Fairy Tail: The Dark Swordsman

71 - Swordmasters

[X784, Tower of Heaven]

— Erza Scarlet —

"Shit."

Sho's sudden voice had her perking up, snapping her from her rest. While there was a certain uncomfortableness of being trapped in a card like this, she still retained her five senses and was capable of seeing everything happening on the outside.

Which was why she was alarmed by the worried tone that Sho just made.

"Sho," she said quickly, pressing a palm to the card's shimmering surface from within, "what's going on?"

He turned slightly so she could see what lay ahead. Ahead of them stood a swordswoman, with rose colored hair a shade lighter than Natsu's. There was a dangerous glint in her eyes. From the amount of magic Erza could sense from the woman, she was a great deal stronger than Sho.

"My, my..." the swordswoman said, her voice laced with amusement as her gaze flicked to the card in Sho's hand. "To think I'd find Titania in such a precarious position."

Sho narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"

The woman smirked, lifting a hand to push a strand of hair behind her ear. "You may call me Ikaruga. I am one of the Trinity Raven... servants of Lord Jellal for this sacred event."

Her words had both Erza and Sho stiffening.

"I won't let you hurt her!" Sho screamed as he palmed a few cards between his fingers.

"Sho, let me out!" Erza barked, fists slamming against the inside of the card's dimension. "You're no match for her alone! This isn't the time to play hero!"

"No way, sis! I promised I'd protect you!" Sho shouted. "You have to save your strength! I'll get you to Jellal, no matter what!"

Erza's heart twisted painfully at his resolve.

Ikaruga, in contrast, looked almost bored. "Oh, don't worry," she said lightly, examining her nails. "Erza Scarlet will find no enemy in me. Our orders are to let her pass without resistance."

"You, however," She pointed at Sho. "This is as far as you go."

Erza barely had time to scream before Ikaruga moved.

The unsheathing of her sword was too fast for normal eyes. A flash of silver, the briefest glint of steel in the torchlight—and suddenly, Sho was screaming as shallow cuts appeared across his arms and legs like invisible thorns had lashed him.

"Sho!"

"Tempest Thunderbolt!" Sho gasped, flinging his cards forward in a last-ditch attack. But they didn't even reach her. A single casual swing and the cards were sliced cleanly in half, falling to the floor like confetti.

"Wha–"

"Sho, dodge!" Erza cried.

Erza's warning fell to deaf ears as Ikaruga blurred and reappeared behind Sho, her blade sliding into his back, straight through to the front of his stomach. He froze, mouth open in a soundless gasp.

"NO!"

Inside the card, her magic surged with pure rage. She unsheathed her sword within the space and, with a thunderous cry, sliced through the barrier imprisoning her. The card cracked like a mirror, splintering into glowing shards before dissolving completely.

She hit the ground running, eyes aflame with fury.

"You'll pay for what you've done to him!" she howled, her blade swinging down with wrathful force. The clang of steel on steel echoed through the corridor as Ikaruga blocked with a single-hand parry, her expression cool and composed.