"I'm going to help Erza," Ryker had said.
"What do you mean?" Mira asked in disbelief.
"Look Mira, they've divided us into three groups. Erza's is the strongest and is heading to a tricky region. It is probably where they have concentrated their strongest forces. Then it would be Laxus' group. Here would come a smaller, weaker group," Ryker explained. "Erza and the others will need help, the mages that are here able to deal with the invaders with ease."
"Do you believe that?", Makarov asked seriously.
"Absolutely," he replied.
"Very well then. Ryker help us evacuate the city, in the meantime I'll arrange a mount for you," Makarov said.
"No problem, master. Thanks".
Mira looked at him seriously and sighed. "If you go, so am I," she said. His logic made sense in her mind, but there was no way she was going to leave her alone. If he was correct, Ryker alone wouldn't be enough, they might need more help, and she was worried about him, too. Something in her heart told her that she needed to go along with him on this mission.
"What!?" Ryker said in surprise. "Mira, they're going to need you," he tried to argue.
"It's okay," Levy said. " I don't think Mira-san would focus, worried about you anyway."
He looked at the little bluenett and then focused his attention on Mirajane. "Mira...", he tried, but was interrupted by the master.
"Ryker, if you said Erza will face the strongest, I think all help is needed. Fairy Tail is not the strongest guild for nothing, all the mages we have are powerful, we can take care of ourselves", Makarov said, calming him down.
"Okay," sighed Ryker. "Lisy, you're coming too, I'm going to need your agility", he said looking at her seriously and Lisanna nodded firmly. Ryker looked at Cana, who had a serious, worried expression, and smiled. "Cana, I trust you. Take care of everyone here."
"WHAT!?" everyone shouted, including Cana.
She walked towards him angrily. "What do you mean I have to take care of everyone here!?", she said looking at him seriously.
"Come here a moment...", he pulled her hand out of the guild, with everyone watching them leave, including Mira and Lisanna who didn't understand at all what was happening, and Mirajane looked annoyed at the whole situation.
"Hey! Why did you bring me here?" Cana asked, intrigued by Ryker's sudden behavior. He took her to the side of the guild where they would have privacy, he thought.
"I trust you, Cana," he said stoically. "And you must trust yourself, too. Never doubt yourself, this is the first step to failure. You're strong and capable. That's why I asked you to take care of everyone, I know you can do it". Cana looked at him blushing and feeling a happiness at the words he said to her.
"Tsh! You idiot!", she grumbled, crossing her arms and looking to the side, trying to show indifference.
Out of nowhere, Ryker pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her in a warm, tight hug, leaving her completely stunned. Cana had no reaction to finding herself in his arms. "I didn't want them seeing me being a sentimental idiot," Ryker said. "I can't lose anyone else, Cana. So don't you dare get hurt."
Cana listened to him and wrapped her arms around him, returning the hug. She had a calm smile on her lips and leaned her head on his shoulder. Both relaxed with each other. "I'll do my best," she replied.
"Come back to me, you idiot. You are important to me," he said.
"Awww! How sweet of you," she joked.
"I should be mad at you, but I can't," he smiled. "I don't know how, but you grew on me, Cana. I found you annoying and nosy, but over time you proved to be much more. Today you are one of my best friends. You know I adore you, don't you? She listened to him attentively and was moved, they hugged each other even tighter, returning the feeling they had for each other.
"I adore you too, Ryker, not because of what we've lived together, but because we're friends. A lot of people just notice me as a heavy drinker or whatever, but you saw more in me, more even than I did myself. I'm glad you trust me, give me strength and support me. Thank you for trusting me, Ryker," she smiled happily, feeling truly happy. "Return safely with our friends, you hear me!", Cana said, turning her face and looking at him.
Ryker smiled back and waved. "Don't worry. I will". They finished hugging and talking and went back inside the guild, where everyone was waiting for them.
"What did you go to talk to her about?" Mira asked suspiciously.
Ryker looked at her and smiled slightly, even in the worst situations he couldn't get enough of her jealous face. "I just had a few things to talk about with Cana in private," he said and took his girlfriend's hand in a way he knew would take all her unease away. And that's what happened.
"Very well, we don't have much time. We have to evacuate the city as soon as possible," Makarov ordered urgently.
