Natsu ducked underneath the flock of ice hawks Lyon launched his way. He sprang forward with both fists out trying to punch through the stiff wall of ice Lyon had created at the start of their fight, only managing to melt all but one layer of it.
Lyon swiped his hand. Ice-made bulls rushed at Natsu. Natsu caught one's icicle horns and managed to stop it, then flung it to the ground.
A basilisk launched forth from the ice and crashed into Natsu's gut, sending him flying. Natsu crashed through a window and sprawled on the ground. He punched the ground in anger, then burst out of the building, ducking beneath a massive wave of ice magic about to crash on him.
"Fire Dragon Brilliant Flame!"
The attack blew away all of Lyon's oncoming spells and broke through his wall of ice. Lyon stuttered back but didn't seem all too afflicted by the force of Natsu's spell. He weaved away from more of Natsu's strikes before cupping his palms together, and then separating them. Individual Ice-Make Spells formed in his hands.
Natsu melted one bit of ice as he grabbed Lyon's hand but the shield he had in his other bashed against Natsu's face. Natsu slid back, wiping blood away. He ignited his fist.
Even if this Lyon was Broken as Kip said, there were still those sparks of brutality Natsu remembered Lyon having. He was cocky and overconfident, still, even if his vacant eyes and scowling expression wouldn't betray a hint of that.
Natsu cracked his knuckles and stretched out his hands a bit. Lyon strode forward, cold as ever. Kip continued to linger on the sidelines, staying out of the way of Natsu's fight.
In a flash, Lyon had more Ice-Make creatures summoned and assailing Natsu, who dove in and around them in his charge toward Lyon.
Gray heaved up his Ice-Make Cannon, hoisting it onto his shoulder while he continued to track Sting's quick movements. The White Dragon Slayer darted all around Elfman, trying to throw the big Lizardman off his game.
It was a risk, but Gray aimed it right at Elfman. If Sting's previous movements and actions were accurate…
He launched the massive ball of ice, and it struck true as it hit Sting in the side and sent him spiraling away before he could hit Elfman. The latter bounded toward Sting. The Dragon Slayer recovered and matched Elfman's punch with his own. A white gust blew out.
Gray launched another cannonball and Sting blocked it with one hand while using the other to shove Elfman aside and launched a white ray at him. Elfman barely dodged and wasn't quick enough to avoid Sting's kick to the side.
However, Sting was not quick enough to dodge Gray's attack.
"Ice-Make: Geyser!"
The ground beneath Sting erupted and he was uppercut by the attack. He blasted into the ceiling above the three combatants but recovered fast. He was, after all, in his Dragon Force, that cheat mode of a form.
Sting shot right at Gray, who could only make a quick wall to deflect Sting, though the Dragon Slayer still landed right next to Gray. A chill ran through Gray as the General's hard eyes glowered at him, but the chill was alleviated as Elfman came charging in. Sting backed off for just a second, deflecting Elfman's punch and then blasting him aside.
Gray swung twin swords at Sting who blocked both with his talons. His aura flared and magic surged out of him, sliding Gray back a few steps.
"You thin—"
"Ice-Make: Bow!"
Gray released the arrow fast. It was weaker than what he could normally conjure but he had to act fast. Sting deflected it, forgetting about Elfman again, who tackled Sting. Fists rained down on the Dragon Slayer, who ultimately blasted Elfman into the air and out of their tiny crevice in the ground.
Elfman hit the surface with a roll. Gray, not wanting to be trapped, sprinted for a bit of risen ground.
"Holy Ray!"
Gray leaped up, boosted by a burst of magic, and landed next to Elfman. Sting propelled up and flipped back, landing on the opposite side of the gaping wound in the city.
Sting raised his hand to both of them. "Just more room to—"
"Water Nebula!"
A spritz of water on Gray and Elfman's end preceded a massive torrent of water smashing into Sting before could realize what happened. He spluttered back, finally catching himself against the wall of another building.
