Chapter 31: Inner Hatred!
The air had frozen in a cold breeze, silence filled the capital despite the seven dragons. It was like a dark shadow had cast itself over the capital, snuffing away the last hope of light. The four dragons, Scissor Runner, Levia, Rock Dragon and Dark Dragon were frozen stiff they looked to be sweating a little and they were on guard. The Fairy Tail wizards, Erza, Mirajane, Laxus, Gray, Juvia, Freed, Bickslow and Evergreen were frozen with fear, their bodies would not move no matter how hard they tried.
In front of them stood Itachi, darkness having taken over his mind, his arms covered in darkness and now looking like demonic claws. The darkness on his arms looked to be slowly spreading, same with the black flame like markings on the right side of his face. His eyes lacked any kind of emotion, it wasn't the eyes of a man, rather the ones of a wild beast, or perhaps a monster. He stretched out his right demonic black claw, that morphed itself into a long black blade of darkness.
"I-Itachi…?" Mira uttered weakly, not even being able to speak with this sensation of darkness and killing intent in the air.
In the distant, the Black Wizard Zeref looked down upon this scene. Sitting down like he was about to watch a movie. "Now then, begin." Zeref smirked.
Itachi at super speed vanished from the spot he once stood at, and appeared hovering between the four dragons. He swung the blade of darkness that was his right arm to the side, and started spinning rapidly at high speed. The dragons howled in pain as their bodies were cut from the blade. Itachi stopped spinning for a second as his hand reverted back into a black demonic claw, then both claws expanded in size and were clenched into fists. And once again he started spinning this time knocking the dragons to the side, as they all skidded back.
"Run!" Erza ordered and the others managed to pick themselves up and started running away, and Itachi didn't seem to notice them at all.
"He seems mostly focused on the real threat for now. What will happen when he kills that threat I wonder?" Zeref smirked as he kept on watching the battle. "Although, he doesn't appear to be in control of his own mind and is purely acting on instinct, and of course the influence of that power. Seems all that dark energy erupting into his mind all at once was too much for him to grasp and control, I suspect he should return to his senses after a while. However, will it be too late?" Zeref questioned implying Itachi might not regain control in time before he kills someone he cares about.
The dragons all growled and shook their heads trying to shake of the pain of that last blow. "Argh! Impossible, how can a human possess this kind of power?!" The Dark Dragon growled in anger and frustration.
"I-It can't be… this energy of darkness, it feels familiar… But that is impossible!" Scissor Runner's body was slightly trembling, and not just out of pain, the dragon actually felt fear over this human, if he even was a human.
"Care to fill some of us in?" The Dark Dragon asked with frustration behind his voice.
"This energy, it feels like that of the ancient demons. But they shouldn't even be able to come to the mortal realm." Scissor Runner explained to which everyone within hearing distance looked confused, while the Black Wizard's smirk only widened at hearing this.
"I know what you are implying, although if you focus you can sense that it is somewhat, different from the ancient demons." Levia said, although the conversation did not continue as Itachi flew like a rocket right into Levia in a shoulder charge making the dragon back up. Itachi then proceeded with sending a barrage set of punches into the dragon with his expanded black demonic like claws. The sound of each blow was heard around the entire area and also sent shockwaves. Levia growled in pain, unable to escape the bombardment of black demonic fists coming flying at him sending him even further back.
"Whatever he is doesn't matter! Kill him!" The Rock Dragon roared as the three of them flew to assist their fellow dragon. The Rock Dragon tried to attack Itachi from behind, whom morphed his left fist into what looked like a gigantic hammer. He swung his body around and slammed the dark hammer right into the side of the Rock Dragon's face, cracking up his supposedly indestructible rock-solid body a little.
Laxus stared in awe, his mouth agape. "A-Ancient Demons…?" Laxus questioned with a look of confusion that was shared with the others. "The hell are they even talking about?"
Mira and Erza managed to shake off their surprise knowing they had to warn the others. "We have to get far away from this." Erza ordered to which they all looked confused.
"What do you mean? Itachi is kicking dragon butt out there. Why do we need to run?" Gray questioned in confusion.
"Did you not see the look in his eye? Whatever has happened to him, he is not in control of his actions." Mirajane pointed out to which they all got a shiver running through their spines just by thinking of that ice-cold glare. "Besides, Future Lucy gave us a warning. She said that in her time, Itachi kills all of us during his rampage, and I mean our little group." This new info made all of them look shocked and some looked utterly terrified, mainly Evergreen, Bickslow, and Juvia whom feared mostly for the life of her beloved Gray.
"Although… he wasn't supposed to become like this until after you and I died, Mira." Erza pointed out the other fact.
"That is true, although what happened to Itachi now has given me a theory about that part." Mira said and they all listened closely. "Future Lucy said that when she got here, she saw you and me dead, and Itachi was on a rampage. Meaning, she did not witness us die and him turning into that, she just assumed that is what happened. And earlier, I noticed something on Itachi's shoulder, before his transformation began." They all then remembered back, remembering seeing a little imp like creature biting Itachi's neck then getting squashed like a bug by Itachi.
"Yeah, I saw it too. It looked like that creature Orba from Raven Tail had on his shoulder during the games." Freed pointed out as they were the group in charge of keeping a close eye on Raven Tail if they cheated again after the Lucy vs Flare battle. "It looked like it bit him."
"So, just because that little thing bit him, he turned into that?" Evergreen questioned as it didn't really make that much sense to her.
"Anyway, in Future Lucy's timeline that most likely happened to him there as well. Somehow him getting bit by that creature caused this, and in his rampage and during his fight against the dragons he ended up killing you and me, then Future Lucy arrived at the scene, then he killed the others in front of her eyes." Mira finished her theory and they all looked sad at the thought that Itachi while not in control had killed them. They could only imagine what he felt like once he regained control, if he ever regained control.
Meanwhile, with Jellal and Wendy fighting Zirconis. "Hmm, that was unexpected…" Zirconis looked into the distant that was Itachi's fight against four of the dragons. He then returned his attention to his prey. "Oh well, doesn't matter. I will just focus on devouring all of you. As you all can see, I am much more civilized than the others. Rather than rampaging all around I prefer to have a chat with people, you know, before I eat them." Zirconis let out an amused laughter that frightened the royal guards whom along with Arcaidos tried to defend the Princess.
"Zirconis!" Wendy decided to try a different approach rather than fighting.
