Lisia stood before the God's Library from the outside, her eyes fixated on it. She already knew that great magical defences were around it, and that a powerful Lost Magic was being used to maintain them. It wouldn't be easy to break through the defences, but Lisia was confident she could do it.
She approached the obvious barrier that was around it, placing her hand on it. She was more than ready to use her Dispel to remove the magic around the Library. The Lost Magic might have been strong, but even she knew she could get past it. The question was if her Dispel could do the trick. As she felt her hand on it, she spoke the magic. "Dispel."
A wave of Dark Magic was sent out from her hand, dispersing the magic around the barrier. However, this barrier proved to be strong enough to resist it, the wave of magic dissipating.
"Hm. This is quite the barrier." Lisia said, not expecting this level of protection. But she wasn't going to give up. She took a step back, readying herself as she prepared another spell. "If this doesn't work, then I'll have to use my Demon Body Magic to destroy it."
Lisia's hands began to glow a dark purple, the power of her magic building up. It grew and grew, reaching its full potential. She was going to try something else that could break through the barrier. Her left arm would be covered in this dark purple magic, having cracks around it. The way this arm appeared looked rather monstrous. Or rather, demonic.
"Demonic Body: Black Disperse." Lisia said, raising her demonic arm a little. From the hand, a black sphere was shot at the barrier. Once it hit it, a loud crack could be heard, a small hole opening up in the barrier. Lisia could now see inside the library, and she smiled lightly at the success. "Just as I suspected. My magic can easily break through it."
As she said that, the hole was sealed up, but Lisia had no plans on waiting for her comrades. She wanted to take care of this herself. So she was going to go through the barrier, even if it meant she had to break through the defences inside.
Lisia's arm would return to normal, the Void Wizard getting ready. She then charged forward, her arm glowing with magic again. "Demonic Body: Disperse" This time, she pressed her hand against the barrier, creating a much larger hole, which was just big enough for her to enter through.
The hole closed up, but Lisia was inside. And once she was in, she could feel the power of the Lost Magic all around her. The books, the scrolls, the artifacts, everything. It was overwhelming. She couldn't help but take a moment to bask in the power.
But she soon got over it, and began to make her way through the Library. She had to be careful. There were traps everywhere, and she could sense them. And speaking of sensing, Asher sensed that the defences had been breached.
"This feeling...Someone made it in!" The Head Archivist shouted, his eyes widening in shock.
"They made it past the barrier?! How?!" Another Archivist questioned, not sure how this happened. The barrier was made up plenty of Lost Magic spells, and that didn't seem like something someone could get past.
Thus, the librarians in here were starting to worry and panic. All of the Archivists stood, their eyes scanning the various entrances as they stayed on guard.
"Calm down." Asher ordered, the rest of the Archivists listening. "It's not time to panic. I'm still putting faith in Fairy Tail to stop them. As long as a single book from here isn't taken, we'll be fine. We've already enveloped them in enchantments that'll allow only us to touch them."
"Y-Yes sir." One of the librarians responded. Even though an intruder had breached their main defenses, they weren't about to have them succeed regardless. No matter what, the books had to be protected at all costs.
As the Archivists stayed alert, the God's Library was soon filled with the sound of footsteps. The intruder was approaching. The footsteps echoed through the halls, each thud sending shivers down their spines. They could sense the intruder getting closer and closer.
The door was then blasted open, revealing a woman who was Lisia. She slowly walked into the room, her eyes scanning the area. She didn't have a care in the world, and she knew what she wanted. She wanted the books, the scrolls, the artifacts, and anything else that could give her and the Void Kingdom access to the Lost Magic.
"!" The Archivists gasped at the sight of this Void Kingdom Wizard, her gentle demeanour having a strong menacing air around her.
"You must be the Archivists of this place.." Lisia greeted, her eyes glancing over them. "My name is Lisia Soldovere, and I'm here on a simple request. You will kindly hand over the Lost Magic. Now." Her voice was cold and commanding, sending a chill through the Archivists' spines. It was so gentle yet terrifying.
"Head Librarian! Stay back!" Tessie and a few other librarians stepped forward, all of them having Lost Magic of their own just for situations such as this.
"She got past all those defenses so quickly Just what kind of magic does she have?" Another librarian wondered.
"Your defences were...simple, for me. For anyone else, they may prove troublesome. But for someone who was the wielder of Demonic Body Magic, it was but a minor inconvenience." Lisia softly said.
