Chapter 60
Laki vs Azuma
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Skip
The wizards stared up at the ace of their guild with hope and smiles. "This is Gildarts?" Bluenote asked.
Everyone just stood silent and waited for the fight to start. "Get out." Gildarts said to Natsu as he started flaring his magic power.
"Gildarts looks pretty angry, doesn't he?" Happy asked, making Carla nod.
"Move!" The ace shouted before charging at Bluenote. The dark wizard held his open hand up and the ground under Gildarts started to turn upside down.
"What the!?" Lucy asked in shock.
"Holy crap, that is so cool!" Natsu cheered.
Gildarts hugged the rock before triggering his magic and crashed it into tiny blocks. Jumping towards Bluenote, he pulled his fist back as the dark wizard did the same. Both fists collided and created a massive shockwave from their sheer magic power, launching all of them back.
Natsu and Laki tumbled back around the same time before he caught her in his arms. "Owie..." Wendy complained as she rubbed her sore butt.
"Maybe we should leave." Lucy said still in shell shock from the force. Behind her, Happy was flat on his back with a rock on his face.
The two older wizards landed on the ground as Bluenotes jacket flew between them. "I don't believe it... he matched my power..."
"I think we should listen to him." Wendy said as she pulled the master away.
"Y-yeah, but..." Lucy mumbled.
"We should do as he says." Cana said to the blondes surprise. "If we stick around we'll only get in the way."
Lucy nodded before turning to see Laki drag Natsu away. "Come on Natsu, we have to go!" She said, pulling on her boyfriends arm.
The group left the massive crater in a sprint leaving Gildarts alone with Bluenote. "This test was very important." The ace spoke up. "These kids were doing their best to make a world better than what we left them. They put their heart and souls into this and then you went and spat all over it."
Bluenote had heard enough talk and punched Gildarts in the face. "I was talking, asshole!"
"Finally, a chance for me to truly fly!" Bluenote smiled before two butted heads.
Outside the canyon, Natsu was carrying Makarov on his back. "Laki, why'd you have to pull me away from that awesome fight?"
"Because right now, we have to meet up at the camp so we can figure out what to do." She told him.
"The others might be there now." Carla added. "Once we're all together we can start thinking of a way off this island."
"Don't forget Doranbolt told us he'd help." Wendy chimed in.
"Let's not put all of our chickens into that basket." Happy said, making Carla face palm.
Lucy looked over at Cana and noticed the look on her face. "Are you okay, Cana?" She asked.
The brunette looked over and nodded. "Yeah, everything's fine."
Base Camp
"Seems this is all that this pathetic guild has left to offer me..." Rustyrose complained. "Very well, I shall make quick work of this hand dealt to me."
"Is this how got so strong? By preying on the weak?" Levy asked. "How does that show how strong you are?"
"The Grand Magic World has no room for weakling and therefore thy must be eliminated." He said back. "We merely help speed up that process."
"You're all inane!" Rose shouted.
"Then why don't you try stopping me with those convictions of yours?" Rustyrose asked before turning his arm into his Jet Black Sword and smacked them away. "Ah, what a glorious symphony of pain and agony."
Rose stood in front of the three downed allies with her arms wide. "Rose, get away!" Pantherlily shouted as Rusty charged them. Before he made contact, something knocked him to the side and sent him flying.
"Who dares attack the mighty Rustyrose!?" He shouted in anger as he looked.
"That would be us." Bickslow said as he and Freed stood in front of the injured.
"Freed! Bickslow!" Levy cheered.
"I thought you left the island?" Pantherlily asked in confusion Gildarts.
"We saw the flare and turned around with Gildarts." The masked wizard explained.
"Gildarts is back too?" Lisanna asked with a smile.
"Bring as many fools as you want, it will do you no good." Rustyrose said holding out his claw. "None stand a chance against my Arc of Embodiment."
"Look, pal. You screwed up big time." Bickslow said. "Now we don't have to even think about playing fair to beat you."
"For daring to harm a member of our team, we will make you suffer as much as she has." Freed added.
"Baryon Formation!" Bickslows dolls spun around in a circle before firing a green laser at the dark wizard.
"No attack shall pass by this kite shield!" Rustyrose held his other hand out and it turned into his shield that blocked the attack.
Freed gripped and swung his blade at the dark wizard and runes appeared. "Dark Ecriture: Pain!" The runes flew towards Rusty aimed at causing him extreme agony.