"Oh? What's this? You wish to talk to me young lady?" Zirconis looked condescendingly down on little Wendy.
"Wendy! Get away from him!" Jellal warned although Zirconis smashed his tail right in front of Jellal whom jumped back.
"Now, now, don't be impatient I will get to devouring you later, human. Go on young lady."
"Why are you doing all this? What are you after?!" Wendy questioned.
"What we are after? You will have to ask that guy up there. The one standing on top of Motherglare over there. He is the one giving out the orders."
"You mean the Rouge that came from the future." Wendy looked towards were Zirconis was pointing, at the heavy scaled dragon flying above them all and the capital.
"Well, I'm doing what he say because it's fun in its own way."
"I don't understand, what purpose do you have in destroying the world? If you do that there won't be any place for you dragons either!" Lucy spoke her mind, although Zirconis didn't care to respond, as Future Rogue's Dragon Controlling Magic forced him against from speaking his mind on the matter. Instead he decided to attack little Wendy by swinging his claw down upon her, and just in time Jellal swopped in and grabbed her, using his Heavenly Body magic to move at high speed like a ray of light.
"T-Thank you, Jellal-san…" Wendy uttered a little baffled that Zirconis attacked her out of the blue.
"Don't worry about it, just focus in aiding us slaying this dragon." Jellal smiled gently at the little dragon slayer whom returned the smile and nodded. "Now then! Let's go!" Jellal summoned forth six rays of light coming crashing down on Zirconis from the sky. Wendy jumped out from Jellal's arms and inhaled her breath.
Sky Dragon: Roar!
Wendy spewed out a massive tornado of wind blasting into Zirconis face making him twitch his body in annoyance. "Keep him busy." Jellal said to which Wendy nodded.
"Young Lady, you're really starting to annoy me!" Zirconis roared as Wendy swung her arms back.
Sky Dragon: Wing Attack!
Wendy swung her arms as they were covered in tornadoes, swinging them down on Zirconis like wings flapping into the dragon. To Zirconis it felt like getting slapped, he backed up a little and growled in anger. Zirconis then unleashed a breath attack at the soldiers, Lucy, Yukino, Happy, Charle, Pantherlily, Wendy, Jellal, Arcaidos and the princess were able to avoid getting hit by the breath attack but everyone else.
In the smoke the soldiers were heard, they sounded panicked, as the smoke cleared it was revealed all their clothes were gone, all of them. "I think I might throw up…" Pantherlily uttered in disgust.
"What the heck?!" One of the guards questioned as they all looked confused as to what happened with their clothes, meanwhile Lucy, Yukino and Wendy all blushed slightly from seeing so many naked men in front of them.
"You humans are delicious, but your clothes taste foul. That's why I made them disappear."
"Don't look princess!" Arcaidos defended Hisui's innocence by covering her eyes.
"My armor!"
"I'm so embarrassed!"
"Don't look at me!"
"What an insult!" The minister shouted having also lost his clothes, and all the soldiers ran away out of embarrassment.
Jellal merely sweat dropped at the scene. "Seriously? A dragon has that kind of magic?"
"Now that I think about it, men taste disgusting. Women, I'll eat the women."
Zirconis pointed at Lucy whom shuddered looking freaked out, and backed away with Yukino and Arcaidos with the princess. "Was that magic?" Wendy questioned.
"That's right, all dragons can use magic." Zirconis replied having returned to having a normal conversation.
"What kind of magic makes clothes disappear?!" Lucy questioned in disgust, Zirconis then stared at her and was about to unleash another breath attack. And Jellal swopped in and grabbed her before the blast hit. "Th-Thank you…" Lucy looked relieved.
"Don't worry about it." Jellal put Lucy down and gathered a lot of magic power around him. Jellal then bowed down while pointing his left hand down with his middle and index finger sticking out, he then moved his right arm until his hand pointed upwards. "Wendy!"
"Right!" Wendy stretched her hands out towards Jellal and a green aura flared around her.
Enchantment! Ile Vernier! Ile Arms!
The power around Jellal intensified and the clouds over them started circling. "Wh-What the? His power is almost the same as half my full power?" Zirconis looked stunned and shocked, then he snickered. "Ah, I see, Sky dragon magic, enchantment, she gave you a power boost. Die!" Zirconis swung his claw down towards Jellal, but was halted as a wave of wind hit him in the face like a piercing needle. Wendy had covered her right foot with wind, making it look sharp like a knife. "Why you little!"
True Heavenly Body Magic: Sema!
The clouds started to create what looked like a cyclone, a sphere of energy gathered into the sky above Zirconis, whom instantly directed his attention away from Wendy and at the energy in the sky. The energy then came crashing down, looking like a meteorite. Zirconis was about to move out of the way but was stopped as two tornadoes formed on each of his sides. "Urgh! Well… damn." Zirconis uttered as the meteor blast hit him and exploded in a massive explosion of magic power.
"Is everyone ok?" Charle asked as she was holding Wendy while flying in the sky above the explosion.
"We are fine. As expected of the Prince's Earthland counterpart." Pantherlily had entered his warrior state and was holding Lucy, Yukino, Arcaidos and Hisui. Jellal was panting a little, having used a lot of power in that attack. In front of him was a gigantic smoke cloud, and as it began to clear it revealed a massive crater and Zirconis in the middle of it with a few bruises both from Jellal's attack and Wendy's.
"I actually felt that one… it hurt… Impressive human, although not enough." Zirconis swung his tail down on Jellal.
Meteor!
Jellal surrounded himself in golden energy and flew away at high speed. Zirconis then roared, sending Pantherlily flying back with the shockwave from the roar, and forcing him to let go of Yukino, Hisui, Arcaidos and Lucy. Zirconis then spit out a breath attack, and this time it hit Lucy. "Kya!" Lucy screamed in surprise when suddenly she was in her birthday suit. She tried to cover herself up. "Hey! M-My clothes! Someone! Give me some clothes!" Lucy cried a little. Arcaidos gaped while staring, although Hisui covered his eyes to not embarrass the celestial wizard more. Jellal also stared in shock for a split second, although in his mind Lucy had red hair… and looked like Erza. Jellal then widened his eyes as he blushed faintly and shook his head. He tried to fly towards Lucy before Zirconis could snatch her up, although he was too late.
