Back with the next chapter!
"Speaking"
""thinking""
On with the story
At the castle
"The Celestial Wizard is not there!" Darton exclaimed
"It seems that she is in the medical facility." Arcadios explained to him
"YOU...! You are going to mess up like last time."
"Oh no, last time certainly was a blunder. However, this time I will absolutely succeed. Let's enjoy the festival for now, shall we. I will put our plans into action 3 days from now."
"Eclipse..."
"The world will be reformed."
"There is no longer any way to stop this."
"Lord Zeref has been waiting quite some time, hasn't he?"
Darton sighs before he started walking away
"Festival, hm?" the minister of defense rests his hand on a painting on the hallway's walls. "The great demon gathering... Also known by another name... Dragon King Festival. A banquet of dragons, people and demons."
(Skipping the first, the second fight)
"Here it is folks! The moment you've been waiting on since the games started!" Lola announced to the increasingly loud spectators.
"It's the former number one guild versus the current number one guild!" Lola continued. "It's Fairy Tail's Natsu & Gajeel VS. Sabertooth's Twin Dragons: Sting & Rogue!"
The four men walked out to the arena floor, the deafening screams of the crowd invading their ears. Although a few scattered boos for Sabertooth could be heard amongst the cheers.
"It seems some didn't appreciate your display from earlier, princess," Rufus said to Minerva with a grin.
"Their displeasure would wound me if I cared." Minerva replied plainly.
"Is it true that all four of these men are dragon slayers, Mr. Yajima?" Lola asked. His eyes focused on the arena center.
"Yes, they are." Yajima nodded.
"You can do it, you guys." Lucy encouraged with a determined smile from her bed.
"Show those guys what it's like to be real men," Elfman added
"Be careful, Gajeel." Levy said, clasping her hands together.
"you can do it, Papa!" Rose and Mary cheered for their father as the fighters gathered in the center of the arena
"show them who is the strongest Dragon Slayer! Natsu!" Erza cheered for her husband
""I've been waiting for this, Natsu-san!"" Sting thought with a grin
"It's finally time, Gajeel." Rogue said.
"Yeah, you and that stare of yours have been pissing me off since this tournament started." Gajeel replied. His stare as equally intense as Rogue's.
"it's over, trash guild," Jiemma said as he watched from the stands with various other spectators.
"Give it you're all, Natsu, Gajeel." Makarov said. "As long as you try your hardest, I can never fault you. Show them the power of our guild's spirit."
"Are the fighters ready?!" Mato shouted as he raised his arm in the air. Seeing the resolute looks on the wizard's faces, he lowered his arm to signal the gong. "Go!" he shouted as the gong rang.
"We'll let you start." Sting invited to Natsu and Gajeel.
"Yes." Rogue nodded.
To the pair's surprise, Natsu and Gajeel closed the distance between them in an instant. Natsu struck Sting with an uppercut, sending him flying into the air. Gajeel's fist collided with Rogue's cheek, sending the Shadow Dragon rolling along the ground.
The crowd cheered at how quickly the match had gotten underway. Minerva, on the other hand, found herself at a loss for words, her smirk gone.
Natsu looked up, as he dashed towards Sting in mid air and sends a drop kick to his gut as Sting crashes down to the ground
Gajeel ran after Rogue as he rolled along the ground. The Shadow Dragon's eyes widened when he saw Gajeel's foot coming towards him, the iron dragon kicking him in the stomach and sending him sliding along the ground even further.
Natsu shot back to the ground, clearing the dust that his attack on Sting created. Noticing something was off he jumped back.
"Hakuryu no Hoko!"
Sting was on all fours, a concentrated beam of light shooting from his mouth and towards Natsu.
""a laser?"" END said while floating beside Natsu who landed a few feet away from Sting's attack
Sting quickly turned his head, the beam curving towards Gajeel.
"Hey! Heads up!" Natsu shouted, catching Gajeel's attention in time for him to dodge.
Gajeel strafed to the right to avoid the beam, but this allowed Rogue to emerge from the dust, his right hand becomes wrapped in shadows as he drew it back to strike.
"Eiryu no Zangeki!"
Rogue lunged towards Gajeel with a punch, but the Fairy Tail wizard managed to quickly guard with his Iron Dragon Sword. Thinking quickly, Rogue dropped down, sweeping Gajeel's leg and tripping him.
Natsu also quickly found himself on the defensive as Sting dashed towards him, quickly ducking down under Natsu' punch before rising up and hitting Natsu' chin with the top of his head. Natsu staggered, allowing Sting to follow up with a handstand kick to the side of the head that made Natsu skid back a bit
Rogue tried to attack Gajeel with the same attack, but the Iron Dragon Slayer dodges the attack and gives a comeback.
"Tetsuryuton!"
