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81.81% The Fairy's Clover / Chapter 25: Heading North

Chapter 25: Heading North

The day after the whole invasion mess, things seemed to settle down in the village. We got in touch with the Rune Knights, and together we dealt with the aftermath, taking care of the fallen folks from Rosemary and giving them a proper send-off. This time, I figured I wouldn't keep my involvement on the down-low with the inquisitors. Building a bit of a name for myself seemed like a good move, especially given my age, if I wanted to kickstart a guild.

Gramps threw in his two cents, pointing out that if I were starting a run-of-the-mill hunter's or treasure guild, the process would be a walk in the park. But magic guilds? They're a whole different ball game, apparently. Super picky about who they let in. Anyway, the Rune Knights weren't exactly sold on the idea of a 9-year-old taking on a cult. So, I did a quick 'demonstration,' which may or may not have accidentally set a nearby hill on fire—much to Gramps' annoyance. Surprisingly, it worked, and they were all in.

They even went ahead and invited me to join some magic academy. In another life, that might've been tempting, but right now, I've got other plans—or maybe I should say, a plan that got kinda forced on me. Ain't got time to be sitting in a classroom. Gotta deal with what's in front of me, you know?

The Rune Knights were getting all worked up because they couldn't grab anyone from the cult, hoping to squeeze out the Tower's location from them. Now, about the guy I managed to snag – I decided to keep that nugget of info under wraps. Didn't spill the beans to the knights, the village, or even Gramps. Sure, he knows I used to be in the military, but I don't reckon he'd be thrilled to find out his grandson was on the brink of torturing a dude. Plus, if he catches wind that I've got the Tower's whereabouts, he'd probably shoot off a letter to his buddy Makarov, throwing in some tidbits about this Rob character and Councilman Yajima.

Gramps talks a big game about Fairy Tail being this tight-knit crew. If he's right, they'd likely whip up a rescue party for the Tower. Now, I'm cool with that, but there's a hitch—I'm not sure if the main quest is down with outsiders barging in or if it's gotta be a solo gig. Then there's the magic council. If they're as spineless as Gamgee describes them, drawing on my share of run-ins with cowardly governments in my past life, they might skip the whole rescue squad business and go straight for the big guns—Etherion, their version of a magical nuke.

So, my lips must stay sealed on the location. Or, well, they will be once I wring it out of that guard. Gotta keep this intel on the down-low if I want any shot at handling things my way.

There's this other thing on my mind, and it's that girl Kagura. She keeps buzzing around, asking me to teach her magic so she can rescue her brother and some redhead she keeps bringing up. At first, I couldn't care less. I don't even know if I can teach magic since I use mana and not ethernano—Gamgee would probably make a way better instructor. But then it hit me; Kagura's no random NPC. With a backstory like hers, she's likely got some serious talent. So, we made a deal. I agreed to teach her magic (starting tomorrow), and in return, she'll join my guild. She was all for it, no hesitation. As for schooling Kagura in magic, I figure I can just hit up Gamgee for advice when I need it. If she's as skilled as I suspect, I might play the mysterious card, drop some profound-sounding lines, and let her connect the dots herself. Sometimes, a bit of enigmatic guidance does the trick.

Now, most folks wouldn't put much stock in the promises of an 8-year-old, but I can tell Kagura's not the type to backtrack on her word. It should all work out fine. But for now, I'm just chilling in my room, sitting on the bed, with a bunch of other stuff on my plate. To catch you up, let me flash you back a bit.

About 5 Minutes Ago:

Lounging on my bed after an early morning meal, I found myself unable to catch some shut eye, perhaps due to the lingering adrenaline from the previous day's events. Gramps was catching some Zs in his room, and Kagura had taken up residence in one of the guest bedrooms. According to Gramps, she's now my responsibility, so, being the dutiful master, I offered my dear disciple a place under my roof.

"Hey, Light," I initiated my internal dialogue with my partner, "Is the coverless grimoire what I think it is?"

