As battles raged on throughout Tenrou Island, Erza and Juvia were working together, running through the forest, not towards the dock to regroup with others, but to the nearest signs of battle. It was clear from the numerous magic signatures that nearly everyone was in some sort of fight, and patiently waiting for them to finish a fight at the dock was now pointless.
"Erza, do you know who could be attacking?" Furrowing her brows, Juvia ran alongside Erza, who shook her head, sporting a deep frown. "Fairy Tail doesn't have many enemies. Other than the magic Council, who wouldn't do this, I can't think of anyone else who'd do this… Other than dark mages."
"Dark mages? You think a Dark Guild might've attacked us!?" Widening her eyes, Juvia glanced at Erza, who nodded. "Yes, and not just any Dark Guild, with big bro's infamy among dark mages, only two Dark Guilds would dare attack us." Juvia, the intelligent woman she was, didn't take long to narrow down the suspects.
However, just as she did, they sensed a massive magic power barreling directly toward them, causing Juvia to quickly react as water surged from her body, creating a protective water dome that enveloped the two of them. Erza, knowing Juvia's efforts wouldn't be enough to stop the massive magic power heading at them, requiped into Adamantine Armor and slammed the two halves of the shield together, doing so just in time.
Emerging from a wall of trees was a being clad in purplish-black magic, which rapidly coalesced into a fist; without slowing, he arrived before the two women and thrust it forward, detonating it and destroying the protective dome and the adamantine shield while launching the two of them back.
Skidding across the ground like stones, the two slammed into trees, their momentum coming to a halt as Juvia aggressively coughed while Erza spat a clump of blood onto the ground, and the remains of her armor fell to the ground into pieces.
"J-Juvia, you okay?" Grunting, Erza wiped her mouth, rising to her feet while glancing at Juvia, who nodded. "Ugh, yes, though I think I have a concussion." Muttering softly, she rubbed her head, her blurry vision slowly regaining focus.
"Weaklings… Tell me, where is Cooper, and I'll spare your pathetic lives." Slowly approaching the duo, Jiemma Orland, the former Guild Master of Sabertooth, now a demonized dark mage, glared between them, the waves of his immense magical power washing over them, causing them to grit their teeth and instantly realize they were completely outclassed.
Requiping into her Purgatory Armor, an armor set that boasted great defensive capabilities alongside overwhelming strength. "You'll have to get through me first." Narrowing her eyes, Erza picked up the large mace, pointing it at Jiemma, who snorted, only to violently expel his magic power, forcing Juvia back, though Erza stood her ground, refusing to budge even an inch.
"Fine little cub. I'll play with you… I wonder how Cooper will react to the death of a weakling of his guild-mate." As Jiemma glared at Erza, she used that chance to whisper to Juvia. "Juvia, when the battle starts, quickly leave and help the others." "N-No! Let me stay and fight with you." Despite being fearful of Jiemma, Juvia shook her head, wanting to stand by her friend, if not family.
Yet, despite this, Erza shook her head. "You can tell as well as I, Juvia, even together we can't beat him. Go and help the others. I'll keep him pinned down here for as long as possible." "B-But, what about you!?" "Don't worry, on Tenrou Island, no Fairy can die." Flashing a confident smirk, Erza clenched her heavy mace and lunged at the demonized Jiemma.
Juvia watches the two clash, bites her lip before turning on her heel and running away, trusting in Erza while internally hoping Gildarts or Cooper helps her.
However, despite intending to go and help her other guild members, she doesn't make it far before another person stands in her path, stopping her, a young woman with an indifferent expression and pink hair.
"Meredy. Seven Kin of Purgatory… Now die." Without any warning or further dialogue, Meredy raised her arm, creating teal, magic swords in the air that honed in on Juvia, who raised her arms with an ugly expression.
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Cooper POV
Briefly glancing behind me, sensing the numerous battles currently going on, I deeply frowned, looking in the direction of the largest magic power signature. I gritted my teeth; I needed to go help Erza. She wouldn't last long against whoever she was fighting.
