The standoff between Natsu and Gajeel was about to begin. After being knocked out of the guild by Gajeel's punch, The two gazed at each other with a fierce glint. Natsu, while he had a small wound on his face, wasn't too phased by it. Gajeel walked through the dust made by him striking Natsu out of the Guild, stepping over the rubble with grin on his face.
"That was a good blow, wasn't it?" Gajeel grinned. "I'm pretty tough, aren't I?"
"Hmph. Maybe. But I'll admit, that was a pretty good punch. But don't expect to keep it up." Natsu grinned, clenching his fists. His body began to heat up, a fiery aura forming around him. "I'm not gonna lose to the likes of you. You better bring your all."
"Ha! You're one cocky bastard, aren't ya?" Gajeel grinned, amused by Natsu's attitude. "Alright. Let's see how long you can keep that up."
"Don't disappoint me!" Natsu grinned before rushing in. With his fists blazing, Natsu would run, heading straight for Gajeel.
"You won't catch me off guard!" Gajeel would yell as his entire right arm turned metallic, his skin now being a metallic blue. Gajeel's fist was raised and the two would collide.
"Eat this!" Natsu shouted.
"You first!" Gajeel retorted. The two would exchange a few blows, the sounds of their fists hitting against each other echoing through the town. Gajeel was holding his own against Natsu, their blows having a huge amount of force behind them.
This wasn't enough for Natsu though. The Fire Dragon Slayer would increase the intensity of his punches, the heat around him increasing. However, Gajeel was able to match it, his arms becoming more and more metallic. Natsu noticed the metallic-looking arms forming around Gajeel, curious about it.
"What is that magic of yours anyway?" Natsu questioned, throwing a blazing blow.
"What? You wanna know?" Gajeel cackled, blocking the strike. "Guess you'll have to wait and see. Hah!" Gajeel unleashed an intense blow, sending Natsu flying back. The Fire Dragon Slayer stumbled back, skidding on the ground as he held his arms up.
"Fire Dragon...!" Natsu would stand still for a moment before suddenly taking off in a burst of speed, igniting his legs. "Talon!" With his fists blazing and his legs ablaze, Natsu rushed in, his fist aiming right for Gajeel's face.
However, Gajeel, with a devious grin, suddenly transformed his arm into some sort of blade. He would hold his arm out and block the incoming punch, his arm turning metallic. Natsu's eyes widened when seeing this, noticing how Gajeel's arm had morphed.
"Huh?! What's with that nasty-looking thing?!" Natsu bellowed.
"Heh! The Iron Dragon's Sword! This is my weapon of choice, something I'm sure you haven't seen before." Gajeel revealed the form of his arm. The blade was long and thick, a dark metallic colour. The edges were sharp, giving it a dangerous look.
"Did you say Iron Dragon?!" That name surprised Natsu as he was then pushed off Gajeel's arm.
"That's right. I'm a Dragon Slayer too, idiot." Gajeel grinned, the tip of the sword pointing right at Natsu. The Fire Dragon Slayer would stumble back, the sharp edge of the blade nearly cutting him.
"Iron Dragon Slayer? You're telling me there's more than one kind?!" Natsu exclaimed as he was never aware that other Dragon Slayers could exist. He assumed that he was the only one considering his upbringing.
"To be honest, I'm surprised there's another one out there too." Gajeel snickered. "Didn't think I'd run into another one ever. This makes things way more interesting. Taking on another Dragon Slayer's a perfect way to prove just how tough I am."
"Hm. I guess." Natsu scowled. "I never thought about fighting another Dragon Slayer. But now that I know there are others out there, I'd have to say it's something I've wanted. And you'll do nicely."
"Glad to hear that." Gajeel responded. "Now, let's see if you can measure up to the Iron Dragon!" With a wild cackle, Gajeel leapt into the air, raising his arm and lunging in with his Iron Sword.
Natsu was able to quickly move out the way, avoiding the blade. He was able to move at the last second, barely missing the tip of the sword. The impact of the sword hitting the ground would cause a great deal of damage, the ground shattering from the attack while sending shockwaves, raising rocks into the air.
Gajeel would then rush in, his blade in hand. Natsu was able to recover, seeing him come. The Iron Dragon Slayer was fast, his sword aiming right for him. Natsu was forced to evade the sword, moving back. Gajeel wasn't done, rushing in once again. Gajeel swung wildly, the sword almost slashing at Natsu, who was forced to keep dodging.
Gajeel's strikes were quick, the sword being incredibly long. Each swing had the potential to cut down anyone it hits. Natsu would try and counter, swinging his flaming fists, but Gajeel was not giving him a chance to get in close.
"Come on! Stop dodging, ya coward!" Gajeel snarled. "Too scared ot get hit?!" Gajeel's next hit was a downward slash, sending another shockwave through the ground which Nastu would backflip away from, the flames around him flaring.
"Hah! Is that really the best you can do?! That's a pretty weak fire, ain't it?!" Gajeel jeered, a mocking smile on his face. "Looks like I've found a new punching bag!"
"Hraah!" Natsu would then cause an outburst of flames from his body, his magic power rising. The flames were growing, the fire around him growing bigger. Gajeel was forced to block with his steel blade as the flames would fly forward.
"Haha! There we go! Come on, give it to me!" Gajeel cackled.
"Eat this!" Natsu's fist would erupt in flames, the Fire Dragon Slayer's body glowing in a fiery aura. His fist was aimed right for Gajeel's head, ready to end him. With a loud yell, he rushed in, ready to deal a heavy blow.
Gajeel, who was blocking the flames with his sword, was about to get hit. He was not afraid, not at all. He was prepared to take on whatever Natsu could dish out. With a sinister grin, he would move his head to the side, Natsu's flaming fist just narrowly missing him.
"?!" Natsu's eyes widened when he missed. It was at that moment Gajeel would lunge in, his hand transforming into a massive claw. The claw was aimed right at the Dragon Slayer's face, and when it came, it nearly struk Natsu, but it just missed, forcing him to backflip, kicking Gajeel's arm up.
"Tch!" Gajeel was stunned by Natsu's movements. In response, Natsu would follow up, unleashing a fierce kick, sending a fierce blast of flames at Gajeel, causing him to back away, his arm changing back to normal.
"The way you move...yeah. You're a Dragon Slayer just like me. No doubt." Natsu said, standing tall. "You're strong, I'll give you that."
"And you're not so bad either." Gajeel complimented, grinning. "How come I'm just now hearing about you? Even Metalicana never told me about you."
"Who's Metalicana?" Natsu questioned.
"The Dragon that raised me. Taught me everything I know. Guess it was the same for you."
"Yeah. But I wasn't raised by a Dragon. I got my Magic from the Dragon Igneel who was captured. Alehot and the Void Kingdom raised me." Natsu answered. "But a Dragon raising someone? That's pretty wild. Plus, I didn't think I'd hear about another Dragon. This Metalicana of yours? Is it around?"
"Tch. I wish he was. He took off on me years ago. Haven't heard from him since." Gajeel huffed.
