feral | sting eucliffe

XXXIX | LI

Episode 39: Lava and Ice!

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"AKARI!" A voice similar to Wendy's cried out, a burning hot substance landing on the ground near Akane. The girl flew back weakly, purple sleeves slightly burned as she huffed. Another flash of reddish-orange passed her, narrowly missing her face and brushing its heat against her cheek. The heat turned into ice, Gray and Juvia standing behind her.

He looked towards the girls, nodding. "You three get out of here. You've done more than enough and I'm sure there are some people that need protection or healing out there." He nodded towards the swarm of both dark and light mages. The three nodded quickly, scurrying and limping off as fast as they could.

The ice didn't hold for long, the girl entrapped in it flying forward and into the ground. She quickly rose to her feet, the heat around her rising. "The girl from the pictures," Gray recognized her, blinking wildly. She was very young compared to her supposed 'friend'. Her green hair was tied into a tight braid, yellow eyes filled with angry tears. 

Juvia huffed in the background, taking on a stance. "Young or not, Juvia refuses to let such a girl go after her Gray like that!" A water slicer shot at the fiery girl, knocking her back by just a bit as her shoes dug into the ground. The water suddenly evaporated, a lava fist driving through Juvia painfully. Her body took some damage as she skidded back, holding her side.

"I see you recognize me," The much shorter green-haired girl spoke up, tilting her head towards them as lava-covered her fist. The magma traveled through the cracks of the dried-up lava that had formed a gauntlet of sorts around her fists. "Well, my name is June Yukihari and I refuse to let my big sister Akari die in vain!" 

Gray let out a grunt, creating an ice shield last minute as a fist of lava cracked his main line of defense. What the hell?! He blinked, his arm getting pummeled as he was sent flying back with a third-degree burn radiating on his arm. Covering it with ice to cool it off, he watched Juvia distract her for a moment. Taking the opportunity, he shot ice lancers at the girl.

June flew back, her back hitting a tree before she quickly recovered. Her cheeks puffed before she opened her lips, "Lava dragon roar!" She cried out, a stream of pure heat and rocks thrown towards Juvia. Had Gray been any later on tackling her to the ground, she would've been evaporated and gone. The entire ground was scorched, the lava quickly cooling off.

The blue-haired girl rose to her feet, eyes widening. "She's a dragon slayer?" June let out a huff of pride, landing swiftly on top of a rock as she grinned. "Damn right I am! Trained by the best, the rival of Igneel himself, Keegan!" She cheered as Gray smirked. "Congrats on the ego boost, but don't forget about the battle itself, kid." A cannonball of ice hit her torso.

The girl let out a hysterical roar after rising to her feet, hot lava flowing around her body and encasing her. Parts of it cooled, creating smaller cracks for the lava to go through. "Damn it! Damn it all!" She let out a distorted scream, head tilted up towards the sky. Her hair flew up, turning red as fire lit at the tips of it. 

"I'm going to end you!" She shrieked, eyes turning a bright red as well. She charged forward, swiping left and right as Juvia and Gray had no choice, but to focus on ducking and dodging. Juvia sent a water slicer her way, cooling off another part of the lava. It was enough to get her attention, June charging at her and knocking her out cold.

Gray yelled out for her, "Juvia!" June cackled, standing up as lava swirled around her form. "Yes, yes! I'll make you pay for what you've done to my lovely big sister! I'll make sure you're precious Juvia ceases to exist!" An insane laugh leaves her lips as her head tilted downwards, Gray's expression darkening at her words as the environment instantly grew cold.

"What?" He said, a glare in his eyes as a dark pattern covered part of his chest. His Fairy Tail mark turned white, hair spiking up. June merely smirked, clapping her hands. "And the real fun begins! Hurrah!" The two clashed. Nothing more than bursts of ice and flames, it was an interesting match-up between powers and elements. 

June hit a tree, destroying a part of it as she scowled. "Why won't you just die already?! Your ice isn't melting!" She let out a panicked cry when Gray's ice formed around her in a purple spiral. He stepped forward, ice covering his footsteps as he smirked. His fingers curled inward as he smiled, "That's because this ice is used to kill demons."

Another surge of magic energy left his body as more ice spiraled around June's frame, "You damn dragon slayers don't stand a chance!" June let out a scream, pounding at the ice with her lava encased fists as she desperately tried to find a way out. She kicked at the ice, attempting to melt it, but her actions turned out to be fruitless. "No, no!" 

She shook her head, lava swirling around her as she screamed. "I refuse to die like this! Let me out! Let me out!" Gray walked slowly, biding his time since he'd already figured out to knock her out of the competition. "Before I knock you out," He smirked, jumping into the air. "I suggest you cool it! Ice-Make: Hammer!" 

He slammed the hammer into the top of the ice spiral as it came crashing down upon his younger opponent. The girl let out a cry, falling victim to the tiny ice shards before crumpling to the ground. Blood pooled around her, her bruises becoming more visible as the lava coated around her gradually began to disappear.

"Jesus," Gray muttered, running a hand through his hair and looking at June's limp form. "You're as annoying as Natsu."