Fairy Tail: I Stole the Ryujin Jakka in My Sleepwalking

Erza's magic power was being rapidly consumed.

Bang! The shield was already half-shattered, but Erza continued to pour more magic into it.

The cracks in the shield spread, until they covered the entire surface.

Finally, the shield couldn't hold any longer, shattering into pieces. The immense force of the blast sent Erza flying, tearing her armor to shreds, and the massive magic circle in front of her dissipated as Erza's magic supply was cut off.

Fortunately, Jupiter dissipated at the same time.

Erza tumbled across the ground, flung hundreds of meters away.

"Un…unbelievable! She actually stopped it!" Macao's eyes were wide with shock.

"We're saved! As expected of Erza," Elfman exclaimed in awe.

Mirajane rushed to Erza's side, supporting her as she struggled to stand. "Erza, hang in there."

"Following Master Makarov, the Fairy Queen Erza is also out of the fight," Jose's voice boomed from Phantom Lord's speakers.

"You have no chance of winning. Hand over Lucy Heartfilia. Now!" Jose's voice deepened with menace.

"Are you kidding? What guild hands over its comrades? Don't even dream of it!" Bisca shouted.

"Lucy is our comrade!!" Macao yelled, fist raised.

"That's right, get lost…" The guild members roared their defiance.

Lucy covered her face, her shoulders shaking.

"Hand her over," Jose's voice, even colder, echoed through Fairy Tail's guildhall.

But instead of fear, it fueled their rage.

"I…I…" Lucy covered her face, struggling to speak.

"We'd rather die than betray a comrade!!" Erza struggled to her feet from Mirajane's embrace, her usually neat hair now a mess.

"Oooooooooh————"

"No matter what happens, our answer never changes! We'll beat you bastards!" Natsu roared.

"That's right—get lost!!"

Lucy covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face, the Fairy Tail mark on her hand strikingly visible.

Jose, watching from Phantom Lord, scowled, crushing the armrest of his chair.

"Then you'll take another, even bigger Jupiter! You'll have fifteen minutes to cower in fear while we reload," Jose's slightly unhinged voice echoed.

"What? Another Jupiter?" Gray looked at Erza, barely standing in Mirajane's arms, filled with worry. There would be no one to stop it this time.

Just then, numerous ghosts began to drift within Phantom Lord's guildhall.

"What…what are those?" someone asked, confused.

"Fairy Tail, you have two choices: be killed by my ghost soldiers, or be destroyed by Jupiter!" Jose's voice boomed again.

"Ghost soldiers? Those things?"

"Looks like we need to take out Jupiter first," Cana mused.

"I'll do it! We have fifteen minutes. I'll take it out. Happy, let's go!" Natsu said, turning to Happy.

"Aye sir!" Natsu leaped, Happy catching him as they flew towards Jupiter's cannon.

"Elfman, let's go too," Gray said to Elfman.

"Ah, a manly man protects his family!"

"We'll hold this down," Cana said, drawing her cards.

"Lucy, come with me. There's a hiding place. We'll come out after the war is over," Mirajane said, pulling Lucy towards a secluded area. Lido was waiting with a carriage.

"But…I have to fight with everyone. This is all my fault," Lucy said, pulling her hand away.

"No, Lucy. No one in the guild thinks that. Fighting to protect our comrades—everyone's proud of this fight."

Lucy remained silent. Mirajane held her hand. "Let's go."

Just then, a voice cut through the air. "You don't have a chance."

Mirajane instantly turned towards the source of the voice. A tall figure stood there, wrapped in bandages.

But Mirajane wasn't careless, even facing an 'injured' opponent.

It was Iron Dragon—Gajeel.

"Miss Lucy, you were hard to find, heh heh," he grinned.

"I only want Lucy. Get lost, you extras," Gajeel sneered at Mirajane.

"Are you kidding? Want Lucy? Get past me first!!" Mirajane stood before Lucy, arms spread wide, unafraid.