'But, what the hell am I supposed to do with him!?' Constantly clenching and unclenching my fists, I focused my gaze back onto the young man, who was now sitting on a rock, watching the ocean wash the beach ashore.
'Tsk, where the hell are you, Gildarts!? Don't tell me you just left after the first trial!?' Considering Gildarts still hasn't made an appearance, there was a good chance he had left Tenrou Island. Internally groaning, I rubbed my head, stuck between a rock and a hard place.
As the minutes ticked by, the fights grew more intense, with a few even coming to a successful conclusion on our end. Though suddenly, I heard distant footsteps closing towards us, only for an all too familiar woman to walk past me. "Tch, Ultear." Glaring at Ultear, who glanced my way, her gaze holding complicated emotions, she shook her head, ignored me, then approached the young man, dropped to her knees, and deeply bowed.
"Zeref. Lord Zeref. Finally, I've found you." Tears streamed down Ultear's face, dripping from her chin to the ground as she raised her head, glancing at the young man while I clicked my tongue.
'Zeref. So he really is the Black Wizard. Fucking hell, why the hell is he on Tenrou Island!? Matter of fact, how the hell is he even alive!? Shouldn't he be like 100s of years old!?' While I had many questions, honestly, all I cared about was getting him off the island and as far away from us as possible. Now that I know this being was Zeref, the legendary Black Wizard, I couldn't leave him unattended.
"You've been searching for me? Is it to use my power?" Glancing back, Zeref briefly looked at Ultear, who shook her head. "NO! I want your entire existence, you're my, no, our lord! Lord Zeref."
Zeref was unmoved by Ultear's response. "I have no intention of doing anything during this time, so leave me. While you're at it, stop your attack on Tenrou Island and leave. I don't wish to see war and death anymore… Your presence is worsening my mood." While I didn't believe a word he said, I flinched, taking a step back when he briefly released his magic power, a black aura surrounding him that left me unable to breathe.
As for Ultear, her whole body was shaking as she took the brunt of the pressure. I'm pretty sure she even peed herself a little, though thankfully for her, Zeref retracted his magic power. However, Ultear showed no signs of retreating, which seemed to genuinely upset Zeref. He raised his hand, a black orb manifesting in his palm, and tossed it at Ultear, who narrowly dodged.
As the orb hit a boulder in the distance, causing it to shatter into pieces, Zeref prepared to attack again, prompting Ultear to use her time magic to grab the numerous shattered pieces, creating a shield. While she managed to block Zeref's second attack, she was flung backward while coughing blood.
"Tch, don't bring me into this fight!" Grabbing Ultear by the collar, I flung her into the air, allowing her to dodge Zeref's third attack. While in the air, Ultear thrust her palm, causing saplings to sprout from the ground, which grew rapidly into fully grown trees that wrapped around him.
"N-No, why would you do that?" As Zeref grabbed his head, his body shaking uncontrollably, I widened my eyes and began to retreat, as I knew what was about to come. Not a second later, a wave of black death emerged from him, killing everything it touched, and just when it was about to reach Ultear, she summoned her orb, somehow managing to absorb the wave.
Obviously, the orb broke, though it did save her life. Yet that wasn't the end, as Ultear reversed time, bringing the orb back to life as she threw it at Zeref, taking advantage of his lapse. The orb split into several different orbs before slamming into Zeref, somehow, knocking him unconscious as he collapsed to the ground.
"E-Even if you are the legendary dark mage, you're still humans, and humans have weaknesses—Hey! Wait, what are you doing, Cooper!? No! Stop!" Dashing past Ultear, ignoring her shouts, I reached down, grabbing Zeref's ankle and overflowing myself with magic power, causing my skin to brightly shimmer gold as I spun in a circle, building momentum before throwing him with all of my might.
Zeref sailed through the sky, his figure turning into a speck in the sunny blue sky before eventually fading away beyond our eyesight as he vanished over the horizon. "F-Fuck yes!"