Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 125 - Etherious Natsu Dragneel

The flames were unceasing and burned hotter than any Natsu had ever shown before. They soared into the sky, scorching away the clouds, sending rippling waves of heat out just by their mere presence.

Yet the flames were the least of their troubles. His movements were quicker, erratic. While Natsu wasn't ever the most calculated fighter, his moves often had a pace, rhythm, and to an extent, predictability to them. This was not the way a human fought—it was the way a rabid animal did, one that was desperate for any leverage on its prey.

The fire lashed out as he did, with shadowy talons scratching the very fabric of the world between him and his opponent. His eyes were ablaze with white light that unleashed its own flames as darkness poured over much of his face, and horrific scales and veins streaked down his arms and legs.

The ground quaked with every move of his.

Erza's sword sang as it sliced across the sky and blocked Natsu's talon, her stance only barely holding firm, as she gave Wendy enough time to bounce away. Natsu seemed to be honing in on her, as she continued to heal and support Gray and Erza. His instincts were kicking in; he wasn't culling the weak, he was trying to remove that which gave Erza and Gray a remote chance in the fight.

Gray slid into position and unleashed a volley of arrows that Natsu sensed and deflected, breaking them. His flames, though impressive, were still not enough to melt Gray's ice arrows. Natsu let out a roar—more of a screech that had the base of a dragon—and surged his strength, shattering Erza's weapons and sending her flying back.

Erza shook off the attack and dashed back into the fight as Wendy searched quickly for a vantage point, ensuring she maintained her magical connection to Gray.

All that had transpired seemed to be a blur. In one moment, she and Wendy were congratulating Gray, who'd joined them after defeating Wall, while Irene refused to let them help Lucy. Then, Irene was gone, and a dark tear in the world spat out Natsu.

Just for that moment, all was well, until everything around him exploded, and the transformations took hold.

Natsu had vanished, and E.N.D. was what came back.

"Where is Happy?" Carla had shrieked as Natsu began his rampage, splitting the group up, and forcing them into the fight they were still struggling with.

He was focused only on them, not on moving forward and bringing more carnage on the rest of the countryside.

"Requip! Flame Empress Armor!"

The armor clung to her as Natsu whirled to try and find Gray, but his senses must've kicked in as he then locked onto Erza. He once more caught her blade, which began to melt.

"Impossible!" Erza exclaimed. His flames could melt this armor?

He pushed her back. Erza blocked two of his strikes, but three more slipped through, only quick jabs but dangerous enough to bury her. She rolled away as Natsu tried to finish the job.

"Flight Armor!"

She needed speed. In this fight, she had to get distance fast as well as cover lots of ground fast. It wouldn't be a matter of overpowering him until he was distracted, but that would leave Gray or Wendy wide open. Erza slid and then burst forward. Natsu was still all eyes on her.

She darted underneath his swing as well as the veil of fire that came with it. She dug her foot in the ground and slammed her elbow into his back. Natsu was pushed away by another attack from Gray, and Erza dogpiled on him, overwhelming him with a combination of attacks that ultimately left him stunned.