Chapter 22: Fire Dragon's Anger
"Wow, you're right!" Elfman says as he, Mirajane, Gray and Takeru looking at the magic circle that the giant is making.
"The Magic Giant's writing speed has slowed down considerably, right?" Gray says.
"So that's it." Mirajane says as her theory about the Element 4 powering the magic giant being proven true as the hand became even more slower writing the magic circle.
"Fire, water, wind, and earth."
"A Magic Giant that moves using the power of the four elements." Elfman adds.
"And the source of that magical power is the Element 4. Totomaru of the Conflagration, who was guarding Jupiter. Sol of the Land, who Elfman defeated. And there's Juvia of the Deep, who Gray defeated." Mirajane says.
"Then that means there's only one left." Elfman says.
"If we can defeat that fourth member, we can stop the giant."
"Which means we can stop them from casting Abyss Break." Gray summarizes.
"The final one, Aria of the Heavens. The strongest wizard of Element 4. And he's the one who took the master's magical power! He's a fearsome opponent."
Inside
Natsu, Sakura, and Latias are panting heavily when they couldn't land a hit on Aria as they manage to stand.
"You hold up quite well, Salamander, tamer." Aria says.
"I'm all fired up, you bastard!" Natsu says with a determined look on his face.
"Once we beat you, you guys won't cast Abyss Break!" Sakura says.
"Natsu… Sakura…" Happy calls.
"Airspace… Suppress!" Aria yells extending his left arm outward, creating a purple magic circle in front of him which fires a barrage of airspace bubbles at the three who are hit by the barrage and send flying back, crying out pain. Natsu and Sakura manage to land on their feet crouching down as they slide back a few feet.
"He's so strong! So this is the strongest man in the Element 4!" Happy thought, terrified as tears appears on his eyes.
"Damn it…" Natsu says.
"There's always someone better, young dragon and tamer." Aria says.
"Then how about this? Fire Dragon's Roar!"
Sakura quickly puts the Flame Plate on her gloved hand and points it at Aria.
"Flamethrower!" Sakura yells as she and Natsu sends massive blast of fire towards Aria. With Latias using Psychic on their attacks, they combine in the air making the fire blast even bigger as it flies towards Aria. However, he remains calm and suddenly disappears, causing the attack to impact into the stairs.
"He disappeared!" Happy yells in shock.
"No way!" Sakura says.
"Where'd he go?" Natsu questions as they both begin looking around for him.
"This is over, Salamander, tamer. Let me give you two the same suffering I gave to Makarov." Aria voice echoes throughout the room.
"The same suffering as Master? What do you-" Before Sakura could finish, Aria reappears behind them as his hands hovering over their heads.
"Airspace… Ruin!" Aria says. Two magic circle appear above the three when suddenly a bright light bursts underneath them, causing Natsu and Sakura to crying out in pain as Latias moves away from the light. "The sadness! No matter the wizard, inside this airspace their magical power will empty!" He yells with tears streaming down his face. Natsu and Sakura continue to cry out from the immense pain this magic is bringing them.
"My power…" Natsu says.
"It's being drained!" Sakura thought as she and Latias cry out in pain.
"Natsu! Sakura!" Happy cries out, as he and Latias are unable to do anything to save them.
"Damn it!" Natsu shouts as his face begins turning green and his pupils shrink down.
Before Aria's spell can completely drain them, Erza appears out of nowhere and kicks Aria in the face, freeing the two of them as Aria disappears again.
"Erza!" Happy cheers out in joy jumping up into the air.
"E-Erza?" Natsu calls.
"What are you doing here?" Sakura asks.
Erza stands back up and turns around, an angered look on her face causing Happy and Natsu whimper in fear as Happy jumps into Natsu's arms while also taking Sakura and Latias back.
"Erza's angry!" Happy yells as Aria reappears behind them.
"He's the one who did that to the master?" Erza questions ignoring Natsu and Sakura's questions.
"Erza Scarlet? How sad. For me to have the head of not only the Salamander and the tamer, but Titania as well!" Aria says with a grin on his face.
"So you're the bastard who laid hands on him. He's like a father to us!" Erza says.
