-Malia’s POV –  After Zeref leaves the Hunter Bureau

After Zeref had left, we started our training.

I held my fire ball at the base of my palms, controlling every wave of heat radiating from it. My eyes were completely still, focused. Next to me, Naz was practicing her strength with Eldrin while Sara and Jace were already on the same level so they fought. Allefin sat next to me, struggling to form a high voltage of lightning around his whole hand.

I sighed, wanting to be challenged.

“Are you okay Malia?” Allefin asked, breaking his concentration. 

I looked up at him, still controlling the fire emerging from my palm. I smiled, nodding. I snapped my hand into a fist, extinguishing the fire in a single movement.

“You seem frustrated.” he looked concerned but I shrugged it off.

“I’m fine. I’m gonna go get some water.” I said, walking off.

I thought about Zeref a lot. He was untouchable to me. No matter who I became, how I trained, who I trained with, he would always be untouchable.

“Malia?” Eldrin called to me while he held Naz in a headlock.

“I’m going for a walk in the woods. I’ll be back.” I smiled, not waiting for a reply.

My feet took off on the ground as I let myself run free and into the open arms of the woods. Why did I always feel so cornered?

I felt as if I could run across the sea and leap higher than all the mountains in the world. My mind focused on shifting as claws started to grow on my fingertips.

Before folding onto all fours, a glimpse of Zeref’s proud smile flashed through my mind. My paws kissed the surface of the soil as I was now speeding deeper and deeper into the forest, my tails cutting through the wind.

All the colours changed around me and a majestic aura resonated from my feet. I felt powerful.

I was going to be better. I was going to fight along Zeref and die making sure he earns a seat in the upper realm… no matter what.

I owed everything to him.

**

-Back to the present- Zeref is about to fight the group.

-Zeref’s POV-

I watched them all get into a diamond like formation. Eldrin looked pleased.

Surprisingly, Naz was at the front with Jace and Allefin behind her, on her left and right. Directly behind her was Sara and right at the back, Malia stood.

What was this supposed to be?

I chuckled a little. How cute.

Naz smirked at me as I nodded at her to come forward. She scoffed, leaping forwards while the others followed her lead, staying in their formation.

I also ran forwards, meeting them halfway. I jabbed Naz, extending my whole arms length but she dissipated into a dark mist, swirling around my arm. I felt a burning sensation following the mist like a snake around my arm. I looked at my arm for a split second, realizing it was fire mana.

So they were combining strengths?

This move would be fatal to any other person but they knew I was strong.

Impressed, I activated the lightning glove, clenching my fist while dodging kicks and punches from the others. The mist around my arm soon turned a pale blue as my lightning swallowed it whole, zapping the mist away. The cloud of mist flew away from my arm and formed mid air into Naz, who fell onto the ground with a groan.

Naz had definitely improved. From only being able to teleport to now fully transforming into a cloud of mist.

As soon as Naz was down, Sara emerged straight after her with deadly eyes. I had no time to process as Sara was quicker than Naz.

Malia was nowhere to be seen anymore and Sara attacked my front while Jace and Allefin ran circles around me, landing light blows while emerging from all angles.

I was enjoying this. Sara was half in her transformation, her grip was strong as her claws dug into me with every blow I allowed her to land. I noticed she was much more coordinated and focused. There was a new found confidence when she swung and she seemed sure on every move she made.

I let out a zap of lightning, shooting her backwards from the impact. Surprisingly, Malia appeared from nowhere, softening Sara’s landing. I couldn’t keep my eye on them any longer as mist swirled at my feet and a vibrant blue fist jammed into my face. I groaned, catching Allefin’s wrist. 

I see, he had succeeded in shrouding his arm in lightning. I flung him over my shoulders and into the ground but before I could do any more damage, Jace tackled me, water gushing into my face as I squeezed my eyes shut.

Wow. I pushed upwards, switching to gravity mana. Jace flew upwards into the sky at a high speed, disappearing far up into space. Oops, too much gravity mana.

Allefin’s jaw dropped and before I could get up, Naz’s mist shot towards me like a spear. My eyes widened as I barely dodged. The mist grazed my cheek, a burning tingly feeling stinging my cheekbone as she zoomed past my head. Again, Sara followed right after her like a bullet. I quickly flipped upright, standing and pushing a wall of fire towards her. She stopped running towards me, shocked and frozen in fear.

Just in the nick of time, Malia pushed her out of the way, pushing her hands forward and also creating a fire wall. Our walls clashed, creating a wave of power as they both turned to nothing. The clash was so powerful, we were all knocked off our feet. 

I chuckled as I picked up on a noise above me. We all looked up to see Jace screaming his lungs out and his arms flailing everywhere in desperation. I wanted to laugh at everyone’s jaws dropping in disbelief. Malia leaped up catching him in her arms as they both tumbled onto the floor. 

I stood up, looking at them all on the floor.

“Come on guys. I was holding back.” I smirked, antagonising them while shrugging.

Malia’s eyes met mine and that’s when I saw that beautiful tint of gold swirling in her eyes. Her spirit wolf.

Everyone hesitantly stood up, looking at Malia like she was their secret weapon. Let’s see the team’s hidden ace then.

I blinked and in a second, her fist was in my face and I was blown back with the strongest impact. I felt a crack somewhere and finally, I felt pain. She ran after my body, the fresh smell of honey dissipating my pain. Before I could reach the ground, a foot jammed into my back, kicking me forwards like a ball. 

How did she move so fast?!

My body was kicked forwards again and I face planted the floor. I pushed myself up, spitting out blood.

Well she had definitely improved.

There was no time to breathe as the group came for me with the same formation but this time, Malia led the team with furious eyes. I felt a chill run down me at her fierce glare. 

She seemed determined.

The essence of a queen in her aura.

I wanted to see them in their new formation but my nose started to throb.

Okay that’s enough.

I zoomed forwards, wrapping my arms around Malia. A wave of fire emerged out of our contact and the others were flung away like dolls. She froze in my arms in surprise. 

“I’m so proud of you guys.” I whispered into her hair before looking at her face.

She hesitantly hugged me back. 

Slowly, I lifted my finger, quickly tapping her forehead with a smirk.

She gasped, swaying in my arms before dropping onto the ground from the electricity running through her and paralysing her.

“Fuck you.” she smirked on the floor.

“I always beat you.” I smiled.

“I WIN!” I raised my fist as they all sat up, smiling.

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