Juvia, who cast the spell, landed next to Gray.
"Weren't you helping Erza?" Gray asked.
"Yes. But my fight is with you, darling. Our love together is all that can defeat the Dragon Slayer!"
Gray pursed his lips. "Really?"
"Yes!' Juvia exclaimed. "This one wants to kill you! I can't let happen." Juvia balled her fist. "And only I can protect you enough from someone like him."
Gray sighed. He should've expected this. He was more surprised that Juvia let the fighting go on for so long without jumping in to get him.
"Mind going to help Erza, big guy?" Gray asked.
"No problem," Elfman said. "I'll clear a path for you. Just make sure to get a good punch on him for me, got it?"
Gray nodded. "You got it."
Elfman returned the nod and then took off down the empty road.
Sting snarled. With no further warning, he launched a beam at Elfman. Gray tossed a shield in the beam's path and deflected it, blowing the roof off another building. Elfman got away. Gray put his fist against his open palm while Juvia pooled water about her.
She didn't look too worn from the fighting around then, which meant she had plenty of magic to spare against Sting, who had hardly taken any damage in what was, apparently, just the opening round of their rematch.
"This guy is quick," Gray said. "Misdirection is the name of the game right now. We need to get him looking one way and then hit him as hard as we can from the other."
"Well this shouldn't be much of a problem," Juvia said.
"You can't be reckless," Gray said. "One bad move and you're toast. That's Dragon Force he's powered up into, the purest and most powerful form of a Dragon Slayer."
"Well I think I have a slight plan on what we can do," Juvia said. "After a bit of misdirection, of course."
She reached out and squeezed his hand. Gray blushed but got the memo. Gray surged magic into his hand to tell Juvia to back off, and, remarkably, she did…after scooting a step closer to him.
"Let me take the lead," Gray said. "You follow close behind!"
He charged in as Sting held a glowing white hand above his head. White magic pulsed out of his open palm, but it didn't slow Gray down. He created ice blocks just beneath his feet, rising higher and higher with each pulse getting stronger as he got closer.
The final block shattered beneath Gray, who flipped over.
"Ice-Make: Cage!"
Gray swung his arm down toward Sting who blasted right through the cage without any problem. Juvia swooped in just then, moving fast as the surging tide.
Sting swung his arm out toward her, deflecting her attack. Gray continued his descent but was practically a sitting duck as Sting harnessed magic in both palms and fired it at Gray, who mustered a single shield to try and block it. The shield shattered. Gray hit the ground.
Sting was on him in seconds, white lightning crackling off his aura.
"White Dragon Iron Fist!"
Gray dodged back but the strength of the blow was enough to send him soaring back. His feet scraped along the ground as he just barely managed to keep his feet.
Juvia once more came in from behind with an attack. She kicked at Sting, who ducked beneath it. Gray quickly conjured manacles and launched them at Sting before he could punch Juvia in the head, catching the Dragon Slayer's hands together.
Gray summoned twin swords as Sting broke free of his manacles. Gray attacked from one direction, Juvia from the other. Sting didn't bother checking either.
"White Dragon Flash!"
Neither Fairy had time to react to the blinding light. Gray tried to come to a quick halt but Juvia still lunged forward, landing in Gray's arms.
"Oh!" she exclaimed.
Gray strained to open his eyes but the world was—
"White Dragon Holy Breath!"
The world shivered. Gray moved on instinct, but they weren't sharp enough. Another white beam engulfed everything around them and the ground erupted beneath them as they were just to the side of a massive beam of light. Gray and Juvia crashed into the building next to where they'd been standing.
Gray attempted to recover but Sting was right on him again, and Gray had no shield to protect him. Sting slashed across Gray's chest, spraying some blood, but mostly hitting with the force of a rampaging train. Gray crashed to the ground. Sting quickly turned his attention to Juvia, whose watery form wasn't even enough to stop Sting's attack. Light refracted in water, after all, and the blast landed, sending her flying.
