At last, Natsu had arrived in the area where most of the battle was going on. As he approached the group of Fairy Tail Wizards, the presence of him made the air grow tense. He had a strong aura to him, something that the others couldn't help but notice. And he was not the only one.
"Who is that guy...?" Jet asked.
"I've never seen him before." Droy commented. All the Fairy Tail wizards could just tell Natsu was trouble. He stood out from the rest of the Void Kingdom Wizards easily, and they could all tell that his strength was nothing to scoff at.
"So you're the Fairy Tail Wizards?" Natsu glared, his fists clenched as the flames were beginning to die down. Once his appearance was seen clearly, the wizards were taken aback. "Hmph. You guys don't look that impressive. I was expecting some really tough-looking guys but..."
"This is very much them, Master Natsu." One of the Void Kingdom wizards called out, catching the attention of Natsu and the Fairy Tail wizards. "This is them. These are the Fairy Tail Wizards!"
"Oh really? The famous Fairy Tail guild has a bunch of guys like these? How lame." Natsu chuckled. "Not sure why Alehot wanted us to deal with you guys. I'm not really impressed."
"W-What did you say?!" Macao scowled.
"I was expecting a little bit more from you guys. But ya know...I think Tigha said something about not judging a book by its cover? And Alehot did sound serious when he brought you guys up." Natsu shrugged.
"So...you're one of those Void Kingdom bastards!" A Fairy Tail Wizard exclaimed. "What do you think you're doing, showing up here?! What's your problem, attacking a town like this?!"
"Why? For me, it's another reason to get into some action! Ever since yesterday when I battled Erza, I've been wanting to throw down with someone else! Alehot's sent me on two missions so far and I'm gonna ace this second one too! Just wait, Alehot! I'm about to get the job done and show off how awesome I am!"
"Tch." Wakabe grimaced, glaring at Natsu. "Another hothead."
"But we can't underestimate him. There's no doubt in my mind that he's the strongest out of all the other ones we've fought." Max said, already preparing his magic.
"And he's the one who took down Erza?" A Fairy Tail Wizard spoke. "There's no way. How did he do that?"
"You can ask her yourself." Natsu would step aside, revealing the armored beauty herself.
"E-Erza!" Some of them exclaimed, happy to see her.
"W-What is she doing here?!" Jet shouted.
"Erza! What are you doing with him?!" Macao called out, glaring at Natsu.
"Is everything okay?! Did this guy kidnap you or something?!"
"..." But Erza didn't respond to them. Her attention was set solely on the group. She was not speaking at all, merely watching with an intense glare, viewing the people in front of her as her enemy.
"Erza? Can you hear us? Are you okay?" Jet called out, only to be ignored.
"She's not even listening to us." Max grimaced. "Something's not right. What did that guy do to her?!"
"Heh! Master Natsu did nothing! But we can tell you what happened to her!" One of the Void Kingdom Wizards stepped forward, chuckling. "After she was defeated, Mistress Tigha had her way with Erza Scarlet. She made sure to turn her into the perfect servant. The one she is now, is nothing more than an obedient, mindless slave. She is not the Erza Scarlet you once knew."
"What?!" Macao's pupils shrank, shocked by this. All of them were blown back by this. They just couldn't believe their ears. Erza, who they viewed as a symbol of strength, was made to be a slave? Corrupted even.
"That's right!" He continued before pointing back at Erza. "Completely subservient to the Void Kingdom! And of course, she belongs to Master Natsu! That's right! Erza Scarlet has become the personal slave of the great Master Natsu Dragneel! Now that is someone worth respecting!
"Personal slave...!" Wakabe grimaced, glancing at the pink haired boy. "This kid?! He took Erza?!"
"That can't be..." From the rooftops, Bisca was in disbelief. Natsu didn't really say much about this, but the fact that Erza was with him and the Void Kingdom had done something to her, was not looking good.
"You bastards! How dare you do that to her?!" Macao clenched his fist.
"Hah! Do you even know what our mission is? We've been ordered to destroy the Fairy Tail Guild. Not just you, but all the members, the entire guild itself. Including the Master, Makarov Dreyar. Well, that's the idea anyway. King Alehot didn't specify how far we had to go, but we're about to all the way." The Void Kingdom Wizard chuckled, stepping forward and cracking his knuckles. "And if Erza is with us, then there's no doubt that we'll succeed. She's the most powerful person here, after all."
"Why you...!" Stepping forward was none other than Elfman, who was furious. "None of you guys are real men for doing this! Especially for that Alehot guy! What kind of a man treats women this way?! You should all be ashamed!"
"Hm? Who's this big lug?" The Void Kingdom Wizard asked.
"I'm Elfman Strauss! The man who'll beat you all here and now! And take Erza back with me!" Elfman declared, pointing at him.
"Hah! Really?!" Natsu would also step forward. "Alright, big guy! You sound pretty confident! And to be honest, I'm raring to see what you can all do! I'm gonna blaze past you guys and head straight for Fairy Tail! That's my mission and I'm gonna follow through with it!"
"You're not going anywhere!"
"Yeah, not after what you guys did!"
"I don't know how you did that to Erza, but I'll put an end to you and have her come back to normal!" Elfman declared.
"Alright! I'm all fired up now!" Natsu's hands would ignite in flames. He would be the first to make a move, rushing in at high speeds. It would be Natsu against the Fairy Tail Wizards.
Natsu would rush at them, his fist pulled back. He was prepared to take them down. The Fairy Tail wizards would react, their spells ready. Elfman's arm would start changing, his muscles growing. "Take Over Magic! Beast Arm! Scale Bull! Iron Bull!" His arm would grow and change, taking on the shape of a reptillian beast, covered in scales and sporting sharp claws.
Natsu would swing his fist, Elfman blocking it with his new arm. Natsu's eyes widened, his hand colliding with the beastly arm. Elfman's arm would be pushed back, his arm having a few scaly cracks appearing.
"What?!" Elfman gasped, seeing the damage done to his arm.
"Nice try, but I'm not an easy one to take down." Natsu said, throwing another fierce fist. Elfman would throw his fist forward as well, their fists clashing with each other. Their fists would cause a shockwave, the air being displaced by the collision.