DING! "As the host has likely guessed, the coverless grimoire lacks a template and will bond with the host, enabling the awakening of their innate magical attribute. When the host first activated the system, he chose the beginner's pack instead of forging his unique path, even against my advice. The odds of getting another shot at this opportunity were slim, but the host earned it by steering clear of reliance on the system."

"You do throw in some compliments now and then, don't you? Anyway, I'm guessing the other reward is pretty self-explanatory."

DING! "Indeed, the early completion mission allows the host to undertake a completion mission for any template at any time, regardless of the current progress—whether it's 0% or 98%. However, there are some distinctions from the standard completion mission. Would the host like to know them?"

"Sure thing," I responded.

DING! "To start, unlike the regular completion missions tied to your template, the early completion mission will unfold in Earthland. That means your consciousness and physical body will be transported to the mission location. The difficulty level will be notably higher. To accommodate for that, although the host will once again be barred from accessing other templates, they will have the liberty to utilize other functions of the system, including applicable tickets and the inventory. Lastly, just like before, the host won't be clued in on the mission details until they find themselves warped to the location."

"Light, let's cut the crap. You're just winging it, aren't you?"

"...." No response, huh? Figures.

"All right, let's kick it up a notch. Light, show me Vetto's template," I commanded.

-Name: Vetto

-Alias: Vetto the Despair

-Race: Elf

-Magic: Beast Magic

-Age: 27

-Height: 195 cm

-Blood Type: O

-Eyes: Purple

-Hair: Blond

-Country: Neutral Zone (Elysia)

-Occupation: Village Protector

-Affiliation: Ten Apostles of Sephirah (Formerly)

-Progress: 45%

45%, huh? Looks like I made some headway during my scrap with Marx. Now, I'm gearing up for a tougher mission, and I'm not even halfway to Vetto's strength. But, hey, I don't have much time. I've got about a year before the whole eunuch fate comes knocking, and I'm not keen on cutting it that close. That's why, within the next six months, I'm storming that tower to save everyone. And if I'm gonna face Marx, I need to ramp up my strength in a hurry.

Back to the present: 

I gave a decisive nod: "Alright, decision made. Light, kick off the early completion mission!"

DING! "Redeeming 'Early Completion Mission' (Legendary) x1 for Vetto. Initiating transfer in 3....2....1. Best of luck!"

A sense of space folding engulfed me, bathed in a soft glow as I was swiftly transported from my current location.

------

Ur:

"Hahh...Hahh..."

"Hahh...Hahh..."

Blood and sweat traced down my countenance as I assumed a kneeling position to steady myself, my gaze fixed upon that formidable entity. A colossal beast, a demonic force wreaking unbridled havoc— the very object of my cherished student's animosity and fury.

The entity, Deliora, manifested as a massive humanoid Demon, adorned in dark blue. Its substantial torso boasted two formidable arms terminating in scaly hands. A profusion of spikes adorned its torso, neck, and ominous presence. The creature's lower extremities comprised two massive legs, avian in resemblance with additional spikes embellishing the rear. A flowing, mane-like arrangement of hair descended to the nape of its neck. Prominent upward-pointing horns adorned its forehead, accentuating a visage characterized by large, pointed teeth and hollow eyes.

Deliora cast its menacing gaze upon me, treating my existence with the disdain reserved for a slightly stronger ant, potentially registering as a mere cockroach within its purview. This hollow, despair-inducing gaze underscored a truth I had long acknowledged—I wasn't the mightiest. Contrary to the assertions of many, including my student, I remained humble, cognizant of the superior beings inhabiting the Western territories, Gildarts being a prime example. Nonetheless, my pride in my magical prowess persisted. I considered myself a proficient mage, on par with the esteemed Wizard Saints. Yet, this monstrous behemoth served as a brutal reckoning, stripping away a limb and leaving me bereft of a retort. There was one recourse available, though I admit, hesitation lingered for understandable reasons.

"I don't know what to do...I never thought he'd be this strong..." I uttered, my voice quivering.

