Currently, at the Emperor Island.
Fairy Tail's small team have just arrived upon the land of Lingyue in search of answers to the recently discovered war. The group was brought to the Emperor Island with the guidance from Yamika as they were brought to meet with the former Emperor; Ryujima who answered some of their questions regarding the conflict between the two continents and its true nature.
Right now, Fairy Tail is making their escape from the Emperor Island as they are planning to go straight for the secret tunnel which is located somewhere north of the land and would take them to the Lightning Island as it is the closest island towards the large stone walls.
"hurry up, you guys!" Gajeel shouted as he is carrying Levy while flying with the help of Lily. The Iron Dragon Slayer looks down and sees several individuals chasing after them. "Lingyue's farewell committee is coming for us!"
"the last time we got a farewell committee, it was all fun and all, but I don't think that we would like this one!" Cana said as she quickly grabs some of her magic cards from her small purse bag and then threw them towards the shadows. "so have some of this!"
The cards flew before they shined brightly and in a huge explosion of pink smoke came out geysers of water that erupted in the air.
The eruption of water surprised and scared the people of the land as this much water also intervened with the chasers' pursuit of them.
"Cana-san! what was that!?" Wendy asks the senior mage.
"got some new cards I picked up from a job two months ago." Cana said with a smile. "thought that they might come in handy one day."
"As handy as they are, but I don't think you managed to stop all of our pursuers!" Mira exclaimed as she and her siblings look down to see that they are still being chased and are now being attacked with nets, arrows, shurikens, and kunais. "and they're pissed!"
"Evasive actions!" Erza shouted as everyone dispersed in the air, moving around a lot to dodge the incoming attacks.
"You really made them mad, Cana!" Lucy exclaimed while holding Erza's arm tightly as she quickly pulls her legs up to dodge the kunais and shurikens that nearly hit her.
"We can't keep on flying while dodging them!" Charla cried out. "we'll run out of magic before we get to the tunnel!"
"Those who can haul ass, do it!" Mira shouted as she flies to the side to dodge a huge net that nearly fell on top of her. "we'll split up while me and red make some cover! We'll join back together at the north section, got it!?"
"right!" everyone responded in unison.
Mira dropped Elfman and Lisanna as the middle sibling used his Beast Take Over magic to transform himself into a Were Tiger and catches his little sister before he begins to use the form's high speed capability to start running.
"take her, Lily." Gajeel swaps who Lily was carrying as he got the black exceed to carry Levy.
"but what about you!?" Levy exclaimed as Gajeel just grin.
"I just go and ride in style!" Gajeel said before he falls straight through a house.
"Gajeel/-san!" Levy, Lily, Wendy, and Charla shouted as they look at the place where Gajeel crashed before it suddenly had one part of its wall explode and the Iron Dragon Slayer came rushing out at high speed as he had combined both of his limbs together to form wheels.
"This is the Black Steel Gajeel's Iron Wheels~!" Gajeel grins as he rushes through the land in the form of a human bike.
"t-that's some imaginative way of thinking…" Lucy said as she and Cana sweatdropped to see Gajeel's form.
"you two! Focus!" Erza exclaimed as she looks back and sees Mira firing some magic blasts at their pursuers who didn't stop chasing after them. "Mira is holding some of them back, but she can't stop them all!"
"then drop us off and help her!" Cana told Erza while holding up another magic card. "me and Lucy will be alright."
"eh? How!?" Lucy exclaimed. "neither of us have any flight magic or anything alike!"
"just leave it to me." Cana said as she nodded to Erza who nodded back before both were dropped.
"aaghhh~!" Lucy screams as she and Cana falls straight for the ground but the Card Mage quickly threw the magic card which suddenly quadruples in size and became a large flying card which catches the two and then flew away. The blonde shakes her head before she looks at the large magic card in amazement. "wow! What's this!?"
"another trick I learned from another job I just gone to." Cana said as she controls the magic card to fly off and separated with the others.
