"What the hell?!"
And with that, one of Laxus' most powerful attack was transformed into fluttering butterflies.
Some of the butterflies flew towards Laxus' direction and when it got closed enough, Laxus flinched. He let electricity out of his body which fried most of the butterflies that flew to his direction.
Despite the shock from the scene, Laxus soon tore his gaze away from the remaining fluttering butterflies, snapping his head back toward Kael.
His eyes narrowing instantly. Kael's form was no longer the same. Two of his arms were crossed calmly over his chest, but around his body… more arms sprouted.
Then, without warning, Kael's image split. One after another, bursting forth in every direction. Dozens… no, hundreds of him appeared at once. Some stood on the cracked cathedral floor, while others floated in the air, but all of them surrounded the lightning dragon slayer.
Each and every clone also bore the same expression of seriousness as their eyes locked on Laxus.
Laxus found himself surrounded, the cathedral was filled wall-to-wall with Stephens. Above, below, behind was all Stephen. Seeing this, Laxus' lips curled once again.
"Show me your full power!"
Then, Lightning crackled even more violently across Laxus' body. His eyes swept across the sea of Stephens, assessing the impossible scene again. Hundreds of identical figures staring him down.
'Are theses illusions again?' He thought to himself.
After that thought, the electricity in his body grew once again, to the point that Laxus looked more like a thunderstorm than a human. With a lunge, he launched himself at the nearest cluster of clones.
As he did so, his sharp eyes noticed something. A faint orange glow in the hands of every single Stephen.
And as he noticed this, hundreds of clones in unison snapped their wrists forward, and the glow erupted into orange whips. Hundred whips lashed out from every direction, all converging on Laxus.
"Damn it..." Laxus cursed as he vaulted upward. He used the electricity in his body to burn a path through. Bolts of lightning shot outward, frying several of the incoming whips. Meanwhile, his fists smashed others before they could reach him.
For a moment, it seemed he could keep pace by destroying, and dodging whips while striking back on some of the clones.
But then one whip connected.
It coiled tight around his arm, slowing him just enough for another to snap across his leg. Then another across his other arm.
Naturally, two whips will not be a problem for Laxus. He immediately destroyed it within seconds.
However, due to this additional movements, he lost his momentum and he got distracted. As a result more whips hit him. Each whip that struck dragging him further down. He blasted the bindings with electricity, snarling as they dissolved, but more replaced them instantly.
The storm of whips pressed harder and harder until finally, Laxus was caught. At least ten bindings wrapped around him. His arms, his chest, his neck, and his legs were hit, sealing him in place. His body strained against the assault, muscles tense, lightning flaring in desperate bursts, but the bindings held firm.
In that moment, Laxus' previous bravado faltered as he struggled to break free. He gritted his teeth, every muscle straining against the bindings. Then, sparks exploded across his body as he tried to use the electricity to break away from the whips.
"Break! Damn you!" he roared, detonating his magic outward in a violent burst.
But just as the electricity lashed out, the ground beneath him cracked. A long metal rod shot upward, stabbing into the floor and rising tall beside him.
At that very instant, the electricity that was supposed to go to the whips for Laxus to be free suddenly changed its trajectory as it made a sudden turn, all going to the risen rod.
As he saw this, Laxus' eyes widened as realization hit. "A lightning rod?!"
The whips around him remained unscathed. His own attack fizzled out as the rod drew in most of his electricity, preventing it from spreading far enough to damage the bindings.
Meanwhile, the few sparks that hit the whips were too weak to sever the countless orange whips coiled around him.
Then, the bindings tightened mercilessly, squeezing against his chest, arms, and throat.
Now, the previously arrogant Laxus was trapped and it seemed that there is now way out.
Then, an echo filled the cathedral.
Hundreds of Kaels spoke at once. "Your lightning cannot harm these bindings, Laxus. The rod absorbs your power, diverting it away before it can reach the whips."
Hearing those words, Laxus only bared his teeth in defiance, eyes blazing with stubborn fury. "Don't screw with me!" he snarled, forcing himself to struggle even more as he depended on pure physical ability to wiggle despite the bindings digging into his flesh. "I'll never surrender to you!"
And as if to prove his words, his whole body trembled as he forced his bound arms to move. The whips groaned under the pressure, straining against his raw physical strength. Inch by inch, he moved his arm before he chest as he put faced his palms together
A white glow sparked between his hands, quickly transforming into a blinding orb.
As they saw this, all of the Kael in the cathedral showed a surprised expression. "…Fairy Law."