"Hm. That's a bummer. I was gonna totally challenge him afterwards. Then I'd really be a Dragon Slayer. That's for sure something I wanna accomplish one day. Slaying a Dragon. Taking on one will show just how powerful I really am." Natsu boated, grinning as he clenched his hands, igniting them with flames.
"Hah! Yeah right! Metalicana's way out of your league, pal! If you're really a Dragon Slayer, then prove it! Show me your true power! We ain't done yet!" Gajeel demanded, a wide grin on his face.
The two Dragon Slayers stared each other down once more, the wind blowing in both directions. They were far from finished with this fight. They had a lot of energy to burn, and a lot of fight left in them. In a burst of speed, they both dashed at each other, their fists colliding with great force.
Vaddeus had encountered the one known as Juvia Lockser. Standing before him was a beautiful woman who wore a blue dress over her attractive body. Her hair was a deep blue and her eyes were a nice natural blue. The Djinn User and the Water Wizard stared each other down, the rain pouring heavily.
"Oh my." Vaddeus cooed, staring down the woman. "Lucky, lucky me. Another beautiful woman. Am I just lucky today or what? Or is it that you're all just attracted to my presence even from afar?"
"..." Juvia stayed silent, not amused by his words. She simply kept staring at him, her gaze locked onto his.
"Hm? Not interested, huh? Well, maybe that's for the better. It's too bad. A woman like you shouldn't be a part of Phantom Lord based on what I know about them. A guild like that just won't suit a beauty such as yourself. You deserve so much more." Vaddeus commented.
"..." Juvia stayed silent for a moment before turning her head, facing away from Vaddeus as her tone changed a bit. "Just so you know, I'm not interested."
"Ah, really? A shame. Oh well. It's fine. So far, all the beautiful ladies here have been my enemy regardless. You're no different. So I'm going to have to make you step aside. I'm this close to Fairy Tail." Vaddeus replied.
"I can't have you do that." Juvia stoically said. "Even if I am the last of the Element 4, I'll make sure you won't succeed. You will not enter the Fairy Tail Guild. That is my mission."
"Yeah, yeah. Oh, well." Vaddeus shrugged. "At least you're the last one standing in my way of reaching the guild. Once I'm done with you, Fairy Tail's somewhat secret importance will be as good as mine."
"Don't underestimate the power of the Element 4." Juvia said, holding her hands up. Her hands would suddenly turn into liquid, a wave of water forming around her.
"Hm. I hope you already know what I'm capable of just by feeling my presence, just as much as I can feel yours. I have a pretty good idea on what you can do. Still, it's best to not hold back. Especially when taking on a wizard as beautiful as yourself. Don't worry. I'll try not to hurt you too bad."
"Mmm..." Juvia then narrowed her eyes, staying silent for a moment before she startled trembling a bit on the spot while staying perfectly still. "You...Creep me out. Just looking at you, I can tell you're no good."
"Kah!" Vaddeus would jitter a bit before shaking his head. "Rude! I'm wasting time either way. Move aside or-"
"Water Lock!" With her hand out, Juvia would materialize a large circular mass of water around her. In an instant, she had formed a sphere of water, trapping Vaddeus before he could make a move.
"Ugh!" Vaddeus was inside of the bubble, the water surrounding him. His body was now drenched in water, unable to escape. Juvia would stand still, her hand out, holding the Water Lock.
"It's no use. You'll be trapped there until the spell runs out. It'll take a few hours. That's if you can last that long. As soon as this is all over, only then will I let you free. I hope that's fine with you." Juvia explained.
"A few hours? Are you joking?" Vaddeus scoffed, his voice slightly muffled by the water. "I could've done a better job of keeping me still. If you think this'll do something, you're out of your mind."
"It's inescapable. No matter what you do, it won't work. You'll have to wait until the spell is over." Juvia explained, not phased by his words.
"Really?" Vaddeus grinned, his eyes locking onto Juvia's. "Well, let's find out."
"?" Juvia's eyes narrowed.
"Djinn Magic: Radius Force!" In an instant, the water around Vaddeus would suddenly explode, the man jumping out of the Water Lock. He was freed, not at all trapped. The rain would fall on his body, drenching him as he stood, his clothes soaked.
"What?!" Juvia gasped.
"Hmph. As if Water will be enough to stop me. I'm the Djinn User, Vaddeus. There's nothing in this world that can hold me down. Now, it's time for me to make my move, beautiful." He would point at Juvia, taking action immediately. "Djinn Magic: Force Bullet!"
"!" Vaddeus quickly turned around and saw Juvia standing before him. She was not on the ground, but her body was fully transformed into a mass of water while still keeping her original shape.
"You weren't going to get as many hits as you wanted on me so easily. Thanks to my Water Magic, I can turn my entire body into water and do whatever I want." Juvia explained, her body flowing in the shape of a human.
"A form of Liquification Magic, eh? That's actually not bad. Pretty useful against any physical attack. Unfortunately, the magic I use doesn't need Physical Contact. And since your body's made of water, the Radius Force will spread throughout the entirety of your body, hitting you no matter what. So..."
"Djinn Magic: Pressure Orbs!" A series of force spheres formed around Juvia, the orbs circling her. Vaddeus would unleash an onslaught, firing a barrage of orbs right at her.
"?!" The orbs would be fast, Juvia not able to dodge in time.
"Djinn Magic: Force Bullets!" The spheres would turn into a barrage of bullets, heading straight for Juvia. With the pressure orbs and the force bullets, Juvia would be bombarded with a series of powerful strikes.
"G-Guugh!" Juvia's body would take a beating, being hit by the bullets and orbs. She would stumble back, the attack sending her back. It didn't matter that she had a Water Form. Vaddeu's magic could still hit her due to it being forceful.
"I gotcha now, sweetheart!" Vaddeus declared. "Djinn Magic: Force Bombardment!" The orbs would continue to circle her, the bullets firing at her. Vaddeus would then clap his hands together and the orbs would all merge together, the bullets combining into one larger orb.
The orb would grow bigger, getting ready to strike. Juvia was forced to look up, seeing the massive sphere heading her way. She couldn't do anything. Even if she was water, she couldn't dodge the attack. The sphere would then descend, coming straight down.
"Aaah!" With a large impact, the sphere would crash down, sending a massive force throughout the area. A burst of energy would erupt, a wave of energy being sent out.
"Uuugh!" Juvia, despite her body being water, was thrown back, her body taking a big hit. She immediately left her Water Form, unable to sustain it any longer. She was sent flying back, her body bouncing along the ground and sliding.
"And there's the final blow." Vaddeus chuckled, walking towards her. "I'm so glad you didn't waste my time, Juvia. I hate when they make me fight them for a while. At least you were smart and just gave up. If you did, it wouldn't have hurt too much."
"Gh..." Juvia struggled, her body aching from the powerful attacks. She was unable to move at the moment, her body in pain.
"You really didn't deserve this. You're a pretty lady who shouldn't be fighting in this kind of world. Why is someone like you wasting your life with a Guild like Phantom Lord? A guild that does this kind of thing." Vaddeus asked, frowning. "Ah, whatever. Once this is all over, maybe you'll change your mind and see how powerful the Void Kingdom truly is. For now, you'll just have to sleep for a while. I-"
Before he could finish, a fist came crashing in, striking his jaw while his guard was down. Vaddeus stumbled back, his guard down. When looking forward, his eyes widened.
