A/N: Hello, everyone! I really hope you'll all enjoy this chapter! This was probably the longest chapter I have ever written. I put all of my effort in writing this one so I really hope I'll get a whole lot of reviews. Hahaha. Anyways, I would like to thank the song, "A Song of Storm and Fire" by Yuki Kajiura because it is my inspiration in writing battle scenes! (Yeah, it felt like I've memorized it since I've been playing it non-stop) Oh, and this also marks the seventh chapter! :D

As for the reviews last chapter:

Luna123456: Thank you! :D

supercrazyperson: Thank you very much! :D

Aerelth: Ummm...nope. I'm sorry about that. I really don't want to go outside the shounen feel of Fairy Tail. Besides, I'll leave that to the better writers! :D

Disclaimer: Mr. Mashima owns Fairy Tail but I really hope he'll give us some LaLu scenes *wink* *wink*

Without further ado, I present you Chapter 37...

Chapter 37

The snake to which Lucy was currently standing disappeared in a flash of light, leaving her hanging mid-air and only holding on the key stuck in the hole. She struggled to keep herself from falling but fatigue took over her. Punching that barrier really took out most of her strength. She opened her eyes and was shocked to what she saw. The twelve keys hovered in mid-air, encircling her and ascending to the book until it was the item in the center. She saw the keyhole and there, inscribing and snaking its way from the back cover to the whole book were intricate serpentine-like markings, the one resembling the Bind Snake Spell of Jellal.

"What's happening now?" She immediately panicked. Did she do something wrong. Was this the end for all of them? Once the whole book was completely covered in the markings, Ophiuchus' key suddenly took itself out of the keyhole. Lucy lost her grasp on the key and quickly fell but was caught by a Laxus. Sticky substance was crept in her body upon the skin contact. It was blood!

Sael seemed to have stopped on his tracks. They all watched as the Thirteenth Gate Key levitated above the book and thin, golden light came from its spade-shaped tip and connected to the other twelve keys' tips. An immense golden light flashed before their eyes, blinding them. The light eventually died down and the book disappeared. The keys broke into two separate groups. Pisces, Libra and Ophiuchus' keys flew towards the dome resembling Urano Metria, bypassing and slipping through it effortlessly. The other ten descended towards the blonde's palms.

"What the hell?!" They all turned their heads towards the source of the voice and were astounded by what they saw. Black mist started to form around Sael, covering him completely until he was a pile of thick, lurid smoke then it dissipated rendering him back to his old form. Short, graying hair and olden features returned to his face. His body reversed back to its human form, claws, horns, goat legs, bat wings and snake tail completely dissolved just as the mist faded.

"Seems the tables have turned." Laxus chuckled. Now that she was safely standing on the ground and her keys were safely back to its holder, she supported her husband-to-be to stand. Blood still trickled from the gory slash marks across his chest. She grimaced at the sight. She turned her attention to her other friends. All of them were completely freed from their bindings but they were still injured.

"Tch." Sael donned a black cloak to cover his naked body. "I don't think you're not in the position to be making any threats." He gestured both of his arms to their injuries. "Your bitch may have completely erased that book from existence but it only took the power it gave me, meaning I am back to my current level."

"Yeah, the weak level." The Lightning Dragon Slayer bragged, more blood spilling from his wounds. His skin was pale and cold. He winced in pain, falling down and gasping for air with eyes that seemed to have lost its light. Laxus feel down.

"Laxus?" Lucy knelt down beside the man. Crimson liquid draped his naked chest. Panic blared loudly in her mind. "No! No! No! Laxus!"

"Everything's going to be alright." Laxus raised his hands and cupped her cheek. Tears streamed down his fingers. Lucy sobbed and hiccupped. Her hair was in tangles, make up smeared in her face and bruises and blood covered her body but still, the man smiled. "You're beautiful. Don't sweat it, Blondie." He chuckled weakly.

