Chapter 80: Fire and Sky
War had officially begun. The battle between Fairy Tail, White Eclipse, Tartarus, and the Tartarus outcasts was underway, influxes of magic and curse power thrown around in every direction, led by those who remained with the group such as Waiston Tunundra the Frozen Dragon Slayer and Gray Fullbuster the Ice Make Mage. Both of them leapt forward, slamming down a powerful fist that created a mountainous rush of ice — causing havoc to their opposition as a slew of Tartarus guards were sent flying skyward. One of them tried to blindside Waiston from the right, only to be met by Cygnus, who launched a heavy fist into the abdomen of the latest victim. The Gravity God left the guard floating right there thanks to his gravity infused magic, only to spin, kicking him straight in the jaw to shatter the random's mask before sending him flying.
"Now this is a good time!" Cygnus shouted, pressing his hands to the ground, causing a pulse to vibrate through the ground. All caught within began floating before him, until he then shouted, "FALL!"
From there, the bodies caught in his radius crashed harshly into the ground, Cygnus clearing out most of the way as Waiston grinned, impressed. "Quit showing off, Cyg!" He shouted playfully, but it was Zalen that brought them both back to reality as he raised an iron wall to quell the incoming attacks that threatened the lot together. "He's right, even if he's joking. You can toy with these guys once we retrieve Kuro."
That name caused Cygnus to leap back into reality, reminded of why they were here. Still, he kept a smirk on his face, holding his ground as the next swarm of guards made their way towards his group. "I hear ya, and we'll be getting him back real soon. And once we see his face again, it's lights out for Tartarus! Speaking of lights out..." Cygnus's grin grew as he spotted a hooded figure running off. "If I'm correct...then thats one of those damned demons over there!"
The second he heard Cygnus yell, it caught his attention. "Shit! Not yet, you idiot!" He pleaded to Cygnus though he couldn't hear him. Looking back, he could see the Gravity God leaping his way, covering the field in one bound. He had to evade, and as he did, landing away from the White Eclipse Mage, he made a "Tch" sound as he could still see a certain shrimp in his line of sight. "Dammit! I could still do so much damage to Tartarus if I remained disguised, but Cygnus's dumbass is about to ruin that!"
"You didn't think I was going to leave here without taking on one of the big dogs, did you?!" Cygnus asked, pointing the hooded figure's way. Makarov looked over with his peripherals, but didn't say a word for the obvious reasons, continuing to fight his own battles against the Tartarus randoms.
"You idiot.." He spoke loud enough for Cygnus to hear, though the Gravity God didn't catch on to the familiar tone. He was feeling way too cocky at this moment to use such senses. "Yeah yeah, you're going to say I'm stupid for challenging you and all that jazz! Well show me just how big of a mistake I made, rookie! The Gravity God is here to show you just what it's like to be put down by the great one!"
His eyes leered away from Cygnus and back to Levy for only a split second, but the moment he returned to Cygnus, the White Eclipse Mage was before him with a right fist reared back. "Keep your eyes on your maker, stupid!" Cygnus shouted, swinging that fist directly into his last line of defenses; his raised arms that shielded him from taking the blow head on. Sliding back a great distance from the strength, Gajeel then felt his feet leave the ground, his body become lighter which led him to become an open target. "Shit! Cygnus!" He shouted, but even that surprise wasn't enough to stop Cygnus from continuing forward, wrapping a purple aura around his fist.
"Of course you know my name! A great Mage like me would make even demons tremble!"
"Fuck it." He said, inhaling the air around him. "Iron Dragon's—"
The beginning of the incantation immediately caught her and Lily's attention, stopping what they were doing in mid action as they turned to watch a steel black funnel slam into Cygnus at full force. "— Roar!"
Her mouth agape, Lily's as well, as he and Cygnus landed, his hood fell from his head, and from there he decided to remove the entire thing, standing in his normal attire. It was like she's seen a ghost, and once her body cooperated, Levy was at a full sprint towards Gajeel Redfox. Drops of saline hit the ground with every stride, and he speechless Solid Script Mage didn't care who she was running by. She only had her eyes set on the man who left her behind all this time.
