A/N: Episode 261.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX: ABSOLUTE DEMON

'Lumen Histoire?' Lucy repeated in confusion.

'What's that?' Wendy asked.

"There's no time to explain in detail. Return to the guild at once." Makarov responded as his eyes were closed.

"At once?" Lucy repeated. "Master?"

"But the guild was blown to pieces..." Droy reminded.

"Don't!" Jet scolded as Elfman had an unreadable expression.

"The guild's basement. Hurry!" Makarov instructed.

"I don't really understand it, but anyway, let's go!" Lucy informed.

"Right!" Wendy agreed.

"I'm staying here." Elfman said.

"Elf-nii-chan?" Lisanna spoke.

"Why?!" Lucy asked.

Elfman recalled what he had done.

"Hey! Elfman?!" Cana exclaimed.

"Don't interfere... Don't interfere! Don't interfere!" Elfman shouted.

Cana looked over, seeing the bomb. "A bomb?!"

"Die! Die, Fairy Tail!"

"Somebody!" Cana shouted.

Cana was thrown into the ground by Elfman's strength as he was breathing heavily.

"Is he being mind-controlled? At this rate..." Cana thinks to herself.

The Fairy Tail guild hall soon exploded.

Makarov had his eyes open as he sighed. "The guild's destruction isn't your fault." He reassured.

"Y-Yeah! Master's right!"

"Elf-nii-chan..." Lisanna muttered.

"If Levy had been taken hostage, I'm sure I would've..." Jet started to say.

"Even so, I..." Elfman trailed off.

'I understand. Do what feels right to you.' Makarov said.

"Master!" Jet exclaimed.

"We can't leave him here!" Warren complained.

'You come with us.' Makarov addresses Doranbolt privately.

"Individual telepathy?" Doranbolt thought before replying to Makarov. 'I'm not a member of your guild.'

'I'm going to need your power.' Makarov claimed.

'My...?'

'After everything is safely settled, I want you to erase Lumen Histoire from the memories of all the guild members.' Makarov explained.

'And you're telling me to wipe my own memory, too?' Doranbolt asked.

'That's right. But I'm sure you will do it.' Makarov replied.

"Let's hurry!" Lucy informed.

"Elf-nii-chan, be careful!" Lisanna told him.

Wendy turned to look at Doranbolt. "Doranbolt-san?" She questioned, snapping Doranbolt out of his thoughts.

"What is this Lumen Histoire?" Doranbolt wondered.

In the sky, Igneel, Atlas Flame, and Acnologia continued on with their battle. "Still, I can't believe what's going on up there." Warren admitted.

"Anyway, we have to get going." Droy commented.

"Humans don't have any part to play in that." Jet added.

"The dragons that came out of Eclipse were terrifying, too." Elfman claimed.

"But those three are in a different class." Lisanna stated.

Igneel and Atlas Flame slammed their heads against Acnologia as Igneel and Atlas Flame both struck Acnologia with their tails. They flew up into the air as Acnologia followed after them.

"Look!" Lucy shouted.

"They're ascending!" Orion noticed.

"You're not getting away." Acnologia claimed.

"We're not trying to." Igneel said.

"Nor will we let you." Atlas Flame added.

"Fighting you up here, we don't have to hold back. And to beat you, we'll..." Igneel starts to say.

"Fight? No. I am going to destroy you!" Acnologia exclaimed.

Natsu gritted his teeth in frustration. "He's strong." Sting commented.

"The four of us and still no effect?!" Rogue said.

Sebastian glanced over at Natsu. "You all right, cousin?" He asked.

"Of course! A second-rate attack like that doesn't even scratch me!" Natsu replied.

"It seems you can fight on." Rogue commented.

"You're damn right. This is a competition. I'm gonna be the one who takes him out." Natsu claimed.

"You still remembered that?!" Sting and Rogue both questioned in disbelief.

"Hell yeah. We ain't gonna lose to you guys." Sebastian responded.

'Kyoka, aren't you finished yet? Hurry up and switch Face on.' Mard Geer spoke telepathically as the Book of END was shown.

Kyoka looks at a defeated Seilah. "If this is the only way I can return to Zeref..." Kyoka started to think as she faced Erza, who was in her Purgatory Armor.

"That's our Kyoka-sama, Slave Star Empress of the Nine Demons!" Franmalth praised. "As her power increases by the second, how much is her strength worth? How much?!"

"Shut up!" Lily shouted, throwing a rock at Franmalth. "Anyway, there's no time! At this rate, Face will..."

"Erza, you can do it!" Happy cheered.

"Yes, I know." Erza said.

"Natsu is okay too, right?" Happy muttered to himself.

Erza was requipped into her Heaven's Wheel Armor as she leaped into the air. "Mard Geer-sama said it was like a homing instinct. All of us were born from Zeref, and so we shall go back to him." Kyoka claimed.