"Mira!" Erza shouted as she deaccelerated her speed and joined Mira's side. "Send some electrical magic attack to the ground on my count." She then wields her Flame Empress' sword in her grasp. "we're going to cover everyone's escape!"
"got it!" Mira nods while having black electrical sparks charging around her claws.
"1….2…..3!" Erza counted before she swings her flame magic sword and creates a huge burst of fire while Mira unleashes a huge black bolt attack that attacked the flame attack. The two different elements mixed before it created a huge smoke explosion that blew out everywhere.
The smoke blew out everywhere as this was the chance that Erza and Mira needed to fly away and separate.
As this cover continues to envelop the city, one of the pursuers appeared and it is Yamika who is accompanied by Kazane, and Raikou.
"Those guys sure like to make a mess of things." Raikou said while blowing away some smoke near him. "Making this huge dust explosion in the middle of the city of all things…"
"Whatever the case, we know that they're going to head off for the north section of the Emperor Island's secret tunnel passage." Kazane said while opening one of her fans and holding it near her mouth. "I suggest that we let the others handle this."
"are you certain about that, Kazane?" Yamika asks the Wind General while glancing at her. "Gojin aside, I doubt that Ayame, Mizuki, and Daichi-san would be willing to go against those people."
"Then let us allow her to help with this situation." Kazane said as she glance upward and when she did, Kagura came flying across them before she landed on a house roof and then begins jumping around other buildings like a kunoichi.
"She only learned under us in a year and stuff, but will she be alright with this first assignment?" Raikou asks while having a hand over his eyes, watching Kagura's actions in chasing after Fairy Tail's team. "she's friends with them, right?"
"if her resolve to help our Emperor and her teacher is that small, I doubt she is someone of such small heart." Yamika replied.
In a tunnel located under the Emperor Island. The area was used as one of the secret passage ways from the various islands around Lingyue as this one is currently being used by Fairy Tail who are riding on two rail carts.
The group had successfully split up and rejoined as they all plan to go straight for the Lightning Island.
"That was a close one!" Lucy said as she sits on her rail cart with Cana, Wendy, Charla, and Levy while Lily in his battle form, is currently pushing and pulling the see-saw. "Sure thought that they catch up to us."
"yeah." Cana nodded. "Hope that Lingyue doesn't ban us after our little stunt."
"I think we are already banned.." Levy whispers while sweatdropping.
"and also outlawed." Wendy and Charla added in.
"so what do we do after we arrive on Lightning Island?" Lisanna asks Mira and Erza while Gajeel and Elfman were pushing and pulling the see-saw together. "I don't think we can just get to where Natsu is by flying anymore."
"and we can't hope to get help from Ash after how we came here." Elfman added in, noting that their one ride to Lingyue is recuperating.
"We could take a ship." Mira said while crossing her arms under her chest. "Lingyue had boats in the waters around their islands, maybe we can find one to hijack."
"we could do that, but we might have to fend off Lingyue's military forces who may or may not be waiting for us at Lightning island." Erza stated as she cups her chin. "I have no doubt that Ryujima-san had already informed all the Generals about our coming to the island."
"I don't really like the idea of us fighting them…" Lisanna frowns sadly.
"Neither of us do." Mira nodded in agreement.
"We see the exit!" Gajeel exclaimed as he pointed forward and everyone sees that the exit way of the tunnel is in sight.
As everyone's rail carts arrived into the exit tunnel, they soon arrived to an opening where they are surrounded by many Lingyue Soldiers who are armed and looking very serious towards them.
"They're already here!?" Lucy exclaimed in shock.
"Looks like we got to fight our way out of here." Gajeel said while punching a fist to an open palm.
"not really looking forward to it though." Mira said while transforming into her Satan Soul.
Everyone got ready for a fight as they were readying their magic for an attack to get away but they stopped when the Lingyue Soldiers parted and made a path for five people to come forward.
"seems that you've arrived earlier than predicted, people of Fairy Tail." Daichi appeared as he is in the company of Mizuki, Ayame, and Gojin.
