Advanced chapters on P-Word! For those interested, you can get all the way to chapter 111. Thanks, and enjoy the chapter!
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[X784, Edolas, Royal City]
— Gajeel Redfox —
"That's one giant lacrima…" Lucy breathed.
Even Gajeel had to admit it was ridiculous.
The crystal towered over the entire district, probably the size of a small mountain, glowing with pale blue light that illuminated the surrounding streets. Countless magical veins pulsed beneath its surface, and within the crystal itself, faint silhouettes could barely be seen suspended in place.
The four of them sped toward the city center through the skies. Carla struggled slightly under Gajeel's weight while Happy ferried Lucy beside them. Levy followed behind them, glowing wings made of the world 'fly', carrying her aloft.
The city beneath them was still engulfed in conflict. Fires burned in several districts while the sounds of battle echoed endlessly through the streets.
"Who do you think they are?" Lucy asked worriedly, gesturing to the massive lacrima.
"Could it be Erza? Or Gildarts?" Happy said.
"Hopefully," Levy said. "Mystogan is strong, but I don't really like the fact that we're leaving him behind. I hope he'll be okay."
Carla glanced toward Gajeel. "You do know how to free them, right? The masked man said you needed Dragon Slayer magic to break the lacrima!"
"So I just need to hit it really hard with my magic?" Gajeel cracked his neck with a grin. "Sounds easy enough."
Lucy looked downward toward several cages being dragged through the streets below. Captured Exceeds huddled together fearfully while Edolas soldiers escorted them away.
"I still can't believe they betrayed the Exceeds like this…" she whispered. "They treated them like gods for years and now…"
Happy lowered his ears sadly. "…"
Even Carla remained silent.
Gajeel clicked his tongue. "People in power always need someone beneath 'em. The moment the Exceeds stopped being useful, they became targets. This Faust guy seems more and more like an asshole the more I hear about him."
The group finally descended toward the massive plaza surrounding the lacrima.
Unlike the other parts of the city, this district remained relatively untouched. Large defensive formations of Royal Guards still surrounded the crystal while magical barricades lined the streets.
Levy frowned. "Looks like the fighting hasn't reached here yet!"
"Then let's change that!" Gajeel roared as he inhaled deeply. "Iron Dragon's Roar!"
A torrent of iron shards exploded from his mouth, obliterating the front line of soldiers instantly. The magical barricades shattered apart under the assault.
"Solid Script: Chain Lightning!"
Levy's glowing words burst forward next. Lightning arced violently between soldiers, electrocuting entire squads in seconds.
"Open, Gate of the Golden Bull: Taurus!"
A golden flash erupted beside Lucy as Taurus appeared swinging his massive axe wildly.
"MOOOOOOO!"
The Spirit bulldozed through the remaining soldiers, sending armored bodies flying in every direction.
The four landed hard within the plaza. The instant Gajeel's boots hit the ground, his arm transformed into a massive iron club.
"No more waiting! Iron Dragon's Club!"
He swung directly toward the lacrima, only for a gigantic blade to intercept the strike with a loud clang.
The sheer force of the collision blasted apart the cobblestones beneath them.
Gajeel's eyes widened just before a powerful kick slammed into his chest and launched him backward.
He crashed across the plaza, skidding through broken stone.
"Gajeel!" Levy shouted.
A new figure stepped forward between them and the lacrima. A tall and muscular Exceed, bearing the likeness of a black panther. He carried an enormous sword over one shoulder while clad in full Royal Army armor.
"Commander!" one of the surviving guards cried out in shock. Sweat dripped from the soldier's brow.
Gajeel slowly stood, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
"The hell?" he muttered. "Ain't you one of the Exceeds?"
Lucy stared in disbelief. "What are you doing?! The other Exceeds are being hunted down!"
The panther-like Exceed slammed his blade into the ground.
"I am Panther Lily!" he declared proudly. "First Division Commander of the Royal Army!"
His voice thundered across the plaza.
"It is my duty to defend this lacrima and hunt down all mages from Earthland!"
