The next day the girls got up earlier than the boys, but Erza didn't want to wait for the magicians' goodwill and knocking on their bedroom door forced them to wake up. It took a while for them to get up and change their clothes and leave the room looking very sleepy.
"Where's Ryker at?" Erza asked firmly.
"I do not know. He ... wasn't in the room when we got up, "Natsu replied with a lot of sleep and a lot of yawning.
"Maybe he's already awake," Lucy says.
"It might be. Let's go to the restaurant to eat something ", Erza says, heading down the corridor. They go down the stairs, cross the hall and enter the restaurant to enjoy the breakfast buffet.
"Good morning to all of you!", A voice catches the attention of the group, who turns and sees Ryker sitting at a table, finishing his breakfast.
"Got up early," Gray said with raised eyebrows.
"Go, get something and sit down".
Naturally, the largest amount of food was taken by Natsu, which frightened the other regulars at the hotel, but the riot was the responsibility of everyone at the table, who ate at the same time as they were celebrating.
Ryker turned to Erza with a sly smile. "Did you get any sleep?" He asked. What made the mage choke on her coffee and made her blush. Everyone stopped eating and looked at the situation with curiosity.
"Yes," the magician said at the same time as she nodded, still flushed and drinking her coffee.
"Anything else we should know?" Lucy asked, looking at Erza maliciously.
"Nothing much. Only she and I talked until late yesterday, "Ryker answered bluntly. Everyone looked at each other and the redhaired mage blushed a little.
"I think it is better to get up and check the place as soon as possible", the magician Requip hurried to say to deflect the focus of the conversation. Everyone agreed.
They finish breakfast and leave the hotel heading for the planned location of the attack. The ride was calm and with casual conversations, but both Erza and Ryker were paying more attention to their surroundings than to their companions. They wanted to memorize every aspect and every street, to note ambush points and attack points, places where they could hide and have a better position of attack and defense.
When they arrived at the defined location, they analyzed the position where each one would stay, the blind and cover points, the places where they could attack to cause less damage to the structure of the city. They improved the plan they had in mind, they had an idea of how to move, the obstacles they would have in the way, and they knew where and when and how to change positions to attack and move the enemy to the desired position and to the specified location. They knew where each member would stay and position themselves. And they even had an idea of what power they would use.
They went to the park, on the intended path that wanted to drive the miscreants, observed the surroundings and the buildings, noting everything that was important for the operation. In the park they observed the geometry of the place and its points of coverage and attack, again. They knew that there, they would have to surround the bandits and attack them from all sides to avoid any possibility of escape. That would be no problem. However, Ryker noted that the location was large enough for them to fight apart from each other, which would require extra attention with their blind spots, and this was warned by him.
Everyone should pay attention to everyone. There were some sculptures and arts scattered around the park, he noticed that they were very likely to get lost in the middle of the crossfire, an acceptable pear in his view. He and Erza calculated that if everything went as planned, the damage would really be minimal, nothing compared to what this team used to do. They stayed there for some time finishing the details of the plan and analyzing the locations. It was almost noon and they were already getting hungry, which Natsu insisted on and reminded everyone of repeatedly.
Finally they decided it was good enough and went looking for a place to eat. As everything in the city was expensive and searching would take a long time they decided to go to the same restaurant as the previous day. Once there, everyone asked for what they wanted and Dragon Slayer asked for almost half of the menu.
"Hey, Erza?", Lucy whispered. "What happened between you and Ryker?", She says with a sly smile.
"What!? Nothing ... we just talked ", Erza looked nervous and uncomfortable.
"And what did you talk about?", The blonde mage insisting, her curiosity was speaking louder than the risk of being hit by an enraged redhead.
"It is… nothing much. About things and other things ", the redhead magician was definitely turning red. "We just went to a bar to talk and ... see the place."
"It was a date!", Lucy shouted blushing.
"NO!", The other magician shouted, and everyone at the table looked at her.
"Is everything okay Erza?", Natsu asked with a piece of veal in his mouth.
"Yes, it is!", She said clearly nervous.
"Then why did you scream?", An intrigued Gray said.
"Why, it's none of your business!", She scolded with an evil look, and everyone immediately forgot about it.