"Ugh!" Elfman groaned, staggering a bit from the impact. His arm was still damaged. Natsu leapt in, his grin wide as his fist was pulled back for another heavy strike.
"Fire Dragon: Iron Fist!" Natsu's fist would erupt into a burst of flames, sending the Fire Dragon Slayer's fist at Elfman. The attack would collide with the man, causing an outburst of flames to go through. Elfman slid back, smoke trailing out of his body.
"Elfman!" Jet and Droy cried out after seeing Elfman being pushed back.
"Come on!" Natsu went in for another strike, not letting up for even a moment. But this time, Elfman was ready, planning a counterattack. His eye would glint as he managed to sway his body, avoiding Natsu's fierce fist.
"What?!" Natsu was caught off guard.
"Now!" Elfman would bring his fist forward, smashing it into Natsu's face. The Fire Dragon Slayer was struck by the punch, his head jerking back. The impact of the strike would cause a wind pressure that reached seven Void Kingdom Wizards, sending them flying into the air.
"Gah! Master Natsu!" They cried out while spiralling through the air. Natsu would skid on the ground, a little surprised by that impact. Now that Elfman got a hit in, he could see just how heavy his strength was.
"Heh! Not bad, big guy!" Natsu would rub his chin, his grin wider than ever.
"Hmph!" Elfman was still serious, his fists balled up. Natsu was still standing, his feet firm and ready for action.
"Alright, you guys. Let's have some fun." Natsu would ignite his fist in flames. "Come on!"
Natsu would kick it up, rushing in once more. And this time, he was targeting everyone. Elfman would also charge, ready to meet with Natsu. The two clashed fists once more, but this time, during the impact, Natsu would rocket Elfman back, the aftermath of his punch leaving behind a pulsating explosion of fire.
"Gaah!" Elfman screamed while pushed back as Natsu approached the other members of Fairy Tail. Droy would try and stop Natsu, holding his hands out and using his signature magic.
"Knuckle Plant!" He cried out as he threw seeds into the ground. These seeds would sink into the ground as they instantly grew into large vines with fists. The fists would swing at Natsu, trying to land a blow on him.
However, with just a single swing, Natsu absolutely incinerated these plants, causing them to disintegrate and the air to smell like fresh burning plant matter. After destroying the plants, Natsu would summon a fireball in his hands, launching it forward.
The ball of flames would fly at Droy, heading straight for him. Before he could dodge, the attack would explode, catching him and pushing him away. After knocking Droy away, Natsu would spot some Fairy Tail Wizards who would shoot their own spells at him.
"Magnolia's Fire!"
"Cannon Volley!"
"Sky Bullets!"
Three of the Fairy Tail wizards would attack simultaneously, their spells aimed at Natsu. The Dragon Slayer would raise his arm, blocking the barrage of attacks. As his arm blocked the projectiles, he would begin to glow.
"Fire Dragon's Charge!" Igniting his body in flames, Natsu's form would burst forward, rushing through the air. Natsu was moving at an incredible speed, his body blazing forward as he approached the wizards, striking them and causing a fiery explosion to erupt.
Natsu then leapt out of the smoke he created, targeting more of the wizards. He would strike at one of them before they could use their spells, delivering a swift jaw blow that sent them crashing into the ground. After that, Natsu would leap back, his hand igniting once more.
Swiftly, Natsu would attack many Wizards at once, striking at them and making the air tremble. Natsu was as fast as he was strong. The way he moved was fierce and untamed, like a dragon. He was relentless.
"He's so fast!" Bisca watched from above. She had her rifle out, aiming at the Fire Dragon Slayer, but he was moving so quickly that she was having a hard time getting a lock on him.
"Come on, come on! Show me something! Erza gave me an awesome fight, so do the same!" Natsu bellowed, grabbing the face of one of the wizards and throwing them into other ones. After throwing them, Natsu would throw his fist back.
"Fire Dragon: Rising Claw!" Natsu's hand would ignite as a flaming claw would cover it. Natsu would swing his hand, swiping the air. A massive fireball would rise up from the swipe, striking multiple wizards and blasting them away.
"Ugh!" Elfman would groan, struggling to get up after the last attack. He watched as Natsu was beginning to absolutely dominate this battle, knocking his guildmates aside.
Right as Natsu was about to launch another attack, in a spurt of speed, he was socked in the jaw, someone finally landing a hit on him during his rampage. And that someone was Jet. Natsu froze for a moment as Jet would zip back, putting his fingers to his mouth.
"Gotcha!" Jet grinned.
"Nice hit, Jet!" Droy complimented.
"H-He actually got him!" Another wizard exclaimed, feeling a bit relieved.
"Oh yeah? I guess he did. But only one hit!" Natsu chuckled, his body burning up. His flames were becoming bigger, stronger. Jet could feel a sense of dread, realizing that Natsu wasn't the least bit affected by his attack. Quickly, Jet would zip back as Natsu unleashed a burst of flames from his body.
Jet managed to gain some distance from the flames, thankfully having speed on his side. Natsu would then walk through the flames he made, ready to continue his fierce attack. Cheering him on were the Void Kingdom Wizards, supporting their prodigy.
"That's it, Master Natsu!" One of them shouted.
"Go! Show them your true power!"
"Take them down!"
"Let's see how long you can keep that energy." said Jet before looking at Droy. The two would nod at each other, having a plan. Droy would stealthily drop some seeds into the ground, making sure Natsu didn't spot them for even a moment as they sank. Natsu would then dash at the speed wizard, his hands ignited.
"Fire Dragon: Iron Fist!" Natsu cried out. However, underneath him, some seeds from Droy would pop out, forming into vines and wrapping around his legs.
"What the-?!" Natsu gasped, suddenly finding himself restrained as the vines kept him steady. And of course, wide open for an attack.
"Got him! Now's your chance, Jet!" Droy called out.
"Right! Let's go!" Jet would race towards Natsu, his body leaving behind afterimages as he would strike at the Dragon Slayer. In rapid succession, he would throw a barrage of punches, all of them hitting the Fire Dragon Slayer.
