Chapter 22: Old Enemies Return

Back at the Flying Fortress.

Maria was still in the control center and felt Deliora Reborn's power fade. "So, the demon that Maria and Zeref created together has kicked the bucket." She chuckled evilly. "Such useless toys...but, she did cause an icy hell I'll give her that. Unfortunately, by the time those idiots are gone, I can unleash the true power." A dark entity with glowing purple eyes was peeking from the corner of the room.

Anna was hitching a ride at the hospital in a cab. Nikka was resting in the cab sleeping. Anna looked at her sweetly. "Nikka." She was happy that she was able to talk to her last devil imp. "Annabelle...I did it. I was able to help one of the Ancient Ones' last species." She thought proudly. "Nezuko...I'll keep your daughter safe and she'll be able to find a happy life."

Gray was riding on a motorcycle wearing a helmet and Juvia was riding behind him. "To think that demon was created by Zeref and Maria."

"Yeah, but, what would possesess her to work with Zeref," Juvia wondered.

"Good question, we know Maria is up in that flying fortress," Gray replied. "The only we can get our answers is to go to the flying fortress and confront her." Like before he had something else on his mind. "Maria, why is your reason for causing so much destruction to your home? Is there something else going on with you than we thought?"

"Anyway, we know there's another enemy which is at School District 7," Juvia reminded. "No doubt, the others will be there soon."

"Yeah, Gajeel's team should be close to School District 4," Gray added. "They'll be fighting against two Spriggan Twelve members and One of the former Kin of Grimoire Heart."

"It'll be tough fight," Juvia said worriedly. "Let's hope our allies will be able to fight."

Gray just smiled. "I'm sure they'll be fine."

At School District 4

Nearby had food-related facilities and with many restaurants.

Gajeel, Levy, Lily, Usagi, Mugino, Accelerator, and Last Order.

Bloodman had a wide grin. "Gajeel Redfox, didn't think you'd be here. This should be a nice treat to get revenge."

Mugino was trying to make sense of what creature she was seeing. "What is that disgusting thing?"

"That is a demon known as Etherious. He used to be a member of the Spriggan Twelve," Gajeel answered as he recalled how strong the demon was and capable of using other demon curses. "If he uses Tenchi Maimei, then we'll be screwed."

Levy remembered too, that she was able to use masks to protect them from Bane Particles. Masks she created using her Solid Script worked for a while until Bloodman used Tenchi Kaimei.

Lily also recalled that Gajeel was infected by the Bloodman's vortex and almost died in the process.

"Please, don't tell you're letting some freak devil shake your legs," Accelerator taunted with a slight chuckle.

Mugino growled at the taunt. "Like hell, I would let any freak of nature give me the chills."

Wall looked at Mugino and a wicked smile took form on his face. "She seems like a badass." Muguino looked in Wall's direction with a vicious glare on her face.

"Carefully, that guy isn't a human. He's known as Machias." Usagi informed.

"A what?" Accelerator.

"He's a machine that wields magic and he's immune to lightning too," Usagi explained. "Our friend Laxus had a tough time against him but was able to defeat him."

"As for the third enemy, he's Zancrow, a Fire God Slayer." Lily introduced.

"A Fire God Slayer," Accelerator questioned a bit surprised but didn't show it.

"Natsu had trouble against that guy but he defeated him but barely," Gajeel explained.

Hearing that name got Zancrow's attention. "So, the fire dragon slayer is here, good, once I'm done with you losers, I'll go after that fireball pea brain and eliminate him!" He declared with an insane smile.

"Enough talk, let's fight!" Bloodman declared. "Men charge!"

Usagi had to make a quick suggestion. "Gajeel, you take care of Bloodman!"

"Accelerator, you and Mugino take on Wall and Zancrow!"

"As for the rest and myself, we'll handle the grunts!"

"Yeah!" Everyone minus Mugino and Accelerator roared.

B

At School District 7

Konori and the Judgement Branch officers were trying their best to overcome the androids.

Two big mechas appeared and started firing magic energy beams blasting at the officers and sending them flying.

"Oh no!" Konori yelled.

"No!" Wanni and Awwatsuki saw their companions get blasted away leaving them unconscious.

