Chapter 28: Spade VS Erza

"Who are you? What's your purpose here?" Erza Scarlet asked-no, demanded with her sword aimed at my throat.

I would guess from her point of view, seeing a group of men in a trashed house that was obviously not ours would looked mighty suspicious to her.

Thankfully, I managed to quell my excited squeal that would have embarrassingly slip out if I hadn't try maintaining a perfect calm exterior. I cleared my throat and ready to answer her with a rational statement, hopefully getting her to cooperate alongside with us in search of the missing designer.

Yet before I could even say a word out, she was thrown out of the house by the fast work from Spade. The glimpse of a hardened expression of a man with vengeance clear in his eyes. His expression and the sudden change of scene was bewildering enough to turn me speechless, and after seeing what I've seen you know there aren't many that could do that.

Nick, Zeffik, Hope, and me all looked at one another to confirm silently with one another if what we saw just happened. Once we did, we rushed back out just in time to see Spade exchanging blades with Titania...or has she been called that, I remember she hasn't quite reach S-Rank mage yet.

I watched in awe at the sight, a fight between two master swordsman that could make most fight or performance looked dull in comparison.

Spade made his move by using the Ice element and trying to strike and freeze her at the same time. It didn't matter that trees were cascaded in ice from his sword. The fierce of his swing alongside the ice that move like a sculpture around him by his will and the movement of his sword made a awe inspiring sight if the fact it wasn't so deadly. One stroke of his sword was enough to create icicle to his surrounding.

Erza's wasn't falling behind, she had requiped her regular double bladed sword into a smooth black sword with no hilt and light blue tip on the blade. It cuts the ice like butter and managed to counter the movement of ice that was aimed at her. Their swords clashed and created a backlash of ice to their surrounding. The ice tried to bend to whoever has the stronger will and magic.

With a flick of the dials on his handle, Spade then went up close to slashed from above but Erza managed to block it. Yet she wasn't expecting the tree roots surrounding them to come lashing out on her. Even I was surprised since I knew his sword could control elements like he was bending, I didn't think plants were included on the list.

Still, I was confused at his approached since the plants wouldn't do much against her Ice Blade, heck he just turn himself into a disadvantage and the concern frown on Erza's face showed she was just as perplexed as I was. But then it was made clear when the giant roots of plants began emerging from beneath her. Knocking her sword out and caging her like a mummy.

I wanted to yell out at Spade that he better not suffocate her with that move, but my worry was unwarranted when the next second, the plants were all cut to pieces with a new piece of sword she hand on hand. This time, she was holding a rapier as well but it was a glittering silver and had blue rose shaped handle on it. It was an artwork as much as it is a weapon. I was curious what it could do but her next spell answer that.

The plants that had backed away began to lunge once in response to Spade's swing of his sword, but light purple magic circle glow surrounding her sword, then making a round swing on her ground and grew out from the line on the ground made by her, were tens and hundreds of roses growing like a wall with large ominous thorns on them.

I thought such a thing was silly to stop the roots and branches from its tracks, but the moment the rose's thorn scared it, the plants began to shriveled and withered before our very eyes.

Poisonous rose, yikes. I bet you one strike from her blade would do the same to those poor plants.

Spade changed element again, and this time using the shriveled plants, he lit it on fire alongside the roses. He took careful control of it so it won't spread through the forest and spitting his concentration in two.

I thought for sure Erza was going to change into a fire blade or something, fighting one element with one another. Instead she changed it to double bladed staff. Shimmering gold as two curved blades connected with one another.

The fire licked around her, but a swipe of her blades and the fire split apart like she was cutting apart paper. Spade and me were surprised by it and he changed element once more by sending her a torrent of tornado.

I saw with my jaw dropped, witnessing the sheer impossibility of her cutting a tornado in two and have the leftover splintered the trees behind her.

I had to remind myself that it was magic, anything was possible.

There are many reasons of why I should try to stop the fight before it could escalate, but for a very good reasons it would be wiser to let those two monsters duke it out while i have other matters to attend.

"Okay, Zeffik, Nick, you watch over those two and make sure they don't go too rough with one another. Stopped them if you can if you think they'll get out of hand."

Nick jaw dropped at my order, "You want us to stop those two?!" he exclaimed.

I was about to confirm him but then there was the sound of something crashing from behind me that cut me off, and I don't need to turn to know a tree or two must have been cut off and fell. Making me grin nervously at him and waved a hand at him, "Good luck!"

I turned and high tail my way to TORRI, pretending not to hear the indignant cry that followed.

It took me half the time climbing up the stairs when climbing the opposite way. Jumping over steps before making my way to my beloved red box. I dashed through the front door and would have surprised TORRI at my sudden entrance if he was a human.

[Quite in a hurry Sir,] TORRI commented at my rushing state.

"Yeah, we're racing against time. Could you open up the storage wardrobe for me?"

[Certainly Sir, but I must remind you about the items you've collected in the past years has filled it.]

