Hello, my readers!

Here's to the start of a brand new year, and may this year be a good one!

And here's a new chapter to start things out!

Happy reading!

Chapter 166

Gray Vs. Midnight

Back with Gray and Midnight, the Ice-Make Wizard unleashed a giant ax of ice only for Midnight to use his Reflector Magic with a raise of his hand, deflecting the ice away and making it strike the ground behind him.

"Damn it. That Reflector Magic he's using sucks!" complained Gray. "I can see why even Erza's had a lot of trouble with this guy."

"So, the gutter trash uses Ice-Make Magic, eh?" Midnight spoke with an interested brow. "You must be the one called Gray Fullbuster if I'm not mistaken. Tell me, does this mean that you also have ice for brains as well?"

"Oh, shut up!" snapped Gray, as he slammed his fist into his palm. "ICE-MAKE: LANCE!"

From his hands, multiple sharp lances of ice shot straight at Midnight, but Midnight used his Reflector Magic to block and deflect them. Then, Gray followed up with another spell, conjuring up a large bow made of ice, and fired a massive array of ice arrows. As Midnight redirected the arrows, Gray saw his chance and pounced towards Midnight, intending to attack while his back was turned. However, Midnight knew what the ice mage was up to, and using his magic, redirected the arrows and made them shoot straight into Gray with a mighty explosion.

"Surely, you realize that by now, you can't possibly hope to hit me," Midnight spoke with confidence. "No matter how many attacks you throw, you will never hit the mark."

Then, Gray suddenly appeared, grabbing firmly onto Midnight's shoulder. "From a distance, probably," he spoke with a determined grin. "But let's try getting up close and personal! ICE-MAKE: HAMMER!"

From his hands, Gray created a massive spiked hammer of ice and swung it down at Midnight with a mighty thud, slamming him to the ground. However, as Midnight was crushed under the hammer, as quickly as he was hit, Gray was surprised to see that Midnight faded away, revealing to be a mirage.

Midnight then reappeared from behind him. "My mirage you just defeated looks pretty convincing, doesn't it?" he said. "Now, SPIRAL PAIN!"

He swiped his arm, and a huge vortex of distorted air whipped around with Gray caught up in the middle, lifting him in the air. Gray screamed in pain as the air whipped and raked across his skin like a thousand knives, while Midnight kept him inside of the vortex for a good few seconds.

"I wish I could play with you some more, but now your time is up," said Midnight. "I haven't got the time to play anymore."

With another wave of his hand, while continuing his assault, Midnight sent Gray flying towards the wall, distorting and making a large hole. Realizing that he intended to throw him outside to plummet to his death, Gray quickly used another spell.

"ICE-MAKE: GRAPPLING HOOK!"

A chain with a four-pointed grappling hook shot forth from each of his hands and hooked onto a metal structure, managing to save himself from being thrown out. With a good tug from his hands, the ice mage pulled himself away from the hole while slamming his fist into his palm.

"AND, ICE-MAKE: KNUCKLE!"

The Ice Mage unleashed a flurry of fists made of ice at Midnight, forcing the man to leap out of the way to dodge as he landed back onto a structure of gears.

"Sorry, but you ain't getting rid of me that easily," said Gray. "You and I will be finished when I say we're finished!"

"How annoying," complained Midnight with a low scowl. "Why must you be so stubborn?"

Gray then ripped off his shirt as well as his coat, laying his chest bare, and unleashed another Ice-Make spell.

"What can I say? I'm as stubborn as they come!" said Gray with a smirk. "Now, ICE-MAKE: ICE BRINGER!"

With a burst of blue light, Gray created two large swords made of ice while dashing at Midnight, slicing in an X, but the swords seemed to phase right through him like he was intangible. However, Gray wouldn't let up as he continued to slice and swing away at Midnight, trying to land a good hit, but to no avail.

"I told you, it's pointless to attack me," smirked Midnight. "Although, I do enjoy watching you struggle."

"Damn it! Why won't you stop using that lousy magic of yours and fight me like a man?!" snarled Gray crossly. "Or are you too scared to take a hit?!"

Gray then discarded his swords and put up his fists, and started swinging. But Midnight was quick to block using the back of his hand and countered with a punch of his own, clocking Gray on the cheek and sending him flying to structure.

"Did you honestly think you could beat me with physical force?" Midnight mocked. "I've been training with my father over the course of seven years and have mastered my fair share of close combat. And that's just only part of what I've mastered. Now then, I believe it's my turn to attack now."

He raised his hand diagonally, summoning a magic circle in front of him, and unleashed a widespread attack made of dark magic. Gray immediately went on the defense, encasing himself in an ice cocoon, but when he did, Midnight flicked his hand, and the attack twisted around, forming a dome and shattered Gray's shield in minutes, striking Gray in the process. As he was thrown back, Gray couldn't help but be shocked.

"Surprised? That was Dark Rondo, a spell you recognize belonging to Brain," said Midnight. "Not only have I mastered it, but I've also learned to use it in conjunction with my own Reflector Magic, making my attacks even stronger. Seven years ago, I told Titania that my magic not only is a flawless defense, but it also allows me to dominate. But now, it's become even more powerful."