"Juvia!" Gray shouted.
Sting clamped his hand around Gray's mouth and hefted the wizard in the air.
"You love her? Guess you'll have the privilege to die together!"
Sting flung Gray away.
"Holy Ray!"
The beam clipped Gray across the chin, knocking his chin back. He spiraled into the ground, bouncing closer to Juvia. Gray pushed himself to his feet.
The building near them continued to collapse. Sting strode forward without a sign of fatigue or hesitation. Gray balled his fist.
These Dragon Slayers…such a pain in the ass.
"You good, Juvia?" Gray called.
"A little worse for wear, but I'll be okay," Juvia said. She grunted, heaving away a bit of rubble from a building she'd crashed through.
"Get ready, then," Gray said. "I think we're just about ready to give that a shot."
"Right!"
Gray got into his stance, ice flecking away from him. Tendrils of ice swirled around him while he continued to concentrate his magic.
"Gimme your best shot, Gray," Sting said. "It won't be close to enough!"
"You got it, pal," Gray muttered. "Ice-Make: Lance!"
Sting laughed as Gray sent a single lance at Sting, who deflected it, as he said. It exploded, leaving mist everywhere. The mist soon swirled, transforming into a torrent of raging water that slammed toward Sting.
Once again, Sting deflected it, roaring as he amplified his magic to block it away. But in that time, Gray got close.
"Ice-Make: Gungnir!"
Gray once more shot forward a lance, one Sting thought he could avoid, but this one had much more of a punch to it. Sure, Sting's attempt at a parry managed to break it, but the lance burst, the ice catching Sting and freezing his fists.
His momentary confusion gave Juvia the perfect window.
"Water Slicer!"
Strikes of water battered Sting, forcing him back, though not entirely harming him as Gray's ensuing attack did, which broke through Sting's defenses:
"Ice-Make: Knuckle!"
Two fists of pure ice bashed Sting back further. Blood was sprayed from a broken nose. Juvia continued her assault. Sting swung a wild fist a her that she danced around, then elbowed him hard in the face before tripping him up, leaving him open for an arrow to slam into him and knock him back further.
Gray raced to catch up to Juvia. She held her hand out. He grabbed it. Normally, she probably would've broken down or giggled, but the hard look in her eye was that of the Rain Woman.
"Water and Ice Make!"
Their auras burst around them, colliding in the air and then blasting back down into their conjoined hands as a surge of water rocketed toward Sting at incredible speed. Before it could land, the attack turned to pure ice and exploded. Sting flipped through the air, at last crashing through a window far down the thoroughfare.
Gray dropped his hands as Juvia did the same. He sighed.
"What an impressive Unison Raid!" Juvia exclaimed. "Let's do it again, shall we?"
"We need to have enough magic for it," Gray said and sighed. "Frankly, I doubt I do. Besides, that…well, let's hope that put him down for a second. Come on!"
Juvia reached to grab his hand again to run after Elfman, but before they could even take a step, the building Sting had landed in erupted in a flash of white light. Debris landed everywhere, and within the blinding ball of light that'd once been a stone structure stood a lone figure, lightning crackling, power emanating.
It was far less power, thankfully, but was Sting nonetheless, still raring to go.
"Okay," Gray muttered. "Great."
"Darling, listen," Juvia said. Sting descended, hitting the pavement. "I couldn't help noticing that our diversionary tactic was…lacking. He caught on too quickly. We need to try something new."
"I'm flat out of ideas," Gray said.
"Good thing one of us shares the brains in this relationship."
"This what?"
"I'll offer you my magic," Juvia said. She rested her hand on Gray's arm. Somehow, his shirt was gone. "Let it serve as fuel for you to launch whatever Ice attacks you need at him. That way, if this fails, you'll at least have more of your own magic left to use for conjuring spells."