Yet despite his words, Gajeel noticed it immediately. Veins were bulging out of his neck, his hands shaking as he held the blade. 'He ain't as cold hearted as he says he is.'
Gajeel grinned slowly. "So you're sticking to your ideals, eh? You got conviction, and you're pretty strong."
The grin widened as Panther Lily narrowed his eyes.
"I've decided." He pointed directly at Panther Lily. "You're gonna be my cat."
"EH?!" Happy and Carla shouted simultaneously.
Even Panther Lily looked genuinely stunned for a second.
"Now, Shrimp!" Gajeel barked suddenly.
Levy reacted instantly. "Solid Script: Chains!"
Massive glowing chains erupted from the ground and wrapped around Panther Lily from every direction. They tightened around his limbs before anchoring themselves deep into the plaza floor.
"You—!" Lily roared, struggling violently.
"Sorry, but we'll fight after this!" Gajeel shouted as he rushed past him. "Right now I got a job to do!"
His arms transformed again.
"Iron Dragon's Lance!"
Both iron poles smashed into the giant lacrima with a loud crack. The crystal fractured instantly.
Blinding light erupted outward across the plaza. The entire mountain-sized lacrima began shrinking inward rapidly before condensing into two figures.
To their surprise, Master Makarov and Mirajane stumbled forward onto the plaza, both looking dazed.
"Master! Mira!" Lucy cried out joyfully.
"Urgh…" Mira rubbed her head slowly. "Lucy? Levy?"
Beside her, Makarov blinked in confusion before his expression rapidly sharpened as he took in the battlefield surrounding them.
"What happened?" Mira asked. "Where are we?"
"There's no time!" Gajeel barked as he rushed forward. He blocked Panther Lily's blade with iron scales coating his arm as the Exceed finally broke free from Levy's chains.
"I will not let you leave!" Panther Lily said as Gajeel swept his arm, pushing Lily back.
"Master, Mira!" Levy shouted as he tossed them the X-Balls. "Eat this!"
They both did so as magical power erupted from their forms.
"I'll handle things here!" he shouted toward the others. "Lucy! Take the She-Devil and Gramps to help the others!"
The instant Makarov sensed danger, his demeanor changed completely.
His arm enlarged massively and—with a single sweep—sent dozens of Royal Guards flying through the plaza. The wind was displaced as many of their siege weapons were launched back into the streets.
Panther Lily's eyes widened, "Such power…"
"I'll stay with Gajeel," Levy said before turning to Makarov urgently. "Master! Mystogan is fighting a strong opponent alone and Laxus and Dannis are also here as well, he is–!"
BOOOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion rocked the city as the earth shook.
Far in the distance, black flames spiraled upward that clashed onto a crescent slash made of darkness. The two powers collided violently in the heavens.
"Black flames…" Makarov muttered as his eyes narrowed. "Very well. Things are happening and we need to move quickly."
He turned to Gajeel, giving the Iron Dragon Slayer a knowing look. "Will you be fine?"
"Gihihi. Of course I will." Gajeel grinned sharply, iron scales glinting. He pointed his iron blade toward Panther Lily. "I still gotta make this guy my cat."
Panther Lily growled lowly at that.
Makarov sighed tiredly. Still, he nodded.
Carla grabbed onto Makarov and Happy to Lucy while Mira activated Satan Soul, black wings spreading from her back. Within moments, they all launched skyward toward the battlefield.
Soon only Gajeel, Levy, and Panther Lily remained within the ruined plaza.
Gajeel sniffed the air carefully. "Shrimp, some of the Royal Guards are still up and around. Think you can stop 'em from interrupting our fight?"
She smiled faintly. "Of course. Good luck."
Then she rushed off toward the surrounding streets, her finger already glowing as she wrote onto the air.
The Exceed slowly lifted his massive sword and entered a disciplined stance.
"Hmph," he rumbled. "To choose to fight me alone. You are either brave or foolish."
Gajeel's arm morphed into a jagged iron blade. His grin widened eagerly. "We'll see."
