The East Forest
After being relentlessly trained by the Three Sword Spirits, Erza proposed a duel with Raizel, telling the Three Sword Spirits to go play elsewhere.
Raizel agreed, signaling for the spirits to clear the area.
Erza stood ready.
She gripped her blade, Benizakura, with both hands, her eyes locked on her target.
BOOM.
She stomped her right foot, shattering the earth beneath her boot.
In a blink, she closed the distance, slashing at Raizel with god-like speed.
Raizel didn't block.
Facing the blur of scarlet steel, he relied solely on micro-movements, dodging each lethal strike by a hair's breadth.
His motions were fluid, almost lazy, contrasting sharply with Erza's violent exertion.
Seeing that brute speed wasn't enough, Erza switched tactics.
She feinted a high slash, but mid-strike, she summoned a second blade.
Dual Wielding.
She unleashed a torrent of cross-slashes.
But Raizel seemed to have read her mind. He evaded the initial feint, and when the dual-blade storm arrived, he finally raised his arms.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Erza's swords were moving so fast they were invisible to the naked eye, but Raizel's arm blades parried every single hit with casual precision.
"I yield," Erza gasped, leaping back and sheathing her swords. "I can't even touch you."
"Not entirely true," Raizel corrected, lowering his arm. "You forced me to block three times. Besides, you just finished sparring with the Sword Spirits. To have this much speed and stamina left is impressive."
He smiled slightly. "Also, I'm four years older than you. It's natural for there to be a gap between our strength."
Erza caught her breath as Raizel offered his critique.
"Your explosive power lacks that final burst. The first strike when you charged had excellent momentum. Even though it didn't hit me, the pressure alone would be impossible for most mages to avoid."
He paused, letting the lesson sink in.
"However, when facing stronger opponents, going all-out in a suicidal assault is just one option. There is another path: conserving strength, prioritizing defense, and waiting for the single, perfect opening to strike. But... it is too early for you to worry about that. For now, focus on finding the style that suits you."
"So... I need to improve my explosive power?" Erza pondered. "Should I use weights?"
"That works, but we have magic," Raizel suggested. "Have Kagura help you with her Gravity Magic."
Kagura had recently begun learning Gravity Magic
. While her current range and output wouldn't even tickle Raizel, it was perfect for Erza's level.
"And if Kagura's gravity becomes too light for you," Raizel added with a mysterious grin, "I have other methods."
"What methods?"
"Train first," Raizel teased. "I'll tell you once you can move freely within Kagura's gravity field."
Erza nodded determinedly and went to find Kagura, who was practicing her sword swings nearby.
"What methods?" Ultear asked, stepping up beside Raizel.
Raizel's grin widened. "The charm of a Category 18 Hurricane."
Ultear didn't quite understand what he mean, but she didn't press further.
She looked at Erza's retreating back with a sympathetic smile; the girl was about to suffer.
Raizel turned to Ultear. "You should train inside Kagura's gravity, too. Even though you are a long-range caster, you shouldn't neglect your physical fitness. If an enemy closes the distance, you need the stamina and martial skill to survive. Of course, your main focus should still be meditation."
Ultear nodded in agreement.
...
Several Days Later
Erza adapted to Kagura's gravity field terrifyingly fast.
It would take time for Kagura's magical power to grow enough to hinder Erza again, so the redhead sought out Raizel once more.
"The new method is simple," Raizel explained, holding out a roll of bandages. "You will use all your strength to charge straight toward me. Also, a suggestion: if you're going to hold your sword, tie it to your hand."
"What is so difficult about just charging at you?" Erza took the bandages.
Ultear helped her wrap them tightly, securing the hilt of the sword to her palm.
"You'll find out," Raizel said, walking toward the lake. "We need to change direction. Face away from the forest and toward the water."
Raizel figured that getting blown into the lake would be far less painful than getting slammed into the dirt.
"Take Over: Imperialdramon Dragon Mode."
Raizel transformed.
