Black Bull Banishment

by stringdog

To save Asta and Nero from execution following the Elf Incident the Wizard King has struck a deal with Damnatio Kira. What is the deal? Why to banish the Black Bulls to a place called Earth Land for 6 months while he works to clear Asta and Nero's names. What could possibly go wrong with this?

35. Chapter 35: Warrior Women of Fiore

Here is the thirty-fifth chapter in this story released in accordance with my upload schedule for this story. The 5 way brawl isn't the only mass fight going on in the Battle Royale, as that begins another is also about to start elsewhere but which will be just as impactful, if not more so. That means it's time to shift focus and see what else is going on in the Battle Royale and all the implications that it may have. That is all that I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and while there are no questions that need answers but there is a guest review that needs a response, so I will do that now. Do keep them coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate.

To KGBeastboy (guest), thank you for your review and suggestions. To the first one, that is interesting and while Astaroth might not be the best I will see if any work including Astaroth. Also, Queen is considered as high as King these days and Erza isn't the Guild Master (at the time she earned her title) so something like Devil King might work for Asta if they decide to give him a nickname. As for Sheila, I've thought about it and she will not join the Black Bulls. I'm not going to have characters from one series join organizations of the others beyond temporary assignments like the Wizard King being a part of Fairy Tail for 6 years while he was in Earth Land or the one Fairy Tail character who will join the Black Bulls while they are in Fiore when that happens in 20 or so chapters' time. The most I can do is provide Sheila with an Anti-Magic weapon and mentor her a little in a weapon based combat style if I decide to keep her sacrifice (which is likely as her magic returning did ruin the importance of that moment) and other factors align. Also she wouldn't be unpredictable the way Asta is, Asta is that because he's an anomaly in the world of Black Clover who shouldn't exist whereas Sheila is neither of that world nor was she born without magic. In a sense she'd fall under the same designation as Ryuya for sacrificing her power. I'm willing to explore her getting weapons and training but that's it, she won't join the Black Bulls nor will she become more than a minor supporting character who, if several things that I am still figuring out actually work out, will appear as an additional ally in the final war but that's for the potential third and final story in this series a long way off. I hope you can understand my decision on this matter and can respect it. I will listen to suggestions, there is an entire arc that is critical to the plot of this story coming up that I had been struggling with until a suggestion showed me the perfect path for what I wanted, but there are going to be things I either can't do or am uncomfortable doing and Sheila joining the Black Bulls is one of them. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.

That is it for this pre-chapter note so it is time to sit back and enjoy the thirty-fifth chapter in Black Bull Banishment.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these two great animes.

Chapter 35: Warrior Women of Fiore

"Someone's coming." Asta said as he and Noelle stood on the rooftop of a distinctive tower in Crocus that was their base of operations and from where they'd watched Magna's wins over Eve and Ren, Luck's opening exchange with Olga, Gray's win over Rufus and the set up to what was about to become a 5 way brawl for masculine supremacy before they sensed it. "Wait, two actually. Both female and strong from their ki though one has something more to it that I can't place yet. I don't have a good enough baseline but I'm sure I know who one is."

"Yeah I smell them." Noelle said sniffing the air as they stood still adapting to the heightened senses that was a result of her magic's evolution. "One's closer than the other, her scent is a mix of sugar and oiled steel if I had to guess, odd mix that. The other, all I can tell is female, no baseline or distinguishing scent beyond that."

"The former is Erza, that swordswoman in Fairy Tail." Asta said walking to the edge of the roof and away from where the two girls approaching were coming from. "She's who I will likely have to face when the dust settles. The other I don't know but it's not that Sabertooth woman, I got a good read on her when you fought. If I had to guess it's the other swordswoman in this, the one with the sheathed katana from that all female Guild. It's going to be a brawl but I know you can handle it Noelle. Hang in there and take out who you can and I'll come when I'm needed."

"Thanks, I'll be fine Asta." Noelle said with a little flush to her cheeks at the confidence Asta had in her. "And besides, all I have to do is hold out long enough for you to make your move. You're the one who can actually beat that Erza woman but I'll make sure I hold out until it's time. However, if Minerva shows up she's mine."

"Of course, you did beat her once and I know you can do it again." Asta said as he reached the edge. "I'll be nearby, don't worry."

At that Asta pulled out his Demon-Slayer and made it hover on the other side of the ledge. He then leapt onto it and flew area below to a point he'd found earlier where he'd be safely away from the initial fight but ready to act as soon as he was needed.

Noelle knew that though, she had Asta's scent memorized now so she would know where he was during the battle to come and it reassured her on multiple levels, not that she'd tell him that. The fact that he was here was all she needed to boost her confidence and ensure that she was ready as she turned to the other scent that walked up the path to the rooftop and onto as Noelle got ready. A second later she saw the telltale bright red hair making it clear who she was facing so the time had come to activate her spell.

"Water Creation Magic: Valkyrie Armor." Noelle said as her grimoire flipped to the right page and glowed before she was covered in her water armor, lance to the side as Erza came to a halt several feet from her. "Hello Titania, expecting someone else?"

---

Erza walked calmly through Crocus to her designated point as the other battles raged or were set up around her as there was no need to rush and waste energy hurrying to get there as she wasn't the first of them to fight. No, the first she knew would be Gray's battle with Rufus and she trusted he'd win that one, which he already had but she'd not been paying attention. That would remove one member of Sabertooth but that left the others out there and along with Jura it meant that both Sabertooth and Lamia Scale were still threats if they got the necessary wins.

Fairy Tail needed those wins to keep the outside threats away and pull ahead of the Black Bulls but they also had to beat the Black Bulls. They were the true threat, the leaders coming into today and if Fairy Tail beat all of them then they would win this. However, that was no walk in the park as that guild had come out of nowhere and won 3 of the 4 events and showed their battle skills as well so they had to be careful especially with one of their members, the one Mavis was most worried about, Asta.

He was Erza's ultimate target and as she began to climb the path to the roof of the small, wide, tower thing she expected he'd be there waiting for her with his guildmate Noelle Silva. Mavis hadn't been able to predict Asta or what he'd do but she'd predicted Noelle and deduced that Asta would be with her, their bond in the battle with Ichiya and Nichiya was enough to show the First Master that all Erza needed to do was find Noelle and she would find Asta nearby.

Besides that, though, Master Mavis had deduced that Minerva would come after Noelle after the initial exchanges of the Battle Royale had occurred. While she wasn't certain she was sure that if Minerva fought Noelle out of water the Sabertooth woman would have the advantage over the Black Bull girl and not the other way around so Noelle would need a strong backup like Asta to deal with her.

It wasn't a stretch to assume that Minerva would come for Noelle, Noelle had humiliated her in the Naval Battle and from what they could gather Minerva wasn't one to accept something like that with grace. Therefore all Erza had to do was find Noelle and she'd find Minerva as well as finding Asta. If she beat all of them, which she fully intended to, then Fairy Tail should win.

However, as Erza reached the end of the path and walked onto the roof of the tower she was surprised, though she didn't let it show on her face, as the only person standing there, and facing directly towards her, was Noelle Silva. As she looked at the silver haired girl the strange book next to her, what Mavis called a grimoire, glowed in the air and flipped open.

"Water Creation Magic: Valkyrie Armor." Noelle said as her grimoire came to a stop and glowed brighter before she was covered in her water armor, swirling lance in her right hand, as Erza came to a halt before her. "Hello Titania, expecting someone else?"

"I wasn't expecting you to be alone but I was at least expecting you." Erza said calmly as she got into a fighting stance and requipped a pair of short katana-like swords into her hands holding them in reverse grips her senses on edge as she prepared to face someone she'd never fought before. "I thought Minerva at least would have found you and that Asta would be here as well."

"I don't know where Minerva is but I'm expecting her to crash this party at some point." Noelle said as the scent of the other approaching woman intensified showing that she was close and this time there was bloodlust in the scent so Noelle knew that whoever it was she was about to attack. "As for Asta, well if you want to face him then you'll have to go through me to do so and I won't make that easy."

"No, you won't, I can sense your magic power and it's up there with the strongest that I've sensed." Erza said as she tensed ready for it and she'd meant what she'd said, Noelle's power levels were likely in the top percent of Fiore based on what Erza had experienced. "And you're a Dragon Slayer, they're always strong so it will be a pleasure to get a point off you. Let's see if you're as good out of water as you are in it."

At that Erza rocketed off the ground and rush Noelle. She had the armor to properly face Noelle but she wanted to save that for later, she needed to save her magic for someone like Asta after all so she'd only use that armor if Noelle proved that she merited it. That and from what they'd gathered only Asta really knew close combat in the Black Bulls so if she could reach Noelle and duel her she'd have the edge.