The club collided with Rogue's abdomen, hard, causing him to gasp for breath as he flew back.
Sting moved to attack Natsu again but his eyes widened when Natsu grabs his face and shuts his mouth before throwing him towards Rogue.
"This is unbelievable!" Lola exclaimed over the mic. "Sting and Rogue have barely been able to mount any offense so far in this match! Fairy Tail has completely taken control!"
"That's the way, boys!" Makarov shouted, standing on the balcony railing. "Show those punks what happens when you mess with Fairy Tail!"
"They're handling them well." Erza praised.
Sting and Rogue rose to their feet, their body's obviously affected by Fairy Tail's assault.
"Gotta admit I was kinda expecting it starts out like this." Sting said as he wipes off some dirt on his cheeks. "You guys are from the old number one guild."
"Is this the best you can do?" Gajeel said as Natsu stands beside him
"hard to believe that this power of yours beat your dragons" Natsu said
"We didn't 'beat' our dragons," Sting said, raising his palm to eye level. "We killed them with our bare hands." He clenched his outstretched palm tightly in order to illustrate his point.
"The time is up," Sting said, his and Rogue's bodies began to emit white and black auras respectively.
"What happened to our dragons has got nothing to do with you." The ground beneath where the two stood began to crack. "Warm-up time is over."
"White Drive"
"Shadow Drive"
""be on guard, they're going on the attack"" END told Natsu as he and Gajeel get on their guard upon noticing their opponent's substantial power increase.
Sting's body glowed bright, completely shrouded in intense white light. Rogue's body, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. With dark shadows both cloaking and oozing from his body.
"Let's go," Sting said.
"Right." Rogue nodded.
"End this," Jilemma ordered.
Sting darted to Natsu, drawing back his fist for a hard punch that collided with Natsu' guard.
""the kid is actually packing some punch"" END said to Natsu with an amused look
"That was a nice block." Sting praised with a cocky smirk. He drew back his other arm. "Try and stop this one!" he lunged again, his second punch ducking under Natsu' guard and uppercutting his chin
Natsu grunted in pain as he took a couple of steps back.
"Salamander!" Gajeel called out.
"You should keep your eyes to the shadows," Rogue said as he kicked Gajeel in the face, breaking his nose.
"Rggh. Bastard." Gajeel growled as he swiped at Rogue. To his surprise, his hand went completely through Rogue as if he was mist.
"What the hell?!" Gajeel said with widened eyes.
"Fool, you can't touch a shadow." Rogue said as he connected with a hard elbow strike to Gajeel's cheek. The twin dragons continued their vicious assaults, dealing crushing blows on both Natsu and Gajeel.
"After a shaky beginning, Sabertooth has quickly gained the upper hand over Fairy Tail! Natsu and Gajeel are now completely on the defensive."
"How did they manage to gain so much power so quickly?" Lily thought out loud.
"Come on, guys!" Gray shouted. "Don't let them beat you down like that! Fight back!"
"Power increase in magic." Mavis said, her eyes focused on the match. "Those two are quite skilled."
"Yeah! You show them, Sting!" Lector cheered. "There's no way those two are going to lose now!"
"Fro thinks so too!" Frosch happily agreed.
"Put them in the ground where they belong." Minerva maliciously smirked.
Sting held out his fist as it glowed white
"Hakuryu no Tsume!"
He shot the light at Natsu' gut, the impact almost causing the Fairy Tail wizard to double over.
"Natsu!" Erza shouted.
Feeling something warm on his stomach, Natsu looked down, seeing an intricate, white design on his abdomen.
"The hell is that? It looks like a magic circle" Gray said as Natsu wasn't moving at all
"That's the special ability of my White Dragon's Claw." Sting began to explain with conceited pride. "After it connects it leaves a stigmata on my opponent, rendering them unable to move."
""quite smart, but not smart enough"" END said with a grin as Sting went for another attack
"This is the end!" he shouted before his face was punched by Natsu
"How?! How can you move?"" Sting said after skidding back a bit as he then sees that the place where he had placed the Stigmata was steaming
"he burned it off?" Gray said a bit surprised
"only the Salamander can do that, I believe" Erza said with a proud smile
Gajeel once again threw a punch at Rogue, but just like before he struck through shadows. The Iron Dragon bared his fangs. "This guy is really pissing me off."
"I told you before." Rogue said, appearing behind Gajeel. "You can't harm a shadow." Gajeel turned to look at his opponent but Rogue disappeared and reappeared behind him in an instant. "The Shadow Dragon is a hunter. Never failing to catch his prey!" He drew back his hand, it once becoming enveloped in shadows. Although this time the shadows resembled claws.
"Eiryu no Zangeki!"
But his attack failed as Gajeel reached behind himself, grabbing Rogue's wrist before his attack connected. Gajeel looked at Rogue from the corner of his eye. "What was that about 'never failing to catch prey'?"
