"I… won't… go… down… that… EASILY!" Argonia roared as he circulated his magic power just beyond the threshold of the crystal, feeling a prickling sensation that traveled across his entire body.
BOOOM!
Purple streams of magic energy exited from him, brightening up the layer with a looming force. Their three-way deadlock intensified as Argonia began recovering at a faster pace.
His sudden increase in strength surprised Natsu and Kagura as they felt their strikes being pushed back. In response they tried to follow up with another blow, Natsu punched with his left hand, switching his flames to a familiar golden color.
At the same time, Kagura fully exerted her maximum output of her gravity change. The ground flattened with so much weight, which also successfully pinned down the guild master.
"Kagura, move away!"
BAMMMM!
Natsu struck the man's face again, veins bulging on his arm. A crunching sound rang afterwards, reverberating throughout the whole area. Kagura stepped away at the right moment when his flames revved up even more.
"Fire Dragon's Golden Fist!"
BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!
A raging beam of golden flames sent Argonia flying towards the room he was slumbering in, kicking up a huge amount of dust alongside flames that never let up like a parasite.
The path was sizzling due to the lingering aftermath, and numerous pile of debris and pavements became even more unnoticeable. One could hear the crackling of his mesmerizing fire, Kagura was a prime example for it.
She could only silently observe in awe at the dragon's slayer relentlessness first hand. She really didn't get to see him in action for fights that decide life or death, since they mostly hung out for the most part.
That, and his friendly spars with her, to which they both enjoyed. It was just getting to know each other better during these two weeks.
The brawls within the guild gave a glimpse of his destructive tendencies, so forming a team together really opened her eyes. But before she could even speak, Kagura sensed the glaring malice that spread out again.
"He's a tough one." Natsu clicked his tongue, gazing at the distant silhouette who showed himself in tatters.
Argonia had spawned more purple cracks that almost covered every inch of his body. His scleras turned black, while his irises and pupils were an unsettling purple. He simply stared at them as if their previous offensive didn't matter at all.
Crack!
He adjusted his broken nose to the correct position, doing mild stretches before exhaling in relief. "I don't know why I bothered to be meticulous in controlling this thing." Looking down at the magical item that could erupt at any given time.
"What do you mean by that, cultist?" Kagura asked coldly, her magical power rising in pressure alongside the dragon slayer's
Argonia shrugged nonchalantly, understanding that there was no point in hiding it anymore. "The moment all of you destroyed those generators, it had spiraled out of control. I'm pretty sure as wizards, you're both aware that Ethernano is composed of everything. So…" He drew out his sentence.
"It will explode as a result." Kagura frowned as she came to that realization. "Ordo never knew about this particular fact in your assimilating process." The sound wizard assured them of his weakened state, but nothing was told to them about this.
"Him? Ah, I see. Did he share to the both of you about what he saw in there?" The man pointed behind the room.
Argonia simply snorted in contempt. "In the world of lawlessness, it's very common to hide the trump cards you have to yourself. Although I was their leader, I never trusted anyone up until now." He created a new pair of identical hammers, but this time, they were a mix of purple and black.
Natsu reeled from such a statement. "They were still your comrades, you icky bastard!" Golden flames hovered around the young man like a protective embrace.
"Hah! Only a typical light wizard can have that type of mindset." Agronia laughed loudly at the absurdity of what was said. He calmed down after a while, wiping the slight tears coming out from his eyes.
His magic power flared afterwards as he grinned like a madman. "Enough small talk! I will cripple the both of you so we can perish together! It's a good trade-off after you thwarted my goals, right?" After saying that, he quickly swung his hammers towards the ground.
"Crush Cluster!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A multitude of black and purple pillars formed within the earth, shooting towards the fairy duo like a stampede.
"Natsu-san, I don't think it's advisable to get caught up in a cube anymore." Kagura hastily remarked as she dodged the transparent yet solid constructs.
Natsu was also doing the same. "I know, I know! He's already going coo-coo because of that mashed up brain of his, the last thing we want is to go boom anyway." He didn't hold back the strength of his golden flames as he understood how dire the situation was.