"Yes!" said all the mages and they went out to warn and get the people out of the city.
"Levy," Ryker called out.
"Don't worry, I'll stay in a safe place," she said to his relief.
They were leaving the guild to help people when Ryker took Mira's arm and waited for them to be alone.
"Be careful, Mira," he pleaded.
Mira looked at him and affectionately placed her hand on his face and smiled. "Let's fight together and protect each other, Love," he smiled and waved at her.
"Let's go camping around here," Erza said. "Pack up and be prepared," she ordered. Her group, who had spent the day on horseback, stopped in the shade of a tree, on a grassy plain and gently undulating hills as far as the eye could see. They have ridden non-stop since they left the guild behind.
As soon as Titania gave her orders, they strapped on their mounts and rushed to pitch their respective tents. Natsu lit the fire while Gajeel begrudgingly prepared dinner for them.
"At this rate we should be arriving tomorrow at the end of the day in Annaheim," Jellal said.
"But we must not enter at night. We can wait for dawn, camp nearby in a safe area and go when the sun is rising. They will be sleepy, it will be easier to attack them", Titania reasoned.
"It's a good plan," Jellal concluded.
Erza and Jellal sat in a secluded corner, but still lit by the firelight.
"How, how are you doing Jellal? With all this we didn't have time to talk properly", she asked with a slight smile.
"I think I can say I'm fine. It's good to see you after so long," he replied.
Erza tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at him with an expression of happiness. "After it's all over, will you go back to your guild? If you want, you can stay with us."
"Perhaps I can stay a little longer," Jellal said, smiling shyly.
"Hey you two!" Gajeel shouted. "Are you going to eat or not!?".
Erza glared at Gajeel, who just turned away. "Those boys!" she put a hand to her head in exasperation.
"Never mind that, Erza," Jellal said, standing up. Erza looked at him and followed him to the "banquet" prepared by Gajeel.
Everyone ate what they could, it was the first meal they had all day. After eating, they spent a few hours talking and relieving the tension that had built up in the group. After that, everyone went to their respective tents. Of course, Erza stipulated that girls be separated from boys, even those who were in a stable relationship, which, in that situation, was just Juvia and Gray. The next day soon arrived and they wasted no time getting back on track. They would ride, again, for almost the entire day.
In Magnolia Ryker, Mira and Lisanna left town riding their animals on their way to meet Erza's group. Mirajane was driving and Ryker was clinging to her, around the waist, Lisanna was on another animal. He was quiet and thoughtful.
"Don't worry about them. Don't feel guilty about leaving them," Mira said.
Ryker smiled. "Are we at that point where you read my mind yet?" he joked and Mira giggled. "But you're right. They know how to take care of themselves, Elfman and Cana are with them too."
"We have to run. If we ride day and night, we'll get there in the morning," Lisanna said.
Ryker and Mira looked at each other in amazement at Lisanna's attitude. "Let's go, then," Ryker said.
At the guild, Cana was playing her cards with a worried expression.
"What is it, Cana? What are your letters saying?" Elfman asked.
She sighed. "Not good".
"Wh… what's not good? Are we in trouble? We are going to die? That's not manly!", Elfman yelled.
"Shut up, idiot! It's not us I'm playing about, so calm down," she said sternly. "I'm not sure, but I think something bad could happen to Erza's team. It's not clear, but that's what the cards say," she sighed.
"You never make mistakes, I hope Mira and Lis are okay," Elfman said worriedly.
"And I hope I'm wrong this time," Cana told herself.
The day passed like the night, the sun beginning to rise in the east overcoming the darkness of the night. In Annaheim, Erza and her group rose from their camp, ready to storm the enemy base.
"We have to be silent from now on. So Natsu and Gajeel, behave yourselves," she instructed them.
"Why do you think I'm the problem?" Gajeel asked in a whisper.
"Are you implying that I'm noisy!?", Natsu yelled.
Erza looked at them terrifyingly, causing the two Dragon Slayers to shut up.
"We'd better go, before Erza kills them both here." Carla commented and Wendy nodded.
"They don't know how to behave," Gray said confidently.
"Not everyone is like you, Gray-sama", Juvia said looking at him passionately.
