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?

36. Chapter 36: Clash of Swords

Here is the thirty-sixth chapter in this story released in accordance with my upload schedule for this story. There isn't anything to say about this chapter, y'all know what's coming so cue up some good music, personally I recommend 'Fairy Tail OST – Battle/Epic/Motivational Playlist' on YouTube, it's 1:23:39 long and what I listened to while planning, drafting, and editing this chapter, and sit back and enjoy the battle many have been long anticipating though there are other songs out there that could work depending on your tastes. 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 and there's a notice I need to give regarding a way around the current issues on this site for those who are unaware of it, 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. So far only Noelle's has evolved but if Mimosa's does as well then yes they can do that when the time comes. They could also see if a Union Raid would work with their magic, it might make Luck and Magna's combo spell even stronger. The spell isn't a bad one and pretty clever so I will keep it in mind going forward but it's a fair bit off before I reach the point where Mimosa's magic has a chance of evolving. Well her reaction is coming but first the battle and that is now at hand so let's see how that goes. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.

Notice: As of the time of publishing, the website is dealing with issues in terms of email notifications not going out for anything. Hopefully this will be fixed soon but as a way around this and to keep abreast of this and any other stories you follow I highly recommend downloading the fanfiction app, logging in there, and then downloading this and all the other stories you like and follow as notifications on the app from followed stories and authors are still coming through. This is the same for authors for non-guest reviews that have been left, follows and favorites, and sometimes PMs via the app which are separate to PMs on the website. This is the best way around the current issues on the website so if you haven't done this I highly recommend it until this issue is resolved and for any future issues.

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

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

Chapter 36: Clash of Swords

"Requip: Heaven's Wheel!" Erza shouted as she backed up for a little space Asta charged, her armor changing to one of her most frequently used ones as Asta drew the other one handed sword he had from his grimoire that was floating by his side.

It wasn't a moment too soon as Asta was on Erza seconds after she finished her requip bringing both his blades down with savage overhand strikes just as Erza got her two swords up and angled properly to intercept them with a loud clang of metal on metal. The ground cracked beneath her feet from Asta's strength as he pushed on Erza's block but she held it her teeth gritted and several swords appearing in the air over her head as she used one of the special features of this armor.

Her opening plan was simple, overwhelm Asta with what she could do with Heaven's Wheel and then go in to finish the duel with quick, precise, moves if he was able to counter that. First though she needed to get past the opening attack and that wasn't going to be easy as she pushed against Asta's swords with her own her arms shaking ever so slightly.

Erza had faced many strong opponents be they strong in magic, spirit, skill, pure strength, or some mix of that, and right now she was dealing with the latter. The power of Asta's muscles were unlike any she'd experienced, though she'd never really fought Elfman, and she quickly knew that there was no way she'd overpower him when it came to raw strength alone.

That was fine though, in a duel strength was very important but it wasn't the be all and end all of one, and Erza's was right up there with the best regardless, so she quickly acted to avoid her block being overwhelmed and leapt back from it to disengage from the initial clash. As she did, however, it gave Asta the leverage he needed and with a yell he pushed forward finishing his slash and forcing Erza back even more as she leapt.

All it did was add to her knockback, however, and she was already prepared for that so it wasn't too bad as she flipped back and moved her arm. Plus it gave her more room to work with as she sent the swords that had been above her flashing through the air and at Asta from several angles at once.

Naturally Asta wasn't idle, he'd sensed the arrival of the swords in the air and knew that she could do this with this armor, he'd seen it on the third day when he'd paid close attention to her win in Pandemonium to see what he could learn from her. As such the moment the swords flew at him he was ready, reading Erza's ki as she commanded the swords to predict where they were coming from and then acting as the blades approached him while also listening to the sounds they made as they flew through the air to add to it.

It wasn't as smooth as it could be, the swords weren't natural things so they didn't really have a ki of their own, but between Erza's ki, the air around him, and Asta's own extensive training and experience, he was able to predict where the blades were coming from. With a roar he swing his own swords around and began to intercept and deflect the blades away with clangs of metal on metal as his swords hit Erza's.

As he did Asta connected to the Anti-Magic in his Demon-Slayer sword and summoned it to him so that it flew from where he left it above their location and down as he continued to intercept the blades. As the blades were controlled by magic, ever clash of his sword with them nullified the magic Erza was using on the blades and sending them flying away to clatter to the ground no longer under her control.

Erza had to admit, she was impressed with what she saw. She was sending a good few dozen swords at Asta and he was cutting through them without an issue, easily predicting and intercepting them even the ones coming for his back as his blades made a black whirlwind around and the clangs rang out.

To add to it, each hit severed the telekinesis Erza was using on the swords and she couldn't reconnect with them but that was to be expected given that Asta's swords used Wave Magic and this proved it to her. It also showed that this strategy wasn't going to work but it was a good distraction and as Asta was deflecting the swords away Erza pushed off the ground and charged forward at him just as he had charged at her a moment ago.

The moment she moved towards him Asta sensed it in her ki and rather than use Slayer to intercept her he brought it down to above him and had it spinning around the air there to slash away as many of the swords as possible as he mirrored Erza's mental control over a blade. As it did, he pushed off the ground and at Erza his swords deflecting away two of her flying ones that came in from either side as he moved. Erza had moved first though and she was on him quickly bringing her swords to bear in a practice sequence.

It would have worked to had Asta not predicted exactly where the blades where going and brough his own up to intercept them with a massive clang as air blasted out from around the impact point and their momentum was arrested as their blades clashed again. This time though Erza disengaged right away rather than do what Asta did and try to push past a block and spun bringing both swords in from the side in parallel strikes but Asta got his right hand sword, the one that didn't have a strange design to Erza, and to deflect the strike as he slashed at her chest with his left hand sword.

Erza saw this and brought her left hand down sword down hard and fast to deflect that sword away as she brought the right hand one under Asta's right hand sword aiming for his side. However, Asta had sensed Erza's ki and predicted where her strike was going and backed up so that it slashed empty air before he stepped forward and brought Dweller down in an overhead strike while bringing in Destroyer from the side in a horizontal one aimed for Erza's hip.

It was an impressive bit of duel wielding coordination and forced Erza to redirect her own swords to deflect both with the same hands, her right raised and left to her side, with clangs. The moment the blades hit each other she pushed them back and stepped forward to unleash a flurry of quick, precise strikes at Asta that those watching in the Colosseum couldn't follow.

Asta quickly intercepted the flurry of strikes but he was immediately forced on the defensive and as he couldn't match the nimble speed Erza had so with her lighter blades. All he could do to block the strikes as he predicted them with his own swords closer to his body to maximize the area they could protect, all while backing up under the relentless assault.

The result was a series of clangs, sparks and flashes that those watching couldn't see as Erza tried to break Asta's defense but he held strong. He wouldn't forever though so he called down Slayer from where it was floating in the air above and behind him as he leapt back the way Erza had at their first engagement and swung it through the air at her, the heavier, longer, sword swishing the way hers had when she'd sent them at Asta only this was on blade not many.

"Requip." Erza shouted as she saw the large sword coming and dismissed her current armor as fast as possible. "Adamantine Armor!"

There was a flash on her body as Asta's great sword swung and a moment later she was in her Adamantine Armor again bringing the shields in to block the strike. It may have been damaged by Kagura's rage fueled attack earlier but it still worked and was her best shield to the attack.

This time it was Asta's sword that slammed into the shields and while it wasn't the same as Kagura's attack, Asta's sword's ability to cut through magic was still present so any magical benefits in the defense were nullified as the sword hit and buckled the shields. They held for a moment before Asta's great sword won out and pushed Erza back over the ground several feet as the sword swung through its swing as if Asta was physically holding it.