"Daichi-san!" Wendy said in surprise.
"Ayame and the others too." Levy added in after seeing the other Generals beside the Earth General.
"can't say that it's nice to see you all with no reason." Ayame said while tapping her staff to the side. "are Haruka-sama and Haruo-sama doing well upon Ishgar?"
"yes, they are." Wendy nodded while having a small smile. "they're growing up very well and are becoming great bona fide Fairy Tail Wizards."
"I see.." Ayame nodded with a smile. "that is great to hear."
"funny that we don't see that stripper boy and Juvia with you." Mizuki said as she noted how she didn't see Gray and Juvia who is always with the gang.
"they're currently away with a job." Levy replied. "haven't heard from them in a while."
"pleasantries aside, I don't think we need to inform you as to why we are here?" Gojin spoke out/
"yeah and I don't think we need to guess our welcoming committee' reason for being here, right?" Mira called out to Daichi while transforming into her Satan Soul. "you guys came to greet us and then stop us, right?"
"yes." Daichi nodded and the Lingyue Soldiers readied their weapons. "and I must assume that you know the reason as to why we are stopping you?"
"We understand that we are going against your tasks given by Natsu and Ryujima-san, but know that we won't sit back and just allow it." Erza said while summoning a pair of swords into her grasps. "Natsu is a member of Fairy Tail and he is in dire need of our help, therefore we will do our very best to get to his side and help."
"Admirable loyalty as always." Daichi nodded with a smile. "but I am afraid to say that we cannot allow you to go against our Emperor's wishes. Even if we disagree with it, we must uphold and follow in his commands no matter what." he wields his Funsai as this action was done the same by Ayame, Mizuki, and Gojin who wields their Kagejun at the ready. "so I wish to warn you all this one last time. Surrender yourself and allow us to return you all to your land unharmed."
"Grateful for the warning, but we reply to that warning with our own warning." Gajeel said as he transformed one of his arms into an Iron Dragon Sword. "don't get in our way."
"I see…" Daichi said while closing his eyes for a moment before he snaps them open and he had a very serious look. "very well!" he swings his Funsai up and then grips the weapon's handle very tight. "as per the rule of Lingyue, we shall do our very best to stop you all from advancing to Emperor Daimou's location!"
"then as per the rule of Fairy Tail, we will always do our best to help our friend in need!" Erza exclaimed as she swings a sword to the side and then points the blade at Daichi. "we may be comrades in arms once, but do not expect that we will hold back against you!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Daichi said with a smile.
"let's do this, you guys!" Mira exclaimed as everyone roared in agreement while readying their magic.
"Advance!" Daichi shouted as loud as he could.
Upon a cave at the southern side of the Lightning Island.
Everything was calm and quiet as the nature of the land prospers before everything went into chaos when an explosion occurred from the cave and a huge blast of smoke came flying out.
The smoke blew out of the cave before Fairy Tail team came running out while being chased by their Lingyue pursuers.
"Raaahh!" Daichi dashes in and swung his Funsai straight down upon Erza who equips the large mace sword of her Purgatory Armor and then counters the monk's attack which resulted in a shockwave to crack the land.
The two keeps on pushing their weapons against one another before they pulled back and then dash in to start going into a fury of attacks that gets countered repeatedly.
"Requip!" Erza jumps back while her body flashes and the knight lands on the ground while donning an armor in the form of a beautiful red and purple gown which is adorned with the wings consisting of several swords. "Ataraxia Armor!" she then swung her hands forward and the blades of her wings pointed towards Daichi. "go! My swords!"
Daichi sees the incoming flying swords as he pulls back Funsai and grips the handle to the point his veins popped out of his skin.
"futile!" Daichi shouted as he swings his mace to the side once and cause a huge gust of wind to blow out and cause Erza's swords to stop flying and get blown away.
