Earth Land, Ishgar, Bosco, Unnad Mountain Range.
February 27, x792.
After several hours of battle, the inside of the barrier Alfonzo and Irene set up was no longer recognizable. The mountains had been seemingly carved out around the inside of the barrier, the ground was littered with craters and debris, and the two combatants, Alfonzo and Irene, had clearly seen better days.
Alfonzo, with his torso mostly bear, only the scraps of his t-shirt hanging on, one boot missing, and his pants completely tattered, stood across from Ireen. And although her clothes were in much better shape, only covered in dust, that was because she used her magic to regenerate her clothes any ti they were too heavily damaged, and her naughty bits would have been on display.
On top of that, Heine and Juliet, the swords Irene [Enchanted] personalities into, were both lying in craters after trying, and failing, to slow Alfonzo down while he exchanged blows with Irene. Neither sword was capable of moving despite being conscious.
anwhile, the ladies in the Blackbird were still watching the broadcast with the sa intensity as they had been when the fight first began.
"How does anyone fight with such intensity for so long?" Marin asked in a dumbfounded manner. "I an, it's been more than six hours. If this doesn't end soon, they'll be fighting in the dark."
"Like that actually matters to people at their level." Ultear replied nonchalantly. "In fact, with [Magic Power Detection], fighting at night shouldn't be a problem at all."
"As for how they can keep going for so long..." Erza said, continuing Ultear's explanation. "On top of them having incredible stamina, their magic power control is better than anyone I've ever seen. From what I can tell, they both still have more than half of their reserves left."
"Are you serious?" Lucy asked with her eyes wide open. "*Sigh* My [Magic Power Detection] doesn't even stretch that far."
*Flash!*
"Huh? Virgo? What are you doing here?" Lucy asked after Virgo summoned herself.
"I felt your emotions taking a turn for the worse, Princess." Virgo said as she stepped forward while extending a whip towards Lucy with both hands. "Perhaps punishing this maid will make you feel better."
The Blackbird's interior fell silent after Virgo's suggestion.
"You know, I almost forgot that she was part of what Alfonzo calls 'the Unholy Trinity'." Ultear said while shaking her head.
"Just be glad all three of them aren't here." Marin said while shuddering. "I still have bad dreams about that ti we went to Crocus to find those missing girls with Lici."
"Ugh! Please don't remind about that." Lucy said while holding the sides of her head with her hands. "Even worse, I couldn't even get paid for that quest because I was still being punished after I got dragged into illegally taking an S-Class quest with Natsu and Happy."
While the ladies who had been with the guild since the event Marin and Lucy were talking about wore nostalgic expressions, the newer mbers of the guild and the maids were listening with curiosity. Virgo, on the other hand, was staring at Lucy with sparkling eyes.
"Ah! Yes, my bestie, Darkness." Virgo said while smiling happily. "It's been a while since the last ti I saw her. I wonder how she's doing. Princess, do you think we could take a trip to Crocus to see her?"
Lucy's horrified expression let everyone aboard the Blackbird know exactly how she felt about fulfilling Virgo's request.
Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.
anwhile, back in Fiore, similar conversations were taking place in the Fairy Tail guild hall while the Fairy Tail wizards watched the ongoing battle, as well.
"Those two have exquisite magic power control." Retsu said before taking a sip from a small sake cup. "As much as I am loathed to admit, both Alfonzo and that woman are beyond my level of skill."
"But doesn't your brand of healing magic require very precise magic power control?" Ren asked in an astonished tone. "And you're saying that not just Irene, who has had centuries to perfect hers, but even Alfonzo has better magic power control than you, Master Unohana?"
"Yes." Retsu replied calmly while wearing her characteristic, gentle smile. "He is quite impressive for his age. And he's not the only one in his age range who has surpassed in magic power control, as Elicia has surpassed , as well."
Hearing that, Ren glanced at Elicia, who, after hearing her na, had turned to look in their direction, as well. Then, after giving Ren a smile, Elicia returned her attention to the Lacrima-Vision screen behind the bar.