"Don't get all high and mighty, brats" Gajeel said. Still holding Rogue's wrist, Gajeel hit the underside of the shadow dragon's chin with his elbow, unbalancing him. "Don't underestimate Fairy Tail!"
He and Natsu then kick the two away as the Twin Dragon Slayers crashes to the wall.
"ooooh! Looks like Fairy Tail has made the comeback against Sabertooth!" Lola exclaimed on the mic as Natsu and Gajeel continued their attack as the two were on their defense
Sting stood up, a confident smirk on his face.
"That was a nice one. I wouldn't expect anything less from you" Sting said as he slides his right leg back, squatting slightly as he drew back his right hand and light began to swirl around Sting's arm, the pressure from the energy being felt all around the arena.
"we're going all out, I can't afford to hold back! Watch, as the light can even dim flames to ashes."
"Yajima-san! What is this!?" Lola exclaimed on the mic as a bright light was focusing on Sting
"Sting-kun is focusing his magic into one point" Yajima commented
"here I go! Natsu-san!" Sting exclaimed as the light flashed brighter
"Mestryu Ougi!" Sting Exclaimed as he dashed towards Natsu
"Hori! Nova!"
His attack causes a very bright explosion as the size of the blast was huge, nearly encompassing the entire fighting area. Everyone watching covered their eyes from both the brightness of Sting's light and the dust and debris that was kicked up.
Lucy and the others even felt the rumbling from the infirmary.
The shaking stop as Sting smiles before it disappears as he sees that Natsu caught his fist
"T-that's impossible!" Lector shouted.
"What?" Frosch muttered.
"He shouldn't be able to do that!" Orga yelled.
"I've never seen nor heard of Sting's Holy Nova being countered before as this is not in my memory at all" Rufus stated, equally shocked.
"I see, if I hadn't stop him that time, I wonder how it would ended" Minerva said with a smile
"Pathetic" Natsu said before he kicks Sting in the gut before continuing his attack with a punch to the face
"Gajeel!" Rogue yelled desperately as he ran at the Iron-Dragon. His howling was met with a punch to the face.
The two Sabertooth dragon's staggered back, attempting to regroup as they looked on at their opponents. Natsu and Gajeel stood tall, defiant looks in their eyes.
"Once again Fairy Tail has gained the upper hand!" Lola announced to a roaring crowd. "Sabertooth is being completely outmatched!"
"I can't believe what I'm seeing here folks!" Lola commentated. "The twin dragons, Sabertooth's unbeatable combo, have been brought to their knees by Fairy Tail. I can safely say that no one was expecting this. They have nary managed any lasting offense against Fairy Tail. Will Sabertooth end the day in defeat?!"
Lector and Frosch looked on in shock as they watched Sting and Rogue slowly rise to their feet, their drive magic having worn off.
"It won't end…like this." Rogue said through labored breaths as he slowly rose to his feet. "We can't let it."
"Yeah…" Sting began, he too groggily standing upright. "This isn't…over yet."
"Sting." Lector uttered, trying to hold back tears.
"I know, buddy." Sting said. "I made a promise, and I don't plan on breaking it." Sting's body began to once again glow in a white light. "There's no way in hell I'm losing to you!" He shouted at the Fairy Tail wizards. His hair stood up, white scales appearing on his face, arms and, body. "No one's gonna beat me! Not until I fulfill my promise to Lector!"
Rogue underwent the same change as Sting, only his aura and scales were black.
""heh? Isn't that a bit surprising?"" END said to Natsu
Both Natsu and Gajeel looked on at their opponents in surprise. "What is this?" Gajeel asked aloud.
"No it can't be…!" Makarov gasped.
"Now…" Minerva grinned. "Show them the true power of the greatest generation."
Jellal, Meldy, and Ultear watched the games from atop the stadium. Despite Jellal's protests, the two girls forcibly accompanied him back into the city after his run-in with Doranbolt and Lahar the previous day. "Jellal…" Ultear began. "Is that…?"
"Yes." Jellal nodded. "I had no idea there were wizards who could do that of their own free will."
"Dragon Force?!" Mavis gasped.
"just like Natsu" Gray said as Erza nodded
"You ready?" Sting asked Rogue.
"Yes, this will be the end of it," Rogue answered.
"They're underestimating us," Gajeel said.
"on guard" Natsu told him
"Rogue, don't interfere" Sting told his comrade as he walks towards Natsu and Gajeel
"I will be enough to take them down"
Sting went on the assault as he attacks both Natsu and Gajeel
"what?!" Gray exclaimed as they see that Sting was matching up with the two
"how much of a power-up did those two got?!"
"Hakuryu no Hori Buresu!"
He shot his breath attack downward, completely obliterating the stadium floor.