"Just say close to me, Kagura! I can take care of these pillars no sweat!" Natsu continued to shatter the pillars that were opening to trap them in the same manner. They were a lot more durable this time, so he also assisted Kagura when they closed in on her.
Additionally, Kagura also invoked her spell focused on repelling and delaying their movements, making sure Natsu can cleanly hit them with no issue. Their synergy was improving smoothly within all of this chaos.
"Hm?" Natsu punched another pillar with his flaming fist as he noticed the vanished figure of the suicidal man. "Be careful! He must be hiding somewhere around these annoying things!" He leaped up to avoid another one, but before he could even react, the air shifted with no warning.
BAM!
A hammer was swung towards him, prompting him to backhand it in response. Argonia quietly appeared on one of the pillars, instantly invoking his containment spell to cage him.
Natsu's gaze never wavered against the guild master's frightening visage. Their clash of magical power shook the area again, along with unconscious bodies and debris falling from the fifth layer.
"Your golden flames are a problem. I'll target you first." Argonia's weapon morphed as he aimed it at the dragon slayer, circulating more energy to increase the speed of his conjured spell.
Natsu exhaled in response, condensing a bundle of flames within his mouth. As soon as it almost engulfed him, he went all in with his attack. Argonia couldn't block in time because they were too close to each other.
"Fire Dragon's Golden Roar!"
"Fu---!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!
Another beam of flames came from the young man in an even more destructive faction. Once it made contact with the ground, it covered its entirety like a miniature wave of fire. No space was spared as the walls of numerous rooms in the layer crumbled beneath its might.
Natsu slowly breathed out, observing his handiwork below. He also saw Kagura leap towards the air to dodge his strike's collateral damage, while going into a piercing stance with her scabbard.
She held her handle tightly as she winded both her arms towards her left side, staring at the figure who was still rattled from Natsu's roaring spell. The flames parted in time as she descended with unrivaled momentum.
"Archenemy: Strength Form."
Kagura quickly arrived before Argonia, already in a crossed guard stance with his hammers. The pillars that were threatening to consume her was stopped by Natsu, who was more flexible in mid-air.
BOOOOOMMMM!
The ground trembled again as Argonia coughed up blood after enduring the strike. His hammers were knocked out of his hands as he took on the full brunt of the woman's strike with his torso.
"RRAAAAAGGGGGGHHHH! YOU SHITTY BRATS!"
The agony he received was inferior to the bubbling frustration he felt. Argonia's pure rage was expressed in the most spine-chilling scream imaginable. The Obsidian Crystal glowed with an even brighter light this time, exerting more stored Ethernano without caution.
Kagura sensed the change on the mutated man, but before she could move, Argonia grabbed her weapon in place. Then, he kicked her on the torso with primal raw strength, making her groan in pain.
She was launched into the air as she also lost her sword in the process, getting embedded on the upper part of the layer's walls. "Kghk!" Recoiling from the force of his blow.
"Kagura!" Natsu cried out in concern as he landed on the ground, yet he couldn't let his guard down as he heard whistling in the air. An incoming white scabbard was headed his way, widening his eyes as he instinctively put up his arms.
The throw from Argonia was filled with frightening vigor, making the weapon emit pressure that matched Kagura's attacks.
"That's cheap, damn it!" He squinted his eyes as he prepared to endure the strike, however, in the next moment, the sword glowed for a few seconds, before it completely disappeared when it arrived a few inches close onto his face.
Argonia was startled as he looked upwards at the woman who got her weapon back. She eyed him with a stoic yet sneering expression while quickly recovering.
"Archenemy won't let itself be used in that manner. It is bonded to my magic power, cultist." Kagura tensed her muscles, escaping the wall and turned it into a foothold. She adjusted herself into a drawing stance.
"Nice!" Natsu sighed in relief after knowing that she was fine. He smiled afterwards as he powered up, his golden flames acting as a curtain of destruction.
Argonia chuckled loudly, enjoying his remaining time in this world with delight. "So be it! You both are so full of spirit that it would be an insult to not respond in the same manner."
