A/N: ModernRogue11 here and yes, I'm still alive. The last month had been hectic and so much work had to be done that I left this story on the backburner for a while. I will look up the rest of the chapters and see if there are any mistakes to be corrected but for now...
Enjoy the chapter!
Edited on September 17, 2021
Chapter 9: The Soul of a Warrior
Nobody wanted to say anything as the unconscious bodies of Raven Tail's mages were dragged away from the arena by the Rune Knights. The audience and the other contestants were still at a loss for words at how utterly the aforementioned guild got demolished so easily. Even the announcers were left speechless until Chapati gained composure and resumed commentary.
"That wasn't a match," the blonde wig-wearing announcer said, still reeling from the battle earlier. "That was a massacre."
"I couldn't agree more," Yajima nodded to the previous comment. "That was the most one-sided thrashing I've seen. I'm quite certain that the bards will sing songs of this display of dominance."
"Be that as it may, his help was invaluable today," Lahar remarked as the last of the offending guild's members were taken away. "I must give him my sincere thanks for apprehending those troublesome mages."
"You'll get that chance, later on, Lahar," the old former councilman said. "For now, I think it's best if we proceed with the final match of the day."
"Indeed!" Chapati exclaimed, gaining back the cheers that the audience lost after the previous match. "For our final match of the day, please give it up for our contestants. First up, a mage from Lamia Scale full love, Sherria Blendy!"
The crowd roared in excitement as Sherria, a pink-haired girl, descended from the balcony where her team is and made her way to the middle of the stadium. She was waving at the audience while a bright smile can be seen on her.
"Next up is a contestant from Fairy Tail!" Again, cheers erupted from the stadium. "She may be small and adorable, but certainly terrible, Wendy Marvell!"
The description didn't help Wendy's confidence when her name was called. Still a bit hesitant, she willed herself to go down the arena and finish the day's final match, hopefully snagging the win to complete Fairy Tail's winning trifecta. Before she left though, the bluenette was showered with wishes of good luck for her upcoming match from her ever so lively teammates. What Wendy didn't expect though was the presence of five spirit warriors waiting for her just before the entrance to the fighting area.
"Kazui!?" Wendy said in surprise at the sight of her best friend.
"Hey Wendy!" the orange-haired boy said as he waved a hand at the girl.
Even though they were there, the fact that Wendy called Kazui first and barely noticed Ichigo, Orihime, and the twins didn't escape their attention. This was just proof that the bond between the two children was strong.
"We came to cheer you on, Wendy," Orihime said as they approach the Dragon Slayer.
"Go show them what you're made of, kiddo," Karin said while giving a devious smirk. "After all, Kazui here is going to cheer for you."
"Karin, stop it," Yuzu reprimanded her twin before looking at the now blushing girl. "You'll do amazing out there."
Wendy then felt something press on her head. Her eyes went wide when she finally got to see Orihime gave her a light kiss on the forehead. "For good luck."
Still stunned by the motherly gesture, her best friend approached and placed an item on the right side of her forehead. She felt the object with her hand and was surprised to find out what it was. Looking at the reaper boy for confirmation, the bluenette earned a nod.
"It's my mask," Kazui said as he adjusted the ornament on the girl. "It'll give you some protection while out there in the fight."
"Protection?" Wendy asked curiously.
"It's nothing big," the young reaper sheepishly replied. "Dad wants to say something to you."
Moving to the young girl, Ichigo placed his hand on Wendy's head and ruffled her hair. "Remember what I taught you, Wendy."
"Resolve," the Sky Maiden answered with fire in her eyes. "Never back down even if everything looks bleak and give everything that I have."
"That's the spirit," Ichigo said in approval before letting go of his hand.
Just as she was about to leave, a pair of arms were slung over her shoulders. Kazui made a daring move of hugging the shy girl. Wendy was caught off guard and so were the rest of the Kurosaki family.
Now looking directly at the girl's hazel eyes, Kazui told Wendy the words that will give her the drive to win her match. "You will win, Wendy. Never lose faith in yourself because I never will. I believe in you."
Hearing those words stirred something inside Wendy. It felt comforting for her. That odd feeling was only something she could get when this boy was close to her, and now that sensation was stronger when Kazui uttered those words of encouragement. She liked it, and that feeling only made her attachment to him grow stronger.
There was a tinge of pink in the bluenette's cheeks but she paid no mind to it. A warm gentle smile that could rival Mirajane's graced her face. "Thank you, Kazui," she said. "I needed that." In an equally daring move, she returned the hug that stunned the boy before heading off to the arena to face her chosen foe.
"Do I see love in the making?"
That little comment startled Kazui before turning around and stomping at Karin. "IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!"
Her snigger never letting up, the Soul Reaper twin continued teasing her nephew. "That's not what we saw."
"I…" Kazui tried to say something but could come up with nothing. Looking around, he saw the rest of his family looking at him while hiding a chuckle or a snicker. "Hmph!" Having enough of the embarrassment, the young reaper disappeared with a Flash Step while sporting a heavy blush.
"Now I know why you don't mind if they ended up with each other," Yuzu commented while looking at the entrance to the fighting area. "They have a bond that's more than just mere friendship."
"They just look adorable with each other," Orihime squealed in delight at the prospect of having the Sky Maiden become part of the family.
"I know, right?" Karin chided in. "A few more years and I can see them together. Damn. My nephew is going to get a girlfriend soon and I still can't find a decent guy to hang out with."
