The grassland of the South Arena steamed with heat waves under the scorching sun, and the knee-high wild grass swayed with the hot wind, forming a golden-green ocean.
Erza stood in the center of the arena, her scarlet hair fluttering behind her like a battle flag.
She crossed her arms over her chest, her silver armor glinting with a cold light in the sunlight.
Dozens of steps away, Ikaruga's white kimono hem swayed gently in the wind, her left thumb pressing on the tsuba, her dark red tachi sheathed at her waist.
Gajeel crushed a clump of wild chrysanthemums under his iron boot, battle intent burning in his iron-gray pupils, the iron plate in his mouth grinding with a clatter.
"The rules are simple," Erza's voice was like tempered steel, "Defeat me, and you pass the assessment."
Sparks flew from between Gajeel's fangs: "I won't go easy on a woman!"
As soon as he finished speaking, teal dragon scales instantly covered his entire body, gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
This was not the activation of Dragon Force, but rather a special iron transformation state of his iron dragon magic, a magic that amplified all attributes.
Erza showed a serious expression and responded, "Giving it your all is the respect due to an assessment!"
Hearing this, Gajeel 'tsk'ed, twisted his neck, and slowly began to walk towards Erza.
Ikaruga, however, slightly narrowed her eyes, her cherry-blossom hair tied into a ponytail swaying slightly in the wind; she slightly lowered her body, her left hand gripping the scabbard, her right hand already gripping the hilt of her tachi—this was her unique stance when fully focused.
The grassland suddenly fell into an eerie silence; even the sound of the wind disappeared.
As Gajeel walked, he suddenly accelerated into a run.
"Iron Dragon Rod!" Gajeel's right arm transformed into a giant iron rod covered in spikes, sweeping across with a tearing shriek that ripped through the air.
At the same instant, Ikaruga's figure blurred into a white afterimage and suddenly vanished from her original spot!
A golden magic circle bloomed under Erza's feet, and two long swords, glinting with a stark white cold light, appeared in her hands; she crossed them in front of her body.
Gajeel's Iron Dragon Rod smashed against the iron swords, sending out dazzling sparks.
Using the impact, Erza slid backward along the ground, her boots carving long furrows in the grass.
Ikaruga, in her white attire, suddenly appeared above Erza's head, her dark red tachi drawn, and its brilliant blade light split downwards like a crescent moon.
Erza raised her crossed swords above her head, precisely parrying Ikaruga's tachi.
Accompanied by the clang of metal, cracks had already appeared on Erza's twin swords, but she had managed to withstand the blow.
"You need to be faster," Erza said with a light laugh, looking at the expressionless Ikaruga.
Just then.
Gajeel's second attack followed immediately, his right hand, in the form of an iron dragon Sword, thrusting towards her neck.
Her silver regular armor suddenly disintegrated, replaced by wings as black as night—Black Wing Armor!
Pure black armor covered her entire body, and the steel black wings on her back spread open.
Erza's speed surged; with a shake of her black wings, she suddenly flew into the air, leaving only an afterimage on the ground that was pierced by the iron dragon Sword.
Ikaruga's blade lost its point of impact, and she landed softly, but her fierce blade abruptly turned towards the sky, delivering continuous slashes with her dark red tachi: "Mujoryu: Shishōkōdan!"
Four sword energies, in the shape of a well, sealed off the sky above.
Erza's wings braked sharply and changed direction, her iron boots grazing the edge of the sword energies.
Seeing Erza ascend, Gajeel grinned, an iron-gray magic circle spreading beneath his feet, and his arms transformed into sharp iron dragon Sword forms.
He stomped hard on the ground, which exploded with a roar, and he shot into the sky like a cannonball, chasing directly after Erza!
"iron dragon's—Roar!"
A violent metallic storm erupted from his mouth, countless sharp iron fragments forming a tornado-like shockwave that swept towards Erza in mid-air!
Erza, in her Black Wing Armor, narrowed her eyes, then fiercely flapped her steel black wings, her figure suddenly rising higher, narrowly avoiding the iron fragment storm.
However, Gajeel's attack was not over—he crossed his hands, and his iron dragon Swords instantly extended, transforming into two iron whips that lashed fiercely at Erza!
"iron dragon Sword: Dragon's Twin Fangs!"
Erza's expression became serious; a flash of white light from her hands, and two more silver-white long swords appeared in her grip; she crossed them, their blades precisely blocking the iron whips, sparks flying everywhere.
However, Gajeel's strength was extremely violent, and the impact of the iron whips caused her body to lean back slightly.
In this instant—
Ikaruga's figure suddenly appeared behind Erza!
She had leaped into mid-air at some unknown point, her white kimono fluttering in the wind, her dark red tachi drawn, its blade carving out a mournful arc of light!
"Mugetsu Style: Sword Flash!"
The blade light was like lightning, striking directly at Erza's nape!
Erza's pupils contracted; she felt an icy chill, and though the defense of the Black Wing Armor was strong, Ikaruga's slash was enough to tear through steel.
In the nick of time, she sharply turned her body, the blade grazing her armor, leaving a deep gash!
"Tsk!" Erza snorted lightly; with a flap of her black wings, her body rapidly descended, simultaneously crossing her twin swords—
"Requip: Heaven's Wheel Armor!" A golden magic circle bloomed beneath her feet, the Black Wing Armor instantly disintegrated, replaced by a set of magnificent silver-white armor, with twelve floating magic swords appearing behind her!
"Heavens Wheel: Blumenblatt!"
The twelve magic swords instantly shot out, like meteors, attacking Ikaruga and Gajeel respectively!
Ikaruga's eyes narrowed; her figure dodged like a ghost, her blade slashing continuously, deflecting the incoming magic swords one by one.
Gajeel, on the other hand, roared, his iron dragon scales covering his entire body, and he brute-forced his way through several swords, iron fragments flying!
"Don't underestimate me!" Gajeel sneered, his arms suddenly plunging into the ground—
"iron dragon's Roar!"
Rumble—!
The ground suddenly cracked open, and dozens of sharp iron pillars burst forth from the earth, piercing towards Erza in mid-air like thorns!
Erza snorted coldly; the magic swords of her Heavens Wheel Armor instantly spun, forming a sword array shield that cut down all the iron pillars.
However, Ikaruga's figure was already closing in again!
"Mugetsu Style: Oni Slash!"
The dark red blade cut through the air, a scarlet blade energy tearing through the ground, heading straight for Erza!
Erza's eyes sharpened; she fiercely swung her swords to meet the attack—
"Heaven's Wheel: Pentagram Sword!"
Five magic swords flew out from behind her, weaving into a pentagram array, colliding with the blade energy with a thunderous crash!
Boom—!
The explosive shockwave swept across the entire grassland, uprooting wild grass, and filling the air with dust!
Before the dust settled, Gajeel charged out with a wild laugh, his iron dragon Sword thrusting directly at Erza's chest!
"Fall down!"
However, Erza's figure suddenly vanished!
"What?!" Gajeel's pupils constricted.
The next instant, Erza had appeared behind him, her silver-white armor gleaming with a cold light, her long sword slashing down fiercely!
"Heaven's Wheel: Slash!"
Gajeel hastily turned to block, but Erza's sword strike was too fast; one slash shattered his iron dragon scales, leaving a bloody mark on his chest!
"Ugh!" Gajeel grunted, stumbling backward.
Erza gave him no chance to breathe, her figure closing in again, her sword point aimed directly at his chest!
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