Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Shirotsume.
November 30, x791.
"Why does it seem like so much shit happens here?" Rika asked as she used a short sword to cut through some foliage in a forest outside of Shirotsume Town. "I mean, I've been here, like, three times this year with Alzack, Bisca, and Kohta. And now, I'm out here with you two... Not that I'm complaining."
"Well, that's just how it is." Alfonzo, walking next to Rika, replied while also clearing the way with a short sword. "Still, this is kind of a big deal. This is an S-Class magical beast that was supposedly forced away from its natural habitat. I'm actually more curious to know what could have done that."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Rika said. "Too bad Lici, Erza, and Mira got to it first. Otherwise, we could have had some real fun."
Alfonzo could only smile at Rika's enthusiasm while shaking his head with fond exasperation.
As previously mentioned, Alfonzo and Rika, along with Lisanna, took a quest together to slay a Nine-Tailed Fox, an S-Class magical beast. Though, with Lisanna in the party, the chances of it being subjugated, rather than slain, was much higher. Because if the wiki in Alfonzo's previous life was right, Lisanna's [Animal Soul Take Over Magic] would be able to [Take Over] the beast. Though, Alfonzo had no idea why that even worked.
"It's probably a good thing, though." Alfonzo said with a shrug. "This is a good chance for Lisanna to get stronger if she can use [Take Over] on it."
Alfonzo then looked over his shoulder at the last member of their team, Lisanna, before continuing.
"By the way, I've always wondered, how do you [Take Over] stuff like that with your [Animal Soul Take Over]?" Alfonzo asked curiously. "I mean, Harpies and Nine-Tailed Foxes aren't really considered animals, are they?"
"Honestly, I don't know." Lisanna replied with a shrug and a smile. "But like you say, Alfonzo, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?"
"Fair Enough." Alfonzo replied with a smile. "Most people don't know how an airship can fly or even why it's possible for big chunks of metal to fly. But since they do, they don't worry about it."
"Exactly." Lisanna said happily. "I'm of the opinion that just letting the magic happen is the best way to do it."
"That was lame." Rika said with a chuckle.
"I thought it was good." Lisanna replied with a pout. "Natsu likes my jokes, too."
"Natsu's got about as much going on upstairs as a blank sheet of paper." Alfonzo said in a teasing tone. "So, his opinions on anything other than fighting and food probably aren't the best metric to go by."
"*Sigh* As much as I'd like to defend my husband in this situation, I can't really come up with anything to argue with." Lisanna said as her shoulders dropped. "I just hope Miyako doesn't end up like her daddy."
"I don't think you have to worry about that." Rika said with a giggle. "Miyako is only... what? Three, going on four years old, and I'm pretty sure she's already smarter than Natsu."
"Yeah, she took her personality from both of you." Alfonzo added. "She's probably gonna be just as smart and clever as you, Lisanna. And from what I've seen, she'll end up just as competitive and capable in a fight as Natsu. The best of both worlds, really."
Hearing praise for her daughter, Lisanna could not help smiling brightly. However, just before she could compliment Alfonzo's children and ask when Alfonzo and Rika were gonna have children of their own, the conversation was brought to a sudden stop.
"Just picked up an S-Class magic power signature at the edge of my [Magic Power Detection]." Alfonzo said, his voice much sharper than before. "We're getting close to our target."
"Your range is ridiculous." Rika grumbled. "The only things I can feel are a couple of C and D-Class signatures about a kilometer away."
"I can't even feel anything that far." Lisanna muttered.
"Sounds like the two of you need to work on your magic power control, then." Alfonzo said with a smirk. "Anyway, let's speed up. It's not moving right now. But that could change."
Receiving a pair of nods, Alfonzo sprinted through the forest without the use of his [Electromagnetism Magic], making sure not to get so far ahead that Lisanna and Rika could not track him.
Eventually, Alfonzo came across a rather large tree. And on the side of the tree opposite where he was approaching from was the magic power signature.
Making a few hand signs, Alfonzo instructed Rika to take her distance and support him with her sniper rifle. And without a word, Rika split off from the group, scaled a tree, and disappeared among the branches and leaves.
