[A few minutes prior.]
While Igneel was facing off against Acnologia and Dhegensea, Mii and Erza had a stare down. Erza had many questions for Mii, while Mii had only one request of Erza. "I want you to kill me." Mii stated flat out, causing Erza's eyes to widen.
"E-Excuse me!?" Erza wanted to see if Mii was going to rephrase that in any way or take it back.
"You heard me." Mii said while averting her gaze. "I don't want to live anymore. I didn't realize just how much bad I've done in my life until those two idiots decided to spare me even though I didn't deserve it. So why keep someone around who doesn't even do any good? I'm better off dead. It's my Fate, after all."
"Is that so…?" Erza tightened her grip on the Eternal Sword's hilt. "You truly wish to die?"
"I know it's against your creed or whatever…but I'm nothing special, so it won't even matter." Mii replied with a soft shrug. "So will you run that blade through me?"
Erza shook her head slowly and took a few steps towards Mii. "You really want to die…" Once Erza was within striking distance, she took the blade and jabbed Mii harshly in the stomach with the hilt, causing her to fold over and fall to her knees.
"Guh..!?" Mii coughed, wincing in pain while placing one hand on her stomach, green eyes staring up at Erza. "T-The hell was that for…!?"
"You want to die without even knowing what it's like to live?" Erza questioned, just now taking into account that Mii was actually feeling pain. "This is the first time I've seen you show any emotion aside from the lax attitude you usually have…and now you're feeling pain. These are all things that let you know you're alive, Mii."
"Ugh…" Mii groaned while staring down at the ground. "I'm only asking for something that would help everyone…why do you choose NOW of all times to not believe me."
"Because I believe you're a good person inside." Erza replied. "You protected those stuck on this isle for a little while…you saved Kagura, Chelia, and Raven's life. You took a stand against Dhegensea, you led the lost Mirajane over to me, and you led me to this blade. It was your plan from the very beginning to have me use this, wasn't it? Your encouragement was your way of blessing me." The list of the actual good Mii had done really did outweigh the bad. She saved several lives at the end of the day. "I want you to live life a little bit more before asking someone to kill you. And don't come to me with that request ever again, ask someone else."
"Ngh..." Mii's hand held her head and she winced. Something felt off. Hazy memories bubbling to the surface. She could faintly recall something throughout the static. A voice she couldn't understand, along with the smile of a kindhearted woman with green hair. The idea of living despite her desire for death. "Why can't I remember...did I ever want to live in the first place?"
"Being fated to die is a cruel existence." Erza said while closing her eyes. "Living a life just to die...I could never do that. There are so many things in this world that I care about. That I want to live for. I have my friends, my family...even little things that keep me going. There's so much this world has to offer. Are you really okay with dying here on this Island, without exploring anything?"
"I..." Mii looked away.
"This sword...I shouldn't be the one wielding it." Erza said, extending her hand to Mii. "This sword has been sitting here for hundreds of years, waiting for you to claim it. If you took this blade, you could..."
"I can't." Mii shook her head. "This sword may be my birthright, but I don't have the conviction like you to wield it. It wouldn't be any good in my hands, even if it's my to use. I'm sorry, but you'll have to make do without me. Origin responded to your resolve pretty well. Even if it won't do everything for you that it would for me, clearly it's a good fit for you."
"...If that's your way of entrusting it to me for now, then fine." Erza could see that there wasn't getting through to Mii, at least right now. But that was going to be the least of their worries in a moment. Because when the ground shook, her eyes went to the sky, only to see the gruesome scene of Igneel's death above. "...!?"
"…." Mii's kept silent…until things started going to utter shit with Igneel dying, Acnologia flying off, and Dhegensea once again spreading Night Tide. "H-Huh…!? What's going on…!?" That question was answered quickly when she spotted the towering dragon that was Dhegensea hovering just slightly above the island. "O-Oh no…"
"I don't have any more time for your antics…figure out what you want to do, Mii. If you don't by the time this is over, then we'll decide for you. And you may not like the results." Erza turned away, hurrying towards the others deeper in the city while leaving Mii alone with her thoughts.
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"I thought we were done!?" Shadowlore complained while staring at Dhegensea. "What are we supposed to do against that!?"
"There's nothing you can do!" Kurthnaga said with a wide grin. "Father is going to unleash his true power and there's not a thing that can be done to stop it!" The dragon prince laughed.
"Kurth…" Ena grit her teeth while staring at her brother. To think her brother and father could've fallen so low, it honestly irritated her. "Do you really hate humans this much...?"
