Chapter 390: A Dangerous Encounter
"You've hunted down more of my prey, you're starting to make me angry" stated Acnologia in a menacing tone as he radiated immense magical power, making Dante and Erza shake from the it. Remembering that Irene was revealed to a human that can take the form of a dragon, Dante knew that Acnologia was intending to slay Irene since he saw her as just another dragon. Standing between Acnologia and Irene, Dante started to speak.
"You're not going to have her, I won't let you" stated Dante in a determined and confidant tone despite his body still shaking from Acnologia's immense magical power. Laughing at Dante's words, Acnologia started to speak.
"Hahaha and who is going to stop me" asked Acnologia in an amused tone. Standing beside Dante, Erza started to speak.
"We are, we won't let you harm my mother" responded Erza in a determined tone. While Erza didn't know how they could overcome someone as powerful as Acnologia, she knew that anything was possible if she stood with the man she loved. Dante spared a glance at Erza, grateful he had her support against such a strong opponent. Turning his attention back towards Acnologia, Dante started to speak.
"That's right. We don't care who you are or how powerful you are. If you threaten anyone in Fairy Tail then you will suffer the consequences" responded Dante as he began to channel his magical power. Once again laughing at Dante's words, Acnologia started to speak.
"Hahaha so she's a part of Fairy Tail now" asked Acnologia in an amused tone before he continued to speak.
"It doesn't matter to me one bit where her loyalties lie. Irene is a dragon and I have vowed to kill every single dragon" responded Acnologia in a sinister tone, his killing intent radiating from his body. Seeing that he had no option but to fight, Dante started to speak.
"Erza I need you to get Irene out of here" responded Dante. While Dante knew that fighting Acnologia alone was suicide, he knew that fighting him while also trying to defend an unconscious Irene was an even harder task. Giving her master a look of protest, Erza started to speak.
"What and just leave you alone to face him?! Out of the question, I won't leave you master" responded Erza in a determined tone, wanting to stand beside the man she loved. While Dante expected this sort of response from Erza, he needed to make her follow his command.
"THAT WASN'T A REQUEST! AS THE SEVENTH GUILD MASTER I ORDER YOU TO TAKE IRENE AWAY FROM HERE" yelled Dante as he transformed into his Lucifer form. Still with a look of protest on her face, Erza started to speak.
"Master I can't just leave you to fight alone" yelled Erza in a desperate tone, not wanting to leave Dante to fight Acnologia alone.
"Yes you can Erza. Irene needs to be healed and we can't properly fight if we have to defend her at the same time. I'll hold Acnologia off so just go already" yelled Dante. Seeing that Erza still wasn't moving from her spot beside him, Dante continued to speak.
"Erza please just go. I promise I will be fine, trust me" stated Dante in a pleading tone, wanting Erza to trust him despite the overwhelming odds he was facing. Erza was silent for a moment as she thought about Dante's words. After a moment of silence, Erza started to speak.
"You better live master" responded Erza with tears in her eyes. After Erza said these words she rushed over to her mother and lifted her up and slung her over her shoulder. Smiling at Erza's words, Dante started to speak.
"You got it Erza. I'll see you soon" responded Dante with a smile, glad that Erza and Irene were getting out of danger. Seeing his prey getting away, Acnologia started to speak.
"And just where to do you think you are going" shouted Acnologia in an annoyed tone before Dante rushed towards him. Using his wings, Dante quickly closed the distance between himself and Acnologia. While Dante was about to punch Acnologia with a fist charged with holy and dark energy, Dante started to speak.
"Don't focus on them. You're opponent right now is me" responded Dante in a determined tone before he crashed his fist into Acnologia's jaw. Acnologia was pushed a few feet backwards from the force of Dante's punch. While Dante was hovering in the air some distance away from Acnologia, he gritted his teeth in anger since it was clear Acnologia wasn't affected by his attack. Taking a moment to laugh at Dante's attack, Acnologia smiled at Dante as he started to speak.
"You really think you can take me on with that puny power" asked Acnologia in an amused tone. Dante knew that he was in for the toughest fight of his life, he had just hit Acnologia directly in the face and not a single scratch was left behind.
"Trust me when I'm done with you, you won't think my power is puny. I've trained for the past year with you in mind, I will defeat you here and now" responded Dante in a determined tone. No matter what Dante would defeat Acnologia. Dante knew that Acnologia was the biggest threat in the war, a bigger threat than even Zeref. For his guild and loved ones, Dante would make sure Acnologia falls by his hand. Laughing at Dante's words, Acnologia started to speak.
"Hahaha you've trained for a whole year just to beat me? Alright kid, if you are that eager to die then I will happily oblige" responded Acnologia in an amused tone, thinking that Dante was in way over his head. Spreading his wings wide, Dante rushed towards Acnologia as he started to speak.
"I won't be the one to die here" yelled Dante as he aimed another punch towards Acnologia. With his fist charged with holy and dark energy, Dante was about to land another punch on Acnologia's jaw before it was effortlessly caught. Dante watched on with shock as he felt the magical power charging his fist vanish as Acnologia held onto him. Smiling at Dante, Acnologia started to speak.