"!? D-Did she say Demonic Body Magic?!" Asher was stunned by those words. "That's Forbidden Magic...on the same tier as Lost Magic. Someone like her has it...!?"
"I am to retrieve the Lost Magic here. All of you will be put to sleep peacefully. That I promise." Lisia bowed her head to them all.
"Don't try and be kind with us! People like you shouldn't get your hands on such magic! " Tessia angrily said, ready to take action. She used her own Lost Magic, holding her hand out towards Lisia. "Penumbral Arc: Twilight Convergence!" She cried out.
From her hands, Tessia created an area of twilight where light and shadow are in perfect balance. The area spread rapidly, instantly surrounding Lisia from all angles and completely masking the bookshelves along with the rest of the library.
Thanks to this, Asher and some of the other Librarians could leave while they had the chance. They had to hurry and escape the library while they could.
"Hm. Interesting." Lisia said, feeling the area surround her. She didn't flinch, nor did she panic. She remained calm and composed, taking a deep breath. "It's an illusion. That's all it is."
"You'd wish it is! In this area, I have full control over Light and Shadow!" Tessia smirked. "Here's an example! Twilight Convergence: Night!"
At the sound of her voice, the Library became enveloped in darkness. There were no lights, no signs of anything, just pure pitch blackness. But the Archivists were fine due to Tessia allowing them to act normally.
"Here's our chance!" The other Archivists would use their magic against Lisia while she was this vulnerable. They couldn't use any offensive magic since that would damage the Library, but they could still try and capture her.
But Lisia wasn't concerned. A array of magic struck her from all sides, but the attacks didn't faze her. They couldn't even reach her, as if she had a protective shield around her. And after a while, the magic stopped, the darkness disappearing as well.
"She...she's immune?!" One of the Archivists exclaimed in shock.
"How?! Not a scratch on her?!" Tessia was just as surprised.
"I must thank you. For you see...the darkness acts as a benefit for me." Lisia placed her hand on her large breasts. "For one with Demonic Body, the darkness is comforting. It makes me stronger."
"What?!" Tessie was shocked to hear that. The darkness actually gave Lisia an advantage due to her Forbidden Magic. Even magic that doesn't relate to the darkness had no effect on her as long as she was surrounded by all of this. "In that case...how do you respond to the light?!" Tessia used the other magic opposite to the darkness. The Light. "Great Illumination!"
Tessie waved her hands, and the Library was filled with bright light. The darkness was gone, and now the Archivists could see again. But this time, they had a plan. Asher and some of the other Librarians used their own Lost Magic to enhance the effects of the light.
But before they had the chance to really enhance it to great levels, Lisia took action. "Demonic Body: Demonic Claw." She held her arm out as it started transforming, her fingers sharpening as they resembled claws.
And in the blink of an eye, Lisia charged forward, swiping her arm through the air and cutting the light apart. The claws cut right through it, dispersing the magic and returning the area to darkness.
"She can even cut through the light?!" One of the Librarians was stunned by the display of strength.
Lisia didn't hesitate, continuing her attack. "Demonic Body: Scorching Fire." She flicked four of her fingers, spreading flames from them, the flames enveloping the entire Twilight Area. Tessia could feel her space being destroyed, but she tried to maintain it as long as possible.
The Archivists tried to enhance the light, but Lisia's fire was too much for them. She was able to cut through it, and the area was consumed by her flames. Some of the Archivists were blown back while Tessia was trying to keep her Twilight Space contained.
"She's too strong..." Tessie gasped, feeling the Twilight Convergence fading. "Damn it..." She knew she was losing ground.
"My apologies. But I can't have you using any more magic." Lisia said, her fire spreading and enveloping the entire space. Tessia's eyes widened as her Twilight Convergence was burned away, bringing the original scenery back.
The Archivists were blown back and collapsed on the ground. As for Tessia, she was pinned against the wall, but still able to move. Once the scenery was back to how it was, Lisia soon saw that the bookshelves were gone. They had been moved elsewhere, and Lisia didn't have time to track them down.
"Clever." Lisia knew they couldn't have hidden them here. It would take her some time to find the location of the books, but she would find them. Tessia did well to buy enough time for Asher and the others to take the books away. Tessia would continue to buy time, doing everything she could to stop Lisia.
"As long as we're here, you won't be getting any of the Lost Magic!" Tessia declared, not giving up.