For her part Noelle was ready as she held up her lance and was about to channel a normal, albeit point blank, Sea Dragon's Roar through it when the scent arrived. Rather than engage it she leapt back, her armor adding to her strength and speed to leap backwards and away from Erza. That surprised Erza but as Noelle leapt she too sensed it and turned in time to see Kagura land on the roof and rush right at her.

"Kagura?" Erza asked as the other woman slashed at her with her sheathed katana and suddenly they were engaging in a furious series of strikes. "This wasn't part of the plan."

"Plans aren't supposed to be perfect, if you can't adapt you'll lose!" Noelle shouted as she used the time to aim. "Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Roar!"

At that she blasted the snarling dragon of water out of her lance and across the roof to the dueling women. The brief exchange had told Erza enough that Kagura was indeed skilled while Kagura herself was still seeing if Erza was worth her warrior status, which so far she was. Well that and the other deeply personal issues she had regarding Erza and her relationship with Jellal but right now she had bigger problems as the water dragon shot at them as they locked blades, Kagura's still sheathed.

Mermaid Heel hadn't ignored the Black Bulls in this, they couldn't given their skills and Millianna's desire for vengeance on Finral for their matchup had been part of their preparations, but with the change to their team negating what Millianna wanted and Kagura's own desire to take down Erza they'd been push until after Erza went down. However, that wasn't the case as Noelle was here and Kagura would have to deal with her as well. She did beat Minerva so she was a worthy adversary at least.

That was why when she leapt back from the water dragon she quickly increased the gravity on Noelle to bring her to her knees and crack the ground as the spot where she and Erza had been dueling exploded in a shower of broken stones, dust, and water as the spell hit it. That should hold Noelle for a while and she landed and rushed Erza again.

For her part Erza had also leapt back and was about to charge Noelle and take her out fast before dealing with Kagura, who was no doubt Mermaid Heel's team leader so a lot of points were at stake so she needed to fully focus on Kagura if possible. However, she felt the gravity shift on Noelle and so turned in time to get her blades up and intercepted Kagura's sheathed katana. That led to them engaging in another series of furious strikes as they dueled on the roof while the commentators enjoyed every moment of it.

Noelle grit her teeth as she watched the other women duel, the gravity pressing her into the ground keeping her from it but she pushed through it as she lowered her lance to it. This was nothing, so long as her lance was in touch with the magic it was under her control no matter what it was.

That was how she'd negated Minerva's Spatial Magic in the water as the entire bubble was magic so it was all under her control back then but she couldn't do that here, not in the open where there wasn't enough magic in the air. She could in a bubble of magical water but not here. However, the gravity on her was still magic and she could negate it so she did as she touched the tip of her lance to it.

The moment she did she was able to push past the gravity as she drilled her lance into the ground and quickly reversed it back to normal. The other girls didn't realize this and Noelle used that to her advantage as she rose, panting a little, before she pushed off the ground and at them. Water streamed from her feet as she shot forward now a few inches above the rooftop with her lance back and just as Erza and Kagura broke apart from another exchange she was on them and thrusting her lance at Kagura's chest.

Kagura sensed the attack coming just in time to turn and get her sheathed blade up so that the tip of the lance on the blade her eyes wide at Noelle's return to the battle. As the water lance pushed against her, Kagura tried to really increase the gravity but it had no effect now.

"What the…" Kagura said. "How is my magic not affecting you?"

"Not telling." Noelle said as she pushed Kagura back with a final thrust causing the Mermaid Heel woman to slide along the roof as Noelle floated just above it. "But I'm not out yet."

"I wasn't expecting you to be." Erza said as she rushed form the side and slashed at Noelle but Noelle had smelt her coming and leant back so that the katana swiped the air above her as it passed inches from her face and desperately wishing that she had another weapon to balance this out as she shifted her lance and thrust it at Erza but she intercepted it with her other katana and the moment they met Noelle knew that while Erza stored her weapons with magic they were still real weapons. "You're both deadly, this is going to serious indeed."

As she said that Erza noticed Noelle's grimoire glow brightly and flip to a blank page before writing quickly appeared there to fill it. She had no idea what that meant but Noelle did and one glance showed her that it was just what she needed in this situation as Kagura closed in while Erza and Noelle were locked up as Noelle's current position didn't give her enough leverage to push Erza back, especially after Erza added her second katana to it to try and break the block.

Noelle would deal with why this happened and how fast it was later but for now she was more than happy to take it and it was her first truly new spell with her evolved magic. It was time to properly see what it could do as she raised her body so that she wasn't leaning back anymore.

"Sea Dragon Slayer Magic: Sea Dragon's Trident!" Noelle shouted and the water on her left arm rippled and morphed forming a long, three pronged trident of water that flowed into her left hand as the armor replaced itself seconds after forming the weapon. "Just what I needed."

As soon as Noelle had her trident she thrust it at Kagura as she brought her sheathed blade down on them and intercepted it between the middle and right prong. As she did Noelle used her strength, enhanced by the armor, to thrust upwards and push the katana away as the three girls locked up for a moment while the commentators gushed over it.

That moment was all that was needed for the final combatant to make her move at last as suddenly a spatial portal appeared above them and a pair of white gloved arms shot out to grab Erza and Kagura's faces before throwing the girls to the side as Minerva appeared through her portal. As she used her grabs to pull herself through her portal, Minerva flipped forward so that she kicked Noelle in the back sending her flying forward before spinning and tossing Kagura and Erza away as well.

The result was that Noelle faceplanted into the ground but bounced off it and flipped and spun in the air as water shot out of her heels to make her move as graceful as possible before she landed facing Minerva as she rose from her dramatic entrance. At the same time both Kagura and Erza got to their feet as well so that all four women were standing facing each other in a loose square on the roof.

"If you girls don't mind I'd love to join this love to join in on this little gathering." Minerva said as she looked around. "Show you what a real woman can do."

"Holy cow what an entrance from Minerva and out of nowhere!" Chapati said his excitement sky high as the four women looked at each other. "What started as a potential one on one, became a three way fight, and now has evolved into a proper four woman battle! It's not just any women though, thanks to history and current performances in the Grand Magic Games these are without question the four strongest female wizards in all of Fiore and they're about to go head to head to head to head in an all-out slug fest to decide who is truly the strongest woman in Fiore in this epic showdown! I can't wait!"

Chapati wasn't wrong and as the women looked at each other they all knew it to be true. Erza had been considered one of the strongest women in the kingdom, if not the strongest, before the mass disappearance of Fairy Tail's top members. In that void both Kagura and Minerva had risen up to fill that spot for different reasons. Then Erza came back and showed she'd not lost a step in Pandemonium. However, the next day Noelle punctuated the Black Bulls' rise to a serious contender when she'd defeated Minerva in the Naval Battle and seriously damaged Sabertooth while ensuring that she too was in the conversation for strongest woman in Fiore.

All that meant one thing. These were the warrior women of Fiore and they were about to go at it to see who was truly the best. Well, providing there weren't any surprises or cheap moves in store as the women squared off and the magic power radiated around them the tension building just waiting to be broken with the first move.

However, for a moment they all just stood there, Erza with her two katanas in reverse grips, Kagura with Archenemy on her right hand holding its sheath where the tape was keeping it sheathed, Noelle with her land and trident out before her and slightly to the sides and Minerva unarmed as she stood there with a confident stance. The power present was unreal and those watching in the stands or on the battlefield be it due to having been knocked out and come to or in cases like Asta and Sting able to watch as they weren't engaged in battle yet were muttering about what to expect from the fight.

Why wouldn't they? You had the Fairy Queen who'd bested 100 enemies in Pandemonium, the supposed strongest woman in Fiore, the strongest member of the current number 1 Guild and the upstart who'd shocked the games when she'd defeated said strongest member of the current top Guild like she was nothing in the Naval Battle. This was going to be a fight for the ages and would rival the fight that 5 men were having at that very moment though they weren't aware of that or what had happened in the brief exchange in Charmy's square as they all stood there looking at each other.

"No matter who I face in battle, I will beat them." Erza said breaking the silence as Kagura glared at her trying to understand the redhead who was her primary target in this. "You can be called the strongest, you can be the best in your Guild, you can defeat the strongest, you can be a Dragon Slayer, none of you will defeat me."

"Right now my Guild's image is tarnished and the three Guilds responsible are all here with me now." Minerva said as Kagura continued to try to understand why Erza would protect a man like Jellal after all she'd been through, though that made Erza her enemy and she'd deal with her as soon as she could get rid of the other two women. "These last few matches and all the loses we've suffered have been annoying to the point that we may not win."

Minerva paused to see if one of the others would dare to interrupt her. When they didn't she just smirked and continued to make it clear that she was the queen here and they were nothing but pawns to her.

"Still, in this very moment I have a golden opportunity." Minerva said. "Fairy Tail, Mermaid Heel, and especially personal to me, the Black Bulls, you have all caused the most damage to us. It's time I reclaimed Sabertooth's place at the top and eliminating the three of you all at once will make it clear and remind people that that loss was an abnormally as I wipe the floor with my inferiors."

