42I'm here to announce that I have set up a "COMMISSION SERVICE" (Emphasised to make you all aware) on my Ko-fi account. And if you have not followed me there yet, then be sure to do it now! You'll be able to get early access to story chapters and be able to know the progress of your favourite stories! Also with this commission service, you'll be able to request stories and add an OC of yours into a story! So be sure to check out my Ko-fi account right now:
kofi.c om (slash) christophernagura
Chapter 14: The Ankhseram Cult!
Location: Outskirts of Hydnora City
"Who on Earthland was she talking about anyways?" Natsu uttered in annoyance as he rubbed his head to calm the migraine he was currently experiencing.
He was definitely going to make Wendy pay for all the headaches he's had to suffer since going along with her favour. He was certain he'd grow a couple of grey hair sooner than later.
"Hmm, you mean Kurai? Well, Yuki's been meeting up with him a lot recently, and he said that he was here as a Wizard Saint for some work from the council." Eara explained as she worriedly looked at the retreating back of her partner, wanting nothing more than to go towards her.
'Kurai… a member of the Wizard Saints?' The Dragon Slayer thought in confusion as he narrowed his eyes at the thought.
"Hey, Eara." The Exceed in question jolted upwards the moment she heard the pinkette call out her name as it was completely unexpected.
"What is it?"
"There's something I need you to do…"
Location: Hydnora City
Currently, darkness shrouded the city of Hydnora with the only source of light coming from the moon shining brightly across the skies. While that may be the case, the energy of the city never died down as the main streets were filled with people, both buyers and sellers alike.
'Stupid jerk, why does have to act like such an ass anyways?' Yuki grumbled in anger as she stomped through the city with an aggravated look on her face.
'Sure, I was distracted in training these past few days, but did he really need to say all that extra stuff? Besides, if anything I'm the one who'll get hurt from all of this.' That was the moment she stopped in place.
But what if the reason he was angry was because he was actually concerned about her? The girl's eyes widened when she thought of it, yet strangely enough, she began to think otherwise and carried on walking.
'With all his threats about wanting to just leave, he never goes through with it anyways.' She rolled her eyes, recalling the numerous times when the pinkette uttered those words.
But what if he actually does get sick of her and just leave her…?
Shaking her head from such thoughts, she sighed as she continued trekking through the busy streets of the city.
That was until, "Yuki? Is that you?" The moment she heard her name, the ravenette turned around and saw a familiar mop of chestnut brown hair approaching her.
"Kurai!" The girl exclaimed in shock the moment she saw the brunette walk up to her.
"Hey there Yuki, I didn't expect for us to meet. You'd normally be away at this time." Kurai frowned as the girl shot an apologetic look at the boy.
"Sorry about that, it's just that I've been caught up with my training that I haven't been able to come to town as much around this time." It was mainly because she was exhausted as she would finish a full spar with the Dragon Slayer which normally left her in bruises.
"So, what are you doing here anyways?" He asked curiously.
With a sigh, Yuki recounted the events which took place just a few moments ago, of course she left out Natsu's name as she didn't want him to get into trouble.
"That guy sounds like a complete jerk." Kurai frowned disapprovingly after listening to the ravenette's tale.
"…you think?" She asked, not knowing if she should feel happy about it or not. After calming down from her anger, the girl was slowly beginning to realise that the Dragon Slayer wasn't angry at her because she was distracted, but rather because she could have gotten hurt as a result of her carelessness.
"Of course, I do! If he really does care about you, he wouldn't have treated you the way he did! He doesn't deserve to be your mentor with how he acts." The brunette insulted, yet while Yuki wanted to agree with him, she was hesitant to believe that was truly the case.
"…I don't know." Kurai's eyes seem to have widened after hearing her words before shaking his head and giving her a charming smile.
"Say, how about we go and stop by a restaurant? It'll be my treat." He winked at her and Yuki's face immediately brightened up as she nodded her head.
With that, the two proceeded to engage in a conversation about anything that came to mind. Though as they continued walking through the city, Yuki began to realise that something felt…odd about the city.
