The battlefield was a frozen wasteland. The wind howled like a beast, biting into their skin as Lyon's magic raged around them. Ice spikes pierced the ground, each one sharper than the last, and the storm continued to howl, disorienting their movements. Cael's eyes glowed with intensity, violet energy crackling as he moved with lightning speed to avoid the deadly icicles flying through the air.
Lyon stood at the center, his figure like an emperor commanding the elements. His icy demeanor was matched only by the storm he summoned. Cael could feel his power increasing with each passing moment, like a pressure building in the air. Every step forward was met with an overwhelming gust of wind, as if the mountains themselves were conspiring against them.
"You're stronger than I anticipated," Lyon called out, his voice barely audible over the shrieking winds. "But it won't be enough."
Cael gritted his teeth, his magic flaring with intensity. The dark purple flames surrounding him flickered, distorting the air like heat waves in the desert, but the cold around him was unbearable. The contrast between the two forces—his chaotic, divine energy and Lyon's frigid, controlled ice—made the atmosphere feel like it was on the brink of shattering.
Gray was locked in a fierce battle with Lyon's ice constructs, his own magic clashing against the frozen creations that rose from the ground like monstrous sculptures. He shouted something to Natsu, but Cael couldn't make it out over the wind. The fire mage's flames licked at the cold, but the ice walls Lyon erected were formidable, and the flames were quickly being swallowed by the cold.
Lucy, too, had joined the fray, her celestial spirits summoned one after another. Aries, the ram, charged at Lyon's ice, but it shattered upon impact, leaving no trace of its presence. Cael could feel the strain in the air, the weight of their struggle growing heavier with each passing moment.
But it wasn't just their battle. There was something about Lyon's presence—something colder, more calculating—like he was enjoying this too much. He was playing with them, toying with the guild's members as if their lives were just pawns in his game.
Cael refused to let that happen.
With a deep breath, Cael tapped into his Machine Takeover, his body trembling slightly as the dark purple flames coursed through him. His form shifted, more mechanical in appearance, the lines of his body twisting as gears and mechanical components merged with his human form. The air around him crackled with power, his violet eyes blazing with intensity.
Lyon's expression faltered for a moment, a flicker of uncertainty passing over his ice-cold features. He had underestimated Cael.
"You're not the only one who can control this kind of power," Cael called out, his voice now amplified by the raw energy surrounding him. "I won't let you freeze this world."
Without another word, Cael surged forward, the ground beneath him cracking as he sped toward Lyon. His hand reached out, the mechanical appendage glowing with dark energy, and he struck at the ice mage's defenses.
Lyon countered with a wave of his hand, sending another storm of ice shards toward Cael. But Cael was faster, his body shifting, bending, and contorting around the ice, dodging with inhuman agility. His strike landed against Lyon's ice barrier, causing a burst of energy that sent cracks spiraling across the frozen wall.
Lyon grunted, stepping back slightly, clearly annoyed. "You think you can break through my defenses? You're playing in the wrong league, boy."
Cael didn't respond. He couldn't afford to. His focus was solely on the ice mage now, every move calculated to keep the pressure on Lyon. This was their chance—if they could break his defenses, they could end this.
Natsu, ever the wild card, launched himself at Lyon with a roar. His fire blasted forward like an unstoppable wave, scorching the ground beneath him. Lyon reacted by conjuring a massive ice wall to block the flames, but Natsu was relentless, his fire surging higher and higher, beginning to melt through Lyon's defenses.
Cael didn't let up. His next move was precise, his mechanical arm shifting and transforming into a blade of energy. He swung it at Lyon with the force of a storm, cutting through the ice like it was paper. The blade found its mark, striking Lyon's shoulder with a force that sent the mage reeling backward.
Lyon snarled, his eyes flashing with anger. "You think you can defeat me so easily?"
The air around them began to freeze, the temperature plummeting as Lyon's power surged. The ground beneath them started to crack, and the storm intensified. It was becoming harder to move, harder to breathe, as if the very atmosphere was rebelling against their presence.
Cael clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the cold pressing against his chest. But he couldn't let up now. This fight wasn't just about defeating Lyon—it was about stopping the chaos he was creating. The missing villagers, the destroyed towns—this madness had to end.
With a sudden burst of speed, Cael dashed forward, his energy crackling around him. Lyon raised a wall of ice, but Cael's mechanical arm transformed once more, this time into a cannon-like structure. He fired a concentrated blast of purple energy, the force of it shattering Lyon's defenses with ease.
Lyon's eyes widened as the energy tore through his ice, but he quickly recovered, his cold gaze locking onto Cael.
"You've impressed me," Lyon said, his voice dripping with contempt. "But in the end, you're just like the rest. Weak."
Before Cael could respond, Lyon's magic surged once more. The temperature dropped even further, and the winds howled louder, threatening to sweep them all off their feet. Cael's mind raced—he had to finish this. But something in Lyon's gaze told him that the battle wasn't over yet.