Greetings and Bienvenue, we are back for Chapter Five of Shadows Past Between Worlds, hey how has everyone been I'm doing good because I am finally able to show you all this chapter. Now why is this chapter so Important well I will explain that later at the end but for now let's get started
"Last time in our story, Fairy Tail and their allies met three members of the Black Bulls, each unique in their own way. However, their introduction was fraught with complications as Fairy Tail had captured Asta, fearing he might be a threat. This led to their captain demonstrating his fearsome magical power, sending chills through the Fairy Tail mages. After some apologies, the captain forgave them. With the tension cleared, Fairy Tail's Cana asked Asta for help with her friend. Asta agreed and set off with Cana, joined by the Thunder Legion. Meanwhile, Sabretooth's leader, Sting, called for aid from either Fairy Tail or the Black Bulls to deal with a dangerous fire mage. But their conversation was abruptly cut off by a mysterious, destructive force. As each guild prepared to move the mages they had rescued, Mermaid Heel faced a new challenge: a mage that could only described as a lightning fiend was now away and ready to fight. How will they fare against this formidable foe?"
Important Disclaimer: I don't own anything from these franchises please support the original creators.
Chapter 5: Lion, Tigers, & Dragons!
Millianna held her ground, every muscle tense as she prepared to defend against the boy's first move. But she hadn't anticipated the sheer speed with which he attacked. With a sudden burst of energy, the blond boy launched himself off the wall like a rocket, hurtling toward her with electrifying speed. Millianna's eyes widened, and she instinctively swung her Nekōsoku Tube to intercept him. But just as her weapon neared its mark, the boy twisted in mid-air, his body blurring out of her reach as he veered in the opposite direction.
He rebounded off another wall, his trajectory was unpredictable as he rushed her once again, Millianna was to focus on how he was able to change his trajectory without losing any speed and barely had time to turn before he was upon her again. Before Millianna could react, the boy's gauntlet-clad fist collided with her side, sending a shockwave of pain through her body. The force of the impact hurled her across the room, away from Beth's prone form on the floor. She skidded to a halt, her body trembling from the sheer power behind the blow. As she struggled to push herself up, she realized with dread that she had been separated from her injured friend, leaving Beth vulnerable.
But as she looked over to her friend she saw the boy was right next to her but didn't seem to take notice of her at all and instead fully focused on her. Once their eyes locked with each other he began to charge her again, his movements were a dizzying blur of electric blue, and each time she tried to strike, he would vanish, only to reappear at a different angle, forcing her to spin and twist to keep up but ended up being hit once more. It was like trying to catch a lightning bolt with her bare hands.
Millianna's breaths came in ragged gasps as she struggled to stay upright. The relentless onslaught from the blond boy "No, this wild beast" she thought as she looked at the smiling boy who was clad in sleek blue lightning armor and kept jumping around her. His movements were faster than anything she could track, each step infused with a crackling energy that left scorch marks in its wake. She realized that her attempts to strike him with her Nekōsoku Tube were proven futile, as he would easily dodge it and strike her instead as she left herself open with every attack, and every time he would land a hit on her his laughter would increase and echoed through the air as if mocking her futile attempts.
"How can anyone be this strong? And what the hell is with his magic", panic creeping into her mind. Her cat-themed whips, usually so reliable, felt like mere toys against Luck's overwhelming power. She lashed out again, hoping to catch him off guard, but her attack sliced through empty air as he vanished and reappeared behind her in an instant.
"Come on! Is this all you've got?" Luck taunted, his voice filled with manic glee as his grin grew wider. His eyes gleamed with an unsettling intensity as he lunged forward, his lightning-infused boots leaving a trail of scorched earth as he closed the distance between them. Before she could react, he was in front of her, his gauntlet-clad fist colliding with the midsection of her chest sending a shockwave through her entire body.
Millianna gasped in pain as the force of the blow hurled her across the room, crashing into the stone wall with a sickening thud. Her vision blurred, and she struggled to catch her breath as all she could feel was pain throughout her whole. "I can't… keep up" she realized, fear clutching her heart.
Just as Luck prepared to charge toward her again, a sudden crash echoed through the room. Both Luck and Millianna looked to their left and saw the door burst open, and the remaining members of Mermaid Heel rushed in, their eyes wide with shock and their expressions a mix of shock and determination. Kagura, at the forefront, narrowed her eyes at the sight of Beth on the ground and Millianna in the wall with Luck in front of her, her gaze steely and resolute without hesitation, she charged forward, her sword gleaming with a fierce light.
"Enough!" Kagura shouted. Without hesitation, she charged forward to Luck, her movements precise and deadly as she brought her sword down. The air around her seemed to warp and ripple as she unleashed a powerful wave of gravity magic, aiming to pin Luck in place.
Luck's grin only widened as he danced out of the way, dodging Kagura's strike with the same effortless speed he had used against Millianna, but Kagura was relentless. She pressed forward, each strike of her blade precise and deadly, forcing Luck to focus on her and making him stay on the defensive. The gravity magic surrounding her distorted the air, making every step heavier, and every movement more laborious for him.
While Kagura and Luck battled Risley and Arana decided to head over to their injured teammates and pull them away from the fight. Arana went over to Beth hoping her nimbleness and Thread magic would protect her as she walked into the war zone. Luckily for her, the Kagura made sure to lead Luck away from them so she could grab Beth, as Arana had her she used her magic to wrap Beth up so moving her would be a challenge and headed towards Milliana and Rislley as the ladder had just finished getter the former out of the wall she was forced into.
As the group of four met up, Arana and Risley could see the damage Beth and Milliana had substance and grew worried. "It wasn't even that long, how did he do so much damage" Risley asked worriedly as she tried to check for any deadly injuries, while Arana just seemed to stay slight with a grim look on her face.
But as both were deep in thought they heard a loud crunch and turned to look back at the fight, as they looked towards the fight they many different areas on the floor with cracks and broken apart ground understanding where the crunch sound had come Kagura magic.