"Don't tell me that everything's going to be alright because it's not." Her voice was weak and it broke on the last word. Streams of tears soaked his hands. His heart crumpled at seeing the one he loves to cry in pain. "I don't need a mansion, Laxus. I don't need money or power. Having the guild and you is enough for me." She held both of his palms in both of her cheeks as she started to cry, not minding Sael anymore. "Don't die, Laxus. Please…"

"I-I w-won't d-die because w-we s-still have to m-make thirty b-babies…" He stuttered, eyes stinging as tears threatened to fall. "…s-so l-let's finish t-this and go home." But Laxus lied. His eyes closed, his skin ran cold and no pulse came from his wrists.

"Laxus?! Laxus?! Laxus?!" Lucy's eyes went wide at the sudden realization but still vehemently denied herself to utter that word. This must be a dream. Yeah, it's just a dream, right? A nightmare she will soon wake up from and tomorrow morning she will wake up beside Laxus, smiling before her. But despite every stinking denial she threw, she herself wasn't convinced. "LAXUS!" She sobbed, gritting her teeth in agony and shaking the still body in front of her. She took sharp intakes of breath but even that wasn't enough to purge the pain of the constricting in her chest. "You're strong, Laxus! Prove that! Prove that! Please…I'm begging you, don't leave me." She cradled the man in her arms, kissing his blood-streamed forehead but a sudden jolt…"AGHHH!" Suddenly, Lucy's whole body became rigid. She can't move anymore. She looked down that was once again chained. The hair on her nape started to rise and in a second she was electrocuted. "ARGHHH!"

"My, my, my you people just have to underestimate me. Now, I shall have to show you that there is no difference in my power." Sael walked towards her with a smile plastered in his face. This made Lucy's blood boil once more. He's nearing her once again. One…two…three…Lucy closed her eyes and braced for pain but it didn't came. Huh? Suddenly, she heard some shuffling and a pulling force. Her eyes snapped open as the man she held a moment ago was yanked away from her embrace and there, the most heartbreaking scene unfolded before her. Sael dragged the dead body of Laxus like a ragdoll and tossed him in the side of the room, chaining him into a wall.

"Don't take him away from me!" She shrieked. "PLEASE!"

"He's dead. What more can you do?" Sael shifted and continued with his pace.

'DEAD…' She finally admitted it and the seemingly growing hole in her chest suddenly exploded. Maybe it was her heart shattering into millions of pieces. The weight of everything up to this point, every betrayal, every pain, every bruise she took from Erza and Gray when they were controlled, every torture, every mind games she endured up to this point suddenly…she suddenly felt all of its weight as it crashed down her body. It's too painful, too unbearable. And she let out a scream that howled all agonizing tears that she held back just to be strong, just to be independent, just to be the knight-in-shining-armor, the so-called S-Class. It seems like everything she did was just for nothing. Was she back in being the damsel-in distress?

"Laxus!" Lucy screamed into the air, tears streaked down her contorted face. "Give me back Laxus!"

"AGHHH! LET GO!" Lucy's eyes frantically whipped towards the source of the pained scream. It was Erza. She was dragged by her hair, flailing violently. With a flick of his hands, Erza was thrown to the other side of the room, opposite to Laxus. She was chained to the wall. Sael stood in between them.

"Stop it!" Lucy screeched but every time she made a move, the chains electrocuted her. She bit her lips in pain. She felt something she hasn't felt in a long time. And that was it, the helplessness. She can't do a thing now. She was frozen in place as each of her friends was tortured. She can't do a thing. She's powerless. She's weak.

"Now that's settled, I will have to chain the others so that there will be no interruptions." The bastard's voice snapped her from her stupor and she watched in numb body as black chains then tethered her other friends, electrocuting them once again. Screams of pain reached Lucy's ears.

"Please! Stop! You're killing them!" Lucy practically begged on her knees, stammering in her cries.

"Oh, dear, they're not the ones who'll die." Sael raised both of his arms in both sides and a large Magic Seal appeared in the tip of his palms, facing Laxus and Erza. "They are."

"NO!"Lucy wailed, realizing that Sael was about to cast another Abyss Break Spell.