The group of mages cautiously entered the labyrinth that was that place, they moved in silence and always at a distance from each other so as not to get lost in the geographical confusion that was Annaheim. They found it difficult to proceed, the path was narrow and there were many directions they could go. The sun was rising and soon they would lose the morning shadows and darkness to cover them.
"What your informant said exactly, Jellal. How can we find their base? This is an endless labyrinth!" asked Erza.
"He said there would be marks leading the way," he replied.
"What kind of marks?" Lucy asked.
"He said we'd know when we found it."
Everyone started looking around looking for something that stood out in the landscape.
"Juvia thinks she found something," she said, pointing to a straight cut in the rock at the top of the wall.
"Surely that's not a natural thing," Gajeel said.
"Very well Juvia," Gray greeted her.
"Well, Juvia just paid attention to the terrain," she said nonchalantly.
"That mark is pointing us to head north," the Iron Dragon Slayer mentioned.
"Can you smell people over there?", Lucy asked the three Dragon Slayers. They sniffed the air to the north, looking for any signs of human activity nearby.
"I can smell some smell coming from there," Natsu said.
"Me too. Seems to have some people gathered," Wendy echoed Natsu.
"I say the same," Gajeel agreed.
"Looks like our location," Erza said. "From now on we will have to be more careful, we cannot alert them. Let's go in silence." Everyone agreed and started walking in the direction the mark was pointing, taking care not to be detected.
A man watched them from the top of the gorge, however, seeing every move the Fairy Tail mages made. "They are heading your way", he warned a colleague, through a communication tear. As soon as he warned, he looked at the mark on the wall and made it disappear, as if it were an illusion.
"They've just passed through here, heading to the next point," another man said as Erza and the others passed him.
Fairy Tail continued on their way, always being watched by Karan's scouts throughout their path. They followed the path until they came out into an open area, forming a large circle, surrounded by walls on all sides, much like a fighting arena.
"What is that? Is that their base?" Gray said not knowing where he was and what was going on.
"Juvia has a bad feeling," she said, feeling that something was wrong with all of this. And a feeling of dread and apprehension reached her heart.
"Where are we, Natsu?", Lucy asked feeling scared.
"I don't know, but I smell a lot of people," the Fire Dragon Slayer replied, preparing for anything.
"I'm not enjoying this at all," Gajeel said, also getting into a fighting stance.
"Jellal, do you know what this is?", Erza asked.
"No, but I don't like it either," he replied. The two were on the lookout for anything that might happen.
Erza thought for a minute. "Let's see what happens. Everyone be prepared."
They entered that circle going to the middle of it, when from above the walls hundreds of mages surrounded them and in front of him some men, who stood out from the others appeared. Fairy Tail's mages took a defensive stance, preparing for the attack.
"As expected from Fairy Tail. So predictable," Karan said, smiling sadistically.
"Are you the ones who want to attack us? For what reason?" Erza shouted, demanding an answer.
"You are going to die, you don't need to know my reasons", Karan said and everyone from Fairy Tail looked at him angrily. "Know that you are surrounded and cannot escape, I have taken the necessary precautions. Do your best, it's the only thing you can do," he raised his hand and ordered. "Kill them!" and a sea of dark mages swooped down on them all.
"They are many!", Erza shouted defending herself from the attacks.
"Where did so many people like that come from!?", Lucy was scared of so many enemies they were facing. She wielded her whip dressed as a bull and even then it was difficult for her to face them, even though she received help from the celestial spirit of Taurus.
They were being attacked by hundreds, if not at least a thousand, dark mages. Those mages had countless different spells and were fighting together, which made life difficult for the mages of Fairy Tail. Even though they were weaker than Fairy Tail, their training and coordination of attacks made the fight complicated and balanced.
The combat was going on longer than Erza and the others were imagining. Even when they took down some, they were quickly replaced by others, giving the enemy constant attack power. A fact that surprised everyone was that the wounded and knocked out were rescued and taken to a safe place. Fairy Tail mages had never seen anything like it, not in dark mages.
"Keep attacking, we have no other option!", Jellal said, unleashing powerful attacks against his targets.
"Karyū no Hōkō", violent flames shot out of Natsu's mouth, striking a large number of opponents. However, they were quickly replaced by other rested black mages. "They keep coming," growled the Dragon Slayer.
