Chapter 71
Anger
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Skip
20 Minutes Ago
With Natsu
Mard Geer chuckled as Natsu charged him, swinging his fists wildly. He jumped back another punch and stared at the Dragon Slayer as the two dragons above them roared. "I find that cocky attitude of yours rather annoying, dragon spawn." Mard Geer confessed as Natsu charged again.
A glowing mass of Curse energy erupted in Natsu's face, destroying the ground around him. "I only consider the actual dragons worth my worry, not pathetic humans." Natsu dove through the blast and unleashed a flaming kick, only for his heel to be caught. "Face the facts, you're just full of hot air."
He threw Natsu back slightly before blasting him through the ground with his Curse power. Igneel glanced down in concern before quickly dodging a roar from Acnologia, the spell hitting the ground and exploding.
"It would appear that the dragons are still alive. Unfortunate…" Acnologia growled out.
"So, you've finally decided to speak." Igneel mocked. "Any final words?"
"I thought I would bid farewell to my enemy." The Black Dragon replied. "Prepare to be slain." He pulled back his head and unleashed another roar.
Igneel did the same with his own fiery breath, meeting it head on and creating an explosion in the sky. "I've waited for this day for so long…" He bellowed out. "Years ago, you slaughtered dozens of dragons and shown no remorse. Now it's time for you to pay the price."
"Don't you think I've already paid the price!?" Acnologia shouted back. "All I care about now is destroying you!" The two roared in defiance and flew at each other.
Down below, Mard Geer stared at the hole and smirked. "Time to put an end to all of this." He waved his and thorny vines shot out of the wall, hitting the Dragon Slayer before they suddenly exploded. Sting and Rogue destroyed the plants, much to Natsu's joy.
"We thought you might like some back up!" Sting chuckled before the three jumped up and landed in front of Mard Geer.
"Why the hell are you even here?" He asked.
"It's a long story." Rogue replied. "But it can wait. With all three of us, he won't stand a chance."
"You make a good point, but I gotta pass…" Natsu replied, shocking the Twin Dragons. "My dad gave me this job and I'm gonna make him proud of me. I'm gonna do it alone."
Rogue growled in annoyance as he spoke up. "This isn't the time for-"
"It's fine." Sting put his hand on his partner's chest. "But what do you think about this plan? Let's race to see who can beat him first: You or us?"
"Huh!?" Natsu growled in annoyance. "You're not getting to him first… No way!" He charged forward in anger as fore shot off his legs.
"And that is how you get what you want from Natsu." Sting explained to an annoyed Rogue as they followed the first generation Slayer.
Natsu threw a punch that Mard Geer dodged before slamming his elbow into the back of his head. Sting threw his own punch only to get swiped back. Rogue unleashed a shadowy slashed that Mard dodged, only to get hit by two flaming feet from Natsu. Mard was then struck by a glowing foot from Sting, sending him crashing into a wall.
All three Slayers stood as Mard Geer pushed himself up in the dust. "With two dragons in the sky above… and three dragon spawn at my feet…" He mumbled in annoyance, clenching his fist. "I'm lead to believe there might be even more. Seeing you fly about my castle, disturbing my peace."
An angry glare crept on to his face as he stared at the trio. 'I am reminded of a feeling I had forgotten so long ago. Anger."
"That's great." Natsu chuckled. "That just means you're one step closer to us humans."
With Elfman's Group
Elfman punched another clone of Lamy and hurled it into the mob. "How many more of these things are there!?" He complained.
"I think they're running out." Lisanna said, slicing at some with her claws.
"You guys are doing great!" Warren shouted from behind a rock.
"Get out here and help us!" Jet shouted in annoyance as he rushed passed the swarm.
"You know my magic isn't great for combat, right?" The telepath replied.
Elfman slammed the last one into the ground and at last, the Lamy's were finally beaten. "Lisanna!" Lucy rushed forward and hugged the cat girl in relief. "So glad you're okay!"
"Is it just you?" Elfman asked.
"For now…" The blonde somberly replied. "Gajeel and Levy are taking Juvia and the antidote to Porlyusica to save Laxus and the others. I haven't seen Gray, but I hear he got some crazy new power. And Natsu? I wouldn't be surprised if he was up in the air fighting with his dad."
"Wait, is that red dragon really Igneel?" Lisanna asked, looking up.
"Then that means he's on our side too, right!?" Warren asked. "Guess our luck is finally changing."