"You're not even looking for a boyfriend, Karin," Yuzu retorted.
"Touché."
"In any case," Ichigo said, gaining the attention of everybody, "I'm glad Kazui met Wendy. I don't know how he would turn out if he hadn't met the girl."
"She's going to bring out the best in him," Orihime added as she rested her head on her husband's shoulder.
Smiling, Ichigo returned the affectionate gesture by wrapping an arm around his lovable wife. "Like how you brought out the best in me."
"I don't know about you," Karin interrupted tender moment, eliciting a frown from her twin. She just waved it off before adding, "I'm going back to the rest of the guild and see our little dragon kick some ass."
The Soul Reaper disappeared from their sights. Not wanting to miss the action, the rest of the Kurosaki family followed suit, all of them disappearing in a blur as they made their way to the stands and cheer their little dragon slayer.
"I hope Wendy wins," Lucy said with worry as her kid teammate appeared on the battleground. Looking closely, the blonde noticed something on the young Dragon Slayer's head. "What's that on Wendy's head?"
The rest of Team A turned to their young companion and indeed saw a strange object on the bluenette's head. Erza was the first one to make out what it is.
"It's a mask," the redhead knight said.
"Yeah," their ice mage agreed. "It kind of reminds me of the mask Kazui wore when we first met him."
"It looks similar to the helm forming on Ichigo's face last night," Natsu remarked gaining the attention of the other three.
"What do you mean?" Erza inquired.
"It had that stripe that ran down from the forehead, passing through the eyeholes, and then to the lower jaw. The only difference was the missing horn on the kid's mask."
"Come to think of it, that mask Wendy is wearing reminds me of a hollow."
"You're not serious, are you?" Gray asked the spirit mage incredulously.
"Think back to the fight we had in Aldebaran," Lucy began. "That creature we fought had a white mask for a face, and Kazui's mask looked eerily similar to it."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Nothing," the blonde replied honestly. Still, there were some doubts about Ichigo and Kazui. They were the two most powerful individuals Lucy has ever met and the source of their power was something she fully grasps after the revelation of the older reaper. It didn't curb her apprehensions, however, when she experienced the full weight and animosity of Ichigo's spiritual pressure. It was soul-crushing, and the image that she saw that fateful night still lingered in her thoughts like a leech eating away her sense of safety. "What if…" she asked hesitantly, "…What if their powers are based off a hollow?"
"Where are you getting at, Lucy?" Gray asked the blonde, curious as to what her suggestion might entail.
"Think about it. Both Ichigo and Kazui have identical powers and it doesn't just include their Soul Reaper powers. No, it's the fact that they can create those white masks when they feel agitated. We all saw Kazui's reaction when Wendy got hurt. That white thing was forming on the boy's head. There was something sinister to it. And Ichigo's…god that was horrifying." She finished those statements with a shiver in recollection of the horned devil she remembered. "Natsu's encounter with Sabretooth last night only confirmed that they have the same abilities."
"Is there something you're not telling us?" Natsu asked, now curious to Lucy's insinuations regarding the father and son.
"We already know about his past and the truth about the mysterious power his family uses," Erza answered bluntly, surprising the two male wizards. "It's not just me and Lucy, but also the master, Mirajane, Gildarts, Laxus, Macao, and Loke. Although, this observation coming from Lucy is new to me. However, that is something Ichigo will divulge himself if he feels the time is right. We should respect the man's privacy. We don't want to open old wounds." That last part she didn't say out loud.
"Whatever you say, Erza."
They then focused their attention on the upcoming fight between two near-pubescent girls, postponing the current discussion for a later date.
"Owie…"
Sherria and Wendy were both lying prone on the ground. The audience couldn't help but giggle at the two children. Although not known for being careless, the two did have some bouts of clumsiness now and then. It seems that falling after the other before their match just cemented that.
"Well, that was embarrassing."
Wendy looked at the older girl with a smile. "Yeah. Are you alright?"
"Yep," the young pinkette replied. "How about you?"
"Same."
Wendy noticed something odd about Sherria, prompting her to look at her opponent with curiosity. The moment the pinkette entered the arena, she felt something rather similar to herself; aside from the comical entrance. It's as if like her, Sherria had the heavens in her beck and call. The air around the young Lamia Scale mage was gentle yet it emanated with hidden power.
"Wait, what's this!?"
As for the Lamia Scale sorceress, Sherria suddenly felt faint energy from Wendy. It was different from her fellow wizard's power. This energy wasn't magic. It felt heavier, thicker even. What was more intriguing was that it felt disturbing and sinister. That's when she noticed a strange skull-like mask on her opponent's head.
"What's that creepy mask you're wearing?" Sherria asked Wendy. Just looking at the thing made her skin crawl.
"Oh, this?" Wendy placed a hand on the object on her head. "It's a good luck charm given by my best friend."
"Good luck charm? Kind of ominous to be a good luck charm."
"Sure it looks scary," Wendy began. Her face had a soft smile before turning to see the stands, looking at a certain orange-haired boy. "…but the person who gave me this mask saved my life. This may look terrifying, but not all things that look terrifying are evil."
Sherria followed Wendy's gaze and saw the person who had the girl's admiration. Suddenly, she had a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Is this love I'm seeing?"
Wendy immediately blushed up a storm before flailing her arms out in denial. "It's not like that!"
"That's what they all say," Sherria quipped, further intensifying the heat in Wendy's face. "Still, it is a wonderful thing."
