AN: Advance Bonus chapter. The book is 7 power stones away from 100 so here's the chapter in advance as I might sleep later. I would also like to inform you guys that tomorrow's chapter might come late as I'm too occupied to edit it. My friend just died and I might not be in the right mind to edit.
Aurelius gripped his sword as the Phantom Lord mages glanced nervously at each other before one mustered the courage to ask, "Master Jose, what should we do?"
Jose's lips curled into a smug smirk. "Do? You'll do nothing," he replied dismissively, his gaze never leaving Aurelius. "Just stand back and watch me crush this bug."
The mages relaxed, their uncertainty melting into confident smirks, echoing their master's arrogance.
With a flick of his wrist, Jose unleashed a Dead Wave, the dark energy surging forward like a ravenous beast. Aurelius sidestepped the attack, his movements sharp and calculated. But Jose wasn't finished. He fired more waves in rapid succession, the chamber trembling with each explosion of magic.
Aurelius dodged most of them with impressive agility, but one finally struck him squarely. The force hurled him across the room, his body crashing into the stone wall with a resounding impact. Dust and debris rained down as cracks spread from the point of collision.
Jose chuckled, his tone dripping with mockery. "Is this all you've got? Fairy Tail really must be desperate if they're sending someone like you."
Aurelius rose to his feet, unfazed by the taunt. His expression remained calm as he reached deep into his magic reserves. A faint shimmer enveloped Jose, who faltered for the first time. His eyes darted around erratically as his vision blurred, and he gritted his teeth against the sudden distortion in his hearing and magic sense.
"What is this?" Jose growled, his tone laced with irritation.
Aurelius didn't respond. Instead, he charged forward, his sword glowing with a vivid blue aura that pulsed with electricity, "Energy Make, Blue: Spectral Blade!" Aurelius called out, the blade slicing through the air with precision as he swung it toward Jose.
Despite his senses being thrown into chaos, Jose evaded the attack with unnerving ease, leaning just enough to avoid the strike. His smirk returned, sharper than before.
Jose then raised his hand, summoning another Dead Wave. The dark energy roared toward Aurelius with terrifying speed, but Aurelius twisted out of its path just in time.
Aurelius managed to evade the attack, his movements smooth but his mind now alert to Jose's formidable adaptability.
"You think your cheap parlor tricks will work on me?" Jose sneered, his voice brimming with malice. "I don't need to see, hear, or sense magic to crush you. Using my magic is as natural to me as breathing."
Jose's aura flared dangerously, the room darkening under his oppressive power. "And you… you are nothing but a nuisance beneath my feet."
Aurelius' grip tightened on his sword as sparks of electricity danced along its edge. His sharp gaze never left Jose, who stood with an unshakable confidence. With a sudden burst of movement, Aurelius swung his blade, sending a lightning-infused slash cutting through the air toward the Phantom Lord master.
Jose effortlessly sidestepped, his movements fluid and unnervingly precise despite the altered state of his senses. The crackling slash missed its mark, dissipating harmlessly into the air.
Jose smirked, tilting his head. "Is that all you have, Aurelius? Surely the 'master of deceit' can do better."
Aurelius said nothing, his jaw tightening. Instead of pressing the attack, he jumped back, his attention shifting to Lucy, still crumpled on the ground nearby. She was unconscious, her breathing shallow and ragged.
"Ignoring me?" Jose taunted, his voice oozing amusement. "It doesn't matter. You'll fall soon enough."
Aurelius ignored him, swiftly moving to Lucy's side. His hand brushed her shoulder gently, shaking her awake. "Lucy," he said firmly, his voice low but steady. "Wake up."
Lucy's eyelids fluttered open, her face pale and strained. Her vision swam as she tried to focus on Aurelius. "W-what...?" she croaked, her voice barely audible.
"There's no time," Aurelius said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You need to run. Now."
