A/N: Episode 180.
Enjoy!
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: GAROU KNIGHTS
The audience cheered as Gray laid defeated. "Nox Slypher won the showdown!" Chapati announced. "Black Sun receives precious points here!"
"Go, Nox!" Kross cheered.
"We're on a roll, and we better stay on it!" Helena claimed.
"Gray was defeated... Just like that?" Macao questioned.
"I guess they aren't the elite wizards of Black Sun just for show." Wakaba commented.
Nox walks up to Gray, kneeling down next to him and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Recovery." He spoke, 'healing' Gray who groaned.
"Why did you-"
"I already got the point. I'm not heartless to just leave you injured. Besides, my Black Dust Techniques is a poisonous fog." Nox stood up. "Thanks for the great battle, Gray. Let's fight again sometime."
Nox soon leaves the library.
"Well, that's Nox for you." Kida mumbled.
"Indeed. He may be a lazy bastard, but he does have a heart. No matter how much he denies it." Zane added.
"Now! Let's take a look at the current score!" Chapati announced as Fairy Tail's guild mark appeared on the Lacrima-Vision. "Fairy Tail is in first place with 50 points! Gray lost, but with the fluctuating points, there are three normals and the leader left."
"Sabertooth is in second with 49 points! There are three normals and the leader left-kabo." Mato continued.
"Tied for second place is Lamia Scale with 49 points. They've got two normals and the leader left." Yajima commented, the Lacrima-Vision showing Jura, Lyon, and Sherria.
"In third place is Black Sun with 48 points. There are five people left, with the leader and four normals." Chapati announced.
The screen showed Team Black Sun with Nox being in the center.
"Mermaid Heel is in fourth place with 43 points. They've got the leader and one normal left." Yajima concluded as Kagura was walking through the streets of Crocus with a determined look.
"Well, Black Sun may not be in the top spot, but they're getting there." Chapati pointed out.
"And all five members are in good condition." Yajima added.
"Black Sun has gained the advantage-kabo." Mato commented.
Minerva smirked. "Is Sabertooth falling apart? Or will you take us to a new level of the strongest guild with your power, Sting? Either way, I'm very curious." She claimed as Sting didn't answer her.
"Lector..." He thinks to himself.
The night before...
Sting was breathing heavily as everyone looked in shock at Jiemma being defeated.
"Seriously?!"
"He struck Master!"
"What do we do?!"
"Sting..." Rogue mumbled, still holding onto Frosch.
"S-Sting... you think you'll... get away with this?" Jiemma managed to choke out.
"That's fine. Let's have that mark the end of my father's reign of terror." Minerva walked forward. "Sting, whose power exceeds my father's, is more fit to be the new master."
"You nominate Sting as master?!" Orga exclaimed.
"My lady..." Sting started to say.
"Minerva, you wench, what are you saying...?" Jiemma questioned.
"Silence!" Minerva ordered. "We don't need any losers, right? If we're following your philosophy, Father."
Jiemma gritted his teeth in anger. "Sting, what Natsu has and you lack is the power of feelings." Minerva claimed.
"Power of feelings?" Sting quoted.
"Without realizing it, you were influenced by my father. Thinking you don't need comrades... That power is everything... But that's not your true nature. Your feelings for Lector will turn into power." Minerva explained.
"The power of feelings..." Rogue mumbled.
"What does that mean?" Frosch asked.
"Sting, you have gained that power. You will even exceed Natsu."
"My lady, I can't..." Sting looked down.
"Fear not. Lector is still alive." Minerva revealed as Sting widened his eyes. "In that instant, my magic transported him elsewhere. Just before my father's magic would have disintegrated him."
"Is that true, my lady?!" Sting fell to the ground in relief.
"Lector is alive!" Frosch exclaimed as Rogue hugged him.
"Thank you! Thank you, my lady! Bring him back! Thank you so..." Sting sobbed.
"Don't presume too much." Minerva interrupted. "I won't give you Lector until you win the Grand Magic Games."
"What are you saying, my lady?!" Sting exclaimed. "Please! Give him back to me now! Give me Lector back!"
"I'm not like my father. However, Sabertooth should still be the strongest guild in the land. You and Rogue decidedly lost. But with the lost of Lector as well, you gained a new power. One could say you've been reborn. You felt it, didn't you? The strength of your magic as it struck my father... But that isn't enough. You have to demonstrate your newfound power. You must exhibit your power to the public." Minerva ranted before turning her back.