"You can't save both of them so you have to pick one." He snickered. "Will it be Laxus?" The Magic Seal on the left started to take charge, light danced as it dangerously waiting for command. "Or Erza?" A build-up of energy gathered at the left Magic Seal. "Considering that Erza almost killed you, you'll pick her, right? But how can I guess? Laxus is already dead and you might want to save what you can." He laughed.

"NO!" Panic surged in her veins. What was she going to do? Who was she going to pick? They're both important to her. Laxus was already lifeless but that doesn't mean she's ready to have someone toy with his body and Erza's her friend. Lucy doesn't want to make Jellal feel the loss of a loved one. Lucy will die for them. In that very instant, she had an epiphany. Everything wouldn't have to happen if it wasn't for her. She was the start and she will have to be the one to end it. She was the one to blame. "I pick…me."

"LUCY! NO! DON'T!" It was the strained cries of her friends. She just gave them a warm smile.

"It's okay. I'll be with Laxus…" She gave them a weak smile. "…and everyone will live. Just imagine that I never joined Fairy Tail in the first place."

"Very well, then…" Sael put both of his hands in front of her. She barely survived one, two will definitely kill her but despite that, she's still grateful that it wasn't her friends. Lisanna was waiting for Natsu, Levy will hate her if she let anything bad happen to Gajeel. She can't accept that. Wendy's too young to be involved in any of this. Gray and Juvia…they were meant to be. They have to live through this. Jellal needed Erza and Erza needed Jellal. They were meant to be, just like her and Laxus. The thought of reuniting with him in peace made her smile. She and Laxus will be reunited in death, to a place where Sael won't reach them. Lucy closed her eyes to meet her doom...no, her future with the man she loves. This was it. For the first time, somehow, Sael will do something good in his cursed life. She heard the loud burst of energy coming towards her but just before it could make even the slightest contact with her, it already made contact with something else. Something flesh, something with clothes…the ripping of fabric was a testament of that.

"P-Prot-tect t-the P-P-Princess-sss…" Her eyes darted open in a flash. Standing in front with his arms spread on both sides, Loke shot her a sincere smile. His back was against Sael and his suit was torn in tatters, revealing his chest where Lucy could see his labored breathing.

"H-HAI!" Lucy heard a collective answer. She whipped her widened eyes in shock on her left and right. All of her Spirits were there, squeezed together as to not allow the slightest of hole to form. No…

"Everyone, stop!" Lucy begged on her knees, brand new tears streaming down her face. She already lost Laxus. She doesn't want to lose them too. "STOP IT!"

"B-But H-Hime, t-this i-is p-punishm-ment-t…" Virgo smiled at her with strained eyes. The Maiden wasn't enjoying this pain. Not this kind. This wasn't pain. This was annihilation.

"Enough! Let me die! Laxus is…Laxus is…And you…" Lucy can't complete her sentence anymore as she punched the ground beneath her, cracking her bones. "STOP IT! JUST LET ME DIE!"

"Quit ya whinin', brat!" Aquarius suddenly spoke, giving her a soft expression despite her blunt statement.

"We will protect Lucy-san's body! Mooo!" Taurus cheered.

Then they all disappeared in a puff of smoke. Lucy's knees gave up, making her stumble and fall to the ground. There, she sobbed again as a hysterical laughter echoed in the background.

"Delays. Delays. Delays. I'll make this a one sure shot." Though she heard the gathering of more energy, she couldn't care less. There's no point in living anymore. Laxus was gone and her Spirits gave up…t-their lives. She should just die and follow them already. "Abyss Break."

A burst of power should have been what she heard but none came. An utter silence filled the whole area but was soon wiped away by the crackling sound.

"Laxus?" Lucy braved the odds and used her arms to raise herself from the ground. She scanned her surroundings for the cause. The chains on Laxus dissipated as was on her and the others. Sael was on the ground, trying hard to stand up as lightning sparks danced on his body. Laxus must have done something. In the corner of her eye, she saw Erza running towards Jellal.