My eyes widened as a beam of ice began to materialize magically within the beast's jaw, its trajectory set toward... my two students! Lyon and Gray lay defenseless, sprawled on the ground amidst the ruins of Brago, now reduced to rubble.

"Shit!" I cursed under my breath, my body moving on instinct as I lunged with every ounce of strength to shield my two cherished students from harm. We narrowly evaded the icy assault, albeit witnessing further devastation inflicted upon the already beleaguered town.

"Hahh...Hahh...Hahh...Hahh..." I panted wearily, holding my two students close in my embrace. At that moment, I could sense Gray stirring from beneath my chest.

Panic and fear seized him as he attempted to break free and flee, his cries echoing through the air: "Waaahh!!!!" His terrified screams tugged at my heart, witnessing the typically confident young boy overcome with such profound fear.

"Gray!!!" I exclaimed, propelling myself towards him to envelop him in another tight embrace. Drawing him back into the shelter of my arms, I endeavored to reassure him: "It's alright!! It's all right now!!!" I held him even tighter as he shivered, a rather ironic display for an ice mage, but I understood it wasn't due to the cold.

As he regained his composure, he uttered in incredulous fear: "Ur...?!!! What...? Why...?!!!"

You know why, you idiot, I thought. I'd never leave you alone. But now wasn't the time for words.

Instead, I issued a directive: "Listen to me!! Take Lyon and get away from here...I can't fight him and protect you guys at the same time!!"

"Lyon...?" He queried, perhaps the urgency in my voice preventing him from discerning the slight untruth.

"He's out cold, but..." Before I could complete my sentence, I swiftly propelled Gray and the unconscious Lyon to the side, a necessary action as Deliora advanced closer, eliciting an alarmed "EEE!!" from my distressed student.

I shifted my gaze to the side, observing his struggle to hoist Lyon onto his back, and urged him, "Hurry up and go!!! I'll take care of this thing!!!"

However, he continued to tremble, his head bowed in a mix of shame and frustration as he stammered, "Wh-Why... did you come...? Y-You and I... were through... right?"

A gentle smile graced my countenance as I turned to address him, blood trailing down my right eye and a light blush playing across my cheeks. "A little while ago, an old friend advised me to consider my own happiness. I never thought I was particularly unhappy, though... I mean, why should I be? I've got two cute little disciples. And I've watched them grow in their own noisy way day after day. I'd call that happy!"

I then turned by toward, him and slowly limped towards the demon: "I came here to get that happiness back." That must have been a bad move because he saw it. 

"U-Ur....No...Y-your...Your leg....," he tearfully stuttered.

Yeah, that's right. Deliora took my right leg. I pivoted back to face him, offering a smile with my right arm resting on my respective hip: "I lost it, but it's really nothing to worry about. Now, do you see how wonderful maker magic is?"

Tears streamed down like rivers from Gray's eyes as I carried on speaking: "If that monster is your darkness... it means that I have a good reason to fight it."

"Go!!" I commanded. "I'll take that thing down!!"

He shook his head in denial, his tears mingling with his snot. "N-no... I can't go...It's all my fault that this happened..."

A gentle smile graced my face: "It's nobody's fault." My dear Gray. "It's just one of the trials we have to go through to be happy again."

The tears persisted as he met my gaze once more, and on his right shoulder, I observed Lyon awakening, his gaze now shadowed.

Hoh boy, here we go, I thought.

"Ur... Are you seriously going to do this?" Lyon uttered in a dark tone, causing me to momentarily pause in shock.

"Lyo-" Gray attempted to intervene but was rebuffed by him. "You talk about happiness... What's that about?!" Lyon demanded of me.

"...," I found no immediate response, allowing him to press on.

And press on he did as he approached me with a palpable sense of desperation, sweat rolling down the side of his face. "Ur, you're the strongest wizard I know... You should have no problem beating a monster like that," he asserted, while Gray remained stationary behind him, observing the unfolding scene with tears in his eyes.

