[Right Arm of the Forbidden One]: A mysterious card of unknown significance. When completely liberated, one gains unimaginable infinite power.
Single card effect: Gradually increases attack power during battle. (From card lore)
'With this, I might actually be able to summon fists in attack mode...'
Looking at the dark golden right arm card suspended in the depths of his consciousness, Chase couldn't help but silently marvel.
He wondered just how much its combat effectiveness could increase in practice. He'd need to find an opportunity to study it properly.
If he collected all five pieces and summoned the legendary Exodia, who transcended even the Egyptian Gods... what would that look like?
Just as Chase was pondering this, his vision suddenly went dark as he was forcibly planted into a firm, expansive chest.
At some point, Erza—having re-equipped her normal armor—had arrived before him and deftly pressed his head into her steel chest.
"Haven't had such an enjoyable fight in a long time. I really enjoyed it, Chase." Erza smiled.
Her touching smile held a hint of cunning, as if she'd gotten away with something.
"S-so hard..." Chase's head buzzed.
Lost in the joy of his new card, he'd let his guard down and hadn't protected his forehead with magic.
Although this was Erza's affectionate gesture reserved for companions, and the experience itself was quite nice... damn, it hurt!
"As expected, fighting you now is already a bit much for me."
Erza released Chase and sighed softly.
Chase rubbed his swollen forehead and said seriously, "You held back at the final moment of our clash, didn't you?"
"So did you."
Erza casually glanced at him. "If I'd guessed correctly, even if I had broken through Mirror Force, you would have summoned Kuriboh. The outcome wouldn't have changed."
Having fought Chase several times before, she was already familiar with his card magic patterns.
"Not bad, Erza. You've got the consciousness for card games. Why don't you ditch Requip and join the world of card players!"
Chase spread his arms in a warm welcome and teased with a laugh.
Of course, he was joking.
"Besides, you didn't summon your strongest eight-star Chaos Sorcerer, nor did you use cards like Pot of Greed that boost performance."
Erza rested her chin on her delicate hand, directly filtering out Chase's proposal about becoming a card player—as if she hadn't heard—seamlessly continuing their previous conversation.
"I heard from Natsu that you recently acquired a quite powerful Red Dragon card, didn't you?"
This girl was truly impeccable at calmly playing deaf...
Chase sighed, looking at the earnestly analyzing Erza, and calmly said, "And you didn't use your strongest Fairy Armor either."
"Oh, and the chest wrap."
"Chest wrap?"
Hearing this strange name, Erza blinked, her beautiful eyes widening.
Fairy Armor was armor named after the guild itself, meant to protect the guild. Naturally, she couldn't use it against her own companions.
But what the hell was a chest wrap?!
"Huh? You don't even know? Isn't Purity Robe's nickname 'chest wrap'?" Chase laughed heartily.
Say what you will, the heroic Fairy Queen wearing this expression was strangely cute—the contrasting cuteness was off the charts.
Erza: "...Only you would call it that."
Although it was quite image based on the clothing's appearance, couldn't he come up with a nicer nickname?
Like "Butterbread Twinblade Clothes" or something!
"Anyway..."
Erza really didn't want to tangle further with a dead card player about armor nicknames. Glancing around at the devastated surroundings, she frankly admitted, "Chase, I lost this battle."
She never considered herself particularly powerful.
Quite the opposite—it was precisely because she deeply understood her own weakness that she constantly wore heavy armor, using it to cover her fragile heart.
But Chase was different.
In Erza's subconscious, Chase was a completely trustworthy companion, terrifyingly powerful in both strength and potential.
She firmly believed that one day, he would leave her far behind.
So losing the spar didn't embarrass her—it actually reassured her.
"You said it yourself."
Chase grinned, his eyes lighting up, with no intention of being modest.
"What-what are you planning?"
His gaze made her slightly uneasy. She instinctively stepped back half a pace.
"According to guild tradition, in an official spar, the loser must unconditionally accept one punishment from the winner."
"Wait, there's such a tradition?" The eight-year veteran "old-timer" looked quite bewildered.
"I see. So that's how it is. The Fairy Queen, so strict with herself, sometimes welches on her word too."
Chase shrugged nonchalantly. "Fine, Erza. No punishment then."
"Damn it, Chase! Who do you think I am?! I'm Erza Scarlet!"
The reputation-conscious Erza took the bait, clenching her fists indignantly.
After thinking for two and a half seconds, the Fairy Queen, slightly blushing, declared like a fearless warrior marching to her death: "Isn't it just warming your bed?! I won't back down one bit!"
Chase's smile froze awkwardly: "..."
"Who said my punishment was bed warming?!!"
While her resolve was admirable, what premise led her to immediately jump to such chaotic things?!
"Don't play dumb, you pervert Chase. I heard all about it from Lucy when we were teamed up."
Erza nodded emphatically, revealing an expression of complete understanding.
Hearing this, Chase's mouth twitched. The right arm hanging at his side clenched into a fist.
Oh! So it's you, Dullcy! I'm remembering this!
"Listen carefully, Erza. My punishment isn't bed warming. It's..."
Chase raised one finger. "Imitate the first companion who talks to you tomorrow—for an entire day!"
"Oh? Quite an unexpected punishment."
Erza crossed her arms, her pretty face brimming with confidence. "You probably don't know this, but I'm actually quite interested in stage plays and such."
"Rather than a punishment, this is more like a performance where I can fully blossom my brilliance."
Seeing her not intimidated but almost eager, Chase smiled and pointed at the guild companions rushing toward them, shouting.
"Before saying that, why don't you take a look at the kinds of characters in our guild?"
At these words, Erza's confident smile instantly froze.
She turned slightly, following Chase's pointing finger to the figures at the front of the crowd.
Gray—completely naked; Elfman—shouting "Manly!"; Cana—clutching a huge barrel even while walking; Bickslow—spinning and leaping with eyes closed...
It seemed that imitating any of these weirdos would be pure torture!
Especially Lucy.
If she had to imitate Lucy, would she have to wear that?
Erza's mind unconsciously conjured an image of herself in that super bold Seduction Armor.
Instantly, her face flushed bright red, her eyes glazed over, steam continuously rising from her head: Absolutely anything but that!
Only now did the Fairy Queen, so confident in her acting skills, belatedly realize the depths of Chase's nastiness and viciousness.
***
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