"Ah, it's Lucy! And everyone else!" Natsu waved enthusiastically, grinning from ear to ear. "I defeated everyone in the guild! There's only this one left—give me a minute, I'll defeat him right away!"
"It seems like Natsu has made a lot of progress recently," Erza commented, surveying the scattered and groaning wizards of the Iron Forest.
Kira walked over, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "Come on, Natsu. You've already unleashed your Dragon Slayer Secret Technique, and yet the boss is still standing? And you want to challenge Erza?"
Happy flew closer, attempting to defend his partner. "That's because Natsu spent all his energy dealing with the others!"
But Gray couldn't resist taking the chance to tease. "Even so, dragging it out this long? He's pathetic. Let me handle it. I'll finish this guy off in three moves!"
Gray's taunt hit its mark perfectly. Natsu's flames flared as he roared, "Don't touch him! This is my fight! I'll take him down myself!"
Natsu's determination was clear, but Kira had other plans. This was his chance to snatch the glory.
"Alright, Natsu, step aside," Kira said casually. "I'll handle this now."
Natsu spun around, flames surging anew. "No way! He's mine!"
Kira raised an eyebrow. "You've already used your ultimate move. How long do you want me to wait for you? I've got places to be." With that, Kira activated his Word Spirit magic. "Word Spirit: Shape—Bind!"
Energy surged through the air, and in an instant, glowing words formed around Natsu, pinning him to the ground. He squirmed, unable to move or summon his flames.
"Let me go!" Natsu yelled, struggling like a trapped silkworm. Gray and Happy burst into laughter at the sight of him flailing helplessly.
"You've had your fun, Natsu. Now it's my turn," Kira said, patting Natsu on the head before stepping forward. He called out to Eligore, who was still hovering in the air. "Hey, we're switching players!"
Eligore sneered, mistaking the move for desperation. "Switch all you want. Even if there were ten more of you, you couldn't defeat me!"
Eligore's smug grin lasted only a moment before Kira made his move.
"Word Spirit: Gravity!"
A crushing force slammed into Eligore, sending him hurtling from the sky. He smashed into the ground, creating a large crater. The once-proud wind mage was now face down in the dirt, unable to move a muscle.
"What... what just happened?!" Eligore gasped. His voice was muffled, his face buried in the ground.
But Kira wasn't finished. Raising his hand, he called out, "Word Spirit: Buoyancy!"
Eligore's body was lifted off the ground, floating helplessly in the air. Despite his struggles, he was completely immobilized, trapped in Kira's gravitational hold.
"Stop this!" Eligore yelled, his voice shaking with fear.
Kira smirked. "As you wish," he said, before bringing his hand down. "Gravity!"
Eligore was slammed back into the earth, this time creating an even deeper crater. His body lay motionless.
Kira dusted off his hands and turned to his teammates. "All done!" He snapped his fingers, releasing Natsu from the Word Spirit's hold.
Natsu sprang to his feet, glaring at Kira. "Darn it, Kira! That was my fight!"
But before Natsu could argue further, he froze. "Wait! Where's Larabai?" he blurted out, rushing toward Eligore's unconscious body.
Gray grabbed him by the shoulder, stopping him. "Relax, idiot. We already have Larabai."
Natsu's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? So the president and the others are safe?"
"Yes," Erza confirmed, her voice calm and reassuring.
"Great!" Natsu cheered, high-fiving Happy.
But his joy was short-lived. "So... what do we do now?" Natsu asked, looking around at his teammates.
"With the enemy defeated and Larabai in our possession, we should be able to return to the guild," Lucy suggested.
Natsu's face lit up. "Perfect! Once we're back, I can finally challenge Erza!"
But Erza shook her head. "No, we can't return just yet."
"Huh? Why not?" Natsu asked, confused.
Happy echoed his sentiment, tilting his head. "Is there more trouble?"