"Very well." Lisia closed her eyes, her hands glowing with magic. Suddenly, with her eyes opening, she moved with a bit more aggressive, lunging forward. Tessia gasped at the sight before her, a powerful claw coming her way.
[hr]
Gray, Juvia and Trevor stood before Natsu. Gray and Juvia had received Trevor's Bestow Magic, specifically his Essence Imbuement, allowing them to resist Fire. With this enhancement, they were not about to waste it while it was running on limited time. If they were going to stop Natsu, they had to handle his flames.
"I won't waste this! Not one bit!" Gray exclaimed, approaching Natsu once more. He was going to go on the offensive, his hands glowing with magical energy. "Ice-Make: Ice Cannon!" Gray shouted, shooting a cannon of ice from his hand.
Natsu grinned, his flames building up. "Fire Dragon: Roar!" He exhaled a stream of fire from his mouth, colliding with Gray's ice. The two elements clashed, but it was obvious that Natsu's attack could blaze through.
However, even though the flames struck Gray, thanks to Trevor, he managed to resist it. In fact, he resisted it so much that he was able to charge right through, getting up close to Natsu.
"Gotcha!" Gray's fist was glowing with magic, his fist colliding with Natsu's jaw. The Fire Dragon Slayer was sent flying, crashing into the ground. "Juvia, now!"
Juvia didn't hesitate, summoning her Water Magic. "Water Slicer!" She waved her hands, launching multiple blades of water at Natsu. However, he was ready. He jumped up, avoiding the water.
"Why you...!" Natsu growled. To see that his fire didn't even leave Gray dazed showed just how effective Trevor's magic was on them. "Fire Dragon's Brilliant...!" As he raised both hands, summoning a flame on the left and a flame on the right, he was soon interrupted by Trevor, who could do more than enchant.
"Bestow: Soul Resonance!" Trevor pointed at Natsu, his eyes fully locked onto him.
"Wha-? Urgh!" Natsu was suddenly wracked with a terrible pain. His eyes were wide, and he could feel his very soul being attacked. It was an indescribable sensation, but it was hurting him.
"You won't get to finish that move. I've created a resonance between your soul and mine. Right now, you're feeling all of my magic and its effects. Any harm I feel will be sent to you. Such as this...!" Trevor then struck his own chest, a sharp pain going through him.
Natsu also felt the pain, groaning as his body shook. He was unable to move, and it was as if his soul was being pulled apart. "Guah!" Natsu cried, the pain stunning him. This left him wide open to an attack, which Gray and Juvia gladly capitilized on.
"Ice Make: Hammer!" Gray appeared above Natsu, his hammer held high.
"Water Slicer: Triple Shot!" Juvia's water blades were ready to launch from below.
Both Gray and Juvia unleashed their attacks, the Water Slicer slicing his body and the Ice Hammer sending him crashing into the ground. Natsu tumbled, the ground shaking from the impact as he crashed into it. He managed to recover, sliding across the ground, but still feeling greatly staggered.
Gray descended, running forward to put the pressure on Natsu. As the Dragon Slayer raised his head, he was met with a powerful right hoof from Gray, hitting him in the chin. Gray then began a fierce assault of punches to Natsu, each hit sending him staggering and his soul ringing with pain. Trevor made sure to keep himself injured, constantly banging against his own body.
"Grahh! Dammit!" Natsu swung his fists, his movements slowed. But even with the pain, he still managed to get in a few hits, making Gray stagger. Natsu was still capable of fighting, and he had a trick up his sleeve. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" He exhaled a stream of fire from his mouth, aiming it at Gray.
However, Gray wasn't bothered. His hands were glowing with magical energy, and his hoof was covered with ice. "Ice-Make: Wall!" He shouted, his fist now encased with ice. He opened his hand, pressing it against Natsu's chest. Natsu looked down as Gray's ice began to form, spreading all over his body and freezing him in place.
It also pushed Natsu back, having a massive Ice Wall pin him against another wall. It was a powerful wall, one that kept Natsu in place. Gray smirked, knowing that he had the upper hand.
"Hah...Well done. Keep up the pressure." Trevor panted as he clutched his chest. Obviously, hitting himself to throw Natsu off balance was detrimental to him. "I've never really had to be in a serious conflict, so I'm not used to doing this." He grunted. If only he had more battles like this. Then perhaps his body would be able to greatly resist such damage being dealt on him.
