"And Cynthia's still standing, even after such a harsh blow!" Chapati said with amazement.
"She certainly is a durable opponent," Yajima said with a nod. "I don't know many people who could get right back up after a hit such as that; if I'm wrong, there was even a mini tremor after the impact, right?"
"A little head injury never stopped anyone!" Cynthia replied to the shouting before she turned to face Alex, a smirk on her face. "So, shall we start?"
"As you wish," Alex replied with a somewhat annoyed tone, rushing towards Cynthia once again.
"Heh…" Cynthia jumped into the air as Alex ran forward, spreading her arms apart. "Omega Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" Cynthia shouted as she threw her hands down, sending multiple waves of red fire towards Alex.
"When did you!?" Alex started as she covered up, holding in any sounds of pain as the force of the fire is what really hurt, but the fire itself was more an annoyance than anything else.
As Alex defended, Cynthia ignited both her feet in now darkened red fire, flipping once as she aimed a double axe kick down on Alex. "Twin Talons of the Omega Fire Dragon!" The girl shouted out as she made contact with Alex's arms, feeling the ground crater somewhat from the force of the attack. Cynthia then flipped back, narrowing her eyes towards Alex.
"Oh, the flames are darkening…" Mavis said as she watched Cynthia carefully. "I suppose that means she's getting serious now, right?"
"You could put it like that…" Makarov replied.
"It's about to get interesting…" Laxus started. "Let's just leave it at that…"
Cynthia pounded her fist together, creating red magic circle in front of her; she then raised her fist, and slammed it into the ground, sending pillars of fire one by one towards Alex, though once reaching Alex, the pillars of flames surrounded her, and closed in on her rather quickly. "I just thought that one up!" Cynthia shouted with a grin.
"Then you should know why it won't work," Alex replied as she used her agility to slip through two pillars of fire, completely avoiding the eruption from the pillars of fire colliding.
"What!? That's…how!?" Cynthia groaned slightly patting her cheeks a few times. "Alright, get it together, Cynthia. She's S class, that's how…"
"Is this her first time going against an S class or something…?" Rylo asked as he blinked a few times.
"Perhaps…" Evanee shrugged as she replied to Rylo, also keeping an eye out for any more fan girls that would maul the poor slight of hand mage.
"You know, Cynthia…" Alex started as she took a deep breath, allowing the tension in her body to vanish. "It's been a while since I've had a good fight like this…completely unrestrained, I mean…"
"Unrestrained…?" Cynthia blinked a few times as she kept her guard up, just waiting for her older sibling to make a move.
"Of course…thanks to you, I can fight freely now…and for that, I must thank you…and as my thanks, I'll show you something I've yet to show anyone else…" Alex replied as she took a deep breath, the action striking a particular set of mages with familiarity.
"She's about to…!" Waiston said with widened eyes.
"No way…" Melanie said while her eyes too widened.
Alex started to gather large chunks of the earth itself around her mouth, her cheeks puffing out as her stomach also began to inflate. "Of the Earth Dragon!" Alex threw her head forward, unleashing a large tornado of earth, rock, dirt, anything composed of earth.
"D-Dragon slayer!?" Cynthia said with a squeak, her body in too much shock to avoid the attack that slammed into her person, sending her tumbling across the arena floor before landing on a knee, panting heavily. "Y-You're a dragon slayer!?"
"I knew something was off about her as well…" Evanee said as she narrowed her eyes, the fight now holding some more interest to her.
"Those dragon slayer just keep popping up don't they god damn…" Kiora rolled her eyes.
"Ah, ah, ah…" Alex said while shaking her head, waving a finger at Cynthia in a taunting gesture. "I'm not a dragon slayer, per se…but, thanks to Gaia-chan, I do know a fair amount of her moves!"
"Wait…Gaia…that means…" Cynthia blinked a few times as it all finally clicked into her head.
