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?

43. Chapter 43: Bulls v Dragon

Here is the forty-third chapter in this story released in accordance with my upload schedule for this story. The Dragon King Festival has truly begun and the Black Bulls, along with Mermaid Heel, are face to face with one of the 8 dragons; the Sea King Dragon. Fate seems to be on their side, however, as this was the best dragon for them to face and so it's time for the Black Bulls to step up, surpass their limits, and see just how true Noelle's Dragon Slayer Magic is. That is all that I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and while there are no questions that need answers there are 4 guest reviews that needs a response, so I will do that now. Do keep them coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate.

To KingKam (guest), I've only not made a joke about that yet because I've not had the chance to really do so. That and I'm saving it for a special moment which is coming up so I've not forgotten about it. I am glad that they have different spellings at least, makes things a lot easier. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.

To Brayden (guest), glad to see that you enjoyed the chapter and yes your request is a long shot as that can't happen at all. It's not just because Asta is all about Anti-Magic and what not but also because 1 – that dragon will vanish like the others once the gate is destroyed and 2 – there is a very specific reason for that dragon's presence that will be explained in time so it absolutely cannot interfere with what is going on. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.

To Guest (guest), unfortunately I can't answer some of what you're asking about due to spoilers for the Tartarus arc so you'll have to wait until then but I can address a few things. Firstly, thanks for pointing out the ki stuff, I'd not thought of that and that actually works really well for more than just Asta and Yami sensing them so I'll bear that in mind. Secondly, I'd forgotten that Silver had watched Gray in the Grand Magic Games so I'll bear that in mind though Asta never used Black Asta to beat Gray, only Erza and Laxus managed to force Asta to use it against them. In terms of them fighting, that could work and if it fits nicely I'll consider it. Right now, while I'm still about 30 chapters away from Tartarus, I do have a few things that must happen with two being critical for Asta and one involves him fighting so I'll see what works. There is a third thing that Asta might be needed for but he's not the only one who can pull it off and I'm toying with the idea of having Asta's first fight alongside Natsu be against Mard Geer as it doesn't work at the moment for various reasons mainly due to Asta not knowing Natsu at all so it wouldn't be useful to fight with him, week that and the rather large, scaley, and water blasting reptile that is currently in front of him so there is a lot to be seen with how Tartarus plays out. I'll do more look into those Demons when the time comes and see how Asta's power would stack up against them so thanks for pointing the final thing out as well. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.

To PugKing (guest), thank you for your review and glad you liked the last chapter. In terms of a plan, I can't attest to the manga as I've only seen the anime but in the anime it is implied that there is a plan for Fairy Tail to remain in the central plaza where the King actually gave his speech and for the other Guilds to man various areas of the city to deal with the dragons who aren't killed. However, the initial plan at least is completely done off screen after the King's plea and only briefly referenced by Fairy Tail so it is easy to miss. Plus it was based off Future Rogue's lie about the Eclipse Gate and there seemed to be no plans to adapt if the plan went wrong/was a deception as evidenced by Natsu's amplified cry from Motherglare regarding using their Dragon Slayers to face the dragons and how there was an even number of each and this was before Cobra arrived. It's also shown during the encounter between Atlas Flame and Fairy Tail that they weren't ready for the change when they looked to Mavis for strategy and I've factored that in as best I can. As for giving Noelle her own dragon, I'm glad that it worked out timing wise for there to be a period in which an 8th could have slipped through the gate as that's what I wanted and she gets to take point with her Squad backing her up in this coming chapter. Plus this does mean that Erik is still needed and can come in while Future Rogue gets even more thrown with an 8th Dragon Slayer. In terms of Cobra, I'm not sure if he would say anything, he might know the value of information and keep it to himself but it would be best to keep away from him for the moment. The 9th dragon won't be mentioned again in this arc nor will anything be revealed, the dragon came about from a suggestion that I liked and which made sense as it allows me to work on a long plan in this story that still needs some kinks worked out. Consider the dragon a tease that will be answered in time. In terms of Ultear, as with any major canon moments like her sacrifice I will weigh the costs of keeping it or not having it and whichever furthers my own plot will dictate how I proceed. Regardless, thanks for pointing that out as I hadn't remembered that fact about Asta's Anti-Magic however do remember that Asta can only use his Black Asta form twice per day, maybe thrice if he pushes himself and has been healed up and he's already used it twice as both Erza and Laxus couldn't be beaten without it so that is something to consider. However, that part of this arc is still a bit off because right now it's time for the Black Bulls to show a dragon what happens when it messes with Fiore's number 1 Guild. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.

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

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

Chapter 43: Bulls v. Dragon

Scalding hot water tore across the square and right at Noelle. She didn't move an inch while the others in the attack squad broke to the sides and portals appeared to take them to safety and position them to back her up. This was a bit of a trial by fire, well by hot water, for Noelle but all indications were that this wouldn't affect her and she'd noticed that she'd not felt any pain when a few drops had hit her earlier and the temperature of the water certainly would have been felt from that unless she was immune to it. As such she stood her ground and let the attack hit her full on.

The moment that the water hit Noelle hit exploded around her and then burst upwards in a massive geyser that fully engulfing her in the streaming attack that was still spewing from the Sea King Dragon's mouth as he poured on the attack, his lips twisting in a draconic smirk at landing his attack. This was just what he was going for and soon he'd be feasting on roasted, wet, human flesh, which was just the way he liked it. Well he would if he'd not had the misfortune of facing the one person in Crocus who his attack had absolutely no effect on.

Noelle wasn't even staggered by the force of the blow as it hit her. That actually surprised her more than the fact that not only did the attack not do anything to her but it actually made her feel warm and calm as she was fully engulfed in the water.

It was an odd experience, one she'd never had with magic before though it was somewhat similar to the feeling that she'd had when she first used her Valkyrie Armor, but it was an experience that she didn't mind. It was comforting in a way, natural even though without any reference she didn't know if it was normal for a Dragon Slayer to feel like this when exposed to his or her element in such a way. She'd have to talk to another Dragon Slayer about it but that would happen later as for now she had a job to do and do it she would.

Just like in the Battle Royale when she first truly utilized her evolved magic, what Noelle did next was felt unnatural and yet perfectly natural at the same time as she opened her mouth within the geyser of water that had shot high into the sky and which the dragon was still blasting out. The moment that Noelle did, she drew in the water.

She didn't drink it, that was not the right way to describe what was going on as a whirlpool formed around Noelle's mouth and the water funneled in as if she'd unplugged a single person bath, but rather it was more like Noelle consumed the water. It didn't fill her belly, though she did feel a warmth there from the consumption, but rather her whole body became energized like when she ate Charmy's food only this was a purified version of it, as if tailored specifically to her own needs and strengths, which it was.

That said it did have a taste to it which took Noelle back as she consumed the water. She noted that it was very salty similar to sea water, which given that this was the Sea King Dragon's roar attack it shouldn't have surprised her. More surprising was that Noelle actually liked the saltiness and the annoyance was that it was hot and water shouldn't be consumed hot unless it was for something like tea.

It was a really odd thing to note and as the only sort of reference that Noelle had for this was when she'd seen Wendy and Sheila do the same with air in their battle she'd have to speak to the girls about it as air was like water in a sense that consumption was an odd concept but again that would come in time. This was a battle and Noelle drew in the water and with it a whooshing sound was heard as the water collapsed and vortexed into Noelle's mouth as the attack stopped.

It lasted a few more seconds as the rest of the water was drawn in and Noelle let out a sigh as she finished the consumption. As she did her whole body tingled and a blue glow formed around her as she processed the magic. It was a totally new feeling but not an unpleasant one for her as she smiled at the dumbstruck dragon before her.

"Not bad, I'll give it to you." Noelle said as if making idle chatter and complementing a high class meal that she'd just finished. "I didn't know what to expect with that as that was a first for me and I must say that I'm surprised that I found the saltiness of the water really pleasant but I guess that's to be expected given how sea water is best for me. The heat though is a bit much, can you cool it down next time? That would make it a lot more pleasant, thank you."

"How?" The Sea King Dragon asked shock in his voice and so distracted that he didn't notice the portals reopening around him as the other Black Bulls in the attack squad burst out, some on the ground and some in the air, ready to attack. "How did that not affect you? Only those accursed humans who the traitors taught Dragon Slayer Magic too could manage something like that and even then only a Water Dragon Slayer could stand up to my magic."

"And there's your answer right there." Noelle said not bothering with any finite details as she let the absorbed magic fill her belly and work up not realizing that her grimoire was glowing and opening to a new page as she prepared her counter. "I'm the Sea Dragon Slayer so you really messed up coming after us. Now let me show you how it's done. Sea Dragon Slayer Magic: Sea Dragon's Roar!"

At that Noelle, for the second time ever, let out the vortex of water from her mouth and at the dragon before her. This time, however, she had a sense for her power and didn't over use it like she'd done against Minerva as the rushing sound of the water vortex filled the square. It flew from Noelle's mouth and tore across the square to slam into the dragon's face before he could fully process the attack.

