The heatstorm was starting to settle down now. The air began to cool down, making it easier for people to breathe normally again. Gray opened his eyes and looked around, realizing that Lucy was still sleeping soundly in his arms. He smiled gently before gently shaking her shoulder. "Hey. Wake up."
"Mmmm..." Lucy mumbled sleepily as she slowly woke up from her nap. She yawned cutely before stretching out her arms and legs before looking up at him tiredly.
"We're here." He spoke simply.
Lucy blinked several times. "Already? Wow...It only felt like I just closed my eyes."
"That heatstorm could've been worse, honestly. We got lucky. Up ahead is where we're headed. Look. The Clamorous Coast." Gray pointed forward towards the coastline where the Clamorous Coast was situated. It was a beautiful place, surrounded by white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. It was picturesque and peaceful looking, and it looked like the kind of place where one could go for a relaxing holiday without any worries or cares in the world.
However, despite its beauty, it was also known as the 'Forbidden Island', since it contained the infamous God's Library. The library itself was filled with books about magic and spells, as well as history and culture of the Clamorous Coast. There were even some books that told of legends about lost cities, creatures, and beings. Some claimed that there were even secret portals that led to other dimensions within this island.
"So beautiful!" Lucy exclaimed, her eyes alit with wonder when looking at this dazzling sight. What really caught her attention were the beaches, the white sand that sparkled like diamonds under the sun and the crystal clear water that shone brightly in the sunlight. It was truly breathtaking and made her feel like she was living inside one of her own fantasies.
"Yeah...It sure is." Gray nodded slowly as he continued to gaze upon this wonderful sight. All they had to do was apparently deal with some bandits, which was something Gray was still curious about since they were considered S-Class.
They were currently on a beachfront, overlooking the coastline itself. The island had many villages and towns scattered around its perimeter, while the library itself was located at the center of it all. Lucy appeared in a bikini, sporting a full pink bikini that perfectly accentuated her curves and ample bosom. Her skin glistened in the sunlight, her soft skin reflecting the warm rays of sun beautifully.
Gray was also wearing a bathing suit, which consisted of a pair of dark blue swim trunks along with a light blue t-shirt. His toned muscles were on display for everyone to see as well as his defined six pack abs.
Lucy mainly did this just for the sake of experiencing these beaches while she could and it would be a shame not to. They were so pretty after all. And Gray figured it would be better to wait for the other two who were on their way there.
She looked around curiously, trying to see if she could spot any sign of those bandits anywhere nearby. "So where are they supposed to be hiding? How hard would it be to find bandits?"
"Not hard at all. Come to think of it...this town doesn't look or feel like bandits are messing things up." Gray pointed out. "The people are all happy, the buildings aren't in ruins or anything like that...I'm starting to think this might've been a scam."
"Wait...What?!" Lucy exclaimed, startled by such a possibility. She turned to Gray with wide eyes. "You mean we got conned?!"
"It's possible." He admitted with a shrug. "I mean, we don't know anything about these guys, right? We didn't even get any info on them before taking this job."
Lucy groaned loudly, burying her face in her hands as she let out a frustrated sigh. "But all that money..." She muttered quietly. "What are we supposed to do now?"
"Well, I guess we could always talk to them and see if there really are bandits in this town." Gray shrugged. "Or maybe we could ask around and see what's going on here first."
"Yeah..." Luna lowered her head, turning around. But as she was about to walk off, something from the beaches emerged. A tentacle of some kind, coming out from the water. It wrapped around Lucy's right ankle. "Eeeeek! What is thi- Aaaahh!" Lucy yelped loudly as she was suddenly lifted off the ground.
"Lucy!" Gray shouted in alarm as he watched helplessly as his friend was dragged away by some unknown creature. It looked like an Octopus but had 30 Eyes instead of eight, its skin a mixture of dark purple and pink.
Lucy's body was held high in the air by the tentacle as she struggled to free herself from its grip. However, it held tightly onto her, refusing to let go The tentacles moved across her body, wrapping around her legs and arms before slithering under her bikini bottoms. They began to caress her soft skin, sliding over her inner thighs and brushing against her buttocks.
"Hah...!" Lucy gasped as she felt one tentacle slide underneath her bikini top, moving between her large breasts while another stroked her stomach, sending shivers down her spine. She squirmed desperately in response, trying to escape their clutches but it proved futile.
"Ice Make...!" Gray was more than ready to fight off whatever this creature was. However, just as he was about to create an Ice Sword, something happened that shocked him greatly.