"Just keep yourself steady. You'll be fine." Juvia reassured him, knowing that he was still in a fragile state. She kept herself ready for a counterattack, watching Natsu.
"Don't mess with me!" Natsu yelled, unleashing a burst of fire from his body that would blow the Ice Wall away. He was free, but as soon as the Ice Wall was destroyed, Gray was nowhere to be found. Only Juvia and Trevor were right there. "What the! Where did he-"
Before he could get an answer, Gray reappeared right behind him. He had been hiding the ice explosion, waiting for the perfect moment. "Ice-Make: Sword!" He thrust his arms out, a large, icy sword appearing in his hands. He was going for the mightiest blow yet.
"!" Natsu looked down, trying to defend himself in time, but it was too late. The blade connected, slashing his body and sending him flying. He crashed through a building, shattering the roof before falling into the nearby sea.
"That should do the trick. No way he can handle all that water, even with his fire." Gray took a deep breath, standing tall. He had Trevor to thank for even pulling this off.
"We did it together! Oh, how lovely!" Juvia suddenly hugged Gray from behind, causing him to grimace. "Hah. For our first mission together, it's already looking like a success~"
"I-It's mine and Lucy's mission though..." Gray groaned but Juvia ignored Lucy's name entirely.
"I'll need some time to heal myself." Trevor stood up while clutching his chest, walking over to them both. "I don't think it will take long. My magic should also be running out on you both. I wouldn't count it out just yet." He then walked off, going into a private spot to relax.
Gray then noticed something. The water started bubbling around the spot that Natsu was thrown to. The bubbles started increasing rapidly, violently appearing and popping seconds later. Juvia and Trevor would soon notice this as steam seemed to appear from it. An ominous feeling washed over them all as this meant only one thing.
Natsu was not down for long. If anything, that combined assault only pushed him back for a little while. He was more than ready to re-emerge and spring back into action.
"No way...!" Gray was in disbelief.
"Not even half an hour and he's ready to keep going." Trevor grunted, clutching his chest some more. "I don't think I can continue harming myself to slow him down."
"What do we do!?" Juvia questioned, genuinely worried. Granted, Natsu was taking some time to re-emerge, but when he does, he'll certainly exert more power. Gray wished to save Erza and catch up with Lucy to defend the library, but as long as Natsu was here, that would be incredibly difficult. Natsu was just a force of nature to them.
"Hraaaaaah!" Natsu's voice could be heard as he jumped out of the ocean, evaporating parts of the water. He landed on the ground, making a small crater from his impact. He was far from his original location that he fought the three of them at, but not too far. Trevor sensed that it wasn't going to take him too long to come their way.
"It's impossible!" Gray shook his head, not even knowing what to do now. "That slash should've put him down for a while!"
"At this rate, we won't be able to stop his advances. At least, I won't." Trevor looked down, deciidng on something. "Clearly, you two are much more equipped at fighting than I am."
"But do you even have the strength to use your Bestow Magic right now? You hurt yourself pretty badly." Gray pointed out.
"No. I can't do anything that will benefit me. But I can benefit the two of you." Trevor held his hand out, his magic circling around it. "Bestow: Gift of the Guardian Being..." He said as his magic would flow to them both.
Gray and Juvia watched as an ethereal aura washed over them both. It was as if their strength was rising, their energy increasing. As if they were becoming super-charged, feeling far more powerful than before. Their eyes opened in wonder, feeling Trevor's magic coursing through them both. Afterwards, Trevor dropped to his knees, obviously feeling weak from that.
"I'm afraid this is all I can do for you right now. Within you, his power resides, granting you great physical strength and magic. It can't go on for long, but the Gift of the Guardian Being should last for at least an hour. Make use of it." Trevor slumped, sighing as he leaned forward. "At least head to the library and ensure that the books are safe."
"I got it." Gray held onto Trevor, helping him up. "Come on, don't strain yourself. You've already done a lot for us."
"Go. Before he catches up with you." Trevor pleaded. Gray and Juvia understood, realizing they had very little time.
"Alright, let's go, Juvia!" Gray declared, placing Trevor down safely and rushing off.
"A-Alright, darling~!" Juvia squeed at the sound of Gray telling her to do something as she followed him right away.
"Hah...Hah..." Natsu let out a low growl, steam rising from his skin as the heat of his energy evaporated the water clinging to him. His body felt heavier than before. The fierce clash with the three had left more damage than he expected. He clenched his fists, staring down at them, his arms trembling slightly.
