Tower of Heaven, Part Eleven

[Life Mimicry - Azure Dragon]

Dragon scales appeared on the arm that Riyao was gripping Jellal's, radiating an ancient and powerful life force, with a faint emerald green light emanating from the gaps between the scales.

As the steam dissipated, the Riyao's current appearance was revealed.

Her long, dark green hair fluttered in the sea breeze, and a pair of winding dragon horns stood atop her head. The surface of the horns had fine patterns that recorded the traces of time like tree rings, and the tips of the horns gleamed with a faint green light.

Riyao opened his eyes, his golden vertical pupils standing out starkly in the night, exuding an ancient sense of oppression, as if he were being watched by a giant dragon that Sleep for a thousand years.

He released his right claw, swiftly turned around, and his dark green dragon tail lashed out from behind him with a whistling sound, striking Jellal hard.

Bang!

Jellal flew through the air like a baseball hit by a bat, crashing through the railing at the top of the tower and creating a large crater in the Magic Crystal tower wall, scattering rubble and crystal fragments everywhere.

Riyao stood atop the tower, its dragon tail swaying slowly behind it, a slight smile playing on its lips.

"You're lucky; you're the first person to see me like this. Even Mira hasn't seen it before."

╰(*´`*)╯

Jellal crawled out of the rubble, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He felt several of his ribs were broken, and every breath felt like his chest was being cut with a knife.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looked up at Riyao, and saw the dragon horns and vertical pupils. His pupils suddenly contracted.

What is this? It's not a demon, it's not Celestial Spirit, it's a dragon?

He saw Riyao rushing towards him, so he immediately took off and left the ground, thinking that Present Riyao that it had no wings, and that as long as he stayed in the air, he would be safe.

Joke.

As the Riyao's understanding of Life Mimicry deepened, it was no longer as monotonous as the original Celestial Spirit form.

The initial Celestial Spirit form only absorbed Virgo's life information and had only a single ability; it can be considered version 1.0.

When it reached its Demon Form, Riyao absorbed the life information of Mirajane and Natsu, the demon of End, giving Riyao's Demon Form the power of darkness and fire. The two powers were fused together by Riyao into Ink Flame.

That's why Natsu always felt a sense of familiarity when he tasted the Riyao's flames; how could he not be familiar with fire that originated from his own?

This also made Riyao realize that he could create his own dragon form.

Riyao has long thought that dragons are too ugly, like giant lizards; the Eastern dragon is much more handsome.

He used his Life Magic as a foundation to create the form of Azure Dragon, and collected life information elements related to the Azure Dragon's abilities according to his understanding of the Azure Dragon.

I've been eyeing that muscular Owl that can devour others to gain abilities for a long time.

Other Dragon Slayer can absorb magic of the corresponding attribute, but it would be awkward if the Azure Dragon could only absorb magic of the life attribute.

Having solved the final step of devouring, Riyao had secured the Azure Dragon.

The air beneath Riyao's feet distorted, and he took flight without wings, as if stepping on invisible stairs in the void, his movements light and swift.

Jellal's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the approaching Riyao.

"What kind of magic is that?!"

Jellal activated [Meteor], his body transforming into a golden streak of light, quickly creating distance.

He figured that Riyao should be similar to his Demon Form earlier, with fast straight-line sprints but not very agile turning. As long as he kept changing direction, he wouldn't be caught up.

Riyao's golden vertical pupils followed Jellal's movements like a hawk locking onto its prey, capturing every subtle shift.

He turned and immediately caught up, closing the distance rapidly—more than twice as fast as in his Demon Form.

Jellal felt the pressure from behind, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

As he flew, he unleashed magic to attack Riyao, attempting to slow Riyao down and avoid close combat.

[Nine Thunder Stars]

Nine golden lightning swords roared out, shooting towards the Riyao.

The lightning sword exploded on Riyao's body, golden lightning crackling all over him, but Riyao didn't even flinch; his dragon scales minimized the damage from the lightning sword.

However, this brief delay gave Jellal the opportunity to unleash his ultimate move.

Jellal crossed his arms above his head, magic condensing wildly in his palms, absorbing the surrounding shadows and expanding them into a black hole that devoured everything.

[Dark Paradise]

The dark magic, like a gigantic maw, enveloped Riyao, attempting to devour him.

Unfortunately, Riyao opened its mouth and took a sudden, sharp breath.

The remnants of the golden lightning sword and the magic of the black hole were all absorbed into Riyao's body as easily as eating a snack.

His magic surged again, the emerald light on his dragon scales became even more dazzling, and steam billowed out from the gaps in the scales.

When Jellal saw this, his mouth dropped open so wide it almost fell off.

"You're Dragon Slayer?! How can you absorb two different types of magical energy?!"

Riyao grinned, revealing two rows of neat teeth. His dragon horns gleamed green under the light, and his vertical pupils were full of mockery.

"You could say that. Blue Dragon Slayer, doesn't that sound nice? A little tit for tat!"

He puffed out his cheeks like Natsu, condensing his magic to its maximum, with emerald light flashing in his mouth and blue lightning crackling between his teeth.

[The Azure Dragon's Cang Roar]

Boom!

A powerful dragon breath, glowing with azure light, surged forth from Riyao's mouth, crackling with azure lightning, and carrying destructive power as it hurtled towards Jellal.

A beam of emerald green light pierced the sky, cutting through the dark clouds.

After the beam of light dissipated, a huge hole was left in the sky, making even the stars appear clearer.

Several people were crammed into a small boat; it was very crowded.

Lucy and Juvia sat on the gunwale, Gray and Erza sat in the middle, Natsu lay down, and Mirajane stood at the bow, his eyes fixed on the direction of the Tower of Heaven.

When that emerald green beam of light shot into the sky, everyone was stunned.

Upon seeing the familiar turquoise green, Mirajane's tense expression finally relaxed, and a relieved smile appeared on his lips.

Natsu lay on the bottom of the ship, mumbling something, but his words were unclear because of the owl's slime still in his mouth.

"!@#!!@￥"

Lucy looked at Natsu speechlessly and rolled her eyes.

What are you saying?!

Happy flew over to Natsu, tilted his head to listen, and then translated.

"Natsu said, 'That's a roar! A dragon's roar!'"

Gray stood up in surprise, nearly capsizing the small boat.

"What?! When did Riyao learn Dragon Slayer Magic?!"

Erza was also shocked, her reddish-brown eyes filled with disbelief.

"Green Dragon Slayer Magic? Wood Dragon Slayer Magic?"

Mirajane looked at Erza, rubbed her forehead, and sighed helplessly.

"Is it possible that it's about life?"

Erza paused for a moment, then suddenly realized.

"Dragon Slayer Magic of Life?"

Mirajane's lips twitched. Riyao to return and personally give him a nice-sounding magical name!

On the other side of the ship, Simon, Hugh, Wally, and Millianna also saw the emerald green pillar of light. Looking up at the remaining trace of the pillar in the sky, they were all amazed.

Hugh's mouth was agape in an "O" shape, and he couldn't close it for a long time.

"What kind of magic is that? It's so powerful!"

Wally rubbed his square head, looking relieved.

"Luckily we evacuated in time, otherwise we would have been finished if we had been caught up in it."

Millianna hugged her cat-ear headband, tilted her head, and muttered to herself.

"Green, so pretty, meow."

Simon gazed silently into the distance, his expression complex.

He realized for the first time that the mages of Fairy Tail were far more powerful than he had imagined.