Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Convergence
Kizuna Clive soared through the sky, a trail of emerald energy marking his path as he rocketed toward the coordinates Uruk had discreetly transmitted to his communication lacrima. The wind whipped through his black hair, now faintly tinged with green as he channeled just enough of his power to maintain supersonic flight without fully transforming.
Something felt wrong about this entire Lullaby situation. The dark guilds rarely coordinated so effectively, and Eisenwald wasn't known for elaborate schemes. Someone else was pulling the strings—someone who knew exactly how to manipulate both dark guilds and legal guilds alike.
His mother's words echoed in his mind: "Trust your instincts, Kizuna. They're sharper than most."
And right now, his instincts were screaming that this was more than a simple dark guild plot. The timing, the target, the meticulous planning—it all pointed to something far more sinister.
His communication lacrima pulsed, signaling an incoming message. He slowed just enough to activate it.
"Kizuna." Mirajane's face appeared in the crystal, her expression serious despite the gentle tone of her voice. "I've received word from Uruk. The team has split up—Gine is pursuing what they believe is the real Lullaby."
"I know," Kizuna replied, his eyes scanning the terrain below. "I can sense her energy signature moving northwest. She's fast, but whoever has Lullaby knows exactly where they're going."
A brief silence fell between them, filled with unspoken words and years of complicated history.
"Teilanne contacted me," Mirajane finally said, her blue eyes meeting his through the crystal. "She said—"
"That we need to talk. All three of us," Kizuna finished for her. "I know. Mother isn't exactly subtle when she decides something needs fixing."
A small smile touched Mirajane's lips. "She never has been." The smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. "Be careful, Kizuna. My sources in the Council say there's more happening than just Eisenwald's plot. There are rumors of strange energy readings, similar to what was detected during the... incident... seven years ago."
Kizuna's expression darkened. The "incident" Mirajane referred to was rarely discussed—the day when a rift had temporarily opened between worlds, when Earthland had briefly touched another dimension. The day his mother had explained his true heritage to him.
"If that's true, then we have even less time than I thought," he said, his voice tight. "I need to intercept the flute before anyone attempts to activate it."
"I should be there," Mirajane said, a flash of her former fierceness breaking through her usually gentle demeanor. "If this is connected to seven years ago—"
"Stay with the guild," Kizuna interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. "If things go sideways, Fairy Tail will need its Demon." His expression softened slightly. "Besides, someone needs to explain to Erza why I went ahead without the team."
Another weighted silence stretched between them.
"We've put this off for too long, haven't we?" Mirajane asked softly.
Kizuna's gaze drifted momentarily to the horizon. "Yes. But first, let's make sure there's a world left for us to have that conversation in."
Mirajane nodded. "Good luck. And Kizuna..." she hesitated, then continued, "come back safely. Both you and Erza. Whatever is between us, that much hasn't changed."
The connection ended before he could respond, leaving him alone with the wind and his thoughts. He increased his speed, the green aura around him intensifying as he pushed his power higher.
Below, he spotted a cliff overlooking the railway to Clover Town. His enhanced vision detected movement—two cloaked figures standing near the edge, one holding what appeared to be a wooden flute.
Lullaby.
Kizuna adjusted his trajectory, diving toward them at tremendous speed. As he descended, he reached out with his senses, trying to gauge their magical power.
What he felt made him pull up short, hovering fifty meters above them. These weren't ordinary dark wizards. Their energy signatures were... wrong. Distorted somehow, as if they didn't quite belong to this world.
"Kizuna Clive," called the figure holding the flute, pulling back their hood to reveal an androgynous face with pale blue skin and eyes that seemed to shift color with each blink. "Or should I say, son of Teilanne the Saiyan warrior? We've been expecting you."
Kizuna's eyes narrowed. "Who are you? You're not with Eisenwald."
A cold laugh escaped the blue-skinned figure. "Eisenwald? Merely pawns in a game they cannot comprehend. My name is Vexus, Observer of the Convergence." They held up the flute. "And this is not merely Lullaby. It is a key."
"A key to what?" Kizuna demanded, lowering himself to hover just ten meters away, ready to strike if necessary.
"To the spaces between worlds," said the second figure, removing their hood to reveal similar blue skin but with intricate markings running across their scalp. "I am Nexus, Keeper of the Threshold. And you, hybrid child, are an anomaly that should not exist."
Kizuna's power flared involuntarily, the green aura around him pulsing brighter. "I've heard enough cryptic nonsense. Hand over the flute. Now."
"Or what?" Vexus asked, a mocking smile playing on their lips. "You'll destroy us? Unleash that impressive Saiyan power? Please." They held the flute out over the cliff edge. "One wrong move, and Lullaby falls. The impact will trigger its power, and every living soul within fifty kilometers will perish—including those Guild Masters you're so desperate to protect."
