Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 17 - It's Natsu!

Elfman wiped the floor with his opponent, wiping them out decisively. He had to get onto his match with Erza and waste little energy doing so since he would need as much as he could for that fight. Natsu returned once Elfman was all done. He'd left Wendy to care for Lucy and Gray, though Gray's injuries were even fewer than Lucy's, it seemed. He was just worn down.

Gajeel and Juvia were the only ones remaining, of Fairy Tail, in the room. Axel was still nowhere to be seen, and Natsu's opponent was at the teleportation lacrima already.

"How's my darling?" Juvia asked, her hands clasped together.

Natsu shrugged. "He's fine."

"Then Erza shall suffer at my hands when we see each other in the final rounds," Juvia said. "She will feel the pain of Gray tenfold!"

Gajeel and Natsu absentmindedly nodded. Gajeel then gestured at the ramp toward the arena.

"You going or what?" Gajeel asked. "Don't hold me up, I'm looking to get going."

"Yeah, yeah," Natsu said, waving Gajeel off. "Calm down, would you?"

"Just don't lose, alright," Gajeel said. "One more fight after this for both of us and it's you and me, Salamander."

Natsu sneered and started up the ramp. He gave Gajeel a thumbs-up.

The referee permitted the wizards to teleport onto the arena main stage. Natsu scrunched his nose at the feeling of his clothes. Hopefully, he could get the fight over with, he was not going to be that comfortable in them. They just didn't feel as loose or liberating as his normal outfit did.

"I'm ready," Natsu said and nodded to the referee, who allowed Natsu to tap his hand on the lacrima.

***

Yukino's suite was empty save for one—Axel. Even Sting was away, ensuring that they wouldn't draw any potential undue attention from Jiemma, who'd just entered the arena.

"Do it now," Yukino said.

Axel stood at the window. The glass was an illusion, allowing Yukino and Axel a clear line of sight, and attack, on Jiemma, who strode forth without a thought in the world. That, or he was so focused on victory, as usual, as to be unaware of his surroundings.

Axel summoned a sharp diamond in his hand. He flicked it around once, prepared to cast it down, but stopped.

"What are you doing?" Yukino asked. Her heart thundered. Why? Was this nerves? "Kill him."

They got their suite on purpose, they waited on purpose. The location was the perfect distance away for Axel to cast forth a powerful diamond shot that would skewer Jiemma right between the eyes, and it was a highly regarded suite for a General like Yukino. A perfect cover for both of them. And they had to wait to allow Jiemma his moment of either great victory or defeat to annihilate his ego, which was the size of the arena.

Their time had come.

"Axel," Yukino said.

"Wait," Axel said, and gestured.

That boy, Bora, appeared in the arena with Jiemma. The one that'd confronted Axel the night before, apparently. The one that, Axel believed, vied for that girl Ashley's heart the same as he. His competition.

And, if Bora were victorious, the fight Axel had in the next round.

"Our mission is Jiemma," Yukino said.

"I don't want to kill Bora," Axel said. "But I do want to see what's ahead of me."

"He won't defeat Jiemma. Only you can do that. And you can finish him right now."