"Huh?" the Sky Dragon Slayer questioned.
"What you're feeling for that boy over there. Your admiration for him," Sherria clarified. "And by the looks of it, he's the type to return the same admiration to you."
Flustered beyond any reasonable doubt, Wendy could only stutter and mumble under her breath. The teasing that came from her guild and now from an outsider were putting her in an awkward place.
"That said," Sherria brought her out of her stupor, "…we came here to compete."
Finally, out of her loop, Wendy put on a brave face after looking at her best friend. "Right," she said with a determined face. "Let's give the audience a fight to remember."
"You took the words right out of my mouth!"
Both girls fell to their respective fighting stances. Their eyes fixed on the opponent in front of them. None of them knew what the other was capable of, yet both were willing to give their all for their guild.
This wasn't a fight between enemies. There were no preconceived grudges. No, this was just two young girls with great potential fighting for the honor of their guilds and the spirit of competition. If there was a match that would best represent the Grand Magic Games, this would be it.
The silence was palpable. The audience was at the edge of their seats, anticipating the potential move the two contestants might do. And just like that, their wait was rewarded when the young ladies lunged at each other.
Elbow met elbow. Knee met knee. Wendy and Sherria began their clash with melee combat. Their tactic was to get a feel of the opponent before making any real attempt in performing magic. It was a sound strategy, but only one benefited from this.
Sherria, being a year or two older than Wendy, clearly had the reach and height advantage. She was no slouch in close quarters combat and having seven years of experience that Wendy never had proved to be an invaluable factor in their exchange.
Seeing as an upfront approach isn't working, the bluenette opted for a more distance-oriented method. Disengaging, Wendy leaped back and summoned the winds onto her forearms. She crossed them in front of her before swinging forward, sending the raging air into the pinkette. To her surprise, Sherria summoned the winds just like her. The difference, however, was that her winds took on a black hue. The Lamia Scale sorceress used these black winds and spun around, creating a wall of air that stopped Wendy's attack in its tracks. This revelation did catch Wendy off guard, but the sensation she felt earlier from her fellow wind mage only proved her suspicions and the black winds finally identified what Sherria is.
"You're a Sky God Slayer," the Sky Maiden said.
"That's right," Sherria confirmed rather cheerfully.
"I wasn't expecting this."
"Lyon's told me all about you," the Sky God Slayer said. She had an ecstatic look like she was looking forward to this match. "When I learned that you use the same kind of magic as I did, I got pretty excited."
"Well, I did kind of feel that you were a wind mage of some sort. I just didn't take into account the possibility of you being a god slayer."
"The games have been full of surprises since it started. Who knew you had a guildmate that can wipe out an entire team of elite mages and a guildmaster like they were toddlers?"
"Who predicted that Sir Jura would compete this year?"
Sherria giggled at Wendy's witty comeback. "Touché." Dropping into a fighting stance, the god slayer summoned her black winds, coating her fists in miniature tornadoes. "Let's not keep everyone waiting."
"Right back at you," Wendy replied with the same determination. "Enchant! Vernier! Arms!"
Once again, both teens engaged in combat. This time, their attacks were empowered by the very magic they possess. They exchange blows, blocked attacks, and parried strikes from each other. From a distance, it was clear that they were evenly matched. Wendy's enchantments proved to be very useful in tipping the scales even. That said, the pressure of winning this match was weighing on her. The victories from earlier today undoubtedly placed some form of expectation on her. She needed to win to show that the defeats and victories Fairy Tail gained during the tournament weren't for nothing.
Wendy stopped her assault and jumped back to begin breathing in the air. Her cheeks puffed from all the intake and a surge of power could be felt from her. Sherria recognized this and promptly did the same. With the air around them giving strength, they finally released their attacks at each other at the same time.
"Sky Dragon Roar!"
"Sky God's Bellow!"
Black and clear winds meet. The collision caused an intense vortex that swirled violently in the middle of the arena. The torrent of air blew upward then came to the stands, stirring up the eager watchers as they cover their eyes from the dust and dirt the winds picked up. That was, fortunately for the excited spectators, far from what the girls were capable of.
Wendy called her winds to her hands. It circled her palms and form small tornadoes. "Sky Dragon Wing Attack!"
The small tornadoes surged towards Sherria. The Lamia Scale wizard leaped away from the incoming winds. Wendy didn't let up and continued to launch her Sky Dragon Wing Attack, but the Sky God Slayer was nimble and agile enough to successfully dodge the rushing winds.
"She's so fast!" Wendy exclaimed.
The God Slayer jumped high and summoned her black winds. It swirled on her right palm and formed an attack similar to Fairy Tail's Sky Dragon Slayer. "Oh, Northern Wind, become the breath of a god and rage across the land! Sky God Boreas!"
The attack struck true as Wendy was swept from her feet and into the air. The turbulent winds were pounding away at her body, tearing bits and pieces of her clothes and leaving cuts and bruises on her skin. She managed to right herself, summoning her winds to counteract the god slayer's attack. Creating a wall of wind, she managed to disperse Sherria's magic. Unfortunately for the dragon slayer, this served as the perfect distraction for the god slayer to sneak up behind her. That momentary lapse in attention gave the Lamia Scale sorceress another chance for a magic attack.
"Wind, oh the wind. Rock the skies and rip the lands asunder! Sky God's Dance!"