"Nope. You chose death! You gave up on going forward with your comrades!" Erza stated.

"Silence!" Kyoka shouted, sending an attack straight at Erza.

"What is this?!" Erza wondered.

Rocks were soon destroyed nearby as green lightning continued attacking Erza. The lightning attacked the Exceeds as well as Minerva. Multiple explosions were soon heard. Kyoka only grinned at seeing their pain.

"What's this? She's so absorbed in battle that she's forgotten my voice. But at least it seems she's doing her job." Mard Geer stated.

"Hey, why the hell would you wanna wipe out Magic all across the continent?" Sting questioned.

"Oh, didn't I tell you? By removing all Magic, END's seal will also be broken." Mard Geer answered.

"That book..." Natsu mumbled while Sebastian narrowed his eyes.

"Right now, he is in that form, but END is the strongest demon of the Books of Zeref and the master of Tartaros. By reviving END, we shall be able to return to Zeref." Mard Geer explained.

"I still don't get it." Sting claimed.

"Incomprehensible." Rogue commented. "If you want to see your boss that badly, just go by yourself."

"There's no need to involve the whole human race in your affairs." Sebastian added.

Mard Geer smirked. "You call yourselves sons of dragons, but in the end, you are mere humans. Is it so difficult to understand?" He asked.

"Watch the condescension, buddy!" Natsu exclaimed.

"Have you ever thought about why Zeref created us?" Mard Geer asked as the four Dragon Slayers remained silent. "None of my underlings have realized it. We Etherious have something like a strong obsession that demands we 'return to Zeref.'"

"It is all so we can return to Zeref."

"It's an order on the genetic level. 'Return to Zeref,' 'I want to see Zeref,' 'for Zeref'... Those are feelings. All of them come down to one truth." Mard Geer started to say before smirking once more.

"Zeref cursed himself for becoming immortal and wished to die. The final destination of that wish was the creation of beings that could kill him. Those who were born to murder Zeref. They are... the demons of the Books of Zeref." Mard Geer continued to explain. "END was his masterpiece. But something must've happened, because he was sealed again in the book. A seal that could never be broken in Earthland, a world overflowing with Magic."

Mard Geer stood up from his throne. "However, when Face makes all Magic across the continent disappear, that seal will be broken and END will return." He claimed, stopping in front of the four as he had a crazed look in his eyes. "Then he will defeat Zeref. That is our wish, as well as Zeref's."

"A battle to beat Zeref?" Natsu repeated.

"And you involved humans in this business that has nothing to do with us!" Sting exclaimed while Rogue and Sebastian just 'tch-ed' in annoyance.

"When you walk somewhere, do you go out of you way to avoid stepping on weeds in the path?" Mard Geer questioned as thorns grew.

"Bastard!" Sting snarled. However, his eyes widened as thorns attacked him and Rogue.

"Sting! Rogue!" Sebastian called out as him and Natsu got attacked by thorns as well, sending them both to the wall.

"Natsu-san! Sebastian!" Sting shouted as him and Rogue were trapped in the thorns.

"What the hell is this?!" Natsu questioned as thorns continued to grow, revealing a giant plant.

"A prison flower that blooms in the Underworld." Mard Geer responded as the flower charged forward.

"Dammit! I can't move!" Rogue exclaimed.

"Natsu-san! Sebastian! Dodge it!" Sting warned.

The thorns grabbed onto Natsu and Sebastian. "This damn..." Sebastian trailed off as the flower headed towards him and Natsu.

However, before it could strike at them, purple ice appeared and froze the flower.

"Ice?" Natsu questioned as Sting and Rogue were soon released.

Natsu's scarf fell onto his shoulders. "This is... my scarf..." Natsu noticed.

"I found it." Gray's voice was soon heard. "If it's important to you, don't lose it again."

"Gray..." Natsu muttered.

"Gray-san!" Sting exclaimed, supporting Rogue.

"This Magic..." Rogue mumbled as Mard Geer narrowed his eyes before his arm was frozen.

"When did you...?!" Natsu started to say as both him and Sebastian had stunned looks.

"Who are you?!" Mard Geer demanded.

"I'm the Devil Slayer who came here..." A tattoo appeared on Gray's forearm. "...to defeat you."

Natsu's eyes widened at Gray's claim as Sting, Rogue, and Sebastian were left in shock. "Devil Slayer, you say?" Mard Geer repeated.

"What the hell is that?" Sting asked.

"If Dragon Slaying Magic is for dragons and God Slaying Magic is for gods, then..." Rogue started to say.

"This is Magic that defeats demons." Gray finished.

Gray charges forward, striking at Mard Geer who was encased in purple ice. "This is Silver's..." Mard Geer started to say, recognizing the Magic before he shattered the ice.

