Bandit Encampment, 5 minutes later.
"Way of the Unsheathed Sword: Strong Form." Kagura muttered, as her grip on her blade changed, both hands holding onto the sword - which would have a slight red glow to it. With a sudden flick of her wrist, the sheathed blade came crashing into the side of a bandit, sending him flying with more force than should have been present, behind the swing. "That makes three." Kagura muttered, her feet moving forwards in a slow and methodical manner, as she stared at the next group of bandits, before her.
"We're the hell did these bitches come from!?" One bandit shouted.
"Does it matter? Take them down!"
"Yeah, it's just one chick - she can't stop us all!"
With renewed confidence, the group of five Bandits would rush towards the swordswomen, their different weapons raised as they prepared to pounce in a group. However, when they were only ten or so feet away from Kagura, she'd slam her blade into the ground, with a heavy thud - as the charging bandits would feel a crushing pressure, before falling into the ground. "Gravity Magic: Earth." Kagura muttered, as a pinkish-purple magic circle appeared above the Bandits, sending them crashing into the floor, with pained gasps. Releasing the spell after a few moments, Kagura would scoff a little at the sheer display of bravado exhibited by the bandits, as they fell unconscious only after a few seconds of the pressure.
Turning around, Kagura would have just enough time to catch sight of a man lunging at her face, with a dagger drawn. "Where did he come from..!?" Raising her own sword to try and intercept, Kagura eyes would widen, as she realized she wouldn't react fast enough to stop the attack. Though before the dagger could catch her eye, Kagura would notice as a large demonic claw grappled the man's head, as the owner of said claw zipped past, dragging Kagura's would be assassin with, as his head slammed into a wall, rendered unconscious immediately - as a small dust cloud formed, in the wake of the crash.
"You're getting slow, Kagura." Mira would smirk, as the dust cloud dissipated. No longer looking the same as she did before, Mira would have a much more demonic-like appearance, to her. Her hair would be much more wild, standing up with a thicker look to it. At the same time, her Gothic attire would be replaced with a dark pink almost one piece swimsuit-esq outfit. Her legs being covered in thigh highs matching in shade to the outfit, with black zigzags going down the front of each. Mira would also have large, leathery, bat-like wings protruding from her back, as both her hands were replaced by large claws, with her forearms being covered in scales, with fin-like protrusions getting from the sides. Finally, she'd have a long, thick tail - which would flick back and forth, behind her. "With that one down, that marks 10 for me." Mira mused, as her eyes scanned around the Encampment, noticing the downed bodies by Kagura.
"I would've been fine, Mira." Kagura lied, as she looked away, a look of annoyance on her face. "I've taken down eight, so far. So there shouldn't be many left. Though I'm surprised it's been this quiet… I would have expected it to be much louder, with Natsu fighting Wyverns." Kagura muttered, as she looked around.
As if on cue, a loud crash could be heard as the body of a wyvern came crashing through one of the small huts, skidding to a halt not too far away from the two women. The wyvern was rather small, only about 12 feet long, from tail to snout. Its scales were a deep crimson red, almost black, before transitioning to a more whitish tone, around the belly. The talons on its legs were cracked and shattered, with a few being broken off completely, as its large tail thrashed against the floor, before going limp. It's two large wings remained at its sides, as small holes were present in the webbing - likely due to whatever Natsu did to the creature, before it died. With a whistle, Mira would examine the dragon slayer's handiwork, with an almost impressed look.
"Give credit where credit is due. The pinky actually fucked this thing up." Mira said, with a little grin, before looking towards where it came from.
"Hey, I heard that!" Natsu yelled from the other side of the now collapsed hut, a tick mark forming on his forehead at the unwanted nickname.
Before Natsu could do anything else, however, he'd quickly turn on the swivel of his heel, his left hand stretching outwards, as his palm came into contact with the head of a charging wyvern. "Tch. Fire Dragon's Grip Strike!" Natsu shouted, his hand becoming costed with flames as he gripped down onto the Wyvern's head, with a small explosion of fire. Letting go of the wyvern, his knee would then shoot up and into the underside of the wyverns jaw, sending the beasts head upwards, with a pained growl, as Natsu spun around - driving the dole of his foot into the Wyvern's now exposed stomach "Fire Dragons Talon!" He shouted, as the wyvern was sent flying backwards.