He manifested his hammers again, then created more pillars that surrounded him like a horde of snakes. Each one was applied with a containment spell, ready to mercilessly trap the fairy duo in a small despairing prison.
Natsu and Kagura wordlessly accepted the challenge.
Clack!
A small stone signaled the continuation of their fight.
The three dashed with strong strides, Natsu boosted himself from his flames, Kagura used her gravity change on herself to be light as she glided across the air, Argonia stepped on one of his pillars and utilized for movement.
"Archenemy: Slice Form."
Kagura initiated the first strike, cleaving through many pillars instantly, not giving them the opportunity to open up with that trap applied on them. Argonia clicked his tongue at that, since he decided to focus all his magical power on his hammers.
I need to restrict their movements somehow, and yet they're already too guarded against my barrier pillars… The more I split them, the weaker they become. But having contingencies is a good thing, I just need to be patient. Argonia has chosen to keep up with his current strategy, because splitting his magic power is also a form of delaying the inevitable.
"Fire Dragon's Golden Sword Horn!"
Natsu followed up as he broke through the encirclement, instantly arriving before Argonia. The guild master intended to clash head-on, morphing his hammers into a gigantic fist.
"Crush Colossus!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!
They pushed against each other with fierce momentum, both of them were not letting up. The surrounding area crumbled like paper under the might of their spells, displaying a scenery of pandemonium.
Kagura wasn't fazed as she repelled the pieces of pavement with her magic, her sight never leaving the guild master. Once she neared him, she swung with pinpoint accuracy towards his side while he was preoccupied with Natsu.
"Deflect!"
BAM!
Argonia successfully blocked her sword, but since he split a portion of his energy for it, the golden flames immediately gained the advantage as it broke through the transparent barrier fist.
Even just a tiny shift in power can change the outcome.
Natsu directly struck him on the stomach, causing him to cry out in pain. The deadly blow distorted his senses for a moment, which gave the dragon slayer an opening.
Natsu grabbed both of his arms in a vice-like grip, followed by a knee to the chin, courtesy of his flames increasing the force of his strike. This only added to the hazy sight Argonia was now experiencing.
The demonized being gritted his teeth and opted for a head-butt, surprising Natsu in the process.
Kagura on the side prepared another attack, Argonia glanced at her and lifted the young man up with his arms alone, flinging his whole body towards the woman.
She could only pause as they hit one another, getting sent towards few piles of debris afterwards.
Argonia gave them no time to recover and clasped his hands together. "I'll put the both of you out of commission in one go! Suffer in agony, light wizards!" A familiar transparent barrier screen appeared above, as the pillars around him turned into particles fusing into it.
"CRUSH!"
He invoked his spell to the limit, making it descend as if the very sky was falling. Even when it was traveling towards them, Natsu and Kagura sensed that it was stronger than the one before.
"I'll stop it! You go ahead, Kagura!" Natsu suddenly said as he looked at the nearing screen. He went into a specific stance, charging both of his infused fists with magic power.
"But…!"
"Don't worry about me! Just focus on fighting that guy! C'mon, there's no time!" The screen was getting closer inch by inch as they felt the pressure of the spell.
Kagura bit her lip and nodded, quickly heading towards the man who was expecting them to struggle in vain. Her composure almost faltered as anger filler her mind, using her gravity change to lighten herself for more speed.
"A good strategy. But do you think he could destroy it on his own?" Argonia looked at the woman who was sprinting towards with him with unbreakable determination. He formed a barrier in front of him leisurely, sturdy enough to give him time to dodge her incoming strikes.
"I believe in him." The purple-haired woman ignored his taunts.
"Archenemy: Crawl Form!"
"Deflect!"
Kagura lowered her stance, instantly slashing from all directions. The barrier transformed into a sphere encasing Argonia, yet they were both aware on how useless it was.
Crash!
The barrier was shattered into countless pieces, and the guild master quickly formed more pillars to parry her swordsmanship while retreating backwards. Kagura pushed and pushed until they were out of the range of the crushing spell.
This all happened in the span of a few seconds.