"You lost because you faced your better." Noelle said simply none of her usual arrogance in her tone, she was speaking the truth about the Naval Battle though there was some bravado as out of water she was at a disadvantage against Minerva's Spatial Magic as Minerva began to glow with magical power that began to shake the area. "And if you think that paltry display of power can affect a royal then you've got another thing coming. I'll show you what a true better is."

"It is certainly ambitious of you, Minerva." Erza said as Noelle began to let out her own magic power which added to things and her body glowed with a blue aura. "Let's see if you can back that up. You, Rufus, Sting, Rogue, Yukino, you have all lost in battle over the last week. In fact by now Rufus should have lost again and to us this time, not the Black Bulls. Soon Olga will join them be it at Laxus's hand or someone else's. you're not what you claim."

"Enough talk." Kagura said as both she and Erza also began to release their magic and glowed showing that all four women were indeed gifted when it came to magic power as the whole tower shook from what they were releasing. "We will only settle this by combat so let's fight."

The power that they were all showing was as much a competition as anything as they all continued to show it off. Honestly it was a display that wouldn't be out of place in a men's bathroom as all 4 tried to outdo each other with the power that could be felt as far as the Colosseum itself. The ground shook and stones lifted into the air as the women looked at each other before finally ending their pissing contest as they stopped releasing their power with none of them backing down. As they did the stones fell so that when the last one hit the ground they all moved at once.

The women were effectively equidistant from each other so they'd reach the convergence point at almost the same time though three had long melee weapons so they had greater reach and used that as Erza and Kagura brought their swords to bear while Noelle thrust her lance out to intercept them. It was the larger weapon and the spinning water of it might work to her advantage.

However, something better for Noelle worked as Minerva also engaged with spatial spheres around her hands that would work as a mix of shields and blunt damage objects it seemed. Plus Minerva was a hair faster than the others so reached it first so that the two swords and the tip of Noelle's lance all hit it the right hand sphere at the same time.

If it wasn't a battle Noelle would have grinned as she felt her lance connect with the sphere and unlike swords which slammed into it but not through, her lance drilled right into it. Any magic that made contact with her lance was under Noelle's control and this was no different as she pushed forward as the sphere glowed and drove her lance through it as if drilling.

"What the…" Kagura said as she pushed against the sphere and noticed Noelle was actually able to penetrate it and moving through it towards Minerva's hand. "Again?"

"Damn brat." Minerva grunted as she tried to fight it and failed. "Seems like you're still as much of a nuisance as the last time."

"I told you before, magic in contact with my lance is mine to control." Noelle said as she thrust her trident that she'd kept low at Minerva's gut. "These spheres won't stop it but thanks for the distraction."

"Bitch." Minerva said as she got her left her left hand down in time to intercept it and this time it was blocked though it locked them all up as they struggled against each other. "I'll…"

Before she could finish Noelle had pushed through enough of the sphere to destabilize it and it glowed before it blew up and forced the women to all take a quick leap back from it as smoke billowed out and covered the entire area for a moment. When it cleared they were all unharmed by it and Minerva had even reformed the sphere on her right hand and they all attacked again.

To call it a chaotic mess would be an understatement. Right away Kagura went for Erza who got her left sword up in time to block it while using her right to block a strike from Minerva's left sphere. As they did that, Noelle leapt over the block and thrust down with her lance piercing Minerva's right hand sphere again and going into it before Minerva dismissed it and pulled her arm back as she lunged for Erza who had just repelled Kagura but rather than engage she simply leapt over Minerva. That put her in the air with Noelle who twisted and slashed her lance at Erza as Ezra slashed her sword down onto Minerva.

Both Erza and Minerva blocked the respective attacks but the force of Noelle's swipe sent Erza flying backwards though she twisted in the air and landed on the ground sliding over it on her feet. As she did Kagura had taken the opening to kick at Minerva as she landed but Minerva leapt back and away from that and got her hands up just as Noelle blasted raw Water Magic at her from the air as she began to fly around.

In all that chaos Erza had stopped sliding and instantly rushed forward as Kagura landed, slashed through a water blast that Noelle had sent at her and flipping so that she kicked Kagura in the face. The blow landed and sent Kagura flying backwards through the railing and over the edge of the roof and towards a patio several stories below.

Erza's momentum carried her over as well which was fine as she was going for Kagura at the moment but as she neared Kagura the other girl slashed through the air and changed gravity so that she could land in a crouch while Erza slammed into the ground with enough force to crack it and kick up dust. It wasn't enough to take Erza out but it did keep her from landing a strong blow on Kagura.

However, the moment that Kagura had gone over Minerva vanished using Territory to evade Noelle's increasing barrage of water as Noelle used it to try and get close to Minerva and appearing on the patio as Erza crashed into it leaving only Noelle on the higher level. Noelle was fine with that though as she turned and flew over down to where the others were and prepared for a strike from above the moment she had the shot.

As she did that, Kagura had noticed Minerva standing there but didn't have time to do anything else as Minerva grew the sphere on her right hand and then blasted it at her as Erza leapt up from where she'd hit swords ready for a strike on Minerva. There was another explosion that obscured Kagura and Minerva quickly turned to look up to Erza and saw Noelle higher in the sky above them and smiled as she lined up her attack to take out two of the women she was fighting.

"Victory is mine." Minerva said but it was premature Kagura slammed the end of her sheathed sword into Minerva's side, right where there was an exposed patch of skin, and sent her flying away before she could get off her spell.

As she did Erza reached them and with Minerva not there she instead kicked Kagura again this time just under her left armpit but she rolled with it as Erza landed. That was just the moment Noelle needed to strike.

"Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Roar!" Noelle yelled from above them and all three, Minerva still on her back looked up to see Noelle floating in the sky above them water misting from the boots of her armor and lance pointed down.

As soon as they saw Noelle a massive, snarling, dragon of water that all three women knew well burst from the lance and tore down at the three women, roiling in the air. It shot at them fast and hard the magic palpable in the air just like it had the last few times Noelle had used it.

Minerva just grinned as she used Territory to vanish and get out of the way of it landing in her feet with her hands above her head in a casting position and grateful for Noelle's attack allowing her to move away. The other two weren't as fortunate as the Water Magic spell crashed down and into the ground between them with enough force to punch a hole in the ground to whatever was below the patio thing and send stones, debris, dust, and water everywhere as the rest of the dragon flew through the hole and vanished before it impacted and exploded on a lower floor.

Most would have been hit in the explosion and probably taken out but not Kagura and Erza. They were seasoned warriors and easily leapt back while using their swords to slash through or deflect any debris as Noelle flew down keeping a safe distance above them but wary as the dust cleared. However before it did Minerva struck finally able to use the spell she'd been waiting to use.

"Yi Ragde!" Minerva said and there was a flash of magic from her hands and suddenly Noelle found herself in a giant spatial bubble floating in it grimoire and all and unable to move with the bubble notably large enough that her lance couldn't touch any part of it. "Got you and there's no way that you can use that damned lance of yours in this. All of you are mine now."

After the dust cleared it showed Erza and Kagura were also both in spatial bubbles and floating off the ground. Clearly this was what Minerva had been looking for and the chaos of moving the fight to the lower level and Noelle's attack had been just the opening that she needed.

"No!" Kagura exclaimed.

"What is this?" Erza asked.

"Damn, so this is what it's like to fight her without the field advantage that I had in the Naval Battle." Noelle said as spatial spheres appeared on Minerva's hands and she began to chant in a language none of them recognized. "And this doesn't look good, best get ready."

"Neir, wilg, mion…" Minerva began as she moved her arms and the area shook from the magic she was using while Noelle's grimoire flipped to a new page at the front of it showing that at least it could move in the bubble. "Derus erkantia! Yagde Rigoria!"

The magic was the Eighteen Battle Gods of Yakuma and the moment that Minerva finished there was a massive blast that shot out from her hands and at the three captured women. As it did their spatial spheres fell as the magic seemed to grow around them before compressing and then exploding in a massive blast that caved in a solid chunk of the structure that they were all standing, or floating over, as it sent a beam of yellow light high into the air. The shock wave was such that the nearby body of water was affected by it as the whole crowd in the stadium stared in slack jawed shock at what had happened.

Those around who could pay attention, the blast had occurred right around the time that Magna and Luck's combo spell had hit Olga so those fighters weren't aware of it as they were preoccupied by their own intense brawl, did and either looked to where the dust was now billowing into the air, ignored it as Sting was still not engaging per Sabertooth's strategy, or in Asta's case glad that he was on the other side of the building. He did use it though to move around and see what was going on and whether or not it was time for him to act.