Armored plating covered his body, and magnificent, draconic wings sprouted from his back.
He prepared to use the Imperialdramon's immense wind generation to create a wall of air.
"Ready?"
Erza nodded firmly.
She finally understood what he intended to do. She gripped her right hand with her left, tensed every muscle in her body, and prepared to charge.
"Good. Then I'll begin."
Raizel took flight. His wings beat once, forcefully.
ROAR.
A fierce gale erupted, slamming into Erza.
The wind was so violent that the lake water behind her churned, sending waves crashing against the shore.
And this was Raizel holding back; he had to be careful not to break her.
The wind pressure formed an invisible wall.
Erza's crimson hair whipped wildly around her face. She closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and took a step with her left foot.
She nearly tumbled backward instantly.
The wind was like a physical barrier, heavy and unyielding.
Seeing her struggle, Raizel reduced the frequency of his wing flaps slightly.
Erza seized the chance.
She stabbed her sword into the ground to anchor herself. Sensing the wind weaken, she roared, pushing herself up.
She stomped her right foot, cracking the ground beneath her, and lunged forward.
WHOOSH.
Mid-charge, Raizel flapped his wings again.
A sudden surge of air lifted her off her feet and tossed her backward like a ragdoll.
SPLASH.
She landed squarely in the lake, sending a massive plume of water into the air.
'Splash landing. Zero points,' Raizel graded silently in his head.
By now, other guild members had gathered to watch. The sound of the roaring wind was impossible to ignore.
Erza climbed out of the lake, soaked to the bone, shaking her wet hair out of her eyes.
"Again."
Seeing the fire in her eyes, the spectators wisely dispersed to train elsewhere.
They knew Erza; she wouldn't stop until she couldn't stand.
For Raizel, flapping his wings was effortless.
For Erza, it was hell.
She continued this training throughout the entire afternoon.
Time and time again, she was blasted backward, falling into the lake only to climb back out and charge again.
She eventually put her sword away, realizing she couldn't maintain her grip on it yet.
Building the explosive strength to pierce the wind would take time.
....
Erza used her Requip magic to instantly change into clean, dry clothes.
Ultear handed her a towel to dry her hair.
Raizel landed and powered down his Take Over.
"There is some improvement," he said. "You're getting closer."
"I'll take that as a compliment for now," Erza muttered.
She wasn't sure if advancing a mere ten centimeters counted as progress.
"It's a pity the lake is too deep for you right now," Raizel mused, looking at the water. "When you're a bit taller, swinging your sword underwater is excellent resistance training. And when you're stronger, you can try cutting through a waterfall. The impact of the falling water forces you to maintain a flawless grip and stance."
Hearing about two more grueling training methods, Erza's eyes practically sparkled.
"Hey, hey, don't overdo it," Ultear interjected, worried. "Take care of your body."
Raizel nodded in agreement. "She's right. Rest is part of training."
He remembered the last time Erza had pushed herself too hard.
Porlyusica had complained to Makarov, and he had been subjected to an all-night lecture from the Master.
He had spent hours rubbing his hands together in apology, smiling until his face cramped.
He didn't want a repeat of that!
Erza smiled and nodded. "Don't worry. Falling into the lake just means swallowing some water. I'm not injured."
"I want to train like that too," Kagura said, looking at Erza with admiration.
"You're still too young," Ultear said, patting Kagura's head gently. "Focus on meditation and sparring with the sword spirit for now. You can train like Erza when you're her age."
Ultear shivered internally.
If Raizel threw Kagura into a hurricane now, Makarov would flatten him, and whatever was left would be frozen solid by Ur.
"Okay," Kagura agreed.
She was remarkably obedient, a trait both Ur and Ultear adored.
Raizel looked at the waterfall in the distance.
He and Laxus used to stand under that crushing weight for hours to build their physiques, but that method had long since lost its effectiveness for them.
They were monsters now!
But looking at Erza, he knew she was well on her way to becoming one, too.