"I hope you harbor no foolish thoughts of trying to defeat me. Remember that Lector's life is in my hands."
Sting stood up. "My lady, if I win, you will return Lector safe and sound?" He asked.
"That's right. All you need to do is win. Show me the power of your feelings." Minerva replied.
Sting had a look of determination. "Understood. I swear I'll win." He promised.
"Third place... That's rough." Eric sighed.
"Agreed." Kida said.
"They won one round, we have to keep pushing." Helena reminded.
Kross nodded in agreement. "There's still four healthy members of both Fairy Tail and Saber. Not to mention, Lyon and Jura are still in there." He added.
"The real battle is just beginning, huh?" Zane grinned.
"I'm concerned about the rescue team that went after Lucy." Souta thinks to himself. "It is taking some time, I could only assume they ran into trouble."
Hell Palace...
"Natsu! Natsu, come on! Wake up!" Lucy was trying to shake Natsu awake.
"He's not even twitching." Wendy muttered.
"Can't your magic do something, Wendy?" Mira asked.
"No. My power isn't strong enough to do anything." Wendy responded, covering her face. "I'm sorry! If only I knew more magic, this wouldn't have happened!"
"It's not your fault!" Lucy reassured. "Come on, Natsu, you're upsetting Wendy!"
"It ain't my fault! I'm so hungry I can't walk another step!" Natsu complained.
"And nothing in here looks the least bit edible." Mira added.
Lily was looking at a human skull. "Will we end up eating... you know?"
"I hope you're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting." Raden sweats nervously.
"That's scary talk, so stop it!" Lucy scolded.
"Natsu!" Happy called out as him and Carla returned.
"Any luck, Happy?" Natsu asked.
"No. Even the ceiling is totally sealed off." Happy replied.
"I don't think there's an exit in here." Carla added.
"Dammit! After we walked all the way here!" Natsu complained.
"The hunters have become the hunted, huh?" Mira asked sheepishly.
"Pitiful..." Wendy looked down.
"We've walked for miles. How big is this place?" Lucy wondered.
"I happened to overhear this. The underground area beneath the palace is ten times as wide as the capital, Crocus." Yukino explained.
"I didn't wanna hear that."
"If I'd known this was going to happen, I would've drawn a map on my body." Lily commented.
"Come to think of it, Natsu, what about the tournament?" Lucy asked.
"Juvia took my place." Natsu responded.
"He was all, 'I'm gonna save Lucy!'" Happy said.
"Yeah, well..." Natsu deadpanned.
"Oh, stop! You're making me feel bashful!" Lucy gushed.
"It's strange. Despite the circumstances, being with all of you makes me feel at ease." Yukino said.
"Maybe that's because you're with friends." Mira told her.
"Friends..." Yukino muttered.
The group soon began walking. "I'll tell you one thing. I didn't forget about you either." Natsu said.
"Oh, you don't have to..." Yukino stated. "That aside, um, there's something I want to tell you, Natsu-sama."
"What is it?" Natsu asked.
"While we were in captivity, Lucy-sama told me." Yukino started to say as Natsu looked at her. "When I was expelled from Sabertooth, you became furious and stormed Crocus Garden."
"Y-Yeah... I remember that." Natsu looked away as he was sweating.
"This means he totally doesn't remember it!" Happy commented.
"He forgets things too quickly!" Lucy added.
"Anyway, aren't you with the kingdom's Alpaca Pals or whatever club? Sorry if we got you involved in our trouble." Natsu stated.
"It's Arcadios!" Sebastian corrected.
"No. I'd always wanted to be in Sabertooth, so I was truly shocked when they kicked me out. Right now, I'm just a provisional member of the Royal Armed Forces." Yukino explained.
"It's also true that she has nowhere to go home to. Both of her parents passed away when she was a child and her big sister went missing." Lucy said.
"I see..." Natsu muttered.
"That's why I felt so happy when I heard you fought on my behalf, Natsu-sama. Thank you." Yukino thanked him.
"Wha...?! I don't need any thanks." Natsu said.
"After all, you don't remember doing it, right?" Lucy teased.
"Yukino Agria. She's quite a loyal girl." Lily commented.
"You like making those kinds of pronouncements, don't you, Lily?" Happy asked.
"You wanna have a talk later, huh?" Lily threatened.