Natsu smiled as he understood that Kagura went as far away as she could to not get caught in the blast. He leaped towards the screen with both of his hands brimming with strength.
"Fire Dragon's… GOLDEN BRILLIANT FLAME!"
BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!
Trails of fire spread across the surface of the spell, it wasn't even a contest as it broke down like fragile glass. The explosion brightened up the entirety of the sixth layer, its rays of light reaching upper layers like a miniature sun.
Kagura and Argonia paused for a moment as they felt the heat from this distance. The woman mentally relaxed as she had her lips in an upward curve. The demonized human, on the other hand, witnessed it in disbelief.
"He still had spells like that in his arsenal?" Argonia could only absentmindedly remark. What can he even say to that? It was only surprise after surprise during this fight.
A sudden swing went towards him as an answer, prompting him to block with his barrier again. He returned his attention to the woman as he quickly created hammers to parry her blows.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
A multitude of barrier shields and pillars crumbled under the might of Kagura's sword, giving Argonia no time to counter properly. He received numerous wounds after their clashes, making him curse mentally.
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! If it weren't for these blasted brats, the process would have been finished. And I would have an easier time taking the both of them on! Argonia winced as he felt the prickling sensation again from the crystal, and his time in this world was getting closer to the end.
"GRAAAAGGHHHHHH!" The purple branch-like cracks all over his body became so prominent it nearly covered his entire body. Only the glow of his eerie eyes was clearly displayed.
VRRRRRRRRMMMM!
A hum of cold and dark magical power emitted from him, as if he already lost his mind.
Kagura frowned at another change of the man's state of being, making a more careful approach while not stopping with this momentum. During their exchange of blows, she sensed a familiar warmth of raging magic power.
"Although it took a chunk of my reserves, I can still beat you up no problem, ugly purple bastard!"
She smiled as she ducked, letting a flaming golden fist hit Argonia that had endless ferocity. Natsu arrived beside her as he circulated more power to cave the guild master's face in, smashing him downwards to the ground with immeasurable force.
BOOOOOMMMM!
Kagura avoided the destruction caused by the dragon slayer, landing not far away from him. A cluster of golden flames covered both of the wizards figures, the rumbling from his strike brought more chaos in the already destroyed layer.
As soon as everything cleared, she could see Natsu standing over their opponent, Argonia laid out on the floor with little to no movement.
Natsu panted as he stared at the man who matched his gaze with a growling expression. "What the hell? Did I hit him so hard that he turned insane?" He observed Argonia with a scrutinizing approach, still not letting his guard down.
The dragon slayer was right on the money with his thoughtless remark. Argonia was experiencing mind-numbing pain that felt so agonizing it paralyzed him completely. The soft beating crystal continued to pump Ethernano into his magical container.
THUMP!
It hurts…
THUMMP!
Where did everything go wrong?
THUMMMMP!
Will I not reach that level I witnessed with my own eyes?
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
This world isn't fair.
WRMMMMMMMMM!
Natsu and Kagura detected another spike of magical power, looking at the guild master who oozed with more malice. This time, they felt a profound and alarming air of danger, making them tense.
Natsu in particular can accurately assess Argonia's current state. This guy… He's emitting the same pressure as rock pops! The atmosphere became heavy for the fairy duo.
Unbeknownst to them, the Obsidian Crystal is now operating in full force.
Natsu instantly understood that he needed to finish this fast, he clasped his hands together to do an overhead downwards strike.
"Fire Dragon's Golden Jaw!"
BOOOOOMMMM!
BAM!
"Gah!" But the moment it made contact with Argonia, he was propelled upwards by a swift counter. The dragon slayer was helplessly going through a few ceilings until he stopped at the third layer.
"Natsu-san!" Kagura lost her focus for a moment, followed by a step that echoed throughout the sixth layer. She instinctively leaped up to dodge the incoming blow that made a crater on the ground.
"Grrrrr!" The man in front of her was now a different person altogether. Purple line cracks were now combined with black ones, intertwining like grotesque scars. His eyes were filled with a primal light, alongside drool that dropped from his mouth.