"Alright, I think I got all the wyverns!" Natsu called, as he walked towards the two Mermaid Heel mages.
Kagura would look towards Natsu with an impressed look, having been shocked at how easily he handled the Wyvern's. "I suppose it makes sense. He was trained to kill Dragons, after all." She mused.
Mira, on the other hand, looked at Natsu with a blank expression on her face - her eyes narrowing slightly, as if she were analyzing his movements. Suddenly, her face would break out into a grin, as her eyes gleamed. "That's it, I've decided! We so gotta fight, when we get back!" The woman exclaimed, excitement in her voice.
Natsu would only look at Mira, with a bemused look. Examining her new appearance briefly, Natsu would give a nod of understanding - thinking The Demon was indeed a very appropriate nickname for her. "Fight? I don't know about that. I feel like you'd make mincemeat out of me." Natsu responded, with a low laugh, as he stopped walking.
"You took out Onee-sama and I, Natsu. I feel as if you'd be able to best Mira, too." Kagura said, a small smile present.
"Like hell he could! He's right to fear me, you know!" Mira exclaimed angrily, as her body was overcome with a sudden light - reverting back to her original form, in the process.
"Riiiiight. Well, we can ponder who kicks who later." Natsu sweatdropped, while looking around at wreckage caused, and the unconscious men. "Right. So did you guys get everyone?" He questioned, while walking towards the dead wyvern, that was sent flying through the hut.
"I want to say yes - but I feel as if some were able to retreat. By our count, we only took down 18 - but there should've been at least 20." Kagura responded, as her chin rested on her hand, as she looked deep in thought.
"If you weren't slacking, we could've taken out more, Kagura!" Mira replied snappily, as she crossed her arms and hugged. Though she'd notice Natsu examining the dead wyvern. "Why are you staring so intently at that thing? It's dead, ain't it?" She questioned.
"Sadly, it is. Based on the size of them, and how none of the wyverns had horns - they were young, and quite young at that." Natsu mused, before standing up from his crouching position. "But their scales are far too dark. Dark scales like that - they don't form on wyverns until they get really old. Plus, look at their wounds - their blood has some form of black to it. Like it's tainted." Natsu explained, as he suddenly Re-Quipped a small vial, getting the beast's blood secured in it, before sending the vial away.
"You can Re-Quip?" Mira asked, surprise on her face as she did.
"I don't think that's what's relevant right now, Mira." Kagura responded, as she looked at the wyvern. After Natsu pointed it out, she could see the differences clear as day - something was clearly wrong with the wyverns.
"Oh, yeah. You weren't there, so you wouldn't know. Yeah, I can Re-Quip. Not as efficiently as Erza, though." Natsu responded, as he surveyed the encampment, once more.
"Nah, you can probably use it better. That Tin Can is weak as hell." Mira scoffed, with a smirk.
"As if you're one to talk. Last I recalled, Onee-sama beat you the last time you fought." Kagura responded, matter of fact, like.
"The fight was a draw! Besides, it was only because she got a cheap shot in on me!" Mira argued back, as she got in Kagura's face.
"Oh please. Onee-sama would've won any day of the week, and you know that!" Kagura srgued back, as she got a tick mark.
Natsu would watch in amusement and confusion, as the two women fought as they did. "What the hell's their issue?" He sweatdropped. "I've never seen Kagura heated like this. Maybe Ultear wasn't exaggerating, about their dislike." As Natsu thought, his nose would suddenly catch a whiff of something gnarly, with a wild smell to it. Looking around for the source of the smell, Natsu would take a few steps forwards, towards the middle of the encampment, with narrowed eyes. Listening in closely, Natsu's eyes would suddenly shoot wide open, as he turned to his two companions. "Guys, we have company!"
Hearing Natsu's shouting, Mira and Kagura would look towards the dragon slayer, confusion on their faces, as they saw nothing.
"What? There's no one here, Pin-" as Mira was mid-sentence, she'd feel the ground shake beneath her feet - her eyes widening in realization. "Take-Over: Satan Soul!" Mira shouted, her appearance reverting back to the much more demonic one that she had, prior. With a flap of her wings, Mira would launch herself upwards - watching as Kagura jumped off to the side, just in time for the earth to open up, as a large beast shot through the ground. Mira would stay in the air, looking down at whatever it was that just jumped through the ground - with a shocked expression, at what she saw. "What… what is that, guys!?" She called out, just as the beast let out a powerful roar, causing all three mages to have to brace themselves, to prevent themselves from flying backwards.