"They actually pushed me back? All because of that?" The crater around him marked his impact, but the deeper wounds were the ones he felt beneath his skin. A dull ache pulsed through his chest with each breath, and his limbs burned—not from the fire he controlled, but from the strain of the battle. The enhanced power they wielded had been far beyond what he had anticipated.
"I should be stronger than this. Why aren't I?" Natsu said to himself. "I trained for 400 years and yet...it feels like I'm lacking. I know I should be stronger...Unless..." Natsu let out a light gasp, wondering if those 400 Years of Training we mitigated somehow. Almost as if he was purposefully being held back from his true potential.
He staggered for a moment, catching himself as his legs wavered. The ocean behind him roared, as if mocking his retreat. Natsu glared at the horizon where he'd been forced back.
However, it would have to wait. Natsu knew he couldn't let anyone stop him from his main goal: reaching the library to obtain the books inside. "I'll think about it later. Right now, I gotta get those books. And along the way, I'll clobber those guys!"
[hr]
Lisia's Demonic Claw sliced through the air as Tessia was greatly injured for having to deal with her solo. Flames licked at the walls, casting jagged shadows across the crumbling space. Lisia halted for a moment, her sharp eyes narrowing as she surveyed the scene. Her expression was calm, but beneath it simmered growing frustration.
The books… they were gone, hidden away by a desperate gambit. Tessia's futile resistance had bought them time, but only just. Lisia could feel the faint pulse of the lost magic, like a whisper on the wind, but its exact location eluded her.
Tessia, still struggling to her feet, winced as she raised her arms in a defensive stance. Lisia barely spared her a glance, her mind already calculating the next move. The others would be trying to put as much distance between her and the books as possible, but they wouldn't get far. Not with the trail still warm.
"I'll find them," Lisia said, her voice low but cutting through the crackle of the Demonic Flames.
Tessia breathed heavily, her resolve faltering but still present. "Y-You'll have to...go through me first." she spat, though even she knew her strength was waning.
Lisia tilted her head slightly, a faint smile curling at the edge of her lips. "I already have. This is where it ends, I'm afraid." She approached Tessia, grabbing her by the neck as her companions watched as they were unable to help her. "For all of you, I will make sure you're free of this stress." She held her hand over her face, stroking her cheek. "What a pity, to have met such a beautiful face only to know it's over so soon."
Lisia closed her fingers slightly, the Demon's Claw morphing into a more claw-like formation. Tessia grunted, trying to break free but was far too weak to push her away.
"Demonic Body: Soul Absorption." Lisia coldly said
The sudden cry of agony and pleasure that erupted from Tessia made the others gasp in shock and horror. They could see the eerie darkness seep from Tessia and flow towards Lisia's mouth, causing her own energy to spark in response. The flow was immense, showing that Lisia was no simple enemy.
She felt more like a demon.
Tessia shuddered and moaned as she felt herself being drained. And just like that, her soul had been absorbed, with Lisia no longer having to struggle to pull it from her. Tessia as soon dropped, her body limp and lifeless as it landed in a heap at Lisia's feet. She didn't waste time, gathering the remaining energy in her claws and sucking it in as well. It was enough to get a powerful surge flowing through her.
The other librarians were appalled but there was nothing they could do as Lisia walked forward to continue her mission. It wasn't long until the smell of blood and ash wafted through the air. Lisia strode past a trail of bodies, all drained of life. She didn't spare a second glance for the men and women who had been her opponents only moments before.
One thing was clear: none of them would be standing in her way now.
"Her soul, like many others, will peacefully rest within me," Lisia muttered to herself as she continued her pursuit. With the amount of souls she had gained, she wouldn't need to worry about consuming anyone else. For now.
Her eyes lingered briefly on the doorway, noting how the room had been cleared out. The books had been taken, though not by her. They couldn't have gone far, however. That much was certain.
[hr]
Gwendolyn's Spatial Hold still kept Erza in check, restraining her in this limited space. However, Gwendolyn knew she could not keep this up for long. Keeping Erza trapped for this long was a tall task, and she was starting to feel the strain.
"I can't...hold it for much longer!" Gwendoly grit her teeth as she willingly let her Spatial Hold go, knowing that it would be pointless to keep this up. She would just harm her arms some more.
Erza was finally free, and she wasted no time in charging at Gwendolyn. She was ready to finish this fight. "You're mine!" She yelled as she swung her sword, aiming for the woman's neck.
