Chapter 96 - 95: Stalling For Time

Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is purely a fanfic for enjoyment.

Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.

The familiar characters you see here belongs to their respected authors and owners.

'thoughts'

"Active skill name or magic spell"

'Active skill name or magic spell in thought'

"Activation phrase"

'Activation Phrase in thoughts'

"speech"

action*

time*

noise*

Gaia/gamer system talking

[Skill Name] - Passive or Active - Lvl.1/100 - EXP: 0% - MP cost: or none

Description: Info on skill

[Item Name] - Rank: F- to EX - Durability: 1 to Unbreakable - ATK: 0 to N/A

Description: Info on the item

Chapter 95: Stalling For Time

Year 27: Day 144: A New Beginning Part 2

(Earth Land: Fiore: Magnolia Town: Eastern Forest: Log House)

With a quick jab to Gon's face; Asia spins around to smash her right elbow against Gon's ċhėst. Leading to Gon gasping in pain and confused on how in the world someone gentle as Asia could cause so much pain and she doesn't even look like the gentle sister Gon would always see in little Asia.

Before Gon knows it. He saw the knee belong to his suppose to be kind sister, smashing right into his face, knocking him down for the count.

"I win! Mama Gabriel! I win!" Asia jumps with joy as she rushes over to Mama Gabriel for a hug as she just defeated Gon in hand-to-hand combat.

"Oh, I'm so happy for you!" Gabriel wraps her arms around little Asia with a big smile on her face.

"Hey, Ragna." Alice calls for my attention while watching little Asia just beat up Gon so easily, much to my surprise.

"Yeah?" I glance at Alice as I use [Rejection] to instantly heal Gon's injuries.

"Did you teach little Asia to fight like that? Because I did not expect her to fight so up close and against Gon, who has [Nen] backing him up while little Asia doesn't have [Nen] at all." Alice looks at little Asia with surprise and wonders if we're going to have another female fighter in the family.

"Nope, but I know who did." I sweatdrop, as I could figure who the one taught little Asia how to fight in hand-to-hand combat, but the person, Daniela, is currently gone at the moment.

"Was it Daniela? Because I don't think Gabriel would teach little Asia how to fight in close combat." Alice gives me a blank stare, "Also, technically, you did teach little Asia in a way, if you taught Daniela, who used what been taught to her by you is taught to little Asia."

"Eh, I guess." I shrug, 'But, I don't recall ever teaching Daniela in any of my [Martial Art Skills].' I thought to myself if Daniela just shows little Asia a few moves or teaches little Asia a fighting style that suit her. Because almost all the [Martial Art Skills] I have inside the [Untold Mixed Martial Art Styles] don't suit someone like little Asia's body type.

"Anyway, are you planning to face the kids using your bow again or you'll change it up?" Alice asks me while watching some of the kids coming over to little Asia if she learned how to fight by certain people in the family and among other things.

"Maybe." I reply, "But, I guess I could change it up a bit. Keep the kids on their toes when facing me." I have a few [Skills] I could use that does less damage to the surroundings and on the kids as well.

"By the way, how long do you think before Yuri finishes making her new outfit?" Alice asks me while looking at the small building that almost the exact same one like Serafall's and just right next to it too. Yuri's personal workshop.

"No clue." I walk to the spot where Gon and little Asia spar for a bit. "Alright, you kids ready?" I call out to the kids, not including little Asia and Alluka, with the latter already explained to the others, she didn't learn how to fight at all, even if little Asia did.

"We've improved ourselves further than ever, Pop. So be prepare for granting our wish." Killua said to me, as he and his siblings start coming over one by one. Until everyone, with the now healed up Gon, appear before me and already in a fighting formation.

Chifuyu in the front with both Erza and Gon on her side, ready to back her up. With both Kaori and Killua at the back.

What caused me to raise an eyebrow is that Kaori is wielding a katana. One that I made with my [Blacksmith Skill] from what I could easily tell and guessed that Esdeath must have given it to Kaori at some point without me knowing. Either way, I wonder if Kaori planning to help the other in the spar by using her previous life's fighting style.

"Alright, then. You remember the rules." I draw a circle on the ground, with me in the circle and have [Tora-Longbow] in my left hand. "Now, come at me." I grin at the kids, where all three, Chifuyu, Erza, and Gon, appearing around me. Chifuyu facing me head-on while both Erza and Gon support her from the sides.

I can see Kaori and Killua already approaching right behind Chifuyu. To my surprise, Kaori attacks with 7 wires made out of [Mana], which then split into thousands, surrounding me and closing in to cut me down with how sharp the [Mana Wires] are.

"Now, we can't have that." I said to Kaori, where I use [Zekkai]. A [Technique] that creates a unique [Kekkai], which surrounds the user, allowing the user to either repel an attack or harm an enemy from contact. It appears as a blackish-purple sphere around the user.