Gray set his jaw. Sting came to a halt not far from them. He was getting ready for an attack, and probably a big one. Getting rid of Sting was just one obstacle in getting out of the city. There were countless soldiers to get through, plus the other Dragon Slayers. He needed his magic.
Moreover, though, he needed Juvia.
"Yeah, good idea," Gray said. "Ready?"
"As I'll ever be, my love. I'll give it all up for you!"
Gray suppressed a groan and set himself in his stance. Sting blasted at him, moving at top speed while his hands glowed with his White Dragon Slayer magic.
At once, Juvia vanished, turning into a puddle of near-infinite water around Gray's feet.
"Ice-Make: Hammer!"
Sting swung his talons, Gray swung his weapon. The two clashed, a powerful burst of wind exploding out of the attack as Gray's spell, powered by his own strength and Juvia's, held against Sting's. With a surge, he knocked Sting back.
"Ice-Make: Cannons!"
Having Juvia's extra magic gave him a boost in power he'd never felt before. Three cannons appeared before him, and at Gray's command, they fired on Sting, who could only deflect two and received a mighty strike in his chest.
Gray exhaled. Adrenaline coursed through him, an almost unfamiliar—
Ah. Juvia. That was her he was feeling. He held his concentration but allowed a slight smile.
"Let's keep this up, Juvia!" Gray exclaimed, as Sting once more struck at them. A thick veil of water appeared around Gray, one he sprinted through, using the water on his body to create a set of armor around him while ushering powerful blades as well. The water followed in a wave behind him—Juvia wouldn't leave his side.
Natsu crashed down on top of Lyon, fire spewing from all around him, attempting to melt those stupid Ice-Make animals that continued to barrage him. Lyon kicked Natsu aside but it was faint, much weaker than usual.
Natsu swung out. Lyon had a servant block for him, and it broke apart before Natsu's fist made contact.
Good. The ice was finally starting to melt!
Lyon danced back to give himself some room between him and Natsu, but that gap was eradicated by a string of fire that punctured through Lyon's defenses once again. Natsu shot forward, sliding across the icy floor Lyon had created previously in their fight. Lyon whirled around on Natsu, holding a mighty sword of ice. Natsu dodged underneath it.
Lightning sparked from his body as he dodged another attack of Lyon's.
"Lightning Fire Dragon Roar!"
The spell shattered the serpent rising out of the ice toward Natsu and slammed right into Lyon, who was crushed into the ground under its power.
Lyon attempted to pick himself up but the ground quickly swallowed him. His hands were encased in stone and his body was restrained, held back. Natsu lowered his magic.
Kip stood in the alley, still hidden, and gave Natsu a nod. Natsu returned the expression.
He'd hoped to knock Lyon out so he could reliably put the guy somewhere. Then, he'd go get Gray, who could probably talk some sense into Lyon. If not, Gray could totally handle Lyon.
Given what Kip did, he could go get Gray and not have to worry about waking him up!
Lyon's scowl was strong and tried to burrow through Natsu. He shook his head at Lyon.
"We'll make you better," Natsu said.
Outside of the spells and some mannerisms, Lyon was there in name only. At least, that was how Natsu saw it. Perhaps there was more of Lyon in there somewhere, and Gray was the only one left who could pull it free.
"But I've gotta run to get Gray, first," Natsu said. He hoped the name would illicit a reaction—it did not. Natsu sighed. "Next time we see each other, make sure you're not brain-controlled or whatever so we can have a real fight!"
Natsu waved quickly to Kip, who hopefully overheard all that, and then ran in the direction of Gray's scent. Juvia's was unsurprisingly near to his, as was Sting's. Natsu took the opportunity to sprout a scowl of his own. So he got stuck fighting a mind-controlled Lyon while Gray got to take on a Dragon Slayer? No fair!
Gray let out a bellow, one that echoed all around them, as he dug into his own reservoir of magic to throw up a powerful Ice-Make Shield that blocked yet another of Sting's incredible Dragon Slayer Secret Arts. The shield shattered into a million tiny particles, but Juvia, ever the resourceful one, quickly turned it all back into the water so it could scatter all around for Gray to us as weapons.