The moment that it hit, the Sea King Dragon let out a bellow of pain as the one kind of magic that could affect a dragon hit him and rocked him backwards causing the dragon to rear his head up. As he recoiled, Noelle saw her grimoire as it landed on a blank page and begin to fill with writing. Her eyes went wide at the result but she had a feeling that she knew why and frankly this was the perfect time for it.

"Why you little brat!" The Sea King Dragon roared. "You'll…"

"Hey buddy there are still others here and I want to see if the stories about how tough you lot are true." Yami said as he raised his katana above his head in a two hand grip and Dark Magic filled it before shooting up into the air. "Dark Magic: Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash!"

At that Yami brought down his katana in a vertical slash that released the darkness coating the blade right at the was bellowing at Noelle. The powerful Dark Magic spell that was capable of cutting even space itself shot out and at the Sea King Dragon's long, exposed, neck. Yami knew that none of his Squad was in the way hence why he'd used it as a lot would be cut by the spell. Hell, it should decapitate the dragon as well and that would end this battle right now if Yami was lucky.

He was, unfortunately, not lucky as the rumors regarding a dragon's toughness held true. The spell worked as it had before and cut a groove in the ground and through the building on the other side of the dragon where the Dark Magic hit it but it did not cut the dragon itself. Instead the part of the spell that slammed into the Sea King Dragon's neck staggered it from the blunt force of the spell but didn't even leave a cut as the massive beast shrugged off the attack as if it was nothing, which to the dragon it was.

"Well then, it seems that the stories here are true, only Dragon Slayer Magic can affect a dragon." Yami mused before he grinned at that as magic flared around him. "Which is just what I needed to face to surpass my limits then, I've been waiting for something here to really test me and now I've got it. This is going to be fun."

"Captain, I've got something new that will work really well." Noelle said as Yami started sending standard Dark Magic slashes at the dragon while the others on the attack squad peppered it to no effect beyond annoying it. "Keep its attention for a moment."

"Oh don't worry, me and this reptile are going to get really well acquainted." Yami said as he geared up another Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash his katana once again over his head as it had to be like that for this spell. "Come on beasty, let's see if I can't get this to cut you before Noelle slays you."

"Pitiful human, you're spells may have enough force to be noticed, unlike the other insignificant ones being sent at me, but they aren't Dragon Slayer Magic." The Sea King Dragon said turning his head to Yami while ignoring attacks from Magna, Luck, Gauche, and Gordon and blasting out a jet of scalding water at him. "You're no threat to me."

"Yet but I will be when I surpass my limits!" Yami roared as he brought his katana down again. "And you're going to make me do that!"

This time the Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash cut through the scalding water parted it so that it flew to either side of Yami and harmlessly past him to splatter against some building that began to steam from the heat of the water. The spell continued through the water as it carved a line in the ground before it slammed into the dragon's face and throat causing it to rear back but the howl was more of annoyance than pain as it didn't do much to the dragon beyond imparting blunt force to him.

"Then try this on for size!" Asta roared as he emerged from a portal behind and above the dragon with Slayer in a two handed grip held high over his head just like how Yami held his katana for his Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash. "I don't have any magic so that won't be an issue for me!"

Asta was there because he'd yelled in his head to the Fairy Tail guy who was helping them that he needed Finral to make a portal to take him up and behind the dragon while Yami had its attention. Warren had heard after a few repetitions in Asta's head and passed on the intel.

Finral had understood dutifully made the portal, even if he thought that Asta was crazy as always, and Asta leapt through it. With Yami's spell not working they'd confirmed what had been brought up in planning regarding the magical resistance of dragons and how only Dragon Slayer Magic could affect them but Asta used Anti-Magic so he didn't have to worry about that. All he had to do was worry about the dragon's natural toughness.

That became apparent as he brought Slayer down with a roar on the dragon's back just before he landed on it, the broadness on it enough to easily stand on. The heavy Anti-Magic great sword slammed into the blue scales just to the side of the ridge along the Sea King Dragon's back and right behind the dragon's right foreleg with a boom that didn't break through the scales but did chip them which Asta mentally noted.

This mental note was picked up by Warren who was still connected to Asta and he relayed that enough brute force could chip the scales, blunt damage was something they'd expected could work if they managed to cause enough of it, and had planned for, so this confirmed that. It gave Nero a tickle in her mind as she and Grey stood with Warren and Finral looking at both the battle before them and the lacrima visons showing the battles elsewhere in Crocus.

Those were useful as they were starting to heat up but right now their focus was the massive threat before them and any plan that could work would help but Nero wasn't there yet. She needed a little more time to fully formulate it and that would come as the Black Bulls continued to engage the Sea King Dragon.

"Thanks Asta, that's just what I needed." Noelle said with a smile drawing strength from Asta's act as he continued to hack at the dragon's back with his Demon-Slayer Sword while Yami sent another Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash at the dragon and the other attackers peppered the dragon's sides and legs with spells. "Now I've got the feel for this new spell so here goes. Sea Dragon Slayer Magic: Valkyrie Armor!"

As soon as Noelle invoked her new spell, or really an alteration of the spell that she already knew, her body glowed bright blue and the water armor she knew so well formed over here. However, like with how her mermaid form was different from her normal form, her Sea Dragon Slayer form was also different and it started with a pair of draconic wings made of water bursting from her back right between her shoulder blades and folding out with thin, transparent water membranes and a bat-like design to hold it in place as a plate of water formed over her back around the wings.

The wings were just the start as a spikey ridge formed over Noelle's spine running from between the wings and up to the base of her neck and then down to her coccyx before a tail of water shot out behind her from the end with the spikey ridge still there and lashed into the ground with enough force to crack it. At the same time high heeled boots formed over her legs and up to her mid thighs, a segmented and scaly design on them with matching fingerless gauntlets forming from her hands and up to her biceps though the scales there were thinner for more movement.

Meanwhile, a miniskirt of water in a dragon scale pattern just like her boots and gauntlets formed around her waist with each fold a single, long scale of different lengths and the longest one over her crotch. Likewise, a scaled bra formed over her breasts coming from the back plate where the wings sprouted covering each breast separately and vertically so only the outer halves were covered though at least her nipples and areolas were also covered.

Finally a horned helm formed over her head and the outer sides of her neck completely covering her hair with the two horns that protruded from it in a classic dragon style. Scale-like plates formed over her cheeks but left her eyes, nose, mouth, and chin free as it finished forming.

If it wasn't such a dire situation, and she'd seen how this world seemed to make female armor thanks to the various armors that Erza had worn, Noelle would have been more embarrassed by the skin now showing as her normal clothes had vanished but she couldn't focus on that. She had to focus on the battle at hand and get over this embarrassment, both now and in general, even if her chest was now really accented in her latest Valkyrie Armor variant.

There was one other new aspect with this variant as well, her weapon that formed around her wand. Usually she got a roiling lance of water that she could use to control the magic that touched it but this time it formed into the same trident that she'd learned during her battle with Erza and Kagura, water swirling around the haft and the crest of House Silva set in the head below the center prong. It seemed fitting given that this was her first new spell after her magic evolved and so it would be the specific weapon for this new variant though hopefully it had the same effect on mana that her lance did.

"Thanks, that's just what I needed." Noelle said as she pushed herself off the ground cracking it in the process as glad that the natural feel of her Valkyrie Armor was still there and helping her control the new form as she flapped the wings and boosted her speed. "Now I'm fully ready to tangle. Take this dragon!"

The Sea King Dragon had been distracted by the peppering of attacks from all sides and Asta on its back bashing him with that heavy sword to the point that a few of his scales had actually shattered and he was starting to feel the raw blunt force because the sword wasn't magic. As such he didn't notice Noelle until it was too late.

Noelle had flown up and at him as fast as she could as she drew back her trident and then with a yell drove it upwards and at the dragon's exposed neck as he was distracted. Only an instinctive reaction to impending danger, one that the Sea King Dragon was not used to feeling when dealing with a human, allowed him to avoid the hit there and bring his head down to intercept Noelle with his lower jaw as she thrust upwards.

As such, rather than strike the dragon in the throat, the three prongs of Noelle's trident drove home into the underside of the dragon's jaw as he'd not been able to get low enough to block her attack with his teeth. The blow caused the Sea King Dragon to howl in pain and rage as the prongs sank deep, the trident was pure Water Dragon Slayer Magic after all, and blood began to run down it and wash away as Noelle yelled and pushed through the impact her wings beating furiously as she did. The result was that she managed to get the trident in a few more inches as she forced the dragon's head up and back.

This was just what Noelle needed as she pulled the trident with a slight plop that caused blood to spatter to the ground below them as her wings beat again to get her above the dragon's head. As she did that she spun the trident in her hands and raised it in a two handed grip above her head ready to drive it down and hopefully into the dragon's brain thus slaying him. After all, Noelle had nothing to fear from the dragon's magic so she should be fine.

Alas her overconfidence got the better of her because just as she was immune to the Sea King Dragon's magic the way the dragon was immune to normal magic; she was still a human and the dragon was a powerful creature possessed of great physical strength in addition to his magic. As such blunt force worked just as well on Noelle, more so in fact, as it did on the dragon.

