Queen's Knight and King's Knight, wielding swords and shields, blocked the incoming sword energy from Ikaruga.
The clash of blades did not spark. Only the dull sound of shields cracking piece by piece rang out.
Chase looked down at Lucy in his arms, his expression serious. "Lucy, these enemies are very strong. Can you help me with something?"
"What? Even you don't have confidence in beating them?!"
Lucy was startled, then nodded firmly. "I'm weak, so I might not be much help—but I'll definitely do my best!"
This is the first time fighting alongside Chase. I have to give it everything I've got!
The girl's beautiful eyes were filled with determination. Her blood boiled as she reached for the Zodiac keys at her waist.
"Open! Gate of the Go—AAAAHHHH~!"
Before she could even use her Celestial Spirit magic, a strong sense of weightlessness and howling winds engulfed her.
Watching the ground get farther and farther away, Lucy instinctively let out a series of sharp screams—Chase had thrown her straight up into the air!
This way, my hands are free. Chase stretched his arms and clenched his fists.
Lucy, flailing in mid-air: So this is the "help" you were talking about!
You stinking card addict! Battle maniac! Give me back my burning passion!!!
As expected of her—when she needed to complain, even Jesus himself couldn't stop her.
In that blink of an eye, Ikaruga had already sliced Queen's Knight and King's Knight into pieces. She crouched low and charged at Chase, gripping her newly sheathed long sword tightly.
"Mūgetsu-ryū — Garuda Flame!"
A ring of fire erupted. It not only added a burning property to her sharp slashes but also conveniently concealed the blade's trajectory!
This was her signature technique. Even if an enemy could withstand the flames, the subsequent slashes would leave them severely wounded.
But Chase's next move made Ikaruga's pupils contract in disbelief. He didn't dodge or evade. He simply stood there, slowly reaching out with his bronze-colored arm!
A card wizard with low physical combat ability—trying to block a slash that can cut through custom-made steel?
In that instant, the proud Ikaruga was utterly enraged. She reversed her flaming long sword and aimed directly for Chase's neck.
CLANG!
The sound of metal clashing rang out. The Garuda Flame that arrived first was scattered by the shockwave, splashing in all directions and scorching the street bricks black.
Within the circle of fire, Chase clenched his right fist. Using the Right Arm of the Forbidden One, he blocked the sharp blade just centimeters from his head!
Ikaruga, her attack blocked, showed no panic. Instead, she let out a confident, cold laugh.
The next second, chains broke. The Right Arm of the Forbidden One shattered inch by inch like cheap glass!
"Underestimating this one's Mūgetsu-ryū swordsmanship will get you killed, Mr. Chase—"
Ikaruga's palms gripping the sword hilt trembled slightly as she prepared to cut Chase's right arm—and his body—in two.
Suddenly, her breath caught. She saw Chase's right arm after the "equipment" had fallen away.
Layers upon layers of dark red scales were embedded in the surface of his skin, reflecting the cold moonlight, radiating an indescribable sacred aura.
Its ruggedness—it actually blocked my unstoppable slash?
No! That's not it!
My slash was weakened?!
Feeling the mysterious power coming from the tip of her blade, Ikaruga's eyes widened as she realized the root of the problem.
"I'm not underestimating your swordsmanship. Quite the opposite—I'm using my strongest magic."
Chase smiled calmly, his gaze sharpening as a surging dark red storm exploded from him. "Slifer the Sky Dragon's—"
A completely different kind of magic power?!
As a professional assassin, Ikaruga was highly keen to danger. Without hesitation, she retreated rapidly. Before her feet could even fully land, her blade light had already flashed out.
"Mūgetsu-ryū: Yasha Senkū!"
"Iron Fist!"
BOOM!!!
The fist wind roared out like a raging dragon. Under this rage to the extreme force, Ikaruga's unstoppable slashes twisted one after another—then shattered completely!
Even though Ikaruga had crossed her blade to block in the first instant, the residual shockwave still sent her stumbling herself backward. She slid over ten meters before finally dissipating all the energy and barely stopping.
"Just a punch has this much power... What kind of magic is this..."
Her arms gripping the sword trembled violently. Ikaruga had completely lost the confidence and ease she had at the beginning. Rare fear appeared in her eyes.
Not only is his card magic unparalleled, his combat reactions are flawless—and on top of that, he himself possesses terrifying magic with devastating destructive power...
What was Lord Jellal thinking, sending us to assassinate a monster like this?!
Chase did not press the advantage. Instead, he raised his arms and steadily caught Lucy, who had nearly fallen to the ground and been smashed into a pulp.
Mm. Perfect timing.
It certainly looked cool.
But for Lucy, who was lying in his arms, it had been a miserable experience. Her wide, beautiful eyes stared up at him, brimming with resentment.
From now on, I am absolutely, positively never fighting alongside Chase again!
The still-shaken girl silently resolved in her heart.
"Chase! Lucy! What's going on?!"
Just as Chase set Lucy down, two shouts came from different directions simultaneously.
Erza in her armor and Mira in her wine-red dress wore puzzled expressions as they rapidly approached.
Behind them, farther away, the guild members living in Magnolia were also arriving one after another, looking fierce.
"Damn it. The worst-case scenario has appeared!" Ikaruga bit her lip hard. Her eyes were terrifyingly cold.
She had never failed an assassination before. She couldn't accept this outcome—but she couldn't think of any way to turn the situation around.
In the end, her instinct for survival overcomes her pride. She looked at Vidaldus and shouted, "Vidaldus! Retreat!"
Vidaldus, still immersed in the shock of Lucy's attempted suicide, immediately snapped back to reality. Years of teaming up as the Three Crows made him instantly understand Ikaruga's intent. He manically strummed his guitar, releasing an extremely sharp, piercing sound wave magic.
Taking advantage of this opening, Ikaruga pulled a Magic Smoke Bomb from her chest and slammed it to the ground.
BANG!
Thick smoke instantly filled the entire street.
When the smoke cleared, Chase and Lucy looked up. The whole street was empty.
Including Owl, who had been taken down at the beginning—the Three Crows had completely vanished!
"Chase, who were those people?"
Erza and Mira walked over, looking at the surrounding battered scene and the collapsed, ruined building. Their faces showed concern.
From the scene, this was clearly an attack targeting Chase!
Upon hearing this, Lucy, who had experienced the strength of the enemies first-hand, also looked at him in confusion.
"Members of the assassin guild, Skeleton Guild. They called themselves the special operations unit 'Three Crows.'"
Chase brushed off his slightly dusty clothes, showing no hurry to pursue Ikaruga and the others.
Or to be more precise—he had deliberately let them escape. Fighting in Magnolia was far too restrictive.
As for a means of tracking? He had already planted it way back when he punched Owl down.
***
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