These were the consequences of tampering with something that's above one's knowledge. Anybody devoting themselves under the banner of Tartaros will always have bad ends.
If one could look at his expression currently, there was no wisdom or intelligence so to speak. She simply clicked her tongue in disgust.
"It appears that item consumed his mind, trading it for an increase in his magical power." She arrived at the fifth layer as she gracefully traveled on rubble during her escape.
Kagura already came to a conclusion: He can't be defeated at this point.
She tightened her grip on Archenemy. "We just need to stall for a while… If that cultist wasn't lying, he'll be blasted apart when the time comes." Kagura then felt the floor beneath shake, prompting her for another dodge.
BOOOOM!
"RUARRGGGHHHH!" Argonia punched through the pavement with effortlessly, climbing on the layer like a beast chasing his prey. The instant he stepped on the ground, he charged with endless vigor.
The rampaging magical power made her sweat, but Kagura didn't back down and directly blocked it with no fear. Unfortunately, she skidded across numerous walls and rooms while trying to push back the madman.
There were grunts who woke up due to the carnage and hid in terror from the titans that were fighting and wrecking the whole hideout. Kagura didn't bother with their presences and used every ounce of her gravity to slow the guild master down.
It was already invoked fully, yet that couldn't even make Argonia groan in annoyance.
"I will get squashed at this rate!" Kagura remarked in desperation as she ran out of options on how to deal with this.
"Kagurraaaaaa!" She then heard a certain dragon slayer's shout, gunning for them as he descended for god knows how many times now. Natsu destroyed the floors and walls that blocked his sight as he burst through the lower layers, spotting the two at the distance.
He clenched his fists as he arrived behind Argonia's back, hitting the demonized man with everything he's got.
BOOOMMM!
Golden flames spread out immensely, engulfing Argonia in their radiant glow. But Natsu only felt the sturdiness of an adamantine plate, wincing in pain as he managed to pause the mindless being in his tracks.
"Natsu-san! Do you see the pulsing crystal in his chest? Stalling him until it shatters is the best solution we have at the moment!" Kagura trembled as she strained in the clash against Argonia, grateful that Natsu saved her life there.
"Gotcha! Sounds easy enough!" The dragon slayer knew that showing hesitation is fatal for them, so he grabbed the man's head as he angled himself for a kick.
"Fire Dragon's Golden Talons!"
BAM!
Natsu's golden flames flowed out like streams as he struck Argonia with full force, slightly pushing him back as he separated him from Kagura. A sickening crack could be heard, but the man who was reminiscent to that of a monster attempted to grab the leg disfiguring his face.
Natsu removed his leg in time and lowered himself, gathering strength as he went for an uppercut this time. Behind him, Kagura was finally free, moving in tandem with him as she positioned herself for another thrust.
"Fire Dragon's Golden Fist!"
"Archenemy: Strength Form!"
BOOOOOOMMMM!
The dragon slayer struck Argonia's torso, while the swordswoman lunged at his neck. A combination that's deadly for any wizard, yet it was not the case for someone who's tainted with Curse Power and an Obsidian Crystal.
"GUUUURRGHHH!" Although they managed to hurt him in the process, launching Argonia across the layer as clouds of dust formed from various sizes of rubble that crumbled under the sheer weight and momentum of the body itself.
Natsu and Kagura breathed heavily, displaying their fatigue as they also received numerous wounds. They didn't take their eyes away from the figure in front, who already recovered as he was sprinting back in primal rage.
"RAHHGGGGGGGGG! BRATTTTSSS!" There was a slight window of clarity within Argonia's incoherent beastly cries.
Natsu exhaled as he looked at the nearing guild master.
"Fire Dragon's Golden Roar!"
BOOOOOOMMMM!
A ray of flames was shot out from his mouth again as he did his best to sear the unstoppable obstacle threatening to overwhelm them. Unfortunately, it only delayed Argonia for a second.
The mutated human breeze through the flames, charging both of them at the same time. The fairies narrowly avoided the attack, prompting Argonia to ram through the debris like an angry bull.