Kizuna froze, calculating his options. He was fast—possibly fast enough to catch the flute if they dropped it. But he couldn't be certain, and the risk was too great.
"What do you want?" he asked, forcing his power back under control.
"To observe," Nexus replied simply. "This world stands at a crossroads. The barriers between dimensions grow thin. Magic, Curses, Ethernano... and Ki." They looked pointedly at Kizuna's aura. "Soon, the Convergence will begin in earnest."
"And Lullaby?" Kizuna pressed, still poised to move at the slightest provocation.
"A catalyst," Vexus explained, caressing the skull-adorned flute. "Created centuries ago by Zeref, but modified recently with... different energy. When played for the Guild Masters, it won't merely take their lives. It will create a momentary tear—just enough for something to slip through."
"Something? Or someone?" Kizuna demanded, a chill running down his spine.
Before either could answer, a new voice cut through the tension.
"I'd listen to my nephew if I were you. He doesn't have my patience."
Gine descended from above, her tail swishing behind her as she hovered beside Kizuna. Her usual playful demeanor was gone, replaced by the cold focus of a true Saiyan warrior.
"Ah, another one," Vexus observed, seemingly unperturbed by Gine's arrival. "The bloodline continues to intrigue us."
"Hand over the flute," Gine demanded, "or I'll show you exactly how 'intriguing' we can be."
Nexus and Vexus exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them.
"Perhaps a demonstration is in order," Nexus said finally. "A taste of what's to come."
Before either Saiyan could react, Vexus raised the flute to their lips and played a single, discordant note.
The sound rippled through the air like a physical force, distorting the very fabric of reality around them. The sky above darkened, clouds swirling into an unnatural vortex. The ground trembled, fissures spreading across the cliff face.
Kizuna felt a strange pulling sensation, as if something within him was resonating with the flute's note. His aura flickered, green energy sputtering like a flame in wind.
"What is this?" Gine growled, her own energy fluctuating wildly.
"The beginning," Vexus replied, lowering the flute with a satisfied smile. "Can you feel it? The thinning of the veil? The worlds reaching for each other across the void?"
Kizuna struggled to stabilize his power, focusing his mind as his mother had taught him. "Whatever you're doing, it won't work. Fairy Tail won't let it."
"Fairy Tail," Nexus scoffed. "A guild of fractured souls and broken hearts. Tell me, Son of Teilanne, how can you stop us when you cannot even face what lies between you, Titania, and the Demon?"
The taunt struck deeper than Kizuna wanted to admit. He glanced at Gine, a silent communication passing between them—a plan forming without words.
"You know what your problem is?" Gine said suddenly, distracting the blue-skinned pair. "You talk too much."
In that split second of distraction, Kizuna moved—not toward Vexus and the flute as they might have expected, but directly into the ground beneath their feet. His fist struck the cliff with precisely calculated force, sending shockwaves through the rock.
The cliff edge crumbled, catching Vexus and Nexus off guard. As they stumbled, Gine darted forward with blinding speed, snatching the flute from Vexus's grasp before they could regain their balance.
"Got it!" she called triumphantly, soaring upward with her prize.
Kizuna prepared to follow, but Nexus recovered faster than anticipated. A pulse of strange energy erupted from their palm, striking Kizuna square in the chest. It didn't hurt exactly, but he felt something... shift within him, as if parts of his being were suddenly misaligned.
"Your power is exceptional," Nexus acknowledged, "but it makes you vulnerable to the Convergence. The more extraordinary your energy, the more it will be affected."
Vexus raised both hands, and the air around them began to distort. "We have what we needed. The seed is planted. The note has been played."
"What are you talking about?" Kizuna demanded, struggling against the strange sensation still spreading through his body. "The flute barely made a sound!"
"It wasn't meant for the Guild Masters," Vexus explained, a triumphant gleam in their color-shifting eyes. "It was meant for you. For her." They gestured to Gine, who was now examining the flute with confusion. "For all who carry power not native to this world."
The distortion around them intensified, reality itself seeming to bend.
"We'll meet again, Son of Teilanne," Nexus promised as both figures began to fade from view. "When the true Convergence begins."
"Wait!" Kizuna lunged forward, but his hands passed through empty air as Vexus and Nexus vanished completely.
Gine descended to the remains of the cliff edge, her expression troubled. "What just happened? Who were they?"
Kizuna shook his head, trying to dispel the lingering dissonance within his energy. "I don't know. But we need to get that flute somewhere secure." He reached for his communication lacrima. "I'm contacting Erza and the others. Whatever those two were planning, I doubt it ended with that single note."
