I have returned.
I hope you guys had wonderful holidays and a happy new year!
New year, brand new motivation for my personal goals.
I'm gonna continue the grind with passion.
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Main Entrance, Devala Headquarters.
BOOM!
BOOM!
"They're not even fazed by our numbers---! Aghk!"
"It's impossible to hold them off any longer!"
"We'll be fine as long as Rale's mist is still here! Don't give up!"
"Do you even hear your own nonsense, dumbass!? Even with his mist, we're getting our asses handed to us!"
Under the peaceful evening sky of the supposed prosperous central hub of the commerce, rumbling aftermaths of destructive spells and cries of pain continued to echo without stopping.
Layers upon layers of mist engulfed the entire area, alongside formed tendrils that were used to mobilize the crude blockade of these pitiful dark wizards.
Hah…
Hah…
I already expected the thrashing... but not to this extent. Rale panted as he strained himself to maintain the spell. Why don't you young monsters pretend to be somewhat exhausted at the very least!?
He observed the effortless movements of Natsu and Kagura who countered every formation he could come up with on the spot. Their display of teamwork was perfectly in sync, covering for each others' dead angles to not get caught off-guard.
Rale's Mist Ring spell had more practical uses other than just creating figures, trapping wizards, or limiting a wizard's vision.
It also granted him the ability to project his voice to communicate his thoughts everywhere, making it a huge advantage for group attacks .
Adding to that, he could seamlessly move objects or people by simply channeling his magic power to increase its physical substance.
These skills in his arsenal were the reason for his slight confidence for a rematch, even though it may seem comical since he had gracefully received… consecutive knock outs from a very enthusiastic dragon slayer.
Seriously, it's a miracle that his skull was still intact.
Back to the topic at hand, how can such convenience exist without weaknesses? Rale could feel his magic power rapidly decreasing thanks to the sheer amount of his subordinates that were currently abusing this function to the fullest.
However, he knew that there was no point in complaining now, considering they were up against truly strong wizards beyond their league. Rale's strategy was to delay them, so he might as well see through it to the very end.
"She should have arrived by now!" Rale complained as his eyes peered through the mist, looking around the buildings to check if there were silhouettes staying put to enjoy the chaos.
He was aware of Hana's whimsical personality, which infuriatingly translates into her unpredictable habits. Since Vandis was the only individual within the guild that could keep her in check, it was not surprising to every member that she never listens to anyone in return.
In fact, one of Hana's favorite hobbies was to mentally mess with people. Given that they couldn't match her in a fight, accepting their fate begrudgingly was the safest thing to do.
Not that there was a choice in the matter, but that was besides the point. Rale was spared from half her antics because he was considered her peer, and it was the same for Gilrid and Noah.
Unfortunately, the other half pertains to the spirit of competition combined with entertainment. Even with all the strength she wielded, for someone that was shameless like her, pettiness wasn't out of the question.
Hana could control her cravings for battle to watch someone's struggle from the sidelines. It was genuinely confusing because she understands the importance of maintaining the status quo of the guild, yet can push that all aside to have some fun.
A literal walking contradiction.
"If you're pulling this kind of stunt when it's not the right time…" Rale felt his blood boiling at the thought. "Once all of this is over, I'll make sure to bring you down a peg, bitch!"
Whoosh!
Another one got swatted by Natsu's flaming fist, prompting him to catch the unconscious individual with his mist, then dropped the poor fellow on the ground afterwards.
He tried to calm down as he solemnly gazed at the fairy duo, realizing that only a dozen of his subordinates remained standing.
This lessened the burden for controlling the circulating output of his Mist Ring, considering how he managed to support them up until this moment.
But it was impossible to ignore the price of such actions… his reserves finally reached a certain limit. Rale's entire being shook from exhaustion as he decided to lower the distribution at specific areas, which weakened his overall control.
"Some parts of the mist became lighter, Natsu-san." Kagura quickly noted the change, seeing the mist uncover a few sections that were probably deemed useless for the fight.
"Yeah, and those shadows are as clear as day!" Natsu deviously grinned while cracking his knuckles. "I was gettin' annoyed from all that sneakin', so this is a nice change of pace!" He eagerly locked his sights on the silhouettes that were revealed.
Unfortunately for Rale, his opponents were two wizards that could detect these aspects with ease.