With a roar of primal instinct the dragon brought his head in and back before he suddenly extended his long neck so that his head was above Noelle just as she began to bring down her trident. She only had a moment to realize that a shadow had blocked out the moonlight before the dragon brough his head down and slammed it into Noelle's body and blasted her back and towards the base camp. Thankfully, he'd kept his mouth closed and just rammed her, had he gone for a bite it could have been much worse for Noelle.

Not to say it was pleasant for Noelle as she was struck with the full force of the Sea King Dragon's head. She didn't even have time to yell in pain before she was tossed back like a ragdoll and slammed into the concrete ground with enough force crater the ground and send Noelle's body through it churning up the ground and creating a deep trench as dust and debris billowed up around her. Within it Noelle let out a deep exhalation, blood spewing from her mouth and her lungs filling with from it from her broken ribs puncturing them as she moved before she suddenly came to a stop against something soft.

It took her a moment to realize that it was a cloud of cotton and she blinked blood and dust from her eyes, the former running down her face from a cut that ran along her brow right where the crown of her helm was, which meant that she'd been stopped by Charmy. As this was happening, a green glow formed below her and flowers sprouted from it as she began to be healed by Mimosa's area healing spell.

"Hold still for a few moments." Warren's voice said in Noelle's mind as she coughed out even more blood but felt the Healing Magic begin to mend her. "There wasn't enough time to catch you in a portal before you hit the ground and you're badly wounded. Let the others hold the dragon for a moment while the dust obscures you and Mimosa heals you. You're the only one it recognizes as a true threat so we need to lull it into a false sense of security and keep it distracted until you can return to the fight."

Noelle just thought back an affirmative as she continued to cough out blood, her ribs were definitely broken, and waited for Mimosa's Heling Magic to do its thing, which Noelle knew it would as Mimosa was the best she knew with Healing Magic. Plus she trusted her squad to do the right thing and hold the dragon's attention while she healed up. In fact she could smell them doing just that from within the cloud fighting to keep the dragon occupied.

Regardless, Noelle hated being held up but she'd gotten cocky after learning a new Valkyrie Armor variant and landing the hit and paid for it so she'd need to be more careful. Still, there was one thing that she could do to help and her grimoire turned to the right page and she pointed her trident up as her wand was still in it and Noelle was surpassing her limits to keep her Valkyrie Armor active. Then, for the first time she used an old spell with her evolved magic, well the first time that she'd done so without it being the same as a spell Dragon Slayers all knew.

"Sea Dragon Slayer Magic: Sea Dragon's Lair." Noelle gasped out, blood spewing from her lips as she spoke but she got the spell off and suddenly the entire healing area, so her position, along with Mimosa, Finral, Nero, Grey, Charmy, Vanessa, Zora, and Warren behind her, a dome of water appeared just like it always had. "Huh, it's no different. Well this should help us regardless as I get the feeling that it will cancel out the dragon's attack if he tried to hit us with it."

"Thanks Noelle." Mimosa called from behind her glad that her cousin was still able to cast spells and grateful for the barrier as it allowed Mimosa to focus even more on healing Noelle knowing that Noelle was protecting her at the same time. "This will help a lot. Just rest for a moment, you'll be able to return soon."

Noelle just nodded and lay there getting patched up by Mimosa while the dragon turned his attention to the other pesky humans bothering it. True only the girl with Water Dragon Slaying Magic was a threat to him but the others were annoying and he had to deal with them if he wanted to focus, and take his time with, the one threat. This was especially true for the one on his back as the magicless male hacking at his scales with that heavy sword was starting to really get on his nerves.

With a roar, the Sea King Dragon whipped its head around and towards the pesky human insect on his back while at the same time he lashed his tail back and forth as fast as he could so that he could hit two more humans that had fallen behind him and were peppering his hindlegs with what felt like poison and some kind of reflection type magic. Dragons, well other than the Rock Dragon who'd come with them as he didn't have a nose, had a great sense of smell and so even without looking the Sea King Dragon knew where the other humans were hence the dual attack.

The goal was to blast all three away and take them out of the fight, preferably by killing them, so that the Sea King Dragon could focus more on the one threat who it seemed was being healed by Healing Magic in the dust cloud still around her. That was interesting in its own right and something that he'd have to deal with in time as the knowledge of Healing Magic wasn't common but for the next few seconds the Sea King Dragon had to deal with the other irritants that were around him.

Asta, however, sensed the move of the dragon's head towards him by reading the dragon's ki and abandoned his attack as he leapt off and to the side of the dragon tossing Slayer beneath him and taking a mental hold of the Anti-Magic in it as he did. As such he landed on it and blasted off just escaping the attack of the Sea King Dragon as he felt the air on his back from the miss and sensed the dragon opening his mouth to spew water at Asta as he fled. Asta may have been able to avoid it but Gordon and Gauche hadn't been so lucky.

They'd fallen behind the dragon to fully encircle it while Luck and Magna took its sides so that they could really distract it with spells from all directions. Their magic was useless against the dragon but it at least served to occupy it with their presence while Noelle recovered. Once she had recovered, though, Gauche was going to use Finral, via that Fairy Tail guy, to get near him so that he could use Mirror Brigade on her.

The idea had come to Gauche when he saw the new armor Noelle had and how useful it could be in stabbing the dragon as it reminded him of how he and Asta had hacked down that mud monster back in the cave near Nean. He still had issues and struggled being a team player at times but Asta had shown Gauche the need for it and right now the magic stored in the magical item that had replaced his left eye was easily enough to use Mirror Brigade on Noelle. A swarm of Sea Dragon Slayer Noelle's would make quick work of this overgrown reptile and Gauche could tell Marie of how he'd been key to victory.

However, before he could, the dragon's tail lashed around and slammed into his chest at the same time it blasted water at Asta though that attack missed Asta as he'd banked away in time thanks to sensing the attack coming. Unfortunately for Gauche, the dragon's tail had been too fast to notice and as it wasn't a magical attack Gauche hadn't sensed it so he had no warning before he was struck in the center of his chest and blasted back and through one of the brick pillars that held up the promenade surrounding the square as blood spewed from his mouth.

It was a bad hit, made worse by the fact that Gauche went fully through the pillar and continued on into a building on the other side, and already Finral was sending a Fallen Angel's Wingbeat ball at Gauche to get him back and be healed. Gauche wouldn't realize this as he'd passed out as he passed through the pillar and didn't even notice that he'd crashed through the building before he hit the street on the other side and rolled over it and into another building.

Meanwhile, and before Gauche had even hit the pillar, the tail lashed back and around in a smooth motion to repeat the procedure with Gordon who'd yelled out for Gauche but as he did he too was struck and blasted away. The same thing happened with him though he went through an archway and into a building behind it so Gordon's momentum took him through a total of three buildings before crashing into and coming to a stop in the fourth. Naturally, Finral was already on it with his magic so neither would die and they'd be patched up to return to the overall fight, but for the moment they were out of it.

That was not ideal but manageable as it had ensured that Mimosa could continue healing Noelle, and now the Gauche and Gordon, she continuously ate and speed up Noelle's healing. It had also given Yami the time to mentally call to Warren and have Finral make him a portal above the dragon's back like he'd done for Asta, which Finral did just as the dragon brought its head back to the dust cloud where Noelle was.

"Those are my Squad members you just hit!" Yami roared as he appeared above the dragon's back Dark Magic roiling off his katana as he held it over his head. "Only I can do that to them! Dark Magic: Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash!"

This time Yami brought the slash down on the Sea King Dragon's back right before it could attack the healing area. Again it didn't cut the dragon, Yami was sure that even an equinox slash wouldn't cut the dragon at this point and even if it could, he didn't have the time for such an attack given how slow Dark Magic was and the need for Mana Zone, but he could still push his limits and attack the dragon with everything he had.

Yami really needed to up his training, this battle was showing that, as the Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash tore down and slammed into the dragon's back from the base of its skull to its midpoint between its legs. Still, Yami was pleased that facing this dragon had given him the push needed to do just that once this battle was over.

Of course the Sea King Dragon had no clue about this as he roared in frustration and the force of the blow caused his legs to shake, which cracked the ground around his feet. It didn't cause him to buckle but these slashes were starting to add up in terms of blunt damage and to add to it the force had gone over the point on his back where his scales had been chipped away by that brat and so it was more effective there and added to the cracks on the scales. Only slightly but it was now enough to be noticeable in his ki and that was all that Yami needed to pick up on as he landed on the dragon's back.

"I see, well then this should be fun." Yami said grinning as he ran along the dragon's back and towards the point that Asta had been hacking at while sending a few slashes of Dark Magic at for good measure. "You're a tough bastard and only a specific kind of magic works on you but that's it for your resistance. Once there's a chink in your armor non magic attacks are just fine and the Black Bulls know a thing or two about not using magic."

The Sea King Dragon didn't hear Yami, he was focused on the others as unlike the earlier brat. Besides, the older human male's sword wasn't strong enough to get through his scales so it wasn't a threat though Yami did resume Asta's hacking with his Dark Magic cloaked katana as he tried to break through the scales enough to stab his katana into it as that should at least distract the dragon more than normal.