"Erza!" Natsu calls.
Just then, laughter from Aria bringing Natsu, Happy, Sakura, and Latias' attention to him.
"Since I get to actually face Erza… then I suppose I have no choice but to fight seriously!" Aria says, removing his blindfold as he finally opens his eyes, revealing small magenta-colored pupil. He widens his eyes as his pupils expands out and breaks apart creating a white X in his eyes.
Where Gray and the others are
"Huh? His eyes?" Gray asks.
"Yes."
"What about his eyeballs?"
"Aria usually has his eyes closed. By closing his eyes, he suppresses the overwhelming magical power he possesses it seems."
"What?" Elfman questions.
"Anyways, if we do find Aria, we need to beat him before he can open his eyes! If he opens them, we might lose any chance at victory." Mirajane says.
Takeru closes his eyes as his appendages rise to find where Aria is. As he finds him, he feels Natsu, Sakura, and Latias are exhausted as Erza faces a wizard in front of her. Takeru quickly opens his eyes causing Gray, Elfman, and Mirajane to look at him.
"What's wrong?" Elfman asks but instead of answering, Takeru quickly dives into the window.
"Maybe he knows where Aria is." Mirajane says.
"Let's go!" Gray exclaims and the three follow Takeru.
At Fairy Tail
Just then, the magic circle is complete as it lights up as the Fairy Tail wizards and Sakura's Pokémons look up.
"What's that?"
"The magic circle is glowing!"
"Is it complete?"
"Damn it… Is this as far as we go?" Wakaba questions.
Inside
"Come, Titania!" Aria says and a smoky whirlwind begins to form around him. Then a powerful gust of wind kicks up as Aria's clothes and Erza's hair blows from the intense wind. "Activate, the Airspace of Death, Zero! This Airspace will consume all life within it!" He says sending the blast of wind at Erza who covers her face from it, Natsu and Sakura also cover their faces from the blast of wind as their clothes fly around from it. Also, Happy is hanging onto Natsu's scarf as Latias tries to stay next to Sakura.
"This isn't good at all!" Happy yells.
"Magic that consumes life? How? How can you take people's fives so easily? You villain!" Erza states as she requips her sword into her right hand and points at him.
"Now, let's enjoy this!" Aria says.
"Erza!" Natsu calls out and Erza charges straight towards Aria through the whirlwind.
"Can you withstand this Airspace?" Aria questions as he swings his hands forward, increasing the power. However, Erza withstands the whirlwinds as she continues charging towards him before she cuts down the wind. "Impossible! She's slicing through the Airspace?!"
Erza then jumps up into the air as she requips into her Heaven's wheel Armor.
"Heaven's Wheel! Blumenblatt!" Erza yells out summoning more swords around her as she flies down towards Aria. Erza then strikes him with two swords as Erza's summoned swords impact into him, causing him to cry out in pain as he explodes. Aria's body falls out from the explosion to the ground, unconscious and his clothes burned and torn up in some places as Erza touches back down on the ground.
"She beat him in one hit!" Happy yells out in shock with blank eyes.
"Erza's dangerous, that's for sure!" Natsu yells with sharpened teeth and squinted blank eyes.
"She's way too strong!" Sakura yells out.
"The likes of you should never have been able to beat the master. Your days of glory will be wiped out, starting now." Erza states as she turns around and looks down towards him.
"T-The sadness…" Aria mutters out with his eyes blank.
Outside
"Can we block it?"
"It's not something blockable!"
"What should we do?"
Just then, the magic circle for Abyss Break shrinks down until it disappears and the giant's eyes stop glowing red.
"What?"
"The light's disappeared!"
Suddenly, the giant buckles down into the lake. As the inside begins to shake as the group looks around wondering what is going on.
"Now what?" Natsu questions and then, Erza requips out of her armor into her regular clothing and faints. Natsu notices this and quickly catches her. "Erza! Hey!"
"Erza!" Sakura calls out as she gets to the two.
Elsewhere
What's this?" Elfman questions.
"Is this Natsu's and Sakura's doing?" Gray asks.
"It stopped! Abyss Break has been terminated!" Mirajane says.
"Seriously?" Elfman asks.