Wendy was once again swept into the air by black winds. The swirling vortex violently spun her around as she tried to stabilize herself. The girl managed to do just that right before Sherria got the jump on her again. Seeing the god slayer jumping at her for another attack, Wendy shot her right leg at the incoming opponent.
"Sky Dragon Talons!"
The wind attack hit Sherria right in the chest, sending her down to the ground. Wendy managed to get back on solid ground, albeit looking worse for wear. Looking at her opponent who just got back up herself, the Sky Dragon Slayer knew that the fight was far from over. Calling upon her magic once more, Wendy charged at Sherria who did the same and the two began exchanging wind-enhanced blows at each other.
"Look at them go!"
Karin remarked with a massive grin plastered on her face. When she said earlier that she'll be watching Wendy kick ass, this is what she expected. Although, learning that the other girl had a nearly identical type of magic to Wendy's was a surprise. That said, this would be a good learning experience for the blue-haired slayer to see how her magic would compare to someone with the same attribute
"They're putting up one heck of a spectacle down there."
The older twin's attention was caught by her sister's comment. Although not as obvious, Yuzu had that same look of excitement. No doubt her twin was enjoying the match just as much as she.
"You said it."
They turned back to the battle raging on in the arena. The two could see it. This was not the same Wendy that they met three months ago. That little sparring match the young girl had with their elder brother changed her. The girl they were watching now had the conviction to fight regardless of whether or not the stakes were against her.
Orihime was smiling. She took a liking to Wendy the very instant she met the girl back in Aldebaran. The moment the Fullbringer laid eyes on the dragon slayer, she already knew what Wendy was. The girl was a healer, just like her. She didn't want to fight unless it was necessary. Like her when her powers were still in their infancy, Wendy had apprehensions of harming another person. She would prefer to be on the sidelines providing support; to heal than to inflict pain. It had taken the Arrancar War and the Blood Wars to make Orihime realize that she can't save everyone by just healing. Those crucial times opened her eyes that to protect someone, you have to be willing to face the enemy head-on, if not as a sword, then as a shield, like when she and Ichigo faced the Quincy Kaiser. And when she, her husband, and his sisters lost their world to Yhwach, it cemented that change was a necessity.
Right now, Orihime could see Wendy as a reflection of what she once was. However, this fight was showcasing the change in the dragon slayer. Her husband's words made a big impact on the girl and as of this moment, Wendy was fighting with the conviction to never waver. Her resolve was stronger than ever, and it made Orihime smile. Taking a glance at her son who was watching eagerly, she could tell that Kazui also had a significant effect on the young sorceress. Kazui's faith and words of encouragement bolstered what was already a mind filled with heavy expectations and pressure. She did not doubt that the bond the two shared would strengthen even more after this match and to her surprise, she was excited. Until then, she can only wait and guide them.
"Hey, Ichigo!"
Looking away from Wendy's ongoing match, Ichigo turned his attention towards his teammate, Laxus. "Yeah?"
"Aren't you guys supposed to be death gods or something?"
The reaper tapped his chin while he pondered. He didn't put much thought into it if he was being honest. If he looked at the various myths from his homeland, he did fill out the role of a death god in some shape or form.
"Kind of. Why?" he replied then followed up with a question. He wanted to know what brought this up.
"If you are some sort of god, then won't God Slayer Magic affect you?"
That question finally clarified why the blonde dragon slayer inquired about his status as a death god. "Well, we're not technically gods per se. Like I explained months ago, we're just people with extremely powerful souls. From where I come from, individuals like myself simply serve as guides for wandering spirits and purify tainted souls. With that said, I don't think God Slayer Magic will harm us if we come to blows with an enemy mage with that kind of magic."
"I see," Laxus said, nodding in understanding.
Ichigo added, "Besides, when everything is said and done, my family and I are humans, just like everyone in the guild."
"Except for Loke."
"Right."
"I can't give up!" Wendy yelled in her thoughts as she struggled to maintain her footing against Sherria's wind attack. "Everybody else has fought so hard to get us this far!" The images of her guildmate's previous battles throughout the games flashed in her mind. Lucy, Juvia, and Gray's losses, Gajeel and Natsu's determination to finish the race, Elfman's drive to beat Bacchus, Erza's inspiring victory, Cana's unexpected performance, and finally, Ichigo's retribution against the atrocities committed by Raven Tail. "It's my turn now and I won't fail them. Not after they put their trust me."
"You will win, Wendy. Never lose faith in yourself because I never will. I believe in you."
Those endearing words from the young Soul Reaper echoed in her mind.
"Not after Kazui put his faith in me. For them, I WILL NOT LOSE!" With that declaration, Wendy finally stood her ground after being pushed back by the god slayer's magic. She began inhaling a massive amount of air, powering her magic further for a devastating attack.
"Oh, wow!" Sherria, for her part, was excited to find out Wendy was eating air. "This is going to be a blast! Better eat my fill too!" She then proceeded to consume the air around her with the same voracity as the other slayer.
"They're both preparing for a massive attack," Erza voiced out her observation.
"I just hope Wendy will be okay after this," Lucy remarked, a little worried about the girl.
"Don't worry so much," Natsu said with a confident grin on his face. "Wendy's going to win this."
"I hope so," Gray said while watching the contest closely. "From what I've seen, it's been a back-and-forth match between Wendy and this Sherria girl. However, we still have no idea how that other girl uses her God Slayer Magic."