"Fathom: Void Step!" Gwendolyn quickly said as she momentarily compressed space, instantly stepping from one location to another within a short range. She was able to avoid Erza's attack, causing her to miss.
"What!?" Erza gasped, surprised that Gwendolyn was able to dodge her attack. She didn't have time to think as Gwendolyn appeared elsewhere, effectively teleporting. As soon as she turned around, Gwendolyn attacked, finally going on the offensive.
"Fathom: Space Compression!" By putting her hands together and tightening them, Gwendolyn created a small black hole that sucked in nearby objects or people, before exploding and releasing a wave of energy that damaged everything caught in the blast.
"Damn it!" Erza was quick to react, using her sword to deflect the blast. She was able to redirect it away from her, but the impact was still strong. She was pushed back, sliding on the ground. "A black hole?!"
"Everyone at the Library doesn't battle that often, but that won't stop us from doing what we can to protect the Lost Magic. I'll do my best to keep it safe!" Gwendolyn declared, her eyes gleaming with determination.
"Pointless. In Master Natsu's future, he'll get what he deserves. And it is my duty to see to it that he does." Erza said, getting back up and ready for another round. Right before Gwendoly's eyes, she would Requip into another armor, this time a revealing one. It was a black and red, with a corset-like top that exposed her breasts. She also wore a thong, with a bladed whip in her hand.
Clearly, it was another armor given to her by the Void Kingdom in an attempt to slowly remove anything that relates back to her time in Fairy Tail. There were long thigh-high armored boots with the material of ruby. In fact, the entire armor's texture and material seemed to be made out of rubies.
Two hair accessories in the shape of blades formed on the sides of her head as she gained a long red cape to top it all off, followed by a mark of the Void Kingdom on the back of it. "Requip: Ruby Mail!"
Upon emerging in this armor, Erza's eyes flashed as she swung the bladed whip, immediately. By doing so, she was able to wrap it around Gwendolyn's neck, pulling her closer. "This is the end for you." She said as she was able to lift her up, choking her.
"G-Gah!" Gwendolyn struggled to breathe, feeling the whip tighten around her neck. She couldn't move, and her vision was starting to blur. She was helpless.
"You should have never gotten involved. You're just a weakling." Erza said, her eyes cold and unforgiving. She was ready to kill. Whatever this weapon was, it was messing with her vision and movements as rubies started growing out of her body. These rubies would make her body stagger as she kept getting closer to Erza.
"F-Fathom!" She would still try and do something, but her body was too weak. She was unable to use her magic, and the whip was too tight. She couldn't breathe.
"Red Way!" Erza cried out as she would then remove her blade before swinging it at Gwendolyn, unleashing a full-force slash that would cut her in half. However, she was seemingly cut in half. As her face spoke untold terror, suddenly, it fizzled out, revealing it was just an illusion.
"Wh-What!?" Erza gasped, shocked that she had been fooled. She was about to turn around, but she was too late.
"Fathom: Mirage Space!" Gwendolyn suddenly appeared behind Erza, her eyes glowing with power. Space itself started bending, creating a mirage of herself. She used this as a chance to distance herself from Erza, and she was able to get a few feet away.
"You're not getting away!" Erza was quick to chase after her, but Gwendolyn was faster. She was able to create a spatial distortion by bending space yet again, playing tricks on Erza's mind. Gwendoly would appear multiple times, multiple mirages of herself all running in different directions.
"Where are you?!" Erza would swing her whip, hitting the illusions. She would try and attack the real one, but it was no use. She couldn't pinpoint which one was the real Gwendolyn.
"Fathom: Time Stop!" Gwendolyn said, and suddenly, time froze around her. This was the power of Fathom, to temporarily stop time and manipulate it to her will. She was able to take this chance and create some distance between her and Erza. Thanks to her magic, Gwendolyn played defense exceptionally well. Even if she wanted to play offensively, she knew that in terms of strength, Erza had her beat.
In Erza's mind, this was more than a nuisance. It was stopping her from seeing Natsu's dreams come true. From seeing his accomplishments be done. Would she fail here and not see her Master's wishes come true?
In Erza's mind, she has been brainwashed to forget about Fairy Tail and only care about serving Natsu and the Void Kingdom. However, despite forgetting about Fairy Tail, one part of her past self remained. The drive to succeed for the sake of someone she loves.