As they continued to watch the fight they could feel the eyes grow with every second with shock as they saw every time Kagura would try and use her magic to halt the boy's movements or even slow him down he would quickly dodge the spell completely rocketing in mid-air avoiding it range complete.
His movements were a symphony of speed and power, his attacks fluid and unpredictable. Kagura attempted to charge to him, but Luck dodged effortlessly, and instead closed the distance himself between her and him within the blink of an eye. As he appeared to her side, he tried to send a swift kick to her stomach but Kagura wasn't caught off guard and instead blocked the kick with her scabbard. But thanks to Luck's power and momentum he was able to knock the scabbard right out of her hands.
As the other Mermaid heels watched, the nervousness grew, Kagura was the strongest among them, and if this boy was able to match her power then she was the only one who could truly keep up with him. But it seemed that the boy had finally made a mistake as now he was right next to Kagura giving her the opening she was looking for.
"Gravity Magic: Earth!" Kagura shouted and as she did Luck could feel himself beginning to push downward, as he feels down he finally understood the woman's magic as some sort of Gravity magic, as he reached the ground he made sure to land with his feet down, as he did he was able to keep himself from being forced down but he wouldn't last long as he could feel Her gravity magic slowed his movements down, forcing him to exert more energy than need to maintain his previous pace. And that just made him more thrilled as his eyes gleamed with excitement, his grin never fading as he reveled in the intensity of the battle.
As he looked up at the swordswoman he could see her eyes go wide, think she was surprised by his thrilled expression as that was everyone's reaction when they fought with him. But no what made her eyes go wide was the sight of the book that seemed to be magical following the boy around everywhere he went started to flip open to a different page by itself and at the same time bellow the boy's feet multiple magic circles appeared the same color as his magic with glyphs she never seen before.
As Luck started to channel his spell he bent into the grow readying himself to jump up toward Kagura and finish her with one move. Kagura on the other hand was very much confused by what she saw, at first at the display of magic the boy was showing meaning he was going to try something so she ready herself. But so far she has seen that his fighting style relies on him landing a physical attack on her so with her gravity magic holding him down she was confused as to how he thought he could simply jump out of it.
But it seemed she was wrong as the minute Luck started to bring himself up and unbending his knees, she saw the once visible figure of him start to glow bright and bright and losing his outline as he kept growing brighter, and in a split second he rocket towards her complete ignoring her gravity magic.
"True Lightning Magic: Keraunos" Luck screamed out as he used the five layers of arrays beneath his feet to propel himself toward Kagura with tremendous speed. What Kagura didn't realize was that this spell allowed Luck for that moment to be transformed into a lightning bolt and not be held down since he no longer had any mass which allowed him to freely head straight towards her.
Kagura studded at that moment that someone was able to completely ignore her magic seem to just stare at the boy now seeming to be pure lighting heading straight towards her for what seemed like minutes, but Kagura quickly snapped out of her shock and used her magic to avoid his attack "Gravity Magic: Sky" she roared as she moved towards the right just in time to avoid the boy attack.
Luck quickly exited his lightning formed and landed on the ceiling and did a simple pivot with the tips of his feet and moved himself so he could rocket back towards her. As he tried to rocket towards her the minute his feet left the ceiling he felt something was wrong as he didn't propel himself as fast as he normally would when he was using magic.
"..Huh Why? Luck's mind raced as he tried to understand what was happening as Kagura easily moved away from Luck's counterattack. "Why am I slowing down?" his movements were becoming less precise, less fluid, and less full of life. It was as if the very air around him wasn't allowing his magic to keep on going, draining his magic faster than he could replenish it.
In a matter of seconds, Luck understood, "The mana! It's weaker!" he thought, and realization struck him like a lightning bolt. The mana in the air around him was different and thinner, it was not as abundant as it was back home. He could feel his reserves running low, the unlimited energy he was so used to wielding slipping away faster than he could replenish it. His Rune array, once the reason he could fight for longer periods was now the reason he was becoming sluggish, struggling to hold his magic.
Luck gritted his teeth in frustration, trying to push through the sudden weakness that had overtaken him, and tried to use his rune array again to bring the mana in the air to him. But it was no use, the mana in this world was too different for him to suddenly figure out, and it was throwing off his rhythm, his control. For the first time in what felt like forever, Luck felt himself running out of magic.
Kagura noticed the change immediately. Seizing the opportunity, she unleashed a final powerful wave of gravity magic towards Luck. As the force slammed into Luck, it pressed him down with a crushing weight that he could no longer resist. His body, drained of magic, felt heavy and sluggish, unable to fight back.
Luck struggled against the force, trying to push himself up, but his strength was gone. The gravity pinned him down, leaving him immobilized, his limbs heavy and unresponsive. The realization of his defeat hit him hard, his once-manic grin fading as frustration and exhaustion took over.
"Now!" Kagura shouted, her voice ringing with authority. With Luck immobilized, the other Mermaid Heel members quickly moved in, binding him with Arana threads making sure it would suppress his magic. Luck struggled weakly, but without his magic, he was powerless to resist.
Breathing heavily, Kagura stood over him, her sword still drawn, her eyes filled with a mix of caution and relief. Luck, now bound and defeated, looked up at her with a mixture of frustration and confusion. He had underestimated this place, its magic, and the consequences of overextending himself. Kagura lowered her sword slightly, her expression softening just a bit. "Don't worry," she said, her voice firm but not unkind. "You'll understand what going on. But for now, you're coming with us." Luck slumped in his bindings, his energy completely drained.
For the first time in a long while, he felt something unfamiliar …defeat. The fight had been exhilarating, but he had pushed too far, and now he was paying the price. As the adrenaline faded, he felt the exhaustion hit him like a wave, his body sagging as he finally gave in to the weariness. Kagura signaled to the others, and together both Arana and Risley took him outside to the wagon to be transported.