"For the pain they've inflicted upon you and our kind...the wounds from 400 years ago do not fade! Time does not heal all wounds!" Kurthnaga exclaimed.
"This guy is really annoying me…!" Cynthia didn't even think about her next action; she just lunged forward headfirst with darkened red flames, slamming right into Kurthnaga's chest to carry him quite the distance away.
"C-Cynthia…!" Wendy didn't have to think about it either; she hurried off to catch up with Cynthia. If the two were going to fight off against Kurthnaga they had to make it quick.
"Well, looks like they're going to take care of that…" Reve held his hand out, bringing forth his infamous six chambered magnum into his hand. Though small, that gun contained every ounce of magic the S class had left within his body, all stored within six bullets. Reve took aim at Dhegensea and released a massive bullet half the size of a large field towards the King. It was a direct hit, but the damage dealt was hardly noticeable. "What…!?"
"Not even a scratch?" Laxus scoffed. "You're slacking, Volver."
"Nothing you can throw at me can penetrate my dragon scales!" Dhegensea mocked.
"He's not wrong…" Ena mumbled. "Mine, Kurth's, and Father's scales are tough…they can be worn down with Dragon Slaying magic but that would take too much work, and we don't have that kind of time…!"
"That information would've been useful a long time ago!" Cygnus shouted at Ena who merely cringed. Now wasn't exactly the right time to yell at her but the situation wasn't good for anyone.
"Black Pillar." Dhegensea merely raised his hand and a gigantic pillar of darkness erupted in the city, attacking all of the mages and various screams of pain were heard into the pillar died down. That was practically it right there, everyone was seriously injured and could hardly put up a fight.
"Ngh…" Lucy laid on her side, feeling everything going blurry. It was a miracle they were all still alive somehow. Perhaps Dhegensea held back so they could witness all the hope fade away as they were powerless to stop it.
"F-Father…please…stop this…" Ena pleaded.
"There's nothing that can stop me now!" Dhegensea threw out that cliché line because well…it fit the situation. Though he felt the slightest slash across his chest that inflicted some pain. "GAAAAH?!"
Erza leapt from a ruined building, slashing the Eternal Sword along Dhegensea's chest; however the damage she did wasn't nearly as much as she expected it to be. Even though Dhegensea let out a roar of pain, she was hoping for a bit more. "W-What…? That didn't…!?"
Before Erza could fully land, Dhegensea grabbed her within his hand and held her tightly. "Wielder of the Eternal Sword…how you vex me so with your existence, even when the blade isn't truly yours to command. But it matters not…it's amusing how you believed that dull blade was going to actually harm me!"
"N-Not even that sword could do any damage…!?" Gaia grunted in pain. "But I thought it was supposed to keep them in check…I don't understand…"
"The Eternal Sword's power has been dulled." Dhegensea explained while Erza was trying to free herself from his grip, but to no avail. "You are not Yggdrasil. It's true power could cripple me in a single blow, I admit…however your knight here isn't worthy of using the blade's true potential, therefore it's useless in her hands. She may have defeated one of my subordinates with it, but that's all the power she'll have access to. Even Origin would never allow a mere human to use the true power of this sword."
"YOU BASTAAAAAARD!" Natsu's voice echoed out somewhere below the city. It didn't matter where since he rocketed himself into the air by propelling flames from his feet, fire and lightning flaring around his body as he slammed himself into Dhegensea's chest. The sudden and unexpected impact was just enough for Dhegensea to lean backwards. Natsu pushed himself off Dhegensea's chest while inhaling. "ROAR OF THE LIGHTNING FLAME DRAGON!" Opening his mouth, the Salamander unleashed a gigantic funnel of fire and lightning that shot out for miles on end, splitting some of the ocean apart as a result.
"I found Natsu again…!" Happy flailed while the island quaked violently once again.
"That kid just doesn't know when to quit…" Gildarts said with a slight grin.
Natsu began to fall back to the sky, but he was yanked into Dhegensea's grip roughly, now being held in the opposing hand Erza was in. "Fool!" Dhegensea growled. "Did you really think that you could fight against fate!?"
"Who cares about your stupid destiny!?" Natsu growled. "Igneel…Igneel…!"
"This is why you humans are all the same…" Dhegensea shook his head. "No matter how strong you think you are, you can never truly escape fate. That was your fatal mistake…believing you could fight against what could happen."
"T-…That's where you're wrong, father…!" Ena shouted. "Humans…humans are wonderful beings!"
