Sting stared fixedly at the smoke-filled hall, his body taut, his emotions hard to calm.
Just when everyone had decided Erza was defeated, the situation completely reversed.
"Roar—!"
An agonized wail suddenly exploded from within the billowing smoke.
Everyone focused their eyes and saw the four red giants that had just withdrawn their fists staggering back in pain.
On their hard stone arms, strange dark-red flames had silently ignited.
No matter how the giants slapped and crushed at them, no matter how they suppressed them with magic power, the flames did not go out in the slightest.
The fire was like rot clinging to bone, spreading rapidly along their arms.
Their hard outer shells were scorched until cracks split open inch by inch, hissing and sputtering.
"What kind of fire is that?! It can actually burn through an A-class monster's defense!"
Before everyone's shock and doubt had settled, an incomparably dazzling red light suddenly erupted from the center of the smoke.
The blazing light, like the rising sun, instantly drove away every trace of darkness inside the hall.
"Requip—Sun God Armor!"
A cool female voice pierced through the roaring flames, ringing clearly throughout the hall.
As the smoke scattered completely, a magnificent suit of armor that had never before appeared in the world made its stunning debut.
The gold-and-red armor was noble and resplendent, its breastplate engraved with a blazing sun pattern with wings outspread.
Golden runes like flowing magma coursed over the pauldrons and greaves, shining brilliantly.
Erza held a crimson tachi wreathed in flames, terrifying heat curling around her entire body.
The air distorted violently, and the surrounding stone walls had already begun to melt slightly.
"What armor is that? I've never seen her use it before!"
"That temperature is too terrifying. It's practically searing to the bone!"