Erza had to agree with Gray. There were still some unknown variables about Sherria. So far, the pinkette was able to match Wendy blow for blow in terms of magic attack. The Lamia Scale wizard was also nimble and agile to avoid incoming attacks and her close combat was commendable. That said, she and the rest of Fairy Tail Team A have yet to find out the full extent of Sherria's Sky God Slayer Magic. "Gray's right," the redhead finally said. "We don't have full knowledge of this type of God Slayer Magic. All we can do now is simply hope and pray that Wendy will be able to pull the win."
The rest of Team A nodded in unison before turning their attention back to the ongoing match. Despite the unpredictability of the match, they have the utmost confidence that their teammate will emerge victoriously.
The air around Wendy and Sherria picked up. Rising, the air began moving, surrounding them with a barrier that quickly gained speed as time went on. The Sky Dragon Slayer's stance was wide, and arms spread apart, her hands were glowing a bright blue hue.
Sherria could feel the energies swirling around the dragon slayer. The magic being gathered was immense. It was thick, saturating the atmosphere with her power that the god slayer was worried about the destructive output of this attack. She was prepared, but not prepared enough for the power that was about to be unleashed.
The wall of wind became more turbulent as its speeds reached gale force velocities. With all her might, Wendy twists her body, pointing her right arm forward and condensing the tempest into one single drilling attack.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Shattering Light – Sky Drill!"
Sherria was hit. The raging storm tore through her like a grinder mercilessly pounding away her body. The sensation of the winds ripping at her skin was excruciating. She had greatly misjudged the devastation this attack could bring. The god slayer knew that it was powerful, but not to this extent. That small instance of complacency served as her undoing and it caused her to get sent across the arena, creating a human-sized trail impression on the ground about five meters long.
As for said dragon slayer, Wendy was panting heavily. It wasn't long ago that she learned that technique. However, she was far from mastering it. It took a lot of her magic just to conjure the attack and after releasing it, she could honestly say that she might not be able to go on. She put everything on that spell and if it didn't work, then what will?
Sadly, despite pouring everything on her last attack, it wasn't enough. With wide eyes, she could see Sherria slowly stand up. The other girl's wounds that were inflicted by her Sky Drill were gradually vanishing from her skin. The god slayer had a bright smile on her face, contradicting the look of shock that was seen on Wendy's.
"That was amazing!" Sherria praised while her wounds slowly healed. "However, this contest isn't over yet!"
"How is she still standing?"
"Oh no. Her injuries have all healed."
Natsu and Lucy could feel the tides shift against Wendy's favor. None of them expected this turn of events and the only thing they could do was voice out their concern for their team member.
Erza's eyes narrowed as the god slayer's wounds began vanishing. "I never realized she was this strong."
"Damn it, Lyon," Gray cursed. "I should have expected a trump card from you."
On Lamia Scale's balcony, Lyon had a rather smug expression when this revelation surfaced. "Sky God Slayers can heal their wounds which is something Wendy can't do. In other words, Sherria has no chance of losing."
"I wonder what's causing her to hold back like that," Jura questioned while watching the young girl get up from the earlier attack.
"It's hard to believe that she's still not fighting seriously," Yuka added.
"She's got some bite to back up her bark!" Toby yelled, making a rather stupid dog-related observation.
Sherry, on the other hand, was comically praising her little cousin. "Well, we are related, after all."
"I'm pretty sure that has nothing to do with it!" Lady Oba yelled at the woman for making such a ridiculous claim.
"Wendy…"
Orihime can practically feel the worry emanating from his son's voice. She, too, was concerned for the girl and when the Fullbringer gazed upon her husband, Ichigo also held that same look. A similar expression can be seen with the twins.
Looking back at her son, Orihime could see Kazui's fists tightly clenching railings. The fingers of which were slowly sinking into the concrete. No doubt the boy wanted to jump in there and go to Wendy's rescue. She knew, however, that this was Wendy's fight. To go in there and intervene would have been an insult to her pride not just as a dragon slayer, but also as a member of Fairy Tail. As such, it was best to let the bluenette finish this fight by herself.
"Kazui." Orihime placed a hand on her son's shoulders as she called out his name.
"Mom?"
"Have faith in her," the Fullbringer said in an attempt to lessen Kazui's worries.
"I have," the boy replied, but there was some hesitation in that answer. "…But I don't want her to get hurt anymore. I can't stand it!"
"Let me ask you a question, Kazui. Would you like it if someone interrupted what could be your most important battle?"
That got the child to stop and think for a moment. "No, I won't."
Wrapping her arms around the boy's shoulders, Orihime continued, "I know that you're worried about her, but if you go in there and interfere, then she would feel insulted."
"Why would she?" Kazui asked. "All I want is to help her. I promised I'd protect her."
"I know you do, but sometimes we need to understand that everyone has their battles to face. All we can do is put our faith in them and pray they will rise above it. This isn't just a contest for Wendy. This is her chance to prove that she can stand on equal ground with the rest of the guild. Most of all, this is her chance to show that our faith in her, especially yours, was not misplaced."
Kazui fell silent. He pondered about the words that her mother said until it made sense. He never saw it that way until Orihime explained it to him. His intentions were good, but the outcome would've been undesirable. If he went down there and interrupted the match, then all the hard work Wendy had done to get this far would've been for nothing. He would simply sully the trust they built with each other. Kazui didn't want that and now that he finally understood what this fight was all about, he would support Wendy regardless of its conclusion.
"Thank you, mom," the young reaper said as he leaned his head on his mother's body.
