"Now, I will personally take back this life of yours!" As she spoke, Irene pointed the demon-hand-like magic staff in her hand at one of the swords stuck in the ground before her.
In the next second, that sword, along with the other swords stuck in the ground near Irene, began to melt at a visible rate.
Seeing this eerie scene, Erza's pretty face changed slightly, her expression becoming even graver. She then called out to Wendy beside her, "Wendy!"
Although Erza didn't say more, the tacit understanding nurtured during their previous 100-Year Quest allowed Wendy to understand Erza's intention.
Wendy nodded, then directly activated her magical power, applying Enchantment Magic to Erza.
"Total Ability Rise: Knight of the God!"
With Wendy's cry, a pillar of magical light erupted from around her.
In the next second, Erza's body was enveloped in a layer of white light.
"Oh? Enchantment Magic?" Seeing Wendy actually use Enchantment Magic right in front of her, Irene commented with interest, then curled her lips into a smirk and said disdainfully, "Petty tricks. Separation Enchant: Deus Zero!"
As she spoke, Irene waved her hand towards Erza through the air.
Immediately, the Enchantment Magic Wendy had applied to Erza began to peel away.
"Separation Enchantment? In that case..." Seeing that Irene was separating her enchantment, Wendy was first shocked, then, like Irene, she also cast [Deus Zero].
"Deus Zero, to cancel out your separation magic!"
The moment Wendy released the [Deus Zero] magic, Irene's [Deus Zero] was canceled out.
And the [Knight of the God] enchantment on Erza returned.
'She canceled out my magic?' Seeing her Enchantment Magic actually canceled out by such a young girl, a rare look of surprise appeared on Irene's usually composed face.
However, before Irene could recover from her surprise, Erza, wielding red and black blades, had already charged in front of Irene.
Erza didn't hesitate. The twin blades in her hands slashed towards Irene with a force that seemed to tear space itself.
Swish Swish-
As the twin swords moved, two sword beams instantly swept towards Irene.
However, Irene's reaction was quite swift.
Just as Erza's twin blades were about to strike Irene, Irene immediately raised her magic staff to block.
Clang-
In the next second, Erza's twin blades struck Irene's magic staff.
At that moment, a loud impact sound echoed through the air.
Although Irene blocked this slash from Erza, the force of Erza's sword strike still landed on a massive rock behind Irene.
In an instant, the huge rock shattered into pieces.
Having her first strike blocked, Erza didn't relent and continued her attack on Irene.
Irene, in turn, swung her magic staff to parry Erza's twin swords.
Swish Swish Swish-
Clang Clang Clang-
For a moment, flashes of sword light filled the air.
With each flash of sword light, deep gashes appeared on the surrounding ground.
"Ha!" Erza shouted, her twin blades slashing towards Irene with a world-cleaving force.
Irene immediately raised her magic staff to block.
Clang-
Accompanied by a loud roar, Erza's twin blades struck Irene's magic staff once more.
Although Irene blocked all of Erza's attacks, she had long lost her previous composure.
Because after this brief exchange, she discovered Erza was far stronger than she had imagined.
How could Irene know that Erza, together with Kenichi, Wendy, and Mirajane, had defeated the Five Dragon Gods on the Guiltina Continent?
Her current strength had long surpassed that of an ordinary Spriggan 12's member.
Even Ajeel was easily defeated by Erza.
"It seems I need to get a little serious!" Just as Irene decided to teach Erza a bit of a lesson, Erza used a sword with her foot, slashing directly at Irene.
"Using her foot...?" Irene, who was raising her staff to block Erza's sword slash, saw the blade on Erza's foot coming at her, and her face changed dramatically.
Without any hesitation, Irene forcefully pushed with her magic staff, repelling Erza's twin blades.
But, the sword on Erza's foot had already slashed forward.
Slash-
Accompanied by a flash of sword light, the large hat on Irene's head was instantly torn apart by the blade.
Simultaneously, Wendy also charged forward.
"Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!"
Thud-
As Wendy swung her arm, a wind blade directly struck Irene's arm.
Slash-
After Wendy's figure passed, a streak of crimson blood sprayed from Irene's arm.
"Blood..." Seeing her own blood, Irene's pupils constricted sharply, and simultaneously, the expression on her face became increasingly grim.
"You dare injure me?!" After roaring in anger, Irene seemed to go berserk, and the magical power around her instantly surged.
Erza paid no heed to Irene's rage. Wielding her twin swords, she slashed at Irene once more.
Bzzzt-
By the time Erza charged in front of Irene, an immensely powerful shockwave suddenly erupted from within Irene's body.
Under the impact of this shockwave, Erza's body was sent flying backward.
Finally, Erza's feet scraped a long trail on the ground before she stabilized her stance.
"Erza-san..." Wendy retreated to Erza's side and asked with concern.
"I'm fine!" Erza responded to Wendy, then focused her grave gaze on Irene before them.
Irene had now transformed from her human form into a massive Sage Dragon.
If it were before, seeing Irene transform into a dragon would have been very shocking for Erza and Wendy.
But now, seeing Irene transform into a dragon, Erza and Wendy weren't too surprised.
After all, Kenichi often dragonified.
For Erza and Wendy, this was already a commonplace occurrence.
"I will no longer hold back! I will annihilate you all in an instant!" Irene, now in her dragon form, thundered at Erza and Wendy, then activated her magic.
"Ultimate Enchantment Magic: Deus Sema!"