Knowing that an urgent response wouldn't satisfy Lyon, as he was among those few who worshipped my strength, I tried to calmly talk to him. "We talked about this before, Lyon! There's always someone more powerful out there. If you go into the Western nations, there are loads of wizards who are better than I am!"

"No, there aren't... No, you're the best!" He retorted before continuing, "If you aren't... then... what have I been doing all this training for?!!"

Oh, that's right. His goal was to surpass me. I attempted to soothe him, saying, "Once you've surpassed me, you can find a higher target to aim at, right?" I reasoned with him.

Instead, he shot me an ugly expression, his eyes beginning to water as he stammered a response. "I only became your disciple because I thought you were the best... You can't let that monster beat you! Don't betray me like that..."

"Lyon..." I sighed, realizing he admired me, but I hadn't anticipated it reaching such an obsessive extent.

He then positioned himself in front of me, squarely facing Deliora. His stance widened, and he bent down, crossing his arms outward like an X. "If you don't intend to give your all, then I will!!"

"! That position..." I regarded him with a mix of shock and horror, comprehending his intentions.

Magical energy began to envelop him, steadily growing more potent. I dashed towards him, demanding, "Where did you learn that magic?!!!"

"Huh?" I could discern Gray's questioning tone in the background, intensifying my anxiety.

Reaching for Lyon's back, he remained resolute, facing the demon as his magical power continued to surge. "It takes you forever to teach me any of the really strong magic!! So I decided to read the magic books you had in storage on my own! This is really strong magic, and you've been hiding it... Iced Shell!!"

I seized the back of his jacket, attempting to pull him away and abort the spell before it was too late. "Lyon!!! You didn't read the book all the way to the end, did you?!! Anybody who uses that magic will-"

"Waa!" I was abruptly cut off as Lyon's magical power manifested, creating an icy blue dome around him that blew me backward.

"Ur!!!" Gray's anxious cries reached my ears. "Wh-What terrifying magic power..." he exclaimed, clearly shocked.

It appeared my unruly student wasn't the only one who sensed it, as the beast turned towards us. "Tsk!! He's noticed us!!" I gritted out.

"No magic affects Deliora directly. So what I must do is trap him forever in magical ice!!" Lyon grimly shouted.

Damn it, Lyon! I attempted to resolve this without resorting to force, but you forced my hand. "You can't use that magic!!!" I exclaimed, stretching my right palm out and freezing my disobedient student in a series of crystalline icicles.

"Ur!! What did..." Gray attempted to question my actions.

"He can't do that!! When a wizard uses Iced Shell... the body of that wizard is destroyed!" I weakly responded, causing him to remain in a state of shock and horror.

I painfully rose to my feet, clenching my fists, and mused aloud about the coincidence. "But, he was right. That is the only way to bring that monster down... I never imagined... that Lyon would try what I was planning to do..."

I lightly smirked, "That's a disciple for you, huh?"

From behind me, I could hear the pain in Gray's voice, "Y-you say you were planning..."

"Get back!!!" I cut him off and lunged forward, adopting the same stance as my misguided student.

"Ur!!!" Gray cried, but I paid him no heed.

I locked my gaze with the demon, which responded with a furious roar. I spoke my own two cents, "I will not let you anywhere near my disciples!!! This is the end, creature!!!!"

My magic surged as I prepared to unleash the spell at the demon. However, something unexpected occurred next.

A brilliant, blinding glow materialized amid the rubble, capturing everyone's attention and breaking my concentration, thus dispelling the spell.

Whether it was Deliora, Gray, or myself, we all shielded our gaze from the intense light, only lifting our eyes when it subsided. My pupils constricted as, out of nowhere, a boy of my student's age, clad in light clothes unfit for the frigid north, with obsidian black hair akin to Gray's and golden pupils, emerged from the source of the light.

Instead of freezing in terror at the beast before him, he moved forward, surveying the ruined town with his gaze as his expression darkened. He then casually stepped in front of me, prompting an urge to lecture him to step back.

However, before I could speak, he pointed crudely to the demon in front of him: "S'up, motherfucker!"


