Business and response to reviews:

As Winter Break happens here, any promises made concerning this chapter have been fulfilled. While not as motivated as in the past, this story will be finished…eventually. As of now there is no endpoint in mind, and although it may sound rude, get used to updates that take an extended amount of time( as y'all probably already are). With the new year, there might be some time that can be used to work on this more often, with changing schedules and all. Now, this chapter is probably a bit choppy in terms of fight scenes; they were worked on in pieces. More personally, recently I have made myself an apple ID after using my parents' for years. After already buying a few items of the iTunes and app stores with this new account, none of it will sync without deleting all my previous data. I do not want to rebuy any of the songs my parents already own. After some research, after turning on my home sync option and inserting my ID and theirs', it is said that I may transfer their data to my account so that it won't be deleted off my device. However, if I do so, they will have access to my account. If I go with the home sync option, will it automatically download my data onto their account? That is a scenario that is to be avoided, for although I have not bought anything inappropriate, my taste in songs and movies could become a point of mockery in my family. Is there any other way, or any more information on this home sync option that one would think as of being useful to me?

Disclaimer:Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima.

Chapter 39: Thundering Escalation

Azuma fell to the ground with Erza following a few seconds behind, the only difference was that she was the victor. Azuma managed to lean back upon a tree, but from then movement was impossible for him. Erza was only a short distance away from him, more than close enough to see the sprouts that appeared upon his body.

Watching yet unsure as of what to do, Azuma noticed Erza's inquisitive gaze and explained, "It is the side-effect of overusing my magic, but don't worry. I have returned everyone's powers, as promised."

Realizing that she had achieved her purpose and that there was nothing she could do to help her enemy, Erza decided to act upon selfishness. She asked, "Did you know a man named Jellal Fernandes?"

Gazing right into her eyes, Azuma replied, "I did. Was he somebody important to you?" At this Erza did not respond, but her gaze wavered and lost its focus upon his. That was answer enough. "I apologize. It was never a part of my intentions to include him. It must have been Ultear Milkovich's doing as part of a plan to temporarily turn their eyes away from our doings."

Erza couldn't assault Azuma with any hate concerning what had happened to Jellal, it was not his fault. Besides, she wanted Azuma to use the time he had left to answer what could be deemed more important questions. "Why do you feel the need to revive Zeref so much?"

"It's to get closer to the original to the source of Magic." Erza started to ask her next question as Azuma finally merged with the tree completely.

Even without Azuma being able to answer her, Erza finished her question, "What do you plan to do once you have gotten closer to that source?" Even without an impending response, Erza decided to wait there a little longer among the whispers of nature, knowing that now her comrades will regain their strength due to the victory they helped her achieve. Now, she only needed to regain hers.

Again and again Gildart's face was grinded into the ground by Bluenote's foot. While the latter was finding extreme pleasure and amusement, the previous was trying to find a way to strike back, only to have no strength to do anything but endure, but even that persistence was wearing thin. Taunts flowed out of the mouth of Bluenote, earning only grimaces and scowls from Gildarts, until something marked what could be consider a comeback in flipping the tables. As Bluenote's foot stomped down again, it did not connect with Gildarts' face. Instead, it was clasped by the hand of Gildarts, although now both foot and hand were trembling with strain. Gildarts' tilted his face from off the ground to reveal an annoyed smile that accompanied the words, "How am I supposed to keep my pristine image as an examiner when I get all rustled up?" At these words Bluenote was thrust to the side as Gildarts pushed himself off the ground, although he neither got frustrated nor upset. Rather, he looked thrilled that Gildarts would finally grant him a serious battle.

With a rising spike in magical power, Bluenote cast, "Black Hole!" A distortion seemed to waver in the air, when in seconds it grew larger, distorting all the area around. Bluenote had created an infinite point of gravity upon the face of the world, and it had the potential of swallowing up Tenrou Island at the least.

Not particularly threatened, Gildarts allowed himself an inward sigh as he thought, "Well, he's not famous for nothing, but should he be taking such risks? Well, this will only end well. He has already provoked me, it is time to show him that Fairy Tail is capable of just about anything, even if it goes against the assertive flow and voice of the world, or as was commonly the case with them, authoritative command."

Bluenote focused on the glory of his creation, as it amassed. He didn't even bother to consider Gildarts and how he might react toward his invincible, at least, not until the black hole started to crack. Bluenote was stunned as his face slightly paled, then with glowering eyes whipped his head to stare at Gildarts. Indeed, it was Gildarts work, who could not even offer a smug smile at the moment, as all his attention was upon the black hole. As the flow was disrupted, the epicenter no longer acted as a bond for the compulsory inward force, causing it to disperse as it shattered. Immediately following the negation of Black Hole, bracing his body as he lurched forward with arm posed to strike, while bent Gildarts' fist flew up into Bluenote's chin as an uppercut, and by imbuing the uppercut with Crush, Gildarts cast Crushing Evil, Spreading the Truth: Empyrean. Before the even the resulting dust could rise as a result of the force, in a spiral of a white current, Bluenote was swept off his feet and tossed away, farther than could be seen by the eyes of any mage on the island, unknowing where he would land. It was a certain victory for Gildarts, he alone standing on the devastated battlefield. Amidst the surrounding destruction, he collapsed, yet still conscious, onto his back.