"I ain't going down that easily, motherfucker." A voice hoarse yet familiar reached her ears. With hope and prayers, she tentatively glanced at Laxus. He was grinning. Battered, bloodied and bruised yet perfectly alive and he was staring directly at her, smirking his sexy, masculine lips. "I thought I taught you better than to give up, Blondie?" Her heart leapt as gratitude overwhelmed her.

'Thank God.' She said to herself as tears rolled down her face. Not tears of sorrow, but tears of joy.

"Stubborn fool! You should have stayed dead." Sael struggled to stand.

"Tch, I'm stronger than that." The Lightning Dragon Slayer countered.

Behind him, Lucy watched as Jellal was helped by Titania. This scene made her want to run towards Laxus but something held her back. The former council member was trying hard to form a battle stance. Considering that the demon's back was on them, Jellal might be trying for a surprise attack. She needs to take Sael's attention away from them so as to prevent their Magic being sealed again. And away from Laxus to save him from this bastard's wrath.

"Ha, I'm still here and alive, you jerk." Lucy spat as she stood, trying to take the demon's attention as much as possible. Erza managed to support Jellal to take on the stance, taking his arm and wrapping it along her neck. There's a bruise on her right cheek. A pang of guilt plunged at the blonde's heart. Sael finally stood up.

"You? What can a little dumb blonde bombshell like you can do? Dance?" The demon snorted, fits of laughter threatened to escape his lips. Lucy reined her annoyance in. Just then, a swirling tattoo flew towards Sael and made impact on his skin. Bind Snake? It then coiled around his body until he was frozen in place. "You! You tricked me!" The smirk on his face quickly faded and was replaced by humiliation. "I'll just have to dispel this and…" If possible, his eyes went larger.

"It's no use." Jellal said, his voice hoarse. "BIND SERPENT Spell is an upgraded version of BIND SNAKE. It doesn't just restrict movements but also stop the flow of Magic. Your only Curse, the Soneillon Curse was the one controlling us but that dispelling, erasing, sealing or whatever you use came from Magic." The blue-haired man smirked.

Lucy took the chance and ran towards her beloved. She helped and supported him to stand. They then limped towards their other friends.

"Bastard!" Sael growled, struggling. A build-up of Magic suddenly surrounded the man. Cracking noise started to sound, surprising everyone. "Just you watch, I'll free myself from this useless excuse of a Magic and I'll pick you all one by one." He mocked.

'One by one? That's it. Right from the start, Sael was nothing more than a coward. He waited until I took that mission on my own to be an S-Class. He also singled out Erza and Gray to fight against me. Maybe. Just maybe.' Lucy internally said as she looked at her then again bruised and battered friends and thought of something. 'That's it! If one can't beat him then maybe a team can.' Her free hand managed to reach at her neck and touched something. 'Maybe this can help.'

"Jellal-san, do it with me!" Lucy said to the man. Laxus grunted. She looked at her fiancé and sweat dropped. "Eh, I mean a Unison Raid." She sighed.

"O-Okay." The blue-haired man also sweat-dropped as chills ran down his spine. But what can he do? Erza was shooting him deadly glares from his back. The former Magic Council member bowed down and pointed his hands downward, all fingers closed except the index and middle. He then began to slowly move his right hand until it pointed upwards, clouds began to form on the high ceiling, circling around and forming a cyclone as it began to darken. "TRUE HEAVENLY BODY MAGIC: SEMA!" Lucy slowly put Laxus down until he was sitting on the ground.

"Where are you going?" The blond man began to protest.

"There!" Lucy pointed towards the swirling black clouds.

"But!"

"I'll be fine. I won't miss my own wedding." Lucy winked at the man, smiling. Gathering, the last of her remaining Spirit Energy, she summoned her wings, glittering as it flapped. She unclasped the hook of her necklace, only took the golden pendant and put the chain around Laxus' neck. "I'll be back for this."