Kuroko was pissed off. "Damn you robotic monsters!" She teleported and tried to get impaled with her javelin. Then out of nowhere a shield-like barrier stopped her and deflected her away.

Kongou used her Aero Hand to blow herself in the air and caught Kuroko in her arms. "Got ya!" She landed safely on the ground. "Looks like the girl is unconscious." She growled at the mechas. "Damn, this bastard has more tricks up his sleeve."

"Wannai and Awatsuki keep an eye on her!" She gave the teleporter esper to her friends. "I'll handle him!"

"You can't fight these monsters alone!" Wannai said almost scared.

"Yeah, if you're outnumbered too!" Awatsuki added in agreement.

"Kuroko will be caught in the crossfire, if she gets hit, she'll be crushed!" Kongou argued.

The two big mechas were preparing to power up their magic energy beams and fired them. The three teens looked in horror as the two magic energy beams came near to them just as a figure came in front of them. "Magic Tech Shield!" A large green wall-like shield blocked the two magic energy beams which was done by Primo.

"Looks like I made it just in time." He said as he glanced at the girls. "Are you three alright?"

The three nodded. "Good, then, assist your friends, I'll handle these two." The three had no choice and left the area with the unconscious Kuroko.

Primo looked back at the two big mecha. "To think Academy City was able to program these machines to use magic. Quite impressive, but, nothing I can handle." He smirked. "Let's fight!"

B

Gajeel was fighting against Bloodman. "Iron Dragon's Roar!" He let out his breath attack. Bloodman dodged while floating in the air. "Dark Static: Thunder!" He roared as thunder struck down from the sky.

Moving quickly, Gajeel turned his arm into an iron club used as a lightning rod to draw the attack to him and took the damage. "Unlike last time, I won't let you hurt the others!" He growled despite feeling damage. "Iron Dragon's Sword!" He turned his right arm into a sword and began to move its jagged steel blades like an actual saw. Gajeel took a swipe at Bloodman but he moved out of the way and did a small scratch on the creature's face.

"Not bad, you've gotten a lot faster last time," Bloodman taunted cruelly.

"Shut up! It ain't going to be like last time!" Gajeel recalled how he got pulled in when he defeated Bloodman but he had to make that doesn't happen again. He then transformed his hands into iron mallets. "Iron Dragon's Mallet!" Bloodman dodged it again and took a deep breath. "Ice Demon's Rage!"

Gajeel's body soon became iron scale. "Iron Dragon's Roar!" Both breath attacks collided with each other creating a dust explosion.

"Fire God's Bellow!" Zancrow breathed out a fireball of flames at his opponents.

Accelerator deflected it with his bare hand. "Nice try!" Zancrow was stunned. "Bastard, how did you do that?"

Accelerator could almost laugh at the god slayer's reaction. "My power is known as Accelerator: Redirection to reverse any oncoming vector. Rather attacks that are thrown at me." Zancrow's stunned expression was replaced with a wide grin. "No matter, I'll keep coming at you with all my fire god slayer magic and I'll burn you to a crisp!" He cackled as he jumped in the air. "Fire God's Explosive Flame!" He released a massive stream of black flames at his opponent by launching his arm forward in a punch motion only thing it blasted the spot next to the haired teenager creating a strong explosion and sending him flying away.

"Got ya!" Zancrow quickly vanished. "Fire God's Bellow!" He reappeared before Accelerator releasing a massive fireball of flame. Accelerator acted quickly and touched a large dumpster blocking the flame for a short time before it melted.

Wall was watching Zancrow and Accelerator's fight and smirked. "So, Accelerator's power is strong..in that case..." Before he tried anything, Mugino shouted at him. "Hey freak, look over here!" She rushed at him and threw a punch which Wall responded in return. "Wow, you're quite strong for a human." He began to scan her body. "Huh...your body is different, the inside shows cyborg tech." He smirked. "I'm fighting someone similar to me. This should be interesting."

Mugino gritted her teeth and a wide grin was shown on her face. "Don't compare me to you!" She barked as she and Wall threw fists at each other like boxers.

Mugino put her right hand out releasing her Meltdowner at Wall. Wall just smiled wickedly as the blast hit him. "Got you." Mugino taunted with a smirk but then her face was replaced with confusion and disbelief when she saw Wall not even flinched. "Nice attack, but, thanks to my Immune to electricity I won't be affected by your attack." The cyborg magician couldn't believe that. "Damn, I can see why you're a member of this Spriggan Twelve."

