Business and response to reviews:
Once again, apologies for the prolonged update of this chapter. This week provided quite a bit of time to start and finish this chapter, and so hopefully the fighting sequences aren't as lacking. Besides writing this, time has been spent reading The Legend of the Sun Knight translations on the official website. It really is quite an enjoyable series and is highly recommended to anybody considering it. It possesses a manhwa version, but the translations are volumes ahead. If there are any questions or concerns, feel free to leave a review or PM.
Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima.
Chapter 37: Waning Supremacy
Worry gnawed at Levy's heart, and she was sure that Lisanna was feeling the same way. All they were able to do was wait for Pantherlily, for it would be he that could tell them the status of the other groups on Tenrou Island. Levy and Lisanna needed their guild mates to return, without them they were practically defenseless against an attack. Levy glanced over at some of the injured that lied unconscious on their makeshift beds on the ground. Gajeel, Mirajane, and Master Makarov were all severely injured, they were in no state to fight again, and they probably wouldn't even be able to open their eyes anytime soon. What they needed was advanced medical treatment and a place to recover undisturbed. As things were at the moment, neither one of those conditions could be achieved nor was there a suitable alternative. All they could do was hope that everything would end soon.
Staring aimlessly through a light drizzle that had started, Lisanna had only two people on her mind. Her battered sister, Mirajane, and Natsu, but with knowing how Mirajane was fairing, Lisanna mainly focused on Natsu. She hadn't seen him since they left the boat. "Natsu, where are you? You're coming, right?" Lisanna's thoughts were interrupted when Levi suddenly bolted out of the seat she was occupying. Lisanna looked ahead in the direction she was running and then she repeated the action in which Levy took. Pantherlily was finally back.
Lisanna wanted to start questioning him right away about the whereabouts of everybody, especially Natsu, but Levy got to him before her, and taking note of the scratches that covered him, deemed it more important to make sure he was alright first. Usually, Lisanna wouldn't mind such questions, but as far as she was concerned Pantherlily was in superb condition when compared to those who she and Levy were watching over. Her impatience was growing while Levy scrutinized the marks covering Pantherlily's body, even Pantherlily claimed to be fine. Finally, Levy breathed a sigh of relief and waited expectantly herself for the news that Pantherlily came to bear.
With a smile he announced, "There is help on the way, the groups have started to come here. It should not take them long." Both Levy and Lisanna looked at each other in delight, gaining the motivation to look after their comrades just a little longer while waiting for more to arrive. A snapping branch attracted the attention of both girls.
"They really did arrive here quickly!" exclaimed Lisanna, recognizing the sound of footsteps. Levy rose to her feet with Pantherlily in her arms, turning towards the direction which the footsteps were coming from.
Whispering to herself so that even Pantherlily could not hear, Levy whispered, "With this we can get through this. It's disheartening that our master has been beaten, but we as a guild must continue onward. I cannot lose hope."
From there the figure responsible for the footsteps came into the clearing. Levy and Lisanna stiffened, recognizing that he was not of their own guild, meaning he was an enemy. He swept his right arm up and snapped his fingers to introduce his presence. Addressing Levy's soft spoken comment not meant to be heard by the ears of others, Rustyrose announced, "It is important to know when to give up. Now, I will eat every single one of you, so that no fairy is left."
Calling forth his Jet Black Sword, Rustyrose slashed it forward in a frenzy, causing Lisanna, Levy and Pantherlily to be knocked crudely to the ground. Looking up at the assailant with dread, before they could be attacked again, Rustyrose was sent soaring from the side until he coarsely collided with surrounding trees, bushes, and the ground. Unable to conceal their shocked expressions, they strained to see who it was that had sent their foe flying. From his place amidst the dirt, Rustyrose glanced up and glowered, "Who are you?"
Standing to the side, but making their presence known, approached Freed and Bixlow. Lisanna beamed with joy at this sight and cried, "Freed! Bixlow!"
"What are you two doing here?" Pantherlily asked, astounded that the two hadn't already left the island as they claimed they would.
Freed answered Pantherlily's inquiry. "We saw the signal flare, and so we returned here along with Gildarts."