"Just keep attacking!", said Gray who, along with Juvia, was attacking their group of enemies.
Gajeel hit a handful of mages with his Iron Dragon's Lance. "Filth! It never ends!", he grumbled and went back to attacking the other mages.
"Water Nebula!", Juvia attacked some mages knocking them down, however others jumped forward attacking her. Her body of water helped her avoid damage from the attacks, then she retaliated with Water Slice, slashing and knocking the attackers down. She took a deep breath and looked away. "There's something wrong with that, Gray-sama", she said suspiciously.
"I noticed, but we don't have time to look at it right now, Juvia," he replied. They stood side by side in combat stance, as they were used to doing, defending and attacking, one helping and complementing the other in sync. Their spells were a perfect union. In addition to their strength, their nudity drew attention.
From the top of the cliff Karan and Ivan watched the fierce battle unfolding below. "Why are those two undressing?", Ivan asked, disgustedly intrigued.
"The girl with blue hair – Juvia – is Gray's girlfriend. I think his undressing mania must be contagious," Karan replied. "She's quite hot, don't you think Ivan?", he admired Juvia's form with a sinister smile.
"If I can slice it, I'll have more fun," he replied nonchalantly.
"Sometimes I think you have to relax a little," Karan criticized him lightly.
"I always relax when I kill people."
"Forget it..." Karan deflected.
The fight continued brutally, with both sides not giving an inch. The range of attacks and the chemistry on the black mages side was impressive, even for Fairy Tail. They were having a hard time countering the enemy, they didn't give any gaps and they covered all the weak points they had. The black mages knew each other very well. When some attacked, their teammates covered them, staying in the rear, avoiding any counter blow from the Fairy Tail team.
On the other hand, Erza and her group suffered from the attacks, becoming more defensive, and even if, occasionally, they managed to take down some, soon they were replaced by fresh mages, starting all over again.
Erza was having a hard time finding a solution, anger took over her, but experience and combat proficiency didn't let her lose focus. She knew they had fallen into a trap, the question she was asking was how to get out. However, enemy attacks left little room for this.
At one point, Natsu jumped trying to catch their leader, but mages on top of the canyons hit him with powerful blasts of magic knocking him to the ground.
The redhead noticed that those mages were there only to prevent them from directly attacking their leader and also to prevent them from running away. Karan had planned everything down to the smallest detail.
Wendy attacked them with her energy-added air magic, just as Ryker had taught her. Even though she delivered stronger blows than she usually does, she still wasn't dealing with so many enemies, which seemed to increase hour by hour.
"This is getting complicated. Their side always seems to be at rest," Carla, in her human form, noted.
"We can't stop," Wendy said with a sigh, weariness starting to wash over her. "We'll find a way to stop them." She sighed again. I wish Ryker were here, she thought. "But I can't depend on everyone forever," she lifted her face and her gaze showed new determination.
Wendy attacked them with Sky Dragon's Roar, taking down countless enemies. However, others jumped on the fallen and began to attack, as a group, the little bluenett. They surrounded her and began to deliver several blows in sequence on her and Carla. The two could only defend themselves as best they could in that situation. Dark mages used a variety of spells, in addition to kicks and punches. Even though the young Dragon Slayer managed to block most of it, a few blows went through her defense and hit her hard.
Erza noticed that Wendy was in danger, but before she ran to her aid, she found herself surrounded by numerous enemies of hers, as well as Jellal. They were hit many times and there were no openings for a counterattack, even with the redhead wearing Heaven's Wheel Armor , other mages blocked and dodged her attack.
"They were very well trained," Erza realized.
"This is going to be harder than I expected. I didn't think they were that good," Jellal said surprised by the enemy's abilities.
"If it takes longer, we will have problems. We have to get this over with," the redhead stated, trying to come up with a plan. She looked at Jellal and smiled, he understood what she wanted to do and smiled back, agreeing with the plan.
Amidst the chaos, Erza and Jellal jumped out and placed their two hands on top of each other, with the top hand only with the index and middle fingers spread. Seven magical seals were summoned and connected to make what appears to be a constellation.
" Grand Chariot !" they shouted at the same time.
