Chapter-7: She-Devil & Dragoness
Aurelia, with Erza and Mira
The streets of Aurelia were a haunting sight. Poisonous mists coiled through the shattered ruins, and massive bone spikes jutted out from collapsed buildings, creating a grim, otherworldly landscape. Every breath carried the acrid sting of venom, a deathly reminder of the demons' hold over the city.
Mira strode confidently through the streets in her Satan Soul, her form radiating dark energy. This transformation made her immune to low-level poisons, and her calm expression betrayed no concern for the toxic surroundings. Beside her, Erza walked with purpose, her crimson hair flowing as a faint fiery glow emanated from her skin. Her newfound Dragon Physiology burned away the poison in the air before it could touch her lungs, purifying each breath she took.
Mira's eyes scanned the surroundings as she spoke. "Can you pick up any scents?"
Erza shook her head, her grip tightening on one of her swords. "No. The poison saturates everything. I can sense two demons… but no others. Can you?"
Mira's brow furrowed slightly. "Same here. Just those two. If I had to guess, it's Sylthar and Vyx. According to the reports, they're supposed to be a Bone Demon and a Poison Demon, right?"
Erza nodded, her expression hardening. "Yes. Sylthar manipulates bone and constructs those spikes. Vyx spreads poison, and from the looks of this place, she's been busy."
Mira's lips curled into a faint, wicked grin. "Good. I was starting to get bored. They won't know what hit them."
Erza smirked in response. "Let's make sure of it."
The two women pressed onward, their combined presence a force of nature in the corrupted city. Each step brought them closer to the demonic foes who had claimed this place, and neither had any intention of leaving without taking them down.
As Erza and Mira continued their march through the poison-choked streets of Aurelia, the air grew heavier, the poison lingering like a cloud, wrapping around them. The bone spikes that littered the area seemed to pulse with a dark energy, and faint growls echoed in the distance, telling them that Sylthar and Vyx were near.
Mira's eyes glowed faintly, the darkness of her Satan Soul making her even more attuned to the surroundings. "They're close," she muttered. "I can feel the tension in the air. The Bone Demon's energy is different from Vyx's, but both are dangerous."
Erza, her eyes sharp and focused, nodded. "We'll need to work quickly. We don't know how many traps or surprises they have waiting for us."
As they rounded a corner, they saw a massive structure ahead—an old cathedral, its once-pristine spires now crumbling, with bone spikes piercing through the stone. A faint purple mist swirled around the entrance. Erza immediately knew they were about to face Sylthar.
"Ready?" Erza asked, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
Mira gave a sharp nod, a grin playing on her lips. "Always."
With synchronized precision, both women entered the cathedral, and the oppressive atmosphere grew heavier. The air was thick with the stench of death, and the floor beneath their feet was littered with bones—cracked and white, forming a grotesque mosaic of decay. The unsettling energy of the two demons filled the space, their presence more oppressive than the poison-laden air.
"Welcome, intruders," a deep, cold voice echoed from the shadows, the words dripping with malice. Emerging from the darkness, the skeletal form of the Bone Reaver became visible, clad in jagged bone armor that looked like it was forged from the very essence of death itself. His eerie, glowing green eyes locked onto the women, sending a chill down their spines.
The Bone Reaver
Enforcer of Bayle
Rank 3 of the Black Dragon's Forces
A Demon of Rot
Sylthar
"Well, well, well," the Bone Demon rumbled, his voice thick with malice. He eyed Mira first, his gaze contemptuous. "A pretender demon," he sneered and looked at Erza "And Silver-Eye's little Dragoness, what a treat, don't you think, Vyx?"
The air rippled as a mist of dark purple poison swirled around them. From the poisonous haze emerged a striking woman—her skin was pale as death, and her long, silky green hair seemed to shimmer with an unnatural luster. Her pitch-black eyes gleamed with madness, and snake-like scales adorned her face and any visible part of her body. She wore an ensemble of dark, venomous attire that seemed to pulse with a malevolent energy.
The Poisoned Maw
Bayle's Head of Assassasion
Rank 4 of the Black Dragon's Forces
A Demon of Venom
Vyx
Vyx's serpentine smile curled as her dark eyes glinted with malice. "How fortunate we are," she hissed. "Two intruders, so eager to meet their end. What a delightful evening."
Mira's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "It'll be more delightful when your guts paint the ground," she growled, her voice sharp and venomous.