Immediately, the clones moves as they all pulled at the same time, trying to force Laxus' arms apart, and pull his palms away from the growing light. But no matter how hard everyone pulled, Laxus' body held firm. He roared, pouring every last ounce of magic and strength into resisting their pull. His veins bulged, sweat mixed with a few blood pouring off his body.
"Don't screw with me!" he bellowed, his voice shaking the cathedral. The white sphere grew brighter, pulsing with terrifying power as he spoke.
His lips then curled into a savage grin as he shouted. "When I'm done with you, I'll rebuild Fairy Tail myself! From scratch! And I'll make it the strongest guild this world has ever seen!"
And as he boasted, the countless Kaels surrounding him stopped. They stopped pulling as if to let Laxus launch his attack. Then, despite the already tight whip that bound Laxus, he managed to slam his palms together.
"Fairy Law! Activate!"
Scene Break
A few moments earlier
The guild hall was filled with the groans of the injured. Many members still sat or lay on the ground, recovering from the backlash of destroying the lightning lacrimas. Yet despite their pain, every eye was glued to the glowing recording lacrima in the center of the hall.
They watched in awe and disbelief as Kael's countless clones filled the cathedral, surrounding Laxus. Gasps rippled through the room as the orange whips lashed out, striking and binding the lightning mage from every direction.
But then, the atmosphere shifted.
On the lacrima's surface, they saw the moment Laxus forced to face his palms together as a blinding white orb began to form.
The guild hall went silent.
Then, panic erupted.
"No way!"
"That's master's spell?!"
"He… he knows Fairy Law?!"
Shouts and frantic murmurs filled the air.
Faces paled, hearts sank.
Even the strongest among them, Erza, felt dread settle in their chests.
"Magnolia… the whole town! What the hell is Laxus thinking?!"
"If he unleashes that here, we're finished!"
The injured tried to stand, some rushing for the doors despite their battered state. Others froze in terror, clutching at their wounds and staring helplessly at the recording.
Meanwhile, Natsu, like some of his guildmates immediately pushed himself up from the floor, his fists trembling with frustration.
"Happy! Take me there now!" he barked.
"Aye, sir!" Happy replied immediately, wings spreading wide as he grabbed Natsu and lifted him into the air.
"Oi! Wait up!" Gray called, forcing himself to his feet despite his injuries. He stumbled at first, but his determination carried him forward as he sprinted after them.
Like these two, Gajeel also rose before silently slipping away.
Erza, battered from the 200 lacrimas she destroyed tried to stand. However, gravity seemed to be stronger than her as she immediately fell back to the floor while Mirajane Strauss rushed to her side
"I need... I need to stop Laxus..." The red-head muttered as he tried to stand up again. Thankfully, before she could, Mirajane arrived to her side.
"You need to rest Erza... As of now, we can only place our trust on Kael... I'm sure he'll manage. he always do..." The white-haired mage said as she tried to comfort Erza.
The other mages watching the scene of Erza going down and some of their comrades rushing out shook their heads in despair.
"They'll never make it in time…"
"It's pointless…"
Then it happened.
A powerful white glow erupted from the cathedral, so bright it illuminated the entire city. The radiance expanded outward like a wave of pure light, swallowing roofs, streets, and finally all of Magnolia.
Gasps erupted from guild members inside and outside alike.
"No… it's too late!"
"Everyone! brace yourselves!"
Hearts sunked and hope plummeted as the light of destruction had arrived.
And then as seconds pass, the glow began to fade. it slowly dissipated, until the city was visible again. It stood unchanged beneath the dimming sky. Magnolia was untouched. The people were unharmed.
"What… what just happened?" Macao muttered
"Fairy Law… didn't activate?" Elfman asked himself in shock.
"No… it did. But… then why did nothing happen?" Erza seemed to answer this question.
Confusion spread through the guild like wildfire. All eyes returned to the recording lacrima, desperate to see what Kael had done to stop the unstoppable.
Only for them to see the Kael didn't seem to do anything
Scene Break
The white glow faded, leaving the cathedral in eerie silence.
Laxus' chest heaved as he opened his eyes. The whips still bound his arms, legs, and chest. Around him, the countless Kaels remained.
His jaw clenched as sweat dripped down his temple.
"Impossible… Fairy Law… it should've… why didn't it…?" he muttered through gritted teeth, disbelief twisting his voice.