Their loud remarks obviously echoed throughout the mist, inciting panic among those who were still standing.
"Are you serious!? Rale, get your shit together!"
"There's no point in trying anymore! How can we even stand a chance without this spell being fully intact!?"
"Let's just fall back! We already did out best to delay them, so we can chalk it up to Hana's fault for being late!"
Although Paramount Tide perfectly fooled the populace along with the council, it was simply a dark guild that dared to operate in broad daylight. No matter how organized they may seem on the surface, only the allure of personal benefits motivated these types of people with gusto.
Ordering a literal dark wizard into hiding their true nature would backfire spectacularly, and Vandis was definitely aware of such a flaw since he was the master that was keeping them in check.
As such, once they're being pushed into a dead-end, no light wizard would be surprised if they wanted to escape, given there was an opportunity.
Veins appeared on Rale's features, which displayed his current emotions as he heard their complaints and saw their hesitation. The calm demeanor he adorned starting from that encounter in Calio already dissolved during the duration of the fight, replacing it with pure anger.
Merely assuming Hana's actions were one thing, and it pissed him off more than he expected.
But the notion of giving up simply added a layer to that, making it impossible to regain his composure for the most part.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Mist tendrils immediately formed in response, forcing his subordinates to position themselves into a new formation he's conjured right in this moment.
Rale's meaning was very clear, yet it was met with obvious protests.
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
"If you want go down with a bang to prove your status as a S-Class, don't include us!"
"We're not gonna follow your orders, Rale, it ain't gonna work with our present numbers!"
Instead of setting up the new attack pattern to surround Natsu and Kagura, they stayed in place because everybody pointed towards the same conclusion: It was useless to resume this scuffle any longer.
"Eh?" The dragon slayer who ignited his fists again in anticipation felt slightly disappointed after listening to the complaints. "They're givin' up?" He scratched his head in confusion as he reigned in his flames.
"Well, it's a reasonable response." Kagura sweatdropped at his eagerness. "You must remember that they're simply stalling for time." She reminded him.
"Ah, right! My bad, Kagura." Natsu sheepishly responded, recalling the loud conversations that traveled through the mist about some reinforcement that was supposed to arrive. "I kinda forgot cause no one strong popped out."
It wasn't meant to be an insult in context, considering it was genuinely true. If these dark wizards weren't busy with arguing against Rale, they would've mentally spit out blood out of sheer helplessness at hearing such a comment.
"No need to apologize, Natsu-san." Kagura stoic expression softened in amusement from his usual bluntness. "They mentioned that it was Hana, so we still can't waste our strength here, especially when there's still no sign of Vandis."
In reference to all of their previous Telepathic Links, this battle maniac of Paramount had initiated the offensive, which was the catalyst for everything that's happening around the island right now.
Assessing from how Blue Pegasus described her, alongside with reputation that was etched into Welbor. She was not someone to be underestimated, putting her above the rest of the S-Classes excluding their guild master.
Throughout their entire battle against this group, both of them raised their guards up just in case Hana managed to show herself. Furthermore, it will actually save them the hassle of trying to search for their targets.
"Maybe the guy is twiddling his thumbs in there." Natsu's gaze landed on the headquarters' entrance in the distance. "As long as I destroy stuff, they'll definitely show themselves, hehe!" He grinned cheekily.
It was just his usual intrusive thoughts of bringing about destruction whenever and wherever, although compensation is always mandatory for the aftermath…
Bonk!
"Common sense dictates that there are other solutions aside from going boom all the time, Natsu-san." Kagura bonked the mischievous dragon slayer on the head with Archenemy while sighing in exasperation.
"Okay, okay." Natsu grumbled as he rubbed the sore spot. "It's just easier to not think, y'know?"
"Don't be so gloomy." Kagura giggled briefly. "We'll discuss our next move afterwards."
She scanned the mist, discreetly counting the silhouettes who were impressively extending the pointless argument more than intended. Rale was somehow dancing to their tune, which looked extremely pitiful in her eyes.
"So…" Kagura's magic power flowed out, affecting the vicinity around her. "Let finish this farce quickly to focus on their bigger threats."
"I hear ya!" Natsu followed suit. "This damn mist overstayed its welcome!" He matched the intensity of the swordswoman's pressure.