Jet would be relentless, not letting up on Natsu. Natsu, of course, didn't like this one bit. This involved the other Fairy Tail Wizards who would unleash their attacks on Natsu, all of them aiming at him. A barrage of attacks were unleashed on him, bombarding the Dragon Slayer. From Jet's rapid strikes in every direction, to Max's Sand and so on.
The entire group was attacking, their spells all coming in contact with Natsu, hoping to bring him down. Natsu would struggle, gritting his teeth. Erza felt like stepping in, wanting to support her Master, but the thought was fleeting and didn't last long. Natsu would close his eyes before opening it, his pupils shrinking.
"Get...Off!" Roaring at the top of his lungs, Natsu's body would unleash another outburst of flames, the intensity of his aura overwhelming everyone. His flames would burn the vines away, freeing him as the attacks were pushed away, unable to touch him.
"Ngh!" Jet groaned as he tried zipping away, only for some of the flames to graze his body, his jacket being burnt in the process.
"Ouch!" Max yelped, feeling the heat of the flames.
"Man...Some of those hits actually did something." Natsu snarled before taking a step. However, right as he did so, Wakabe would use his Smoke Magic, surrounding him and clouding his vision.
"Huh?!" Natsu's eyes widened, not able to see a thing. "Smoke?!"
"Don't let up, guys! Let him have it!" Wakabe exclaimed as this was another opportunity to unleash a barrage of attacks on Natsu.
"Got it! Sand Wave!"
"Fireworks!"
"Bullet Rain!"
The barrage of attacks would be unleashed on Natsu, their aim set solely on him. All the while, Natsu was being surrounded by Wakabe's smoke, the Dragon Slayer unable to see. His hearing was on high alert, listening carefully for anything that could tell him where the others were. Not only did he have the attacks of a Dragon, but the senses.
He listened carefully, checking for where the next attack would come. His ears managed to read up on what sounded like a gunshot. Two of them. One from Alzack and another from Bisca, coming from the top. Natsu could hear the sound of bullets flying.
Natsu swiftly moved out of the way, avoiding the bullets as he could hear their trajectory. After that, his body would light up, his flames igniting as he would push forward.
"Fire Dragon: Dragon Flame Elbow!" Natsu's arm would burst into a pillar of flames, the Fire Dragon Slayer unleashing a powerful attack as he thrust his elbow forward, bursting out of the smoke and colliding with a wizard who try approaching him. That wizard was knocked out in a single go.
"Whoa!" Max would gasp, seeing how easily the wizard was taken down.
"Damn it! Purple Rain!" From his hands, Macao unleashed purple fire, sending them in rapid succession as bullets. Natsu looked to his side as he was then met with an absolute fierce onslaught of purple flames. The fire would explode continuously each time it landed on Natsu, setting off blazing explosions.
Macao kept it up, not letting up at all as Natsu was pushed back by the continuous onslaught. After a few moments, there was an array of purple fire on that very spot as Macao unloaded some truly aggressive force.
"How do you like that, you bastard?!" Macao questioned. "You won't be able to recover after tha-"
But then, something absolutely shocking surprised him and everyone else. The flames were suddenly starting to shrink seemingly. Or rather, they were all being pulled into one spot as an odd sound could be heard.
"W-What?!"
"Huh?! No way!"
And then, the purple flames were sucked up. That person was none other than Natsu. He would absorb the purple flames with a single hand, the flames being drawn in by him. To their shock, he was eating them.
"Is he...eating the Fire?! Macao's flames?!" Droy exclaimed, his jaw dropping. They were in disbelief. Natsu was eating magic right before their eyes as if it were a meal to him, scarfing every single bit of it down.
"Aah..." Natsu would exhale a puff of purple fire, looking quite satisfied.
"H-How is he...?!" Macao was at a loss for words, watching as Natsu was unaffected by his flames.
"Hm? What was that, old man?" Natsu asked, a smirk growing. "Your magic? It was a pretty tasty one. I'll give you that. But now that I've eaten it, there's no way you can beat me!
"E-Eaten it?!"
"What?! Are you a demon?!"
"H-He's a monster!"
"I think I know how strong you guys are now. Which means...I can end this battle." Natsu's eyes lit up, his grin widening as he would suddenly take a deep breath. A bright orange glow was emanating from his mouth, catching the attention of all the wizards present.
"G-G-G-Get back!" Max cried out, knowing what was coming. Everyone would try to move, but with the speed that Natsu was moving, they would barely make it.
"Fire Dragon: Roar!" Natsu would unleash a ferocious stream of fire, the blast completely devastating. The fire was hotter than any normal flame as the stream was large and intense, a wave of orange engulfing the area. The flames would blast through everything, destroying buildings, carts, stalls, and so on.
Everyone was sent flying, being thrown back by the fierce eruption of flames. Some were even knocked out instantly, being overwhelmed by the power of the Fire Dragon Slayer. With a simple stream of fire, Natsu was able to knock most of the wizards out.
The Fairy Tail Wizards would groan, being taken down by Natsu's roar. He was too much for them. They couldn't compete with him at all. It was all over. As they were on the ground, their strength depleted, they could do nothing but watch as Natsu stood, his body radiating heat and the flames still burning on his body.
"T-This guy...he's..." Macao huffed, looking up at Natsu. "He's not human...he's not human at all..."
"Hah..." Natsu would breath out smoke before turning to face the rest of the wizards who were left. Elfman was among the few wizards still up, along with Max, Bisca, Alzack, and some other wizards. They were all tired, their bodies drained of energy.
"Hmph. Guess not. You're all so weak." Natsu huffed, cracking his knuckles. "But I guess you guys can take a beating pretty well."
"Hah...hah..." Elfman panted, struggling to stand. He knew that the fight was far from over. His body was aching, but he was not willing to back down.
"You guys aren't that bad." Natsu smirked. "Usually, anyone I take down just gets scared, cries and backs away. But you guys? You're something else. You actually wanna keep going? Even though you're exhausted? Just like Erza...Now I really wanna go all out."
"You've...been going...all out...?" Elfman grimaced.
"Oh yeah. But even when I was holding back, I still had to deal with you guys. Any longer and I would've been in some real trouble." Natsu crossed his arms before thinking for a moment. "I've got an offer for you guys! Join up with me!"