From the sea of clones, one figure stepped forward. The true Kael appeared, no trace of worry and disbelief in his face. He stopped just a few space away, eyes locked on Laxus.
"Nothing went wrong," Kael said evenly. "You cast Fairy Law perfectly."
Laxus' eyes widened, confusion sparking behind his glare.
But Kael ignored it as he continued, "But you forgot its one condition. Fairy Law only strikes what the caster's heart recognizes as an enemy." He let the words sink in as he stepped closer, stopping when he was close to Laxus.
"And from the looks of it… you still care about us."
As he heard this, Laxus' breath came ragged, his shoulders trembling under the strain of the bindings.
From the looks of it, Laxus seemed to have tried to attack, however, not even a spark appeared.
"Damn it…" he hissed, forcing his arms to twitch against the orange whips that bound him. His muscles bulged, veins standing out across his skin, but the more he tried the more evident it became. He had nothing left. Fairy Law had drained him of nearly all his magic and forcing to cast fairy law despite the bindings drained him of his physical strength.
In short, he was out of juice.
But despite this, his eyes burned with defiance. "I… I won't surrender!"
Kael, standing calm and steady before him, let the words hang in the air before answering.
"No. This battle is over. You've lost, Laxus. It's time you rest."
He then raised his right palms slowly until they hovered inches before Laxus' face. The bound mage tried to jerk back, but the countless whips constraining his body kept him pinned in place.
A soft hiss followed as mist came out from Kael's palm. It swirled around Laxus' head, curling into his mouth and nose.
"You!" Laxus growled, forcing his body to resist as his breaths grew heavier, slower. His eyelids drooped despite his will. "No… I won't…"
Then, he heard Kael's calm voice. "Mists of Morpheus."
The mist thickened and Laxus' struggles grew sluggish. His body stopped struggling against the bindings, eyelids fluttering once… twice… before finally closing.
Laxus' head lowered as he drifted into deep sleep.
As this happened, the mist stopped coming of Kael's palm as it was replaces by orange chains that added another binding to the sleeping Laxus.
Then, as the chain finished wrapping around Laxus, the glowing orange whips along with the many clones slowly faded into the air.
All that remained was the silent cathedral, rubble scattered across the floor, and in its center, Laxus Dreyar, sleeping and chained. Standing before him was Kael, his eyes gazing down at the fallen mage.
His gaze then moved as he surveyed the ruined cathedral.
The roof was now gone after he transformed it and sent it flying to Laxus, in which Laxus destroyed it.
The walls were cracked as a result of electricity, projectiles, and other attacks.
The same could be said for the floor as it is cracked and shattered, full of dust and debris.
As he surveyed, a sigh came out of his mouth before his gaze lowered to the unconscious Laxus once again.
"You've gone too far, Laxus," He muttered. "This recklessness… it's no different from your father. And like him, you may soon find yourself expelled from the guild."
Then, a sudden sound of hurried footsteps broke the stillness.
Kael turned his body to the door as he heard the noise.
As he did, the first thing that feasted his eyes was Natsu being carried by Happy as the 2 entered the cathedral.
Behind them was Gray and Gajeel, who was visibly injured.
'Are those injuries from the Thunder Palace?' Kael asked himself as his eyes lay on another person.
It was Levy who seemed to be in much better shape.
And so, within seconds, Natsu, Happy, Gray, Gajeel, and Levy entered. They froze upon entering, their eyes wide as they took in the devastation.
There was gaping hole where the roof once was. Cracked pillars leaned precariously, rubble scattered across the floor. The sacred building had been turned into a battlefield.
Their gazes then shifted from the wreckage to the lone figure standing tall amidst it.
Kael.
And then to the chained, sleeping Laxus at his feet.
"…He actually did it," Gray murmured.
Gajeel, hearing this just crossed his arms, though his sharp eyes betrayed a flicker of fear. He was also watching the lacrima that displayed the fight. And from that, he came into the conclusion. 'Phantom Lord would not have stood a chance if these two guys participated in the battle...' he thought.
"Damn… you really took him down, huh?" Natsu clenched his fists, torn between frustration and awe. Afterall, Laxus was supposed to be his target, however, he was forced to focus on the lackeys and the thunder palace.
Meanwhile, Levy just stayed quiet. She looked between the two men, her eyes lingering on Laxus' bound form.
Then, Kael met their gazes and flicked his hands. As he did, Laxus' body lifted gently from the ground, floating in the air as though carried by unseen hands.
"Come," Kael said as he started walking towards the door. "I'll deal with the broken cathedral later."