"Am I really stuck with you?" Shadowlore groaned while walking beside Natsu with a slouch.
"I'm not happy about it either, Lore," Natsu replied while keeping his senses heightened for anything around. "But this ain't about our differences right now, we have to bring down the bastard that had to nerve to put Cynthia and Wendy through hell. I still haven't punched him yet…" As the Salamander recalled the events of Fiore's End, he subconsciously clenched his fists to the point where his veins showed. Just the mere thought of the incident made him livid.
"I suppose you're right about that…" Shadowlore huffed. "Being sucked into this mess wasn't exactly into my to do list, but Gaia cares for that little runt so I guess I don't have much of a say in the matter. By the way, either something very cold is approaching or someone turned the thermostat waaaaay low."
"I sense it too…" Natsu replied as he stopped in his place and took a look around. Oddly enough, the place he and Shadowlore walked into was quite large; big enough for a battle, and the room was quite cold to the normal person. "Hm…"
"BIG STAMP!" Yeti Blizzard exclaimed from above, aiming his large foot down in attempt to squash both Natsu and Shadowlore.
"I knew it!" Natsu growled as he and Shadowlore jumped to opposite sides just in the nick of time. Natsu to the right and Lore to the left; Yeti Blizzard's stomp caused a large crater in the center of the room, causing a miniature tremor afterwards. "You again!"
"Oh, the flaming reptile!" Yeti Blizzard grinned with excitement as he pounded his chest, a metallic sound emitting as he did so. "Perfect. I get the chance to squash you for what you did to me!"
"I didn't fight you, but I'll be more than happy to pound you into the ground!" Natsu replied as fire swirled around his fist. Without another moment, he lunged towards the Yeti, throwing his arm forward. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
"I think you'll find that I'm a lot stronger than last time!" Yeti Blizzard exclaimed while drawing his fist back, clashing with Natsu. Natsu found that Yeti Blizzard's strength was much higher than his own, so the Salamander was thrown back by the attack, but he flipped, a palm on the ground as he skidded across it a few feet.
"Tch, what the hell!?" Natsu growled. "There's no way you were that strong last time if Gray was able to beat you!"
"You've lost your edge, Salamander!" Lore replied while shifting into his wolf form, darting towards Yeti in a zig zag pattern with almost overwhelming speed. Lore then leapt forward, smashing his head against Yeti's chest, only for his eyes to widen comically as he froze in place. "….Those are some rock hard abs…" He whimpered, suddenly gripped by the large hand of the Abominable Snowman before him. "Guh!"
"I'm no longer Yeti Blizzard!" The snow ape exclaimed while hurling Lore towards Natsu, the two rolling across the ground after the impact. Blizzard beat his chest once again, letting out a loud roar after. "I am Yeti Blizzard 2.0!"
"Tch…" Natsu grunted, picking himself up quickly. "Last time I checked, you weren't a machine, just some takeover mage, right!?"
"HA!" Blizzard laughed at Natsu's guess, shaking his head after. "I used to be that, but with Aiden's enhancements, I've become a battle machine! I can stay in my takeover for as long as I want without magic exhaustion! I'm stronger, bigger, and faster, you cannot hope to defeat me!"
"Man, sounds like he literally made these talkative idiots into machines…" Lore said while standing up, shaking his head.
"If you were beaten once by the popsicle…" Natsu said with a growing grin, the fire around his body flaring more intently than before. "Then there's no way in hell I can lose to you!" And as his grin grew, his expression became darker. "Not only that, but you're standing in my way. I've got a score to settle with Aiden, so I'm going to make this quick."
.
.
"Oh, come on, not even one?!" Daryan asked Cana as they walked up a flight of stairs.
"No, get your own!" Cana replied with a comical scowl. "I thought you said the whole chick-magnet thing was an act!?"
"Well, it is! Partially!" Daryan replied with a nod. "You see, my eye is really on Kagura, but I'm not entire sure she likes me, ya know?"
"I could give you multiple reasons on why she, and many other females, including myself, don't like you," Cana responded while taking a swig from her flask.
"…Well what do you see in a guy, then!?" Daryan asked, leaning forward while examining the female.
"Like I'd tell you that," Cana responded with a sly smirk.
"Oh, come onnnnnnn!" Daryan whined in a comical manner.
"Nope!" Cana's smirk only grew, enjoying her torment of the dragon slayer. Perhaps a little too much.
.
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"Welcome, mortals!" Apollo Flame exclaimed to Cygnus and Jaxon, a welcoming grin on his face as the two Eclipse mages walked into his room, which resembled an open field with a skylight, allowing the rays of the sun to enter the room.