"And there goes your secret…" Daryan said with a shrug. "Well, not all out at least."
"Gaia taught her that? So that means…" Tsami started as she put the pieces together.
"She's a dragon," Evanee nodded.
"A fake dragon slayer!? Lame!" Natsu shouted.
"And Alex comes out with a completely different move set now!" Chapati said, clearly as surprised as everyone else.
"THIS IS GONNA GET EVEN COOOOLER!" Jason exclaimed.
"Answer me something." Alex said while stepping forward. "Tell me. How did Mom die?"
"I..." Cynthia paused for a moment. "You're asking this now...?"
"Answer the question." Alex said while narrowing her eyes, her piercing red gaze burning a hole into Cynthia's soul. "I was told you know the truth of the matter. I want to know what happened."
Cynthia began to sweat. "I...It was my fault...my flames...they..."
That was all Alex needed to hear. Her expression darkened. "Let's see how you far against me now," Alex replied as she stomped her foot on the ground, creating a brown magic circle under Cynthia. "Earth Dragon's Hurricane!"
"Wha!?" Cynthia looked down, but right as she did so, a hurricane of sharp rock and sediment engulfed the girl, sending her upwards as she let out a cry of pain. When the hurricane subsides, Cynthia was in the air, attempting to regain her bearings. "Gah…"
"Oh, I'm going to enjoy this…" Alex smirked as the earth gathered around her fist, and she jumped into the air, above Cynthia, and slammed her earth encrusted fist into Cynthia's body, sending the girl hurtling towards the ground, a miniature dust cloud forming from the impact.
"Cynthia!" Wendy cried out as she leaned over the railing.
"Ugh…" Cynthia stood up slowly, wincing as she placed a hand on her side, attempting to catch her breath, but Alex had no intentions on letting the girl rest.
"Oh, no, no no, we can't have that!" Alex said as she landed on the ground, now using her primary magic to extend her clawed arm forward, gripping Cynthia by the arm and forcefully yanking her forward, pulling her earth covered fist forward once Cynthia was close, slamming it into Cynthia's cheek.
"Guah!" Cynthia cried out as the fist struck her cheek, but she wasn't going to allow Alex to dominate the battle like this. Her determination showed as he body lit in darker red flames, as she pulled her arm from Alex, freeing herself; she then reared her own fist back, throwing it towards Alex, but she managed to block it with ease, the first it, and any others to come. "Grrr…." Cynthia growled lowly as Alex easily swatted away all of her incoming hits, so Cynthia got an idea. She feigned a right hook, which was a successful move as her left hook slammed into Alex's cheek, causing the girl to take a few steps back. Cynthia continued her assault, landing a punch to Alex's stomach, a kick to her side, and finished it with a brutal head butt to Alex's own head, causing Alex to stumble back even farther, blood now trailing from her forehead where Cynthia struck.
"Those two are really going at it…quite amusing…" Maggie said with a slight chuckle.
"I bet walking disaster's gonna win," Tobias said with a nod.
"Well, I guess that means the other girl's gonna win considering how Tobias has horrible luck," Ruika replied as she, and everyone else placed their jewels in the center.
"Hey!" Tobias said in an offended tone, but he realized there wasn't really a point in arguing.
"You…you have a really hard head holy hell…" Alex winced as she placed the back of her hand on her forehead, wincing slightly. As she brought her hand down, her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the crimson colored liquid. "Alright…" Alex mumbled as she rushed forward, her speed seemingly increased as she now appeared in front of Cynthia, slamming a right hook into her stomach, a kick to the side of her head, and ended the powerful combo off with a point black Earth Dragon's Roar, the impact causing a miniature explosion which sent Cynthia flying back, rolling across the ground, but she stopped herself by placing her hands on the ground.
"D-Dang it…" Cynthia said as she stood up, wobbling slightly.
"Let's see how you handle this one…" Alex whispered as she smirked, morphing her arm into a razor-sharp sword once again.