"Oh man, I'm so fired up!" Natsu shouted, interrupting the conversation between Ren and Retsu, while cloaked in flas as his magic power ran wild. A mont later, he turned to Gildarts with a battle hungry smile on his face. "Hey, Gildarts! Fight ! Right now!"
"No thanks." Gildarts replied while waving dismissively at Natsu. "Maybe next ti. Right now, I wanna see how this fight ends. I don't think it will last much longer."
As if he did not hear Gildarts' refusal, Natsu propelled himself towards the bar where Gildarts sat with Elicia, Cana, Ur, Ren, Retsu, and Mavis. Then, when he was close enough, he threw a punch at the back of Gildarts' head.
*Smack!*
Yet, without even turning around to look, Gildarts reached behind him and caught Natsu's wrist, his [Crash Magic] easily dispersing Natsu's flas.
"Didn't you hear , Kid?" Gildarts asked calmly. "Maybe next ti."
*Bang!* *Bang!*
Then, without much effort, Gildarts flung Natsu back in the direction he ca from. However, Gildarts did not put much effort into controlling his strength. As a result, Natsu ended up slamming into the ceiling above his starting point. Then, he ricocheted off the ceiling and slamd into the opposite wall before sliding down to the floor.
"Nice one..." Natsu muttered in a loopy tone. "Let's call it a draw. We'll fight again later."
"Loser." Gray muttered while glancing at Natsu. He then returned his attention to the nearest Lacrima-Vision screen.
"You think it's gonna end soon, Dad?" Cana said while ignoring Natsu's little interruption. "But to , it looks like they could keep this up for days."
"Yeah, it's definitely gonna end soon." Gildarts replied with a nod and a doting smile. "And that's because Irene is already going all out, but Alfonzo still has another card to play."
"Oh..." Cana muttered, rembering Alfonzo's [Bankai] after Gildarts ntioned it. "But would Alfonzo be happy winning that way?"
"He definitely would." Eliciai replied with a nod in Gildarts' stead. "This fight was to decide who was the strongest mber of the guild. So, with Fonzie being even with Irene in their first release states, that ans he's definitely stronger if he uses his [Bankai]."
"That state gives the user a five to ten fold increase in their overall strength from the first release, correct?" Mavis asked.
"That's right." Elicia replied with a nod. "So, when Fonzie finally goes all out, it won't even be close."
"I see." Mavis said while wearing a contemplative expression. "Now I'm curious to know what Irene's [Bankai]] would look like whenever she attains it."
"Honestly, I'm not sure." Elicia replied. "But Fonzie said he had a guess."
That statent drew everyone at the bar's gazes onto Elicia.
"Fonzie thinks that all the Dragon Slayers will have similar [Bankais]." Elicia continued. "They'll either be an embodint of their dragon. Or they'll be able to summon their dragon."
*Gasp!*
Cana, Gildarts, Ur, Ren, Retsu, and Mavis all gasped at that. However, Elicia was not done with the explanation.
"Unfortunately, that ans they'll probably have a tougher ti reaching [Bankai] than everyone else." Elicia said. "Because there are two things you have to do to reach [Bankai]."
"Elicia is right." Retsu said, cutting in on the explanation. "First, you have to be able to summon your Zanpakuto or [Armant Spirit] into the real world. And second, you have to be able to defeat them in battle."
"And for Dragon Slayers, that ans being able to defeat the dragon residing in their soul, doesn't it?" Ur asked with a solemn expression. "*Sigh* I would imagine that anyone with mythical creatures, for example, Brandish's Hecatoncheires, would be difficult to defeat."
"They're starting again." Laxus said, his voice carrying over all the noise in the guild hall and drawing everyone in the guild hall back to looking at the Lacrima-Vision screens with all their attention.
Earth Land, Ishgar, Bosco, Unnad Mountain Range.
"Well, I think it's about ti we ended this, don't you, Irene?" Alfonzo asked as he got his breathing under control. "I an, the kids are gonna start getting worried if we don't get back soon."
"Don't make excuses, Alfonzo." Irene replied while rolling her eyes. "The only reason you're saying that now is because you're satisfied with being my equal in this state."
"Eh~, you got ." Alfonzo said with a shrug while smiling brightly.
