Chapter 61: Strength Comes From the Will to Win

A/N: First, let me give the usual shout out to sashaXmafuyuFOREVER and brucie86 for their reviews! Glad you guys liked it. Now, secondly we have the number four. Four. That's how many fights remain. We are down to four. FOUR. Gah! We are so close to the end I can taste it! It's a good bittersweet taste with some spiciness via Natsu and some iciness from Gray… I'm glad there not fighting because they would just end up bickering at each other instead of fighting. But they're not today's fighters, no it's Sting and Rogue vs. Gōsuto and Rai. So here we go! ENJOY!

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In Naito- Half an hour ago (Gōsuto POV)

We arrived back at our base and looked around, seeing that everything was normal. "Good, we beat them. Rai, get everyone except for my dad on Metalicana's back and out of here. Now. I'll make sure that when they get here and figure out that Hoshi is gone, they can't escape. Now go and make sure everyone is safe." I said and Rai nodded, running off inside as I jumped on the roof.

I looked around on the roof and saw what I was looking for, right where it should have been. I walked over and kneeled next to a little black box, and opened it. I looked inside and saw the switch that I wanted and flipped it. A small dome of runes appeared from the top of the box and a set of letters came from the box as well. I typed in the specific set of runes that I wanted and pressed a button. The dome spun around and the runes began to form on the dome. Then, it suddenly expanded to become a massive dome, and it covered all of Naito and cut off on the outskirts of town. 'Good it still works. Good thing dad installed this when he retired and became this city's only, albeit inactive, mage. These runes will let people in once I fully activate it, but they won't be able to leave anymore. Where is dad? I need to send him back to report everything that's happening before the Saber twins get here and he's trapped. The others too, they need to leave now.' As I was thinking that, I saw a dragon, Metalicana I guessed, fly away with some people in his back. 'Good they're gone, now where is dad?'

"Gōsuto! Here's your dad! But we got a problem! The Sabers are in Naito already! Hurry up and tell your dad what you now!" Rai yelled and I cursed to myself and jumped down off the roof with the rune activator in my hand.

"Quick, everyone inside we don't want to tip them off just yet. We'll hide in Hoshi's room for now. Dad, I need you to go and tell everyone back in Magnolia what's happening and that everyone is safe. Go now, before I put up the runes and you're stuck here. Go!" I said and my dad looked at me.

"How do you expect me to get there?" He said and I thought about it, then face palmed. "The flying dragon is gone and the other one can't fly, how the fuck am I supposed to get there?!"

"We'll help!" Said a very happy sounding and high-pitched voice I had not heard in a year and we all turned to see three flying cats. "Happy and the exceeds at your service!"

"What the fuck is an exceed. Lily, why are you here? Are you an 'Exceed?' And who's the white one?" Rai asked what we were all thinking in our heads.

"Yes, we are what is known as an exceed, our history is long and complicated. But trust us, if we fly there he could be there in twenty minutes, if we all do it at once. Kurayami trust us, and let's go." Lily said in his military voice and dad looked at me.

I shrugged and he sighed and nodded to them. They all came forward and took a hold of shoulder and I called out to him, "Hey dad, take this lacrima so you can keep tabs on the battle!" He looked over his shoulder and nodded, catching the lacrima as I threw it to him. The exceeds flew off, yelling "Max Speed!" and disappearing over the horizon.

I looked at Rai and motioned for us to go inside. He nodded and we ran inside as he said, "The motion sensor lacrima says there almost here, we better hurry!" I nodded and we ran faster, reaching little Hoshi's room soon after. I motioned for him to take position above the door, as the room is huge and the ceiling is high. I take position in the corner of the room, just above the changing station and close to the crib. Then we wait for a minute, then the door flies open and we see Rogue and Sting barge in.

They look around and wait a minute before Sting says, "Where the fuck is this baby?"

Then I look at Rai and nod, then we both jump down and in mid air yell, "Light Beam!" "Shadow Beam!" Two beams, one made of shadows and the other of light shoot out and hit the saber twins, the opposite element hitting each of the sabers. They both fly back and we grab one, me grabbing Rogue and Rai grabbing Sting, and we run away from each other.

We split up and went to different parts of the house, me going to the outdoor training area by jumping out a window near Hoshi's room. We both land away from each other and roll to our feet. "Ah, now I see why Hoshi wasn't there, Lucy must have sent you. So Gōsuto, you think you can stop me? Because you must know, I never went all out in front of Natsu and you aren't exactly the strongest mage in Ronin." Rogue said and I scoffed.

"You think just because your dragon slayer your stronger than everyone else? Please. Spare me your ego, and let me show you the true power of demon hybrid. I hope you brought extra underwear, because you'll shit yourself in fear soon enough." I said trying to match his ego, hoping to see if he would react in any way.