"My turn! Railgun!" Wall created a large, albeit slim, railgun on his back and fired a devastating payload of electricity at the target. Mugino returned with her Meltdowner once more.

The railgun and Meltdown energy beam made contact releasing strong energy waves. "Looks like a draw!" Mugino thought in her head.

The two beams were so overwhelming that they caused a dust explosion. Mugino jumped away from the explosion and looked around for Wall. "Where'd he go?" He came through the smoke and was in his Assault Mode flying at her and delivering a punch in Mugino's stomach sending her flying and then fell on her back coughing hard.

"Missiles!" From the pack mounted on his back, he launched his missiles.

"Crap!" Mugino flipped over and moved her hand out front creating a green light shield and causing the missiles to fall apart.

Wall smirked. "Not bad,"

"Why does your appearance look different?" Mugino asked.

"This is my Assault Mode and give me quite the devastating moves." He put out his palm. "Vortex Assault!" Mugino emits her power near her feet allowing her to run with high-speed evasion.

Wall was impressed as he cackled. "I'm starting like this human cyborg!" He rushed at her too with his flight as he and her threw a punch at each other. Wall used his free hand and punched her under her chin. "I think I'll add something to our battle!" On his shoulder, a strange speaker appeared.

Mugino saw the speaker. "What do you plan to do with that, break my eardrums?' Wall just smirked as a high-pitched screech sounded in the area. Mugino wasn't affected until the thought hit her. "Oh no..." She quickly looked where Accelerator was before she could get a word out. Wall rushed at her taking a swing with his fist hitting her directly in the gut causing her to cough out salvia sending it above the air. He flew in the cyborg magician and flipped over dropping a kick on her back sending her crashing onto the ground on her stomach.

Levy felt her ears hurting a bit. "Damn, that sounds like nails on a chalkboard!"

The accelerator was covering his ears in pain. "Damn it, it's Capacity Down!"

Zancrow saw his chance. "Fire God's Kagutsuchi!" Zancrow got in close range. He spread his arms and legs unleashing a giant ball of black flames around himself Accelerator was too close to dodge and he was still in pain after the high-pitched sound.

Gajeel clapped his hands together above his head. "Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Karma Demon: Iron God Sword!"

"Exploding Spiral!" A wave of Bloodman's hand created a large, spiraling explosion just as Gajeel slammed down his giant sword. The iron dragon slayer was able to cut through it. "Did I get him?" Gajeel looked at where Bloodman was and he was nowhere in sight. "Where'd he go this time?"

"Peek-a-boo human!" Bloodman reappeared behind him in his Etherious form. "Thorns!" Gajeel was unable to dodge as his iron scales were impaled by the thorns.

"Got you!"

Gajeel wasn't going to back down. "Shadow Iron Dragon Mode!" He turned his body into a shadow freeing himself from the thorns and soaring in the ground with high speed. He appeared on a tree. "Shadow Iron Dragon's Roar!" He blew a shadow iron breath attack at Bloodman.

Bloodman pulled back his arm and threw his fist as it was engulfed in black electricity. "Dark Static: Thunder Fist!" His dark electric fist made contact with the breath attack causing it to burst away. Once it did, Gajeel was nowhere to be seen. "Where'd he go?"

Levy, Lily, Usagi, and Last Order(who were sitting on Lily's shoulder)were taking on the Grimoire Heart and Alvarez soldiers. They were able to take out a big number of them, but others were lurking around and came to assist their fellow men.

"Oh no, these keep coming!" Levy yelled.

"Not fret, we must keep them busy!" Usagi declared as he cut down more soldiers with his swords.

"He's right, we must keep fighting!" Lily agreed slashing several soldiers.

Wall approached Mugino. "I have to admit your power is something." He rubbed his face. "You managed to hurt me a bit." He chuckled wickedly. "Too bad, I'm not on a different level than you are." Suddenly four green lights appeared above Mugino and fired directly at Wall. Two lights manage to hurt him by going through his arms. "Argh!" He screamed.