'Where are all the people at?' Initially when she arrived after her argument with Natsu, there had been plenty of people wandering about, yet for some odd reasons there was nobody. It was almost as if she had stumbled upon a ghost town.
"Uh Kurai, there's something weird happening. We should probably leave." She said, feeling a bit creeped out about their surroundings.
Unfortunately for her, the wheels of fate were finally in motion.
"It's finally time for us to begin…" The ravenette frowned in confusion as she turned her head to face Kurai.
"Wait, what do you mean-" Though that was the last thing Yuki saw before pitch black filled her vision.
Location: Unknown Building
Yuki's eyes began to flutter open before she finally regained her consciousness.
"Where am I?" She mumbled to herself before she looked around at her surroundings. It was then where she saw several giant pictures of a cloaked figure all over the building.
"What is that?" She muttered and it was at that was the moment she realised that she was currently bound by ropes. Panicking, the ravenette desperately struggled to break free from the ropes. However, struggle as she may, she was unable to break through the ropes that were holding her.
"It's no use. There's no point in trying to break free. Especially when you don't have any magic." A familiar voice rang through the room as Yuki turned to find none other than a mop of chestnut hair walking towards her.
"Kurai!" The girl exclaimed both in shock and happiness. Shock that the boy was somehow in the same location with her, and in happiness that he was there so that he'd be able to help her.
"Do you mind helping me? I have no idea where we are, but we need to get out of here quickly." Yuki said as she gestured to the ropes around her.
However, to her sheer surprise, the man smirked and shook his head, "No, I don't think I will."
"Wait, what do you-" Kurai immediately cut off her sentence.
"After all, it'd be such a waste to let you go after working so hard to bring you to this psot." The brunette smirked evilly and it took the girl a split second to finally understand his words
"W-what?"
"You heard me right, it may have taken a few extra days, but you finally came running over to me…Yuki Fullbuster." Kurai said as the girl's eyes widened in shock at the mention of her name.
"H-how did you-"
"Know your name? Please, I'm certain the whole world knows about the infamous prodigal child incapable of wielding magic. I just didn't expect you to run around without a disguise." He said in mock amusement and the ravenette's bangs covered her eyes and she shook in place.
Was everything just one of his ploys from the very beginning?
"Kurai, why are you doing this?" Yuki asked as the brunette stopped in place before extending his arms out wide, right beneath the image of the cloaked figure on the wall.
"Everything that I do is for one purpose, and one purpose only, for the revival of our lord, Ankhseram!" the brunette announced as the ravenette's eyes widened.
'That's the name of the cult that Natsu's looking for!' She thought in horror, remembering the name being mentioned in their first encounter at Mt. Eruption.
"And of course, you'll be playing a part of our plans as well, Yuki~" Kurai said with a grin causing the ravenette to glare at the brunette.
"I would never help you or your cult!" That was when the smile on his face grew.
"Well, I'd say it's a bit too late. After all, it'll only be a matter of time until your partner makes his appearance yet, and we've been preparing for his arrival for years." Kurai explained causing Yuki's eyes to widen in shock.
"You mean you guys are after…Natsu?" Her response was a giant smirk plastered on the brunette's face.
"Give the lady a prize!... or don't. But you are precisely right, Natsu Dragneel is indeed our target, and you, Yuki, are our one-way ticket to get him to us." A guilty look managed to find its way on her face as Kurai approached her, raising her chin so that they would staring at one another.
"You don't have to look upset. After all, I'm sure that you couldn't help but be…Charmed by me, right?" The brunette smirked as he raised his hand to reveal a ring on his finger with a pink gem on the centre of it.
The girl's eyes immediately upon catching sight of the ring, "You were using Charm Magic on me?!" The girl exclaimed in horror and anger.
Kurai began laughing maniacally, "I felt so guilty about tricking such a gullible girl, but I can't deny that it was fun. So, thank you for making my afternoons more fulfilling."
"You're a psychopath!" Yuki yelled out in anger as she glared heatedly at the laughing man; rage welled up in her chest the moment she realised she was being tricked since the very beginning.
