked.

"What is that?" Cana said.

"An ally?" Wakaba guessed.

Kyoka was also staring up at the sky. "Dragon..." She mumbled.

"Acnologia..." Ezekiel muttered.

"What should we do? Has it come here for us?" Happy questioned.

"I doubt it, but at this rate, it's possible all of Magnolia will be annihilated." Lily responded.

"Why, at a time like this...?" Lector wondered.

"Something must've drawn him here." Jim guessed.

"And there are two of them." Frosch added.

"Their strength is beyond anything humans can handle." Minerva commented.

"The dragon that's fighting Acnologia... Fire?" Mira questioned.

"A Fire Dragon..." Happy mumbled.

"It couldn't be..." Erza realized who the dragon might be.

"What... What the hell is happening?" Kyoka asked herself. "Mard Geer-sama..."

"The wings of darkness, Acnologia... The king of the Fire Dragons, Igneel... I will not allow you to interfere with my plan." Mard Geer places a hand against his face. "Instead, the plan has been revised. Both of you will perish."

Acnologia and Igneel continued ramming into each other.

"You, of a forgotten species."

"Are you okay, Akame-sama, Zack-sama?" Hana asked her two guildmates.

"What the hell is goin' on here?" Akame wondered.

"Hey! Salamander! Is that Igneel? What did he mean, he was inside your body?!" Gajeel questioned.

"Don't ask me. All this time... I've been looking for him all this time." Natsu mumbled.

"Natsu..." Lucy muttered.

Natsu lights his foot on fire as he flies in the air. "What the hell... Igneel?!" He exclaimed.

"Natsu?!" Erza questioned.

"Natsu!" Happy exclaimed.

Igneel looked at Natsu. "Fool. I said we'd talk later!" He reminded.

Natsu landed on Igneel's wing. "Tell me now! Why'd you suddenly disappear?! And you were in my body the whole time?!" He began firing questions. "Where are Gajeel, Akame, Zack, Dusk, and Wendy's dragons?! What happened on July 7th, 777?! Tell me, Igneel!"

Acnologia charged forward once again. "Quiet!" Igneel shouted.

Natsu was about to fly off of Igneel until he was caught by Igneel's claw. "Natsu!" Lucy yelled.

"Quit spacing out!" Gajeel scolded.

Igneel lets out a breath of flames straight at Acnologia as Lucy shielded herself, Akame shielded Hana, Zack shielded Juvia, and Gajeel shielded Levy.

"It's hot!"

"Get back!"

"Th-This is..." Juvia started to say.

"Seriously?!" Elfman exclaimed.

"Incredible heat..." Lisanna said.

"Wha...? Aren't we in trouble?!" Warren asked.

"Even though we're far away, it feels like my body's gonna melt!" Jet exclaimed.

"It's hot!" Droy added.

A large sphere of fire surrounded Acnologia as all of the Lummy's were lost for words.

"What flames... It's as if the sun itself has fallen." Cana commented.

"Hey, look!" Macao shouted.

"Acnologia is suffering!" Romeo noticed.

"I imagine he'll be helpless before the might of those flames." Wakaba said.

"Sh-Shouldn't we hide?"

"It's probably too late." Reedus replied.

A large fireball explosion soon appeared. "That's..." Erza started to say.

"...Fire Dragon's Roar." Happy finished.

"Those flames are unbelievable!" Lector exclaimed.

"Fro thinks so, too..."

"That's the power of a dragon." Mira said.

"Incredible..." Minerva stated.

The fire dimmed down as smoke was coming from Igneel's mouth. "A-Awesome..." Natsu said, awestruck.

"No. He didn't suffer any damage at all." Igneel claimed.

"Huh?"

Sure enough, Acnologia was unharmed as he roared loudly.

"It had no effect whatsoever?!" Lucy spoke in shock.

"Are you serious?" Zack questioned.

"No way..." Akame muttered.

"Even though he was engulfed by those flames..." Levy trailed off.

"If he didn't suffer so much as a scratch from an attack like that..." Juvia started to say.

"Is Acnologia..." Happy continued.

"...invulnerable?!" Erza finished.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Lector asked.

"Fro doesn't know, either..."

"All we can do is watch." Minerva claimed.

Acnologia flew back up in the air. "I'm fired up." Igneel said with smoke coming out of his mouth. "Natsu!"

"Huh?"

"You're in the way!"

"What do you mean, I'm in the way?!" Natsu questioned in irritation, raising his arms up. "Is that what you say when we're reunited after years?!"

"I told you. We have a great deal to talk about, but later. You've got your own work to do." Igneel responded.

"Work?" Natsu repeated.

"You belong to one of those guilds, don't you? Then I'll officially hire you." Igneel lowers Natsu to the ground. "Look."