Meanwhile, Alfonzo gave Lisanna the sign to get ready for battle up close.
"[Take Over: Animal Soul: Cat]." Lisanna chanted before she was engulfed in the light of her magic power.
A moment later, she reappeared with longer hair, blue fur on her forearms and hands, claws at her fingertips, and wearing a blue and black striped bikini. At the same time, her speed increased explosively.
*Zap!*
Seeing how Lisanna's speed increased, Alfonzo smiled before he was cloaked in violet electricity. Then, he flashed past Lisanna and approached the large tree at high speed.
*Boom!*
However, before he could move around the tree and lay his eyes on the target, the trunk of the tree exploded, wood chips flying everywhere as the tree began to topple over. At the same time,
Seeing this, Alfonzo's eyes widened in surprise. However, the thing that surprised him the most was the three fluffy, beige-colored tails that came flying through the cloud of wood shavings.
Stopping his forward momentum, Alfonzo shot straight upwards, barely evading the tail whips that destroyed the tree.
"What the fuck?" Alfonzo muttered as he looked down at the felled tree. "It did all that with just its tails?"
Alfonzo was not the only one who came to a stop, as Lisanna, who was trailing behind Alfonzo, also skidded to a stop, leaving two shallow ditches in her wake.
"Is that the Nine-Tailed Fox?" Lisanna asked with her eyes wide open.
"I'd guess it is." Alfonzo replied. "But we've only seen three of the tails so far."
As if waiting for just that line, the three tails that blew through the tree swung once again, dispersing the cloud of tree shavings and debris. And once the cloud was dispersed, the target's true appearance was visible to all three Fairy Tail wizards.
Standing next to the stump of the tree it just knocked over was the Nine-Tailed Fox with nine long, fluffy, beige-colored tails waving behind it.
However, the Nine-Tailed Fox was not what they were expecting when they finally saw it. Instead of a large foxlike magical beast, it was humanoid in shape with long beige hair, a pair of pointy fox ears atop its head, a pretty, female face, and long claws sticking out from the tips of its fingers.
But the thing that was even more surprising than the pretty, female, humanoid form was the clothing it was wearing.
"Is it wearing a shrine maiden costume?" Alfonzo asked himself blankly.
"A what?" Lisanna asked, not familiar with the concept of a Japanese shrine maiden. "I'm not sure what that is, but those clothes are kinda cute. You think Lici would make some for me?"
"Of course, she would." Alfonzo replied.
*Bang!*
At that moment, the Nine-Tailed Fox flicked one of its tails in front of its face. At the same time, sparks bloomed from the tip of its tale before there was an impact, and a small crater appeared on the trunk of another tree. A moment later, the sound of a gunshot echoed around the area.
{"Tch! It blocked it."} Rika said over the [Telepathic Link] Alfonzo set up with his [Archive Magic]. {"I'm relocating. I'll take another shot when the opportunity presents itself."}
"Alright. Keep yourself sa---" Alfonzo began to say.
*Growl!*
Yet, before Alfonzo could finish his sentence, the Nine-Tailed Fox looked in the direction where the bullet came from.
"No, it's not just looking at the spot where Rika fired from." Alfonzo muttered as he watched the Nine-Tailed Fox's eyes move, tracking Rika's path. "It knows where she is."
"How is that possible?" Lisanna asked dumbfoundedly.
"It's probably tracking her scent." Alfonzo said while sounding a bit uneasy.
And that uneasy feeling came true when he saw six of the Nine-Tailed Fox's tails wrap themselves around the felled tree before lifting it off the ground.
*Yip!*
Then, the Nine-Tailed Fox yipped as it exerted force with its tails before hurling the large tree in the direction where Rika was moving.
{"What the...?"} Rika's disbelieving voice sounded over the [Telepathic Link].
"Rika~~~~~!" Lisanna shouted in panic.
*Zap!*
"[Metal Magic: Circular Cutter]." Alfonzo chanted as he was once again cloaked in violet electricity.