Lucy blinked, disoriented, but she nodded weakly, pushing herself up with trembling arms. Her body struggled to comply, and her steps were shaky and slow as she tried to move toward the chamber's exit.
The Phantom Lord mages watching the scene exchanged glances before one of them growled, "She's trying to escape! Stop her!"
Several mages sprang into action, their movements a blur as they surged toward Lucy. But before they could get close, their bodies suddenly crumpled to the ground, one by one. The room was filled with the sound of bodies hitting stone and faint, rhythmic snoring.
Lucy paused briefly, glancing back with confusion etched on her face. "W-what happened?" she murmured, her voice trembling.
Aurelius didn't answer, his focus entirely on Jose.
Then suddenly, a pulse of dark magic radiated from Jose. Aurelius' eyes widened as the oppressive energy condensed into a wave of raw destruction, spreading out in all directions.
"Lucy, get down!" Aurelius shouted.
Without hesitation, he lunged toward her, forcing her to the ground and shielding her with his body. The wave surged past them, crashing into the chamber walls with devastating force. The floor cracked and buckled, and chunks of stone crumbled from the ceiling, leaving the room scarred and filled with debris.
Dust hung in the air as Aurelius slowly rose, helping Lucy to her feet. He turned his sharp gaze back to Jose, who stood in the same spot, his expression unchanged.
"How did you like that, boy? Did it hit you?," Jose asked, his voice dripping with disdain.
Aurelius' eyes narrowed. "You talk too much." He fired back as he let his opponent hear his voice.
Jose smirked, spreading his arms. "And you act like you stand a chance. Do you even realize who you're dealing with, boy?"
Aurelius didn't respond, his grip tightening on his sword as the air around him hummed with tension. His mind raced as he analyzed Jose's movements, calculating his next move. "He can't see or sense properly, but his instincts are sharp... too sharp." He thought.
"Lucy," Aurelius said quietly, his voice steady. "Keep moving. Don't look back."
Lucy hesitated for a moment, fear flickering in her eyes, but she nodded, stumbling forward with more urgency.
Jose tilted his head, "Why don't you fight me head on, boy," he said with a cold grin. "But I suppose I can indulge this little game of yours for now. It'll make crushing your spirit all the more satisfying."
As Lucy scrambled to her feet, the urgency in her movements unmistakable, she took off toward the exit. Aurelius, with his senses still sharp despite the chaos, instinctively moved to cover her, making sure every step she took was protected.
Jose, unable to perceive anything but still relying on his natural battle instincts, unleashed another barrage of dark waves, each one tearing through the air in every direction. He couldn't see, he couldn't hear, and he couldn't sense the magic around him—but his instinct for destruction was flawless, launching wave after wave of dark energy in every possible direction.
Aurelius reacted quickly, positioning himself in front of Lucy, his body taking the brunt of the blasts as he used his sword to shield her from the waves. Each pulse of energy forced him to adjust his position, but for now, his strikes held firm, ensuring that Lucy made progress toward the door.
"Keep going, Lucy!" Aurelius urged through gritted teeth, his focus entirely on the incoming blasts. "Just a little more!"
Lucy's legs, still unsteady but fueled by fear and desperation, pushed her forward. Aurelius held steady, his eyes never leaving her as she neared the exit. They were almost there.
But then, a mistake.
In his haste to cover her, Aurelius miscalculated, the energy from one of the waves grazed his slashed, causing him to lose focus for just a moment.
It was enough.
A surge of dark energy streaked toward Lucy, the wave headed straight for her back. The impact would be catastrophic.
No!
Time seemed to slow as Aurelius' heart pounded in his chest. He felt the blast—and with it, an overwhelming sense of dread that Lucy was in immediate danger.
In a split second, Aurelius' eyes locked onto the oncoming wave. He pushed himself forward with all his strength, grabbing Lucy and diving out of the way, but it was too late. The blast was already too close.
But just as the wave was about to reach them, something unexpected happened.