"No, I was just kidding. Sorry..." Happy apologized.
"No need to get defensive about it..." Raden mumbled as he sweat dropped.
"Hey, everyone, don't you think she kind of looks like Lisanna?" Mira asked.
"Now that you mention it..." Lucy trailed off.
"Who's Lisanna-sama?" Yukino questioned in confusion.
Mira gave her a close-eyed smile. "She's my little sister."
There was a sudden snap as the ceiling started to crumble, getting everyone's attention. Natsu sniffed the air. "What's this?" He wondered.
"I feel flowing air." Wendy commented.
"Which means..." Lily started to say.
"We'll check it out!" Carla finished, flying next to Lily.
"Maybe a wall crumbled from that shaking?" Lucy guessed.
"This smell... I remember it from somewhere." Natsu said as Sebastian hummed in agreement.
"Everyone! There's a crevice over here! I think we can pass through!" Carla announced.
"Yay! You're my hero, Carla!" Happy exclaimed.
Everyone arrived at the crevice. "It seems more like it's been melted than a natural crevice." Lily said.
"We can just about squeeze through it."
"It is narrow..." Lucy mumbled.
"Are you okay, Yukino?" Mira questioned.
"Yes, more or less." Yukino responded.
"You can do it, Natsu!" Happy encouraged.
Wendy and Natsu managed to get out as Wendy fell to the ground and Natsu fell on top of her.
"I'm stuck..." Lucy said.
"You probably gained weight." Natsu bluntly remarked with his arms crossed.
"I don't need your rude comments, just pull me out!" Lucy sweat dropped.
Natsu pulled Lucy out of the crevice, which resulted in her landing on his face and Yukino blushed at the sight. "It was accidental!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Everyone, somebody's over there!" Wendy announced.
The group rushed over an saw an unconscious Arcadios. "Arcadios-sama?!" Yukino exclaimed.
"I get it. It was this old man's scent." Natsu commented.
"'Old man' isn't nice!" Lily scolded.
"Hey, are you all right?! Wake up!" Natsu shouted.
"A white knight..." Carla recalled.
"What's he doing here?" Happy asked.
"He was dropped in here like we were." Lucy realized.
"But how did he get those injuries?" Yukino wondered.
Sebastian pressed his fingers to Arcadios's neck. "I feel a pulse. He's still alive." He told the group.
Arcadios opened his eyes as he groaned. "Run..." He warned, confusing everyone.
"Arcadios-sama, what happened?!" Yukino asked.
"Anyway, I'll heal him." Wendy got right to work on healing Arcadios.
"Don't worry about me! Get away from here!" Arcadios ordered.
The group suddenly got attacked as a hole was in the ground. "That's..." Lucy started to say.
"...acid!" Lily concluded.
"The ground is melting!" Raden exclaimed.
"Then that passage was..." Wendy realized, backing up.
"What a haul!"
Everyone flew up into the air, crashing to the ground.
"Ouch..."
"Who the hell are these guys?!" Natsu wondered.
Plants soon sprouted up along with purple paper. "Now what?!" Mira questioned.
"Confetti?" Yukino added.
Two women soon appeared. "Arcadios-sama, is this..." Yukino started to say.
"I told you to get away from here!" Arcadios interrupted, struggling to get up.
"Old man, do you know these guys?" Natsu asked.
"They're an independant unit that supports the kingdom of Fiore from the shadows. They're the kingdom's strongest executioners. And their name is..." Arcadios began to explain.
"...the Garou Knights. Mission 1500, begin."
All five executioners were shown.
"Executioners?" Natsu quoted.
"The kingdom's strongest?" Lucy added.
"I thought they were an urban legend. They run criminals to ground and execute them. They're the kingdom's execution machine, so to speak. That's the Garou Knights!" Yukino explained.
"It's impossible to get out of this Hell Palace because of them!" Arcadios added.
"We are Fiore's independant Garou Knights. And with the special authority granted to us, we will now execute the criminals."
Natsu and Sebastian soon bursted out laughing. "Hey, Natsu, at a time like this?!" Lucy scolded.
"Sebastian, you too?!" Raden added.
"Oh, sorry, but these losers don't look anything like knights!" Natsu stated.
"It's kind of hard to take them seriously when they look like that." Sebastian agreed.
"Well, true..." Lucy admitted.
"And their outfits don't match at all..." Wendy pointed out.