Zirconis laughed as he grabbed Lucy in his claw, and flew up into the sky. "Let's see if you can stop me from eating her!"
"Charle!" Wendy glared at Zirconis and Charle flew Wendy up to Lucy and Zirconis, and Jellal also flew up at high speed, forming magic circles in the sky at the shape of a star sign.
Grand Chariot!
Seven rays of light rained down into Zirconis' jaw sending him down a bit. "You lowly little human." Zirconis was the blasted by a breath attack from Wendy. He growled and swung his arm with Lucy back, sending the naked celestial wizard flying into the sky while screaming. "Whops… there goes my dinner…"
"Lucy!" Wendy wanted to go after Lucy but Zirconis was in the way.
Meanwhile, with Natsu and Happy. Natsu was with Makarov and mostly every other guild fighting Atlas Flame. Natsu heard Future Rogue laughing while flying over them, he growled in anger, he knew what Jellal said, but that man killed Future Lucy. "Natsu! Keep focus!" Makarov shouted as in his giant form he wasn't even able to push the fire dragon back.
Jura sent rock fists flying towards Atlas Flame, although the heat from the dragon melted the rock fists. "You foolish humans, will never be able to defeat a dragon!" Atlas Flame roared and unleashed a breath attack, Natsu jumped in front of it and devoured the flames.
"Oh yeah?! Well I'm a dragon slayer! And I'm gonna beat you!" Natsu roared and charged at the dragon with his fist raised.
"He ate my flames?" Atlas Flame was stunned, this human was going to be troublesome. Natsu slammed his fiery fist into the dragon, although it didn't seem to have much of an effect. Atlas Flame roared sending a shockwave that sent Natsu flying until he was caught by Happy.
Fire Dragon: Roar!
Natsu spewed out a violent amount of fire right into the fire dragon, although it didn't have much of an effect. "Fool, I'm a fire dragon, fire attacks like that have no effect on me!" Atlas Flame roared.
"…" Natsu growled, if he couldn't do anything here, he might as well. Natsu looked up at Motherglare that had Future Rogue on his back, and an image of a lifeless Lucy came to mind and his body started trembling in anger, he wanted, no he needed to take Future Rogue down himself. It was not out of pride, it was out of revenge, he took something precious from him right before his eyes and he was helpless to stop it. That is what really nagged him, he was helpless to save someone precious to him. He might still have his timeline Lucy, but it didn't matter, just seeing a dead Lucy no matter from which fricking timeline brought feelings of sorrow and anger to Natsu's heart. Sorrow over seeing someone precious die, anger over not being able to stop it or beat the bastard who did it. He knew the others needed him against Atlas Flame, or rather they needed a dragon slayer, then Natsu saw in the corner of his eye, Sting and Rogue about to attack Motherglare. "Wait! Rogue! Sting! Could you take care of this one! I will take that one!" Natsu shouted causing the twin dragons to halt.
Sting smirked and gave Natsu a thump up, it was like a childhood dream becoming a reality having the one you looked up to asking for help from you. "Come on Rogue!" Sting charged at the fire dragon ready to impress Natsu, and Rogue shortly followed.
"Natsu… Jellal said…" Happy uttered.
"I know, but… that guy… I can't let him get away after…!" Natsu clenched his fist thinking back on Future Lucy, seeing her blood stain the floor red, her lifeless body just lying there, and a smirking Future Rogue. "I have to be the one that defeats him, I just have to! Let's go, Happy!" Natsu ordered and Happy smiled.
"Aye! For Lucy!" Happy flew with Natsu up towards Motherglare.
"Hmm?" Future Rogue looked to the side, seeing the pink haired Natsu with his trusted friend Happy flying towards him. Happy then dropped him and Natsu surrounded his body in fire and flew down like a bomb at Future Rogue and Motherglare.
"Rogue!" Natsu shouted and Future Rogue smirked maliciously. Natsu crashed into Motherglare's back causing it to roar in pain from Natsu's fire. Natsu threw a fiery punch into the dragons back and then leaped at Future Rogue with the fiery fist raised. Natsu then threw a powerful punch right into Future Rogue's face causing him to fall down on his back.
"Not bad…" Future Rogue spitted out some blood to the side. "Natsu Dragneel…" Rogue blasted out beams of shadows from his fingertips, shaping the tip into spear ends. Natsu gathered flames into both his hands, he then clapped his blazing fists together gathering a giant blazing sphere of fire.
Fire Dragon: Brilliant Flame!
Natsu swung his arms forward, sending the blazing fiery sphere into the shadow beams, holding them back. Natsu then started pounding Motherglare's back with his blazing fire covered fists, making the dragon roar out of annoyance. Motherglare flew closer towards some tall towers, and tilted his body sideways trying to shake Natsu off, or hit him with the buildings.
Natsu took a hold of Motherglare's scales, and started generating flames from all around his body, sending the fire beneath the scales. For Motherglare it felt like getting hit by scorching hot water.
Eventually, Future Rogue's shadow beams managed to pierce straight through Natsu's fire sphere. Natsu started moving, he jumped up avoiding one beam. He then jumped sideways avoiding two, and tilted his head to the side avoiding the fourth.
Fire Dragon: Roar!
Natsu inhaled his breath, and spewed out a gigantic wave of fire that easily overpowered the last beam and went straight for Future Rogue. Rogue smirked maliciously as he vanished into the shadow on Motherglare's back, moving towards Natsu. Once he was in front of the pink haired dragon slayer, Future Rogue leaped out from the shadows with his right fist covered in the darkness of his shadow. He threw a heavy punch into Natsu's face, almost sending the pink haired dragon slayer off from Motherglare.
Natsu barely managed to stay on the dragon, he growled at Future Rogue, and the only thing that he saw in his mind was the dying Future Lucy. He saw her tears run down her face as she was drawing her last breath, and finally he saw her lifeless corpse laying on the ground in front of him. "Bastard… I swear, I'm going to make you pay…" Natsu growled and flames erupted around him, with such heat that it felt like they were standing next to a volcano. "You hear me? You will pay!" Natsu roared.
Future Rogue only gave him a malicious, overconfident smirk. "Tsk, tsk, Natsu Dragneel. True your power is astonishing, and I have lost to you once. Although it may not have been that long ago, to me it was seven years ago. I am way stronger than you and Gajeel now, the two of you combined wouldn't be able to defeat me!" Future Rogue boasted with a crazed grin and a crazed laughter to back it up.