"Eh?" Elfman raised a brow, not expecting this.
"Huh? What's this about?!" Macao exclaimed, also confused.
"I want you to join me. I can see that you're all strong. And you've got some potential that's for sure. If I'm gonna be Emperor one day, I gotta have a bunch of strong guys in my team, right?"
"What are you talking about?!" Elfman questioned. "We'd never join a jerk like you!"
"Are you an idiot? There's no way we'd join you. Do you even know how many people have gotten hurt because of you and your friends?" Macao glared.
"Come on. Erza joined up with me, even if it's mind control or whatever. And if Erza's on my side, you guys can be on my side too. It'd make things easier." Natsu shrugged.
"Erza isn't with you, she's against you!" Jet snapped. "Come on, Erza! Snap out of it already and floor these guys! You're not supposed to be on their side!"
"Yeah!" Wakabe grunted while on the ground. "Don't you remember?! You're one Fairy Tail's strongest wizards! Don't lose to these guys, Erza!"
"He's right! You're way better than those jerks, Erza! Get up and kick their asses already!"
"That's right!"
"Yeah! Beat them all, Erza!"
"..." But the armored beauty said nothing. She didn't even bat an eye, remaining as still as a statue. However, the voices that were coming her way would flood into her head, a voice that was familiar ringing inside her ears. Her mind, which was dominated by what Tigha had done, still had that one part that had been untouched.
The voices were getting to her, reaching her. It was the last shred of Erza that was trying to hold on. But no matter how hard she tried, she could not break free.
"..." Natsu looked at her for a moment, seeing that Erza was not moving at all. He would look back at the others, the ones who were still up and conscious. "You're really persistent, I'll give you that. But you've had enough. If you don't wanna join me, fine. Maybe everyone else in your guild will have a different response. Either way, it doesn't change the fact that after this, the Fairy Tail Guild is over."
"Hah...Hah...Over?!" Elfman clenched his fist, glaring at the Dragon Slayer. "Don't say something so ridiculous! We're not done yet! Fairy Tail won't ever fall! Never!"
"Heh. Really?" Natsu asked. "I wanna have some more fun fighting you guys...but. I'm not one to take someone on when they're weak. I'd rather beat the crap out of you guys when you're strong and give you a good fight. And besides, I have a job to finish. I'll head over to Fairy Tail and get rid of your guild. You guys can sit and watch as your precious guildhall crumbles."
"You bastard!" Elfman would rush at Natsu, ready to deliver a heavy strike. "You won't win! No matter how many times you take us down, we'll get up and fight! So don't count us out! Fairy Tail won't ever die!"
"Elfman! Don't rush him!" Macao called out.
"That's right! You can't take him alone!" Bisca shouted.
"Hah! Alone, huh? Well, let's test that out." Natsu grinned, his fists lighting up in flames. "Fire Dragon: Iron-" But before Natsu could even shout out his attack, something had struck Elfman. A small wave of force passed by Natsu, striking Elfman in the chest and knocking him away.
"Ah?!" Elfman's eyes widened, suddenly finding himself blasted away. Natsu watched as Elfman would land on the ground, groaning. The Dragon Slayer then looked over his shoulder, spotting a figure. That figure was none other than Vaddeus, who was passing by.
"Sorry. Couldn't help but notice that you were all in a heap." He spoke, his expression showing no remorse or concern. "Taking this long with nobodies, Natsu?
"Master Vaddeus!" One of the Void Kingdom Wizards gasped. Elfman was seen lying on the floor, a huge dent in his pectorals as there was a hole in his shirt. The sight was shocking to see.
"Here I thought you would've been there by now at least. But of course, your battle-hungry self wasted time." Vaddeus commented, glaring at Natsu. The Fire Dragon Slayer was a little surprised by this, but it was quickly replaced with annoyance. "Listen here, Fairy Tail." Vaddeus addressed them all. "King Alehot wants you all eliminated, and that is our goal. If you want to survive, I'd suggest you head home. The Void Kingdom will show no mercy.
"Mercy?" Wakabe huffed. "If that's true, then what was that guy's goal when he came to Hargeon earlier?!"
"Ah. That." Vaddeus looked at him. "That was just to lure the Fairy Tail members into the city. After all, the guildhall isn't exactly far from here. It'd make sense that anyone there would hear the commotion and rush over to aid their comrades."
"So it was a trap!" Wakabe shouted.
"A trap? Not at all. You're all just dumb enough to fall for a little noise." Vaddeus chuckled, the sound of his laughter infuriating the wizards. "I'll do you all a favor and reach your guild, just to see what the big deal is. So far, your strength is lacking, so that part is honestly disappointing. But surely, there's something in your Guild that makes up for it. Something special. A reason why your guild is famous. Perhaps something like that will be worth all the trouble."
"Like hell that's happening!" A voice roared at Vaddeus. From above, Vaddeus would look up to see a familiar face approaching. From above, Gray would drop down, his body glowing. He was using Ice-Make, and as he fell, the ice on his body would shatter, his hand aimed directly at Vaddeus. "Ice-Make: Ice Lance!"
A lance made of ice would form in his hands, being aimed at the Djinn. Gray would launch his attack, the lance heading straight for Vaddeus. But the Djinn would raise his arm, blocking the attack. The impact would send a burst of force, a shockwave being created.
Vaddeus would skid back, his feet leaving cracks on the ground as he slid. When the ice shards and mist cleared, Gray would land. His eyes would glare at Vaddeus, not even sparing Natsu a glance.
"Ah. You again. You actually survived that attack." Vaddeus said, slowly nodding his head. "I suppose that means those two beauties made it out as well. Perhaps there's a chance I can still take them back with me."
"G-Gray..." Jet huffed, his eyes wide. "You're here."
"!" Gray's eyes widened once he saw who was standing near Natsu. It was Erza. Seeing the woman who was the symbol of Fairy Tail standing there, completely docile and obedient, was shocking to him. "Erza..."
"..." Erza looked back at him with an expressionless gaze. There was no light in her eyes.
"No way...So it's true." Gray huffed, clenching his fists. It seemed that Erza's mind was truly messed with. "You bastards...You're dead meat!"
