'I'm injured and there's no cover for either of us.' Drake thought to himself, inspecting his surroundings. "You leave me no choice, then. Ice Dragon Whirlwind!" He brought his hands together and a cold wind blinded his pursuers. After it dissipated, they looked into the cave, and saw it was empty.
"Damn it. They got away again!" Suishou shouted in anger.
"Don't worry." He turned to Natsu, who was sniffing the air. "I have their scent. This way."
He yelled as he ran deeper into the cave, lighting his fist on fire for light.
"Let's go." Erza ordered and the rest followed her into the cave, catching up with Natsu.
As they ran deeper into the cave, they were stopped by a stone wall.
"Not this time!" Natsu shouted.
"Lucy!"
"Right." She pulled out one of her keys.
"Open, Gate of the Golden Bull, Taurus!" A golden seal appeared from the ground and from it, Taurus rose, axe in it's holster.
"Taurus, take that wall down!" Lucy ordered.
"No prooblem!" The spirit grabbed his axe and swung it at the wall, crushing it into tiny pieces. From the large hole that was created, the group saw their target running across the clearing.
"There's no escape! Ice-Make Floor!" Gray shouted as he placed his hands on the ground, freezing it. He channeled more of his magic, causing it to snake it's way towards the criminal.
When it caught up with him, he slipped and slid into some trees.
"Hey, do you mind not doing that!" Drake shouted.
Erza requipped a sword into her hand and pointed it at him. "Surrender!"
"Not a chance." He growled. "I'm pissed. If you all want a fight, you got one. I'll take all of you on."
"I'm fired up now." Natsu said as he lit his fists on fire.
"You must be stupid." Gray added. "It's eight vs two."
"I admire your bravery, but that's pretty much it." Erza said as she requipped a second sword.
"Eight of you?" Drake repeated. "Doesn't seem that way to me."
"Hello, I'm here!" Lucy screamed, waving her fists through the air frantically.
"Me too." Happy mimicked Lucy as best he could.
"I'll take the demon, the knight and the pink-haired man." Drake looked at his two opponents.
"Suishou and the ice mage are mine." Sarah declared.
"Lucky shot." Erza said as she requipped into the Heaven's Wheel armor and charged at the young man.
He sidestepped Erza and then covered his arm in clear ice that was in the shape of a sword. He then slashed Erza across the chest and ran towards Gray.
"I'm not going easy on you even if you're a girl." Gray threw his jacket off.
"Ice-Make: Hammer!" Gray shouted as a magic seal appeared in front of his closed fist. Above Sarah, a hammer of ice fell, aimed at her.
At the same time to the left, Suishou had his own seal in front of him. "Raw Diamond Storm!"
From the seal, thousands of shards of diamond shot out at high speeds. When the two attacks hit their target, they kicked up dust, obscuring the vision of the two. When it faded, they couldn't find any trace of the criminal.
"Where'd she go?" Gray asked, readying his next spell.
"Looking for me." Sarah had changed her arms into wings. They looked up and saw her flying in the air.
"The hell kinda magic is this?" Gray asked staring at the woman.
"It's called Dinosaur Soul." Sarah explained. "I can transform my entire body into that of various dinosaurs or just certain parts of my body."
"Good luck trying to hit me in the sky."
"We'll see about that!" Gray shouted as another seal appeared in front of him. "Ice-Make: Lance!" Dozens of frozen lances shot out, aimed at Sarah. However, she effortlessly dodged all of them before diving at Suishou.
She then engulfed her arms in flames and performed a series of slashing attacks.
"Ice-Make: Shield!" Gray cast his spell. Creating a flower like shield from his ice, he stopped the attack inches before she could hit Suishou. "Ice-Make: Prison!" Before she could react, Gray trapped her in an ice cage.
"I'm impressed." Sarah admitted. "Very few people are able to catch me in my Dinosaur Take Over."
"Get ready, punk. Cause I'm all fired up now." Natsu brought his fist into his palm.
"Your reign of terror ends today." Astoroth's wings grew out and he took to the air.
Natsu launched forward, his fist cocked back, ready to strike. "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" He lit his fist on fire and swung, only for Drake to duck and deliver an uppercut to the jaw.
"Try this!" Astoroth shouted from above. "Evil Burst Stream!" He gathered black energy in his hands before bringing his hands out and a beam of darkness shot at Drake, who jumped to the side to avoid it.
