"Chronos, we have a problem." Chronos made a face and materialized into the throne room as Aether said this. Looking around, he saw he and his brother were alone.

'What is it?" He asked the God of Space. Aether frowned and gestured towards the sphere of space before him, which was showing the human children going North. Chronos turned, and saw a blast of black fire fly into the air.

'What are they doing?" He asked, alarmed.

"The God Slayer's are drawing agents of Zomrus towards themselves," Aether replied. "They think they're strong enough to beat them."

"Are they?" Chronos asked.

"Even if they are, it doesn't matter," Aether replied, looking up at him. "If those agents get a look at the children, they'll alert Zomrus immediately, and he can descend on top of them in an instant."

"Options?" Chronos asked, placing a hand on his chin as he watched the three God Slayer's waiting.

"We can close off the space or freeze time there," Aether said, "but Zomrus will probably feel that. Just because he's sealed doesn't mean he isn't a Brother of Creation."

"We could use our power on his castle," Chronos said, "but the same thing applies. He'll know." Aether nodded.

"He'll know," he agreed. "I can only think of one option."

"Which is?" Chronos asked. Aether looked up at him, looking deadly serious.

"I've already called for Raijin and Oranos," Aether replied. "We'll need you too, or these damn kids will ruin everything." Chronos scoffed and looked down at the orb showing the battle again.

"Contact Mother too," he said. "She needs to get them out of there, now."

"I don't know about this guys," Rina said weakly. Katsuchi made a face and looked back at her as the flames above his head plumed higher into the sky.

"Would you stop being a baby?" He asked her irritably. "We're doing those ingrates a favor."

As much as he hated to admit it, the others had had a point earlier about needing to calm down. Even though he was increasingly powerful, he did need to be a bit more mindful.

So he, Winter and Rina agreed to be nice and destroy the agents after them.

They were Ascended God Slayer's, so it wouldn't be too much of a problem to defeat whoever was hounding them. Better to deal with them now then to wait and get killed later.

"Yeah, but," Rina said, her eyes foggy and unfocused. "I feel like this is a really stupid idea."

"Are you letting those vermin get in your head?" Winter asked, "I get they're our friends or whatever, but can't you see how this is better? I figured Ascension would have opened your eyes."

'We draw in whoever is following us," Katsuchi said to Rina, crossing his arms. "Kill em in an instant, and we can take a deep breath and relax. No one after us anymore."

"Yeah, but, they'll tell Zomrus where we are, won't they?" She asked.

"Not if we kill them fast enough, they won't," Winter replied. "It'll be easy, Riri, just relax." Rina frowned.

"Do NOT call me Riri," she said, standing up straight. Winter giggled venomously.

"Then don't be such a baby," she replied. "Straighten your spine and help us blitz these idiots when they show up." Rina still didn't look convinced, but she still did as Winter said and stood up straight. Ever since Steph's outburst earlier that day Rina had been acting weird. She had been more meek then was normal these days, which just annoyed him. She was acting like her Ascension was behind his and Winter's, like she still felt more human than God. Maybe she was slowing down?

He didn't get a chance to argue, as before he could fire off another explosion, the ground nearby was disturbed, a figure having appeared there in a split second. It was a young man by the looks of things, not the child Nashi and Elise had told them about. Probably some other agent following them. He was wearing black robes over a slim body, and had short black hair. His green eyes shone dangerously, both with magic from Zomrus and whatever his own technique was. When the man turned to face them fully, Katsuchi made a face. He kinda recognized this guy. From where, though?

The man in question took a few steps closer to them, a smirk growing on his face as he did.

"I see my hypothesis was correct," he said, stopping as they raised their hands to attack. "The Ascending God Slayer's would get a big head."

"Hard not too when you're perfect," Winter replied. "You one of the morons tailing us?"

"I am," the man replied. "Zomrus tasked me with finding the children, so thank you for making my job easier." The man looked towards Katsuchi, frowning. "I think I know you," he said. "Sorry, heads still fuzzy from being brought back from the dead. My personality only came back a few hour ago."