"Levy!" Gajeel shouted, but she disregarded the concerned yell, almost a fatal mistake as a piercing funnel of flames shit towards her from the right. Finally, it caught her attention, but not before impact was made. "LEVY!" He shouted louder, but with another blink, Gajeel realized that it wasn't Levy who was struck. Removing her arms from a feeble defense, Levy too realized that she was unharmed, but it came with a great cost it seemed, as Jet now stood before her, arms out as a burning hole resonated in his left pectoral. "That's funny..." He said, ominously lingering words that soon found the following no one wanted. "I can't feel my heart beat anymore..."
"No...no— Jet!?" Levy shouted, only for the high speed Mage to fall over face first, what seemed to be lifeless. "JEEEET!" Levy shouted at the top of her lungs. It felt like Gajeel and Acnologia all over again, and she scrambled towards the male, knelt by his side and cradling him in a desperate attempt to keep him alive. "Idiot..." Gajeel spoke quietly, clenching his fists tightly before looking around for the culprit.
"Taking your eyes off the battlefield for such selfish, personal reasons. Humans are so fickle and weak that even their mental states are vulnerable to domineering variables. In this case, the demon."
Crow, pushing yellow eyes past his hair, now stood before Cygnus, Gajeel, Levy and a fallen Jet. He turned his attention to the angered Gajeel, grinning as lighting began to surge around his body. "Infiltration, hm?" He asked Gajeel, lighting a cigarette between his lips. "Seems kind of pointless since you're all here without a plan anyways. Such an unusual grandstand, but who am I to judge?"
Trembling in anger, he was seconds from exploding, looking back from Jet, to Crow and repeat, that large arm of his raised to the air and he shouted. "Knuckle Plant!"
"No..." Levy murmured.
"YOU BASTARD!" Droy shouted from behind, creating a plethora of vines what would merge together to create a large fist made of his plant magic. It rushed towards Crow, and the demon simply raised a left hand, causing a static discharge upon impact between offense and defense. He turned his yellow eyes to the tear filled ones that Droy carried. Droy stood a distance away from everyone, but he had no plans of backing down after what happened to Jet.
"Droy don't be stupid!" Gajeel shouted. "You can't take him on! Go stay with the group!"
"I'm not leaving until he pays for what he did to Jet!" Droy shouted, focusing his magic to ready for another attack. "I'll make sure that bastard does just that, but Droy! This isn't for you!"
"I said I'm not leaving! Pantherlily! Take Jet back to that medicine woman." Droy was now giving the orders it seemed. "You two can either help me, or you can follow the others down into Tartarus, but you...demon." He slowly separated both of his hands, then slammed them into the ground, creating a field of vines that would sprout into the air. "I can't let you get away with that! Anvil Plant!"
Crow simply watched with an amused gesture as the plants tied together for a much bigger version of the knuckle plant he just displayed. As it came crashing down however, Crow changed his expression at the last second to a surprised one as the Plant came crashing down powerfully, catching everyone off guard. "Whoa...Droy?" Gajeel asked, looking on with Levy.
"Don't be ridiculous." He said from behind Droy, holding out his right arm. The Anvil Plant was glowing purple, and Cygnus spat once, releasing he blood in his mouth as he kept a glare towards Crow. "I don't need help with this guy, but it seems fat boy over here is burning with some resolve for his boyfriend, so I can't let him lose to this demon. Be some real friends and provide some cover for him like I am. I don't know the story here, but it seems like he just lost the only true friend he's had for a while."
"Droy..." Levy murmured but stopped there. She could see it in his eyes, causing her's to water too. Memory helped her out just fine as she remembered all the times she lashed out at both Droy and Jet since they were the ones who pulled her away from a seemingly dying Gajeel back then. "I...I was so caught up in keeping my promise, that I actually believed that I hated you two..." she whimpered, pulling Jet close once more before Gajeel's exceed took him into his arms. Levy then stood up, wiping her tears as the four came together, ready to face Crow head on. "I'm so sorry, Droy...Jet. I'm so sorry. But I'll do what I can to make up for how I treated you. And I'll start right here, I promise!"
