29

Disclaimer I do not own Fairy Tail. Why would I be writing fanfiction if I owned something like that?

Beta Reader: volfwildman

(3rd Person Battle POV)

The Blade Mage rushed in with both of his katanas by his side ready to cut and slash at the card mage. But just before the Blade Mage could get close enough to satisfy his urge to cut something, Cana acted.

"Full House" Cana throw out five different cards that quickly grew until each was about the size of a full-grown adult and then formed a barrier around their user. The Psycho wasn't that distressed by the new barrier and lightly slashed at the middle card.

Unfortunately, though the blade simply bounced off the card like it was made of steel. The Blade Mage stopped and spent a second thinking about what to do but before he could conclude Cana acted, "Attack!"

And with those words, the cards quickly thrust forward and forced back the Blade Mage and they then quickly went on the attack. Each card started to fly around and assault the Blade Mage as each attempted to smash themselves into the still grinning madman.

What followed was about a minute of the Blade Mage dodging and rolling away from the hunting giant cards as they tried and failed to hit the person their user and instructed them to attack.

Cana eventually got tired of waiting and started to charge two of her cards to throw it at the Psycho. "Two Pair-Fire" She threw out two cards brimming with fire energy at the mage. This turned out to be a very bad decision.

The Blade Mage simply grinned and just as the cards were about to hit him, he swung his blade and intersected the two cards in mid-air. "Elemental Absorption" Just as the fire energy burst from the cards it was absorbed into the katana which now glowed with a reddish-orange aura.

After a quick twirl to avoid a card attacking from his side, the Blade Mage swung his blade once again towards Cana. "Elemental Release" The fire contained in the blade was released in a slashing arc toward Cana who was just able to roll to the side and dodge it but the flames did end up catching her left foot and burning it slightly.

The Blade Mage let out a laugh at the card mage's act and it looked like one of the cards would strike him while he laughs. This provided to be false as the Blade Mage at the last second swung his katana with all his might and struck the card.

*CRACK*

As the blade hit the card both the blade and card cracked and shattered, destroying the card and leaving the katana with the hilt and a few inches of blade left. With that done the Blade Mage ran forward to Cana who had put the fire on her foot out.

"Defend!" At her words, the four remaining cards instantly came to her and formed a barrier around her and defend her from the grinning madman. It would have worked too if the Blade Mage hadn't just vaulted over the card and landed next to a surprised Cana.

Cana was only just able to pull out an iron card and block a slash from the Psycho's unbroken katana but was unable to do anything as he stepped into her guard and used the broken katana as a knife and stabbed her in the side. He ended up letting go of the hilt as Cana stumbled back as one of her hands grasped the hilt while to let out a groan of pain before pulling the thing out.

"You're lucky that most of the Blade magic I developed revolved around fighting illusions. My elemental absorption and release were only made because I was bored. Oh well, I guess-" He never finished his monologue as Cana swiftly pulled out and throw an iron card at him.

The Blade Mage was too surprised to react and stumbled back as the card hit and cut into his forehead slightly before falling to the ground. He snared a little has his unused hand reached up and felt the blood coming out of the gash in his forehead. During this time Cana acted, she rushed forward and once again before the Blade Mage could react shoved a very recently element charged card into his raised arm's forearm hoping that doing so would prevent him from using this element like he did with her fire from before.

"High Card-Air" as the card smashed into the Blade Mage arm it exploded into a flurry of air slashes that left several dozen small cuts all along his forearm and a few on Cana's hand as most of the slashes were directed outwards. With that done, she ducked under and passed the Psycho and ran away from him but not before sticking something on his side.

The Blade Mage soon recovered from the air attack and turned to run after the card mage only to find her stopped a good few feet away from him grinning at him. "High Card-Lighting" The Blade Mage prepared for her to throw a card at him but paused at a yellow glow on his side caught his attention. Sticking on the side of his robes was a lighting infused card ready to explode.

"Fuc-" Was all he got out before the thing exploded. He let out a yell as lightning coursed through his body and attacked his nerves.