"Pegasus wings shall appear on my feet!" Rustyrose chanted as the wings appeared on his shoes, letting fly over the runes. "You have no chance of defeating me, or my imagination! It is a well of eternal power! Come to me, Belfast the Windstorm!" Black mist swirled around before it took the form of a massive beast with wings.
"What sort of power is this?" Pantherlily asked in shock.
"Oh, I got this. Seething Magic: Possession!" Bickslows eyes glowed green as his power took over the beast. "Shatter!" The beast exploded into dust.
"No, it's not possible!" Rustyrose said in disbelief.
"Dark Ecriture: Absolute Shadow!" Freeds runes attwtched to him and transformed him into an armored force that slammed into the dark wizard.
"Incredible..." Pantherlily mumbled.
"That's the Thunder Legion for you." Levy said as Evergreen cracked her eyes opened and smiled.
Rustyrose sat back up and stared at the two. "Get up, now." Bickslow demanded.
"We aren't done with you yet." Freed added as Rustyrose started shacking in fear.
'Is this... what it means to fear someone...' Rustyrose asked himself in a panic. 'No matter...' He stood up and smirked as he placed his hands on his temples. "Fear I shall but fuel to me. It powers my magic just as much as any emotion!" A wall of glowing faces appeared behind him before they flew at Freed and Bickslow. "My Ghosts of Britear will feast on your souls!"
The wall hit the two and started wrapping around them. "What is this!? They're sticking to me." Freed said.
"This guys magic is messed up!" Bickslow shouted.
"Now I remember your names." Rustyrose said. "Two members of the Thunder Legion; or rather two grunts who worship the ground of a disgraced former member!"
The Tenrou Tree
Erza stared up at Azuma in anger. "You took down Wendy!?" She shouted.
"But she was just the first." He said back. "Others of your guild have fallen as well. And the ones that weren't are being dealt with now."
"You honestly expect me to believe that you took down Natsu, Mirajane and the others?" She asked.
"I don't know who this 'Natsu' is." Azuma answered. "But as for the She-Devil, I dealt with her and her sister personally." Erza gasped in anger and shock of the statement. "Do you doubt me?"
"I'm not sure..." She replied before donning her Flame Empress Armor. "I'll have to examine your power myself!"
Azuma smirked at the sight. "Just my luck. First the She-Devil and the queen of fairies herself. What amazing trophies I've found for myself!"
With Gray and Ultear
"Hold on, you're on my side?" He asked her in confusion. "And all this time you've wanted to meet me?"
"Correct." Ultear nodded. "You have no idea how long I've searched for you. You, the student of the Ice wizard Ur. And I, her lost daughter. That fact alone make us practically siblings."
"Siblings!?" He shouted back in shock. "One second..., I never imagined I had a sister wondering around."
"I said practically." She chuckled. "But that said, I hold no grudge against you."
"Whoa, slow down." Gray said. "My brain is going a mile a minute. Even if what you say is true, our guilds are sworn enemies!"
"Yes..., I've sworn a life to Grimoire Heart." Ultear nodded, looking away in shame. "But I hope we can get past that. After all, Ur lives inside both of us." For a second, Gray saw his teacher instead of her daughter.
The Tenrou Tree
Erza charged Azuma in her Blackwing Armor and delivered slashes that he simply jumped over. He waved his hand forward and a vine wrapper around her before tossing her into the air. "Levi!" Azuma thrusted his other hand forward and the explosion hit Erza dead on. She bounced off a root and flew back through the wave of vines Azuma sent at her.
She dodged them all and Requipped into her Morning Star Armor and slammed her daggers together. "Photon Slicer!" Both fired a beam of light that exploded, launching him back before he flipped back up with a smirk on his face. "Whats with the look?" Erza asked.
"I've finally found someone who's a match for me." He chuckled out. "I've heard all about your power in battle and I've wanted to face for so long. I find true clarity in fighting others, and it seems so do you."
Erza glowed as she returned to her basic armor. "I couldn't disagree more. When I fight, it's because I have too. Not because I want to."
"Don't tell me that." He replied. "You don't get to be as strong as you are without fighting powerful opponents."
"All I care about is protecting my friends and family." She said back. "If it meant saving my friends, I would give up all my power." Azuma flinched at the statement. "I know, it probably doesn't make much sense to you..."
"You're truly strange." Azuma said. "I was hoping for a fair fight but you've forced my hand."