They finished lunch and as the afternoon was free they decided that they would explore the city. They ended up dividing, each wanting to do something different, so Natsu and Happy formed a pair, Gray went with Lucy, leaving Ryker and Erza behind.
"You ... do you want to go somewhere?", Erza asked Ryker timidly.
He didn't understand the tone or the way she was doing it, but his plans were different. "Sorry, but I'm going to concentrate for tomorrow. I'm just going to take a walk around until I find a quiet place to stay, " said without too much detour and in an expressionless manner.
"Ah, yes, it is a good measure," she said a little disappointed. "So I'm going this way." He nodded in confirmation.
When she was on her back going in some direction she heard his voice and turned around, realizing that he was staring at her. "Take care," he said seriously. She promptly waved to indicate that she got the message, turned and kept walking looking for something interesting in the city.
Throughout the day everyone ended up finding something in the city that they were interested in, Gray bought some gifts for his girlfriend, Juvia, Lucy bought clothes and shoes and jewelry. Natsu kept visiting snack bars and restaurants as much as he could and Erza was delighted when he found a candy store with an incredible variety of cakes. Ryker just wandered around the city without a specific course stuck to his thoughts and excited by what the next day was waiting for him.
It was late and everyone was already at the hotel, they were gathered in the same room talking and laughing, talking about what they did on the day and what they had found in the city. But Ryker hadn't arrived yet, and they were starting to get worried.
"Where did he go, who hasn't arrived yet?", Lucy said worriedly about her guildmate.
"Don't worry, Luce. He knows how to take care of himself, nothing must have happened ", Natsu reassures her by saying with his typical smile.
"He must have found a delicious fish and he must be eating. I hope he brings one for us, "Happy says.
"Yes, I think you are right. Now, he must be arriving already ", and the moment Lucy says that, he enters the hotel and addresses them, sitting down with the group.
"Are you fine?" Gray asks.
"Of course, I was just enjoying the night air," he replies in a disinterested way.
"Excellent! I hope everyone is ready for tomorrow. I don't think we're going to have a lot of problems, but pay attention to the enemy and don't underestimate him ", Erza said firmly and it would be, there was no trace of humor or joke on his face.
"No plan can stand up to reality. We have a good plan, but be prepared for the unexpected, "Ryker said suddenly, but everyone understood the message and nodded in confirmation, everyone was serious.
The group stayed there talking for some time and with the night going on, each one went to their respective room to end the night and rest. Tomorrow promised to be interesting and they were excited about it.
The day had dawned and was already well into the morning, it was, in fact, close to lunchtime, it was hot and humid, like a spring day, but very hot. It was almost time for the money collection that the mayor had informed, and the fairy tail wizards were standing by in their respective places, waiting, concentrating and cheering up for the battle to come.
"Natsu! Anything? ", Erza speaks for the tear of communication.
"No! Nothing yet. When are these bastards going to show up? This is getting boring! ", Dragon Slayer complains, since they have been there for a few hours.
"Calm down, idiot! You don't want to get that shit's attention, do you? "Gray scolds him for the tear.
"Let's follow the plan and be careful not to spoil your idiots," Erza says with his usual authority.
"Are they always like this?", Ryker asks with a slight smile at Lucy.
"Unfortunately, yes," she says in defeat. "How much longer do you think we're going to have to wait here? With this heat I will end up dying! And Gray is already naked by the way ", the celestial magician asks looking up at her companion.
He looks at her, his expression was serious. "I don't know, they may not even show up. We can only count on luck now and the likelihood that they will do what they have always been doing ", his speech discourages the blonde magician who lets out a sigh. "Now as for the heat ...", he positions himself in front of the sun, casting a shadow over it.
"Huh !? You ... you don't have to, "she says, somewhat surprised that he is shading her body for her.
"Do not worry. I'm used to it ", he says looking at the surroundings. "Just relax".
Another time passed, was minutes or hours, maybe. The heat and humidity had intensified, probably some rain would come in the late afternoon. The air was still, there was no wind, the birds were not singing and the insects were quiet. Something was coming, and the magicians sensed it because of their experience. Natsu noticed movement ahead, he observed, heard and smelled. There were about 20 men approaching fast and he realized right away that it was the bandits and soon he was excited.
"They are coming," he said through lacrima. Everyone took their positions ready to carry out the plan.