As he activated the lacrima, Gine studied the flute more closely. "There's something wrong with this," she said, frowning. "The energy signature... it's fading."
Kizuna looked up sharply. "What do you mean?"
Gine held out the flute for him to see. The wooden surface was losing its luster, the skull design growing dim. "It's like it's being drained somehow. Or like it was never the real Lullaby to begin with."
A cold realization dawned on Kizuna. "A decoy. Just like Erigor." He quickly adjusted the lacrima's settings. "Natsu! Gray! Come in!"
Natsu's face appeared in the crystal, his expression agitated. "Kizuna! Where have you been? We're chasing Erigor, but something weird is happening!"
"Define weird," Kizuna demanded.
"The sky's gone all funky, and Erigor just ditched his scythe to grab some flute from another Eisenwald guy! Now he's heading straight for Clover Town!"
Kizuna and Gine exchanged alarmed glances.
"Stay on him," Kizuna ordered. "Don't let him reach the Guild Masters. We're on our way."
He ended the connection and turned to Gine. "We've been played. Vexus and Nexus wanted us to find this decoy while Erigor got the real Lullaby."
"Not just that," Gine said grimly, letting the false flute drop to the ground where it began to crumble into dust. "They wanted something from us specifically. That note—it did something to our energy."
Kizuna nodded, still feeling the strange resonance within him. "Whatever they're planning, it involves us. Involves Saiyans." He took a deep breath, centering himself. "But first, we need to stop Erigor."
"Race you there?" Gine suggested, a hint of her usual competitive spirit returning despite the circumstances.
Kizuna managed a small smile. "Just like when we were kids."
The two shot into the sky, twin streaks of energy cutting through the unnaturally darkened clouds, racing toward Clover Town and whatever awaited them there. As they flew, Kizuna couldn't shake the sense that they were heading toward something momentous—not just a confrontation with Erigor, but a collision of fates long in the making.
And somewhere in the back of his mind, three names kept repeating like a mantra, an unresolved chord awaiting resolution: Kizuna, Erza, Mirajane.
Clover Town's conference hall stood atop a gentle hill, its elegant architecture a testament to the importance of the Guild Masters' regular meetings. Inside, oblivious to the danger approaching, Makarov Dreyar sat cross-legged on a table, nursing a drink while enduring Master Bob's latest gossip about Blue Pegasus's newest recruits.
"And this one boy, oh my, his Archive Magic is simply divine," Bob gushed, fanning himself dramatically. "He can store and process information faster than anyone I've ever seen!"
"Sounds impressive," Makarov replied absently, his mind drifting to his own guild's newest member. Lucy seemed promising—strong celestial magic and a good heart. If only she hadn't been dragged into this Lullaby business on her very first mission.
A sudden unease made him glance toward the window. The sky had darkened unnaturally, clouds swirling in patterns that defied the usual weather systems.
"Strange," he murmured, setting down his drink. "The forecast didn't mention a storm."
Master Goldmine of Quatro Cerberus followed his gaze. "That's no ordinary storm," he observed, his usual laid-back demeanor giving way to concern. "There's magic in those clouds."
Before anyone could respond, the conference hall doors burst open. A breathless messenger stumbled in, his face pale with urgency.
"Masters! Danger approaching! Eisenwald—they're planning to use Lullaby against you all!"
Chaos erupted as the Guild Masters rose in alarm, questions flying from all directions. Makarov raised a hand, instantly commanding silence.
"Explain," he ordered, now fully alert. "What exactly is happening?"
The messenger gulped air. "Fairy Tail wizards intercepted Eisenwald at Onibus Station. They discovered a plot to use Lullaby—Zeref's death flute—to kill everyone at this conference. Erigor the Reaper is heading this way now!"
Murmurs of alarm spread through the hall, but Makarov remained calm. "Fairy Tail wizards, you say? Which ones?"
"Erza Scarlet, Natsu Dragneel, Gray Fullbuster, and others," the messenger replied. "They're in pursuit, but Erigor has a head start."
"Erza is one thing," Master Bob said, turning to Makarov. "But you let Natsu go after a dark guild? Isn't that like sending a hurricane to put out a candle?"
Despite the situation, Makarov chuckled. "Sometimes a hurricane is exactly what's needed." His expression grew serious again. "But there's more to this story. Kizuna Clive was with them as well, wasn't he?"
The messenger nodded. "Yes, though I heard he split off to pursue another lead."
"Typical," Makarov muttered, but there was no real annoyance in his tone—only a grim understanding. "He must have sensed something the others missed."
Goldmine stroked his beard thoughtfully. "If Lullaby truly is involved, we should evacuate. That artifact's power is no joke—it will drain the life from anyone who hears its melody."