"Heh, don't be so sure about that pal. In your timeline or whatever, Itachi didn't exist right?" Natsu smirked as the flames kept burning around him.
"And what of it?" Future Rogue raised his brow, as if that was supposed to mean something.
"That guy, has taught us many things over the years! And I am willing to bet, that I am way stronger than your timeline me!" Natsu declared as the amount of fire increased around him.
'His power is rising?' Rouge narrowed his gaze at Natsu, then he brushed it off with a mere chuckle. "Although you may be a bit stronger, it doesn't matter to the current me you are nothing."
"Before I kick your ass, tell me. What is your damn plan?" Natsu growled in anger, his rage was fuming at this point the flames burnt more violently around him than ever before, as all he could think at this point, was getting revenge for Future Lucy by beating the shit out of Future Rogue.
"Heh, fine, seeing as you are about to die with everyone else. Do you remember how I said dragons rule the earth seven years from now?" Future Rogue asked to which Natsu only gave a growl as conformation. "Well, it is almost true. None of the dragons came from the portal, in fact we never opened it in my time. And seven years from now, only one dragon rules the world, the King, Acnologia."
"Acnologia?" Natsu widened his eyes remembering what Zirconis' spirit said in the cave.
"People live in fear, wondering if it is their turn to get destroyed by the Dragon King. The reason I came here, was to summon these dragons. I had planned to summon more, but Lucy and that Itachi fellow spoiled my plans. But these seven should be enough. For the only way to kill a dragon, is with another dragon. I'm going to slay Acnologia! And become the true Dragon King! I will rule the world!" Future Rogue declared with a wicked grin.
"… That's it huh? Why? Why are you doing this?" Natsu questioned as he gathered all the flames around him into his fist.
"… Enough talk, die." Future Rogue frowned and gathered a huge amount of shadows into his fist. Both he and Natsu leaped at each other and slammed their fists into each other creating an explosion of darkness and flames.
Natsu then leaped back, and was about to enter his Lightning Flame Dragon mode. "This is for Lucy."
"Natsu! Catch me!" Lucy's voice was heard screaming.
"Huh?" Natsu looked to the side to see a naked Lucy rolling into him sending him flying with him off of Motherglare. "What the heck?!"
"Natsu! Lucy!" Happy flew after them, leaving a dumbfound Future Rouge.
Future Rogue blinked as he saw them crash into a bell that fell from the tower and rolled into the streets. "… Motherglare." Future Rogue ignored them and looked down on the dragon Motherglare, that started shooting out what looked like eggs from its body, over thousands of eggs. "The time for this era's destruction, has come."
Once the bell had stopped rolling, Natsu and Lucy crawled out. "Ouch! Hey!" Natsu turned around to stare at the naked Lucy.
"H-Hey don't look! Cover!" Lucy scolded Natsu while blushing embarrassedly and her heart started beating faster.
Natsu widened his eyes, and then sighed. "Fine I will cover them." Natsu then to Lucy's surprise squeezed her breasts.
Lucy blinked for a few seconds, looking dumbfounded. She blushed even more, and a thick mark grew on her forehead as she slapped Natsu. "Pervert! Your supposed to cover your eyes!" Lucy grabbed a white cover that laid in the rubble to cover herself.
"Oh, how erotic." Happy snickered at the scene he saw between Natsu and Lucy.
"She flew at me stark naked! Happy! Lucy has turned into a pervert!" Natsu snickered also a little as all their problems vanished from just the atmosphere, even if it only lasted for a second, Natsu felt a little happy thanks to Lucy.
"It's not my fault! A dragon did this do me! A dragon! He wanted to eat me!"
Natsu widened his eyes, feeling like an idiot for not understanding what Jellal meant when he sent him to fight Atlas Flame. That dragon wasn't only a fire dragon that spewed out fire, his entire body was fire, making Natsu the best option to fight against him. "Happy! Look after Lucy, I'm going after that fire dragon!"
"Huh?" Happy looked confused until it looked like he understood what Natsu was thinking. "Aye!"
Natsu then ran towards the fire dragon he saw sticking its head up from between a few buildings while fighting a wave of light, darkness and a giant Makarov. "Hang on guys! I will deal with that beast!" Natsu growled when suddenly the eggs from Motherglare hatched and mini dragons rose from them. "Get out of my way!" Natsu spewed out a wave of fire that vanquished some of the mini dragons in his path.
Natsu ran upside a pile of rubble, and on the other side was Atlas Flame. Atlas Flame spewed out a wave of fire at Sting and Rogue, although the flames vanished. "What the?" Sting questioned when suddenly Ultear leaped down in front of them, having used her time magic to make the flames vanish.
"You okay?" Meredy leaped down next to Ultear.
"Who are you two?" Rogue questioned.
"Does it matter? We are on your side." Ultear replied and summoned her crystal ball.
Shadow Dragon: Roar!
White Dragon: Roar!
Both the twin dragons spewed out waves of darkness and light, blasting into Atlas Flame sending him skidding back a little. Atlas Flame let out a powerful roar, and the intensity of his flames increased so that Sting and Rogue's attacks were nullified.
"No way…" Sting uttered in shock.
"He merely powered up to push our attacks back?" Rogue started to tremble.
"Didn't the two of slay your dragons?! Shouldn't you know how to deal with him?!" Meredy questioned sending seven pink energy swords into the dragon, having little effect. Both Sting and Rogue looked down a little at that comment.
"Well… it was different then…" Sting uttered, and everyone looked confused.
"It wasn't much as slaying them, more like putting them out of their misery." Rogue replied to which they all looked stunned and shocked.
"Hah, as if humans could ever kill a dragon!" Atlas Flame mocked the twin dragons, swinging his fiery claw down upon them.
Ice-Make: Rosen Krone!
Ultear created giant roses and branches out of ice, binding them around Atlas Flame, whom looked at her as if this was a joke. How was ice going to hold a dragon whose entire body was made out of fire? "Everyone! Now!" Ultear shouted and everyone started to attack.
"I shall assist you in restraining him!" Kagura used her gravity magic to its maximum level of power trying to hold Atlas Flame back a little.
"Okay! Let's show this dragon what humans can do!" Makarov shouted out, and sent waves of light at the dragon.
"Geehee! Stay back little girl!" Gajeel stepped in front of Levy and inhaled his breath.
Iron Dragon: Roar!