"Okay, Natsu. Stay out of sight and let them in. Then push them towards me ", Erza commanded.
Ryker and Lucy would be the last to act and were preparing as well as the others, but he realized that his companion, who was crouched and in his bull suit, was breathing hard and looked anxious. He went over to her and crouched down beside her, placing his right hand on her left shoulder. It was a soft but firm touch, she realized and looked at him with suppressed eyes. He gave her a singing smile, but one that showed confidence.
"Just calm down, okay?" He said softly. "Relax and breathe. Focus on one goal, then move on to the next. Everything will be fine".
She looked at him and smiled. "Thanks. I always get a little anxious at the beginning of a fight, even though I have been through so many ", she said with a little sad air, but she recovered.
"It's normal. Even more for you, "he said with his smile.
"What do you mean !?", the blonde mage said.
He stood up and turned forward. "All of you may have faced some battles ...", he said as he walked, until he stopped and turned to her " but for me, you are all still newbies", he said smiling.
It really scared the celestial magician. If they, who had faced everything they faced, the battle after the Great Magic Games, Tartarus, the war against Álvarez, Zeref and Acnologia, and for him, they were still inexperienced, what did he face?
An explosion in the background was seen, which meant that Natsu started the attack, he looked and his more calm expression changed. Lucy noticed and noted that her mood had turned to something she had never seen before. Such a serious expression and so focused eyes, as if he was seeing nothing more than his opponent, but other than that, there was a murderous expression. His bearing became more erect than it seemed, his muscles became more rigid, his body was ready for anything, every muscle, every cell was ready for combat, while watching the movement in the background.
Natsu was using his Karyū no Hōkō to stun enemies, attacking from behind. The attack was violent and repeated, which was frightening the bandits, even if some tried to counterattack, they were not succeeding. The fire wizard was moving between buildings and firing from several angles. That was when some of the bandits started to disperse, looking for an escape. Some jumped on the roofs, but were immediately knocked down by ice spears and swords.
They were ambushed and knew, the only way to run in the direction of the avenue, little did they know that this was what the magicians wanted. Upon reaching an intersection they tried to disperse, but were rebuffed by a wall of ice and ice spears hitting them, which knocked some down. There were some wizards among the bandits who retaliated with spells that went from land to fire, but they were not strong enough. Only one path was ahead of them and they followed it.
Ryker saw that they were getting close and his expression deepened, and he started to release a bluish energy around his body. It was a dense, heavy energy that left all the air around it hot and dry, but not in a good way. It showed anger, hatred, darkness and threat. It was a very threatening energy. Lucy was very frightened by her companion. What was he?
"Attack, your useless!", One of the bandits shouted. "Attack the buildings, tear everything down." Then a flood of spells of various kinds began to sweep the surrounding buildings and debris began to fall in the middle of the street.
"Don't stop," a sinister voice spoke from among them. "If they think they can corner us, they are very wrong. I want to see what they are going to do with the innocent dying, "he said in half to demonic laughter.
More energy was being poured into the buildings, knocking down part of them. However, a wave of ice and fire caught them off guard, knocking many of them off.
"We are not going to leave your bastards," Gray said with a dark look.
"Do you think it is right to hurt innocent people? I will not forgive them ", Natsu speaks with his hands on fire and with a very angry look.
"Lucy now!", Ryker yells at his mate. Immediately she jumps in the middle of the bandits and with her whip she attacks them, knocking down several. Ryker fires a lot of blasts, while Gray throws more ice boats. All the movement makes the bandits run in despair down the street, as planned. Bandits are always cowards and don't want a fight.
"Natsu, go with Erza and stop them in the park," Ryker orders. The fire mage just laughs and follows the instructions running to the park over the roofs following the armor mage on the other side.
The three wizards who stayed behind continue their work pushing the bandits into the park. The murderous expression and the cold, lifeless eyes, as well as an oppressive aura from Ryker, made things easier. The gang members were terrified and wanted to get out of there. Even if they tried to get out over the houses, Lucy stopped them perfectly.
Upon arriving at the park, the bandits dispersed, but were prevented from escaping by an Erza in his Wheel of Heaven armor and by Natsu, very excited, throwing fire everywhere. Soon they found themselves surrounded by the Magicians of Fairy Tail.