"Evacuate if you wish," Makarov said, standing on the table to address his fellow Guild Masters. "But I will stay. My children are coming, and I won't abandon them to face this threat alone."
"Always the protective father," Bob sighed affectionately. "Very well. Quatro Cerberus and Blue Pegasus stand with Fairy Tail."
Outside, the unnatural clouds continued to gather, darkness spreading across what should have been a clear afternoon sky. And approaching fast, barely visible as a speck on the horizon, was a figure riding the wind itself—Erigor, the Grim Reaper of Eisenwald, clutching a wooden flute adorned with a three-eyed skull.
Racing behind him, a magic-mobile pushed to its limits by Gray's driving and Natsu's frantic shouting.
And from above, two streaks of light—one emerald, one azure—descending from the turbulent heavens.
The pieces were in motion. The stage was set. And as the storm clouds gathered, three fates—long intertwined, long unresolved—were about to collide in a confrontation that would shake the foundations of more than just Fairy Tail.
The true melody of Lullaby was about to play—a song of worlds converging, of barriers breaking, and of hearts finally facing what they had avoided for far too long.
Symphony of Destruction
The darkened sky above Clover Town pulsed with unnatural energy as Erigor descended toward the conference hall, the true Lullaby clutched triumphantly in his hand. The wooden flute's three-eyed skull seemed to watch the approaching chaos with malevolent anticipation.
"At last," Erigor cackled, wind magic swirling around him as he landed on the conference hall's roof. "The Guild Masters will pay for what they've done to Eisenwald! Lullaby's song will be the last thing they ever hear!"
Below, the Guild Masters had formed a defensive perimeter around the building, led by Makarov Dreyar. The diminutive master of Fairy Tail stood with arms crossed, power radiating from his small frame.
"He's here," Makarov announced calmly to his fellow Guild Masters. "Remember, cover your ears the moment he attempts to play that flute."
"Do you really think that will be enough, Makarov?" Goldmine asked skeptically.
Before Makarov could answer, a deafening crash shook the building as Natsu burst through a side wall, flames engulfing his entire body.
"ERIGOR!" he roared, propelling himself toward the roof with a blast of fire from his feet. "I'M ALL FIRED UP NOW!"
Gray skidded to a halt outside the conference hall, having just parked the magic-mobile. He looked up at Natsu's fiery ascent and sighed. "That idiot never waits for a plan."
"Gray!" Lucy called, running up behind him with Uruk following at a measured pace. "Where's Natsu going?"
"Where do you think?" Gray replied, already forming ice in his hands. "Ice-Make: Stairs!" A gleaming staircase of ice materialized, leading up to the roof.
Uruk adjusted his glasses, his expression unchanged despite the chaos. "Probability of Natsu's direct assault succeeding: 23.4%." He tapped the device on his wrist. "Lullaby's magical signature is fluctuating. It appears to be... awakening."
"Then we better hurry," Lucy said, determination replacing her earlier exhaustion.
Above them, twin streaks of light—one emerald, one azure—split the churning clouds as Kizuna and Gine descended at supersonic speed. They arrived just as Natsu reached the roof, his flaming fist aimed directly at Erigor's face.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Erigor barely managed to dodge, wind magic deflecting the worst of Natsu's attack. "You're too late, Fairy Tail flies!" he sneered, raising Lullaby to his lips. "Once I play this melody, everyone here will—"
He never finished the sentence. A blur of movement, and suddenly Kizuna was there, his hand clamped around Erigor's wrist.
"I don't think so," Kizuna said, his hair flickering with traces of green as he controlled his power. "That flute stays silent."
"Brother!" Gine called out, landing beside Natsu. "The flute—it's changing!"
All eyes turned to Lullaby. The wooden instrument was pulsing with dark energy, the skull design seemingly coming to life as its eye sockets began to glow with an eerie purple light.
"What's happening?" Lucy gasped as she, Gray, and Uruk reached the roof via Gray's ice stairs.
"Fascinating," Uruk observed dispassionately. "The artifact is responding to the ambient magical energy. It appears to be self-actualizing."
"In normal people words?" Gray demanded.
"It's waking up," Kizuna translated grimly, still restraining Erigor who was now struggling frantically to break free.
A haunting voice emanated from the flute itself, echoing with ancient malice. "Yessss... so much magical energy... so many souls to consume..."
"It talks?!" Lucy exclaimed, keys already in hand. "Please tell me cursed musical instruments don't usually talk!"
"This is no ordinary curse," Uruk stated, rapidly analyzing readings from his device. "The ethernano concentration is being influenced by an external force. Similar to the energy signature we encountered at the cliff."
Kizuna's eyes narrowed. "Vexus and Nexus. This was their plan all along."