The Bone Demon chuckled, his laughter low and unsettling. "Oh, feisty, that one. Nice touch," he sneered, his bony fingers tapping against his jagged bone armor. "Funny, though... You can have her, Vyx. I'm far more interested in the Dragon."
Erza's eyes narrowed, her grip on her sword tightening. She twirled it in her hand with effortless precision, the blade gleaming ominously in the dim light of the cathedral. "You should be more concerned with your life, Demon," she said coldly, her voice dripping with disdain.
The Bone Reaver's eyes flared with dark amusement, though there was a hint of something deeper, a quiet promise of destruction in his gaze. He slowly flexed his skeletal fingers, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "You'll regret underestimating me, Dragoness. You and your little companion."
Vyx slithered forward, her poisonous miasma swirling around her, leaving a trail of dark fumes in her wake. Her eyes locked onto Mira, narrowing to slits as she assessed her prey. A sinister smile twisted on her lips. "I do enjoy a little... sport before the kill," she purred, her voice thick with venom. "And you, my dear, will make quite the challenge."
Mira's eyes gleamed with excitement and wrath, her aura flaring as she bared her fangs. "I'll enjoy tearing you apart," she spat, her voice dripping with menace and promise.
Erza wasted no time. With a fierce battle cry, she surged forward, her sword raised high. "Dragon Magic: Sword Art - Holy Slash!" She launched herself at the Bone Demon with an explosive burst of speed, catching him off guard. The force of her strike was like a thunderclap, and before Sylthar could even react, the holy blade cut through the air, landing a devastating blow.
Sylthar instinctively raised his arms in an X formation, coating them with hard demonic bones that formed a protective shield. But Erza's blade, amplified by her Dragon Magic, was no ordinary strike. The power behind it was enough to send Sylthar crashing through the walls of the cathedral and tearing through the ground. The entire building groaned under the impact, the structural integrity shattered, and a long gash was carved into the earth, stretching out like a scar.
"Holy Magic?" Sylthar muttered, his voice tinged with a mix of admiration and irritation. "So, she came prepared."
Indeed, Erza's sword was no grand masterpiece. It was a simple, pitch-white knight sword with a sleek, thin blade and minimal design. Yet, imbued with her Dragon Magic and enhanced with a touch of Holy energy, even such a weapon could cut through the darkness with lethal precision. In Erza's hands, it was a weapon of pure destruction.
Erza Scarlet - (Base Dragon Magic Full Power) - 7.5 Million MPL
Erza walked toward the demon with purpose, the glowing star-patterned eye of her Dragon physiology shining brightly in the darkness. Her grin, showing off her sharp dragon fangs, spoke volumes. To Sylthar, she was now more than just a warrior. She was a force of nature, as dangerous as Silver-Eye himself.
Sylthar chuckled darkly, his bones rattling as he slowly stood up from the wreckage. "Well, this is going to be fun," he said, his voice dripping with malicious glee.
Sylthar (Demon Bone Magic Suppressed) - 10 Million
He slammed his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave through the cathedral. "Bone Demon's Bone Forest!" he roared. The floor erupted in a flurry of jagged bone spikes, each one aiming to impale Erza from every direction. The spikes shot up with terrifying speed, filling the space around her.
Erza didn't hesitate. With a powerful backflip, she avoided the first wave of spikes, her agility and speed outmatching the demon's attack. She danced around the deadly projectiles, her movements fluid and precise, as though the very air obeyed her.
"Is that all?" Erza asked, her voice cool and taunting as she landed gracefully on her feet, her sword still at the ready.
"Not quite," came Sylthar's voice from behind her, a twisted grin on his skeletal face.
Erza's eyes widened in shock as she turned just in time to see a massive spike of bone thrusting toward her from behind. The sheer speed of it left her no room to react, and before she could fully turn, she was impaled by the bone, crashing violently into a building. The impact sent rubble flying, and the air was thick with the sound of cracking stone and splintering wood.
For a moment, there was silence. The Bone Demon's laughter echoed through the shattered cathedral.
"You're strong, Dragoness," he said with twisted amusement, stepping closer. "But strength alone won't be enough to defeat me."
Erza slowly pushed herself up from the wreckage, her eyes filled with a burning resolve. The bone spike had shattered upon impact, but her body had taken the hit with sheer willpower. The poison in the air seemed to coil away from her as her dragon physiology worked in overdrive to keep her body at its peak.