"Which means…" Gray trails off.
"The power of the four elements has been cut off!" Mirajane says.
Outside
"They did it!"
"The giant has been stopped!"
The Fairy Tail members cheers at the sight of the giant not moving.
Inside
Sakura is now using the Mind Plate and activates Heal Pulse as Erza explains why she came in.
"And that is why I came here…" Erza finishes saying.
As it turns out, Erza had a strange feeling that the others in the Magic Giant were going to need help and so used her armor to fly here, leaving Cana in charge of the others who continued their fight against the Shades of Jose. Though it was with a lot of difficulty since a lot of Shades got in her way and even passed through her, causing their curse to such away at Erza's energy. Which is why she is in the state she is now.
"You're being too reckless, Erza." Sakura tells her.
"Sorry." Erza says.
Just then, the sound of the PA about to make an announcement rings out for the group as they look up.
"Attention all you from Fairy Tail! Please listen carefully to this voice."
"What's this?" Natsu questions.
"It's Master Jose!" Happy says.
"But why-" Before Sakura could finish, a familiar voice scream echoes out through the loudspeakers, causing Natsu's eyes to widen in shock and anger.
Elsewhere
"That voice!" Elfman exclaims.
"It's Lucy!" Gray also exclaims.
"Oh no!" Mirajane says.
"We have captured Lucy. So, we have accomplished one of our objectives. Thus, we have one final goal that remains to be fulfill. Wiping you off the face of the earth! You worthless brats!"
Where Natsu's group is
"Damn him!" Natsu growls with anger coursing through his veins.
"Lucy…" Sakura mutters.
"Damn it! Lucy's been…"
"Natsu." Erza calls catching Natsu's attention. "Unleash your power! You have power sleeping within you. Believe in yourself. Break through. And call for it! Now is the time. Protect Lucy, and protect the guild! Go, Natsu! You're the one who will surpass me!" She says weakly and manage to use ounce of her strength to say the last part loudly.
"Natsu, you're the only one who can save Lucy. Also, remind those Phantoms what happens when they mess with our friends… our family!" Sakura says.
Natsu nods his head as he stands up and begins walking towards the stairs, Happy gasps as Natsu stops at the front of the staircase. Suddenly, his clothes begin to blow around as the air around him seems to pick up and Natsu is engulfs in flames. At the same time the flames taking a shape of a dragon as Natsu's eyes glow and roars out in complete anger.
~A few minutes later~
"Erza!" Mirajane cries out as Erza and Sakura turn their heads to see Mirajane, Elfman, Gray and Takeru.
"Erza!" Gray calls surprised to see her here as Takeru goes to Sakura.
"Looks like there were some fireworks here too." Elfman says looking around.
"It's you guys." Erza says.
"When did you break in?" Gray asks.
And why do you look so weak? What happened to you?" Mirajane asks worryingly.
"H-Hey!" Elfman says noticing something as Gray, Mirajane, and Takeru turn their heads to see the downed Aria.
"Aria?" Mirajane questions.
"Wait, did you defeat Aria?" Elfman asks.
"That's right." Sakura answers in Erza's stead.
"Still, I never wanted you to see me so weak like this… I guess I still have a long way to go." Erza says.
Suddenly, all of them gasp in shock as their eyes widen, they all feel something as the room seems to get dark and cold.
"What's that?" Gray questions.
"That's…" Mirajane says.
"I sense death!" Erza says.
"I never felt like this." Sakura says.
In the room, a dark mist appears as none of them notice it.
"What is this feeling?" Gray questions.
"It sends chills down a Man's spine!" Elfman says.
"The malice is palpable!" Mirajane says.
Just then, someone slowly claps their hands behind the group as they all turn their heads.
"My, my. I'm quite impressed, by Fairy Tail wizards…" Standing at the entrance to the room, is Master Jose.
