Chpt 6: Erza & Wendy vs. Firmitas & Compassio
"I am Firmitas and this is my brother, Compassio," replied the woman, slowly unbuttoning her over-sized jacket. In a fluid movement she pulled it off to reveal a tight white tank top tucked into her properly sized military pants. "By the order of the King and in the honor of the Five Sons of Imperium, we will destroy you."
"Five Sons of-" Natsu began, but before he could finish, the two were lunging towards them, swords suddenly drawn from areas Natsu couldn't fathom.
Erza's swords rained down creating a wall between them and forcing the two enemies to leap back, quickly dodging the swords and returning to their starting places.
"Mage of swords," observed the woman, "That wasn't mentioned, but it does make it more interesting."
"Natsu, Gray, Wendy," Erza commanded, eyes never leaving the new opponents. "Take Happy & Carla and go to find Lucy."
"Carla and I will stay to assist," Wendy said, jumping next to Erza. Carla nodded, transforming into her human shape and taking a battle position.
"Alright," Natsu agreed. "Be safe."
Wendy, Erza, and Carla nodded in response.
"Let's go," Gray said and they rushed off through the opposite side of the woods.
"Not so fast," Compassio began, leaping towards their retreating backs, but this time he was met with a blast of wind from Wendy's Dragon Roar and he fell through the air, doing a slight tumble before landing again on his feet in his first place.
"We are your opponents," Wendy informed them.
The woman licked her lips, eyeing Erza's swords that still stuck in the ground. "Good," she replied. "Then let's have some fun."
Still in her Heavens-wheel armor, Erza launched herself towards Firmitas. Firmitas looked bored, despite the opponent decked in silver metal, with an upper portion only consisting of a small, revealing breastplate that extended along the hips. Wendy had always thought this armor, composed of feather-shaped plates pointing upwards with a large metal flower on the front and Erza's biceps covered by metal straps was one of the most intimidating looking armors Erza had, especially with the metal wings fully exposed.
Despite the power and agility of the suit, Firmitas moved to the side, dodging the swords Erza used easily. Reaching into the sky, Erza pulled another sword and moved swiftly towards Firmitas. This time, Firmitas waited until Erza was just about to strike before jumping to the left of the sword, touching it with her fingers on one hand, while using her other to attempt to stab Erza in the side.
"Fast wind that run the heaven... VERNIER," Wendy called and just in time too. With the speed enhancement, Erza was able to slip away, leaving her sword behind.
"No fun to run," Firmitas scolded.
Erza narrowed her eyes at her opponent. Something was wrong. She was concentrating her magical energy, but her swords felt heavier. Just when Firmitas had touched it, it was as if the sword had increased in weight. If it hadn't been for Wendy, Erza knew she would have a dagger sticking out of her side. The solution, Erza considered, would be to stay far enough away that Firmitas couldn't touch her, at least until she could figure out this magic. She re-equiped into her Giants armor. This armor featured massive pauldrons on both sides. The left gauntlet covered her forearm and had a fur lining around the wrist, whereas the right gauntlet, which lacks fur, was noticeably larger and rounder as it extends down to her hand. With this armor, she could increases her power when throwing something. She pulled a spear from her armory. That would do. Just to pin her down and, perhaps, reveal her opponents secret.
"Not as pretty as your last armor," Firmitas observed. She moved her hands rapidly in an incantation as Erza pulled her arm back to throw, but she felt an odd sensation beneath her. The ground beneath her was turning to sand. Her armor was now too heavy for the ground, but how? This had never happened before.
"Sky Dragon Claw," Wendy called, sending a slash of wind towards Firmitas, who was pushed from her spot and slammed against a tree. Erza pulled herself back out before the ground returned to normal.
"You brat," snarled Firmitas leaping up. "And I suppose your cat-human has my brother distracted. Useless as always!"
"Wind Dragon Roar," Wendy called, but Firmitas was ready this time. She widened her stance and beneath her the ground began to buckle. Was she increasing her weight? The wind wiped past Firmitas, but as the air settled, she looked untouched and unmoved. Firmitas smiled, phasing effortlessly into the ground beneath where she stood as if she were sinking into water.
"Wendy,be vigilant!" Erza called in warning. She re-equipped quickly into her normal armor, eyes scanning the ground hurriedly. Was their opponent a earth magic user? No, that wouldn't explain why her sword had become so heavy. Erza's eyes caught sight of the tree just behind Wendy, where a face seemed to be forming, like one being pushed through sand, then an arm, and then-
"Wendy," Erza called, throwing her sword at the image, but with the wave of Firmitas' hand the sword dropped to the ground with a heavy thunk. Wendy turned just in time to lunge away from the tree and out of the way, much to Erza's relief.