Three layers of shimmering magic circles appeared, materializing out of nowhere, right before the blast. The circles glowed with an unfamiliar energy, each one powerful and intricate, a weave of protective magic.
The blast hit the first layer, then the second, and then the third. And then, with a shocking force, the attack bounced back.
It changed direction in mid-air, almost as if it were a mere reflection, traveling straight back toward the source. Aurelius' eyes widened in disbelief.
Before the wave could hit, Jose leaped aside, dodging the blast with the same uncanny reflexes that had carried him so far in this battle. He avoided the attack effortlessly, but it was clear that the momentum of the blast had disturbed the flow of the fight. He looked around, disoriented, still unable to perceive the true source of his trouble.
And then, in the corner of the room, a figure stepped forward from the shadows, his presence calm but imposing.
It was Mystogan.
His eyes were covered by his usual mask, but there was no mistaking his presence now. He stood silently, his usual calm demeanor unshaken. In his back, five magical staves glowed faintly, each one radiating its own unique power.
The Phantom Lord mages who had fallen asleep earlier? It was his doing. Mystogan had silently cast a sleeping spell on all of them without any of them even realizing it, rendering them unconscious while the fight raged on.
As Mystogan revealed himself, his presence commanding the room, Aurelius' mind raced to understand how things had shifted so quickly. Mystogan, standing tall and composed in the corner, spoke in his usual calm tone, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice.
"With this, my debt is paid," he said, his gaze steady as it fell on Aurelius.
Aurelius, still processing the situation, simply nodded, his face serious. "We'll talk about that later."
Mystogan didn't push the matter, his quiet confidence filling the room as he prepared to make his next move.
Lucy, still catching up with everything, turned to the two mages, her eyes wide in confusion and disbelief. "Wait... Who is this? Is that the Mystogan that came before we took the S-rank quest?" she asked, her voice filled with the need for answers.
But Aurelius was quick to act, his focus shifting back to Lucy, urgency in his voice. "Don't worry about that now... Just run, Lucy. Go!"
Lucy hesitated for a moment, but the urgency in Aurelius' voice urged her forward. With one last glance back at the two powerful mages, she took off, her legs pumping as fast as they could carry her toward the exit.
She could hear the battle behind her, but she didn't dare look back until she reached the threshold of the room. But just as she was about to break free, a strange and overwhelming sensation filled the air. The very ground seemed to tremble as if in response to the surge of magic that rose behind her.
Turning her head in a mixture of fear and curiosity, Lucy saw it.
Around Jose, five glowing magic staves appeared, each radiating a pulsing energy. Her eyes widened as she watched the staves shift, forming a perfect circle around the the Phantom Lord guild master. Then, in an instant, five layers of magic circles appeared above the center of the staves, their intricate symbols spinning rapidly, each layer glowing brighter than the last.
Lucy's breath caught as she heard Mystogan's calm voice echo through the chamber.
"Five Layered Magic Circle: Sacred Song."
Before Lucy could even process what was happening, the five magic circles erupted in unison, unleashing a concentrated beam of magic so powerful that it seemed to tear through the very air. The beam shot forward, its intensity blinding, and struck Jose directly. He barely had time to react before the force of the blast hit him.
Lucy was left stunned, her mind spinning as she took in the scene before her. She had seen power before, but this… this was on a completely different level.
Her thoughts raced. "First it was Aurelius playing with that Zalty guy… Now, there is also Mystogan with such a powerful blast... Just how strong are those S-class mages?!"
The sheer magnitude of Mystogan's magic and the speed with which he had acted left her in awe. She had always relied on her friends, Natsu and the others, to save her—but now, standing here, watching Mystogan's power in action, Lucy couldn't help but feel like she had a long way to go.
"How are we supposed to keep up with this?" she thought, a mix of awe and frustration filling her chest. "Natsu and I… we're not even close to this level yet."
The thought of how much further she and Natsu had to go in order to stand on equal footing with mages like Mystogan and Aurelius was humbling. They had so much more to learn, so much more room to grow.