"Especially you!" Natsu pointed to one of the executioners.
"Normally, knights would all look the same..." Mira stated.
"With armor and a helmet..." Wendy added.
"We've got individual freedom-tai. We're an independant unit that operates undercover. If we wore matching outfits, we'd actually stand out-tai!"
"Did I touch a nerve, headband bastard?" Natsu taunted. "Then hurry up and bring it on."
"Hey!" Lucy shouted.
"Talking like that... will make me mad!"
"Don't be fooled by their appearance!" Arcadios warned as everyone looked at him. "The magic they use is designed to kill people!"
"Huh. Magic designed to kill, eh? Perfect! Our way outta here has come strollin' up to us!" Natsu stated.
"That's right. They can tell us where the exit is." Mira claimed.
"And if they refuse, we can just beat it out of 'em." Sebastian added.
"Lucy-san and Yukino-san, you don't have your keys, right? Please back away." Wendy told the two Celestial Mages.
Lucy and Yukino walked away as they supported Arcadios. "It's frustrating to watch at a time like this." Lucy said.
"Arcadios-sama, this way..." Yukino instructed.
"Happy, Carla, get back." Lily stepped forward with Raden following.
"I'm gonna fight, too!" Happy claimed.
"Better not." Carla said.
Both Lily and Raden shifted into their Battle Forms. "Been a while since I've been in battle. My blood is boiling." Lily stated.
"This'll be fun." Raden agreed.
"They intend to have it out with the kingdom's strongest executioners?" Arcadios questioned.
"Everyone, Natsu... Be careful!" Yukino wished them luck.
"I'm fired up." Natsu claimed.
"To show no fear before the Garou Knights betrays your ignorance, criminal. Return to the earth of the kingdom of Fiore."
"Leave them to us, first."
"Just the two of you?! Then I'll take you both on myself!" Natsu claimed.
"Aw, I wanted to go first..."
"That's not fair! I'm gonna get mad!"
"Let's go, Cosmos."
"With our beautiful dance, right, Kamika?"
Kamika blew a piece of red paper. "Confetti, Red Dance!" She shouted.
"Paper Magic, huh? You don't know who you're messin' with." Natsu engulfed his hands in flames. "I'll burn 'em all to ashes!"
The fire was soon caught in the confetti. "What the hell?!" Natsu questioned.
"They aren't burning!" Lucy noticed.
"Red paper is the god of flames. Scatter!" Kamika shouted.
"If those are flames too, then I'm just gonna eat 'em!" Natsu said before he got punched by the flames.
"I thought you were going to eat them." Kamika taunted as Natsu was engulfed in flames.
"Natsu! I'll back you up!" Sebastian shouted. "Hellfire Dragon's Roar!"
Sebastian ended up turning the confetti to ash. "Nice, Sebastian!" Raden complimented.
"Go, go!" Happy cheered.
"Guess it can't be helped. Two against two." Natsu stated.
"Let's take them out." Sebastian said.
"Let's jump in there!" Lily informed.
"Wait. Better leave it to Natsu and Sebastian, and see what the other side does first." Mira told him.
"Let's go, Sebastian!" Natsu took off running.
"Right!" Sebastian agreed.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" Natsu attacks Cosmos and Kamika with his flames.
"Hmph! Dragon Slayer Magic, huh?" Kamika questioned.
Sebastian appeared behind her, igniting his hand with orange-red flames. "Hellfire Dragon's Crushing Fang!" He shouted, swinging his hand in an arc. However, Kamika blocked his attack.
Natsu leaped behind Cosmos. "Look over here!" He called out, trying to attack her with a fiery fist, but she ended up blocking it.
"You're not beautiful." Cosmos claimed.
"Huh?"
"I'm getting impatient-tai!"
"Are you playing over there?"
"Hellfire Dragon's Roar!"
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
Both Sebastian and Natsu attacked with their breath attacks. "Yes!" Lucy cheered.
"That was a great combo attack!" Yukino complimented.
"Both of them are gone. Vaporized?" Lily asked as Natsu and Sebastian give each other a high five.
"No. They're... hiding?" Mira responded.
A plant with red confetti showed when the dust settled. "A bud and red paper..." Sebastian muttered.
Natsu and Sebastian were raised in the air before falling to the ground. The bud opened to reveal Cosmos and Kamika. "Now this is a beautiful combo." Cosmos claimed.