With the no longer grinning mad man distracted Cana mentally commanded her giant card to attack. One quickly followed her directions and flew towards the Blade Mage. But said man had enough with the one-sided fighting and fought off the lighting and ducked under the flying card.

Before any of the other cards could succeed where the first failed the Blade Mage ran forward with an intense determination on his face toward Cana as in a flash another katana appeared in his unused hand.

Cana hurriedly commanded her cards to form a barrier around her as she pulled out two iron cards and prepared for the mage to jump over them. The Blade Mage had other ideas, however.

*CRACK*

The Blade Mage thrust one of his blades forward with all his might towards the left middle card and just like the first time both the card and the katana shattered, leaving a surprised Cana open. She barely dodged another thrust from the now grinning madman, leaving a small cut on the side of her left shoulder.

Soon both found themselves in a sword match, well sword and card match. The Blade Mage was constantly on the offense as he tried and failed to get a cut in with either his broken or unbroken katana but Cana was blocking each of his strikes with one of her cards. She had spent a good portion of her life training with Bishop and Erza, both of whom made sure she could defend herself from a blade.

Eventually, it seemed like the Blade Mage overextended and left his right side open. Cana quickly took advantage of this and shoved one of her iron cards into the Psycho's right shoulder. Unfortunately, her moment of celebration was cut short by the expanding grin of the Blade Mage. Cana's little attack had, in turn, left her open as well.

The Blade Mage quickly returned the favor and stabbed his broken katana into her left shoulder and followed up with a swift slash to her stomach. Luckily Cana ended up turning slightly and the slash hit the side of her waist rather than the bottom of her stomach. The Blade Mage was about to strike once more but was interrupted by the card mage kneeing him in the gut.

In the second the Blade Mage was distracted by the pain in his stomach Cana jumped back and prepared a card with elemental energy. "High Card- Earth" A card full of earth energy raced forward to the Psycho who Cana had hoped would be too in pain to react.

She was wrong.

"Elemental Absorption" And with a quick slash of his blade the card was gone and the energy within now in the hands of someone else. The Blade Mage's grin widened as Cana's face pale and before she could react, he jumped forward and in mid-air released his attack.

"Elemental Release" and with a slash of his blade, a brown-colored arc of magic raced toward Cana and impacted her chest. The slash exploded into a shock wave as Cana was thrown back a few feet and landed on her back.

Cana let out a groan as she attempted to roll on her stomach and get up. Keyword is tried. Just as the roll was beginning the Blade Mage was on her and slammed his foot into her gut, returning the favor of her kneeing him from earlier.

Cana yelled out in pain as the grinning mad man pressed down on her. Just as Cana was planning on reacting the Blade Mage smashed the blunt side of his sword on the side of her face and caused her to start coughing out blood to the side.

"Well," The Blade Mage said as he rested the tip of his blade on Cana throat, "This has been fun. Your quite fun to play with even if at times you're a tab bit annoying." as he says this, he slowly pressed the tip down on Cana throat, not enough to pierce the flesh but damn near close enough to keep Cana from acting.

"I think I'll go ahead and end this. Cut off your head and bring it to your big brother, see how he reacts. I bet it'll be hilarious. So, then any last words?" The Psycho tilts his head for added effect as he looks down at a glaring Cana.

Cana continues to glare for a second before remembering something and grinning, "Yes I got something to say. You forgot about my cards." As Cana finishes her words the Blade Mage looks down in confusion but before he can ask something, he hears a swirl of air and looks up just in time to see one of Cana's giant cards slamming into him.

The card smashed into the Blade Mage stomach as it carries him forward and toward the wall at very high speeds before.

*CRASH*

Promptly crashing into the side of the wall in an explosion of dust and stone as a crater was made in the side of the wall with the Blade Mage in its center limp and trapped by a giant card still pressing into him.

Cana let out a sigh before wincing in pain and reaching into her side bag and pulling out a very small vial and draining the thing. A few years ago, Bishop had found the perfect ratio of Stone Flesh that slowed blood loss and minimize any loss of movement due to clenching of the muscles caused by the poison. He had then made sure that each of his siblings had at least one custom ratio vial on the with the poison just in case.