"ARGHHHH!" The serpentine tattoo around Sael started to break as he struggled. Lucy took off, trying to reach the swirling cyclone. A surge of energy suddenly burst from below, knocking all people to the ground. Lucy looked down. 'Oh no!' Sael was released from the bindings. He started to levitate, dashing towards her in top speed. 'He's gaining on me!' The blonde girl focused more of her remaining energy to reach it.

"Lucy!" A maniacal laughter constantly neared her.

"Hurry, Lucy-san!" Wendy cried.

"Bunny Girl, you better hurry up or I'll have you join me singing. Gihi!" Gajeel shouted. Lucy flapped her wings faster.

'This better work.' She plunged the key at the center of the dark cyclone. "OPEN! GATE OF THE HEAVENS!"

Beams of rose-colored light penetrated the dark clouds and on the center, instead of a meteor, a girl gracefully and slowly descended. Lucy looked at her. Pale skin and eyes were closed. Caramel blonde locks that reached past below her shoulders were gracefully flowing. Her head was adorned by a butterfly clip which looked like it was made from the galaxy. Stars or different colors were twinkling. She wore a white sleeveless, turtleneck gown. A golden armband was clasped on her right arm. Her belt was made of gold and on its center, laid a rose-colored jewel. The white part of the gown was cut in the thighs and fabric of galaxy continued until it reached her ankles. She was barefoot. All of this would have been a big surprise to Lucy but there's something more that astounded the blonde to no end. The Spirit's face was carved just exactly like her.

"What?" A whimper escaped her lips. The Spirit opened its eyes and there, orbs that were colored near impossible lay before the Celestial Spirit Mage. It was gold.

"Lucy Heartfilia." The Spirit spoke in a voice that echoed through the whole room. It was like just with the Celestial Spirit King.

"Who are you?" But just as the Spirit could even answer, Lucy realized something. Her wings were nowhere near in sight and she wasn't falling to her doom. The cackle of Sael stopped. She looked down and saw that the demon was frozen mid-air but her friends were still watching her.

"Time Manipulation." The Spirit answered her unuttered question. Lucy nodded in understanding.

'Yeah, just like the Celestial Spirit King.' She mused.

"Lucy Heartfilia, my powers will allows me to heal your friends and bless them the power to defeat that demon but a great feat comes with a great price. Are you ready to make a sacrifice?"

"And what is that?"

"The Spirit Energy you have accumulated will cease to exist. You will no longer be able to use it." It was like Lucy was doused in cold water, awakening her. 'Lose my Spirit Energy?' She contemplated for a while. Will she do it? How about her? What will happen to her? Will she be weak again? Thoughts of backing out ran rampant in her mind but in her gazing at the bottom floor, lost in her thoughts, she saw that her friends were still in agony and bleeding. She can't lose them. They too have sacrificed too much. Maybe now it's her turn. After all, the reason she became an S-Class mage was to protect her loved ones. Now was the time to prove the truth in her words.

"What will happen to my Celestial Spirits? You?"

"Rest assured, Lucy Heartfilia that the Spirit Energy you have provided for them won't be for nothing. It will stay with them for it has always been and forever will be a part of them. One more thing, they are all safe and already recuperating back in our world." A sudden wave of relief flooded her. Thank the heavens! "And I am merely the embodiment of the Spirit Energy of the Celestial Spirit World. I will turn back to what I should be. An intangible form."

"I will do it." The Spirit started to glow white. "Wait, what's your name?" Lucy asked.

"I have none." She became brighter.

"Then it'll be Resha…Resha Valentine." Lucy smiled

"Thank you, Lucy Heartfilia." She also smiled as the light intensified, completely swallowing the Spirit's whole form. Lucy was then covered by a sphere like the one in her Urano Metria and was transported back to ground in a second. She saw that Jellal was also being housed in a sphere, his wounds were quickly healing. The light in the ceiling grew larger until it broke down into seven different beams.