"Y-You?!" He exclaimed, surprised by the sight before him. It was Gray. He had caught up, as Lucy and Cana were right behind him. Juvia looked up in awe at Gray's stunning rescue, laying her eyes on him for the first time.
"Hey. Are you okay?" Gray asked, his gaze meeting hers. Juvia paused for a moment, not giving a response. Instead, her cheeks turned rosy as her heart raced. Her heart pounded, her chest feeling warm. When looking at Gray, she suddenly envisioned an abundance of sparkles as his eyes looked stellar to her.
"What is this feeling!?" She thought to herself. "I've never felt this way about anyone before! Could this be the fabled Love at First Sight?! But...I just met him!"
"H-Hey. Did you hear me?" Gray asked, worried.
"O-Oh! I'm fine! Very much fine! I'm quite alright!" Juvia suddenly said, sitting up, her arms flailing about. "It's nice to meet you! My name is Juvia! Juvia Lockser, and I'm a Wizard from the Element 4! That's me!
"Uh, right. Okay." Gray was confused, wondering why she was acting a bit strange. But he didn't mind, turning his attention to Vaddeus.
"So, you survived. The three of you." Vaddeus held his jaw for a while before shaking it off. "I guess I shouldn't have left you three for dead back there. That was a mistake on my part."
"Are you alright?! Did he touch you or anything?!" Knowing what kind of person Vaddeus was from the previous interaction, Lucy went up to Juvia and asked her this.
"No. Not at all." Juvia answered with a smaller tone compared to how she spoke to Gray.
"I-I see. That's good. I'm glad." Lucy sighed in relief, her gaze locking onto Vaddeus.
"This guy's a perv. He tried to force himself on me minutes ago." Cana explained while scowling.
"What the..." Gray looked onwards in the distance, managing to spot Fairy Tail and the damage that was already done to it at the entrance. He was not too far away from the Guild. He could see it clearly.
"That's right. Your little guild's getting trashed at the moment. Either by that Fire Brain of the Lovely Erza." Vaddeus chuckled. "And I'm this close to entering it and seeing what makes it so special and important in Master Alehot's Eyes. I can't wait to see just what he wants with it."
"Heh. If you're thinking about entering, you've got another thing coming. You won't even get near the Guild, much less enter." Gray replied, stepping forward. "This is where you're stopping, got it? I'll make sure of it. After I'm done with you, I'm going to save Erza and snap her out of it. You better hope your Djinn Magic's enough to keep up with me!
"Gray, are you sure? He's pretty dangerous." Lucy warned him. "And you're still hurt from before."
"He's tough, but not unstoppable. I can beat him. Trust me. I'm going to get Erza back and stop this. And when I'm done, we'll make sure this never happens again. Fairy Tail's gonna give these guys hell for what they've done."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Vaddeus shrugged it off before raising one finger, a glint of magic appearing. A force of magic surrounded Vaddeus as he was once again planning to summon a Djinn. "Djinn Summoning Art! Come forth, Amara the Force Djinn! Come and Serve me!"
In an instant, the summoning spell was complete as the Djinn appeared before Vaddeus. Amara had returned, the Djinn User once again using her. She wold twirl in the air upon arriving, gleeful that her master would summon her once more.
"Her again..." Lucy said to herself upon seeing Amara once more. Juvia would then move back, standing near Gray as they all stared down this tall entity from another realm.
"Ah, for a second time you've summoned me, Master. This is truly wonderful." Amara commented, her voice a soft and sultry tone. But her tone quickly shifted once she saw who was present here. Seeing Gray, Lucy and Cana made her tone sour a bit. "Ah. These three. I thought they died back there. Especially that Celestial Spirit Bimbo."
"Hey!" Lucy barked at Amara's dismissive insult. Clearly, she insulted her the most due to Aquarius. Djinn and Celestial Spirits apparently don't have the best relationship.
"Don't worry. This'll be the last time you see their faces, my sweet Amara." Vaddeus smirked. "Well, the last time you'll see that man's face. The three girls will be added to my collection of beauties after this."
"Why you...!" Right as Gray clenched his teeth and hands, he felt Juvia hold onto his, suddenly getting closer to him.
"Um...May I fight alongside you? Please?" Juvia suddenly requested, her hand holding his. Gray would look down at her, her cheeks flushed and a smile on her face. He wasn't sure how to respond, as it was a sudden request, but he nodded, not wanting to reject her.
"Sure. That'd be great. Having someone else here would be great. If it's four of us, we could win this, I bet." Gray was more focused on winning this. He didn't care much for Juvia's actions at all.
All four of them stood tall, ready to take on Vaddeus and his Djinn. While each of them took damage in their own right, they would still try and take Vaddeus down. Vaddeus, who had barely taken any damage, shrugged it off before shifting his eyes towards the Fairy Tail Guild.
"Looks like I can't keep you guys waiting anymore. Now, to put an end to all of this." Vaddeus chuckled before turning his head, looking towards his Djinn. "Amara, let's go. We're going to wipe these Fairies off the face of the planet."
"Right. I shall do what you desire, Master." Amara bowed, her hands holding together. She was already building up some force, gathering her magic into one spot. Gray would take the opportunity to do the same, preparing an ice make.
"Ice Make: Lance!" Gray shouted, his hands forming the shape of a spear. This would cause multiple lances of ice to form around him, the icy weapons all aimed towards the Djinn. He made the first move, sending his lances forward, only for Amara to use a simple motion to make the ice shatter in the air.
"I can't let you do that, Ice Wizard." Amara said before holding her hands out, her eyes narrowing. "Force Pulse!" She would unleash a powerful blast of force, sending a large amount of energy at Gray. Gray's eyes widened the closer it got before he instinctively formed an Ice Shield.
"Uuugh!" With a loud explosion, Gray was blown back, the force from the pulse strong enough to send him tumbling across the ground. The impact was intense, causing Gray's Ice Shield to shatter as he flew back. The girls all put their arms up, yelling from the sheer pressure. Gray managed to protect them all from being blown back except for himself.
"G-Gray!" Lucy cried out.
"I-I'm fine!" Gray would recover, managing to stand back up. He would stand up, his legs shaking a bit. But he still managed to keep his composure. He was not out of this fight yet.
"Open!" Lucy then turned her attention to Vaddeus and Amara, taking out one of her Keys. "Gate of the Great Crab! Cancer!" With her Key held high, Cancer would appear in a flash of light, the Crab Spirit standing next to Lucy.
"You rang, baby?" He asked. Cancer had a rather smooth appearance to him, rocking glasses and a crab-claw hairstyle with six crab legs protruding from his back. He wielded a pair of scissors, snipping them upon emerging.
"This is my first time summoning you, Cancer. Please, help us out!" Lucy asked. "Beat those two as soon as possible!"
"Hm." Cancer's glasses would glint as he eyed down Vaddeus and Amara. Specifically, their hairstyles. Amara gave Cancer a certain look since he was another Celestia Spirit, her expression changing a bit.