"What does that mean?" Erza asked.
"It means it's time for stage two in our fight." He replied as the tree started shaking around them. Vines began moving around and twisting. "It's time you learn the true nature of my magic 'Grand Tre Arc!'" He waved his hands and explosions went off around him. "I can channel the explosive force of nature and put it directly into the trees." His foot began sinking into the wood he was standing on. "But my true power comes from letting me control nature itself."
"Control nature itself?" Erza asked before the shaking forced her to a knee.
"That is part and parcel why I was sent here first." He said. "To take your islands magic power and make it my own." The vines began twisting around him as the veins in his body popped. "Just know that I am following orders. I had no desire to do this."
Vines and trunks began snapping in two as the animals of the island began panicking. Mest looked up in horror as the tree toppled over. "Impossible... the tree is falling!?"
With Natsu and Co.
Natsu screamed in horror as the tree started falling. "Oh come on! What is going on!?" He screamed as he lead the pack in a sprint.
"Hurry up, Carla!" Happy cried out from behind the white cat.
"We need to hurry and get back to-" Natsu gasped in pain before he dropped to his knees.
"What's going on..." Lucy complained as she fell to the ground.
Wendy fell onto her stomach as she groaned in pain. "All my magic... it's gone..."
Laki looked over and saw a root sticking out of the ground. Reaching out, she grabbed it and felt the magic within the tree being sucked towards something. 'This is isn't right. Someone is controlling the magic on the island.' She turned back to the group. "Hang on, I'll be right back." Laki touched the root again and quickly sunk into it.
"My head is spinning a million miles an hour..." Lucy complained before glancing to find Cana face first on the ground. "Cana! Wake up, please!" She begged before falling over.
"Our magic power... it's draining." Carla groaned as Happy fell over.
"Just hang on..." Natsu said. "Laki will figure this out... I promise..."
Base Camp
Lisanna, Levy, Pantherlily and Rose dropped to their knees as the same power affected them. "What's going on?" He said.
Freed and Bickslow panted before Rustyrose swatted them away with his sword spell. "Where's all that bravado from before!?" He asked.
"Whats going on..." Freed asked now back to normal.
"My power is gone..." Bickslow groaned out.
Grimoire Heart Airship
Hades smirked as he stared out the window. "Very impressive, Makarov. No one other than me had been able to stop Bluenote until Gildarts showed up. Quite the trump card you had... but all for not. It took longer than I anticipated, but Tenrou islands magic power now belongs to Azuma.
"With this, any hope of a last minute victory are crushed. This is the end of Fairy Tail."
With Gray and Ultear
Gray clutched his side in pain. "What's happening?"
Ultear looked up and saw the tree starting to fall. "...Azuma." She mumbled.
"My power... it's going away..." He groaned.
"Azuma tore down the Tenrou Tree." Ultear said. "Now every member of the Fairy Tail guild is on a death clock."
"This was your plan!?" Gray asked in anger.
"Not entirely, more of an option." She replied. "It appears Hades choose to use it."
With Juvia And Meredy
Juvia groaned in pain as Meredy pulled her out of the swamp onto dry land. "What am I doing, helping an enemy?" The pinkette asked herself.
The Tenrou Tree
Erza held onto the trunk she was standing on for all her worth. "Master Hades knows a great deal about this island." Azuma said. "This tree stands at the center of the island and graces all who bear the crest of the Fairy Tail guild. You cannot die on this island, and your powers are boosted here."
'Is this why the master choose the island for the test?' She asked herself before going wide eyed. "You just destroyed that tree!"
"Correct, along with your protective seal." He said. "And all magic on this island will drain from your bodies at a rapid rate."
"Then tell me why am I still standing!?" She shouted.
"Today is the day that Fairy Tail dies, along side your tree." Azuma declared as he stepped out of the tree. "As I control the magic power on this island, I also hold the lives of your friends. Which is why I left you intact. You say you want to protect your friends, then prove it. Face me!"
Erza glared up at him in anger as dust flew around her. "This was all a part of your plan!?"
"An option from Master Hades." He replied. "Cutting the tree in half was the fastest way to defeat your guild."
"So why didn't you do it sooner?" Erza asked. "And why bother fighting me."
"I told you... I want to fight a worthy opponent." He answered. "Now face me."
"If that is true, then you'll return everyone's power once I defeat you." She demanded.
"I give you my word." Azuma replied. "To be honest, I despise these methods myself. But that's only if you can win."