"What nonsense are you shouting, Ena?" Dhegensea scoffed at his daughter's words. "Humans are fools! They would slaughter and kill for the mere sake of it! They nearly killed you for the sake of it. And now, they fight against something they cannot win against!"
"And that's what's so wonderful about them…!" Ena rebuked. "When I believed this island was truly in danger…they agreed to help knowing full well what they were getting into…and they came back to try and save us despite seeing what happened. Sure…humans can be evil…they may be like babies to us…they may stumble, they may fall off their own path…but the most admirable thing about humans…is that they fight to protect their future! They keep moving forward!"
"This is where their path ends!" Dhegensea shouted. "Don't you see? They're surrounded by dragons within my pitch black darkness and exhausted, there's nothing in this world that can save them now!" Right after he said that, he felt a drop of something….it was water…no….it was rain. "What…?" It was a light drizzle.
Juvia was standing on one of the highest buildings in the city that had yet to be destroyed. The water mage panted heavily but there was a look of satisfaction on her face. "Juvia…made it…" Without another word she collapsed and fell unconscious, having strained her body too much during the final stretch of the day. Before she fell unconscious, however, Jaxon was the one who caught her.
"Little Lady, you've done a lot for today." Jaxon said while looking up at the sky. Juvia managed a light rain, and now, he was going to play his part. "The Gods have seen your hard work and heard your cries. So now, it's my turn to do my part!" The clouds overhead darkened considerably, and Jaxon put his powers to use. The light drizzle soon turned into a massive downpour, raining down on the Isle and the dragons. The Mystic Water rained down on the isle; the infected dragon soldiers let out roars before shifting back to their human forms in a completely dazed and confused state.
All Dhegensea could do was watch watch as this happened all around them. "W-What…?! How is this possible…!? No! It doesn't matter…!" Dhegensea shrugged this off. "I alone will partake in this task! I alone will spread darkness throughout the human world!"
"N-No…you won't…I won't allow it!" Erza grit her teeth while speaking, a bright light forming around her body. "MORNING STAR!" That bright light, she was confident it would be their salvation.
"It's useless! Nothing can pierce through my darkness!" Dhegensea growled.
.
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"I can't see...!" Asuka clutched Alzack for dear life.
"Neither can I..." Alzack grunted, his gaze going to Bisca worriedly. Even though the darkness, he could tell that she was extremely tense. "Bisca...can you!?"
"I..." Bisca couldn't see a damned thing with the expanded Night Tide. It really looked like she wasn't going to be able to do much to help everyone when she knew they needed it. That was…until she saw the faintest of light glimmering in the distance. That was all she needed for a target. "I see it." She said in a low voice, her eyes narrowing as she focused on that glint of light over the horizon. "If that's not your light, I don't know what it is. Charged Magic Cannon: JUPITER SHOT, FULL POWER!" Bisca said aloud before charging the Jupiter Cannon to full power, unleashing one hell of a beam that cut across the ocean towards the isle. To anyone else, this would've been a blind shot. But this was Bisca Connell.
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"I WILL-!" Dhegensea was going to continue going on his rant, but the beam of the Jupiter Cannon struck his chest directly. The enormous power forcing him to release Erza on the top of a nearby building while Natsu was on a crash course with the ground, but an injured Happy narrowly saved him before lifting him off to safety. Dhegensea himself crashed into a nearby cliffside, as the blast continued to pummel him. Bisca was putting her all and even more into pinning him down. "GAAAAAAAAH!?"
"I knew you'd pick up on that…" Erza said with a soft smile to herself.
"That shot…" Milliana was no doubt incredibly impressed with Bisca's marksmanship.
"Talk about a shot in the dark…!" Jenny said while attempting to look over the black horizon. She didn't even where it came from.
"Still think you can make a shot like that, Reve?" Aira questioned.
"You forget who you're talking to…but I admit there's some competition after that…" Reve replied. Even he was impressed with Bisca's marksmanship, but that wasn't something he'd ever tell her.
"Lucy, Yukino…!" Hisui limped over to the two celestial mages. "I have an idea in mind, and I need your help for it…"
"What is it…?" Yukino asked. "How can we help?!"
"With your help…the three of us are going to cast an ancient spell…something strong enough that should break apart this darkness." Hisui replied.
"What's the name of this spell…?" Lucy tilted her head.
"Gottfried."