That would take a moment as a good portion of the building had been blow apart and the combatants forced to a lower level while also covering any damage Noelle's Sea Dragon's Roar had done. However, as the smoke cleared it revealed all three were still standing. Erza and Kagura had some minor scrapes on them and their clothes were torn with Kagura's notably showing her impressive cleavage as they stood in defensive stances while Noelle, no longer in her armor, stood in a dome of water with swirling whirlpools in it looking unharmed by everything.

Noelle had managed to get a Sea Dragon's Lair up the moment that the spatial sphere holding her had vanished, it was the spell that Noelle had been preparing, and Noelle fell to the ground but defending against the blast had taken all her focus so she wasn't in her armor anymore nor did she have her new trident. Still she was in it and kept the dome up as her grimoire flipped ready for what came next.

"How can they all still be standing!" Chapati said the amazement in his voice as the crowd cheered and gaped at the shock that all three had survived Minerva's powerful attack. "This is an unreal display of magic power!"

If there had been any doubt before it was over now. There was no question that these were the four strongest women in Fiore and with the ability to survive a spell like that it was now really unclear who'd win it. Which meant that it was time for Minerva to stop playing this like a straightforward fight as she realized that she wouldn't be able to beat all three of them with power alone.

"How interesting, it would appear that I've underestimated the strength each of you possess." Minerva said as she stood on a broken chunk of stone so that she was above them and looking down on the three women before her. "I have learned many things from engaging all of you personally. You all have so much power that is raging inside you, I thought that it was just circumstance and tools that allowed you to beat us but I was wrong. Continuing on like this won't get us anywhere so I say we change this up a bit, for two of you at least."

At that Minerva dropped the fur shall thing she'd had on her this entire time and a spatial sphere appeared next to her. It was a containment sphere of sorts and as it was formed a barely conscious and scantily clad girl with long brown hair done up in two cat ears and 4 red tattoos on her face appeared in it groaning in pain. Her arms were up as she floated vertically in the sphere showing that she'd been captured and revealing where the second remaining member of Mermaid Heel had been and why it hadn't been confirmed that she was out.

"See, in the early part of this battle while you lot were either waiting or coming here I was busy and found myself a stray kitten that I knew that I just had to play with." Minerva said smiling at them as Millianna twitched and moaned in pain her eyes closed. "Especially because two of you seem to actually care for this alley cat."

"Millianna." Erza and Kagura said at the same time as Noelle stared wide eyed in horror at the display.

While Noelle didn't know Millianna at all, the only thing she really knew was that Finral had had to make her fall for almost half an hour in an attempt to force her to surrender in their battle but had failed thus resulting in a tie while showing how determined Millianna was, she knew that this was wrong. You didn't treat another person like this and given the pain she was in it was clear that whatever Minerva was doing to restrain Millianna wasn't gentle and that Minerva was enjoying inflicting that pain.

The Sabertooth woman clearly had a sadistic side, a side that didn't belong in a legal Wizard Guild and reminded Noelle too much about the worst nobles back home who used their rank and power to exploit the commoners. She may not know the other girl but that didn't mean she'd let this slide and as she stood in her dome Noelle began to glow with magic as her rage built up and she prepared just waiting for an opening that she knew would come. After all, the benefit of enhanced sense was that she could smell who was coming and he'd be just as pissed as she was when he saw this.

"What are you playing at Minerva?" Erza asked.

"Playing? Well why don't you look at her face all twisted with pain." Minerva said with a chuckle. "The sphere she's in constantly drains her magic power so it's excruciating for but it's keeping her conscious and technically it's not a capture so she's not out of the Battle Royale, yet."

"So you've taken her hostage." Erza said. "To make us surrender to you."

"No that won't save her and besides the Black Bull here isn't as invested in her as you two are so I'd still have to deal with her." Minerva said as both Erza and Kagura growled at her. "Don't worry, I have a much more entertaining plan in mind. You lot are too strong so I'm going to change the game. Yes, those scornful looks speak volumes about what you want so if you want this kitten back you'll play my game."

"If your game isn't to force us to surrender then release her at once." Erza said. "This is a fight between the four of us, there's no need to bring Millianna into it as well."

"Perhaps in a bit, once I am entertained, I'll let her go but not until after I show you how a Queen wages war." Minerva said and that only added to Noelle's anger as once again this bitch was mocking royalty because this was not how true royalty fought. "You're nothing but pawns compared to me and you'll soon learn your place."

"This is your last chance." Kagura said as stones began to lift around her. "Release my friend and I will allow you to live."

"If you want to save her then come and take her from me." Minerva said as Millianna sobbed and writhed in the sphere. "If you can that is."

"I will and for the second time this week I'll feast on tiger." Kagura said and before any of them could process it she was already in front of Minerva sword to her side ready to strike but Minerva was clearly unphased by Kagura's impressive display of speed. "You had your chance and now you will…"

"Careful little mermaid, this ones rather tough to swallow unlike the weakling you ate earlier." Minerva said interrupting Kagura. "And in this situation I control the terrain."

At that there was a flash and suddenly Erza was where Minerva had been and Minerva were Erza had been forcing Erza to block the strike. For good measure Minerva also moved Noelle to behind the other two girls and out of her water dome just in case the Black Bull brat got any ideas.

Noelle just blinked at that as she was now standing on the broken ground away from where she'd been as the other girls locked blades. Her grimoire had been transported with her though that was likely because it was bound to her soul but the surprise had caused Noelle to lose momentary focus on her spell and the dome of water collapsed.

"Oh that's what she was trying to do to me in the Naval Battle." Noelle noted. "Damn that is a good spell."

"Now that you're in position you ladies can battle it out and don't forget the raging bull and Dragon Slayer with you, she's no doubt going to intervene and add to everything." Minerva said as she vanished again and appeared on some of the ruins above them Millianna still in her sphere next to her and looking down at the three women with a triumphant smirk on her face as she knew that she'd won. "I'll take on the victor once she's…"

That was all that Minerva got out before it happened. She'd not realized that she'd put herself in the worst position possible as she'd not noticed the newcomer, well he'd been here the entire time but to the battle at hand he was a newcomer, about to act regardless but by moving to look down on those she saw as pawns Minerva had inadvertently put herself on the same level Asta was on.

He'd been moving carefully the moment he sensed the sudden arrival of a 5th source of ki, one that was clearly in a lot of pain, and heard what was going on. He may not know the girl being held captive but he couldn't let her suffer so he was going to act as soon as he could because that's what a Magic Knight did, he protected people from those who would do them harm. That and he had seen the teleporting so he was sure that Minerva was going to flee the area soon if he didn't act right away.

"No you won't!" Asta roared interrupting Minerva as he attacked. "Noelle, now!"

Minerva didn't even get a chance to react before a slash of black Anti-Magic shot out of Asta's Demon-Dweller Sword and slammed her in the back sending her flying forward with a gasp of pain, eyes wide and back arched as she was blasted off her perch and into the air above the ruins she'd created. A second slash of blackness, one that all who didn't know precisely what it was recognized as the same thing that they'd seen in Hidden cleaved through part of the sphere holding Millianna without hitting her and dispelled it thus ending her suffering and causing her to fall.

She didn't fall far though as Asta suddenly appeared where Minerva had been, sword clattering to the ground as he caught Millianna in a princess carry not realizing that there was something else under Millianna's robe clinging to her back due to how he was holding her. All that was ignored though because the moment that he'd attacked Minerva, Noelle had acted as well as she was already ready having smelt that Asta was in position.

"Get down!" Noelle shouted as loudly as she could as she took a deep breath and activated a spell she knew well only now she was doing so in a different way. "Sea Dragon Slayer Magic: Sea Dragon's Roar!"

Even with the situation Kagura and Erza understood before they heard what the spell was and leapt back and away from each other at Noelle's words clearing a path for her as he looked up at Minerva in the air and finished her spell. Unlike before Noelle was going full out and channeling her evolved magic the way she'd seen the other Dragon Slayers use it so rather than her wand she executed the roar properly and blasted a vortex of water out of her mouth as the sound of roaring waves filled everyone's ears.

It wasn't a feeling she could describe and she certainly used more power than she needed to but she'd never used her spell this way before, after all she'd only recently become a Dragon Slayer, and she was pissed at Minerva's actions, again. As such she just let it all out and the vortex of water shot up as Noelle stood there fists clenched at her sides and on a crash course for Minerva as Noelle glared at the other woman.

Even in her predicament Minerva had the clear head to act. Instantly tried to use Territory to switch herself with Millianna to not only get a shot at Asta when she appeared in his arms but to really piss the others off so that they'd attack Noelle and allow her swoop in and beat Noelle before they finished her off and then let them fight more before she once again stole the victory and then beat the weakened one as well. If her calculations were right this would net her 16 points and take out the Black Bulls so a huge boon for Sabertooth.

