"Shadow Make: Saw," A black magic circle appeared in front of Kiora, shooting out a circular saw that easily ripped through the ground towards Selene and Aira.

"Watch out!" Aira dove to the right as Selene dove to the right, watching as the saw split the ground it traveled before vanishing. "Shadow Make…powerful..."

"Aira, focus!" Selene shouted, jumping to her feet as she ran forward towards Kiora, holding her diamond sword back. When she reached Kiora, she swung her sword rather skillfully at the Tartaros mage. However, Kiora was nimble, as she was able to dodge Selene's slashes with no problem. The only thing Selene managed to cut was a small part of Kiora's clothing, and a strand of Kiora's hair.

Kiora was slightly impressed at Selene's swordsmanship, but she wasn't going admit such a thing. Instead, she brought her arm up, a shield forming on her arm to block Selene's diamond sword. The sword hit the shield, and Selene jumped back, her eyes widening slightly. "Surprised?" Kiora said with a soft giggle.

"What is that…?" Aira asked, standing up straight.

"This is she shield that can defend against anything. The ultimate shield, if you will," Kiora replied. Right after Kiora spoke, the diamond sword on Selene's hand cracked a bit.

"S-Selene…!" Aira's eyes widened as she brought a hand up to her mouth, using her free hand to point at Selene's cracked sword.

Selene's eyes widened as she felt her sword crack, "M-My diamonds…!"

"The Arc of Embodiment allows me to turn my dreams into reality…" Kiora smirked over at the two White Eclipse mages. "I wasn't intending to use this because you didn't seem worthy enough, but I think I can have some fun with you two now…" Yeah, she could enjoy herself a little with these two.

"It's my turn now…!" A magic circle appeared under Aira, her body giving off a faint light as her stats increased. Aira then used this to her advantage as she rushed towards Kiora, pulling a fist back.

"Oi…" Kiora shook her head, her shield vanishing as she spread her arms apart. "Shadow Make: Shield!" A wall of darkness appeared in front of Kiora just as Aira swung her fist, hitting it against the shadow wall. Before Kiora could do anything else, Aira jumped back just as Selene moved forward, slashing her diamond sword diagonally on the shadow shield, causing it to disperse. Aira and Selene were oddly in sync, and Aira followed up with a quick kick to Kiora's arm, but Kiora blocked the attack with her forearm, then jumped back a few feet to gain some distance.

"Whoa…did we just…get in sync?" Aira looked over at Selene with wide, excited eyes.

"I dunno…" Selene shrugged, but she kept her eyes on Kiora, who was dusting her forearm off.

"Hm…I remember that Titania doing something like…" Kiora raised her arms over her head, creating multitude swords above her head, all of them pointed towards Selene and Aira. "This," Kiora smirked, throwing her arms forward as she sent the multitude of swords flying towards Selene and Aira.

.

.

[Flashback: Council Prison.]

Kemuri and Doranbolt made their way to the cells within the Council Prison. They stopped in front of Cobra's cell. He was sitting with his head down, but looked up once he heard the two approach him. "Is there something I can do for you?" He asked as if he didn't already know the answer.

"I think you know the answer to that question." Kemuri said. "I know full well you're aware of what's going on outside."

"What's going on outside?" That came from Angel, who was in a separate cell. Unlike Cobra, she and the other members of the Oracion Seis were completely clueless about the events going on outside of their cells.

"A man named Aiden Viscard has effectively declared war on Fiore." Doranbolt explained. "And he's using a young girl's power to slowly burn this country."

"What!?" Angel's eyes widened. "That's absurd."

"Slowly, huh?" Racer commented.

"..." Midnight said nothing. In fact, he was mildly irritated because all of this noise made it hard to sleep.

"Wait, so what does this have to do with Cobra?" Angel stood up and pointed at Kemuri and Doranbolt. "You should just let us all out!"

"That's not happening, sweet cheeks." Kemuri shook his head. "We only need Erik and his talents. The rest of you can sit right here."

"So you only intend to release us when it benefits you?" That came from Brain, who was in the furthest cell. "Surely you know how poor taste that is."

"As much as I hate to agree with him, he's right." Cobra said, looking up at Kemuri and Doranbolt with an annoying smile. "You intend to let me out of my cell again, only to use me. But why would I comply with your orders? I know that even if I succeed, it ends with me ending up right back here again."

"I thought you might say that." Kemuri shrugged. "So I've decided to make a deal with you. Capture Aiden, or kill the girl Cynthia...and I'll see what I can do about lowering your sentence."

"What!?" Doranbolt turned to Kemuri. "You can't do that. First of all, that girl is Wendy's friend. Secondly, that has to be approved and neither of us have the jurisdiction to..."

"Doranbolt, let me tell you something." Kemuri said while looking to his co worker. "Sometimes, you have to take action, even if it goes against the very law we stand for. Aiden has to be captured because we can make use of him. Cynthia has to be killed because that level of power cannot exist from someone who has no means to control it. From a guild as wild and destructive as Fairy Tail. Keeping her alive is a danger to the country. Aiden really provided us with a good deal, now that I think about it. We don't even have to get our hands dirty."

