Pale faced Mirajane froze. The feeling, the overwhelming dread that surged deep up in her chest. Her magic was reacting, the demon souls she had subdued and overtaken were terrified, flaring at her instincts to run, hide do whatever she needed to, too survive. All because of that one instance of demonic presence she felt. Never in her life had she even felt such a demonic presence.

"Mira, are you alright?" Lisanna questioned as she saw the tense posture of her sister, she had been talking with Erza about how Elfman and Evergreen had managed to catch her off guard, that she had gone silent, as if nothing was reaching her. Her shoulders trembling, skin an unhealthy pale, sweat forming on her brow.

Erza approached, reaching up and placing a hand on her shoulder, seemingly jolting Mirajane out of it. Mira's blue eyes met shot to Erza's, their gaze locking causing Erza to frown, the fear locked in Mira's eyes was something Erza hadn't seen for a very long time.

In their early days after becoming S-class Wizards, they were forced to team up against their wishes to tackle some big jobs, one of them eventually led to Mirajane obtaining a particular Satan Soul, Satan Soul: Halphas. Not many in the Guild even knew about it seeing as Makarov forbade her from ever using it, deeming it too powerful to control, even for Mirajane.

During the Request to subdue the Archfiend Halpahs it very nearly took both the lives of Mira and Erza, along with the other S-class Wizards from other Guilds that were sent to take it down. It was a joint effort between several Guild's S-class Wizards, Gildarts would have attended but he had already taken the 100 Year Quest at the time.

Eventually the battle was over and the Demon was defeated, taken over by Mirajane bringing it's reign of terror to an end. But Erza would never forget that look on Mirajane's face after she truly understood it's power and the only reason that they had beaten it, was because it underestimated them and hadn't used it's full power.

"What is it Mira?" Erza questioned, however Mira shook her head. It was only an instance, it's presence completely gone once more. Even reaching out to search for it, it's presence wasn't anywhere on Tenrou. The Soul's she had taken over had even started to quieten down, no longer reacting to it.

"I don't know… there was… something." Mira herself didn't know what to say, it had come and gone all in a matter of moments. Erza led her to one of the stumps around the table, making her sit down. Something was off, Mirajane wouldn't act this way if it was nothing.

"Do I signal the Master to end the trial?" Erza pondered to herself wondering if the threat was enough to call a halt to the S-class exams.

"What's happening?" Juvia asked, not sure what to make of the sudden tense situation.

"Mirajane's powers, her unique ability to take over demonic beings lets her sense when demonic beings are close by." Erza explained surprising the water user.

"Is there something on the island?" Lisanna asked cautiously.

"I don't know." Mirajane admitted. "I only felt it for an instant, but it was like nothing I'd ever felt before." Her hands were still trembling, there was just so much power. Erza frowned as she watched her friend, maybe it would be best if they took precaution and at least informed the Master that something might be wrong. Going to use her magic to summon forth the flare gun, everyone's head shot up.

"Hey! Where's Gildarts!?" Overhead was Natsu and Happy, the small blue exceed hovering in the air holding onto Natsu.

"Natsu! What are you doing here! You're supposed to be taking your exam!" Erza shouted up at him, clearly not impressed by the Dragon Slayer's lax attitude on the exam.

"It's here!/ Run!/ Flee!/ Survive!/" The multitude of voices from all the souls she had taken over all began to merge within Mirajane's head and threatened to overwhelm her.

"Mira!" Lisanna raced to her sister's side as she threatened to fall from the stump she was sitting on, catching her just in time.

"What's wrong with Mirajane!?" Natsu called as he landed on the ground Happy floating overhead, both were surprised to see the eldest Strauss on the verge of collapse. He was about to race over before Erza blocked his path. "What's going on?" Natsu asked.

"Natsu, you being here can be issued that you've given up your spot in the exam." Erza growled surprising the Dragon Slayer. "Mirajane is fine, just get out of here and I won't tell Master." Natsu looked between Mirajane and Erza before groaning.

"Gah fine! Just make sure Mirajane's okay and tell me where Gildarts is!" Natsu told her.

"Gildarts left with Freed and Bickslow, they're heading back to the mainland instead of waiting out the results of the exam."

"Damn it!" Natsu's roar surprised everyone at the Dragon Slayers' anger. The Dragon Slayer wanted Gildarts here to face Bluenote, going to speak with Zeref and making sure he was off the island made him lose track of time and now Gildarts had left. Erza's hand landed on Natsu's shoulder, her gaze fierce as he turned to face her.

"What's going on?" She demanded that caused Natsu pause. Here he was, still trying to get to S-class when everyone was scattered over the island with no idea that Grimoire Heart was about to descend on them. They needed to be ready, needed to fight together. They were unprepared last time, completely overwhelmed by the Strength Grimoire Heart. He was such an idiot!