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
hmak27230 hmak27230

More canon divergence! Splendid.

Chapter 26: Venting

Rex Gardner:

Cold is what I felt the moment the warping was complete, as the frigid tundra assaulted all of my senses. To cope with the abrupt change in environment, I promptly shrouded my body in mana skin.

Afterward, I surveyed the surroundings. To label it as devastation would be an understatement; wherever I was, it no longer mattered, as it was gone. The town had been utterly reduced to rubble, and my expression darkened at every turn, glimpsing lifeless bodies concealed beneath the debris, while some nearby civilians frantically sought to erase their presence, gripped by the fear of being discovered.

By whom? You may ask. Well, it could only be described as some unholy offspring and a long-lost elder brother of Tempest. A gargantuan dark blue demonic scaly beast, adorned with a lion's mane and two massive horns, along with various other avian-like features.

In the immediate vicinity, I discerned the presence of three individuals. They were undoubtedly mages, with the woman, despite her injuries, emanating magical power that could rival my grandfather's. The other two appeared to be youngsters, likely my age. One of them was peculiarly encased in ice, but I could sense that he was still alive.

And then it happened. A familiar sound echoed inside my mind. 

DING! "Early Completion Mission for Vetto. Titled: 'Free the North' Description: For years the Etherious Demon Deliora, has wandered around the continent leaving devastation in its wake. Slay the evil creation of the black wizard, and free those who live under its tyranny. Status: Optional Failure: No progress Reward: Template Completion and ?"

Well, that's all I needed to hear. Fortunately, it wasn't some cliché where the demon turned out to be the good guy, provoked by humans, and the woman was the evil one, resulting in me mistakenly killing the wrong entity.

On the subject of the woman, I couldn't determine if it was a recent development, but it appeared she had lost her leg, replacing it with an ice limb, akin to Mereleona's and Fuegoleon's Flame arm.

I sauntered nonchalantly in front of the woman, a clear intention to halt me evident in her eyes, but I brushed past her without affording her the chance to intervene. Time was of the essence, and I had pressing matters at hand that required my immediate attention.

Before deciding whether to commit a valuable ticket, I aimed to gauge the beast's capabilities. With a brazen gesture, I raised my hand and, with a casual tone, uttered, "S'up, motherfucker."

This simple provocation triggered a visceral response from the creature, provoking an enraged roar. From its monstrous maw, a vivid lime-colored beam rapidly coalesced, launching itself in my direction.

"Get out of the way!!!" The woman urgently exclaimed, springing towards me in an attempt to shield me from the impending blast. Her selfless act struck me, and in that moment, I couldn't help but appreciate her courage and kindness. She'd undoubtedly make an exceptional wife.

She seized me, attempting to shield us from the brunt of the blast with her back, but I couldn't let her take the fall for me. "Beast Magic: Rhinoceros Armor," I chanted quietly, summoning an orange magical aura that coalesced into the form of a rhinoceros construct, enveloping us.

As the beam struck, colossal flames erupted from every direction. After the onslaught subsided, she cautiously opened her eyes, widening at the realization that she was still alive. Her gaze lingered on my spell, which, though heavily cracked, stood defiantly. Having witnessed numerous extraordinary events in her lifetime, a child blocking Deliora's strike wasn't the most shocking occurrence for her.

Meanwhile, Deliora scratched its head, looking down at me in confusion, seemingly questioning why the ants before it were still alive. The woman grabbed my hand as my protective spell unraveled and issued a command.

"Kid, you need to step back," she urged, gesturing towards the location of the two youngsters behind us. "I have a way to deal with that thing."

No way, I thought. This is my quest, and there's no way I'm squandering a legendary item. Gently moving her to the side, I asserted, "It's alright, miss. I got this."

"You don't understand," she began.

But I cut her off, "I do. Just let me handle this."