At least that was Minerva's plan until she tired it and it failed causing her eyes went wide as the totality of the situation hit her. She'd forgotten in the heat of her apparent victory, and the fact that she'd been so focused on Noelle due to her desire for revenge that she'd ignored Asta, what Asta's ability really was. The other Guilds thought that it was Wave Magic paired with some kind of Requip Magic but it wasn't, according to Rufus, who had experienced it and with his magic Minerva knew he wouldn't lie about something like this, it was Anti-Magic.

Minerva knew that it was Anti-Magic for certain now as her magic failed and all she could do was go wide eyed and let out a scream of rage and frustration as for the second time this spell slammed into her. This time though it was more typical of what one would expect from a Dragon Slayer and her scream was drowned out over the roaring of waves that came from it as it engulfed her and blasted her far from the battlefield in a split second.

As it did Noelle closed her mouth and ended it allowing the rest of the vortex to trail through the sky before it became a dot and vanished as she fell to her knees panting from the effort. It had been just like with Vetto when she'd first learned Sea Dragon's Roar, she'd acted out of emotion and without training her new spell, or in this case altered spell, so she'd over done it and used all her magic. There was no way that she could fight now but she still smiled because she'd done the right thing and beaten Minerva in the process. Plus Asta was here now so there was no way they'd lose even if she was knocked out.

"I, I am absolutely speechless." Chapati said his voice carrying over the battlefield. "The sheer power we've seen from these women is off the charts and even then we didn't expect that. With that combo from the Black Bulls, Minerva Orland has officially been beaten and they receive 5 points for that win. With the 5 way brawl having just concluded that boosts them to 58 points putting them into a tie with Fairy Tail at the top of the standings!"

"That was certainly incredible." Mr. Yajima added. "We saw that in the Naval Battle but this felt even more powerful though that might be because she let out more of her incredible amount magic this time."

"Hey, voice guys." Asta shouted looking to the sky as he held Millianna who was whimpering in his arms while Erza and Kagura stared in shock at the sudden change to the battle and Noelle just remained where she was. "This girl's not able to fight, she's clearly hurt too badly to carry on. You have to call it so she can get help and we have someone who can quickly restore mana, er Ethernano, providing Charmy is patched up after her own fight that is."

"Millianna is still registered as conscious so she's not out." Chapati said. "I'm sorry but those are the rules."

"Hey, can, can you really help her?" Kagura asked worry for her friend in her voice as she looked at Asta as he held Millianna in his arms wary of him because even with her issues with Erza, issues she really wanted to settle especially now that Minerva was out and there was no way Noelle could continue fight leaving just the newcomer, he was still a threat as Kagura could tell that Asta was on their level. "We don't know you lot but you just saved her so we do owe you for what you've done for Millianna already so I know it's a lot to ask for you to restore her Ethernano."

"We can and we will because that's what a Magic…er a Wizard Guild does." Asta said looking down at the purple haired woman. "Charmy can make food that restores Ethernano as you call it."

"He's right." Noelle said as she looked towards Kagura while still on her knees. "Part of the reason why we brought her in for this was to restore our Ethernano during the Battle Royale, an added tactical advantage if we could get to her in time. That said she should…"

"She's been beaten, I've been watching the other fights as well as yours and two girls who were fighting ran into her table which sent her food flying." Asta said and Noelle winced at that, wasting food around Charmy was a really good way to find out just how powerful the little woman was. "She crushed them the way only Charmy can getting us two points but the shirtless guy who beat Mr. Fancy Hat arrived and defeated her. I think he was trying to meetup with that water girl but was too late as Charmy had already beaten and captured her."

"Wait, Juvia's out?" Erza asked shocked by the news and Asta nodded at that. "Damn but it seems we took one of you with us and Sheila is out as well which is a good thing."

"That you did but she's out and back with the Guild." Asta said. "We have a gifted healer in our Guild, she should have Charmy patched up and Charmy can make the food needed to restore Millianna's magic whole Mimosa, she's our healer, tends to any wounds that she may have received but we can't while she's in the battle. If she was out I could have Finral use a portal to get her back to our box and get the food she needs."

"Kagura, I've bought that food from their store in Magnolia and used it while preparing for the Grand Magic Games." Erza said. "It works. They really can restore her Ethernano."

"Fine but I have one condition to this." Kagura said as she glanced at Erza and her gaze hardening when she did though if someone not in the Black Bulls confirmed that they could do this it was at least worth a shot but only if Kagura handled it right as she turned back to look at Asta. "I have a lot of issues right now with Titania regarding her friendship with a certain murderer. As the team leader for Mermaid Heel I can order Millianna to surrender to you to get her out of the Battle Royale but in return I want you to promise to not interfere in a fight between me and Erza. This is something I want to settle with her personally one on one and I've seen your skills, if you were to join I don't know how it was to go."

Asta looked at the whimpering girl he was still holding in his arms and then down at Kagura again thinking. Their plan had been for Asta to step in when he could to get all the points and win but that had been thrown out the window by Minerva's actions. They'd still gotten her points but at the moment that didn't matter. Millianna was in need of healing and that should come first over a silly game.

That wasn't all though, Asta could also sense how personal this fight was to Kagura in her ki. There was a seriousness in it that said she was speaking the truth and one thing Asta knew was that sometimes you just had to fight each other to sort things out and work past your issues. Plus there was a way that Asta could work this for himself.

"Fine, I can feel it in your ki, you want to sort this out and I know that sometimes you can only do that by fighting." Asta said. "I've done that myself a few times and it's forged strong friendships with people I once faced as enemies. However, I'm going to stay here and I am going to fight the winner no matter how beat up you are. Consider it the price for giving up what is almost certainly 5 points."

"Fair, in battle that can happen." Kagura said before glancing to Erza, who was processing everything though what was really getting her was Kagura's reference to a murderer that Erza was friends with which could only be Jellal hence her silence, and then Noelle. "Er, what about Noelle?"

"Noelle, how much magic did you use just now?" Asta asked. "Also that was totally awesome the way you used it like the other Dragon Slayers, so cool!"

"All of it." Noelle admitted as she blushed at Asta's praise and Erza did notice that which peaked her interest a bit, it seemed that like her Noelle had a romantic interest that she was either suppressing or denying which brough Erza back to Jellal and what Kagura wanted with him. "I'd never used it like that before and kinda overdid it. Plus I can't stand sadists like that especially when they slander royalty and use that as justification. There's no way I can fight now and if Charmy is out I can't go to her and recover while you take care of these two."

"Alright then this is how we're going to do it." Asta said as his plan came to him. "You're going to order Millianna to surrender to me so that I can get her the help that she needs. Then you and Erza can sort your stuff out and I'll face the winner. As an added bonus, and collateral to ensure I don't interfere, Noelle will surrender to the winner so one that she gets a total of 6 points from this."

"What!" Noelle exclaimed. "That's…"

"Only fair." Asta said simply. "You can't fight Noelle, if this was real you'd be forced to flee. Plus it shows how serious I am in letting them fight it out while also being a fair trade for the basically free point we're getting from Millianna."

"Fine." Noelle said though part of her, a part she was ignoring, was only agreeing because she was getting really uncomfortable seeing Asta continue to hold Millianna like that though she did see his point and knew that whoever won between Kagura and Erza was going to lose anyway. "I agree to this."

"I'm still not sure what's going on." Erza admitted as she stopped thinking of Jellal and finally voiced her opinion on this. "But I do want to see Millianna taken care of and I know this will work. Plus I am grateful for you saving her, Asta. That and I want to fight you myself so this is a good chance for that."

"Only if you can beat me and I won't let that happen." Kagura said glaring at Erza. "And don't you dare act like you care for Millianna, not when you protect a man like Jellal."

"Wait what?" Erza asked. "I figured you were talking about him but that doesn't mean that I don't care for Millianna, she's a dear friend to me."

"Not yet, I have a friend to look out for and you don't have the right to call Millianna that." Kagura said not looking at Erza as she focused on Millianna. "Millianna, if you can hear me, surrender to the man holding you, he's with the Black Bulls so just surrender to that Guild. You can't fight on so this is for the best; he can make sure you recover."

"Y, yes." Millianna said softly, she was in a lot of pain but it wasn't constant anymore and had heard everything and while she wanted to fight on she knew that she couldn't so this was best though of course it had to be to the Guild that had made her fall for almost half an hour. "I, I surrender to the Black Bulls."

"And there it is, Millianna has surrendered giving the Black Bulls one point and officially giving them 59 which puts them one ahead of Fairy Tail so they've retaken the lead in the Grand Magic Games!" Chapati said. "You can get her out now."

"Thank you." Asta said as he looked to the sky mainly because he didn't know where the lacrima camera thing was. "Finral, do your thing."

Asta couldn't hear Finral grumble about being ordered around like this but as it was to help a pretty woman, albeit one who wanted to scratch his face up for what he'd put her through, he acted as soon as Asta told him to and the portal appeared before Asta so he gently dropped Millianna through it knowing that she'd be fine before it vanished. All the while he had no idea that a red furred exceed had been clinging to her back the entire time.