Her shield had held but she quickly dismissed it and requipped Heavan's Wheel the moment she came to a stop as Asta's sword flew back to him and hovered over his head point up just as a semicircle of swords appeared over Erza's. She blinked as she stared at Asta. He was mirroring her exact stance duel wielding his swords that he held out and to the side while pointing at the ground just as Erza did with hers while his own sword floated above his head the way hers did.

"I see, so you can also telekinetically control your swords, I'll admit I didn't expect that feature but they are magic swords tied to that grimoire of yours so they can have additional features to them as all you need is Requip Magic to use them." Erza said as she caught her breath from the opening exchange and analyzed the situation as best she could based on her own understanding of magic. "And you seem to have picked up how I do it as well."

"I can control the power in my swords yes but it's thanks to seeing how you do it that I've been able to figure out finesse and how to use them more offensively like this." Asta said grinning and not revealing too much as it was easier to let Erza just assume he was using magic at this point as it played to his advantage to have her mistaken on that front. "I have to learn on the fly and push past my limits if I'm to beat you."

"I see then let's see you handle this." Erza said as more and more swords appeared above her, even more than before. "You've knocked out many of them already, the moment those blades touch mine the magic is canceled by the Wave Magic of your swords so I know that an effect sword is pretty useless against you, but can you handle the full extent of this armor."

"Bring it on." Asta said still grinning. "Make me surpass my limits and become stronger, this is exactly why I'm here."

"Dance, My Blades!" Erza ordered and the blades shot forward and at Asta faster than they had before.

Before he could move he was engulfed in a maelstrom of blades that were spinning and moving at speeds greater than the last time. Between that and the number of swords he wasn't able to block or intercept all of them even with Slayer coming down and slashing around him clearing out many blades with each swipe due to its size as several got through to slash him.

However, Asta had expected that and quickly used the same strategy and tactic that Yami had used when facing Patry's Light Swords of Conviction and blocked any fatal or crippling blows, it was only the latter in this case which Asta did note especially because it showed just how precise Erza's control was, while letting superficial ones hit so he soon had several cuts on his arms, sides, and thighs. One of them slashed over his right shoulder and severed the cord of his robe causing it to flutter to the ground but it came just as Asta had his counter.

"Black Hurricane!" Asta roared as he rapidly spun in place, swords out and Slayer matching his speed as it also spun around him with the point down so that its bulk could be used as a shield as well.

It wasn't a true Black Hurricane, that required Asta to be in his Black Asta form and he wasn't ready to break that out yet as that was for when he was certain he couldn't win this without it due to the toll it took on his body, and Black Hurricane was mainly an area move targeting the magic around. The concept was still similar, however, and this time he used it to break apart the maelstrom and send blades flying in all directions where they clattered to the ground or bounced off pillars. The moment that he did, Erza pulled back the remaining swords and then as he came to a stop she sent them at him again.

This time, however, Asta didn't stay still and let the swords come to him. Instead, he tossed Destroyer into the air and controlled it as well as Slayer to slash and intercept them while at the same time flipping to the side to evade a slash from one of the swords that got past his floating swords before swiping into it with Dweller.

Asta then dove between two swords and slashed away a third as he moved around showing a surprising amount of agility while evading and countering the remaining swords with the one in his hand and two in the air under mental control before knocking away the last one as he dove behind a pillar. All this was part of his own plan as he'd noticed something as he was dodging and quickly adapted to it.

As such, in a matter of moments all the swords that Erza could use in Heaven's Wheel but the two in her hands had been knocked down and away by Asta's swords and thanks to the Wave Magic of Asta's swords her magical control over them had been nullified. Well, Erza was right about the second part, just not the first. Regardless, it was impressive but she wasn't done. However before she could Asta's own swords flew at her.

Erza had to act quickly as the odd shaped one spun around hard and fast the way hers had and shot just over the ground aiming for her ankles going so fast that it looked like a black wheel spinning in the air. At the same time the other one handed one, she'd not realized that Asta had released it, shot through the air and came in at her head from the side looping around a pillar off to the side so she wouldn't notice at first.

"Requip." Erza said switching to her Clear Heart Clothing for the added offense and mobility even the armor provided her as she duck and cartwheeled in the air to avoid the swords before getting her katana up just in time to block a powerful downward slash from the great sword that had come in behind them in case Erza evaded the other two.

It pressed into her block but Erza had a two handed grip on her katana and pushed it back and away just as the standard sword as she was now referring to it came in point first from behind aiming for a non-vital part of her back. She didn't look behind her as she swiped at it sending it flying away and into a pillar where it imbedded into it kicking up a lot of dust. All this as the odd sword came in from the other side so she brought her katana around to knock it away as she leapt to the side just as the great sword came in for another slash.

To say Erza was stunned was an understatement. In only a brief encounter with limited time to study because of how fast Erza was controlling them Asta had picked up how she used her additional swords in Heavan's Wheel and mimicked it pretty well with his own three forcing her to evade and parry them away all while he was behind a pillar. The fact that he was doing this without seeing her, he was of course managing it by reading her ki, only added to how impressive it was.

Before this Erza had recognized Asta as a legit challenge but had questioned if he could truly match her in a duel. Now she was sure that he could and that was about to get more pronounced as suddenly Asta burst from around the pillar and rushed her as his three swords came in from various angles with the standard one pulling itself out of the pillar that it was in in the process.

Erza was forced to leap up and to the side flipping oved the standard sword and slashing it away with a clang of metal on metal while the odd one flew under her and planting her foot on the wide blade of the great sword while upside down to both push it away and finish her leap facing Asta in time for her eyes to go wide the moment she saw him. That was because in his hands, holding the handle in a one handed grip with his right hand with his left behind the blade as he held it low and across his body to the side was Archenemy, Kagura's katana.

She hadn't realized that Kagura had lost it during the emotional and slightly dramatic end of their fight as she'd been focused on that part and not Kagura's weapon. Neither had Asta initially but as he was evading Erza's swords he saw the katana so he used his evasion to get to it where it was behind a pillar and send all his own blades at Erza to distract her while he recalled how Kagura had used her katana.

He wasn't as refined as Erza was at controlling multiple blades at once, that was something he'd have to practice, but he'd seen her do it and picked up the technique in the fight so he occupied her with them as he grabbed the handle of the katana and took a moment to plan his attack and make sure he could replicate Kagura's style to an extent. As soon as he was sure that he could, Asta used his own blades to overwhelm Erza before he rushed around and charged her just as Kagura had though he was holding the handle not the top of the sheath the way she did mainly because it was unsheathed.

Asta had never actually used a sword with an edge before, or a katana for that matter, but he knew how to use a sword and he'd watched Yami use his katana several times now so Asta had a strong understanding of how to use it. Plus he had both Kagura and Erza's styles with the same weapon to play off as he close in on Erza as she landed.

For her part Erza had to rely on her instincts as Asta reached her and brought Archenemy up in a slash the same way Kagura had done when she'd faced Erza. This instinct enabled Erza to intercept it with her own katana from her Clear Heart Clothing. The single edged blades clashed and sparked as they locked up and wind blasted around them from the force of the impact. That was all it took for Erza to get over her shock at Asta using Kagura's weapon, style, and technique as she grit her teeth and looked Asta in the eye as they locked blades again.

"You mimicked my Heavan's Wheel style and now your copying Kagura's." Erza grunted as they pushed off each other. "Neither of which explains our other clashes. Just what kind of style do you use?"

"Any and all that I learn along the way." Asta said back his own voice strained as they pushed each other. "Few where I come from use swords but I learned from great warriors there and here to master them. I have seen and fought many people in my time, some were friends to begin with, some became them after we fought, and others remain enemies or are at least not friends but I have forged many bonds over my time."

"That I understand." Erza said her voice as strained as Asta's and she meant it as she too had forged unbreakable bonds with her friends over the years and used them to fuel her while also learning from her many enemies. "I've done the same."

