"Hmmm..." Elli stared through her binoculars as she sat atop Mikoto's head. Mikoto was currently peaking out of the chimney of a house.
"Okay..." said Mikoto. "Can you please tell me why I'm in a chimney?"
"Well if we're going to lure these guys into a trap, then we have to find them first." said Elli.
"Yeah....and that has something to do with me climbing up a chimney with you as my periscope?" said Mikoto.
"A-actually..." Elli's cheeks turned red. "I thought it would be fun if we did something like Santa Clause or something.."
"Elli, how many times do I have to tell you? That was only for Christmas. And at the children's hospital..."
"Well it was really fun..." said Elli sheepishly. "I liked being the elf cat..."
"By the way..." said Mikoto. "Where's Natsu?"
"Erm..."
"He's up a chimney too...isn't he?"
"Maybe..."
Mikoto sighed. "And Hope is also up a chimney somewhere....right?"
"I just couldn't help myself!" said Elli as tears formed in her eyes. "Christmas was fun!!"
Mikoto smiled. "Elli...Maybe I should make the plans for now...kay?"
"Er...okay...*sniffle*.."
"Okay so where are Natsu and Hope?"
"Over here!!" Natsu was waving from the chimney of the house next door. Happy was hovering next to him.
"Hey! I think I found a log down there that looks like Gray's face!!" said Natsu with a grin.
"Okay.." said Mikoto. "Guess that just leaves Hope...."
"Actually I'm over here!" Hope was in the chimney of another house that was right next door as well. And she was wearing a green elf hat and elf ears.
"No way.." said Mikoto. "You actually told her to wear those?"
"Sorry..." said Elli shifting guiltilly.
"Okay then.." said Mikoto. "Here's a better plan, me and Hope will walk around in the open until they decide to attack us. We're the ones they were originally after anyways, I think they'll probably still be a bit sore about that."
"B-but what if they kill you from a distance or something?" said Elli.
"Don't worry about that." said Mikoto holding up the charm Nicole had given her that was around her neck. "They won't sneak up on us that easily. Plus me, Hope, and Natsu practically know their scent.."2
"But wasn't that Oblitesco guy able to cover up his scent?"
"...good point...awe well, wish me luck!" Mikoto jumped out of the chimney and gestured for Hope to come along as Elli soared off into the night sky with Happy to get an arial view of the town.
Meanwhile, down below, Mikoto sat in the middle of the brightly lit empty square and closed her eyes in concentration.
"What are you doing Mikoto?" said Hope. "Shouldn't we be on our gaurd?"
"We are on our gaurd." said Mikoto. "This is a little trick I learned once when I was trying to stop the Radio Noise Level 6 Shift Project back in Academy City...I can sense a whole lot more electrical signals this way..."
"But why would you need to sense electric signals?" Asked Hope. (Hope and Laxus can't detect other electric signals like Mikoto..this is an esper exclusive power.)
"Well it used to be that this was very difficult thanks to all the tech that caused interference in Academy City." said Mikoto. "But now that I'm in Fulmen, it's like having a clear field. And not only that, but ever since I awakened my Dragon Slayer power, my ability to sense stuff has increased....now I can sense the brainwaves of anyone within a 50 meter radius...and I can read their emotions too."
"So that's how we'll detect them even if they cover up their scent or counter that charm Nicole gave you." said Hope.
Mikoto nodded. "I just need to concentrate for a bit, and they won't be able to..." suddenly, Mikoto opened her eyes and stood up. "They're here..."
"Eh!?" said Hope. "That was quick! Are you sure?!"
Suddenly a shurikan made completely of shadows shot out from between two buildings. A lightning bolt shot out from Mikoto's bangs and destroyed the dark shurikan. "Yeah..I'm pretty sure."
Hope instantly activated the Thunder Dragon Blades on her arms and back. "Where are they coming from?"
"2 O' Clock!" Mikoto shouted.
Hope sliced the blades on her arms upwards as two shurikan came at her. The blades instantly demolished the shurikan.