Kagura looked on in complete confusion, at what she was staring at. The beast had the same head and scales, as the wyverns from earlier. Despite that, however, the body was leviathan in nature - being long and slithery. Despite that, it's four legs were very much reptilian - without the traditional webbing that most leviathans would have, to help them swim faster. Along its back was a form of plating, too - as if it was armored, with some form of hardened magma, almost. Completely unnatural on a leviathan, which generally need to be able to move around with flexibility. The most prominent feature, however, was the two pointy drill-like appendages, protruding from its shoulders. All the while, an eerie dark aura would emanate from the abomination, with oily black tendrils wreathing around it. "I don't know, Mira. But - whatever it is, it's not normal." Kagura responded, as she gripped her blade tighter.
"You can say that again, Kagura." Natsu responded, as he narrowed his eyes, at the beast. "This thing is an abomination. It's not natural." As he said that, his sword would flash into his left hand, as he got down into a quickdraw stance. "That energy… it's the same as the wyverns, before they died.." Natsu thought, with a dark look on his face. "Dragon Sword Form: Crimson Slash; Rain of Fire!" Natsu shouted, as he quickly drew his blade, sending an orangish red streak of fire shot towards the beast. As the attack collided, the streak of fire would suddenly multiply, turning into a wide assortment of flaming cuts and slashes, that seemingly rained down on the abomination - which let out a pained cry.
As if to respond, the beast would pounce upon Natsu, in an instant. It's movement was sloppily, as if the legs were moving separately and not together - allowing Natsu to easily avoid the creature, as it's body slammed into the ground, face first. However, before it made contact with the floor, the drill-like appendages would shoot forwards, clamping together before beginning to rotate - allowing for the creature to burrow through the ground, with ease. The mages would all stare wide eye at this - they knew the creature could burrow, but to see it happen in front of them was completely different; as those appendages were being used like drills.
"Whatever this thing is, it's not normal! I could hear it's bones crunching, as it started to… drill into the ground!" Natsu shouted, as the beast shot back out of the earth, in mere seconds. This time, however, it's wyvern-like head would have its jaw wide open, as it went flying towards Mira, who was still in the air. Just before the beast clamped down on Mira, a purplish-pink magic circle would form between the two, as the beast was sent shooting downwards.
"Gravity Magic: Earth!" Kagura shouted, her own eyes wide as the beast managed to contort its body mid-air, under the added gravity, into the perfect position to drill right back down and through the earth. "Now who's getting slow, Mira!?" Kagura shouted, cutting off the gravity magic with the target no longer visible.
"Tch! I was just surprised, is all!" Mira responded, as an orb of dark magic suddenly formed in her clawed hand, her eyes quickly darting and scanning around the ground, waiting for it to reappear. "Come on, you freaky bastard - I've got you this time!" Mira shouted, angrily.
Natsu would wait cautiously, feeling the slight tremors in the earth, as the creature moved. Even that was weird, to him - a creature of this size digging though the earth should be a lot more noticable, and yet it barely felt like anything was there. "Kagura, Mira, get ready! I'm gonna smoke the damn thing out!" As Natsu said this, he would quickly run over to the most recent burrow hole, staring down into the large tunnel. Sucking in air, Natsu would create a tunnel in front of his mouth, with his hands, before exhaling a large stream of fire down into the burrow hole. "Fire Dragon's Roar!"
As if on cue, the beast would suddenly leap out of the ground, a few moments later - its body singed and smoking, as a plume of fire erupted from the ground with it. Landing on its feet, it would charge towards Kagura, likely due to her being the nearest person - with his mouth wide, ready to chomp down on the woman.
"Not so fast, you freak of nature! Evil Explosion!" Mira shouted, as the orb of dark energy shot out from her palm, colliding with the back of the beast, in a large explosion - sending it crashing off to the side. The beast wouldn't stay down for long, however, as it's head quickly reared upwards, staring Mira dead on.