Panther Lily's eyes sharpened. "Shall we?"
Both vanished simultaneously.
CLANG!!!
Steel collided against steel in an eruption of sparks as iron blade and greatsword crossed for the first time.
…
[X784, Edolas, Royal City]
— Dannis Martell —
'How dangerous…'
Dannis twisted through the air as a sphere of black fire screamed past him.
BOOOOM!!!
The alleyway erupted behind him. Buildings cracked apart while black flames spread wildly across the stone, burning unnaturally hot. The ground itself cratered beneath the explosion, molten rock bubbling at its center.
The crazy blonde mage only laughed harder.
"HAHAHAHA! YES! THAT'S IT!"
Zancrow lunged forward through the inferno, both hands clasped together overhead as black fire spiraled around his arms like living beasts.
"Fire God's Supper!"
The flames descended like a guillotine.
Dannis raised a hand calmly.
"Void Burst."
A single point of darkness formed in his palm before detonating outward. Black energy and divine flames collided violently in the center of the alley, producing an explosion that shattered every nearby window.
Smoke engulfed everything instantly.
Dannis shot forward through the haze.
His blade met a massive scythe formed entirely from black flames. Dark energy was formed in the clash between darkness and fire as the two entered close quarters combat.
Dannis narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had to admit, Zancrow was good. He fought like a rabid beast, but beneath the madness was real skill. His movements were savage yet fluid, every swing of his flaming scythe held enough destructive power that forced Dannis on the defensive.
There was something eerie about the flames as well. They were hotter than Natsu's by a significant margin, but it wasn't merely heat that bothered him. The flames felt alien. Corrupted. As though they rejected the natural order itself.
And unlike ordinary magic, Dannis couldn't absorb them.
'So this is God Slayer magic…'
Zancrow swung wildly, black fire bursting outward from his scythe in a massive crescent.
"Black Cocoon!"
Darkness enveloped him in a protective sphere just as the flames crashed into it head-on. The impact launched Dannis backward through the alley. His cocoon cracked violently under the pressure, but it held.
As the darkness receded, he saw Zancrow standing across from him amidst the flames, grinning like a lunatic. It was difficult to see, as the heat alone made the air ripple.
"That's it!" he roared excitedly. "That's what I want!"
His eyes gleamed with insanity.
"Come on! I saw your fight in the Tower of Heaven, you can't be this weak! SHOW ME EVERYTHING YOU GOT!"
Dannis exhaled slowly, then he looked upward.
Ultear remained crouched atop a nearby rooftop, watching the battle carefully. Unlike Zancrow, she wasn't smiling. Her brows remained furrowed with concern.
Interesting.
Looking back toward the God Slayer, Dannis had to admit, this was fun. If only they were fighting in better circumstances, with no literal war happening around them and the lives of his friends at risk.
Despite that, a smirk slowly spread across his face.
Dark tattoos began spreading along the left side of his face as he invoked the Devil Slayer aspect of his power. The shadows beneath him rippled violently.
Then, he appeared.
Ultear's eyes widened instantly. "Zancrow, dodge!"
"Huh—?"
Wraith Jellal exploded from the shadows in a burst of golden light. Heavenly Body magic engulfed him as stars seemed to shimmer around his form.
'Grand Chariot.'
Golden beams rained downward instantly.
BOOOOM!!!
The alley was consumed by light.
Zancrow barely had time to scream before the bombardment blasted him straight through a building. The structure collapsed entirely around him in a storm of rubble and fire.
Dannis was already there.
Darkness extended his blade into a massive black spear, the tip resting directly against Zancrow's throat the moment the dust settled.
"Jellal!" Ultear exclaimed, landing on the ground in a stance. Her expression twisted. "Dannis Martell…so you were the one who took his soul…"
Dannis narrowed his eyes, not knowing what she meant by that. Before he could question her, shouts erupted across the city.
Dannis turned to see several Black Band soldiers further down the streets were pointing upward in shock. Dannis followed their gaze.