"You can call me whatever as you please. Though nothing will stop me from achieving our goals." Kurai closed his eyes.
"Well, you've already wasted your time. Natsu doesn't care about me at all, so he won't come here." Yuki smirked, thinking that they had wasted their entire time. Though, seeing the smirk on Kurai's face beginning to widen, she was beginning to have second thoughts.
"We'll see about that." Kurai closed his eyes as he said it.
It was at that moment when the doors to the building were opened, and emerging through it was none other than a pink-haired man, Natsu Dragneel.
'Natsu…' Yuki thought in shock, her eyes wide. Somehow a part of her never believed that the Dragon Slayer would appear just to help her.
"Well, well, lo and behold ladies and gentlemen, it's none other than Natsu Dragneel who has graced us all with his presence." Kurai 'applauded' causing Natsu to narrow his eyes at the brunette.
The pinkette took a good look around the building and his eyes eventually stopped at the bound Yuki.
"N-Natsu…" She muttered in shock, not expecting the Dragon Slayer to actually arrive to save her after their latest scuffle earlier on.
"Who are you?" Natsu asked as he turned to face Kurai who had a shit-eating grin on his face.
"I'm sure you've already heard of me, I'm Kurai Tanaka a member of the Wizards-" Though Natsu was quick to interrupt the man.
"Cut the crap. I know you're not a member of the Wizards Saint. You might be able to trick people with those badges, but I know full well that someone like you're not a part of them." The Dragon Slayer narrowed his eyes at the brunette who merely kept silent before sighing.
"Well, since you already figured me out, I guess there's no point in playing out this role any longer." With that the brunette bowed down.
"My name is Kurai Tanaka, one of the executives of the Ankhseram Cult, and my role is to draw you out from hiding…Natsu Dragneel." Kurai smiled as he turned to face Yuki.
"Though I must say, I never expected you to be training someone after all these years. The moment we heard word about this, I just KNEW that we had to make her our target in order to get to you." Yuki shivered from his tone while the Dragon Slayer growled.
"Let the girl go, I know that you've been after me since the very beginning." Natsu said while Kurai who merely smirked at his request.
"Well then, if you really want us to let go of the girl, get down on your knees and put your hands behind the back of your head." The brunette said.
Without any hesitation, the pinkette immediately dropped to his knees and placed his hands behind his head, much to Yuki's shock, as he shot his gaze at Kurai, "There, I've done as you've asked, now let the girl go."
However, the moment he uttered those words, two wired chords connected to the Dragon Slayer as electricity quickly coursed through them and into Natsu, who grunted in pain after feeling the electricity course through his body.
Though, that wasn't the end of the onslaught as several blasts of magic were fired at the pinkette, all of which directly struck the man.
"Natsu!" Yuki shouted in concern after seeing the Dragon Slayer repeatedly get attacked by the cult members. As the smoke clears, Natsu was shown to still be kneeled in the exact position, albeit a couple of cuts and scars across his body.
"Now that's some impressive determination and grit right there. Exactly what I expect from the man who is blessed from our Lord." Kurai whistled as he approached the pinkette with a sword in hand.
"But let's see if you'll be able to stay strong after this!" With that the brunette immediately drove the sword through the pinkette's skin. The moment he felt the sword impale him; the Dragon Slayer gritted his teeth in pain as a drool of blood escaped his mouth.
"Now, fire your magic at him! We shall test the true extent of our Lord's powers!" Kurai cried out as several mages dressed in robes began casting long-ranged spells at the pinkette who was forced to endure the full brunt of the attack.
"Again!" With that, the barrage of attacks was once again fired at the Dragon Slayer…and this continued for the next few minutes. Yet no matter how many attacks he received; he hadn't uttered a single word. Heck, he barely made a sound!
Meanwhile, tears slowly began to leak out from Yuki's eyes as she looked away from the torture that was happening right before her very eyes. It was all her fault. If only she hadn't fallen for Kurai's tricks like they had wanted to, then Natsu wouldn't have to deal with such pain.
