Chapter 126 - Zero.

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[Third Person. POV.]

The forest was filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the faint flickering of Laxus fighting with Oracion Seis in the distance. 

Adam stood motionless, his eyes colder than the icy air that whistled through the trees. His jaw was set and determined, but deep within his gaze was a quiet storm of revenge brewing in anticipation of finally confronting the Zero.

The man who had cruelly tortured and tormented him during his time confined in the dreaded Tower of Heaven.

Adam had changed since those days. His body had grown stronger, honed through countless battles and trials. He had faced adversity head-on and emerged victorious more times than he could count, fueled by his unyielding determination to protect those he cared about. 

Now, the time had come to confront his past, to take what was due and bring justice to the one who had haunted his nightmares.

Zero stood tall, a smug grin etched across his face, showing that despite the passing of time, he hadn't changed a bit. His arrogance oozed from every pore as he taunted Adam, reveling in the prospect of killing him. "Not bad for my old plaything," he sneered. "You've gotten stronger, but do you honestly believe you stand a chance against me now?"

Adam chuckled softly, a cold smirk playing across his lips. "You haven't changed at all, good," he replied, his voice dripping with contempt. "Not that changing would've mattered, your life entered the timer the moment you crossed me."

Zero's expression twisted into a scowl. 

"But in case you are misinterpreting the situation, allow me to clarify," Adam continued, his tone as frigid as the air around them. "This is not a fight; this is an execution. You're not leaving this forest alive."

Zero let out a mocking laugh, his voice echoing through the forest. "An execution you say? How amusing. Have you forgotten my little pet that I know your weaknesses better than anyone else?! I know the depths of your fears, your darkest secrets. Prepare to relive them all over again!"

Without warning, Zero lunged forward, a blur of motion as he unleashed an unrelenting barrage of magical blasts, each one stronger than the last. 

"Is that all?" Adam asked, blocking each attack with ease. 

Zero grinned at this, opening his mouth firing a powerful mouth-blast directly at Adam, which Adam slapped away with the back of his hand. "Impressive, it seems this might be fun after all."

"I don't think you've fully understood your position," Adam said, his eyes narrowing as he stepped forward, his feet sinking into the soft forest earth beneath him. "But soon you will."

"Will I?" Zero retorted, again wearing a honeyed look.

In a fit of cold rage, Adam grabbed Zero by the hair and smashed his head into the ground with enough force to create a seismic shock that expanded outwards like a wave. 

Normally, Adam was one to allow his opponents some air to breathe, it made his fights better, but this wasn't a fight for him. So, there was no holding back, there was no calm approach, there was only making Zero suffer until he gave all hope.

Coughing, Zero managed to stand, his face bleeding. "There's the potential I knew you had all those years ago!" He offered a sadistic laugh, brushing some of the blood off his face with his arm.

"You should've killed me the moment you saw that potential," Adam replied, kicking Zero away into a mountain nearby with enough force to create a small shockwave.

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[Laxus Dreyar POV.]

Oracion Seis had been as much of a disappointment as I had expected. 

"I can hear you!" Cobra hissed struggling to stand up.

"Good," I replied, crossing my arms.

What good does it do to be able to hear your enemy's every move, if you can't react to any of them?

Midnight panted. "My magic... it's not working on him."

It's not that it wasn't working, it was that I was so much stronger than him that it was all a matter of overpowering his magic to nullify its effects. 

"He's.... too fast," Racer muttered, his voice strained.

"We can't lose like this..." Angel added, gritting her teeth.

I scoffed. "You don't have a say in the matter."

I rarely got involved when it came to my missions, at least, emotionally speaking, my targets were always that, targets, objectives to accomplish to complete the mission, nothing less, nothing more. 

But them?

I utterly despised them. 

And it wasn't because of their actions as a Dark Guild, but because of their blatant hypocrisy. 

They wanted to change the world, because they had suffered, and in order to do that, they had become the very thing that had taken everything from them?

It was pathetic.

"Is that all?" I said, cracking my knuckles.

"Your friend won't win," Angel chuckled dryly, glaring at me. "You might defeat us, but by the time you do, Zero will have already killed Adam."