A massive airship descended from the clouds. Painted across the front of the colossal vessel was the unmistakable emblem of Grimoire Heart.
Then the front compartment opened as a Jupiter Cannon emerged.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
The cannon fired.
A massive beam erupted downward, vaporizing four of Edolas' large towers and turrets near instantly. The resulting explosion shook the entire district.
Rebellion soldiers erupted into cheers at the destruction of the Royal Army defenses.
Dannis' crimson eye flashed suddenly, and he immediately turned as a black hole formed in his palm.
"Amaterasu Formula 28."
BOOOOM!!!
The alley disappeared beneath smoke as a spherical shockwave from behind him. Buildings collapsed inward while the earth split apart from the force.
Dannis gritted his teeth as the black hole absorbed the incoming blast inch by inch. Even then, the pressure alone forced him backward across the shattered ground.
Strong. Very strong.
Thankfully, the black hole managed to absorb the attack as he dashed backwards to create distance. More shadows rippled beside him.
Wraith Jellal retreated back to his side while two more forms emerged from the darkness, Midnight and Racer.
When the smoke cleared, Dannis saw the Guild Master of Grimoire Heart, Hades, there calmly with Ultear beside him. Zancrow climbed from the rubble moments later, rolling his neck as though the previous attack had merely annoyed him.
'Figures. A God Slayer's physique would be a tough not to crack, not to mention Wraith Jellal isn't at full strength.'
"Dannis Martell," Hades greeted pleasantly, his single eye gleaming sharply. "You continue to surprise me. The fact you survived that attack unscathed is impressive."
"Hades," Dannis said back, narrowing his eyes, a bead of sweat falling from his brow. The amount of magic radiating from him was absurd. It was even larger than Gildarts.
"Indeed, it seems we find ourselves in quite the predicament." Hades mused while adjusting his cloak casually. "I originally intended to approach Fairy Tail on friendlier terms. Fellow Earthlanders should stick together in this foreign world, no?"
Hades shrugged as a dangerous smile appeared on his face. Hades lifted two fingers. Through Requip magic, a small pellet appeared between them.
"Ultear, eat this."
Ultear hesitated only slightly before obeying. The instant she swallowed it, power exploded from her body.
"My magic…" she whispered in shock.
She waved her hand experimentally. The rubble surrounding the alley suddenly reversed itself. Broken stone flew backward. Cracks repaired themselves. Entire walls reconstructed instantly.
Dannis clicked his tongue. "Figures a guy like you could do that."
Hades chuckled lightly. "Well of course. It took some time, but something of this calibre isn't too difficult once you learn the true nature of Edolas as a dimension. A rather trivial feat after sufficient study, but I digress." Hades said, as his cold smile widened, a choking aura began to appear around him. "Now then, how about we—"
"Satan Soul: Lullaby!"
Another voice appeared as Mira appeared from above, landing beside Dannis, in her Lullaby form, her skin taking a bark-like tone as a dark green leotard covered her body. "Dannis! Are you okay?"
The moment she appeared, the knot of tension in his chest loosened slightly.
"Mira?" he blinked. "How are you here?"
Another figure dropped beside them immediately afterward.
Lucy landed awkwardly while clutching a key, Happy and Carla hovered overhead.
"Gajeel freed me," Mira said quickly, narrowing her eyes as she glared at the trio of Grimoire Heart mages. "Why are they here?"
"That's what I'd like to know too," Dannis muttered.
Hades observed the newcomers with visible interest.
"The She-Devil of Fairy Tail, and not just that, but in the form of one of the Etherious. And you as well, Lucy Heartfilia, bearer of the Golden Keys." Hades' lone eye focused on Lucy's form, who gulped under his gaze.
"Truly magnificent," Hades praised softly. "Makarov certainly possesses an eye for talent."
Then his smile widened slightly.
"Speaking of which…"
Clack.
Clack.
The sound of boots drew everyone's attention as the alley was swallowed by a massive aura of power. Dannis smirked faintly, for the aura was familiar.