Opening its mouth, a large gout of flames would shoot out and towards Mira, catching the Take-Over mage, and everyone else, by surprise. Recovering from said surprise, however, Mira would quickly dash out of the way with a flap of her wings - though not fast enough to dodge the attack completely, as her left leg and tail were caught in the flames, causing the woman to curse in pain.
"Of course it can breathe fire!" Natsu groaned, as his feet landed on the back of the beast, his hand on the topside of its head. "Fire Dragons Heatwave!" Natsu shouted, as his own gout of flames shout out of the palm of his hand, completely engulfing the creatures head, as he stood stop it.
"Nice, Natsu!" Kagura cried, as she appeared at the creature's side, her sword glowing with purplish-pink energy once more, as it slammed into the creature's front leg, forcing it to collapse. "Way of the Unsheathed Sword: Strong Form!" Kagura shouted, jumping back immediately afterwards. Mid-jump, however, she'd notice the large drill-like appendages moving erratically, her eyes widening as they both turned inwards towards Natsu, and angle that should've been impossible for them to turn on - or so Kagura thought.
"Natsu, get out of there!" Mira shouted, having noticed the same thing, just the two drills shot forwards. Having heard Mira, Natsu quickly shot up into the air, thanks to a small explosion of flames from his feet. However, he would still feel one of the drills dig along the side of his leg, tearing a hole in his baggy pants, and causing blood to gush out of his body.
"Fuck-!" Natsu groaned in pain, as he landed in the floor; collapsing onto one knee, as his now injured leg gave way to his weight. "Kagura, move!" Natsu shouted, giving the swordswomen enough time to realize her own predicament - as the side of the large beast slammed into her, sending the swordswomen flying off to the side, with a meaty thud. Realizing that the creature was charging him, Natsu would raise his sword, just in time to use it as leverage, in preventing the beast from closing its mouth around him, with a chomp.
"Darkness Stream!" Mira shouted out, as a dark magic circle appeared under the beast. Suddenly, these large tendrils of dark energy shot out of the magic circle, lashing out against the beast, with heavy thuds. This seemed to do little more than agitate the creature, however, as it put extra effort into trying to bite Natsu.
Kagura would stand up shakily from where she was currently lying, blood looking around one of her eyes, as a cut formed on her forehead, due to her little ragdolling. With a grimace, she'd raise her hand, pointing it outstretched towards Natsu and the beast. "Sorry, Natsu - but you're strong enough to handle this! Gravity Magic: Earth!" Kagura shouted out, as a magic circle appeared above the beast, sending it, and subsequently Natsu, down into the ground, further.
Natsu grimaced in pain, feeling the creature's mouth crash down against his sword further, due to the effect of the gravity magic. Finding himself halfway in the beast's mouth, Natsu would focus his efforts on keeping its jaw pried open; knowing he was more than likely dead, if the creature closed its mouth. Despite his life or death situation, Natsu would notice burn marks along the insides of the beast's mouth, curiously enough. "Is it not resistant to fire?" He thought in surprise, remembering the gout of flames it shot out - as he suddenly had an idea. "Alright you - well - whatever you are! Eat this! Fire Dragons Scorching Furnace!" Natsu shouted, his body engulfed in flames, that began to grow hotter and wider, extending far enough outwards that they began to travel down the creature's throat.
Mira would star from a distance, sure that Natsu was about to die. However, she would look on in surprise, as she saw Natsu's body catch on fire, remembering the flames it shot earlier. "Idiot! It can breathe fir- huh?" Mira finished lamely, noting the pained expression on the creature's face, as it was forced to inhale Natsu's fire. What surprised Mira more, however, was the sheet heat of the fire - as she herself began to sweat, despite being well over 20 feet away from the flames.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu shouted, as a torrent of flames shot from his mouth, directly down the beats throat. To Kagura and Mira, they'd be able to see the creatures snake-like body widening, almost comically, as the flames forced their way down its stomach, before the creature was completely torn apart, due to the pressure building up from the constant stream of fire.
Still crouched on one knee, Natsu would extinguish his body, panting heavily as he cut off the stream of fire - the head of the creature having gone limp around his body, as he heard the beast pop like a balloon. With a groan, he'd lift the head off of his body, tossing it to the side, as she shuttered - his body being covered in the stench of burning bile and saliva. "Seriously… what the fuck was that?" Natsu said, before collapsing onto the floor, on his back.