"That's..." Doranbolt sucked his teeth. He knew firsthand how protective Wendy was of Cynthia. This situation must have been tearing her apart...and here he was, debating if saving or killing her friend was worth the safety of the country.

"One life for thousands. The hardest choices require the strongest dedication." Kemuri turned to Cobra, who looked up at him. The others members of the Oracion Seis also looked at Cobra, who was tasked with a heavy mission, should he choose to accept it. "If anyone from Fairy Tail or White Eclispe gets in your way, you have full permission to do whatever you need to in order to stop them. This is an official mission bestowed upon you by the Magic Council. So...do we have a deal?"

Cobra had to think for a moment. He already knew what his answer was, but he was simply taking in the various thoughts from everyone around him. Some didn't care, some would prefer he didn't, and others wanted him to get on with it. But in the end, this was his decision to make. "For freedom." Cobra simply answered while standing up.

[End flashback]

Natsu and Wendy stared down Cobra. Both were confused as to why Cobra of all people was here, so Natsu was the one to ask. "Why are you here?"

Cobra stayed silent for a few minutes before deciding to answer, feeling as though he should give the two a fair warning. "I came for the one you call Cynthia," Cobra replied, closing his eye.

"What do you want with Cynthia…?" Wendy asked, narrowing her eyes at the one-eyed male.

Cobra listened to Wendy's thoughts. From what he could hear, she already had an idea on what Cobra might be there for, since he was Cobra after all. "The Council let me out, to come here for one purpose. Because she is a threat to the country of Fiore, and Council Members have decided to stay back, I was sent…to kill Cynthia Viscard."

Wendy's eyes widened after Cobra spoke. The young girl immediately balled her hands into tight fist as her body began to shake. "I…I thought so…" Wendy glared at Cobra, the wind around her starting to pick up. "I won't let you near Cynthia…Not if you plan on hurting her…"

"I knew you were going to say that," Cobra replied, opening his eye slowly as he looked at the young girl. "I've been instructed to use force if anyone were to get in my way."

Natsu pounded his fist together, a magic circle appearing as flames surrounded his body. "You're insane if you think we're gonna let you hurt her!" Natsu yelled at Cobra, jumping from the floating platform with his arm pulled back, fire forming around his fist. "Iron Fist of the Fire Dragon!" Natsu threw his flaming fist towards the one-eyed man.

"Tch…you're too predictable, Dragneel…" Cobra simply moved to the side, avoiding Natsu's attack with ease.

As soon as Natsu missed, he landed on the ground on his feet, flames immediately covering his feet as he swung his leg at Cobra's side. "Talons!" Cobra didn't say a word, he simply leaned his body back, avoiding Natsu's attack easily once again.

"You never learn…" Cobra replied, placing his hands in his pockets.

"Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!" Wendy jumped from off the floating platform, spreading her arms out, sending sharp winds towards Cobra.

"I can hear you…" Was the only thing Cobra said as he jumped to the side, avoiding Wendy's attack with no trouble.

"HOLD STILL!" Natsu yelled, charging at Cobra once again.

As soon as Natsu yelled "HOLD STILL" Cobra took his hands out of his pockets, gathering the sound into his palm, "Be destroyed by your own voice…" Cobra snapped his fingers, the sound he gathered giving off a high pressured explosion, blowing Natsu away. "Sound Wall…"

"Sky Dragon's Claw!" Wendy swiped her hand at Cobra, harsh wings following behind her hand, but Cobra leaned his body back, avoiding Wendy's attack. Cobra then threw his leg forward, hitting Wendy's side, causing the sky dragon to fall back, hitting a floating platform just below Cobra.

Natsu jumped up onto high ground while Cobra dealt with Wendy, allowing fire to form in his hands. "Dazzling Blaze of the Fire Dragon!" Natsu jumped into the air, putting his hands together as a large sphere of fire formed over his head; Natsu then hurled the sphere over his head and towards Cobra.

Cobra turned his head as soon as he heard Natsu's voice. "You idiot…" Cobra spread his arms apart, a dark red magic circle appearing. "Poison Dragon's Guard…" A thick wall of poison appeared in front of Cobra, successfully protecting him from the Dazzling Blaze."

Wendy aimed her head upward and puffed her cheeks out, throwing her head forward as she unleashed a sky blue hurricane in Corba's direction from the lower platform. "Sky Dragon's Roar!"

"Tch…" Cobra heard the roar coming from below him, so he jumped onto a different floating platform, watching as the roar shot the former platform into the air. Cobra then placed his hands forward, a dark red magic circle appearing in front of his hand. "Poison Dragon's Scales…" Cobra then released multiple scales that rained down towards Wendy.

"Ah!" Wendy brought her arms up as the poisonous scales rained down on her. Not all of them hit her, but the ones that didn't hit the platform she was standing on, creating a smoke cloud as a result.

"Iron Fist of the Fire Dragon!" Natsu jumped up from behind Cobra, throwing his fire covered fist forward.

"Poison Dragon's Iron Fist…" Cobra turned, meeting Natsu's fist half way as the two clashed, the fire and poison meeting, spreading out on their respective sides. Natsu eventually jumped back, landing on another floating platform to Cobra's right, while Wendy was on the platform to Cobra's left.