As they exited the building, Kagura couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The boy they had captured was powerful, far more than they had anticipated, and his appearance here raised more questions than answers. "If he was that strong how strong are the other?" She thought looking at the room that held the other unknown mages, "Just where did these people come from?". As the last thought crossed her mind she walked over to both Beth and Milliana seeing that the ladder was awake and able to move, she bent down picking up Beth, and led Milliana outside leaving for the others to go back and get the other two.
Sting's eyes locked onto the lacrima as the voice of the supposed leader of the Black Bulls came through, his deep, rumbling laugh filling the room. The man was amused by the mention of the fiery mage who had just attacked them. His reaction only confirmed what Sting had suspected, "They do know her!" Sting thought.
"Maybe they can convince her to stop attacking us," Sting thought, a small glimmer of hope forming. He tried to focus on the conversation, but something about the man's laugh sent a chill through him.
"...You guys are doomed. Good luck," the man said, nonchalantly placing the cigarette back between his lips.
The words hit Sting like a punch to the gut, snapping him out of his thoughts. His brow furrowed as he stared at the lacrima, confusion, and nervousness bubbling up inside him. "What did he mean by that?" Sting thought, "Um, what do you mea—" he tried to say.
But before he could finish his question, the room next to him exploded into where they were. A deafening roar of fire filled the air as a fiery explosion ripped through the area, sending Sting and his guildmates flying. His body hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind from his lungs.
Dazed, Sting struggled to push himself up, the ringing in his ears slowly fading. His vision was blurred, but as it cleared, his heart sank at the sight before him. The lacrima was shattered, shards of it scattered across the floor like pieces of a broken mirror.
And then he saw her the fire mage, her wild, orange hair glowing with the intensity of the flames that surrounded her. She was cloaked in a blazing aura of fire, the heat radiating from her palpable even from where Sting lay. But what made his blood run cold was the sight of Yukino, her head gripped tightly in the mage's fiery paw-like hand.
"Yukino!" Sting's voice was hoarse as he tried to force his body to move, but the weight of the explosion and the shock of the scene before him kept him frozen, his mind racing for a solution as the fire mage brought the celestial mage closer to her face.
"Hey, you. Where am I, and who are you lot?" Mereoleona growled, her fiery paw gripping Yukino's head with a dangerous intensity. The flames radiating from her hand were almost scorching, yet it was the sheer force of her presence that sent chills down Yukino's spine. As Mereoleona scanned her surroundings, a flicker of confusion passed through her sharp eyes. The mana around her felt off different from what she was used to. Thanks to her training and experience she could tell that it wasn't just weaker it was foreign as well.
Yukino's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to free herself from the mage's fiery grip. The paw was unnervingly solid, its searing heat held just inches from her skin, threatening to burn her at any moment. She had seen fire mages who could manipulate flames to attack or defend maybe grab something, but never anything like this. This felt too real, too precise the flames weren't just fire they had substance, and they held her as if they had their own will.
Desperate, Yukino's hand twitched toward her celestial keys, her last line of defense. But just as her fingers brushed the metal, the pressure from the fiery paw increased. She gasped, pain shooting through her skull as Mereoleona's voice cut through the haze of fear.
"Hey, I asked you a question," Mereoleona demanded, her tone impatient and laced with annoyance. The strength in her grip tightened, and Yukino could feel the raw power behind the woman's magic. It wasn't just the physical force it was the overwhelming presence that came with it, making Yukino's whole body freeze in terror.
"Let her go!" Sting's voice rang out, sharp and determined, cutting through the tension like a blade. He finally managed to push himself to his feet, his eyes blazing with fury as he charged at the fire mage. His right fist glowed with a brilliant white light, the power of his White Dragon Slayer magic surging through him.
"White Dragon's Iron Fist!" Sting roared, his fist crashing towards Mereoleona's face with blinding speed. But before the blow could land, she blocked it effortlessly with her bare left hand, barely sparing Yukino a second glance. Her focus now shifted entirely to Sting.
"You think a weak attack like that would work on me?" Mereoleona scoffed, a low, mocking chuckle escaping her lips as she locked eyes with him. Her gaze was piercing, cold despite the heat of the flames she wielded, and for a brief moment, Sting felt like he was staring down a predator assessing its prey.
But he wasn't done. With a sharp grunt, he swung his left fist toward her, this time aiming with everything he had. Mereoleona's eyes narrowed as she read the attack. In one swift movement, she twisted her body and brought up her right forearm to block the strike. The impact was fierce, and though she managed to block it, the sheer force behind Sting's punch sent her skidding back several feet.
The blow was strong enough to break her hold on Yukino. The celestial mage collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath as she scrambled to crawl away from the fight.
As Sting sent Mereoleona skidding away, his gaze immediately shifted to Yukino. His expression softened with worry. "Yukino, you okay?" he called out, his voice laced with concern. Yukino, though shaken, managed a weak smile in response, nodding to reassure him. But as Sting turned his attention back to the fiery-haired woman, his heart skipped a beat.
Mereoleona stood tall, brushing the dust off her shoulder with a casual flick of her wrist as if the attack had been nothing more than a mild inconvenience. Her lips curled into a smile, a wild dangerous grin that promised more destruction. "Not bad," she admitted, her tone dripping with challenge. "But you're going to have to do better than that."
"I can tell you're strong." she said as the mage narrowed her eyes, gleaming with dangerous excitement. "but let's see how much."
With a roar, Mereoleona unleashed a surge of her magic, the air around her crackling with fiery power. The room itself seemed to tremble in response to her sheer intensity as she charged toward them, faster than before. Flames erupted around her as her aura flared, consuming everything in its path.
But just as she was about to reach them, the ground beneath Sting and Yukino darkened, a massive shadow forming beneath their feet. The shadow seemed to ripple and shift, and then, in an instant, it swallowed them whole, pulling them out of Mereoleona's line of attack.