"Of course, sweetie." The mother gave her son a bright smile, no doubt happy that her son understood her little lesson.
"Are you alright?" Sherria asked. There was genuine concern in her voice. "You look like you're about to collapse from exhaustion."
"I'm fine," Wendy replied, clearly contradicting her current condition.
"You know, I don't want to hurt you. I think you shouldn't continue," Sherria suggested. "This is just a competition, after all. Winning won't mean a thing if you get hurt in the process."
Wendy gazed at her adversary; her eyes filled with defiance. "No," she answered. "I already knew the stakes when I entered this arena. I knew one way or the other, I was going to get hurt. So, don't stop, because I will never give up."
"Okay then," Sherria replied. "I do wish we didn't continue. I don't like hurting people unnecessarily, but since you asked for it… Who am I to say no?"
Using the magic gathered from eating air, Sherria started to gather her signature black winds to her hands. The forces converged into a swirling mass until, surprisingly, it turned into black feathers. Still, the power from these feathers was strong. It was the most amount of magic the god slayer had gathered for a spell which would mean the attack would be just as strong if not stronger than Wendy's Sky Drill.
"You gave it everything in that last attack," the Lamia Scale sorceress remarked before adding, "…It'd be an insult if I didn't do the same. God Slayer Secret Art: Heavenly Gathering of Clouds!" With a mighty thrust of her hand, Sherria sent the storm of swirling black feathers at Wendy.
Wendy braced for impact. Crossing her arms in front of her did little though as the attack hit.
"AAAAHHHH!"
Wendy screamed in pain as the magic tore through her. The black feathers acting like little blades inflicting cuts and lacerations on her skin. The force of the magic sent her flying upward as it continued to tear at her before the torrential winds finally drove her down hard into the ground with a large thud. The dust that gathered around the impact zone dispersed to reveal a badly injured Wendy lying down and wincing in agony.
"WENDY!"
Everyone from Fairy Tail can hear the sudden change in Kazui's voice. Those who already heard the rather demonic tone knew that the boy was agitated. Carla and the Kurosaki family in the viewing balcony reserved for the guild's members know what was making the young Soul Reaper feel this way. To those who experienced it for the first time, there was a cold shiver that ran down their spine. The kicker though was the unexpected flaring of his spiritual pressure that coupled with the change in his voice.
Ichigo quickly noticed the sudden spike in his son's spiritual pressure. He saw that Orihime was giving him a certain took. The older reaper quickly understood what it meant and nodded, letting his wife handle their agitated son. He glanced at his teammates and the other team to see beads of sweat trailing down their faces. He had no doubt they felt the unexpected flare of Kazui power and judging by the expressions they made, they were concerned. He could also see the same expression on the other members of the guild. For a child, the sudden spike of spiritual energy was enough to match a low-level S-class wizard. This will undoubtedly catch the attention of the stronger members, especially Makarov and Mavis. The crazy thing here is that the child's zanpakūto was still sealed. If the boy suddenly called his shikāi while this agitated, it could spell a world of trouble. Ichigo just hoped that Orihime can calm their son down.
Feeling sore all over, Wendy mustered what little strength she had left to stand up. Barely having any magic, the young dragon slayer was determined to see this through regardless of her current state. This was her chance to prove that being chosen as a member of Team A wasn't a mistake and she would rather be damned than give up after going this far.
On her knees and barely able to stand, the bluenette watched as Sherria had a concerned and confused look on her. "Why?" the god slayer asked.
"Huh?"
"Why continue?" the pinkette clarified. "Why continue to fight when you know the winner is already decided?"
"It isn't just about winning," the young dragon slayer answered, her voice barely audible. "This is about proving myself to the guild. I'm not just fighting for myself but for the guildmates that struggled for us to reach this far. If I fail now, then their sacrifices will be for nothing." Wendy paused for a moment to catch her breath, yet the fire in her eyes never faltered. It was burning stronger. "This is about me fighting my inner fears, my inhibitions, and self-doubt. What's the point in fighting if I gave up? The trust and faith they put in me would only go to waste if I did that."
Sherria could only look in silence as she listened to the dragon slayer's words. The girl could feel the emotion in her words.
"But above all else," Wendy then placed her hand on the mask she had on her head, "…someone believes in me. Someone special gave me the courage back then to face the impossible and even now, his faith in me never faded." Taking the mask and looking at it for a moment, she had a gentle smile while she stroked the edges of the mask. "I was taught a valuable lesson. It was a lesson from someone powerful and wise." She then looked to Sherria who was listening intently. "Abandon your fears. Look forward. Move forward and never stop. Retreat and you will age. Hesitate and you will die." She stood upright and faced the god slayer in defiance. "I will not give up!" Wendy yelled. "I will continue to fight, and I will win! THIS IS MY RESOLVE!"
With that declaration, the hand that held the mask slowly raised until it was level with her head. Slowly, she placed the artifact on her face. That was when she felt it; a sudden sensation coursing through her. It reminded her of that thick and heavy feeling when she fought Ichigo along with Lisanna months ago. That same power was now making its way into her body, empowering not just her magic but her very soul. The fatigue that she had was gradually fading.
"Is this spiritual energy?"
After uttering those words, the air surrounding them became heavy. It took a while for Wendy to realize that she was the one releasing this pressure. It was odd, to be honest. She was once at the receiving end of something like this but now, she was the one giving it. This made her feel hopeful…and powerful.
