Fighting broke out. Rya, the Arc of Time Wizard, quickly found himself against a ruthless Erza and several of her friends that had finally began to understand what was happening around them. Others, including Lucy, flocked to Natsu's side, beginning to wage war against the master Haikit. The more they fought the more the earth shuddered, both from Rya bringing back numerous buildings and walls to protect himself, and from Haikit's ruthless bombardments of earth attacks. Rya was the first to fall, slamming into the ground in front of Erza's blade, twitching as he fell completely helplessly.
Of course there was only one battle that truly mattered at that stage. Both Eyan and Gray were out of breath, staring each other down and waiting for the next blow. They knew in the condition they were both in, luck would play just as big a part as true strength.
"So…" Eyan panted. "Do you have a taste for blood yet, ha?"
Gray narrowed his eyes, refusing to answer. Inside he knew, he knew that he wanted to live whatever it would take. He had made that promise to himself, to Natsu, to his guild long ago. There was a rule for leaving the guild, that if you were ever to take yourself away that you had to live your life to the fullest. Why would being inside the guild be any different?
Eyan ran forwards, one last rush ahead that was overstepped. Gray's cold fist slammed into his abs, knocking him flat onto the ground with no more energy to get up. Gray too, fell to his knees, feeling his strength completely depleted.
Eyan stared up, still panting heavily and barely even able to keep his eyes open. "Why…. Don't you…. Finish it…?" he asked him, almost pleading with him. "c'mon…. don't back down now…" he taunted.
Gray stared back at him, and pulled out the last of his magical reserves. To the dismay of Eyan, however, it wasn't an attack. Eyan's hands grew colder, shards of thick ice pinning him to the ground. Even if he hadn't been so close to his end, he would have struggled to separate himself out of the bonds. "There is…. Always another way…." Gray panted.
Eyan tried to pull back on his hands, shouting out to the sky in anger. The wizards turned, from each guild, good and bad, towards the arena where Gray knelt, dizzy but victorious in a way that he could have never expected. Levy was still working on the spell to break the circle, only a few minutes to go, and his enemy was captured and not broken. All he had to do was stay conscious for the next few moments, and the Fairy Tale guild would be safe.
"Arc of time…. melt…"
Erza jumped at the words, realising that Rya had gained consciousness while they had been turned away, weakened but still with a dark resolve in his eyes. "No!" she gasped, realising the mistake may be fatal.
Eyan grinned suddenly, his right arm suddenly free. From his own deepest reserves, with nothing left to fight for, he pulled a blade from the ethereal world into his hands, lifting it up and striking it straight through Gray's chest.
Dude.
DUDE...
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