"raaah!" Erza quickly dashes in as she quickly grabs two swords and then started to do a close quarter sword combat against Daichi who blocks and counters while also dodging the scarlet knight's magic swords that came flying at him.
As Erza was occupied with Daichi, Mira is fighting against Mizuki. The two women running across the land while sending in blasts of purple energy blasts and water spheres at one another.
"you didn't win against me the last time we fought, Mirajane!" Mizuki exclaimed as she swings her Naginata at the side while holding out a hand that creates water spheres which rapid fired at Mira.
"that's because I wasn't ready!" Mira shouted as she fired a few magic blasts at the water spheres before she stops running and then dashed straight at Mizuki. "but now I'm ready!" she changed her Take Over from Satan Soul into her Sitri form which quickly grants her immense strength and speed.
Mizuki stops as she quickly swings her Naginata upward to block a claw strike from Mira who quickly vanishes. The Water General looks surprised at her foe's sudden disappearance before she looks to the side and quickly swung her weapon at the direction to block another claw strike from the Majin who appeared behind her but quickly vanishes.
Mira is actually going around in high speed as she is doing a hit and run tactics against Mizuki who tries her best to follow her movements.
"so using speed against me, huh?" Mizuki said as she continuously swings and blocks Mira's attacks each time the Majin would appear. The Water General's eyes moves as she did her best to sense and follow where her foe is going. "it would be effective.." she smirks as she ducks to dodge another attack before doing several quick hand signs that ended with the Snake. "if it was myself from the year before!"
"Suiton! Suijinha!" Mizuki chanted as this caused a huge water geyser to erupt from beneath her and blew out everywhere.
"what!?" Mira got hit with the blast of water as the current was rode by Mizuki who is spinning her Naginata in one hand. "damnit!" she charges electricity in one of her claws which also burst in black flames.
"raaahh!" Mizuki swings her Naginata down upon Mira who swung out her electrically charged flaming claw that clashed against the attack and cause a burst of power to break out before exploding.
Mizuki and Mira got pushed back from the explosion as their heels slid on the dirt. The two grunted before they looked at one another and then rushed in to continue their fight.
On another side of the battlefield, Gajeel and Wendy are going up against Gojin and Ayame in a tag team fight.
"Tetsuryu no! / Tenryu no!" the two Dragon Slayers took in a deep breath while puffing out their cheeks before they unleash their breath attack. "Hoko!"
A gust of wind mixed with iron dust was formed in the combination of the attack which came barraging straight for Gojin and Ayame.
"Katon!" Gojin performed several quick hand signs that ended with the Dragon, the Fire General puffing out his cheeks before he unleashed a flaming breath attack that barraged against Wendy and Gajeel's combined breath attack that resulted in an explosion. "Goka Kaendan!"
"tch! Damnit!" Gajeel clicked his tongue to see the combined attack stopped by one person.
"Gajeel-san! to your side!" Wendy shouted as Gajeel looks to the side and quickly turned his left arm's skin into iron to block a staff strike from Ayame who suddenly appeared beside him.
"Forgot how sneaky you guys are in attacks!" Gajeel grunted as he holds back against Ayame's staff before he swung it out and made the Wood General fly in the air before landing on the ground.
"We followed the art of stealth, after all." Ayame said before she did a single hand sign which made tree sprouts grow from the ground and made large wooden figures that transformed into the Wood General's form. "And also in the art of strength in numbers!"
"damnit!" Gajeel turns both of his arms into Iron Dragon Swords as he soon swings them out at Ayame and her wooden clones that came attacking him.
"Gajeel-san!" Wendy was about to run and help Gajeel, but was stopped when chains grabs her arm. "ah!" she turns and sees the chain is from Gojin's Karito that is wrapped tightly around her limb. "Gojin-san!"
"forgive me, but I will do my best to stop you all in the request of Natsu-san." Gojin said as he grips the chain and pulls it to make Wendy stumble a bit before she quickly regains her balance and face the Fire General with a determined look.