Erza's eyes blazed with determination as she stepped back from the clash, the power of her Dragon Magic coursing through her veins. Blood dripped from a cut along her cheek, but the fire in her eyes only intensified.
"You're right about one thing," she growled, wiping the blood from her mouth, "but strength mixed with will? That's what makes a Dragon truly dangerous."
With a burst of speed, she leaped from the wreckage, her blade raised high. "And you'll see just how dangerous I can be," she declared, charging once more. The Bone Demon's skeletal form tensed, his twisted bones cracking as he prepared for her assault.
The clash was deafening. Holy sword met demonic bones with a resounding clang, the ground beneath them shuddering from the force. Erza sidestepped the demon's retaliatory strike, her blade slicing through the air, aiming for Sylthar's exposed neck. The edge of her sword brushed against the thick bone armor but failed to pierce through, the bone not yielding.
Sylthar chuckled, mocking her attempt. "You're going to have to do better than that, Dragoness."
With a swift motion, Erza leapt over the demon, twisting in mid-air. She turned on a dime, her blade flashing as she aimed for his ribs.
"Dragon Magic: Sword Art - Holy Impact!"
Her sword shot forward, glowing with divine light. But Sylthar was quicker. With a twisted grunt, he twisted his body just in time to avoid the full force of her strike. The blade grazed his side, but only left a shallow wound, the holy magic flickering against his bone armor.
Sylthar sneered, his bone-clad claws reaching for her with terrifying speed. "Bone Demon's Impact Claw!" he roared.
Erza ducked beneath the blow, her heart racing as the claws passed inches from her face. In one fluid motion, she spun, swinging her sword in a wide arc.
"Dragon Magic: Sword Art - Holy Flash!" she shouted.
The holy energy crackled in the air as her blade swept through the space behind her. The sheer power of her strike sent shockwaves rippling through the surroundings. Entire buildings were cleaved in two, and Sylthar's summoned bone spikes were cut down in a single slash. Yet, despite the devastation, the Bone Demon chuckled, unharmed except for a few scratches on his armor.
"Impressive," Sylthar mocked, his voice cold. "But you'll need more than that."
Erza's teeth ground together in frustration. "Cuts and pieces won't work… then let's try heat."
With a fierce resolve, she activated her Re-Equip magic, the air around her crackling with power. "Re-Equip: Elemental Empress Armor!"
Her attire shifted, transforming into a stunning white battle dress, the material splitting into five tails at her waist. She donned thigh-high black stockings, with silver armored leggings over them, and her arms were covered in long black gloves with clawed silver gauntlets. Her breastplate covered her torso, extending over her back where two sleek metal wings unfurled, glistening in the light. Massive shoulder guards adorned her frame, and the dress tails were reinforced with plates of armor. A golden crown sat upon her head, its five spikes glowing with their respective elemental gemstones.
Red for fire. Blue for water. Gold for lightning. Green for wind. Brown for earth.
Erza Scarlet - (Elemental Empress Armor Dragon Magic Full Power) - 37.5 Million MPL
Erza's power surged as the elemental forces of her Dragon Magic merged with the raw might of her Elemental Empress Armor. Her eyes glowed with a dragon's intensity, each movement a calculated display of controlled fury. The very air around her hummed with the energy of the earth, fire, water, wind, and lightning.
Sylthar's cocky grin faltered as he took in the overwhelming aura radiating from her, his twisted bones groaning under the pressure. His eyes narrowed as he realized that this wasn't the same Dragoness he had initially faced. Erza's transformation was complete, and the true power of her Dragon Magic was now fully unleashed.
Erza's hand sliced through the air, and a red, one-edged sword appeared in her grasp, its blade crackling with fiery energy. She shot into the sky, soaring above the remains of the city, her form like a comet streaking through the smoke and debris. Her sword raised high, she gathered the elemental forces around her, summoning a massive orb of fire.
"Dragon Magic: Flame Art - Raging Inferno!"
She slashed downward, sending the orb crashing into Sylthar. The flames consumed half the city in an instant, expanding rapidly and searing everything in their path. In less than ten seconds, even the poison clouds were burned away by the intense heat. The city was now a blazing inferno, the ground scorching under the fiery onslaught.