Natsu saw that Mard Geer was watching. "The book that man is holding... It's the Book of END." Igneel said.

"END..." Natsu mumbled.

"Bring me that book." Igneel instructed.

"Why should I do that?" Natsu questioned.

"Because you're the only one who can. Besides, he's the ringleader of all this fuss. That alone is enough reason to fight him, isn't it?" Igneel asked.

"He's the one..." Natsu trailed off.

"Listen. Whatever you do, don't open that book. And don't you dare destroy it, either. Just steal it from him." Igneel said.

Natsu looks up at Igneel. "What's the reward?" He questioned.

"What?!"

"Of course! I'm workin' for the guild!"

"Fine. Your reward is learning everything you want to know."

"It's a deal." Natsu agreed.

"Then go get him, Natsu!" Igneel exclaimed, throwing Natsu towards Mard Geer.

"A'ight!" Natsu said. "You just be sure to keep your promise! Don't go anywhere!"

"I won't." Igneel promised.

"It's a promise!" Natsu shouted. "I'm fired up!"

Natsu charged forward at Mard Geer. "Who are you?" Mard Geer questioned.

"I'm..." Flames came from Natsu's fist. "...Igneel's son!"

Natsu's fist collided with Mard Geer's, causing an explosion and causing him to skid back.

"The dragon's child?" Mard Geer quoted.

Natsu then sends a flaming kick towards Mard Geer with Igneel doing the same against Acnologia.

"I'm taking that book! I'm gonna stop Face, too!" Natsu claimed, charging at Mard Geer.

"Oh?"

"But first I'm gonna kick your ass!" Natsu declared.

"Thorns!" Mard Geer shouted as Natsu maneuvered around the vines, making him widen his eyes.

"This is the first time he's seen my Curse power, but he can dodge it?" Mard Geer questioned as Natsu lit his fist on fire.

"Fire Dragon's..." Natsu started to say as Igneel's claw was covered in flames as well.

"...Iron Fist!" Natsu finished, punching Mard Geer while Igneel struck Acnologia at the same time.

Mard Geer was sent flying back as well as Acnologia. Natsu soon engulfed himself in flames, making Mard Geer grin in amusement.

'Kyoka.' Mard Geer's voice was heard in Kyoka's head. 'Can you hear me?'

Kyoka's eyes widened as she looked over towards Ezekiel, who didn't have a reaction.

'Mard Geer-sama!' Kyoka exclaimed.

'The dragons are a nuisance. We're going to accelerate Face's activation. Right now you're in the control room, aren't you?' Mard Geer questioned.

'Yes. But... Keyes and Seilah were both defeated, so no one can animate the chairman.' Kyoka answered.

'No worries. If we're at the launch phase, then even you can hasten their activation.' Mard Geer claimed. 'The main lacrima is in the center of the control room. Form a living link between that and yourself.'

'Mard Geer-sama... If I form a living link between this vast amount of Magic and my own Curse power... it will kill me.' Kyoka informed.

'What about it?' Mard Geer questioned, not bothered by it. 'Do you fear death?'

Kyoka gasped, getting Ezekiel's attention. Kyoka opened her eyes. 'No. If it's to fulfill Tartaros's long-cherished wish, my life is of no consequences.' She answered.

'Everything... is for Zeref!'

Kyoka launches her claws at Face's activation. "What are you...?!" Ezekiel questioned, getting everyone else's attention as Kyoka sat on top of Face's activation.

Kyoka soon glowed green as multiple lights appeared.

"What is that?!" Lily asked.

"Some kind of markers?" Happy guessed.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Lector stated.

"Yeah, you're not the only one." Bruno agreed.

"Fro thinks so, too."

The green glow soon disappeared from Kyoka's body. Kyoka stood up from her hunched position.

"These are the number of Face units across the continent. Living link established. Now I am one with the Face activation device." Kyoka said.

"What?!" Ezekiel exclaimed.

"Living link?!" Jim repeated.

"She merged with it?" Frosch questioned.

"For what?" Lector asked.

"To speed up Face's activation?" Minerva questioned.

Kyoka smirked. "Now it's simple. If you kill me, you stop Face." She informed. "Although I'll die anyway after Face is activated."

"That's some confidence. I assume you don't imagine yourself losing." Ezekiel stated.

"Indeed I don't." Kyoka launched herself towards Ezekiel. "You still don't know..."

Kyoka struck Ezekiel. "...Kyoka, Slave Star Empress of the Ten Demons!"

Ezekiel widened his eyes in shock. "My true, Etherious form!" Kyoka claimed.

A/N: Another chapter is completed!

Thanks for reading!

~ Kaleb.