With an enervated sigh that was released to be heard by only the sky, Gildarts complained, "Hmph, can't move at all, can I? I must really be getting old." But even after muttering his complaints, Gildarts would be lying to claim he wasn't glad. After all, his fight was finished, now it was time for the young ones to finish matters.

Just as how their strength was lost, it rebounded back to them. In the midst of testing their endurance in their most feeble state, magic once again filled their bodies. Despite the taunts and abuse meted out by Rustyrose, with their recovered strength Freed and Bixlow struck back. There was no time for them to contemplate in awe about the reclamation of their magic, no time to think of a plan, no time to confirm the states of the others they were trying to protect. The best way to protect them would be to press forward, overcome the defeat they had just experienced, which reflected none of their own skill. They were defeated no longer, now they could win.

At a first attempt to stand back up, Bixlow commanded his dolls to charge forward, in a barrage that startled Rustyrose. Avoiding any damage from that sudden onslaught, albeit startled, Rustyrose stumbled backwards a few steps but then braced his ground, not fearing harm from the magical creations. Of course this sudden action had Rustyrose questioning, "How…What is Azuma doing?! It couldn't be that he had lost… That's simply unimaginable, especially to these fairies!" Any answers would have to be found later, for Rustyrose allowed to go unnoticed a certain presence behind the flurry of dolls. In a streak of silver, Freed brandished his sword, slashing Rustyrose with a graceful sweep.

With doubt settling in his heart, Rustyrose found it best to immediately fall upon his trump card. Summoning forth his magical power, the ground started to tremble as Rustyrose once again subpoenaed Tower of Dingir. Already trapped, neither Bixlow nor Freed could move as the tower rose high off the ground. Struggling against its might, neither of them prevailed; even the efforts of Lisanna, Pantherlily, and Levy were in vain. Only the seriously injured were allowed to have remained on the ground, only because the diameter of the circle which was the base of the Tower of Dingir did not reach them. During their futile efforts to escape, their panic grew. Knowing panic to not create a solution, Bixlow and Freed made sure to not lose their reasoning, and despite the dire situation, they were confident in their ability as members of the Thunder God Tribe, their thoughts in synch on how to overcome this catastrophe.

Promptly putting the only plan they had into motion, Bixlow removed his mask, permitting his eyes to be seen. Aware of his power, Rustyrose merely took it upon himself to prepare to gloat in his victory that was certainly soon to come, reminding Bixlow, "Ah, in your desperation, did you forget? I'm wearing glasses, therefore your Figure Eyes shall not work."

With a pretentious look upon his face, Bixlow assured Rustyrose, "You were not the target, for our hope has only one eye open." Puzzled, Rustyrose did not consider turning around, where Elfman pushes himself to his feet. Upon the effort of Elfman, Bixlow continued to make his intentions clear, "I'll be taking control of you."

Twirling around, Rustyrose only saw the slight nod Elfman gave to Bixlow in agreement before receiving a sundering blow to his neck, in the moments following the takeover of Elfman's body and the vague yet resolute command of Bixlow's: "Go!"

With the kick he received, Rustyrose could not maintain his focus, his imagination replaced by white specks exploding behind his eyelids, thus resulting in the fall of his Tower of Dingir. With that dispelling, the ones that were attached to it were left to fall as well, only they were now free and more inspired than ever to cling to the hope that was left to them and hold onto it until the end was reached; the ending where their fallen comrades were protected and the ones who could still fight would express the bond those of Fairy Tailshared and the strength it granted, strength enough to make sure they all survived.

With the beginning of the descent,, Lisanna activated her Animal Soul: Wings, replacing only her arms with wings with wings that were green following the bone of the wings, but the feathers that cleft from it were mostly pink. These wings granted her the ability to fly, and with the rest of her human characteristics intact, she was able to catch Freed with her legs.

Viewing the position of Rustyrose and Elfman from up high, Freed orders Lisanna to launch him downwards towards Rustyrose, which she does with as much force as she could spare. During his free-fall towards Rustyrose, who had now steadied himself upon his two feet, Freed tightened his grip on his saber and secured his arm in proper position for the step he had planned that would finish this.

Pulling the saber from its sheath, Freed declared, "Dark Écriture: Destruction!" with fuchsia magical energy gathered upon his blade, Freed plummeted through the air with Rustyrose watching him without any reaction, except for a vision of unbelief.

Before he had even landed, with the slice of his saber and the magical energy that defined it, upon contact with Rustyrose, both were encircled by the remnant magical energy that was within the sword, amplifying the attack upon Rustyrose from the center of the circle.

So forceful was the assault that Rustyrose was propelled off the ground after taking the hit mostly focused on his chest. Clouting the ground, pain and traumatization overtook his body, leaving Rustyrose with glazed eyes and a gaping mouth, left to eat the dirt he coursed through.

Left unconscious, his unconscious body looked frail in sight of his defeat. On the other hand, Freed and Bixlow stood side by side, standing supreme over Rustyrose. Those who were conscious could only observe them in a state of awe, those being Levy, Lisanna, and Pantherlily. Elfman had already fallen unconscious himself, but Evergreen, with closed eyes but a proud smile, thought, "This is the power of the Thunder God Tribe."

Now, they simply had to wait for the rest of their comrades to come back to them.