"I'd say the same to you." Vaddeus responded, his eyes narrowing. "You're still standing, even after that attack. I don't know what kind of magic you're using, but it's clear to me that you're the one who's got a chance to stand against me. Of course, I don't have the time for you. I have a Guild to get to. You can wait here, Natsu. I'll meet you there soon.
"What?! Why are you telling me to stay here?!" Natsu shouted.
"You took too long here. I'm not risking any more time. I'm going on ahead. I'll leave you a few Void Kingdom Wizards, but that's about it. Don't let yourself be distracted, Natsu." Vaddeus replied before stepping forward.
"As if!" Natsu would suddenly rush past Vaddeus. "I'm getting there first! You can have whatever's left of these guys!"
"Hmph. Like I'd waste my time on these nobodies." Vaddeus walked forward, stepping on Droy's back along the way. "The rest of you can handle the Ice Wizard and everyone else here. Finish them off. And make sure to kill the Ice Wizard. He's a bother."
The Void Kingdom Wizards would cackle as they already surrounded Gray, ready to deal with him. The Ice Wizard would scowl, looking around him. He had no choice but to fight. He needed to buy some time and make sure Vaddeus doesn't get to the guild.
Lucy was just now catching up, having been on her way. She would find herself at a distance from the group. When she would arrive, the sight of Gray being surrounded was a horrifying one. Cana was right behind her, the two shocked by what was happening.
"Gray can't take all of those guys on his own." Cana gasped, seeing the group of Void Kingdom Wizards closing in on Gray.
"Gray...!" Lucy was horrified, worried for her friend. She wanted to jump in and help him, but what could she do? "W-What are we supposed to do?!"
Gray himself knew this was a rough spot for him and his friends. They were all so vulnerable right now. But he wasn't about to give up. Not here, not now. His life wasn't the only one on the line. So were his friends and everyone else. He was prepared to fight.
"No one's dying here today. Not for a moment!" Gray would already be pulling off the stance for his Ice-Make. He then shifted his eyes to Cana in the distance, a serious look in his eyes. Gray could also see that the Void Kingdom Wizards have already taken damage, meaning they were rather weak at the moment.
Gray was about to go all out. But he didn't want to risk harming his friends. But that was where Cana came in. "Don't try and play hero and just die!" One of the Wizards cackled, rushing in for an attack.
"Card Magic! Card Conversion!" With all of her might and her remaining magic, Cana threw a vast number of cards as Gray would place his hand on the ground at full force. The cards flew forward, flying at high speeds and heading straight for her Guildmates.
Cana had managed to connect, allowing Gray to unleash his attack. "Ice-Make: Floor!" Gray shouted, slamming his fist into the ground. As for the cards, they would immediately begin pulling Macao and the others inside the cards themselves. They gasped as their bodies would light up, becoming bodies of light and entering the cards.
All of them were sucked into the cards, one by one. They would be placed into the cards as their forms would shrink and vanish from the scene. After that, the cards would glow before flying over to Cana's hand, landing perfectly. But that was all Cana could do. She had wasted the last bit of magic in her as she fell flat on her face.
As for Gray, he would unleash his full force attack now that his friends were out of the way. The area around him would be covered in ice, freezing everything. All the while, the Void Kingdom Wizards would be frozen solid, unable to move an inch.
Gray would breathe out a cloud of cold air, his body still radiating cold. He would stand up, cracking his neck. Lucy was in awe, watching as Gray unleashed such a fierce attack. His strength was truly incredible.
"Gray..." Lucy said his name, seeing him. Gray would then start running, holding his arm as he drained a ton of magic from himself. He was exhausted and he didn't have much magic left, but he couldn't stop.
That attack of his was only made to slow down the Void Kingdom Wizards. Only a few of them were knocked out, and the rest were still conscious. However, that would not stop him. He needed to get to the guild and help them.
"Cana, let's go!" Lucy called out while picking up Cana from the ground. "We've gotta go to the guild!"
"Lucy...?" Cana mumbled, looking up at the Celestial Spirit Wizard. "G-Go on without me...I'm tired..."
"Are you kidding?! This isn't the time to be sleeping, Cana! You've gotta get up!" Lucy said, shaking the drunkard a little.
"Hold on to these." Cana would then hold up all of the cards that contained the Guild Members.
"Huh?! These are..."
"They're my friends. They're safe, but I doubt they can do anything in those things." Cana explained. "Take them with you and unleash them when they're back to enough strength. For now, you need to get to the Guild before it's too late."
"B-But what about you?!"
"I'll catch up...Just go!"
"A-Alright!"Lucy understood as she took off, having all the cards in her grasp. Gray would already be far ahead, running with all of his might. Lucy was right behind him, running as fast as she could. She passed by the frozen wizards who were slowly melting the ice away.
She knew she was in danger. They were both in danger. But she didn't care. All she wanted was to save the people she cared for.
Meanwhile, the Fairy Tail Guild, Aria had returned to Jose, informing him of what he had just witnessed. He let Jose know immediately and by extension, the rest of the guild.
"What?! Two of the Element 4 are already down?!" Jose was stunned to hear this.
"Y-Yes...T-T-T-T-The Fire Dragon Slayer...he was strong..." Aria replied, still a nervous wreck. "M-Master Jose...So Sorrowful to see them all be defeated so easily..."
"Tch." Jose bit his nail. "It's fine. It isn't over just yet. We still have you and Juvia Lockser." Jose was trying not to panic. "Even if they have a Dragon Slayer with them, it isn't an immediate loss. Not at all."
"You're getting worried yourself, Jose." Makarov pointed out.
"You wish I was, Makarov." Jose scoffed. "There's no reason for me to be. The fact of the matter is, we still have a chance. Not sure about your Guild, though."
"You're the one who needs to be careful, Jose." Makarov warned him. "I can sense a presence heading this way. It's the same one that's been causing a disturbance throughout Magnolia."
"A disturbance, eh?" Jose looked to his side, staring at the window. He was beginning to feel it. The presence that Makarov spoke of. And that feeling was making him nervous. "This isn't good. This presence is powerful. Very powerful."
"And it's coming this way." Makarov nodded. "What will you do, Jose?"
