Chapter 31
Disclaimer: I do not own High school DxD or Fairy Tail they are property of Ichiei Ishibumi and Hiro Masima respectively.
-In the Gremory Territory-
It was another hard morning of training for the ORC members. They could feel their stamina and magic control increasing, showing the fruits of their labour. They were currently going back to the mansion for lunch before continuing their training.
As they walked through the front doors they were met with a mouth-watering aroma. Natsu and Grayfia have outdone themselves yet again. Xenovia had a happy smile on her face ever since the date with Natsu three days ago. She noticed that she had an increase in power the day after Natsu marked her.
They walked into the dining room and were met with a large assortment of various foods. They enjoyed a wonderful meal and felt reenergised.
"I'm ready to go and learn my Balance Breaker," Issei exclaimed.
"That might be interesting to see," Natsu said to himself.
"Want to go and watch?" Grayfia asked.
"Sure, we don't have any specific plans for today and I think it might be enjoyable to see how far they have come," Natsu replied with a smile.
"Then it's decided we will join them for the afternoon," Grayfia said with a smile of her own.
"You're coming with us?" Akeno asked as a happy smile appeared on her face.
"Yeah, and now you can show me how much stronger you have become," Natsu grinned back at her.
Akeno let out a gleeful shout and threw herself at Natsu. Natsu managed to catch her and prevented both of them from falling down.
"You sure seem excited," Natsu laughed. He knew Akeno would do something like this when she was excited and what could excite her more than spending more time with him since she was forced to do the training unlike Grayfia who had Natsu all to herself the entire time they were off training.
"Don't jump on Natsu like that Akeno, show some restraint," Grayfia said with authority in her voice but Akeno only giggled in response.
The group moved towards the forest where they spent their time training under Azazel's instruction. Natsu saw the destruction of certain locations, guessing that was some of the training locations.
"It seems like the Dragon King has decided to grace us with his presence," Azazel joked as he saw they group that was coming back included Natsu and Grayfia.
"My King, it has been a long time," Tannin bowed his head as he felt Natsu's aura.
"Rise your head Tannin, and greet me like an old friend should," Natsu grinned back at the large Dragon.
The next thing that happened shocked the ORC group who had been training as Tannin's ginormous size shrunk down to the size of an average human.
Tannin walked over to where Natsu was standing and extended his arm. They grabbed one another's elbows in greeting.
'It seems like the life of a reincarnated devil is treating you well," Natsu said as they greeted one another.
"This life does have its perks my King, especially since I'm classified as an Ultimate-Class Devil that gives me quite a lot of freedom. I have however not forgotten my true origins and never will," Tannin said. Even though he was a devil now his first loyalty will always lie with The True Dragon King above all.
"I heard you have been helping Issei with his training. I hope you aren't taking it easy on him," Natsu said with a mischievous grin.
"I have not released my full power against him since it would be counterproductive to kill him before he had a chance to learn anything," Tannin reasoned
"Give him a slight scare with overwhelming power. A breakthrough in combat abilities often comes from the depths of defeat and despair," Natsu commented.
"Wise words my King, I will put your suggestion to the test," Tannin said with another bow before moving towards Issei, increasing his size back to normal before scooping Issei up in his claw and flying away.
"Azazel, mind if I take Xenovia, Wendy and Akeno with me to train them a bit?" Natsu asked the man in charge of the training.
"I assume you would be able to help them a lot so I have no arguments," Azazel replied.
"That's great," Natsu grinned before walking away from the gathered group, indicating for the girls to follow him.
Akeno and Xenovia happily followed him, excited to see what awaits them. Grayfia watched Natsu leave and felt a bit down. Wendy was excited to once again train under Natsu.
"You too Grayfia," Natsu called over his shoulder which got a beaming smile coming from the silver-haired beauty.
The remaining devils of ORC group spread out to their locations.
Natsu found a clearing that would be adequate for what he wanted to teach his mates.
"Wendy, Eossinth wanted to teach you more advanced techniques, so I will open up a portal for you to go to her," Natsu told the young blue-haired girl.
"Really, that would be great. Any idea what she wants to teach me?" Wendy asked she wanted to be prepared.
"She mentioned some more enchantments and more defensive techniques, but she said that she was willing to teach you whatever you want," Natsu answered her, getting a beaming smile from the girl.
"Okay, I'm ready," Wendy said. Natsu opened a portal to the Dragon realm and watched the girl he swore to protect vanish into the swirling colours that made up the portal.
"Now for the three of you, as you know all of you have a Dragonoid form," Natsu said as the portal closed.
"Natsu, what will my element be, I remember you said each of us will have an element but unlike Akeno and Grayfia, I don't use a specific magic related to any element rather using my sword?" Xenovia asked.
"It's hard to tell without you entering your Dragonoid form, and what you say is true. With you not using a magic related to an element it makes it even harder since it is possible that you can have any element," Natsu replied.
"Then I guess you will just have to teach us how to enter it before we can know," Xenovia smiled.
"Prepare yourselves for this will be the hardest thing you have gone through," Natsu warned them.
-With Wendy-
Wendy walked through the portal and the beautiful world of the Dragon Realm opened op in front of her. She marvelled at the landscape, enjoying the view.
"Young one, I am pleased to see you once again," a feminine voice said.
Wendy recognised the voice and turned in the direction the voice was coming from with a huge smile on her face.
"Eossinth, hello," Wendy greeted the Dragon. Eossinth was a majestic beast, with white scales covering her body, her wings were covered in light blue scales that resembled a dimply spread cloud in the summer sky. She had piercing blue eyes with a streamlined head.
