Chapter 33
Nearly three months had passed, and the long-awaited moment had finally arrived. The air within the Fairy Tail guildhall buzzed with tension, anticipation, and an unspoken resolve. The weight of history bore down on them, for this was not just another mission—this was the climactic finish.
Makarov, standing atop a raised platform within the guild's central hall, took a deep breath before addressing the assembled wizards. His voice, though aged with experience, carried the same commanding presence that had led this guild for decades.
"Alright, ya brats!" he boomed, his tone uncharacteristically grave. "This is it. The last stretch. The final remnants of the Baram Alliance—Tartaros—have gone unchecked for too long. The Council has placed their trust in us to wipe them out once and for all."
His words echoed throughout the chamber, sinking into the gathered wizards. This was no ordinary job. This was a war, and Makarov had chosen the best of the best to see it through.
The weight of his words finally sank in. Though the chosen wizards had been aware of this mission for months, hearing it spoken aloud made it real. The pressure was unmistakable, but so was the determination burning in their eyes.
Gildarts smirked, arms crossed as he eyed his daughter. "Show me what you've been working on these past three months, Cana."
Cana scoffed, taking a deep swig straight from a barrel. "Tch. Just don't hog all the fun, old man."
Gajeel cracked his neck with a metallic clank, a wicked grin stretching across his face.
"Gehee... 'Bout time. I'm gonna show Salamander and Wendy who the real top-dog Dragon Slayer is."
Levy nudged him with her elbow, her expression serious. "Don't get cocky, Gajeel. Master told us—Tartaros isn't just a dark guild. We're dealing with demons from the Book of Zeref."
Juvia's hands clenched into fists, her eyes shining with unwavering resolve. "Then I will protect my dear Gray from these demons! With the power of love~!"
From the background, Gray grinned with confidence. "Nah—I'd win."
Mirajane placed a hand over her chest, a pensive look crossing her face.
"I have a feeling… these demons will be different from the ones I've subdued before."
Elfman clapped a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, sis. Brother-in-law's got our back this time."
Elfman gave her a thumbs-up. "I've been training too! Those demons'll see the power of a real man—with the strength of a frustrated uncle!"
Mirajane chuckled.
Laxus cracked his knuckles, electricity crackling around his fists. "Time to wipe out the last of the dark guilds."
Fried adjusted his glasses, nodding. "I'll prepare whatever formations we need to counter their abilities."
Bickslow's dolls floated beside him as he grinned wildly. "Oi, oi, do demons even have souls to take?"
Evergreen huffed, flicking her hair. "It won't matter. They'll turn to dust before we need to find out."
Erza surveyed the group, her eyes sharp like the edge of her blade. "No matter what, we move as one. We've faced death before—this is no different."
Natsu grinned like a maniac, cracking his knuckles. "Doesn't matter if they're demons, dragons, or gods. I'll burn 'em all the same!"
Happy fluttered beside him, tiny fists raised. "Aye, sir!"
Lucy clutched her Celestial Keys, her determination shining through. "This isn't just about taking down a dark guild. We're protecting everyone."
Mystogan stood beside Wendy and Carla, who was in her human form, his gaze steady. "I'll make sure the battlefield bends in our favor. Their magic may be strong, but ours is stronger."
Wendy clenched her fists and raised them high. "We've trained for this! We won't lose!"
Carla offered a poised smile. "That's the spirit, Wendy."
Each wizard present had undergone extreme training—Naruto's niche wristbands had pushed them beyond their limits, sharpening their skills, their body, their magic, and their resilience. Now, they all stood ready, their faces set with unshakable determination.
Naruto stood beside Makarov, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He could feel it.
The last stretch.
The subjugation of Tartaros was unlike any mission before. Their destination lay far beyond Magnolia, at the very outskirts of Fiore, where civilization blurred into untouched wilderness. This was a place few dared to tread, let alone wage war. To cover such vast distance swiftly, Fairy Tail had secured an airship—a rare luxury, but a necessity for a mission of this scale.
