"You ready for this?" Natsu asked as he stood in the tunnel with his daughter. "Do you know which illusions he will try to use?"
"Yes dad, I know he'll try to use Storm against me," Layla growled leaning against the cool stone waiting for the day to start.
She had been pulled out of her bed and her mate's arms far too early this morning since her father wanted her to mediate with the rising sun. She knew why her father had done it but still. Waking up before the sun's light was even in the sky, and being kept from her mate while her father wanted to meditate and go over stratagies again. Well, he was lucky he was her father, anyone else would have been burned to a crisp by now. Not that she hadn't tried when he pulled her out to the training yard after sunrise. Rather than letting her go back to her mate and their warm bed.
"Yes, just remember your ears will play tricks on you," Natsu instructed for nearly the thousandth time that day.
"Not my eyes?" Layla joked as she heard her father chuckle.
"No baby not your eyes," Natsu said as he pulled his little girl into a hug. "Just don't do anything stupid out there,"
"Stupid is Igneel's department," Layla sighed as she felt her dad tense, knowing that the lights in the tunnel must have changed suddenly.
"Get ready," he said as the crackle of the speakers filled the arena.
"Welcome one and all to the final day of the Grand Magic Games. With the conclusion of our Titan class challenge!" Chappy's voice filled the area as the crowd cheered. "Now let's meet our competitors for one last time. From Lamia Scale standing at six foot two we have Terra Neekis!" he called as the crowd screamed as the illusion mage walked to the starting point, waving to the cheering crowd as he did so. Several groups of loud shrieks filled the area as he cockily smiled at his adorning fans who were trying to push their way past the rune barrier.
"And now, from the Home of the dragons, Fairy Tail. The first fourth generation dragon slayer to participate in this challenge I give you Layla Dragneel!" Chappy's voice rung above the crowd as Layla walked out. She heard the crowd roar as she moved forward stopping when she smelt Terra a few feet ahead of her.
Thankfully they had had Levy out earlier to reenforced the barriers, and as she had down in the past whenever Layla had competed in any version of the games. Levy had somehow been able to measure the length of the stadium with an impressive amount of detail at where everything was located. So, Layla felt confident that she would not run into some kind of obstacle that she couldn't sense. As over the years they had found out sometimes when in a loud place Layla's ability to determine what was around her that was stationary was difficult. After having one too many bruises as a toddler from trying to navigate the guild hall, had resulted in both Levy and Lucy securing all furniture, except chairs and benches, to the floor so that they couldn't be moved. Sure, they were still broken in the guild fights but not because they were used as projectile weapons anymore.
"I hope you know I don't plan on going easy on you," Terra spoke as Layla focused her attention on him.
Terra had been confused as to why it was Layla and not Lexie whom he was facing. Sure, Layla was strong, but Terra had been watching the fourth gens over the years and had noticed a pattern that he doubted most did. While every other forth gen over the age of sixteen had gone out on jobs by themselves. Layla had not. Every single job she had taken was with either one of her parents, her twin, or even her mate. He wasn't sure why that was, but something in him felt like maybe there was an issue with her magic. But that seemed unlikely as he'd gone back through every time she was in the games and studied her fighting style. Sure, she was ruthless, in a way that was surprising for a Fairy, but in the end, it still bugged him that it almost seemed like no one trusted her to go out on a job on her own.
"I wouldn't doubt that you would," Layla said bringing him back to the presnet as the crackle of the microphone filled the arena.
"Now the rules are as follows, there will be no killing. You have two hours to either beat your opponent allowing only one of you to receive the title of Titan class. Or if both of you are still standing at the end you will both receive to title. You may begin at the sound of the bell," Tomma spoke as he looked over the field.
Soon the bell sounded and with it the fight began. Terra began moving forward wanting to draw her as close as possible he began attacking simply with his fists. Knowing full well that as a Dragneel Layla had received plenty of hand to hand combat training from at least her father if not the rest of the guild.
Charging forward Layla blocked his left fist throwing it to the side but failed to account for its twin as she felt the appendage collide with her face. Grunting she slide back, shaking her head she felt the telltale scratches that said her glasses had been broken. Sighing she swiped the broken accessory away before charging in again, knowing full well that Loke would have a new pair waiting for her as he always did when she lost them. Growling under her breath she cursed feeling his magic flair.
"Layla!" Storm's voice called out lanced with pain, panic, and fear; but with one sniff she knew, this was just an illusion. Growling in rage she leapt forward and swung her leg colliding hard with his side.
"Shit!" Terra groaned as Layla never once let up her assault no matter what illusion he threw at her. And what was more insulting is not once had she even used her magic, her entire assult was just through physical attacks.
"Why aren't they working?" He muttered under his breath as he continued to block trying to send the girl fly away from him for a while.
Looking up he noticed something odd. He'd been in plenty of fist fights and had been instructed under many different techniques but they all were very clear about one thing. To not lose sight of your opponent. But Layla was landing hit after hit and her eyes where everywhere, except on him.
"Your magic doesn't work on me," she finally confirmed as she sent him flying half way across the field with a swift kick to his middle.
"You're... No, you can't be!" Terra shouted in confusion as set of deep purple scales covered her face and arms. There was only one thing that could make his illusions ineffective, and he prayed that his aim was just off.
"Can't be what!" Layla screamed as she closed the distance between her and her opponent quickly and continuing her attack. This time she could smell the blood she was drawing from him as her scales tore into his flesh with every blow she landed.
"It's not possible, you work all the time!" The male shouted blocking swing after swing as her claws just barley grazed his shirt leaving behind tattered claw marks. But he forearms that he had been using to block was dripping his blood into the sand of the area.
"And what does that have to do with anything?" Layla asked as she adjusted her magic as the golden fire surrounded her hands as she continued her assault. Now the smell of burning flesh filled her nose as she continued. He tried to jump out of the way of her hand but wasn't paying attention as he'd landed in the perfect position for one of her mother's kicks.
"It can't be..." He said as once against she sent him flying. Looking up at her he saw while her head was turned towards him her eyes, they weren't focus on anything. "You can't be blind," he finally said as the crowd seemed to gasp in astonishment.
"Sight is nothing to a dragon," she sneered as she waited for him to stand knowing he still could.
"But... How?" Terra asked as he stood.
"I was born blind. I've never been able to see...at least not the way everyone thinks one should," the pinkette said as she raced forward.
Terra changing tactics and switching to his secondary magic. While he may not be as good as his father, he'd been trained in Earth magic first. But Layla was gracefully moving along with his magic, using it to her advantage as she leapt up, his attempt to knock her out using a pillar of earth just propelled her further as she came down hard on him pining him to the ground.
His front pushed into the earth as she held his neck to the ground with one claw. Talons digging deep into the earth around him. Her knee on his back, pressing her full weight into him. Using her other hand to support her she leaned down and growled lowly in his ear. And though he wasn't a dragon slayer he knew what establishing dominance looked like. She had him immobile. He struggled to move but her hold was too much. A final attempt to use his magic hoping to launch her off of him, caused her to sear the back of his neck as he screamed in agony, the smell of burning flesh and hair filled the air.
"Submit," she hissed in rage as she held him there. And three tenses filled minutes later he sighed.
"I surrender!" He plead in anguish as the bell rang and Layla removed herself from him. Vaguely aware that he was being lifted off the ground as a cold compress was placed on the back of his neck before the world went black.