In fact, the others still peppering him, two from the sides and that brat with the large sword who was now flying around on it and sending black slashes from another sword at him that were annoying but nothing more, were really worthy of the dragon's focus. The only one who was was the girl who was being healed but as the dust cleared he saw that there was a dome of water around her and those healing her. It was Water Dragon Slaying Magic again and so he wasn't sure that he could break through it.

However, there was one target in that area that the Sea King Dragon noticed was available as it was too far back to be covered by the water dome and given the magic coming off it, and the anthropomorphic sheep working it despite the chaos of the battle, it was clearly important to the pesky humans as they'd not stopped its activities despite his presence. Well, then, if it was important to the humans then it had to go and the Sea King Dragon was more than happy to get rid of it as he opened his mouth, turned to face the food station, and prepared his attack.

"Charmy, he's after your food!" Yami bellowed from the dragon's back sensing the attack and noticing the direction the dragon's head was pointing in so he called out to Charmy knowing that her full potential would be unleashed now that her food was in danger. "Protect it!"

"What! Not the food!" Charmy yelled in panic as she heard the Captain's shout above everything going on and turned and leapt at it. "I'll protect it! Don't you dare touch my food!"

No one had the time to stop Charmy as she charged through the water that was protecting the area and towards the unprotected food station behind them her arms out and grimoire open. As she ran cotton was forming before her and in front of the food while the Sheep Cooks there, minus the Master Chef who kept working, grabbed as much of the finished mana recover food as they could and began to run to the dome. Alas as Charmy was doing so the blast of scalding water shot out from the Sea King Dragon's mouth and across the square at the food station that was their mana recovery source.

Charmy's cotton was strong and absorbent, it worked really well against Water Magic, even the kind used by the Sea King Dragon, but she'd not had enough time or speed to get a dense enough wad of it in the way to absorb the powerful attack. As such the water cut through the cotton and slammed into the center of the food station blowing it up in a geyser of water that either soaked or obliterated everything in its path and ruining any food remaining though a good bit was saved by the sheep cooks who'd managed to get out and to the back of the dome in time to avoid the attack.

To add to it there was a shockwave from the impact that tossed Charmy back and into the water dome but as the dome was protective and Noelle didn't have time to open it up to let Charmy through, she just slammed into it, bounced off and flopped to her face on the ground. Charmy lay there seemingly unconscious as the cotton vanished and her Master Chef spell ended. Thankfully, it was not before the sheep cooks were allowed in and Zora and Vanessa took the food from them just as they too vanished so they had a stash to keep Mimosa going for a fair bit as she was currently fully topped off.

"I see so that food was more than it seemed." The Sea King Dragon said with a chuckle in his voice at the devastation and taking down another one of the pesky humans who were really annoying him with their refusal to just roll over and die at this point. "Good. You lot are being more annoying than I expected so this will help you realize that resisting me is futile."

"You think?" Yami asked as he continued to slash at the dragon's back. "Well you just made a big mistake with that attack."

"Yeah that wasn't smart." Asta called out as he flew around and sent another Black Slash at the dragon while Luck and Magna continued to pepper it to remind him that they were there and still very much alive. "Never mess with Charmy's food."

"Nope, wonder what will happen now." Luck said with a laugh. "This is going to get real interesting."

"Yeah time to see what she's really capable of." Magna said. "So thanks for bringing that out for us."

"Is she ok?" Kagura asked not hearing the four Black Bulls currently fighting the dragon and looking to Charmy as she lay on the ground outside the dome and behind where Kagura and her guildmates had been stationed as the attack had gone over them. "I'm sorry, I couldn't get to her in time but I can get her now for healing."

"Don't worry about her." Noelle called out from the dome wanting to return to the fight but her injuries had been a lot worse that she'd realized and still needed time though at least her breathing was back to normal and she no longer tasted blood in her mouth. "Charmy's really strong. She just needs the right push to unleash her full potential."

"And destroying her food is the fasted way to that, it's how she beat Juvia and Sheila in the Battle Royale." Nero said in her usual monotone knowing that Charmy would be fine. "As bad as it is to loose the station, it's a benefit actually as now Charmy can join the fight with a fury few could match."

"Huh what do you…" Kagura began but she was cut off by a sudden surge of magic as a brown aura surrounded Charmy and flared up, the feel of her magic now very different to what it had been seconds ago. "What's happening? What kind of magic is that?"

"I don't know." Nero admitted a little surprise in her voice as this was new to her, and almost everyone else within the dome as they all looked at Charmy, well all but Mimosa who was focused on healing though her interest was piqued by the sudden change in Charmy's magic. "Her magic, it's changing but how?"

"Oh it's happening again." Mimosa said as she glanced at Charmy to confirm it just as Charmy's hair shot up and out of its bun while the front cover of her still open grimoire turned from white to green starting in the top right corner and then spread over it. "I was wondering when this would happen. I guess she has no control over it at the moment, that would explain why we haven't seen this since coming to Fiore."

"When what would…" Noelle began but as the magic worked Charmy rose from the ground and open her eyes as Noelle blinked at what she was seeing. "Er…that's different."

Charmy was now significantly taller, taller than Noelle at least though maybe just short of Vanessa who like Zora was currently tending to Gauche and Gordon now that both were present while Grey looked after the food that had been saved, with a more mature physique showing her curves and a full bust that Charmy didn't have normally. In addition her hair was now loose and hung down to around her shoulders. It was a striking look but that was dwarfed as a spell formed behind Charmy.

"Ok now I'm really confused." Kagura said as a large, bipedal, gray wolf wearing a brown vest with a scar down its front formed behind Charmy. "What's going on? Why'd her magic change? What happened to the fluffy sheep."

"I have no idea." Nero noted while Grey noticed and yelped at the sight. "The only way that this could happen would be if she was a hybrid but with what? There's no way that she's part elf."

"A hybrid?" Kagura asked confused as Charmy finished changing and exhaled while everyone, including the Sea King Dragon who'd noticed the surge of magic as well, paused to look at the new player on the battlefield. "What's that?"

"Where we come from humans aren't the only race, there are also races like elves though as I'm certain Charmy isn't part elf she has to be something else that apparently exists there though I've never seen any other races." Nero said opting not to bring up devils for various reasons. "While rare, I only know of one case in fact of a human and elf being together, the races can intermix and produce offspring. As a result of being mixed race, the offspring can possess aspects of both parents. It's one of the very few ways someone can be born with 2 magical attributes on our home continent."

"That's what Charmy is." Mimosa confirmed for them as she went back to focusing on her healing. "She's part dwarf, likely half if I had to say."

"And she didn't mention this?" Noelle asked as she recalled the stories she'd heard about dwarves when she was a kid. "Why? Also how do you know this Mimosa?"

"It only happened once and only after she was hit by a spell from the elf possessing Rill when we were fighting in the Shadow Palace." Mimosa said as Kagura and the other members of Mermaid Heel became thoroughly lost but they just presumed this was some adventure the Black Bulls had had before coming to Fiore a few years ago and left it at that. "Only Asta and I were present for it but when it happened the elf who had control of Rill said that Charmy was a hybrid, part human and part dwarf. I don't think Charmy can actually control the change and she certainly didn't know she was part dwarf at the time. Oh and her second attribute is Food Magic by the way."

"Let's discuss this later." Nero suggested. "This distraction won't last long so focus."

"Right." Mimosa said and she redoubled her focused on her healing while the others did so leaving this to Charmy.

Nero was right, the distraction was only momentary before the Sea King Dragon chuckled at the latest development. This was no threat to him, just some desperate humans trying anything to stop him with some strange boost that humans occasionally showed even if this didn't feel fully human to him.

"A shame I can't eat that wolf but it made of magic." The Sea King Dragon said. "So it's no match for me."

With that the Sea King Dragon opened his mouth and blasted another powerful jet of scalding water right at the wolf that was standing behind the changed human that the dragon had thought he'd knocked out. That would deal with it and probably take care of that human for good, which would then allow him to refocus on the annoying quartet pestering him as he needed to deal with them as well as they were in his way. With them gone he could deal with the sole threat and then feast on all the boiled meat he'd made. At least that was his plan as he sent his roar attack out but Charmy had other ideas.

"Yeah bring it on lizard, a nice drink will be good." The wolf said in a low, gravelly voice that surprised all but Charmy, Asta, and Mimosa who'd heard it before. "My appetite is insatiable!"

"Food Magic: Glutton's Banquet!" Charmy said her grimoire turning to the right page as the water tore towards the wolf and it opened its mouth though as the water was, well, water, it didn't need a knife and fork for it despite producing a set at Charmy's spell. "Keep healing Noelle, I'm going to deal with this overgrown lizard for wasting my food!"

At that Charmy ran forward under the water and at the Sea King Dragon. All anyone could do was watch as the water reached the wolf who moved and proceeded to catch it in its open mouth. The wolf proceeded to consume the water with relish, slurping it down like it was dying of thirst and causing the magic to be transferred to Charmy who glowed with the same brown glow as she ran yelling at the dragon who was now utterly baffled by what he was seeing. Most were in fact as this was not expected.