He did, but in a very interesting way, "Ok, then show me some of your demon power then. Show me what a hybrid demon can do." He looked at me expectantly and I knew I had to show him at least some form of my demon change. 'Phase one for now, but he doesn't seemed worried at all that I can become a demon. In fact he looks excited by the fact. Damn these dragon slayers are crazy when it comes to proving battle prowess. Well, I have no choice then here we go!'

I gathered magical energy in my body and built it up, until I had more than enough. Then I let the inner blocks on my demon forms release for the first phase and I felt my body change. I saw my skin become pitch black, and I felt my muscles grow slightly as did my body as a whole, making me taller. I stood upright and I knew the change was complete and looked at Rogue. He looked excited and like he was ready to fight. I sighed quietly and then charged so fast he barely saw me, landing a blow to his throat as I clotheslined him. I carried him on my arm for a little bit and then spun, releasing my hold on him as I punched him in the back of the head. He staggered forward and slid low to get in front of and beneath him, then yelled, "Shadow Beam: Hand!" A beam of my shadows came forth and took the form of a hand, and it grabbed his face. Then I kicked his feet out from under him and he fell on his back. Then the hand expanded and trapped his head to the ground, and I saw him try and eat the shadows but was unable to. Then he mumbled something and a torrent of magic spouted from his mouth and destroyed the hand.

'So that's his roar, it really is something else man. Being able to destroy the shadow hand in demon phase one is a outstanding feat. Well here comes the shock and the required explanation.' I looked at Rogue and he was looking at me blankly, shocked that he couldn't eat the shadows. "Yes, my shadows cannot be eaten by dragon slayers. Because they are not real shadows, per say. No they are artificially produced in my body. This is because I was made into a shadow demon and when in my demon form my shadows are not taken from the environment like they usually are. Instead I make my own shadows, its why my body is pitch black now. I am the shadows now." I explained and he looked at me dumbfounded, surprised by the fact that he was the one at a disadvantage in a battle of shadows.

He shook his head and sighed, then said, "Guess I'll just have to beat you with what magic I have. Better make this battle a serious one." He said and suddenly, he released a lot of magical energy and his body became shrouded in shadows. "This is my Shadow Drive mode, similar to your demon mode so this should be fun."

Then he charged and we started trading blows, each of us landing a blow to the others gut then to the jaw. We each jump back and I throw my hands up and yell, "Shadow Cannon!" unleashing a massive torrent of shadows at Rogue. He yells "Shadow Dragon's Roar!" in response and the two attacks meet mid air. The result of the collision is a massive explosion that sends us back a bit, but we both land on our feet. Then we charge at each other again, trading punches and kicks as we reached each other. I landed a blow to his gut, but he landed one to my face. Then I landed another one to his gut and followed it up with one to his gut and a kick to his knee. He crumbled and I finished my combo with a kick to his face, but he blocked my kick with his arm.

But it wasn't enough, as I kept pushing and eventually broke his block and finished the kick, sending him flying away. He tried to stop himself by spinning but I didn't let him as I yelled, "Shadow Beam!" and my signature beam hit him and he kept flying. Eventually he stopped, when he hit the wall and made a human shaped dent in it. "Have enough yet?" I asked mockingly and the only response I got was a massive surge of magical energy from him. I looked and saw that he had entered a new mode of his dragon slaying magic that gave him a shroud of shadows and spikier hair. He also had markings on his face and he looked mad now.

He charged before I could get off my usual sarcastic remark and he was on me so fast I barely saw him. He punched me in the gut a few times so fast that I missed it, then he threw an uppercut that nailed me in the jaw. But before I could stumble back, he grabbed my now exposed neck and crushed me into the ground. I groaned and got up quickly and disappeared into the shadows, claiming them as mine. He tried to follow and beat me in the shadows, but couldn't as I now owned the shadows. He growled at that and tried to follow me but I was too fast in my shadows. I revealed myself but he didn't see it as I was behind him now and I yelled, "Shadow Cannon!" The torrent of shadows spouted from my hands and nailed him in the back, but he didn't even flinch.

"Hahahaha! You think that level of attack will do anything against me? Please! I'm in my dragon force mode, you'll have to do more than that!" He said and looked at me, but I knew this was the case already.

I released another set of blocks inside of me and entered phase two of my demon mode, 'Two phases in now, gonna have to be careful if I need to enter phase three. I lose all conscious thought of right and wrong when I do, and I don't want that to happen. Let's hope this all he can muster." I charge at him and am faster and bigger than before, so fast that he doesn't really see me at first. I land a clean hit to his face, breaking his nose for sure as he went flying away. He hit a boulder that was on the field and he created a massive hole in the boulder.