Gajeel spewed out a massive wave of iron, cutting into Atlas Flame's body making him growl in annoyance, feeling like he was getting cut by a barrage of blades. Sting and Rogue followed with their breath attacks increasing the damage on Atlas Flame.
"Lamia Scale!" Jura lead the assault for Lamia Scale as he formed a golem of stone around him, sending a barrage of punches at Atlas Flame.
Ice-Make: Dragon!
Lyon created a dragon out of ice that charged into Atlas Flame, and Sherria assisted with a breath attack of a black tornado.
"Ain't no way we're lettin' Lamia Scale take the stage! Sabertooth!" Orga sent a barrage strike of black lightning, and Rufus used his memory make to mimic the attack of Orga to add the intensity. Every mage gathered what they had left into a combo attack that struck Atlas Flame creating a massive explosion from the various magic attacks.
The dust gathered around Atlas Flame, everyone stared at the dust cloud, when suddenly flames erupted from it and Atlas Flame busted his head out. "Not bad, for a bunch of humans, that actually stung." Atlas Flame mocked and roared.
To everyone's surprise, Natsu then suddenly leaped out from the rubble and latched himself onto Atlas Flame. "Missed me?!" Natsu started devouring Atlas Flame's fire body.
"What the?"
"Hn, Natsu." Ultear smiled and turned to the others. "Natsu can take this dragon on by himself, if you three want you can back him up." Ultear said as she looked at Gajeel, Sting and Rogue. "The rest of us can deal with these mini dragon creatures." Ultear said as all around them were the mini dragons, roaring at them.
Meanwhile, in a space with nothing but darkness, was Itachi. He was in what appeared to be a dark lake, he was slowly sinking in. Itachi weakly twitched his body, he was trapped in his own mind by the power of darkness.
The next thing Itachi knew, he heard the sound of crickets, the summer breeze hitting his face and the sun shining through his window. He rose up and looked around to see he was in his own room. "Was I dreaming?" Itachi questioned while rubbing his temple.
"Itachi?! Are you awake?! Your breakfast is getting cold!" He could hear the voice of his mother calling out to him.
"I will be right there… mother." Itachi got up from his bed and got dressed, he then walked out to the kitchen to see his mother by the stow, his father was sitting by the table reading a newspaper, and an 8-year-old Sasuke sat patiently waiting for his big brother.
"Nii-san!" Sasuke called out with excitement in his voice, and patted on the spot next to him. Itachi smiled warmly and sat down next to Sasuke.
"Morning, Sasuke." Itachi greeted and sat down next to his brother.
"You've slept longer than usual, are you feeling okay?" Mikoto asked, and just when Itachi was about to turn around and answer he widened his eyes in shock as both his parents were stained with blood, their own blood from a massive deep cut on their backs.
"You okay, nii-san?" Sasuke asked, only he sounded more mature, Itachi turned to face Sasuke to see him looking like his 17-year-old self. Itachi blinked for a few seconds and Sasuke was back into looking like his 8-year-old self, and the blood stains on his parents were gone.
Meanwhile, in the real world. Itachi flew into the Dark Dragon, throwing an upper cut punch with his right demonic black claw, then he backhanded the side of the Dark Dragon's face sending it crashing into the ground. Itachi moved swiftly like a predator hunting for its prey, he jumped onto the Dark Dragon's body, and leaped towards Scissor Runner slamming a barrage of punches with his demonic claws into the dragon's face.
Levia went to assist Scissor Runner and attempted to swat Itachi away from him like a fly. Although to their surprise Itachi left demonic claw expanded and grabbed a hold of Levia's claw. Itachi swung his body around throwing Levia high up in the air. Itachi vanished at super speed and appeared hovering over Levia, both demonic claws expanded in size and morphed into hammers, Itachi slammed them into the dragon sending him flying into the ground like a meteorite, creating a crater from the impact that shook the very ground.
Itachi flew down at high speed and morphed the hammers back into the black demonic claws. Itachi raised his right fist, although Scissor Runner appeared and swatted Itachi to the side like a fly. Itachi's body flew crashing through building after building. While the three dragons recovered, they turned to the direction Itachi was sent flying and blasted a powerful breath attack each. The combined breath attacks collided in the distant and exploded in a fiery explosion that sent shockwaves all over to Laxus and his group.
Laxus, Mira, Erza, Gray and the others gained worried expressions when they saw that explosion. Although they were quickly forced to turn back to their own battle as the mini dragons leaped at them. "Get back you bastards!" Laxus swung his arm to the side sending a powerful wave of lightning at the mini dragons vaporizing them instantly with his dragon slayer power. "I'm going to help him!" Laxus covered himself in lighting and flew towards the three dragons, ready to fight.
"Laxus wait!" Freed shouted but to no avail.
"It's too dangerous!" Bickslow shouted but their words did not reach their leader, he was to desperate about the condition of his friend, his rival.
"Don't die on me, ya hear… Itachi!" Laxus shouted.
Then in an instant up from the ground beneath the dragons, came a fist of darkness hitting Levia in the chin and sending him flying up from the ground a bit. Itachi then followed with the fist and gathered his two demonic claws together above his head, and sledgehammered Levia into the ground.
"He escaped the blast by moving underground?!" The Rock Dragon looked surprised and was quickly dealt a hit from Itachi sending him skidding back. Scissor Runner was about to attack although was interrupted with a wave of lightning hitting the side of his face.
"What?! The lightning dragon slayer?!" Scissor Runner looked at Laxus whom flew at him like a bolt of lightning, close behind him was Mirajane, and Erza in her black winged armor. And the Thunder God Tribe followed close behind as well, leaving Gray and Juvia to hold off the mini dragons.
"Let's go, Juvia!" Gray pierced the mini dragons with lances of ice.
"Yes! Gray-sama!" Juvia sent a barrage of water slicers into the mini dragons, cutting right through them.
"Oy! Itachi! Can you hear me?!" Laxus shouted to which Itachi's body flinched, he looked at Laxus and the others from the corner of his eye. "Come on rival! Are you really goin to lose control just like that?!"
Itachi swiftly turned around, swinging his right demonic claw to the side sending five saucer projectiles of darkness at them. Laxus widened his eyes and used his lightning speed to dodge the blast. Erza changed into her Flight Armor and managed to avoid the blast with her increased speed. Mira was barely able to dodge it as she got graced by the attack on her right thigh.
