Earth Land, Ishgar, Bosco, Unnamed Mountain Range.
February 27, x792.
As she gathered her magic power, Irene looked up at the tidal wave of iron sand Alfonzo launched at her. Yet, she showed no signs of worry. Instead, she channeled her magic power into the clow-like protrusions at the end of her staff before raising it over her head.
"[Enchant: Sever]." Irene chanted before slashing Belserion downward.
*Screech~~~~~~~~!*
As Irene swung Belserion, a translucent blade of magic power was released along the path of the swing. And when that magic power blade struck the iron sand tidal wave, it split the wave in half, causing the two halves to flow past her on either side.
Naturally, Alfozno saw that energy blade, as well. However, instead of moving to dodge it, he held his hands out while channeling an absurd amount of magic power into the Techno Organic Metal Riot and Bedlam transformed into after release. Then, when the [Sever Enchantment] arrived, Alfonzo caught it, producing a screeching sound that made everyone watching the battle cover their ears.
"Holy fucking shit..." Alfonzo said while digging his heels into the ground. "What kind of sever spell has this much force behind it? You should have called this bitch heavy slash, or something."
*Scrape~~~~~~~~~!*
While constantly swearing as he tried to stop Irene's [Enchantment], Alfonzo was pushed back nearly forty yards, his feet leaving two grooves in the ground. Meanwhile, Irene gathered more magic power for her next spell.
"Ahh~~~~~~~~!" Alfonzo roared as he exerted his strength.
Then, with a powerful heave, Alfonzo sent the [Sever Enchantment] into the sky, freeing himself from the pushing force.
*Screech!*
A moment later, another piercing screech rang out over the area, the [Sever Enchantment] slamming into the barrier Alfoozon and Irene set up before the fight. After a few seconds, the magic power in the [Enchantment] fizzled out with the barrier having taken no visible damage.
"Damn..." Alfonzo grumbled while breathing heavily.
"Impressive." Irene said, her voice carrying across the distance. "But what will you do about this? [Enchant: Vulcanus]."
With her chant, Irene waved Belserion before jamming the claw-like protrusions into the ground. Shortly, two magic circles, one small enough to only encircle Irene, and one large enough to cover the entirety of the barrier, manifested on the ground, each glowing in a scarlet red color. Then, after only a moment...
*Boom~~~~~~~~~~~~~!*
... an eruption of scarlet light burst upwards, shrouding everything in the barrier in an ominous, scarlet glow.
Yet, Irene showed no signs of triumph on her face. Although the amount of magic power she put into that spell should have been enough to level all the mountains in the barrier, she heard a short chant that let her know the chances of ending this battle with that spell were slim to none.
"[Metal Magic: Adamantine Shield]."
A few seconds later, the light from Irene's [Enchantment] faded. However, the dust from such an explosion persisted for a while. At the same time, Irene also noted that she could not feel Alfonzo's magic power. Yet, she did not panic. She knew that even if Alfonzo had been hit head on with that, he would sustain serious injuries at the very most.
*Whoosh!*
Waving Belserion lightly, Irene sent a gust of wind to clear the surrounding dust. However, Neither Alfonzo, nor the aforementioned [Adamantine Shield] was anywhere to be seen. A moment later, however, Irene felt a sliver of magic power leaking from a spot high above her.
Looking up, Irene saw a metallic sphere falling from near the top of the barrier. And as it fell, the sphere was spreading open into a circular plate. Still, she could not see Alfonzo.
"[Metal Magic: Shatter Point]." Alfonzo's voice carried from above the metal plate.
*Bang!*
In the next instant, the sound of metal striking metal sounded. Then, the metallic plate, presumably made of Adamantite, began to shatter. Yet, before the pieces of metal could fall, Alfonzo's voice sounded once again.
"[Electromagnetism Magic: Railgun Barrage]."
Hearing that, Irene's eyes widened before she hastily began gathering magic power on Belserion's tip. Then, she slammed the butt of the staff onto the ground.
"[Enchant: Reflect]." Irene chanted.
In the next instant, just as the electrified pieces of Adamantite were launched, Irene's [Reflection Enchantment] was deployed.