"You have two options," Ryker said very seriously. "Either you give up and surrender or we are going to crush you ... Please choose the second one".
One of the bandits comes out from among them, he was clearly the leader. Long hair, scar on cheek and stubble. "Do you really think you can stop us?" He says and laughs sarcastically. "Don't underestimate us. How many are we in? 20 !? And you in five. I saw what they were doing, leading us out into the open and surrounding us. But, I regret to inform you, that there are many strong magicians in our group and the advantage is ours. We know your skills, "his voice was dry, cold.
"What are you talking about?" Erza asks.
He turns to her "Titania, I saw the games. I saw how you fight. Do you really think we never prepared for that? ".
"Hahahaha", Natsu laughs heartily, confusing everyone, even more the bandits. "And do you think we haven't improved since then? Guy! This is just making me more excited ", he looks at the gang leader and beats his fists in flames" I'm on fire ". At the proclamation of Natsu, all the magicians give a beautiful smile, except Ryker, who keeps his serious expression, even more, and all this terrifies the bandits.
"ATTACK!", The leader says pointing to the wizards. "Kill everyone, don't leave anyone alive!" They launch for Fairy Tail.
"Split up!", Erza leads the team.
"Lucy with me," Ryker says. The blonde obeys and stays with him in a part of the park. Erza, Gray and Natsu fight alone against the bandits, each in a specific position and location.
It is not difficult for the armor mage to take down her enemies. Even though there were wizards among them and having a good ability, she had faced much stronger beings. She swirled her swords in each hand dressed in her Wheel of Heaven Armor.
Some used fire, water, and mud magic, but it cut and nullified them easily, and deflected smoothly, like a master. Even, coming in disloyalty, attacking her from behind, had no effect. She turned and kicked them with tremendous force, in a short time several enemies were down on the ground.
Natsu, used his Karyū no Hōkō and stunned some bandits, and with fists in flame he ran towards them. " Karyū no Tekken ", he shouted as he beat a bandit and knocked him out quickly. He saw some bandits running towards him and shouted " Karyū no Kōen ", and throws a big ball of fire at them incinerating them, enough to leave them on the ground. "AAAHHH! Is that all you have? "He shouts in dismay. But it continues to attack its enemies.
"Ice Make Lancer", Gray yells doing his magic and a large amount of ice spears form and are thrown at the enemy, knocking them down. On his left he sees a few more approaching and makes his move and casts his "Ice Make Gyser" magic, everyone is shot. Confident, he neglects his rear. One of the bandits jumps and with a knife in his hands to stab him in the back. But a blast of blue energy hits him. Gray looks and realizes that he was saved and turns to see that Ryker had an arm extended towards him and looking at him. Gray nods his thanks, which is returned in the same way.
Lucy and Ryker were fighting side by side and it wasn't being difficult at all. She had whipped and punched some miscreants, knocking them unconscious. He was using his energy to take them down. A blast of non-physical magic was launched at him, but he effortlessly blocked it with his hands.
"What !?", the bandit said. "This is impossible. My knives cut everything! "
"Almost everything I would say," Ryker scoffed.
"Take that you bastard," the bandit made hundreds of spears, knives and swords and launched at Ryker.
"Idiot, you're going to spend all your magic like that," he said as he blocked and easily dodged the sharp objects, until the last one was barred with his palm. The bandit, seeing this, sweated coldly and was knocked out by a shot from him. He saw that several were on his right. So Ryker reached out to them with an open palm. Blue light began to appear in it, forming a large sphere of light.
Lucy turned her attention to him and admired the energy he was emanating from her hand, but noticed a cold, violent and oppressive air from him. He tilted his hand to the right and made a movement with his arm, dragging it from right to left. The sphere of light broke up in countless smaller balls that were thrown in the direction of the enemies. When they hit, there were explosions and the bandits were lying unconscious. There was no expression on his face, only coldness.
His companion was distracted by his attack who did not notice that one of the last bandits threw a spear of magic at him from behind. Ryker noticed and shouted. "BEWARE!", But she didn't have time to do anything.
Lucy, turned to see the spear coming towards her. It would be a fatal blow, she expected to be hit, but it never was. The spear was blocked by Ryker's body which was hit in the right shoulder, and he was bleeding and with a pained expression on his face. She looked at him both grateful and concerned.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yes, thank you," Lucy replied in a subtle and grateful way.