"Feeling is mutual," Katsuchi replied. "Have I kicked your pathetic ass before?"

"I don't recall," the man said. "Maybe we did fight, I don't know. Here, let me warn Zomrus that you're here." A second passed after he said this, and he made a face. "Strange, I can't connect with Zomrus. Something is interfering."

"Oh no, what a travesty," Winter said dramatically. "Can't call for help, you big baby?" The man grinned.

"Who said that?" He asked. Katsuchi was about to ask what he meant, but the hair on his neck stood up on end. Acting on instinct, he grabbed Winter and used his flames to fly to the right, dodging a massive boulder that flew through the air where they had been standing. Jumping to his feet, he watched as another man in black robes, this one with tan skin and brown hair, walked up behind them.

"Seems they sensed me," He said, scratching his head. "That's odd."

"So your buddies are here too, huh?" Katsuchi asked as he stood. "Anyone else here?"

"She's on her way," the first man said, pocketing his hands. As Katsuchi got to his feet, he saw that Winter was still on her knees behind him, looking stunned. 'Get up, Winter," he said, kicking her leg with his heel. "We're killing these guys."

"That's-" Winter said weakly. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Winter also looked stunned and confused.

"What?" He asked, "what's wrong?" Winter gestured towards the new man who had appeared.

"That guy," she said, "I recognize him."

"So?" Katsuchi asked, "I don't care who he is, we're killing-"

"He's supposed to be dead," Winter cut in, voice hardening. "That's Rocky, former Fairy Tail member. He died protecting Nashi from The Olympians. He's dead."

"Yet here I stand," Rocky replied, holding his arms out wide. "Glory be to Zomrus."

"So he's a corpse?" Katsuchi asked.

"No, he's a living breathing person," Rina said from his left. "I can tell from here, he's alive."

"That's impossible," Winter insisted as she got to her feet. "He's dead."

"Are you really trying to convince me it's impossible for the Lord of the Dead to do something?" Rocky asked. "I was dead, yes. I've been returned to carry out Zomrus' will."

"Can I kill him or not?" Katsuchi demanded, looking at Winter. Her face hardened, and she nodded.

"That isn't Rocky, it's just Zomrus puppeteering his body," she said. "Be my guest." Katsuchi grinned and raised his hands over his head, a fireball bursting to life in his hands.

"Fire God's Ascended-!" Before he could finish his spell, green magic circles appeared all over his arms and down his body. Before he could even register what had happened, the magic in his very veins erupted and exploded, causing him to cry out in pain and collapse to the ground as his body was racked by explosions. He had no time to dodge the incoming spike of rock flying across the ground, sending him and the girls flying high into the air, where they were slammed by another boulder hurled at them.

"I'd love to spend time playing around with you," The other man said, his green eyes glowing. "But we really need to find Nashi, she's our primary target. Would you care to help us find her?" Katsuchi didn't reply to this demand, righting himself in the air and bringing his hands together.

"Tell Zomrus he'll see her when we rock up to his castle and tear his world down!" He shouted, "Fire God's Burning Earth!" A flamethrower erupted from between his hands and flew downwards, coating the earth and sand of the beach in flames that refused to go out. The entire area was consumed by flames, save for where Winter was fanning them away so she and Rina could land. Katsuchi, however, rocketed towards Rocky with his magic, dodging another boulder on the way.

"Your flames lick at my soul," Rocky noted as he dodged Katsuchi's fist. "God Slayer magic is dangerous, yet seemingly not fatal."

"Oh yeah, I guess your body is being held together by Zomrus' magic, huh?" Katsuchi asked, grinning like a wolf. "What would happen if you burned up too much?"

"We'll never know," Rocky replied. Slamming his foot into the ground, spikes erupted out of the ground around him in a circle, forcing Katsuchi back up into the air. Wave after wave of earth flew up at him, but all missed their target as he flew around.

Until more green marks appeared on his body and exploded.