"They destroyed the floor?!" Erza gasped.
"Hori! Rei!"
Sting shot his hands forward opening his palms and releasing the sphere of light towards Laxus and Gajeel. The sphere splintered into multiple rays of light that attacked the Fairy Tail wizards from all directions. The two cried out in pain as they took the attack and fell to the ground.
"What was that light?" Erza questioned with widened eyes.
Natsu and Gajeel fell down the hole to the underground catacombs below the arena.
"Gajeel!" Levy shouted.
Natsu went towards Sting as he lit his fist in flames and tried to punch Sting but he dodged it
"Fly away." Sting said, a second impact sending Natsu flying back and into one of the stone structures surrounding them.
"He's beating Natsu." Droy said in disbelief.
"Not only that, he's pushing both Natsu and Gajeel back on his own." Jet said.
Sting darted through the catacombs, kicking Natsu in the face before appearing before Gajeel and kneeing him in the stomach. Gajeel tried to counter with a punch, but Sting was too fast. Dodging all of his attacks effortlessly with a smile on his face. I can do this. He thought.
"I knew Sting could do it." Lector smiled.
"Fro thinks so too." Frosch added.
""Lector, I won't break my promise to you."" Sting thought as he continued to fight Natsu and Gajeel.
""I swear it!""
Flashback
"Were those jerks messing with you again, Lector?" A young Sting asked a crying Lector.
"Nobody believes me…" Lector said through his tears. "When I tell people you beat a dragon they all make fun of me and call me a liar. But I'm not lying!"
"I know. I know." Sting reassured. "Don't worry about those guys, ok? Just ignore them."
"But they keep saying mean stuff about you, Sting!" Lector countered.
"Let them talk." Sting said. "Doesn't bother me at all."
"But it bothers me!" Lector shouted. "I don't like when people make fun of my friend. I hate hearing that stuff!"
"Ok, how about I make it so nobody calls you a liar again?" Sting suggested, placing his hand on Lector's head.
"Huh?" Lector questioned looking up at the boy, tears still running down the exceed's face.
"There aren't any more dragons around but there's someone called Salamander out there, I'll beat him and show everyone that I am strong" Sting smiled at Lector, the exceed smiling wide and nodding at him.
"Ok, it's a promise."
Flashback ends
Sting stood triumphant amongst the rubble the light shining down from the hole above as he raised his fist in victory. Natsu and Gajeel lay on their backs, seemingly defeated by the White Dragon's might.
""You see that, Lector?"" Sting thought.
""I see it! Sting-kun!"" Lector smiled to his friend
Fairy Tail looked on in disbelief as their friends, defeated?
"Gajeel, Natsu," Lucy uttered from her bed.
"Natsu, you have to get up!" Gray shouted at the monitor.
"Please, Gajeel, stand up." Levy pleaded.
"A new era is beginning," Rogue said as he looked down at Sting and his fallen opponents. "For seven long years, we trained in order to become true Dragon Slayers. After today we become one step closer to that goal."
"Yeah." Sting said, disengaging his Dragon Force mode. "After this, I'll definitely be able to beat him."
"Come on, guys, get up!" Romeo shouted.
Sting looked at Gajeel and Natsu, a somewhat somber but still satisfied smile on his face. "You were as strong as I hoped, Gajeel, Natsu."
"Oh no." Mirajane gasped.
"Come on. Get up." Cana muttered to herself.
"You can do it, Gajeel!" Juvia yelled.
"Papa!" Rose and Mary shouted out to their father
"They are not moving," Ikaruga said with a sad look
"Are they ok?" Wendy asked.
"Damn." Gray grimaced.
"sorry, I took out Gajeel-san too" Sting said to Rogue before they look behind as they see Natsu and Gajeel standing back up again
Sting and Rogue's eyes widened in disbelief as both Natsu and Gajeel stood up. The crowd, however, was roaring with excitement, especially Fairy Tail.
"That's…impossible." Rogue uttered.
"That was a nice power nap," Gajeel said. "My body still hurts like hell, though." He cranked his neck and stretched his arms.
"never thought that these two managed to make a bone break," Natsu said while cracking his neck
"I used Dragon Force on you." Sting said. "How are you still standing?!"
"that? You call that Dragon Force?" Natsu said as he grins slowly
"let me handle them, got to make them pay for Lucy" Natsu said as Gajeel grins
"all yours pal" Gajeel said as he sat down near a stone rubble
"let me show you two" Natsu said as he reequips on Enryuo no Yoroi
"what a real Dragon Force looks like," Natsu said as he burst into flames
The flames turned into a pillar of burning flames as the ground melted a bit to the heat
Natsu steps out of the pillar of flames as he was now in his Dragon Force
"come at me" Natsu said as he raises his hand up and taunted the two
That's a wrap!
Bye bye