As the airship soared over endless rolling hills, jagged mountain ridges, and sprawling forests, the weight of their mission settled heavily upon the wizards. The sky was a deep shade of indigo, stars still visible as night slowly gave way to dawn. In the distance, a shadow loomed—an unnatural mass suspended in the sky, shrouded in ominous, swirling clouds.
The fortress of Tartaros.
It was a floating behemoth, its architecture an eerie blend of dark obsidian towers and monstrous demonic spires. Unlike traditional strongholds built upon solid ground, Tartaros's domain defied gravity itself, looming high above, radiating an almost sentient malice. Even from a distance, they could feel the unnatural pressure of its presence—the overwhelming magic pulsing from its very walls.
This was no mere dark guild hideout. It was a battleground chosen with purpose.
Because this was not just an attack—this was a planned subjugation, a clash of ideals, agreed upon by both Naruto and Mard Geer. Their shared understanding had led to this confrontation, both believing that through fire and blood, Natsu would grow.
Inside Magnolia, far from the battlefield, Makarov stood in silent prayer. He had sent his strongest wizards to face a threat unlike any before, yet his old heart could not shake the dread that gripped him. The wind carried whispers of an impending storm, a battle that would shape the future of Fiore itself.
By the time the airship descended, the first rays of morning light spilled across the landscape. They had reached the designated battlefield—a clearing beneath the fortress, where the entrance to Tartaros hung wide open, as if daring them to step forward.
The ground was eerily still, the world holding its breath. There were no guards, no sentries—only the yawning gates of the abyss, welcoming them like prey entering a predator's den.
Then, in an instant—
"MAX SPEED, HAPPY!"
A flash of motion. Natsu was the first to break the silence, launching himself forward at blinding speed, Happy carrying him in a blur of blue and pink, rocketing toward the entrance before anyone else could react. His flames burned hotter than ever, his energy barely contained.
Naruto, standing at the edge of the battlefield, watched with a small, knowing smile. Without hesitation, he turned, vanishing in an instant, heading straight for Mard Geer—the orchestrator of this war.
Behind them, the rest of Fairy Tail surged forward, their footsteps a thunderous war cry against the dark.
Secluded Laboratory
Naruto moved like a whisper of wind, a streak of orange and black as he reached the depths of Tartaros's stronghold. Mard Geer awaited him, standing in an isolated laboratory, away from the chaos unfolding above. The demon king's expression was unreadable, yet something about the way he stood—the casual way his fingers traced the surface of a hidden chamber—felt almost smug.
"Your eyes are sharper than I expected," Mard Geer mused, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "I suppose, despite our Lord's forewarning, I still underestimated you, Master Naruto."
Naruto's sharp gaze darted around the room. He could feel it—something was wrong. His senses screamed at him, but it wasn't an imminent attack. No, it was the ominous presence hidden just beyond the black-draped tanks behind Mard Geer. The air was thick with something unnatural, a twisted form of magic, coiling and lurking just out of sight.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Alright, Mard Geer. What's the ploy here? What's underneath those?"
With a slow, deliberate motion, Mard Geer grasped the black curtain and pulled it aside.
Behind the veil, suspended in a massive containment tank, was a man.
Naruto's heart clenched as the sight before him registered—the sight of a once-mighty dragon, reduced to a fragile, sleeping figure.
"Acnologia!" Naruto's voice cut through the silence.
The man inside the tank was barely recognizable. His tribal dragon marks were gone, his once-long, unkempt hair cut short—stripped of his monstrous form, he looked no different from a normal human. A man in deep slumber, his body submerged in a fluid that reeked of dark magic.
Yet Naruto's Aokugan told him the truth—this was not the same man he had fought.
His fists clenched. "What have you done to him?!"
Mard Geer remained calm, unaffected by Naruto's rising fury. He folded his arms, eyes gleaming with intrigue.