"Now 12 O' Clock!" said Mikoto grabbing Hope and pulling her out of the way as glowing sphere projectiles shot out of the gloom and smashed into the cobblestone street.
"Can't we attack them!?" said Hope.
"Natsu's working on Oblitesco.." said Mikoto. "I've got this one!!"
Mikoto shot a lightning bolt from her bangs which exploded against a building as a fast shadowy figure moved out of the way. Mikoto shot several more lightning bolts, forcing the figure to to dodge and weave until she rolled into the lit up square. It was Aeros.
"Good evening." said Mikoto.
"Don't get so cocky girl..." said Aeros pointing her gun at Mikoto. "A hunter like me does not so easily become the hunted!!"
"We'll see about that!" said Hope as she moved quickly at Aeros and began slicing her elbow blades to and fro at Aeros.
Aeros moved out of the way and dodged at astounding speeds as Hope sliced and diced. But suddenly, there was a massive explosion of flame about 50 meters away, and Oblitesco came soaring straight into Aeros, causing them to smash into the side of a building.
Natsu jumped out of the darkness laughing. "HAHAHAHA!! Got ya!"
Aeros and Oblitesco recovered quickly. The two of them each dashed to seperate ends of the square and prepared to attack.
"Rapid Fire!!"
"Dark Disembowlment!!"
A massive shadowy shurikan and a rain of fiery meteors came at the threesome as they all jumped into the air, letting the moves collide with each other in a huge explosion of power. Natsu landed next to Oblitesco as Hope landed right next to Aeros.
Mikoto on the other hand, landed right in the middle of the square.
"Something isn't right..." she muttered. "Where's Grimmix?
"Assasin's Decree: Remote Detonation."
Mikoto, sensing a change in the air, jumped away just in time as a huge explosion ruptured the air where she had just been.
Mikoto jumped back and activated her Thunder Dragon Wings as she turned to face Grimmix. "Of course...you were waiting for me to be alone...divide and conquer."
"Quite right..." said Grimmix. "You are the strongest of the three here, it only makes sense that I would be the one to kill you."
"I'll admit, you're pretty strong." Mikoto grinned. "But I've still fought stronger."
Mikoto puffed up her cheeks. "ROAR OF THE THUNDER DRAGON!!!"
Grimmix suddenly dissapeared before the move could hit him and reappeared behind Mikoto. He thrust his arm out, apparently trying to knock Mikoto off her feet. But before his hand could make contact, one of her powerful wings lashed out and blasted Grimmix into the cobblestone road, throwing up rubble in the process.
Mikoto turned around quickly and thrust out her fist. "Demolition Fist of The Thunder Dragon!!" A massive fist made of pure lightning shot out at Grimmix who teleported away as the fist exploded against the street with a massive explosion.
Grimmix reappeared above Mikoto and thrust his hands out in mid air. "Assassin's Decree: Explosive Sun Party!!!"
A huge explosion that looked like a massive blue sphere erupted from the ground, causing a shockwave to ripple throughout the area. The explosion was so powerful...even Jura Neekis's Iron Rock defenses wouldn't have been able to withstand it...
Grimmix landed on the ground next to the massive crater he had just created. "Hmph...not even worth my time."
Grimmix narrowed his eyes as he sensed around the dust filled crater. No sign of the Railgun...not unusual, the power of the explosion would have reduced her body to ashes....
Suddenly behind Grimmix, a swirling purple portal surrounded by electricity opened up and Mikoto shot out of it, her wings had morphed into six electric tendrils surrounded in purplish spatial energy while her fist was engulfed in electric and spatial energy as well.
"FLASHING LOTUS!!!! EXPLODING DISTORTION FIST!!!"
Mikoto slammed her energy engulfed fist into Grimmix's back, causing him yell out in pain as electricity coursed through his body and his body distorted and twisted thanks to the spatial energy. Grimmix shot like a bullet into the nearest building which collapsed in huge explosion of distortional and electrical force.