Obviously, their actions wouldn't go unnoticed, considering the close distance between both parties. The heated argument halted instantly, making the dark wizards return their attention to the fairies.
A cold realization dawned on their minds as they knew how stupid it was to ignore the monstrous duo in front of them.
"Why the hell are we doing this while fighting anyway!? This is your fault!"
"As if you weren't happily joining in!"
"Rale, you're on your own---!"
BAM!
One was already trying to escape, calling out to Rale before he got interrupted mid-sentence. Natsu caught up easily, taking him down with a singular punch, then charged towards the others without pause.
Kagura synced alongside him, sending out precise swings to put them out of commission.
"Tch!" Rale accepted the evident defeat in resignation, intending to struggle to the very end. The remaining dozen never stood a chance, since their formations were getting dismantled even when they were a lot.
Given the current circumstances, relying on himself was the only option left. And since he decreased the output of his spell, it was still possible to condense his mist into increasing its potency and substance to the maximum.
He definitely wouldn't make it a breeze for the unstoppable duo, no matter how small of an effect his attacks will produce.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Tendrils and mist figures manifested again, gunning for Natsu and Kagura who were done dealing with his subordinates.
BAM!
"Hm?" Natsu blocked an incoming whip from a tendril, clenching his fist as he invoked his flames, doing a reverse sweep to destroy it along with the rest that were on their way to him.
"Kagura, these things feel more solid than the ones he made last time!" He kneed a humanoid figure to its face, actually hearing a sound of contact instead of the usual hazy aspects.
"Yeah." Kagura cleaved a few of them while dodging. "He's desperate, a last stand so to speak."
"A last stand, huh?" The dragon slayer grinned in excitement, launching punches and kicks that were a bit stronger to completely disperse the constructs. "I thought the guy would just skedaddle afterwards."
"Dragging this fight any longer would not benefit us, Natsu-san." Kagura transitioned into a drawing stance. "Stand behind me for a moment, I'll take care of this in one fell swoop." Channeling her magic power across the sheath of Archenemy.
"Alright!" Natsu nodded, tearing through the blockade as he regrouped with her.
Ever since their first job quest against Dark Sky, they've been developing their bond on a consistent basis throughout the whole month. Whether it would be hangouts, spars, or missions, it naturally grew as a result.
Which meant that the trust they have for each other will continue to improve as the days go by. In fact, Natsu has been subconsciously and slowly adopting less impulsive decisions thanks to her frequent advice.
Granted that his reckless methods to wreak havoc are never gonna go way that fast, progress is progress.
One could it a small and difficult step for the rambunctious dragon slayer, but controlling them for the sake of the guild is doable, considering that even he's aware of his own position as Fairy Tail's Ace.
Macao was spot on with his observation about Kagura's instant close relationship with him, equaling Lucy in that regard.
Whoom!
Crap! I have to stop her!
Archenemy glowed peacefully, yet that brought extreme goosebumps to Rale who sensed the danger.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
He immediately tried to overwhelm the pair with another batch of mist tendrils and figures, denying openings from all sides. This was a last-ditch effort that drained his magical container to its absolute lowest.
Each creation had its physical specs brought out fully, marking it as his strongest set of attacks to date.
But…
Slash!
It wasn't enough to contend against the sharpness of the fairies' blade.
"Urghk!" Blood sprayed from the fresh injury on Rale's chest, a diagonal cut appearing on the top of his left shoulder, down to the right side of his waist.
The Mist Ring dispersed under Kagura's might, splitting apart like paper to forcibly reveal the caster who expressed a mix of pain and acceptance.
Hana… You'll regret not helping me… Rale mentally cursed his fellow guild mate, his vision blurring as darkness engulfed him.
Thud!
His body dropped powerlessly within the dead of night, signaling the defeat of the mist wizard.
"Finally! We can see normally again!" Natsu looked at the around scenery around him, then back at their unconscious opponent. "This guy was definitely somethin' else."
"Agreed." Kagura replied thoughtfully. "If we didn't attract his full attention, he might have shifted it towards assisting the other districts."
Their immediate choice to take down Rale right here was the correct bet, especially since Ichiya and the rest are fresh of their victories against his peers. They were gonna be at a huge disadvantage due to their weakened states, and it would have tipped the scales to Paramount Tide's favor.
Generally speaking, magic that lets an individual transform into an impervious form will always be a huge threat to the average wizard. But when there are pros, there are also cons in terms of potential counters that could be used.