"Argh!" Mira grunted in pain holding her right hand over the cut.
Freed managed to put up a barrier to block the attack from hitting him, Bickslow and Evergreen. They managed to get away just in time as the saucers blasted right through the barrier. "The barrier barely lasted 3 seconds…" Freed uttered in disbelief.
"He attacked us… He really isn't in control, we have to fall back!" Erza commanded, despite the idea of leaving Itachi like this hurt her to the core, but they had to face the reality of the situation. If they stayed, they would die, either by the dragons or Itachi himself, and she knew, if Itachi ever gained control over himself that would have hurt him most of all.
"She is right, Laxus! We have to fall back to Gray and Juvia!" Freed tried to reach his friend and leader once more. Although Laxus only stared at Itachi in disbelief, it was unbelievable that someone like Itachi would lose control like this. Laxus clenched his fist and gritted his teeth in anger, not saying a word he flew back and the Thunder God Tribe shortly followed.
Erza requiped back into her Blac Wing armor, and flew over to Mira whom only looked at Itachi with a saddened look. "Are you okay?" Erza asked as she took a look at the cut on Mira's thigh.
"Yeah, it's just a scratch…" Mira replied while still looking at Itachi whom had gone back to fighting the dragons, either that earlier was a warning shot, or he simply didn't care and didn't consider them a threat unlike the dragons.
"You know he didn't mean to do it." Erza put her hand on Mira's shoulder.
Mira grabbed a hold of Erza's hand. "I know." Mira gave a nod and turned around to look at Erza with a smile and keeping up a brave face, and yet tears of sadness ran down her cheeks.
"He will regain control, he will come back from this." Erza assured, although she herself was clenching her other hand. She was just as concerned as Mira that they might not get their Itachi back.
"… And what if he doesn't? What do we do then?" Mira's body began to tremble. "Will we have to fight him? Will we have to… to kill him?" The tears kept running down from her eyes, and she embraced Erza in a hug. "There's no way I could do that…" Mira cried into Erza's shoulder, Erza gently patted Mira on the back while looking at Itachi fighting evenly matched with the dragons, or even overwhelming them.
"I think we all feel the same way about it…" A single line of tears ran down from Erza's eyes. "But for now, we have no choice but to fall back and hope for the best." Erza and Mira quietly flew back to the others taking on the mini dragons, they had to get over their feelings of concern, no matter how hard it was, they had a future to protect.
The Rock Dragon spewed out a breath attack at Itachi, whom turned around and held out his demonic claws that expanded in size, and took on the blast. The impact sent him flying back, yet the darkness completely blocked the breath attack. The impact was strong enough to send Itachi flying back, the darkness slowly getting torn apart from the power in the breath attack. On pure instinct Itachi managed to push himself off the wave and jumped to the side as the wave flew into the distance and exploded.
Levia then appeared and swung his claw into Itachi sending him flying. The Dark Dragon had recovered and flew after Itachi, and swung his tail down into him sending Itachi crashing into the ground. Both the Rock Dragon and Scissor Runner charged at Itachi smacking him around and once again sent him flying into the air.
Watching from a safe distant, while fighting of the mini dragons Motherglare unleashed upon the capital, Mira watched in horror as the dragons seemed to be beating Itachi. "Oh no… Itachi!" Mira called out.
In Itachi's mind, he heard a faint voice call out to him making him flinch. "Did any of you hear that?" Itachi asked his family while looking around.
"Hn? What are you talking about?" Fugaku questioned obviously not having heard a thing, his mother and brother had the same look.
"… Never mind, must just have been my imagination." Itachi held his hand to his temple, for some reason his head was hurting, like someone was sticking a needle into his brain. And despite being happy being with his family, something didn't feel right about all this. He looked into his own hand seeing it was black and looked like a demonic claw. "M-My hand… what is this?"
"Huh? Your hand looks just fine." Mikoto peaked over to Itachi looking confused as to why her oldest son was acting like this.
Itachi looked back at his hand to see it was back to normal. "My eyes must be playing tricks on me…"
Back in the real world, Itachi recovered and extended both his arms and formed them into blades. He landed on the ground, and jumped towards the Dark Dragon, leaving a small crater behind. The Dark Dragon unleashed a might breath attack at Itachi, and the dark blades suddenly morphed into what resembled that of demonic wings of darkness. And he avoided the blast and flew at the Dark Dragon.
"Look out!" Levia roared as Itachi morphed the wings back into long blades that resembled katanas. He then spun rapidly and crashed right into the Dark Dragon, whom could only roar in pain as Itachi cut off its wings sending it falling towards the ground. The Dark Dragon looked shocked, and horrified, his proudful wings had been cut off, he would never take off into the sky ever again, and he knew this would most likely be his end as he looked up at Itachi.
Itachi then floated upside down, stretching the blades out directed at the Dark Dragon, and started spinning so fast that all that was seen was what resembled a giant bullet of darkness. He came crashing down like a meteor into the Dark Dragon. Once he crashed into the dragon the ground exploded with dark energy, gathering a lot of rubble and dust into the air.
Levia, Scissor Runner and the Rock Dragon surrounded the dust cloud, and they heard the roar of pain from their comrade, that was eventually silenced and replaced by the smell of fresh blood. When suddenly out from the dust flew out the Dark Dragon's head and its blood stained the ground and landed between the three dragons whom all looked stunned. The dust cleared revealing a crater with the Dark Dragon's headless body in the center, it had a massive hole in its chest, making it look like a giant bullet had flown through him. Out from the crater walked out Itachi, the dark blades having reverted back into dark demonic like claws, his body stained with the Dark Dragon's blood, as he gave the three remaining dragons and ice-cold emotionless stare.
"H-He killed him…" Scissor Runner uttered in disbelief.
Future Rogue looked down in shock and disbelief that one of his dragons had perished. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist in anger. "Damn you! Itachi!" Rogue shouted and Levia, Scissor Runner, and the Rock Dragon charged at Itachi to avenge their fallen comrade.
In Itachi's mindscape, he felt at ease, at peace, he was with his family having a nice and quiet breakfast like they used to… Used to? Itachi held his hand up to his temple feeling a painful headache yet again, he felt like he was supposed to remember something, yet it kept escaping his mind on what it was. Itachi was brought out from his mind of thought, when someone knocked on the front door and Mikoto went to answer. "Why, hello Izumi-chan, Shisui-kun." Mikoto greeted as in walked Itachi's lover Izumi and his best friend Shisui.