Mereoleona's fist collided with empty air, her flames dying down as she halted abruptly. She scowled, whipping her head around to find her prey. To her surprise Sting and Yukino had reappeared on the other side of the room, now standing next to four other figures she didn't recognize.
She straightened, her eyes narrowing in suspicion as she took in the sight of the others. Despite the interruption, her blood was still boiling for a fight, and the grin that spread across her face was nothing short of predatory. "So, more of you, huh?" she muttered, her voice low and dangerous. "Good. The more, the merrier."
"Shadow Dragon's Abyss!" Rogue shouted, his voice echoing through the room. The shadows beneath Mereoleona surged, twisting and growing until they engulfed her feet, dragging her down into the darkness. Mereoleona's eyes widened for a split second, clearly caught off guard, but her surprise quickly gave way to a smirk as she composed herself.
"Nice one, Rogue!" Orga called out, grinning as he hurried to pull Sting and Yukino up from the shadows. Relief washed over him, glad they had avoided a full-on confrontation, for now. "She can't do anything now. Are you two alright?" he asked, glancing between the two mages as they emerged from Rogue's spell.
"We're fine, thanks, Rogue," Yukino responded, her voice still shaky as she stood up alongside Sting. She glanced back at Mereoleona, now sinking deeper into the shadows. Despite her predicament, the fire mage didn't look the least bit concerned, the calm determination in her eyes only made Yukino more uneasy.
"How long do you think you can hold her like that?" Minerva asked, moving closer to Rogue. Her brow furrowed with concern, clearly aware of the immense power this woman had, as she had displayed it earlier.
Rogue focused all his energy on maintaining the spell, his gaze fixed on the fiery mage struggling within the shadows. "Not sure," he admitted, his voice tense. "Even Natsu had trouble breaking out of this, so it should hold her for a while." His mind drifted back to the time when Natsu had told him of the night of the 'Dragon King Festival' where he had fought with a future version of himself.
"Frosch thinks so too!" chimed a small green Exceed in a frog costume, peeking out nervously from behind Rogue's leg, his big eyes filled with apprehension as he watched the battle unfold. Allowing Rogue to stop thinking about what Nastu said and continue focusing on the spell so that he could protect Frosch and his friends.
But then, something caught Yukino's eye. A book that had been lying discarded nearby floated toward Mereoleona, glowing with an ominous red light. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she felt the atmosphere shift, her magic was growing intensely.
"H-her magic is increasing," Yukino muttered, her voice barely a whisper, but enough to draw Sting's and Rogue's attention. Mereoleona's grin widened as she lifted one arm free from the shadowy grip. Flames erupted from her hand, roaring with newfound strength, as the heat distorted the air around her.
"Fire Magic: Calidus Brachium!" Mereoleona roared, her voice filled with unyielding power. In an instant, her fiery arm swung downward, slamming into the shadowy abyss. The impact sent shockwaves through the room as a scorching beam of flame erupted from her fist, smashing against Rogue's spell.
The force was overwhelming, pushing Mereoleona upwards as the shadows around her shattered under the sheer intensity of her flames. The spell broke apart, unable to withstand the fiery onslaught, and in one swift motion, Mereoleona freed herself completely, flames swirling around her with terrifying ferocity.
She stood there, her body cloaked in blazing fire, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "You think something like that can hold me?!" Mereoleona bellowed, her voice dripping with amusement and challenge. "You'll need more than a simple shadow to take me down!"
The group stared in disbelief, the air around them thick with heat and tension. Rogue clenched his fists, frustration mixing with the realization that Mereoleona was far stronger than they had anticipated. "We need a new plan... fast," Minerva muttered under her breath, her gaze locked on the fiery woman standing before them.
"We are Sabertooth! If you fight one of us, you're gonna fight all of us!" Sting's voice rang out with unwavering resolve, his fists clenched tightly as his guildmates gathered behind him. The air around them thickened with the weight of their collective power, each one prepared for the inevitable clash. Their eyes locked on the imposing figure before them.
Mereoleona's eyes gleamed with curiosity as she took in the sight of the group, her lips curling into a predatory grin. "Sabertooth, huh? So you're tigers then. Her voice was low at first, almost a growl, before erupting into a thunderous roar. "Well, I'm a lion, and I'll show you why I'm at the top of the food chain!" Her words carried a dangerous promise, and with a burst of fiery energy, she lunged toward them. Flames ignited around her as her Reinforcement Magic propelled her forward, transforming her into a blur of fiery destruction.
Just as she closed in, her hand outstretched to strike, the ground where Sabertooth stood emptied in an instant. Mereoleona's eyes narrowed in surprise as the mages vanished before her. Her burning momentum came to a halt as she crashed into the spot they had been standing, flames crackling and scorching the earth.
She quickly spun around, her sharp gaze darting across the battlefield, searching for them. It didn't take long before she spotted them a few meters away, regrouped and unharmed. Minerva's Territory Magic had whisked them out of her range just in time. The lioness grinned wider, her excitement growing. "Running, are we? That's fine just means I get to chase you down!"
Yukino, now in position, swiftly raised her hand, pulling a golden key from her belt. A brilliant light erupted from the key as the sound of a ringing bell echoed throughout the room. "Open! Gate of the Heavenly Scales, Libra!" she shouted. The light coalesced into a striking figure known as Libra, a woman with dark hair styled in ox horns, and wearing an outfit that left little to the imagination. She held two large scales in her hands, symbolizing the celestial balance she commanded.
Libra's expression remained calm and composed as she tipped one of her scales to the side. Instantly, the gravity around Mereoleona shifted, a heavy, oppressive force weighing down on her. Mereoleona felt it immediately, a familiar sensation that tugged at her muscles and slowed her movements. But compared to the gravity of the bastard devil she had faced before, this was nothing.
Gritting her teeth, Mereoleona smirked as she began to move, one step at a time, sinking into the ground under the increased gravity but refusing to be stopped. Every step was deliberate, and powerful, as the fire mage pushed forward through the growing pressure. The Sabertooth members looked on in disbelief. Few had ever been able to move under Libra's gravity control, let alone walk through it.
