Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 76 - A Message Sent

Wendy wanted to stick around as long as she could in her particular part of the forest, but Tempester—the Demon she'd encountered and finally gotten a name out of—wouldn't let her stay still. He cast infernos, tornados, hail storms, and caused earthquakes. She couldn't get a footing anywhere, she had to be on the move. And everything crumbled around her.

The already-desolate forest was eradicated before her very eyes. She was only able to dodge his attacks because each time she made an advance on him to try and get close, he was able to out-maneuver her or, worse, parry her blow.

"Too weak," he'd say and bat her aside, then launch a tornado down at her.

Wendy bounded over a fallen tree and spun around.

"Sky Dragon Roar!"

Her spell crashed with a swirling thunderstorm that'd formed at Tempester's command, dissipating it but giving him a moment to close the distance between the two of them. She barely had time to get out of the way of his fist which left her open to a knee in her gut. He punched her down into the dirt, then grabbed her hair and lifted her up.

He glared at her with eyes of swirling malice.

"They'd send a child to fight a devil," Tempester said. "A pity. Not even a child of any strength."

"I can beat you," Wendy said.

"No. Therefore, I will kill you."

He swung her down, slamming her into the dirt, then picked her up, and did it again.

And again.

And again.

And...

***

Laxus blocked, swung, Ezel blocked, swung twice, and scored a single hit on Laxus who almost lost grip of the sword.

Its lightning arced around and almost struck Ezel, but the demon was able to parry Laxus's blade with just one of his many arms.

"I'll give you one thing," Ezel said. "You're a tough guy, lightning boy. But you can't win. Not the way you are now."

Laxus stepped back. Ezel was huffing and puffing, too. Laxus just couldn't get any hits in. One good one could do the trick. Still...

He sensed his own magic, as it poured into the blade, and it was beginning to run low a bit. He adjusted his grip.

This was the perfect way to test his skills, though. If he could master the blade, he could get back to his fight with Dimaria and prove himself outright over her. Freed would keep him free in that timeless world, and then, one-on-one, in a show of strength and swordsmanship, he'd...

Laxus had to dodge as Ezel launched another series of attacks. No. Don't run, coward. Fight.

With a roar, Laxus charged. Ezel sneered.

"Onimaru!"

The demon swung his arms down as slashes, sending powerful arcs at Laxus. He attempted to cut them at their junction, but the curse itself was so strong his sword couldn't cut through them. Impossible.

Laxus's arms flung up, leaving him wide open for Ezel to kick out at him, sending Laxus flying back into another tree.

"Hey man, just drop the sword!" Bickslow called.

Laxus tightened his grip. "No. I can win like this. I will win like this."

Ezel sliced his bladed arms together, then swirled them about.