"Two Dragon Slayers?" The Sea King Dragon asked confusion in his voice as his ended, a confusion that the members of Mermaid Heel agreed with. "But how?"

"I'm not a Dragon Slayer but I will be when I beat sense into you!" Charmy yelled as she leapt up and punched the dragon in the throat. "How dare you destroy my food! You'll replace it on the menu! I'll start with a nice dragon steak then I'll follow it up with dragon stew, then some dragon…"

The magic amplifying the blow didn't affect the Sea King Dragon so he knew that the girl wasn't a Dragon Slayer but the sheer power and blunt force of her blow staggered him back and Charmy kept up the assault yelling out different dishes she intended to make out of him with every punch she threw. Things had gotten more annoying for the dragon but he was still in command, well he thought he was.

That was because his sudden movement had caused Yami to leap up and off the dragon but he didn't fall to the ground using Mana Zone to stand on the air above the dragon. As he did Charmy began to really wail on him while continuing to rant about the dishes she'd make with his corpse.

The dragon tried to counter but whenever he blasted water it was sucked in by the wolf that had followed Charmy in her attack which in turn fueled Charmy's blows. Yami had no idea what was going on with Charmy but he wasn't complaining about it either. In fact a plan came to mind now that she was on the front lines as well and seemed to have the raw power to do some level of blunt force damage to the dragon. Noelle still needed a few moments and blunt force was slowly working so it was time to play his reserve card and buy Noelle the last few moments she needed to be fully healed up for round 2.

"Charmy, get on this thing's back and work on the spot Asta and I have been working on." Yami shouted as he surveyed the battle katana on his shoulder and raised his voice even more so that everyone could hear. "And make sure that that wolf keeps consuming the dragon's magic. Finral, Nero, it's time! Bring in the cavalry!"

"Right Captain." Finral said hearing Yami via the sound lacrima near him due to all the noise while Charmy roared in acknowledgement of the order and leapt onto the dragon's back to punch the same damaged spot and continue the process of trying to break through the scales that were there. "Nero, is it ready."

"One moment." Nero said as she pulled out her latest communication device, one that didn't have a magical projection but improved with Earth Land advancements, and activated it. "You in position?"

"Yes." A slow, lethargic voice called out from the device as Warren, Kagura, and the other mermaids looked on in utter confusion as they'd never heard the voice before while a loud grating sound came over the communicator though the person spoke over it. "I moved to the countryside around Crocus to better watch the Grand Magic Games and support the Squad from as close as I could be. There's a lacrima outside, switch to it. I will shift when I get there, no time now."

"Finral, the screens." Nero said as the voice finished speaking taking longer than normal thanks to the lethargy to it. "Switch to find it and then portal it here. I'm sure you know where best to drop it."

"This will take a bit but I've been practicing with the magic circles here." Finral said as he switched between the screens to the ones outside the city and found what he was looking for after a few seconds. "Good, time to bring in the cavalry."

With that a massive magic circle the color of Finral's magic appeared in the sky above the dragon and on the screen he was looking at. Like many of the Black Bulls, Finral had been learning to use the magic circles of Earth Land over the last two years and adapting them into his magic. In Finral's case it was to increase the size of his portals so that he could transport bigger things but the tradeoff was that doing so was draining and really cut his range so he seldom used them. However, right now this was just what the Black Bulls needed.

"What the hell!" Kagura yelled her eyes wide; she couldn't see the screens from where she was outside and to the side of the dome but she could see the massive portal in the sky and stared in shock as a large mass of stone, bricks, wood, and other materials usually found in building fell through it and towards the dragon. "What is that?"

"Our Guild Hall." Nero said as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

Kagura could only blink unable to process what she'd been told as the Black Bulls' cavalry fell onto the battlefield and the wolf leapt back to give it space so that the Black Bulls could literally drop a massive building onto a dragon's head. The Sea King Dragon could only look up in time to see a building slam into his head and drive him to the ground with a crash that kicked up a lot of dust and cratered the ground even more as Charmy continued to punch him in the back and the other Black Bulls added their attacks to remind him they were there.

"Damn, y'all just dropped a building on that there varmint's head." Beth said her accent getting even thicker as she was the first to break her stupor at what the Black Bulls had done. "That's some spatial magic. Millianna, you got lucky against him."

"Don't remind me, I was falling for almost half an hour." Millianna grumbled. "But yeah that's a lot."

"I'm here Captain!" Henry called out from within the hideout while the Mermaid Heel girls were chatting, his voice as slow as always as he began to shift the hideout into the anthropomorphic Raging Black Bull he used in combat thus moving it off the momentarily stunned dragon's head, even the Sea King Dragon's naturally high durability couldn't prevent him from being stunned by a building being dropped on his head. "What do you need?"

"Just beat up the dragon." Yami shouted a laugh in his voice as the hideout finished changing. "We need to keep it occupied and distracted while Noelle is fully healed. She'll end it but it will take all of us to give her that chance. Surpass your limits Henry."

"On it." Henry called as the Sea King Dragon raised his head and shook it to clear it while Mermaid Heel and Warren stared wide eyed and open mouthed at what they were seeing. "I'm happy to help my friends and then we can all celebrate our win later."

"What is this?" The Sea King Dragon asked as he looked at the, well he didn't have any reference for what was before him and unlike other things this was pure blunt damage and could actually hurt him if he took too many hits like that. "Pesky humans, stop these foolish tricks and learn your place beneath me!"

"This is the Raging Black Bull!" Henry called out as the dragon raised its head to its fullest. "And I'll protect my friends!"

With that the Raging Black Bull launched an uppercut into the dragon's jaw before he could attack the building and snapping his head back so the fight was on. Mermaid Heel and Warren could only continue to stare in utter shock and amazement as the anthropomorphic building proceeded to punch the dragon in the face as it tried to process what was going on.

"You guys are something else." Kagura finally said as she processed a building trying to grab a dragon by the throat but the dragon twisted his head out of the way and then rammed it into the building's chest to stagger it back a pace. "There's no doubt that you earned the top Guild spot. I did not see something like this coming."

"Yeah you lot are full of surprises." Warren added. "No wonder you took Fiore by storm this week."

"This was our trump card; we can't use it normally." Nero said as she looked to the screens and saw something. "Charmy was a nice surprise though she'll have to learn to control that transformation. Still, I don't think they're enough to win this. We need a true game changer that can actually do serious damage and I think I know what we can use."

"Huh?" Kagura asked a little taken about by Nero's words. "This isn't enough? This is more than most Guilds could manage and you lot only have about a dozen members."

"Against a dragon we need every advantage so just stay there and wait to defend if need be." Nero said as her idea solidified while the fight continued before them and Noelle neared full health. "Finral, make me a small portal that would put me near Erza Scarlet. Once I have what I need from her make one right next to me so that I can return."

"Right." Finral said as he pulled out some of Charmy's food that he'd stashed away before the battle started and ate it to restore his mana after using so much to bring the hideout to Crocus, even if it was pretty close by to begin with, as he was making the small portal in the air near Nero. "There you go."

Warren was completely lost at what was going on or why the portal was small and asked about it but Nero ignored him as she ran at the small portal. Kagura, meanwhile, glanced back confused at the mention of Erza just in time to see Nero leap at the portal and turn into a small bird that flew through the portal which then vanished. Everything was chaotic and hard to follow but one thing was clear, the Black Bulls were something else.

---

When the dragons had attacked the city, Fairy Tail had ended up facing off against a dragon that was entirely engulfed in fire. They'd quickly learn that the dragon was called Atlas Flame as he introduced himself after a Unison Raid by Gray and Juvia to quench its flames failed, and quickly things began to look bleak for them. That was because Atlas Flame had shown that they were no match for him having blasted through Freed's spell and then blown back a giant Makarov burning his hands. However, despite this Mavis had remained cool and said that the strategy to defeating the dragons was obvious.

The others had looked at her in confusion but before they could voice their concerns there was a boom from overhead and they all, Atlas Flame included, turned to look to the source of the sound and saw fire erupting from the back of a dragon flying there. Given the fire and the clear pain in the roar that the dragon bellowed at almost the same time there could only be one person responsible: Natsu. He was doing something to get all of their attention as he fought the dragon, and the person controlling the dragons though no one except those at the Eclipse Gate knew that right now.

"Can you all hear me?" Natsu bellowed his voice magically amplified somehow and carrying to the whole city so all the fighters there could indeed hear him. "It's time to quit playing around and use our Dragon Slaying Magic!"

"Oh." Erza muttered as everyone looked to where Natsu's voice was coming from. "Yeah that was part of the original plan, wasn't it."

The distraction of Natsu's announcement ensured that no one saw the small portal that appeared above and behind Erza's left shoulder, nor did they notice the bird that flew out of it. Mavis did, however, see the bird right after it arrived and thus saw the girl that it turned into as she landed close to Erza but before she could say anything Natsu continued and once again all of Crocus was listening to him.