"Density," Erza called to Wendy. "It has to be density. How else could her magic effect my armor and the surroundings in such a way!"
"True," Firmitas replied, fully released from the tree and leaning against it lazily. She pointed to Wendy as she spoke. "I can change the density of any matter. I can make every armor and sword you have so light that it floats away or so dense that it crushes you to death. I could reach into her chest like it were a pool of water and pull out her heart before she knew what was happening."
Wendy coughed, one knee dropping to the ground as Erza moved to help her. "Oh no," Firmitas said, "Currently I'm increasing the density of the air in her lungs."
Erza knew what she had to do without planning. She had to get Firmitas attention on her instead of Wendy. All the other matter had gone back to normal once Firmitas had lost concentration on it. Hopefully the air in Wendy's lungs would as well.
Erza lunged at Firmitas in her speed armor. It did the trick. Firmitas had to leap into the air to miss Erza's jab and Wendy gasped for air and coughed twice, the air in her lungs returning to normal.
Erza went through her armor rapidly, trying her best to re-equip faster than Firmitas could predict the density of her armor, and thus change it. Wind God armor, Purgatory Armor, Flame Empress Armor, Lightning empress armor- all had mixed reactions. In her piercing armor she was able to get two quick jabs before Firmitas grabbed hold of the lance and crushed it in her hand. Erza moved quickly to her Adamantine Armor, with its silver plates that were so powerful it had even stopped Phantom Lord's Jupiter attack. The armor was too predictable. Firmitas reached forward and shattered it as if it were glass.
Erza let out a cry of pain, leaping back from the fight to nurse her leg. A deep cut was there.
"I'll admit you're the best I've killed by a long shot," Firmitas huffed, wiping blood from her jaw. "But it was only a matter of time before you both died."
How am I suppose to defeat someone who can destroy any matter, Erza thought hurriedly. She could see Firmitas was getting ready to attack, but she couldn't think what armor would finish this without her death. All of my armor is made of matter. Wait! It was her only option. She re-equiped one last time.
This armor was composed of orange and yellow leather-like material, sported in the form of several orange wing-shaped pauldrons that covered her shoulders and waist. The shoulder pauldrons had white wings protruding from the center of the shoulder guard and the pauldrons surrounding her waist was held up by a simple dark pink belt from the front. She wore metal arm guards and large bolded knee guards over a pair of high-heeled armored greaves that covered her calves. Her Morning star armor. Taking her jewel wield swords in her hands, she focused her magical energy on the jewel and released a focused energy blast directly at Firmitas, who held up her hands as if to catch the attack, a smile pulled across her lips that quickly turned into a look of shocked fear.
The blast of energy hit Firmitas so hard that it knocked her into the tree behind her and threw both a few yards away, knocking down trees that stood in their way.
Erza dropped to her uninjured knee, and let out a breath of relief. "You can't change the density of pure energy," Erza sighed.
Erza looked around, catching sight of Wendy and Compassio. He was frozen in surprise, eyes scanning the destruction to his sister's fallen form, then to Erza, and finally back to Wendy, who looked determined despite having tears in her eyes.
"I see," Compassio called. Just as Wendy widened her stance to attack, Compassio turned tail and ran out of sight. A full blown retreat.
"Come back here, you coward," called Carla, but Wendy didn't care. She hurried to Erza and inspected the cut on her leg, wrapping her hands around it to work on healing it.
"What happened," Erza asked. "Why'd he run?"
"He manipulates emotions," Carla said. "He incapacitated me, but Wendy was able to break free and once he saw you defeated his sister he must have thought his chances were too slim to win."
"He's probably run back to get the rest of their team," Wendy agreed. "They called themselves the Five Sons of Imperium, so there must be three others."
"We'll follow him," Erza agreed. "Their connected to Lucy's kidnapping, so they will be able to give us some information."
Wendy nodded as she removed her hands, revealing Erza's leg now had a scratch where the gash once was.
"It's our only lead since this one won't be much help," Carla agreed motioning to Firmitas fallen form.
"With any luck we'll run into Natsu and Gray on the way," Erza agreed, standing and testing her leg gingerly. She nodded her thanks to Wendy, who , the three of them moved to follow the path Compassio's figure had disappeared.
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