Chapter 36: Of Water & Ice

WARNING: This chapter will be slightly rated because of the profanities. Thanks for the encouraging reviews! Really love you guys for staying with me! And yes, Kurayami Angel, the story has barely even begun! I've yet to add in the romance, relationship development between the characters, Acheron and others! :D

Summary at glance of Oscura Siete:

Accordingly to magic strength.

Shane Fhuyr (Leader of Oscura Siete): currently in battle with Vannessa Scott.

Rage Dmitri: currently in battle with Natsu Dragneel.

Seth Pristine: currently in battle with Gray Fullbuster.

Rhiannon Thea: currently in battle with Juvia Loxar.

Bobo & Popo (WON).

Fayne Lovelace (LOST).

A yawning dark chasm had formed before her and six pairs of burning red eyes bored into hers that would forever etch itself into her mind.

Juvia took a step back from the intensity of the murderous intent that was reflected in Hyra's twelve blood-red eyes. They were fixed unblinkingly on her own. Then, it unleashed a roar so loud and fierce that it created sound waves that resonated throughout the area. Juvia managed to suppress a startled gasp.

"This is Laracal Vacon Hydra," Rhiannon told her as a matter-of-factly. "My pet," she added.

So that was what she meant by a Water Element Manipulator…

She's able to summon water demons…?

Juvia's heart hammered against her chest as it revealed itself from the chasm that had cloaked its body in the shadows. In the moonlight, its body glistened with moisture, as slick as a fish's skin and was scattered with silver scales. Droplets of an unknown liquid splattered on Juvia's cheek as it flicked its chillingly long tail. There were six heads attached to long necks that finally connected to the body. Each pair of eyes was fixed on hers as they smiled eerily, revealing rows of serrated teeth. Atop its numerous heads was a pair of curved horns like those of a bull. All in all, the…serpent-like thing towered above her.

How in the world am I supposed to fight this Hydra thing…?

Juvia had never fought against a water demon in her entire life. She had heard of rumors of them though, living in isolated and uncharted regions that were uninhabited by people and considered as unable to support life. Of course, being the skeptical one, she had never believed in any of them. They were just rumors anyway, and rumors were just rumors which come and pass after making its rounds through those gullible ears. She had never imagined one to be standing in front of her like this one did, now. How a mage like Rhiannon who had managed to tame one, will never cease to escape her.

"Attack her, Laracal Vacon!" Rhiannon commanded, stabbing a finger in Juvia's direction.

The water serpent roared again before it made for the eighteen-year-old Fairy Tail mage.

She managed to get out of the way, but only narrowly. The hem of her skirt disintegrated away slightly but she did not notice.

Juvia watched in muted horror as the grass withered where she had only been standing on, only seconds before. Rhiannon placed one long slender finger on the side of her cheek and tilted her head to one side. "Oh, did I forget to mention that Laracal Vacon's breaths are toxic and will definitely be lethal for humans and other organisms alike?"

Now she tells me…

Juvia did not respond but kept her focus on the serpent monster.

You can get poisoned, you know. Laracal Vacon Hydra's has so thick a poison that any water attacks are of no use," Rhiannon gloated.

The disturbed expression was visibly evident on Juvia's face that the other girl giggled.

"Finish her off!" Rhiannon screeched. "And this time, aim properly!"

Juvia gritted her teeth and took up a fighting stance, readying herself for anything.

Without missing a beat, the Hydra drew itself to its full height, extending its six necks before it went in for the kill. Two heads with their razor-sharp teeth exposed, came at her from every direction. Left, right and from the front.

The blue-haired girl leapt into the air to avoid them and unleashed a counterattack of her own. She made a slicing motion through the air. "Water slicer!"

Strips of air mixed in with blades of water, a technique that was capable of shredding her adversaries and slashing through even solid rock. They were right on target and hit the Hydra, piercing the six susceptible necks and sliced right through the skin and bone. As she landed onto the ground, the serpent's six dead heads dropped uselessly to the ground with a dull thud, leaving twitching stumps in their wake. An unidentified white liquid oozed out of the stumps.

Yatta…!

"Oh no, you shouldn't have done that," Rhiannon told her, shaking her head. "You only made it angrier…"

"What do you mean?"

Juvia's smile faded as her question was answered by the Hydra's sudden growl.

Just then, two additional heads sprouted from each of the six stumps with a sickening crack. Juvia watched in revulsion as a newly-formed Hydra with twelve heads glared back at her, their snake-like tongue flicking in and out.

What, in the world happened…?

For one moment, everything was silent before all hell broke loose and the Fairy Tail mage could watch horrorstruck at the birth of a gale that was transpiring right before his very eyes.

Gray made a rude noise as he shielded his eyes with his arms from the flying debris and dust churning around due to the air waves being generated from the tornado.

Without warning, the magic-infused cyclone headed straight at the ice mage. The momentum of the gale was increasing and Gray was hardly able to maintain his balance without being blown away by the force. He had to do something to stop it somehow but what?