"This isn't going anywhere…" Natsu said with a low growl.

.

.

Lucy let out a pained shriek as she tumbled across the ground, her outfit charred from Tobias' Spiral Flare attack. She came to a stop before standing up slowly, panting somewhat. "Ugh…" Lucy shook her head slowly, pulling out another key. "Gate of the Maiden, I open thee! Virgo!" The key gave a bright golden shine before Virgo appeared.

"Punishment time, Princess?" Virgo asked with a nonchalant tone.

"N-No! None of that!" Lucy pointed over to Tobias. "Get him!"

"Yes, princess," Virgo nodded, drilling into the steel floor with ease and going underground.

"What…?" Tobias raised an eyebrow at Virgo's question for punishment. "You have some weird spirits…" Tobias then smirked as Virgo made her way underground. "But, they're not as tough as you would think them to be…" Tobias snapped his fingers as a light brown magic circle appeared on the ground. "Ground Dasher…" Several sharp stalagmites shot up from random locations in the ground, one eventually fishing up Virgo, who fell on her back.

"V-Virgo!" Lucy's eyes widened at how easily Tobias was able to fish Virgo out.

"I'm sorry, princess…please punish me for my failure…" Virgo turned into a golden fuzz before returning back to the spirit world.

"W-Wait..!" Lucy held her hand out but it was too late. She's summoned three spirits in this battle with Tobias, and she felt the magic consumption starting to get to her. She panted heavily, unable to help herself from hunching over. "D-Damn…"

"Well, this was fun, Heartfilia," Tobias said as he tugged on his scarf, letting it hang on his chin. "But I think it's about time to finish this…" Tobias smirked as he ran forward, pulling his arm back as darkness surrounded his fist. "Say hello to Scarlet for me!"

"Ah…!" Lucy's eyes widened; Tobias was coming in too fast for her to think of anything to do…the only thing she could do was just stand there, and accept her fate. Just as Tobias threw his fist, a foot slammed into his cheek, causing him to stumble back a few steps, holding his cheek. "W-What!?"

"Who dares…!?" Tobias looked up, spotting an unfamiliar mage.

"Yeesh…" Luke sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Saving you has become a bad habit…"

"Luke!?" Lucy's eyes widened before quickly turning into a deep glare. "What are you doing here!?"

"I figured you would've heard already," Luke replied, looking over his shoulder at Lucy. "Yeesh…this guy fucked you up pretty badly, eh?" Luke let out a tiny snicker.

"I WAS FINE, THANK YOU!" Lucy shouted, crossing her arms. "I still have enough magic power to keep this fight going, so your presence isn't needed."

"Are you sure about that?" Luke asked, looking over Lucy's body once again. "Because to me it looks like it was just about to finish you…"

"You wish! Stop making up excuses and let me handle my own battle for once!" Lucy huffed.

"It's not my fault I literally just happened to come across this room!" Luke flailed his arms around.

While the two rivals argued, Tobias held his hand out, a heavenly glow appearing as a finely crafted sword appeared in his hands. "This is just too easy…" Tobias ran forward towards the two, holding his sword over his head.

"Well I can handle my own, thank you very much!" Lucy practically screamed at Luke.

"WELL…" Luke started, but then he looked back at Tobias, who swung his sword down. "Watch out!" Luke pushed Lucy back a few feet, but it was a futile effort as Tobias hit the ground, causing stalagmites to shoot up from the ground, blowing Lucy and Luke to the side. Luke planted his feet firmly onto the ground, sliding back a about a yard before coming to a complete stop. "Shit…that's not good…"

"Ugh…" Lucy landed on her side, wincing slightly from her injuries, but she stood up, shaking her head as she looked over at Tobias. "I didn't know he could do that…what's with this guy…"

"Is there a problem?" Tobias smirked as his sword vanished into thin air, looking between the two mages.

"Not at all…" Luke smirked, looking straight at Tobias.

"I'm gonna take you down…" Lucy replied to Tobias, pulling out yet another key.

"We'll see about that…The final curtain draws near…Bloody Howling…" Tobias snapped his fingers, causing two large black magic circles to appear under Luke and Lucy. The circles quickly turned into a net like pattern, keeping the two mages glued to that spot.

"H-Hey!" Luke attempted to move his legs, but he found that he was unable to. "What the hell is this!?"

"I-I can't move!" Lucy shouted, grunting as she tried to move her body from the net. Before the two could try anything else, a vortex of negative energy shot up violently from the net, a literal wolf's howl emitting as the vortex spiraled up, causing the two mages to let out screams of agony.

"Oh yes, wonderful!" Tobias let out a dark laugh as the two continued to scream. Eventually his attack subsided and the two mages fell to their knees, panting heavily.

"D-Damn…that's smarts…" Luke had one eye shut, and he could barely keep himself balanced while on all fours.

"Ugh…" Lucy coughed violently, bringing one hand up to her side as she winced from the pain.

"Okay…that was cute…" Luke said as he slowly brought himself to his feet, wobbling slightly. "So...Now it's my turn…"