Hi guys! I'm finally back. It's been almost a month since I last updated and I feel really bad so I'm going to try and upload at least 3 lengthy chapters for you all to make up for it. Just wanted to thank MMthemagical for their idea. I'm going to use it in this chapter but all credit goes to you x
A flash of bright light blinded Gajeel's eyes momentarily before he was flung across the room with a mere swish of Caruthe's hand. "You'd do well not to mess with me, boy," Caruthe drawled out in his bored tone.
"Gihi, I love it when villains say that, old man! It just makes me wanna mess with them even more," Gajeel offered the Dark Mage his trademark smirk and gave no warning as his arm suddenly transformed into a long iron pole, neatly slamming into the older man's side.
"I see you brought your girlfriend into this fray too," Caruthe wheezed out clutching his side with one arm. Behind his back, in his free arm, a ball of bright white light was steadily growing. All he needed to do was delay the Iron Slayer's actions for just a bit longer. And he knew exactly how to do that.
"Whatcha talkin' about, old man?" Gajeel barked out, cheeks tinged slightly pink. "We're here on an assignment and we don' need ye getting in our way!"
"Oh? So, not your girlfriend? Hmmm, well I guess that makes sense. She's much too good for you anyway. From what I can tell,". A small smile bloomed on Caruthe's face before turning into a cruel grimace. His spell was ready; all he needed was for Gajeel to charge at him. One more taunt should do it, he thought to himself - as was his speciality. Caruthe preferred to twist and use the emotions and feelings of his enemies to gain an advantage, not liking to use too much of his magic. "I guess she has her eyes on someone else back home, am I right? I mean, anyone would be better than you. You seem to have too much of a typical bad guy complex: parents left you abandoned when you were younger, had to live tough to survive, joined a guild, decided to keep that menacing persona, not willing to trust anyone. Yes, I can see how someone like you would be interested in a tiny fairy like her, but I guess it would take nothing short of a miracle to get her interested in you." Caruthe's eyes glinted at his last remark and brought his hand from behind his back just in time to see Gajeel charging at him.
"YOU TALK TOO MUCH, OLD MAN!" Gajeel roared as he unleashed his Iron Dragon Sword.
As fast as lightning, Caruthe thrust the pulsing ball of light at Gajeel before the Slayer knew what had happened. The light expanded, covering Gajeel's entire body until not even his outline could be identified in the intense brightness.
The light had a dizzying effect on Gajeel, and moments after the light had faded away, he collapsed onto the floor, completely knocked out.
The bright flash of light had distracted both Memik and Levy in the midst of their battle. The petite mage's mouth opened in shock as she saw Gajeel's unmoving form heaped unceremoniously on the floor. Her mouth set in a grim line but her eyes betrayed her fear.
I have to save Gajeel, she thought. But how? Levy's eyes darted around trying to find the solution to her problem. Meanwhile, Memik had recovered from the last blow and was preparing to suck all the remaining air out of Levy for the final time.
Levy glanced up and immediately understood what the ugly man's plan was. She whipped out her Solid Script Pen and scribbled a word in the air.
Her magic activated just in time; Memik had begun drawing in all the air. She smiled secretly to herself when she saw him realise what the word said. Memik's eyes grew wide in fear and he attempted desperately to stop his spell.
However, it was too late.
Reverse.
That was the word Levy had written in the air and its properties were already beginning to reflect Memik's magic back at himself.
His already sunken cheeks were growing more hollow and his cheekbones were prominent against his stretched skin. His mismatched eyes bulged and his thin hands were clawing at his stubby neck. Within minutes, Memik collapsed, completely defeated.
One point for Levy! The Script Mage congratulated herself with a smile. She turned around to tell Gajeel, before remembering that he was unconscious and the man who defeated him was still in the room.
"Oh. That was very, very impressive," Caruthe drawled out. Levy's panicked eyes swivelled around to meet his unperturbed ones. "But it seems like I have to deal with you myself," he sighed.
The room began to glow. Slowly everything began to take on a white hue and Levy knew that before long, the room would be so bright that her eyes would begin to hurt and she would collapse just as Gajeel did. She had to do something. And do it now!
A thought came to Levy's mind and without a second doubt proceed to write in the air once more.
The brightness of the room suddenly swerved and everything began to turn to shadows. It was a battle of light and dark, and neither side was giving up.
But Levy knew to win she had to allow her fear to protect her. Taking a steadying breath, the petite woman recounted Gajeel's comforting words and allowed the ultimate darkness to fill the room.
As she suspected, Caruthe was vulnerable in the dark. His powers were lost and he was temporarily weakened. He is rather like a flower without the sun, she thought to herself, attempting to ignore the darkness around her.
Just a few more seconds. She could hear Caruthe beginning to whimper, crawling away.
Levy released her hold on the shadows, and everything returned back to normal.
Caruthe was leaning against the wall, looking paler than usual. His light was gone and for a short while, Levy would have the upper hand.
Without pausing for a second thought, Levy marched up to Caruthe, grabbing a heavy book from Jopp's bureau and smacked it over Caruthe's head, knocking him out.
She released her breath, not even realising that she had forgotten to breathe.
Gajeel!
Levy turned around and lurched towards were Gajeel was still lying down. She sat down next to him, turning his body around and lifting his head onto her lap. Her fingers were deftly moving through his wild hair as she sought out any head injuries.
He didn't seem to be injured. Only unconscious. Levy sighed in relief, and Gajeel's eyes flew open.