"But you should know, just because you may gain more raw power than , that does not an you will be able to defeat ." Irene said as she flared her magic power.
"Oh, I'm well aware." Alfonzo replied. He then winked at Irene as he continued. "But then again, like they say, it ain't ya pencil, it's how you write your na."
Irene only rolled her eyes at the obvious inuendo.
"Well then, like they say..." Alfonzo said as he raised his tonfas over his head, crossing their shafts. "All good things must co to an end... [Bankai]."
In the next instant, Alfonzo's magic power surged to an incredible degree. At the sa ti, Riot and Bedlam burst into a large amount of liquid tal that rained down on Alfonzo, creating an egg-shaped cocoon.
anwhile, Irene, despite how powerful she was, was pushed back three or four steps by the magic power pressure that was released when Alfonzo completely unsealed his [Soul Armants]. And when she realized that, she could not help but smile wryly.
"I knew he would surpass one day." Irene muttered. "But I never expected it to happen so soon."
["Once you are able to unlock my full power, you won't be any weaker than him, My Queen."] Belserion said from Irene's inner world.
'Even so, I'm not sure how long that will take.' Irene replied internally. 'Although I'm able to materialize you in the real world, Belserion. I am under no illusion that I will be able to defeat you in the near future.'
["You have ti, my Queen."] Belserion said. ["After regaining your human form, you also physically returned to your pri, your state when you first began to dragonize."]
'I know, Belserion.' Irene replied. 'I know.'
During Irene's conversation with Belserion, the size of the cocoon surrounding Alfonzo began to shrink. And by the ti the conversation ca to an end, it had been completely absorbed into Alfonzo's body. And when it was, it revealed Alfonzo in his [Bankai] form.
"We are Upheaval." Alfonzo said with his arms spread to his sides, liquid tal tendrils growing from his back and shoulders while waving nacingly.
"[Sage Dragon's Roar]." Irene chanted while Alfozno made his declaration. "[Enchant: Rubrum Ray]."
In the next instant, a purple orb ford in front of Irene's mouth. However, thanks to her [Enchantnt], [Rubrum Ray], the orb multiplied causing a dozen identical orbs to appear around her. Then, from each orb, her [Sage Dragon's Roar] was fired at Alfonzo.
Yet, Alfonzo made no move to dodge Irene's compound spell. Instead, he raised his right hand towards Irene. At the sa ti, the many tendrils growing from his back and shoulders moved around his body, gathering on his outstretched hand before hardening into a large shield.
*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*
Ireen's bombardnt struck the shield and the area around Alfonzo, kicking up a mushroom-shaped dust cloud. anwhile, Irene's breathing grew heavy once again from the amount of magic power she had to spend to unleash such a powerful attack.
However, before Irene could catch her breath, she sensed movent through her [Magic Power Detection]. Yet, before she even began to react, Alfonzo was standing in front of her with his mouth open, sharp teeth on full display, and his abnormally long tongue snaking past the side of her head.
Then, while Irene stared at Alfonzo with her eyes wide open, surprised at the speed he just showed, Alfonzo raised his right hand, extended his index finger, and...
"You lose." Alfonzo said, his voice sounding like three overlapping voices, as he poked Irene in the middle of her forehead.
Feeling the light tap on her forehead and the playful, if not sowhat frightening, tone of the man standing in front of her, Irene's breath hitched for a second. Then, she relaxed her body, letting all the tension from the battle that lasted more than six hours bleed out of her system. A mont later, she looked into Alfonzo's empty white eyes and smiled.
"Yes, I have lost." Irene admitted with no sha or regret. "Congratulations, Alfonzo. You are officially the strongest wizard in not only the guild, but the entire continent, as well."
Then, without ceremony, Irene flopped down onto the ground, the fatigue from the battle catching up with her all at once. anwhile, Alfonzo looked down at her with an amused expression on his face. Though, thanks to his current form, it looked a lot more like a cruel sneer.
"Nice." Alfonzo replied as he ended his [Bankai], the liquid tal making up his body retracting, leaving his base form visible before Riot and Bedlam grew out of his hands, and he put them back on the strap on his lower back that sohow survived the long battle.
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