With that done Asta picked up his sword and sat down, sword over his lap and looked down. It was time to relax and enjoy the show because Asta was sure that he would learn a few things seeing two talented swordswomen in an all-out duel.

"Thank you." Asta said. "Noelle, back up and give these ladies space. I have a feeling that they're going to need it."

Noelle nodded and with the little strength she had left she got up and retreated as far back as she could leaving just Erza and Kagura in the rubble facing each other. This was the fight that Minerva had tried to trigger only now it was happened because Kagura wanted it, which had been her desire the entire time, and not because she was forced to have it.

"Alright that's done and Millianna is safe so spit it out." Erza said as she looked at Kagura. "Clearly you have issues with me and Jellal so what are they?"

"I only said that to make it clear to Asta the seriousness of the situation." Kagura said fully glaring at Erza now. "I don't speak with my enemies, I destroy them."

"Very well then it's time for one of us to put an end to this." Erza said. "I'm actually grateful for the deal with Asta, this is better just the two of us without an equally talented swordsman barging into it."

"Agreed, this is about us and nothing else so I'm not going to hold back." Kagura said. "Even if we weren't already out of the running I wouldn't care about the points, only destroying you."

"I'd be insulted if you didn't bring your all." Erza said. "Just as I'll be insulted if Asta doesn't do the same when I face him after I beat you."

"Silence, you will pay now!" Kagura yelled as she rushed forward and slashed her still sheathed sword at Erza but she used one of her swords, she'd lost the other one it seemed, to and intercept it.

However, the force that Kagura put into the blow was enough to push through the block and sent Erza flying backwards. Still, Erza recovered as she did a one handed handspring and flipped before requipping her Heaven's Wheel armor and rushing at Kagura with a series of swipes that Asta barely managed to follow from where he was watching.

For her part Kagura managed to evade the attack and then came down with her Archenemy in Grudge Form and thrust it into the ground with enough force to crack it and send Erza flying back with a yell of pain. That was an opening that Kagura capitalized on to switch to Slicing Form to end Erza but before she could Erza requipped her Adamantine Armor.

That was what led to the next surprise as the Slicing Form cut through the armor and the ground below them sending them plummeting down to a lower level of the building which was just an open area with a lot of pillars and three sides open to the air. The result was that Asta and Noelle didn't see what happened next or Erza requip again before taking another hit before she slammed into the ground. It was certainly unexpected that Kagura was the one in command of the fight but Asta was going to watch all of it so he hopped off his ledge and landed on the ground as he pulled out his Demon-Slayer Sword.

"Come on, we have to watch this." Asta said as the sword as the commentator noted what was going on and how Kagura was the one in command of the fight. "I don't want to miss it."

"I get that but I don't have any magic to move." Noelle pointed out as Asta walked over to her before he let go of his great sword controlled the Anti-Magic in it so that it floated just off the ground next to him. "So how…"

"Don't worry, I'll carry you." Asta said with a grin as he suddenly lifted Noelle into his arms in a princess carry much to Noelle's shock, and Mimosa's back in the box where she was watching while Millianna ate a freshly healed Charmy's food with her fellow eliminated Mermaid Heel members who'd come over to make sure that she was ok. "It will be fine."

Noelle's internal issues were waring as Asta hopped onto his sword and controlled the Anti-Magic in it to gently fly over to the hole and down to where the battle was going on as he carried Noelle with ease. Part of her loved the feeling, a part she was currently denying that she was loving it with every ounce of her royal being as this was not how a royal should be held, part of her was glad she was getting a turn after Asta had held Millianna like thigh which she chided herself for because Millianna had been injured, and part of her was embarrassed that everyone was watching Asta carry her like this.

Still, it worked and she was easily carried down until they reached the lower level to find a strange sight as Asta floated them near the ceiling of the area so as to stay away from the duel while still watching it. The two women had since moved and now Erza was on her knees at the base of a pillar that had a small crater in it revealing that Erza had been knocked into it. There was a second like it nearby showing that she'd taken at least two blows and now Kagura was standing over her looking pretty much unharmed but for the tears in her clothes and the minor injuries that she had taken from Minerva's massive attack.

They were too far away from the women for a normal person to hear what they were saying but Asta could sense their ki and could feel the anger and rage in Kagura's, a rage that only came from a deep personal loss, that she was no longer in control of and it was all directed at Erza. Erza herself was just as emotional though her ki was different, it was wracked with guilt and a deep sadness and regret that Asta had never felt before. Whatever these two girls had been through and were feeling it was intense.

What Asta didn't know was that Noelle actually could hear what they were saying because her senses weren't normal anymore and she'd been able to since Kagura began speaking when they were coming down so she couldn't help the tears forming in her eyes. What she was hearing was pretty out of context, this was clearly something in these women's pasts that she had no frame of reference for due to how little they actually knew about Earth Land, but still it was clear there were issues.

Kagura's brother had been taken by child snatchers, likely to be used for some kind of slavery, and suffered horribly until he was murdered. Kagura, however, had been the lone survivor of the attack that took her brother and had then spent several years searching for him not knowing what had become of him or his fate until she met Millianna and the girl told her what happened to him. That had been when Kagura had sworn to avenge his death and kill the man, this Jellal figure, responsible for it and until then her sword would remain sheathed.

Based on that and the rage, Erza was also aware of what this Jellal guy had done and as Noelle listened she learned that Erza had been there when Kagura's brother had died and knew him too likely because she was once a slave as well. That was intense to hear but Erza revealed that she knew what had actually happened in the Tower of Heavan, again something Noelle knew nothing about, as only she, Natsu, Jellal, and Kagura's brother Simon had been there when died and it was heartbreaking to hear.

Simon had sacrificed himself to save Erza when she tried to sacrifice herself to save Natsu from some powerful spell Jellal was trying to use on them before dying in her arms thanking her as she always brought a smile to his face and that he loved her. As such Erza say herself as to blame and cried for it though oddly only her left eye cried for some reason.

Kagura, however, didn't believe this and her rage and bloodlust were palpable as she too cried and broke the seal on her sword as she drew it at last and moved to strike Erza with what would be a killing blow. Noelle was about to tell Asta to intervein but before she could move, she had made sure he couldn't see that she was crying at what shea was hearing, she felt him shake his head as he'd felt Erza's ki and knew the fight was about to resume.

That was clear as Archenemy came free of its sheath and Kagura let out a primal scream filled with rage and emotional pain as she slashed it at Erza in what was clearly an executing blow just as Erza raised her own blade up to block it. She managed it and held it in place but the force of the slash blasted a hole out of the wall of the area they were in and out into the city around them where it carved a long path of destruction through Crocus. Erza was unaffected by it and Noelle heard her say that she couldn't afford to die there as Kagura's rage seemed to intensify.

To Asta it was clear that there were some deep issues they were working through as Erza, for all her regret and sadness had a truthful ki to her so whatever she'd said to Kagura had been true while Kagura was clearly blinded by a rage that Asta hadn't felt in her ki until now showing how well she'd hidden it. To Noelle, well she heard it all and knew why there was so much emotion at stake. With Erza's block though the fight was still on and with the revelations Noelle had heard she now understood that Asta was right, this was a fight only these two could have if they wanted to work this mess out.

This was exemplified as Erza held the block while rising to her feet, stones still falling around them from the damage that Kagura had caused, and moved into an attack stance that nearly mirrored Kagura's. The duel was about to reach a new level and all eyes were on it as the swords broke apart and Kagura backed up a bit. Noelle alone heard what was being said.

Erza spoke of how Kagura's brother had saved her life, as did someone called Grandpa Rob which was another name that Noelle had no context for but figured was someone important from Erza's past, as well as many other friends that Erza had. They were things Erza couldn't throw away as it would dishonor them. As she spoke Erza requipped her armor again and this time changed into the outfit she'd worn at the end of Pandemonium, the simple pants and bandages around her breasts so no actual armor only this time she equipped a single katana with it not two.

Her words got to Kagura though and intensified the purple haired woman's anger. She saw it as Erza running away from her responsibilities just like this Jellal character was and for that she'd kill Erza as well. At that she charged and attacked again only for Erza to once again block though now Erza accepted Kagura's drive for revenge and pushed away before leaping high into the air. She wasn't going to tell Kagura how to think or feel but she was not going to lose to the other woman.

All this seemed to anger Kagura even more as she yelled and leapt up with another cry of rage. Asta could tell that this was it, this was the battle right here as the girls crossed in the air and attacks so fast that not even Asta could follow it. However, one of the attacks landed the other didn't and Asta and Noelle saw first hand that the former was Erza and the latter Kagura. The blow knocked Kagura out of her leap and she flipped in the air to land on her back on the ground arms spread and still holding Archenemy in her right hand as Erza landed where Kagura had begun in a crouch, sword out and down.