Sting made yet another attempt to attack Gray.
"You can't hold me back forever!" Sting shouted.
And he was right, of course. Gray only had so many defensive spells. Sting was just too damn fast to hit with anything powerful. He had to get the guy in close with something already in hand to land the finishing strike. But it took time to cast an Ice-Make spell…
A normal Ice-Make spell.
Perhaps, Gray realized, it was time to think a little outside the box. It was time to think like Lyon.
He let Sting in, stepping back as Sting slid through the water that Juvia provided.
"White Dragon Claw!"
"Ice-Make: Seven Slices Dance!"
A blade of ice slid down Gray's arm to slash at Sting's talon. They collided in a burst of magic. Gray attempted to channel more of Juvia's power up into his arm, but Sting slid back with a vicious smile. Gray, confused, moved to attack again, but in his peripheral caught a small mark on his arm.
BOOM!
He careened back, the impact of the blow feeling like it was about to shatter his entire arm to pieces. If he hadn't covered it in that thick layer of ice…
Gray slammed to the ground. Juvia quickly emerged out of the water while Sting made his final dash toward Gray.
"No! Stick to the plan!" Gray shouted.
Sting slid in front of Gray, fist out.
"You're dead, Fairy!"
Gray swatted down Sting's fist as magic shot out of it. Sting attempted to punch Gray again but he blocked it with his own fist.
"Nah, don't think so," Gray said.
Sting slammed his head into Gray's. Damn Dragon Slayers! Stars wheeled in Gray's vision. Sting kicked at Gray, knocking him back some more. Gray shook his head to clear his vision.
"White Dragon Holy Breath!"
The world seemed to swirl around Sting, but before the attack could launch, another torrent of water slammed into Sting, sending him stumbling aside while the massive blast eradicated more of the ruins. Gray kept his mouth shut about scolding Juvia, as she hadn't technically moved, just launched her own attack.
Perfect.
Time for Gray's plan, as Sting refocused his attention on Juvia.
"Ice-Make: Shotgun!"
The water from Juvia all turned to ice, launching in rapid, brutal succession at Sting, who flared his aura back to life, taking the hits with ease.
The ice that missed Sting quickly wheeled around toward Gray, turning to water around him. Sting swung his arms out, blasting down the final remnants of the spell.
"Ice-Make: Crossbows!"
A dozen crossbows appeared around Gray's feet, launching bolts at Sting, practically pelting the guy. Sting dove forward, getting in close.
Gray slid aside as Sting's attack was wide and erratic. Rage had completely taken him over, and he didn't care how many little hits he had to take so long as he wound up getting to Gray. He couldn't beat Gray and Juvia at range, so it was a matter of landing the knockout blow directly.
"Ice-Make: Nebula!"
Spirals of water shot out of the ground where Sting had been and slammed him from behind, launching him into the air.
Sure, Sting couldn't beat Gray at range.
Because Gray had him beat at range.
"Ice-Make: Super Freeze Arrow!"
Gray pulled back the string of a powerful bow, making sure to aim it carefully such that it was right where he intended Sting to be.
He loosed one arrow that Sting impressively dodged in midair.
"Juvia?" Gray asked. "Mind helping a sec?"
Sting caught his footing and darted around to try and throw Gray off, but he didn't move, holding his position with the bow. He had his mark and magic primed.
"White Dragon Roar!"
The laser shot down at Gray, who confidently remained still even as it closed in on him.
A jet of water knocked it off course, crashing it into the ground and tossing up dust and debris from the ruins in a quick cloud around Gray, who smiled as Sting snarled and tried again.
Got him.
This time, the beam landed as Juvia attempted to block it.
However, Gray was long gone, having covered himself under the previous attack when Juvia deflected it. Instead, the laser obliterated an Ice-Make: Clone of Gray, which startled Sting as he landed and searched for Gray.