As she prepared to voice her objection, I continued, "Look at the state you're in," gesturing to her tattered appearance. "It's obvious you don't got this," causing her to pause. "I've seen mages like you before, who, when pushed to their limits, resort to some forbidden trump card. I'm guessing it's probably of the life-sacrificing kind," her pupils constricted just a tad at that. "I don't know your connection to those two boys, but I don't think they'd want you to die. So live a little, at least for them, and let me handle this." She then glanced behind her, locking eyes with a black-haired boy in a white jacket, tears streaming down like a river. Water welled up in her own eyes, and she relented, nodding her head to me and stepping back.

"Now, how will I deal with you?" I rhetorically pondered aloud, locking eyes with Deliora. Assessing the situation, I could discern that the strike it had just delivered was casual, implying that even if my template were at 99%, blocking it would be a formidable challenge. The emanating magic signaled a strength surpassing that of Tempest, or more precisely, the Tempest that Adonis could summon.

It left me no choice but to expend a ticket. Ordinarily, I might have been upset about this, but not now. Firstly, I preferred using a heroic ticket over a legendary item, and secondly, I was just infuriated. Five years of enduring hardship – from almost losing my life to Tempest, relentless beatings at the hands of Gamgee, the sluggish progress in my training, to the ongoing chaos with the cult – had built up a considerable amount of stress. I needed an outlet, and as if the universe had heard my pleas, it delivered a perfect punching bag. Or did it deliver me to one? Well, whatever the case, I intended to release my pent-up frustration, taking my sweet time in dispatching this beast.

"Light, cash in my temporary bond ticket", I mentally ordered my companion.

DING! "Redeeming Temporary Bond Ticket (Heroic) x1 in 3..2..1".

I could sense my mana surging in powerful waves, eliciting visible reactions from everyone present. Gasps of shock echoed from the duo behind me, and even the beast's demeanor shifted. Similar to Tempest's reaction years ago when confronted by Luck, it roared at me not as though I were mere prey but rather recognizing me as a genuine threat.

I reveled in that sensation, a smile playing on my lips as I examined my template for the next ten minutes. "How befitting," I remarked aloud to no one in particular.

As Deliora unleashed another beam in my direction, I casually raised my right arm forward and pointed with my open hand while uttering, "Mana Zone." The magic power and Ethernano in the vicinity responded to my command, swirling around me. The ice encasing the child also unraveled, floating around me and converging to form an oval-like shield of ice with an ice cross protruding from it.

Deliora's beam once again collided with me, slamming against my ice shield. However, this time, it wasn't a casual shot. It seemed to be nearly at full power, as colossal waves of flames erupted from the impact, creating a dense fog of steam and mist as it attempted to obliterate my icy defense. Much to the beast's fury, the mist dissipated, revealing my shield to be utterly undamaged.

Adding insult to injury, I taunted the beast, "Why are you surprised? This ice can freeze even lava; do you think mere flames can harm it?" Such is the power of a Wizard King, you oaf.

Edward Avalanché stood as a titan even among wizard kings, possessing a talent so extraordinary that he harbored no aspirations of becoming a Magic Knight, despite his monstrous abilities. In an alternate timeline untouched by unfortunate incidents, he would have devoted his entire life as a man of the cloth, dedicated to serving and assisting the less fortunate in the forsaken realm. His strength was formidable, a force beyond the capacity of a mere lowly lab experiment to contend with.

In an unbridled fit of rage, Deliora instinctively altered its tactics and charged at me, intent on delivering a physical blow. Yet, it was my turn to seize the offensive. Jagged ice erupted from the ground beneath it, resembling large, sharp thorns that pierced its colossal body and effectively immobilized it. With my right arm raised overhead, my hand opened, conjuring a disk of sharp-edged ice akin to Krillin's Destructo Disc. Swiftly, I launched the spell at the beast, the icy disk piercing through its chest and emerging on the other side before dematerializing.

"Keeeehhhh!!!!" Deliora emitted a piercing screech of pain, which swiftly transformed into frustration as it forced its way out of my binding spell, cracking the ice and shattering its restraints. The beast lunged once more, and my eyes widened as the bleeding wounds that had previously littered its body closed rapidly, leaving no evidence of the prior damage.