"Who?" Natsu asked, flames still dancing around his fists.
"No time to explain," Gine cut in, her tail lashing behind her as she dropped into a fighting stance. "That thing's about to do something!"
The flute wrenched itself from Erigor's grasp, hovering in the air before them. Dark energy erupted from it in pulsing waves, spreading outward and upward. The clouds above spiraled faster, lightning crackling between them as the magical pressure intensified.
"What's happening?!" Erigor demanded, all bravado gone, replaced by naked fear. "This wasn't part of the plan!"
"Your plan was hijacked," Kizuna informed him coldly, releasing the wind mage who scrambled backward. "You were just a pawn."
The flute's energy continued to build until, with a blinding flash and a sound like reality tearing, it transformed. Wood and bone expanded, twisted, and grew until a towering monster stood before them—a creature of nightmare with three glowing eyes and a body of gnarled, wooden limbs.
"I AM LULLABY!" it roared, its voice shaking the very air around them. "I WILL DEVOUR ALL YOUR SOULS!"
"Well, that escalated quickly," Gray muttered, already stripping off his shirt out of habit.
"Everyone!" Makarov called from below, where he and the other Guild Masters were evacuating civilians. "Be careful! That's one of Zeref's demons!"
Lullaby's massive wooden hand swung down toward the conference hall. Before it could connect, Kizuna moved—a flash of green light intercepting the blow. His palm met the creature's enormous fist, stopping it cold.
"Not today," he growled, power surging through him.
The demon's eyes widened in surprise. "WHAT ARE YOU? YOUR ENERGY... IT'S NOT FROM THIS WORLD!"
"You're one to talk," Gine quipped, launching herself at the demon's leg with a flying kick that splintered the wooden surface.
Natsu grinned fiercely, flames erupting around him with renewed intensity. "Alright! I'm all fired up now! Fire Dragon's Roar!" A massive stream of fire blasted from his mouth, scorching Lullaby's torso.
"Ice-Make: Lance!" Gray joined in, sending spears of ice piercing through the demon's shoulder.
Lucy summoned Taurus with a flourish of her key. "Take it down, Taurus!"
"Moooooo! Anything for your beautiful body, Miss Lucy!" The bull spirit charged forward, his axe cleaving into Lullaby's other leg.
Uruk observed the battle with analytical calm, his fingers dancing over his wrist device. "Targeting weak points," he announced. "Techno Magic: Precision Strike." Beams of focused energy shot from his palm, hitting junctions in the demon's wooden body with surgical precision.
Lullaby staggered back, holes smoldering in its body from the combined assault. "FOOLISH HUMANS! I WILL PLAY MY SONG OF DEATH!"
The demon opened its mouth wide, drawing in air for its deadly melody. A haunting note began to form, the sound carrying unnatural power—
Only to emerge as a wheezing, discordant whistle.
Lullaby's three eyes blinked in confusion. It tried again, but the result was the same—a pathetic wheezing sound like wind through a broken instrument.
"What's happening?" Lucy asked, confused but relieved.
Uruk's lips twitched in what might have been the ghost of a smile. "The structural integrity of its resonance chamber has been compromised. In simpler terms—"
"We punched too many holes in it!" Natsu cackled, pointing at the demon. "It can't play its song!"
Indeed, the multiple attacks had left Lullaby's wooden body riddled with holes, burns, and ice damage. Smoke drifted from Natsu's fire attack, and sharp edges of ice protruded from where Gray's lances had struck. Gine's kick had splintered one entire section, while Kizuna's power had compressed another part until cracks spread throughout.
"NO!" Lullaby roared in frustration. "THIS CANNOT BE! I AM A DEMON OF ZEREF! I AM DEATH ITSELF!"
"You're a flute with holes in the wrong places," Gray taunted. "Can't play much of a death song now, can you?"
Lullaby's rage was palpable, dark energy crackling around it. "THEN I WILL CONSUME YOUR SOULS DIRECTLY!"
The demon charged forward, wooden limbs creaking and groaning with each movement. It swiped at the Fairy Tail wizards, who dodged with varying degrees of grace—Natsu and Gray leaping aside, Lucy being carried to safety by Taurus, Uruk simply stepping out of range with calculated precision, and the Saiyan siblings hovering in the air.
"We need to end this," Kizuna called to the others. "Before it hurts anyone!"
"I've got an idea!" Gine shouted back, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Natsu! Gray! Remember that combination move we practiced?"
Natsu's face lit up. "The Fairy Tail Special?!"
Gray groaned. "We've never successfully pulled that off..."
"First time for everything!" Gine laughed, descending to position herself between them. "Lucy, Uruk—keep it distracted for ten seconds!"