Makarov stepped into view wearing his Wizard Saint coat, his expression grim and unreadable.
"Hades, Master of Grimoire Heart." Makarov greeted coldly as he continued walking past Dannis, stopping just a few steps away.
"Makarov." Hades' smile widened, as if he was welcoming a friend. "I'm glad you're here. I'd much rather negotiate with someone of equal standing."
"Your presence here is unwanted," Makarov replied bluntly. "My children are scattered across this city and many others turned to lacrima. I have little patience today." His eyes sharpened. "So speak. What exactly do you want?"
Hades spread his hands slightly.
"As it happens, many of our members suffered the same fate. Currently, Fairy Tail has more active mages on the field, thus we are dreadfully outnumbered. You certainly have an advantage if it comes to a fight." Hades' one eye turned dangerous, his smile vanishing. "Though I should warn you… if battle begins, it will not end easily for either side."
Dannis furrowed his brow. Hades was right, as much as Dannis didn't want to admit. Hades himself was monstrous, with Dannis suspecting Makarov being his only equal.
Then, there was Ultear who was a former Wizard Saint, and Zancrow, who was a wild card with his God-Slayer magic.
Dannis was confident he could even the odds, especially with Mira here and his three most powerful Wraiths. But that wasn't taking into account Grimoire Heart's airship, which had its own Jupiter Cannon, threatening their other members in the city.
'Laxus and Mystogan have their own fights…' Dannis mused. 'I sensed Laxus' magic erupting back in the castle, along with Natsu and Wendy. Are they fighting someone?
Lucy wasn't ready for this kind of fight, and the cats were non-combatants.
Looking towards the Master, Makarov clearly reached the same conclusion.
"…What do you propose?"
"A non-aggression pact," Hades answered smoothly. "Fairy Tail and Grimoire Heart cooperate temporarily to recover our respective members." His lone eye flicked toward the city beyond. "Despite the efforts of the Black Band Rebellion, other battalions of the Edolas Royal Army are making their way here as we speak. Fighting each other while facing an army of over ten thousand soldiers armed with the best of Edolas weaponry would be… inefficient."
"True enough." He heard Mira mutter. No doubt she was worried about Elfman and Lisanna, who Dannis knew was among the ones turned to lacrima.
"Working with a dark guild may leave a poor taste in your mouth," Hades continued. "So allow me to offer an incentive. Ultear."
The Time Mage waved an arm. Appearing in the middle of the alleyway, was the lifeless body of Jellal Fernandez.
Wraith Jellal pulsed violently beside Dannis, reacting instinctively toward the body like a tether finding its anchor.
He remembered the vision he saw from Jellal's memories, of how he was manipulated by Ultear to do her bidding. Most of the crimes, if not all, were a result of her brainwashing.
If this truly was his original body… remnants of that control might still linger within it, and Fairy Tail could push to clear his name. Above all else, Erza deserved having a body to bury.
"Master…" Mira whispered uncertainly.
"I know," Makarov said quietly. He stared at Hades for several moments before sighing deeply.
"I don't know what game you're playing," he admitted. "But… we have a deal."
Hades' smile returned immediately. "Much obliged."
Without another word, he turned away.
Ultear followed silently. Zancrow shot Dannis one last manic grin before disappearing after them.
Neither Dannis nor Mira lowered their guard as they watched Grimoire Heart vanish deeper into the shadows of the alley.
…
AN: A new chapter is here!
Finally, this is where some of the changes in Edolas begin into play. While Laxus is taking Gajeel's role in fighting the Dorma Anim with Natsu and Wendy, Dannis is out to handle the Grimoire Heart alongside Mira and Makarov.
Mystogan also has a more active role, which I thought was necessary. I could never understand why Mashima gave Mystogan a tertiary role in his own backstory character arc. Edolas was literally about him, and yet he barely did anything in it.
I hope to fix it here, which I hope is a little more satisfactory.
I'm also glad we got to do the Jellal thing, which was something I've planned for a long time.
I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, cheers guys!