Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 27 - To Crocus, To War

More than mere light enveloped Sting. Gray swung his arms out, two glistening Ice-Make: Swords in his hand. The Dragon Slayer stood amidst the complete ruin of an old part of Clover Town, a part of the old world, with damage, yes, but a pure, burning hatred in his eyes.

"To think you guys could push me this far," Sting said. "But now you're going to suffer so much more than if you'd just given up and accepted your fate with the Empire!"

With ease, an ease that unsettled Gray to the point of even giving him chills, he held Elfman up by the throat. The man had long since given out with his magic power, brought down by one of Sting's Dragon Slayer Secret Arts. Sting tossed Elfman aside like a used piece of laundry, letting the big man fall in a clump to the side.

"You know, you've got a real big mouth," Gray said.

"I can back it up," Sting said. "Like this."

He raised a hand, holding a ball of light there. Gray crossed his swords.

Sting's body tensed. "Holy Ray!"

The attack launched, like before, but Gray didn't move. This time, all of the beams of light converged, moving in a singular point toward Gray. Sting wasn't quick enough to change his tactic as Gray swung his swords, deflecting the light back while also letting his swords shatter.

"Ice-Make: Ice Bringer!"

Gray sprinted at Sting, who charged back, moving with incredible speed. Gray held his hands out, and the ice remade itself in his hand. He sliced at Sting, who blocked both blades them slammed his head into Gray's gut. Gray headbutted Sting, who punched Gray away. Gray slid.

"White Dragon Iron Fist!"

The punch landed in front of Gray, as Gray had nimbly stepped back. Gray swung the swords against but Sting dodged them both. Gray had to pull his arm back, in a horrible defense, to block Sting's ensuing slew of punches that knocked Gray ultimately off-balance.

"White Dragon Claw!"

The attack landed, striking Gray in the chest and sending him spiraling. Gray recovered, but couldn't move. His instincts had thankfully taken over, and he had his hands in his Ice-Make position.

"You're dead," Sting said. "White Dragon Holy Breath!"

This time, the beam coming out of Sting was more what Gray expected, and packed a much bigger punch. Gray concentrated his magic.

"Ice-Make: Shield!"

The ice came up, and the beam collided with it. Gray roared as he tried to feed his magic into the shield to block the attacks, and, slowly, his body regained movement. When at last he could move his legs, he unlatched himself from his magic, rolled away, and let the remainder of Sting's attack destroy another foundational part of the building. More rubble dropped on them. Gray dove for a slight cover, just avoiding a huge boulder almost crashing on him.

"Ice-Make: Kite!"

Gray put his hands on the ground and a kite formed. He swung his hands up and took to the sky just as Sting had tried to attack. Sting pointed a finger gun at Gray and shot, hitting the kite. Gray flipped and landed on a firm piece of stone.

"Trying to run?"

"Ever heard of space?"

Sting propelled toward Gray, then punched through a clone of the wizard, but didn't let it startle him, as he blocked Gray's counter-attack with a hammer.

However, he completely missed the Lancer that came soaring around from the other side of Gray and rammed into Sting, slicing into his ribs and sending the Dragon Slayer plummeting.