Finally, after what seemed an endless number of attacks, Natsu finally dropped face first to the ground as Yuki cried out his name tearfully.
"Well, well, it certainly took a while, but it looks like you finally ran out of steam." The brunette proceeded to pull the Dragon Slayer's hair so that their eyes would be looking at each other.
"Any last words before we finally learn the truth of your secrets...?" Kurai asked with a smile as Natsu mumbled something, but the brunette brought him closer.
"Sorry, but do you mind repeating that?"
"I said, EARA NOW!" Natsu yelled out and this caused Kurai to release the pinkette and for one of the church's windows immediately shattered as a white blur shot inside the building before immediately grabbing Yuki. Of course, the white blur that appeared was obviously Eara.
"What?!" Kurai looked at the Exceed in shock, but before he was able to command the others in the building a fiery fist connected with his face, which sent him flying across the building.
The entire building shuddered in fear as they slowly turned their attention to the pinkette who slowly pushed himself up, and although he was staggering, he managed to stand as if he weren't injured. Though, what made the cult members scared, were his eyes, which gleamed dangerously.
"Now then, where were we?" The Dragon Slayer asked with a growl as flames began dancing around him.
"H-how is he still capable of standing? We've attacked him with everything!" one of the cult members shouted in astonishment.
"I-it doesn't matter! Just keep attacking him!" Though before they were even able to fire off their attacks, Natsu appeared right before them and struck them in the face.
"Eara, get her out of here now." The pinkette instructed the Exceed without even turning to face her as he made his way over towards another cult member.
"But Natsu, you're injured! There's no way you can-" Yuki tried to refute, but she was interrupted by the pinkette.
"I have some questions that I need to ask is all." The Dragon Slayer narrowed his eyes at the members of the Ankhseram Cult who were all laying on the ground, shaking in fear, including Kurai, who managed to regain his consciousness.
As much as Yuki wanted to retort, she felt herself being carried away by the Exceed.
"Eara, take me back now! We can't leave him all alone while he's still injured!"
"Sorry Yuki, but Natsu told me that it was going to be chaotic in there if we don't get out soon!" The Exceed replied as she began to fly away, all the while the girl in question stared worryingly at the building Natsu was in.
With Natsu
"Now then, it's about time you bastards give me some answers." The pinkette uttered dangerously as he started walking towards them, causing them to panic as they each attempted to run away from him.
Though it proved to be pointless as the Dragon Slayer slammed his foot to the ground causing a wall of fire to erupt from the ground, blocking the exits, preventing them all from running away as Natsu grabbed two cultists.
"It doesn't matter what you do to me! I'll never answer to a scumbag like you!" One of them shouted out before he was mirrored by the other.
Sighing, Natsu knocked them out easily before tossing them aside and moving onwards with the next group. Though, this trend continued, as most of them felt their 'loyalty' to their leader was more important than their lives.
Growing annoyed at the lack of answers he was getting, he approached the final cult member, who was hiding in a corner, and that was when he freaked out the moment, he saw the Dragon Slayer approaching him.
"W-wait! Please, I'll tell you everything I know! Just don't hurt me!" Seeing this as an opportunity, the Dragon Slayer engulfed his arm in flames before grabbing the cultist by the scruff of his robe.
"Talk." Gulping in fear, the member nodded his head.
"T-the main goal of our group is to be able to achieve immortality the same way you and Zeref has..." Natsu narrowed his eyes.
"And how do they plan on doing that?"
"I-I don't know how, but the higher ups only mentioned that they intend to utilise the gift that Ankhseram passed onto you and achieve immortality worldwide!" The frightened man revealed causing Natsu's eyes to widen in shock before they narrowed.
'So, that's their main goal…' Tossing the cult member aside, the Dragon Slayer was about to leave but it was at that moment when Natsu realised something. His eyes narrowed the moment he noticed that Kurai was not amongst the group of bodies that was scattered throughout the room.
Upon detecting his scent, the pinkette was about to head over towards the brunette. However, his ears were able to catch several footsteps rushing towards their direction.