"I'll do what I can, baby." He responded before suddenly dashing, becoming a blur for a brief moment. Vaddeus readied himself, already sensing that Cancer had some speed to him. Amara did the same, her force building up.
Right as Cancer approached, Vaddeus just barely managed to block his scissors from cutting his hair, his hand stopping the sharp blades from doing so. But the impact surprised Vaddeus a bit, his eyes wide as he was taken back a bit. Cancer would then move back, noticing Amara going for a swipe with her own arm.
"Water Lock!" With a wave of her hand, Juvia would attempt to use her Water Magic to lock down the Djinn. However, the Water Lock would be stopped by a single gesture from the Djinn.
"Pressure Wall." Amara would say, her hand raised. A barrier would form, blocking the lock. Amara was not phased at all, not letting it bother her. Juvia would try and follow up, going for something else.
"Water Slicer!" With her fingers forming a claw, she would unleash a series of sharp slashes of water. The water passed by Vaddeus, going straight for Amara. Amara would use her other hand to block the Water Slicer, not even trying to dodge. The slashes would be stopped in their tracks, being repelled.
"Useless! As the Force Djinn, I can repel just about anything! You're wasting your time if you think these attacks will hit me!" Amara exclaimed before spotting Gray approaching her and Vaddeus, his fist ready.
"Ice Make: Hammer!" In an instant, a massive hammer would form around Gray's hand, the weapon glowing with an icy aura. He would rush forward and aim the hammer straight for the Djinn, ready to strike her.
"You really think that'll work? Force-" But before Vaddeus could finish, intercepting him was Cana as she took action next.
"Random Throwing!" The Card Mage shouted, having a series of cards in hand. She would throw a few towards the Djinn and Vaddeus, her eyes narrowed. Vaddeus, seeing the cards, would block them, his arms crossed. The cards would collide against his arms, not causing much damage. This allowed Gray to swing his hammer freely, aiming straight for Vaddeus.
The hammer met with Vaddeus's crossed arms, the blow causing the man to skid back a bit. He would hold his ground, managing to resist the attack. But before he could do anything else, Cancer would dash in, swinging his scissors.
Vaddeus was forced to sway his head back, dodging the attack. As he did this, Cancer would use the same moment to move behind him. Vaddeus had no idea that the Spirit would be there. With the Djinn User now distracted, Cana would step in, throwing her cards towards him.
"Card Magic: Explosive Rush!" Cana shouted. A few cards would be sent flying towards Vaddeus and in an instant, a small explosion would occur, sending him back a bit. Gray would swing his hammer, hitting him in the chest. The impact was enough to send him flying back a few feet.
"Tch!" Vaddeus scowled, his body sliding along the ground. When he stopped, his gaze locked onto those around him. All of them would be standing before him, not backing down. He was being overrun by these wizards who relied on their numbers.
"Ugh. You all really are troublesome. You sure are taking advantage of these numbers, honestly." Vaddeus scowled, his fist clenching. His eyes were burning with rage as he was getting irritated by the fight. All he wanted to do was reach Fairy Tail but he keeps being held back. Amara would step forward, her large size as a Djinn causing a bit of a tremor each time she moved.
She raised her arm, preparing to slam it down on Gray with intense force. Gray looked up with wide eyes, seeing the force coming down on him as he would leap back, just barely avoiding the attack. The impact was enough to send a shockwave through the ground, making it crumble a bit.
"Have this! Force Convergence!" By putting both his hands together, Vaddeus began to manipulate the forces of gravity and inertia, causing objects to be drawn together with irresistible force. In this case, he began to rip bricks from buildings themselves, launching them at his opponents.
"?!" The wizards were surprised as Lucy immediately started screeching, frantically moving her body as a barrage of bricks came flying in. Cana was forced to run, finding a place to hide while Lucy tried to find cover. Gray growled, putting his arms up and blocking some of the bricks.
Juvia would manage to find cover, hiding behind a wall. Gray would stay in the thick of it before rushing forward while keeping his arms up. He would be forced to take a beating as the bricks continued to crash into his arms, causing him to cry out in pain. But he kept on, not giving up.
"Grraah!" Gray would rush towards Vaddeus and the Djinn, not slowing down. "Ice Make: Shield!" In an instant, a huge shield would appear around him, covering him entirely. Using this to his advantage, he would charge right towards the Djinn, ignoring Vaddeus for the moment.
"?!" Amara's eyes widened when she saw Gray come right towards her, using his shield. She raised her arms, preparing to launch him and his shield away. That is until Cana, who peered out from the wall, decided to capitalize on this. She threw a card forward, aiming for the Djinn.
"Card Magic: Thunder Bomb!" The card would fly towards the Djinn, Amara being unaware. Once it got close enough, it would suddenly explode in a burst of lightning.
"Kyaaa!" The shock was enough to stun the Djinn, Amara being unable to focus at the moment. Gray, with a large shield, would slam into her, the impact being enough to send the Djinn flying back. Gray's shield would shatter, pushing Amara further back. She was even paralyzed a bit thanks to the lightning.
"Gotcha!" Gray exclaimed as that was the most successful hit done on Amara so far. He would turn his attention to Vaddeus who ran right at him, his fists covered in Force Magic. "!"
"That's the only lucky hit you'll get! Force Eruption!" Vaddeus would yell as he swung his fists, the attacks coming fast and furious. Gray would try and block, his arms up. Each hit was heavy, Gray feeling the blows. Gray's arms were bruised a bit as the Force Mage wouldn't stop, attacking him nonstop. Each hit also sent a shockwave across the ground, cracking it a bit.
"I won't let you!" Juvia would intervene, using her Water Lock once more. A large sphere of water would appear and engulf the Djinn, trapping him. With the Water Lock, he was unable to do much.
"This again...?!" Vaddeus scoffed, not finding this too troubling. However, now it would be as it finally left him wide open for Gray's attacks. Gray would punch straight through the Water Lock with sheer brute force. A direct hit to the face, landing the heaviest hit so far.
"Grraah!" Gray yelled, punching Vaddeus as hard as he could. The Water Lock would break as the force of the hit sent the Djinn user sliding back. "Now's my chance!" Gray wasn't about to let up as he rushed in, delivering a barrage of punches to Vaddeus's exposed face.
Thanks to the opening Juvia gave him, Gray was free to land an onslaught of attacks, his fist blazing. He wouldn't let up, not for a moment. He had to give it his all and not waste this opportunity. With each punch, he was able to make contact, hitting Vaddeus in the face repeatedly. And Vaddeus was actually feeling the damage now that Gray finally got his hands on him.
"G-Grah...U-Urgh!" Vaddeus struggled a bit, not liking how Gray was able to beat him like this. But he had to do something. He wouldn't go down this easy. He'd raise his arms and push Gray off, the ice mage stumbling back.
"You won't take me out so easily, Fairy!" Vaddeus snarled, charging up Force Magic while forming a fist. Gray saw the punch coming and immediately grabbed his arm, swaying his body to the side and causing Vaddeus's blow to miss, the shockwave moving across the ground. Vaddeus was wide open once more as he would receive a powerful headbutt from Gray.
