Fairy Tail: Master of Deceit

AN: I will take down my previous post later as I want more people to share their opinion. I would also like to remind everyone that the post is NOT a poll and that I can't guarantee that your suggestions will make it in the final cut.

Aria vanished from sight, his body fading into the air as if he had never been there. Natsu's flames flared brighter, and his head darted back and forth, scanning the empty space.

"Where'd he go?!" Natsu shouted, frustration lacing his voice.

Happy's wings fluttered nervously as he clung to Natsu's shoulder. "He's gone! Completely invisible!"

Aurelius smirked, the faint curve of his lips showing his calm confidence. "How predictable," he muttered under his breath. Without hesitation, he extended one hand, his fingers pointing out. Two of his fingers arched outward, and a small crimson orb sparked to life, hovering just above his palm.

The heat radiating from the orb was immediate and intense, its fiery glow bathing the area in a deep red hue.

Natsu stiffened as the temperature rose, beads of sweat forming on his brow. His wide eyes locked on the burning sphere. "That… that's hot!"

Happy nodded frantically. "Aye, I can feel it from here! That's hotter than your flames, Natsu!"

"Hey! Watch it!" Natsu snapped, though his voice lacked its usual fire.

Aurelius remained still, his sharp gaze scanning the room. His body was relaxed, yet there was a deliberate precision in his posture. Seconds ticked by, the tension building with each heartbeat.

Then, without warning, Aurelius tilted his head slightly to the left.

Whoosh!

An air bullet zipped past his head, slicing through the space he had just occupied. The sheer velocity stirred his hair, but Aurelius didn't flinch. His smirk widened as he spun sharply, his finger aimed directly at the source of the attack.

"Energy Make, Red: Helios Flame."

The crimson orb in his hand burst forward, streaking through the air like a comet. The speed of the attack was breathtaking, leaving a shimmering heat trail in its wake. The room's temperature rose further, the oppressive heat pressing down on everyone like a fiery blanket.

Natsu shielded his eyes from the orb's glow. "It's so fast!" he muttered, the awe evident in his tone.

The fiery sphere shot through the space before coming to an abrupt halt midair. For a moment, it hovered, its light dimming slightly before vanishing completely.

"What?!" Natsu exclaimed, his confusion mirrored by Happy's wide-eyed stare.

A ripple shimmered in the air where the orb had stopped. Slowly, a figure emerged, the outline becoming clearer as Aria reappeared. His hand was outstretched, his fingers glowing faintly with residual magic.

Aria's expression was calm, though a flicker of irritation passed across his face. His voice was as smooth and mocking as ever. "How sorrowful," he mused, lowering his hand. "Did you really think such a feeble attack could reach me? Flames will never triumph over the winds."

Aurelius's smirk never faltered, the satisfaction in his eyes deepening as Aria's illusion failed. He unfolded his fingers slowly, the tension in his movements clear. "That was a warning," he said coolly, his voice biting. His gaze locked onto Aria, his tone dripping with mockery. "And I must ask, do you have a problem in your head? Trying to use a wind illusion to fool me?"

Aria remained still for a moment, his lips curling into a smile that wasn't quite genuine. His usual confident demeanor seemed to falter, but only slightly. "How… sorrowful," Aria mused, his voice dripping with theatrics.

Aurelius' smirk deepened, his patience already wearing thin. "I don't have time to waste on you," he said, his tone becoming sharper. "Let me pass, and I'll spare you. Otherwise, I won't be so kind."

Aria's eyes glinted with amusement as he spoke in a soft, almost melancholy tone. "Spare me? It's truly tragic that you think you hold the power here. I won't be so easily swayed."

Aurelius's expression grew colder. Without another word, his hand twitched, and in an instant, his magic manifested. His Sense Alteration activated, manipulating Aria's senses and trapping him in a void of silence and darkness. Aria's vision turned to pitch black, and a high-pitched buzzing filled his ears. The sudden disorientation was jarring, but Aria fought against it with a calmness that was almost unnatural.

"It's useless," Aria muttered under his breath, the arrogance in his voice unwavering despite his blindness and deafness. "I fight with the guidance of the winds, fool. Your tricks won't work on me."

Aurelius ignored the empty bravado in Aria's words. He wasn't here for a battle of egos. Without hesitation, he turned his attention to Natsu. "Handle him," he said flatly, already blitzing past Aria's disoriented form with his superior speed.