"You'll see soon enough. Phantom Lord's Ace in the hole is always an excellent option." Jose grinned, feeling confident. "We've just had a few minor setbacks, nothing more."
"We'll see about that." Makarov sighed, wondering how this would end. He would then turn around, his expression serious.
"I hope they're all alright. They have to be." Levy said, worried about all of her friends.
"Hmph. If they lost already, that's gotta be pretty pathetic." Gajeel crossed his arms, receiving eyes from the Guild Members in here. "They'd better bring some crazy results."
"Oh come on. You aren't even out there yourself." Levy stood up, pointing out how he was here.
"So? I've got my own role." Gajeel shrugged. "I'll smash those Void Chumps once they get here. If they do anyway. I'll show you all how it's-" Gajeel would suddenly stop. The entire room would feel an overwhelming sensation.
Everyone would gasp as they all felt the presence of someone. This presence was overwhelming. It was a feeling that would put a chill down anyone's spine. Gajeel's stance would drastically change as he stood in front of Levy, looking ahead.
"Something's coming!" He exclaimed. Right on time, bursting through those doors with an outburst of flames was none other than Natsu Dragneel himself. He would stand before the Guild, a wicked grin on his face.
The Dragon Slayer of the Void Kingdom was here, being the first to arrive. Mirajane, Levy and the other guild members in here widened their eyes. Natsu was the one who was making that feeling?
"Haha! Finally, I'm here! You guys must be Fairy Tail, right?" Natsu cackled, cracking his knuckles. "Let's have some fun!"
"W-Who is that?" Levy stuttered.
"Well, looks like those chumps lost." Gajeel grinned, stepping forward. "So much for that since you're here. Who are you?"
"Me? I'm Natsu Dragneel, one of the best Wizards from the Void Kingdom." Natsu introduced himself. "You've probably heard about me, right?"
"Nah. Don't plan to. I don't care much for the Void Kingdom or whatever." Gajeel would stand next to Natsu, glaring down at him.
"Our friends! Where are our friends?!" Mirajane questioned from afar, needing to know.
"Huh? Ah, they're still back at that Hargeon place battling. I already got done wiping the floor with them, so they don't have that much strength left to continue. Most of them anyways. That one guy, Elfman though? Pretty tough guy. He still wanted to keep going. That's pretty good." Natsu smirked.
"Oh no...Elfman..." Mirajane gasped, fearing for her brother.
"But hey. Here's one of your friends, I guess. Erza, come here." Natsu turned around and signalled Erza. The armored wizard would approach, standing behind Natsu. She would look around the guildhall, her gaze emotionless.
"Erza!" Her Guildmates yelled, seeing her in this state. They were horrified.
"..." Erza didn't respond, not even batting an eye.
"Oh no...Erza?" Levy asked, her body trembling. "Her mind...is she okay?"
"She's not in a good state, I can tell you that. But if you guys want her back, you'll have to beat me first. Or rather, all of you have to beat me." Natsu declared, wanting a challenge.
"How dare you!" Makarov was visibly enraged by this. To see one he considers famly in this state was heartbreaking. "What have you done to Erza?!"
"Oh?" Jose said, intrigued by this.
"Chill, Gramps." Natsu uttered. "I already mopped the floor with all the wizards back there, and you're about to join them. You don't stand a chance against me. Not that you have a choice. Either way, your guild is finished. And I think now might be a good time to jump in Erza. These guys aren't strong enough to fight me alone. I can sense a ton of magic power coming from that gramps over there."
"Understood, Master Natsu." Erza replied, stepping forward.
"What?! Erza!" Mirajane gasped. "Erza?! What are you doing?! Stop! Don't hurt them!"
"Yeah! What are you doing, Erza?!" Levy asked, her hands trembling.
"Hmph." Erza would simply walk forward, ready to engage. "Master Natsu has given me a job. My task is to eliminate all members of Fairy Tail. I will not disappoint him. That's why..." Erza would suddenly unsheath her sword, the blade gleaming.
"Get ready. I will end you here. Right now. This will be quick."
Naturally, the Fairy Tail Guild Members were hesitant to fight her, not wanting to harm her. That was their friend after all and she was very much not right in the head. Right now, Erza was threatening all of them, her blade having the full intent to take them all out.
"Heh. If you guys are chicken, we'll gladly take her own and make things easy for you." Stepping forward were the Phantom Lord Guild Members. This entire time, they've stayed out of the battle, letting Fairy Tail deal with most of the issue. However, Natsu's arrival had changed things.
The Phantom Lord Wizards grinned, cracking their knuckles and their magic ready. They were ore than happy to take Erza down as opposed to Fairy Tail, who didn't have the spirit to do it right now.
Erza would suddenly yell, "Requip!"A light enveloped her, changing her form. An armor quickly appeared over her body that fit the theme of Natsu perfectly. This armor was predominantly dark red in color, but also had orange and black parts, with the orange parts being shaped like flames and the other parts being reminiscent of Dragon's limbs.
The breastplate lacks pauldrons, revealing Erza's shoulders, and extends down to cover her groin, revealing her legs and, in a way, being reminiscent of a one piece swimming suit, with an orange part covering her large breasts and another one circling her waist like a belt.
The breastplate also possesses a pair of Dragon-like wings attached to it. The gauntlets sport prominent orange decorations, along with small claw-like protrusions on the hands. The greaves are shaped like Dragon's claws which possess orange-colored knee guards and black parts which extend up from the knees to the upper part of the thighs.
"Flame Empress Armor!"
"Ah? What the hell is that?!" Natsu exclaimed, never having seen this armor before. "That's so awesome!"
"For Master Natsu, I will defeat you all!" Erza declared as her expressionless tone was gone now that she was about to battle. Wasting no time, Erza rushed in with her blade, prepared to strike at Phantom Lord.
Phantom Lord would retaliate, unleashing their magic at her, but she was fast. Using the Flame Empress Armor, she would swing her blade, unleashing a wave of flames at her foes. The Phantom Lord Wizards would cry out, being struck by the wave of fire.
Natsu watched in awe, seeing Erza fight. She was really going all out. She was showing no mercy as she was cutting down Phantom Lord, the flames burning their bodies. The fact that she could use Fire too excited Natsu. Erza was not going to be easy on them.