The black mages looked at them and the magic they wrought with horror and fear. Each magic seal produced a strong explosion, totaling fourteen in total. There was a gigantic explosion, leaving several enemies down and immobile on the ground.
"What an absurd power!", Gray commented, shielding himself from the impact of that blow, impressed by Erza and Jellal's strength.
"They make a beautiful couple, don't you think Gray-sama!? Not like us, but still beautiful", Juvia said looking at her beloved with hearts in her eyes.
"NO TIME FOR THIS, JUVIA!" Gray yelled in exasperation.
Natsu looked impressed at those two and smiled satisfyingly, "I can't be left behind," he said. Natsu used his Fire Dragon King's Demolition Fist and that colossal power knocked out dozens of his opponents, as well as leaving a trail of flames wherever he went. Natsu smiled victoriously. "I think the game is turning. I'm all excited now," he smiled.
From above Karan calmly looked at everything that was happening. "Naive. I expected this and even more", he turned to Ivan calmly. "Send the second wave. Remove the wounded and leave the field clear. May they fight with everything."
Ivan gave a signal and thousands of mages jumped on Fairy Tail. "The game is just beginning," Karan smiled sadistically.
Below, Erza and her team looked scared at the amount of enemy mages coming their way.
The second wave of enemies was bigger and more powerful than the first, giving a lot more work than before. His blows were more precise and violent, hitting the good guys more often. The damage caused was greater, which made them more dangerous.
"Ahh!", shouted Gajeel when he was hit. "Bastards!", he roared looking at them with hatred. The Iron Dragon Slayer attacked them with Iron Dragon's Roar, but it had little effect against surrounding opponents. However, the counterattack was brutal, everyone surrounding him attacked him at the same time. Gajeel howled in pain as it hit him, causing him to bleed and kneeling in front of his enemies, helpless in the face of the threat.
Lucy was hit in the ribs on the right side. She was thrown away and felt a sharp pain at the site of the blow, feeling a twinge every time she breathed. Natsu ran in front of her protecting her, he had a furious look at their enemies.
"Is everything ok Lucy?", Happy asked worriedly.
"I am, but these are stronger," she said, making a pained expression. "They are not giving us a chance. What are we going to do, Natsu?", she asked with difficulty.
"You need to heal first. I think he broke his ribs," Natsu said seriously. "Then I will finish them all", he said angrily, staring deeply at the enemy ahead, who was preparing to attack. "Happy, take her to Wendy."
"Natsuu!", Happy shouted, fear present in his voice.
The Fire Dragon Slayer looked at him and his cat was looking at where Wendy was. Natsu looked to where she was and saw the little one surrounded and being brutally attacked.
Wendy was hit several times by several enemies, Carla was lying on the ground badly injured and losing consciousness. One of the dark mages kicked Wendy away, and she rolled across the field, stopping meters away. With difficulty she raised her torso, kneeling and looking at the enemies. They all created magic in their hands and fired, at the same time, at the helpless little mage in front of them.
"WENDY!", everyone yelled, Carla barely moved looking in horror.
The young Dragon Slayer stood still, seeing that brutal energy approaching. When the shot hit her, a strong explosion took over the whole place and the shock wave hit everyone around.
Erza looked to where Wendy was, startled and in disbelief at what she saw. Her expression changed to anger and hate. She glared menacingly at the black mages and drew a sword, thirsting for blood and revenge.
"You bastards! I'll make you pay in pain for what you've done!" she screamed.
Jellal stopped her instantly. "Erza, wait!", he said, taking her arm. He motions for her to look at where Wendy was.
The cloud of dust dissipates revealing that Wendy was not harmed. She looks ahead, not understanding what had happened, and sees a tall figure in front of her, which has blocked the enemy's attack.
"I think I arrived at the right time," he says.
"Ryker!?" says Wendy.
He turns around and helps his 'sister' up. "Needing help?" he asks, smiling out of the corner of his mouth.
"Ryker!? What are you doing here?", Erza asked.
"I think helping you guys," he replied sarcastically.
"Sorry I'm late," Mira says, approaching calmly.
"Mira-san and… Lisanna!", Lucy said looking at the duo.
"We're reinforcements," Ryker said, glancing angrily at the black mages in front of him.