Fairy Tail: Lost One-Chapter 34: Rudra Vs Erza

At the back of the Fairy Tail guild, a large crowd had gathered, buzzing with anticipation. In the center of the training yard, Erza and Rudra stood facing each other, silent and still — the weight of the upcoming battle making the air feel heavier. It was time for the S-Class trial, and no one wanted to miss it.

From the sidelines, Lucy leaned over the railing toward Natsu, her brow furrowed with concern. "Natsu... who do you think will win?"

Natsu grinned confidently, not taking his eyes off the pair in the ring. "Erza's gonna wipe the floor with him. No doubt about it."

Lucy blinked. "You really think so?"

"If she doesn't," Natsu added, cracking his knuckles, "I will. For scaring Mira like that."

"Aye!" Happy chimed in, his wings fluttering as he hovered next to him. "Nobody makes Mira cry and gets away with it!"

Gray, standing a few feet away with his arms crossed, sighed. "I hate to say it, but I agree with flame brain. Rudra's strong, yeah... but he's not Erza."

Lucy looked at them both, uncertain. "But when he walked in earlier, the whole guild went quiet. Like... really quiet. It felt like the air changed."

"That wasn't fear," Gray said, glancing over at Rudra, who still hadn't moved. "That was tension. Everyone was already worried about Mira, and when Rudra showed up, it just... added to it."

Lucy frowned slightly, then turned her gaze toward Rudra, who stood calmly with his hand in his pocket. His presence felt different — colder, more composed. "He really changed," she whispered. "Not his personality... but everything else."

Natsu scoffed. "Whatever. He can be a dragon slayer or a demon king for all I care. I just wanna see him lose."

On the far side of the guild, near where Mira stood nervously wringing her hands, a loud slam drew everyone's attention.

Cana, wearing her trademark smirk and holding a bottle in one hand, had dropped a large wooden table right in the center. "Alright, folks!" she declared, her voice booming. "Place your bets — who's walking away, and who's getting carted out?!"

Cheers erupted instantly.

Guild members surged forward like a tide, throwing down coins, snacks, favors, even IOUs.

"Ten on Erza!"

"Twenty on Rudra — guy looks like he bathes in ice water!"

"I'll bet my entire week of cleaning duty on Erza! Don't let me down, Titania!"

Even the quiet ones were getting involved, the energy contagious.

Elfman strutted back from the crowd, arms folded with a proud grin like he was stepping into the ring. Lisanna, seated nearby, looked up with a curious glint in her eyes. "So? Who'd you bet on?"

"Erza," he said with conviction. "No doubt. She's gonna wreck that guy."

Mira blinked, still staring toward the ring. "You sound pretty sure. Why?"

Elfman's voice turned hard, serious. "You really have to ask, Mira? After what that bastard did to you? He's not a real man!" His fist struck his palm with a loud thud. "I won't forgive him!"

The guild's energy flickered at his words. Conversations dulled. Eyes turned toward the ring.

Then, cutting through the stillness like a blade:

"Hey, muscle-brain! If you're so obsessed with whether I'm a real man, come on over. I'll drop my pants and let you check."

Silence.

Then—

PFFFFT!

Spit-takes everywhere. Mugs clattered to the floor. A nearby chair tipped over. Someone screamed.

"WHAT?!"

"Did he just—?!"

"COVER THE CHILDREN'S EARS!"

A chorus of girls shrieked in outrage. Natsu, laughing so hard he nearly fell off the table, choked on his drink. Happy was flailing in the air, squealing "Aye caramba!"

Even Erza pinched the bridge of her nose, inhaling slowly. "Rudra, did you seriously just say that?"

Rudra stood relaxed in the center of the ring, hands in his pockets, wearing the laziest smirk known to man. "What? Guy kept yelling I'm not a man. Figured I'd give him a chance to find out firsthand."

Cana fell sideways off her bench, laughing so hard her bottle rolled away. Mira turned scarlet and buried her face in her hands. "Why... is this happening here...?"

Levy peeked out from behind a book, face burning. "Can someone please muzzle him before he says something worse?"

Erza stepped into the ring, her expression the calm before a storm. Her arms were crossed, voice like cold steel. "Your mouth has gotten even more reckless than I remember."