*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*
Then, in less than a second, all the chunks of metal slammed into Irene's [Enchantment]. However, instead of being reflected back into the sky, Irene's [Enchantment] began to ripple, looking as if it might break any moment.
"[Electromagnetism Magic: Microwave Impact]." Alfonzo chanted as he flew down at breakneck speed, his right fist glowing with crimson red microwaves.
*Shatter!*
A moment later, Alfonzo slammed his fist into Irene's [Reflection Enchantment], the microwaves on his fist spreading across its surface and engulfing all the metal pushing against the barrier. And thanks to the large number of microwaves, every single piece of metal was set ablaze. On top of that, Irene's [Enchantment] shattered, sounding like a rock had slammed into a pane of glass.
"[Universe One]." Irene chanted as she slammed Belserion into the ground once again.
Luckily, the time it took for Alfonzo to destroy her [Reflection Enchantment] was more than enough time for Irene to gather the necessary magic power to cast her [Displacement Enchantment], [Universe One]. As a result, Alfonzo and all the burning chunks of Adamantite were transported to different places in the barrier, leaving Irene standing in place and breathing heavily thanks to the extensive magic power expenditure.
After that, the battlefield fell silent for a few moments, giving the viewers in both the Blackbird and the guild hall a chance to catch their breath.
"Are they trying to kill each other?" Lucy asked with her eyes wide open in shock. "I mean, they're only sparring, right? There's no reason to fight this hard, is there?'
"This isn't just a spar." Erza replied in a solemn tone. "They're fighting to push themselves to their limits."
"Yeah, but still..." Lucy muttered.
"Besides, you should pay more attention to something else, Lucy." Ultear said, her tone just as solemn as Erza's.
"What could be more important than one of them getting seriously injured?" Lucy asked in an incredulous tone.
"What can you do to catch up to them? To Alfonzo?" Ultear asked, her tone not changing in the slightest. "Unless you're okay with falling so far behind him. But I can tell you this, I'm not. I married him to stand beside him. Not to follow him and be protected."
Hearing Ultear's declaration, all the other women on the Blackbird gritted their teeth. Because like Ultear, they had no desire to be protected or to lag behind their husband/man. Even Lucy, who was just saying there was no need to go so far, was clenching her fist around the strap on her waist where her [Celestial Keys] hung.
Though, there was one exception...
"I'm okay with being protected." Shizuka said, her cheerful tone sounding out of place in the Blackbird's solemn atmosphere. "I'm not here to fight. I'm here to make sure you all are healthy after you come back from a hard fight."
With Shizuka's words, the solemn atmosphere all but melted away. Then, Rika pulled Shizuka into a hug, their sizable assets deforming as they were pressed together.
"Shizuka, please never change." Rika said while smiling wryly and patting Shizuka's head.
Shizuka's only response was to smile happily while returning Rika's hug.
Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.
Like the ladies on the Blackbird, the wizards in the Fairy Tail guild hall fell silent for a few seconds after Irene cast [Universe One]. However, unlike the solemn atmosphere in the Blackbird, the atmosphere in the guild hall was rather raucous. And that was all thanks to a few hot-headed wizards.
"OH man, did you guys see that?" Natsu shouted excitedly. "When Alfonzo and Irene get back, I'm gonna fight both of them! Yeah, I'm all fired up now!"
"Hmph!" Gray snorted disdainfully. "If you fought either of them, the only thing that would happen is you getting your ass kicked.'
"What did you say, you perverted ice cube?" Natsu asked angrily.
And just like that, despite the broadcast continuing, most of the wizards of the guild were pulled into a brawl. Meanwhile, those who were not affected by the brawl contemplated how they could get stronger and reach the same level as Alfonzo and Irene.
Earth Land, Ishgar, Bosco, Unnamed Mountain Range.
*Zap ~~~~~~~~~~~!* *Buzz~~~~~~~~~~~!*
Just as Irene caught her breath, the sounds of crackling electricity and something shredding the air sounded from the distance. Turning to look in the direction of the sounds, Irene knew they were attacks from Alfonzo thanks to her [Magic Power Detection]. However, when she saw the two electrified circular saw blades flying towards her at supersonic speed, Irene only smiled while reaching into her cloak.
