After some hours of sailing, the island was finally in view. All of them tensed up and looked at it grimly. The island gave them an eerie feeling.
The most eye-catching aspect of the island was the tower that had a twisted body and sporadically jutting sides which made it appear very chaotic and asymmetrical. The bottom and the main body of the tower was comprised of overlapping and intertwining lengths of metal tubes which wound together from the ground and straight up into the sky. These giant pipes were held together through a series of smaller tubes which linked the main sections as well as many different sized and shaped golden decorations which looped over and around the frame of the tower, adding to its unruly presentation.
"That's a creepy looking island, and who designed the tower like that? It looks like some nine-year-old built it using legos." Lucy scoffed while looking at the design of the tower while the others nodded in agreement.
"Juvia, could you please hide us using your magic? I don't want to let them know of our arrival so soon." Natsu asked Juvia to cover their boats. Juvia nodded and covered both of their ships with her 'Water Dome', blending in with the surrounding sea-water and turning invisible to the people in the tower.
They slowly approached the island under the radar. All of them were ready to leave the boat anytime, but Natsu shushed them.
"I think there should be an underwater passage to the tower. Juvia can you please dive down and check it out?" Natsu asked Juvia, making her nod happily. She used her 'Water Body' spell and dived in while everyone patiently waited for her return.
After a few minutes, Juvia appeared out of the sea, making everyone focus their attention on her.
"You're right, Natsu-sama. I found an underwater passage to the basement of the tower. If you want, I can take everyone there." Juvia told the group of her findings.
"But how can we breathe underwater?" Lucy asked with uncertainty. She didn't want to die due to suffocation.
"I can make a water barrier encompassing your head to contain air for breathing. It should last long enough for us to reach the basement." Juvia proudly stated the solution to their problem, feeling happy that she could be useful to her beloved.
"That's great, Juvia. You've been a great help. After this is over, I'll do anything to return the favor." Erza said with a smile. Juvia responded with a shy smile after seeing everyone's thankful expression.
"N-No problem. Let's get going now. Are you ready to dive in the water?" Juvia stuttered and asked them. All of them nodded before Juvia made a spherical barrier around their head, trapping some air for breathing. Juvia also carried the unconscious figures into a particular water barrier and brought them inside the ocean.
Everyone dived into the water and followed Juvia's direction. Soon, they found an opening and all of them swam inside it, reaching the basement, but when they reached the cellar, the bodies of the unconscious figures glowed and lacrima came out of it making everyone alert.
"Congratulations on reaching my abode. As promised, I removed the self-destruction lacrima inside your friends, Erza. Now, let us begin the game. The moment you stepped into the tower, I was informed of your arrival. Currently, my subordinates are hastily approaching your location. So, please play with them and entertain me. I'm waiting for you at the top of the tower, Erza." Jellal's voice sounded from the lacrima. Then, the lacrima started glowing and flared on top of them displaying their location.
Soon, many goons arrived at their location, seeing the bright light. All of them were surrounded by many dark wizards. They were the same slavers who'd captured Erza when she was little.
"It looks like our plan to be discrete is a failure. Now, time for plan B." Natsu said after seeing their situation. It looked like they had no other choice than fighting it out.
"And, what's plan B?" Lucy asked curiously. She didn't think they'd discussed an alternative plan in case the one before failed.
"It means blast them off. Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu said, unleashing his breath attack. He exhaled a large beam of fire toward the slavers, creating a massive explosion scattering flames and dust everywhere. The slave traders were horrified after seeing the explosion while some of them were badly burnt by the attack.
"We don't have time to deal with these cannon fodders. Gray, Lucy, Kagura, Juvia! You guys deal with them. Erza and I will head on ahead. Make sure to protect your brother this time, Kagura." Natsu declared the plan before going ahead with Erza. The others knew they weren't strong enough to deal with the stronger enemies, so they begrudgingly accepted, staying behind to deal with the small fries.
When Natsu and Erza were gone, Gray looked at the remaining enemies in annoyance. All of them stood in a circular position surrounding the unconscious figures.
"Tch… They left me behind again to deal with these buffoons. Hey, Lucy, Kagura, and what was your name again? Oh, it was Juvia! Let's deal with them fast. We can go up after finishing these guys off. I don't want that Pinkie to claim all the credit again." Gray stated his plan, making everyone nod. Then, they got into their respective fighting positions and started battling their enemies.
"I'll take care of my side. You girls handle your side as well. Ice-Make: Ice Arrows!" Gray efficiently dealt with the enemies using his 'Ice-Make' magic. He created an ice bow and subsequently shot numerous ice arrows at high speed toward his enemies, making them freeze.
"Sure, Open the gate of the Golden Bull, Taurus!" Lucy summoned Taurus and had him battle her enemies. Taurus was like a mad bull charging at his foes, making them scramble away in abject fear.
"I'll also help you. Water Slicer!" Juvia dealt with her side of enemies easily using her water magic. She created many waves of water that resembled scythes and released them toward her enemies, heavily injuring them.
"I will also fight. I want to defeat these scumbags that kidnapped my brother." Kagura battled her enemies using her gravity magic and swordsmanship. This was her first real battle, so she was quite inexperienced, but she kept up with others through sheer power of will. She didn't want to be a burden to her friends, and she wanted to protect her brother with her own power.
After more than fifteen minutes, all of the cannon fodders were defeated. It was an easy fight for them since their enemies were just small fries.
"Let's hurry upstairs. I'm sure Natsu and Erza are fighting some strong enemies." Gray said to which everyone agreed.
Suddenly the unconscious figures started waking up, making everyone turn their attention to them.
Simon was the first to wake up. He looked at them and asked warily. "What am I doing here? Where's Erza and Salamander?"
But his attention was quickly drawn toward Kagura, making him wide-eyed. "K-Kagura? Is that really you?"
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~Edited by Nyanodesu
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(A/N: This is it for today ;) Thanks for reading! Make sure to give me all the power stones and I will do more mass uploads!)