He got up and shrugged it off and we both charged each other again, and started our usual exchange of blows each of us landing a blow to the other's gut. But before we could keep going a massive explosion rocked the mansion and the area outside and we looked to see Rai and Sting fighting their way to us. I looked and saw Rogue was distracted and I punched him in the face and yelled, "Shadow Cannon!". THIS time when it hit he was sent flying back, my increased power the reason why it worked. Rai had also gained the upper hand for a moment and sent Sting flying back to where we where Rogue had gone.

"So how's it going?" Rai asked as came over to where I was and I shrugged, both of us beaten up a bit and bloodied. "Phase Two?"

"Phase Two." I answered and he nodded, "You having any trouble?"

"Eh, a little to be honest bit so are you obviously. Your throat is all black and shit. Ugly like your face." He said and I looked at him feigning anger, then we both started laughing as he said, "Yeah let me tell you what happened."

Back to When the Duo Separated (Rai POV)

Then Gōsuto looked me and nods, then we both jump down and in mid air yell, "Light Beam!" "Shadow Beam!" Two beams, one made of shadows and the other of light shoot out and hit the saber twins, the opposite element hitting each of the sabers. They both fly back and we grab one, he grabs Rogue and I grab Sting, and we run away from each other.

We split up and went to different parts of the house, I lead him to the meeting room which was empty now and big enough for us to fight. We both land away from each other and roll to our feet. "Ah, now I see why Hoshi wasn't there, Lucy-san sent you. Name's Sting Eucliffe, what's yours?" Sting asked.

"Raitonekusasu, nice to meet you, master of Sabertooth. Now, let me say while you are powerful, I don't believe your as strong as a demon." I said hoping to irritate him and make him sloppy.

He didn't bit, but reacted in a very interesting way, "Ok, then show me some of your demon power then. Show me what a hybrid demon can do." He looked at me expectantly and I knew I had to show him at least some form of my demon change. 'Phase one for now, but he doesn't seemed worried at all that I can become a demon. Damn these dragon slayers are crazy! Especially when it comes to proving their battle prowess. Well, I guess there is no choice then. Here I come!'

I gathered magical energy in my body and built it up, until I had more than enough. Then I let the inner blocks on my demon forms release for the first phase and I felt my body change. I saw my skin become as bright as a star, and I felt my muscles grow slightly as did my body as a whole, making me taller, almost a giant. I stood upright and I knew the change was complete and looked at Sting. He looked excited and like he was ready to throw down. I sighed quietly at his face and charged so fast he barely saw me, landing a blow to his gut causing him to keel over in pain. I loomed him over him for a little bit and then I elbowed him in the back of the head. He staggered forward and I jumped up high above him and he was beneath me now, then I yelled, "Light Beam: Cannonball!" A beam of my light came forth and took the form of a cannonball, and it nailed his face as he turned around to face me. Then he tried to eat the cannonball but was unable to. Then he mumbled something and a torrent of magic spouted from his mouth and destroyed the cannonball before it exploded.

'So that's his roar, huh? He sure is strong to destroy my demon shadows. Well here comes the shock and the required explanation that I always have to give people who don't understand my magic.' I looked at Sting and he was looking at me concerned, checking to see if his mouth still worked. "Yes, your mouth still works you idiot. It's just that dragon slayers cannot eat my light. Because they are not real light, per say. No they are artificially produced in my body. This is because I was made into an oxymoron demon, a light demon and when in my demon form my light is not taken from the environment like they usually are. Instead I make my own light, it's why my body is so bright now. I am the light now." I explained and he looked at me like I just tried to explain physics to him, unable to comprehend the fact that he was the one at a disadvantage in a battle of light. "Ugh! You cannot eat stuff that is not made in nature like my light you dumbass!"

He nodded his head in understanding, then said, "Guess I'll just have to beat you with what magic I have. Better go all out for this one." He said and suddenly, he released a lot of magical energy and his body became shrouded in light. "This is my White Drive mode, similar to your demon mode so this should be fun."

Then he charged and we started trading blows, each of us landing a blow to the others kidney then to the face. We each stagger back a bit and I throw my hands up and yell, "Light Cannon!" unleashing a massive torrent of bright light at Sting. He yells "Light Dragon's Roar!" in response and the two attacks meet mid air. The result of the collision is a massive explosion that sends us back a bit, but we both land on our feet. Then we charge at each other again, trading punches and kicks as we reached each other. I landed a blow to his kidney again, but he landed one to my face. Then I landed another one to his kidney, my favorite spot to hit, and followed it up with one to his gut and a kick to his knee. He crumbled and I finished my combo with an uppercut to his face, but he blocked my fist with his arms.