"Not 'us'—but our Lord."
The way he spoke sent a chill through Naruto's spine.
"We do not have the means, nor the skill, to resuscitate him back to what he once was. However—" Mard Geer's eyes gleamed with something almost predatory. "Despite being stripped of his Dragon Slayer magic, he remained a man with near-boundless reserves… And it seemed you left him unconscious after your battle."
Naruto's fists tightened further, nails digging into his palms.
This was his failure.
When he had fought Acnologia, he had not only defeated him—he had stripped him of the curse that had bound him to his path of destruction. For the first time, Acnologia had been given a chance. A future. A life free from the hatred and pain that had turned him into the Dragon King.
And yet—Zeref had stolen that chance.
Naruto had underestimated Zeref's darkness. He had made a wrong assumption of him, thought he was a misguided person, forced to walk the path of darkness due to his curse. He thought the Black Wizard would lie low to wait for him and Natsu to pull through their deal—never had he expected him to pull a stunt this low.
Zeref had taken Acnologia's body.
Tampered with it. Warped it.
And now—Acnologia had become something else entirely.
An Etherious.
Mard Geer watched as realization sank into Naruto's face, the anger twisting in his expression. He chuckled, stepping forward slightly, relishing the shift in the air. "I wonder…" His voice was lilting, almost mockingly curious. "What does it feel like, Master Naruto? To give a man a second chance, only for fate to drag him back into the abyss?"
Naruto said nothing.
The weight of the moment pressed down on Naruto, the sterile hum of the containment tank the only sound in the eerie stillness. The air was thick with something unnatural, something his Aokugan couldn't yet decipher—a force beyond what he had encountered before.
Then—
Acnologia stirred.
It wasn't a gradual awakening. No slow rise from unconsciousness. It was immediate.
His eyes snapped open—a cold, unfeeling gaze.
And then, he moved.
There was no hesitation. No moment of clarity, no recognition in his once-defiant expression. Just instinct.
The tank shattered, shards of reinforced glass scattering across the metallic floor like falling stars. The liquid that had sustained his forced slumber spilled in a tide, pooling at his feet. His breath was steady. His body was not his own.
A puppet.
Naruto recognized it instantly.
Zeref had done more than just alter him—he had rewritten him. A man once feared as the Dragon King was now something worse—a weapon, engineered with one simple directive burned into his soul.
Eliminate Naruto Uzumaki.
Naruto didn't move.
Even as Acnologia's fingers curled into a loose fist, even as the room seemed to grow colder, as if the very presence of his new Curse Power was warping the atmosphere itself—Naruto stood still.
Not in fear. Not in hesitation.
But in understanding.
The realization sat heavy in his gut.
This was his failure.
This was the cost of his miscalculation.
As if on cue, a soft chuckle echoed through the room, smooth and unhurried. Mard Geer—unbothered, untouched by the gravity of what had just transpired.
"I shall take my leave then," he mused, stepping past the destruction, unconcerned with the monster he had just unveiled. His movements were graceful, practiced, like a man who already knew the outcome of the game. "I still need to tend to Lord Natsu."
Naruto's head snapped toward him.
"MARD GEER!"
The name left his lips like a warning, like an accusation.
But the Underworld King didn't even glance back.
No acknowledgment. No answer.
Just the soft, deliberate click of his boots against the lab's floor, growing fainter and fainter—until finally, he was gone.
And Naruto was left alone—alone with the Etherious Ex-Dragon King.
His Aokugan pulsed, trying to comprehend what lay before him.
This power—this new form—was something else entirely. Not dragon, not man. A being with near-boundless reserves of dark arts, one that twisted and coiled in a way Naruto had never encountered before.
A force he had yet to fully grasp.
He had underestimated them.
And now—
This was his responsibility.