Utilizing my mana zone, I ascended into the sky, evading its powerful punch that sent shockwaves through the ground, forming a substantial crater where I once stood.

In the distance, I heard the lady's voice calling out, "Kid! Deliora has high magical resistance; physical attacks and sealing spells are much more effective."

Fantastic. The system did warn me that this would be tougher than a standard completion mission though. Even though the beast is weaker than Dante, the challenge lies in its suitability. Vetto knows a sealing spell, but the predicament is that it requires three people to perform, and I don't have the luxury of time to teach it to the others. Moreover, can it even work on a formidable opponent like Deliora? As for physical blows, there's no way Vetto could contend with that colossal creature, not even at 100%, let alone 45%. It could be said that Deliora is the worst kind of opponent for a brawler like Vetto. However, Edward might possess a solution that could prove effective.

As I soared high above the beast in the sky, skillfully dodging the successive beams of light it launched in my direction, I pointed my outstretched arm downward. With a powerful shout that resonated throughout the town, capturing the attention of many, I declared, "Mana Zone, Ice Wedge Magic: World End Martyr!"

Once again, the magic of the world obediently swirled in response to my command, converging to shape an enormous creature made of razor-sharp ice. The magical construct boasted wings resembling those of an angel, robust talons, and two halo-like rings hovering above its head. Instead of a conventional face, it featured a cross, with another one adorning its chest.

If the quadricep stood upright on its hind legs, it would utterly dwarf Deliora.

"S-so big!!!" I turned to hear the shaky voice of the boy, and I noticed his silver-haired companion, now awake, looking at me with equal shock and a hint of something else.

Deliora's attention shifted from me to my colossal creation as it roared and unleashed another devastating beam. Much to its surprise and the amazement of the three ice mages, my icy companion retaliated with a frosty beam of its own, colliding with Deliora's fiery blast. 

As expected, the icy beam froze Deliora's frame and continued unabated towards the beast, crashing into it and sending it tumbling backward, eventually crushing a nearby, thankfully unoccupied building.

Deliora weakly and slowly rose in pain as its new scar once again began to close, its regeneration working at a considerably slower pace.

But we wouldn't let it. Four large, jagged claws of ice floated around me before soaring towards the beast and firmly seizing it by its wrists and ankles. Effectively hoisting and immobilizing Deliora in place, the beast struggled to break free, but this time I continuously channeled a substantial amount of mana into my spells, rendering it unable to escape. Simultaneously, my 'World End Martyr' charged at Deliora like a bull, an icy unicorn horn taking shape on its forehead.

Deliora's eyes widened in realization as it attempted to unleash a beam from its jaw. The initial lime-colored beam did nothing to hinder my Marty's charge; it simply raised its horn, splitting the fiery blast in two, and continued its unstoppable approach toward Deliora. Once more, Deliora tried to unleash another stronger beam, but this time I sealed its jaw shut with a sharp-edged muzzle of ice.

Like a repeat of how Luck ended Tempest, my Martyr charged right through Deliora's chest, leaving it with a gaping gash before coming to a rough stop on the other side. My Martyr then turned back around to face Deliora's lifeless form, assessing if it needed to make another move.

However, it was unnecessary, as the light died out from Deliora's eyes. I then undid the restraints, allowing the beast to fall face forward onto the ground, its once fearsome form now lifeless and devoid of any signs of healing. My Martyr, with a final icy beam, shredded the creature's corpse just in case, before gracefully dematerializing.

"Aww...." I sighed, "I wanted to savor this and have a bit more fun."

Amidst my disappointment, a familiar noise interrupted the moment.

DING! "Congratulations on completing the early completion mission for Vetto, entitled 'Free the North.' Commencing teleportation in 3.."

"Wait, wait! Give me a few seconds!"

"Very well, commencing teleportation in 10..."

"Argh, you cheeky system!" I hastily descended to the trio of mages who stared at me in astonishment.