"Then you'll know that alone neither of us can beat the other." Asta said grinning despite the strain of the block that was clearly evenly matched at this point due to a mix of the injuries he had and the weapons being used. "It's from all those who I've met on the way who have become a part of me that I am here now and they always will be with me. I've trained hard so that I can be as strong as all the amazing warriors who I've met on my journey so that I can be better than them, and that includes you Erza, and I will kept pushing past my limits to do so!"

At that Asta roared and tapped into that strength and used it to push past the block and knocked Erza back as he swung through it. As he did he charged while shifting Kagura's katana to a one handed grip in his right hand as he closed in on Erza.

As such she was forced to go on the defensive as Asta's style changed once again using strong, clean, one handed strikes that really played into Asta's raw strength. Erza barely blocked them as they moved through the pillared area, the katanas clanging and sparking as they clashed with each other until Asta finally landed a powerful downward swipe that knocked Erza's katana to the side before he twisted the grip in his hand and launched a savage upward slash that would be deep enough to incapacitate but not deep enough to kill.

"When you fight me you're not up against me alone." Asta said as Erza was forced to lean back from the slash to dodge it though she didn't fully avoid it as the tip of Archenemy as it slashed her along the left cheek from just below her mouth to her temple cutting a few strands of scarlet hair in the process as well. "I've fought with many powerful warriors and each one has taught me something new to add to my style, including you! That's who you're fighting against when you face me!"

With that Asta roared and in a smooth motion he brought Archenemy down and thrust the katana forward going for an air displacement thrust to Erza's chest that would blast her back and into a pillar behind her and set up his win. Unfortunately for Asta, Erza wasn't one of the best for nothing and the cut to her cheek had snapped her back to it, well that and Asta's rant reminded her of her own family in Fairy Tail and how they fueled her as well, so with a leap she dove to the side requipping into her Flight Armor as she did.

It wasn't a moment too soon as the air blast slammed into the pillar and blew a crater halfway through it. Erza noted this and added it to her mental assessment of Asta as she rolled on the ground from her dive her armor turning into the limited armor with a cheetah print that was her Flight Armor with the two one handed swords that came with it popping into her hands as she rose facing Asta who'd already turned to her.

She was panting and could feel the wet blood running down her cheek and neck but she paid it no heed. Asta had cuts all over his body, all superficial to his arms, sides, and legs, but he was standing and one cut wasn't enough to bother Erza in battle.

"I see, so that's at least part of why you're so good, your own style is fluid and unpredictable." Erza said as she looked at Asta. "Few can break past my defenses and cut me but you're talent is clear and that style you just used wasn't mine or Kagura's so you've seen another katana style as well. That said, you're not the only one who will learn from the other from this fight. Regardless how this goes there are things I can learn from you just like you've learned from me, Asta. For now, though, I'm not done and neither are you. Let's see you handle my style change."

At that Erza rushed forward her speed even greater than before as it was a boost that her Flight Armor gave her. That was the main reason why she'd switched to this armor but there was another reason why she needed the speed. For the first time all battle Asta didn't have one of his own swords which meant that he couldn't nullify the magic on her armor and weapons so she had to capitalize on that as she reached him.

Asta too realized this though and leapt back as Erza charged trying to think and quickly realizing what he had to do and that active thinking wouldn't be needed for a moment. As such he tossed Archenemy to the side before Erza could reach him, he wouldn't need it anymore as his skills with a katana just weren't at the level to fight Erza now that the surprise was over, and he'd apologize to Kagura for the action later, while connecting with the Anti-Magic in his Demon-Dweller and Demon-Destroyer swords and summoning them to him.

In his recent exchange with Erza a moment earlier he'd dropped his hold on them because he'd forgotten about them due to the moment so he had to get them back. Until then, however, he needed to evade Erza's strikes so as she reached him and slashed, one of which he couldn't fully dodge due to how fast she was on him so it cut a shallow line in the top of his chest, he put his mind into a trance-like state the way Kiato did when they fought and began to dodge.

Erza was stunned when he tossed away Archenemy, it was a powerful katana that he could really use, and even more so when he seemed to slip his conscious focus as she cut his chest, but as she brought her other sword down for the next slash that would take him from hip to waist he twisted away with a fluid grace that surprised her but she pressed on slashing as fast as she could. However, Asta seemed to almost dance away from her blades, evading them by the barest of margins for a few seconds as she pressed him back.

It was a whole new style, one that she'd not seen before, though it was a little similar to how he'd dodge her flying swords a few moments ago, and was a big change to how he'd fought so far. Clearly one of his past battles had been against someone who used fluid movements and focused on dodges rather than raw strength and it showed in the moment.

Asta's evasion style only last a few seconds though before Erza figured it out and with a pillar behind Asta limiting his movements she brought in both swords from either side going for a cross of his chest to do a lot of damage and set up a surrender but as Erza brought in her blades the two one handed swords Asta had shot in and up intercepting the swords with a clang as they hovered in the air and this time Erza couldn't move them away as she pushed into them. The moment that they did Asta seemed to snap out of his strange battle state as he grabbed the swords in his hands and pushed outwards.

Erza still had her grip on her own swords so she wasn't going to have her arms pushed back on Asta's attempt to push her arms away. The moment that Asta realized this he instead stepped forward and cocked his head back before he slammed his forehead into Erza's nose in a savage headbutt while mentally connecting with his Demon-Slayer sword at the same time so that he could bring it to the fight as well though he'd have to navigated it around a few pillars to preserve its surprise.

The blow staggered her back and made Erza see stars but physical contact in a sword duel was something that happened so she rolled with it and used her enhanced speed to spin around and evade the follow up slashes from Asta though she could feel the air on her exposed skin as she evaded them showing how close they were. As she did she knew that she had to change armor and counter if for nothing else then to protect the magic on her Flight Armor should she need it again, and she was sure that she would.

"Requip: Purgatory Armor!" Erza shout as she leapt back from a second set of slashes Asta sent at her and then backflipped over his great sword that came out of nowhere it seemed as she was mid requip, she really didn't want to get hit like that though the way she dodged it and the spike of worry in her ki at the near hit tickled something in Asta's mind as it had been a full dodge with no attempt to block.

That mental tickle vanished as Erza changed into that sinister black and spikey armor that she'd used briefly at the Magic Ball that Count Balsamico had held. Asta had seen it there along with the spiked mace and had to come up short as she swung it around and at him while he leap back to avoid it. Erza pressed that though and used the momentum to bring it around and down in a powerful two handed overhand strike on Asta that he was only just able to block by raising his swords in an X shape and intercepting it at the cross point but as he did he let out a yell of pain.

That was because while Asta had blocked the attack, and in the process nullified any magic that the mace had on it, one of the spikes on it had pierced his left shoulder. They got progressively larger along it so while he'd blocked the attack one of the spikes had managed to reach him. Still, it wasn't too deep nor did it hit anything vital so it was just painful and that was it. As such, with a grunt Asta pushed up on the mace and forced it back, a wet plopping sound coming as it was removed, and Erza tried to push down.

All Asta needed though was enough space and he managed to get that as he raised it high enough to leap back and disengage. The weight and angles hadn't been on his side there so this was the best he could do but as he did so, and as the mace slammed into the ground and cracked it he send Slayer soaring around and flying point first at Erza's chest to distract her as he filled Dweller with Anti-Magic for a Black Slash.

Erza saw this and let go of the mace and leapt back, requipping back into her Flight Armor as she did and making sure that the blade flew over her again causing a tickle in Asta's mind, thus avoiding it so that it flew into a pillar behind her. As soon as it was past her she finished her change so Erza kicked her legs into the air and planted her palms on the ground as she did a handspring flip and tucked herself into a ball as flipped in the air before untucking as she neared the pillar that Slayer was now imbedded in just as Asta fired off a Black Slash at her.