"Go get 'em, Erza! Show those jerks what you've got!" Natsu cheered, watching as Erza would rush in, her sword ignited in flames. Quickly, Phantom Lord was beginning to fall one by one, most unable to handle the sheer power Erza was unleashing.
This power she was unleashing was also damaging the guildhall, the flames destroying parts of the hall. Natsu watched, impressed. This was exactly the kind of thing he wanted to see. Flames were already beginning to spread, the fire slowly taking over.
"Gah! T-Take her down!" One of the Phantom Lord Wizards cried out.
"I-I'm trying! She's so damn fast!" Another one exclaimed before being struck by a wave of fire. Fairy Tail watched as Phantom Lord's wizards were being absolutely dominated by Erza, not having a chance at all.
Jose was shocked by this. He didn't expect Erza to be able to fight so well. He had no idea what kind of magic or spell she was using, but it was clear that she was dominating them. His Guild was starting to dwindle so fast as it was not looking good for his side at all.
But this was also detrimental to the Guild since the fire was spreading rapidly. "You fool! Don't just stand there!" Jose yelled at Aria, needing him to do something soon.
Aria understood, finally taking action. With his hands out and palm open, he would unleash his magic. "Zetsu!" From his hand, a series of invisible airspaces were unleashed, travelling across the guild and heading straight for Erza. The magic would be strong enough to blow some of the Fairy Tail members nearby thanks to its pressure, including the tables and chairs.
"!" Erza sensed the attack but was unable to stop it. Her body was struck by an invisible force that sent her flying. Natsu widened his eyes, seeing Erza get thrown back.
"Erza!" Natsu shouted. Erza was sent so far that she was back at the entrance of Fairy Tail, sliding on the ground to recover and emerging on the outside, stabbing her blade into the ground.
"Ugh..." She grunted. She would look ahead and find herself face to face with Aria, who had stepped out of the Guild.
"It's Sorrowful what has happened to your mind! Absolutely sorrowful!" Aria weeped for Erza while standing before her. "I'm sorry! Forgive me for what I'm about to do, Miss Erza! Metsu!" Aria would immediately place his hands near Erza, their open palms facing each other, moving them towards mind-controlled woman. Suddenly, Erza found herself enveloped in an airspace that had been created by Aria.
"!" Erza grunted as her body was trapped.
"This is Metsu. An Airspace that would drain your magic in an instant and make it void. You've lost this fight, Miss Erza." Aria would say, tears rolling down his cheeks. "The stronger your magic power, more damage you will suffer when 's Sorrowful, but it must be done. Forgive me!"
"N-No..." Erza grimaced, feeling her energy fading. She was losing it. The flames around her would begin to fade.
"I'm sorry, Miss Erza! But it has to be done. You are too strong! Too strong, indeed!
Ghhh!" Erza would clench her fists, her teeth gritting as she was not about to lose here. Not while her Master was watching. With her eyes flaring, she would use the last bit of strength and push her way through. She would then thrust her sword into the airspace, piercing through it.
"Ah?!" Aria stumbled back, the airspace vanishing. His eyes widened, realizing that Erza had pushed through the airspace.
"Hah...Hah...I will not lose!" Erza shouted, the flame around her bursting. "For my Master, I will defeat all of you. I will not fail. For Master Natsu, I will crush you all!"
"Y-You've truly been taken over." Aria said, stunned. Before he could make another move, Erza rushed in, her sword in hand. Aria held his hands out, ready to unleash another Airspace to launch her away.
"Requip!" Erza's armor changed again. The Flame Empress Armor vanished as her body was encased in a different one. The armor was mostly dark-purple, with her left shoulder, and the back of her upper arms, hands, and lower legs being covered in a light-blue, scale-shaped, plating-like material.
It also features a small, light-blue, scale-like, plating-like covering at the sides of her neck, as well as a white-scale-like pattern on her collarbones, and a similar, light-blue, scale-like, plating-like pattern at her midsection, below her breasts, and at her waist, where a white cloth is attached to the armor's skirt.
Her arms and legs were adorned with light-blue, scale-like, plating-like armors. On her right forearm, a blue, spiky-looking gauntlet-like armor was placed, and on her left wrist, a blue, band-like armor with the same pattern. On her left hip, she was sporting a small, blue, spiky-looking shield, which was connected to her armor's skirt with a belt-like part.
"Empty Empress Armor!" In her hands, she held a spear that was also purple in color. Aria gasped as Erza would swing the spear, the weapon being long enough to reach the Wizard. Aria would try to dodge but he was still caught, being knocked back by the impact.
"I've never seen that Armor before." Mirajane gawked. "Don't tell me...Is that an Armor from the Void Kingdom?!"
"Guuaah!" Aria cried out after being struck by the spear. He would then slide back, almost falling over as he returned to the indoors of the guild.
"Devoid Way!" Erza, being even more aggressive than before, would hold her spear out. A purple aura would surround her, the energy of her magic flowing. Suddenly, Erza's spear would vanish, the magic surrounding her turning into an odd substance.
"T-That magic!" Makarov exclaimed, recognizing this magic. The purple substance would then turn into a spear, being aimed right at Aria. "Erza's using Devoid Magic?! She can use it?!"
"What the hell is this?!" Jose exclaimed. "Isn't that Lost Magic?!"
"Hah!" Erza would then throw her spear, sending the attack straight at Aria. The wizard had to fight back, using a spell to quickly save him. And it started by removing his blindfold, revealing the rest of his face.
"Air Form!" He shouted, as in the nick of time, he managed to enter an airy form. The spear was seemingly about to go through him now that he had this airy form. However, one of the powerful effects of this Devoid Magic would be shown. As soon as it came across his form, the magic around the spear would suddenly struck him even in this state.
"G-Gaaah?!" Aria cried out, suddenly returning to normal. He was shocked, having not expected this. He was caught off guard. His body would be hit by the spear, the weapon being strong enough to knock him out. Not only that, the impact of the spear hitting would send a shockwave that would take out the Phantom Lord wizards behind him.