Mard Geer dusted himself off. "I knew he would betray me one day. Although I didn't realize it would take this form. Fate is amusing indeed." He claimed.

Thorns headed for Gray as he froze the thorns instantly.

"He froze those thorns in an instant!" Rogue exclaimed.

"Incredible!" Sting praised.

More thorns headed towards Gray as he crosses his arms, freezing those thorns as well and shattering them. Sting, Rogue, Sebastian, and Natsu could only watch in shock.

"You think fate is amusing? I don't think it's one damn bit amusing!" Gray exclaimed. "For the sake of my old man's wish..."

"Old man?" Natsu repeated.

"...I'll destroy all of you!" Gray finished as purple ice struck Mard Geer.

Gray leaped into the air. "Die!" He shouted. "Ice Magic! Zero Sword!"

Gray charged at Mard Geer but got struck down by a familiar person.

"Gray-san!" Sting called out as Gray crashed to the ground.

"You made it in time." Mard Geer told the newcomer.

"Another one of 'em!" Natsu exclaimed.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. "That smell..." He trailed off.

"No..." Sting muttered as both him and Rogue had terrified looks.

"The one who was at the peak of your human guilds... Naturally he was reborn as a demon." Mard Geer said.

The newcomer was revealed to be Jiemma.

"Jiemma!"

"Master..." Rogue muttered.

"That guy..." Natsu recalled him and Sebastian fighting Jiemma after Yukino was kicked out.

"Wasn't he Saber's master?!" Sebastian finished.

"So they made you and Minerva both into demons, huh?" Gray asked.

"Made me? Wrong." Jiemma denied. "I obtained this power of my own will. To become the strongest of all!"

"You gave up being human for that?" Rogue questioned.

"That's insane." Sting commented.

"A demon with power that far surpasses the Nine Demon Gates. My new servant." Mard Geer claimed.

"Servant? My name is known throughout the land, and you call me servant..." Jiemma began to exert his power. "...Underworld King?! After I dispose of these whelps, you're next!"

Mard Geer only smirked in response as both Sting and Rogue had terrified looks on their faces.

"Don't be scared!" Natsu exclaimed, charging forward with a flaming fist with Sebastian following him.

"There's no reason to be scared of this bozo! Charge!" Sebastian shouted.

Natsu and Sebastian struck Jiemma, who blocked their attacks with his arms. "I have no business with you two." Jiemma claimed as Natsu and Sebastian both skidded back before finally crashing into some debris.

"Natsu-san! Sebastian!" Sting called out, turning back around and gritting his teeth.

"Weaklings! Weak! Weak!" Jiemma insulted.

Sting and Rogue charged forward. "I'm taking you down!" Sting shouted as Jiemma blasted them with his Magic, sending the two crashing to the ground.

"Weak, weak. You are weaklings, Twin Dragons. Instead of sons of dragons, you are more like sons of lizards." Jiemma insulted.

"Bastard..." Sting mumbled.

"Sting. Rogue. I've longed for the day when I could dispatch you with my own hands." Jiemma claimed before attacking the two again.

"Sting! Rogue!" Natsu yelled.

"We have nothing to fear."

"We're..."

Sting and Rogue appeared from the dust, attacking Jiemma.

"...gonna charge!"

"Leave him to us!" Sting informed.

"We'll beat him!" Rogue said.

Sting and Rogue soon landed back on the ground. "You are pathetic weaklings! Come then, Twin Dragons!" Jiemma challenged.

"We can do this, Sting!" Rogue stated.

"Yeah. Let's clean house here, then take our lady back to the guild!" Sting said.

Mard Geer smirked as Natsu, Gray, and Sebastian stepped forward while Sting and Rogue began battling Jiemma.

"Oh, dear. It looks like I still don't have perfect control of my emotions." Mard Geer commented.

"You're out of soldiers to protect you. I'm going to..." Gray started to say.

"You're not ready yet." Mard Geer interrupted as he began to glow purple. "Do you really think that power will work on the true form of Mard Geer?"

"His wounds..." Sebastian noticed.

Mard Geer soon began to transform. "END is going to awaken for the first time in 400 years. This is a good time for me to wake up as well." He claimed as smoke appeared as well as wings appearing on Mard Geer.

"My name is Mard Geer Tartaros. King of the Underworld and an absolute demon." Mard Geer transformed into his Etherious form, making Natsu, Sebastian, and Gray grit their teeth.

"Natsu... Sebastian..." Gray said as frost covered his arm.

"Yeah, we know." Natsu tells him as flames covered his and Sebastian's arms.

"In the names of Black Sun and Fairy Tail, we're gonna take you down!" Sebastian exclaimed.

"Come, humans." Mard Geer challenged. "This is the final battle."

A/N: Another chapter is finished!

Thanks for reading!

~ Kaleb.