The moment her feet touched it she bent her knees and held her hands out as she requipped her two swords from this armor before she pushed off the pillar and at another one her speed rapidly increasing which had the added benefit of avoiding the Black Slash that slammed into the pillar and cut a line into it that kicked up a lot of dust. Erza had been wondering when Asta would break out that ranged slash she'd seen and now that he had she'd have to be careful about it. Thankfully she already had a plan.

She'd come up with it the moment that the attack with her mace had failed, though she'd still managed to score a solid hit with the spike, so raw power wasn't going to do. That meant that the best strategy was to use speed to her advantage as she began to pinball through the pillars using the enhanced speed and limited flight provided by her costume to never touched the ground and becoming nothing more than a red and yellow blur as she moved. This also had the added benefit of making it almost impossible for Asta to hit her with that projected slash thus protecting her form that as well.

For his part Asta had just recovered from the attack and miss as he crouched panting one hand on his bleeding shoulder making sure that it was ok while still holding his swords though he left Slayer where it was for now. As he did he sensed Erza's ki and how fast it was going so he rose and looked around to see that she was zipping around faster than he could track with his eyes using her armor and the pillars to her advantage. This wasn't good and that was reinforced as he sensed her change for a strafing run on him so he leapt forward but he wasn't fast enough as she still managed to slash his back.

It was shallow but he could feel the blood slowly running down his back and he already had several cuts on him form other engagements. While they were piling up, none would stop Asta as he'd fought through a hell of a lot worse, so he grit his teeth as he tried to track Erza but she was too fast to see. Thankfully he could read her ki and was able to sense the next attack just before it came but again it was still so fast the he couldn't do more than twist out of the way and take a cut to his bicep while whirling around with his swords but Erza had already changed directions so he couldn't see her.

Erza grinned as she moved, she was really pushing past her own limits with this move as only her training and armor made this possible. Of course she couldn't keep it up for long but she didn't need to, she just had to do so until she got a clean hit that either took Asta out or at least injured him enough that she could stop this and finish him quickly so that's what she did. All Asta could do was twist and evade every time she passed him taking another cut in the process.

Asta was getting frustrated but as he did he recalled two things. The first was the day he learned ki and how he mastered it against that line faced Spatial Mage in the Eye of the Midnight Sun. The second was the advice that he'd received from Fuegoleon and Yami. He had to remain calm, think, and do it his way. As soon as that came into his head his frustration cleared up and he exhaled closing his eyes and dropping Destroy to the ground with a clatter.

The moment he did he fully focused on Erza's ki. Her speed and movements had thrown him for a moment and he realized that he'd been using his eyes too much so he closed them to get a calming sense and as he did, in the blackness where he stood he felt the flare of life that was Erza's ki, a ki he was now very familiar with. The moment he did he tracked it while keeping his own in relation to it and this time when he noticed that she was nearing he just took a step back and fully dodged her so that her sword swiped only air as she passed him though he did feel the air on his bare chest as it was a close miss.

That stunned Erza but not enough to break her concentration as she continued her movements through the pillars now going as fast as she could manage as she moved and lined up another attack but again Asta evaded her attack without a cut as she sped past him and this time she noticed that his eyes were closed as he did. That meant that whatever perception ability he had was in full effect and it was really showing right now. He kept this up three more times and by then Erza's stamina, as great as it was, was starting to wane and she began to slow.

It wasn't by much and those watching the battle in the stands and on the battlefield transfixed by the duel going on to the point that they were ignoring the other two battles happening at the same time couldn't tell that Erza had slowed but Asta with his eyes closed and focused solely on Erza's ki could and he grinned the moment he did. This was just what he was looking for and as he dodged another slash he moved Slayer from where it was and into a new position all as he slid his feet over the ground and predicted exactly where Erza would be on her next pass which was almost on him.

"There you are!" Asta roared his eyes flying open as he turned fully so that Erza passed in front of him and slashed at her with a powerful overhand slash not unlike the ones he'd seen when facing and fighting with Mars. "I got you!"

Asta did have Erza as her slash missed him due to his turn but his blow landed slamming right into her chest protector and driving the air from Erza's lungs as her rapid movement was halted by the blow. The result was that the magic on her armor nullified by it thus ending her enhanced speed and Erza was driven back and down as Asta pushed through the blow.

Only Erza's impressively sized assets saved her from broken bones as the armor wasn't the best at protecting due to it being designed for speed not protection so they were an additional barrier. That was a small comfort as the blow still hurt like hell as she was thrown down and slammed into the ground hard before bouncing off it and into the air and away from Asta.

That wasn't enough to take her down though as she twisted to reorientate herself and look at Asta who was rising from his slash eyes open now and grinning at her. She was just about to change when suddenly her back slammed into something long and narrow right where the chest protector wrapped around her and she gasped out what little air she'd recovered as her back arched over the blade of Asta's great sword. Despite the blow, Erza did note that what Gray and Juvia had said was true, Asta's swords were blunt for some reason though she was surprised that she'd hit the blade all.

Erza had hit it because Asta had moved Slayer into position to intercept her and up to hit her armor to ensure that he'd nullify any magic on it as he wasn't sure his interception of her attack would do so though he'd managed it. That meant that Erza couldn't use that speed boost she had and he continued to grin as she fell from the air and landed on one knee on the ground her swords still in her hands despite all she'd just taken.

Asta didn't let up though, he couldn't with Erza, so as she landed he twisted Slayer in the air and brought it slashing down aiming for between her shoulder blades as he summed Destroyer back to his left hand just in case he needed it. However, Erza was expecting something like this and rolled forward and as she did she glowed and her armor changed back to her Clear Heart Clothing once again, which like before tickled something in Asta's mind, before she popped up only now she held two katanas in her hands not one like she had before.

She was panting and bruised but still in it as she looked at Asta who looked right back at her, Slayer now behind her and in the ground as it had crashed into it when she avoided the attack. Clearly this wasn't enough to take Erza down and they both knew it.

"Not bad, I didn't expect that you'd be able to evade any of that let alone fully evade with your eyes closed and then land a counter." Erza said her voice strained as she caught her breath her years of training and all the pain she'd been through easily able to handle the situation she was in. "You've got to teach me that technique when the games are over. I noticed it in Hidden but seeing it in battle like this showed me that it's at a whole new level."

"When this is done and we're not enemies but friends you can ask my Captain, er Guild Master as you'd call it, about it as he was the one who taught me." Asta said grinning as his right eye turned red and a black line appeared on his face bisecting his right eye as he activated his Black Asta form. "But all that showed me that this still isn't enough to beat you so I've got to break this out. I expected as much though so I thank you for making me us it as it's time to really surpass my limits."

As he spoke Asta changed, well partially as pitch black Anti-Magic covered his right arm up to his shoulder and spread out a bit across his chest, neck, and back. As it did more formed in streaks on the right side of his face and the right half of his hair turned black. At the same time a curled and forward pointing horn grew from the right side of his head and a sinister looking black wing shot up from behind his right shoulder blade.

All Erza could do was stare in shock at the sudden change her eyes wide and mouth open, a feeling shared by many watching in the Domus Flau Colosseum. She'd been prepared for a lot in this fight as they were aware of Asta's sword skills, his Requip Magic that brought three Wave Magic swords out of his grimoire, and uncanny perception abilities. Erza had even been ready for something unexpected like Asta mimicking her ability to move swords with her mind as she understood magic swords well and that they could have multiple uses.

This, however, was so far beyond expectations that she was genuinely shocked because what she was seeing was clearly, to her, a form of partial Takeover Magic. It was a mix of Elfman's partial changes that he used to do with the demonic ones that Mira could use.

To add to it all it didn't feel like any magic Erza had felt before as there was a sinister flare to it that she hadn't experienced in her time and it wasn't anything like the demon takeovers that Mira had. This was wholly new to her, to everyone in Fiore in fact, and it really showed Asta's skills that he'd kept up with her without using this ability.