"Not worthy of your time eh?" said Mikoto. "Well why don't I just put you out of your misery?"
There was another huge explosion of power, and Grimmix burst out of the rubble, his blind eyes a lit with anger. "Don't be so quick to underestimate me girl...'
Grimmix became surrounded in what appeared to be an explosive yellow aura. "Assasin's Decree. Melee Masher!!"
Grimmix shot at Mikoto like a bright meteor his fist intending nothing but destruction. Mikoto side stepped the move just in time as the fist merely came within a few inches of her nose. Grimmix slammed his powerful fist into the ground to stop his momentum, causing a huge shockwave to demolish the buildings within 50 feet of him.
Mikoto felt blood dripping down her cheek from where the move had just brushed past her. She gritted her teeth...so Grimmix was going to try the more direct approach now..
Mikoto looked around her, knowing that the plan couldn't fail...she wouldn't allow it. "Come on Kuroko...just a little longer..."
Mikoto thrusted her hands out. And immediately, hundreds of spears made of lightning shot out from her body and each entered a multitude of portals that appeared around her. At the same time, multiple portals opened up around Grimmix and the electric spears shot out.
"EXPLODING SPEAR OF THE SPATIAL THUNDER DRAGON!!!"
Before the spears could make contact with Grimmix, Grimmix dissapeared and reappeared right in front of Mikoto. Grimmix thrust out a hand and grabbed Mikoto by the throat, holding her up in front of himself.
Mikoto started choking in surprise. The grip was so strong....and her magic was draining away...not only that, but she couldn't calculate enough to activate her esper power. Mikoto suddenly noticed that Grimmix was wearing the same high tech glove that Oblitesco had worn three nights ago..."
Very good.." said Grimmix. "I heard much about your Spatial Thunder Dragon mode, but I never imagined it would be that powerful....if it hadn't been for my esper ability...I would have surely died...but no worries...I will be sure to let you have your last words before you die....now....what is it you wanted to say?"
Mikoto coughed and said some choked syllables that could not be discerned.
"What.." said Grimmix holding Mikoto closer. "I didn't hear you.."
"Don't.....depend....ack....too much....*cough*....on technology."
Mikoto reached a hand over and ripped the collar from Grimmix's neck. Grimmix immediately yelled out in surprise as he dropped Mikoto and began to double over, coughing up blood. Now that his collar wasn't on, he couldn't use magic without overloading his esper nature.
Mikoto crawled away grasping her chest and heaving...that was too close.
At around the same time that Mikoto crawled away, Aeros and Oblitesco were thrown into the spot Grimmix was standing, Aeros sporting electrical burns and Oblitesco looking absolutely fried.
"Master!!!" Aeros screamed as she got up and looked over Grimmix.
Oblitesco looked angrilly at the weakened Mikoto. "You will pay..."
Natsu and Hope ran out and stood in front of Mikoto. "You'll have to get through us..."
"Hey guys!! I don't think that will be necessary!" All of a sudden, Kuroko appeared next to Natsu with a sly smile on her face. "It's ready.."
"Oh..." said Hope with a grin. "I guess that's our cue then. Kuroko suddenly grabbed Hope and Mikoto by the arms and teleported away as Happy and Elli soared out of the sky and flew away with Natsu.
"Wh-what?" said Oblitesco..."What was that about?"
30 meters away from the spot that Mikoto had been before, Kuroko, Hope, and Mikoto reapeared as Natsu, Happy, and Elli landed next to them.
"There we go..." said Kuroko smiling and pressing a button on the remote that Mikoto had been given before when Erza and Gray had been explaining the plan. Immediately the assasins went limp and began shaking weakly as all their magic energy was drained and they succumbed to Magic Deficiency Syndrome.
"It's so inconveniant that we had to set up some stupid magic circle before we could use this." said Kuroko. "But all's well that ends well I suppose."
Indeed, the entire 50 meter radius around Grimmix and his crew was surrounded by a circle drawn in chalk that was currently glowing red.