"What? How is she doing that?" Yukino gasped, her eyes wide with surprise as Mereoleona continued her relentless advance. "Libra, can you increase the force?"
Without a word, Libra tipped the scales even further, doubling the gravity around Mereoleona. The ground beneath the fire mage cracked and buckled, and the radius of the gravity field expanded, pulling everything down with crushing force.
But Mereoleona's pace merely slowed. Her eyes burned with resolve, her body glowing with intense heat as she continued to force her way forward, undeterred by the crushing weight pressing against her.
Seeing this, Orga stepped forward, determination written across his face. "Outta my way!" he grunted, moving Yukino aside as he surged with dark energy. Black lightning crackled around his arms, and with a roar, he thrust his hands forward. "120mm Black Lightning Cannon!" he yelled, unleashing a torrent of concentrated black lightning directly at Mereoleona.
The lightning struck her head-on, engulfing her and the area around her in an explosion of smoke and debris. The room shook from the impact, the air thick with the smell of scorched earth. For a moment, everything went still. The Sabertooth members watched the cloud of smoke, waiting for any sign of the fire mage.
Yukino, realizing Libra's gravity control had little effect, quietly unsummoned her Celestial Spirit. "This isn't enough… her magic is beyond anything we've seen."
But before they could react, Mereoleona shot out of the smoke, completely unharmed by Orga's attack. Her eyes blazed with excitement, her body cloaked in flames as she charged forward at full speed.
"Calidus Brachium!" she roared, her fist ablaze as she slammed it into Orga with a devastating punch. The force of the blow sent a massive flame surging through his body, and the sheer impact hurled him through the wall, sending him crashing outside of the building. The wall crumbled under the power of her attack, leaving a smoking trail in its wake.
The Sabertooth members stood in stunned silence, their eyes darting from the hole in the wall to Mereoleona, who stood there, her fiery aura still burning brightly. She glanced at the remaining members, her smile widening.
"Who's next?" she asked, her voice filled with a mixture of thrill and menace, her body radiating an almost primal intensity as she prepared to continue the fight.
As Orga's body flew through the air, crashing outside with tremendous force, the rest of Sabertooth looked on in stunned silence. The raw power of the fire mage was unlike anything they had ever faced. Without hesitation, Rufus stepped forward, determination written across his face as the air around him began to swirl. Multiple tornadoes formed, roaring to life with intense winds that howled as they circled Mereoleona.
"Memory-Make: Shrine of Turbulent Fang!" Rufus declared, his voice sharp and commanding as the whirlwind of tornadoes converged on the lioness.
Mereoleona's eyes flickered with intrigue, caught off guard by the sheer magnitude of the spell. She had expected something closer to what she knew from the Wizard King's Assistant when she heard the word 'Memory'. But this was different than that, as a chaotic torrent of wind designed to trap and overwhelm her. A grin split her face, wild and excited. "You think a little wind is going to hold me back?" she barked out, "Mana Zone!"
With her roar, an oppressive wave of power surged from Mereoleona, her magic skyrocketing as the Sabertooth mages felt the pressure of her magic bearing down on them. Despite the unfamiliar mana in this land, she had trained her whole life to feel and understand mana, which allowed her to adapt quickly, bending it to her will. In an instant, flames erupted within the storm of wind surrounding her.
"Calidus Brachium Barrage!" Mereoleona shouted, her voice echoing through the room as torrents of flame shot out from within the tornadoes, colliding with Rufus's spell. The intense heat clashed with the gusts of wind, and one by one, the tornadoes dissipated, consumed by the fire.
When the wind and flames subsided, the room was left in ruins, charred and ravaged by the overwhelming force of the fire mage's magic. Standing in the destruction, Mereoleona's fiery aura flared around her as her glowing grimoire hovered by her side. Rufus stood frozen, disbelief etched into his expression.
"I can't believe this... I've never recalled a mage with power like hers..." he whispered, his mind reeling as he processed what had just happened.
But before he could react further, Mereoleona's figure blurred. She moved with blinding speed, faster than any of them could track. In a heartbeat, she was in front of Rufus. With a single, brutal strike of her fist, she sent him crashing into the nearby wall, knocking him unconscious in an instant.
The remaining Sabertooth mages stood paralyzed, their eyes wide with shock. Two of their strongest members had been effortlessly defeated by this woman, her power far exceeding their expectations. Mereoleona slowly turned her gaze toward the rest of the group, and they could see it in her eyes, a burning desire for the next fight. Her lips curled into a fierce grin, ready for more.
Minerva, however, wasn't about to give her the chance. She raised her hand swiftly. "Territory!" she commanded, teleporting the remaining Sabertooth mages, along with the unconscious Rufus, outside where Orga had landed earlier.
Once outside, Yukino immediately rushed to tend to Rufus, carefully dragging him closer to Orga, both of them unconscious and battered. "We need to move them... if she catches up again, it won't end well," Yukino said urgently, her hands trembling slightly as she glanced back at the building, the fear of the unstoppable fire mage lingering in the air.
"What the hell is with that woman? How can she be this strong, and what the hell is with that book?" Sting growled, frustration bubbling over as he glanced at his fellow guildmates. His fists clenched tightly, and the fire in his eyes matched his rising anger.
"She's like a monster... but you guys got this!" Lector chirped, though there was a nervous edge to his voice.
"Frosch thinks so too..." Frosch mumbled, trembling as he hid behind Rogue, fear getting the better of him.
Rogue's expression hardened as he looked at Sting. "Sting! I understand you're angry, but we need to focus. We can't take her lightly, one wrong move and she'll take us down." His tone was firm, determined. He wouldn't allow Frosch's fear to worsen, not on his watch. He quickly glanced at the others. "Yuinko, Minerva can you make sure Lector, Frosch, and the others stay out of harm's way?"