It was a single exchange between powerful swordswomen and one had triumphed over the other. Asta knew that it was because Erza's ki was clear, she may have a deep sorrow and regret in her but she'd made peace with it and was working on it while Kagura's had been clouded by anger and revenge to the point that her skills were compromised. That had been it in the end and led to Erza's victory, or at least it would be a victory soon but Kagura showed her determination as she rolled over and got onto her hands and knees saying she'd avenge him, which again only Noelle heard.

However, at that very moment the damaged caused by all the fighting that had been going on, it wasn't clear if this had been Noelle's attack a while back, Minerva's massive one or one of Kagura's, but several weakened stones at the edge of the hole in the ceiling of where they were gave way and fell as Kagura was trying to move. It was clear that they'd hit her and with the weight they were going they were could kill her.

"Look out!" Erza said as she rushed forward and then several things happened at once.

As Erza rushed forward she was focused solely on Kagura so she didn't notice that Noelle had twisted so that she fell from Asta's arms and towards the ground a good 10 feet below. That wasn't Noelle's concern though, all she was concerned about were the stones falling towards the other women and as she fell she thrust her wand out and blasted what little magic she'd recovered since she'd beaten Minerva out of it so that the water slammed into the falling stones and blow them either apart or away from Erza and Kagura.

All this was done before they could hit Erza after she'd dove forward and pushed Kagura back and out of the way of the stones. If Noelle hadn't have acted then the stones would have landed on Erza's leg and probably broken it.

Instead said broken leg fell to Noelle who let out a scream as she landed awkwardly on her left leg and broke it but the scream wasn't heard over the sound of the rocks being blown apart and crashing to the ground. Noelle knew that Asta would be down for her in a moment so she used the brief pause to look at him and wave him off pointing to the ledge where the stones had fallen from though she saw the concern had for her in his face which touched her deeply. However, if he stayed there then he could prevent any more problems from happening so that was the best place for him right now.

For his part Asta understood and while he wanted to help Noelle he flew up over the ledge and out of the area above them to dismount from Slayer and then moved to sit on the edge. As he did he drew Dweller from his grimoire and laid if over his lap like he had at the start of the fight while leaving Slayer out and on the edge. He had a feeling that he'd need it later but for now he was just going to watch even if he couldn't hear what was being said as the ki of the women told him what was going on.

As he did, the dust cleared and both Erza and Kagura blinked at what had happened. Kagura was on her ass just past where the debris would be looking in front of her, her eyes wide as Erza lay on the floor on her chest. Neither of their katanas could be seen having lost them in the moment but what was more confusing was that none of the debris had landed on Erza. In fact there was very little at all, just small bits of stone with a few larger chunks well behind Erza. Well that and a few patches of water.

That was what gave it away and Erza, who'd fully expected to take at least one rock in exchange for saving Kagura, slowly pushed herself up onto her knees and looked past a still stunned Kagura to see what she'd at least partially expected. Noelle was on the ground about 15 feet behind Kagura a wand in her right hand that was still pointing their way and a look of pain on her face. She was sweating and panting but she'd managed to push herself up onto her side as she lowered her wand now that the danger had passed.

That was it though, Noelle didn't try to stand up and Erza could see why. That did pose another question though and as Erza rose she addressed it to the Black Bull.

"Why?"

It was all Erza could ask. This had been their fight and Noelle had intervened but to save them not to take any points for herself. It had saved Erza from injury but even if she'd been injured she was about to tell Kagura why she'd put herself in that place to begin with and that might have finally quelled Kagura's anger. She was still going to do just that but first she needed to know why Noelle had done what she'd done.

"Because I had just enough magic to do so." Noelle said the pain clear in her voice. "And because I may be new to this but I am still a Dragon Slayer now with all that comes with that. I'm sure you know how good that makes my senses."

"I do but…" Erza said before her eyes went wide as it hit her mainly due to the sense she was used to seeing Natsu used the most being smell not sound. "You could hear all that?"

"I don't know the context for what was going on but I could hear both your sorrow and Kagura's rage as well as why you two were in pain." Noelle said as she grimaced and pulled herself into a sitting position. "Asta's too far away to hear but he has his own way of understanding people. I bet if you ask him he'd confirm that what you said was the truth though I still don't understand how he or our Guild Master does that."

"And because of that you saved me?" Erza asked. "Even though if I win I'll still be fighting him so an injury to me would benefit him."

"You're fighting Asta, you won't win that fight even if you're at full strength." Noelle said with a smile the trust in her voice, and something more that Erza was sure was a deep affection which given what she saw earlier made sense. "And besides, that's going to be the fight of the Battle Royle, best that you're both on your A-fame for that. It would be dishonorable for Asta to not fight you like that after all."

"But in the process you got hurt." Erza said still confused.

"Unlike that bitch, I am actual royalty where I'm from and know how to act." Noelle said. "I did so without a care for my injure because it was the right thing to do even if this is a competition between Guilds. Plus I'm already effectively out once this ends."

"I see, thank you." Erza said with a bow of her head. "Now I owe you twice, I will repay that debt."

"Alright that explains that and as it wasn't really meant to hit us I can accept Noelle's intervention." Kagura said finally getting over her own shock. "But I want to know why Erza even saved me especially after I threatened to kill her and it's clear we differ on Jellal."

"It's simple, I remember you or more precisely I remember your face." Erza said as she looked down at a still seated Kagura and smiled as Kagura gasped at that. "When you said you were Simon's sister it all clicked. We met a long time ago though I don't know you personally because I met Simon's sister on that night, that night that we were taken."

"Wait… you, you can't be?" Kagura asked as Noelle used this moment to drag herself to a nearby pillar so that she could rest against it, legs out and not looking where her left leg was broken. "It was you?"

"Yes, it was because just like you I too grew up in Rosemary Village." Erza said. "So I was there the night we lost everything, when those cultists attacked so that they could take all the children. You were looking for your brother so I was able to find you before they did and I grabbed your arm, took you a storage bin of sorts and put you in it to hide. You had to be quiet and stay alive but I couldn't join you so I was going to find another place to hide. Clearly I failed in that regard as I was almost immediately caught."

"Oh, I, I didn't realize." Kagura said she'd gone from shocked to crying with her hand over her mouth as that terrible night came back to her as well and she remembered the girl who was about her age, maybe a bit older, who'd grabbed her arm and saved her, the girl with scarlet colored hair. "You were the one who saved me."

"Yes and when we were at the Tower of Heavan Simon was always talking about you, he hoped that you were safe and healthy as you'd escaped our fate." Erza said with a smile. "But I too worried about you, you were in my thoughts while I was there it just took you reminding me to put it all together. Even now, I couldn't let harm come to his sister. It would appear I too had a guardian angel which does make me wonder just how strong Asta is if Noelle thought saving me was a good idea. I hope to get see why she has such faith in him."

"And you'll get that." Kagura said as she sobbed where she was looking up at Erza. "I wish you luck in that fight because it is yours to have. I need some time to take all this in, there is a lot that I need to do and we have a lot to discuss once this is over though next time it won't be with me trying to kill you. For now though, I can admit when I'm beat and after all this that my anger may be misplaced. I hand this victory over to you, Erza Scarlet. You win."

"And there it is, Kagura has surrendered to Erza." Chapati said confirming it. "That is 5 points for Fairy Tail putting them on 63 which retakes the lead from the Black Bulls in this seesaw Battle Royale. What now though?"

"You're right, we do need to have a proper chat, over cakes if possible, but this too was needed." Erza said as she smiled down at Kagura and offered her her hand which the other woman took and allowed Erza to haul her to her feet before she looked to Noelle and noticing that the Black Bull girl was now slumped against one of the pillars. "Thank you for not intervening and not saying a word Noelle, that does mean a lot, as much if not more than what you did for me. Especially because you could have done nothing and then you and Asta could have taken us both out for 10 points."

"In a situation like this, this was needed for you two and the points were immaterial." Noelle said as she looked at Erza. "And while someone like Minerva may have reneged and stabbed you in the back, we wouldn't do that. Besides, we got her points and the points you got from Kagura are about to be negated when Asta claims 5 from you."

"Oh I'm sure she would have." Erza said focusing on the Minerva comment so as to not confirm that she was Fairy Tail's designated leader. "I don't doubt that if you hadn't have beaten Minerva that she would have tried some other dirty trick to beat Kagura and then take you out while you were injured before I could act."

"Same actually." Noelle said. "However as you can see, the Black Bulls have honor and what's more I'm a royal. I may not like my part in this but I understand it so I will hold up my end, especially now because I really can't go on. Come over here and honor it because I can't really move and you still have to earn it. Asta's up on the edge of the hole making sure it doesn't fall. Don't disappoint him when he comes down to fight you."