"Of course," Kira interjected, pointing at the wreckage surrounding them. "You're responsible for the damage to this place, Natsu. You have to deal with the cleanup and compensation!"
"What?!" Natsu's face fell in horror.
After all their efforts to stop the Iron Forest and protect the presidents, he had to pay for the damages? "This isn't fair!" he wailed, clutching Happy in despair.
Happy's ears drooped. "Natsu, what about our savings? We won't have any left!"
The duo's exaggerated sorrow painted a pitiful picture.
Despite the playful complaints, the group knew they couldn't shirk responsibility. Fairy Tail always owned up to their messes, no matter how chaotic their methods were. However, they also knew how to navigate the system to minimize their losses.
"We'll pin most of the damages on the Iron Forest's treasury," Kira said confidently. "Let's make them pay for their own chaos."
"But what about Larabai?" Lucy asked.
"That's easy," Erza replied. "We should bring it to the presidents in Clover and let them decide."
"Or," Kira countered, holding up the wooden flute with a sly grin, "we keep it. If the Council wants it, they can come get it themselves. If not... well, it's mine now."
Erza frowned. "Kira, this isn't a toy. Keeping it could lead to trouble."
Gray crossed his arms. "She's right. We should just destroy it."
Kira smirked. "Destroy it? As a magic merchant, that's like asking Erza to give up her favorite armor or Lucy to give up her Celestial Keys. Would you give up your clothes, Gray?"
Gray bristled. "What's that supposed to mean?!"
Erza stepped between them, raising her voice. "Enough! If you want to keep it, you must ensure it can never be misused. We'll ask the president for advice when we reach Clover."
Kira shrugged. "Fine by me."
With their plan settled, the group prepared for their journey to Clover. Natsu was still sulking about the damages, but the thought of returning to the guild kept his spirits high. The battle was over, but Fairy Tail's adventure was far from finished.
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Because of the incident at Kunuki Station, there were no buses running to Clover Town, leaving Erza no choice but to take out her beloved mount—a Hope-brand magical four-wheeled vehicle, license plate number FT9569257.
The magical four-wheeled vehicle was one of Ishgar's most popular means of transportation. Faster than a horse-drawn carriage, it functioned on the driver's magic power and resembled the cars from Kira's previous life.
While not as fast as a train, the four-wheeler was the best option available. Why not use Kira's flying carpet? Simple—it was damp, and riding on it was uncomfortable. Besides, Kira's magical props, much like a certain blue robotic cat's tools, were usually used once and then stored away unless absolutely necessary.
Erza's four-wheeler was another one of Kira's creations. Compared to standard models on the market, it was far superior in energy efficiency and shock absorption. It even had a gliding function, ensuring smooth landings in case of a fall. Most importantly, it utilized magic crystals for energy storage. Unlike other vehicles that required constant magic power input while driving, this model allowed the driver to charge the crystal in advance, enabling hands-free operation.
"Get in!" Erza commanded curtly.
Natsu, though reluctant, was shoved into the car. He lacked the strength to resist after his earlier battles. Erza started the engine with a firm press of her foot, and the car roared toward Clover Town.
An hour later, the group arrived.
"President! Did the regular meeting go well?"
The group greeted Markov warmly, but the sight of them caused the old man to spill the wine he was drinking to calm his nerves.
Are they here to chase enemies or to cause trouble?
Markov had barely recovered from Mira's earlier message, and seeing these familiar faces suddenly appear in Clover left him trembling. He almost believed they were there to destroy the place.
"You... didn't cause any trouble, did you?" Markov asked nervously.
The group exchanged uneasy glances. Erza and Natsu looked at each other, Gray turned away, Lucy hid behind Natsu, and only Kira stepped forward. Squatting beside Markov, he patted the old man on the shoulder with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, it's not a big problem."
The words "not a big problem" sent Markov into a cold sweat. The last time Kira said this, half a street in the royal capital had been destroyed, nearly implicating members of the royal family.