"We still have all the Faces to worry about." Wendy declared, shocking everyone.
"Thousands of Faces have been activated." Doranbolt added from behind the preteen. "And if we don't atop them, magic will fade from this continent."
With Natsu
"Feelings tend to dull the mind." Mard Geer snapped back. "That's why I planned to keep mine controlled for as long as I could." Walking over to a flat slab of stone, he gently placed the book down, catching Natsu's attention. "Anger is an especially powerful emotion, for it has the potential to transform a person entirely.
"Just thinking of what happens to me when I'm not myself disgusts me to no end. Mard Geer is Mard Geer." He sat down on his throne with authority, crossing his legs. "The one that is called the Underworld King, and put in charge of Tartatos by his master. I must now erase this emotion once again along with your pitiful existences."
The trio froze in fear as he flexed his hand on the armrests, anger in his eyes. Mard Geer raised his hand before swiping it to the side. Thorny vines roses up and spiraled at the group, forcing them apart. Natsu was sliced in the shoulder and then hit in the face before rushing. Mard Geer lifted his hand and blasted him back.
"Natsu!" Sting cried out in worry before a blast split him and Rogue apart. "He's… strong…"
The pinkette quickly recovered and rushed forward and jumped, his body catching on fire. "Fire Dragon Sword Horn!" He crashed into Mard Geer and the demon merely smirked, the chair pushed along the ground. "And Roar!" He shot fire out of his mouth and forced Mard Geer off the throne. "Sting! Rogue!"
"Natsu's finally asked for help?" Sting chuckled.
"That means even he thinks he's tough to beat." Rogue declared.
The two pulled their arms back and gathered their respective elements before they created a ball of shadow and light. "Unison Raid: Holy Shadow Dragon's Flash Fang!"
The two threw a punch and the beam fired at the demon, who took the blast head on. "Light and dark in perfect harmony… isn't that lovely…" He confessed as he waved his hands. "But it can't last." He clasped his hands shut and the attack faded away.
"Lightning Fire Dragon's Burning Hammer!" Natsu slammed fire and electricity down on the back of Mard Geer's head, only for it to be absorbed as well. Mard Geer turned and punched him back before landing on his throne.
"If that's your best, you might as well just give up." The Underworld King declared. "I haven't even gotten serious with you yet."
With Wendy
"I get the strategy… but it's impossible." Warren declared. "My telepathy only has a 5 miles radius… There's no way I can do it. Damn it! It's all my fault!"
'It's still too early to give up!' Makarov's voice echoed in their heads, shocking the guild. 'We still have our wild card as well… Fairy Tail's final weapon, Lumen Histoire."
"Lumen Histoire?" Lucy repeated.
"What's that?" Wendy questioned.
'I don't have time for a detailed explanation.' Makarov declared. 'Go back to the guild immediately and head to the basement. Now go.'
"I'll stay behind." Elfman declared, confusing everyone.
'It wasn't your fault that the guild was destroyed.' Makarov assured before his attention turned to Mest. 'You, come with us. When everything is settled, I need you to wipe the memories of Lumen Histoire from everyone in the guild.'
'So you're telling me I have to wipe my own too?' The memory mage questioned.
'That's right.' Makarov declared. 'But you must do it.'
Acnologia and Igneel slammed their heads together and growled before the fire dragon slammed its tail into the dragon of the apocalypse. Flapping his wings, he flew up into the sky, annoying Acnologia. "You're not escaping!"
He flew after his foe as both reached over the clouds, glowing in the moonlight. "I wasn't running." Igneel declared. "We can fight all we want here. I'll do whatever it takes to bring you down!"
"Fight? No." Acnologia declared. "It will be here that I destroy you!"
With Natsu
Mard Geer sat on his throne in annoyance. 'Kyouka, what's holding you up? Have Face running as quickly as possible.' His order went unanswered as he chuckled. "My, my. It looks like she's so preoccupied that she doesn't hear me. But I guess there's nothing much to be done."
"What are you planning to do by erasing from the entire continent?" Sting questioned.
"Did I not tell you?" Mard questioned. "By taking away magic, the seal on End is neutralized as well."
"That book?" Natsu questioned, glaring at the tome.
"It only looks like that now, but End is actually the strongest among the books of Zeref, the master of Tartaros if you will." Mard Geer explained. "And by reviving End, we may return to Zeref as well."
"Just go back on your own, then." Rogue snapped back.