His eyes stung so much that it made his vision all watery.

Damn it…!

I can't even see anything…!

Before the nineteen-year-old could react, the gale was upon him. His pupils dilated as he stared at it in terror, a strangled gasp escaping his throat. Almost instantly, his body was flung violently into the air as he got himself entangled in the tornado.

Seth chuckled when he heard the echo of a scream.

I told you, you wouldn't be able to dodge this…

He had to end this match and fast since it was a definite waste of time; they had a time limit for each assignment. They were wasting it with every passing second. It was not the time to be playing around…even Rhiannon should know that. He glanced at his girlfriend. He was right; Rhiannon was indeed serious about wanting to conclude this battle.

After all, she had summoned that Water Beast…

I'm sorry to say this but you and your girlfriend will have to die here, Gray Fullbuster…!

"ICE MAKE ARROWS!"

A frosty blue magic circle exploded as Gray called upon his ice-make magic to counterattack. Sharp arrows made of ice were directed at the whirling gale. However, it was pointless. The arrows simply bounced off and shattered, only to be consumed by the tornado.
"Your struggles are useless, Gray Fullbuster…" Seth told him but his voice was drowned out by the deafening wind. "There is no way you can ever defeat my Wirbelstrum."

Gray landed onto his back with a sickening thud as he bit down on his lip, hard until it bled in order to suppress his pain. Panting, he stood up again. His legs screamed out against the mutiny of his painful defiance and his muscles trembled in exhaustion.

He knew he had to find a vulnerable spot, any weakness that he could exploit and take advantage of.

"Oh?" Seth raised an eyebrow as the last of the tornado died away finally in a passing breeze. "I didn't know you could still stand after taking on that last attack directly."

Fighting against the overwhelming waves of pain and fatigue, Gray managed a smirk. "I'll win…"

The other mage laughed at this. "Yeah? Are you sure about that, Gray Fullbuster?" he scoffed. "You can't even land a single attack on me while I can to you."

"ICE MAKE GEYSER!"

Without missing a beat, Gray froze the ground before him as he created an ice tower with protruded spikes.

"Saseru ka!" Seth snapped as he unleashed his weather magic against Gray's ice. "Jet Stream Sturm!"

Ice magic and weather magic collided with one another. Gray's ice tower was demolished as soon as it was created by the cutting wind and ice shards flew everywhere. The skin on Gray's exposed cheek was cut open by a stray ice shard, drawing blood. The nineteen-year-old made a rude noise and took a step back.

"Wand of Blitz!"

The lightning crashed against Gray's newly-formed ice shield, and it broke apart into useless ice pieces.

Shimatta…!

Seth spotted an opening and attacked again, without warning; the lightning had struck its intended target finally. The ice mage's scream reverberated throughout the area as he collapsed feebly on to the ground. The after-effects of the lightning's electricity sizzled on Gray's skin as smoke wafted from his burnt flesh and clothes. His vision grew hazy as he fought to keep his eyes open; he did not want to lost consciousness now. Every breath he took in was conscious and pure agony as his lungs contracted and expanded painfully, his body trying to absorb and circulate the oxygen.

Seth smirked and sauntered over to him, in a triumph swagger. He stared down at the fallen mage as he jabbed Gray's injured cheek with his shoe.

"I told you, didn't I, that I will win this battle. It's useless to struggle against me, Gray Fullbuster."

The Oscura Siete mage stepped back. "You were hardly even worth a fight, Gray. Sorosoro, Rhiannon will probably be finishing up with Juvia Loxar as well."

Juvia…!

Trembling, Gray pushed himself up and gritted his teeth against the throbbing pain that pounded into his brain. He grabbed Seth's ankle and used it as a support to sit upright.

"Oh, so you are still conscious?"

"I can still fight…" Gray hissed faintly yet his voice was severe, his grip tightening.

"Well then, I'll make sure you can't do that at all." Without warning, Seth kneed him in the abdomen and flung him bodily to the ground.

The Fairy Tail mage's eyes widened as he gasped painfully, the wind forcefully being pushed out of his body. Gray burst into a round of coughs as he spat out blood. His vision was dimming as his body grew numb, as a defense mechanism against the mounting and overwhelming waves of pain. Nevertheless, the nineteen-year-old fought back, his fists clenched in effort. He knew that if he lost consciousness…

"J-J-Juvia…" he whispered the water mage's name.

She was going to be in trouble if he did. Still, Gray's grip on Seth's ankle did not waver.

"Aren't you going to let the fuck go?" Seth demanded as he shook his leg roughly, trying to shake Gray's hand off him.

In spite of everything, Gray sneered at him. "No. I'll win, I'll make sure of that…"

Mini Japanese Translation Dictionary:

Saseru ka: As if I will let you

Shimatta: Damn it/ Oh no

Sorosoro: Soon