Their eyes met just as the arrow struck Sting straight in the chest, knocking the Dragon Force right out of him, and sending him crashing into another nearby building. Blood shot from his mouth and his eyes rolled back.
Gray dropped his arm, sighing. Juvia finally took human form again not far from Gray, but certainly cautious.
And she was right to be so, as Sting clenched his fist, crushing a rock within. Gray let his shoulder sag, preparing another strategy, another spell, just to keep this damn guy down.
Sting froze as the temperature suddenly rocketed up, and plummeting from a rooftop came Natsu. Sparks flew from his feet as he quickly assessed the situation.
"Good here?" Natsu asked.
Gray nodded. "Yeah. Could probably go for another punch or two to this guy's face, but…I think we're good here."
"Right?" Juvia asked with a glower.
Sting snarled, but wouldn't let his eyes leave Natsu. He said nothing.
"Lyon needs your help," Natsu said, at last facing Gray.
A shiver ran through the Ice-Make wizard at the sound of the name. "Lyon? He's here?"
"Yeah," Natsu said, but his expression wasn't the bright one it should've been. "One of the Empire's Broken wizards or something."
Juvia gasped. Gray balled both hands into a fist.
"Where is he?"
"I can lead you to him."
Gray wished he'd knocked the hell out of Sting. Maybe even killed him. They managed to get Lyon, too?
"Yeah," Gray said, ice running out of his mouth. "Let's go. Juvia, you coming?"
"Of course," she said, dead serious.
Natsu took off down the street. Gray spared Sting one final look, one final glare that told the White Dragon Slayer all he needed to know: there wasn't a world in which Sting was going to beat them. Not after what they'd done to Gray's friends and family.
Axel and his cohorts were long gone, hopefully still on their way to find Natsu and the others in the opposite direction they were supposed to be heading in. That gave Lucy plenty of time to at last approach her keys, locked away within a complex box.
She placed her hand on the box itself. She could see all of her keys waiting in there, from the mighty Taurus to the meager Plue.
"Guys," she muttered. "If you can hear me…I know it breaks the rules, I know I can't summon you myself…but I need you to listen. We need your help."
Lucy shut her eyes. Her friends were up against the entirety of the Empire and all she could do was stand around in a tower and watch.
No way. None of them would do that if she were down there fighting.
But she couldn't leave. Axel would know—and besides, what was she going to fight with?
So, she had to do the next best thing.
Lucy grabbed the box, picked it up, and threw it to the ground. It was made of diamond, so, of course, it didn't break. The keys rattled in place.
She picked it up again, then threw it at the ground once more. She repeated it again, and again. Her hair fell out of place. Her arms ached. The box was a damn heavy thing.
"Hear me!" Lucy shouted. "Help me!"
She screamed, her arms swinging down, but were quickly caught. The box fell out of her hands into the massive hands of another creature.
"Hey, cut us some slack, it ain't easy to pinpoint you without being summoned directly."
"It's hard to mooooove between worlds, you know."
Lucy smiled, and, for the first time in what felt like years, looked into the eyes of Loke and Taurus. Loke eased a hand to Lucy's face and wiped a tear away.
"We've always heard you, Lucy," Loke said. "Just waited for you to tell us what to do."
"Help Fairy Tail," Lucy said. "Please. They're near the gates and need to get out."
Taurus nodded. Loke studied Lucy's face.
"We can get you out, too. You're sure about this, Lucy?"
"I am."
Loke nodded. "If he does anything to you…"
"I know," Lucy said with a smile. "I know. But don't worry about me right now. Help our family."
"Absolutely."
Loke followed Taurus, who'd leaped away and caught his axe on the side of the building, riding it down with a massive moooo. Loke made sure to adjust his tie before jumping out of the building.
Lucy stopped at her window, watching her spirits run toward Fairy Tail. No, she couldn't join the battle directly.
But she'd be damn sure that Fairy Tail was going to win it with her help.