Sylthar's roar of rage echoed across the ruins, shaking the earth beneath them. His body swelled with power, his bones creaking as they shifted and expanded in response to the flames. His eyes glowed an eerie green, and his power surged. Despite the overwhelming heat, he refused to yield.
"Is that all you've got, Dragoness?" Sylthar sneered, his voice dripping with malice. The ground cracked under his feet as he thrust his hands forward, summoning a massive wave of bone spikes that shot out in every direction. They grew faster and thicker, aimed to impale and crush anything in their path.
Erza's eyes narrowed. She didn't flinch as the bone barrage sped toward her. With a swift motion, she summoned a green sword in her hand and raised it high.
"Dragon Magic: Wind Art - Storm Bringer!"
With a powerful slash, Erza summoned a massive tornado that swirled with fire, amplifying the inferno even more. The tornado danced around her, fire gusts now whipping through the battlefield. The bone spikes collided with the swirling winds and fire, but they failed to make any significant impact.
Sylthar laughed darkly. "Hot air won't save you, Dragoness."
Erza's expression darkened as she clenched her fists. "We'll see about that."
She quickly re-equipped, summoning a trident in her left hand and a spear in her right. She pointed the trident at Sylthar and shouted, "Dragon Magic: Water Art - Sea's Rage!"
From the trident emerged a massive, serpentine water dragon that descended on the Bone Demon. Sylthar raised a massive shield made of bones, blocking the water dragon, but the force of the attack sent a torrent of water splashing across the ground. The battlefield became a slippery mess as the water soaked into the earth around Sylthar.
"Ha! You thought water could—" Sylthar stopped mid-sentence as he noticed Erza raising her spear high. Sparks of electricity began crackling in the air, and with a roar, she unleashed her next move.
"Dragon Magic: Lightning Art - Thunder Bolt!"
The water surrounding Sylthar acted as a perfect conductor, and a massive bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, coursing through the water and striking Sylthar head-on. The Demon's body seized up, paralyzed for a brief moment, the energy coursing through him.
Erza hovered in the air, eyes narrowing. "Not enough," she muttered. She quickly re-equipped, sending the trident and spear back to her space and summoning a massive hammer. With a single thought, she descended on Sylthar, her hammer crackling with the power of the earth.
"Dragon Magic: Earth Art - Quake!"
The ground trembled violently as she swung the hammer down onto Sylthar's head. The blow shook the entire city, the force of the impact sending shockwaves that rattled the mountains around them. Sylthar was embedded deep into the earth, a massive crater left in his wake. Erza stood above the hole, her eyes never leaving the place where the Bone Demon had fallen.
For a moment, there was silence. But then, a hand emerged from the crater, followed by Sylthar's form, his skeletal body still intact, though cracks marred his bone armor. His eyes burned with fury as he pushed himself to his feet.
"…Playtime's over," Sylthar growled, his voice thick with rage. His magic aura flared back to life, dark and potent, now fully unleashed.
Sylthar (Demon Bone Magic Full Power) - 106.7 Million
The air around them grew thick with dark energy as Sylthar fully embraced his power. His bones shifted and expanded, forming armor that seemed to pulsate with malevolent life. His eyes glowed like burning embers as he fixed his gaze on Erza.
"You've earned my full attention, Dragoness. Now prepare to face true destruction."
Erza's grin grew as she prepared herself for the next stage of their battle. She was ready.
With Mira
Mira sent a blast of darkness that obliterated an entire city block, the force of her attack causing the ground to tremble and buildings to crumble into dust. She gritted her teeth in frustration, her sharp gaze scanning the poisonous mist that surrounded her.
"For all that trash talk, you're nothing more than a coward," Mira growled, her voice cutting through the chaos.
From the shadows, Vyx's sinister laughter echoed, sharp and mocking. "Oh, little girl, this is how battles are won. Patience, precision, and letting my poison seep into every fiber of your being."
Mira's eyes flashed with irritation, her aura crackling with demonic energy. "Well, if that's your strategy, you're doing a terrible job of winning."
"Is that so?" Vyx hissed, her voice laced with venom.
Without warning, Mira's instincts flared. She ducked just in time to avoid a poisoned dagger that whizzed past her head, its edge glinting with a lethal green sheen. The weapon embedded itself into the ground with a sharp thud, the poison sizzling on impact and eating away at the stone.
Mira's lips curled into a smirk as she straightened, her fingers crackling with dark energy. "Oh, you're going to regret that."
