Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 90 - Survivors

"Tempester, Jackal?" Kyoka said. "Be good little demons and get rid of the pests for right now."

"You got it!" Jackal shouted.

Tempester uttered his curse, "Tornado," as Jackal loudly exclaimed, "Explosive!"

Kyoka flattened her lips as the two curses combined. Normally, it would land with devastating effect. However, it did not accomplish what the two imbeciles intended.

The tornado landed, knocking everyone into the air, and Jackal's curse came along right behind it to knock them all away. The wind of the tornado scattered the Fairies and Yukino all around.

Kyoka sighed. "And so the hunt begins anew. Kill them. I don't want to see another Fairy today. If I do? I'll make sure your trip to Hell's Core is your most painful yet."

Jackal frowned. "Leave the card carrying bitch to me. I wanna blow her head off."

"Do as you will," Tempester said. "I will eliminate the rest."

Torafuzar took a step back and bowed his head to Kyoka. "Allow me to watch over Hell's Core, Kyoka. I fear there may be interference there if we are not monitoring it."

"Very well," Kyoka said, waving him off with a talon. "I will report this to Mard Geer, though it seems he has his hands quite full at the moment."

***

STAR remained completely unharmed, as did Hell's Core. Mard Geer wanted to mourn the loss of the Plutogrim, but it could be rebuilt in a matter of weeks. It was hardly an interference to Tartaros's overall machinations and place in the Empire. So long as Hell's Core remained safe, nothing else really mattered.

The unfortunate side effect of all of this was that they would either have to concentrate the Fairies into a single location—again—or take a bit more time ensuring the weapon had enough impact to obliterate the entire city. That, of course, had its own problem. Hell's Core would not have the Plutogrim's protection.

Mard Geer had to ensure that it did. His thorns, enhanced by Kyoka, would put up a decent defense against the almighty weapon.

His throne room had been obliterated, for the most part. His throne, itself, was unharmed, though he did not like to sit and dally in rubble. Clearly, his fellow Etherious were feeling a little incompetent. Had they simply killed Lucy Heartfilia, they would be well on their way to regeneration and back to Crocus. Now, Mard Geer had to get involved.

Despite the rubble and ruination of their once-home, Mard Geer knew the path well enough to get to Hell's core and, eventually, STAR. The weapon was visible from his vantage point of the throne room—a blinding beacon of light not yet even at its full potential. Franmalth was still there, it seemed, hobbling about as confused as the others no doubt were.

Lamy was still in Hell's Core, with Torafuzar looking to return to his spot as its guardian after chasing Lucy Heartfilia.

Mard Geer scuttled over some rubble when he came to a stop, a series of twinkling lights catching his attention in the corner of his eye.

"You will not take another step, Mard Geer Tartaros, without acknowledging your opponent."

Mard Geer grinned wider than he had in days. Ah. A voice not heard in ages.

"Tell me, King, how you've been these decades since last we met," Mard Geer said.

The Celestial Spirit King loomed, a titan among the darkened sky and clouds. The blade of his near-assured victory glistened in the trickling bits of rain wrought by the misting storm. His armor was immaculate, impenetrable, and unbreakable.