Sherria was intimidated. The heavy sensation she was sensing was the same with Ichigo Kurosaki's when he first entered the arena a couple of days ago. Even if this wasn't as strong as the Soul Reaper's, it was still intimidating. The god slayer then noticed that Wendy's power began to spike. It was starting to grow at ridiculous levels. But there was something strange about this increase in power. It wasn't magic. It was something potent and was revitalizing the young dragon slayer. That said mysterious power wasn't just affecting Wendy magically but also physically. Her hair was changing color. From the usual blue hue, it turns into a light shade of pink before reverting.
"What the heck is this?" Sherria questioned no one in particular as she stepped back. She was weary, which was something rare for the god slayer. It's not often she would encounter something that would make her nervous. Usually, she just waves it off. This, however, was something she doesn't know. She had no idea what this power was and that was the problem.
The unknown.
Sherria had the power to kill a god, but this power was beyond that, and she doesn't have a single clue what it is.
Sherria did find out how much of a boost it gave the dragon slayer when she felt a punch burry in her stomach. A loud and surprised gasp escaped her mouth as spit flew away. The Lamia Scale sorceress barely had time to react. Wendy moved so fast that it was unnoticeable. However, the Sky Dragon Slayer didn't stop there as she swung her left leg up and struck Sherria in the temple, effectively putting her down on the ground.
Wendy was about to deal another punch when the god slayer noticed. Using her black winds, Sherria blasted herself off the ground and away from Wendy just in time to see the closed fist make an indentation on the ground. She was still clutching her stomach, lightly massaging the area that got hit while using her magic to heal the damage. However, that idea was soon thrown out when Wendy pounced on her, fist cocked ready for a punch. The pinkette crossed her arms and when the strike landed, she winced at how heavy it felt. She didn't notice a hand right at her abdomen until a blast of air pushed a few feet away. Sherria saw Wendy drop down and did a leg sweep, producing air that caused her to lose balance. This gave the dragon slayer the opening she needed to continue her onslaught.
"HOLY SHIT!"
There was never a better expression than that to describe the sudden power-up Wendy gained. It was unexpected and it came at the last minute when all hope seemed lost. After what could be the most inspiring speech, the tides of the battle shifted when the girl placed the strange mask she had onto her face. That simple act gave the dragon slayer the power boost needed to push the fight in her favor.
"Wendy's," Lucy stuttered with a disbelieving expression, "…actually pushing Sherria back."
"Oh yeah!" Natsu yelled, cheering at the impressive display. In his thoughts, he was proud of the girl he considers a little sister. The slight changes Wendy was experiencing were not lost to Natsu. He knew what those meant. "She's beginning to enter Dragon Force!"
"Look at her go!" Gray exclaimed with a wide smile.
Erza, on the other hand, was contemplating the power boost Wendy just had. It was spiritual energy, no doubt about it. It was the same power that Ichigo and his family had. She wondered how the girl was able to manage it until she remembered the mask. "It must've had Kazui's spiritual energy in it," she concluded. Looking at Lucy, the spirit mage seemed to arrive at the same conclusion when they shared glances and nodded at each other. Still, there was this nagging feeling in the back of Erza's mind. This newfound power was something that Wendy wasn't used to. In that regard, there was an off-chance that Wendy might be overwhelmed by her power.
The redhead knight turned her gaze towards someone with more knowledge on the matter.
Ichigo.
He had a scrutinizing expression directed mostly at Wendy.
"What are your thoughts on this, Ichigo?"
As for the aforementioned Soul Reaper, he was a bit concerned. The power Wendy suddenly gained was helping her in battle, but her body wasn't used to utilizing an energy source other than ethernano; much less something as potent as spiritual energy. It reminded him of when he first used Bankai against Byakuya Kuchiki. Inexperienced with using the newfound power, his body suffered from his spiritual pressure. That, in turn, led Zangetsu to take over his body to fight the 6th Division captain before he regained control.
It was a lesson he learned the hard way. He trained with his Bankai after that event to get better used to its overwhelming power. That said, Wendy's situation was different. This was simply a momentary power-up. Ichigo isn't sure if this will affect her in the long run but for now, he wishes that the little dragon slayer would end this fight quickly before she gets overwhelmed by her own strength.
There was something odd about her new powers. Though there was an improvement in her abilities, Wendy's body was slowly becoming heavy. After her last attack, she winced as the strain of her new strength begins to affect her. Spiritual energy was taxing to her since she never had it in her body before. It was potent; too potent and if this fight would go on any longer, her body will give out eventually.
"I can't last much longer," she said to herself. "This power…my body can't adjust to it. It's giving me the boost but it's also putting a lot of strain on me. I need to finish this now!"
Wendy charged at Sherria once again. The god slayer was desperate to find an opportunity to turn the battle in her favor but the sudden power boost in the dragon slayer made it difficult for her. All she could do was dodge each attack while treating the wounds she sustained from earlier. The god slayer somehow noticed that Wendy was becoming sluggish. The Fairy Tail girl's attacks were slowing down with each successive attempt. That doesn't mean that Wendy was no longer a threat; far from it. However, while this was the blessing she was waiting for, she wonders if she can capitalize on it now that her stamina was running on empty. She may be able to heal her wounds, there was still a major flaw in that magic of hers.
…And it seems Wendy was able to catch on to it.
"You can't recover your stamina with your healing magic, can you?"
That question caught Sherria by surprise. Wendy found out about her healing magic's weakness.