Katsuchi grimaced as his internals were bruised by the explosions, knowing whatever that other guy was doing was very dangerous. He did feel a distinct breeze go past him, and the pain faded. Winter was already on the job. This would be easy. Looking back down at Rocky, he saw the man shred a boulder into millions of tiny pieces, all of them flying up at him like a hail of arrows. He dodged around the first volley, only to be met by a second he was forced to incinerate. The flames ending up blocking his view of the huge earthen fist flying right for his face, which he narrowly avoided. He laughed as he righted himself in the air, looking down at Rocky.

This'll be more fun that I thought," He said.

Magic power had already started flying around in front of them, which told Nashi that the agents had found the God Slayer's. She grimaced as the night sky lit up with a flamethrower shooting down, consuming the earth in black flames.

"Katsuchi's already fighting," she hissed as she ran with the others. "We have to hurry and deal with this!"

"We can only run so fast!" Elise shouted from beside her. "We're almost there though, just keep-!"

"Dodge!" Ultear shouted. Nashi was blindsided by the older girl, who tackled her to the right and sent her and Elise flying into the trees. She just narrowly avoided hitting her head on one of them, making her silently count her blessings.

"Nice one Ul," she groaned, untangling herself from them as the others engaged their attacker in a fight.

"Saw the attack a second early," Ultear replied. Nashi looked over to see the girl's fragmented right eyes was glowing, the pieces of her iris floating her eye. "Get up!" Spurring herself to her feet, she followed after Ultear as they reentered the area of the fight, Elise right behind them. When they got a good view of their attacker, her worst fear was confirmed.

It was the little girl Elise and her had seen earlier that day. She still radiated raw power that reminded her of Zomrus, a devious grin plastered on her all too innocent face.

"That's her," Nashi called, everyone else hearing her. "It's the girl we saw."

"Aw, you saw me?" The girl asked, turning in her direction. "That's upsetting, I could have dealt with this sooner!"

"Don't take her lightly!" Elise shouted, "She's powerful, I know you all can tell." Nashi was about to start circling the little girl to the left, before Ultear's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. looking up, she saw that Ultear's face was ghostly white, her eyes wide.

"Nashi..." She said weakly, "...that's the girl you saw?"

"Huh?" She asked, "yes, that's her. A little girl, we told you." Ultear's mouth was hanging open in shock, before it turned into a pained grimaced.

"Fucking God's..." She said, he voice cracking in pain. Nashi shifted to see her face fully, and saw tears rimming at her eyes.

"Ul?" She asked, "what's wrong?"

"Aw, she's recognized me I think!" The girl called. "Hi Ultear! It's been a while I see, you look older!"

"Ul, you know this girl?" Michael called from the other side of the clearing. Ultear didn't move, seemingly frozen in place as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"She knows me," the girl confirmed. "Don't you, Big Sis?"

Big Sis?

Nashi looked back at Ultear, confused. She wracked her brain and memories, trying to find any mention of this girl.

She found it.

Nashi's eyes widened as she realized what this was, her eyes turning to look at the girl. It had to be, no way it was anyone else.

"Ultear you need to go on ahead," she said solemnly, moving to place herself between the girl and her friend. "We can handle this."

"I'm lost, but if this is a problem Ul," Elise said, "we can-"

"No!" Ultear shouted, startling her. Nashi turned to see her friend had clenched her fists, gritting her teeth. "I'll deal with her, no one else."

"Huh?" Keita called, "Ultear, we're not going to leave you to fight on your-"

"SHE'S MINE!" Ultear roared, her voice cracking. Nashi frowned, trying to find a way to reason with the girl. She didn't see one.

"Guys," she said, "we should let her deal with this."

"Nashi, are you serious?" Simon demanded, "the last thing we should be doing is splitting up!"

"Listen to your friends, Big Sis!" the girl called. "You can't fight me!"

"...No," Ultear said, taking a shaky breath. "I'm the only one who can."

No one got a chance to argue before massive ice sheet formed underneath all of them and elevated, forcing them all to stumble and slide on ahead as the ice then turned into a wall, sealing them off from Ultear and the girl. Simon turned and angrily slammed a fist into the ice, glaring at Ul's back through it.