"Are you ready to learn some new techniques young Wendy?" Eossinth asked as she lowered her body and stretched out her wing, creating a surface for Wendy to get onto her back.
"Where are we going to train?' Wendy asked as she climbed on the Dragons back.
"We will be going to the peak of the Air Mountain. It is my favourite spot in the entire Dragon Realm because I feel like I am one with the sky there," Eossinth replied with a serene look on her face.
"It sounds like a beautiful place," Wendy said with a longing look in her eyes.
"You will soon see the full beauty of the sky young one," Eossinth said after seeing the look of longing in Wendy's eyes.
Eossinth took to the skies. Wendy loved the cool wind on her face as they sped through the clear blue sky. Wendy felt as if the winds were beginning to merge with everything she was.
"You truly are one with the element of wind young Wendy," Eossinth commented. She could feel the winds beginning to converge on Wendy.
"What do you mean?" Wendy asked in a confused tone. She was never confident in herself, even less so with her magic.
"Many do not share my view on this topic but to me the wind is alive. And as it is with all living thing the wind is drawn to those it likes. I believe you felt as if the wind and you were becoming one just now?" Eossinth answered with an explanation and a question.
"How did you know?" Wendy asked with shock in her voice, confirming what Eossinth suspected.
"The first time I brought your mother here she felt the same, and I could sense the winds converging in on her and almost merging with her, just like with you young one," Eossinth replied.
"You knew my mother?" Wendy's eyes grew large in surprise, last time they trained Eossinth didn't mention anything like this and only focused on teaching her magic.
"My King asked me to teach a friend of his some of our magic, and that friend was none other than Grandeeney Marvell. She was a wonderful student and much like yourself she quickly picked up what the winds had to offer," Eossinth replied with a smile.
"I wish I could have met her," Wendy said with a sad expression adorning her face.
"If you ask me the best way to get closer to her is to allow the winds to become one with you, that way there is even more that you will have in common with her," Eossinth suggested with a sympathetic look.
They continued to fly through the air for a while. Wendy could feel the wind all around her and it almost felt as if her mother was embracing her.
"You should be able see the Mountain from here," Eossinth said after about ten minutes of flying.
Wendy looked out in the direction they were moving and her eyes widened at what she saw. She could see an enormous mountain that was covered in green undergrowth and trees and bushes scattered all over. She could identify several streams that flowed from the peak. It was the beauty of nature in one scene.
But the thing that made her eyes widen like they did was that the entire mountain was floating on a cloud. She could see the rocky underbelly of the floating mountain.
"Air Mountain, my favourite place in the entire Dragon Realm. The mountain is kept in the sky by the wind, yet it is as stable as any other mountain," Eossinth introduced the location.
"It looks so beautiful," Wendy said in wonder as they started to decent to the mountain's surface.
Eossinth stretched out her wing once again, allowing Wendy to slide off. As Wendy's landed on the ground she could smell the scent of nature on the breeze. The breeze felt comforting to her.
"This place is amazing," Wendy exclaimed in wonder as she looked all around her.
"We can do some sightseeing later, for now I will teach you a very useful technique," Eossinth said, her voice filled with amusement at Wendy's reaction to the beautiful place.
"What are you going to teach me this time?" Wendy asked with an excited hop.
"This is one of the hardest techniques there are in a Sky Dragon's arsenal, but if you can perform it you will be so much more dangerous in a fight," Eossinth said.
Wendy could barely contain the excitement she was feeling. If she could master this technique she could be so much more useful.
"Now I believe you can do this since the wind favours you. First I want you to concentrate on the air around you, feel it flow around you, feel where the air currents are," Eossinth instructed.
Wendy closed her eyes and started to concentrate. She could feel the air around her, it wanted to take her somewhere. A confused look spread across her face.
"Let your mind follow the wind and let it be your guide," Eossinth instructed after seeing the confusion on Wendy's face.
Wendy followed the instructions of the Dragon. She felt as if she was running on the wind, following the air currents to where they will lead her. She began seeing a new world. This was not a visible world but the world of the wind.
Eossinth saw Wendy get a serene smile on her face. 'She truly is the child of Grandeeney, That she could enter the world of the wind so easily on her first try just like her mother,' Eossinth thought to herself.
"Now Wendy, I want you to allow yourself to become one with the wind. Your movements will become the movements of the wind, and the winds will bend to your will," Eossinth instructed.
Wendy allowed the wind to engulf her. She could sense a change in her body but when she opened her eyes she saw a world that only the wind saw. She could see everything that surrounded the location where she was. Something there was concerning to her though.
She could not see her own body.
"Do not fear young one, you have successfully become one with the wind. This was the technique I wanted to teach you the most. With this you can merge yourself with the wind and travel along the paths the wind provides," Eossinth said with a proud expression.
Wendy was amazed. She could feel herself moving with the wind, unbound from the limitations of her physical form.
"All you need to do in order to manifest in your physical form again is to visualise the winds coming together and forming your body," Eossinth said with a proud smile.
Wendy's body formed out of a gust of wind next to the Dragon.
"That is amazing, I never knew something like this was even possible," Wendy exclaimed.
"That is only one of the things I want to teach you, so are you ready for the next lesson?" Eossinth asked with a smile.
"Yeah," Wendy happily exclaimed.
There you have it, Chapter 31. Sorry for the late update, I had quite a few due dates this past week. In the next chapter I will be doing the Young Devil Gathering Party. If you guys want it I will do flashbacks of the training Akeno, Xenovia and Grayfia went through, but that will only be added when more conflict arises. Other than that let me know what you thought of this chapter where I focused a bit on Wendy once again. See ya next time.