All the [Mana Wires] disappear instantly the moment it touches the [Zekkai], which caused Kaori to gasp in shock and forcing everyone else to back away due to not knowing what would happen if they touch the [Zekkai] other than it destroys everything its touch from the way the [Mana Wires] disappear before their eyes.

Seeing this, I dismiss the [Zekkai] and fired three arrows right at Chifuyu, Kaori, and Killua. All three bȧrėly avoid getting hit, then begin charging at me. Of course, I didn't completely ignore Erza and Gon trying to sneak attack me from the sides. So, I fired off two quick shots at both Erza and Gon before spinning around, to block Chifuyu's swords made out of [Sword Qi] with my [Tora-Longbow], which I made sure to apply a bit of [Sword Qi] of my own into the bow or else the [Tora-Longbow] end up being cut into pieces.

I bring out a [Black Key] via [Gate of Babylon] and stab it directly into Chifuyu's shadow with my free hand. Locking Chifuyu down, now that I took care of Chifuyu, who is looking at me in disbelief that she couldn't move a muscle.

I smirk at the kids, for they've started to panic due to the sudden changes in my fighting style compared to the previous two, where I only use [Tora-Longbow] only. Even then, the kids knew they technically have a fighting chance, but now with all these sudden additions just made the whole thing harder than it already is.

"Anything to you kids wants to try?" I ask the kids, as it looks like I may have pushed them too far. Since they no longer seem confident anymore and just wanted to quit.

"Could you please move out of the circle?" Kaori asks me, causing the others to look at her, for asking such a thing. This made Kaori's cheeks gain a pink hue upon gaining almost everyone's attention.

"Sure." I shrug, then walk off the circle, causing the kids' jaws to drop at this. "Don't expect this ask again, because I'm only doing it once. I was just waiting until one of you ask. I just didn't expect someone to ask so early." I smirk at the look the kids giving me, even the ones on the sideline are looking at me in disbelief. "I actually expect like around the 10th time before someone took a gamble and ask me nicely. But, it's fine now, I guess." I shrug. "So, do you kids have a group wish in mind or you want to wait to come up with one, that everyone would agree to?" I still can't wipe the grin off my face with the way the kids are reacting, that they won this little quick spar so easily, just for now, but that doesn't mean the next time won't be any easier like today's spar.

"We'll be back right with on that." Chifuyu spoke up the moment she was free from the [Black Key] pulled out by her Father, then group up with the others.

I give my wives a glance, then tilt my head for them to get the hint that we need to talk.

Looking at the kids discussing what the group wish should be. I create a [Kekkai] and have my wives enter, with Repellista already left a [Lighthouse] next to her to be in the conversation by linking her [Lighthouse] with the [Archive] once I activate the [Skill], which I did the same to contact with Yuri, who is a bit busy, but not too busy to be in this group conversation.

Once all the wives, Yuri who use the [Lighthouse], are in the [Kekkai] and Repellista linked up with my [Archive] with her [Lighthouse]. I begin, "So, who is staying and who is leaving with me?" It's a good thing we've already informed the subject from yesterday to Repellista or she would be very confused with what the wives and I are talking about right now.

"Out of the rest of us, I would say Esdeath needs to tag along with you, Ragna." Raven spoke up first. "Since other than Esdeath, there Serafall's [Dao of Deception] to help you and the others enter the next universe easier without leading to bringing lots of unwanted attention."

"Oh! How about Esdeath stay with the kids and I tag along instead?" Serafall gives everyone a big smile, ignoring the way Esdeath staring at her, which caused her to switch her tone of voice very fast. "Yet, I just remember, that unlike Esdeath who has years of experience with this. I just started with the [Dao of Deception] not that long ago. So forget what I just said." And just like that, Esdeath is no longer staring at her, causing Serafall to mentally sigh in relief.

"Hm. But, we do need a heavy hitter to stick around with the kids and the others. Of course, this would normally be required if I didn't have a way to take this universe with us. So, there is no need to actually stay behind with the kids, but it's best some of us to stay behind or just bring someone else to watch over them. I'm not saying, I don't trust the kids." I glance over to Erza, who is doing her best to persuade the others about something like making this entire family into a hero or good guys with the group wish, along with another one is to save her parallel versions of comrades at Tenrou Island.

My wives and Repellista caught my meaning when glancing over the kids, mainly at Erza than the others.

"Of course, we can just transfer the kids to the next universe and let them experience the culture over there instead of just saying in this universe." I continue off since it has been a long time since the kids were with the rest of us ȧduŀts, and if we leave them behind. Who knows when the rest of us meet up with them again.

"I think it's best to take them with us into the next universe. After all, our current goal is to escape the pursuit of the three factions until your original body is recovered." Alice points this out, "Furthermore, as we said before. We rather escape than risk you dying on us, Ragna. It doesn't matter if we fight them sooner or later, just that we want it later."