"K-Uagh...?!" The Djinn User would stumble back, the attack dazing him. But that wasn't all. Gray was still in the fight, not about to stop.
"Ice Make: Hammer!" Forming the hammer once more, Gray would hold it as hard as he could, swinging it right at Vaddeus's chest. The hammer would collide with the Djinn User's body, launching him back and sending him crashing into a building, breaking it a bit.
"Master!" Amara, who was now getting up, would gasp at the sight. She was stunned, seeing her master hit like this. It was rare that she'd ever see him this hurt. And to have it happen to him twice, she was a little annoyed.
"You...!" Vaddeus groaned while plastered against the building. He wasn't out yet, but his irritation was showing.
"Not so tough when someone finally gets their hands on you, huh" Gray smirked while pointing at Vaddeus. "Like I said. You're not unbeatable."
"You damn Fairy..." Vaddeus hissed as he gripped onto the walls of the building he was up against, generating force magic once more. "Djinn Magic: Force Pulse!" Vaddeus would then fire off the pulse right on the building he was plastered against.
"?!" Gray and the others watched as the entire building was blasted, the wall Vaddeus was near breaking apart. This caused the rest of the building to start crumbling. The structure was breaking apart as it was being torn down by the powerful shockwave.
Vaddeus would then move his hands forward, sending all the crumbling parts of the building at Gray. "Force Crash!" The rubble would all be pushed forward, forcing Gray to back away. The rubble would be sent towards the group, the rocks flying through the air. They all ran, avoiding the incoming rocks.
They managed to get away as this building kept coming down, the debris falling to the ground. The building came crashing down, levelling a good chunk of this area. Gray and the others would stand back, a cloud of dust rising into the air. Vaddeus took a deep breath, catching his composure while Lucy and Cana hid behind a nearby wall.
"H-He's really strong." Lucy said. "He's not slowing down."
"I know." Cana replied before noticing something vital. "But look. Check out his Djinn." She pointed out how Amara was starting to fade a small bit, a sign that her time here was about to run out.
"Yeah. Amara's about to disappear. Looks like her time's running out." Lucy noted. "If he's a lot like me, then he can't keep her out forever. That's a great sign!"
"Yeah, but that's only if we can keep up long enough." Cana pointed out. "If he can keep up like this, I don't know how long we'll last."
"I'm wasting good magic here..." Vaddeus looked at his hand while holding his face. "I guess I really haven't battled all that often...These three are starting to force more out of me. Still, it's nothing that'll bring me down."
"Ngh..." As for Gray, he got on one knee, his limits beginning to show. He was starting to feel a little sluggish now. His injuries were not doing him any favors.
"Heh. Looks like your magic's running a little low. Or maybe that hit you took earlier was a lot more painful than you thought." Vaddeus commented.
"I can...still keep going." Gray panted, getting back up. He wouldn't show any weakness to the likes of him. He wouldn't let his guard down.
"That's a nice attitude you've got there. Too bad you're gonna be the first one to die. I'd rather make you the last, honestly." Vaddeus snickered, ready to continue. Both he and Amara had their hands out, building up some Force Magic. Gray growled once he saw the build-up while Cancer would start fizzling away. His time was already up.
"That's it for me. Did what I can." Cancer said, turning his gaze to the others before becoming particles of light, returning to where he came from. "It's all up to you now, baby."
"I can't do anything else." Lucy said, feeling a little powerless. She couldn't summon another spirit for a while. She'd have to wait. But at this rate, waiting wasn't enough.
"Water Slicer!" Attempting to strike Vaddeus while he was building up magic, Juvia would send out her water slashes. Vaddeus was caught off guard, the attacks hitting him as he stumbled back.
"Kgh?!" The impact was enough to distract him, his magic not finishing. Juvia was not finished, following up with something else. "Water Lock!" A large orb of water would appear over Vaddeus's head and fall on top of him, trapping him. Amara would quickly remove it by unleashing a force wave.
"Thanks for the save!" Gray thanked Juvia before rushing off to gain some distance. Hearing the compliment made Juvia smile, her heart racing a bit.
"Y-You're welcome!" Juvia said, her eyes locked on Gray. Vaddeus then noticed how Amara was fading away more and more.
"Amara. Return." Vaddeus commanded, ready to return her to her realm.
"Right, Master. It's been a pleasure." Amara replied before turning to the group. She stared at them for a while, narrowing her eyes. "You'll all pay for this dearly. Master Vaddeus will see to it." She said with a threatening tone. With that, her body turned into particles of light, returning to where she came from.
Vaddeus would clench his teeth, having used a lot of his magic for the sake of his Djinn. But he didn't have time to worry about that. He'd need to end this before he suddenly gets put on the back foot. "Big whoop. So you're using your number advantage against me. Only because you're joined by the Water Woman. But even so...I don't think you all can defeat me. Look at you. You're running low on steam."
"..." Gray said nothing. Vaddeus had a point. All of them were getting tired, feeling the effects of using their magic. They were taking damage from their previous encounters. It was only a matter of time before they all fell.
"I won't stop until I get to Fairy Tail. I'll do whatever it takes. No matter who stands in my way. I need to know why Master Alehot finds it so important." Vaddeus declared. Having enough of them, he would bank it all on his next attack. "This time, I'll make sure you're done for, so that you won't come a threat later on.
He would place his hand on the ground, the surface crackling as he did. Then, he begin charging up a huge amount of Force Magic, planning to make this one the biggest so far.
"...!" Everyone, including Gray, would tense up, knowing that Vaddeus was up to something big. The shaking of the ground was an indication of that. And Vaddeus wouldn't disappoint.
"Djinn Inheritance: Force Pulse!" Vaddeus would unleash a massive blast of force magic, aimed directly at Gray. Cana quickly pulled Gray away, grabbing his arm the second the attack was called out.
The attack went off, sending a strong burst of force across the area. It would cause a shockwave, destroying everything in its path. But there was no stopping it now. The shockwaves travelled faster than the eye could follow, sending out destruction that was felt even miles away.
Gray just barely managed to dodge the attack, Cana pulling him out of harm's way. The blast had left a large crater in the ground, collapsing buildings around it. All the buildings nearby would fall down, making this district just one big mess. In other words, an area that was once a very important part of the city was now completely demolished. Even the surrounding roads were destroyed, leaving the roadways completely blocked.
Vaddeus would breathe heavily, having made a huge impact. The sheer power of his attack was overwhelming, causing the whole area to shake. There was a massive explosion of dust, smoke and debris. But despite all that, there was a hole in the middle of it all, the only thing standing tall.
Vaddeus knew that he had wasted far too much magic now. He couldn't afford to pull something like that off again. He checked his surroundings, looking for a sign of Gray and the other three. However, once again, they stayed hidden from his sight.
"I know you're all still alive. Show yourselves! I'm not letting any of you escape!" Vaddeus roared out loud. He'd lost track of them. But he wasn't about to give up. Not when he was so close to completing his goal. He had to make sure they wouldn't get in his way. "Sneaky punks...You're waiting for me to go so you can catch me off guard later, aren't you?"