'Wait, those colors!' Lucy exclaimed internally. The red light covered Natsu; The orange for Laxus; yellow covered Wendy; green took Gajeel; blue swallowed Juvia; indigo blanketed Gray; and Erza was swallowed by the violet light. Their injuries were disappearing. 'Those were the colors my pendant changes to.' Lucy looked down at the key in her hand. It was back to its old, vintage design.

"Wah!" Natsu was surprised when he saw himself in a piece of a broken mirror lying on the ground. His skin took on a reddish hue. Red scales appeared on his forehead and along the edges of his face. Dragon wings adorned his back. He looked to the others. They were checking themselves out, eyes widened in astonishment.

He took a glance to his fellow Dragon Slayers. They too have undergone similar changes to him. Laxus' skin took on the color of orange. Orange scales completely covered the entirety of his arms and there were also scales running along his abdomen. His dragon wings were even larger than his. 'What the? Why's Laxus has have bigger wings than me?' He internally cursed.

Wendy, on the other hand, has yellowish hue on her skin. Her scales ran along her hand and only stopping on the wrists. Her wings were different than theirs. It was more like of a bird than a reptile.

Most surprising among their league of Dragon Slayers was Gajeel. It was unexpected. Green hue colored his skin as scales formed in his pectoral muscles. His wings, just like them were those of a reptilian origin. Its appearance gave of a vibe of extreme weight.

"What the fuck? Why am I green?" He complained.

"Green is the color of Earth Magic. And Iron, Metal or Steel is composed of earthen substances." Jellal theorized. He was getting better now but not yet completely back in full health. He was still inside his own sphere.

Natsu glanced at the other three members. Last time, it was only the Dragon Slayers that received a boost from Lucy but now, even three of their friends were included. Most of all, they all have gone transformations and all of their wounds were all erased.

"Juvia thinks that this is too embarrassing." The Water Mage was donning a blue seashell bra and replacing her legs was a blue tail like Aquarius' however it glittered as light shone on it. Lucky for her, she was encased in a sphere of water. Its appearance seemed to remind Natsu of something.

'Yes, that's right! That eerie looking substance looked exactly like Luce's whip.' He internally exclaimed. "Nah, I'm pretty sure Ice Princess will like that." He joked, causing the girl to blush.

"What's that, Ash Breath?" Gray snapped. Medieval-looking armor covered his whole body but instead of metallic material, it was entirely composed of ice. Eerie indigo colored ice.

"Nothing, Ice Cube."

"DO I HEAR A FIGHT BREAKING?" A loud screeching voice deafened them, making them wince.

"The hell with that, Erza?" Laxus growled. It was bad enough to hear it with human ears but hearing it with dragon ears? That shit's gonna bleed their ears to death.

"Can it." Gajeel said just as the redhead could respond.

True to her title, Titania eventually deduced that this armor uses Sound Magic and therefore, she has to modulate her voice for her friends to properly hear her.

"Cool! Never had a Sound Armor before." Erza said giddily as she glanced down at her armor. The set was composed of violet metal. Her breast plate extended to her waist and exposed her ample chest. Shoulder guards adorned her bare shoulders and armor also covered her arms and hands. A flowing white skirt with horizontal violet lines in the bottom covered her until mid-thighs. Her boots wrapped tightly around her legs and thighs. Adorning her head was a headphone of the same material. She had on a pair of swords. Its blade has a distinct eerie violet appearance.

Flow of time eventually returned and Sael found himself floating in the air. He looked up and noticed that the swirling mass of clouds have disappeared, even the blond bitch was nowhere to be found. He looked in every corner until he found that she was at the ground together with her band of stupid overly-dramatic, nakama-babbling weaklings.

'Tch. How the hell did she do that?' He internally cursed. "Seriously a Magic upgrade? Did you hurt your brains too much that you forgot that I can seal your Magic." He mocked, putting his hands in front of him as a gesture of his sealing Magic but then quickly noticed something. "You…you've turned them into Spirits!" He exclaimed in sudden astonishment.

"Red for fire. Orange for Electricity. Yellow for Air. Green for Earth. Blue for Water. Indigo for Ice. And Violet for Sound" Lucy confirmed which infuriated the demon more.

