Fairy Tail: Perfect Projection

"Even though this is forbidden magic, I have no other choice now. Dark Ecriture: Darkness!"

As his words fell, the gentlemanly Freed instantly took on a demonic appearance.

Boom!!

Their fists collided with an explosive roar, unleashing a shock wave that destroyed several nearby homes.

Darkness was Freed's strongest form at present. His speed, strength, and magic power all increased dramatically, allowing him to fight Erza on equal footing for a time.

"Hya!!"

Freed suddenly accelerated, grabbed Erza by the ankle, and hurled her away, sending her crashing through a house and reducing it to rubble.

"Heaven's Wheel: Sword of Disorder!!"

But countless swords flew out just then, hurtling toward the stunned Freed.

"!!!"

Caught off guard, Freed had no time to react before Erza's attack struck him. Since she held back, it merely left him unable to fight.

Boom!!

Finally, Freed involuntarily reverted from his Darkness form in midair and slammed into the ground.

"Heaven's Wheel: Sword of Three!!"

"How could I possibly... how could I possibly win?! This is Titania's power!! I'm going to be killed!!"

Despair filled Freed's face as he watched the swords draw closer. But then he froze. Just before the blades reached him, Erza dispelled her Requip.

"Is fighting like this really fun, Freed...?" Erza looked at him with a sorrowful expression.

"Is this the arrogance of a victor, Erza...?" Freed gazed at the sky and answered flatly, "Just kill me."

Smack!!

Freed froze. He had never expected Erza to slap him. Then he heard her speak, her voice heavy with sadness.

"We're comrades. We're family. We belong to the same guild. We laugh together, fool around together, and move forward together..."

"Stop it!! My only comrade is Laxus!" Hearing Erza's words, Freed began to panic. ...

"You say that, but that isn't how you really feel, is it...? There's nothing wrong with relying completely on someone, just as I rely on my brother. But we have so many other comrades and family members around us. All we have to do is reach out, and someone will be there for us..." As she spoke, Erza reached out and took Freed's hand.

"!!!"

Freed's eyes widened further and further before he finally burst into tears. His face filled with regret as he said, "Sob... I never wanted to do this..."

"I know. So let's go to the Grand Magic Parade together tonight!!" Erza smiled as she spoke.

Inside the cathedral, Laxus sat alone, waiting for someone to arrive.

"Creak..."

The sound of the door opening caught his attention. He looked up at the familiar face and smiled. "You're here, Xi Feng."

"The Thunder God Tribe has already lost. If you dispel Thunder Palace right now, I can treat this as nothing more than a joke," Xi Feng told Laxus coldly.

"Hm? You're far too naive, Xi Feng." Laxus's lips curled into a mocking smile. "You know, everyone in the guild keeps debating which of us is stronger. Now I'm going to prove that I'm the strongest."

"The strongest?" Xi Feng smiled before continuing, "I wonder who lost to me so many times before."

"Stop bringing up the past!!"

The mention of the past infuriated Laxus. Every time they had sparred before, Xi Feng had beaten him effortlessly. Over time, Laxus's resentment toward him had only grown. No matter how hard he worked, he could never surpass him.

"Today, I'm going to beat you!! Raging Volt!!!"

With those words, Laxus charged toward Xi Feng at incredible speed, raging lightning enveloping his body.

"You're thinking far too simply, Laxus!! Projection: Incursio!!"

As his words fell, a suit of silver-gray armor appeared on Xi Feng's body.

[Incursio] was one of the Imperial Arms from Akame ga Kill, an armor-type Imperial Arm crafted from the ferocious dragon-type Danger Beast Tyrant. It also came with an auxiliary weapon, the Crimson-backed Shrike.

Boom!!

In an instant, the two collided with a tremendous crash. A powerful surge erupted from the cathedral, drawing the attention of everyone in Fairy Tail.

Chapter 70: The Civil War Ends

Crack!!

Laxus transformed into a bolt of lightning and instantly closed in on Xi Feng. Raging electricity filled his right hand as he drove his fist hard into Xi Feng's abdomen.

"Ugh..."