"No, please stop!" A female voice suddenly called out to him. He turned to see a woman walking towards him with a worried expression on her face. She wore a pair of glasses over her blue eyes as well as a white robe over her pink shirt and matching skirt. Her deep blue hair was tied up in a bun while her skin glistened in the sun.
"Mun-Mu! Put her down! She's not part of the game!"
The creature made a sound that sounded like a sigh and released Lucy. The blondie dropped to the sand, landing flat on her face. Her body was all slimy with the creature's fluids and some of her clothes were torn. She sat up slowly, wiping off the slime from her face as she stared at the stranger who approached them.
"I'm so sorry about this." The woman said apologetically as she bowed her head low. "He gets like this whenever someone new arrives on our island. I hope he didn't scare you too much."
"U-Uhhh...Yeah...He certainly gave us quite the shock." Gray replied, still rather surprised at what transpired. He glanced over at Lucy briefly, noticing that she was still sitting on the sand, staring at the woman in confusion. She was completely covered in the creature's fluids and had a dazed look on her face.
"Ah, yes. My name is Gwendolyn." The woman introduced herself politely. "And this is Mun-Mu, my partner." She gestured towards the creature next to her. "I'm the Assistant Librarian at The God's Library."
"God's Library?"
"Yes. Ah! But you're probably not wondering about that, are you? I see your Guild Marks. Are you here because the Job Request we sent you?"
"Yeah. Apparently, there are supposed to be bandits here, but we don't see any of them." Gray pointed out. "What's up with that?"
"S-Sorry! But we made that up! Gwendolyn bowed her head while putting her head down. "We just needed someone to come in advance, so we made a fake job request!"
"What do you mean, 'fake'?!" Gray exclaimed angrily.
"I understand that you must be upset." Gwendolyn continued. "But please hear me out. You see...The Head Librarian Asher predicted that the God's Library would be invaded and ransacked by thieves in the near future. However, Asher himself can't leave the library due to his curse. So we had no choice but to hire someone from a guild to protect us from those bandits."
"I see..." Gray nodded slowly, understanding the situation now. "And you decided to hire us since we were the closest guild that was available?"
"Correct." Gwendolyn confirmed. "We apologize for deceiving you. But we couldn't rik revealing the true reason behind it. These thieves Head Librarian Asher foresaw might've spotted the request and tricked us somehow, and then we'd be in big trouble!"
"So there really is a problem here." Lucy sat up. "Who are these thieves anyway?"
"We don't know. But they're predicted to show up today." Gwendolyn replied. "Head Librarian Asher's magic allows him to see glimpses of the future, but he can't control what he sees or how clear they are. But the fact that he saw thieves coming for our books makes us very worried."
Gray sighed heavily, shaking his head. "Well, if it's just protecting the books then it shouldn't be too difficult, I guess."
"The money amount is real right?!" Lucy went up to Gwendolyn with a hopeful expression. "It's 100 million jewels, right?!"
"Yes, of course!" Gwendolyn assured her. "As promised, the reward will be given once the thieves are defeated and driven away. Thank you so much!" She bowed her head low once again, showing her gratitude. "Oh, and one more thing. There's someone who wants to speak with you before you start the job. I'll take you there."
"Who is it?" Gray asked curiously.
"The Head Librarian Asher, of course." Gwendolyn replied simply.
She began leading them towards the library. It was quite impressive and beautiful to behold as it loomed over them, standing tall and majestic against the skyline. It looked like a palace of sorts, with its marble pillars and stone walls, which seemed to shimmer slightly in the sun's rays. The entire structure was surrounded by a wall of stone that towered over them, making it appear even grander than it actually was.
As they walked towards it, Lucy and Gray noticed that there were a few people milling about, each one carrying books or scrolls in their hands. Some wore robes similar to Gwendolyn while others wore more casual clothing such as t-shirts or sweatpants. They all gave her friendly smiles as they passed by her, acknowledging her presence.
They entered the library through the front gate, which was guarded by two guards in full armor. They were both armed with spears and swords, which were sheathed at their waists.
Inside, they found themselves in an entry hall that led into the main section of the building itself. There were shelves everywhere, filled with books of various sizes and thicknesses. Many of them appeared quite old as well, likely dating back centuries or millennia. However, they all seemed to be well preserved despite their age.
The inside of the library was just as impressive as the exterior. There were several floors with balconies overlooking the bottom levels, allowing people to look down at those below. There were also ladders connected to rails on each level, allowing users to move between floors easily.