Both mages nodded, and as he saw they understood he turned back to Sting, Rogue continued, "We know she uses flame magic, but it's more than just flames. Her magic is heavily physical. So far, every attack has relied on her fists to land the blow."
Sting nodded in agreement. "So, we just need to keep her from throwing a clean punch. And stop her from getting those hits in."
Before they could discuss further, a massive surge of flame exploded from the building they were eyeing, and Mereoleona leaped onto the roof with a fiery somersault, landing gracefully. As her fiery aura flared around her, her eyes locked onto the group. A dangerous grin spread across her face as she spotted them.
"There you are," she said, her voice carrying the weight of a predator honing in on its prey. "One thing you should know about a lion is once they find their prey, they never let it escape." She let her magic power soar even higher, the intensity suffocating as she prepared for another assault.
Sting and Rogue stepped forward, undeterred by her overwhelming magic or her taunts. They exchanged a glance before Sting growled, "This ends now, lady."
"You can't beat both of us," Rogue added, his voice dark and resolute as shadows gathered at his feet.
With that, both Sabertooth mages activated their Drive Forms. A brilliant white aura engulfed Sting, while Rogue's shadows cloaked him, leaving his eyes glowing eerily as only the pale irises remained visible. They were ready for her.
Mereoleona's eyes widened slightly, sensing an unfamiliar power radiating from the two. The magic they exuded felt ancient and primal, reminding her of the powerful Spirit Magic her brother used. Her instincts sharpened, but before she could act, both mages were already in motion, faster than they had been before.
Sting charged in first, his movements a blur. Mereoleona activated her "Calidus Brachium Barrage" in response, but Sting skillfully weaved around her flaming fists, darting between buildings as he closed the distance. When he reached her, he swung a powerful fist aimed directly at her head, but Mereoleona's forearm intercepted the blow. With a grin, she deflected it with ease. Sting quickly pivoted, shifting his target to her core, but Mereoleona was ready, her fist meeting his with such force that she sent him crashing into a distant rooftop.
Rogue wasted no time, appearing behind her in a flash of shadow, aiming for a quick strike. But Mereoleona, with her honed senses, felt his presence before the attack landed. She leaped forward, avoiding his strike. Rogue refusing to let up, dashed after her making sure to focus on her legs to disrupt her balance. His quick jabs and sweeps kept her off-kilter, but she responded by unleashing her Mana Zone, pushing herself upward and away with a burst of energy.
In mid-air, she retaliated with a fiery "Calidus Brachium," but Rogue dipped into his shadow, vanishing just as the fire obliterated the rooftop.
As Mereoleona landed, she wasn't able to get a moment to set up for an attack as she sensed a surge of magic behind her. She turned her head around just in time to see Sting, enveloped in brilliant light, magic coursing through his arm.
"Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Holy Nova!" Sting roared as he launched himself off the roof, moving with astonishing speed. Mereoleona's eyes narrowed as she recognized his enhanced agility. Before she could defend herself, Sting's fist connected with her back, unleashing a massive explosion of holy light. The force sent Mereoleona crashing into yet another building, the structure collapsing under the impact.
Dust and debris filled the air as Mereoleona slowly rose from the rubble. She wiped the dirt from her face, the fire in her eyes never dimming. As she stood, she cast a glance back at Sting and Rogue, impressed despite herself. "Not bad," she muttered, her voice low but filled with anticipation. "If I weren't already worn down from my fight with the devil, that attack wouldn't have even landed..." She smiled, not out of arrogance but out of respect for the potential she saw in them.
While Mereoleona was regaining her bearings, she felt a sudden presence from her side. The Shadow mage, Rogue, emerged from the shadows with a quick leap.
"Shadow Dragon's Haste!" he shouted, his hand poised to strike. But Mereoleona only scoffed at the attempt, grabbing his wrist mid-strike with effortless precision. With a swift motion, she yanked him from the shadows, tossing him over her head and slamming him down hard on the roof. She planted her foot on his chest, pinning him to the ground.
"Your sneak attacks are pathetic. Fight me head-on. Stop relying on these cheap tricks," she growled, annoyance dripping from her voice. But then, to her surprise, she noticed Rogue was smiling. Before she could process it, she caught sight of Sting preparing an attack.
"White Dragon: Holy Ray!" Sting shouted, launching a barrage of beams directly at them. Mereoleona's fiery grin returned. With a laugh, she countered, her fists blazing.
"Calidus Brachium Barrage!" she called out, throwing a series of fiery punches to match and neutralize the incoming heavy beams. Each strike met a ray of light, and the resulting explosions shook the battlefield.
As the last beam fizzled out, Mereoleona felt her foot pressing down on nothing. She looked down towards where the shadow mages had previously been pinned down and saw that he had slipped away into the shadows during the attack. "Clever," she thought, narrowing her eyes. "He must have used the chaos as cover..."
Her senses sharpened, and she quickly located Sting charging toward her through the cloud of smoke and debris created by their clash. Using the cover, Sting closed the gap and aimed a powerful blow at her stomach. The punch landed with a solid thud, sending Mereoleona flying off the roof. However, instead of crashing into the street below, she twisted her body midair, landing on her feet with feline grace.
She barely had time to steady herself before sensing Rogue's presence again. He was poised to strike from the shadows at her side. Mereoleona pretended not to notice, preparing a counterattack …until she realized something was wrong. She couldn't move.
Glancing down, she saw a glowing white magic circle where Sting had struck her. "That mark... it's immobilizing me," Mereoleona muttered, her eyes narrowing.
Sting leaped off the roof, approaching with a smirk. "That Stigma there locks you in place. You can't move, can't fight back, you can't do anything" As he advanced, Rogue emerged from the shadows behind Mereoleona, his figure shifting in and out of view like a specter.
"Shadow Dragon's Slash!" Rogue roared, striking her side with a devastating blow that sent her flying into a nearby building, embedding her in the stone wall.
The two Dragon Slayers regrouped, standing side by side, and watched Mereoleona struggle to free herself from the wall. Together, they inhaled deeply, pulling in the mana in the air, and Mereoleona felt the surge of magic in them.