"A fitting punishment for criminals." Kamika added.
"The one with the hat controls plants..." Happy pointed out.
"Paper Magic and Plant Magic?" Carla added.
"Even though Natsu-san and Sebastian-san should have the advantage over them..." Wendy mumbled.
"My name is Cosmos. You'll be executed shortly, but remember that." Cosmos claimed.
"Red isn't the only kind of confetti I have." Kamika added as yellow paper appeared.
Everyone shielded their eyes. "I can't see!" Mira exclaimed.
"She can use paper like that, too?!" Lily said.
"Gotcha." Cosmos said as Sebastian was raised in the air.
"Sebastian!"
Natsu was soon attacked by white confetti. "White paper is the god of blizzards!" Kamika stated.
"Dammit! What the hell?! My body is freezin' up! But this ain't nothin'!" Natsu said as he melted the ice. He soon got raised in the air, joining Sebastian.
"Natsu!"
"Thank you for your beautiful support, Kamika." Cosmos thanked her.
"Dammit! I can't move!" Natsu stated.
"So itchy..." Sebastian complained.
"Two criminals have been subdued. Now all I have to do is execute them." Cosmos said as more plants appeared.
"Yuck! What is that?!" Lucy questioned.
"Carnivorous plants!" Yukino replied.
"Gross!"
"That's no good!" Lily stated.
"Natsu, I'll get you free!" Mira informed.
"Get back! This is just startin' to get interesting!" Natsu said.
"Say what?! This is no time for that!" Lily scolded.
"Just let me do it myself! Interfere and I'll punch ya!" Natsu told him.
"He's just full of bravado, isn't he?" Kamika questioned.
"There's no way they can escape from that position." Cosmos added.
"Sebastian! Be sure to dodge!" Natsu informed.
"Anytime you're ready, cousin!" Sebastian said.
Natsu used his breath attack, destroying the plants that held Sebastian. He fell down with his head facing the ground. "Hellfire Dragon's Wing Attack!" He shouted, streams of orange-red fire released Natsu.
"Great! Just what I'd expect from a Dragon Slayer combo play!" Lucy praised.
"We saw the same thing during their Tag Team battle..." Lily commented.
"...Yes. Despite using the same element, it seems these two work well together." Mira finished.
"Let's go, cousin!" Sebastian said.
"Okay, let's finish 'em off all at once!" Natsu exclaimed, cracking his knuckles.
Sebastian struck at Kamika while Natsu struck Cosmos. "As always, there's lots of destruction..." Carla sweat dropped.
"Wow! They're totally in sync!" Happy added.
Natsu and Sebastian grinned at each other before charging forward.
"Knepper, Uosuke..."
The two executioners turned to face their leader. "All right! Sounds like we're gonna get to go to work, too!" Knepper said.
"Those two are coming in! Then so are we!" Mira charged forward with Lily, Raden, and Wendy behind her.
"Leave it to me!" Lily claimed.
"Bumper catch-tai!" Uosuke shouted, blowing them away.
Knepper tried to attack Lily and Raden as they dodged it with their weapons. "Hey! I thought it was supposed to be two against two!" Lucy exclaimed.
"I don't remember making that promise." Kamika stated.
"Our purpose is the execution of criminals." Cosmos added.
"We were just playing with you a little!" Uosuke added.
"That was a damn powerful force!"
"We can't let ourselves get close to him."
Knepper laughed. "Come on! I'll melt you into nothingness!"
"Get your balance, Sebastian!" Natsu said.
"Got it!"
"Though it was only an instant, you managed to disrupt our beautiful combo... You'll learn the seriousness of that crime the hard way! Especially with the one that's not beautiful!" Cosmos claimed.
"Shut up!" Natsu yelled before he got thrown back by a plant.
"Natsu!" Sebastian called out.
"This is no time for you to be worrying about anyone else." Kamika claimed as Sebastian was suddenly looking at his reflection.
"An illusion? If I burn it all at once... Hellfire Dragon's Roar!" Sebastian shouted.
"Beautiful..." Cosmos said as Sebastian ended up standing on a plant.
"When did that...?!" Sebastian ended up getting closed in the plant.
"Beautiful dancing doll... It's a skeletal flower that blossoms in blood." Cosmos claimed.
"Sebastian!" Natsu screamed.
A/N: Another chapter is completed!
Thanks for reading!
~ Kaleb.