The ceilings were high above them and supported by columns made of marble, which gleamed in the sunlight coming through the windows. A grand staircase led up towards the next floor where another balcony overlooked the main area. On the wall opposite from the entrance was a large tapestry depicting a scene of battle between two armies. There were several paintings hanging on the walls as well, depicting scenes from ancient history or landscapes from far away lands.
"This is amazing! Look at all of these books!" Lucy was loving this. This was like a wonderland to her a she ran over to one of the bookshelves while still wearing her bikini. She began browsing through some of the titles, admiring their covers before pulling one out to read its contents.
"Ah, yes. We have many rare volumes here at our library." Gwendolyn explained, watching Lucy browse through the books with a smile. "Some of them are even written in languages long forgotten by mankind. But for the most part, a lot of them contain Lost Magic."
"Lost Magic?" Gray questioned. "What do you mean by 'lost'?"
"Well, you see, Lost Magic refers to a type of magic that is either so rare or so difficult to learn that it has become rare or completely extinct in modern times." Gwendolyn explained. "They've almost been obliterated from the history of the world due to their immense power and the sheer gravity of their side effects. However, we managed to preserve them here in the God's Library. And even then, some Lost Magic Users probably exist out there in the world. Such as Dragon Slayers."
"Dragon Slayers?" Lucy glanced up from her book curiously.
Gray turned his attention towards her with a frown on his face. "You know about them?" He asked.
"Yes. I heard rumors about them when I was a kid." Lucy nodded her head slightly as she remembered something from her childhood days. "They're wizards who can slay Dragons, but Dragons don't even exist anymore. So, I thought they were just myths."
"They are indeed real." Gwendolyn confirmed solemnly. "You'll be struggling to ever find one, I'm afraid. But all these books contain Lost Magic of all kinds. This is the largest library in the world that has a catalogue of Lost Magic. In fact, I myself have Lost Magic. So do a few others here."
"I see why you wouldn't want them to get their hands on these books. But...why trust us then?" Lucy wondered. "I mean, you'd be suspicious of us, wouldn't you?"
"Well, you see...you didn't notice, but the entrance to the library and the island you're on is cloaked with a special magic that dictates who is an enemy or not. If you were a threat, you would have never been able to step foot on the island. Mun-Mu, the creature that attacked you, is also the protector of this island. It senses the intentions of people and acts accordingly. We can see from this that you're trustworthy. And Mun-Mu has a knack for this. His intuition is rather good."
"Wow, really? I had no idea there was such a spell." Lucy looked amazed. "So, if someone dangerous came here, they'd never be allowed inside?"
"Not unless they somehow managed to bypass the island's protective barriers." Gwendolyn explained. "Head Librarian Asher actually fears this. That's why he called for someone to come over. Thankfully, you two showed up first. Or I guess..you three?"
"Three?" Gray and Lucy both said as they turned their head to see where Gwendolyn was looking. Behind them, Juvia could be seen peeking from one of the bookshelves, nervously trying to hide herself from view.
"Y-You're that girl!" Gray gasped as he recognized her.
"Ah! I suppose it was only a matter of time until our eyes met and we encountered each other!" Juvia moved forward timidly, stepping out of the shadows. She wore a bikini, revealing that she was also planning to show up on the beach as well. Her bikini was a dark blue with white accents, showing off her ample breasts and wide hips.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Gray shouted angrily, glaring at her. "H-How did you even find us?!"
"Didn't you know? I'm not a Guild Member of Fairy Tail~" She said, proving this by the Guild Mark on her thigh being the Fairy Tail symbol. "Now, we can be closer that way!"
"She's no longer a part of Phantom Lord? Well, the entire Guild got blown up, so I guess." Lucy scratched her hair before addressing Juvia. "Well, it's great to have someone like me who's also new to the-"
"Love Rival!" Juvia hissed at Lucy when she tried holding her hand out to welcome her.
"Eh?!" Lucy cried out, shocked by the sudden hostility. "Wha-"
"Well, having three of you here makes this a lot safer, honestly." Gwendolyn said as she was suddenly approached by someone from behind.
"So you got the Fairy Tail kids to help out, huh?"
The man who had just spoken up was tall and handsome, with short blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore glasses and was dressed in a white suit with a blue shirt underneath. He had a muscular build and looked like he could probably throw down in a fight if necessary. He stood next to Gwendolyn, smiling at the three teens.
