Now everyone believes the Marine Sub-Dragon isn't good at fighting.
Because when her move was blocked, instead of thinking about how to attack further, defend, or dodge, she just turned her head to look at Rhode.
Her innocent big eyes seemed to say: See, I'm really not good at fighting, I got caught so easily.
Rhode couldn't stand to watch. He used to think the Marine Sub-Dragon just didn't want to spar with him because she was modest or didn't like fighting, but he never expected she was truly this bad.
When the Ancient Dragon dealt with the Purgatory crew, why didn't they think to clear up the ocean while they were at it?
Or is she beyond help already?
Even so, her recent display of power was witnessed by everyone. Someone who could easily receive that move from the big guy is definitely not simple.
Natsu stared at the top of Frederick's scepter and suddenly said, "That seems like Reby's magic."
"How is that possible?" Lucy was the first to refute. No way Reby could block the Marine Sub-Dragon's move.
But if it's the same magic, she took a closer look, and there indeed seemed to be a pattern at the top of the scepter.
If those are words...
"I can't tell what word it is at all!"
Natsu confidently said, "It's the word 'Shield'!"
Rhode, Gray, Hapi... none of them could recognize it; that definitely wasn't the 'Shield' they knew.
"It's a type of ancient script," said Aquarius, "that's how the word 'Shield' was written hundreds of years ago."
Wendy said timidly, "I think I know it too."
Everyone else wore expressions of disbelief. It's not surprising that Wendy, being a studious child, would know ancient script, but Natsu?
Gray held his head, feeling he was going to go insane: "Natsu knows ancient script?! Impossible, impossible, you're really Reby in disguise, aren't you? Change back!"
"Who's Reby?" Natsu shouted, "I told you long ago, Igneru taught me how to read!"
With that, Erza recalled when Natsu first came to the Guild.
At that time, when she forced Natsu to learn modern script, Natsu seemed to have said just that. But back then, everyone probably thought he was just a child boasting.
If the teachings came from a Dragon, such a long-lived creature, then it's indeed possible.
Erza smiled gently, placing a hand on Natsu's shoulder, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Natsu."
Natsu shivered, nervously looking at Erza, not understanding what was going on with her.
Rhode's estimation of the enemy rose once more; using ordinary text magic to such an effect is truly impressive.
This isn't a magic that simply transforms by changing the script; the user must be strong enough and highly compatible with this magic.
Rhode sought confirmation from Aquarius, "Is this the person Loki mentioned, capable of rivaling the Star Spirit King?"
"That's him."
Aquarius clearly recognized this person, and the other party seemed to recognize Aquarius too:
"Little girl, who gave you the right to look down on me?"
The massive presence from across exuded terrifying magic power, causing sweat to bead on Aquarius's forehead.
This was an enemy she couldn't contend with even in the Star Spirit Realm, and his typical style was ruthless and highly aggressive.
Facing him brought great psychological pressure to Aquarius.
Lucy blocked in front of Aquarius, speaking loudly in a rare Natsu-like manner: "So what if we look down on you? You're just a tyrant! And a loser to the Star Spirit King, what gives you the right to speak to Aquarius in that tone?"
"Lucy..." Aquarius was startled by the 'little girl's' actions. She didn't know whether to be touched or scold her for being foolish.
Provoking such an enemy could be terrifying.
However, Frederick was not angered by Lucy. He merely sneered and continued speaking to Aquarius:
"I shall give you one last chance to submit to me, and you will no longer be bound by the Star Spirit Realm and mere humans, and gain true freedom!"
The five people standing by Frederick all smiled; the king's generosity was as grand as ever, and their goal was bound to be achieved.
Perhaps encouraged by Lucy, or unable to agree with his ideology, Aquarius straightened up and answered him directly:
"You're wrong, I've always had freedom. The Star Spirit Realm never bound me, humans..."
She placed a hand on Lucy's head, feeling kinship towards her beautiful blonde hair, "Humans have never bound me either; we've always been friends... Although someone like you who's bent on controlling everything probably wouldn't understand the word 'friend.'"
Frederick still wasn't angry, he merely said flatly: "Someone as weak as you wouldn't understand; a king only needs to control everything to be enough. So, if it can't be controlled… it has no value."
No Magic Chant, no attack declaration, no anger; Frederick merely pointed his scepter at Aquarius as if it was the natural course of action.
Aquarius instantly felt her heart thump violently twice, then seemingly halt suddenly.
"Ugh… ah…" She clutched her chest, a painful expression on her face as purple-black light began to surround her.
"Aquarius!" Lucy held Aquarius, only to find that her mermaid tail, her upper body, seemed to be slowly dissolving under the purple-black light's erosion.
"Miss Aquarius!" Wendy frantically attempted to use dispel curse magic, detoxification magic, and healing magic.
"Little Mermaid?" the Marine Sub-Dragon also coated Aquarius with a layer of green healing glow, "It's strange, her life force is draining."
"Aquarius! What did you do to her?" Lucy, anxious and worried.
"An old friend, there is no need to panic."
Lucy recognized the voice of the Star Spirit King and quickly shouted: "Bearded Dad, help Aquarius!"
The Star Spirit King's voice remained steady: "The light of the stars represents infinite hope."
The moment he finished speaking, the nearby sky darkened, but everyone's vision cleared as the mist draping the mountain was unknowingly dispersed.
All of the stars in the sky seemed to concentrate into this small patch of night sky nearby, the stars shining brightly, allowing everyone under the night sky to see everything around them clearly by the gentle starlight.
Warm starry light began to emanate from Aquarius, contrasting starkly with the dark purple.
Her complexion gradually softened.
The Star Spirit King suddenly and naturally appeared before the Marine Sub-Dragon, suspended in mid-air as if he was always meant to be there.
He gently waved his sword, the tip precisely meeting the top of the scepter.
It seemed as if something in the void was sliced away by that sword, and black and white lights mixed, flying towards a distant mountain.
The mountain peak split and collapsed; everyone heard the thunderous explosion and loud crashing sounds as the mountain top tumbled down.
Erza looked at the Giant's longsword in awe—this was the power of a casual strike from the Star Spirit King?