In the time Freed took to answer Pantherlily, Rustyrose returned upon his feet and regained his posture. Eyeing the two newcomers, he huffed, "Well, a couple more people in the mix will not make a difference." Once again, Jet Black Sword was summoned.
"Well, from the beginning we never intended fighting fair. Now we are going to take you down!" Bixlow chortled.
In addition to Bixlow's words, Freed added, "Due to your crime you have committed of hurting my nakama, the rules no longer apply to me." With their craving to fight revealed, Bixlow instructed his dolls to take on Baryon Formation in order to attack Rustyrose. The five dolls took on the pentagonal pattern and started producing magical energy.
Sensing the destruction the release of the magical power could cause, Rustyrose recited, "That which dwells in my left hand is a golden shield that pushes back everything." A golden shield appeared from the left arm of Rustyrose. Rustyrose held that shield up as a inundation of magical power was fired from those five spinning dolls. Holding his ground against the torrential stream of magical energy, Freed wasted no time in casting Dark Écriture: Pain. Just as Bixlow's assault ended, Rustyrose skillfully dodged Freed's attempt at harming him by summoning Pegasus Wings.
With the feathered wings that had appeared on his shoes, Rustyrose leapt into the air so that the purple salvo that carried the pain Freed intended to deliver passed directly below his feet. From his place in the air, Rustyrose questioned the two below them with, "Do you actually think you can defeat my infinite power of creativity?" With erratic motions from where he levitated in the air, Rustyrose called, "Come forth, Sacred Guardian Beast, Belfast the Hurricane!" Black magical power gathered to form a massive, abnormal amount. The profusion of the magical energy morphed until a beast with blue scaled wings and black panoply covering the top half of its enormous body. It eyes glowed dully as a strident shriek emitted from its ghoulish face, presenting its razor fangs. Both Freed and Bixlow braced themselves as the monstrous creation shrieked and outspread its wings. Seeming to be very much entertained, Rustyrose commanded his chosen creation, "Tear them to pieces!"
Unbelievable in the eyes of Pantherlily, he could not imagine how Freed and Bixlow would be able to defeat Belfast the Hurricane. Bixlow simply stepped forward so that he lie right in the path of Rustyrose's beast, which was zealous about carrying out the orders of his master. No longer hosting an uncanny smile on his face, Bixlow started speak as he raised his right hand, with his index and middle finger pointing out. Following that his eyes shone green from behind his helmet. The beast stiffened, and Rustyrose displayed a confused expression at his creation's inability to carry out his orders and his lack of control of it. Having complete authority over Belfast the Hurricane, Bixlow swiped down his two extended fingers, causing the beast to let out an anguished howl that was left unconcluded as it exploded.
Witnessing the annihilation of his beloved creation, Rustyrose was left awestruck, stuttering, "Th- that is I- im- impossible..." Not allowing Rustyrose to collect himself, Freed took charge and cast Dark Écriture: Absolute Shadow upon himself, the runes shining against his body. In an instant, Freed transformed into something that resembled a dark, demonic knight. With increased stats, especially where strength was concerned, Freed dashed forward with his saber in hand and slashed Rustyrose cutting him down from the sky until he lay flat upon the ground.
As Rustyrose fell, Lisanna and Pantherlily were only able to watch in silence, being amazed to the point of being speechless. During the fight, Evergreen had awoken and smiled as she watched the battle concerning her Thunder God Tribe. Near Evergreen, Levy commented not surprised, yet instead proudly, "This is how they are when they get serious."
Gazing up from where he lies, Rustyrose's sight was set upon the figures of Freed and Bixlow that stood supreme above him.
Smugness was easily perceived by his smile as Bixlow taunted, "Get up."
On the other hand, while Freed was still influenced by his Dark Écriture: Absolute Shadow regarded Rustyrose with condescension as he coldly decreed, "There is no path of redemption for you."
Sensing no mercy from his adversaries, Rustyrose felt a disconcerting sensation take hold of his heart. He wondered, "Could this feeling in my heart be… fear?"
