In Grimoire's Heart airship, Bluenote, who had been calmly observing Tenrou Island, smiled at the sight of the golden beam shooting into the sky. "Finally." Turning on his heel, he left the edge of the window, walking towards the balcony, passing Hades, who was sitting on his throne. "I'm making my move."
Without another word, Bluenote stepped out onto the balcony before leaping over the railing, folding his arms as he calmly fell through the sky; nearing the Island, he braced for impact, slamming into the ground at near terminal velocity.
His impact was like a mortar, destroying the surroundings and kicking up smoke that obscured his vision, yet with a single snort, the smoke dispersed, revealing Bluenote, without a single piece of clothing out of place, as he emerged from the crater; his gaze locked on the fading golden light in the sky.
Faintly smirking, he proceeded to walk towards where the golden light originated from, delving deeper into the forest.
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Just as Bluenote arrived at the Island, three people had just returned: Bickslow, Fried, and Gildarts. The former two had 'lost' to Cana and Lucy and Gildarts, who had finished their assignment, had boarded the ship and intended to return home early; however, along the way, they were forced to return as they spotted Grimoire Heart's airship.
"Tch, looks like we were right." Clicking his tongue, Gildarts stood at the front of the ship, Bickslow and Fried flanking his sides as the three eyed the airship and sensed the turbulent ethernano in the atmosphere. "Why would they suddenly attack us?" Frowning, Bickslow scratched his head. "Perhaps they're upset that we partook in the guild alliance against Oración Seis."
Mirroring his frown, Fried rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, only for Gildart to brush aside his cloak, briefly showing his metal prosthetic arm. "Well, whatever, we can think about it later. Let's deal with these bastards. You two, go reinforce the others. I have to go deal with that fucker."
Annoyed and angry, Gildarts glanced at Bickslow and Fried, the two nodding as the three of them leaped from the ship, landing on the beach. "What about the one Erza is fighting? Even if we helped her, the chances of winning were slim." As Gildarts headed towards the powerful magic signature of Bluenote, he waved his hand at Fried
"You can't sense him? That wild brat has got him covered… Check on the old man, his magic power seems dangerously low." Flashing a faint smirk, Gildarts entered the forest, his figure vanishing within the dense vegetation.
A moment later, the two nod, sensing Cooper's magic signature. "Let's go that way; some of our comrades seemed to have regrouped." "Alright then. Let's deal with them quickly." Following Fried, Bickslow licked his lips with a wicked smile.
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Erza, having managed to continue the fight with Jiemma while enduring the accumulated injuries, was now on her last leg; Jiemma had destroyed all of her armor, and she was now wearing nothing but her Clear Heart Clothing, having run out of armorers.
"No matter what tricks, weapons, or armor you wield, it won't allow a weakling to threaten the strong." With folded arms, Jiemma gazed down upon Erza's bloody and injured body as she propped herself up with her sword, gasping for breath.
"A-Are you sure?" Forcing a smile, Erza, taking a large breath, stood firmly on her two feet as she stared at Jiemma, wielding her sword with both hands. Without another word, she lunged at Jiemma, who awaited her arrival.
Clenching his fist, he thrust it squarely at her head, intending to kill her, yet using her sword, she parried his fist to the side, slipping into his guard while slashing at his torso. Bringing his other down, blocking her blade with his forearm, she quickly leaped back, evading a kick from him, exploding the ground where she previously stood while he lunged after her.
As Jiemma chased after Erza, forcing her to scurry around, narrowly dodging death from his every blow as he never once eased the pressure. "See. This is all the weak can do before the strong. Flee. That is all you can do." Stomping on the ground, creating a large explosion that caught Erza despite her retreat, she lost her balance and released her sword.
Holding her arm, she slowly stood, looking up at Jiemma, who towered before her, his demonized figure and magical power overwhelming her. "You're but prey and you will always be prey before a predator." Gazing at her, he raised his fist, enveloping it with a shimmering, translucent purple sphere as he punched her.
