52)The King of Hellish Gravity

“You know, the Dragon Cry is a sacred heirloom that has been in our family for millennia…and you're using it as a bracelet.” Hisui spoke with a deadpan as she, Toma and Eric sat at the dinner table, Arcadios looking displeased as he was also forced to sit down & eat on the order of his Queen.

“Eh, I find that the closer we are together, the more power it likes me and the more power it can unleash.” Eric said with a shrug as he touched the Dragon Cry that was now tied around his wrist in the form of a blue-scaled ribbon, already feeling the nigh-infinite reserves of ethernano connecting the two of them as Hisui blinked in astonishment.

“So, what you're saying is that the Dragon Cry is…sentient?” Toma asked with a raised eyebrow and Eric looked unsure as he gave a so-so gesture.

“Yes & no. It can't speak to me in any way nor can it think for itself, but it can kind of send me signals that I can correlate to some kind of emotions. Like right now, it feels happy & joyful, but the moment I take it off, it feels depressed & sad.”

“And what if someone else takes it?” Hisui asked and Eric blinked before smirking as he shook his head.

“Then, it gives off a signal that I've figured out means 'hunger' and devours the ethernano of the being that is holding it.”

“So…if it doesn't like you, it devours your ethernano?” Toma asked before wincing as Eric smiled & nodded.

“Precisely that. Unfortunately, I have not found out how I fit its criteria for it to like me this much, but I'm glad for it as most of my more powerful spells need it as fuel. Then again, most of my spells are unusable right now so I might need to figure out a few new ones.”

“More powerful…spells?” Arcadios asked with a nervous look and Eric looked at him before chuckling as he patted the man on the shoulder.

“Don't worry, brother. I can't use them at all so you have no need to worry about them.”

“If you say so. If it would please my Queen, may I return to my duties?” Arcadios asked as he put his cutlery down, Toma snickering & Eric shaking his head as Hisui simply nodded with an amused smile.

“A workaholic, huh?” Eric asked, Arcadios rolling his eyes before taking his place behind & to the left of the Queen's side.

“Oh, you have no idea. So, what are your plans now that you have the Dragon Cry? With it, I'm fairly certain there's no one in the country that can stop you.” Hisui said and Eric snorted as he crossed his arms & leaned back into his chair.

“Well, one is something that I'm keeping a surprise for now and the other is going to happen after Ms. Fortune takes me to her guild. Wait, where is the little Exceed?” Eric asked as he looked around, turning to Hisui as she giggled before following her finger as she pointed upwards.

“…Did you give her that?” He asked as he saw the Exceed sticking to the ceiling while eating half of a salmon, to which Hisui smiled & nodded and the dragon slayer shook his head as he stood up.

“Hey, Fortune. It's time to go.”

“Whaa~?! Why~? Let's just stay here and eat all the fi-I mean, rest & relax for a few more days.” Ms. Fortune whined and Eric raised an eyebrow at her before shaking his head as scarlet flames came out from his head & picked the whining feline from the ceiling.

“As nice as that sounds, I have a small deadline to do what I want and the two things have a vast distance in between then so we need to hurry.”

“Will you come back afterwards like you promised?” Hisui asked and Eric looked at her before smiling as he nodded.

“Like I said, you did me a favour so I'll do the same for you.”

“Well, then I'll be waiting.” She said with a smile and Eric nodded as Ms. Fortune attached herself to his back.

“Don't worry, princess. I'll be sure to make him come back even if he doesn't want to..” Ms. Fortune said with a salute and Eric rolled his eyes as Hisui giggled & nodded.

“Thank you, Ms. Fortune. Safe travel to the two of you.”

“Thanks. We'll need it.” Eric muttered and the Royal Family & their guards watched in awe as a pair of majestic flaming wings appeared on Eric's back, Ms. Fortune's paws growing longer to wrap around Eric like a backpack before the wings began to flap.

“See ya.” That was the last thing Eric said before the Exceed & mage rocketed through the open balcony windows, Hisui smiling as she watched the scarlet streak racing away from the city at a blistering pace.

'Take care.'

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“She likes you~” Those were the first words Ms. Fortune spoke as soon as they left the Palace, Eric turning to look at the grinning Exceed before shaking his head as he turned back to look at where they were flying.

“And where did you get that idea?”

“'Will you come back like you promised?' I don't know much about human relationships, but I know a female in love when I see one. After all, I know someone just like that back at the Sun Village.”

“Don't you start with that. Like I said before, I don't have time for that right now.”

“And when you do?” Ms. Fortune asked and Eric frowned as he continued to look forward.

“Then, I'll worry about it. Now, let's talk about something else, please.”

“Urgh, fine~ Where are we going exactly?”

“Stella. There's something I need to take care of in the country and something I need to get.”

“Isn't Stella like…almost two days of travel north-east of Fiore?” She asked before groaning as she saw him turn back with a grin.