"On it!" Lucy confirmed, already swinging another key. "Open, Gate of the Archer! Sagittarius!"
"Moshi-moshi!" The horse-costumed spirit saluted before unleashing a barrage of arrows at Lullaby's eyes.
Uruk nodded slightly. "Techno Magic: Disruption Field." A pulsing wave of energy spread from his device, causing Lullaby's wooden body to seize up momentarily as its magical structure was temporarily scrambled.
Kizuna watched his siblings and teammates with a mixture of pride and amusement. He knew exactly what Gine was planning—a ridiculous, over-the-top combination attack that had failed spectacularly during practice sessions. But somehow, in the chaos of real battle, Fairy Tail wizards always seemed to pull off the impossible.
"I'll create an opening," he called down, rising higher into the air. Green energy crackled around his hands as he brought them together. "Everyone, be ready!"
Power gathered between his palms, compressed into a sphere of blindingly bright energy. With precise control, he launched it directly at Lullaby's chest. "Emerald Impact!"
The energy blast tore through the demon, creating a massive hole in its center. Lullaby staggered backward, roaring in pain and fury.
"NOW!" Kizuna shouted.
Gine grinned, positioning herself between Natsu and Gray. "Ready, boys? Fairy Tail Special: Tri-Element Cannon!"
Gray planted his feet firmly, ice magic swirling around his hands. "Ice-Make: Frozen Channel!"
A massive tube of ice formed, extending from Gray's hands toward Lullaby.
Natsu took position on the opposite side of Gine, his cheeks puffing as he gathered his fire. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" Instead of releasing it forward, he directed it into Gine's waiting hands.
Gine's azure aura exploded around her as she channeled her ki, creating a vortex that caught Natsu's flames and spiraled them into Gray's ice channel, where the opposing elements should have canceled each other out—but instead, under Gine's ki manipulation, they fused into a swirling beam of elemental chaos.
"GO!" Gine shouted, her power pushing the combined attack forward with tremendous force.
The tri-element beam—ice, fire, and ki—shot through Gray's channel and erupted toward Lullaby, passing straight through the hole Kizuna had created and exploding out the other side in a spectacular display of destructive force.
Lullaby's wooden body began to crack and splinter, dark energy leaking from the fractures. "IMPOSSIBLE! I AM... I WAS... MEANT TO..."
The demon never finished its sentence. With a final, discordant groan, it collapsed inward, wooden limbs shattering as the dark magic that animated it dissipated. In a flash of purple light, the massive form imploded, leaving behind nothing but a simple wooden flute—now cracked and useless—falling to the ground with a hollow clatter.
For a moment, silence reigned. Then...
"THAT WAS AWESOME!" Natsu roared, pumping his fist in the air. "We actually pulled it off!"
Gray stared at his hands in disbelief. "I can't believe that ridiculous combination actually worked."
Gine laughed, spinning in the air with unbridled enthusiasm. "See? I told you guys it would work in a real fight!"
Lucy collapsed to her knees, exhausted but smiling. "Is it always like this with you people?"
"Probability of success was 8.2%," Uruk noted, adjusting his glasses. "Fascinating outcome."
Kizuna descended to retrieve the remains of Lullaby, examining the cracked flute with grim satisfaction. "It's over. For now."
Makarov approached, followed by several other Guild Masters who were looking at the Fairy Tail wizards with a mixture of awe and exasperation.
"Well done, children," Makarov said proudly, though his eye twitched slightly as he surveyed the collateral damage—Gray's ice still covered half the conference hall roof, scorch marks from Natsu's flames blackened what remained, and the side wall where Natsu had initially burst through was completely demolished.
Master Bob of Blue Pegasus fanned himself dramatically. "My, my! Such destructive power! But effective, I must say."
Goldmine shook his head. "Fairy Tail... always taking things to the extreme."
Makarov coughed awkwardly. "Yes, well... all's well that ends well, right?" He glanced nervously at the significant property damage.
Kizuna knelt before his master, offering the broken flute. "Master, there's more to this than just Eisenwald. Two beings called Vexus and Nexus were behind this. They talked about something called 'the Convergence.'"
Makarov's expression turned serious. "I feared as much. This energy... it reminds me of an incident seven years ago."
Gine landed beside her brother, her earlier exuberance tempered. "They seemed particularly interested in Saiyan energy. They played a note that affected Kizuna and me specifically."
"And where are these beings now?" Makarov asked, concern deepening the lines on his face.
Miles away, on a remote mountainside overlooking Clover Town, Vexus and Nexus stood watching the distant battle conclude. Their pale blue skin seemed to shimmer in the waning light, color-shifting eyes narrowed in calculation.