"There are 8 dragons present and we've got 8 Dragon Slayers in Fiore!" Natsu said his statement shocking Future Rogue on the dragon as he'd only recalled 6 while the current 6 Dragon Slayers that were scattered throughout the city took Natsu's words seriously wherever they were. "We can do this! It's what we were born to do! Our whole lives have led up to this very day! Let's use out power for what it's meant for and slay some damned dragons!"

There was a roar over the sound that indicated that Natsu was getting really fired up. As he did the various Dragon Slayers in Crocus, the final one was still on his way but nearing, grinned, smirked, or set themselves for what they had to do though Noelle was already well prepared for that having already started her fight with a dragon.

"Are you with me!" Natsu roared. "Cos I'm going dragon hunting! Let's show them what we can do!"

With that there was another boom in the air and fire exploded where Natsu was indicating that he'd attacked the dragon he was on for a second time. That ended the announcement so no one heard Future Rogue's comment about 8 Dragon Slayers and how Natsu was short by two. As such they also didn't hear Natsu's now non amplified response that the 7th Dragon Slayer had emerged in the Grand Magic Games within the Black Bulls and the 8th was almost here. Future Rogue was even more thrown with the first reference given what he knew about the Black Bulls but he didn't have time as Natsu upped their duel.

"Natsu's right, we've been engaged with the Sea King Dragon since it arrived at our location." Nero said getting all their attention while Crocus processed Natsu's announcement and rallied behind it. "We have it contained but we need something from Erza to end it."

"Where did you come from miss?" Makarov asked shocked as Erza turned to the girl at the mention of needing something from here and recognized Nero at once as the Black Bull who'd healed her cheek leaving only a faint scar on it that was currently under a bandage. "And when for that matter?"

"We do have a Spatial Wizard." Nero said leaving it at that. "There really isn't time to explain more. Noelle is injured and being healed; we can hold off the dragon for a little bit longer but there's only so much we can do without her. We need to really take it to the dragon so I came here to get that water sword from Erza."

"My Sea Empress Sword?" Erza asked confused, she had a katana out her fully healed body able to handle the situation without a problem, but she summoned the sword in question nonetheless. "Why? Asta nullified it so…"

Erza trailed off as she looked at the sword now in her hand. It wasn't actually a sword at the moment, all it was was the handle so a fish scale grip, fish tail pommel and a nautiloid shell chappe with a segmented guard for the dull black of the blade. However, it had no blade because the blade, which when in use formed a sheepsfoot style blade, because the blade was made of water formed from Water Magic.

She'd used the fact that the blade was pure magic to draw Asta away from her when he was in his transformed form so that she could land a hit that almost won their duel for her but in the process he'd nullified the blade and Erza had had not had time to have the magic replenished by Juvia. Now, though, there was a way to not only replenish it but to do so in a way that aided the battle against the dragons as a whole. After all, Sea Dragon Slayer Magic was a form of Water Magic.

"Here." Erza said as the realization hit her and she tossed the handle to Nero where she stood just as Atlas Flame prepared for his next attack now that Natsu's announcement was over. "It needs the magic poured into it but so long as it is Water Magic it will work. Noelle should be able to do that."

"As I thought." Nero said catching the handle and as she did a portal appeared next to her. "Thank you, this will tip the scales in our favor."

With that Nero leapt through the portal and Erza nodded in agreement. As did Mavis, that was a clever thing that she'd not thought of and would aid their fight, which had only been made possible by the preparations and the Black Bulls' Spatial Wizard. Mavis would have to have Makarov congratulate their strategy but that would come after the battle as right now Fairy Tail had their own fight to deal with and so they all turned back to it just as Laxus arrived. They finally had a Dragon Slayer to lead the battle with Atlas Flame, at least for the moment.

---

"Noelle, catch." Nero said as she emerged from the portal and turned to her friend tossing the handle of the Sea Empress Sword at Noelle where she lay no longer propped up by cotton as her healing continued. "This is what we need to win this battle as it's something only we can use and will work on the dragon."

"Huh, what's this?" Noelle asked confused as the handle landed on her abdomen so she reached down and she picked it up with her left hand to look at it. "A sword hilt?"

"Yes it's Erza's Sea Empress Sword that she used to distract Asta in their duel." Nero explained as the sounds of the Black Bulls distracting the Sea King Dragon continued having only briefly stopped during Natsu's announcement. "She was able to use it for that reason because the blade is Water Magic but Asta nullified it."

"Oh right I remember that was tough to watch as he got hit afterwards so…" Noelle began recalling the wince she'd had at Asta taking the shot but as Nero said what the blade was it hit her why Nero had gone to get it. "Oh wait so because he nullified it…"

"It needs to be filled with Water Magic to reform." Nero confirmed as those around them got what was going on. "And if I recall your magic is now Dragon Slayer Magic even when it is in its raw form."

"Yeah it is." Noelle said as her hand glowed blue. "So all I need to do is pour it into the sword then?"

"That's what Erza said so do that and then give it to Asta or the Captain." Nero said. "They can use it to lend aid and really get the dragon's attention."

"Right then let's do this." Noelle said as she did as instructed and poured her magic into the sword. "I'm ready to return. Thanks Mimosa, I couldn't have returned without you so this victory will be because of you."

There was no arguing with her tone as Noelle's magic flared and she poured it into the hilt she was holding though Mimosa smiled at Noelle's thanks. It was an odd experience for Noelle to pour her magic into the sword hilt but it worked just fine as there was a flash of blue and a moment later the blade was formed, static and in the form that it had been in back when they'd all seen Erza use it to distract Asta a few hours ago. The only difference to back then was that it now had Sea Dragon Slayer Magic not normal Water Magic and that would be a game changer in the current situation.

Noelle grinned as she rose to her feet, her armor still on and had even eaten some food that they'd saved in order to keep her magic up and ensure that she didn't need to cast the spell again. Instead she rose to her full height, the wings on her back flaring out to the maximum wingspan as magic flowed around her and caused the ground to shake under her feet. She held her trident in her right hand and the sword in her left, her eyes set on the dragon.

"I'm going to cancel the dome; I can't keep it up and fight the dragon." Noelle said. "Call Charmy back and have her and the wolf protect you from any wayward attacks. That should be enough given what the wolf can do."

"On it." Warren said as he relayed the order to Charmy.

As Warren was relaying the order the Sea King Dragon finally adapted to the situation. Natsu's cry earlier had distracted everyone though Noelle knew that it was the right thing to announce and was already ready to resume her role in this fight with added motivation to be the first Dragon Slayer to slay a dragon, but now the Sea King Dragon had recovered his composure.

The Sea King Dragon showed this by using the fact that the Raging Black Bull was between him and the wolf to blast an intense roar of scalding water at its chest. There was nothing to stop the attack and in less than a second it struck the Raging Black Bull center mass, the attack blowing apart the structure and forcing Henry to use his evacuation pod as the building collapsed around them.

"Fall back to a safe distance Henry." Yami bellowed and grinned as he sensed Noelle's ki and the conviction in it. "You've done enough and ensured that we're going to win. Charmy, get back and help protect the healing area, it's time we end this."

"Foolish humans, you can't end me!" The Sea King Dragon roared. "I am the mighty Sea King Dragon!"

"We'll see." Yami said with a grin as the smoke and debris from the hideout being hit cleared.

"Hey ugly, forget about me!" Noelle shouted as the dome fell way and she stood there wings spread, weapons to her sides and determination blazing in her eyes. "I'm all better and this time you won't land a cheap shot on me. Natsu was right, it's time for the Dragon Slayers to do what they do best and I'm no different. I will slay you!"

With that Noelle pushed off the ground with enough force to create a small crater where she'd been standing and soared high into the sky. As she did her wings extended and she flew through the air in a graceful dance with her magic radiating out from her and getting the attention of the Sea King Dragon.

Noelle was the true threat to the Sea King Dragon and now that she was back on the battlefield she had his undivided attention. It helped that the Raging Black Bull was out of commission and the wolf, with Charmy leaping from the dragon and running towards it, was falling back to protect the command center but Noelle wanted to ensure that the dragon was completely focused on her so as she zipped through the sky she opened her mouth.

"Sea Dragon Slayer Magic: Sea Dragon's Roar!" Noelle shouted and the vortex of water shot from her mouth and at the Sea King Dragon once again as she flew.

The blast was fast and true and like before it slammed into the dragon's head as he was turning to look at her causing him to stagger and howl in pain from the blow. The distraction ensured that he couldn't go after Charmy as she fell back to safety with Magna and Luck both now skirting back as well having realized that this was it and that they'd get in the way though Luck was a little annoyed at leaving the fight. However, it was clear that this was the endgame and right now it was best that only Asta and Yami aid Noelle, anyone else would get in the way.

"Asta, take this." Noelle said as she flew up to him where he was flying on Slayer and tossed the sword to him. "It's Erza's Sea Empress Sword only I've replenished the magic that you nullified. It will work on the dragon."

"Got it, you really are amazing Noelle." Asta said with a grin as he caught the sword in his left hand before he let go of Dweller and mentally took hold of it to keep it in the fight while he transferred Erza's sword to his right hand. "Thanks, now that dragon won't be able to shrug off my attacks."

"Praise me later." Noelle said frying past him her head away so he couldn't see the flush on her cheeks, which was obviously because he praised her and nothing more. "We have to beat this thing."