The lady's voice trembled as she spoke, "T-that was incredible. Do you realize w-what you just did..."

"No time, miss!" I interrupted her. "Can you give me your leg?!"

"H-huh?" She understandably replied.

Without waiting for further explanation, I grabbed her makeshift ice leg, prompting her to yelp and her students to try to come to her aid.

"Excuse me," I apologized as they stopped, realizing I had no malicious intent. I then cast a spell, encasing the leg in a gray cloud of magic, "Magic Convert: Ice -> Flesh."

They watched in amazement as the cloud dissipated, revealing her leg, miraculously restored.

She cautiously touched her leg, half-expecting it to be an illusion, but her shock turned to disbelief as she realized she could move it and manipulate her toes. "But h-how?" She incredulously asked.

"A story for another time, miss. Now, have you guys ever thought about joining a guild? How about-" but before I could finish my sentence, I was enveloped in a brilliant glow of light, my presence disappearing. The last thing I could do was let out a defiant roar, "Damn you, Light!"

------

The master and student trio gazed in stupefaction as our unfortunate protagonist vanished, leaving them bewildered.

Lyon turned to Gray, his expression incredulous. "What the heck just happened? And who the hell was that?"

Gray, equally dumbfounded, shook his head. "I got no idea, man."

Lyon clenched his fist, his nails digging into his flesh and drawing blood. 'So, they're mages stronger than master?' he thought inwardly.

While this unfolded, Ur observed her students, lost in thought. 'A guild, huh? Maybe it's time we leave the North; it's a place of bad memories for all of us.' If Rex heard the next thing she said, he would likely cough up blood. "Gildarts once said something about Fairy Tail, didn't he?" Ur mused aloud.

She then clapped her hands together, drawing her students' attention. "Alright, Gray, Lyon, let's go home. Tomorrow we're gonna pack up and leave."

"Where are we going, master?" Lyon inquired.

"Magnolia," was Ur's simple reply as she walked away from the ruins of Brago, with her students trailing behind her.

"Magnolia? Where's that?" Gray questioned, catching up to her.

The trio walked off into the distance, lost in their little conversation.

------

While all of this unfolded, murmurs resounded around the town as those still alive began to discuss what they had just witnessed. No one paid attention to two nearby people dressed normally, one holding a glass-like ball.

Person #1 and #2 turned to one another with their jaws wide open.

"D-did you g-get all that, mate?" #1 pointed and shakily asked #2.

"Yeah, I did, recorded it all with my lacrima over here," #2 responded.

"H-how much do you think the Magic Council is gonna pay for that?" #1 shakily questioned his companion.

#2 turned to #1, a gleeful and excited smile tugging at his lips. "W-we're gonna be rich!"

"Yes!" they both exclaimed, giving one another a tight homiesexual hug.

------

As for Rex, he had no idea what kind of waves he set around, not just in Ishgar but throughout Earthland today. Whether this would make it easier for him to start a guild or have the opposite effect remains to be seen.

------

Roughly 5 minutes Ago:

In a cave nestled in the far reaches of Ishgar, a formidable figure, now calling it his abode, lounged carefreely. This enigmatic individual's name alone evoked fear across the expanse of Earthland.

He was a robust young man with flowing, dark blue hair, a dark complexion, and an imposing presence highlighted by a keen, intense gaze. His eyes were encircled by black markings, and intricate light blue patterns adorned his powerful frame. Draped in a collared, black cloak etched with draconic symbols, he bore sharp claws around his neck, a sash securing his waist, a gold arm ring clasped on his right upper arm, and wore baggy, weathered pants.

Stepping out of the cave into the sunlight, the beast-like man wrinkled his nose, inhaling deeply. He then turned to face a specific direction, coincidentally or perhaps intentionally aligned with Brago. "I smell something," he declared with a rough, commanding voice, "something potent, something worthy of being crushed." However, his furrowed brows revealed confusion as quickly as the scent appeared, it vanished. "Well, whatever. I'll remember this scent," he mused, turning away and reentering the cave.


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