"Have you never wondered why Zeref created us?" Mard Geer questioned. "None of my underlings have realized it either. We all have a strong obsession to return to Zeref. It's an order written into our genes. All these feelings connect to the same truth. Zeref cursed himself for being immortal and wanted to die.
"He eventually created something that he hoped could kill him. Something with no other purpose but to end him. In other words, the demons from Zeref's book. End was his final masterpiece, yet he was sealed inside his book. A spell that couldn't be broken even on this land filled with magic.
"But when Face wipes away all magic from the continent, that seal will be broken and End will be reborn. And it will defeat Zeref. That is our wish and Zeref's as well."
"A fight to defeat Zeref?" Natsu questioned.
"Why are you involving us in your business?" Sting demanded.
"When you go somewhere, do purposely avoid stepping on weeds in your path?" Mard Geer asked back.
"You bastar-" Sting and Rogue were slapped back by a leaf before it hit Natsu as well. He looked up and found a massive flower lurking over him.
"This is the prison flower that blooms in hades." Mard Geer declared before the plant dived at him. Instantly, the flower was frozen in purple ice, confusing everyone before it shattered.
His scarf fell onto his neck in confusion as Gray stepped forward. "If it's important to you, don't lose it again." He declared.
Mard Geer was shocked when ice suddenly crept onto his arm. "Who are you?"
"I'm came here to defeat you." Gray declared, showing off his tattoo. "I'm a devil slayer."
"A devil slayer, you say?" Mard Geer replied before a chunk of ice crashed into him from the sky. "This is Silver's…" Waving his arms, the ice shattered around him as he smirked. "I always knew he'd betray me one day. I didn't think it be this way, though. Fate is such a curious thing."
Vines shot at Gray, only for them to freeze instantly. "There's nothing funny about this." The Ice Wizard declared. "This is for my father!"
"Father?" Natsu repeated as Gray rushed forward.
"I will destroy you!" The Devil Slayer launched ice and it crashed into Mard Geer, making him cry in pain. The Dragon Slayers watched as Mard Geer slid back as Gray rushed forward. "Ice Devil's Zeroth Long Sword!" Crafting a blade of ice, he swung at the Underworld King, only for a hulking figure to land between them and take the hit.
A palm strike launched Gray back as Mard Geer smirked. "You made it…"
"Now way, he smells like…" Natsu mumbled as Sting and Rogue stared in shock.
"The man was once at the top of all the guilds…" Mard Geer explained. 'Many called him the incarnation of the devil himself. Jiemma."
"The old master of Sabertooth!?" Natsu declared.
"So he was turned into a demon along with Minerva…" Gray mumbled.
"Turned? You fools…" Jiemma chuckled. "I choose this power for myself. All for the sake of becoming the strongest."
"A demon with power surpassing the Nine Demon Gates…" Mard Geer said with a smirk. "Meet our newest member."
"Member?" Jiemma repeated before charging his former guild members. "Underworld King! Once I'm done with these kids, you're next!" Mard Geer chuckled as Natsu meet Jiemma with a punch. "I have no issues with you." He blasted Natsu back as Sting and Rogue charged, only to get caught by the heads.
"Sting, Rogue. How long have I waited for the day when I could crush the two of you with these hands." He cracked their skulls against each other only to have light and darkness crash into him.
"Leave this to us!" Sting shouted as they forced Jiemma back.
"Got no one to protect you now." Gray said to the final Demon Gate.
"Don't be so full of yourself just yet." Mard Geer chuckled as his wounds started healing. "Do you think you'd be able to defeat me in my true form?"
His body started glowing before it transformed, becoming more muscular, and his skin darkened and gained the ragged pattern of his cloak. He gains twin long, dark horns on his forehead, jagged teeth, and retains his ponytail. Mard Geer's fingers are replaced with claws and his ears become elongated and elf-like. He gains large, bat-like wings that are both light and dark in color. Feathers also sprout from his wrists and collar.
"I am Mard Geer Tartaros. King of the Underworld Demon."
"Natsu…" Gray mumbled.
"Yeah, I get it." The Dragon Slayer replied, their respective elements rolling off them. "In Fairy Tail's name, we'll bring you down!"
"Come, humans. This will be our final battle." Mard Geer declared.
And thus, the final chapter of this arc is upon us. I really can't think of much to add to this, so I'll see you all next time.
Beta read by General Feng Xiang