The shockwave travelled across the interior of the Fairy Tail Guild. The entire area would be shaking, causing a lot of damage to the building. The shockwave was also coming towards the Fairy Tail Members, threatening to harm them, only for Makarov to step in.
With his hands out, he summoned a large shield. This shield would cover everyone in the guild. It protected them from the shockwave and the damage, the shield absorbing all the impact. The attack did nothing to Makarov, who would stand there, defending everyone.
"H-Holy crap!" Natsu said, surprised. "Those guys were wiped out by a single blow."
The guild, while some of it was protected, parts of it have been greatly damaged. Aria and the other Phantom Lord Wizards were lying unconscious on the ground. Erza would approach, her armor vanishing as she was back in her regular armor.
"T-That can't be!" Jose gasped when seeing his wizards downed. The only one left standing was Gajeel, who was shocked to see his guild members out cold. And by extension, there was Juvia, who was elsewhere.
"Not only did they capture Erza and make her into some sort of mindless slave, but they gave her access to Lost Magic...?!" Makarov was stunned, seeing what was happening. "I don't know how that's possible...How could they do this to Erza?"
"...!" Suddenly Jose would run off, exiting through the holes made in the guild. He was leaving, running away from the scene.
"Wait!" Makarov would shout.
"I still have the ace in the hole of Phantom Lord! This isn't over!" Jose bellowed while running off. He would not give up, wanting to survive.
"So much for that. I can't believe you all lost." Gajeel walked past his guildmates, stepping up to the plate. He cracked his knuckles, preparing himself.
"Huh? Who the hell are you?" Natsu questioned.
"Name's Gajeel Redfox. I ain't a part of any Element 4. I'm powerful without that. I'd say I'm better than them all." Gajeel explained, approaching. "Aside from the redhead, you're giving off a pretty tough aura, aren't you? Well, no matter. I'll be the one to deal with you."
"Oh, yeah?" Natsu grinned, ready to battle. "Well, let's see what you got then!"
"Master. Shall I cut down the rest of the Guild Members?" Erza questioned.
"Do what you want. Just don't kill them, Erza." Natsu instructed her, looking forward. "This guild is pretty interesting.
"Understood." Erza replied.
"Hmph. I'll take on the Dragon Slayer and you all can handle the armored chick. She's one of yours, isn't she?" Gajeel looked back at Makarov.
"Erza! Listen to us!" Mirajane moved past the rubble and destruction within the guild, shouting at Erza. "Please! We're your friends! Remember! Come on! Wake up, Erza! You've gotta wake up!"
"Silence." Erza pointed her sword forward. "This ends here. Now."
"Erza..." Levy watched as the woman was ready to strike. She truly didn't remember anything about her guild. And if she did, her mind was unable to reach it. Makarov moved past Mirajane and Levy, stepping in.
"You are one of Fairy Tail's greatest wizards, Erza. There's no reason for you to be doing this. So wake up. Your friends need you." Makarov addressed her.
"Friends? What a laugh." Erza said, scoffing at his words. "The Void Kingdom is where I belong. And I belong with Master Natsu. Fairy Tail means nothing to me."
"You've never spoken like that before. This isn't you, Erza." Makarov said, frowning.
"..." Erza stayed silent, looking ahead. She was ready to fight, the light in her eyes gone.
"She's not in the right state, Gramps. Let's just take her down and get this over with." Gajeel said, not interested in wasting time. "How about I do you a favour and take this battle outside?!" Gajeel, in a sudden burst of speed, rushed at Natsu, his fist reeled back.
"Huh?" Natsu didn't have a chance to respond.
"Hyah!" Gajeel shouted, his fist lighting up in a blackish aura. A fierce blow was dealt to Natsu's face, a burst of force erupting and destroying the rest of the guild. This impact would cause Natsu to fly straight out of the guild, his body spinning through the air.
"Master!" Erza would look, the Dragon Slayer soaring through the sky. Gajeel would follow, jumping through the hole and into the air, going after the Dragon Slayer. Their battle had begun and it was out of the guild.
"Gah!" Natsu landed hard, his body tumbling along the ground. Gajeel would land on his feet, a wicked smirk on his face.
"Not a bad blow, right?" He chuckled. "That's why Phantom Lord is the strongest guild. You won't stand a chance against me, so don't even try."
"Heh. You think that did something?" Natsu slowly stood up, rubbing his nose. "If that's all you've got, you're really underestimating me."
"Am I?" Gajeel questioned, grinning. Both their eyes had a ferocious glint. Their battle was about to begin.
As for Erza, she stared down those within the guild, her sword ready. "I'll have no mercy. And I won't fail. For my Master, I will eliminate you all. Even if you are my guildmates."
"Erza..." Mirajane clenched her fists, worried for the woman.
Outside, Vaddeus was even closer to Fairy Tail, finally arriving at Magnolia. And at this moment, he saw the guild in the distance along, being a few feet away from its location.
"Finally." He said. "This is what the Fairy Tail Guild looks like. Not too shabby, but far too simple for my taste. Let's hope whatever's in there is way better." Vaddeus chuckled, continuing on his way. But while he kept moving, he noticed that the clouds above were closing in on each other, the skies above gaining a greyish colour.
When looking up at the sudden shift in atmosphere, he would then see rain drops falling. It was starting to rain. The droplets would start pitter pattering down, Vaddeus' clothes getting a little wet. He huffed, continuing on.
"Hm?" His eyes then caught something. There was a figure walking on the path. Someone was nearby, someone who was headed straight for him. It was a woman, one who wore a dark outfit, and one that looked like a coat.
The woman would keep walking, not seeming to notice Vaddeus. That was until she stopped, her body tensing. Her hair would sway as she looked to the side, her gaze meeting his.
"Drip. Drip. Drop." The rain fell, the woman staring at Vaddeus. He was the same, the Djinn User and the woman eyeing each other.
"It's a woman...and a beautiful one too." Vaddeus commented. Standing before her was none other than the 4th Member of the Element 4. The only one who hadn't been defeated yet.
"Juvia Lockser. I am the fourth member of the Element 4." Juvia spoke, introducing herself.
Time was of the essence as the Void Kingdom had finally arrived at Fairy Tail, causing a ruckus and damaging the building. It could either get worse from here or the tides could change.