It also begged the question about Mavis's statement that those from where Asta was from, based on the one person from there that had been a member of Fairy Tail along with what they'd seen from the Black Bulls so far in the Grand Magic Games, only had one kind of magic unless they fit an extremely narrow exception. Apparently Asta fit one of the rare exceptions to have two kinds of magic and thanks to him having Requip, or whatever he called it, he had access to a third kind due to his swords.

Erza couldn't think of that right now though or focus on the transformation really as this was still a duel with the Grand Magic Games at stake because if she beat Asta then Fairy Tail won. She too had an ace up her sleeve and she was getting really close to using it, in fact if she couldn't beat Asta soon then she would but she needed a moment for that and as Asta charged her she didn't have that moment especially because he speed was now greatly increased with his transformation.

"Requip: Adamantine Armor!" Erza shouted as she changed, which only seemed to increase Asta's speed towards her as if her flare of magic sucked him in.

That was something to keep on her mind but Erza couldn't dwell on it as she changed into the full, protection focused armor and got the dented and battered shields in front of her just as Asta neared her. The magic hadn't recovered from being nullified by Asta's great sword; in fact she wasn't sure if it would recover at all which was something she'd have to look into after the Grand Magic Games were over, but it was still a powerful shield so she could use it as that.

"That's not going to work!" Asta roared as he slashed into the shield with both his swords as he reached her and shattered it from the force of the impact. "In this form I'm stronger and faster than before!"

Erza gasped as the shield was broken into a few pieces and Asta slashed again so that his swords slammed into her chest, the heavy armor protecting her well, and she was blasted back into a pillar behind her with enough force to crater it deep enough that she was stuck in it. Asta wasn't wrong, he was indeed stronger and faster now but she was still in it thanks to her armor and she started to get a sense of what this Takeover Magic did as he planted his right foot on the ground and shot at her once again thus preserving his momentum from his initial charge, she just needed to get clear to test it.

"Requip: Black Wing Armor." Erza said as Asta shot at her and again as she requipped he speed up as if drawn to the magic she was using.

So far things were lining up and as Erza changed into the revealing black armor with silver edges and with black wings that had a membrane part for the limited flight ability it granted her she put her plan into action as she pushed off the pillar she was in and flew to the side just before Asta reached her. This should tell her more though her plan still involved getting a blow in both to add to the damage Asta had taken and judge if his durability and resistance had also increased along with his speed and strength.

That was because rather than turn, Asta was going too fast to, he just smashed into and through the pillar though given the speed he was traveling at he ensured that he broke through the whole thing. it was impressive and Erza glanced back to see that he had indeed blown through the pillar and the moment he did he turned in the air showing that he could also fly now, at least for short period, and shot at Erza as she flew now chasing her through the pillars matching her own flight path as he closed in.

However, Erza had noticed that the initial turn he'd done to follow her hadn't appeared natural, and as Asta roared and sent out a pair of those projected slash attacks that Erza though was call Black Slash if she recalled Hidden correctly at her, which she dodged so that they slammed into nearby pillars causing craters in them and dust to fill the area, she was sure that her suspicions were confirmed. Whatever this transformation was it was drawn to magic for some reason likely tied to Asta's Wave Magic swords in some way Erza thought.

That was something that Erza could work with. So, as Asta send another Black Slash at her, she rolled over in the air and dropped down so that it flew over her while dismissing the sword that came with her armor as she'd need that later and requipping her Purgatory Armor Mace.

The mace had no magic on it at the moment thanks to Asta's earlier block of it but that wasn't what she needed it for, she needed a long and solid weapon that could block his attack and this was the best for it as the other ones she had she'd either need later or wouldn't work well. This was perfect though as she requipped it and got it up and across her chest just as Asta reached her and brought both his swords down on her chest.

Instead they slammed into the mace as they flew and Erza had her left hand on the back of the mace and above the part that had spikes on the other side as she steadied it. She didn't even try to push against it, she just let Asta push her down with his increased strength.

That was because she used the hit to backflip in the air and perform a bicycle kick that slammed her metal clad foot into his stomach and blasted him up and over her as she used the kick to change directions and fall to the ground exchanging her mace for the sword that came with her Black Wing Armor in the process. The moment she landed she pushed off it and flew forward and away from Asta as fast as she could while Asta flipped in the air a little winded but otherwise ok though after he flew through a damaged pillar Erza knew a kick wouldn't do much.

Asta could handle a simple kick, he could handle flying through a pillar though that had hurt more than he was letting on, and he used his Black form's ability to track magic to reorientate himself in the air so that he had his back facing a pillar as he brought his feet up and saw Erza come out from behind a pillar and fly at him as his feet hit the pillar and his knees bent. The moment he could he pushed off it with enough force to crack the pillar and at Erza just as she slashed her sword at him.

"Moon Flash!" Erza yelled as she blasted out the ranged magic attack in an X shape while the two combatants flew at each other.

"Black Slash!" Asta roared in response mirroring Erza's movements a moment later as he sent out a matching pair of slashed while confirming the name of the spell to Erza.

The moves flew at the other combatant before slamming into each other. The Black Slashes nullified the Moon Flash and carried on but Erza flew between them and used the move to slash at Asta with the sword as they passed but he'd read her ki and so was able to get his sword up and deflected it away, his speed carrying him past her but he turned in the air as he slowed and redirected himself forcing himself to control his Black Asta form which had been a major part of his training over the last two years in Earth Land.

For her part Erza just requipped the pair of axes that also came with this armor to replace the sword as the magic it had had been nullified by Asta's block and flew around the pillar that Asta had just pushed off and back at him as he pushed off a new one and at her once again cracking it with the force of his push. Again Asta sent out a Black Slash that Erza dodged before they reached and clashed in the middle with neither scoring a hit as Asta blocked the two axe strikes with his swords as they passed before he had to reorientating himself in the air while Erza flew around a pillar again.

With her axes also nullified of any magic Erza simply requipped back to the pair of swords that she'd used when initially fighting Kagura and Noelle on top of this structure as she flew around and this time kicked off a pillar to pick up speed on her next charge. This was so that she could reach Asta before he could use one of those slashes again as getting hit by one would knock her out of the air and nullify the magic on her Black Wing Armor.

Asta noticed this and instead he just slashed at her with his own swords as they passed but again they clashed with a clang and no hit for either sword master though this time Erza was knocked off course a bit by the force of the blow. It wasn't enough to knock her into a pillar, though she did have to kick off one and then run along the wall near where Kagura had blown a hole in it when she'd tried to kill Erza before Erza could leap off it and back at Asta as he charged at her.

This continued for a few more passes as they sped up until both were black blurs flying at each other from various angles in the pillared area and clashing as they passed by going as fast as possible with Asta getting things more under control so that now he flying around pillars to keep his speed. Those watching couldn't see the details but Asta and Erza were fully aware be it because of ki or experience as they continued this but it had to end and soon and Asta had just the move for it, he just needed to build up the speed to ensure that he had enough power to pull it off and with the latest pass he had it.

As such, the moment he and Erza clashed again and passed each other their trajectories slightly altered as they always were from the force of their swords clanging off each other, Asta tossed Destroyer to the side as he looped around a pillar so that he could see Erza and as soon as he did he flew at her once more just as she flew at him in turn. As soon as she did, however, Erza noticed that something was off now that Asta was flying at her and even at the speeds they were flying at she knew that this was different and that she really didn't want to be hit by the attack as it might be too strong to deflect.

That was why, as they closed in on each other, she dipped her body down and shifted her wings up while returning her swords to the storage space that was the core of her magic. If she played this right she could use all this to her advantage and execute the plan she'd had in motion ever since figuring out how Asta's Takeover Magic worked but not having the opportunity to pull it off until now. It would just take really good timing but Erza knew that she could do it.

"Black Meteorite!" Asta roared as he reached Erza and swung Dweller at her with a powerful swing.