Rudra tilted his head. "You say that like it's new."

"No, just... worse."

"Aw, Erza. I thought you liked that about me."

She leveled a glare at him. "Liked is a very strong word."

"You wound me."

"Not yet," she said, her tone sharp. "But I plan to."

The crowd exploded again.

"ERZA, KICK HIS ASS!"

"SEND HIM FLYING, QUEEN!"

But Rudra just smiled wider, raising a hand to quiet the crowd before calling out, deadpan:

"You're all acting like a bunch of virgin losers."

The air was sucked from the room.

You could've heard a pin drop.

Gajeel, mid-toothpick chew, froze. "Did he actually just—?"

Elfman growled, fists clenched. Levy turned a shade of red previously unknown to science. Jet and Droy simultaneously passed out in the background.

Erza blinked. Once. Her eye twitched. A faint blush dusted her cheeks, but her tone remained frostbitten. "Rudra. I'm going to beat manners into you until your ancestors feel it."

"I'll try not to enjoy it too much," he said with a wink.

SHING!

Steel gleamed as Erza drew her sword, the air around her crackling with restrained fury. She took a step forward, her presence commanding silence. The guild instinctively backed away like a wave retreating from a storm surge.

Master Makarov raised his arm, his voice booming through the guild hall.

"Let the match begin!"

The crowd held its breath, eager for the clash. Erza wasted no time, summoning a flash of white light as her armor shifted. Sleek steel plates wrapped around her body, a radiant circlet resting on her brow. Swords hovered behind her like the wings of an angel, poised for battle.

"Heaven's Wheel Armor," Erza announced, her voice sharp as steel.

Rudra tilted his head, eyeing her transformation. "Damn, girl. You're looking good... But I thought this was a fight, not a fashion show."

Erza ignored him. With a swift motion, her swords flew toward him in a deadly barrage. Rudra didn't flinch. He tilted his head, dodging the first blade, which narrowly missed his ear. Another sliced through the air, grazing his jacket. He smirked, glancing at the swords embedded behind him.

"Still as graceful as ever," Rudra mused, hands tucked casually into his pockets. "But it seems your aim's a little... emotional."

From the crowd, Lisanna leaned forward, eyes wide with a mix of awe and surprise. "Whoa... is Erza actually struggling?"

Elfman crossed his arms with a grunt. "Nah. She's not going all out yet."

Before he could say more, a calm voice cut in.

"That's not it," Jura said quietly, his gaze locked onto Rudra in the ring.

The nearby guild members turned toward him, curious.

Lucy blinked. "What do you mean?"

Jura's tone was even, but firm. "It's Rudra who isn't taking this seriously."

"What?" Lucy frowned. "But all he's doing is dodging!"

Jura nodded slowly. "Exactly. I've seen Rudra fight before. This isn't it. Right now, he's just toying with her."

He paused, then added, "He hasn't even drawn his katana."

A ripple of surprise spread through the group.

"Wait, Rudra uses a katana?" Levy asked, stunned.

Gray narrowed his eyes. "Since when? I've never seen him with a blade."

Silence swept through the guild like a chilling breeze. The usual liveliness of Fairy Tail had been snuffed out, replaced by a heavy, electric tension as every pair of eyes stayed locked on the arena floor.

Erza's expression turned steely. Without uttering a word, a burst of dark magic flared around her. In an instant, her form was enveloped in Black Wing Armor—a dark, elegant suit designed for speed and attack power. Her sword gleamed menacingly in her hands.

She charged forward with incredible momentum, her blade cleaving downward with brutal precision.

But Rudra barely moved. He leaned back, the blade cutting through the air so close it stirred his hair, yet never touched him. With fluid grace, he pivoted with her strike and lightly tapped her arm with the back of his hand—playful, unbothered.

"Come on," he said with a grin, his tone irritatingly casual. "Don't lose your cool so fast. You're making it way too easy."

Lisanna's eyes widened in disbelief. "Did... did he just touch her like that? In the middle of that swing?"

"He's not even taking this seriously," Gray said, frowning as he crossed his arms. "What's he playing at?"

"He's fast. I'll give him that," garjeel said, her voice low and uncertain. "But the way he moves... it's like he's just dancing around."