"Damn it Ultear, lower the wall!" He shouted, "we're not gonna leave you here alone!" if Ultear could hear him she didn't react, keeping her eyes on the little girl.

'Simon," Nashi said quietly, making the redhead whirl on her. "She has to do this alone."

"Why?!" Simon asked, "she has us, she's not alone! I told her she wasn't!"

"Because no one else can help her where it really matters," Nashi replied. "Come on, let's go." Simon made a face, but another fiery explosion to the North caught their attention. Finally, he groaned in irritation and moved.

"Let's go," he said, running ahead of them. Nashi followed after him, and the others after her. She cast a glance over her shoulder at the wall of ice, her heart beating against her ribs anxiously. Could Ultear do this?

Ultear could hear her friends running off, which was good. She didn't want anyone else here for this.

She raised her head up slowly to see the girl, who was watching her with a smile.

"Why?" She asked simply, her voice cracking.

"Why not?" she asked back. "Zomrus wants to break you lot, so he figured I was a good enough option for it." Ultear grit her teeth at this.

"Why me?!" She shouted angrily, voice cracking as her tears fell. "Why am I the one being tortured like this?! Why is it always me?!"

"You're sounding pretty selfish right now, Big Sis," the girl replied. "It's not always about you."

"Don't call me that," Ultear spat angrily. "You aren't Keiko. You're just a husk using her appearance to torment me."

"I can assure you that's not true," Keiko replied with a smile. "It is very much me. It's the girl you let down." Ultear grimaced at this, trying to stop the memories from flowing.

Why?

Why could she not escape that day no matter how far or fast she ran? Why did it always catch up to her, either in reality or in her mind? What did she do to be tormented so much? What did she do to deserve this painful existence? Who was doing this to her?

She knew who. Of course she did.

"...I'm sorry I wasn't there that day," She said weakly, her fists unclenching as her voice softened. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop Zindo from killing you."

"I'm not mad about it, particularly," Keiko admitted, crossing her arms. "I'm just here to do a job, that's all." Ultear felt an icy hot rage erupt in her heart, which set her blood alit and forced rage to pump through her veins.

"That's good," Ultear admitted. 'It makes this much easier."

"Makes what easier?" Keiko asked, tilting her head. Ultear let out an icy laugh as her surroundings began to freeze over, her Arc of Time sending off waves of power that aged or reversed the environment.

"I'm gonna kill you," she replied coldly. "I'm gonna end you and let you rest in peace properly this time. And then, I'm gonna kill those others agents. And then, I'm gonna kill Zomrus. I'm gonna tear him apart for ruining my life." Ultear didn't know where this rage was coming from, but she could feel it in the pit of her soul. She was so mad she could barely even think straight. Keiko laughed.

"Too bad you didn't have such determination back when you fought Zindo," she said. "Otherwise we wouldn't even be-!"

The entire forest froze in an instant, creating an icy wonderland and a frozen little girl.

"Be quiet, Zomrus," Ultear hissed, her Ice Devil Slayer Magic swelling, black markings crisscrossing her body. "Keiko would never say something so heinous." It did not take long for the ice around her to crack and break, Keiko gasping for air.

"That wasn't very nice," she admitted as she gasped. "Are you really gonna kill me again, Big Sis?"

"I was responsible for it once," Ultear replied coldly. "What's one more dead little girl under my belt?"

Even though her words were cold, Ultear's soul screamed in agony. What would it take, to be free from this pain that constantly tormented her?

"Mother, Mother!"

Mother looked up from her lap, as she had been praying before she was interrupted. She looked down at the Disciple who had come to her, panting.

"Yes, my son?" She asked patiently despite feeling somewhat annoyed.

"The children, they've gathered!" He shouted. "But they're separated, so it's taking a while to lock onto all of their magical signatures!"

"You heard Lord Aether, my child," Mother replied as she turned to face him. "The children will not be able to get to us now that they're being hounded. We must extract them quickly."

"The sages are working on it," he relayed, "but they need you to create barriers to stop Zomrus' hunters from following them through!" Mother sighed and nodded, slowly getting to her feet.

"Come then, child," she said. "Let us save our last chance."