His clothing is very militaristic like, consisting of a long blue coat closed on the right side of Jose's chest by a belt circling his waist and by another one going over his right shoulder, sporting Phantom Lord's symbol on its buckle. The coat had wide golden stripes going down from the high collar, which sported a pair of large rings hanging from it on the front, to the cuffs, with other golden parts in correspondence to the closure and below the waist, on each side. His Wizard Saint's medallion is still visible on the same spot, but has dark ribbons hanging from it instead. Covering Jose's left arm was a brownish cape, sporting a wide golden-colored stripe near the edge and some small shield-shaped ornaments placed at the same distance from one another. The outfit is completed by loose pants tucked inside boots and his hair is tied in a high ponytail. Also, a dark aura that surrounds his body as he has his hand raised and a sadistic look on his face.
"To think I would be able to have such fun… I never would have dreamed it. Destroying Jupiter, taking down the Element 4… And even bringing my Magic Giant to its knees!"
"Master Jose!" Erza calls.
"This guy's…" Elfman trails off.
"…Phantom's Master?" Gray finishes in shock.
"What incredible evil magical power! I feel nauseous just standing near him!" Mirajane says with her hand over her mouth.
"What kind of power he has?" Sakura questions.
"Now, I must thank you for the fun you've given me." Jose says.
"Elfman!" Gray yells as he and Elfman jump in front of the others, prepared to fight him.
"Right!" Elfman agrees.
"I'll enjoy this…" Jose says as he lifts his right hand in front of his face sideways.
"Ice Make…"
"Beast Arm!"
"Wait! Don't be hasty!" Erza yells but they are too late as both of Gray and Elfman launch themselves towards Jose.
"Saucer/Iron Bull!" Both Gray and Elfman yell as both of them launches their attack at Jose.
"Absurd!" Jose says summoning a dark purple magic circle in front of him, sending a blast of dark purple energy towards them as they tear right through the two, causing them to cry out in pain as they are send flying back and hit the ground hard.
"Elfman! Gray!" Mirajane yells out, turning towards Jose in anger as Erza pushes herself up.
Jose then swings his right arm across from him, creating a massive explosion with just that which sends Gray and Elfman flying into the air again, the blast also catches Mirajane who is sent tumbling across the ground as Erza also flies back into the stairs and Sakura landing on Latias and Takeru standing beside her.
"Guys!" Sakura yells out as she turns to them.
"Oh, if it isn't the young wizard who managed to block my Jupiter." Jose says and Sakura turns to him. "Let's see how fun this gets."
"Have it your way. Takeru, use Aura Sphere! Latias, use Dragon Breath!" Sakura orders and both of her Pokémons charges their attack before sending them at the Phantom's Master. However, Jose summons a magic circle, sending a massive twister of darkness at the attacks, destroying them.
"Hmph. Is this what you have?" Jose questions.
"Bone Rush! Dragon Pulse!" Sakura shouts and Latias sends her attack as Takeru creates a light blue bone energy before he charges towards him.
Jose moves his head aside as Dragon Pulse goes right pass him and he then holds out his arms summoning a magic circle, sending a barrage of dark energy from before at Takeru who unable to dodge them and torn apart by the attack.
"Takeru!" Sakura calls out as she rushes to her Pokémon and puts him in her arms. Sakura then hears someone walking towards her and looks up to see Jose pointing his hand at her.
"You're finished." He says as his hand begins to glow causing Sakura to hug Takeru and closes her eyes.
"Sakura!" Erza shouts when she stands back up.
Erza then launches towards Jose with a sword in hand to engage him stopping Jose to attack Sakura. Jose sees this and throws the same hand forward sending another dark twister at her, but this time Erza jumps up to dodge it as she requips into her Black Wing Armor and comes back down on Jose with her sword held behind her. Erza cries out as she swings it down at him, Jose simply slides to his right to avoid it as Erza swings her sword after him only for Jose to duck under it and reaches forward, grabbing her wrist with his left hand. Shocking Erza who gasps while Jose grunts as smirk and easily lifts her up, throwing her away as she manages to land on a rubble that was part of the ceiling and launches herself safely back onto the ground falling onto her knees.
Jose straightens himself as he looks at Erza. "You, I'm pretty sure that you got hit with a lot of my Shades. How is it you can stand?" Jose questions.
"My friends strengthen my heart! For those that I love… I'd throw away this body!" Erza yells.
"Strong courageous, beautiful… It will be such a pleasure to destroy you, girl!" Jose says with a dark look on his face.