However, just before the fist reached her, she used requip, summoning a second sword, deflecting his fist, and taking him by surprise as she slashed upwards, leaving behind a faint bloody wound on his chest.
"You call me prey, but has prey ever wounded the predator?" Flashing a weak grin, Erza stared at Jiemma, whose pupils dilated with fury as his magical power erupted from his body. Yet before he could retaliate, a tree shimmering gold suddenly hit him, sending him tumbling to the side before exploding.
"Hehehe, no, they haven't. Prey can't wound a predator; that's what makes them prey. You've just proven you're also a predator." Sporting a bloodthirsty grin, Cooper approached Erza, wrapping an arm around her waist, letting her lean onto him for support.
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Cooper POV
"I-I appreciate the compliment." Wryly chuckling, Erza glanced up at me, causing me to flash a smirk before sighing as I brushed aside the hair sticking to her sweaty face. "Sorry it took so long to come. I was dealing with someone FAR more terrifying than him." Thinking about Zeref made me subconsciously grip Erza's waist tighter.
"T-They must've been truly something for even you to show fear." Hearing Erza, I gnashed my teeth, angry, only to heave a calming sigh. "Yes… He was terrifying… Anyway, somehow, I've managed to deal with him, so I can handle Jiemma now. You take it easy, you're not in good shape."
Brushing my hair aside, I released Erza, causing her to step back just as a purple sphere arrived less than a foot from my face. I stretched out my hand, grabbed it, and suppressed the explosion; granted, it still hurt me. "That's Jiemma?" The hatred she already had for him seemed to double instantly when she realized who it was.
"Yeah. But he looks much different now. He wasn't a demon when I saw him." Staring at Jiemma, I frowned, curious why I could sense faint curse energy from him. 'Has he come in contact with Tartaros?' While it seemed likely, I doubted he'd tell me if I asked him, and even if he did, I didn't care.
"Still, I'm surprised he's alive. I-I would've thought you killed him." "Wanted to. But Minerva was watching, even if he is a fucking bitch, I couldn't do that to her. However, Minerva is nowhere present. I'll finish what I wasn't able to." Clicking my tongue as I glared at him, I cracked my knuckles, grinning wildly now that I could kill him.
"Could you leave, Erza?" Normally, I wouldn't need to worry about fighting with Erza nearby; she was strong enough, but she was pretty injured right about now, and thankfully, she completely understood. "Alright, and while I'm not one to normally say this. Kill him, please." Nodding, she turned around, shooting me a final look before limping off, causing me to chuckle.
"Hehe, with pleasure!" Licking my teeth, I approached Jiemma, standing less than a meter apart as we silently stared at each other. "I've been waiting for this day, Cooper. Today I'll show you strength!" No longer messing around, Jiemma unleashed his true strength, thrusting his fist at my chest, enveloping me in an explosion of a magnitude several times bigger than anything he used against Erza.
"Heh, that's all you got? All you did was crack a rib." Having reinforced my body to my limit with Indestructible magic, I stared at him, his fist having slammed against my chest. "Here, let me show you true strength." Clenching my fist, I stepped into his guard, slamming my fist into his chest, creating a canvas of destruction behind where he stood.
Yet, I wasn't smiling at my successful attack, despite taking a direct attack; he remained standing in his exact spot, a matter of fact. 'Tsk, the hell did he undergo at Tartaros?' Clicking my tongue, I leaped back, creating distance, yet, surprisingly, he chased after me, causing me to snort.
"You've grown arrogant." If he wanted to fight in close combat, who was I, someone who takes absolute pride in my hand-to-hand combat skill, to deny him? Stopping, I lunged at him, getting in close as I deflected his fist, causing an explosion to occur behind me while I struck his gut; slamming my elbow down onto his rising knee, forcing his foot back to the ground, I kicked his side, following up with a kidney shot.
"Hehe, dumbass. This is so easy!" Chuckling in amusement, I reversed his grapple, grabbing him and pinning his arm as I kneed his stomach.