Chapter 11

[Play Itachi's Theme ;)]

Erza Scarlet POV

It was the first I had ever seen him this closely. The only times I had ever seen him before were when he came back to the guild to pick up jobs. Even then, they were brief and I had no interactions with him.

But I knew that he was the one that saved me that day and brought me to Fairy Tail, my home. For that, I am forever grateful.

His strange red eyes were mesmerizing just as I had remembered years ago.

"Erza, over the years, you have grown stronger, stronger than most mages. Your self-confidence is unshakable. Slaying demons after demons, strategically solving quests, so in all areas, you qualify for an S-Class Mage."

As his deep voice resounded throughout the cave, he seemed to be ever so slowly fading away, his voice so far.

This was his test for me. I knew it.

I closed my eyes and calmed myself, calming my magic energy.

It was then I sensed a presence behind me and I immediately summoned a katana and impaled behind me.

Itachi had dodged it as I had expected but he looked at me in surprise, that I had somehow broken through his illusion.

"You have... gotten stronger."

I felt pride in getting the Elusive Eyes of Fairy Tail to praise me.

"Of course, as a future S-Class Mage, I also have to train my perception! Your illusions won't work on me!"

Itachi calmly smiled then said, "It would seem so."

He then hopped a few meters back from his current position slowly bringing his right hand to his mouth, with the index and middle finger extended, the rest closed in a fist.

"Then show me, how far you have progressed."

A sudden burst of flames in the form of a dragon had come out of his mouth, heading right towards me. I was shocked

'Wasn't this... Natsu's magic?!'

No time to worry! I had to defend myself!

"Requip: Flame Empress Armor!"

I confidently smiled as I redirected the fire dragon above, blasting open the cave ceiling.

With this armor, I could produce and manipulate fire.

Itachi was unfazed that his attack had not worked and stood back up straight with a calm expression.

However, I was still shocked at Itachi's ability to use Natsu's lost magic and before I could ask him how he came across such magic, he unexpectedly used a finger to point above at the storm brewing above the hole in the cave.

I gazed up through the hole, confused. There was not a slight hint of bad weather when we first came to this island...

'What else did he have up his sleeves?' I thought, growing nervous. Itachi was known as a candidate to become a Wizard Saint. Completing SS-Class missions with ease. There was no way that was just it for my test. And it looked like he could Natsu's Dragon Slayer magic as well!

I cautiously stepped back, ready for any of the tricks he might pull.

And then I heard him mutter another magic incant,

"Lightning Magic..."

BOOM!

A loud flash of lightning struck into the cave, where Itachi stood. He stood straight with his arm raised, palm facing the sky as the lightning was redirected towards it.

He was... summoning lightning from the storm? He was also proficient in lightning magic?!

"Kirin."

The flash of lightning illuminated the cave. I couldn't help but look up in shock as Itachi swerved the lightning bolt to my position.

"Requip: Lightning Empress Armor!" I hurriedly swapped my armor that was meant to counter lightning but I knew that deep in my heart; there was no defense against that bolt of lightning.

Even Laxus couldn't output that much magic!

I looked at Itachi in dismay, not believing him.

The bolt could kill me!

Itachi is a member of Fairy Tail! And an S-Class one as well!

Why would he...

It then dawned on me when I realized who I was really up against.

I couldn't help but smile helplessly as the disastrous bolt struck me, completely obliterating the armor and myself.

How could this be? For how long had I been under...

...his illusion...

---

I deactivated my Mangekyou Sharingan, devolving it to its regular form.

Erza had collapsed to her knees, completely exhausted from the Tsukuyomi.

As for me? I had not taken a single step. I had not used Kirin, nor did I have the intent to kill her. It was all just her illusion.

I slowly walked towards her, my footsteps echoing in the cave.

Erza breathed heavily, she was quite out of it.

"B-But how... my magic energy was calm! How could I-" Erza said, not fully convinced by her words.

"...Reality is quite a fragile concept, isn't it? You never truly know what is real or simply a mirage. Your over-confidence in your own abilities led you to believe that you had the situation under control."

"However, I do give you credit for breaking my first illusion. Had I not placed the Tsukuyomi on you beforehand, things may have turned out differently."

I reached out my hand to her, pulling her up. She looked down at the ground, disappointed in herself.

With a calm smile, I addressed her concerns,

"Do not worry Erza. You have already passed."

She immediately looked up and glared at me in anger and confusion,

"How! I clearly... failed."

Seeing her sad look, I couldn't help but poke her forehead with my two fingers.

She rubbed her forehead, staring into the air, perplexed.

I smiled before turning around and walking off.

"The first illusion you saw, was Fairy Tail's test for you..."

"-The second illusion was mine."

And with that said, I burst into crows, whilst gaining an absurd amount of badass points.