Dawn of Adventure {Book One of The Paths We've Traveled}

Chapter Thirty-Six: Two Against One

Erza loosed a yell, leaping forward as her swords flew with her and scarlet hair streamed back in waves. Five swords shot toward Ajax, five toward Verlane, and two she held in her hands, swinging them toward the demons and infusing them with as much power as she could muster. One blow wouldn't defeat them, but she could try.

Ajax grabbed one of the swords flying at his face and turned on Erza, using her own blade against her. Verlane threw himself to avoid the weapons, and from his new position he shot a torrent of black magic toward the warrior's legs.

Erza leapt into the air, her sword keeping in contact with Ajax's the entire time. She drew forth more weapons, relishing in the flow of magic coursing through her veins. It was a feeling greatly missed these last several months. She was fierce with a weapon in her hand; with magic in her arsenal, she was that much stronger.

"Heaven's Wheel: Circle Sword!" Her blades danced through the air, slicing through clothes and slamming into the demons, spending them stumbling backwards due to the sheer force and magic behind the attack.

Verlane growled, and a blast of black light burst from him, tendrils targeting the scarlet warrior. Erza pulled her swords back and cut the light away from her body. Several smashed through pieces of her armor, and she flipped backward to avoid the rest of them. Her body was enveloped in the same beautiful golden light, and then she was different. The demons gaped for a minute, not ready for the immediate and sudden change in the warrior. Wings sprouted from her back, hair pulled back into a high ponytail. Very little skin on her front was actually covered, most of her breasts, stomach, and legs bared to the world and revealing the scratches and wounds she had received when the machine had exploded.

"What the hell are you?!" Verlane shouted, rolling to his feet and blocking her new red and black sword with a sharp blast of magic. Erza grunted, throwing most of her weight behind the weapon to attempt to cut through his blow. Ajax swung the weapon he still held, trying to distract her and end the fight quickly.

She kicked out, knocking her sword from his hand and sending it back to her arsenal. Ajax blinked, barely managing to stop her next kick through his shock. What kind of demon was she? He'd heard tales of Erza Scarlet, but he'd never imagined that she could be this powerful. And what kind of magic was she using? It couldn't be requip magic; no one could possibly use it this quickly.

She leapt forward, grunting and slicing her blade in a cross pattern and sending sharp bolts of energy flying at the two lords. One hit Verlane in the shoulder, and he flew backward, slamming against a wall before forcing himself back to his feet. Ajax managed to duck, focusing on his own magic and relying on Verlane to keep him safe from any more attacks.

Sensing what Ajax was planning, Erza jumped up, using her Black Wing Armor to fly up to the rafters. She grabbed a beam with one hand before turning and pushing off with her feet, requipping in the same motion. As she plummeted back at Ajax and Verlane, the golden light hid her from view until she was striking them down with a large spiked mace. She spun through the air, landing on her feet and facing the men who were barely standing after that strike. Her Purgatory Armor glinted in the dark room, spikes protruding and matching the wild expression on her face. "I am Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail," she proclaimed again, hair stirring in a phantom wind. "And you will not win today."

"We can't be defeated." Ajax rolled his shoulders, feral grin returning. "Not here, where the ethernano is so strong. Go ahead and run yourself ragged. It won't work."

She laughed. "The amount of times I have heard that. I have not made it this far by giving up when a fight is hard. I live for these fights, for these chances to prove myself. For how can I grow stronger if not by forcing myself to stand up again?"