"What she said. Including the fact that you are the main hitter and someone to take on the damage for the rest of against those high [Tier - Entity]." Yuri follows up after Alice. "Plus, I rather have the rest of us enjoy our life with the kids before they fully have grown into an ȧduŀt, even though they are technically grown up already due to their status as a [Reincarnators]."

"I say we just bring everyone to the next universe. But, if the kids don't want to, then we just have to bring someone we trust to watch over them after you merge this Fairy Tail universe into the home universe while the rest of us head to the next universe and wait for your recovery, my god." Ryun spoke up, agreeing with Alice and Yuri.

"Hm. I guess it just depends on the kids and what's the next universe will be." I replied while wondering if I should be concerned about the kids doing something that may or may not cause problems for the rest of us due to not being there for most of their life.

"Yo, Pop! We finally decided!" Killua calls for my attention, causing my wives to look at the kids, curious what their group wish will be.

I drop the [Kekkai] and walk over to the kids, "Alright, what is the wish?"

"Instead of using it now, we rather save it for later until we've enough group wishes for all of us could use personally." Killua explained that in their little group, it was almost impossible for everyone to agree on what the group wish to be, not to mention, that some of them almost got into a fight with each other until one of them reminded them to just save the wish for later on.

"Sure." I didn't care if they didn't use their group wish now or later. "Also, we're going to leave this universe soon, so if one of you wants to stay behind, speak up now." I may as well drop the bomb on them than let them find out later in the last few days before explaining to them why we have to leave the Fairy Tail universe.

All the kids gawk at me the moment I finished revealing the big news to them.

"Well, I'm not leaving. I have friends to save." Erza stubbornly spoke up before the others could. As she frowns at her Father, for wanting to leave so soon when it's not even a month yet. In fact, she just helped her parallel guild members from going into bankruptcy due to lacking all the powerful members not being there for the Fairy Tail Guild to do the difficult jobs.

"Anyone else wants to stay along with Erza? Also, just a reminder, we're not leaving you kids unattended. So we'll leave someone you kids should know back in the home universe." Esdeath said to the kids, causing some to frown. "Oh, don't give me those looks. It's not that we don't trust you, but to protect you kids. Unless all of you think that you've reached the point of taking us on?" Esdeath raises an eyebrow at the kids while folding her arms underneath her brėȧsts.

"Shouldn't we be nicer about this? Maybe explain gently, for the kids to understand why we have to go to another universe?" Gabriel noticed how the kids are getting frustrated right now and rather not cause the family to end up starting an argument.

"Hm. Let me think about it for a moment." Esdeath taps her right index finger on her chin as she glances up to the sky, thoroughly thinking about being nice to the kids; well, all of them equally instead of favoring the one she gave birth. Before Esdeath realized, that even she doesn't treat her own kids nicely either like the rest. Therefore, Esdeath came into a decision. "Nah."

The ȧduŀts look at Esdeath with a deadpan on their faces upon hearing her answer.

"Well, then. Anyone else wants to stay here with Erza for the time being?" I completely ignore my first wife's response to how she truly feels with our children and shouldn't be surprised by this, with how Esdeath is raised and the experience she gained up to now.

"Quick question, is the next universe potential be related to our past life's home universe?" Chifuyu asks her Father, because if so, then she would gladly leave this universe for her parallel home universe that she was born in her first life.

"No clue." I shrug, "It's a random chance of that happening, but the chance is there. So don't worry about us not entering your first life's home universe." I made sure to remind this to my Daughter and the rest of the kids, who are [Reincarnators]. This includes Pyrrha's generation. "Besides, I'll let everyone know beforehand if the universe we're about to enter is related to anyone of you kids." I know how the kids are when it's related to their first life and I won't stop them from entering a parallel universe of their previous home universe.

"I guess I'll stick around with Erza, someone got to keep her from doing something that may cause problems for the family, and don't act like you won't try." Chifuyu narrow her eyes at Erza the moment she saw her half-sister open her mouth to say something before closing it.

"Same here." Kaori replied while trying her best not to show how sad she felt when her own Mother won't try to be a gentle Mother to her, but brighten up quickly when she got her head rub by her birth Mother. Completely forgetting everything else and enjoy the feeling of her Mother's touch. Kaori has her eyes closed and with a big smile on her face. This is one of those rare moments, where her Mother would do something like this, even if it was just the two of them in private. Therefore, Kaori is very happy right now since she has her head being rubbed in public, proving that her own Mother does care for her.

"I'll stay if Gon and Alluka are staying." Killua said to everyone, not really caring if he stays here or not. As long as these two are there, then he is fine.

"I wanna go!" Alluka shouted with excitement, because so far, she has been stuck in this forest with her family, not that it was bad or anything, but just that she wants to go out explore without having an ȧduŀt watching over her all the time. Alluka won't even mind if some of her siblings are with her.