"Ah, you must be Head Librarian Asher!" Lucy gasped, recognizing him from Gwendolyn's descriptions.
"That I am." He nodded, confirming her suspicions. "I'm glad you were able to come here so quickly."
"You seem young for a Head Librarian." Gray commented, eyeing him curiously.
"I'm actually older than you might think." Asher laughed as he walked past them, leading them deeper into the library. "But enough of that. I'd like to introduce you to the others. The people who protect this library. We've been entrusted with guarding these books and keeping them safe from those who would use them for further gains."
"So there are more of you?" Lucy asked excitedly, looking around the building.
"Of course there are. You don't expect this library to run on its own, do you?" Asher smiled at her. "We have several other librarians working here with us, and they're all extremely knowledgeable in the subjects contained within these walls."
They walked through the various sections of the library, heading towards the back where the stairs led up to the second level. There were two sets of stairs that led up there, one on either side of the room. A large tapestry hung over them, depicting scenes from battles long past.
There were several bookshelves along the walls, filled with ancient tomes written in languages long forgotten to mankind. Some of these books even contained magical spells that hadn't been seen or used in centuries. Others held secrets from long ago that could change the world if discovered.
"Ah! You've finally arrived!"
A voice called out to them from above. It sounded like a girl's voice, high-pitched and melodic.
The group looked up towards the balcony overlooking the main area of the library. Standing there were two girls dressed in similar robes to Gwendolyn. One of them wore glasses and had short black hair tied back into a ponytail. She seemed rather stern and serious compared to the other girl beside her.
This other girl had long brown hair and green eyes. She appeared to be younger than the black-haired girl, and she smiled brightly as she looked down at them.
"These are my fellow librarians. The ones who help protect this library." Asher introduced them. "First off, we have Gwendolyn, one of our older librarians and a very knowledgeable woman."
"Pleased to meet you!" Gwendolyn waved happily towards them.
"Then there's Trevor, one of our newer recruits."
Trevor nodded politely at them, adjusting his glasses before introducing himself. "Hm. Pleased to make your acquaintance.."
"And finally, this lovely lady here is Tessia. She's also new and she's still learning the ropes, but she's a fast learner." Asher introduced the last librarian. "Don't let her age fool you, though. She's quite talented when it comes to books and spells."
Tessia bowed slightly, smiling warmly at them. "Hello~ Nice to meet you."
"Wow, so there's more than just one person here looking after this place!" Lucy exclaimed happily.
"Yes, there are actually quite a few people who work here. They just tend to keep to themselves and do their own thing." Asher explained. "Anyway, now that you're here, those who wish to take the books will have to come face to face with not just our security but you all. I foresaw them. I'm not sure who they are, but they seem to be coming to this library."
"You don't know who they are? Well, how will we know when they show up?" Lucy asked.
"The magical barrier will let us know if they struggle to get in. But Head Librarian Asher predicted that whoever they may be, they might have the power to break through it." Gwendolyn commented.
"I say we head over and meet them in advance." Gray suggested. "Maybe we can beat them up and prevent them from reaching here at all."
But that was when a ripple was felt across the entire room. Everyone froze in place, looking around in surprise.
"What the...what's going on?!" Lucy shouted, grabbing onto the nearest thing nearby, which happened to be Juvia. Juvia grimaced as Lucy clung to her tightly, trembling in fear.
"It seems that our enemies have finally arrived!" Asher predicted this and now it was starting to happen.
The one responsible for these ripples was Natsu. He kept smashing through the magical barrier of the island, trying to break through. "Dammit, why won't this barrier budge!" Natsu roared in frustration. "It's so annoying!"
"Master Natsu." Lisia spoke softly. "Allow me to try something."
Natsu backed away, allowing Lisia to step forward and raise her hands. She began chanting under her breath, muttering something that sounded strange and difficult to understand. After a moment, a dark aura began to emanate from her body, one of ominous power. With her hand on the barrier, she unleashed her magic.
"Dispel.."
As she uttered these words, a black light shot out from her fingertips, hitting the barrier and causing it to shatter instantly. It crumbled to pieces, dissolving into nothingness as if it had never existed at all.
The civillians who were on this part of the island gasped as they witnessed what had just happened. They immediately started running away in fear, fearful of the people that had arrived at their sacred home.
"Master Natsu. We are clear to proceed." Lisia turned back to him, smiling slightly.
