The colossal Phantom Lord guildhall shuddered violently, its immense frame groaning under the magical assault that raged within. Far from the main conflict, in what was meant to be a secure safe house, the ceiling above Lucy Heartfilia and Reedus Jonah suddenly crumbled. Dust and debris rained down, forcing them to scramble for cover, the assault on Fairy Tail escalating, its destructive tremors reaching even those attempting to remain hidden. Lucy choked on the dust, her eyes wide with mounting terror.
***
Deep within the mechanical titan, the atmosphere grew heavy, suffocating. Aria, serene and insidious, had seized full control of the immediate area. Natsu Dragneel, usually a roaring inferno, was now tightly suppressed, his body held in an invisible vice by Aria's Airspace Magic.
He wasn't weakened by magical depletion, but entirely overwhelmed and unable to move, his flames sputtering against the unseen pressure that stole his very breath. Natsu struggled furiously, his fists uselessly flailing against the invisible force that pinned him. His lungs burned, screaming for air, and a cold helplessness seeped into his bones. I can't move... I can't even fight back!
Aria's blindfolded face turned slightly towards the struggling Dragon Slayer, a cruel, almost contemplative tilt to his head. "The wings of flames, clipped... Falling to the ground... Ah, and all that's left is the corpse of a Dragon," he murmured, his voice chillingly detached. He then formally introduced himself, a hint of theatricality in his tone. "I am called Aria... Pinnacle of Element 4. I have come to slay the Dragon." His hands subtly tightened their invisible grip on Natsu. "In the face of my Airspace Magic, there is nothing you can do!"
Suddenly, a blur of scarlet, impossibly fast. A powerful kick, imbued with righteous fury, slammed into Aria's blindfolded face, sending the Element 4 mage sprawling across the polished floor with a sickening thud that echoed through the strained silence.
"Natsu!" Erza Scarlet cried out, her voice sharp with concern as she rushed to his side. The oppressive pressure on Natsu instantly vanished as Aria was sent flying. The Dragon Slayer gasped, taking in deep, ragged breaths, regaining control of his body.
"Erza...!" Natsu coughed, surprised but immensely relieved to see her. He pushed himself to his feet, clenching his fists, his gaze burning with renewed anger.
"Damn it! That guy just got the drop on me!" He glowered at Aria's crumpled form across the room, clearly frustrated by being caught off guard, not by any lack of his own power. To be beaten without even throwing a punch... unacceptable!
A faint, determined smile touched Erza's lips, though her eyes held a fierce protectiveness. "Of course, you big idiot. You need to be more careful." Her gaze flickered between the recovering Natsu and Aria, who was slowly pushing himself upright. Her mind, sharp and strategic, calculated the immediate threats. Aria was dangerous, yes, but a more pressing matter, a kidnapped comrade, lingered elsewhere.
"Natsu," Erza stated, her voice firm and decisive. "You're going after Gajeel."
Natsu's eyes widened, a spark of his usual fire returning. "Gajeel? What about—"
"He's the one who took Lucy. She's likely with him, and I doubt he's treating her gently," Erza interrupted, her voice gaining urgency. "You need to find her. Gajeel is your fight, Natsu. You understand me?" She leaned in, her voice softening slightly, a rare moment of vulnerability in her command. "Your fire will burn him to ashes. Go. Now."
Natsu's grimace softened into a determined grin. "You got it, Erza! Just... you take care of this guy." He already began to gather his magic, a low rumble of fire in his throat, a primal hunger in his eyes.
Erza simply nodded, a silent promise in her eyes. "Consider it done." Her gaze immediately snapped to Aria, who had now adjusted his blindfold and stood waiting.
Aria slowly adjusted his blindfold, a faint, cruel smile touching his lips. "It's going to be truly sad," he drawled, his voice carrying clearly across the vast hall, "when you both give your lives away, Titania." His hands slowly lifted, gathering dark magic. "Activate the Airspace Death, Zero! This Airspace will consume all life within it!"
The air around Erza didn't just explode; it imploded. The space twisted, groaned, compressing violently around her as if the very fabric of reality was being crushed into a vacuum. Erza's eyes widened, genuine shock replacing her anger as she felt the immense, destructive force of the spell, far beyond a simple pressure, a true void of life seeking to consume her very existence. Her Adamantine Armor, designed for ultimate defense, rippled and absorbed the pressure, showing the true scale of Aria's magic.
Yet Erza did not yield. Her muscles tensed, her will hardened, and with a guttural roar, she exploded outward, shattering the invisible compression with sheer force of magic. Her Adamantine Armor shimmered, completely unaffected by the insidious magic, a testament to her full, unyielding power.
"How can you steal people's lives so easily?!" she demanded, her voice echoing with indignation, vibrating with righteous fury.