"Fire Dragon Roar!" Natsu shot flames out of his mouth, aimed at Drake, who brought his arms up to try and block the attack. Behind him, Astoroth was charging a huge orb of black energy.
"Hellfire Blast!" Astoroth threw the orb at Drake, who dodged the attack. The two attacks hit, resulting in a huge explosion. Then he reappeared behind Natsu and kicked him.
Natsu turned around, flames rolling off him. "Now you're starting to piss me off!"
Erza, now in her Heaven's Wheel armor, flew above their target. "Blumenblatt!" She launched forward and swung the two swords in her hands.
To her shock, both swords were effortlessly stopped by their opponent.
"Nice weapon, mind if I use it?" Drake asked, before snagging one of Erza's swords.
"Fire Dragon Sword Horn!" Natsu charged at Drake with his body ablaze. Just before he hit the criminal, he turned while holding one of Erza's swords and struck him in the side with the weapon.
At this time, Astoroth slammed his hands into the ground, creating a dark purple seal. "Yokai Pulse!" A dark wave flew over the ground, causing the ground to crack and rise. Drake jumped into the air and Astoroth flew after him.
"Shadow Claw!" As he cast his latest spell, his claws grew longer and were now glowing black.
He swung his claws like a madman, hoping to hit his target. Unfortunately, not a single slash hit, as the young man dodged each one.
"Lucy Kick!" She brought her foot up, but the Dragon Slayer bent down and caused her to miss.
Erza and Gray used his distraction to go on the attack.
"Moon Flash!" Erza swung her sword in a cross pattern, while at the same time, Taurus swung his axe.
Gray thought quickly and brought his hands together. "Ice-Make: Battle Axe!"
Natsu popped up out of the ground before launching himself at Drake.
"Fire Dragon Talon!" Wrapping his foot in fire, he tried to kick him, but the young man had avoided one of Astoroth's swipes, so he was hit instead.
Before Natsu could react, he was grabbed by the leg and thrown into Astoroth.
"Natsu, we can't keep this up." Astoroth said as he rose to his feet. "We have to start working together. It's the only way."
Natsu nodded as the two launched at him.
"Fire Dragon Wing Attack!" Natsu wrapped his fists in long whips of fire before swinging them at the criminal. The whips hit their mark, causing Drake to fly into the air.
In the air, Astoroth was gather more dark energy in his hands. "Time to end this! Spirit Destroyer!" He brought his hands forward, creating a seal. From its center, a beam of black light shot out, surrounded by swirling rays of purple. The energy hit Drake square in the chest, launching him down to the ground.
He hit the ground with such force that he carved a trench with his body. He would have gone for miles if he hadn't crashed into a tree.
The enemy defeated, the groups gathered near Drake's body. "Well, that's done." Natsu said with a grin.
Erza turned to Suishou and Astoroth. "I don't see why you needed us. He wasn't that powerful."
Before anything was said, the group heard Drake get to his feet. He was no worse for wear.
"Is that you think."
"How?" Team Natsu was in disbelief that he hadn't been injured.
He asked, with a chunk of ice from the ice he had been imprisoned inside in his hand. Drake threw it straight up and once it came back down.
CRUNCH!
The group stared wide-eyed at the sight before them. He was taking a bite out of the ice. Natsu was handling it the worst. He knew what someone eating an element meant.
"This guy's a Dragon Slayer." Natsu said in disbelief as what he was witnessing.
"N-no way." Lucy could barely speak, she was so stunned.
Erza was not happy. She turned to the employers in anger. "Why didn't you tell us about this?!" She asked with hatred in her voice.
Suishou raised his hands in defense. "We can't tell you anything we don't know ourselves. This is something new."
"Let me show you what I'm really capable of." Drake brought his hands in front of his mouth and a seal appeared before him. It was like Natsu's, but clear like ice.
Gray had had enough and brought his hands together as cold air escaped them. "Ice-Make: Battle Axe!" The frozen weapon launched at him at high speed.
"Ice Dragon Gauntlet!" A gauntlet made from solid ice covered his exposed hand and held the axe in place. Then he elbowed Gray in the side of the head, knocking him to the ground.
Erza saw this and was infuriated. "Requip! Heaven's Wheel!" Once in her new armor, she summoned dozens of swords which quickly surrounded him. "Strike him down!" With those three words, the swords flew towards him, but he just stood there.
One by one, the blades struck their target, but bounced off the clear scales covering his body.