Erza summoned two swords as she glared up at Azuma. "With my friends on the line, I refuse to lose!" She shouted before charging him. "I will defeat you!" Her body glowed as her armor changed into her Heavens Wheel. "Blumenblatt!" Swords flew at the dark skinned man who waved his hands and used vines to block them.
"Phorium Seeker!" He waved his hand again and leaves started flying at Erza. Her blades swung and sliced them but some still managed to pass by. "Laum Seeker!" Branches started shooting at her tearing up her armor before a massive wooden fist hit her. She slid along a branch as her armor returned to normal. "Is that all, Titania!?"
She stood back up to dodge some branches and glowed again, this time entering her Flight Armor. With blinding speed, she delivered a slash along his side before turning around now and doing it repeatedly. "Now... this is more like it."
Azuma stood back up and waved his hands making vines shot out to slow Erza down. A tree fist grabbed her and then a fist slammed down on her. The wood shattered and showed her in her Adamantine Armor. "The strongest defensive armor... Excellent! Let's test it, shall we!?"
Leaves and blades started flying at her trying to break her armor. Lightning then vaporized them all before Erza jumped up at Azuma in her Lightning Empress Armor. He jumped up and merged into a tree making her miss before he punched her through the tree. She flew backwards before landing on a branch. "It seems your Requipping speed holds up to scrutiny and your swordsmanship is first class. You're everything I could want in an opponent."
"Seems you're more than just bravado, yourself." She said. "Your strength more then deserves your ego. But now you've infuriated me. And that can be hazardous." The two started trading punched before Azuma wrapped her in a vine and detonated it. A spear pierced the dust and grazed Azuma before she flung him to the ground in her Giants Armor.
He then pinned her with more vines against a tree that fell over before she popped up and swung her Purgatory Armor mace, slicing a branch in half. Azuma jumped back before a tree branch blocked another swing. Hands wrapped around her ankles and lifted her up. "Tower Burst!" Explosive energy rose up and blasted Erza before she fell to the ground, her armor cracked heavily.
'His magic power is incredible... is he not even using the power Tenrou?' Erza asked herself as she looked up. 'Armadara Fairy Armor is still damaged from my battle in Edolas. And I don't think any of my armor left will hurt him. Come on, think Erza. There's always... no, that's not even remotely ideal right now. If I even have a chance of defeating him, I might need to just forgo defense altogether.'
Her body glowed again as her armor was removed and replaced with her Clear Heart Clothing. 'It's my only chance. I need to put all of my power into attack. I summon the Crimson Sakura Sword!' A single black blade appeared in her grip as Azuma smirked. 'If I lose, everyone else will die.' She jumped up and charged him. 'I cannot lose, my friends are counting on me!' Both roared as her blade started glowing.
Azuma waved his hand and vines wrapped around her limbs. "You just lost your one chance!" He told her. "Now face all the power of Tenrou Island!"
"I... can't move..." She squirmed trying to break free. "Terra Chyrmal!" A blast of pure magic energy exploded out from under Erza before it faded, letting her fall to the ground. "It's over, Titania."
Magic Council Prison
Inside a translucent crystal cell, Jellal sat in silence as he stared at his hands. "Erza..." He mumbled out.
A guard overheard him and looked into his cell. "Did you say something, Seigrain?"
"Idiot!" A blue frogman shouted as he came over. "That guys Jellal! The real form of Seigrain!"
"It's an old habit, sorry..." The first guard said.
"This guy destroyed our council!" The second one said. "He committed the atrocity that made people trust in us fall down to earth!"
Jellal just sat in his cell mumbling something. "Did he just chant something?" The first guard asked.
"You know magic can't be used in the magic stone prison." The second one replied. "Wanna try it out?"
"Try what?" The first asked.
The second one merely smirked as his staff passed through the cell wall. The tip started glowing before a bolt of energy zapped Jellal, making him cry in pain. "Take a look, Jellal can't do anything."
"Stop it, Nadaru." The first guard begged as Jellal groaned in pain.
"What were you mumbling just now!?" Nadaru asked before stoping his spell. Jellal fell over in pain as the guard pulled his staff out. "In that case, as a reward for your behavior you won't get your meal. But if you really want it, say 'please give me some food, Naradu'. If you say that I will give you your meal. If you don't say it, I won't feed you for the week."