They waited for a moment, then suddenly, jet black pillars emerged from the ground, which startled the duo. Natsu composed himself first as he punched with all this might, but the pillar didn't budge at all.
"What!? Are these things like him also!?" He said with annoyance. It seems dodging and blocking was the only option they could do right now.
Kagura analyzed the pillars while gracefully maneuvering around them. "The pillars don't have his containment spell applied, since it requires a clear mind to form complex techniques. He's basically grasping at straws here." She redirected some as she responded.
Natsu punch and kicked, using his flame boosters for more movement. "It's still tough to break!" Both him and Kagura supported each other as they exerted their effort to escape the entrapment.
They jumped towards the fourth layer under all the chaos as the pillars suddenly froze in place. Another series of trembling began as the duo saw the man that looked even angrier due to no hitting detestable light wizards.
"Oh boy! We just made him mad!" Natsu grumbled while circulating his golden flames.
Kagura managed to smile amidst the dangerous situation they were in. She was being soothed by the dragon slayer's optimism throughout the entire fight. She's heard of the stories from Happy, and one of his words resonated with her for this moment.
He's always ready to challenge the impossible no matter how hopeless it may seem.
"Kagura! You ready for another round? I can see the crystal cracking more from here." Natsu simply did his trademark smile, as if fear never registered in his fiery personality.
"Of course, Natsu-san. But let's not get carried away, shall we?" Kagura lightly chided him as her stoic expression softened.
Natsu smacked his fist with his palm. "Hehe! Yes, ma'am!" While they were conversing, Argonia smashed the ground under them, trying to grab their figures in vain.
The fairy duo sidestepped as they surrounded the man who entered the opened hole. Argonia simply growled and was about to move, but Natsu and Kagura arrived instantly on each side.
BAM!
Natsu smashed his face in again, while Kagura speared his torso. Argonia tried to spin to rid of the pests on him, yet that only started another sequence of attacks to rain down upon him.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Natsu continued to hit him with infused punches and kicks non-stop, even if it could only stun him every few seconds. In fact, he matched the savagery of Argonia, making sure he'd definitely felt these blows.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Kagura was of the same sentiment. She swung horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and utilized more unique angles to strike. She applied lightness to her arms, then heaviness on her weapon. Two effects at once with her current condition was already beyond her previous limit. But her stoic expression never changed, never faltering.
The duo maintained this cycle of counters that was enough for the reduced intelligence of Argonia. Even with unrivaled strength, the bumbling guild master was confused as to why the bugs were so nimble.
Due to his lacking knowledge of Curse Power, he naturally didn't know of its principles. Negative emotions that were amplified by external means without clear understanding… would simply be swarmed by one's innermost desires, consuming oneself in the end.
Argonia truly bit more off than he can chew.
They fought across the entire floor as their three-way deadlock was reaching its climax.
Natsu and Kagura didn't dare to let up for even a moment, even when they felt their bodies reaching their limit. Argonia roared as he manifested more pillars again, making the duo weave frantically.
"This is taking forever! Why the hell is that crystal not destroyed yet!?" Natsu shouted in disbelief.
"He should be almost at his limit. Him becoming mindless was one of the signs." Kagura assured him.
"RAAAAGGGGGGH! WIZARDDDD SAINNNNNTTT!" Argonia suddenly stopped as he clutched his head, the magical item finally showing activity as it flared with blinding black-purple light.
"Natsu-san, that's our cue! We don't know how big the blast radius is, so let's go towards one of the entrances." Kagura sighed in relief.
Natsu nodded. "Alright. This is where you entered, right? Lead the way!" When they infiltrated the underground, the three entrances all came from different directions around the terrain.
They both sprinted with every single drop of their stamina. Moving farther away from the man who was yelling like an insane maniac.
One can see many dark wizards who were hidden from the chaos as the duo passed by, yet they didn't dare to openly announce themselves. Instead, they could only brace for the scattering debris and crumbling hideout like scared rats.
But before Natsu and Kagura reached the center of the layer, they felt a tremor behind them. The blinding light came closer as they were sensed pure darkness covering the area like a cage.