The blades finally stopped flying, revealing many of them chipped and broken.
Erza charged forward, channeling her magic power into her her swords. "Trinity Sword!" She swung her swords in a delta formation, creating an arrow of energy. The arrow flew towards Drake.
Due to the position, she failed to notice a clear magic seal form underneath him.
"Ice Dragon Freezing Edge!" He yelled out. A huge explosion of ice spread and hit every enemy within 50ft.
After that, he observed Lucy messing with her keys, trying to get one of her spirits out. Finding the one she wanted, she pulled off her ring. "Open, Gate of th-"
"Ice Dragon Cold Wing!" Drake swiped at her with snow and ice, dealing major enemy to Lucy.
"Lucy!" Natsu screamed as he watched the blonde received the hit. Behind him, Suishou and Astoroth rose to their feet.
"Try this!" Astoroth took to the air and prepared his Spirit Destroyer spell.
Drake jumped into the air, after the demon.
"Ice Dragon Frozen Blades!" Two ice swords slashed Astoroth across the chest, sending him flying into his partner and knocking both out.
"Now, just you and me."
"So, you're a dragon slayer too, huh?" Natsu asked as his flames licked around his body.
"Tell me, did your dragon disappear on July 7th seven years ago?" Natsu asked his opponent.
"If you're helping those two, then I have nothing to say." Drake added as icicles emerged from the ground.
"Oh, yeah?" Natsu said as he dropped into a fighting stance. "How bout if I beat ya, you tell me what I wanna know?"
"You're on."
"Natsu." Erza groaned as she rolled over onto her stomach. "Be careful."
"Fire Dragon-"
"Ice Dragon-"
"Roar!"
"Roar!"
Both launched the same attack at the same time. The two roars collide with each other, resulting in a massive explosion of flame and ice. The two slayers then launched at each other, their fists pulled back.
"Fire Dragon-"
"Ice Dragon-"
"Iron Fist!" Natsu's fist was wrapped in a flaming blaze as he aimed for Drake's head.
"Frozen Fist!" A large amount of ice gathered around Drake's fist as he punched Natsu.
Both fists struck their intended targets, but when Natsu tried to hit him again, his eyes caught something.
A icy sword formed over his arm.
"That's a nasty lookin' toy you got there."
"What toy? Meet the Ice Dragon Brilliant Sword. Would you want to be sliced into pieces by it?"
"No thanks, I like being in one piece." Natsu answered as he cracked his knuckles, knowing that this will be a close range fight.
Drake ran towards him, swinging the sword. Natsu jumped out of the way and the sword embedded itself in the ground.
Natsu finally found an opening and he took it. "Fire Dragon Talon!" Natsu struck with a flaming roundhouse kick to the head, sending him reeling.
"Happy!" Natsu called to his best friend over. The cat flew over and picked Natsu up into the air.
As he shook his head, clearing the cobwebs, he saw Natsu flying in the air. "Fire Dragon Roar!" Natsu cast his spell as Happy flew him around in a circle. These actions created a column of fire that engulfed Drake.
"Did we get him?" Happy asked being unable to see. As the smoke cleared, it revealed that Drake was gone.
"Crap!" Natsu remembered what happened with Erza. "I hope we're safe in the air."
"Don't count on it." Drake yelled, before a clear magic seal formed behind his back. Two icy wings sprouted out of his back.
"Fire Dragon Sword Horn!" Natsu lit his body ablaze and crashed into Drake mid-free fall, forcing them both to the ground. They crashed into ground, creating a large crater. Natsu used him as a cushion, protecting himself from most of the damage.
The others were stirred by the noise of the impact. They looked over to Natsu, who was standing on top of Drake, his weapons destroyed on impact. They tried to stand up, but their injuries were too painful. Natsu walked off Drake's back and began to head over and help his friends up.
"Is that all?" Drake asked, picking himself up.
He then shot forward and punched Natsu in the gut before raising his foot in a roundhouse kick.
"Ice Dragon Solid Knee!" Ice formed around Drake's knee, before he aimed at Natsu's abdomen.
Disoriented, Natsu tried to counter, but Drake dodged the attack.
"I'm disappointed, I expected you to put up more of a fight Salamander." Drake muttered. "We're done here."
"Wait." He looked and saw Natsu struggling to stand. "We're not done yet."
"Get real. You can't even stand up." He walked away. "And you don't even have enough magic power to continue fighting me."
"I didn't think you were a coward as well."