“Precisely. Get in my shirt and hold on tight.”

“See, this is why I don't like flying with you.” Ms. Fortune grumbled as she contorted & shrunk her entire body to fit inside Eric's shirt, the mage simply rolling his eyes before humming as he began to feel the Dragon Cry's ethernano mixing & fusing with his own.

“All right. Hang on tight.”

“I'm holding on as tight as I caaaaaaaannnnnnNNNN!!!!” Ms. Fortune's words were cut off by a shriek escaping her lips as Eric's wings went rigid & concentrated jets of flames shot out from his hands & feet, the mage closing his eyes & activating his Heavenly Vision as he watched the mountains around them whizzing past.

Unlike before when it took him a half a day to get to the three-way barrier, it took him barely three hours to catch a glimpse of the barrier, a smirk appearing on his face as flames began to form around his right index finger.

'Neutralize. Open gate. Close gate. Reactivate.' Eric thought with a smirk as he closed the barrier behind him, the flaming jutsushiki markings fading away as he continued on with flying towards Stella.

As he continued to fly, humming as a pair of flaming hands grew from his chest & kept Ms. Fortune's tiny form grasped tightly to his chest.

“Hold on for just a few more minutes.”

“R-Right!” Ms. Fortune spoke despite the wind that was trying to rip her away, to which the man smiled before frowning as he looked in the direction they were flying in.

'Animus, you better run before I get there or else, I'm eating dragon for the night.'

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It didn't take him more than an hour to catch sight of the capital city of Altair, but he frowned & cursed as he saw the army of robotic dragon slayers already stationed & battle-ready at the front of the city with a blonde-haired man dressed in exquisite royal garb fit for a king with a bronze crown on his head.

Standing next to him was a beautiful young woman with long light-brown hair while dressed in bronze & white armour and looking concerned, Eric humming as he also saw the Three Stars waiting behind their king.

'Well, this is quite the greeting. How did they even know I was coming? Wait, that girl looks a bit too concerned about an unknown enemy even with the force behind her. What if I…?' Eric thought with a hum as he let out his ethernano and while he saw the Three Stars flinch back & King Animus' frown deepen, he smirked as he saw the woman paling considerably as she stumbled back.

'Her magic probably allows her to sense ethernano or someone's life force, which made her sense me, but it's quite the feat to sense me from so far away. Not bad.'

“Uh, Eric? Why are we letting your ethernano run rampant?” Ms. Fortune asked as she slithered out of his clothes & transformed into her Exceed form while sitting on his head, to which Eric hummed as he looked up at her.

“You might want to go hide away. I think the talks were off before they started.” Eric said and Ms. Fortune nodded as wings appeared on her back & took her away, Eric taking a deep breath before smiling as he cancelled his flames and plummeted towards the ground.

Moments before he impacted the ground, a sea of flames exploded from his feet and slowed down his descent just enough for him to grunt as he crashed into the ground, Eric humming as he shook his legs before walking out of the scorching hot crater he made.

“Hello!” Eric greeted as he walked over the edge of his crater, smirking as he saw it already surrounded by the robot dragon slayers while Animus & his companions stood behind them.

“Hello. May I ask why such a powerful mage is heading for my city?” Animus began and Eric smirked as he pointed directly at him.

“What reason does a dragon slayer need to go towards a dragon?” That made Animus frown as he reached up & let his royal robe & sceptre drop to the ground, leaving him standing in bronze & gold armour with the crown on his head.

“I see. And will you leave if I say I'm a peaceful dragon?”

“Well, I think I have something that you might want. Also, your friend Zash failed in his mission to procure it for you.” Eric said with a smile as he lifted his arm that had the Dragon Cry tied around his wrist, Animus' eyes widening as he saw it tied around the mage's wrist before smirking as he took off his crown.

“I don't suppose that you would leave it and return from where you came?”

“Nope, I've gotten quite attached to it.”

“P-Please, sir, perhaps there's some way we can come to an agreement?” The woman that had sensed him asked and Eric turned to him before shrugging.

“Sure, how about your country stops trying to do underground deals with Bosco & Seven to try & invade Fiore and in exchange, I'll just leave right now? Before any of you think of lying, my eyes allow me to see far away & through objects so I know of the documents lying on the king's desk where he & the leaders of those countries are planning an assault within the next two months.”

“…Hah, it appears you are well-equipped for this conversation, Mr…”

“Eric. Eric Creed, hero of Fiore and slayer of dragons. Pleased to meet you.” Eric bowed with a smile before holding up a hand as he felt danger coming closer, a pillar of flames erupting from below him & burning away the surge of robots that tried to attack him.

“Now, that wasn't nice, was it Mr. Animus?” Eric spoke with a smile as he cancelled the flames & walked forward, the army of robotic dragon slayers nothing but melted steel & Stellanium on the floor.