"It's time to make your choice Natsu, your exams may be halted but you can take them again." Igneel's voice echoed in his mind, firming his decision even more.

"Erza, call for a halt of the exam." Natsu stated surprising the scarlet knight at the intensity of his gaze. "Get everyone back here as soon as possible."

"Natsu, what is going on?" Lisanna asked as she laid Mirajane down.

"We're about to be attacked, Grimoire Heart of the Balam Alliance is on their way." Erza's eyes shot wide open, more than familiar with the Balam Alliance. Using her re-quip a flare appeared in her hands, seeing Natsu's resolve in his eyes that he was asking for the exams to be put on hold, she didn't hesitate and shot the flare into the sky. The red smoke spiraling up into the sky before exploding, anybody on the island would be able to witness it.

"Now explain yourself Natsu, how do you know Grimoire Heart is coming." Erza rounded on the Dragon Slayer. Natsu paused for a moment before he smiled at her.

"Trust me Erza." He told her halting her, recalling that he had told her the same thing back when they bathed together at the Guild. While she wanted an answer, she knew she could place her trust in him, she'd get answers later. "Don't trust Mest, he's part of the Magic Council." Natsu told them as he dropped his bag. "Happy, let's go! We're going to go find Wendy! Gildarts has probably already left."

"A-Aye." Happy was just as confused but followed Natsu's order and flew him up into the sky. With that, the Dragon Slayer disappeared above the treeline leaving them behind.

"Right, Juvia, you're with me." Erza started getting the water mage to nod and stand. "We're going to start searching for other members, Lisanna are you right to stay here with Mirajane?"

"Y-Yes." Lisanna nodded. "If anyone comes I'll tell them to stay here." Erza nodded as Juvia and Erza ran off into the forest leaving the two Strauss sisters alone. "Hang in there Big Sis, we might need your strength." Lisanna thought to herself as she turned to the unconscious Mirajane, still not sure exactly what happened to her.

Happy soared across the sky, Natsu having already picked up Wendy's scent and they were heading directly for her and Mest. As they flew Natsu was quiet which unnerved Happy but he didn't disturb the Dragon Slayer knowing that he was trying to come up with a game plan.

He couldn't let the Tenrou Tree fall, if that happened the others would be at even more risk of their Magic Power being used up in the battles. If they didn't run out of Magic Power like what happened the first time around, they could come out victorious. From what he recalled, there were three in Grimoire Heart he'd have to give his all to bring down. Bluenote, Azuma and Hades himself.

From what he recalled of what Erza told him, it was Azuma that brought down the Tenrou Tree and the fact that he used explosion magic he was at a severe disadvantage against Natsu. Considering Natsu had dealt with the likes of Jackal he figured he'd have no issue. Plus if he brought Azuma down first, then Mirajane and Lisanna wouldn't be subject to his cruel fighting methods.

As he approached the coast he scanned the island and spotted the familiar blue hair of his fellow Dragon Slayer and gave Happy a signal to descend. But as they got closer there was already something happening, Lily and Charle were already present confronting Mest. Which means…

"Happy! Get everyone out of there now!" Natsu ordered.

"Aye sir!" Dropping Natsu the Dragon Slayer angling his descent for the lone tree on the cliffs as Happy shot towards the others, releasing his second origin and swelling magic power into his mouth Natsu picked his target.

"Get out of there! Run!" Happy cried making them all look up only to see the older Dragon Slayer reading one of his signature moves and all began to follow Happy's instruction and clear the area.

"FIRE DRAGON KING'S ROAR!" The blast of fire was immense, the heat causing the cliffs to crumble and disintegrate under the blast as the flames flew out over the ocean causing it to bubble and steam. The exceeds along with Mest and Wendy were forced to hide from the heat from behind boulders until the flames disintegrated.

Natsu landed onto the scorched ground, his eyes scanning the blast zone as he focused his hearing. He wasn't naive to think that his attack would have wiped out one of the Seven Kin of Purgatory, not even with his Second Origin released, maybe if he had used Dragon King Mode but he was putting that in reserve for now. But it had to have done some damage and if he were a betting man, Azuma was going to try and slip away. But he wasn't going to let that happen.

Natsu's ear twitched, picking up the slightest movement from underground, the movement of a tree root. He dashed across the scorched area from his dragon roar, and dug his hand into the burnt soil, wrapping his hand around the tree root. Ripping it up from the ground he gripped it with both hands. With a roar he reefed the root up causing the entire ground to quake and split as the root system of the tree that had stood on the cliff was pulled up.

Natsu smirked as a hand formed from the root directly in front of his face.

"BLEVE!" Had it been anyone else, the explosion would have no doubt killed them. But this was Natsu, son of the Fire Dragon King, no flame would ever harm him. As the explosion died down, Natsu's smirk came back from the explosion before he gripped Azuma's arm.