It seems the damage they had taken during our little fight was driving them into delusions.

Cobra chuckled. "Delusions you say?" he paused, his chuckles turning into a full laugh. "Zero knows Adam is stronger than him, that's why he made some... preparations."

"No matter how much he prepared for, he's still underprepared," I replied, taking a step forward, as my lightning crackled louder and danced across my frame, ready to end this. 

I didn't even need my full strength to deal with them. I had humored them long enough, now it was time to swat away these flies.

Realizing the change in my aura, Midnight made the first move, trying to twist my body with his magic. But like always, I didn't bother to dodge. 

The difference between us was so big, his magic fizzled out before it could fully reach me. 

"Lightning Dragon's Nova Strike," I growled, moving forward in the blink of an eye as my body transformed into energy, unleashing a massive burst of lightning that electrocuted them, rendering them immobile. 

Now, all I had to do was wait for Adam to finish toying with Zero.

And considering how Adam's energy felt from afar, well... it shouldn't be long.

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[Third Person POV.]

[Adam Vs Zero.]

After a brief but intense silence between the two, Zero and Adam charged one another. Their auras flaring bright, as their hands interlocked, pushing against one another. 

However, despite putting his all, Zero felt himself being pushed back as sweat began to run down his face, all while Adam remained stoic, easily keeping up his effort. 

This realization provoked Zero to channel all his remaining strength, to gain some ground but rather than pushing Adam, his own legs only sank deeper into the ground. 

Adam wasn't even using his blade, the medium from which his magic revolved around, and Zero was being overwhelmed.

He gritted his teeth and snarled when the pain hit him as Adam tightened his grip, snapping the bones in Zero's fingers. 

Staggering, he tried a kick to get free, which was easily avoided, as Adam kicked him away, as if he was nothing more than trash.

Landing on his feet, Zero shook his hands in the air with an angry sigh, waving away the stinging pain before once again rushing at his foe. 

This time he tried high speed burst attacks, using his dark magic to unleash a series of powerful blows from all sides, trying to overwhelm Adam. 

However, without even looking, Adam managed to block each one with a disconcerting amount of ease. 

'I never imagined he would become this strong!' Zero mused inwardly. 'It doesn't matter, all I have to do is wait, and keep him entertained long enough for Jellal to do his thing.'

Still standing completely still, and tired of Zero's pathetic efforts, Adam landed a clean backhand slap in his face with enough force to send him flying backwards, going through several trees as if they were made of paper. 

A trail of blood followed as Zero fell through the air. Stunned and staggered, now on hands and knees, Zero turned back angrily towards Adam. 

"Time to end this, Zero," Adam spat.

"Is that so? But we haven't even started yet, slave," Zero paused, wiping a stream of blood from the corner of his lip.

With those words, Zero suddenly exploded with power as an aura of uncontrollable energy surrounded him.

However, in response Adam merely sighed in disdain releasing his Shikai. "Judge all things in this universe, Zanryuzuki." 

Adam had wanted to savor this moment, but the truth was, he was sick and tired of dealing with this and wanted to finish it quickly. 

Laughing like a maniac, Zero moved faster than ever before launching a powerful uppercut at Adam, which was dodged easily, as Adam moved his blade forward, cutting Zero in the chest. 

Paying his wounds, no heed, Zero continued his advance, following up with a series of precise strikes that carried enough magic power to destroy towns with ease, however, Adam continued to block every attack, as if it was nothing.

Zero knew he had no chance of winning, so he was relying on a trap he had set, and for that he needed time. 

Unfortunately for him, Adam had grown tired of him.

Taking a step forward, Adam blurred out of Zero's sight, reappearing behind him with his blade raised high and a look of indifference, releasing the full might of his power. 

Zero's reaction time was so slow in comparison he could barely turn around, paralyzed by the overwhelming power. 

He knew right there without a doubt that he was going to die, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Suddenly, his vision wavered, splitting into two diverging perspectives, as he realizes... he has failed once more, thinking that Adam was right.

He should've killed him when he had the chance.

"Rot in hell, Zero."