Xi Feng grunted. Thanks to Incursio, Laxus's punch did little damage. He simply ignored it, seized Laxus's fist, and hurled him away.

"Crimson-backed Shrike!!"

At the same time, a spear-like weapon appeared in Xi Feng's hand. He swung it once, then thrust it straight toward Laxus.

Crack!!

But a thick bolt of lightning shot out of the smoke. Xi Feng immediately twisted in midair to evade it, only for another bolt to shoot out. After changing direction several times, it appeared directly behind him.

The lightning behind him transformed into Laxus, who drove a lightning-wreathed kick into Xi Feng's back. With a thud, Xi Feng slammed into the ground.

Clearly, Laxus wanted to return the favor. Xi Feng had just sent him flying with a punch, so he sent Xi Feng flying with a kick.

"Hahaha! When did you get this weak, Xi Feng?! Have you spent too long in the arms of women?" Laxus laughed mockingly at Xi Feng on the ground. But he had barely finished speaking when a flash appeared-the Crimson-backed Shrike was thrusting straight toward him.

"Do you really think something like that will work?"

Laxus shifted his head slightly and dodged with ease. But the next instant, he froze. The Crimson-backed Shrike stopped right beside his ear. Following its shaft with his eyes, he saw that Xi Feng had somehow grabbed its far end.

Bang!!

Xi Feng flicked his hand, smashing the Crimson-backed Shrike into Laxus's head. Laxus flew like a cannonball into the wall, raising a cloud of dust.

"You're really pissing me off!"

As the dust cleared, Laxus emerged. His shirt was gone, exposing his muscular upper body, and clearly visible dragon scales had appeared across his skin.

"Hm?"

Inside his armor, Xi Feng frowned slightly at Laxus's appearance.

"Xi Feng, you remember I'm a Dragon Slayer Mage, don't you?!"

Laxus's face twisted savagely. His cheeks swelled, and a furious blast of lightning erupted from his mouth.

"Lightning Dragon's Roar!!"

Laxus's dragon breath was far larger and more powerful than Natsu's or Gajeel's. It mercilessly tore up the floor as it rushed toward Xi Feng.

Boom!! A tremendous explosion erupted where Xi Feng stood, sending thick smoke billowing upward. Laxus frowned as he watched the spot. He knew Xi Feng would not go down so easily.

[BoostedGearScaleMaill]

Sure enough, the next moment, Laxus heard a strange mechanical voice. Clad in crimson armor, Xi Feng burst out of the thick smoke at tremendous speed.

"Lightning Dragon's Crushing Fist!!"

"Boost!!"

Boom!!

Their fists collided, crimson crashing against yellow lightning. Wild magic power ravaged their surroundings, sweeping through the entire cathedral. At last, the building began to crack, chunks of stone tumbling down.

"Lightning Dragon's Sky-Piercing Halberd!!"

Laxus leaped high into the air and gathered raging lightning magic in both hands. It formed a lightning halberd, which he sent hurtling toward Xi Feng.

"Boost!! Dragon Cannon!!"

A crimson sphere of magic formed before Xi Feng's clenched right fist. He punched it, unleashing a burst of red magic power.

The two violent blasts collided, destroying the entire cathedral and erupting into an enormous pillar of light.

"Brother..."

Erza watched the pillar of light soar into the sky, filled with worry.

"This magic power!! Are they even human?!"

Gajeel was equally stunned by the pillar of light. But remembering what had happened with Phantom Lord, he could not help muttering, "Is everyone in this guild a monster?"

"...I don't want to waste any more time." Laxus glared angrily at Xi Feng, then brought his hands before his chest. A sphere of light appeared between them.

"What's this...?"

Xi Feng frowned at the sphere between Laxus's hands. Although he could sense its immense magic power, he felt no danger whatsoever.

"You know what this is, don't you? It's Fairy Law. Anyone identified as an enemy will be destroyed. You and everyone in Magnolia can all die! Fairy Law!! Activate!!"

Laxus roared and pressed his palms together. With him at its center, a dazzling yet strangely soothing light spread across all of Magnolia.

"Magic power that really puts you at ease," Xi Feng murmured, looking down at his hands.