"Of course, I understand that and let me show you the respect you deserve, Noelle." Erza said as she turned to Noelle and her requipped her Sea Empress Armor though she didn't equip the sword that came with this armor as it used Water Magic which wouldn't work on Noelle while she walked towards the silver haired girl so she just went and picked up her katana as she walked. "Not just for saving me but for what you did to save Millianna, both you and Asta. I owe you two and the Black Bulls for that but regardless don't worry, I will not disappoint him, I swear. I'll give him the battle of his life because he deserves no less. We do recognize the threat he poses."

"Well damn." Noelle said as Erza walked towards her. "And here I was hoping that you'd make the mistake everyone else has done when they first face Asta. Guess people in Fiore are smarter than they are back where we're from."

"Not a chance, of everyone here he and Jura are the two we fear the most and why I was the one tasked with facing him, and you for that matter as we predicted that he'd be near you." Erza said shaking her head but smiling as she did. "And you've shown that you're no slouch yourself. I hope that one day we can spar properly, you're strong and I'd like to see what you can do one on one Noelle."

"Same, we are here to get stronger." Noelle said. "Sparring with the strongest woman in Fiore is bound to help."

"Keep this up and that title may get mirky, between you and Kagura I don't know how long I'll hold onto that title." Erza said. "Also, ff you're unaware, this is my Sea Empress Armor. It's the armor I would have used against you if we had been forced to fight one on one as you showed that if it had come to that I'd need it. It resists Water Magic, even a water based Dragon Slayer Magic like yours, but the sword uses Water Magic which wouldn't work on you."

"So I'm told but I've not been able to test that out yet." Noelle said as Erza reached her. "A shame as I was hoping to test that, and how this consumption of my element thing works, against Juvia."

"We made sure that she was as far from you as possible though it seems she ran into Charmy which we also wanted to avoid." Erza said. "You lot have certainly been unpredictable but at least Asta was with you so we were right there."

"Yeah you were and now you will have to face him." Noelle said before she lowered her voice. "And don't worry, I won't mention anything about what I heard, and I have no clue of the context as we only came to this continent 2 years ago, but if you need to talk to someone unrelated to all that, I'll listen."

"Th, thanks." Erza said with a smile. "Your senses really are sharp. You've gotten that part of being a Dragon Slayer down. The only Dragon Slayer I know whose senses are sharper is Natsu."

"Small comfort." Noelle said her voice rising as Erza brought the sword up so that it was at Noelle's neck but not touching as she held it there to show that Noelle was at her mercy. "But I need more training, I messed up and blew my magic because I'm not there yet with the change it's been through and then I went and broke my leg. We made a deal and I'll honor it. You beat Kagura so I concede to you as well. You have my point, Erza Scarlet."

"I'm not 100% sure what happened but Noelle Silva has yielded to Erza Scarlet and is now out thus officially ending the four woman fight with Erza Scarlet as the winner of it making her the strongest woman in Fiore, I think." Chapati said confused. "Regardless that gives Fairy Tail one more point to bring their score to 64 and leaves the Black Bulls with only one member left, their leader seeing as all the others were worth 1 point. Do either of you know why that happened? I am so confused by how that ended."

"If I had to guess Noelle has used up all her magic and knows she can't fight Erza or Kagura so agreed to yield to the winner for some reason." Yajima said. "Given who's still present it wouldn't surprise me as part of what is about to happen next. All that said I don't know why Noelle saved Erza a moment ago but I won't complain as it means what comes next is going to be epic."

"Whatever it is I can't wait." Mato said excitedly. "This is about to go up a notch."

"Thank you." Erza said ignoring the commentary as she lowered the sword and her armor changed again going back to the armor she'd worn when the Battle Royale began as she was going to save her Clear Heart Clothing for when she needed it against Asta. "After this, come by the Fairy Tail Guild Hall in Magnolia, our Dragon Slayers can help you get it under control."

"I'd like that but I think after this you may also want to swing by our Guild Hall wherever it is when all this is done." Noelle said as she grinned at Erza whole the other woman backed up a bit a little confused by that but didn't question it as Noelle continued. "You're about to lose after all so I think you'll want to learn from Asta in the future. Alright Finral, get me and Kagura out of here. This is about to get destructive and I'd like to watch it from somewhere safe while I'm being healed up."

"I was going to ask as Millianna is with your Guild right now." Kagura said as she turned to Noelle and then bowed deeply to here. "And thank you Noelle, for everything you've done today. I may not know you but I am in your debt for what you did for Millianna and how you helped Erza and me out just now. I'd like to get to know you better so please come by Mermaid Heel when this is over. Also we all want to see that mermaid armor of yours again."

"I'll swing by with the girls in my Guild." Noelle said before she grimaced in pain again. "But we should leave, I really need healing."

At that a gray portal appeared before Kagura as she rose from her bow and she walked through it. A second later another one appeared under Noelle that she fell through with a slight eep. However, before she did she looked at Asta and smiled at him, that was all he needed to know that he had her full trust and support in this and he wasn't going to let it down as Noelle vanished through the portal and right into the healing flower cradle that closed around her and began to heal her leg.

Asta didn't know that as the moment that Noelle vanished he leapt down from his perch and landed on the floor of the impromptu battlefield without any issue showing off his strength in the process while Erza slowly turned where she was standing never letting him out of her sight as she held her katana in a reverse grip. All Asta had on him right now was his Demo-Dweller sword but his grimoire was already floating by his side ready for action. Erza too was ready; she knew just the armor to start out with and was gearing up for it.

"You know, even through all I was feeling in yours and the other girl's ki, which I won't ask about, I was hoping you'd win." Asta said as he moved grinning as he spoke. "After all I've heard about you since we came to Fiore and seeing that you live up to the hype in Pandemonium, well how better to surpass my limits then by fighting you. Plus I'm going to learn so much facing off with a swordswoman of your caliber."

"You're not the only one who's been looking forward to this and I thank your guildmate for ensuring that this can be a proper battle as I'd rather find out who's stronger than face you with an injury." Erza admitted making sure she always had her eyes on Asta and pushing all that had happened from her mind as she had to focus on this battle. "We all saw how you handled Hidden while easily showing up Rufus and how you beat Ichiya like he was nothing. Your skills match your S-Class status."

"As do yours." Asta pointed out.

"Which is why when we planned for this you were one of the main threats, the true challenges that we faced in winning this and returning to the top." Erza said. "What's more, given what we know of your skills it was determined that only I stood a chance against you."

"Seems like our Guilds have a lot in common." Asta said. "Because we also felt that I was the only one who could beat you on our team though Noelle was going to face you first as we expected Minerva to show up to that battle. If my friends have done their jobs then I'd say this is what the Battle Royale will come down to. Sure there may be a few left, especially in Fairy Tail, but let's be real, whoever wins this will almost certainly win the Grand Magic Games. Given all that is at stake and your power, I too am glad that Noelle did what she did because if we're going to win this we have to win this by beating the best at their best, or near enough. We'll surpass our limits as we see who's the best sword master in Fiore. Well other than my Guild Master that is."

"Bit early for that but if you can best me then you may just be right." Erza said though a small part of her wondered just how good the Black Bulls' Guild Master was with a sword if Asta was giving him that kind of praise. "So let's do this, swordsman to swordswoman and as you said see who's the best in Fiore."

"Folks, a battle many of us dreamed of seeing in the Battle Royale is about to actually happen." Chapati said in a hushed, almost reverent tone, as Asta came to a stop the moment he and Erza were facing each other. "The winners of Hidden and Pandemonium, two sword masters who have shown that they are at the tops of their Guilds are now alone on the battlefield with no backup coming and almost everything on the line. This will be a duel for the ages that we will talk about for years to come. It's time for Erza v. Asta."

Neither Erza nor Asta were paying that any attention as they looked at each other across the impromptu battlefield that they were on. Both held a sword and both had their strategies as a cool breeze blew through the area causing Erza's hair to sway and Asta's cloak thing to flutter. There had been tension a few times before in the Battle Royale but that all paled in comparison to this moment as the two sword masters stared at each other. Then, without warning, both moved at once and the duel that would go down in Fiore lore began.

I think that's the perfect spot to leave this chapter off at, a nice cliffhanger to set up what is by far the most anticipated chapter to date. There's no more delays, no more focus elsewhere, next up is the moment many have been waiting for as Asta and Erza face off in a duel the likes of which neither has had before and all of this because of Noelle making sure that Erza could save Kagura. There really isn't much more to say about what is to come and it does kinda overshadow this chapter but plenty of action has happened and three more big pieces are off the board while we see just how impactful Noelle's presence in this battle was what with her second win over Minerva and saving Erza which will have other implications after the Grand Magic Games. I'll do a wrap up of what else has been going on and scores and what not after this duel, everything is still kinda going on at the same time/just wrapping up so it will have to wait until then. That means that that is all that I have for this chapter so I will leave it off here. If you liked this please favorite, follow, leave a review, or let me know in a PM and I will try to answer any questions posed in reviews and PMs as best I can. Until next time.

Stringdog