Rale was simply unlucky to encounter the common yet most effective counter: Fighting a duo that was a lot stronger than him by a huge margin.
However, even they struggled for a while thanks to the essence of his magic, so it wasn't exactly a walk in the park.
"Dude was definitely a huge damn headache." Natsu stretched his muscles as he excitedly stared at the building in front of them. "Are we goin' inside now, Kagura? I'm all warmed up and ready to go!"
"You really can't wait to go in blazing, huh, Natsu-san?" Kagura swiftly pinched his cheek to hold down his enthusiasm. "We still need to be cautious while searching for our targets, considering that Rale contacted them in advance about what's happening on this side."
"I know, I know." Natsu gracefully received the scolding pinch. "I just don't like this feelin' of being watched from somewhere." He frowned in contemplation, detecting a peculiar presence hovering in the air.
"What?" Kagura became instantly alert, raising her guard up in response. "Do you mean right at this moment? Can you pinpoint its source?" She didn't doubt his dragonic instincts, her eyes darting around the place.
Naturally, their enemies would be aware of their position, but it was pointless since they managed to overwhelm such numbers with ease. If there was an individual still confident enough after seeing their display of strength…
They would be either someone who didn't escape in time, or someone who truly wielded might be similar to them. The latter even seemed ridiculous, because no one of that caliber arrived during the fight.
"I can't tell if it's near or far cause there's also too many scents to boot." Natsu complained as he tried to create a possible trail to follow.
"It's good enough, you're doing your best already." Kagura assured him. "We'll have to work---!"
"What extraordinary senses~ As expected of the famed Salamander." A cheery voice interrupted their conversation seamlessly.
Wrnnngggg!
Both of them paused at the abrupt appearance of a new arrival, getting blasted by a new wave of magical pressure.
They glanced at a woman who was skipping joyfully and humming towards their direction, holding a red-orange great that was spewing fire over her shoulder.
Her beauty would've been a sight to behold, if it were not for the unconscious bodies and devastation surrounding her.
The duo understood by her demeanor and force alone, that she was leagues above Rale.
"The scent's comin' from her!" Natsu remarked as he was unfazed by the display of magic power.
"That seems to be the case." Kagura's posture sharpened, already figuring out her obvious identity. "You must be Hana, then? Why did you wait until now to show yourself like this?" She inquired coldly, pushing back the pressure with her own.
"Wow, how rude!" Hana just stopped at the appropriate distance, wildly giggling all the way. "I was just about to introduce myself, but you're the type to go straight to the point."
"It is quite baffling to say the least." Kagura transitioned into her drawing stance again, preparing for battle. "You joining that siege when the Mist Ring was still in play would have been far more dangerous."
"Hm~" Hana twirled the greatsword, tilting her head while putting a finger on her chin. "I've got nothing to retort against such a textbook analysis, since you're not wrong about that."
The red-orange greatsword brightened up in activity, covering itself in scalding hot flames.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three flaming swords of Ethernano manifested from its surface, soaring quickly to hover on her left side.
Hana pointed her weapon at the duo afterwards, adorning a challenging yet manic smile that looked slightly crazier than Natsu's.
"There's no elaborate strategy or anything of the sort… I simply savored Rale's panic and desperation." She stated. "Personalities like him rarely loses their composure, so I thank you for the spectacle in that regard."
Her nonchalant way of explaining would obviously make people uncomfortable, and her happy tone to it added to the eeriness.
"But forget about him now." Hana continued to ramble, shaking with immense excitement. "I was kind enough to wait for you guys to remove Rale from the picture. Only strong wizards can pique my interest, and I don't want weak nuisances to disrupt our quality time!"
Unsurprisingly, she ticked off the dragon's slayer scale with her words. "Why you! They were still your comrades!" Massive amounts of magic power emerged from his being, threatening to burn the atmosphere with unrivaled heat.
"Hehehe~!" Hana felt the full brunt of his pressure, which made her cackled in delight. "I can't believe that I struck a nerve with that, Salamander~ You're adorably naive and charming while wielding all of that strength."
"Che! Well, and I can't wait to shut you up with my fists---!" Natsu was about to attack first, then froze as he was hit by an abrupt chill that was beside him.