Cana had laughed at him when he first did this, she quickly learned that her brother had not been too paranoid on her next mission where she would have lost too much blood without the vial.

Said card mage was once again grateful for her older brother's paranoia as she got up and groin slightly in pain. The fight had left her bruised, cut and tired. She was about to pull out a red potion, also provided by Bishop, to help kick start the healing process before a light chuckle filled the air.

It wasn't long before Cana identified the chuckle and looked over to what she thought was the downed Blade Mage only to see him shaking slightly as he chuckled. Said chuckle turned into a laugh and said laugh soon turned silent as the man looked up with hard eyes and stared at Cana.

"I think," He pauses to crack his neck, "It's time I stopped playing." and with this word he lifted his katana that he had somehow kept hold of during the ride from the card and with a roar smashed it down on said card that was keeping him trapped.

*CRACK*

Both the card and the blade shattered just like the two times before as the Blade Mage was once more on the ground. He threw the broken blade away and, in a flash, two more katanas found their way into his hands before he blurred forward.

Cana only just had time to pull out two iron cards before the blur that was the Blade Mage was upon her. To her shock, the first block she performed was useless as the bladed slashed through the card like nothing and she was forced to quickly dodge out of the way of a second slash.

Soon Cana doing all she could to dodge and roll out of the way of the flurry of two blades. It was only thanks to all the practice with Bishop and Cana was she able to keep out of harm's way but it was quickly becoming abundant that this man was far better at swordsmanship then both of her siblings.

The Gambler was trying her best to think up a plan and dodge at the same time but it was quickly becoming apparent that if she didn't act soon she found a blade in a place that she would not recover from, all the little cuts on her body that she had been unable to stop during the exchange was proof of this.

Luckily, she had picked up some of Bishop's quick thinking over the years.

A plan was swiftly formed and she acted upon it. First, she used the other iron card she had that had been useless up until not and quickly filled it with elemental energy. "High Card-Earth" The Blade Mage was instantly prepared to slash at any card coming his way but Cana didn't throw it at him but rather the ground between then.

With a shock wave, both were forced apart as lightly smoke covered the area between them. With a quick mental command, her two remaining to giant cards came before her as she forcefully rushed out her magic into the two cards and prepared them.

With another quick mental command, the first of the card was sent forward while the other one got into position just as the Blade Mage rushed through the smoke, blades ready to cut and slash. He simply laughs when he saw the giant card coming his way and made to destroy the card as she slashed forward at the card with his blade.

However, before the sword could contact the card it started to glow a reddish-orange aura. "Full House-Fire" The Blade Mage could only frown before the card exploded in a massive ball of fire, too fast for him to use his sword magic and absorb the element.

The explosion threw the Psycho across the room and caused him to impact the wall with a crash before he landed on the ground. He let out an angry grow at the pain as she slowly made his way up, still disoriented from the crash an explosion.

So, disoriented that he didn't react in time for Cana's next move.

"Three of a Kind-Ice" The Blade Mage did try to react but unfortunately, he was too late as three cards zoomed forward with a whitish glow and impacted him. With a light explosion, the no longer grinning madman found himself encased in a large chunk of ice with only his head and right hand free, his two katanas having been lost in the explosion of ice.

From across the room with the smoke of the earthy explosion clearing revealed Cana with five cards in her hand as she charged up Royal Elemental Flush. She had cut down the time of the technique from five minutes to three minutes and she hoped that the ice prison would hold the katana obsessed man long enough for her to charge her technique.

The Blade Mage instantly recognizing what she's doing and lets out a crazed laugh at the preparing card mage. "You think this will hold me long enough for you to charge up your little trump card! HA, I'll enjoy proving you wrong, you bitch!" All sense of calm was gone from the man as he had fully giving in to his bloodlust and was little more than a dangerous beast at this point.

Three minutes.

The Blade Mage put his everything into breaking the ice that surrounded him. Flexing his muscles, the best he could as small hairline cracks start to appear much to the Mad Man's happiness as he continues his struggles. All the while Cana still focuses her power into her trump card, hoping to end the fight finally.

Two minutes.