"White Dragon's Roar!"
"Shadow Dragon's Roar!"
The two unleashed their elemental magic at once, allowing for the beam of brilliant white light to mixed with a torrent of swirling shadows. The combined attack shot toward Mereoleona, crashing into her with tremendous force. She tried to cross her forearms to block the blast, but thanks to the stigma she wasn't able to and took the attack head-on. The overwhelming power sent her flying backward through two more buildings, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake.
For a moment, everything was still. Sting and Rogue stood there, panting from the exertion. The smoke and dust from the collapsed buildings hung in the air like a shroud.
"I think we got her," Sting muttered, powering down as the light faded from his aura.
Just as they began to relax, Minerva and Yukino approached. "What are you doing here?" Rogue asked, surprised as his shadow aura faded. "You were supposed to stay with Lector and Frosch."
"They asked us to come help," Minerva replied calmly, surveying the devastation around them. "But it looks like we're too late. Did you two manage to beat her?"
Sting smirked as he walked over the rubble. "We sent her flying with our Roars. I'm pretty sure we've finally got her."
Yukino was about to respond when a sudden spike of magic froze her in place. "My lady, watch out!" Sting shouted, eyes wide.
Yukino spun around just in time to see Mereoleona emerge from the wreckage, her entire form blazing with an ethereal fire. Her body had become flame itself, her clothes replaced by a fiery aura as she charged forward. Mereoleona's eyes locked onto Minerva, and with a mighty roar, she swung her fist.
"Calidus Brachium!" she bellowed, unleashing a wave of fire that struck Minerva with full force, sending her flying past Yukino and crashing into a distant building.
Yukino stood frozen, terror gripping her as she witnessed Mereoleona's transformation. The fire mage's power had surged, and it was clear she was even stronger than before.
Both Sting and Rogue quickly powered back up, but after seeing the woman's new form they realized that their drives were no longer an option and decided to use their last trump card and activated their Dragon Force. As they powered up the same white and Shadowy aura reappeared around them but now with the added effect of their skin becoming covered with draconic scales.
"Yukino! Get Minerva out of here!" Sting commanded, his voice filled with urgency. Yukino nodded and rushed to help her fallen comrade.
Sting and Rogue turned their attention back to Mereoleona, who now stood before them, her body shimmering and glowing like pure flame. They both felt the heat from her magic radiating through the air, but as they smelled the air they couldn't smell her anymore, no what she smelled like was pure ethernano but with a fire element to it.
"How the hell are you moving? My stigma should've locked you in place," Sting growled, frustrated. As he said this he channeled another Holy Ray attack and sent it towards the fire mage this time with more power than before.
Mereoleona's grin widened as she easily dodged the barrage of Sting's Holy Ray. "In my Hellfire form, I burn through anything that touches me. Your spell didn't stand a chance," she declared, her voice crackling with power as she surged forward with blinding speed.
As Sting watched Mereoleona getting closer to him, he was hit was a sense of deja vu as the figure of Mereoleona seemed to shift slightly to a familiar form of Nastu back during the Grand Magic Games when he broke out of the same stigma.
Just as she closed in, Rogue reacted quickly. From the shadows behind her, a dark figure leaped out. "Then take this! Shadow Dragon's Waxwing Flash!" Rogue shouted, his body morphing into a torrent of shadow that engulfed Mereoleona, attempting to restrain her within the swirling darkness.
From within the swirling darkness, Sting noticed an orange glow beginning to form. His heart raced, and before he could shout a warning to Rogue, Mereoleona's voice erupted. "Mana Zone, Calidus Brachium Purgatory!"
The air around her ignited with intense heat as she seized control of the surrounding mana, conjuring brilliant blue flames that swelled and exploded outward. The blast incinerated everything in its wake, and Rogue's agonized scream cut through the chaos as the flames scorched him. Forced to release her, Rogue unwrapped himself from his hold on her and tried to fall into the shadows, but Mereoleona was already moving. She seized his arm with a vice-like grip and, with a powerful swing, hurled him toward Sting.
Sting barely had time to react, catching Rogue as the force of the throw sent them skidding backward. Regaining his balance, Sting looked up only to find the fiery figure grinning wildly in his face. Without warning, she unleashed another devastating attack.
"Calidus Brachium Barrage!" Mereoleona roared, her fists blazing as a barrage of fire-infused strikes slammed into the two Dragon Slayers, sending them hurtling through the air.
As they crashed into the floor, Rogue saw that they were right next to Yukino, a barely conscious Minerva, Frosch, and Lector who both had brought Orga and Rufus to them, each having the face of shock and fear on their face.
"Rogue, get up! She's here!" Sting shouted, desperation in his voice as they struggled to recover from the relentless onslaught.
As Rogue glanced at Sting, he saw the extent of the damage his friend had taken. Burn marks seared across his face, where Mereoleona's punches had landed, and blood was smeared across his entire body. Rogue could only imagine how terrible he looked. Gritting his teeth, he looked ahead and saw Mereoleona striding toward them, with the same crazed grin on her face.
"I have to say, you two are strong. Your magic I've never seen anything like it." she remarked as she locked her gaze on them "This is the most fun I've had in a fight in a long time," Mereoleona said, her voice filled with dangerous excitement. "But this is over. Stand down, and accept that I've beaten you."
Despite their battered bodies and the odds against them, Sting and Rogue shared a glance, then looked back at their injured guildmates. With a defiant grin, Sting clenched his fists. "No way! You hurt our family, and we're not gonna let that slide!"
Rogue stood alongside him, every muscle screaming in pain, but his resolve never wavering. They were prepared to fight until their last breath.