"So what? That doesn't mean that you're unbeatable," grunted Gray. "Erza beat you before, so I can too!"

"And what could you possibly hope to do against me?" Midnight cockily smirked with a laugh. "Your ice can't even touch me. Titania may have gotten the better of me, but last I checked, you're not even as strong as her. You're too weak."

"Oh, yeah? I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you," said Gray. "We beat you guys seven years ago back with Nirvana, and we'll do it again. And once I've beaten you, we're gonna shut this thing down, and you're going to tell us where Willy is."

"Oh, do you mean Shark?" Midnight asked. "That's a surprise. I didn't think you would still care for the boy after everything he's done to you and your guild. It makes me wonder why you're so desperate to save a traitorous dog like him. Do all light guilds take every traitor that comes to their doorstep, or did you let him join your guild as a means to an end?"

"I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand," huffed Gray. "Willy's a member of Fairy Tail, and if he's in trouble, we're gonna be there to help him! If anything, you're the ones who use their members as means to ends! We care for one another, and we treat each other like family! And if you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us, and we intend to get payback for what you did to him! Especially me!"

"And how do you intend to accomplish that?" Midnight spoke with a raised brow. "I've told you before that you can't hit me, no matter what attacks you throw. You could be the strongest ice mage in the world and still wouldn't be able to touch me."

"We'll see about that," said Gray. "You may think you're invincible, but if it's one thing I've learned, for every magic may be flawless, there's always a weakness. You're no different. And I think I figured out a way to beat your Reflector magic."

This made Midnight raise a brow in interest as Gray summoned forth a sword made of ice.

"Fine then. If you wish to be a glutton for punishment, then who am I to stop you," said Midnight. "After I'm finished with you, I'll rejoin Father and help him wipe out the rest of your friends, and as far as your so-called friend Willy goes, when our plan comes to fruition, you'll never be able to save him, much less want to."

Gray brandished his sword, appearing to be ready to attack, but then, he pressed his blade against his palm and gave it a quick swipe, making a gash that started to spill some blood.

Midnight couldn't help but feel surprised as well as confused. "What are you trying to do now?" he asked. "Have you finally gone off the deep end?"

The Ice Mage gazed grimly at Midnight as he put his fist into his bloody palm, preparing to use another spell. Midnight took a stance, getting ready for what was coming as Gray slammed his ground.

"ICE-MAKE: GEYSER!"

Multiple spikes of ice erupted from the ground, and Midnight started to use his Reflector Magic, but the attack struck Midnight with incredible force, sending him flying to gear, which cracked and shook from the impact.

"I-Impossible!" Midnight thought, disbelief and pain filling his face. "How was he able to hit me?!"

Gray seeing that he was finally able to land a good hit, attacked again.

"ICE-MAKE: SAUCER!"

This time, he created a large spinning disc with razor-sharp edges and launched it. Midnight tried using his Reflector Magic again, but like before, he couldn't change its course and was forced to jump out of the way to dodge before it could slice him in half. Midnight then retaliated by firing a Dark Capriccio at Gray, only for the Ice-Mage to dodge it, while countering with another Ice-Make spell, which retook the form of multiple arrows. Once again, Midnight tried to use his Reflector Magic around himself to make the arrows phase through, but all the arrows struck quick and true, showering Midnight all over, tearing his coat in the process while causing major damage.

"This can't be happening!" Midnight cried out as he stared at Gray in bewilderment while wincing in pain. "Why can't I use my Reflector Magic?!"

Then Midnight took notice of Gray's ice. Instead of it being its normal color, it had now taken a strange color of light red. It was then that he realized.

"Now, I get it! You've been infusing your own blood into your magic, haven't you?!" Midnight demanded.

"You said that you could repel and bend magic attacks," panted Gray. "But your magic doesn't have any effect on living things. This was a trick I remembered back when I fought someone that had magic a bit like yours."

Midnight could not believe his ears as he stared at Gray and the red ice, unable to believe how much tenacity Gray had. Then, he scowled in anger as he got up, his eyes glaring dangerously at Gray. "You may have managed to land a few hits, but you still won't be able to beat me!" he snarled as he clenched his fists while filling them with magic. "There's only so much blood you could afford to lose! And there's the fact that I won't give you another chance to attack!"

His entire body began to radiate in a malevolent aura filled with anger, his eyes glowing, and his teeth bared as he lunged at Gray swinging. Not wanting to back down, Gray enhanced his fists with his own magic and charged in too. The two mages swung and punched at each other, their magic sparkling and flashing with every impact. Midnight was strong, his blows and combat prowess significantly higher than Gray's, but the Ice Mage made up the difference with his blood mixed with his magic and sheer determination.

The two clashed multiple times, neither giving in an inch until Midnight clocked Gray hard in the gut sending him flying and crashing to the ground below. He then fired another Dark Capriccio towards his location, the spell creating a massive explosion in its wake, making dust and smoke billow. Gray then jumped out from the smoke shooting above Midnight and used another blood-infused spell.

"ICE:MAKE: ICE CANNON!"