Elsewhere in the giant
Lucy is thrown against a wall and falls to the ground. Gajeel who had hit her with his Iron Club transforms it back to his normal hand.
"Not too bad a sound." Gajeel says. Lucy remains on the ground, her entire body bruised and scratched up from the constant beating Gajeel has given to her since he captured her from the safehouse and brought her here. "But man, what a lame reaction…"
"Gajeel, don't you think you should stop now? You keep doing this and it'll be serious trouble!" One of the Phantom wizards in the room says. A group of six of them there as two of them who helped Gajeel assault the safehouse for Lucy.
"Huh? But I'm bored. The master sure is cruel. Making me watch over the girl like this, and going to deal with the flies himself." Gajeel says as he transforms his left arm into a club and begins walking towards Lucy. "What's the harm in doing this to pass the time, huh?" He questions as Gajeel stops a few feet away from her and Lucy is still on the ground grunting in pain.
"Stop it. If the master finds out, he won't let you off so easy!" The same wizard from before says, only for Gajeel to extend his club right into his face and sending him into the wall, much to the shock of his fellow Phantoms.
"Shut up. Maybe she's some noblewoman or something, but to me she's nothing but Fairy butt trash. And even if she's a woman, she's still a Wizard. She should be prepared for this when she joined a guild." Gajeel says transforming his arm back to normal.
"But you're going overboard. What a waste…" A male wizard known as Boze says.
"Master's gonna be pissed, big time." A female wizard known as Sue says.
"If that happens I'll blame it on you guys." Gajeel says turning towards them with his right hand raised and his left fist on his him as he begins chuckling at them.
"What a jerk…" The two say frightened with two sweatdrops going down the back of their heads.
"But man, how stupid. Now that know she's rich, the Fairy Butts are frantic to get her back." Gajeel says turning back towards Lucy as she finally begins to push herself back up. Just then a smirk appears on her face catching Gajeel's attention.
Lucy puts her hand against the wall to help her stand back up and keep herself up. "You guys really are complete idiots. So pitiful… I'm tearing up." Lucy says mockingly.
"Huh?" Gajeel says.
"W-What is she thinking?" Boze questions.
"She's provoking Gajeel." Sue says.
"Phantom Lord? The rulers of spirits? What a joke! I'm not scared of you at all!" Lucy says with a confident smile on her face.
"Oh, I see then." Gajeel says and suddenly extending and slamming his right club into Lucy's chest. Causing her to slam into the wall and creating a crater in it sending pieces of rock flying. "You got some balls bluffing in a situation like this. I must say that's not bad…" Gajeel says as he retracts the club and transforms it back to normal. Lucy falls down and onto her hands and knees in more pain. "But you see. What I want to hear isn't your backtalk. I want to hear you scream. You don't start yelling and there's going to be trouble."
"Then why don't you try to kill me? You do that and you'll be in bigger trouble." Lucy says, the confidence still showing on her face even with all the pain that is coursing through her body.
"Oh? Well, that sounds interesting. Let me hear it."
"Fairy Tail would never forgive you. That's the kind of guild they are!" Lucy says as the other Phantom wizards watching the scene with shock at Lucy's bravery towards Gajeel. "You be shivering under the shadow of the world's strongest guild every day… For the rest of your lives!"
"That sounds like fun too. Let's try that out!" Gajeel says transforming both of his arms into clubs a crossing them in front of him as he jumps up.
"Gajeel!" Boze yells out.
"Stop it!" Sue yells.
Gajeel doesn't listen to them however as he comes down at Lucy with both of his clubs ready to smash her to death and begins to chuckle maniacally. However, before he can get close to her, the floor in between them erupts upwards into flames. From the fire comes Natsu who slams his left fist into Gajeel sending him flying back as he lands on his feet crouched down and slides back a little. Natsu lands on the ground in front of Lucy and lets out a tremendous roar, the fire once again taking the shape of a dragon.
"I knew it. I noticed your smell!" Gajeel exclaims.
"Salamander!" Lucy cries out in joy.
"GAJEEL!" Natsu roars out as it almost even sounds like the roar of a dragon.