"Mira, he's after me. Let me handle this. I can still fight," Lucy reached for her keys, then widened her eyes in horror.

"My keys are gone?" Lucy remembered her encounter with Juvia; she must have dropped them.

Despair washed over her.

"I ain't got time for your chit-chat," Gajeel said, his arm transforming into an iron pillar, aimed at Lucy.

Mirajane shoved Lucy aside, blocking the pillar.

Gajeel scoffed. "Same difference. Just an extra blow."

Mirajane stared at the approaching iron pillar.

Was it an illusion? The temperature was rising.

Boom! A huge sound echoed, but Mirajane felt no pain. "This…familiar scent…" Mirajane slowly opened her eyes, tears welling up.

"Finn! I've been waiting for you!!"

Finn, who had intercepted Gajeel's iron pillar, gave Mirajane a familiar smile. "Ah, sorry for the wait…"

"I know what's happening. Mira, take Lucy and leave. I'll handle this Iron Dragon, then settle the score with Jose," Finn said rapidly.

"Okay, be careful," Mirajane nodded, taking Lucy and encountering Loki.

"Loki? What are you doing here?" Mirajane asked, confused.

Loki said, "Someone saw Gajeel coming. I'm here to help." He then stared ahead, stunned.

Then, excitedly, "Finn! You're back!" Finn's back was reassuring.

"Ah, I'll handle this. You go support others," Finn said to Loki.

Loki nodded, then gave Lucy her keys. "Thanks, Loki," Lucy said.

Loki scratched his head, shifting uncomfortably. "Don't lose your keys next time."

Seeing them leave, Finn turned to Gajeel, his face grim. "Gajeel, I said before, if you dare attack Fairy Tail again, I'll kill you."

Gajeel wanted to curse. Wasn't Finn supposed to be stuck in the Council?

"Jose, you betrayed me!" Gajeel cursed inwardly.

Feeling Finn's pressure, Gajeel swallowed nonexistent saliva.

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

"What am I thinking?" Gajeel shook his head, forcing away his fear. "I'm the Iron Dragon's child! I'm a dragon! Why would I fear a human?"

He looked at Finn. "This is a guild war. No need for words. Let's fight."

Finn shook his head, instantly charging, his speed blurring.

"Where is he?" Gajeel's pupils darted, trying to track Finn.

"Here." A dragon's senses were sharp. The moment Finn was near, Gajeel reacted, his arm transforming into an iron pillar to block Finn's attack.

But the force sent Gajeel flying tens of meters.

"Damn, is that guy really human?" He looked at his arm; a clear cut, bleeding profusely.

But Finn didn't stop, his rapid strikes overwhelming Gajeel, especially the occasional flames, making Gajeel suffer.

"What are you looking at?" a voice asked from behind. Gajeel's eyes widened; he saw Ryūjin Jakka.

Gajeel bent back, the blade narrowly missing his face. The blade's gleam reflected in his eyes.

Barely dodging, Gajeel retreated.

"Huff…huff…" Gajeel gasped. Finn almost decapitated him. His injuries and blood loss blurred his vision.

Finn charged again.

Gajeel took a deep breath. "Iron Dragon's Roar!"

A dark green magic circle appeared, then a roar of iron shards, like a giant tornado, engulfed Finn.

"Hit him!" But before Gajeel could celebrate, an invisible slash cut through the iron storm.

"Ryūjin Jakka, Fire Manipulation!" Finn used Fire Manipulation to cut through the roar and reached Gajeel.

In Gajeel's wide eyes, Finn's blade sliced into his chest, blood spurting out. The pain was excruciating. Gajeel collapsed, powerless.

His wounds, freshly bandaged last night, bled again. The injuries hadn't healed, and this fight worsened them.

Finn pointed his blade at Gajeel's heart.

"Why attack Fairy Tail?" Finn asked.

Gajeel gasped. "The Master's orders. We just followed orders. He told us to attack, so we did."

"What if he told you to die? Would you do it?" Finn sneered.

"People without free will are no different from puppets."

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