Vyx's form slithered out of the mist, her silhouette shifting and contorting unnaturally. "Am I? Or perhaps you're already feeling the effects of my work?"
Mira flexed her claws, the dark energy surrounding her growing more intense. "Cute trick, but you've underestimated me. Poison doesn't work on demons of my caliber."
Vyx's black eyes gleamed with malice. "Then let's test that theory, shall we?"
With a flick of her wrist, Vyx sent a wave of purple poison snakes slithering toward Mira, their fangs dripping with toxic venom. Mira countered immediately, raising her hand and unleashing a torrent of dark flames. The snakes disintegrated in mid-air, their remnants evaporating into the smoky battlefield.
Mira charged forward, her wings unfurling as she closed the distance between her and Vyx in a blink. "Demonic Reaver Claw!" she roared, her clawed hand glowing with a dark red hue as she swiped at Vyx with devastating force.
Vyx dodged with inhuman agility, her body contorting unnaturally as she avoided Mira's attack. She retaliated with a venomous swipe of her own claws, laced with poison that glinted dangerously. Mira parried the blow, their claws colliding with a sharp crack that sent a shockwave rippling through the area.
"You're fast," Mira admitted, her tone almost impressed, "but speed won't save you when I get serious."
"And you're strong," Vyx replied, a crooked smile forming on her lips, "but strength without strategy is just brute force."
Mira's eyes narrowed. "Let's see how your strategy holds up against overwhelming power."
She raised both hands, dark energy spiraling around her as she prepared to unleash a devastating attack. "Abyssal Devastation!"
A massive wave of dark magic erupted from Mira, obliterating everything in its path as it surged toward Vyx. The Poison Demon's laughter faded as she disappeared into the mist once more, her form slipping away like smoke.
"Run all you want," Mira growled, her voice a low rumble. "You can't hide from me forever."
The mist thickened, and Mira's sharp eyes scanned her surroundings. She could hear the faint whispers of Vyx's voice carried on the poisonous winds, mocking and taunting her.
"Little Demoness," Vyx purred, her voice echoing from all directions. "You rely too much on your brute force. Have you considered how easily poison can creep into even the strongest body? Even the mightiest falls to subtlety."
Mira clenched her fists, her dark aura flaring. "Keep talking, Vyx. It'll make it easier for me to track you down."
Vyx's laughter rang out again, and suddenly, countless poison-laced daggers materialized from the mist, all aimed at Mira. They shot toward her in a deadly storm. Mira's wings unfurled with a sharp snap, and with a powerful beat, she soared into the air, evading the attack as the daggers struck the ground, hissing and dissolving into toxic puddles.
"Cheap tricks," Mira snarled, her voice dripping with contempt. She raised her hands, summoning dark, swirling orbs of energy. "Demon Barrage!"
The orbs launched in rapid succession, each one tearing through the mist and detonating on impact. Explosions rocked the area, clearing parts of the toxic fog and revealing glimpses of Vyx as she darted from shadow to shadow, her form serpentine and elusive.
"You'll have to do better than that," Vyx hissed, her voice coming from Mira's left. A split second later, a whip made of pure venom lashed out at Mira, aiming to ensnare her. Mira twisted mid-air, grabbing the whip with her clawed hand. The venom sizzled against her skin, but Mira's demonic resistance held strong.
"Nice try," Mira growled, yanking the whip with immense force. Vyx stumbled forward from her hidden position, momentarily exposed. Mira wasted no time, diving toward her with a roar. "Abyssal Strike!"
Her clawed hand glowed with dark energy as she aimed for Vyx's chest, but the Poison Demon twisted unnaturally again, narrowly avoiding the blow. Vyx retaliated by spraying a jet of venom from her mouth, but Mira shielded herself with her wings, the toxic substance splattering harmlessly against them.
"You're slippery, I'll give you that," Mira admitted, landing and staring down Vyx with a predatory grin.
Vyx's eyes narrowed, her grin fading. "You're more resilient than I expected," she admitted, her tone less mocking now. Her body began to emit a pulsating glow, and the poisonous mist around them condensed, becoming heavier and more potent. "But let's see how long that resilience lasts."
The toxic aura around Vyx surged, and the ground beneath them began to rot and decay. Mira could feel the air growing heavier, the poison thick enough to choke even a demon.