Erza didn't respond. Her armor shimmered again—Flame Empress Armor. Fiery energy exploded around her, her twin swords now wreathed in roaring flames that seared the air with each movement.

"She's amping it up now," Elfman muttered, narrowing his eyes. "That armor boosts her fire resistance and power. If he keeps mocking her, he's going to regret it."

But Rudra didn't retreat. He stood calmly, facing her full power like it was nothing more than a breeze.

Erza lunged with burning blades, launching a barrage of scorching strikes. Each swing was a blur, a whip of flame that could have incinerated any opponent—but Rudra wove around them with absurd ease. He twisted and slid, ducked and sidestepped, never once looking threatened.

"You know," he said mid-dodge, his smirk widening as the flames licked the air inches from his face, "you've got a really nice scent going on. Strawberry cake, right? Or is it something fancier?"

Levy nearly choked on her drink. "Did he really just say that?! While dodging that?!"

"Unbelievable..." Lucy muttered, eyes locked on the match. "He's treating this like some kind of performance."

Just as he leaned aside to dodge another slash, Erza twisted mid-strike and aimed an elbow at his ribs—but Rudra was already gone, ducking fluidly under her strike and stepping back without a scratch.

Even so, he gave a small cough and laughed. "Whew... that one came close. But I gotta admit—it was totally worth it."

A few chuckles echoed in the background, but not everyone found his antics amusing.

"This guy's full of himself," Jet muttered, arms tensed at his sides. "I don't like that smug attitude. Especially not against Erza."

"He's not even trying to fight back," Droy added, annoyed. "Just making jokes like he's better than everyone."

Cana sipped her drink with an unimpressed expression. "He might be fast, but that ego's gonna catch up to him real soon. Keep acting like that, and he's asking for a lesson."

"He's so disrespectful..." Wendy said softly, a frown creasing her usually gentle face. "Erza is fighting seriously, and he's just... playing."

"But you gotta admit, he's got skill," Happy said with a little shrug. "He hasn't been touched at all."

Lucy bit her lip. "Yeah... but it's hard to tell if he's just confident or completely underestimating her."

Up on the balcony, Master Makarov observed in silence, his hands folded behind his back. A slight, knowing smile tugged at his lips.

"More than just strength is being tested here," he murmured to himself. "Pride... patience... spirit. This is going to get interesting."

As Erza—silent, fierce, and wrapped in blazing magic—was just beginning to unleash the storm within her.

Without pause, she was on him again. Her armor changed mid-motion, transforming into the heavy and imposing Giant Armor. The ground cracked beneath her as she brought her sword down with immense force. Rudra was forced to retreat, his boots scraping against the stone. The entire arena trembled from the impact, yet Rudra's calm expression didn't falter.

"She's getting serious now," Gray murmured, eyes narrowed. "That armor's not for show."

"She's cycling through her sets too fast," Levy whispered, clutching her hands tightly. "She's pushing herself harder than usual..."

The crackle of thunder interrupted the tension as Erza shifted once more, this time donning the crackling power of Lightning Empress Armor. Electric arcs danced along her skin, her eyes burning with focus.

She lunged.

Faster than lightning, her sword thrust forward, aimed directly for Rudra's shoulder. He ducked, barely avoiding the electrified edge. As she swept past him, Rudra reacted instantly—his foot hooking around her ankle, tripping her.

Gasps echoed from the crowd as Erza stumbled.

Before she could crash to the floor, Rudra caught her mid-air—arms around her like they belonged there.

"Didn't know you'd fall for me mid-fight," he teased softly, lips curling into a smirk as he held her against his chest.

"Get your hands off her and fight dammit!" Natsu barked, fists tightening. His voice cut through the air like fire. "What kind of joke does he think this is?!"

With a sharp grunt, Erza drove her knee into Rudra's stomach. The hit landed cleanly, forcing him back as he gasped from the impact.

"Let. Go. Of me," she said coldly, her glare burning hotter than her fire armor had.

Still grinning, Rudra coughed and raised a hand. "Okay, okay. Lesson learned."

In an instant, Erza shifted again—her body blurring into the sleek Flight Armor. She launched into the sky with blinding speed, blades lashing from every direction like a storm of steel.