In the next instant, Alfonzo disappeared from where he was floating in the air. A moment later, he reappeared in the path of the flying tree, a large, spinning, circular saw attached to Bedlam's shaft, which he had drawn from the sling on his lower back.
*Buzz~~~~~~~!*
Then, while pumping an absurd amount of magic power into Bedlam, Alfonzo swung the circular saw into the tree's path, bisecting it in the process. As a result, the two halves of the tree veered off course, allowing Rika to relocate safely.
*Zap!*
Then, as soon as the tree flew past Alfonzo, he charged Bedlam with electricity, causing the saw to begin sparking wildly.
"[Electromagnetism Magic: Supersonic Dismemberment]." Alfonzo chanted.
*Yip!*
As soon as the sparks of electricity began flowing around Alfonzo's circular saw, the fur on all nine of the Nine-Tailed Fox's tails stood on end. Then, with all its might, it leapt away from where it was standing.
*Boom!*
Less than a second later, a gash was cut into the ground where the Nine-Tailed Fox had been standing, extending nearly half a mile into the distance, cutting through everything along its path.
*Swish!*
At the same time, Lisanna moved, silently reappearing where the Nine-Tailed Fox landed with her claws swinging towards its back.
*Roar!*
And before the Nine-Tailed Fox could react, Lisanna's claws tore through its clothing and flesh, causing the magical beast to roar in both pain and fury. It then lashed its powerful tails at the one who dared to hurt it. Yet, its tails only smashed through a couple nearby trees, as Lisanna had used her speed to get away from the beast as quickly as she could after landing her blow.
"It's really strong." Lisanna said after reappearing below where Alfonzo was floating. "But it's not very fast."
"I noticed." Alfonzo replied with a nod. "But really strong might be an understatement. Even I would take some damage if I got hit with more than two of its tails at the same time."
Having some idea how strong Alfonzo's body was, both Lisanna and Rika widened their eyes when they heard his assessment of how strong the Nine-Tailed Fox's tails were. Immediately, both vowed to do everything they could to avoid being hit. At the same time, Lisanna's desire to [Take Over] the Nine-Tailed Fox bloomed even more than before. And she had all the trust in the world that her guild mates would do everything they could to help her do just that.
"Alright, looks like hit and run tactics are gonna be our best bet here." Alfonzo said as a challenging smirk curled his lips. "Rika, take all the pot shots you can. We'll make sure it can't focus on you."
{"Got it."} Rika replied.
"Let's go." Lisanna said as she lowered her center of gravity in preparation to pounce.
"Yeah, let's." Alfonzo replied.
*Zap!*
In the next instant, Alfonzo flashed away from where he was floating before reappearing in front of the Nine-Tailed Fox, surprising it momentarily. Then, with a backhand swing, Alfonzo...
*Bang!*
... slammed Bedlam's shaft across its face, making its head whip to the side.
*Swish!*
A moment later, Lisanna appeared in front of the Nine-Tailed Fox and raked her claws across its legs.
*Roar!*
*Boom!*
In response, the Fox roared in pain once again while swinging its nine tails at Alfonzo and Lisanna. However, before they could connect, Alfonzo grabbed Lisanna by the back of her neck, like he was carrying a naughty kitten, and flashed away before the nine tails slammed into the ground, causing a localized earthquake.
*Yip!*
*Bang!*
Then, before the Nine-Tailed Fox could raise its tails again, it stumbled backwards after being shot in the chest, a surprised yip escaping its mouth as the pain from the attack was almost non-existent. Shortly afterwards, the sound of Rika's sniper rifle finally caught up with the bullet as it echoed throughout the area.
A moment later, the bullet Rika fired burst into half a dozen chains before wrapping around the Nine-Tailed Fox's arms and torso. The chains also did their best to wrap around the Fox's tails. However, with a simple flick of its tails, all the chains surrounding them were shattered into motes of magic power.
{"Damn it!"} Rika growled at the failed attempt. {"It's too strong."}
"Well then, we're gonna have to hit it even harder." Alfonzo said as his magic power flared.