"Mortals?" Jaxon blinked a few times, arms crossed over his chest after. "Someone's on their high horse if you're gonna greet us like that."
"Pft, tell me about it." Cygnus nudged Jaxon while giving Apollo Flame a smirk. "So, tell me, you one of Aiden's puppets too?"
"Puppets?!" Apollo glared angrily at Cygnus, the term offending him greatly. "I am the god of the sun, Apollo Flame!" As he exclaimed this the rays of the sun intensified.
"God of the sun? Serving a mad scientist who tried to use his own daughter to control the country? Yeah, and I'm the son of the god of weather," Jaxon rolled his eyes at Apollo, which again, only succeeded in angering the sun god more.
"Pft, I'm a demi god and even I know the real sun god has more dignity than you do," Cygnus continued while rolling his neck. "Cygnus Gwydion, the god of gravity."
"Heh…" Apollo smirked slightly, rubbing his chin as he took a look at Cygnus. "Ah…so you're the son of Ken, and you…" He then looked over at Jaxon. "I knew it…you're the son of Kraios, the god of weather. The resemblance between you is strong…"
"Talking about Gods, are we?" Yakuza asked as he walked in from the other side, behind Apollo Flame. "Because as the Ice God slayer, I can't up but pass up any chance I have to defeat a god!"
"Heh…" Apollo turned to look at Yakuza, shrugging him off as he turned to the Eclipse mages once again. "You know, Cygnus, your father was quite the character, you know. It's a shame that his own son won't meet up to his standards, but what can you expect from a half breed like yourself?"
"Oh…" Was the only thing Cygnus could really say in response.
"What am I, chopped liver?!" Yakuza shouted, firing off a beam of black ice towards Apollo Flame, but the Sun Barrier appeared, shrugging off the attack as though it were nothing. "Gah…!"
"And you, son of Kraios…" Apollo spoke to Jaxon, eyes narrowing. "Your father always did have some bad blood with myself…I would love the chance to take out his son…"
"I'm afraid I don't know who you're talking about…" Jaxon said, though a serious expression crossed his face. "The only thing I remember about my past is that I was raised by a lot of female relatives."
"Heheh…" Apollo grinned, teleporting before Cygnus, Jaxon, and Yakuza. "Doesn't matter! I won't allow any of you to reach your full potential. I am Apollo Flame 2. 0, and I refuse to allow any of you to defeat me! After I defeat you, I'm going to get my revenge on that Dragon Slayer!" Apollo then raised his hands up, creating two large "sun"-like orbs within his palms, grinning madly. "Any last words!?"
"Wha…" Yakuza's eyes widened at the strength Apollo Flame was letting off; it was a force unlike anything before.
"I got some words for ya…" Cygnus said as he drew Rebellion from behind his back, pointing it towards Apollo Flame with a serious expression. "I don't like anyone that talks more than I do."
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"Welcome, welcome…" Hollow gave a nod to the group of four that walked into his area. Lucy, Luke, Selene, and Aira. If he had an expression he would be giving a delighted smile. "Ah, what do we have here? Lucy Heartfilia, I see we are meeting once again for the fourth time." The being then gave a bow to the guests.
"N-Ngh…" Lucy froze up somewhat, but she kept a brave face, holding her ground. "Get out of our way!"
"Sorry, I don't believe I can do that," Hollow replied.
"What's this guy's deal?" Luke asked.
"My name is Hollow 2. 0, creation of the scientist Aiden Viscard. I have been tasked with the elimination of those who dared to defy the creator during his Fiore's End attempt." Hollow responded to Luke in an automated tone.
"These creations of his only get stranger and stranger…" Aira commented.
"Doesn't matter, we'll just have to take him down and keep moving," Selene replied while narrowing her eyes at Hollow, ready to launch an attack. "Lucy, you've fought this thing before, right? You two seem to know each other."
"That's right…" Lucy nodded slowly, gulping silently as the near death experienced replayed itself in her head. "He's not human, more so a machine made entirely of magic. No normal attacks really do damage to him, but if I remember correctly his core was in his chest and if we can break that we can finish him off!"
"In his chest? Quite an easy target if you ask me…" Luke grinned, immediately taking the first move and dashed forward, pulling an arm back surrounded in white god slayer magic. "I'll just get rid of him quickly!"
"Luke, wait!" Lucy shouted, but it was too late.
"Adios!" Luke shouted as he threw his fist towards Hollow, but before he made contact, Hollow shifted out of the way, an afterimage effect taking place. Everything slowed down for Luke as Hollow now appeared behind him. "W-What…?"