"That's not going to work on me." He grinned as he forcibly pulled Azuma from the root system and slammed him onto the ground with tremendous force causing the ground to crack outwards beneath him. The Grimoire Heart mage was visibly damaged from Natsu's roar attack, burns littered his body and there was an ounce of fear in his eyes. Nobody had ever stood up to his attacks, and never at point blank range no less.

Natsu glared down at him, if he didn't stop him here he'd always keep coming. There would always be that threat that he'd take down the Tenrou Tree, he couldn't let that happen. He didn't like the thought of killing, but if it was to protect his friends. To give them the best chance they had against Acnologia. He'd burn the whole goddamn world to the ground.

His fist ignited with flames burning hotter than ever as a large dragon tattoo formed up along his arm as Igneel's power deep within him came alive and mixed with his own power causing his flames to turn crimson red. The ground surrounding the Dragon Slayer became lit in a circular crimson inferno.

"You and your whole damn guild." Natsu growled as he reared his fist back, Azuma trembling beneath the fierce gaze of the Dragon Slayer as a massive gathering of flames extended from his fist. "Can go straight to hell! Fire Dragon King's Demolition Fist!" The blow shook the entire Tenrou Island, the blast incinerating everything in its path as a massive explosion erupted from the impact. From Natsu's feet onwards there was nothing, a massive u shape was carved out of the island as the sea itself roared with waves crashing into the now empty space the spell had carved out.

Natsu sensing no trace of Azuma sighed as he looked down at his arm, the black dragon tattoo disappearing into his skin as if it was never there. He had to smile at the sight of it.

"That's the first time it's come back since I began training."

"It Goes to show just how much you've improved. You'll no doubt gain full mastery of it much sooner than you did last time." Igneel acknowledged.

"I just wish I had full control over it now, If I had the strength I did in the future none of these guys would be an issue. I'd even make Acnolgoia run for the hills." He chuckled as Igneel remained quiet as the Dragon Slayer turned to see Wendy along with the Exceeds running up to him, however Mest was nowhere to be found. No doubt the Magic Council bastard had run off in all the confusion.

"Natsu, what's going on?" Wendy asked coming to a stop a few feet before him.

"What was the spell, that was incredible." Lily announced astonished at the power the Dragon Slayer wielded, he didn't think Natsu was this strong back in Edolas, was this all the training he had put in during the last few weeks leading up to the S-class Trials?

"Just when we think you can't get any worse, you go and do something like change the landscape." Charle chastised as Natsu began to explain to them what was going on.

"The flare that Erza set off, it was Fairy Tail's emergency signal." Natsu explained to them. "Tenrou Island is under attack by Grimoire Heart, one of the Dark Guild's that make up the Balam Alliance." He told them. "The one I just took down was one of the Seven Kin of Purgatory, they have six others just as strong along with a whole army ready to invade the island."

"Oh no." Wendy gasped, she never expected such a turn of events.

"Mest is with the Magic Council, it looks like he disappeared amidst the confusion." Lily told Natsu. "He said that he was here searching for Zeref and that there is a fleet of Council Ships on their way here." He continued, despite Natsu know this already he nodded.

"We'll deal with the Council after Grimoire Heart is defeated." Natsu told them. "We should stick together, get back to the others and find Master." Natsu knew what came next, the island would be flooded with Grimoire Heart's lackeys, hundreds of them. Makarov was undoubtedly already standing against Hades somewhere on the island. He'd make sure that Wendy go and find him as soon as possible so she could heal him. They would need their Master to be at their best.

"Next comes the God Slayer." Natsu smirked knowing this time, he was going to put Zancrow in his place.

"You shamed me last time Natsu, by succumbing to a lowly God Slayer." Igneel told him. "Don't do so again."

"Never."

Off in the ocean Zeref stood looking back onto Tenrou Island, a small smile on his face as he felt Natsu's power mix with Igneel's. Never would he have imagined such a union between Dragon and Human. To think that Natsu had achieved something no other Dragon Slayer had, it was impressive. Irene would be astounded. While Zeref could undoubtedly finish Grimoire Heart off in mere moments if he wished, this would serve as a good outlet for Natsu to come to terms with how much stronger his knowledge of the future could make him.

"I hope you survive Natsu." Zeref spoke into the winds as the waves lapped at his feet. "Acnologia is already on his way, use the Seven Years you lost wisely. I look forward to seeing you again." With that, Zeref turned and went to disappear however stopped, his eyes widening momentarily as he felt another presence approaching Tenrou Island and smiled. "I see. So even insignificant changes can change our futures so much." He chuckled lightly to himself. "Truly Natsu, you've always been troublesome." Turning once more he vanished without a trace.