But they stayed silent. The group managed to avoid and ended up hiding behind the many rubble caused by this attack. Gray laid his back on the rubble, holding his arm as he was rather weak at the moment. He was in pain as some of the rubble reached him, harming his arm as he held it.
Lucy held onto Gray's arm while staying silent, making sure not to grab Vaddeus's attention. All of them did. They were on a thin line between life and death right now. If Vaddeus came to find them now, they could potentially all be taken out easily.
"Damn it...You're actually getting on my nerves here! Forget this!" Vaddeus had enough. He couldn't afford to stick around here. Not when he was this close. He would turn around, continuing on his way. This time running straight towards Fairy Tail.
Once he was gone, Gray would groan in pain as he slowly got back up. He still had some strength left in him, but not enough to walk properly yet. "That's it for me...I don't think I can continue from here."
"Neither can I. I'm getting tired here." Cana said, holding her side. Both of them were struggling to do much. The same went for Lucy, who didn't have as much as magic as all of them. Juvia still had a lot of magic left, but she had taken some damage that left her weakened.
Gray would punch the ground out of frustration, wishing he could do more right now. He hated to admit it, but right now, none of them had the energy to fight anymore. Their bodies were being pushed to their limits. The fact that they managed to hide from Vaddeus's sight was purely luck.
"Damn it! Erza...I'm sorry..." Gray would mutter under his breath.
Meanwhile, Jose had returned to his guild Phantom Lord, already resorting to his ace in the hole. Seeing how things were going and how 3 of the Element 4 had lost, there was one thing left that he aimed to utilize in order to obtain victory. "This will finish them off in no time. I'll use the Jupiter Cannon!"
Within the guild of Phantom Lord itself, there exists room that contained something. A large Lacrima which was connected to by many cables, which in turn, are connected to the floor and ceiling of its station. They all began building up magical energy as the weapon in question that they were powering up was a massive cannon.
The building of the Phantom Lord Guild would open up from the middle as a massive cannon emerged. It was a large, round wooden structure held together by many metal rods and bolts with an incredibly long barrel. Inside the building, the Lacrmia would keep charging up as the magical energy would crackle.
Compressed energy was beginning to show from it as the cannon was aimed directly at the Fairy Tail Guild. One simple swing from this would be enough to destroy the entire guild. There was no way they could survive such an attack.
"I'll take out two birds with one stone with this. I'll use the Jupiter Cannon to knock out Fairy Tail and those Void Kingdom wizards" Jose said, smiling as the cannon kept building up.
Over at the Fairy Tail Guild, Erza stood before the others with a serious expression, holding her blade out towards all of them. The guild members were still shocked to see that Erza had actually become a Void Kingdom Wizard.
"Erza..." Mirajane said, having a hard time believing that Erza was now a member of the Void kingdom.
"Surrender now. Master Natsu does not wish death upon you all." Erza ordered them all with a strong voice, not even recognizing them all as her friends. Her eyes were cold as she looked upon each of them, giving off a sense of intimidation.
"Erza, enough of this!" Makarov yelled out from beside Erza, trying to convince her to stop. "Can't you recognize us for even a moment?!"
But she gave no response to anyone, seeing them all as her enemies only. Her face was that of a different person, devoid of emotions, only capable of showing anger. "Erza! Listen to me!" Mirajane tried to reason with her, but Erza would have none of it. The girl simply continued looking at everyone in the guild with a cold glare.
"Master Natsu wants you all alive. Do not make me repeat myself." Erza said, her voice cold and emotionless.
"How could you forget about us, Erza? Is that Golden Tear Orb really blocking everything from you?" Makarov asked as he approached Erza, already aware of what this could be. He knew for a fact that the Golden Tear Orb had to be behind this since Erza went on a mission to try and stop it from ending up in the hands of the Void Kingdom.
But Erza didn't believe she was being controlled by the orb. She had no memory of it being used on her at all. However, there was this one part in her mind that kept her original memories. It was minuscule, but present nonetheless. Erza shook her head as that one memory tried coming through, but was ultimately overlayed by the Golden Tear Orb's magic.
Afterwards, Erza readied herself, preparing to attack them. Seeing how she wouldn't stop, Makarov knew that conflict was inevitable. "If you're not going to stop, then we will stop you." Makarov said as he clenched his fist.
"Don't do this, Master! We'll handle her!" One Fairy Tail Wizard told him. "We can try knocking some sense into her! I hear if you hit someone hard enough, it'll erase the mind control!"
"You won't succeed." Erza told him, not falling for the bluff. "I'm not being controlled. And I won't let you stand in the way of Master Natsu. Prepare yourself!" She suddenly took off, dashing at them. Using her new armor, she moved fast and struck one of the mages.
"Kyaaah!" The mage would cry out as she was sent flying, crashing into a wall. This shocked everyone, the sight of their friend doing this was jarring. The slash of her blade left behind a trail of dark purple energy as her eyes were cold and lifeless.
"Wait, Erza!" Another wizard went up to her, trying to reason with her. "Listen to us, we-"
"Hm!" Erza wouldn't even let him speak as she cut him down. He went flying back, groaning as a burst of magic struck him. The others could only watch in shock as their friend attacked them relentlessly. Just as Erza went to swing her sword at Mirajane and Levy, who were the closest, catching her blade was Makarov, who used his massive hand to block it.
"M-Master!" Mirajane and Levy cried out. Makarov would grunt, the blade piercing his skin a bit. Despite the size difference, Erza's attack was able to push him back, causing him to skid his feet along the ground.
"Stop this, Erza. Now!" Makarov demanded, his voice booming. "Enough!"
"..." Erza said nothing, her gaze locked onto the tiny Master. He would hold his ground, his massive hand holding her sword in place. Makarov then grew in size all of a sudden, his hand pushing her back and forcing her to stumble back.
"I won't have you attack my guild like this. Enough of this foolishness, Erza." Makarov told her, his expression serious. "It seems that I may have to knock some sense into you."
"Perish!" Erza bellowed before raising her blade, using the Lost Magic once more. "Devoid Way! Hollow Slash!" She slashed the air, her sword slicing through space. A large dark slash would appear, cutting through the walls and floor, destroying it. The damage spread throughout the entire room, even affecting the walls.
"Hm!" Makarov would glare his eyes, immediately countering this with a powerful barrier. A magic shield formed around him, stopping the attack. The void slash would be reflected, the impact damaging the room around it.
"Tch. This is nothing." Erza scowled, not impressed by this. With the speed of her blade, she could land more than just one blow. But as she was about to slash her blade, Makarov would cast a spell of his own. It was a spiralling sphere of light.
Makarov would fire a massive ball of light magic. Erza's eyes widened when seeing it coming. The blast of magic would explode upon colliding with the girl, the impact enough to send her flying back. She went crashing into the wall, breaking the surface a bit.
"Grah...Ngh..." Erza groaned as she was now stuck in the wall, her body feeling the effects of the explosion. She'd never expected Makarov to attack her like this, his power greater than she expected. But she should expect this since the real Erza would know about Makarov's amazing power. However, under the Void Kingdom's control, she didn't have a clue.