"You've been healing your wounds since I got the upper hand. I thought you'd be able to fight back once you healed yourself but all you did was try to block and dodge my attacks seeing as you don't have enough stamina to do a counterattack."
"You're right," the pinkette admitted. "My healing magic can't restore my stamina even if I can use it on myself. Be that as it may, you're also becoming slower. You look like your body is straining from the inside."
Wendy's eyes widened before morphing into a smirk. "True. This power…is the first time my body has had it and I'm having trouble adapting. Still, I'm willing to go through this pain to win. Everything is riding on this fight, and I won't let a power backlash stop me."
Sherria was quiet while she listened to Wendy's defiance. There was something about the girl's determination she admired. That fire in her eyes that can be seen from the mask, was unyielding. She was going to like this girl. "You're an amazing person, Wendy," said Sherria catching Wendy in confusion. "You're strong, not just in power but in the heart. When I heard those words about resolve, it showed me what kind of person you are." She then smiled. "When this is over, can the two of us be friends?"
Although Sherria can't see it, Wendy was smiling behind her mask. She had the same opinion about the god slayer. The girl was jolly, caring, and optimistic. There was no denying that she and Sherria will have a good friendship by the end of the day. "I'd love to."
"Thank you, Wendy." With all her wounds healed yet barely any stamina left, Sherria summoned the last of her remaining power. "Let's give it everything we got."
Wendy did the same as her winds circled her fist. "May the best Sky Maiden win."
They charged at each other. Fatigued, low on magic, and suffering from strained bodies, the two young wizards exchanged blows. This continued even when their magical winds vanished and all that remained were their bare fists. None of them would stop. None of them would give in. The young mages were giving all they've got despite the toll that's affecting their bodies. Sherria was beginning to falter, and the power Wendy had was fading evidenced by the cracking mask. Still, that didn't stop them. They will fight until their bodies gave give no more.
Suddenly, the buzzer rang. The competing wizards were mid-swing when they stopped. Confused, they slowly realized that the time limit for the match was fully consumed.
It was a draw.
Regardless of the outcome, the audience cheered all the same. What they saw was that most memorable fight in the entirety of the Grand Magic Games. Despite the fatigue and struggle, these two young women gave it everything they had for their respective guilds. They also proved that individually, they were capable of standing on their own and show the world what they were capable of. Indeed, the future of the magical world is bright with these two being at the forefront.
Sherria's legs finally gave out, fatigue finally taking its toll. She fell to her knees and looked to the sky, breathing heavily.
Wendy's mask finally shattered, leaving only a small piece covering her right eye. Her body became heavy and she fell into someone's arms. Looking up, a smile found its way on her face when she saw who caught her.
"Kazui."
"You were amazing, Wendy," the young Soul Reaper said flashing his smile at the girl.
A bright dome of light covered the injured children and began healing their wounds. Sherria was surprised to see that her stamina was being restored as well as her clothes. Wendy, on the other hand, knew who this belonged to. Turning to her left, she saw Orihime walking towards them with her hairpins glowing. With the Fullbringer were the rest of Team A. Even the mages of Lamia Scale came down.
After they were healed, Wendy and Sherria stood up and faced each other. They both had bright smiles before sharing a hug. It took a good minute before they released one another and went to their respective teams.
"You were great, Wendy," Lucy said as she approached the dragon slayer.
"You were awesome!" Natsu screamed ecstatically.
"You did good, kiddo," Gray praised the girl.
"That was the most impressive fight I witnessed today," Erza remarked while making her way to Wendy.
Despite that, the young dragon slayer doesn't feel like she accomplished anything. She didn't win. "But I didn't win," she said under her breath.
"Don't be down, Wendy," Sherria said, surprising her. "I didn't win either. Besides, I got to be friends with someone wonderful as you!"
"Sherria…" Wendy could only mutter in astonishment.
"It was never about winning, Wendy."
Everyone looked to see Ichigo approaching them. The hybrid reaper had a smile on his face; a smile of a proud mentor or teacher seeing his student achieve a goal.
"You came here to prove yourself and you did just that." Once Ichigo was in front of the girl, he went down to her eye level. "It was about proving your conviction…your belief. But most importantly, it was about your resolve. You fought when you knew that everything seemed lost, and when your newfound power was hurting you, surrender was never in your thoughts. Wendy, you persevered. Even if you didn't win, you just accomplished what you set out to do, and that is to show the world that you can stand among the likes of Natsu, Erza, and the rest."
Wendy was almost in tears. Ichigo's words shook her heart and drove away the doubts in herself. She felt a hand ruffle her hair before looking back at the death god.
"Your battle wasn't just against with Sherria over here, but also yourself. You came here full of doubt and weighing expectations. But like I said, you cast these inhibitions away and looked forward. You never stopped persisting. You showed me, you showed Kazui, you showed your team, you showed the guild, and finally, you showed everyone that you have it in you."
Ichigo pointed a finger onto Wendy's chest where the heart lay.
"In your heart is the soul of a warrior."
A/N: Vacation's finally arrived and I've got to say, it feels good to post a chapter after more than a month of inactivity. That said, I can't promise that I can consistently publish chapters every week since I try to look at previous ones and look for possible corrections. Not only that, but work has also been affecting part of my time for writing this.
I will, however, not stop from writing and release a new chapter once it's ready. Until then, give me your thoughts on this one and leave a like or favorite if you find the story good. As always, I appreciate feedback of any kind so long as it's not outright flaming. Constructive criticisms are preferable.
See you next time.