Aria merely chuckled, a dry, dismissive sound. He ignored her question completely, waving a hand languidly. "Just have fun." He seemed unfazed, convinced of his magic's inescapable nature.
Without another word, Erza exploded into motion, charging towards Aria with a speed that utterly defied the dense air. Aria merely watched, a faint smile playing on his lips, confident in his inescapable magic. Can she survive the airspace? he mused.
His answer came swiftly, and brutally. Erza, fueled by rage and unburdened by fatigue, didn't just slice through the oppressive airspace; she tore through it as if it were tissue paper. Her sword, infused with her full, formidable power, shattered the intangible magic in an instant, the air crackling as it ripped apart. There was no hesitation, no visible strain. In a flash of golden light, she requipped to her Heaven's Wheel Armor, its formidable blades encircling her like a celestial halo, radiating immense power. "Blumenblatt!" she roared, unleashing a barrage of hundreds of razor-sharp swords that tore through Aria, striking him from all directions, each blow carving lines through his robes and leaving shallow, burning cuts as he crumpled to the ground.
Aria lay amidst the debris, utterly defeated, his brief moment of dominance brutally cut short. Erza stood over him, breathing steadily, her victory absolute. "Master could have never been defeated by the likes of you."
Aria, lying amidst the debris, slowly opened his eyes, a dazed and utterly bewildered expression on his face. He blinked once, then again. "Oh dear," he mumbled, a small, comical sigh escaping him, almost like a deflating balloon. "I think I left the stove on."
Meanwhile, with Erza's words echoing in his mind, Natsu, now fully recovered and bristling with renewed power, launched himself forward with a furious roar, a primal sound of awakening, and smashed through the floor, a fiery inferno on the hunt for Gajeel and Lucy.
Abyss Break Halted
Across the colossal guildhall, the earth-shattering chant for Abyss Break suddenly sputtered. The arcane runes pulsating on the giant's skin flickered, then died. The oppressive magical pressure that had weighed on Fiore lifted. The Element 4 were defeated.
***
Master Jose, watching from his command center, felt the sudden cessation of his ultimate spell. A guttural growl escaped him, his eyes blazing with furious realization. "Impossible! Abyss Break… stopped?!" He slammed a fist onto his control panel, cracking the metal. "No matter. The girl is ours."
Lucy's Capture: Jose's Announcement
Amidst the chaos below, a section of the floor burst open, and Gajeel Redfox emerged from the depths, a smug smirk plastered across his face. Over his shoulder, limp and battered, was Lucy Heartfilia.
"Look what I found, Master!" Gajeel's voice rasped, the sound amplified as if he were speaking directly into Jose's command center. He tossed Lucy's prone form onto the dusty floor with a sickening thud. Several nearby Phantom Lord members rushed forward, their greed overriding their concern. "Is she still alive?!" one demanded, kicking at Lucy's side. "We wouldn't get our reward if she's dead!"
Gajeel obliged, delivering another rough kick. Lucy groaned, a weak but definite reaction. "See?" Gajeel sneered, "Still breathing. Barely."
Jose's anger, which had been boiling over the failure of Abyss Break, instantly dissipated, replaced by a delighted, sinister smile. His voice boomed through the giant's loudspeakers, echoing across the entire battlefield, amplified for all of Fairy Tail to hear. "Listen well, Fairy Tail! Our first objective has been achieved!"
A chilling cackle escaped him. "We have recaptured Lucy Heartfilia!"
From the loudspeakers, a sharp, piercing scream of agony tore through the air, clearly Lucy's voice, a proof forced from her by Gajeel. The sound sent a jolt of horror through every Fairy Tail member present.
Jose's voice resonated once more, laced with chilling triumph. "There is nothing left to do now but to eliminate you all!"
Around him, the shadowy figures of Shades multiplied, their numbers swelling rapidly, their forms gaining greater substance and power as Jose poured his magic into them. They descended upon the exhausted Fairy Tail members, overwhelming them with their sheer numbers and renewed strength.
Having entrusted the prisoner Lucy to Gajeel with a final, pointed look, Jose readied to personally take care of those who had dared to invade their Guild.
***
Meanwhile, far from the main battle, Loke materialized, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by grim concern. He quickly found a wounded Reedus, slumped against a crumbling wall, his face pale and bruised. "Reedus! Where's Lucy?!" Loke demanded, his voice laced with desperate urgency, dread already clutching at his heart.
Reedus merely clutched his side, groaning apologies. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Loke... Gajeel... he took her... from the hideout..."
A wave of self-blame, cold and sharp, washed over Loke. He had failed. "Damn it! This is my fault... I should have been there!" He punched the wall beside him, frustration and regret churning within him, a silent vow forming in his mind.
End of chapter.