"Good." Natsu grinned devilishly, cracking his knuckles. "Then let's go in and get those books." He wasted no time, leaping forward and landing in this area. The library was still far from here, being in the distance and at the highest point of this island. However, Natsu wasn't going to waste time walking towards it. Instead, he ran towards it, using his enhanced speed to get there quickly.
Lisia followed closely behind him, her eyes focused on the building ahead of them. Her long purple hair flowed freely in the wind as she kept up with Natsu's pace. Erza would do the same, loyally following Natsu with no resistance.
"Let's hope these librarians don't get in our way. Otherwise, I'll just have to burn them!" Natsu laughed, running faster and faster. "Ahahaha!"
Standing in his way were the natural guardians of this land. With a place like being so old, it was only natural. Rising from the ground were humanoid-shaped beings made of Earth. They resembled statues, but these creatures moved with purpose and intent. They were called the Elementals.
"Out of my way!" Natsu leapt forward, his fist clenching. "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" His arm burst into flames, and he smashed into one of the Elementals. His attack blew apart the creature instantly, destroying it completely.
The Elementals continued to rise from the ground, surrounding them on all sides. However, Natsu wasn't intimidated by their numbers. Instead, he grinned widely and began attacking them all at once.
"Fire Dragon Wing Attack!" A flurry of fire erupted from Natsu's back, incinerating the Elementals that stood nearby.
"Fire Dragon Flame Elbow!" His elbow ignited and slammed into one of the Elementals. It shattered upon impact, crumbling to dust.
"Fire Dragon Flame Claw!" Natsu swiped his claws across several more Elementals, causing them to explode in showers of fiery sparks.
The Elementals kept coming, however. They formed a wall around Natsu and Erza, attempting to encircle them. But Natsu wouldn't be stopped so easily. He leapt into the air, spinning around rapidly and unleashing a torrent of flames from his body.
Guards of the island approached in response to this attack, only to be met with other Void Kingdom Wizards that had come here to assist in the robbery of the books. They engaged in combat with the guards of the library immediately, causing the guards to be spread thin.
People fled, trying to find a safe place to hide as they saw these battles unfold. Many of them were scared, wondering if their lives were in danger. But Natsu avoided them, only focusing on the God's Library in the distance.
"Fire Dragon Flame Wall!" Natsu created a wall of fire around himself, preventing any more Elementals from attacking him.
"Master Natsu. You and Erza should go on ahead. I will try and catch up with you. These creatures aren't too much of a threat." Lisia stated calmly as she continued to use her magic to dispel the Elementals that were blocking her path.
"Alright then, Lisia! We'll leave it to you." Natsu grinned at her. He ran forward, using his speed to move at a rapid pace towards the building. He then enveloped his body in fire, charging through and yelling, "Fire Dragon Sword Horn!"
He charged through many guards of the island, easily taking them down. They were no match for him, and they couldn't even stop him in his tracks. Natsu was unstoppable.
Erza followed closely behind, staying close to Natsu's side. She was still in her slave attire, having no choice in the matter, slashing her sword at those who stood in Natsu's way.
The two of them continued to run through the streets, ignoring all the people that screamed in terror as they passed by. Some of them even tried to attack them, but none succeeded.
Lisia would slowly walk, moving past the people here and towards the library, her eyes focused on the library as she saw the various Elementals that were summoned by the guardians of this land.
Many guards were approaching Lisia as well, their weapons an magic ready. Lisia had that soft look on her face still before closing her eyes, coming to a halt. "Forgive me for what I am about to do." She opened her eyes, now glowing a dark purple.
As the Elementals rushed towards Lisia, a large flicker of magic surged from her body. It rippled across the ground, striking everything around her. The Elementals froze in place, unable to move. They looked confused for a moment before being consumed by the energy wave.
The guards reacted similarly, being frozen as well. They dropped their weapons and fell to the ground, unmoving. The only sound they made was a soft gasp, confused and unsure of what was happening.
"What...What is this...?!"
"I can't...I can't move!"
Lisia stared blankly forward, watching the Elementals disappear into nothingness. "Soul Absorption. Soul Absorption V." She stated in a monotone voice before walking past the bodies of the guards and towards the library, her eyes still glowing that dark purple.
"Well, they're approaching, just as I feared." Asher sighed. "If only I could foree who they were and how powerful they could be. Whoever they are, they are powerful enough to break through the barrier."
"I guess that means we should prepare for battle then." Trevor said as he adjusted his glasses. "All the books here are far too precious and if they get even a single one, that could be disastrous for the entire world."