With Erza, Mira, Gajeel, and Wendy facing the four Lingyue Generals, Lucy and the others were facing off the Lingyue soldiers that were charging at them.
"Levy! On me!" Cana exclaimed while holding out several magic cards.
"got it!" Levy said as she quickly draws her magic into the air.
"Gattai Maho! Card Blaster!" Cana and Levy exclaimed as the card mage threw her cards out and the script mage draws the word 'BLAST' that combined with the thrown projectiles and creates a bombardment of explosion upon the Lingyue soldiers.
"MAN! MAN! MAN!" Elfman shouted as he is currently in his Beast Soul and is slamming his fists at the Lingyue Soldiers. "a MAN will do his best to help his friend!"
"Nyaaa!" Lisanna rushes to the soldiers as she had transformed into her Cat Soul. The cat girl scratches the Lingyue's soldiers faces as they screamed in pain from the cat scratches. "take this!"
"Loke! Virgo!" Lucy shouted as she called out both Virgo and Loke from their Celestial Spirit Gates. Both Golden Zodiac Spirits counterattacking the Lingyue soldiers by either making pitfalls for them to fall or knocking them out with precise punches to their bodies. The blonde mage sees the defeated soldiers before she caught sight of more of them coming their way. "This is never ending! No matter how many we knock out, they just keep on sending more!"
"that's a fact!" Lily exclaimed as he and Charla were in their battle forms, their backs against each other as they faced their foes. "last time we were here, I learned that Lingyue has a very vast population even though their continent is not large!" the large black Exceed quickly swings his large sword to block and then fend off several spear strikes. "Their main strategy is to overwhelm their enemies with their massive numbers!"
"and by overwhelm, it means that they will keep on attacking us till we run out of magic!" Charla said before she did a quick kick strike against a Lingyue Soldier that tried to take her down. "and that's something that is slowly progressing over time!"
"Then what the hell should we do!?" Cana said as she and Levy jumped away from nets and bolas that nearly caught them. The card mage quickly took out several magic cards and then threw them at Lingyue Soldiers who got blasted away. "We can't go and get a boat if these guys are still chasing after us!"
As Fairy Tail did their best to fend off Lingyue's soldiers, more and more of the continent's military forces are arriving on the scene as they are swarming around them.
Erza who was in a power struggle against Daichi, gritted her teeth as she quickly glance around to see the Lingyue soldiers slowly surrounding them.
"at this rate…" Erza muttered out as she looks back at Daichi and then looks very determined on an idea that came across her mind. "if this is the case…" she then pushes the monk back before wielding a sheathed katana that appears in her grasp. "I call for a ceasefire!"
"Wait what!?" Mira exclaimed as she did a quick glance away from Mizuki to look at Erza before back to the Water General. "Hey, redhead! Are you planning on surrendering to them even though we didn't get to go to where Natsu is!?"
"Erza! Just what are you thinking!?" Lucy shouted in surprise to the scarlet knight.
"no, I'm not calling for us to surrender to them." Erza said as she faces Daichi before kneeling and then holding the sheathed katana forward. "I'm calling a ceasefire in order to present an Oath Duel to them!"
"a what!?" Gajeel exclaimed while fending himself against Ayame and her wood clones. "What the heck are you talking about, Titania!?" he then made a surprised noise when his foe backed away. "What?"
In time, Fairy Tail's pursuers all backed away from them as this was a confusing situation for them.
"You demand an Oath Duel against us, Erza-dono?" Daichi spoke while raising an eyebrow to the scarlet knight who nodded. "I see. perhaps Daimou-dono have taught you some of our culture in your training days, hasn't he?"
"it may be underhanded to do such a thing at this moment, but we are that desperate to get to Natsu." Erza said and Daichi nodded in understanding.
"what's going on?" Lucy asks, seeing how the Lingyue soldiers are not advancing to capture any of them.
"it's like whatever Erza demanded, they just stopped after hearing it." Cana noted.