Erza was glad that she'd acted when she did as if that had hit her it would have been really bad even if she'd blocked it with her swords. This way, however, the swing slammed into the black bits holding her wing membranes on the back of her armor rather than hitting her body or swords.

The result wasn't great, however, as the black metal shattered from the blow and the wings were shredded as the entire rig was removed from the back of the armor, which also had the magic on it nullified in the process, but it was a whole lot better than the blow hitting her. Erza knew this for sure as the blow was such that she barely slowed despite the blunt edge of Asta's sword.

Of course she still fell crashing to the ground and as she did she stored her armor back in the pocket dimension she kept it in and returned to her normal clothes that she'd worn at the start of Battle Royale. At the same time she requipped her Sea Empress Sword which was just a handle and hilt with a blade made of Water Magic, fitting given Asta's teammate, and pumped more magic into it before she tossed it to the side right after she finished her requipping.

It wasn't a moment to soon as right after she through it Erza slammed into the ground hard landing awkwardly on her shoulder before she bounced off it and spinning in the air until she crashed back first into a pillar with enough force to crack it. She then pitched off it and fell to the ground where she landed in a heap on it as a few stones rained down on her though they weren't nearly large enough to do any damage. However, all that didn't matter to her because her plan had worked and she quickly pushed herself to her feet to get into position for it.

That was because the moment that she used her magic Asta, who was turning around a pillar and couldn't see what had happened to her after his strike, speed up and flew to the source of it so when her magic wasn't active but a sword that was magic was active he instinctively flew towards it due to the nature of his Black Asta form and thus didn't see the results of his attack. It was a clever move, one that showed why Erza was an S-Class Mage but it would only distract Asta for a moment and only work once. However, that was just the number of times that Erza needed.

Asta was certainly confused. He'd missed his Black Meteorite but he'd still destroyed her wings, that much he knew, so that should be good and while he'd sensed her ki and noticed she'd tossed something, whatever it was had a fair bit of magic in it. As such his Black Asta form was drawn to the new source of strong magic thus leading him off course, one of the drawbacks that he'd work hard on to try and control but hadn't mastered it yet, so he flew further around and then down until he saw what it was, a simple sword with a glowing blade made entirely of water.

Clearly it was Water Magic, Asta was intimately familiar with that attribute more than any other seeing as both Sister Lily and Noelle had it, and had frequently used it on him, but what he was confused at why Erza had used it and then tossed it away. She couldn't use it on him, one parry would end it, so it was clearly meant to get him away from her which meant that she'd figured out how his Black Asta form worked. Asta was impressed that she'd managed that but he kept his guard up as he landed on the ground panting a bit and placed the tip of his sword into the water to nullify it and end the magic.

However, the moment he did he sensed Erza's ki move from where she'd ended up and her turned in time to see her burst from around a pillar wearing the purple clothes she'd worn at the start of the Battle Royale and as she rushed him a long spear with two heads attached to a decorated wheel that connected them to the shaft and had two long, loss, ribbons under it suddenly appeared in her hands. What was more disturbing was that there was a crackling ball of lightning on the end seconds after it appeared that was then blasted out and slammed into Asta's chest blasting him back before he could react.

This was what Erza's plan had been, use his powerup against him by drawing him to a source of magic and then when he went there rapidly requipping her Spear of Lightning and using the opening to charge it and then blast Asta from range before he could be drawn to the magic of the spear. She'd even made sure to not hit the black marks on him so that it would be fully effective.

Asta had to give it to Erza, it was impressive and well played. She'd deduced that he was drawn to magic in this form and made him fall into her trap because that which had given her an opening to land this hit. Thankfully this lightning was nothing compared to Luck's so it wasn't enough to take him down and even as it hit Asta forced more of his Black Form over his chest to mitigate some of the damage.

It still hurt like hell and he was blasted backwards into a pillar with enough force to crater it with a clear scorch mark on his muscular and blood covered chest. He stuck there for a moment before he pitched forward and crashed to the ground as dust covered him though he did manage to land on one knee but he dropped Destroyer next to him in the process.

However, he was still in it and coughed in the dust, blood flecking from his mouth as he heard Erza's footsteps and felt her ki as she approached noting that there was a streak of triumph in it though not enough to be called arrogance. He chuckled as he turned to face her though he remained on one knee and grinned as the dust cleared. He was still in this and looked up at the Fairy Tail woman without any fear or surrender in his eyes, his Black Asta Form growing a little as he did.

"Not bad." Asta said as he sensed where his other swords were and made sure that they were ready to go at a moment's notice but with what he was feeling in Erza's ki it was best to wait for it. "But it will take a lot more than a lucky shot to bring me down."

"As with what you did earlier I didn't expect it would." Erza said the pain clear in her tone though she remained tall and proud before him. "It looks like I'll have to use my strongest armor on you if I want to win this."

Erza may be looking down on Asta due to their positions as she came to a stop outside his sword range wary of that projected slash attack of his as his standard sword was near his hand but not looking down on him in any other sense. He'd more than proven himself worthy and her equal, her extensive wounds, exhaustion, and the blood caking her cheek and neck were testament enough, but she still had one ace left and it was time to use it as it was the one armor that would make sure that no one was her equal on the battlefield.

Asta was skilled but even he couldn't counter what she had in store as it would cut through and end all his magic and give her the win which would also secure the overall win for Fairy Tail thus completing their return to the top. She'd hoped that they could do it all as a team but Juvia was already out thanks to the Black Bulls and the points had aligned so that only one person remained in her way. Asta had more than earned this respect from her.

"I'm honored." Asta said grinning and not getting up as a plan formed in his mind as it was much clearer as his Black Asta form cleared his mind of any doubts and other thoughts, improved his focus and clarity of mind so he was able to focus on his budding plan though a lot would depend on what this armor is. "Looks like we both have to go all out to win this."

"Yes, there is no other way to do so, you're that strong but I must defeat you and win this for Fairy Tail, they are all counting on me and I can't let them down." Erza said. "We should spar again once this is over, it has been a long time since someone truly matched me the way you did today, who's as you've put it made me push past my limits. However, this ends now. Second Origin, release."

"Second Origin?" Asta asked as Erza glowed sure he'd heard the term before but not knowing it and frankly that didn't care as seeing Erza's change up close finally turned that earlier tickle into a realization and his budding plan cleared up as now Asta had one that could give him the win if he played things right. "What's that?"

Erza didn't reply as she gave off an incredible amount of magic power that caused some of the loose stones around them to rise up into the air and dust to billow in the air around her as she changed and equipped an armor that hadn't been used by anyone in a decade. Of course, Asta didn't actually feel the magic as he couldn't but he sensed her powerful ki as she changed and knew this was good as the dust cleared to reveal Erza before him in an armor that he'd never seen before. In fact no one watching had seen this armor before because of the cost associated with it so it was totally new to everyone.

The swordswoman now wore a short blue robed trimmed with gold that was open in the middle revealing most of her breasts, which also showed a bruise over them from Asta's earlier blown when Erza was in her Flight Armor, and cut so that her navel was also exposed though the golden hem covered her nipples and a white layer around her waist with white sides that were all also edged in gold. The robe was tied around the waist with a simple red ribbon and held with a gold bead.

To accessorize it Erza had blue cloth bracers that extended over her palms and were attached to her middle fingers, red bands on her wrists and large golden metal protrusions on the mid forearm showing where they ended though she had full sleeves on under it that had to be part of the robe. She also had a pair of golden pauldrons with a snarling lion's face on them and a white sash that connected them and formed a loop over her head. Her legs, meanwhile, were clad in blue and gold leggings that matched her bracers and under a pair of golden greaves that had the same pattern as her robe.

To top it all off a tiara that was a gold band with two blue rhombus shapes on either side and a triangular thing in the middle sat atop her head as her red hair fell loosely down but for two strands that framed her face and were tied with golden beads. The tiara design actually matched the knee plates of her greaves which only added to the elaborateness of the armor.