"Thunder Palm." Hollow silently called out, lightning surrounding his palm as he pushed it forward against Luke's back, a powerful jolt of electricity and Hollow's own strength pushing Luke into the nearest wall.
"Luke…!" Selene yelped out in surprise, her eyes wide at how fast Hollow moved. "Did you two see him move…!?"
"Almost…" Aira replied as a serious expression suddenly overcame her usually innocent features. "He's not an opponent to take lightly…"
"Would anyone else like to try?" Hollow asked while folding his arms behind his back, glancing at the three females. "Perhaps you again, Lucy? I love the fear stricken look in your eyes whenever I attack."
"…!" Lucy's eyes widened, surprised that Hollow noticed even though it wasn't that hard to. She shook her head and steeled herself, glaring towards the magic creation. "I'll beat you again if I have to…!"
"You don't have Gemini and Taurus with you this time, I highly doubt that will be possible for you," Hollow replied.
"Well, she has us as backup!" Aira responded to Hollow's taunt, now making her move. She swiped her hands across the air, sending multiple bursts of wind towards Hollow. "Sonic Boom!"
"Hmph…" Hollow scoffed, now shifting his body from side to side in a zig-zag pattern, effectively evading each and every Sonic Boom strike aimed towards him. Within the time it took Aira to fire and finish the attack, Hollow was already in front of her with a palm extended. "Thunder Magic." A powerful bolt of thunder launched from his palm, striking Aira at point blank range. A cry of pain escaped the Wind Goddess' lips as she flew into the wall behind Lucy and Selene.
"Aira!" Lucy cried out.
"You're gonna pay for that!" Selene growled while coating her arms in diamond, swinging a powerful right hook towards Hollow's face. The creation dodged, moving from side to side with his afterimage effect. Selene growled in frustration as none of her attacks landed, eventually backing up while trying to think of a way to strike. "He's fast, I can't touch him…"
"Gate of the Maiden, Gate of the Scorpion, I open thee! Virgo! Scorpio!" Lucy swiped the silver key and golden key across the air, calling out Virgo and Scorpio.
"Punishment time, Princess?" Virgo inquired.
"We are!" Scorpio exclaimed while getting into a pose.
"No!" Lucy waved her hands before pointing at Hollow. "Chain him down!"
"As you wish, Princess." Virgo nodded, taking a step towards Hollow. "You hurt the Princess last time. I will do all I can to make sure you are punished for you deed." After that, Virgo swiped her arms forward, sending her chains towards Hollow to bound him, which surprisingly worked.
"…" Hollow remained silent, despite being unable to move.
"Selene, get a running start!" Lucy commanded.
"I get it!" Selene nodded with a grin, breaking off into an immediate sprint towards Hollow, diamonds covering her entire person.
"Scorpio, now!" Lucy pleaded.
"We are! Sand Buster!" Scorpio pointed his stinger forward, unleashing a torrent of sand that trailed after Selene.
"Diamond Dragon's Armored Horn!" Selene roared while pushing off the ground, moving head first while the Sand Buster boosted her speed tenfold. She slammed right through Hollow's chest headfirst, rolling and sliding to a stop after. "Heh…" She turned, noticing the large gap in Hollow's body. Her confident expression shifted to one of shock along with Lucy, Luke, and Aira's. There was no core in Hollow's body, and the large wound created just healed itself.
"N-No way…" Luke stuttered.
"T-That's impossible…" Lucy nearly began shaking.
"I hope you did not think it would be so easy…" Hollow replied with a simplistic tone.
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Gajeel and Juvia floated in the water a few feet away from Brachio, who grinned at his prey. "Well I hope you two are ready, because I'm going to bring you down under, now!"
"Gieheh…" Gajeel merely let out his signature laugh, mocking the sea beast before him. "Listen here, I'm just gonna cut you into sea food here, pal."
"We've got other things to do than fight you, so Gajeel-kun and I will make this quick!" Juvia nodded after her statement.
"Very well, let's see what two former mages of Phantom Lord are made of! Prepare to meet the darkness that dwells in the depths of the ocean!"
.
.
Gajeel: "Fighting in water ain't really my thing, ya know."
Juvia: "Don't worry Gajeel-kun, Juvia has your back! We can beat him!"
Brachio: "GAHA, it won't be like last time! This time I'm going to bring you under and make sure you stay dead, Rain Woman! You too, Black Steel! I'll enjoy seeing your iron rust!"
Gajeel and Juvia: "Bring it on!"
Next time: A Promise! Gajeel's Steel Resolve!