"Kuroko.." said Mikoto. "You are a life saver....seriously..."
"Just doing my part to help my Sissy." said Kuroko winking.
"HAHAHAHAHA!!!" Natsu laughed and pointed at the assasins in the middle of the square. "Whose being hunted now!?"
Mikoto didn't join in the celebrating however...something still didn't feel right....it almost felt as wrong as the strange itching feeling she was currently getting in her right foot.
Suddenly Mikoto buckled over and clutched her right foot in pain. What the heck? Why was her foot burning up like this?
"Mikoto!" Hope kneeled down next to Mikoto and pulled off her shoe. On Mikoto's foot was black mark in the shape of a wolf's head...
"Wh-what the heck is that?" said Natsu.
"heheheheheheh..." Grimmix chuckled from where he lay, coughing up a bit of blood in the process. "Don't you get it? Just before our fight ended....in case she somehow escaped me, I branded her with the Assasin's Mark."
"Assasin's mark....?" said Happy. "That doesn't sound good."
"It's a mark that stays no matter what you do..." said Oblitesco. "It sends out a magic signal that all Assasin guilds recieve....you could say it's like a kill order that only a high class assasin is allowed to use....."
"For the rest of your life.." said Aeros. "Assasins of all sorts and natures will be after you...they will come to kill you as a means to test their strength and boost their status....you are now marked for slaughter Mikoto Misaka....You will spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder...as our kin watch from the shadows, waiting for you to make a fatal mistake."3
Natsu suddenly became surrounded in flames as his face contorted in fury. "You...dare.....YOU TAKE THAT MARK OFF OF MIKOTO RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"I can't remove it.." said Grimmix chuckling even more. "It is beyond my power....goodbye Railgun...and good luck...you'll need it...." Grimmix gave a final spurt of blood from his mouth and moved no more....Grimmix the assasin was now truly dead.
"A fitting end for our master.." said Oblitesco. "That he should go down dealing a fatal wound to his final enemy.."
Mikoto stared at the dead assasin with her eyes wide. Forever looking over shoulder? Assasins coming after her at every turn...could she deal with that? What kind of life would that be?
"Assasins are going to be after Mikoto." said Elli looking horrified.
"N-no...they had to be bluffing!" said Kuroko.
Mikoto looked at her friends. All of them were panicking like there was no tommorow. She hated seeing them like this...so fearful...especially when there was still a kingdom to fight for here.
Mikoto stood up and began to chuckle. Her friends looked at her with surprise.
"Every Assasin is going to be after me you say.." said Mikoto. "Please, give me a break. You don't think people havn't tried to kill me before have you? Because I've faced fatal situations even before I joined Fairy Tail..."
Mikoto looked at the assasins furiously and pointed a finger at them. "Well bring it on! I'm not going to let a few stupid overated idiots who are payed to to kill scare me! The very concept of assasination makes me absolutely sick!! I'll let them come and rip them apart one by one as they come for me. Because those assasins won't just be messing with me..."
Mikoto jabbed a thumb at her chest. "I'm a member of Fairy Tail..send someone after one of us, and you come up against all of us!! The assasins should be the ones that are afraid...because once you mess witho our guild...you're going to be in for a beating far bigger then the one we just gave you now!!"
Natsu grinned. "YEAH!!! That's the truth!!!"
"And same thing goes for if you come after any of my friends.." said Mikoto as a fiery light burned in her eyes. "If you so even hurt a hair on anybody in Fairy Tail...or even my friends outside of Fairy Tail...I swear I will hunt you down and destroy you with every ounce of power I have in me..."
As Mikoto said this a powerful aura of lightning engulfed her.....behind her, the image of a golden dragon could be seen growling with power and anger...2
Oblitesco and Aeros both looked fearful all of a sudden.
"Sh-she's a monster..." Aeros whispered.
"Dang..." said Oblitesco. "Is this what Fairy Tail is like when we threaten their own?"
"Oh trust me..." said Natsu. "You haven't seen anything yet."2