"Uh, Kagura?" He steadily glanced at his companion who turned quiet, yet her presence seemed even more frightening than usual. It was extremely different compared to her reactions regarding the guild's antics or his random shenanigans.
Kagura adorned an emotionless dark expression, tightening her grip on Archenemy so much that one would think she was actually intending to snap it in half. Although that wasn't really the truly scary part…
"... Does that categorize as a flirt?" She incomprehensibly whispered. "Disgusting wench, stay away from him."
Possessiveness combined with overthinking is a deadly combo.
Natsu sweatdropped as he observed in wonder, seeing her stoic features changing at lightning-fast speeds. He was confused and concerned about the display, but he didn't dare to disturb the unknown.
Not noticing the dragon slayer's worry, Kagura was still in her own little world. She reminisced about the life of roaming she had after her village was destroyed, experiencing various situations that shaped her steadfast and calm personality.
As a result, there were only a few things that could truly rattle her stable emotions. It was no surprise that Natsu was added to that list, especially since he was the one to convince her of having a fresh start other than revenge.
But even she didn't expect to have discovered love afterwards, which was a topic that she must navigate with an entirely different perspective. This increased her awareness of her developing close relationship with Natsu, and it was a novel feeling that was reserved for her alone.
Just. Her.
So when some harlot tries any form of intimacy, whether it would be simple words of compliment or actions…
Jealously will obviously follow, overwriting a bit of her logical thought process. Just a little… it won't affect her that much… probably…
"___"
Oh, who was she kidding. She's already annoyed by this woman's way of speaking.
Step! Step!
"That's some misplaced confidence you've got there." Kagura stepped in front of Natsu protectively. "Do you seriously believe you can fight the both of us without problem?"
"Let's just say it's for the thrill~!" Hana responded with fervor. "I rarely get to go absolutely wild unless it's necessary, so I'm grateful to the both of you in that regard."
"You proudly describe yourself as if you were a caged beast, how sad and barbaric."
"Woah~ That doesn't seem like an insult to me, thank you for the praise!"
Kagura glared at her coldly, then toned it back to glance at Natsu. "Natsu-san, we'll have to adjust our approach now that she's here.
"Don't worry, I get ya without needing to say it." Natsu shrugged off her unusual reaction, showcasing his trademark grin. "I'll go look for that Vandis and burn him to a crisp!"
The dragon slayer understood the assignment, gazing at the headquarters' entrance. Flames appeared under the soles of his sandals, raising the temperature throughout the vicinity.
"Good, then I'll take care of this one in front of us." Kagura knew that he can be sharp of mind when it matters, which was steadily improving due to him carrying the title of Ace.
"Hey, discussing a plan loudly before an enemy isn't exactly a smart move." Hana interjected in amusement.
"It's a simple plan. There's no need for complications at this point." Kagura unleashed her magic power.
"That's true~!" Hana scoffed, countering it with equal measure. "Master Vandis is still inside, so you can pay him a visit." Surprisingly, she vaguely confirmed her guild master's location without hesitation.
"What the hell!?" Even Natsu became speechless. "You're gonna rat him out just like that!?"
"Of course~! And besides, he's not leaving anytime soon because important areas are potentially getting breached." Hana nonchalantly shared more information.
"Natsu-san, don't get caught up by listening to her." Kagura's eye twitched.
"Err, whoops!" Natsu slightly coughed in embarrassment.
Boom!
He immediately boosted himself up with his flames, leaping from the ground as it cracked beneath him.
The dragon slayer glided across the air, maneuvering around Hana to go towards his destination.
"Ah, ah. I didn't say that it would be that easy~"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The three flaming swords of Ethernano hummed in activity under Hana's control, chasing after the pink-haired young man with fierce momentum.
But Natsu ignored her attempt to stop him, because he completely believed in his companion without any doubt.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
As if on cue, Kagura quickly intercepted them by increasing her speed with her gravity, cutting each one in twain effortlessly.
"Hah! To think somebody could overpower those swords with sheer strength." Hana shook in anticipation. "Let's have some fun, shall we?"
The stoic swordswoman only responded with a wordless stare filled with battle intent.
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AN: As you can see, I plan to have the romantic interests to have some form of obsession towards Natsu (for the culture.) Obviously, not too much so that it wouldn't ruin their characterization. It's an AU anyway, so maybe you guys can let it slideee~? lol.