Taking heed to Bixlow's proposition, Rustyrose gradually pushed himself up back upon his feet. While getting up, he thought, "Heh, maybe this fear that I'm feeling isn't that bad," looking up once again at his adversaries, Rustyrose adjusted his glasses while having a suspiciously pleased expression. Pleased to the point to where he was almost euphoric, Rustyrose announced aloud, arms spread out wide, "Fear just gives more inspiration for my imagination! Ghosts of Brittia!"
A purple shaft of constantly moving beings swallowed Freed, Bixlow and Rustyrose. Cackling and wailing could be heard from every direction. These ghosts wrapped their immaterial selves around the bodies of Freed and Bixlow, leaving them fast in place, despite their struggles to get free from the hindering tangles. Taking advantage of their immobility, Rustyrose fell back again upon his Jet Black Sword as his preferred method of attack. Charging forward, Rustyrose brutally confronted the two now that he held the upper hand. At first, Freed and Bixlow were able to hold their own and endure Rustyrose's efforts, but after a short duration of time the situation worsened for them.
Freed and Bixlow collapsed as if they were exhausted, even though they had exhibited great power and vitality less than a minute before. Within both their bodies, Freed and Bixlow could feel their magic draining; taking what seemed to be life force with it. From what the two could tell, it wasn't just them that were affected, but also those nearby. Levy, Lisanna and Pantherlily panted upon the ground, and those who were injured seemed to be fraught in their sleep as the strain pressed even more harshly upon their bodies.
"What could have possibly caused this?" Freed thought weakly, inhaling deep yet short breaths, his vision becoming unfocused. Rustyrose indicated that he knew the answer, but had no intention of letting them have the luxury of knowing. Instead, he laughed at the fairies that lie despondent before his very eyes.
Recognizing Bluenote for his skill, Gildarts shouted at those in which he just protected, "Go! Get away from him!" Rushing forward towards Bluenote, Bluenote stops Gildarts by flipping the piece of rock he was running upon over. Before the slab of rock could once again touch the ground and crush Gildarts, it shattered into pieces that became as small as dust. Diving from his place in the air, Gildarts threw out his fist, which met with Bluenote's as he jumped off his place on the ground in order to make contact with Gildarts just a few seconds sooner. Resulting from the clash was a remarkable exertion of magical energy that razed much of the surrounding landscape.
When the two separated, Wendy, Cana, Charla and Natsu witnessed that it was obvious that Bluenote had been overpowered by Gildarts as he buckled back into the ground, his expression exposing his surprise that he could have been beaten in an exchange of blows.
With Bluenote taking meager time to recover, Wendy advised, "We'd best be gone, as Gildart's told us." She didn't want to stay around such a dangerous man and get caught up in the fight once more.
"Wendy's right, come on. As it is, we'd only be in his way." Saying this aloud made Cana feel even more frustrated at her ineptness.
"But there must be a way we can help him fight! I want to help Gildarts!" Natsu showed he had no intention of leaving as his body stiffened. Cana and Wendy solely stared at him forlornly, and Natsu eventually gave in to their silent plea and escaped the battleground with them.
Commencing with their duel, their way of fighting mainly consisted of throwing punches at each other, along with releasing magic with each punch. Both being physically fit men, in both strength and stamina; the two remained standing throughout each other's strikes, even as their magic caused the atmosphere around them to become perilously charged with potent magic. Their fists connected with each other's face, chest, abdomen, and many more places until the two separated from each other, a respectable distance lying between the two. Under the strain of the dense atmosphere and the excessive vigor used, both men faced each other, sweating and breathing heavily.
Raising his right arm, Gildarts began to rush towards Bluenote once more, determined to finish him while he was in the same state as he, but as he neared Gildarts felt all strength dispersefrom in and around him. Bluenote noticed Gildarts as he started to stumble and took the opportunity to smash him into the ground. Gildarts could not find any strength he could use to fight back. He was entirely in his opponents hands, and his opponent was not kind at all. Entertained at the chance to utterly thrash such a strong opponent, Bluenote took his time in beating Gildarts, but kept him alive continuously for one more hit.
From their distance away, Natsu, Cana, Wendy and the Exceeds could only stare with blanch countenances at how the fight was now unfolding. They felt devastatingly weak as well, for they could not do anything to help but watch from where they were. Only Cana was able to find the strength to whisper, "Gil- Gildarts, how could this be happening?"