It was really fancy but Asta didn't care about that, he was more focused on the weapon that Erza was now holding in her right hand. It was large gold halberd with a circular hand guard between the blade and handle and red cloth tied below the blade. The handle itself had what looked like white cloth wrapped around it for grip and the base seemed to be some kind of black weighted thing that Asta wasn't sure about and wasn't really concerned with.

It was certainly an imposing weapon bit it was still a weapon and one that had magic on it which Asta could nullify so he wasn't out of this fight just yet. He did have to work really hard not to be drawn to the magic of the armor but he forced himself to remain where he was with every once of control he had as he needed to let Erza think that she had this when this was just the opening he needed.

"This is my Nakagami Armor." Erza said as Asta took it all in so that he was aware of just how far he'd pushed her to win this duel. "It is an armor that consumes magic power at such an intense rate that no one has been able to utilize it in the past 10 years. It's said that if it can be worn then whoever does so would become a force without equal and conquer all who stand against the wearer. Only because I have unlocked my Second Origin can I wield this armor. Consider this a sign of my utmost respect, Asta, as I don't think I can beat you without it but this ends now!"

With that Erza let out a roar as she swung the halberd down with a brutal overhand swing at Asta as knelt on the floor that would knock him out when it hit him. Erza had hoped not to use this armor but Asta was too great a threat to ignore, his talent easily comparable to hers if not greater in some aspects and the Takeover Magic he revealed only added to it. Plus, he was the last impediment to Fairy Tail's victory, the only one who could stop them and so she needed to win this as she brought it down yelling as she delivered the final blow.

At least that's what she thought it would be until Asta's great sword flew through the air and he caught it in his right hand and raised it to intercept Erza's halberd with the flat of it, placing his left hand on the back of the blade for added stability. It wasn't a moment too soon as the halberd slammed into it with a titanic clang that reverberated around the area and caused both Asta and Erza's arms to shake as the ground around Asta, and the pillar behind him, cracked driving him down and dust flew up covering them and obscuring the recording lacrimas while wind tore through the pillared area.

The first thing that Erza noticed was wrong was that there was still resistance against her halberd as the dust covered them. That shouldn't be. He armor dispelled magic, her sword could cut through even space itself which was why she'd been willing to use this armor on Minerva if it came to a fight between them, so she should have delivered a devastating blow that won her not just this duel but the Battle Royale and the Grand Magic Games as well. However the halberd was clearly blocked by Asta's sword as she pushed down on it, teeth clenched but no matter how hard she pushed she couldn't get past it.

As she did she heard a chuckle and the dust began to clear. Only her training kept her from going wide eyed as she looked down and saw Asta was still there on one knee in the cracked ground, sword up and holding the halberd back with it. What's more, the transformation he'd undergone, what Erza was sure was partial Takeover Magic, was still there for some reason. It was unfathomable for it to be like that and those back in the Fairy Tail box were just as stunned by it as Erza was.

"What? How are you doing this?" Erza asked as she grunted against the block but Asta's raw strength, amplified by his transformation, held her back and the broadness of his sword ensured she couldn't get through his block though only the edges cut through magic so the magic on the halberd hadn't been nullified yet. "This sword can cut through anything, even Spatial Magic, and the armor should dispel magic. You shouldn't be able to block it with Wave Magic on your sword and that Takeover Magic you've used to transform should be gone. Hell, you're supposed to only have one kind of magic which we figured was Requip or some kind of specialized Wave Magic because you store your swords in your grimoire."

"Who said that what I'm using is magic though?" Asta asked back grinning as this was it, he knew that he had it so long as he timed things right and he needed to put off Erza as much as possible so he may as well reveal his true power to her, she'd earned that much at least and it should throw her off a little would be an added boost. "You just assumed that what I was doing was some kind of Requip Magic with my grimoire, Wave Magic in my swords or maybe with the grimoire being specialized to make it manifest as swords, and then when you saw my Black Asta form you just assumed that it was Takeover Magic."

"If not magic then what? How…" Erza began but she trailed off as she finally let her senses work and this time her eyes went wide though she kept trying to push through the block.

This entire fight she'd been focused on Asta's sword skills, the way he could seemingly predict her moves and block nearly everything she threw at him, and how he incorporated not just hers but Kagura's sword styles into his own despite only seeing them briefly, along with other styles that he'd used as well. She had Asta in front of her or at least near her, she'd had no reason to try and sense his magic.

On top of that, his skills were such that she'd just assumed his use of Requip Magic from that grimoire of his which gave him swords using Wave Magic, or as Mavis suspected it was some highly specialized Wave Magic manifesting as swords, was a given based on what she'd seen before. This was subsequently confirmed it seemed when he cut through the magic on her armor and weapons.

Even the transformation was akin to Elfman's partial Takeover Magic only more like Mira's in appearance so she'd just made the assumption that that was what it was. That said she had noticed that the transformation didn't feel like any magic she'd felt before but she'd just chalked that up to Asta not being from the continent of Ishgar so his magic had to be a bit different, right?

Besides, Erza's attention had been on their duel, on beating Asta with her swords, axes, spear, mace and any other tactic she could employ rather than actually figure out what he did. If she had she'd have realized that she sensed no magic at all from him or his weapons.

True, the Black Bulls' magic was a little different to hers, she'd sensed that in Noelle even with her using Dragon Slayer Magic, but she just figured that they weren't from Fiore or even Ishgar so it would be especially as magic was different from person to person. However, now that she focused on it while still trying to break through Asta's block she truly realized what he meant and her respect for his skills shot up another notch. It also showed Erza her catastrophic underestimation of Asta because she, like anyone else, would not have expected someone without magic to be this powerful.

"You, you don't have any magic at all." Erza said the shock clear in her voice as she strained against Asta's block. "Do you?"

"Not a drop." Asta said grinning as he began to push back and slowly rose while Erza increased her pressure on him but he had the surface area in the block and the raw strength on her at the moment. "Where I come from everyone is born with magic, and yes they all have only one attribute as we call them unless they are a hybrid or the subject of some kind of strange, unnatural, experimentation, but for some reason I wasn't born with any. That never stopped me, well almost it did, but when I was 15 this grimoire appeared to me because it had something only I can use and with it and my own determination I will get results and become the Wizard King when we return home."

"Then what are you using?" Erza said as Asta continued to slowly rise as she fought with all she had to push him back down a little confused by most of what Asta was saying so she focused on what she needed to know right now. "How can you negate magic?"

"Because I use Anti-Magic!" Asta roared and with that he pushed up with all his strength and broke the block as he got to his feet while Erza staggered back the halberd in her hands above her head the weight of it working against her for a few seconds.

Asta didn't give Erza any time to recover, however, as Destroyer and Dweller shot off the ground from where they'd dropped when he'd blocked the strike and right at Erza. First Dweller hit as was nearer, it pivoted and hit her with a horizontal slash to the gut winding her and nullifying the magic of her Nakagami Armor at the same time. Then, as Erza gasped, Destroyer flew in from where it had been tossed earlier and spun to hit her wrists as hard as Asta could make it with the straight of the blade just below the strange head part of the sword weakening her grip.

However, all this was just to keep Erza occupied as Asta roared and spun with Slayer in both hands and slammed it into Erza's exposed side with all his Black Form enhanced strength. As he did Asta yelled so that Erza knew just what his magic really was.

"My magic is never giving up!" Asta roared as Erza was blasted up and sideways through the area until she slammed back first into a pillar with enough force to crater it and send cracks almost all the way through it.

The blow cause Erza to gasp and jarred the halberd out her hands thanks to the strike to her wrists causing it to clatter to the ground. Thankfully, though, she'd hit the pillar on the curve and not head on she bounced off the pillar but she pushed through it as she spun and reorientated herself in the air.