"I still haven't explored all the place in this world yet, Pop. So, I'll stay." Gon spoke up next, causing Killua to frown.

Now, two of the people Killua wanted to stay along with is split into two paths. One is his brother and the other is his little sister. Both are important to him, of course, the others he cares about as well, but these two he cares more than the rest. So now, Killua has to decide who to stick with.

"Can I come with, Father?" Little Asia stares at her Father with widening eyes, that's filled with hope for she could go into the next universe since there wasn't much she could do during the month here other than training, which she wasn't complaining about.

"Alright, so everyone, but Erza, Chifuyu, Kaori, and Gon are staying behind. What about you, Killua? Will you stay or tag along?" I rather have Killua decide now than later, where things may become complicated. "Because today is when we'll leave for the next universe. Also, don't worry if you can't contact the rest of us. You just need to speak with the one who will watch over you kids, to contact us." By that, I mean have Repellista's [Lighthouse] used as a mobile phone to contact me or Repellista. The latter is the better option to contact first since she won't be too busy compared to everyone else.

Before Killua could speak up. He was cut off by Alluka, "Brother, you can stick around with Gon. You don't have to worry about me. Plus, I got Papa and everyone else to protect me. Also, sister Asia and Nanika will always be there for me, so I won't end up being lonely without you, brother." Alluka smile at Killua, who softens his facial expression.

"Think we could ask little Nanika to grant our wish to increase our lucks to find the False Gamers in the next few universes?" Yuri whisper to Esdeath as she remembers that Nanika is another being that coexists inside Alluka's body, who could grant wishes, within conditions of course.

"Won't work. Ragna has already checked with the [Information Dimension] beforehand in the past." Esdeath whispers back, not afraid of the kids hearing their words due to Alice nearby, who will make sure words are not to be heard by certain people, thanks to her [Dao of Music].

"Okay." Killua smile at Alluka, since it looks like he won't have to worry about deciding who to pick without ending up causing one of the other to be sad by his choices.

"Now, with that out of the way. Who should we have the duty of watching over the kids." Ryun said to everyone, causing the kids that are staying to focus on the ȧduŀts, curious about who will be watching over them.

"We could have Shigure watch over them. She very good at tracking them down and without being detected." Alice picked someone at the top of her mind, which is Shigure, who is a student of their husband.

The kids pale a little at the thought of having a modern-day ninja, who is also a powerful fighter with weapons and among other things, to be the one to watch over them.

"She will do. Anyone else? We need one more since we can't have Shigure do this task alone." Esdeath agreed to have Shigure be the one to watch over the kids, that are planning to stay behind.

"Maybe one of Ragna's students he taught the [Renewal Taekwondo] back in Ingui Yoon's home universe?" Raven brings up that other than Ingui Yoon, Daniela, and Shigure. There are many, many more students in Ingui Yoon's home universe while only Ingui Yoon is the sole heiress of the [Ssam-Su Taekkyeon] and the rest of her martial sisters are taught the [Renewal Taekwondo].

"I think I can think of a few, but we can ask Ingui Yoon herself to see who is up for the task, maybe Ingui Yoon can take the task herself together with Shigure if she is done with her busy and all." Esdeath said to Raven, then look at the kids with a thoughtful look.

"Alright. I'll contact both. We will leave in a few hours." I said to everyone, then head inside the log house to contact my two students. "Also, the whole group wish thing. Don't worry, instead of facing me. You kids can face Shigure and Akisame instead." With that said, I enter the log house, not noticing the pale look on the kids' faces upon hearing this.

A few hours later*

(Ark's City)

After contacting my students; Shigure gladly accepts the role of watching over the kids staying in the Fairy Tail universe, which I have just finished merging with the home universe. While Ingui Yoon explained how she still busy with things that she needs to do alone and mention, that due to her sudden appearance of return. Many of my students in Ingui Yoon's home universe have become excited that they will have the chance to meet me again, the older ones that I taught I mean, where the new ones are eager to meet the founder of the Mercer's Dojo.

But, none of them can take the task since there are many things going on, that prevent them from coming. Therefore, I got Shigure to ask around for anyone to help her out. Luckily, there is someone to tag along, who happens to be the Father-figure of Shigure. Akisame Koetsuji, who is also [Medical Master]. So, if the kids ever get hurt or something, there will be a doctor on hand to help them out.

"Now, which universe should we head off to?" I mumble to myself while allowing Repellista to drive the [Ark] and at the same time making big jumps to increase our distance from the armies belonging to the three factions, completely ignoring the zones we have passed so far. It's a good thing the amount of [Sword Qi] I produce continues to grow without stopping or else I would have to stop every few minutes to wait for my [Sword Qi] to regenerate back to full before making another jump.