“Here's the thing. I don't mind leaving all of you alive as my only target is him, but if you interfere, then I'll have to hurt you all to make sure you don't. Now, you and I on the other hand have some business to handle so where do you wanna die?” Eric asked as flames coated his hands & feet, Animus chuckling as he palmed his face while shaking his head.

“Hahaha~Ah, humans never ceases to amaze me. You all think you're the top of the food chain, the apex predator, but you all are just mere insects compared to the true apex predators. You are but mere vermin that we allow to live, but if you're so keen on losing your life, then who am I deny you your dem-!” Animus was cut off by a wheeze escaping his lips as he felt something slamming into his chest, the air around him twisting as Eric grinned before sending the king rocketing up into the sky.

Not wasting any time, jets of flames shot out from his feet as he rushed after the dragon, watching as Animus stopped his flipping before a pair of large black-leathered wings sprouted from his back while the king glared down at him.

“Enough! Stellanium Dragon's…ROAR!” As he opened his mouth wide, a dark blue magic crest appeared in front of Animus before a colossal blast of dark blue energy raced down towards Eric, who grinned as a corrosive energy covered his hand.

“Cursed Technique: Dismantle.” Eric chanted while swinging his hand down, the sky rumbling while Animus' eyes widened as he quickly dove out of the way as something cut deep into his attack before making it explode.

Not done, Eric dove towards the man with a hand pulled back, blue scales covering Animus' hands as he crossed them in front of him just as Eric slammed a palm into the arms.

Both men grunted as the impact sent Animus backwards a few meters, Animus gritting his teeth as he saw his scales falling off while Eric hummed as he saw the slight cut on his palms.

'He…he actually hurt me?…Oh, then he can kill me.' Eric thought with a frown as he looked at the growling Animus, feeling his blood pounding in his ears as the Dragon Cry's ethernano began to flood his body before a manic grin grew on his face as flames erupted from his body.

Animus growled as he leaned back from the kick that missed his head, ducking under the follow-up heel kick that Eric tried to land before the dragon slayer grunted as a punch from Animus sent him blasting away.

"Stellanium Dragon's Iron Fist!" Animus growled as he rushed after Eric before swinging his fist down, the dragon slayer grinning as a blast of fire from his feet made him flip past the attack before Animus grunted as Eric drop-kicked him in the chest & pushed away from him.

"Hell Dragon's Chains!" Eric chanted while pointing both palms at Animus, the dragon frowning as twin crests appeared in front of Eric before numerous chains shot out & rushed towards him.

Dropping as two barely missed grabbing his limbs, Animus flipped around & dove towards the ground with the chains hot on his heels before smirking as he flared his wings wide & rolled to the side.

However, his eyes widened as Eric was gone before wheezing as a heavy palm strike made his spine bent slightly over Eric's hand before he was sent rising back up once more, Eric smirking as he shook his hand to get rid of the numbness.

'Man, he's really strong and those scales of his are far harder than the Stellanium I had to deal with in my timeline. Guess there's only thing left to try out.' Growing out the nail on his thumb, Eric grinned as he pierced his chest just as the muscles of Animus' body bulged obscenely & and made him grow into a pulsing mass of flesh & scales.

Eric grinned & closed his eyes as he felt a rush of energy flowing through his body, grinning as he felt flesh & scales covering the entirety of his body along with feeling appendages growing out from the sides of his head, his back and his tailbone.

“It's all your fault.”

“You are the reason we're all dead.”

“Kill yourself, Eric! That's the only way you'll make up for it!”

“Yes, sink into despair and take your own life.”

“Your rage is nothing compared to the rage that we're all feeling right now.”

“Sink into the darkness.” Unlike before where Eric tried to ignore the voices, he gave into them this time, feeling his inner anger & hate at himself growing bigger & bigger as he felt the Dragon Cry sinking in his body.

Finally, when he felt his body stopping its transformation, Eric opened his eyes & grinned at the shocked look on Animus' face as his fellow dragon had transformed into his true form whilst looking down at the extra two arms that he had grown with his second pair of eyes.

'The present mixed with the future…the dragon cursed with death & despair.' Eric thought with a smile as he took a deep breath, embracing his rage & hatred as he felt his own cursed energy & ethernano mixing with that of the Dragon Cry.

“Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Eric Creed, the Dragon of Curses & Despair. May your soul claw its way up to Heaven as I drag it down to hell.”

A/N: Dun-dun-dun!!! And here it is! The fusion of Eric & F. Eric that I've been waiting to reveal.

For those that are wondering what it is, he basically accelerated the growth of his Dragon Seed while infusing it with both the Dragon Cry's ethernano, his own ethernano & his cursed energy to make it even more powerful.

Is it permanent & is it strong? Well…kind of, kind of not and yes, it is strong. I'll explain it all in a later chapter.

Also, for those wondering, he is still transforming into a demon, but this is just the first step to that path.

Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!