Seeing her chance. Mugino quickly got up and pulled back her up then throwing for a strong uppercut to the Machias's chin. "I don't get a fucking crap if you're stronger than me!" She declared. "My friends are living in this city and I won't let some freaking monster like you take that away!" She took out her silicon cards and fired her Meltdowner beam into it creating multiple beams that fired directly to all parts of Wall's body. "Argh!" Wall screamed in pain. "I can't be defeated by another cyborg!" He aimed with his right arm. "Etherion!" He attempted to fire his Etherion cannon. Mugino was already rushing at him with her left arm glowing green and delivered a strong punch into Wall's chest breaking him apart.

Accelerator was unconscious while Zancrow looked down at him with a psycho look on his face. "Hahahahaha!" He cackled as he spread his arms apart. "To think this loser is the top dog in this city! I took him down!" He called his hands down to create a mouth shape that was made of black flames. "Fire God's Supper!" Before he could finish off Accelerator kicked the ground with his feet creating a magnitude causing a small explosion made of earth and rocks causing the fire god Slayer to lose his balance.

"What the hell!" Zancrow exclaimed.

Accelerator pushed himself off the ground and he saw a nearby clean robot. "Perfect!" He quickly touched sending Zancrow crashing it right into him and sending him crashing into a building.

"I'll make you pay for that!" Zancrow was pissed off and Accelerator was hoping for this. "I know if I redirection my fist, you'll be taking the pain instead!" The white-haired teenager didn't dodge instead he took the punch and quickly touched his wrist. "Got you!" Zancrow was puzzled when he felt a strong electric force shock his entire body.

Zancrow fell on his knees. "Damn you..." Accelerator had an insane look on his face. "It's not my fault that someone like is full of yourself. Then again, I was too. Interesting that you know my weaknesses." He then stomped his feet again creating strong earthquakes and explosions of the ground. Some rocks and stones were flying in the air due to his move. "Now time to die!" He sent the rocks and stones at Zancrow, who tried to shield his body with his arms but the stones and rocks were hitting his body damaging him. "Time to finish you off!" Accelerator grabbed him by the neck and instantly, the god slayer was motionless and he fell on the ground dead with his eyes rolled back.

Bloodman was the only one standing. "I will finish with this!" He put his arms out as a torrent of poisonous black carbonic water. "Tenchi Kaimei!"

Gajeel smiled a little. "Ice Iron Dragon's Roar!" He breathed out an attack that had iron and ice in it. The attack took Bloodman by surprise as his torrent was frozen solid and he was caught in it. "Oh no! How did you use that move!?"

Gajeel did his trademark laugh. "I've decided to try out a new power. After one year of training. I decided to see if I could take another element in." He explained. "That was Ice Demon Slayer magic, it was crazy during that year. However, I got used to it." He took out his right arm. "Ice Iron Dragon's Sword!" His right was like an iron sword but with ice covering the metal. He slashed the demon in the chest dealing massive damage and with that Bloodman was finally defeated.

A short time later.

Gajeel and his team regrouped. All the Alvarez soldiers and Grimoire Heart grunts were unconscious "Well, we did it."

Levy was very proud of her man. "Gajeel, you did great!" She hugged the iron dragon slayer's arm. "Geez, the guys are watching."

Accelerator scoffed. "Yeah, go get a room you two." Last Order hugged the white-haired teenager's arm. "C'mon, where is the love "Giggles Misaka Misaka wanting to join in the romance"." Last Order stated with a cute smile. Gajeel just had a taunting smile on his face which Accelerator noticed. "Hey iron face, wipe that smile off your face!"

Usagi just smiled proudly at the others.

"Anyway, what's our next move?" Mugino asked.

"We'll meet the others at School District 7," Lily answered. "However, I do wonder how we'll going to get the flying fortress when that last enemy is up there."

"If you're talking about that Maria girl, then I suppose we'll have to get a helicopter," Accelerator said. "But, those machines are busy at the moment."

"At any rate, we should get going. Once we take down Kouta, we can decide what to do next." Lily suggested as the others nodded.

Bloodman, Zancrow, and Wall were defeated. Now, the others are going to meet up with each other to confront Kouta and his android army, though the main question is how will they get to Flying Fortress to take down Maria and whatever else is up there. Find out.

End of chapter.