Rudra moved with her, trying to track the pattern. His eyes followed the blur, feet keeping up as her strikes came faster and faster.

"She's cornering him," Mira said under her breath, watching intently. "He might be fast, but she's not giving him room to breathe anymore."

Suddenly, her form vanished in a pulse of light.

From above, she descended in Nakagami Armor—holy light pouring from her like a beacon. The sheer pressure of her magical presence made the air heavy.

She appeared in front of him in a blink, sword raised high.

Rudra spun just in time, the blade slicing clean through his jacket as it narrowly missed his chest. The fabric tore with a sharp hiss, fluttering to the floor.

He looked down at the tear, then met her gaze again.

His smirk didn't waver.

The fight was still going, but the mood had shifted—not toward tension, but toward something far more casual. Rudra wasn't fighting seriously. That much was obvious. He was dancing around Erza's attacks with practiced ease, smiling the entire time like he was out for a stroll.

And Erza? She was switching through armors faster than most could track, each strike faster, heavier, or sharper than the last.

She came at him again, shifting mid-air into her Giant Armor. Her blade came down like a hammer, the floor cracking beneath the force.

Rudra slid back with a calm step, boots skidding slightly. "That all you got?" he asked lightly, barely winded.

This time, lightning crackled around her—Lightning Empress Armor. She lunged forward, electricity arcing as her blade surged toward his shoulder.

He tilted his head. The sword passed so close it singed a few strands of his hair.

Cana let out a whistle from her seat, sipping lazily. "That smile of his is gonna get him wrecked eventually. I hope I'm there to see it."

"Why is she even still trying?" Bickslow laughed. "He's not even trying to hit back."

Levy giggled. "It's more like he's dodging out of boredom than strategy."

She switched again—Flight Armor. She launched herself into the air, blades spinning, dancing through the arena like a storm.

He dodged it all, never breaking his rhythm.

"Seriously, is he ever gonna take this seriously?" Gray muttered, annoyed.

Then came the flash—her Nakagami Armor. She reappeared instantly, sword aglow, coming down with righteous power.

Rudra twisted, her sword slicing his jacket cleanly. The ripped cloth fluttered to the ground.

He looked down, then back up with a grin. "Nice aim."

"You're lucky," he said quietly, his voice tinged with genuine admiration. "But this fight... it's far from over."

Laxus raised a brow from the corner, arms crossed. "He's good," he muttered. "Too damn smug, though."

Just then, fate decided to have a laugh.

One of the tiles under Rudra's foot shifted. He stumbled—not from Erza's strike, but from the terrain. She crashed into him at full speed, and the two went tumbling to the ground in a mess of limbs and clinking metal.

Erza landed on top of him, palms pressed firmly to his chest. Her eyes were sharp as ever.

"Move," she said flatly.

From behind, Natsu's voice rang out. "Hey! No making out during fights!"

Rudra didn't miss a beat. "This feels like one of those slow-burn romance arcs. We kiss now, or after the victory speech?"

Her glare shut him up.

"Joking," he added quickly, hands raised. "Mostly."

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Erza stood up with her usual elegance, brushing herself off with practiced dignity.

Rudra stayed sitting, laughing quietly as he examined what remained of his jacket.

The guild finally burst into full-blown laughter.

Even Master Makarov, stroking his beard with a knowing smile, muttered under his breath, "They better not end up on the same team. Or do. I'd watch that."

But Erza's expression didn't soften. Not this time.

She turned, eyes burning—not with anger, but with challenge.

"Enough games," she said, her voice low and unwavering. "Stop wasting time, and fight seriously."

The words hung heavy in the air.

Rudra blinked, the smirk fading from his face for the first time.

He exhaled slowly... and stretched, Shoulders rolled, joints cracked.

"You're right," he said, rising to his feet. His voice lost its usual teasing lilt. "I've had my fun."

He looked at her then—not with mockery, not with flirtation, but with seriousness

"Come at me for real," he said simply. "Let's see what the famous Titania can do when someone actually pushes back."

The entire guild perked up.

Natsu grinned, fire flickering in his eyes. "Ohhh, now it's getting good." as the real fight about to start.