POV: Elior
The three of us collided in the center of the ruined valley.
Light exploded.
Lightning erupted.
Dark magic tore through the earth.
For a few seconds, there was nothing but chaos.
I moved through the destruction in a flash of Light, my sword already in my hand.
Deliora swung.
I ducked beneath the enormous fist.
Laxus appeared above its shoulder.
"Lightning Dragon's Claw!"
His lightning-covered foot slammed into Deliora's back.
The monster staggered.
I immediately followed.
"Light Sword!"
SLASH!
My blade cut across its side.
Holy Light burned through the wound.
Deliora roared and turned toward me.
I disappeared before its claws could reach me.
"Again!"
Laxus understood immediately.
He transformed into Lightning and attacked from the opposite side.
Deliora blocked his first punch.
I appeared behind it.
SLASH!
Another wound.
Deliora swung backward.
Laxus transformed again.
We continued like that.
Attack.
Disappear.
Switch positions.
Attack again.
For a while, Deliora couldn't keep up.
But then it stopped trying to chase us.
It simply planted its feet.
I noticed the change.
'What is it doing?'
Deliora slammed both fists together.
Dark magic erupted from its body.
"Enough!"
A massive wave of dark energy exploded outward.
"Laxus!"
We separated.
The wave tore through the valley.
Trees were ripped from the ground.
Rocks shattered.
The earth cracked.
I transformed completely into Light and moved above the attack.
Laxus became Lightning and shot through another opening.
But Deliora wasn't finished.
The moment the wave ended, it raised both hands.
"Dark Meteor!"
Huge chunks of dark magic condensed above us before crashing downward.
I moved through them in flashes of Light.
One passed inches from my shoulder.
Another exploded beneath me.
Laxus dodged several more, but one caught him across the side.
BOOM!
He was thrown through the air.
"LAXUS!"
He crashed into the ground and disappeared beneath a cloud of dust.
Deliora immediately charged toward the crater.
I moved in front of it.
"Not so fast."
My Light Sword formed in my hand.
Deliora swung.
I blocked.
CLANG!
The force sent me backward.
I dug my feet into the ground.
'He's stronger up close than before.'
Deliora attacked again.
I moved to the side.
Its claws tore through the space where I had been.
My magical perception caught the movement before it fully developed.
Shoulder.
Elbow.
Wrist.
Muscles.
Magical flow.
I knew where the attack was going.
I stepped inside its reach.
SLASH!
My sword cut across its chest.
Holy Light spread through the wound.
Deliora roared.
I followed with another slash.
Then another.
"Stay down!"
I thrust my sword forward.
Deliora caught my wrist.
My eyes widened.
"Got you."
Its grip tightened.
Pain shot through my arm.
Then its other fist came toward me.
I transformed into Light.
The fist passed through my body.
I escaped its grip and reappeared several meters away.
Deliora turned.
"You keep avoiding me."
"That's usually what happens when you're faster."
Its expression darkened.
It charged.
I prepared to move.
Then I sensed something behind me.
Lightning.
Laxus.
He had climbed out of the crater.
Blood was running down his forehead.
His clothes were torn.
But his eyes were still sharp.
"Move."
I smiled.
"Gladly."
I disappeared.
Laxus launched himself forward.
"Lightning Dragon's Iron Fist!"
His fist slammed into Deliora's jaw.
BOOM!
The monster's head snapped sideways.
Laxus followed with a second punch.
Then a third.
Lightning exploded around his arms.
Deliora stumbled.
Laxus planted his foot.
"Lightning Dragon's Roar!"
A massive stream of lightning blasted into Deliora's chest.
The monster was pushed backward.
Its muscles spasmed.
For several seconds, it couldn't move properly.
I saw the opening.
"Enkidu!"
Light Chains erupted from the ground and sky.
They wrapped around Deliora's arms, legs and torso.
The brilliant chains tightened around its enormous body.
Deliora roared.
"What is this?!"
"Something you should remember."
I pulled my hand downward.
The chains tightened.
Deliora's muscles bulged.
The ground beneath its feet cracked.
It pulled.
Several chains snapped.
But more appeared.
I poured more magic into them.
Deliora struggled.
Laxus looked at me.
"Those chains aren't going to hold it forever."
"I know."
"Then what's the plan?"
I grinned.
"You're the plan."
Laxus understood.
Lightning exploded around his body.
He charged.
Deliora broke another chain.
Then another.
Laxus reached it.
"Lightning Dragon's Fang!"
His lightning-covered kick slammed into Deliora's ribs.
The monster's body bent from the impact.
It roared.
I released Enkidu.
The chains dissolved into light.