"At least almost everyone is inside now." Said Erza who was previously seen breaking through the giant cube that led to Tartarus's lair. By taking her eyes off of her current opponent, Erza found herself wrapped up once more by elongated nails, raised into the air and then dropped to the ground again. "Don't become so complacent now." Kyouka said, smirking. As the smoke cleared from such an attack, Erza appeared in her bandaged attire, dashing forward and landing a kick to Kyouka's chin which caused her to stumble backwards. She fixed herself with a smile however, and Erza gave her the same facial gesture. "I quite like you." Kyouka added. "Don't get used to the feeling." Erza replied as the two separated once more. Before either one could delve back into battle however, the sounds of earth bathing in a molten liquid was heard off to the side. Both of them turned to meet the reason why, and their third party proved to be none other than Maggie Solfatara, the lava demoness.
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Maggie asked sarcastically, hopping down from her perch to join their level. How fitting for one who found herself above all she opposed. The wicked grin upon her features remained glued to Kyouka as if Erza didn't exist. Red eyes perfectly visible despite being covered by white strands of hair. She held up a single right fist, causing it to gain its lava properties. "Surely you have room for one more. Kyouka, I've been waiting for this for a long time, so don't back out on me now, chickadee."
"Hmph." Kyouka could only smirk at the sly words from Maggie, but it was Erza gaining attention once more as she requppied, reappearing in her Black Wing Armor. "By all means, Maggie. The more, the merrier. Let's make sure to make this a good one, since I have to make sure it'll be both of yours last one."
—
"Sky Dragon's —"
"Omega Fire Dragon's—"
"Talons!" The two shouted in unison, working together as the both soared towards Ezel and slammed their sky and fire elemental kicks into his face. Grunting, he smiled past the annoying pain before swinging a left elbow from one of his many arms, connecting with Cynthia's crossed arms and sending her flying back. "Cynthia!" Wendy shouted, but before she could react, lightning sparked from beneath her, creating a sparking premise that shot upward, electrifying her and causing her to scream out in pain. "Now stay out of the way." Tobias demanded, turning back to Ezel with a grin as the two stood off.
"Bring it, traitor! I'll devour you whole!" Ezel shouted, swinging a hard right in a downward motion. Tobias slid off to the right, taking the opening given with a flame infused fist aimed for Ezel's stomach. Connection was made, but only by another limb from the demon, grinning as he pushed Tobias away only to cover the distance he created without a misstep by leaping towards him, Tobias had no choice but to roll away once more as Ezel's massive body landed where he was previously located. The impact caused the cavern to shake, but as Tobias prepared another spell, he felt a presence behind him.
"ROAR!" The two girls shouted, firing off funnels of their respective element, causing them to blend together as the winds of Wendy's attack would amplifying Cynthia's fire exponentially. Tobias turned right into it, demonic eyes widening just before he raised his bare arms to shelter himself from the incoming blow. The powerful roar unison raid slammed into his arms, skidding him backwards with no signs of letting up. He would grunt in pain, the fabric of his shirt gradually disintegrating as he continued his unwanted momentum.
"I got you now!" Ezel shouted from behind. Tobias looked back to see the Etherious lunging his way with a set of spiked, rearing back his left side as he neared his kin. Just before Ezel could swing however, Tobias shifted his frame to the side, allowing the torrent of high powered flames to scorch right past him, hitting Ezel directly in the chest, causing him to release a cry of pain. Tobias wasn't done there either. From his shift, he planted his left palm to the ground, creating a tower of ice that rose towards the ceiling and trapping Ezel inside. A painful ploy that only lasted for seconds.
Just as fast as it was created, Ezel broke free, shattering the ice into nothing before landing back towards the ground with an angered expression. Cynthia would meet him, slamming a flaming uppercut to the demon's abdomen with all of her physical might. He didn't move. Instead, Ezel grabbed her into a bear hug, causing the young girl to scream out as he tightened his grip with his jagged arms. Wendy attempted the same thing against Tobias, swinging down a kick to his head only for her leg to be grabbed, Wendy thrown to the ground and with a tight grip on her ankle, Tobias would release a pulsating wave of lightning that would electrify the Sky Dragon Slayer.
"You two..." Both demons began, only to finish their words at the same time. "...are really annoying!"