"Izumi? Shisui?" Itachi widened his eyes, joy filled him seeing his lover and his best friend, alive, were they alive all this time? Why did he think they were dead? Itachi felt happiness fill his heart at seeing his little brother, his parents, his friends, all alive.
"Yo, Itachi!" Shisui greeted with a friendly grin, Itachi smiled back at him, although the image of Shisui for a second change into an eyeless version. Itachi widened his eyes for a second and shook his head as the image of Shisui returned to normal.
"Don't tell me you forgot?" Izumi asked with a loving kind smile. Yes, her kindness, her love, her white hair and blue eyes- Itachi shook his head holding his right hand up to his temple as he looked into Izumi's dark eyes and her dark brown hair.
"Forgot?" Itachi questioned in confusion.
"The three of us were supposed to go and train together. Seriously, after years of begging and you finally letting me come along, you go an forget about me." Izumi pouted cutely at Itachi whom gave an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry, just had a lot on my mind, that's all." Itachi apologized and for a moment an image of a dead Izumi in his mind flashed before him, Itachi brought his hand to his temple and shook his head.
"It's fine, so, shall we get going?" Izumi and Shisui walked towards the exit.
"I want to go to!" Sasuke declared and walked over to Izumi and Shisui.
"Sasuke, it's too dangerous for you to go with them." Mikoto protested and Sasuke pouted.
"I will only watch, honest." Sasuke pleaded.
Mikoto then sighed in defeat. "Guess I will go to then, what about you dear?" Mikoto looked over at Fugaku.
"Hmm, might be nice to see how much my son has grown." Fugaku smiled a little which was rare, and he and Mikoto walked towards the exit.
"Come on, nii-san!" Sasuke calls out, and Itachi smiles warmly was he starts walking towards them.
"Onii-san!" He heard a faint voice that belonged to Erza call out to him, sounding like an echo. "Itachi!" He heard the same voice from earlier, it belonged to his new girlfriend, Mirajane. Itachi halted in his tracks and held his hand up to his temple, thinking back on the situation, then it dawned on him.
"Nii-san? Come on." Sasuke calls out once again.
"This isn't real…" Itachi uttered, saying those words and the look on his family and friends faces brought pain to his heart.
"Huh?" Sasuke looked confused.
"What are you saying?" Fugaku questioned.
"Of course this is real silly, come on now." Izumi let out a light chuckle as if Itachi was joking, Itachi looked down, the bangs darkening his face.
"Come now, Itachi." His mother gently called out to him causing him to tremble, the feeling of guilt rising in his heart.
"Yeah, we don't want to be late, its always best to be early out on the training grounds." Shisui said with his usual goofy looking grin.
"No… This isn't real, it's merely an illusion in my mind." Itachi protested and looked at Shisui with a pained look in his eyes. "I know that you are dead, I saw you took your own life after I made you a promise to look after the village and protect our clans name." Once Itachi said that Shisui frowned and a darkness was cast over them besides Itachi whom stood in the light. He then looked over at Izumi. "And I know I killed you with my genjutsu out of mercy." Izumi then also frowned as both her and Shisui activated their sharingan, he then looked over at his own parents. "And I know for a fact, that I killed the two of you with my own two hands. After I swore that I would protect Sasuke." Fugaku and Mikoto's expressions darkened as they activated their sharingan as well. And finally, he looked at Sasuke. "And I failed you, but in the end, I gave you the truth."
Sasuke also frowned and activated his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, one by one Shisui, Izumi, Fugaku and Mikoto vanished like dark shadows and surrounded Sasuke, whom now looked like his 17-year-old self, glaring at Itachi with his Eternal Mangekyou and forming a lightning sword.
"This, is only an illusion in my own mind." Itachi stood still showing no concern as Sasuke charged at him and swung the lightning blade at him. And in an instant Sasuke vanished in a dark shadow before Itachi. "I'm certain, Naruto saved you from the darkness. I know, that you have a peaceful life. Farewell, Sasuke." Itachi said as in the shadows for a split second was what appeared to be an adult Sasuke, with a little black-haired girl next to him with the sharingan. "As your brother, I know you are alright. And I… need to get back to my new family. I know you have made me proud, and I will miss you, I miss you, not a day goes by where I don't miss you, same with father, mother, Shisui, Izumi, all of you… But I can't live in the past." Itachi smiled while a single tear dripped down from his face, as the image vanished and the space around him vanished.
Itachi's body was slowly sinking into the lake of darkness, as his body is almost completely under the darkness, he opens his eyes and his sharingan flares blood red. "I've had enough of dreams…"
Meanwhile back in the real world, Levia slams its claw into Itachi sending him flying into ruins of a building reducing it to rubble. "Now!" Levia roars and the three dragons combine their breath attacks, this time closer to the ground so that Itachi could not escape underground again, sending it blasting right into Itachi forming a massive fiery explosion.
""No!"" Mira and Erza scream in horror, while Laxus, Gray, Juvia, Freed, Evergreen and Bickslow widen their eyes in disbelief, thinking Itachi died.
The dragons all snickered in victory, then suddenly a red spectral sword comes flying out from the smoke and pierces through Scissor Runner's chest. "Ugh!" Scissor Runner gaps, and the other two dragons look shocked as Scissor Runner's body is dragged into the blade, and is pulled into a red spectral gorge held by a red spectral giant hand. The smoke clears revealing the red spectral armored warrior that was the Susano'o, having sealed Scissor Runner with the Totsuka Blade.
"W-What happened to Scissor Runner?" The Rock Dragon questioned in confusion.
"I-I don't know, that sword just, pulled him in…" Levia uttered in disbelief.
"I simply sealed the beast away." Itachi's cold voice sent shivers down the dragon's spines as he flew with the Susano'o delivering powerful punches into them sending them skidding back. "There seem to be a lot of smaller beasts around here now, about a thousand…" Itachi looked around the battlefield with his sharingan. "Heh, guess I should dispose of them." Itachi grins maliciously as the Susano'o evolves further into the Perfect Susano'o, the dragons look up in shock that the spectral warrior grew in size and looked down on them as the dragons reached up to its chest.
The Perfect Susano'o spread its powerful angelic like wings and flew into the sky over the capital, gathering a lot of energy around itself "Target lock on." Itachi's smirk widened as the Susano'o stretched out its body while letting out a mighty howl.