Ena stood up slowly, swaying from side to side before calling out to all the inhabitants on the isle. "Everyone…please hear me out! I understand you may be confused at what's happening…but I need you to listen to me! The isle is in danger! The people are in danger! I need you to lend your strength to me…the Eternal Sword! Please awaken its true power!" Though the dragons didn't understand what was going on, they could hear the urgency within Ena's voice, and the people adored Ena. Most of them loved her as a ruler than Dhegensea or Kurthnaga. The dragons that didn't want to fight regained their senses, and they would do anything to bring this conflict to an end. Even if it meant standing against their own king. The magic energy sent went directly towards the Eternal Sword, causing it to radiate with power before the violet blade turned into a bright orange, nothing but pure power emanating from the blade.
"I don't want to do this fighting anymore..." Edna said while regaining consciousness. She lifted her hand into the sky, staring at the bright orange light that shone within the darkness. "I'm sorry, Dhegensea. But this is what Eizen would've wanted, too. You have to be stopped!"
Venoma was much the same. She was in her human form, one eye clenched shut. Despite her words from earlier, she thought about Alice and what she might want in this situation. "My sister...would've wanted me to move on too." Whatever Fate had in store for her, she already claimed she would fight against it for what she desired. It lined up with her desire for revenge, but that dulled. So now...she lifted a hand into the sky, giving her magic to the Eternal Sword.
A young dragon boy slumped over, looking towards the sky where the rain fell. It was Mizu, the little dragon that asked Juvia for help. "That lady...saved us like she promised. I don't...want her help to go to waste...!" Mizu let out a loud roar and followed suit. He and many other dragons poured their faith into the Eternal Sword.
"Do you feel that? That is the will of the people. The will of the dragons that yearn for peace." Origin spoke directly to Erza. "You now wield their conviction. Will you take this blade, and sever the fate of this Isle with your own hands? You have been selected by the Chosen. This is her will as well."
"GAH!" Dhegensea was able to pry himself from the cliffside as the Jupiter Cannon finally stopped beating into him. If not for the fact he fought Igneel and Acnologia, he could've shrugged off an impact with ease. But even that sort of attack left him reeling a little. "Where did that come from...!?"
"Whoa…" Erza stared at the blade in her hands before knowing exactly what it was she needed to do. The dragons wanted this. Mii wanted this. Even if the Chosen in question didn't feel worthy, it was her desire to protect this Isle, and the fact Erza held this sword was proof of it. "For this Island and it's people! Fate will not stop me!" Erza leapt forward with all her strength and reared the blade back, cutting deep into Dhegensea's chest with the Awakened Eternal Sword; it was a blow that landed directly, Dhegensea let out a roar of pain placing a hand on his chest. Meanwhile Erza crash landed somewhere at the very least, she cut through his invincible scales and left him vulnerable.
"NOW!" Hisui shouted. She, Lucy, and Yukino were knelt down on the ground and all joined hands. She began reciting the incantation, a yellow aura appearing around her and the other two celestial mages.
I ask that the heavens make the stars descend to earth.
Illuminate... by all means... this land... this world... this land!
By your hand, let everything be illuminated.
Twinkling, shooting, falling... Let the stars descend before us!
Gottfried!
Stars began forming within the blanket of darkness known as Night Tide and the aura around the three mages was now larger than ever. The aura spiraled upwards towards Dhegensea along with the stars shining together, completely engulfing the Black Dragon King. Dhegensea had no means of defending against this, nor did he even see it coming while he was roaring in pain. Dhegensea let out another roar as visible cracks of light began to form within the darkness before it completely shattered.
"W-We did it…" Lucy gave a weary smile; the clothing of all three ladies was basically reduced to nothing. The drawback of using Gottfried was the immense pain and magic. Even when shared between three wizards, it was still too much for them to bear. Lucy, Yukino, and Hisui all collapsed and fell unconscious immediately after using the spell. That was the extent of their magic, yet they had smiles on their faces. They knew that whatever came next...the others could handle it.
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Natsu and Happy landed in front of Igneel's corpse. Despite everything going on, Natsu couldn't help but stare, finding the tears filling his eyes again. "….Dad…" He spent all this time looking for him, and when they finally reunited, he could only watch as he was killed.
"Natsu…" Happy frowned as Natsu was crying. He didn't know what to do.
"What are you crying for, Natsu? You're supposed to dry those tears…don't let my death stop you. Use this to grow stronger…show me how you intend to live your life, my son…" Igneel's voice faded slowly as his corpse vanished into red light; even as Igneel vanished, Natsu could feel a fire burning in his chest. Igneel's final embers did not go out in a pathetic whimper. Instead, Natsu was going to carry those embers within his chest, and turn them into a roaring wildfire. This battle wasn't over yet. "And remember...you are never alone."