"it's an Oath Duel." Levy spoke out as Lucy and the others looked at her. "I've read some of Lingyue's traditions in their books and scrolls before. An Oath Duel is a sacred tradition held in the continent to create promises, vows, and such. it's basically a duel where the winning side gets to earn something from the loser side."
"and this Oath Duel thing is something that made them all stop?" Elfman asks, noting how the Lingyue soldiers weren't trying to go near him and they had their weapons at bay.
"yeah, because this is a sacred tradition for them and they wouldn't dare to go against it." Levy noted.
Everyone looks at Erza who faces Daichi.
"I hereby declare an oath Duel against you." Erza spoke out. "if I win, my friends and I may leave in pursuit to go to where Natsu is and help him in this war."
"and if we win?" Daichi asks.
"we will obey and surrender to you." Erza said while placing down the sheathed katana to the ground and sitting in a dogeza style. "we will follow your demands in returning to our continent and won't meddle in your land's affairs at all."
"h-hey, redhead!" Mira exclaimed. "that's the same thing as surrendering!"
"I know, but it's the only way to stop them from trying to stop us." Erza told Mira while looking at the majin before she sits up and looks at Daichi. "it shall be a one on one round match between each representatives. The one who announced their defeat or incapability to continue will end the duel. will these conditions be acceptable?"
"yes." Daichi nodded as his Funsai shrunk and placed away. The monk sat down in a dogeza before he lifts his head up and sit up straight while picking up the sheathed katana that he draws out before quickly sheathing it back. "This Daichi accept your Oath Duel declaration." He then stood up straight. "choose your representative so that we may begin this duel in 10 minutes time."
"very well." Erza nodded as she stood up straight while getting the sheathed katana back from Daichi.
With a turn of events, Erza gathered her friends at one side while Daichi and the others were on the other side.
"so this Oath Duel thing, it's like an ordinary fight, right?" Cana asks.
"in a way, it is." Levy nodded before she points a finger out. "but we can't do anything underhanded in it because the people of Lingyue put their pride and tradition in it. if we do anything that goes against the Oath Duel's conditions, we'll be hunted down and get executed!"
"so this Duel is a duel with our lives at stake, huh?" Lucy said while rubbing a hand on her neck. "sound tough and rough."
"so what now?" Gajeel asks while having his arms crossed. "Titania said that we would be having a one on one match between us. Question now is on who gets to go."
"Let me do this!" Elfman said while pumping up his fists. "this man named Elfman will take them down!"
"Better not." Mira said while crossing her arms under her chest and having a hand cupping her chin. "Sure Elfman is strong and he got a chance against Daichi, but against the likes of Mizuki, Ayame, and Gojin who has more emphasis on agility and such? he won't stand a chance."
"All of us remembered how strong the Generals are after all." Lily noted as they all remembered how the 8 Generals once attacked Fairy Tail guild hall and took down many of their comrades in one go.
"This is really tricky." Lisanna cups her chin. "we have to choose the right person for this duel and we can't choose the wrong one."
"Daichi-san has strength and defense, Mizuki-san and Ayame-san have their special element Chi abilities." Wendy noted "And they're very fast too."
"can't forget about Gojin whose firepower rivals that of Natsu as well." Charla added in.
"if we think about oppositions, only Erza along with Mira-san, Gajeel, and Elfman have a fighting chance against them." Lucy said as she took a quick glance at the Lingyue's group, the blonde seeing them discussing something together before she looks back at her friends. "which one of you guys can do this fight?"
"I can take on the staff girl and the water girl easy but the monk and the fire chain guy ain't going to be easy to beat." Gajeel said while crossing his arms. "They got enough power to bend my iron defense."
"even I had a hard time fending off Mizuki." Mira said. "The last time we fight, she overwhelmed me every time I got an opening on her."
"then this leave…." Levy said as everyone looks at Erza who nodded to them.
"out of all of us, I am the only one who has the right fighting capability against them." Erza said while making a serious face. "I shall be our representative in the Oath Duel."