"Impressive," Mira said, her voice calm despite the oppressive atmosphere. She closed her eyes for a moment, her dark aura flaring and pushing back the suffocating poison. When she opened them again, her eyes glowed with an eerie, piercing red light. "But you're not the only one with a trump card. Time to die."
"Take Over : Satan Soul - Sitri!"
In an instant, her form transformed. Her clothes were replaced by a geometric-printed bodysuit beneath a blue and white dress coat adorned with an oversized black collar. Two belts secured her waistcoat and cape, one cinching her waist and another under her chest. Her hair grew longer and wilder, flowing like a silver mane, and from the sides of her head, large golden horns sprouted, glinting menacingly. Her arms were encased in clawed gauntlets, and her legs in armored greaves, flames licking at her feet as she floated slightly above the ground.
Mirajane Strauss - (Take Over: Sitri Heavily Suppressed) - 80.3 Million MPL
Mira chuckled darkly, her voice resonating with unbridled power. With a single stomp of her foot, the ground beneath her exploded, the entire section of the city they stood in obliterated in a violent eruption. Buildings shattered into dust, and the toxic mist was blown away in an instant.
Vyx, now fully exposed, stared in shock and terror. "Such power?! How is this possible?" she thought, her cover blown. "I need to poison her before—"
Before Vyx could finish her thought, Mira vanished in a blur of speed. In the next moment, she reappeared directly in front of the Poison Demon, her clawed hand gripping Vyx's face with unrelenting force.
"Game over," Mira growled, her tone icy and final. Her claws began to glow with a menacing dark energy, pulsing with destructive magic.
"Evil Explosion!" she roared.
A cataclysmic blast of dark energy erupted from Mira's hand, engulfing Vyx entirely. The explosion was so powerful that it ripped through the surrounding terrain, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. Vyx didn't even have time to scream; her head and chest disintegrated instantly under the force of the attack.
When the smoke cleared, Mira stood amidst the wreckage, her demonic form still radiating overwhelming power. Her expression was calm, almost serene, as she lowered her hand.
"You talked too much," Mira said softly, her voice laced with contempt. She turned away from the smoldering remains of her enemy, her aura flickering like a dying ember as she began to suppress her power.
The Poison Demon, Vyx, was no more.
With Erza
Erza dodged the massive bones hurled by Sylthar with precision, her movements swift and calculated. However, the power behind his attacks was increasing, and she could feel the strain in her Elemental Empress Armor.
"This armor lacks the raw strength I need now," she muttered to herself, eyes narrowing as she analyzed the situation.
Sylthar sneered, his jagged teeth gleaming in the dim light. "What? Was that armor the best you have, Dragoness? I expected more of a fight."
Erza's glare hardened, her determination unwavering. "No, not at all," she growled, her mind racing. "I know how to get rid of him."
She closed her eyes briefly, her aura shifting. "Re-Equip: Purgatory Armor!" she roared.
Her new form emerged, clad in an imposing metallic dress of dark slate, trimmed with lighter gray accents. The shoulder guards flared outward with large, menacing spikes, while her arm guards bore intricate woven patterns and smaller protruding spikes. Her leg greaves extended from just below her hips, adorned with progressively smaller spikes at her knees. Around her neck, a necklace of black, diamond-shaped jewels shimmered ominously. This armor exuded raw power and a sense of finality.
Erza Scarlet - (Purgatory Armor Dragon Magic Full Power) - 107.5 Million MPL
Sylthar's confident smirk faltered as he instinctively took a step back. The air around Erza crackled with her amplified power, the sheer pressure of her presence surpassing his own.
"No dress change will save you, little girl," Sylthar spat, though his voice wavered slightly.
Erza's lips curved into a knowing smirk. "We'll see about that," she retorted, her voice low and deadly. In her hands materialized a massive, spiked mace, its dark metal head radiating destruction.
Without warning, the two dashed at each other, the ground cracking beneath their feet from the sheer force of their movements. Sylthar's arms morphed into massive bone axes, sharp and deadly, while Erza raised her mace high above her head, her eyes glowing with fiery determination.
Their weapons clashed in an earth-shaking impact. The mace struck with unparalleled force, shattering Sylthar's bone axes like brittle twigs. The Demon roared in pain, his arms reduced to splintered fragments. He staggered back, clutching at the jagged remains, his glowing eyes wide with disbelief and fury.
"You... broke my arms?!" he snarled, his voice a mix of rage and disbelief.