"If this is the best you can do then the past year has been a complete waste for you" responded Acnologia in an amused tone. After Acnologia said these words he moved faster than Dante could react. In a flash Acnologia's fist collided into Dante's gut, taking the wind out of Dante before he was sent flying backwards. Dante crashed painfully into the ground, his body throbbing in pain from the sudden attack. While Dante struggled to get back onto his feet, he heard Acnologia laugh as he continued to speak.
"Hahaha don't tell me that was enough to take you out, I haven't even begun to warm up" stated Acnologia in an amused and mocking tone. Standing back up, Dante coughed up some blood as he thought about his situation. Acnologia wasn't lying and Dante knew it. That attack just now was just a normal punch from Acnologia, he hadn't used any magical power. Knowing that Acnologia could cause that much damage from a simple punch, Dante knew that this fight was just getting started.
"I'm just getting warmed up also. The real fight will start now" responded Dante in a determined tone despite his body still throbbing in pain from the last attack. Drawing from the immense power of his Lucifer form, Dante felt his personality darken as he continued to speak.
"I'm going to kill you, but first I'm going to make you suffer" stated Dante in a dark tone as he radiated dark magical power. Amused at Dante's words, Acnologia started to speak.
"Don't make promises you can't keep boy" responded Acnologia in an amused tone, not intimidated by Dante despite the magical power he was radiating from his body. After Acnologia said these words, Dante flew high into the air before he shouted his next attack.
"Rain of Ruination" yelled Dante as serval beams of dark and holy energy began to rain down onto Acnologia who stood still. Not letting up Dante channeled more of his magical power as he continued to shout.
"I'm not done yet" yelled Dante, hell fire erupting in his hand before he aimed it at Acnologia.
"Hellfire Cannon" yelled Dante, a massive inferno of hell fire erupting from his hand and crashing down onto Acnologia. Even from his position hovering serval feet in the air, Dante could feel the heat from his hell flames. The heat from his hell flames were the hottest flames he had ever felt, including Natsu's flames. Knowing that his attacks were still not enough, Dante continued his assault. Extending his open palm into the air, Dante channeled an immense amount of magical power.
"I'm going to make you vanish" yelled Dante as a large ball of dark energy formed in his open palm. Pouring an immense amount of magical power into his attack, the ball of dark energy got larger and larger until it began to cast a shadow on the surrounding area. Once his attack had grown to an impossibly large size, Dante threw it towards Acnologia as he shouted.
"Fall from Grace" yelled Dante, the massive ball of dark energy crashing into the earth. Just as Dante thought his attack was going to crashed into Acnologia, he saw as his attack was stopped cold. Seeing that Acnologia was effortlessly lifting Dante's attack and preventing it from crashing down onto him, Dante started to speak.
"What the hell? That' impossible" stated Dante in a shocked tone. Fall from grace was one of his strongest attacks and certainly his most destructive. For his attack to be stopped this easily, Dante didn't know what to do next. Laughing at Dante's shock as he continued to effortlessly hold up Dante's massive attack, Acnologia started to speak.
"I should thank you for this, I was getting a little hungry" responded Acnologia in an amused tone. After Acnologia said these words he inhaled deeply, Dante's attacking vanishing into his mouth. Dante swore as he watched Acnologia eat his attack, the realization of what was happening filled Dante with worry as he started to speak.
"You're kidding me! You're telling me you're an arcana dragon slayer" asked Dante in a shocked tone as Acnologia finished eating his massive attack. Giving Dante a mocking and amused smile, Acnologia started to speak.
"So you finally understand just how out of your depth you are" stated Acnologia in a mocking tone before he continued to speak.
"I can consume all types of magic, no magical power can work against me" stated Acnologia in a mocking tone, amused at Dante's worried look. Dante grit his teeth in anger at the confirmation of Acnologia's powers. Now Dante knew that magical attacks were useless against Acnologia, it would be like trying to beat Natsu with fire magic. Still determined to win, Dante started to speak.
"It doesn't matter if you can absorb my magical attacks, I will beat you" responded Dante in a determined tone. Standing against Acnologia now that he knew that his magical power was useless against him, Dante came to the conclusion that he would have to use his ultimate trump card. Dante's trump card was a last ditch effort, there was no coming back from it. Deciding that everyone's well being was more important than his own, Dante said a silent apology to Mira and the others. As Dante said his silent apology, Acnologia laughed as he started to speak.
"Hahaha don't make me laugh. You're completely hopeless against me and I'm through wasting my time with you" responded Acnologia in an amused tone. After Acnologia said these words he fired a powerful blast of magical power, the blast crashing into Dante. Dante grunted in pain, he wasn't prepared for the sudden blast of magical power. All of the power that Acnologia had just consumed from Dante's attack was packed into the blast of magical power that crashed into Dante. Falling to the ground, Dante reverted back to his normal form as he started to lose consciousness.
Dante's body was throbbing in pain, the damage from Acnologia's attack wrecked his body. Trying with all of his might, Dante could not move with the damage done to his body. With each passing moment Dante was losing consciousness, watching as Acnologia started to walk away from him. The last thing that Dante saw before he passed out was Acnologia transforming into his dragon form before he took flight.
End of Chapter 390