With a groan, Natsu would open his eyes, once again being bothered by the first rays of sunlight, coming through a nearby window. Leaning up in his bed, Natsu would take a look around the room, trying to examine his surroundings; coming up short, as he noticed no one else in the room. "Man, I really gotta stop passing out, and waking up in strange beds." Natsu muttered to himself, as he tried to stand up.
With a groan, Natsu would hoist himself up onto his feet - suddenly remembering the injury he had received at the hands of… whatever it was. With a hiss of pain, Natsu would Re-Quip his sword, using it as a makeshift walking cane to support his weight. Making his way to the only door he saw, Natsu would focus on his ears, trying to pick up any sound from the opposite side of the door. After a few moments, he'd hear what sounded like Mira, speaking to someone. With a satisfied nod, Natsu would push the door open, walking into what he assumed was some sort of living room. Looking around, he'd spot Mira off to the side, sitting with Kagura as she had just put away a Lacrima.
"Yo. How long have I been out for?" Natsu called out, startling the two women.
Turning her head, Mira would be the first to take sight of Natsu - staring at the pink haired man, as he walked towards them. "Don't startle us, like that!" Mira growled, as she held a hand over her beating heart, with a sigh.
Standing from her seat, Kagura would make her way towards Natsu, with a small smile, as she went to help him stand, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, with a faint blush. "You've only slept through the night, don't worry." Kagura replied, as she helped the man walk towards the third seat, at the little table Mira and Kagura were sitting at.
With a nod, and a thanks, Natsu would sit down in the spare seat, looking around the room. "Where are we?" He questioned, not bothering to reply to Mira.
Speaking of, Mira would notice the faint blush on Kagura's face, as she helped to walk Natsu to the chair. "Does Kagura like Natsu?" Mira thought, before a slight frown spread across her face. "Wait - why am I frowning?" She realized, as she shook her head quickly. "We're in a spare house. Mermaid Heel helps Port Haven out, quite a bit. So, to help accommodate, they've provided this house as lodging, for whenever one of our mages is in the area." Mira explained, her arms gesturing outwards, as she did.
Natsu nodded his head in understanding, as he leaned back in the chair. He took note of Mira and Kagura's condition; noticing the bandages wrapped around Miras left leg, and the gauze around Kagura's head. "Looks like we all got roughed up, a little." Natsu thought, with a sigh.
"We were thinking about leaving once you woke up - but it's up to whether or not you feel up for it, Natsu." Kagura explained, as she sat across from the dragon slayer.
"Yeah, that's fine… wait, didn't Hobin leave after dropping us off?" Natsu questioned.
"Yeah, he would've - but we'll be getting transport back, another way." Mira responded, as she stood up. Walking over to the nearby windows, she'd open up the curtains, revealing a magic vehicle, with a smirk. "That's how we'll be getting back. I should be able to get us back to Gracia in a few hours." Mira stated, before letting the curtain shut, once again.
"Ugh. It just has to be a vehicle." Natsu groaned, as he hung his head. "At least it'll be quicker than the carriage." Natsu deadpanned.
"He has severe motion sickness." Kagura stated, as she noticed Miras confusion.
Mira would just burst out laughing, at this, as she looked at the pink haired mage. "That's funny, hah!" Mira laughed, as she teased the dragon slayer.
Natsu just scoffed, standing up with the help of his sword, as he began walking towards the door. "Laugh all you want. It'll make me feel better when I puke in your car." Natsu laughed, as he walked over to the front door of the house, walking out and towards the vehicle, clearly ready to get the drive down with.
Hearing this, Mira would suddenly have a panicked look on her face - as she quickly rushed out after Natsu. "I swear to all that is holy if you puke in my car you're dead!" Mira screamed.
Kagura would only sigh, watching as Mira practically shoved Natsu into the backseat of the vehicle, while handing him a bucket. "Where did she get the bucket?" Kagura pondered, as she walked out of the house, and made her way to the front passenger seat - ready to get back to the guild hall.
There we go! Sorry if this and last chapter was a little awkward. Just trying to get a transition into the first major arc of the story - which we got a small sneak peek at, with the introduction of the abomination. Speaking of - sorry if it was hard to get a clear idea of what it looked like, in your heads! Though I will say that was kind of the point. Thanks for all your support, and until next time!