"Didn't you try cleaning and organizing it? I remember you said something about the mess I made from collecting random things throughout my travel."

[As I also remember you said and I quote, "Try not to move my things or I'll forget where I placed them in the first place"] he said and there was a tone in his voice that could be treated as him deadpanning me. [Are you regretting it now?]

"You don't have to be a smartass about it TORRI."

[Apologies Sir, but fortunately I was born this way.]

Cheeky ship.

The wardrobe door materialize in front of me and only then I realized how much stuff I accumulated over the years. The room was more of a basement than a wardrobe. The floors and shelves were filled with items and junks that I had forgotten. Most of them I hoard because I'm a pretty sentimental guy.

To be fair, you would never know when one of those junks would be helpful. Now is one of those times. I tried searching for anything that might have help and noticed a spare map lacrima, an empty scroll and a red yarn. I grinned, and with a little tinkering and pokery and a little Rune Magic, I got myself a tracking device. A scroll with a map lacrima embedded and would work like a GPS and would track down anyone on the map and would lay down

I took a second to marvel at my own genius mind before taking out the item I took from Heart's bedroom. A hairbrush.

I pulled out a long light brown hair tangled between the teeth and placed the bundle of hair to the tracking scan. A map appeared at what was once a blank scroll, and various route appeared to the destination marked in red dot.

Damn, why didn't I think of this before? It would have make a lot of things easier during my travel.

I ran back up-correction-I flew back up with the help of my Booster Shoe as I have deemed to call it. I saw Zeffik, Hope, and Nick. About to call them out but then I had to stopped short before a sword embedded just an inch away from cutting my nose off.

"Holy Lincoln's testicle!" I backed away in a fright, dodging another set of dozens of swords flying my way that outline around me. I yelped in higher pitch tone when a giant boulder almost fell on me and I have no time to question how the fuck that happened.

"Didn't I say not to let things escalate too much!"

"Aniki, I respect you with every fiber of my being but you must admit there are things that are out of my league, this is one of them!" he pointed them out just as a tree soared above us and again I couldn't ask how the fuck that happened.

Damn those pair of human monsters

I massaged the bridge of my nose and held back a sigh, "Must I do everything?"

Frankly, yes I was just as afraid as them in coming in between them but somebody has to put a stop of those two muscle heads. I climbed a top the tree to give myself a better view at the current state of the battle. I looked at Spade. Then looked back at Erza before planning out a possible solution.

I climbed down swiftly to the ground and clapped my hand determinedly, "Alright here's the plan-"

Once we decided each other role they nodded, but only Hope who realized she had nothing to do asked, "Hey, hey, Ro-I mean, Captain. What am I supposed to do?" She asked, looking pointedly eager to help. I gazed silently at her for a long second or two.

"Hope, you...go and cheer us or something." That got her to sulk on a near tree with a growing mushroom on her peculiar rainbow top hat.

Spade and Erza were now discarding their magic and focus solely on their swordsmanship. They were stuck in a violence dance between one another. Spade was like a whirlwind, at every swing he was blocked or side stepped by her, he would twist or turn that pushed Erza's a step back.

Yet while to the armature eyes, Erza was in disadvantaged. But the rest of us noticed how Spade would always avoid crossing sword with her and mostly avoid her swing, knowing her magic enhanced strike would overwhelm him overtime. Why both of them weren't using magic, I'm not sure. Probably some stupid swordsman pride or something.

We waited in patient, even though I was becoming more anxious. I didn't want things to escalate too far too late but I knew I had to wait for the perfect chance.

Finally, Erza struck him with the blunt side of her sword and managed to send Spade flying, but he maneuvered his body midway and landed without a problem though his face grimaced in pain.

When they finally gave distance between each other, I yelled out to Nick "Now!" and he began summoning his magic circle. Nodding, he jumped out and landed between the two, his arm pulled back to punch the ground.

"Crystal Dragon's Pillar!"

Just as a the name implied, a large pillar made of crystal erected from the ground and separating the two swordsman. Spade looked it on in annoyance before dashing at it, either to cut it down or just climbed it over, but Zeffik had already came up behind him and using his half-giant's strength to hold him down by the shoulder.

Trusting that he could talk him down, I had made my way to face Fairy Tail's Titania. My smile was confident until I face with her angry glare + sword swinging down at me. I almost bolted right there and then.

I ignored the fear of getting hurt by the nasty sword she had and got into her striking zone, surprising her at my close proximity and held her wrist. My Rave began to move and enclosed her wrist before pulling her close to me and chain cuffed her wrist with my own.

Now she looked more surprised that I choose to tied us up together rather than cuffing her wrist together. But this should work to deter her wrath.

"Now, I know we look god damn suspicious but would you please lent five minutes of your time to hear us out?"

The glare she had hardened at me and I suspect I'm being scrutinized with her famous Don't-mess-with-me-or-I'll-cut-you glare and it took everything of me not to cower from her.