"Pay more attention, girl, don't get distracted in a battle", her voice was harsh. He looked at the enemy he had thought he had knocked out. "I think I took your shit lightly with you," I told him, but his tone was odd and evil cold. Ryker fired a shot of energy even stronger than the other time, with his other arm, which drew blood from the enemy. He went to the fallen bandit and grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up. His gaze was lifeless, his evil expression a murderous air.
"A worm like you shouldn't live," he said without any emotion in his voice.
"Don't do that!", Lucy shouted holding her arm.
"Why not? He's worthless, "he said, just looking at the target in front of him. Then he started to tighten his neck, until the thug started coughing.
"Please, Ryker, don't do this. You're not a murderer, do not be one ", there was a plea in his voice and a lot of emotion, Lucy's eyes were full of tears. He stood there squeezing his neck, unwavering. "You can be better, you are better than that. I know it is, I feel that you have a good heart ". Somehow she had touched him, he stopped his grip and, sideways, looked at his mate. She was clearly desperate, crying and sad. She didn't want him to continue with this.
"Why don't you want me to kill him?" He asked.
"It's wrong and it's not up to us to take a life like this," she told him. "Don't be like them, we always have to be better. Only then will we be able to build a better world, "she cried, crying, still clinging to his arm.
"You don't know me, Lucy. I'm no better than anyone, " he said, there was pain in his words.
"You are," she replied in her sweet, comforting voice.
He looked at his target staring at him for a while, until he threw him on the floor and kicked him in the face making him pass out. "Consider your lucky day," he said to the passed out. Lucy was relieved and released him.
In the center of the park the leader was alone and his henchmen were all overthrown. Erza approached him with a serious face. "Surrender now".
"Hahahaha ... or what?", He sneered. "I am their leader because I am so much more powerful. I can handle all of you. I will not be defeated by a bunch of fa ... ". He didn't finish speaking because he was knocked out by an angry Erza.
"This guy was a clown! He lost so easily and didn't even try to help his friends, "Gray said, very irritated.
Elsewhere, Lucy and Ryker were sitting on a bench with him holding the wound that was bleeding badly.
"You need to go to a doctor," Lucy told him with an arm around him.
"I'm fine, don't worry, I've had worse injuries. Apparently the wound is clean and the bone did not break. I'll be fine. Just take me to Natsu, will you? ", He told her. After the battle was over, he was back to what he was before and even though he was a distant person with a serious face and a cold stare, he was still better than when he was fighting, and that relieved Lucy.
She helped him to his feet and took him to where the others were.
"Are you okay !?", Gray says worriedly when he sees Lucy helping Ryker.
"He was injured in the shoulder," Lucy says hastily.
"We have to take him to a hospital," Erza said.
"Relax you," everyone looked at him in amazement. "It is not a serious injury. Hey Natsu! Come here".
"Why is he calling you? What does he want with him? "Gray asks, frowning.
"What is it?", Natsu speaks nonchalantly and looks at his bloody companion "Are you okay? What happened? ", He says with genuine concern.
"Forget it for now. I need you to cauterize this wound ". Ryker says in the most natural way in the world.
"WHAT !?", everyone screams. "Wait, it's not better to go to a hospital," Lucy says.
"Are you crazy or what?" Gray says, frowning.
"Shut up! There is no need for doctors. I've done this before in injuries like this, it works. Just do it, I'll be new in ... three or four days, "Ryker says seriously and angrily.
Natsu goes ahead and positions himself in front of him. "Are you sure about that?" He asks in concern.
"Yes you can do. It achieves?".
"Sure, but don't blame me for the burns."
"Shut up and cauterize soon".
"Natsu wait ...", Lucy said, but he had already put his hand on Ryker's wound and released his fire, just enough to cauterize the wound and staunch the wound. Ryker let out a grunt of pain and turned his face away, but quickly the wound was closed and there was no more bleeding.
He moved his shoulder to check the situation and apparently everything was fine. "It's perfect," he said.
"You are a nutcase!", Lucy shouted.
He smirked at her. "I think we've done a great job," he said proudly.
"Yes, we will call the mayor and the authorities to come and remove these frets," Erza said with his arms crossed and a proud pose.