Slowly but surely the small cracks within the ice were becoming wider and wider, the same could be said for the Blade Mage's grin as well. In particular, the man was starting to put focus on freeing his entire right arm, hoping that with it free he would be allowed more opinions to free the rest of his body from this prison.

One minute.

With a crack, the Psycho freed most of his right hand has ice scatter around him. The action of doing this brought an utterly face splitting grin to his face as he let loose a mad cackle before focusing on freeing himself once more. In a flash of light, a katana appears in the free arm as it's used to smash at the ice tomb.

Forty-five seconds.

The ice that once held strong was quickly losing the battle against the Blade Mage as his katana smashed and smashed at the ice and was making quick work of it. Before long the prison had cracks of weakness all over it and was about to fall. This is proved true when the Blade Mage focuses everything on one massive flex of his body and with a roar, the ice around him shattered and scattered away from the freedman.

Thirty seconds.

With one last mad laugh, the Blade Mage rushed forward with a crazed expression on his face towards the still charging Cana who still held a confident look on her face. As the Blade Mage came closer, she smiled and spoke, "You once again forgot about my cards."

At Cana's words, a look of confusion spread on the Blade Mage's face before surprise took over when he stepped on something that emitted a yellow glow from the pressure. Looking down his eyes widen when he saw the last of Cana's giant card laying below him as it glowed a bright yellow.

"Full House-Light" At the card mage's words thick threads of light sprang from the card and swiftly weaved themselves around the Blade Mage, once again trapping him like the prison of ice had done before.

Fifteen seconds.

The Blade Mage quickly get over his surprise and started to struggle with the threads of light but they, unlike the ice, would stretch and bend but not break before the might of the madman.

Ten seconds.

The Blade Mage was now panicking as he realized that his strength meant nothing here and started slashing at the threads of light with his blade. The threads still resisted the blade but some of the threads were cut much to the Blade Mage's pleasure.

Five seconds.

With newfound hope, the Blade Mage swung and swung at the threads that were slowly but surely being cut away at.

Four seconds.

In response to their destruction, the threads tightened around the Blade Mage and started to cause pain from the pressure of their gripe but this did little to slow down the madman.

Three seconds.

The Blade Mage was becoming more and more free as the threads tried desperately to either restrict his movement or avoid the katana but both actions were once again only slightly delaying the inevitable.

Two seconds.

In one last desperate bid, the threads abandoned most of the Blade Mage's body and instead focused around his right arm and completely encased his arm and hand. The Blade Mage only grinned in response to this as in yet another flash another katana appeared in his left hand.

One second.

With another vicious roar, the Blade Mage swung his blade and utterly cut through what remains of the threads of light as the card beneath him shatters. His victory is short-lived though when he looks to a grinning Cana who and her hand pulled back with five fully charged cards ready to throw.

Time had run out.

"I'd say that I hoped you survive this," As Cana says this her smile turns into a scowl, "But I'd be lying." And with that, she throws the card at the no longer grinning madman.

"Royal Elemental Flush"

As the cards fly like one towards the Blade Mage, he pulls one last trick and swings one of his blades at the incoming cards. "Elemental Absorption"

The blade hit the cards and for a second everything stands still before the five cards exploded in fire, ice, wind, earth, and lightning that was starting to be absorbed into the katana. For a second it looked like the energies would be absorbed and the Blade Mage once more grinned.

*CRACK*

Only for that grin to vanish as the katana's blade shattered from absorbing too much and release the portion of elements it had absorbed back into the starting vortex of elements.

Soon a raging vortex of elements was assaulting the Blade Mage. Fire burned at his flesh. Ice sucked away the feeling in his skin. Air cut away at anything it could touch. Earth violently vibrates at his insides. Lighting short-circuited his nerves. And all the madman could do was silently scream in pain.

Eventually, the vortex compressed into a sphere with the Blade Mage in the center before exploding one last time into a force that rocked the room.

Cana let out a sigh but kept ready just in case. And when the dust had disappeared, to her shock, she found the Blade Mage standing, very damaged, but still standing Blade Mage. When he took a step towards her, she was already starting to pull out more cards but stopped when he spoke.

"Da-damn you…. damn your entire family!" And with those words, the Blade Mage's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell on the ground unconscious.