"But how are going to protect so many of these books?" Gwendolyn asked worriedly. "There are thousands of them in here!"
Tessia nodded and placed her hand on one of the books, "We have our ways. But it will take some time to activate. While we work on that, you all need to distract whoever is coming towards here."
"We'll go. We're here for the job request, right?" Gray spoke. "In a way, these guys are bandits, technically. I think we should deal with them personally."
Asher nodded and smiled. "That would be ideal, thank you. You all will be rewarded handsomely for this. But be careful. I'll have Trevor and Fiona go with you to help you out.
Fiona stepped forward and grinned, "You all don't have to worry. We'll make sure you stay safe from whatever comes at us."
Gwendolyn bit her lip and looked away nervously. "I suppose that means I should stay here and help protect the books, then." She said softly.
"Yes, but also try not to get too distracted. I know you love reading them, but there's a time and a place for everything." Asher chuckled.
"We'll try not to mess up." Lucy stated.
"Alright, let us head out and do this." Gray said before turning towards the entrance. "Lucy, Juvia, let's go."
Gray, Lucy, and Juvia made their way through the library, heading towards the outside of the island. Natsy and the Void Kingdom Wizards were currently on another island far from here, but they were gradually gaining and homing in on the God's Library.
Doing their best to ensure the Void Kingdom never reaches the God's Library were the guards of the Clamorous Coast. They stood in the way of Natsu, Erza, and the other wizards that had come along.
"Out of our way!" Natsu yelled, slamming into a guard and knocking him to the ground. He quickly got back up, however, charging at Natsu with his sword drawn. Natsu grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.
"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" Natsu's fist ignited with fire before he struck the guard in the face. The impact sent him flying backward, causing him to land hard on the ground.
"Requip!" Erza's armor shimmered away, revealing a new armor granted to her by the Void Kingdom. It was a jet-black leotard that covered only her most private areas, leaving much of her body exposed. Her arms and legs were covered in long gloves and boots, with her torso being completely bare. There were diamonds plastered on her chest and waist that had purple streams, giving her an elegant appearance. "Vioster Armor!" She shouted, rushing forward with her sword. The sword was covered in a new magic from the Void Kingdom, giving it a strange and powerful glow.
Erza swung her sword, cutting through a number of guards. She moved gracefully and fluidly, easily dispatching them with each swing. Her speed and power were enhanced greatly, allowing her to deal with multiple foes at once.
The guards kept attacking, but they were unable to land a single blow on Erza. She moved too quickly for them to follow and they didn't have the strength to keep up with her. It was futile to continue fighting against her like this, and they knew it.
Erza saw one guard charge at her, attempting to stab her in the back with his spear. She dodged easily and swung her sword again, slicing through him with ease. His body fell lifelessly to the ground.
"Why are you doing this?!" A guard yelled. "Why do you want to destroy our home?!"
"Destroying your home isn't what we are after." Erza stated coldly as she looked down at the corpse of the guard. "We are just here for some information, that's all. However, if you continue to stand in our way, then we'll just have to destroy everything here in order to get what we came here for. You can either hand it over peacefully or we'll force you out of the way. It's your choice."
The guard stared at her in horror, unable to comprehend why someone would say such things. But the real Erza would never say something so horrible, and this Erza knew that. This Erza wasn't the real Erza, but a slave to Natsu.
A new wave of guards appeared, rushing towards Erza. She charged at them, moving swiftly between them. She was able to dodge their attacks easily, and soon enough she had killed all of them without any trouble.
Erza turned around to see Natsu finishing off the last of the guards in this area. He stood over the bodies of several unconscious men, grinning triumphantly. "Nice job, Erza." He said.
"Thank you, master." Erza responded politely. She looked around at the carnage that had been caused by the two of them. Dozens of dead guards lay scattered about the field, their blood staining the grass red. The air was filled with the smell of burnt flesh and smoke.
"Let's go. We're almost at the God's Library." Natsu said.
"Understood, Master." Erza replied obediently. She began walking alongside him, following him closely. They continued to make their way towards the island where the God's Library was located.
At the Void Kingdom, Alehot was out of his throne room and heading elsewhere at the moment. He was on his lonesome, walking down a long hallway that had a downwards build, heading towards a deep room. The deeper he went, the more the air felt warm and humid, being a large and wide-spaced room that had a massive pool in it.
The pool was filled with a clear blue water that was shimmering slightly. The light reflected off of the surface, making the room appear brighter than it was. The walls were lined with torches, illuminating the area and giving the room an almost ethereal glow.