But for now, Lucy pushed those thoughts aside. She couldn't afford to dwell on them, not with everything still happening around her. She refocused on her escape, but not before a lingering feeling of admiration for Mystogan's strength remained in her mind. The gap between the S-rank mages and herself had never felt so real.
Lucy stumbled into the crumbling section of the Phantom Lord hall, her pulse racing. She had been running nonstop, but the situation ahead made her freeze. There, in the middle of a shattered area, stood Gajeel and Aria, locked in a fierce battle against Erza, Natsu, Gray, and Elfman. Mirajane stood off to the side, her eyes sharp, but her body still.
Erza's blade clashed against Aria's wind. Every strike was calculated, the sound of steel wind being dispersed echoed. Natsu, flames blazing around him, was locked in combat with Gajeel, whose iron fist spun around and clashed with his fire.
Gray, on the other side, had his ice at the ready, each attack a fluid extension of his body's movements. Elfman stood beside him, his muscles tense, awaiting an opportunity to strike.
Mirajane wasn't in the fight as she watched the battle unfold, analyzing, the battle as worry filled her eyes.
When Lucy's presence finally registered in the room, the Fairy Tail mages momentarily paused. Their eyes flickered to her, distracted. She had caught them off guard. In that split second of hesitation, Gajeel and Aria immediately took advantage.
Gajeel's lips twisted into a smirk, his wild eyes glinting as he signaled to Aria. The two of them didn't need to say a word; they knew exactly what needed to be done.
"Now!" Gajeel growled.
With that, a massive magic circle erupted beneath them. It pulsed with dark energy, its eerie glow casting long shadows across the chamber. Lucy's heart pounded in her chest, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What is this?" she thought, feeling a heavy pressure in the air.
The magic circle grew larger, its symbols twisting and pulsing, and then… from the circle, a figure began to materialize. At first, it was just a shadow, a distorted shape that hovered in the center, flickering with black mist.
Then it became clearer, and Lucy's eyes widened in shock as the full form took shape. It was Jose. Not the real Jose, but an exact replica—a clone of him, standing tall with the same imposing presence. The shadowy figure's robes fluttered, as if it were alive, its dark aura wrapping around the room like a suffocating mist.
...
Meanwhile...
The dust settled slowly, shrouding the chamber in an eerie silence. The powerful energy from Mystogan's attack lingered in the air like a residual hum. The magic circle that had been above them flickered and disappeared, leaving behind a lingering sense of tension.
As the smoke cleared, Jose stood there, seemingly untouched. However, what was strange was the sight of him—his body was enveloped in a jelly-like substance, a viscous shade of dark energy that clung to him like a second skin. It rippled and wobbled, as if it had been a protective barrier to absorb the brunt of the attack.
A low, guttural laugh echoed from Jose as the jelly-like substance began to retreat back into his form, sinking into his skin like it was an integral part of him. The once-damaged figure now looked as if the attack had never occurred. His robes flowed as if untouched by the blast that had just struck him.
Jose stood tall, unscathed, and as he turned his gaze on Aurelius and Mystogan, a smug grin crept across his face.
"Did you fools attack?" Jose's voice dripped with disdain. "I didn't even feel it!" His tone was one of pure arrogance, as if he were mocking them for even thinking they could harm him.
Aurelius' expression darkened at the sight, his eyes narrowing slightly as a sense of frustration built within him. His grip on his sword tightened, and the faintest glint of doubt crossed his face. He had been certain the attack would have damage, but instead, it had barely left a mark.
Mystogan, on the other hand, stood still, his eyes widening in mild surprise, though his face remained neutral. He was clearly taken aback by the durability of his opponent, but there was no panic in his expression. He adjusted his stance, though his initial shock was evident.
Bonus Chapter:
107 more Power Stones
Chapter Titles:
33: Unseen Power
34: Shattered Reality
35: Into the Thunder