But due to that staggering hit she took, that memory within her mind was now able to surface, finally able to show itself for a brief moment. Her mind flashed, a small fragment of her memories harming her. However, just like before, the magic from the orb would overlay it, the memory quickly fading away.
She would then use another ability from this unique armor. "Void Armament: Forceful Reversal." In an instant, a black force would surround her, making her whole body glow. She would then fly forward, the black force being the cause of her speed. Makarov saw this and put his arm up, bracing for impact.
Erza would smash into him, her body hitting his arm. The moment it hit, the black force would spread across Makarov's entire body. The old man's eyes widened, surprised by the effect this magic was having on him. It would also move across the guild, causing all the wizards present to feel it.
"M-Master...!" Levy, who was hit, would cry out, feeling a massive strain on her body. It felt like her whole body was being crushed and forced into a very tight spot. Mirajane felt the same, gritting her teeth while holding her body.
"T-This is...?!" Makarov growled, not liking the magic. The force was spreading throughout the entire guild. Even Erza felt the pain, but she wouldn't let it affect her. She was willing to take the strain in order to complete her task. Quickly, Makarov countered by using some Wind Magic, the force dissipating a bit.
A whirlwind would form and the force would be dispelled, the magic spreading across the entire area. Erza was carried through the air, the wind tossing her back. She would fly across the room, eventually crashing into a wall before flying through it too, ending up outside. Erza stabbed her blade into the ground to recover, her hand shaking a bit.
"Nothing is reaching her..." Mirajane said, her voice shaking. "Is the Golden Tear Orb really controlling her so strongly?"
"Why you...!"Erza snarled at Makarov before turning her attention to the guild, aiming her blade, ready to unleash another attack. And Makarov was more than ready. However, in the distance, they would all hear something. The sound of something charging up.
"Hm...?" Makarov turned his head, trying to locate the source of the noise, his attention gazing at the Jupiter Cannon in the distance. It was so massive that it could be seen from here. Makarov's eyes widened the second he saw the cannon. "The Jupiter Cannon!" He was already aware of this cannon's existence and the fact that he saw it aimed in this direction was shocking.
"What in the...?" Even Erza was stunned by this as she knew exactly what was coming next. Everyone did based on what they were seeing. The cannon was going to fire in their general direction.
"That fool Jose...He's going to use that?!" Makarov cried out. He knew about Jose and Phantom Lord's weapon, a cannon so powerful that it could wipe out entire areas with one shot. He had heard rumors that it could even destroy the entire city if needed. But it's never been used before. Until now.
Makarov was stunned to see that not only would Jose try and take out the Void Kingdom Wizards and Fairy Tail at the same time, but that he would endanger his own Guildmates as some of them were still knocked out in the Fairy Tail Guild. All he wanted was Fairy Tail and the Void Kingdom Wizards out of the picture.
Suddenly, stepping into the guild at last was none other than Vaddeus. The Djinn User had made his way over, standing in the ruined remains of the entrance. "Finally." Vaddeus chuckled with a maniacal tone. "I made it. Fairy Tail!" He shouted, his voice booming. He looked a bit mad, but that was thanks to the damage he took earlier and how Gray and the others were getting on his nerves.
"Now, I can finally see what the big deal is. What's up with this guild that Master Alehot sees in it?" Vaddeus questioned, taking in the sight of the Fairy Tail Guild.
"No time for another Void Kingdom Wizard. Not when the Jupiter Cannon is about to be fired." Makarov uttered. Vaddeus heard the name, his ears twitching. He turned his attention towards the large cannon, seeing how it was charging up from afar. He finally made it to Fairy Tail, only to see it being targeted by this cannon. And now, he was a potential target for it.
Back with Natsu and Gajeel, their battle raged on. The two of them butted heads, clashing. Natsu would have the upper hand in terms of strength, but Gajeel had a strong defense and a powerful will. Neither of them were backing down as their fight had taken them all across the city.
"This guy won't quit!" Natsu exclaimed, finding Gajeel hard to take down.
"That goes for me too!" Gajeel barked back. With each hit they gave each other, the impact would cause a small burst, damaging everything around them. "Iron Dragon's Lance!" Gajeel transformed both of his arms into long, lengthy iron poles which he used to whip in a circular motion, the tips moving like a drill.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu's fists would be enveloped in a fiery aura as he clashed with the Iron poles. Sparks flew from the impact. Both of their powers were great, causing them to both slide back a bit. The ground around them began to crack a bit, the sheer pressure affecting the area.
Gajeel wouldn't let up, turning his arm into a large spearhead, from which a large number of steel spears are fired towards his target in rapid succession. "Demon Logs!" He shouted.
"Grragh...!" Natsu would growl as the spears impacted him. He would get hit several times, the spears sticking him. But Natsu was quick to burn them up, turning the spears into a puddle. The flames surrounding him would also destroy the other spears, not giving him too much trouble. After dealing with them, Natsu would raise his arms, the flames rising.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Slash!" He would swipe his arm forward, sending a wave of fire straight at Gajeel. The wave would cover the area, causing it to set ablaze in seconds.
"!" Gajeel, with his reflexes, managed to dodge the attack. The wave would end up hitting a building, setting it ablaze. The two looked at each other for a moment, taking deep breaths. Their fight had not been easy.
"You're pretty strong, Fire Head. You're not bad at all." Gajeel complemented Natsu.
"Right back at you, Metal Breath."
"But...it looks like you're lacking some stuff. Stuff like this." Gajeel was quick to show off more to Natsu. Specifically, something that Natsu apparently didn't possess. All of sudden, Gajeel covered the entirety of his body in steel scales, becoming completely encased in iron. His arms and legs were coated as well.
"What the heck is that?" Natsu asked, confused.
"It's my Iron Dragon's Scales. This is the secret power that the Iron Dragon possesses. Something that'll take your breath away." Gajeel told him. He was fully armored in iron, looking menacing. "Think you can do this too?"
"Hmph. Don't look down on me, Metal Head." Natsu replied, smirking. "I'll just beat you down with this!" He stomped on the floor before suddenly building up all of his fire into his breath. He would begin sucking in a lot of air, creating a vacuum. His lungs were inflated, his chest expanding.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Once he had built up enough fire, Natsu would let out a powerful roar, the flames erupting from his mouth. A massive stream of flames would appear, rushing towards Gajeel, the force causing it to destroy the ground and the parts of the buildings that stood in its way.
That is until Gajeel would do the same. "Iron Dragon's Roar!" From his mouth would emerge a large beam of iron. The metal would be sharp and jagged, moving like a torrential wave. It would smash into the stream of fire, clashing against the flames. The two attacks would cancel each other out, the flames being smothered and the metal melting.
"?!" Natsu's eyes widened, his flames being snuffed out. "He's got a roar too?! And it snuffed my flames out?!"
"Hmph. That's all you can do, huh?" Gajeel said, a smug expression on his face. "You should just give up now. You don't have a chance."
"Like hell! I can still pummel you!" Natsu would rush in with his fist balled, igniting them with a fiery aura. "I'll still keep beating you down!" With a fearsome shout, Natsu would smash his fist against Gajeel's body, only for Gajeel to stand there and take it.