"On it." Asta said as turned sharply in the air and then flew perpendicular to the dragon on a strafing run. "Let's see you handle this!"

At that Asta lent down and slashed the dragon along the back close to where it's hind legs were as that was the part of the dragon that he was flying over. This time a deep gouge was carved into the dragon cutting through his scales with ease and causing him to bleed and howl in pain as the Sea Dragon Slayer Magic in the sword did its thing while rippling and moving showing the fluidity of the blade.

"Oh yeah that works really well!" Asta said excitedly as he banked around and noticed the groove he'd just cut into the dragon. "I think I'll call this variant of the sword the Sea Dragon Slayer Sword."

No one heard Asta because as he spoke Yami sent another Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash at the dragon's flank from where he was still standing in the air while Noelle sent out another Sea Dragon's Roar at its back. The former did nothing but stagger it but the latter caused the Sea King Dragon to arch his back and howl in pain as his knees buckled and leaving cracked scales in its wake.

As this was happening, Nero was back in the command center looking at the lacrima visions showing the current fight. She'd had a sense that they were close but they needed something more, a final thing to really ensure that the dragon was taken down, to give Noelle the opening she needed to deal the finishing blow and as the latest attack from their Dragon Slayer cleared the plan finally hit Nero.

Noelle's attack hadn't hit the spot that Asta, Yami, and Charmy had seriously weakened but it was near and the scales were cracked from the blow. If Noelle landed a blow of her own on the weakened spot, and perhaps Asta cut it with that sword, then they may finally have access to the dragon's skin which would give them the opening that they what they needed.

"Warren, relay this to the three fighting." Nero said the plan solidified in her mind. "Tell them to focus on the weak spot and break through it to the flesh beneath so that a sword can be driven into it. It doesn't matter how they break the scales; they just need to do so."

"On it." Warren said and he did as instructed, relaying the message to the three combatants, and expecting that the sword would be the one that Asta was currently using but Nero had another one in mind and knew that the trio fighting would get it. "They've received it and understand the plan."

"I see." Yami muttered to himself as he heard Warren's request and nodded from where he was standing before he raised his katana and cloaked it in Dark Magic once again and focused on the weakened spot on the dragon's back. "Asta, Noelle, you heard that right? Aim for the spot and break through. Once we're through I'll provide the anchor to drive the sword in."

"Got it." Asta said understanding as well as Yami brought down the katana in another Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash. "Cover me Noelle."

"Of course." Noelle said as she flew around and sent out another Sea Dragon's Roar at the dragon's head that he dodged but it was all to keep the dragon occupied while Asta followed Yami's attack down.

Again Yami's attack only did blunt damage from the force of it, though the cracked and churned up ground around it got another slice in it for good measure, but it had the effect of adding to the damaged scales and forced the Sea King Dragon to buckle from it. Noelle's attack helped keep the dragon's attention so it didn't notice until too late that Asta was in range. Before the dragon could act, Asta leapt off Slayer, the Sea Dragon Slayer Sword in his right hand, and drew it back before he drove it point first into the spot as soon as his feet landed on the dragon's back.

It didn't sink too deep, only about a quarter of the way down the blade, but it did punch through some of the scales and destroyed the damaged ones that he, Yami, and Charmy had worked on thus leaving a patch of blue skin beneath visible. That was covered by blood in moments as Asta pulled the sword out of the dragon and slashed an X over the wound removing more scales in the process and deepening the wound as the Sea King Dragon bellowed in pain.

This really pissed the Sea King Dragon off and he bucked from the pain, forcing Asta to stagger back along his back as the dragon whipped his head around. He could take another blow from the girl, which he did on his long neck, and it was painful but he pushed through it to end the brat on his back who was now a serious annoyance thanks to that Dragon Slayer sword he was wielding. It was time to boil him alive and the water began to fill the Sea King Dragon's mouth.

Asta of course hadn't been surprised by this having sensed the dragon's ki the instance before he moved his neck and knew that an attack was coming. Therefore, as fast as he could, Asta tossed away the Sea Dragon Slayer Sword knowing that he needed both hands right now and mentally called Slayer back to him from where he'd left it in the air to leap onto the dragon's back. It flew in just in time for Asta to grab it in both hands and roar as he swung it flat side out as the Sea King Dragon blasted out water at him in yet another roar attack.

The result was that Asta managed to get Slayer around in time for the flat of the blade to slam into the water with a gong and rebound it back and into the face of the Sea King Dragon with twice the power of the attack. Some of the water got through, the attack was wider than the sword, and scalded Asta's arms but he pushed through it roaring as he did and sent most of the attack back to the dragon.

While Dragon Slayer Magic worked on Dragons, so too did dragon magic and the Sea King Dragon knew that but he was too startled by what had just happened to do more than blink as he own roar was blasted into his face twice as hard as he'd blasted it at the brat. The result was a roar of pain as he took his own attack, his body bucking from it and tossing Asta into the air and off his back but Asta was grinning at that as he flew upwards. It was time and he trusted Noelle and Captain Yami to do what was needed as his right eye turned red and the line of black Anti-Magic appeared on his face.

Normally Asta could only use Black Asta twice in a day but he could push it to three times if he really tried, and was healed up which he was thanks to Mimosa. As such he changed once more and flew in the air above the dragon forcing himself to control it as he waited for the right moment to attack. As he did he held out his right hand and summoned Dweller back to him from where it had been floating after he'd accepted Erza's sword from Noelle.

Noelle saw all this and smiled. Things were going well and she flew around the stagging and rage filled dragon so that she was in front of him. She didn't want to be near Asta in case he was dragged away from his target by Black Asta tracking her magic. Better to put herself between the dragon and Asta especially with what they were planning just in case. Just having Asta here though was a huge boost to her and she smiled as she drew on their bond and as she did something happened that hadn't in a long time.

It was an ability of the Demon-Dweller Sword that Asta rarely used, and in fact didn't know how to consciously use, but it could draw magic power from allies and fill with it for projected slashes. He'd only used this feature twice; first in the dungeon after finding the sword with Noelle's magic and second in the cave with Gauche's magic. However that feature had been, along with seeing how Licht wielded it, part of how Asta had developed his Black Slash attack.

Now, though, as Noelle flew into position and drew on their bond, Dweller glowed bright blue as Asta took hold it it drawing on their bond as well to fill with Noelle's magic for a second time. Only this time the magic it was filled with was Dragon Slayer Magic.

"Woah, been a while since you did that." Asta said with a grin as he knew what was going on. "Well this is perfect, thanks Noelle. Here, have some more Dragon Slayer Magic."

With that Asta slashed the sword and an arc of blue Sea Dragon Slayer Magic shot from it and at the staggering dragon. Everyone else watched in amazement at what had happened as only a few of them had ever seen Dweller do that, and the Earth Landers had no clue that it could do that.

Asta didn't pay attention to that as he launched his attack. He was aiming for the wound they'd opened on the dragon's back with their combined efforts so as to add to it but because the dragon was now blindly staggering following Asta's attack, followed by another Sea Dragon's Roar from Noelle that she'd sent out to get the dragon's attention again and which took him in the chest, it staggered back several feet so the attack gouged a line in the dragon's neck not back. Still it was another wound that destroyed its scales and the dragon howled in pain.

"Now Asta!" Yami bellowed as he pushed off the air and landed on the ground running to stand under the dragon as it staggered. "Focus on my magic!"

As soon as Yami was in position, using ki to make sure he was where he needed to be relative to Asta and the wound on the dragon's back, he flared his magic giving Black Asta a massive beacon to be drawn to. Yami had a considerable amount of magic power, he was a Magic Knight Captain after all, and so the ground cracked and shook from it as a dark purple aura surrounded him.

Asta grinned at that as felt himself being drawn to Yami's output of magic and didn't fight it but dove towards Yami's magic. He'd been holding it back with all his strength but now he gave in and he used Black Asta's attraction to magic to fly hard and fast right towards his Captain. Of course, there just so happened to be a massive, scaly, reptile in the way and Asta bellowed as he took Dweller in a two hand grip and thrust it forward just as he reached the wound on the dragon's back which was right between him and Yami and thus in the path of his sword.

"One-Horn Bull Thrust!" Asta roared as he thrust the sword out and with the speed and thrust drove it point first into the blood soaked, exposed, flesh of the Sea King Dragon.

Usually this move was used to dispel large amount of magic before Asta like when he used it to dispel Salamander in the Forest if Witches during that incident but right now it was used to add the needed speed to drive Dweller into the Sea King Dragon. Similar to what Asta had done to Vetto and Ladros, he was going to use Dweller drain that drew out the magic power of what it was in, so long as it was driven into a person, or in this case a dragon, deep enough to stay in. This would weaken their foe by siphoning off the dragon's and cause the opening while also making it hard to remove, especially for a dragon.

That was the goal of the plan and it worked perfectly as Asta drove the sword almost to the hilt into the dragon's back while Yami fell back to a safe distance his own role now in this battle over and his magic no longer coming off him. Asta held onto it for dear life as he brought his legs down and onto the dragon's back once again but the dragon was now bellowing and thrashing in rage so Asta couldn't hold on, he let go and let himself be tossed from the dragon's back.