But it wasn't enough, as I kept pushing and eventually broke his block and finished the uppercut, sending him flying into the ceiling. He tried to stop himself by spinning so he could land feet first on the ceiling and propel himself off it, but I didn't let him. I yelled, "Light Beam!" and my beam hit him and he kept flying through the ceiling and into the next floor. Eventually he stopped, when he hit that room's ceiling and made a human shaped dent in it. "Done already?" I asked mockingly and the only response I got was a massive surge of magical energy from him. I looked and saw that he had entered a new mode of his dragon slaying magic that gave him a shroud of light and spikier hair. He also had markings on his face and he looked mad now.

He charged before I could get off a sly remark and he was on me so fast I barely saw him. He punched me in the face a few times so fast that I swore I went unconscious and woke up because of the punched. then he threw an uppercut that nailed me in the jaw. But before I could stumble back, he grabbed my now exposed neck and crushed me into the ground. I groaned and got up quickly and yelled, "Light Flare!" He growled at that and tried to grab me but couldn't as he couldn't see. I ran being him and revealed myself to him but he didn't see me as I was behind him and I yelled, "Light Cannon!" The torrent of shadows spouted from my hands and nailed him in the back, but he didn't even move. Instead he thought he felt a fly hit him and he swatted at it but then realized it was me.

"Hahahaha! That level of attack? Really, you think that will do anything against me? Please! I'm in my dragon force mode, you'll have to do more than that!" He said and looked at me, but I knew this was the case already. So I release my second set of blocks inside of me and reached my second phase, now brighter and bigger than before. Faster too as I charged and yelled, "Light Meteor!" I turned into a human meteor and charged even faster. I reached him and took him out of this room and into the next three in a row.

We stopped moving and he pushed me off of him, then he yelled, "Light Dragon's Roar!" And I knew what was coming, so I yelled back, "Light Cannon!" and our two attacks met again. This time the explosion was even bigger than the last time and rocked the mansion, creating a massive hole that we both went out of. We traded blows for a second then saw we ended up where Gōsuto and Rogue were fighting. Seeing his comrade get sent flying away, Sting got distracted and I took advantage of it. I yelled "Light Cannon!" and he went flying, the attack working this time.

Back to Present (Gōsuto POV)

"Wow. Sounds just like my battle in reality." I said and Rai nodded.

"It's because they're so similar to each other, they do so many of the same things." He said and I nodded, then we heard groans as the sabers got up and looked at us.

Then they both gave us a look that said that they were fed up with us and once again release magical energy. This time it was different and was something only dragon slayers of high caliber could do. They each had shadows and light all around them and were shrouded in it, but looked very tired. "This is probably your limit huh? One more attack and that's it huh?" I asked and they didn't say anything but instead got ready to do something. "Unison Raid. Well Rai looks like we have no choice. It's time for phase three."

"Whoa there, phase three? But we might end up hurting each other like that." He said and I shrugged.

"We can't lose, we'll be evenly matched this way but we have the advantage. They're doing this because it's their job, to beat Natsu and us as a whole. They have no emotion behind it. We have the power of our will to win, we cannot lose because if we do, it puts our families at risk. We will win this final exchange." I said and Rai sighed then nodded and we released the final blocks holding back our full demon forms. This form is what no one else could achieve but was dangerous as we lost our cognitive thoughts. We grew absolutely huge in terms of muscles and lost all thoughts.

(Third Person POV)

The saber dragon twins looked at their opponents and were shocked by the change. They looked more like animals than humans now but they were also getting into position for their own unison raid. The sabers got ready themselves and yelled, a bit still uneasy of their opponents, "Holy Shadow Dragon's Flash Fang!"

Their opponents yelled something unintelligible and launched their own attack. The two attacks met mid air and struggled for a moment, but then something odd happened. The demon's attack broke through the sabers attack as a single thought passed through the demon's minds. 'Family.'

The attack hit the two sabers and expanded, engulfing them before it exploded and knocked them out cold, ending their battle. The demons were panting, regressing back into their base human forms, their senses returning as the exhaustion of the long battle set in.

(POV Change Back to Gōsuto)

We were breathing heavily and I realized we could no longer keep the blocks open anymore and had gone back to our base forms. "We did it… we really did it man." I said and slumped over, leaning on Rai's much taller frame.

"Yeah, we did brother. We really did." He said and looked down at me and said, "If you can open the dimensions, we should head back and join the others."

"Yeah I can. Come on let's go." I said and we went through the dimensions back to Magnolia where my dad was, victorious and successful in our mission. Our families safe and sound.

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A/N: WHEW! What a battle that was! I hope you guys liked it and now we are down to three. And the next three are all main characters in the actual series so the OC's are done fighting. I hope you enjoyed it, and Remember! READ AND REVIEW, OR FAVORITE OR FOLLOW EVEN IF YOU SO PLEASE! ADIOS!