"Phase one is complete," Vexus observed, fingers tracing patterns in the air that left faint luminous trails. "The resonance has been established."
"Indeed," Nexus agreed. "The hybrid's power exceeded expectations. Even without full transformation, his energy created the perfect harmonic."
"And the brother and sister—particularly the girl. Her manipulation of ki will be invaluable when—"
A sudden gust of wind cut off Vexus's words, powerful enough to bend nearby trees. Both beings turned sharply, color-shifting eyes widening in surprise.
Teilanne Clive stood before them, arms crossed over her Saiyan battle armor. Her dark eyes were cold, calculating, and utterly merciless. Her tail, usually wrapped around her waist, now lashed behind her with barely contained aggression.
"I thought I sensed something familiar," she said, her voice deceptively calm. "The same energy signature from seven years ago. When you tried to use my children as conduits for your little experiment."
Vexus's lips curved into a smile that didn't reach their eyes. "Teilanne the Destroyer. We wondered when you would make an appearance."
"Last time, you fled before I could find you," Teilanne continued, taking a step forward. The ground beneath her feet cracked from the pressure of her contained power. "This time, you won't escape so easily."
Nexus raised a placating hand. "We mean no harm to your offspring. We merely observe and guide the inevitable."
"You used my children as pawns," Teilanne growled, her power beginning to manifest as a crimson aura around her form. "You manipulated events to expose them to your 'Convergence' energy. That alone is reason enough for me to end you."
"You misunderstand our purpose," Vexus insisted, though both beings had subtly shifted their stances, preparing for conflict. "The barriers between worlds thin regardless of our actions. We merely seek to control the process, to ensure stability when the Convergence fully manifests."
"And what exactly is this 'Convergence'?" Teilanne demanded, her aura intensifying.
"The meeting of realms," Nexus explained, scientific detachment in their tone despite the dangerous situation. "Your very existence proves it's already happening. A Saiyan warrior in Earthland? The mingling of ki and magic? These are not coincidences."
Vexus nodded in agreement. "We are Observers, tasked with monitoring these intersections. Your children—especially Kizuna—represent a perfect fusion of energies that should never have met. They are natural convergence points."
Teilanne's eyes narrowed dangerously. "So you experimented on my children without permission, endangered my guild mates, and unleashed a demon from the Book of Zeref—all for your 'observation'?"
"When you phrase it that way—" Vexus began.
They never finished the sentence. Teilanne moved, a blur of motion too fast for the eye to track. Her fist connected with Vexus's abdomen, the impact creating a shockwave that shattered rocks a hundred meters away.
Vexus gasped, doubling over in pain. "Impossible... your power level... it's—"
"Higher than you calculated?" Teilanne finished, her voice cold. "That's the problem with observers. You watch, but you don't understand."
Nexus attempted to counter, hands glowing with strange energy as they launched a complex spell toward Teilanne. She didn't even attempt to dodge. The energy washed over her without effect, dissipating against her crimson aura.
"My turn," Teilanne said simply.
What followed was not a battle so much as a systematic dismantling. Teilanne moved with precision and power that belied her usual laid-back demeanor at the guild. This was Teilanne the Destroyer—the warrior who had earned S-Class status within months of joining Fairy Tail, whose power had made even Gildarts Clive pause in appreciation.
Nexus crashed through three boulders before coming to a stop, blue skin now marred with bruises and cuts. "This level of power... it shouldn't be possible in this realm..."
Teilanne stood over the fallen Observer, her expression unchanged. "You still don't get it, do you? I'm not just a Saiyan warrior who happened to end up in Earthland. I chose to come here. I chose to stay." Her eyes flashed with dangerous memory. "After what happened to Planet Vegeta, I sought out the rifts between worlds that your kind speak of. I found Earthland, found a place where power could be used to protect rather than conquer."
She grabbed Nexus by the throat, lifting them effortlessly. "And I will protect my children and my guild with every ounce of that power."
Vexus struggled to stand, wiping blue blood from their lips. "You cannot stop the Convergence. It's already begun. Today's events were merely catalysts, setting frequencies that will continue to resonate across the dimensional barriers."
"I don't need to stop it," Teilanne replied, releasing Nexus who crumpled to the ground. "I just need to stop you from manipulating it for your purposes."
She raised her hand, crimson energy gathering in her palm—enough power to obliterate both Observers where they stood.
Vexus looked up, fear finally breaking through their scientific detachment. "If you destroy us, you'll never understand what's coming! The Convergence needs guides, shepherds who understand the process!"
"And you think that's you?" Teilanne scoffed. "Beings who hide in shadows and manipulate others? Who endanger innocent lives for your experiments?"
The energy in her palm intensified, ready to be released—when a familiar voice called out from behind her.