"Quickly! Before those bastards can escape!"
"We must capture them and bring them to the council for judgement!"
'Damn it, it's the Rune Knights!' Cursing to himself, the pinkette, despite his injuries, quickly ran over to the same window that Eara used to come crashing in. However, before he left, he took one good look at the images that were on the wall one last time before making his escape.
Location: Outskirts of Hydnora City
After waiting for what seemed like hours, both Yuki and Eara sighed in relief the moment the pinkette entered their small base. However, their concerns quickly returned the moment they realised that his body was filled with bruises and scars.
Though he waved away their concerns when he revealed that he brought along several potions he had purchased from the city.
Upon seeing the damages that Natsu sustained FOR her, the girl slowly walked up to him before she bowed down as low as she could.
"I'm sorry for how rude I was to you; I shouldn't have said all those things about you when you've been helping me these past few weeks. And I'm sorry that you had to get hurt just to rescue me." The ravenette apologised, shutting her eyes tightly, as she waited for the pinkette to direct his rage upon her.
Yet no matter how long she waited, it never arrived. She slowly began to look up and saw that Natsu had remained in the same spot she last saw.
"You don't need to apologise. I just did what I needed to do." The Dragon Slayer said with his eyes closed and Yuki eyes widened at his words.
'Does that mean he actually cares for me?'
Unfortunately for her, reality wasn't as kind as she expected it to be.
"I promised Wendy that I would train and protect you, and I have every intention of fulfilling that promise." He responded as the ravenette's head immediately went down, finally understanding why he said what he said.
'Figures…' She thought remorsefully but shook her head.
"Well, thank you for helping me then, whether it was for my sake or Aunt Wendy's sake." She said with a smile. The Dragon Slayer didn't respond, instead he slowly pushed himself up, grunting in pain from the injuries he had sustained from earlier.
"Next time, just make sure to properly learn about the person instead of blindly believing them. I don't care if you want to get into a relationship, but do it only after we're done with our task." The pinkette said as he walked off, leaving the girl alone to her thoughts.
Eara walked up to her partner, worried about her well-being after the whole ordeal but Yuki merely gave the Exceed a gentle pat on her head before getting ready to sleep.
As she laid in her sleeping bag, all the ravenette could only think about her pink-haired partner. Now that Yuki thought about it, Natsu had always been by her side for most of their journey. While it should be normal for partners to be together, but whenever it was time for her training, he never once trained by himself, only with her.
While he was certainly rude for most of their interactions, he'd train her, give her advice and (very minimally) encouragements as well. Heck, whenever she had to meditate, she would always find him waiting for her and according to Eara, he wouldn't move an inch until she was done, and the Exceed was fairly certain that he wasn't sleeping.
Perhaps she had judged the Dragon Slayer based on their first interaction and intentionally chose to ignore all the good points about him. Besides, her Aunt Wendy, the one person she trusted just as much as her parents, believed in him and even risked her relationship with the guild just to help him.
'Aunt Wendy trusted him for a reason…and I guess I'm starting to see why.' The ravenette thought with a smile.
However, her smile quickly disappeared the moment her thoughts went to Kurai and the other members of the Ankhseram Cult and Yuki couldn't help but clench her fists at what had transpired.
She had been used as bait in order to draw Natsu to them.
Though things will be different the next time around. Next time, she'll be the one to help Natsu in fighting and not be on the sidelines.
'Yeah, things will be different next time. I'll make sure of it, no matter what!' Yuki promised with a determined expression on her face as she stared off into the night sky before deciding to rest up for the next day.
End Chapter
I'm here to announce that I have set up a "COMMISSION SERVICE" (Emphasised to make you all aware) on my Ko-fi account. And if you have not followed me there yet, then be sure to do it now! You'll be able to get early access to story chapters and be able to know the progress of your favourite stories! Also with this commission service, you'll be able to request stories and add an OC of yours into a story! So be sure to check out my Ko-fi account right now:
kofi.c om (slash) christophernagura