As he was tossed away a portal appeared in his path and Asta flew back first through it and out of another one at the far end of the square where he hit the ground hard and rolled over it. As he did his body hit its limit for Black Asta, it was his third use that day after all, and it faded from him but he didn't mind, his role was done and as he came to a stop he pushed his head up and yelled.

"Noelle! Finish it! You can do it!"

Noelle didn't need to be told but she grinned at the support from Asta and drew strength from it as she slowly beat her wings to remain in the air front of the dragon as it bellowed. She always drew strength from Asta more than anyone else and his words were just what she needed as she faced the Sea King Dragon her wings beating a steady rhythm as she exhaled and prepared for what was to come.

"Gah what have you done to me!" The Sea King Dragon roared as he finally got himself under control and turned to Noelle where she was in the air, blood running from his now pink eyes and pain clear in them but he was still nowhere near done. "Why is my magic being drained away!"

"Because Asta, he's special in ways you will never comprehend." Noelle said as she leant forward. "And thanks to him, and all the Black Bulls for that matter, I can end this for us so make peace with it, you're done!"

"Never!" The dragon roared as Noelle flew forward with a yell her wings flapping to add to her speed. "I will not be beaten by mere humans!"

At that the dragon, clearly blinded by pain and the strange sensation of having his magic drained away, blasted another roar at Noelle as she flew towards it. She just kept flying and dove head first into the attack, the water washing over her as if it was nothing, which it was to her, and opening her mouth within it as she spun and consumed her element once more.

The water didn't even reach the wolf as it was all consumed as Noelle spun within it, the magic refilling her reserves and she shot out the end of it right in front of the still open mouthed dragon as the cheers for her from the other Black Bulls, as well as the Mermaid Heel girls, filled her ears. That was the last bit of encouragement Noelle needed as she closed in on her target.

"No!" The Sea King Dragon roared as Noelle reached him.

"Yes!" Noelle shouted back as she took her trident in a two handed grip, pulled it back, and then as she entered the open maw of the Sea King Dragon she thrust it up and forward as hard as she could manage.

The magical trident drove into the roof of the Sea King Dragon's mouth and the prongs of it burst through the top though as it had a snout of sorts it didn't hit the beast's brain. Still it was an effective blow and the dragon bellowed in pain it's head snapping back and up as Noelle yelled through the thrust, hot blood running down the trident mixing with the water of it while also going over her hands.

Noelle ignored this as she moved the base of the trident to wedge it under the dragon's lower jaw, the spike at the base going into the flesh there ensuring that his mouth was kept mouth open as Noelle brought her legs forward and kicked off its teeth and back, letting go od the trident in the process but pulling her wand out from it as she did. At the same time Noelle angled her wings down and flapped them once with as much force as she could muster so as to propel herself upwards and over the Sea King Dragon's head as it thrashed the trident still int its mouth.

"Sea Dragon Slayer Magic: Sea Dragon's Roar!" Noelle bellowed as she moved her body and opened her mouth.

Once again a vortex of water shot from her mouth, she was getting used to the feeling and modulating how much power to use with this attack, and slammed into the top of the Sea King Dragon's head right where the prongs of the trident were sticking out. The result was that the dragon's mouth was forced to close driving the trident in deeper and causing the spiked base of it to punch out of the dragon's lower jaw for a moment before the trident burst from the force but that was fine with Noelle as she pushed through the roar making it more powerful than any other roar that she'd used during this battle.

As a result, the Sea King Dragon's head was driven down into the cracked and slashed ground and slammed into it with a crash that kicked up dust and debris but as his head bounced up and off the ground Noelle could tell that he was still alive. That was fine as she had a way to finish it as she dropped her wand and held out her right hand to connect to the Sea Dragon Slayer Magic in the blade of the Erza's sword that was lying on the ground not too far from where she was.

With a simple mental command, Noelle took hold of her magic in the sword and brought it to her from where it was on the ground. It spun as it flew off the ground and through the air towards her. Noelle didn't even look, she was in that much control of her magic and the feeling was unlike any she'd had before, as she steadied the sword as it neared her before she caught the handle in her right hand.

She then brought it in front of her and her left hand to it so that she was holding it in a two handed grip similar to how Asta held Demon-Slayer or Yami his katana when they went for a downward slash attack. The handle wasn't really long enough for a comfortable two handed grip but that was fine as Noelle raised it over her head and poured more of her magic into it.

Noelle didn't have much to go off when it came swords but she'd seen Asta use his plenty of times as well as seeing the Captain use his a few times. As such she used them as inspiration as the water rippled along the blade before it burst upwards and formed into a massive version of blade, ripples from the hilt to tip going over it as it glowed with Sea Dragon Slayer Magic, and Noelle made it as sharp as she could.

"This ends now!" Noelle bellowed as she brought the sword down onto the Sea King Dragon's neck as it was raising it in the same way she'd seen Asta bring down Black Divider or Yame his Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash. "You will no longer hurt my friends or the people of this kingdom!"

As Noelle finished her shout the sword reached the grove that Asta had made in the Sea King Dragon's neck with Noelle's magic and she yelled through the blow as it cut into the grove and the Dragon Slayer Magic continued through. Noelle never stopped yelled as she swung Erza's sword down and through the Sea King Dragon's neck, the water rippling and splashing off and the excess cutting into the ground as she decapitated the dragon with a single swing ending the threat that it posed once and for all as the Sea King Dragon gave out one final bellow at his defeat at the hands of a mere human.

Of course, this was a decapitation so as the head fell off and down to the ground, the mouth open and the Sea King Dragon's eyes wide in shock, the light leaving them as his head fell, blood erupted from the stump and fountained into the air in a massive spray. Thankfully Finral had been on hand and quickly a portal formed around the stump just past it so the blood spewed out and over a deserted patch of ground outside of the city but there was still a fair bit of mess from the head and blood was now staining the area as the body of the Sea King Dragon thrashed and spasmed before it collapsed to the side and hit the ground.

Noelle had a front row seat to this though thanks to the angle she didn't get any blood on her. Still it was a lot to take in and she slowly flew to the ground, the sword returning to normal length and rippling to wash away the blood that had been mixed into the water as she held it in her right hand and to her side her eyes a little wide at the sight of what she'd done. She knew that it was her or the dragon, that she'd done what was right, that she was the only one who could do it, and that she'd do it again in a heartbeat but it was still a lot to take in.

She'd process that later once the whole battle was over as there were still 7 dragons to defeat. That was what Noelle focused on as she landed on the ground and bent down to pick up her wand with her left hand before the blood reached it. As she did her armor fell from her in a fine mist and a green ball of light hit her in the back transporting her back to the group as the final twitches of the Sea King Dragon's body occurred as it lay there.

"Well done Noelle." Yami said patting her on the head as Noelle arrived her eyes a bit wide. "That wasn't easy but you did it. No one else could have managed that."

"I knew you could do it." Asta said with a smile that made her heart skip several beats. "You're amazing Noelle."

"Th, thank you." Noelle said her internal self jumping at the praise and her Captain's words and Asta's praise, all of it snapping her back to the situation and she focused on that. "All of you, I couldn't have done that without everyone, especially after I got hurt, so thank you but, um, What now?"

"Now we gather up as we heal and replenish our magic as best we can." Yami said as the Black Bulls gathered around their base camp now that the threat was over, they could heal, and Mimosa began doing just that though Charmy remained in her Food Magic form for some reason despite the danger being over. "We've beaten one dragon but there are 7 others to defeat and those battles are still going on so as we recover we need to see where we're needed and go there."

The others nodded at that as Grey, Vanessa, and Zora passed out what food they had saved and healing magic washed over them once more though most were pretty much healed up other than Gordon and Gauche who still needed a little more time before they were fully healed and could rejoin the battle. They may have defeated the Sea King Dragon but as Yami had pointed out, there were 7 other Dragons out there and so they had to decide where best to reallocate their forces so as to aid the other Guilds as the Dragon King Festival continued.

Well there it is, the Black Bulls have faced the Sea King Dragon and taken it down, killing it in the process with Noelle delivering the finishing blow following an impressive sequence where she really showed her new skills. It was a tough battle and took the whole Squad to ensure it be it by attacking or via supporting the attackers but they managed it and Fairy Tail lent just enough aid to ensure it. Of course there are still other battles going on and the Black Bulls need to see how to aid them which is what is coming next along with a revelation of where in the battle we are so stay tuned for that. Regarding Noelle's Sea Dragon Slayer Valkyrie Armor variant, while I could have just used her Dragon Form (and I did take some inspiration from it) I wanted this to be a bit different from that so I altered it to fit a new style that Noelle can use especially for slaying dragons but gives her another variation while keeping the Dragon Form for when she and Leviathan join forces for the final battle which would be covered in a long off sequel story and keep that option open. Plus this way she'll be used to a similar style before that and thus adapt and be ready quicker. That is all that I have for this chapter, sorry it was so chaotic, it wasn't an easy one to write so I hope it has come off well, so I will end 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