Along with Alfonzo's magic power, the electricity coating his body brightened in intensity, causing the Nine-Tails Fox to squint its eyes while still struggling to free its arms from Rika's magic bullet's effect.
*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*
All the while, the Nine-Tailed Fox lashed its tails wildly in an attempt to deter its enemy's from getting close.
*Zap!*
Yet, Alfonzo ignored the Nine-Tailed Fox's struggles completely, sipping between the lashing tails with deceptive ease before reappearing in front of it.
*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Swish!* *Swish!* *Bang!*
Now, with both Riot and Bedlam in hand, Alfonzo swung his arms while spinning the tonfas and repeatedly striking the Nine-Tailed Fox about the head and shoulders while avoiding its tails at close range.
*Growl!*
"Looks like just hitting it isn't enough." Alfonzo muttered to himself as he coated Riot and Bedlam in electricity. "Fine, let's add a little more to the beating, then. [Electromagnetism Magic: Stun Gun]."
*Zap~~~~~~~~~!*
*Yip~~~~~~~~~!*
The added electricity caused the Nine-Tailed Fox to cry out in agony. Even so, it never fell. Nor did it stop lashing its tails, making it impossible for Lisanna to get close and land her own attacks. And with Alfonzo moving so fast around the Nine-Tailed Fox, Rika was unable to fire another shot, as well.
"Damn... This thing is really tanky." Alfonzo grumbled. "Blunt force and electric shocks aren't enough. But if I use any slashing or piercing attacks, I might just kill it by mistake."
"I could use my [Harpy Take Over] to try and pierce it." Lisanna suggested. "But I'm not sure if the feathers will be able to actually pierce her."
{"Huh? You have ranged attacks in that form?"} Rika asked in astonishment. {"I thought all that form allowed you to do was fly and gave you a strength boost."}
"You guys aren't the only ones getting stronger, you know?" Lisanna said proudly. "I might not have a [Soul Armament] because I haven't passed the S-Class exam yet, but I'm finding new ways to use my magic, too."
"Hmm... So, you can shoot your feathers, huh?" Alfonzo asked while continuing to pummel the Nine-Tailed Fox. "Well then, I might just have an idea. My magic power control should be good enough for this by now."
"What are you talking about?" Lisanna asked curiously.
"A [Unison Raid]." Alfonzo replied. "I'll just have to sync up my magic power with yours to make it work. Shouldn't be too hard."
{"You make it sound so easy."} Rika muttered over the [Telepathic Link].
"What she said." Lisanna added.
"Let's just give it a try." Alfonzo replied as he raised both tonfas. "If it doesn't work, we'll just have to beat the hell outta this thing until it goes night-night."
{"And there's no telling how long that will take."} Rika said.
"But... I've never even done a [Unison Raid] with Natsu." Lisanna said with a slight blush on her face. "This isn't considered cheating, right?"
Alfonzo and Rika fell silent after hearing that. And the silence, minus the sounds of the merciless beating Alfonzo was inflicting on the Nine-Tailed Fox, got more and more awkward as time passed.
"Fine…" Lisanna said, her embarrassment even more obvious at this point. "Let's just give it a try and never talk about what I just asked again, okay?"
"I promise I won't tell anyone about this other than Mira." Alfonzo said in a teasing tone. "I'm sure she'd find her little sister's worries absolutely adorable."
"I hate you, Alfonzo." Lisanna replied in a deadpan tone. "The worst part is that I can't even get my husband to beat you up for bullying me... He'd just get knocked out instead."
While Alfonzo and Rika laughed at Lisanna, Lisanna took a deep breath to dispel the embarrassment. Then, she was covered by the light of her magic for a second time.
"[Take Over Magic: Animal Soul: Harpy]." Lisanna chanted as the magic power light dimmed.
Now in her harpy form with bird-like legs and talons, and wings with feathers the same color as her hair in the place of her arms, Lisanna took to the sky with a powerful flap of said wings. At the same time, Alfonzo flashed away from the Nine-Tailed Fox, reappearing behind Lisanna with his hand placed between her shoulder blades.