She then lifted her cuffed hand, "I suppose I don't have a choice on the matter with this on."

"No, you do have a choice. You could use your free hand to maybe cut my hand off or...we could settle this like civilized people and talk without using violence."

Erza was silent and I held back gulping as I wait for her verdict. Slowly, she nodded and I sighed in relief before pulling back the Rave into a bracelet. I turned back just in time to see the crystal mountain receding to the ground and saw a calm and composed Spade standing, Zeffik with crossed arm and giving his friend a warning look, and Nick looking nervously left and right for any sign of chaos brewing.

We walked up one another. Erza and me toward Zeffik, Spade, and Nick. When we finally were face to face and felt the tension in the need of breaking. But before any of us could say anything, Spade reached out for his sword once more and pointed at her. The rest of us was alarmed but Erza didn't move or seem concerned by his action and just looked evenly at him.

"You-" Spade growled. Zeffik already had his big hands clasped around his shoulder and me shielding her slightly from any possible onslaught. Which is why it was so surprising to all us when Spade began to grin widely and laughed, "-bloody brilliant! How old are you? 15? 16? I haven't seen a mage with that level of swordsmanship, and from someone so young! What's your name?"

"Wait, wait," I interrupted, "You're not mad or anything?"

"Mad? Why would I be? Well...I was at first. I thought she was involved in Heart's disappearance but after exchanging blade as long as I have, I can more or less tell that she's not the sort of person who would kidnap a defenseless woman."

It wasn't just me who was surprised, Zeffik, Nick, heck even Erza looked shock by his admission. She pursed her lips, licked her lips, and began to say "It would seem I made a hasty judgement upon your group and I apologize for my behavior." She made a quick bow before straightening herself, "and let me say that I'm also very impressed by your skill. I don't mean to boast but not many could face me in a sword combat, and with a unique skill set such as yours. It's like you could change style at the drop of the hat."

"I'm glad you feel that way. May I know the name of my opponent I had the grace to cross sword with?"

A smile graces her hard expression and I knew I don't have to worry about her suspicion, "My name Is Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail, I must ask who are you people and what are you doing here?"

"Fairy Tail!" Nick exclaimed, "Does that mean you know Mir-"

Before he could finish saying, I was already next to him, punching him in the gut that he had to double over, all while I had an innocent smile on my face. "Nice to meet you Erza. The guy you fought is Spade, the giant man is Zeffik and this little idiot-" I emphasize while holding his messy haired and forced him to stand with his back straight, "Is Nick." they all shed a worry sweat drop at the scene but thankfully none comment on it, "He also has his partner Hope...where is she by the way?"

I gazed around and find she was still perched by the tree, I don't know if it was the trick of my eye but I swore I saw the mushroom growing on her head.

"Hope, get down here and meet our new friend!"

The got her perked up and flew down toward us, she's always eager to meet new people. She landed on Nick's hair as if she was back home on her nest and waved at her, "Hi, I'm Hope. Who are you Pretty Lady?"

Erza blushed at the compliment, finally showing a soft bashful smile that made her just as beautiful in another sense before introducing herself to her, then looked back expectantly at me. "What about you? Who are you?"

"Oh! Yes, I haven't introduce myself. My name's the Captain."

I had to hold back my mirth seeing the familiar confusion when people hear my alias, "Captain...what?"

"Just The Captain."

"That's not a name," she bluntly told me.

"Well that's what me and my friends call me so you're open to call me otherwise." Erza didn't look happy that she wasn't calling me by name and has to call me what I call myself, and I couldn't help but smirk. "So with that said, how about we all explain why each of us is here so we won't have anymore misunderstanding."

Erza contemplate my request and nodded, "I've heard rumors about Heart Kreuz and how she is capable to make magic enhanced clothes and accept commission. I wanted to ask if she was capable to make armor as well and came to her house for that only to see you nys rummaging around a trashed house."

I nodded, accepting her reason for coming. I gkanced at Spade to see if he had any intention to explain his case, seeing he was looking uncomfortable I decided to stretch out the truth "Well we also have came for a exclusive interview of her, specifically about her background and family since she is a very closed off person. There's a chance she would refuse us but I thought it'd be better to ask nonetheless."

"Interview? Are you all reporters then? What agency are you from?"

"No, nothing of the sort. It's more for a personal curiosity than anything official. Anyway, now that we established our grounds, let's go and save us a fashion designer shall we?"

Nicm who had been clutching his stomach in pain, finally stood straight but still rubbing it, "How are we going to do that? We don't know the first place where to look."

I grin, then showed them all my impromptu Tracking Map I made. A blinking red dot with the name 'Heart Kreuz' on the 3D map that pointed her out around an island at Whirlpool Sea. At the north coast of Fiore.

They all looked grim and set their eyes hard at the same point and I couldn't help but made a malicious grin knowing whoever on the other side of that map are fuck.