Alehot approached the pool, staring down at the water and admiring its beauty. He smiled as he watched the ripples form in the water, moving across the surface of the pool. He reached out and touched the surface, feeling how warm it was.
But by touching it, something emerged. An ethereal and almost cosmic-like entity in the shape of a blob emerged. It moved in a snake-like manner and hissed, looking at Alehot. Alehot simply smiled and stepped back as it emerged.
"Alehot, my old friend. How long has it been?"
A voice echoed throughout the chamber, coming from the strange creature before him. It was a feminine voice that seemed to carry a weight of wisdom and authority, one that was both soothing yet powerful.
"A long time, my friend. A long time indeed." Alehot replied as he watched the creature rise up and float over the pool, hovering above the surface of the water. "400 Years to be exact. Just as you stated all those years back."
"I see. And you don't look to have changed a bit. I suppose that magic truly stopped your aging process for that long? Hmhm..."
Alehot nodded. "It did. It's thanks to you that I was able to create that spell and use it, after all."
"Yes...and it has served you well, it seems. Although, I'm quite curious about how things have developed. Did you do it?"
"I did. For those 400 years, I trained the boy. But I also made sure to mitigate his strength as you stated. Tell me. Even to this day, is what you say true?" Alehot had something he needed to know. Something that was told to him 400 years ago.
"But of course it is. I promise you this. In every reality I've seen, Natsu Dragneel will always grow to become a great wizard. Outcomes after outcomes, it is always the same. One thing I can say is that he will always become a Dragon Slayer. But if you want specifics, then I cannot tell you. It depends on you, my dear friend. You're the one who must influence it."
"I see." Alehot looked down at the water, thinking deeply. "And you are sure things here are no different?"
"But of course not. It always seems like Natsu Dragneel is destined for something great. All those 400 years ago, I warned you about what he could become and you decided to go through with it regardless. Tell me, Alehot. After all these years...are still sure of what you wish to do?"
"I am. Even though we have been here for 400 years, I've made sure of one thing. That I will always monitor his strength and see what becomes of it. Of course, a downside of that is that all my subjects, including me, have had our strengths compromised for so long as a drawback, but this is all for the sake of it. If he is destined to be as powerful as you say, then I must see it myself. He may believe his training is over, but if anything, it's only beginning from here.
"Hmph...that is very interesting, Alehot. The lengths you'll go to just to ensure you're safe is remarkable. Well, I say we should have a chat about this later. I'd love to see what becomes of your Natsu over time. What have you even planned for him? Still banking on that Emperor goal?"
"But of course." Alehot smirked. "And for that to happen, he must gain access to the strongest forms of magic there is."
Natsu and Erza were getting closer to the highest island, looking up at the massive building up ahead. Along the way, many of the island's defenses failed to stop them and the others that came with them. It was all thanks to the Void Kingdom's powerful wizards.
"Yeah, that's it!" Natsu grinned, ready to leap onto the next island. But below him, another one of the island's defenses would show its power. A massive whirlpool began to form around the island, which Natsu was just about to step into. "What?!"
"Master Natsu, look out!" Erza shouted, grabbing onto Natsu before he fell in. She pulled him away just as the whirlpool grew stronger. But it wasn't just a whirlpool. It began forming into something else. Something terrifying.
A massive serpent made entirely of water rose up from the depths. It let out a roar as it stared down at Natsu and Erza, baring its fangs.
"What the...a Water Serpent?!" Natsu scowled. The Water Serpent reared back its head before lunging at them with its jaws wide open. Erza grabbed Natsu again and leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding getting bitten by the creature.
Natsu and Erza landed safely on the ground, but they knew this wasn't over yet. The Water Serpent continued to glare at them, ready to attack again. It sent Whirlpools at the duo, which they dodged easily enough.
"You handle it!" Natsu said before rushing forward. Erza nodded, readying her sword. She charged at the monster, slashing at it with her blade. The Water Serpent attempted to bite her, but she avoided its jaws and swung her weapon again.
Erza managed to land a few blows on the beast, but she was still having trouble hurting it. It was too strong and fast for her to keep up with. Even so, she continued to fight back against the creature.
Natsu used his Fire Dragon Roar, but it only seemed to anger the creature further. He growled as he unleashed another blast of fire at the beast, which barely did anything. The Water Serpent replied by spitting a stream of water at him, which he dodged easily enough.