The fairy duo was hit with a sudden crisis like never before, getting their hopes snuffed out like a candle. Others who were in the vicinity begged for help as their voices faded out in this sea of darkness.
"I… told… you… two… will… perish… WITH ME!" Argonia emerged from the fog with an unrecognizable figure. The cracks turned black as the Obsidian Crystal glowed with an eerie aura.
"Ugh!"
"Kghk!"
Tendrils wrapped around their forms with force as he pulled them towards him. Argonia retained at least a portion of his consciousness, one that was hell bent on dying together with them.
Krggk! Krgggk!
The Obsidian Crystal finally cracked, which made the guild master laugh loudly in triumph. "DIE, LIGHT WIZARDS! DIE WITH ME!" Argonia spread his hands out in elation, satisfied with receiving his dying wish.
Natsu tried to wiggle his way out, but huffed in frustration. "These stupid binds are hella strong! Kagura, are you alright!?" He glanced at his companion, but froze at what he saw.
The swordswoman was trembling as she had a mildly frightened expression. "I failed to protect Natsu-san… It's all my fault." Kagura muttered absentmindedly, slowly tearing up afterwards.
"I want to live for my brother… My new home… We can't fall here…"
Natsu witnessed unknown energy entering into Kagura like a stream, as if it influenced her mind. He wondered why it wasn't affecting him, but he brushed off that fact for now.
Seeing her like this, it triggered a memory of a man that was honorable to the very end.
Natsu, take care of Erza.
He's already failed that promise once.
He died.
While Erza cried with grief.
He was too weak to protect the both of them on that tower. Only winning by eating that whatever Etherion surrounding that infuriating place.
Natsu was surprised that he got to meet a relative of his. And like him, she was awesome, strong, and very scary. They only bonded for two weeks, yet it felt like years to him. He was also happy for her in adjusting quickly, accepting the nature of the guild.
Right now, Kagura was crying. And he didn't like it one bit.
He was supposed to be the Ace.
The one who carried the weight and values of the guild.
The one who can endure and overcome endless calamities coming his way.
He was supposed to be the backbone for everyone.
In this new role of his, he promised to himself that he'd bring joy and laughter after that devastating news. He reminded himself to be mentally strong for his friends as he let out all his emotions during his rampage in Magnolia's forest.
But someone was sad again… Because he lacked strength.
There was no one to help them this time. It was only them.
Why? Why is he lacking so much in terms of power?
Why did he boast so much as being the Son of the Fire Dragon King all these years?
Igneel wouldn't like it at all.
Natsu quietly manifested his usual flames, and somehow his golden flames at the same time. He didn't notice it as he displayed a furious expression that was similar to that of a seething dragon. Veins protruded across his face while he gritted his teeth, looking at Argonia who was still laughing at their suffering.
I don't want anyone to be sad anymore… He had a simple wish for the guild he was so proud of, something that he wanted for everyone that had a new start.
The flames within him must be warm when needed, unrivaled when needed, and indomitable forever.
Natsu's magic power pulsed in response to his thoughts, more specifically, the fire he inherited from Igneel. A bizarre scene had started to occur, in which the flame itself surprisingly absorbed the golden flame.
It wasn't consuming it, no. These were the flames of a King, Lost Magic that was personally taught by the strongest of all Fire Dragons. It requested for it to obey under its will, upgrading its entire essence in the process.
Natsu's orange flames became a shade darker, although not that obvious, since it looked like the familiar color. However, there was one thing that was factual…
His current flames were stronger than the Flame of Rebuke.
"You bastard. I'll make you pay." The dragon slayer focused his gaze on the madman, who glanced at him with amusement.
"Oh? You still have the gall to threaten me right now? I'd say your courage is commendable!" Argonia clapped in mockery. "What are you gonna do about it, light wizard?"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!
Natsu instantly appeared in front of him with a sonic boom, breaking his restraints while he was at it. The sea of darkness parted like it was frightened, as if a miniature sun has descended.