"but Erza, can you really win against them?" Lucy asks worried. "Sure you have a fighting chance against Daichi-san along with Mizuki and Ayame, but Gojin? He was the only one you never defeated last time."
"I know, Lucy." Erza said as she remembered her defeat against the Fire General during the first time Fairy Tail came to Lingyue a year ago. "he may act differently now, but I doubt that his level of strength is the same as it was a year ago."
"better if I go." Mira said. "I got just the same chances as you do when fighting against them. I can go and.."
"I will go, Mira." Erza said as she cut her off. "You don't have much capabilities in fighting them and their chi elements. I got a better chance." She then requip into her Clear Heart Clothing while wielding her Benizakura. "I shall be the one fighting them and that's the end of the story."
"hey!" Mira exclaimed but Erza didn't refute as she just went straight for the Lingyue's group. "hey! Redhead!"
"Let her go, Mira." Cana told the Majin while holding her right shoulder. "she's right. Out of all of us, Erza is the only one who was trained under Natsu in the past and she knows much more about Lingyue's techniques and such. she's our best shot of winning the Oath Duel."
"damnit…" Mira clicked her tongue in annoyance.
Erza stops and faces Daichi and the others who faced her.
"I shall be the representative of my group." Erza said as she went and kneeled to the ground. "Fairy Tail, Erza Scarlet shall face your representative in the Oath Duel."
"understood." Daichi nodded. "we have also chosen our own representative as well." He then turns and looks to the entrance way to the secret tunnel cave. "come! I know you have arrived!"
Everyone looks at the cave as they hear echoing footsteps.
"if it's not these guys, then the other Generals must've come and arrived after we were busy doing all the fights." Lucy said.
"will it be Raikou? Yamika? Or Kazane?" Lily asks while looking a bit tense. "they're capabilities are nearly the same as Daichi and the others, but in terms of their Chi element…"
"I just hope that Erza can win…" Levy prayed. "for all of our sakes."
Everyone waited and patiently listens to the sound of the echoing footsteps which continues to echo in the cave before they see a shadowy figure appearing.
"Here they come!" Charla said and Wendy nodded with a tense look.
All watches the shadow walking in the cave as the shadowy figure slowly revealed their identity with the light coming from the sun above.
Erza looks at her coming foe, but as the seconds passed. She could only make a surprised look when she sees who it was.
"Kagura?" Erza spoke out as the one who appeared out of the cave was Kagura Mikazuchi herself. The Mermaid Heel's strongest mage walking straight for the scarlet knight while having a very serious look. "Why? Why are you here?"
"Kagura-dono has been training her swordsmanship and her chi under Ryujima-sama for the past year." Daichi spoke out as Kagura came and stood near him. "she has become a warrior with a level nearly surpassing that of our own strength." He then looks at Erza. "and she is our representative in our Oath Duel, Erza-dono."
This came to be a surprise for everyone as they weren't expecting Kagura to be the one who Erza would be fighting against in the duel.
"Kagura, you…" Erza spoke out while looking surprised towards Kagura. "do you understand that if you win, Natsu will…Natsu will be fighting a war by himself!?"
"I understand." Kagura said as she held out her sheathed Benizakura and then slowly draws the katana out of its scabbard. "but know this, Erza." She swings the katana around before pointing its blade at the scarlet knight. "I…I will honor Teacher's request and will do my utmost best to return you and your friends back to Fiore where you will stay until the war ended. That is all."
"wait a minute! Are you seriously supporting Natsu in his one against a nation war fight!?" Mira exclaimed. "he's literally fighting off against Alakasita on his own, you know!? don't you want to help him!?"
Kagura didn't reply as she just held and pointed her katana's blade at Erza.
"Kagura…" Erza muttered before she nodded. "if that is your resolve." She wields her Benizakura in a two hand stance. "I will honor it!"
This began the Oath Duel between Erza and Kagura, both friends and comrades in arms who are now facing each other in a battle for the sake of their one comrade.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye