Capítulo 37: Chapter 37 : Shadows of the Mind
AN: This will be an advance chapter as I will not be able to upload tomorrow. I'm ahead in one of my classes and I will be taking one of my finals tomorrow. Goodluck to me!
Mystogan, still on edge, asked cautiously, "Were you... able to witness everything Aurelius witness?"
The demon chuckled darkly, as his eyes gleamed with amusement. "Ah, the great Mystogan shows his sharpness once again... And yes, I've seen it all. Every hesitation, every victory, every little thought Aurelius deemed important."
Mystogan's grip on his staff tightened, his mind racing as he tried to think about the demon's next move. But before the demon could continue, a group stumbled in.
A battered Erza leaning on Mirajane for support, Natsu propped up by Elfman, followed by Gray, Lucy, and Happy. Their exhaustion was evident, as they entered the chamber.
Elfman's eyes locked on Jose's unconscious body crumpled against the far wall. "Manly!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the chamber. "You defeated Jose! That's what being a real man is about!"
The rest of the group turned their gaze toward the room's center. Their eyes darted from the collapsed Laxus to the tense Mystogan and finally to Aurelius—or rather, the demon controling his body.
Confusion and alarm swept across their faces. Lucy was the first to break the silence. "Wait, what's going on? Why is Laxus... and why is Mystogan...?"
Gray's brow furrowed as he took a step forward, his voice low. "And what's with that look on Aurelius' face? Something's... off."
Happy hid behind Lucy, his small wings trembling. "Aye... this feels scary."
Erza, despite her weakened state, straightened slightly. Her eyes burned with the need for answers, though her body betrayed her limits. "Mystogan," she called out, her voice firm despite her exhaustion. "What's happening here?"
Before Mystogan could respond, the demon smirked, his gaze falling on the newcomers. "My, my, the Fairy Tail crew arrives," he said mockingly. "And what a pitiful state you're all in. Limping in here as if you have any hope of changing the outcome."
The group tensed, their instincts screaming that the figure before them was not the Aurelius they knew.
"Who are you?" Erza demanded, gripping her sword tighter despite Mirajane's worried glance.
The demon only laughed, spreading his arms wide in mock grandeur. "I am Malphas, the Demon of Nightmare," he declared, his voice dripping with arrogance. "And you, little fairies, are all far too late."
Mystogan's voice suddenly rose above the tense silence. "Everyone, get out of here! Now!" His panic was palpable, a rare crack in his usual composed demeanor. "Aurelius... he's been taken over by a demon..."
The group froze, their expressions shifting from confusion to shock. Lucy gasped, clutching Happy closer, while Natsu's fists clenched instinctively. Even Gray, usually calm under pressure, widened his eyes in disbelief.
"A demon?" Erza repeated. She turned her piercing gaze to the grinning figure in front of them. "Then leave Aurelius at once!"
The demon's laughter erupted, echoing menacingly through the room. "Leave him?" Malphas mocked, his grin widening. "I think not, Titania. This body is far too precious to give up so easily."
Erza's grip on her sword tightened, her fiery spirit refusing to waver. "If you won't leave him willingly, then we'll make you!"
Malphas's laughter deepened, his voice filled with unrestrained amusement. "Oh, how bold! But allow me to make something perfectly clear..." He stepped forward, his crimson eyes locking onto each member of the group. "If you try to force me out, I'll ensure you face a nightmare so horrifying, so absolute, that even in death will not save you from the suffering you will face... Your suffering will transcend every boundary, every existence."
The room seemed to grow colder, the oppressive atmosphere suffocating the air around them. Mirajane instinctively pulled Erza back slightly, sensing the malice radiating from Aurelius' body.
Natsu growled, his body shaking as flames began to lick around his fists. "Like hell we're gonna let you keep Aurelius!"
"Stop, Natsu!" Mystogan interjected, his voice trembling. "You don't understand the power he's wielding!"
Natsu, battered but fueled by his will, let out a fiery roar as he leaped into the air. Flames engulfed his fist, blazing brightly despite the wounds covering his body. "You're not taking Aurelius from us, demon!" he shouted, his voice filled with fury.
The group's faces turned pale with worry. "Natsu, wait!" Erza called out, her voice urgent, but it was too late—Natsu was already mid-flight, aiming straight for the demon.
Malphas's grin widened, a flicker of amusement in his crimson eyes. "Pathetic," he muttered, not bothering to raise his hands.
As Natsu's fiery fist drew closer, Malphas simply lifted one leg, timing it perfectly. He then kicked Natsu square in the chest, his foot striking with a force that reverberated through the room.
Natsu's eyes widened as the impact sent him hurtling backward. He crashed through a section of the already broken wall, debris scattering in his wake. The sound of shattering stone echoed loudly, leaving the group stunned as Natsu passed the wall and is now on his way to the ocean.
"NO!" Lucy screamed, her hands covering her mouth in horror.
"Happy, get him!" Gray barked, already stepping forward, his fists clenched in anger.
Happy didn't wait for further instruction. "Aye, sir!" he cried, his small wings fluttering rapidly as he darted after Natsu, who was now plummeting through the air outside.
Malphas chuckled darkly, brushing invisible dust off his sleeve. "One down," he said mockingly, his voice dripping with disdain. "Who's next?"
The group tensed, their gazes snapping toward Malphas. Erza was the first to act, her armor shimmering as she transformed into her Heaven's Wheel Armor, her twin swords poised for battle. "You'll pay for this, demon," she declared, her voice steady but laced with fury.
Elfman stepped forward, his arm glowing as he activated his Partial Take Over, transforming his arm into a metallic beast's arm. He slammed his fist into his other palm, a loud clang resonating through the hall. "A real man takes down threats like you," he growled, his voice deep with conviction.
Lucy, clutching her celestial key tightly, summoned Sagittarius once more. The celestial spirit with his bow drawn, saluted at her command. "Rain down arrows on him, Sagittarius!" Lucy shouted, her tone a mix of determination and desperation. She glanced at her friends, her grip tightening on her keys. "We have to stop him… we have to." She thought.
Gray joined in, his hands moving swiftly as he activated his Ice-Make Magic. Frost swirled around him, forming chains of ice aimed to bind Malphas in place. "Let's see if you can dodge this," Gray muttered through clenched teeth, his sharp gaze locked on the demon.
Mirajane stood slightly apart from the group, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her face clouded with worry. Her hands trembled as she watched the others leap into action, a wave of self-doubt crashing over her. "What have I done to help?" she thought bitterly, her stomach twisting. "I've just been standing here, watching them fight. I haven't done anything." Her fists clenched at her sides as her gaze flickered to each of her friends. "Erza's always so strong, Lucy and Gray never back down, Elfman's giving it everything he's got… and me? I'm just here, useless..."
Her nails dug into her palms as she lowered her head, frustration boiling inside her. "I should be helping them. I should be fighting too... But I can't... I'll only make things worse for them..." The thought weighed on her like a stone, and she struggled to steady her breathing. "And they might die because of me too..."
She looked up, her conflicted gaze fixed on the battle in front of her.
...
Five glowing magic staves suddenly appeared surrounding Malphas. The demon tilted his head, as if intrigued. "Ah, the masked mage, full of tricks," he said with a grin, his voice smooth and taunting. "What now, another spectacle for me to—"
Before Malphas could finish, a sudden force blasted him upward. His body hurtled through the air at blinding speed, the room shrinking beneath him as he ascended beyond the atmosphere. Within moments, he was in space, the vast void of stars stretching endlessly around him.
A rope of golden light coiled tightly around him, binding him in place as a rift split open in the fabric of space. From the tear emerged a shadowy demon, its body massive. Its glowing red eyes fixed on Malphas with a predatory gleam, and its growl reverberated through the void.
However, instead of fear, laughter erupted from Malphas. A deep, echoing laugh that carried mockery and delight. "An impressive show" he said, his voice filled with amusement. "But..."
With a sharp snap of his fingers, the illusion shattered like glass, fading into nothingness. Malphas found himself back in his previous spot, his feet firmly on the ground, the staves still hovering around him. He chuckled as he looked at Mystogan. "Illusions are a child's play to me."
Mystogan, however, was undeterred. The five magic staves begun intensifying as five layers of magic circles formed in quick succession above the demon. The pressure in the room surged, and the onlookers froze in awe and fear.
Malphas's smirk widened as he watched the display. "Oh? Is that your plan?" he said.
Mystogan held his staff tightly, sweat beading on his brow as he channeled his magic. "This will hold you," he declared firmly, his voice resolute despite the strain.
But Malphas raised his hand lazily, snapping his fingers again. Mystogan's body suddenly froze, his eyes widening in shock as the glowing magic circles above Malphas flickered and then vanished completely.
"How quaint," Malphas said, his voice calm and measured. He stepped forward, his crimson eyes glinting with superiority. "Let me educate you. No illusion will ever work on me."
From Mystogan's perspective, he recognized the events the moment he found himself soaring into the void of space. "This is my magic... the same illusion I cast on him..." He grimaced, already piecing together what had happened.
The glowing ropes bound him tightly, mimicking the restraints he had used to capture the Malphas. He struggled briefly, testing them, but it was no use. The illusion had been turned against him, and even though he knew it wasn't real, it felt disturbingly vivid.
"He reversed it…" Mystogan thought. "But how? No one has ever done this before."
Before he could delve further into his thoughts, the jagged slit in space appeared, and the demon he'd conjured stepped through, its sinister grin mocking him. Mystogan watched as the creature advanced, its eyes gleaming with hunger. It was uncanny, seeing his own creation now turned against him.
"I need to break this", he told himself, focusing his mind. He closed his eyes, willing the illusion to shatter. Yet no matter how hard he concentrated, the ropes remained, the oppressive void unyielding.
The demon's laugh echoed in the vacuum, louder than Mystogan remembered making it. "Is it feeding on my own doubts? Or does Malphas somehow amplify it?"
The creature lunged toward him, its clawed hand outstretched. Mystogan's instincts screamed at him to dodge, but he reminded himself. "It's not real." Even as the claws raked closer, his body flinched involuntarily. His mind wavered, the hyper-realism of the illusion pulling him into its grasp.
"No… I can't let this trick overwhelm me," he thought, his breathing uneven. Mystogan forced himself to focus, his magic probing the illusion for weaknesses. "If Malphas reversed it, then he's the one maintaining it. I just need to find the crack in his control..."
But even as he reassured himself, the demon's hand came closer, and the feeling of helplessness crept back in.
...
Meanwhile, a few moments earlier...
Laxus opened his eyes and immediately noticed something was off. He was standing in a strange void where the sky above was blood-red, the ground beconfusion crept in. "What the hell is this place?" he muttered, his voice echoing in the emptiness.
"Alright... You Demon!" he shouted. "Show yourself! Stop hiding like a coward!" His voice was brash, filled with frustration and fury, but the void remained silent. There was no response.
Then, a voice echoed around him, low and smooth. "Welcome, Laxus Dreyar."
Laxus spun around, his teeth gritting in annoyance. "Where the hell are you?" he demanded. "If you think this little trick is gonna scare me, you're dead wrong!"
The voice chuckled, the sound reverberating in the space. "We'll see about that. You've been brought here to face your worst nightmare."
Laxus's brow furrowed as his anger surged. "Worst nightmare? Don't make me laugh. Bring it on, and I'll crush it like everything else!"
But before he could say anything more, the void around him shifted. A blinding flash of light erupted, forcing him to shield his eyes with his arm. The intense brilliance consumed him, leaving him disoriented.
When the light faded, Laxus lowered his arm and blinked, his surroundings now entirely different. He found himself standing in the middle of a familiar place. His eyes darted around, taking in the wooden beams, the guild's signature bar, and the lively atmosphere.
It was Fairy Tail's guild hall.
"What the…?" Laxus muttered under his breath, confusion evident in his tone. The place looked the same as he remembered it—chaotic, full of energy and aughter. But something was... off.
"Laxus, you good?"
The familiar voice snapped Laxus's attention to his right. A man was approaching him, his presence instantly recognizable. It was Gildarts, but not the Gildarts he knew. This Gildarts looked younger.
As Gildarts approached, Laxus's eyes widened in shock. "Gildarts?" he said, his voice low and hesitant. "What... what are you doing here?"
Gildarts chuckled, his carefree grin as familiar as ever. "What kind of question is that? I'm chilling, like I always do," he said, spreading his arms wide as if to emphasize the relaxed atmosphere.
But then, Gildarts paused, tilting his head as he examined Laxus more closely. "You alright, kid? You look like you've seen a ghost or something."
Laxus didn't respond right away, his shock rendering him speechless. His eyes darted around the guild hall, scanning the faces of the members. The usual lively crowd was there—rowdy, laughing, and bustling about like any normal day.
But then it hit him.
Everyone looked younger.
"Wait a second..." Laxus muttered, his brow furrowing. His gaze locked on Erza, who was sitting at a nearby table, her hair still tied the same way when she was a kid. Next to her was Natsu, his scarf looking far too big for his smaller frame. Even Gray, who was arguing with Cana, both of them were kids.
The realization sent a chill down Laxus's spine. Everyone in the guild looked like their younger selves, just kids.
"What the hell is going on?" Laxus whispered to himself, his fists clenching at his sides.
Gildarts raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading into a look of mild concern. "Hey, Laxus. Seriously, are you okay? You're acting weird."
"This... isn't right," Laxus murmured, his voice trembling. "None of this is right..."
Laxus turned and bolted toward the guild's exit, his mind racing. His boots pounded against the wooden floor, each step echoing louder in his ears. "This can't be real. None of this makes sense..."
But before he could reach the door, he collided with someone. The impact sent him staggering back a few steps. He looked up, ready to bombard the person with curses, but the words caught in his throat.
Standing before him was a man with piercing eyes and a stern expression. A man Laxus hadn't seen in years.
"Father..." Laxus whispered, his voice barely audible. His heart raced, panic setting in as he stared at his father.
Ivan smirked, his arms crossed. "What's the rush, boy? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Laxus took a step back, his mind spinning. "Y-You're not supposed to be here," he stammered, his hands curling into fists.
Ivan's smirk deepened, his eyes narrowing as he took a step closer. "Gone? I've always been here, Laxus. Where else would I be?"
Laxus shook his head violently, his breathing ragged. "No! You were exiled..."
But Ivan ignored his words, placing a heavy hand on Laxus's shoulder. The touch sent a chill through his body, grounding him in the nightmare unfolding around him.
"You're not making sense, son," Ivan said, his tone calm but unnerving. "Maybe you're just overwhelmed. Why don't you sit down? Have a drink with your old man."
Laxus shoved Ivan's hand off his shoulder and stumbled back. "Stay away from me!" he growled, his voice shaky.
Ivan raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading into a look of cold disapproval. "What's wrong, Laxus? Is this how you treat family?"
The words stung, and Laxus clenched his fists tighter. "This isn't real," he muttered, his gaze darting around. "None of this is real!"
Laxus stood frozen, his mind reeling from the realization that this strange, twisted version of Fairy Tail might not be real. He clenched his fists, his ethernano swirling inside him. "This has to be some kind of illusion…" His thoughts raced as he focused his magic, drawing the power into his body. He'd broken through illusions before, using his immense magical reserves to shatter their effects.
With a sharp grunt, Laxus released a burst of ethernano, but nothing happened. The air stayed still, the world around him unshaken. He tried again, unleashing a second, more powerful blast. Still, no reaction. The guild hall remained silent, unaffected by his efforts.
"Why isn't this working?" Laxus muttered to himself, frustration seeping into his voice. Panic began to creep up on him as the illusion held firm, suffocating him in a reality he couldn't escape.
His eyes darted around the guild, looking for some sort of way out. His gaze settled on the door to the master's office. Maybe, just maybe, there was something there—some way to break free from whatever nightmare he was trapped in.
Laxus's feet pounded against the floor as he rushed toward the office, his heart racing. "I have to get to the old man. Maybe he can help me wake up from this."
He reached the door and slammed it open with all his strength, the sound of splintering wood filling the air. But as he entered the room, something caught his eye. A large, ornate mirror stood against the wall, its polished surface gleaming in the dim light.
Laxus froze, his eyes widening as he saw his reflection. His heart skipped a beat. The person in the mirror wasn't him—atleast not as he was now—but him as a child.
His hair was shorter, his expression youthful. He was even wearing the same clothes he had when he was younger, back when he was just another kid trying to prove himself.
Laxus took a step back, his breath quickening. "No... no, no, no!" His voice cracked as he stumbled, his feet unsteady. The mirror image smiled back at him, a cold, mocking smile that sent a chill through his spine.
He reached out, his hand trembling as he tried to touch the mirror, to make sense of what he was seeing, but the reflection didn't move. Instead, it stayed perfectly still, as if mocking his every attempt to escape.
"Why is this happening?" Laxus whispered, his voice barely audible. His hands gripped his head as the overwhelming sense of dread took hold. "This isn't real! It can't be!"
Then, Laxus froze, his heart pounding as he turned to see Makarov standing in the doorway of the office, smiling warmly at him. But there was something off about it—something that twisted in the pit of his stomach. The way Makarov spoke, the tone so gentle and fatherly, as if Laxus was still a child, made him feel like he was suffocating under a weight of dread.
"You brat! You're sneaking in my office again?" Makarov asked, walking toward Laxus with a smile. "Let me guess, you want me to take you in a job again?" Makarov continued.
"if you want, I think I have the perfect one... We just need to stop a dark guild that's been active lately... People say that they are looking for an artifact... Hmmm... I forgot the name... I thinks it something like Eye of Marpal?"
The words echoed in Laxus's ears, but they barely registered at first. His mind, already teetering on the edge of panic, suddenly snapped back to a memory he'd buried deep inside.
The artifact his grandfather was talking about wasn't the Eye of Marpal... It is the Eye of Malphas.
The name hit him like a punch to the gut, and his entire body went rigid. His eyes widened in horror as the memories flooded back—dark, painful memories he had long tried to forget.
"No, not this... not this again..". Laxus's hands clenched into fists, his chest tightening as the image of a white-haired child that massacred a dark guild appeared in his mind. The crazy kid that seemed to be possesed by a demon. The kid that almost killed him while he couldn't even begin to comprehend what's happening.
The Eye of Malphas. He remembered it—the way it had been sought after by dark guilds. The so called artifact that opened his eyes to reality, the cursed object that had haunted him for years.
Laxus's breath hitched. "No… not the Eye…" His voice cracked, the weight of the memory threatening to crush him. He took a step back, his mind spinning, his pulse racing as the fragments of the past resurfaced.
Makarov, still smiling, didn't notice Laxus's distress. "What's wrong, Laxus? It's just a simple job, just like we used to do back in the day. You can handle it, I know you can. I'll even teach you a trick after the job if you want."
The guild master spoke, but to Laxus, it felt like the world was closing in around him. He could see it now—the dark guild, the terror, the pain. The Eye of Malphas was tied to it all.
His stomach churned as the memories flashed through his mind, each one more vivid than the last. His hands trembled, and his chest felt tight, as if he couldn't breathe. The fear, the anger—it all came rushing back.
He had tried to forget. He had tried to move on. But it was all coming back, and he couldn't stop it.
Laxus took a step back, his voice a low rasp, barely above a whisper. "I can't... I can't do this..."
Makarov's expression faltered, confusion crossing his face. "Laxus? What's going on? You're acting like I've asked you to do something impossible."
But to Laxus, it felt like everything was slipping away. He couldn't focus, couldn't think, and as the reality of the situation sank in, all he could feel was fear. Fear of the Eye of Malphas.
The world seemed to spin, and Laxus's vision blurred. His breath became shallow as he backed away, shaking his head, trying to escape the suffocating reality that the past had found him once again.
Bonus Chapter:
29 more power stones. (This might get delayed as I won't be able to upload tomorrow but I will release this bonus chapter as soon as I can once we reached another 100 power stones)
Chapter Titles:
38: Unleashing the Darkness
39: The Final Judgement
40: Revelations
Estado de energía semanal
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