She loved Natsu. He was the man she loved. Even though her mind was forced to do so, just like how she would fight for her friends, she would fight to her very core just for Natsu's sake.
"You...are just a weakling..." She growled, gripping her blade. The time field around Erza was beginning to shatter as she slowly started breaking free. Her strength was starting to show as Gwendolyn witnessed the field of Time shattering. Rubies started piercing through it as Erza let out a powerful yell, slicing the air. "For Master Natsu...I won't fail!"
"This can't be...!" Gwendolyn gasped as Erza finally broke through, cutting the field in half as rubies flew everywhere. Gwendolyn was stunned by this stupendous strength. To think that someone like this was coming for the Lost Magic. It made her shudder in fear.
Erza was finally freed from the time field and was ready to finish her mission. She was still in the Ruby Mail, but the rubies that grew on her started to disappear as her body was starting to crackle with dark energy. "You've done nothing but stall for time." She said, her voice low and dangerous. "It's time I finished this."
"Kh..." Gwendolyn shuddered, attempting to hold her back some more. But Erza was prepared this time. No longer will Gwendolyn stall for time.
"Red Overthrow!" Erza suddenly swung her blade upwards, slicing the air in a large arc. As a result, a shockwave was unleashed, and a fiery explosion erupted. It was an overwhelming attack, and Gwendolyn was hit with it head-on.
"GAAAAAHHHH!" She was sent flying, hitting the wall with a sickening crack. Her body was charred, and her clothes were tattered. Her glasses were shattered, and she was barely conscious. Gwendolyn then fell to the ground, landing flat on her face as the building collapsed around her.
Erza huffed, looking around at the destruction that had been caused as she lowered her sword, leaving her Requip state and returning to normal. Her eyes were still cold and unforgiving. She would have to search for the Lost Magic now, continuing on her way with seemingly no one to stop her from reaching the God's Library.
Gwendolyn watched as Erza ran off, trying to break free from the rubble beneath her. However, her body failed her as her eyes closed shut, unable to move. "No...the Lost Magic...has to be protected..." She muttered as she slowly drifted into unconsciousness.
[hr]
Lucy had finally reached the God's Library, specifically on the outside. And as she arrived, she saw that its barrier had a hole in it, caused by Lisia. Seeing this made Lucy gasp as she feared that she was too late. "Oh no...!" She cried out, running through the broken barrier and into the library.
As she entered, she immediately saw that, for the most part, it was perfectly clean. It was kept the way it was as not a single bit of damage was done to the place. However, Lucy did notice a lack of bookshelves containing all the Lost Magic in the various rooms she passed by. Lisia hadn't taken anything. It was merely the act of Asher and the other librarians minimizing the bookshelves.
Lucy hurried up the steps, searching for anyone that may be left. The further she went, she finally saw them. The many librarians that Lisia defeated as well as the lifeless body of Tessia. It was a devastating sight, and it made Lucy shudder. "!" She gasped, her hand covering her mouth. It looked like Tessia was dead, the soul from her body being taken away. Everyone else here had passed out.
Lucy went up to Tessia, checking for any signs of life. She felt for a pulse, but there was none. Lucy was distraught, and she shook her head. "If I got here sooner...then maybe I could've-"
However, just then, she noticed that the woman was breathing. "She's alive?!" Lucy realized, a look of relief on her face. It was a miracle. Losing her soul didn't mean the definitive end for her. However, she couldn't do anything. She might as well be dead.
Lucy stood up, hurrying up the stairs. She had to find Asher and the others. She hoped they were still alive as well and not in terrible conditions. Because at the end of the day, the books had to be protected. As she left this room, she would move up to the higher levels of this massive library, searching for any sign of the librarians or anyone else.
Lucy searched and searched, finding not a single soul. It was almost as if everyone had been transported elsewhere. She began to panic, realizing that it was up to her until Gray and Juvia get here. If they can. But eventually, after passing by some rooms, she saw something up ahead. Or rather someone.
It was Lisia.
There she stood, in front of a large door that seemed to lead to an even bigger part of the library. And as soon as Lucy was within her vicinity, the calm yet intimidating woman turned her head, looking back at Lucy with this ominous yet welcoming glare.
"Oh my...From the magic I can sense from you, you are a Celestial Mage. You're a little late, aren't you?" Lisia said softly, her smile growing wider. Lucy was now in Lisia's way and much like the others, a target that had to be dealt with.