Jellal only laid on the ground in front of them as the guards stared at him. "Erza..." He mumbled, confusing the two guards. "Don't lose... Erza..."
The Tenrou Tree
Erza laid on the broken branches before her eyes snapped open. 'Jellal!?...' She thought in surprise before forcing herself up.
"Impossible! How could she still stand!?" Azuma shouted.
'That was Jellal's voice?' Erza asked herself in confusion. 'It can't be...' Her grip on her handle tightened. 'Don't let yourself go Erza... focus on what's in front of you. Stand up and fight!' She entered her fighting stance and charged Azuma. Azuma summoned branch after branch to protect himself but Erza sliced through all of them.
'So terrifying.' He thought looking into her eyes. 'This is getting exciting!' He ducked a swing and kicked her high into the air before waving his hands and more vines pinned her in place. "You certainly live up to your name. I won't forget you for as long as I live."
"Let go!" She cried in protest.
"This is where it ends, Titania!" Azuma shouted. "You won't withstand this a second time. Terra Chyrmal!" The massive spell came back and envolped Erza again. Before it could do any real damage, however a force pushed Erza out of the way making her bounce along some branches. The redhead looked up and saw the massive attack spiraling into the mouth of Laki.
"Impossible!" Azuma shouted as he watched his attack get eaten.
The last of the tree energy swallowed, Laki glared up at Azuma. Her purple hair now had green lines in it and her ears were pointed like an elf's. Her eyes were glowing gold as her nails had sharpened and scales appeared on her face. A pair of branches appeared out of her elbows, acting as blades.
"Laki? What are you doing here?" Erza asked.
"Is that really important right now?" The purplette asked. "All that matters now is beating this guy!"
"Laki... as in the Greenwoman of Fairy Tail?" He asked aloud before a smile crept on his face. "Tell you what, Titiana. I'll hold up my bargin if you let me face her."
"What is he talking about?" Laki asked the injured redhead.
"...He stole all the power of Tenrou Island and destroyed the protective barrier on the island." Erza answered. "If I can defeat him, he'll restore everyone's power."
Laki turned back to Azuma who was licking his lips in anticipation. She smirked before taking off her glasses and putting them away. "Sounds like a good deal to me." She chuckled before launching at him and driving a fist into the dark wizards chest. He gasped in pain before smiling and the two started trading kicks and punches.
"Phorium Seeker!" Azuma waved himself hand and leaf blades flew at Laki.
"Wood Dragon Shield!" A massive bark shield appeared out of both arms and blocked them. She then jumped towards him and slammed the bark into his face. "Wood Dragon Whip!"
Her arm turned into a spiked whip that wrapped around his arm and then flung him into a tree trunk. Erza stared as Laki charged with her fist back. 'This power... this has to be.' Azuma sunk into the wood and the fist shattered the trunk into splinters. '...Dragon Force.'
Azuma smiled at the power being displayed by the girl. "Yes! Now this is a fight!" He smiled wildly before he held his hands up. "Tower Burst!" Azuma shouted before a pillar of energy hit Laki. "Laum Seeker!" Tree branches then shot into the pillar before another's whip shot out and pulled Laki out of the tower. She landed on a branch before sinking into the wood herself. "You won't get away from me!" He shouted before following her himself.
The Branch Erza was on began violently shaking as the two within the tree itself. A branch behind her exploded as Laki shot out with azuma under her. "Wood Dragon Grain Blade!" She gripped the branches on her elbow and ripped them out, revealing two katana blades that she then stabbed into azumas right shoulder.
"This is for Wendy, and Erza, and all the victims you've left!" Magic began building around her fists and a tree forced him to stay under him. "Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Dryads Might - Knot Knuckle Fury!"
Wood knots appeared on her knuckles and she began brutally punching him repeatedly all over. She brought her ahdnstogether and delivered a double fist slam that cracked the tree. Azuma crashed through the tree and hit the ground in defeat as Laki held up her fist in triumph.
Erza reached down and grabbed her before she fell as her body returned to normal. "That was incredible, Laki." The red head said with a smile as she pulled the Dragon Slayer up. "However..." She turned 180 and glared at Laki. "Do you really think that will make up for breaking the rules of the S-Class trial!?"
"Erza, calm down!" Laki begged before Erza grabbed her.
Big expectation subversion, I hope. Pretty much made up how her dragon force would look but I took some hints from Wendy's. Hope you liked this chapter. See ya next time.
Beta Read by JballinR12.