Wendy was being shocked to her core, but it was Cynthia taking the worst of it all thanks to Ezel's own body. The harder he squeezed, the more deepened cuts on her body showed. The high pitched screams that left the little girl's body echoed throughout the cavern as Ezel laughed maniacally. "Stay out, Tobias! Once I slice this little one into pieces, you'll be next!"
Tobias nodded in agreement. "My thoughts exactly for once I finish with this one. They've proven nothing but distractions since we've started, and my bone with you needs to be picked, alone."
"Gaha! You hear that, girl!? It's time for me to cut you in half! Let your friends know that you're leaving this world in pieces! Cry out to the heavens for me before you go! Let them know that Ezel was the one who ended your life!"
Ezel continued laughing as Cynthia would scream, and with fading eyes, Wendy would desperately reach out for her friend with a futile effort. "Cynthia...!"
"Cynthia!" Charla shouted from the sidelines, knowing there was nothing she could do to help either.
Wendy struggled, helplessly watching as Cynthia's cries for help only became weaker. She seemed to be fading, and with no other choice, the Sky Dragon Slayer became desperate, holding out her struggling arms as she enchanted; "Dragon Slayer's Secret Art...Shattering Light: Sky Drill...!"
"What are you doing!?" Charla shouted, not liking the idea Wendy was brewing. It was too late to change her mind however, as Wendy lowered her head, hoping for the best as a plethora of wind gathered around her. Wendy would then launched her arms forward, creating a powerful torrent of sky magic that would rush towards both Ezel and Cynthia while also overtaking them in a large barrier of the same element.
"Cynthia...please..." Wendy pleaded, but right after, Ezel's laughter could be heard echoing within the Sky Drill. "Futile! Useless! You weakling are in the way of our fight! I'll crush you now, and then I'll devour you! Let this be a lesson learned for you weak little mages! Nothing compares to the power of Etherious!"
Ezel's laughter would continue, escalating to the point where he almost couldn't hear what happened next. "Huh?" He questioned as the sound of winds being inhaled was heard right before him. From the outside, blinded by all the visible winds creating a barrier, Tobias raised a brow in question as he too heard what was going on within. Wendy smiled weakly before falling over from the electric shock, but as the wind finally cleared, a final scene was seen as Cynthia devouring the Sky Drill completely. A second later, she clenched both of her petite fists, gradually breaking through Ezel's hold as she shouted. "Let...go..." She began, powering out of Ezel's hold with one push, causing him to stumble backwards from the strength. "...OF WENDY!" She finished, appearing just before Tobias in a flash with her right arm reared back behind her ear. Tobias was star struck, and as Cynthia swung her fist forward, a perfect mixture of Flames and Sky magic slammed into the demon's jawline, sending him flying down the cavern's pathway before crashing out of sight.
Landing once more, Cynthia turned her sights to the puzzled Ezel before squatting down to check on her best friend. "Wendy..." She called out to her, her aura still flaring around her as Ezel called out to her. "What's this? Some little power up? That means nothing! You're still no match for me! I'm going to slice you into pieces and devour you like I promised!"
She ignored him as Wendy slowly pushed herself to her feet. Cynthia helped her up reluctantly. "Don't push yourself, Wendy!"
"I'm fine.." She reassured, smiling towards Cynthia as she made it to her feet. "I have plenty of fight in me, and I can't let you take them both on alone."
On cue, Tobias could be heard, pissed off as the cavern rumbled from his outcry. "Enough games!" The Etherious yelled from the tunnel. From where he stood, Tobias pulled his body out of the crater it formed, but it wasn't the cavern wall he was stuck to, but Face itself. Cynthia's blow and Tobias's momentum left a deep crater within it, but it wasn't enough to bring it down. As he stalked back towards the other Etherious and the two girls, in big, bold numbers the countdown continued; ten minutes until Face was activated.
"Let's see what we can do about this one before Tobias returns!" Wendy commanded.
"Right!" Cynthia nodded, standing her newest form, the Omega Sky Flame Dragon.
"Huuuuh!?" Ezel shouted, amused yet angered as the two plotted his end. "You're getting ahead of yourself there! That pisses me off! You think your new strength is truly enough for me? Then show me what you puny runts are truly made of!"