Igneel was right. Natsu wasn't alone. He knew that. "Yeah…I'll show you, Dad! I'll show you how I live my life! And I'll start…by beating Dhegensea!" Natsu exclaimed.
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The wounded Dhegensea reverted back to his human form, limping around with only one leg. All of the damage that compounded against him was quickly catching up and and he wasn't sure how long he was going to last. This was bad…he was going to lose and die…especially after all the work he put in. But no…he wasn't going to let it end like this. The Sacred Gem was still in play…his last hope. He extended his hand, summoning the gem from the basically ruined castle and swallowed it. A bright light shone from his body as he completely shifted forms…something not quite like a dragon, but nothing like a human either. A mix of both, so to speak; but this didn't fix his missing leg. All this did was give him a second wind. "This is…not over…yet…"
"There he is…" Natsu slid to a halt in front of Dhegensea, Gray right next to him. "Alright Dhegensea…it's time to bring this to an end!"
"You two continue to vex me so…" Dhegensea growled before throwing his arms to his sides, creating a sphere of darkness that consumed all three. "This will be your final resting place then…!" This darkness wasn't Night Tide, it was just his own little personal arena that he wanted to crush Natsu and Gray in. Dhegensea threw his arms forward again, trapping the two Fairies in dark spheres that began to drain away their life force and magic. "Black Dragon's Cage!"
"GAH!" Natsu and Gray both yelled, but neither of them were able to find a way out of the spheres…they were the only two left who could fight…
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"Ooof…!" Cynthia and Wendy tumbled along the ground, coming to a halt on their stomachs. Kurthnaga was really throwing them around and he wasn't holding back.
"I don't see why you continue to fight…" Kurthnaga was annoyed. Everything was derailing unexpectedly. He was about to attack Cynthia, but Wendy was using the last of her strength to stand in front of her and defend her. "What…? Why are you defending her? She's not even human anymore. Have you seen her? An ugly failed experiment of a dragon…"
Those words cut deep. Cynthia could see a reflection of herself in a puddle left by the rain and her gaze dropped. "…"
"Cynthia…is Cynthia!" Wendy exclaimed, causing Cynthia's eyes to widen. "It doesn't matter what she looks like…she's still the same Cynthia! The same Cynthia I'd risk my life for no matter what…because she means so much to me…"
"Human sentiment…" Kurthnaga scoffed. Would he do the same for his own sister, even now? It was hard to say. He was blinded by his anger, and only wanted to crush the slayers before him. "Your lives are but a fraction of my own...that sentiment is nothing compared to the anguish we dragons endured."
"Wendy…" Cynthia smiled softly while standing up. "…I can't let you protect me all the time…that's my job…! Because of you…I know what it means to live…and I've made my own meaning of life…that day when you saved me. It was to protect you, no matter what!"
"You bore me with this…can this end!?" Kurthnaga growled in annoyance.
"We'll be ending this…" Wendy said with a firm nod, omega flames and blue wind beginning to circulate around her; Omega Flame Sky. Cynthia did the same thing, entering Omega Earth Flame, and with their dual mode transformation complete, the two girls sped forward at the same towards Kurthnaga with their arms held out next to one another; wind, omega flame, and earth surrounding them, forming a claw of triple elements.
"TWIN CLAW!"
Normally, Kurthnaga wasn't going to be afraid of two little girls…but these two? Something completely different. The look they both shared was equal to that of a true dragon, one more terrifying than him. "W-Wait a moment…!" He was prepared to intercept their charge, but he failed. Cynthia and Wendy both leapt headfirst towards him with their 'claw' extended. The both of them pierced right through Kurthnaga's chest while his eyes were wide. Kurthnaga slowly collapsed backwards with a lifeless look in his eyes.
"W-We did it…" Wendy gave Cynthia a high five before exiting her dual mode, slowly falling onto her stomach as she blacked out. "Natsu-san…"
Cynthia was in the same position as Wendy, as her magic ran out the dragon features that stained her body slowly faded away. "Gray…"
"The rest is up to you…"
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Even while trapped within the Black Dragon's Cage, Natsu and Gray could both feel Wendy and Cynthia's words. This was it; the time to end this was now. Their eyes shot open and Natsu incinerated the cage around him while Gray completely froze his cage and let it shatter to harmless shards of ice. The two of them then slammed their fists into the off guard Dhegensea's face, driving him into the ground of his darkness. "Leave it to us!"
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Next Time: Legacy of Igneel.