Erza didn't give him time to recover. She dashed forward again, her mace swinging in a wide arc, her voice echoing across the battlefield. "Dragon Magic: Purgatory Strike!"
The blow landed squarely on Sylthar's chest, sending him flying backward with a deafening crash. His body smashed through the remnants of a building, leaving a deep crater in the rubble.
Erza stood tall, her Purgatory Armor gleaming ominously in the dim light. "You underestimated me, Demon," she said coldly, her grip on the mace tightening. "And that will be your undoing."
Sylthar groaned, the sound guttural and filled with rage as he clawed his way out of the crater. His cracked bone armor began to reform, jagged shards knitting themselves back together. The green glow in his eyes flared, brighter and more menacing than before.
"You… dare to harm me?!" he bellowed, his voice shaking the very earth. His demonic aura surged, an oppressive wave of energy that made the air feel heavy with malice. The ground beneath him splintered as he rose to his feet, his body towering over the rubble. "You will pay for this humiliation, Dragoness!"
Erza remained unfazed, standing tall with her mace resting against her shoulder. "You talk too much, Demon. Show me your strength, or prepare to fall."
With a roar, Sylthar plunged his hands into the ground, his magic flaring wildly. "Bone Demon's Graveyard!" he snarled. The earth quaked violently as massive, skeletal structures erupted from the ground, forming a grotesque maze of bone pillars and spiked traps. The battlefield transformed into a nightmarish landscape, each bone pulsating with dark energy.
Erza narrowed her eyes, her grip tightening on her mace. "Impressive. But all the walls in the world won't protect you from me."
Sylthar's laughter boomed, echoing through the labyrinth. "Let's see how you fare against this!" From the shadows of the bone graveyard, monstrous constructs made of bone and dark magic emerged, their glowing eyes fixed on Erza. Each moved with unnerving speed, their jagged forms radiating hostility.
"Bone Golems," Sylthar said mockingly. "Let's see how long you last."
Erza wasted no time, dashing forward with relentless determination. Her spiked mace swung in a devastating arc, each strike resonating with the sheer force of her Dragon Magic.
"Dragon Magic: Shatterquake!" she roared, slamming her weapon into the ground with unyielding power. The earth quaked violently, fissures radiating outward as the bone golems were obliterated in a chain reaction of destruction. Their fragmented remains scattered across the battlefield, but for every golem destroyed, two more emerged from the shadows, relentless in their assault.
Their endless numbers seemed to mock her efforts, the labyrinth of bone and shadow making Sylthar's movements elusive. Erza's crimson eyes narrowed, her mind calculating. "Trying to wear me down?" she muttered under her breath. "It's a waste of time."
She raised her mace high, the weapon glowing with an ominous purple hue as her Dragon Magic surged to new heights. With a ferocious roar, she slammed it into the ground once more.
The impact was catastrophic. The entire battlefield trembled as the ground beneath them gave way, the city crumbling into a massive crater. Buildings, bones, and constructs alike plummeted into the abyss. Dust and debris filled the air, a chaotic storm of destruction.
"What the—?!" Sylthar barely managed to voice his shock before the ground collapsed beneath him. He scrambled to regain his footing, but Erza was already upon him.
With incredible speed, she appeared within striking range, her mace raised high. Her eyes glowed a fierce crimson, the raw intensity of her power suffocating. The mace pulsed with energy, the weight of her fury channeling into a single, decisive strike.
Time seemed to slow for Sylthar. Instinctively, he summoned a shield of bones around his head, reinforcing them with every ounce of his remaining power. The jagged armor, dense and impenetrable, formed in the blink of an eye.
But it wasn't enough.
Erza's mace came down with unstoppable force, shattering the bone shield in an instant. The impact connected with Sylthar's head, the overwhelming momentum driving both of them to the floor of the massive crater. The ground shook violently as they crashed, a deafening echo reverberating through the ruined city.
A thick cloud of dust and rubble obscured the scene. Moments later, Erza emerged from the haze, dragging her bloodstained mace behind her. Her breath was steady, her gaze cold and unrelenting.
"That's what you get," she said, her voice low and lethal.
The crater was silent, save for the faint sound of settling debris. Sylthar's mangled form lay lifeless at its center, his body broken beyond recognition.
The Dragoness stood tall, her power still radiating around her. With a final glance at the fallen Demon, she turned away, ready to face the next challenge that awaited her.