However, just as Aurelius was about to pass, a sharp gust of wind sliced through the air, and a wind wall materialized in front of him. The barrier was strong, and it pushed against him with surprising force. Aurelius let out an exasperated sigh. "Really? I don't have time for this…"

He was about to use a counterattack when, suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. The group was still processing the shift in battle when, to their shock, Erza appeared.

"Erza?" Natsu exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. "How…?" His eyes widened as he took in her form—strong, determined, and clearly alive. But only moments ago, she had been unconscious, gravely injured.

Aurelius blinked, his smirk faltering for the briefest of moments, though it quickly returned. He had expected her to recover soon, but this sudden appearance still caught him off guard.

Erza stood tall, her armor gleaming in the dim light, her sword raised high. There was no sign of weakness in her posture, no hint of the exhaustion that had plagued her earlier. She looked almost untouched by the events that had just unfolded.

"Go, Aurelius," she said, her voice calm and commanding. "I'll handle him."

The others, especially Natsu and Happy, were in shock, but Aurelius wasn't fazed. He simply stepped back, his gaze flicking between Erza and Aria, a sharp edge in his expression. "Fine," he muttered, barely hiding his begrudging respect. "Don't overdo it."

Aria, still blinded and disoriented, chuckled darkly as he sensed Erza, his tone dripping with mockery. "Ah… how sorrowful. Another warrior arrives to delay my victory." He seemed to regain his composure, his voice still theatrical and filled with arrogance. "But it won't matter. The winds will always guide me, and no knight will stand in my way."

Erza didn't flinch at his words. Her eyes were locked onto Aria, her sword poised and ready. "We'll see about that," she replied, her gaze filled with unwavering determination.

Aurelius, for his part, stepped back further, his mind already beginning to shift toward the next phase of his plans. He had no time to linger on this fight, but he couldn't deny that watching Erza and Aria clash would be interesting.

As Erza stepped forward to engage with Aria, Aurelius didn't waste a moment. His eyes flickered toward the hallway ahead, where the heavy presence of Jose's magic lingered. With a swift motion, he surged past Aria, his senses keen and his speed unmatched.

Aria's frustrated, muffled growl echoed behind him, but Aurelius paid it no mind. His destination was clear, and he couldn't afford to be delayed. He moved like a shadow, bypassing the chaos left in his wake, until he finally reached the heart of the Phantom Lord guild.\

...

Aurelius stepped into the dimly lit room, his boots echoing softly against the stone floor. His gaze immediately snapped to the center of the room, where a chilling scene unfolded. At the heart of the chamber stood Jose, his arms folded across his chest and a wide, sinister grin plastered on his face. Behind him, Gajeel loomed like a dark shadow, his eyes glaring daggers into Aurelius with an intensity that could burn through stone. And then, lying motionless on the cold floor, was Lucy—her body bruised, and a quiet, unsettling stillness surrounding her.

Aurelius's breath caught in his throat for a brief moment. His chest tightened as his eyes flicked back to Jose, then to Gajeel, before finally settling on Lucy. The familiar heat of his anger simmered just beneath his calm exterior. 

Jose, seeing Aurelius's presence, shifted slightly, his grin widening as he looked at him. "Ah, I see you've finally arrived, boy," he said, his voice dripping with venomous sweetness. He stepped forward with a casual ease, as though this were all part of some twisted game. "I've been waiting for you, you know."

Aurelius's gaze remained locked on Lucy, but his voice came out steady and controlled. "What have you done to her?" His words were laced with a quiet intensity, but there was an underlying calmness that suggested he wasn't about to lose control just yet.

Jose chuckled softly, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement. "She's a little… battered, I suppose," he said with a shrug, as if it were no big deal. "But you know, a little damage here and there never killed anyone. I'm sure she'll be fine, eventually." He smiled darkly, savoring the reaction he was getting from Aurelius.

The silence hung heavy in the air as Aurelius's jaw tightened. His hands curled into fists at his sides, but he said nothing. His attention never wavered from Lucy. The weight of her broken form gnawed at his insides, but he knew he couldn't let it distract him. There were bigger things at stake now.

Jose stepped closer, his posture relaxed, almost as if he were welcoming a guest to his home rather than facing down an enemy. "I must say, though," he continued, his voice lowering in a mockingly sincere tone, "you didn't disappoint. I've been watching you for some time now. You're quite the mage, aren't you? I've come to admire your abilities." His grin grew wider, his eyes gleaming with malice. "You really are everything they say you are."