"You're in our way!" Natsu grit his teeth as he was getting angered as well, his flames rising. He placed his hand on the ground, keeping it there for a while as the Water Serpent would slither towards him. "Fire Dragon's Territory!"
A destructive path of fire was created, going all the way up to the Water Serpent. The serpent looked down to see a good portion of the ground being covered in flames, causing it to be trapped.
Natsu rushed forward, leaping into the air and unleashing a powerful punch right at the creature's head. His fist connected with its face, causing it to roar in pain. Natsu kept his fist there as the flames beneath continued to restrain the Water Serpent. "Hraaaaaah!" Natsu yelled while driving his fist forward
The Water Serpent tried to shake Natsu off of him, but he refused to let go. Natsu was burning through the creature's body, causing it to melt. It attempted to spit water at him, but Natsu's flames kept it restrained. The beast let out another roar as it felt Natsu burning through its skin.
And with one final push, Natsu evaporated the entire Water Serpent, the flames around him calming down. Natsu stuck a powerful landing as the last of the Water Serpent were droplets of water that evaporated from his intense flames.
"Heh." Natsu grinned in victory. "You weren't that hard." He looked up ahead, his attention back on the island up ahead. But now he knew that there was more to expect. This island had a lot of defenses set up and he'd have to be careful if he wanted to make it past them all.
But right after defeating the Water Serpent, he saw someone approaching up ahead. Running here as quickly as none other than Gray, alongside Lucy and Juvia. Natsu spotted the three of them, not making much of them. Until he saw it. The Guild Mark of Fairy Tail on Lucy's hand and Juvia's thigh.
"Those guys...They're Fairy Tail Wizards!" Natsu pointed out. Erza was just as surprised as he was, looking towards them with great intent. When seeing Gray's face, she froze for a second. Her memories, which were buried deep within her mind and overlayed with magic, were tyring to make Erza remember who Gray was.
Speaking of feezing, Gray froze as well once he spotted Erza in the distance. "!" He gasped, coming to a halt as he couldn't believe his eyes. There she was. Erza, standing right in front of him, alongside Natsu.
"Erza?!" Gray gaped.
"G-Gray...?" Erza exclaimed, the memories of her past life were fighting against the memory alterations placed on her. Gray was able to recognize her, but Erza wasn't as lucky. Her memories of Fairy Tail and Gray were being clouded by her enslavement.
"...I don't believe it..." Gray's hands trembled as he started walking slowly. Lucy was just as shocked as she witnessed Gray approaching. "Erza! I found you! Finally!" Joy formed in his eyes as he ran towards his old friend.
However, he was soon stopped once Natsu stepped in front of Erza and blocked his path. "So. You Fairies showed up here too, huh?"
"Who are you?! You're with the Void Kingdom too?!" Gray's tone quickly changed as he stared angrily at Natsu. He could tell from the color of Natsu's clothes that he was part of the kingdom, but that didn't matter. He wanted to get past him and save Erza.
"I am." Natsu replied calmly. He noticed how Gray was staring past him, focusing on Erza. "I'm Natsu Dragneel. A Void Kingdom Wizard and a future Emperor."
"Natsu...You're that guy I heard about during the battle at Magnolia...You're the one that made Erza her slave?!" Gray said, glaring daggers at Natsu. "What did you do to Erza? Why is she with you?!"
"I didn't do anything. All this is Tigha's doing. Erza's just my teamate. She's gonna help me climb up until I become an Emperor."
"That's a load of crap!" Gray pointed at Natsu. "Erza's not gonna help you with anything! She's our guildmate! Our friend! Erza...You don't you remember us?!"
"..." Erza stayed silent while looking at Gray, her mouth slightly open. The memory alterations were clouding her mind, trying to make Erza see Gray and Lucy as enemies. However, a part of her remembered the times she spent with the two of them, fighting alongside them.
But that didn't matter. Right now, she was still a slave to the Void Kingdom. She was still forced to do their bidding. Gray looked at her, noticing that Erza didn't say anything. "Erza..." Gray clenched his hand, his eyes narrowing. "Whatever. She's here, so I'm not gonna waste this chance. I'm gonna do what I can to get her back! And that starts by knocking you out!"
"Heh!" Natsu smirked at Gray. "You can try! I get rid of you Fairies, then I get to raid that library without any more big problems!" He cracked his knuckles.
The first-ever encounter and battle between Natsu Dragneel and Gray Fullbuster was about to begin. But Lucy had a bad feeling about this. Something in her heart could just tell.