"..." Natsu's fist collided with the Iron scales, a loud smashing noise echoing. He did this over and over, striking the armor. Each time he struck the armor, the metal would dent a bit, a sign that the Iron Scales was starting to crack. However, they wouldn't break, not yet.
"What's the matter, Fire Breath? Can't break it?" Gajeel asked with a smirk, mocking him. He then cackled, suddenly turning his leg into a club. He raised his leg, striking it against Natsu's chest. The strike was enough to send the boy back, his body being thrown back.
Gajeel didn't stop there. He kept the club on Natsu's chest, extending it as he was dragging him across the ground, the metal moving and wrapping around Natsu. It would then extend forward, launching Natsu across the area.
"Whoaahhh!" Natsu yelled, the momentum sending him flying.
"And now for the finishing blow." Gajeel yelled before leaping into the air, his breath being held once more. He appeared above Natsu, preparing a final attack. He would exhale and the next thing that happened was a giant beam of iron being sent Natsu's way.
Natsu was sent flying across the area, his body tumbling as he was caught by the blast. It smashed into him, sending him through multiple walls, damaging the city around him. The beam would carry him, the fire mage unable to react.
Eventually, the attack would end, leaving Natsu on the ground. His body was battered and bruised, his body twitching a bit. Gajeel, having landed, would walk towards him, looking down at his fellow Dragon Slayer.
"Not bad, Fire Breath. You were stronger than I thought." Gajeel commented, looking down at the battered boy. "But the Iron Dragon's Scales can't be beaten so easily. Not without something really strong."
"You haven't won yet...! I can still get back up!" Natsu coughed a bit, spitting out some blood. Despite the damage, he wasn't finished. Not yet. He was still capable of fighting. He had to keep going. Gajeel scoffed at this, briging his fist down for another blow, only for Natsu to sway his head out of the way.
After evading it, Natsu would palm Gajeel's face, shouting at the top of his lungs. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" He screamed, the flames erupting from his hand. Gajeel went flying back, sliding and skidding across the ground.
"I ain't done yet...!" Natsu grunted, slowly getting back up with a fearsome grin. "I'm not going down so easily...! Not against a punk like you...!"
"Damn you..." Gajeel cursed, wiping his mouth. His nose was bleeding, the strike having dealt him a lot of damage. More than he thought. But while getting up, he would suddenly grab a piece of metal that was laying on the ground due to all the damage caused in this battle. And to Natsu's shock, Gajeel could do something that he could also do.
Much like him, Gajeel could also eat his specific element. Like the Fire Dragon Slayer, Gajeel was able to eat the iron effortlessly, feeling no pain. The metal would go into his mouth and into his body, granting him some more power in the process.
"W-What?! You can eat your element too?!" Natsu gasped, stunned to see that he wasn't the only one capable of such a feat. Gajeel was also capable of doing it, and was just as quick as he was "Man, I feel like my speciality's being taken away from me with a guy like you around!" He growled, aggressively pointing at Gajeel.
"Feh. Deal with it." Gajeel scoffed while eating more iron. Refilled, Gajeel would stand up tall, ready to continue. Natsu looekd around, searching for anything to fuel himself. All he needed was some fire. And thanks to all the destruction caused here, some places had been set on fire from other battles. But unlike the iron for Gajeel, the fire wa a bit distant.
Just then, as they were about to continue, the sound of the Jupiter Cannon charging up finally reached their ears.
"Hm?!" Both wizards were surprised, their attention going to the massive cannon in the distance as it was reaching its apex.
"Huh. So the Jupiter Cannon is finally being used, huh?" Gajeel questioned, seeing the cannon building up. "Guess Jose finally decided to go all in on the Fairy Tail Wizards. Or maybe those Void Kingdom pests."
"Oh, man! The size of that thing!" Natsu gasped, his eyes widening. More and more, it kept charging up until it had enough power. Jose was planning to make this impact colossal just to get rid of them all.
"Don't take your eyes off the battle, pal!" Gajeel would rush in, aiming for Natsu's head. "I won't let you forget about me so easily!" He would try and strike him, only for Natsu to block with his fist. Sparks flew from the impact.
Their battle continued, but Gajeel had gotten noticeably stronger after eating the iron. He was pushing Natsu back, forcing him to take a step back. Natsu gritted his teeth, knowing he was running out of steam. If he was going to keep going, he needed to get more. There was some fire around, but as if Gajeel would allow him to get the chance.
With the Jupiter Cannon reaching its peak, things looked dire for those at Fairy Tail, but by extension, for the Void Kingdom Wizards and the Phantom Lord Guild Members as well. All of them were in danger of being taken out.
"Not like this...Not when I'm this close!" Vaddeus cried out. He refused to die here. He needed to find out what was so important about Fairy Tail. He'd made it this far and wasn't about to get caught in the crossfire of the Jupiter Cannon.
"Master Makarov! What should we do?" Mirajane asked, concerned. Before he was about to say anything, Erza would suddenly run outside, her body removing the armor that she wore, quickly switching it out for another. "Requip!"
"?!" Everyone would gasp, seeing her do this. She was removing her armor, replacing it with another. In a split second, her body would be enveloped by a bright light. When the light dissipated, her body would now be clad in a new set of armor. "Adamantine Armor!"
It was a full-bodied armor that covered her entire body. It was primarily white with some darkly-colored parts, being made out of Adamantine. It was rather bulky, being the heaviest one she had on her so far. Once she appeared in the armor, Erza stood there, already knowing the direction of where the beam would be fired.
"Erza...!" Levy gasped, shocked by what was happening. "If she's using that armor, that means she's trying to defend us!"
"Oh, right!" Mirajane smiled. "That mean there's a part of Erza that still recognizes us! She's trying to protect us from the Jupiter Cannon!"
"That's a nice assumption." Erza suddenly spoke up, her cold eyes locked onto the others. "But you are mistaken. I am only doing this because that power of that beam threatens Master Natsu. The impact it could bring is too vast. I refuse to let Master Natsu be harmed in any way."
"Erza..."
"I have no care for you all." Erza told them before suddenly holding out two shields that came together. She would hold them both, placing them side-by-side. Right then and there, the Jupiter Cannon finally had enough power. And with no hesitation, Jose ordered it to be unleashed.
The cannon would fire, unleashing its incredible force. A powerful blast was sent their way. The light from the beam was both dark and blinding. The explosion of magical energy was felt even miles away. A great amount of magic would come towards them. Erza readied herself as the beam got closer and closer.
"Hah" Erza shouted as the blast would hit her shields. She grunted, the force being more than she anticipated. Erza would have her feet dragged across the floor, her legs breaking the ground a bit. The sheer impact of it sent a intense pressure around the area, causing the building to start crumbling a little.
Erza would push her shield out, trying to defend against it as much as she could. The light and heat of the beam was intense, threatening to burn the skin if not protected. Her shields would glow, her arms straining from the strain. She could feel the blast getting a little closer to her, but she wasn't going to budge.
She wouldn't move. She had a goal. Her mind was focused on nothing but the person she swore loyalty to. She would stay there and take the hit for him, even if it killed her.