Aurelius said nothing. The tension was suffocating, but he refused to let it get to him. He wouldn't give Jose the satisfaction of seeing him flinch.

Jose, seemingly enjoying the silence, walked a few paces, his eyes shifting between Aurelius and Lucy. "So, Aurelius," he began again, his voice oozing with false sweetness, "tell me—have you reconsidered my offer? Will you join Phantom Lord? I promise you anything within my power. Wealth, power, freedom… You name it. Anything. All I ask is that you stand by my side."

Aurelius's eyes flicked up to meet Jose's. His gaze was cold, calculating, but there was something else there—a flash of something deeper. He didn't trust Jose, and he didn't trust this offer. But he had to admit, it was tempting. "And what about Fairy Tail?" Aurelius's voice was steady, his words measured. "What about Lucy? If I were to join, will you leave them? And if I do—if I join you—will you take the full blame for everything that's happened here?"

Jose's smile faltered only briefly, before returning in full force, as though he enjoyed the challenge. "You're full of yourself" he said, chuckling darkly. "But I'm afraid you misunderstand. I'm willing to grant you only one of those requests. One." He took a step forward, his voice lowering to a more dangerous pitch.

Aurelius's expression didn't change. He knew exactly what was happening here. Jose had always been the type to dangle the carrot but never let anyone get too close. But Aurelius wasn't here for games. He was here to end this.

A long silence followed as Aurelius contemplated his next move. His eyes briefly flicked to Gajeel, who was standing in the background, arms crossed, glaring at him like a predator ready to strike. Then, his gaze returned to Lucy, still motionless on the floor.

Aurelius sighed, his expression unreadable as he stared down Jose. "There's no other choice, then," he said quietly.

For a fleeting moment, a grin of triumph spread across Jose's face. But before he could gloat, the air around Aurelius shifted. A sudden, powerful burst of ethernano exploded outward from his body, crackling like a wild storm. The force was intense, causing the ground to tremble and sending debris skittering across the floor. The oppressive energy made even Jose falter, his grin faltering into a scowl.

Gajeel, standing behind Jose, squinted against the pressure, his teeth grinding in frustration. "You've got some nerve, showing off like this!" he snarled, launching forward without hesitation. His fists transformed into iron as he leaped, gleaming under the dim light as he swung with brutal force toward Aurelius.

At the same moment, Jose extended his hand, a dark vortex forming rapidly in his palm. The swirling mass of shadows pulsed with malevolent energy before surging toward Aurelius in a deadly beam. "Dead Wave!" Jose called, his voice cutting through the chaos as the attack spiraled toward its target.

Aurelius's body moved like lightning, fluid and precise. He sidestepped the dark beam, the attack narrowly grazing past him and obliterating a chunk of the wall behind him. Simultaneously, Gajeel's iron fist came crashing down, but Aurelius caught it with one hand, stopping it dead in its tracks.

The sheer impact of the blow sent vibrations up Aurelius's arm, but he held firm. His grip on Gajeel's fist was unyielding, his expression calm and focused despite the raw power behind the Dragon Slayer's strike.

Using Gajeel's momentum, Aurelius pivoted and flung him effortlessly across the room. The Iron Dragon Slayer's body flew through the air like a ragdoll, slamming into the door with a deafening crash. Dust and rubble rained down as Gajeel groaned, momentarily stunned.

Aurelius didn't waste a second. He raised his other hand, where an orb of shimmering brown energy had formed, pulsating with rhythmic waves of power. The orb's surface rippled as though alive, radiating an intense vibrational hum.

"Energy Make, Brown: Vibration Wave," Aurelius intoned, his voice calm yet commanding.

He unleashed the orb, and it shot forward with incredible speed, heading straight for Gajeel. The orb struck Gajeel mid-chest, the impact sending him flying past the door and even further down the corridor. The vibrations from the attack echoed through his body, leaving him momentarily incapacitated as he was sent flying further.

Seeing this, Jose clapped slowly, his grin returning as he stepped forward. "Truly Impressive," he said mockingly, his tone laced with condescension. "I knew you had power, Aurelius, but this little display is quite something. Still…" His gaze darkened, and his grin turned menacing. "Do you really think you can stop me with just that?"

Aurelius remained silent, his eyes narrowing as he shifted his focus back to Jose. The room was thick with tension, the calm before the storm that was sure to come.

Bonus Chapter:

40 more power stones for a bonus chapter.

Chapter Titles:

32: A New Player

33: Unseen Power

34: Shattered Reality