"It's my turn first!" Cynthia replied as she started off with a powerful sprint, jumping into the air as she clicked her legs together, and dark red fire forming around her legs and spun around like a powerful drill. "Omega Fire Dragon's Drill!"
"What the!?" Alex had no time to react as Cynthia slammed into her chest, and Alex let out a small cry of pain as she slid back, her shirt burnt, and a heavy burn mark on her chest and sternum. "I've had just about enough of you!" Alex shouted as she pulled her bladed arm back, allowing the element of earth to cover it. "Earth Blade!" Alex swiped her blade in a vertical motion, sending a magical wave composed of earth dragon slayer magic in the shape of a blade.
"Cynthia, look out!" Lucy shouted.
Oh, but Lucy's command was too late, as Cynthia was slammed by the Earth Blade, letting out a shriek of pain after it struck, rolling halfway across the ground before coming to a stop, her body bloodied, bruised, and scratched up. "…"
"C-Cynthia…!" Wendy's jaw dropped as her friend went down, and those who knew of Cynthia's power couldn't help but stand in a state of shock either.
"I-Is she down…?" Luke asked as he leaned over the railing.
"She actually lost…huh…" Reve merely shrugged, playing off his surprise rather well.
"Get up!" Wendy and Natsu shouted.
"Oh, look at that…walking disaster lost." Kiora smirked over to Tobias, who hunched over, blue lines comically appearing around his person.
"It looks as though Cynthia is do-" Mato started, but he caught some movement, which forced him to stop, and look at Cynthia, who was slowly standing up.
"She's getting back up!" Chapati shouted.
"Damn right she is!" Natsu shouted with a smirk.
"That's not possible…" Magnus narrowed his eyes as Cynthia pushed herself up slowly.
"HA! Still in this!" Tobias said with a smirk.
"I forgot how persistent that little shit was…" Kiora said with a slight groan.
"Ngh..." Cynthia was woozy after that impact. But she was standing on her feet.
"This is how it was supposed to be." Alex said while staring at Cynthia. Even though she continued to get up, Alex was undeterred. In fact, this outcome was preferred.
"W-What do you mean...?" Cynthia asked, trying to stay on her feet. Everything was spinning and she could barely focus.
"I was made to defeat you." Alex stated firmly. "That's what Father wanted of me. When your magic got too out of control, I was made to resist your flames and put you down. Everything I am today, was for this moment! The pain, the torture, the agony...all to do this! You did this to me, Cynthia. I endured hell because of everything you were supposed to be! You were the special one...you took everything! Mother's attention, father's attention, everything was all for you! And what happened to me!? I got left in the dust. I got abandoned, not even good enough to be your countermeasure! I didn't even know Mother died until YOU told me! And YOU were the one who did it!? How do you think it makes me feel!? To live in the shadow of my magically blessed younger sister and her power!? To have my life stripped away by my inferiority towards her!?" The arena fell silent as Alex made this proclamation.
"Alex..." Gaia could only frown.
"I..." Cynthia had no idea Alex felt this way. It was a shock. All of this because of her power. "I...I never knew you felt this way."
"Of course you didn't! Because it was all always about you." Alex spat, snarling as tears welled up in her eyes. "For as long as we were together, it was always about you. Even now, it's about you. But this time, it's so I can do one noteworthy thing in my life, and do the job I was assigned and take you down!"
It was in this moment that Cynthia could see Alex for who she truly was. She could see the ghost of Aiden hovering over her distraught sister. Cynthia was able to break free from that man thanks to Fairy Tail, but the same couldn't be said for Alex. Cynthia now understood what she had to do. What she could do with her power in this moment. It was a curse for so long, hurting so many people just for existing. But now? She could use it to save someone important to her. "My power caused you all this pain. So now...I'm going to use this power to set you free." Cynthia's flames darkened, scales flickering on and off of her body. She was so close, she just needed one more push.
