Bonus Chapters every 100 Power Stones
"Normal Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
[Year X789]
~ With Team Fairy Tail ~
Max wiped the sweat from his forehead as he exchanged glances with his teammates. His eyes met Jet's, then Droy's, silently acknowledging what they all now understood: the Council's warnings about Ultear hadn't been exaggerated in the slightest.
"We need to regroup," Max said quietly, gathering the team closer. His magic reserves were running low as the sand particles around him begun to move sluggishly. "Conserve your magic. We're not winning this through brute force."
"We're not winning this at all," Jet muttered.
The speed mage was hunched forward, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Maintaining his High-Speed Magic for extended combat had drained him faster than their regular training sessions.
Droy looked no better, his plant constructs withering around them. "The Council wasn't kidding when they classified her as an S-class threat. Maybe only someone like Shisui stands a chance against magic like that."
Max nodded grimly. "She's playing with us. Did you notice she hasn't even used offensive magic yet? Just defense and nullification. And her friend hasn't moved a muscle."
Across the field, Ultear observed their huddled conference with apparent amusement.
"Do you need a break?" she called, her tone filled with false concern. "I understand if this is too much for you. Not everyone is cut out for serious combat."
Her gaze landed specifically on Bisca, a cold smile forming. "Especially you, gun mage. I've faced many female wizards in my time, but you might be the weakest I've ever encountered. Your magic is so... limited."
Bisca's head snapped up. Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she clenched her fists. Throughout their six months of training, she had worked tirelessly to expand her magical repertoire, pushing the boundaries of what Gun Magic could accomplish. To have her efforts dismissed so casually did not sit well with her.
"Bisca," Alzack warned quietly, recognizing the signs of his wife's rising anger. "Don't let her bait you."
But Ultear wasn't finished. "It's almost sad, really. In the right hands, Gun Magic can be quite formidable. But you lack the creativity and the magical reserves to make it truly dangerous."
She tilted her head, studying Bisca with exaggerated thoughtfulness. "Perhaps you should consider a different line of work? Something less demanding?"
A flush of anger crept up Bisca's neck, but instead of responding verbally, she caught Alzack's eye. Something unspoken passed between the married couple. Alzack held her gaze for a moment, then gave an almost exasperated nod.
"Cover us," Bisca murmured to the others. "Alzack and I need thirty seconds."
Max, Jet, and Droy straightened, understanding immediately what the couple intended.
A Unison Raid. One of the rarest and most difficult form of combined magic, where two mages perfectly synchronize their magical wavelengths to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual powers. It was something the Connells had been working on for months, with limited success even in controlled conditions.
"You've got it," Max confirmed, gathering his remaining sand. "Jet, Droy, formation six."
The three mages moved forward, positioning themselves between the Connells and their opponents. Though clearly exhausted, they managed to project confidence as they spread out, drawing Ultear's attention away from what was happening behind them.
"Still want to play?" Ultear asked. "Very well. Show me what else you've got."
Max initiated a series of quick sand attacks as Jet darted back and forth at high speed, trying to draw Ultear's attention. Droy sent his remaining plant constructs slithering through the grass, approaching from less obvious angles.
Behind this screen of activity, Bisca and Alzack stood back-to-back, their eyes closed in concentration. Their magical energy began to align, a process they'd practiced countless times but had never fully mastered. This time, however, fuelled by determination and Bisca's righteous anger, something clicked into place.
A warm, golden glow surrounded the couple, their individual magical auras merging into a single harmonious field. Their weapons, Alzack's twin pistols and Bisca's rifle, hovered before them as they channeled more power into the growing connection.
"Ready?" Alzack asked.
"Ready." Bisca confirmed.
They spun in perfect unison, their backs still touching as they rotated to face Ultear together. Their weapons snapped into their hands, and they spoke as one, their voices overlapping in perfect harmony.
Unison Raid: Bullet Storm: Supernova!
The magical discharge was overwhelming. A spiraling beam of concentrated magical energy erupted from both their weapons, combining mid-air into a blindingly bright column that cut through Max's sand screen like it wasn't there. The attack carried such force that it left a sound like thunder in it's wake.
For the first time, Ultear's expression showed genuine interest as she observed the approaching attack. She raised her right hand, palm outward, as the massive energy beam bore down on her position.
"Impressive," she acknowledged. "You've actually managed to create a true Unison Raid."
The beam struck her outstretched hand... And stopped. The energy scattered and dispersed, flowing around Ultear. Despite the attack's obvious power, capable of leveling a small building, she held it at bay with apparent ease.
"Unfortunately," she continued, her voice carrying over the roar of the dissipating energy, "it's still not enough."
With a simple closing of her fist, the remainder of the attack collapsed in on itself, Ethernano particles fading into nothing. The sudden silence that followed was deafening.
Bisca and Alzack staggered, the enormous expenditure of magical energy leaving them barely able to stand. Their combined attack, the culmination of months of training, the technique they'd hoped might one day earn them victory in the Games, had been brushed aside like all their previous efforts.
The realization settled over the team. They had thrown everything they had at Ultear, used every technique, every combination, every strategy they'd developed. They had even managed a successful Unison Raid, something many mages trained for years without achieving. And still, they hadn't even forced her to take a single step back.
"I think that's enough," Max said quietly, his voice heavy with resignation. The sand around him settled to the ground. "We've made our point."
"Have you?" Meredy asked, stepping forward for the first time since the confrontation began. Her previous boredom had given way to something like pity as she surveyed their exhausted forms.
"Because from where I'm standing, the only point you've made is how far Fairy Tail has fallen."
She walked closer, pink hair swaying with each step. "If that's all you can do, you'll never measure up to the Fairy Tail members we fought at Tenrou Island."
The casual mention of Tenrou Island, the sacred ground where their guildmates had disappeared almost five years ago, registered to the Fairy Tail mages.
Five pairs of eyes widened simultaneously, disbelief and shock written across their faces.
~ End of Chapter 46 ~
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Oh Meredy-chan you sweet, innocent lovable dummy. Why'd you go and mention Tenrou Island when the fight was over T_T