This wasn't enough to take her out, however. Sure, she'd taken several hits from Asta so far with this most recent one being the worst by far, she was sure he'd at least cracked her ribs just now. To add to it her armor had been damaged and nullified, which meant that it wasn't drawing on her magic anymore, though it was just some tears as it was a cloth armor but for the pauldrons on her shoulders and her greaves and gloves.

Still, now that she knew the full extent of Asta's abilities Erza knew that the only way to beat him was pure offense and her master swordsmanship with not magic at all. The revelations he'd just told her about his true strength were still reeling in her mind as she landed on her feet with her back to the wall of the area that had a hole in it though it was several feet behind her but she pushed her thoughts aside.

Right now Erza had to focus as she tapped into what little magic she had left, the fact that Asta had hit her Nakagami Armor actually allowed her to do this, and put it all into one final requip to switch to her Clear Heart Clothing once again. However, this was exactly what Asta was going for and he acted as she did.

"Black Slash!"

"Requip!"

Asta roared his attack as he dropped Slayer and grabbed Dweller out of the air from where it had floated over to him after he'd hit Erza with it and infused it with Anti-Magic before he slashed upwards all as Erza was bouncing off the pillar and landing. He'd needed the timing to be just right for this to work and thanks to sensing her ki he knew that in this instance it was.

Throughout the battle the tickle in Asta's mind had been telling him that he should be focused on Erza's actual magic and not her weapons or armor. He'd not put it together until he was both in his Black Asta form, which had this plan budding due to the clarity in his mind, and she'd changed into that Nakagami armor right in front of him. That had been when he'd noticed that while his swords cut through the magic on Erza's weapons and armor, he couldn't dispel them when he made contact with them because they were still physical items.

In addition, because he was only affecting the weapons and armor and not Erza's actual magic she could still switch her armor as she pleased even if there was no longer any magic on some of her items. That meant that if he wanted to truly affect her he had to land the spell as Erza was requipping between armors when her actual magic was active but she was so fast and smooth with her changes, not to mention constantly attacking or evading, that he'd not had the chance. Well that and he'd only just figured out that this would be the key to winning the battle.

Finally he had his opening, however, as he'd finally managed to surprise Erza with his revelations and counter to her strongest armor which had allowed him to force her away with the most significant hit of the fight. That put distance between them and now that she knew that Asta had no magic she was going to switch to an armor that could fight that, likely that one that was just clothes and a katana or two that he'd faced earlier in their fight. As such, all Asta needed to do was launch his Black Slash as soon as she landed and then leap after it and it should work, which thanks to reading Erza's ki he could do just that.

Thankfully, it did work. Erza had been glowing with the change when the vertical black slash of what she now knew to be Anti-Magic, something she had no frame of reference for, slammed into her chest before flattening so that it hit her from the crown of her head all the way down to her navel and blasted her back.

As it did her magic was instantly nullified and there was an explosion of it around her, her requip failing and her appearance returning to the clothes she'd worn to start the Battle Royale with no sword in hand. To add to it, she couldn't requip again as she'd used so much magic power with her Nakagami Armor that it taken all her remaining magic to use that one requip, not that it would matter anyway as Asta was on her before she could do more than process what had happened.

That was because Asta had followed his slash by leaping after it and using the flash of magic that Erza had used to speed himself up as he was drawn to her magic and follow his slash so that he reached Erza as she was blasted back. As he did be he cocked his right knee back and thanks to the angle that Erza had been sent backwards at and the height of his leap, which was intentional as he needed to knock her out, he was head height when he drove it home.

Asta's knee slammed into the underside of Erza's jaw right below the cut he'd inflicted on her left cheek with a sickening crack that snapped her head back and the collision only sped the pair up as the careened towards the wall. Asta knew that it was safer to go through rather than to just hit it so he sent a pair of Black Slashes at it while willing his other two swords to fly point first into it before they got there to add to the damage and maybe even punch a hole clean through it.

The former hit creating an X in the wall that weakened it but the latter didn't in time so all Asta could do was raise his arms with Dweller flat side in front of him and lower he head as he and Erza slammed into the wall at high speed and then crashed through it.

Ezra had hit the top of her head on the wall but thanks to the weakening Asta had caused it hadn't been too bad, not that Erza would know because the moment that Asta had kneed her she'd been knock out cold thanks to how much force he'd put into it coupled with all her accumulated injuries from their fight and her earlier one with Minerva, Kagura, and Noelle. As such she didn't realize that they'd hit the wall or burst through it in a cloud of stones and debris that they then shot out of as they fell down to a street below.

Thankfully it was the street and not houses but it was still going to be bad. As such Asta braced as best he could but he couldn't reorientate in time to really do anything to help Erza out before they slammed into the ground with a colossal boom.

Erza's body took the brunt of it as she hit the street first, her shoulders driving into the ground before they slid over it, Asta's leg on her chest and head down as her own legs shot up behind her and flopped in the air while they created a groove in the street as they slid over it. A trail of dust and debris was kicked up in their wake but it was a testament to Erza's cloths and fortitude that there wasn't a streak of blood as they moved but if she'd been conscious before, which she hadn't, this would have sealed the deal for her.

Finally, after was seemed to be an age they began to slow and Asta used that to spin Dweller in his hand and slam it point first into the ground next to them to act as an anchor of sorts. The blade cut a deep groove in the ground but it did it's job by adding friction and drastically decreasing the speed of the slide before finally they came to a stop causing the dust to billow over them hiding them from any lacrima crystals again though with all the dust they'd kicked up on the landing and subsequent slide no one had seen that either.

As they stopped Erza's legs flopped down and Asta slid back so that he sitting on her abdomen as he panted harder than he had all battle, harder than he had in any battle since he'd face that devil in fact. However he knew that that wasn't going to be enough, he had to make sure of it and so he slowly and painfully pushed himself up using his sword as leverage so that he stood over Erza. As he did he moved Dweller so that he could press the tip right over her heart, a convenient tear allowing for direct contact with her skin, and drain her magic in case she had any left after all that.

Asta needn't have worried though as the dust finally cleared and he was able to look down at the sight below him. Erza was on her back on the ground, arms splayed to her sides and head turned so that the nasty bruise on her jaw was visible under the blood that coated her cheek, neck, and upper chest while bruises marred her visible skin.

The front of her clothes were fine but for a few tears from Minerva's spell a while back. The back, however, was all gone and Erza had abrasions on her back following the slide but she was alive, that could be seen by the slow rise and fall of her chest under Asta's sword. However, the truly noticeable thing was that her eyes were closed and mouth slightly open and she wasn't getting up.

"I don't believe it but it's happened." Chapati's voice rang out through the city a few moments after the dust settled, shock and awe in the tone as Asta continued to stand there still in his Black Asta form over the unconscious body of Erza the tip of his Demon-Dweller Sword pressed lightly on her chest right over her heart panting intensely as his eyes never left her while listening for what he was sure was coming and ignoring the many injuries, cuts, and bruises he'd taken in the recent duel. "It's been confirmed; Erza Scarlet…"

There was a pause in the commentary but given what had just happened it made sense as everyone was still processing it. The shockwaves were about to ripple through the Battle Royale and Fiore as a whole so a moment like this needed the pause to fully digest the implications of the words that were about to be spoken. It only lasted a moment but it felt like an eternity before Chapati spoke the confirmation that few expected to hear today.

"…has been defeated!"

I think that's the perfect place to end this chapter off on. I don't think I've had a more hyped chapter, well other than one of my Pokémon ones, so I hope this lived up to it as Asta has defeated Erza and stunned those who knew her though at least she now knows the true extent of Asta's power and what makes him so strong. Course the Black Bulls never doubted him in the slightest and this is big as it keeps them in and the end is nigh. Next up we'll see the current standings, the reactions to this battle, who's left, and prepare for the final clash with some interesting moments in the lull before the conclusion to the Battle Royale. However, that is all that I really have for this chapter, there's not much more to add after something like this, so I'll 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