"It's okay... tell me, I can handle it..." Markov insisted.
Kira relented. "Natsu may have... uh... destroyed the Kunuki train station."
Markov nearly fell over. Luckily, Kira was quick enough to catch him.
After a moment, Markov processed the information. It's just a station, not an entire town. That's still within expectations, he thought, calming slightly.
"But," Kira continued, "Natsu also wiped out the Dark Guild Iron Forest in one fell swoop. You may need to negotiate with the Council about that."
Markov sighed in relief. A Dark Guild? That's no big deal. Just make them pay damages. With this thought, he felt much better.
"Good job, Natsu..." Markov muttered as his blood pressure stabilized.
Yet, something still nagged at him—something he'd forgotten.
As Markov mulled over his thoughts, the presidents of other guilds began approaching the Fairy Tail group.
"Long time no see, Kira-kun. You've grown stronger again!"
"Little Erza has matured beautifully!"
"Natsu and Gray are as lively as ever!"
"And this must be the new girl everyone's been talking about! The wizard who took down a gorilla-like woman and defeated a wealthy tycoon!"
Lucy blushed at the praise, feeling shy and overwhelmed by the attention. The stories were exaggerated, but correcting them in front of such esteemed individuals was daunting.
Meanwhile, the others handled the situation with ease. Erza modestly thanked the guild leaders, Natsu and Gray looked awkward but pleased, and Kira greeted them with his usual charm.
"President Bob! Long time no see. How's Blue Pegasus faring these days?"
Bob, the flamboyant president of Blue Pegasus, grinned widely. "I feel energetic every day!"
Kira had become acquainted with Blue Pegasus members through Magic Weekly, where he frequently featured on the front page thanks to his good looks and skills. His reputation as one of the "Most Wanted Boyfriends" in the magic world was well-earned. Handsome, talented, and successful, Kira was a triple threat.
….
After half an hour of greetings, Kira quietly approached Markov.
"President, what exactly happened at this regular meeting?"
Kira had a keen interest in the outcomes of such gatherings. Past meetings had led to significant reforms, such as the royal family recruiting young wizards for a proposed royal guard—an initiative that hinted at the monarchy's intent to control the magic world.
Markov pondered the question before nodding. "Yes, it's about the Balamu Alliance. Do you want to hear about it?"
Kira's expression turned serious. The Balamu Alliance consisted of three major Dark Guilds: Grimoire Heart, Tartaros, and Oración Seis. Together, they wielded immense influence, rivaling the collective power of the Council-backed Guilds.
Markov began to explain.
"In this meeting, the Council emphasized the growing threat of the Balamu Alliance. They believe the Dark Guilds are moving to consolidate their power. If left unchecked, they could disrupt the balance of the entire continent."
Kira nodded, his mind racing. The Balamu Alliance was a dangerous entity. Each guild had its own goals, but their combined strength could easily plunge the world into chaos.
"The Council is urging all recognized Guilds to strengthen their defenses and coordinate efforts to suppress Dark Guild activity. They've also hinted at stricter oversight of our activities," Markov continued.
"Typical," Kira muttered. "They're afraid of the growing power of legitimate Guilds as much as the Dark ones. This 'oversight' is just a way to keep us in check."
Markov sighed. "True. But we can't ignore the threat of the Balamu Alliance. They've already begun targeting key regions to expand their influence. If they succeed..."
The weight of the situation was clear. The Fairy Tail members listened intently, understanding the gravity of the threat.
Kira crossed his arms, his mind still processing the implications. "So, they're using this as a pretext to tighten control over independent Guilds while putting us on the front lines of their battles."
Markov chuckled grimly. "You always see through things quickly, Kira."
The conversation left the group thoughtful. As they prepared to leave Clover, their resolve to protect the magic world—and their guild—grew stronger. The battle against darkness was far from over.
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