Alright, on to the third test-the physical.
We're almost done, but we'll have a few chapters left, so, enjoy!
Erza followed Igneel into a large arena. On the other side stood a young man about Erza's age, with pink hair and a bright smile.
"This is my son, Natsu." Igneel said. "He has not yet achieved the power to take dragon form, so I thought he would be a worthy opponent. Here are to rules of the physical test. Both opponents will battle until one is unable to fight, or surrenders. Through out the arena, random traps will sometimes trigger, adding more excitement to the fight. Let the battle begin!"
"Requip: Black Wing Armor!" Erza raised her sword and flew towards Natsu, who was just standing there.
As Erza got close, he pulled back fist. "Iron Fist of the Fire Dragon!" His fist was set aflame as he swung it at Erza, knocking her backwards. She rolled back several feet before regaining control.
"Fire powers? Interesting. Requip: Flame Empress Armor!" Not only did this armor use fire to fight, it also lessened the effect of fire based attacks on the user.
"Roar of the Fire Dragon!" Natsu opened his mouth and blasted out flames, which hit Erza head on. However, after they cleared, she was still unharmed.
Just then, there was a loud rumbling. Erza looked up as part of the ceiling fell away and a large stalactite fell towards her. She dove away, but this gave Natsu the opportunity to charge at her, yelling, "Wing Slash of the Fire Dragon!" He extended both arms, which both caught on fire, as he flung himself at Erza. Raising her sword, she met Natsu full on with a sword slash. He was thrown backwards, right as an arrow was shot from the wall, grazing his arm.
Natsu got up and rushed at Erza again, as the ground underneath her began heating up. She threw herself backwards just as Natsu punched the ground where she just was.
The ground exploded. A massive column of flames surged up where Natsu was standing, glowing white hot. Erza smiled in satisfaction. There was no way he could survive that.
Her train of thought was interrupted as she saw the flames draining away somehow. As more of the flames cleared, she saw Natsu in the center, sucking the flames up and eating them. Finally, when he was done, he looked at Erza and grinned.
"I'm Fire Dragon Natsu, and I'm all fired up!" His skin began to change, growing thicker, harder. Scales formed on his body, and his facial features sharpened. With growing horror, Erza realized what had happened. Natsu, being the son of a dragon, had an ability to eat his own element, which was fire. In doing so, he could enter a special state, known as Dragon Force. His body would become more dragon-like, and his powers would be enhanced to superhuman levels.
"Brilliant Flame of the Fire Dragon!" he shouted, and threw a massive fireball at Erza. It exploded into blindingly bright flames, and even with her armor, Erza was burned badly. Her vision went black, and she almost wanted to give up. "Maybe I should just let him kill me…" she said to herself. "It's not like I can win…"
A vision appeared in her head. Jellal, lying on the bed, breathing only very shallowly. His eyes fluttered open. "Erza. Don't give up. I need you. My condition is worsening, but I have confidence you will be back in time to save me. Just remember...I believe in you." He almost closed his eyes again, but then spoke again, almost as if for an afterthought. "Even in your darkest hour, I will be your strength. And my love will be your armor in this battlefield around you. Good luck. I'm counting on you." The vision faded.
Erza's eyes snapped open. She sprang to her feet and summoned an armor so powerful that it could bend the very laws of magic themselves, causing the user to become virtually invincible. "Requip: Nakagami Armor!"
"Roar of the Fire Dragon!" Erza ran through the fire without slowing, focused on one thing only: defeating Natsu. Another stalactite fell towards her, but her sword, with its almost unlimited power, sliced through the rock like a hot knife through butter.
Natsu began looking panicked. "Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!" A long stream of fire whipped out towards Erza. Even with her all-powerful armor, she felt the sheer strength of this attack.
"Nakagami Starlight!" The very air began to vibrant and shake, bending towards Erza's sword. With a yell, she sent a storm of slashes and cuts towards Natsu, utterly defeating him. When Erza finished, he was lying on the ground with many scratches and wounds, unconscious but not dead.
"Impressive." boomed Igneels voice. "You have passed the three trials, and will be allowed to see Porlyusica. An old woman with pink hair and a kind face walked out from a hidden door, and went up to Erza.
"In the written test, you showed me your skill and cleverness in planning battles, showing you are a capable and smart commander. You also showed your devotion for your love, saying you would choose them over an entire kingdom. In the mental test, you once again proved yourself wanting to do anything for your love, even if it means destroying your own life. You also proved you understood that there is no such thing as a free lunch, that anything worthwhile can only come from working for it. Finally, in the physical test, you defeated Natsu, showing you have great strength and courage. If you want one of my potions, just follow me." She turned and walked up a hidden set of stairs. Erza followed, running to catch up.
The healer led Erza into a small room that seemed to be a workshop of some sort. Long rows of wooden shelves crowded the back wall, with dozens of potions atop them. On one side of the room was a cabinet marked with many different ingredients, and in the side of the room was an iron cauldron, with a fire burning under it. A young girl with deep blue hair was stirring the cauldron while throwing in powders.
"My apprentice, Wendy." said Porlyusica. "She has a gift for healing." Turning to Wendy, she gave her instructions. "Prepare the most
powerful antidote we know of. Remember to keep the fire low, and to add in the correct herbs. Wendy and Porlyusica both went to work.
Ok. Physical test is a battle, as you probably guessed. Erza makes the mistake of trying to defeat Natsu with fire, a tactic which obviously fails. She gets a vision of Jellal, telling her to keep fighting, and it gives her the strength to summon an armor so powerful, it can completely demolish a Dragon Force Natsu.
Erza gets the cure, so now the question is-will she be in time to save Jellal?
Next chapter coming soon.
-Crimsonflames2862