Tartaros, Year X785
Fairy Tail bulldozed through the outer defenses of Tartaros's fortress, carving a relentless path through dark guild subsidiaries and hordes of lesser demons. Walls crumbled under the force of their attacks, demonic cries echoed through the halls, and the air crackled with residual magic. Every step deeper into the stronghold led them closer to the Nine Demon Gates, each awaiting their own battles.
As they advanced, Cana and Gildarts found themselves face-to-face with Franmalth, a grotesque, malformed demon whose massive, bulbous head pulsed unnaturally as he grinned.
"Geh, that's one nasty-ass demon," Cana grimaced, already taking a swig from her flask.
Gildarts chuckled, but his expression remained firm. "Don't underestimate him, Cana. Something's off about this one…"
Franmalth's eyes gleamed as he flexed his massive hands. "Oh, you'll learn soon enough… the last lesson you'll ever need."
Cana readied her Magic Cards while Gildarts cracked his knuckles. "Tch, bet you'd look better as rubble."
Franmalth laughed. "Oh? And what if I told you… I already know how you'll break?"
Lightning split the dark halls as Laxus, Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen stormed through the fortress. Their charge came to an abrupt halt when a massive explosion rocked the ground, forcing them to brace. Dust and debris filled the air before revealing a smirking Jackal, standing unharmed amidst the destruction.
"Well, well… if it ain't Fairy Tail's lightning freak," Jackal sneered, flicking an ember from his clawed fingers.
Laxus's eyes narrowed. "You got a death wish, cat boy?"
Jackal's smirk widened as he flexed his claws. "Not me. But you? You're all about to go up in flames."
Freed's runes glowed beneath his feet. "His magic… everyone, be careful! That's Curse Power, not ordinary magic."
Evergreen cracked her knuckles, wings fluttering. "Doesn't matter. We've taken down worse."
Jackal chuckled, then snapped his fingers. A deafening BOOM erupted between them.
The air grew heavier as Mystogan, Wendy, and Carla—now in her human form—approached the battlefield. Tempester, the Storm Demon, loomed over them, dark mist swirling around his body. Thunder rumbled in the distance, an unnatural storm forming within the fortress.
Mystogan's staff pulsed as he wove layered sigils in the air. "Let's weaken the battlefield."
Ancient runes spread across the ground, dimming Tempester's presence. Meanwhile, Wendy chanted, her magic flaring to life.
"Vernier, Ile Vernier, Arms, Ile Arms, Armor, Ile Armor, Deus Corona, Deus Eques!"
Carla gave Wendy a side glance. "Ain't this a bit too much?"
Wendy grinned sheepishly. "I just want to be thorough!"
With a battle cry, Carla launched herself forward, striking with unorthodox aerial kicks, flipping between Tempester's swipes. Wendy followed, her Dragon Slayer-infused Gentle Fists striking the demon's core, sending shockwaves through his cursed body.
Gray's breath hitched when he and Juvia turned a corner, only to be met by a familiar figure cloaked in frost—Silver Fullbuster, masquerading as Deliora.
Juvia sensed the hesitation in Gray and immediately tightened her stance. "Dear Gray…?"
Silver's voice was cold, almost amused. "What's the matter, Gray? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Gray's fists clenched, ice forming around his knuckles. "Who are you?"
Silver grinned, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Good, good, that's a great expression you got Gray, let me savor more of your despair!
Lucy stood tall, her confidence bolstered by three months of rigorous training. Her whip coiled at her side as Virgo and Loke flanked her.
Ahead, the monstrous demon Ezel grinned, serrated teeth flashing. "A celestial mage? What a joke."
Lucy smirked, cracking her whip. "Let's see if you're still laughing when I send you back to where you belong!"
Loke adjusted his tie, his aura flaring. "Ladies first?"
Virgo curtsied. "Shall I begin digging a grave, Princess?"
Ezel lunged, and the battle erupted in a dazzling display of celestial magic.
The air reeked of brine and decay as Gajeel came face-to-face with Torafuzar, the monstrous Etherious with skin like black steel.