"Mother! Wait!"
Kizuna landed gracefully nearby, his expression troubled as he took in the scene. Gine and Uruk followed close behind, their reactions to the battered Observers ranging from Gine's satisfied smirk to Uruk's clinical interest.
"They're not worth it," Kizuna continued, approaching his mother cautiously. "We've contained the immediate threat. Lullaby is destroyed."
Teilanne's power remained gathered, her eyes still fixed on the Observers. "They used you, Kizuna. All of you. That note Lullaby played—it was meant to attune your Saiyan energy to something they call 'the Convergence.'"
"We know," Gine said, landing beside her brother. "We felt it. But killing them won't undo what's been done."
Uruk stepped forward, device already scanning the fallen Observers. "Their energy signatures are unique. Neither fully material nor ethereal. They exist partially outside our dimensional framework."
"Meaning?" Teilanne asked, power still crackling around her hand.
"Meaning," Uruk replied calmly, "that destroying their physical forms may not destroy their consciousness. It would be... inefficient."
Teilanne hesitated, considering her son's words. The crimson energy around her hand pulsed once more before slowly dissipating. "Fine. But they don't leave here without answering some questions."
Vexus and Nexus exchanged glances, clearly calculating their options in the face of four Saiyans—one of whom had just demonstrated power beyond their predictions.
"We will cooperate," Nexus finally said, voice strained from Teilanne's earlier grip. "The Convergence is inevitable, but perhaps... collaboration would be beneficial to all parties."
"Start talking," Teilanne demanded, crossing her arms. "What exactly is coming? And what does it have to do with my children?"
Back in Clover Town, the remaining Fairy Tail wizards helped with cleanup efforts around the conference hall. Lucy sat on a fallen pillar, exhaustion finally catching up with her as she watched Natsu and Gray bicker while simultaneously melting and freezing various pieces of debris.
"They really never stop, do they?" she asked no one in particular.
"It's their way of processing stress," Erza's voice came from behind her.
Lucy jumped in surprise. "Erza! When did you get here?"
The requip mage approached, surveying the damage with a critical eye. "Just now. I see I missed quite the battle." Her expression softened slightly. "You did well, from what Master Makarov tells me."
Lucy flushed with pride at the rare compliment. "It was mostly the others. That combination attack they used was incredible, even if it was completely chaotic."
"Chaotic but effective—that's Fairy Tail," Erza said with the ghost of a smile. Her eyes scanned the area. "Where are Kizuna and the others?"
"They went after those Observer people that Kizuna mentioned," Lucy explained. "Something about getting answers about the 'Convergence,' whatever that is."
Erza's expression tightened almost imperceptibly at the mention of Kizuna. "I see."
Lucy, emboldened by their shared battle experience, ventured a question. "Um, Erza? Can I ask you something? It's about what Gine mentioned during the mission..."
"About Kizuna, Mirajane, and myself?" Erza finished for her, her tone measured but not angry.
Lucy nodded hesitantly.
Erza sighed, sitting down beside Lucy on the fallen pillar. "It's... complicated. Has been for years." She looked up at the sky, which was finally clearing now that Lullaby's influence had dissipated. "But Teilanne is right. We've avoided it long enough."
"So you three are..." Lucy trailed off, unsure how to phrase the question.
"Three people with a shared history who need to stop dancing around each other," Erza stated simply. "Kizuna has always been... different. Special. For both Mira and me." A hint of steel entered her voice. "But that's all I'll say on the matter. Some things should remain private, at least until we've had that long-overdue conversation."
Lucy nodded quickly. "Of course! I didn't mean to pry."
Erza's expression softened again. "You're part of Fairy Tail now, Lucy. It's natural to be curious about your guild mates." She stood, requipping into her standard armor. "Now, let's help finish this cleanup. Knowing Natsu and Gray, they're probably creating more mess than they're fixing."
As they walked toward the ongoing restoration efforts, Lucy couldn't help wondering what awaited back at the guild. Between the mysterious Convergence that had the Clive family so concerned and the impending conversation between Kizuna, Erza, and Mirajane, it seemed Fairy Tail's adventures were just beginning.
And somehow, despite the danger and chaos she'd experienced on this mission, Lucy couldn't wait to see what happened next. After all, that was what being part of Fairy Tail was all about—facing the unknown together, as a family.
The sky above Clover Town cleared completely, stars beginning to emerge as twilight descended. But far above, invisible to the naked eye, the fabric of reality rippled slightly—the first visible sign of what Vexus and Nexus had called the Convergence. A thin place between worlds, waiting to be breached.
The battle against Lullaby was over. But the true challenge had only just begun.
To be continued in Chapter 10: Echoes of Convergence