"Haha! I like that. Just make sure you don't die," Mereoleona laughed, her wild grin widening as she prepared to unleash another Calidus Brachium, but as she watched them, something caught her eye. The two Dragon Slayers raised their hands toward and behind each other, the air around them pulsing with mana. Twin orbs of energy one white, one dark began to form between them, swirling with immense power. Mereoleona's grin faltered for a moment, a flicker of admiration in her eyes. These two had the heart of a crimson lion, refusing to give in, even in the face of certain defeat.
Sting and Rogue poured every last drop of their strength into this final attack. White and shadow magic intertwined, fusing their two orbs into one massive, radiant sphere. It pulsed with light blue energy, brimming with Ethernano, ready to obliterate anything in its path.
With a united roar, they unleashed their ultimate attack. "Holy Shadow Dragon's Flash Fang!"
The orb exploded forward, releasing a beam of pure destructive power that oscillated between white and black, tearing through the air with blinding speed. The brilliant colors clashed violently, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle as it hurtled toward Mereoleona with enough force to shake the ground beneath them.
As the combined might of Sting and Rogue's Unison Raid hurtled toward Mereoleona, its overwhelming power and speed made it clear there was no chance to dodge, and any counter she could muster in her current state wouldn't be enough to fully stop it. The realization that she might be defeated by this attack settled in, but fear never crossed her mind. Nor did excitement. Mereoleona stood firm, watching the blast approach, a smile tugging at her lips.
In that moment, her mind raced back to images of those she admired and respected Yami, Asta, Yuno, and even her brothers, Fuegoleon and Leopold. If she could overcome this, it would mean she had grown stronger than ever before, stronger than all of them.
Yukino and a half-conscious Minerva watched in awe as Sting and Rogue unleashed their final attack, fully expecting it to end this battle. But out of the corner of their eyes, they noticed an orange glow from the strange book floating near Mereoleona. Her magic surged once more, far beyond what they thought was possible. Mereoleona roared with unyielding determination, "Fire Magic: Calidus Brachium Purgatory – Flame Burial!" She swung her fist forward, releasing an enormous torrent of blue flames, fiercer and more potent than anything she had summoned before.
The clash between her attack and the Unison Raid was cataclysmic. The resulting explosion sent shockwaves through the air, blinding light and searing heat engulfing the battlefield. For a moment, it seemed as though the sheer force of the twin dragons' magic would be enough but through the explosion, Yukino and Minerva could still see Mereoleona's flames pushing through as if the Unison Raid hadn't even slowed them down.
As the attack barreled toward Sting and Rogue, Minerva, with her last reserves of magic, managed to save Yukino, Frosch, Lector, and their unconscious comrades, teleporting them to safety. But Sting and Rogue, just beyond her reach, were left vulnerable. The full force of Mereoleona's fiery assault crashed into them, the explosion echoing through the battlefield as they bore the brunt of the attack.
As Yukino scanned the smoke-filled battlefield, her heart raced. She desperately hoped to see her two friends emerge from the rubble, but all she felt were Frosch and Lector trembling beside her, clutching onto her in fear. Minerva, completely drained of magic, barely conscious, and her body slumping with exhaustion. Yukino braced herself for whatever might come next as the smoke slowly began to clear.
What she saw, however, sent a wave of horror through her. The ground was scorched, molten beneath her feet, and the once-solid terrain was reduced to smoldering ruin. But there was no sign of Sting or Rogue, no sign of her Dragon Slayer comrades. Her breath hitched as she took in the destruction, the sheer power that had obliterated everything in its path. She stood frozen, caught between awe and terror.
Then, emerging from the dissipating smoke, was the very source of that devastation: Mereoleona, standing tall and unfazed, her fiery aura radiating as if she hadn't even reached her limit. Yukino's blood ran cold, fear gripping her heart as she realized just how powerless they were against this unstoppable force. She knew in her heart that no celestial spirit could save her now, not with almost all her friends incapacitated. She was alone, facing a woman whose strength dwarfed her own.
Mereoleona's gaze locked onto Yukino, and she began to approach with an unwavering intensity. "Now, again, I ask you," Mereoleona said, her voice firm and demanding, "Where am I?" The weight of her presence was overwhelming, and Yukino could feel herself shrinking under that pressure. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she fought to keep them at bay. She couldn't let it end here.
With trembling hands, Yukino reached for her side and pulled out her Black Key, her last trump card. She was ready to summon her strongest spirit, even if it meant pushing herself to the edge. But just as she was about to release its power, a familiar voice pierced through the tension. One that had saved her time and time again when all hope seemed lost.
"Get away from them, you bastard! Fire Dragon's Roar!" A powerful whirlwind of fire erupted from the side, crashing into Mereoleona and sending her skidding backward. The sheer force of the flames momentarily pushed her off balance. Yukino's heart leaped, and she quickly turned to the source of the voice, eyes wide with hope.
"Natsu!" Yukino cried out, relief washing over her like a wave as she saw her pink-haired hero standing before her.
As he stood in front of Yukino, the air around him seemed to shimmer with the heat of his magic. "Don't worry, Yukino. I'm here now," Natsu said, his voice charged with spirit. He clenched his fists, and engulfed it with flames, ready to face Meroelona head-on.
To be Continued
And that wraps up Chapter Five, ending with Mereoleona and Natsu in a standoff. I have to admit, I'm starting to feel a bit worn out from writing these fight scenes. Fortunately, the next chapter won't have as much fights as this chapter did and will most likely not have a big fight like these for a while. With that, I can finally start work on the conversation and what the characters will do while they are here. As I mentioned at the start, I was really excited to share this chapter with you, well really it was more for this fight because this was the reason why I even started to write this fanfic. You see this all started because of the thought I had of what would Mereoleona fight with both Dragon slayer look like, almost like a copy/mimic of how Nastu did back during the magic game because weirdly enough both Nast and Mereoleona share a lot of similarities and I was really happy with it. But for now, I hope you all enjoyed it, and if you liked it please favorite, follow, or leave a review.
P.S. Just like last time I will be taking a break for the next month so sorry for that, by how this is going this might become my schedule but please be patient for the next chapter after that break thank you!
Until we meet again