"Bitch!" The demon growled as he swooped down and tried to lunge at the blonde but just as he could even reach his target, eerie, orange lightning knocked him to ground.

"Lay off of my woman!" Laxus growled. Sparks danced along his whole body.

"GRAHHH!"

So, the old Mage dared to defy Laxus. The Laxus. Sael dashed towards the man and punched him in the face. Laxus reflexively ducked down and saw that there's an opening. Lightning-covered fist flew towards Sael's stomach but by reflex, their opponent did a backflip and kicked the blond on the chin, making him stagger. Laxus quickly regained his stance and made a continuous attack on the demon's face. As an end offense, the blond man smacked him with brute force that sent him towards the Fire Dragon Slayer.

"GAHHH!" Sael wiped the blood from his face when he managed to recompose himself after Laxus's barrage of moves.

"With a flame on the right hand! And a flame on the left hand! When you combine the flames together! FIRE DRAGON'S BRILLIANT FLAME!" A large ball of eerie red flame came towards the demon. He tried to jump away but his left leg was caught, burning it.

"Salamander!" Sael winced at the pain, cursing. He jumped a safe distance away from the pink-haired bastard.

"ARMS X ARMOR X VERNIER!" Eerie yellowish appeared before Wendy. Her friends exuded quavering auras. Gajeel ran towards their opponent and punched him in the guts. Sael caught his fist with his own.

"IRON DRAGON'S HARD FIST!" Green eerie Magic Circle grew in-between their connected fists. The ground below started to form a crater. Sael was pushed back. As if not yet done, the Iron Dragon Slayer followed it with a metal covered knee kick on the man's abdomen, sending him towards Juvia.

"WATER NEBULA!" Two waves of eerie blue water sprung from Juvia's sphere, rushed and blasted her target into the air with tremendous force. Gray and Erza jumped to form a combination attack.

"ICE MAKE: FREEZING DEATH SCYTHE!" Giant eerie scythe of indigo ice formed in Frost's hands. Using the gained momentum, the raven-haired youth brought it down and froze the demon mid-air.

"The armor's new so I'm going to improvise. SCREECHING BLADE!" Erza's swords began to vibrate sonic energies as she slashed the ice with eerie violet crescent energy. It made a screeching sound as it shattered the ice.

Sael escaped the grasp of his opponents and flew higher and faster and when he reached the ceiling, he made fast hands gestures and a Magic Seal appeared that destroyed the ceiling, revealing the sky. It was red; the moon was emitting a dangerous aura of crimson-colored light.

"What the? That Magic Seal is even larger than the Jupiter Cannon of Phantom Guild created!" Alarm blared in Erza's mind. She remembered on how much it destroyed her strongest defensive armor, Adamantine Armor and almost cost her life.

"How can we survive that big of an Abyss Break?!" Tears escaped Juvia's eyes as her knees trembled. The Abyss Break Sael released just a while ago almost took out all of their guild's life.

"Don't falter!" Laxus roared. "Prove to me that you're all not just a bunch of weaklings, spouting random shit about nakama power!" He clenched his fists in anger. "Natsu, Wendy, Gajeel, ready your asses or I'll have them for dinner!" He smirked towards his fellow Dragon Slayers.

A huge torrent of energy burst from the Magic Circle.

"Get ready, everyone!" Erza bellowed.

"Ready?!" A smirk graced Laxus mouth. Everyone nodded. "GO!"

"FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!" Natsu took on a stance and heavily planted his feet on the ground. A large red Magic Seal appeared in front of him as the eerie red flames burst forth from it.

"LIGHTNING DRAGON'S ROAR!" Large orange-colored eerie lightning escaped the Magic Seal in front of Laxus, releasing concentrated destructive element that followed Natsu's Spell.

"SKY DRAGON'S ROAR!" A faint yellow tornado came out of the Magic Seal Wendy procured.

"IRON DRAGON'S ROAR!" The eerie green substance covered the iron that Gajeel released. Their attacks connected with Sael's Spell.