Cana let out a groan of relief as she is already fishing through her pack for the red potion to take. Stone Flesh had prevented much of the blood loss and other than all the pain and bruised chest she felt she was fine but her magic reserves were far too low for her liking.

Still, it didn't matter to her. She had won and now she needed to move on and make sure her Brother was alright, and that weird guy too she guessed.

Finally finding the red potion she chugged it and ignored the horrible taste before putting the empty bottle back in her pack and making her way through the open door. Ready to face what lies ahead.

(Bishop's POV)

I try my best to keep up with Bo as we quickly made our way through the newly unsealed hallway. That man had far too much stamina.

Eventually, after what I believe was about ten or so minutes of light running, we came to another room. It was just like the last one only no stairs leading up or down and the room was bigger too. On the other side of the room stood an open door and before that open door stood Devin.

"HA! Knew that psycho couldn't hold all three of you back. Good thing the boss let me guard this door because neither of you are passing me!" He finished his words by getting into a messy battle stance with a savage grin on his face.

Before I could even think up a response Bo spoke, "Hey Smooths." Did he just call me Smooths?

"I'm going to do what Cards did back there and distract this guy while you move ahead." Ok, Cards I could understand as a nickname for Cana but why Smooths for me!

Once again before I could respond Bo was speaking, "I don't like the thought of that Alchemic guy getting all that treasure. With his magic who knows what he could do with that wealth! It sends shivers down my hair, and not the good kind! So just use your magic and sneak past him while I handle him. Capiche?"

After a moment of thought, I nodded my head. He was right, with that guy's magic he could do some scary things with a vault full of treasure. And that's not including all the things he could do outside of the Inbuilt Rules of his magic.

Devin frowned at our conversation, "You really think you can get pasted me? HA! You won't even get an inch past me-``''Vanish"

And just like that, I was gone from existence and moving past the spiky man with ease.

"What the fuck!?" Was all I heard behind me as I ran forward. I needed to catch up to Mammon as soon as possible.

(3rd Person POV)

Devin just glanced around in both surprise and annoyance at the missing mage. But before he could really start to look Bo decided to speak up.

"Hey, your spiky guy! I got a bone to pick with you!" At Bo's words, Devin stared in confusion at the blond afro man.

"What? I ain't done nothing to you man!" At Devin's words, Bo just shook his head before dramatically pointing to Devin's hair.

"To me? No! To your hair? YES!" At Devin's confused expression Bo explained.

" I can talk to hair ya dig? And that spiky mane of yours is just crying out in pain! You haven't been taking care of it and now I'll make you feel your hair's pain ya hair abusing scum!"

In all honesty, Devin was even more confused after Bo's explanation. But what he did know was that the person in front of him was annoying him and that meant he was dead meat.

"Oh ya! Well, I can't wait to see you fall full of holes from my Spike magic! That afro of yours is going to look like swiss cheese when I'm done with it."

Bo seemed to take exception to that last comment as his expression morph into one of anger has he prepared to fight. "Them be fightin words, spiky boy! Get ready to get whipped by my nose hair!"

And just like the two prepare to charge at each other.

… or Devin was until he processed Bo's last sentence.

"Nose hair?"

AN: Yes nose hair. Why? Because Japan. Anyway, so we had a fight between Cana and the Blade Man, hoped it turned out good for you guys. And now we have the set up for the next fight. Bo vs Devin. It 's going to be fun to write that. Well if I'm not to busy playing Pokemon Shield.

Thanks once again to volfwildman for being a Beta. This weeks of so coveted shout out goes to Xanaris for his very constructive and critical review. I hope I can reach your standards soonish man.

It's been years since the Fanfic Apocalypse. Times have been tough, there are si and edgy oc characters everywhere and they keep shoving themselves into everyone else business. It also seems like everyone is forced to be shipped with another person every week because apparently the last ship wasn't good enough! Not sure what it means that I haven't been ship with anyone. If your reading this then please review! Without reviews then this living hell will go on forever. Oh no, I think I hear the too perfect mary sues nearby. God help me!

Have a great day.

P a treon . com (slash) BETAsatchel