He struck Argonia on his stomach with relentless momentum, making him cry out in disbelief. Natsu sent him packing like a speeding bullet, creating a trail of pure raw burning display of destruction.
Kagura looked at him speechlessly, not knowing what to say. His flames protected her from the shock wave of the attack, enveloping her in a warm embrace. The negative thoughts that were influencing her vaporized into nothingness.
"Natsu-san…" She said with a soft tone, biting her lip as if she was ashamed of herself.
"It's okay to cry, Kagura." Natsu didn't look back as he locked in on his target. "I'm just… mad at myself." The flames around the vicinity quickly returned to him, converting it into magical pressure. It was only his figure, yet one could feel a heat that was ready to be released.
He gave a thumbs up. "I'll be back, so wait for me, alright?"
Kagura giggled. "Understood, Ace."
"Hehe! It's weird when you say it." Natsu also laughed.
The dragon slayer stepped harder on the ground, producing more web-like cracks. Then, he launched himself with newfound vigor, crossing the distance in an instant. The atmosphere's temperature increased along the way with him as the source of it all.
Kagura saw him off as she gently put a hand on her chest. "I feel great." She muttered.
Cough!
Cough!
"What the hell was that?" Argonia slowly got up in pain, resting on a pile of rubble. But before he could even question such a display, a sudden searing heat burned his being little by little.
He looked up to hear the sound of rumbling and a young man who flied towards him like a blazing comet.
BAMM! BOOOM!
"AUGHHHHHH!"
Natsu kneed him directly on the Obsidian Crystal, completely shattering the item into smithereens. The so-called impending blast was denied by the genuine and raw strength of magic alone, which shook Argonia to his very core.
The guild master spat out a mouthful of blood, getting embedded into the wall that burned across its surface. Natsu didn't stop as he grabbed him by the face, lifting him up then tossing him into the ground.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Argonia was flung downwards through a few layers, landing on the sixth layer again. A cloud of dust was created from the impact, showing an outline of a man who supported himself with his arms.
Argonia's body was truly refined during the assimilating process, so he tried to stand up to initiate a counterattack.
Unfortunately, he would never have the chance again.
WHOOOSHHH! BOOOOOMMMM!
The dragon slayer missed his punch as the man managed to roll in time, creating a crater alongside a wave of flames. Natsu quickly turned and arrived in front of the mutated man no problem, grabbing his arm to yank him towards an uppercut to the chin.
BOOOM!
BOOOM!
BOOOM!
BOOOM!
A towering pillar of flames was manifested due to the sheer might of his punch. His strike increased the temperature even more, slowly occupying the hideout.
Argonia was sent flying upwards until he reached the second layer. He couldn't do anything against the successive attacks of the dragon slayer. Heck, it was impossible to think while facing such relentless---!
A tremor echoed across the entire landscape as he felt the incoming heat again. He looked up to see Natsu above him, showcasing a wrathful yet serene expression.
Natsu dived down with a small push of his flames, grabbing the guild master by the neck. The man was already burned on many places, yet it wasn't enough.
He winded up another punch, actually doing the same thing he did against Nyrod. Natsu condensed his flames into a singular point, storing it all on his right fist. This time, he managed to do it on purpose.
"I wanted to beat you up more, but… You're lucky that I'm satisfied already." Natsu never gave Argonia the opportunity to response and decisively delivered the final blow.
BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!
BOOOM!
BOOOM!
BOOOM!
A spiral path of flames traveled downwards, effortlessly parting the rubble and pavements thanks to the force around it. The layers got even more devastated as the trembling still continued.
Natsu looked at his handiwork while falling down with style. The flames everywhere were a testament to his improvement in individual strength.
He smoothly landed on the fourth layer, where smoke and dust were prevalent from the aftereffects of his punch. Natsu searched for the figure on the sixth layer, looking through the holes and gaps.
After a while, he spotted the scorched figure who was twitching violently. Argonia was unconscious and defeated. He chuckled as he felt like a new person, gazing at the flames that he commanded.
Natsu then glanced at Kagura who walked towards him with a stoic and gentle expression. He simply made a peace sign with his signature smile.
"Mission accomplished!"