"What...?" Alex stared at Cynthia.
"I'm…not finished yet…Sis…" Cynthia said as she reached into her pocket, pulling out a small black oval-shaped metal; the Exerion she stole from the train a while ago. (*Insert the Dragon Slayer OST here*) "I didn't intend to use this here, but...for you, I'll pull out everything I have!"
"W-What is that?!" Lucy asked with a shocked voice.
"Where have I seen that before…?" Luke narrowed his eyes, and then looked over to Heather. "You don't think she…?"
Byron's eyes widened at the sight of the Exerion, immediately turning to Horoki. "HOKORI! Where did she get that?!"
"Is that what I think it is…!?" Horoki said as his cigarette dropped from his mouth.
"It looks like Cynthia isn't down just yet…" Yajima said as he watched the girl carefully, curious as to what she was holding.
"That's Exerion, isn't it?" Daityas asked. "That new element thing…"
"Wrong…" Byron said blatantly.
"Oh, then tell me how I'm wrong," Dait said in a clearly annoyed tone; annoyed that Byron had the audacity to speak to him like that.
"Exerion is a code name for it…" Horoki replied.
"Wait…" Magnus narrowed his eyes at the metal. "Why does she have that…it's only a metal comprised of every single element…that won't help her…" It then clicked it Magnus's head what it was; all this time he was wondering what Exerion was, when the answer was right there in his face. "It's…!" Cynthia opened her mouth, placing the Exerion inside, and with a large chomp, she started to chew it up.
"She's eating it!?" Byron started to flail comically.
"What the bloody hell is it?!" Maggie asked, kicking Byron in the shin due to her annoyed state.
"Exerion is the code name…it's real name is…"Etherion." Horoki explained.
Cynthia chewed the Etherion a few times before swallowing, a few seconds later, her eyes widened as she brought her hands to her throat, starting to choke on the substance, letting gout strangled cries as she began to roll around, her eyes clenched shut. "G-GAHHH!"
"C-Cynthia!" Wendy brought her hands to her mouth. She knew what was happening, but she didn't think Cynthia was going to resort to that now.
"What the hell did that little girl just eat?" Yakuza asked as he watched Cynthia roll around.
"A compound composed of every element…Etherion…" Magnus replied.
"We have to call the match…" Erza said as she started to move, but Natsu placed his arm out, shaking his head slowly.
"Wait…" Natsu said in a low tone as he kept his eyes on Cynthia.
"Where the hell did she even get that…!?" Veronica asked as she watched Cynthia roll around.
"Doesn't matter now…what matters now is that she ate it…and I have no idea where this is going…" Byron replied.
"Exerion…I knew it…" Jellal mumbled to himself as he, Meredy, and Ultear made sure to stay away from any nearby Council members. "Etherion…"
"W-What's happening-kabo!?" Mato asked as he just stared at the rolling around Cynthia, unsure on what to do himself.
"Cynthia, what are you doing!?" Alex shouted.
Cynthia finally stopped on her hands and knees, opening her eyes, only to reveal them to be completely blue now as Cynthia let out more strangled cries, but she seemed to be getting what she wanted now. She stood up slowly as a brilliant blue light swirled around her body, the result of absorbing the power of the Etherion. "RAAAAAAH!" With a loud battle cry, the light vanished, now turning into bright red flames that began to tower into the sky. Scales started to appear on Cynthia's forehead, her arms, and her legs as she entered Dragon Force, though she didn't mean to, but it was too late to turn back. During all of this, the intensity of the event caused a wild wind to blow harshly around the area, causing everyone to bring their arms up to shield themselves from the wind. After that, the flames died down somewhat, now flaring around Cynthia's body. "I will save you from that darkness, Alex."
Upon now having clear visibility, Wendy looked towards Cynthia with a shocked expression. But that shock then turned into a soft smile.
"Dragon Force…"