Yaska Magatama Rain!
The Susano'o blasted a wave of energy into the sky, and out from the clouds came a rain of yasaka beads crashing all around the capital.
Gray, Juvia, Laxus, Erza, Mira, Freed, Bickslow and Evergreen were surrounded by the mini dragons, at least over a hundred of them. Then came the yasaka beads raining down into the mini dragons destroying all of them. "That was…" Gray uttered in awe as the burning fire from the explosions surrounded them.
"… He is back in control then?" Freed questioned looking at the Susano'o in the sky.
"Somethings wrong, he normally wouldn't take a chance like that." Laxus pointed out as there was a chance that some of them could have been caught in the blast.
"Juvia thinks we should have faith in Itachi-sama, he would never hurt us." Juvia said with enthusiasm. "N-not that Juvia loves Itachi-sama! Juvia only loves her Gray-sama!"
"Calm down already!" Gray shouted with a faint blush as Juvia hugged him.
Then everyone fighting Atlas Flame also looked shocked as the mini dragons were destroyed by Itachi's yasaka beads that came raining down from the sky, and explosions erupted around them. "That brat… that was too reckless…!" Makarov uttered in disbelief, Itachi would never take a risk like that, never. Something was not right here.
"He must have used his eyes to pin point all their locations, and making sure the barrage would only hit these mini dragons." Ultear analyzed on the account that even she could tell the mini dragon's energy apart from the others with her sharingan.
"Those eyes… same as Itachi's… " Makarov uttered in a whisper tone as he looked at Ultear. Whatever this was about he would make sure to ask Itachi later.
Macao and Wakaba were defending Romoe as they were about to be killed by five mini dragons, whom suddenly were obliterated by Itachi's yasaka beads. Macao closed his eyes anticipating that they would die, they were hit with the powerful shockwave from the explosion blowing dust in front of them. Macao slowly opened his eyes and saw that he, Wakaba and most important Romeo was safe. "W-We're alive…" Macao uttered.
"That was Itachi's… wasn't it…?" Romoe questioned with a look of awe seeing the Perfect Susano'o in the sky.
"The kid may have saved our lives just now, but that was too reckless." Wakaba sighed feeling exhausted.
Future Rogue had a look of disbelief. "Impossible… he killed all the mini dragons without killing anyone else in the crossfire… What's more, his power has increased."
The Perfect Susano'o vanished and Itachi landed on the ground. Itachi's arms were still covered in darkness and resembled demonic claws, the black flame like markings on the right side of his face were still there. The black markings from his arms had spread further over his shoulders and down the sides of his body. Itachi was back in control, yet, something about him felt different.
Levia and the Rock Dragon sweated a little from this feeling of bloodlust, and the cold energy coming from this human. "Hey now, what's wrong beasts?" Itachi walked towards them as the feeling of darkness and hatred emitting from him made the dragons take a few steps back. "Seeing your faces filled with such despair…" A grin creeped up on Itachi's face. "…fills me with the greatest feeling!" Itachi looked at the two dragons with a wicked, malicious grin, filled with killer intent as he looked at the dragons like they were pathetic creatures. The dragons growled at him and looked even more wary of him.
"It would seem the darkness has corrupted his mind even more than I thought. Despite having gained control over his conscious, all that darkness unleashed at once has awakened something that has been dormant within him all this time." The Black Wizard looked at the scene with an amused expression. "Now this, is a onetime opportunity, even though this will last for only a few minutes at best before he fully regains control. The Uchiha hatred, has been unleashed from him, and his inner wrath with it."
That's the end for now!
I managed to double the update for this and Itachi Sitri, figured it was appropriate since I didn't update at all during last month, on the account of that my PC died. Should be fine now though.
Anyway, hope you all enjoyed this chapter, Itachi demonstrating his new-found strength, using it like a rapid wild animal. And next time we will see him using it in a more brutal fashion. I thought it would be a cool idea if Itachi had one moment where his inner Uchiha hatred that he has tried to keep at bay for so long, finally was unleashed. Even if it only will last for a few minuets according to Zeref before Itachi fully regains control of himself.
The next chapter will be the final battle of this arc with the dragons, two are already dealt with, five left to go, plus Future Rogue. The next chapter we will also see more action from some of the dragon slayers. Also, I will try and post that chapter within maybe two weeks, seeing as I will be going to Japan for 17 days and won't have time to work on my stories. If I don't manage to finish the chapter in time, I will finish it as soon as I get back from Japan.
And in case some of you didn't realize, unlike the cannon Ultear will obviously not sacrifice herself like she did. Since no one died thanks to Itachi taking care of those mini dragons. After all, she needs to meet her daddy Madara later in the story. There is not much I can say about when he appears in the story, and meets Itachi and anyone else from Fairy Tail. I can say this though, it will happen before the one-year time skip in Fairy Tail cannon.
-Later!
(Responds to reviews):
Shadow Joestar: Thanks! Thankfully it did not last too long, although something darker within him has been unleashed, even if it only lasts a few minuets there is not telling what kind of horror he can spread in the matter of that time.
TheJSmooth: Indeed, whatever Zeref has done to him it seems to have its price. If this was only stage 2, what will the others be like one must wonder?
Ita1412: Thanks! Hopefully they can get through to him as he is now.
Ultimatrix bearer: Like I said in the PM, because plot XD
Anime Lovers Indonesia: I managed to do it! So, yay!
Mathew5641: Thanks!
Guest: Sadly, no, the part about why will be explained eventually.
Thanatos 2018: It's mostly inspired from Meliodas' demon form, from the Seven Deadly Sins.
Mr. Haziq: XD
andresskorskiruiz: Thanks!
CoCoDu11: Thanks! Let's see what kind of slaughter awaits in the next chapter.
zubhanwc3: In a way I guess you could say that, I suppose.
Tasty Food: LOL! Thanks!
keybladelight: Hmm, well see. And as for the "A Fresh Start" idea, I also agree that it is a good idea, and me and my co-writer on that story are in the middle of planning something with it.
Person: Thanks, and here you go!
Fog: Thanks!
VengefulMANonMission: Here it is! Sorry it took so long!
Vonneyboy21: Thanks, and like I said in the author's note on the end, Madara will make an appearance for Itachi and perhaps some Fairy Tail members before the 1-year time skip.