Sael pushed more of his energy in his Spell, gaining him the upper hand. He was pushing them back. The ground to which they planted their feet to keep them steady was breaking. A laugh escaped his lips but he was silenced when he noticed that veins started to bulge in his hands, climbing up in his arms.

"He's gaining on them!" Gray exclaimed as he saw that his friends were being pushed back and sank to the concrete. "I won't just stand by!"

"Wait, Gray-sama, me too!" Juvia, in her water sphere, lifted her left arm and swung it downwards, subsequently swinging her right arm backwards and stretched it upwards and creating a ferocious whirlpool of eerie blue water. "WINGS OF LOVE!" The tornado of water burst from her sphere and made contact with Abyss Break. However, they were still being pushed back.

"Still not enough!" Gray seethed. "ICE MAKE: ICE DRAGON!" A large dragon made of solid eerie indigo ice erupted from the cold mist. "ICE DRAGON'S ROAR!" It gathered the mist to its mouth and fired a beam of indigo towards Sael's attack. It seemed to have done the trick as it evened out the clash but Sael gave more of his powers, eventually putting them at a disadvantage.

"MARK OF THE MUSE!" Erza crossed her swords and made a slashing motion. A large x-shaped violet mark appeared and flew towards the other six elements. It made contact at the end of the Abyss Break while the other colors pushed it.

"Tch." Gathering the last of his energy, the demon released more of his powers, eventually overwhelming the seven. However, the veins enlarged and crept towards his face. He could feel himself getting weaker and probably, older! "No, my life force!" Alarm blared loudly in his system. He can't stop this. His Magic was literally eating his life out of himself. 'Shit! The moon's doing this!' He cussed. He could remember now. "Darkness Magic is fortified by the Blood Moon!"

"What?!" Erza gasped. How on Earthland were they still being overwhelmed? Erza scanned the surroundings for any reinforcement, and then she saw Lucy and Jellal. Both were still inside their own spheres but now they were standing. Her eyes widened when she saw that the blue-haired man took a stance.

Jellal crossed his arms above his head and began casting a spell. All nearby shadows were drawn towards him and formed a small black orb. It began to grow in size and gained white lights inside of it like a night sky.

Lucy, on the other hand, closed her eyes and chanted.

"Survey the Heavens, Open the Heavens…

All the stars, far and wide…

Show thy appearance…

With such shine.

Oh, Tetrabiblos…

I am the ruler of stars…

Aspect become complete…

Open thy malevolent gate…

Oh, 88 Stars of the heaven…"

"SHINE! URANO METRIA!" Lucy finished the final word of the chant and opened her eyes. The orbs glowed brighter.

"ALTAIRIS!" Jellal thrust his arms directly towards the man. The sphere of night was then surrounded by Lucy's orbs.

"ARGHHHH!" Both of their attacks made contact on the man, losing his hold on the Abyss Break. Sael could feel pain in all angles of his body. He was being sucked dry by his own powers. His skin aged in a rapid state until it only clung to his bones. "GRRRAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" He let out a howl as the combined light completely swallowed and obliterated his whole body.

"GO!" The other seven used this chance to push more of their energy. Intense light envelope over the whole room and sky, blinding them and when it all cleared up, there was no trace of the demon found. Their transformation was reverted back to normal but thankfully, their wounds were all healed. The barrier protecting Lucy and Jellal dissipated as the dome that healed the other guilds too.

"It's finished…fina…AHHHHH!" Lucy fell down. Her face contorted as excruciating pain took over her. Her body twisted in agony.

"LUCY!" Jellal knelt down beside her as the others ran towards them. Laxus pried the blue-haired man to see what's wrong.

"Lucy? Lucy? Lucy?" The blond man started to shake her but it was no use. She was still in pain and probably can't hear a thing. Intricate red marking began to trace her body.

"T-These markings…" Jellal trailed off. He has seen this before.

"It's an Origin Release." Erza confirmed everyone's suspicion.