When Irene pulled her hand out of her cloak, she held a pair of swords. Yet, instead of using them to deflect the incoming saws, she tossed them lightly in the saws' direction.
"[High Enchant: Personality Enchantment: Juliet Sun, Heine Lunasea]." Irene chanted as the two swords spun through the air.
In the next instant, both swords began to flow scarlet with the light of Irene's magic power. Then, their silhouettes began to expand into the shapes of two human girls. Finally, when the light faded, Juliet and Heine stood in front of Irene, ready and willing to fight for her.
"Honestly, I never thought we'd have to fight Lord Alfonzo." Juliet said in a cheerful tone.
"Stop talking." Heine shot back. "Just stop those attacks."
"Right." Juliet said happily as she slammed her hands onto the ground, a magic circle appearing on the ground in front of her and Heine an instant later.
Out of the magic circle Juliet created, a thick, gooey substance shot up into the path of the two circular saws. Yet, when the saw blades slammed into the goo, they were not stopped. They did, however, slow down from supersonic speed to subsonic speed.
*Splatter!*
*Zap!*
Meanwhile, as Juliet's goo was splattered, Heine, using her own magic, produced a pair of thin, electrified bands that she swung at the flats of the two circular saws.
*Clang!*
"Urgh!" Heine groaned as she used all her strength to knock the two saws off course. "They're so heavy."
*Boom!* x 2
Despite the struggle, Heine succeeded in deflecting the two circular saws. However, before she could catch her breath, her eyes flew open as she saw Alfonzo appear right in front of her with his left arm swinging a hook at the right side of her abdomen.
*Bang!*
Yet, before the punch could land, Juliet stepped between Alfonzo and Juliet with her right arm raised, and parried Alfonzo's blow.
"Hi~~, Lord Alfonzo." Juliet greeted energetically. "How have you been."
Despite himself, Alfonzo could not help smiling at Juliet's energetic attitude. Even so, that did not slow down his onslaught, as he followed up his hook with a right cross without missing a beat.
In response, Juliet leaned her head back to avoid Alfonzo's fist. Then, she stepped forward and threw a leaping uppercut aimed at Alfonzo's chin. At the same time, a pair of Heine's electrified bands snaked around Juliet, aiming to wrap around Alfonzo's arms to stop him from counterattacking.
Yet, instead of trying to avoid Heine's bands, Alfonzo allowed them to wrap around his arms, wrapping his arms in his own electricity before they did. Then, as he leaned his head away from Juliet's uppercut, he launched himself backwards.
*Bang!*
"Urgh!"
"Ow~~~~!"
As a result, Heine, still holding the other ends of her bands, was pulled forward, slamming into Juliet's back. Then, before the two could fall to the ground, Alfonzo began spinning in place. As a result, Juliet and Hiene unintentionally became the head of a flail.
"Ahh! I'm getting dizzy." Juliet complained with her eyes spinning.
"Juliet, if you throw up on me, I'm gonna~~~~~~~~~~!" Heine shouted back.
However, before Heine could finish her threat, Alfonzo increased the intensity of his electricity, burning through the bands wrapped around his arms. As a result, once the bands broke, Juliet and Heine were sent flying in to the distance, the end of Heine's threat dopplering with her movement.
"That was rather gentle of you." Irene, who only watched the exchange between Alfonzo, Juliet, and Heine, said with a smile. "You actually dealt with them without hurting them."
"Honestly, I didn't expect you to summon them, either." Alfonzo said while shaking his head.
"Well, they are my weapons, after all." Irene replied with a shrug.
"I don't see them that way." Alfonzo said, once again shaking his head. "Regardless of their origins, they're members of Fairy Tail now. So, I'll never see them as simple weapons."
The smile Irene gave Alfonzo in response was breath-taking.
"I'm sure they'll be happy to hear that." Irene said as she once again took a fighting stance with Belserion. "But for now, shall we get back to our match?"
"After you." Alfonzo said, making a gentlemanly gesture before taking his own fighting stance, a pair of Eskrima sticks growing from his palms.
With that, Alfonzo and Irene once again dashed forward, engaging in melee combat while intermixing various spells into their exchanges. Their displays of magical prowess and martial arts amazing the viewers on the Blackbird and in Magnolia.