*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*
Just as Alfonzo reappeared, five more bullets struck the Nine-Tailed Fox, the force from all the shots knocking it off its feet. Even so, none of the chains that exploded from the bullets were able to bind its tails, as they were almost immediately broken with a flick of the nine powerful tails.
"Whenever you're ready, flare your magic power." Alfonzo said from behind Lisanna. "By the time you're ready to cast your spell, I should have synced my magic power with yours."
"Okay, I'll do my best." Lisanna replied in a determined tone. She then flared her magic power in preparation to cast her spell.
"Got it." Alfonzo said as he successfully synced his magic power with Lisanna.
"[Unison Raid: Thunderstorm Feather-Arrow Barrage]." Alfonzo and Lisanna instinctively chanted in unison.
Along with the simultaneous chant, arcs of violet electricity surrounded Lisanna's wings. Then, Lisanna flapped her wings, ejecting more than two dozen feathers that soared towards the Nine-Tailed Fox. However, these were no normal feathers, as they were all tipped with a thin coat of metal, as well.
*Swish!* *Swish!* *Swish!* *Swish!* *Swish!*
*Roar~~~~~~~~!*
Not long later, just as the Nine-Tailed Fox managed to break some of the chains wrapped around its arms and torso, the metal tipped, electrified feathers tore through its body, Lisanna's control making sure they avoided any vital areas. Then, while crying out in pain and twitching from the internal shock, the Nine-Tailed Fox fell to the ground, twitching from the electricity coursing through its body.
A moment later, the bright lights from the electricity dimmed. Then, Alfonzo and Lisanna both descended to the ground. At the same time, Rika started making her way back to join the group.
"You should be able to perform the [Take Over] now." Alfonzo said while looking at the Nine-Tailed Fox, who was still twitching with its eyes rolled back and blood leaking from its wounds. "But just to make sure..."
Reaching that point, Alfonzo once again flared his magic power. In the next instant, large restraints made of adamantite fell from the sky, pinning each of the Nine-Tailed Fox's tails to the ground.
"Let's just give you a little extra insurance." Alfonzo continued.
"Thanks, Alfonzo." Lisanna said with a smile before carefully getting closer to the Nine-Tailed Fox.
"This thing is pretty strong." Rika, who just arrived next to Alfonzo, said. "And I heard about the accident that happened to Elfman almost ten years ago. This won't be too much for you, will it?"
"You don't have to worry about that." Lisanna replied without turning around. "Ever since that day, Mira made sure to train our mental fortitude relentlessly."
The shiver that accompanied that last statement let Alfonzo and Rika know just how relentless that training had been.
A moment later, Lisanna reached the Nine-Tailed Fox's side. Then, with no hesitation, she placed her hands on its chest and cast the [Take Over] spell, shrouding both the Nine-Tailed Fox and herself in the light of her magic power.
A moment later, the light dimmed and the Nine-Tailed Fox was gone, leaving only Lisanna, nine fox tails growing from her lower back and a pair of fox ears on the top of her head, both the same color as her hair, and dressed in the same short Shrine Maiden outfit the Nine-Tailed Fox had been wearing, standing there with her eyes closed.
"You okay, Lisanna?" Rika asked with a hint of worry in her tone.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Lisanna replied, her eyes still closed. "I'm just feeling what kind of power this form will give me."
"Did you get anything like illusions or fox fire?" Alfonzo asked curiously.
"No, nothing like that." Lisanna replied while shaking her head. A moment later, she opened her eyes and continued. "Just enhanced strength for my body and really, really strong tails like the one we just fought."
"So, the legends about nine-tailed foxes were bullshit then, huh?" Alfonzo asked rhetorically. "Well, whatever. We're done here. Let's go home."
Returning to her base form, Lisanna nodded along with Rika to Alfonzo's suggestion of going home. Then, the trio made their way back to where their magic vehicle was parked.
"I wonder how Lici, Mira, and Erza are doing." Alfonzo muttered as he walked through the forest with Lisanna and Rika. "They're supposed to be fighting whatever it was that drove the Nine-Tailed Fox out this way. I'm curious to know what could be strong enough to do that."