A large long-barrel cannon made of red ice appeared in his hands, and he pulled the trigger, firing a powerful cannonball. Midnight reacting quickly, leaped out of the way just as the cannonball hit the ground, resulting in a giant explosion of mist.

As the mist cleared, Midnight had enough. He was so annoyed and angry at Gray getting the better of him that he decided to end their fight, right here and now.

"I've had enough of your insolence, Ice Wizard!" Midnight shouted. "Since you refuse to die, you leave me no choice but to end you right here and now! I'll end you with one of the most powerful spells my father taught me! Prepare to the nothingness from whence you came, as you become a traveler of the void!" He turned his arms into a circle as his hands radiated with his magic power until his hands clapped together as he cast the spell. "GENESIS ZERO! OPEN, GATE OF RESTLESS WAILING!"

The moment he said that name, his hands exploded with numerous ghostly specters, reaching out aimlessly as they howled and wailed, appearing to be in agony.

"NOW, TRAVELERS OF THE VOID!" commended Midnight. "GO FORTH AND CONSUME THAT MAN! HIS SOUL! HIS MEMORY! CONSUME HIS VERY EXISTANCE! DEVOUR HIM! DO IT FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR CASTOR"

The specters multiplied into a gigantic wave, and all surged straight towards Gray, who couldn't help but be frozen with shock. The Ice Mage put his hands together, trying to counter the spell with his own, but it was already too late. Due to their numbers, Gray was quickly overwhelmed, disappearing further into the darkness until his entire being was swallowed up by it. The darkness of the spell spiraled into a whirlpool in the air, its purpose fulfilled, grew smaller and tinier until it faded away.

Silence now fell as Midnight stood tall, exhausted and battered, but feeling victorious. A smile spread on the man's cheeks as he let out a laugh of triumph.

"That should be the last of you," said Midnight. "You may have caught me off guard, but in the end, I still came out the victor. And now you're forever trapped in the darkness, a traveler of the void. Now that's been dealt with; I should go join Father back in the control room and help dispose of the rest of those Fairy Tail maggots."

At that moment, Midnight felt a chill run down his spine as he heard the sound of something unsheathing. He turned around in time to see Gray shooting straight towards him with red long and sharp ice blades, one covering his right hand and the other on his left elbow. Before he could even react, Gray spun around rapidly and struck him with the blades five times in a row individually and then finished with a dual cross right across his chest, the ice shattering upon impact.

"ICE BLADE! SEVEN STRIKE DANCE!"

Midnight was sent flying and crashing into some gears, his upper body in tatters and wracked with pain. "No! How did he escape from the void?!" he mentally screamed. "There's no way he could have gotten out!"

But Gray wasn't finished yet. Once again, he put his fist to his bloody palm and used another spell to follow it up.

"NOW, ICE-MAKE: GUNGNIR!"

A large lance of ice erupted from the ground where Midnight lay, encasing him inside it, sending him upwards until it smashed against the ceiling. Midnight tried to move, but due to the ice and because it also had Gray's blood mixed in, he couldn't move a single finger.

Seeing his chance to deliver the final blow, Gray put his fist into his palm one more time and made a large bow and arrow and took aim, pulling back the drawstring of his bow as tight as he could. The lance that was holding Midnight began to crack and soon broke, and Midnight began to fall just in front of Gray. At that moment, Gray let that arrow fly.

"ICE-MAKE: SUPER FREEZE ARROW!"

With a twang of his bow as he fired, his arrow shot forth like a rocket, cutting through the air until it made contact with Midnight with a mighty explosion. Ice and mist billowed everywhere. After a few seconds, everything cleared up, and Midnight lay on the ground, now motionless and battered, while Gray walked over to him to see if he was finally down. When he was sure Midnight was unconscious, he plopped down on the ground on his bottom, catching his breath.

"Man, that one was a bit too close for my liking," Gray spoke aloud to himself. "If he managed to get me with that spell of his, I would have been a goner for sure. It's a good thing I used my magic to make a clone just in case."

Then, Gray began to feel a bit weak and a bit nauseous too. He looked at his hand and noticed that it was still bleeding, leading him to figure out why he felt like this.

"Damn it. That Midnight guy was right about one thing," Gray thought. "I used up a lot of blood mixing it into my spells like that. Not to mention I'm low on magic too. But at least I was able to beat him."

He glanced around, trying to see something he could use to seal his gash. His eyes then fell upon Midnight, and he got an idea. As Midnight lay knocked out, Gray tore off a piece of Midnight's clothing and tied it around his hand tightly to stop the bleeding. It wasn't much, but it would have to do for the moment. However, he now faced the issue of trying to get back to the others in his weakened state, as he continued to sit in exhaustion, trying to recover.

"I hope that the others are having it easier than I am right now," Gray mumbled. "Because as it stands, I'm out until I can get my strength back." He looked up towards the ceiling and lay on his back, his eyelids growing heavy as they began to shut. "Natsu, you and the others keep fighting. And make sure to save Willy when you find him. In the meantime, I'm going to... rest my eyes for a second..."

I apologize for the wait, but consider this the first chapter of the new year!

If you liked what you read, you know what to do!

Until then, and as always, Dragoman, signing off!