At the same instant, I transformed.
I appeared directly in front of Deliora.
"Light Barrage!"
A concentrated beam of Holy Light exploded from my hand.
BOOM!
Deliora was launched backward.
It crashed into the mountainside.
The impact shook the entire valley.
Dust covered everything.
Laxus landed beside me.
We both breathed heavily.
"That one hurt," he said.
"Definitely."
We stared at the mountain.
Nothing moved.
Then a massive silhouette emerged from the dust.
Deliora stepped forward.
Its body was covered in wounds.
Blood ran down its chest and arms.
The injuries caused by my Light remained open, Holy Light still burning inside them.
Its breathing had become heavier.
Its movements were slower.
But it was still standing.
Laxus stared at it.
"Seriously?"
I tightened my grip.
"Yeah."
Deliora wiped blood from its mouth.
Then it smiled.
"You two…"
Its voice was deeper now.
"…are much stronger than I expected."
Dark magic began gathering around its body.
"But you have made one mistake."
Laxus frowned.
"What?"
"You believe your speed makes you untouchable."
Deliora disappeared.
My magical perception screamed.
I turned.
Too late.
Its fist was already there.
I crossed my arms.
BOOM!
The impact launched me across the battlefield.
I flew through the air, hit the ground and rolled several times before stopping.
Pain spread through my body.
I pushed myself up.
'That hurt.'
Deliora was already attacking Laxus.
Laxus transformed into Lightning.
Deliora swung.
Laxus dodged.
Another swing.
Laxus moved again.
Then Deliora changed direction.
Laxus's eyes widened.
The fist connected.
BOOM!
Laxus was sent flying.
He crashed through several trees before disappearing from sight.
"LAXUS!"
I transformed into Light.
Deliora appeared in front of me.
I barely managed to block its fist with my Light Sword.
The impact forced me backward.
It attacked again.
I moved.
Again.
Again.
Its attacks were becoming harder to read.
Not because my magical perception had failed.
Because Deliora was deliberately changing its movements.
It would begin an attack one way, then suddenly alter its angle.
It would tense one muscle while moving another.
It was using its enormous body in ways that made its magical flow difficult to predict.
'He's adapting.'
I ducked beneath another attack.
'He's learning how I read him.'
Deliora grinned.
"Your eyes are strange."
I stepped back.
"You noticed?"
"You move before I attack."
Its claws slammed into the ground.
"But you cannot move before everything."
The ground beneath me exploded.
I transformed into Light just before the attack reached me.
Even so, the shockwave caught me.
I was thrown backward.
I stabilized myself in midair.
Deliora looked toward the trees where Laxus had landed.
"You cannot protect each other forever."
Lightning suddenly flashed.
Laxus emerged from the forest.
He was bruised and bleeding.
But he was smiling.
"Who said we need protection?"
Lightning covered his body.
"I just needed a second."
Deliora turned toward him.
Laxus looked at me.
"You still standing?"
"Obviously."
"Good."
He cracked his neck.
"Then let's hit this bastard harder."
I laughed.
"Now you're talking."
We moved again.
Laxus went left.
I went right.
Deliora prepared to attack Laxus.
I appeared behind it.
SLASH!
Holy Light cut across its back.
Deliora turned.
Laxus was already there.
"Lightning Dragon's Roar!"
The blast struck its chest.
Deliora staggered.
I created several Light Swords.
"Rain."
The swords shot forward.
SHING! SHING! SHING!
They pierced into Deliora's arms, shoulders and legs.
Holy Light burned through the wounds.
Deliora roared.
But this time, it didn't attack immediately.
It stood there.
Breathing heavily.
I looked at Laxus.
He was breathing heavily too.
Blood ran down his face.
My own body was beginning to ache.
Our magic reserves were still enormous.
But our bodies were not endless.
Deliora slowly raised its head.
Then it smiled.
"Enough."
The dark magic surrounding it intensified.
The entire valley seemed to become darker.
Even the air felt heavier.
Laxus's expression became serious.
I tightened my grip on my Light Sword.
Deliora spread its arms.
"You have earned my full attention."
Its magical pressure exploded.
The ground beneath it collapsed.
Far behind us, Gildarts' expression changed.
Ur narrowed her eyes.
Ultear stared at Deliora in fear.
Gray clenched his fists.
Even from this distance, they could feel the difference.
Deliora had stopped playing.
I looked at Laxus.
He looked back at me.
Neither of us spoke.
We both understood.
The next exchange was going to decide the direction of this battle.
Deliora roared.
Laxus's entire body erupted with lightning.
My Light Sword became brighter.
Then all three of us moved.
And the valley disappeared beneath another explosion.