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

Chapter Thirty-Seven: And So It Begins

"Ice-Make: Geyser!"

"Open! Gate of the Golden Bull!"

"Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!"

"Requip!"

"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!"

All five mages shouted out attacks at once, filling the large, subterranean room with light and magic and sound. Happy and Carla hung back, wanting to join the fray but hesitant to get in their friends' way.

Taurus came to life beside Lucy in a brilliant flash, the giant bull rushing forward at Ajax with a moo and a swing of his axe. Lucy cast out her whip at the same time, strength amplified by the Star Dress she now wore. Erza joined her, magic fading and leaving her in her Flight Armor, as did Natsu, the Fire Dragon Slayer full of pent up anger and energy.

Gray and Wendy focused their attention on Verlane, the Sky Maiden throwing more force into her attack than normal. The demon was slightly hesitant, still not fully comprehending that the girl he had come to picture a future with was actually his enemy. He paused, not wanting to hurt her, but when a blast of wind slammed into his chest and sent him tumbling backward, he pushed aside his inhibition. He was kept down by a torrent of ice, the magic slicing into him. Wendy and Gray grinned at each other, the girl blinking furiously as her head swam with the lingering effects from the medicine Evia had given her. Gray glanced back at Carla, nodding at the Sky Maiden. The Exceed flew over, grabbing the back of her gown and lifting her into the air. "Don't push yourself too hard," she warned. "You've been without magic for a very long time, and that tonic is still in your system."

"I'll be fine Carla," Wendy retorted, preparing herself to launch another attack. "We've come too far to be weak now."

Verlane leapt to his feet, snarling in outrage at the three mages. "So just like your friends, you are nothing more than lying bastards sent to overthrow us?!"

"Oh shut up." Gray rolled his eyes, fingers yanking at his tie to loosen the knot. "You know what you did. And if anyone here is a lying bastard, I think it would be you most of all." Then his shirt was in the air, fluttering to the ground before being pierced through by a rogue sword from Erza. Verlane blinked once, unsure of how to proceed.

Carla rolled her eyes and Wendy attempted to smother a giggle. "You know things are getting serious when Gray takes his clothes off."

Gray grinned up at the girl, slamming his left fist against his right palm. "Let's show this dude just how serious things are, huh?" Wendy smiled back, taking in a deep, deep breath. Her veins thrummed with the extra ethernano she was inhaling, and she marveled at the sheer amount of power she received with just one breath. Whatever had happened when Erza destroyed that machine really worked wonders.

The Ice Maker mage grunted, a large bow of ice appearing before him before dozens of arrows shot forward, all aimed at the demon. Wendy filled her lungs to their capacity before shouting, "Sky Dragon's Roar!" The cyclone of wind picked up Gray's arrows and sent them flying at Verlane in a tempest of sharp and needling ice. He howled, ice shredding through his jacket and leaving cuts that stung more and more.

Across the room, the other Fairy Tail members fared similarly against Ajax. Erza danced around in her Flight Armor, Flame Sword cutting through the air with wide arcs of sparks. She aimed the weapon at Natsu, letting him absorb the fire produced by the weapon. He grinned at the scarlet warrior, and she grinned ferociously right back. Lucy snapped her whip, her swollen lip pounding as her heart roared. Taurus remained at her side, more subdued than he'd been for a very long time. But not completely silent.

"It's great to be seeing you Miss Luuuucy," Taurus bellowed, twirling his axe around and mooning over her gorgeous body in his Star Dress. "I missed seeing that rump roast."