"Another iron bastard, huh?" Gajeel cracked his neck, his skin shifting to Iron Dragon Scales. "Guess this'll be fun."
Torafuzar let out a guttural growl, his massive blade-like arm glistening with venomous liquid. "Your bones will dissolve before you get the chance."
Gajeel grinned, baring his sharpened fangs. "You ain't the first bastard to try."
They clashed, steel against steel, the force of their blows shattering the ground beneath them.
Levy stood firm against Keyes, her heart pounding in her chest. The skeletal demon chuckled, his hollow eye sockets glowing.
"You? A scholar wishes to fight me?" Keyes's voice was an eerie whisper. "Knowledge won't save you from death, girl."
Levy adjusted her glasses, eyes burning with resolve. "Maybe not. But words can shape reality."
She clapped her hands together, runes swirling to life. "Solid Script: Fire!"
The battle of intellect and magic began.
Mirajane and Elfman stood before Seilah and Lamy, the contrast between them stark.
Lamy giggled, twirling a scalpel. "Heehee~ can I carve up the big one, Seilah-sama?"
Elfman growled. "You ain't touching my sister, freak."
Seilah's gaze lingered on Mirajane. "So the former She-Devil returns. You were once strong… but have you grown weak?"
Mirajane's lips curled into a devilish smirk. "Why don't you come find out?"
In a blur of motion, her body surged with demonic energy, meeting Seilah head-on in an explosive clash.
At the very heart of the fortress, Erza stepped into a grand chamber, where Kyoka awaited her like a queen upon a throne.
"You've come far, Titania," Kyoka purred, flexing her clawed fingers. "Are you ready to experience true pain?"
Erza drew her sword, eyes blazing. "I don't fear pain. I conquer it."
Kyoka smirked. "Let's put that to the test."
Domain of the Underworld King
The chamber was vast, an eerie throne room bathed in an unnatural twilight. The walls seemed to breathe, pulsating with ominous energy, etched with ancient demonic runes that shimmered with malevolent power. The air was thick with the scent of decay and something more insidious—pure, unfiltered darkness.
At the far end of the chamber, seated upon an ornate, bone-white throne, was Mard Geer Tartaros, the Underworld King. His presence was overwhelming, his aura a crushing weight of abyssal magic that seemed to warp reality itself. Clad in his regal yet menacing garb, he lounged with an air of absolute control, one leg crossed over the other, a confident smirk gracing his lips. In his left hand, he held a book—E.N.D.'s book—the very essence of Zeref's ultimate demon. His fingers absently traced the cover as though it were nothing more than an old tome, but the power within it pulsed, undeniable and terrifying.
His dark eyes flickered as his smirk widened.
"Ah, you're here at last, Master E.N.D's vessel—Lord Natsu." His voice was smooth, dripping with amusement, as if he were welcoming an old friend rather than a sworn enemy.
Natsu, standing at the threshold of the chamber, felt a shiver run down his spine at the title. His fists clenched reflexively, nails digging into his palm. There was something about the way Mard Geer said those words—so casual, yet laced with absolute certainty—that sent a strange unease crawling up his skin.
"…The hell is this guy talking about?" Natsu muttered under his breath, his brow furrowing in confusion. His sharp eyes darted toward the book in Mard Geer's grip, something inside him stirring—an odd, deep-rooted sensation, like a whisper in the back of his mind. It was almost familiar, yet foreign.
Behind him, Happy flapped his wings, tilting his head. "Aye… what does he mean, 'Master E.N.D'? And vessel?" His voice carried the same confusion as Natsu's, though laced with a growing unease.
Mard Geer merely chuckled, his gaze unwavering. "Oh… I wouldn't expect you to understand just yet." His fingers tightened ever so slightly around the book, and for a brief moment, an ominous hum filled the air, as though something inside was responding.
"But soon… you will."
Chapter End