He stopped. "I'm sorry, did I hear you right?"
Gray had regained consciousness and pushed himself up on his knees. He rolled over to Erza who had been observing the situation. "Erza, he's used too much of his magic power. Any ideas on how we can get him some fire?"
"My- My Flame Empress Armor. But I'm low on magic power myself." She said panting. "If you four can distract him long enough, I can give use the last of my magic to Requip into it."
Gray nodded and willed himself to his feet and looked around. Suishou and Astoroth were helping each other up and Lucy was using a tree to support herself. He looked back down at Erza, who was focusing her magic power.
"Alright." Drake turned back towards the downed Natsu. "Very well, I was holding back earlier. But now-" He brought the Ice Dragon Brilliant Sword down towards Natsu.
"Ice-Make: Shield!" Gray cast his spell and created the flower-shaped shield, protecting Natsu at the last possible second. The force behind the sword swing shattered the shield into little ice shards.
"Come on, flame head." Gray said as he walked over to Natsu. "You really think I'd let you take out another dragon slayer on your own again?"
Natsu smirked at his friends bravado and they both turned to face the opposing dragon slayer. "Come on, stripper. Let's get this punk." Both took off running at Drake.
"Ice-Make: Sword!" Gray crafted a sword and swung it at Drake, who blocked it with his own sword.
He looked out the corner of his eye and raised his left arm. "I see what's going on."
Drake grabbed Natsu and threw him in Gray's direction. This distracted him, allowing Drake to knee him in the chest, and push him back.
He clutched his gut as Suishou and Astoroth walked up next to him. "We need to hold him off for a little bit." Gray explained. "Erza has a plan to take this guy down for good." Both nodded as all three prepared spells.
"Ice-Make: Arrows!" Crafting a bow of ice, Gray then launched thousands of frozen arrows at Drake.
"Sapphire Wave!" From his seal, Suishou released multiple solid waves of the blue gem.
"Evil Burst Stream!" Astoroth launched a beam of black energy straight forward.
The three attacks merged and a massive amount of power was all concentrated on Drake. He sighed as the attack got closer.
"Ice Dragon Shield!" He put his hands up and created a shield out of ice to stop all three attacks.
"Oh, by the way Gray." He said. "You really shouldn't share your plan with a enemy. Especially not a Dragon Slayer."
Gray's eyes went wide. "Crap! Erza!"
"I'm on it!" He looked over to see Lucy leaning against a tree, gold key in her hand. "Open, Gate of The Maiden, Virgo!" The maid spirit appeared before them. "Listen, a bad guy is looking for Erza. I need you to stop him."
"Understood, Princess." Virgo then disappeared into the ground.
'Now, where is she?' Drake thought to himself, running. 'If I can feel her magic power, their plan is ruined.'
"I'm sorry." Virgo said. "My master has ordered me to punish you, so I will."
"Very well then. You have the honor of experiencing another spell of mine."
"Ice Dragon Wing Attack!" His hands and arms turn into ice and Drake tossed Virgo into the air.
Meanwhile, Erza had focused the last of her magic. "Requip!" She swapped into her Flame Empress Armor and summoned fire to its blade. Natsu pushed himself up against a tree, and when he saw Erza in the armor, he knew what the plan was.
"Astoroth, a little air support!" Suishou shouted at his partner. Quickly, the demon flew his teammate into the air and quickly caught up with the airborne criminal. Once the same height two seals entered Suishou's hands.
"Opal Mace!" From his right hand, a mace made of the orange gem appeared, ready to swing. "Amethyst Sword!" In his left hand, a purple gem cutlass materialized. He swung the sword at Drake's neck before crashing his mace on top of his head, sending him falling to the ground.
"Natsu!" Erza shouted as she launched the fire from her blade at him. Quickly ingesting the fiery snack, he wiped his mouth before ruining at the falling foe. Once in front of him, he cocked his fist back as it was set ablaze.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art! Crimson Lotus: Fire Dragon Fist!" Quickly, his fists were wrapped balls of fire before he unleashed a barrage of punches at Drake. The combined heat and force of the spell destroyed Drake's icy scales before Natsu ended it with a flaming haymaker. This sent the criminal crashing through multiple trees, before he laid prone against one.
With the battle over, the group panted before celebrating a victory. Erza gave a small smile, Natsu and Gray high five each other and Virgo asked Lucy for punishment.
"This isn't over yet. We need to make sure they never harm anyone else."
