"Wendy, are you okay?"
Minerva held the Spatial Vortex with both hands. The wind kicked up by the battlefield made her long hair and clothes sway back and forth.
If she swapped her training uniform for a qipao, she might actually look a bit like the young lady of Sabertooth.
"Yes. Thank you, Minerva."
After thanking her, Wendy bowed deeply to Minerva and said timidly, "I-I am sorry. I am not good at fighting."
"That is okay! I will protect you!" Minerva puffed out her still-developing chest with confidence.
Ever since she witnessed Chase single-handedly holding off a giant monster to protect the evacuating tourists on Demon Ruins Island, she had become even more determined to stick to her original ideals. No longer influenced by her father Jiemon's brainwashing, she wanted to grow stronger to protect those around her from harm.
And this was precisely why her Eighteen Demon Gods Magic had improved by leaps and bounds under Ur's guidance. The source of magic power is the heart and one's will.
So now, helping Wendy made Minerva very happy. She had finally taken one step closer to Mr. Chase.
"Wendy, your magic is also very powerful. Do not always be so soft..."
Carla was about to tell Wendy to be braver when her pupils suddenly contracted. A scene from a few seconds into the future flashed before her eyes.
"Look out!" Her expression drastically changed as she cried out in alarm.
"You are just a brat still wet behind the ears! Did you really think this boring magic could trap me?!"
Erigor, hovering in midair, had a dark expression. He gripped his scythe in a reverse hold and swung it with force.
CRASH!
A magic circle formed. Sharp wind blades howled out from within, slicing the surrounding chaotic space to shreds.
As one of the Lost Magics, the power of the Eighteen Demon Gods was undeniable. But at her current stage, Minerva was still a child. Both her magic power and combat experience were far below Erigor's level.
The remaining wind blades that had broken through the chaotic space sliced straight toward Minerva's back. Fortunately, thanks to Carla's warning, Minerva reacted in time. She crossed her hands and fired off a spatial shockwave, canceling out the wind blades.
Just swinging his weapon produced this much power? This guy... is strong!
Feeling the numbness spreading through her palms, Minerva was secretly alarmed. She immediately realized she was no match for an enemy of this level.
Even so, facing the advancing Erigor, the determined girl stood firm like a big sister, unwavering as she shielded Wendy and the two cats.
"A reckless brat!"
Her fearless expression only made Erigor angrier. He raised his wind-wrapped scythe and swung it down mercilessly.
BOOM!
Sharp wind blades tore several gashes into the ground. But Minerva, who should have been struck, was unharmed. She had appeared in a safe area to the side.
"I... I dodged his attack?" Minerva herself was a bit confused.
Looking at the gentle wind swirling around her, she suddenly understood. Her brow furrowed. "No, that is not right. I just suddenly became faster!"
"Gale Wind. That is Wendy's Enchantment magic. It reduces gravity's effect on the target and increases their movement speed."
Carla breathed a sigh of relief and answered the question on Minerva's mind. "For the record, Wendy is a Sky Dragon Slayer."
Minerva turned around and saw the magic circle lit up beneath Wendy's feet. A look of delight appeared on her face. "Wendy, you really are amazing too!"
"Eh? A Dragon Slayer? Like Natsu?!" Happy's face twisted into a shocked expression.
"E-even if I am not good at fighting, I am still a mage of Cait Shelter!"
Wendy was no longer afraid of the powerful enemy. She swung her hands, palms aimed at Minerva. Her small body erupted with a strong surge of magic power. "Iron Arm Strength! Armor Strength! All Attributes... "
"Enchant! "
Several flashes of light enveloped Minerva's body, transforming into a ceaseless flow of power. It granted her senses and combat abilities far beyond her normal state.
"So this is... Wendy's magic..."
Minerva clenched her fist, now swirling with chaotic light, and faced Erigor's wind head-on. "We can do this! If we fight together, we can definitely beat this guy!"
If that is the case, the outcome is already decided.
Seeing this from the sidelines, Chase stopped worrying. He simply remarked to himself: himself
It seems Wendy has not yet been corrupted by Natsu. No, she has not yet learned basic combat techniques from Natsu...
Yes. This little cutie has enormous potential. I must find an opportunity to give her some special training.
With Lucy as a successful test subject, Chase was now quite confident in this area.
Lucy, who had just sent several dark guild grunts flying with a Lucy Kick, suddenly felt a strange itch on her scalp.
With Wendy's support, Minerva, now amplified in all her stats, began a strong counteroffensive against Erigor.
Meanwhile, the battles on the other fronts were also drawing to a close.
As the rousing background music finished its final notes, Dark Magician Girl and the others slowly put away their instruments.
With one final, brilliant magical explosion, Erigor, Erik, Sawyer, Richard, Midnight, and the leader Brain collapsed one after another. Unsurprisingly, they had been defeated by the allied forces.
"OOOOH HAHAHA! We won!" Natsu, his face bearing scratches from the Poison Dragon, raised both fists and cheered loudly.
"We really did it!" Minerva and Wendy hugged each other excitedly.
Ur, Erza, and the others, who had not had time to gather information on Master Zero, also let out heavy sighs of relief. They thought this mission to subjugate Oración Seis could finally end.
The mood on the dark guild side was the complete opposite. With their leaders defeated, the remaining members, a ragtag bunch held together by self-interest, immediately crumbled. Their weapons clattered to the ground as they fled, crawling and scrambling, into the forest behind them.
"Though they are not the main target of this operation, I am sorry, but I cannot let you leave so easily..."
Ur clashed her fist against her palm, creating ice crystals. She was about to pursue the fleeing dark guild members when she suddenly seemed to notice an evil presence. Her expression froze.
Brain, lying on the shattered ice in a spread-eagle position, had a pained look on his face. His chest heaved violently. One by one, the strange black markings on his face began to disappear.
"It is over. It is all over! You have defeated the Six Demons! That person... that terrifying person is about to come out!"
The staff that Brain had been holding floated in the air. The eye socket at its end flickered with a ghostly light, betraying an almost human panic.
"What is this thing?" Gray frowned, also sensing something ominous.
"The strategist of Oración Seis, Claude."
Jura, walking up slowly, had a grave expression on his face as he said heavily, "Just as that woman said, the staff is also a member of Oración Seis."
"So Oración Seis actually has seven members. I see." Erza nodded, immediately accepting the new information.
"Ah ha... that is Erza for you..." Lucy marveled.
When she had first heard this information from Sorano, she had been completely shocked.
"The important part is not the walking stick they use to scout ahead, but..."
Ichiya, his stamina exhausted, had reverted from his muscle-bound form. Under the shocked gazes of his three disciples, he revealed the truth. "...the true master of Oración Seis, Zero!"
Claude, with his sharp ears, immediately turned around and angrily shouted, "Bastard! Who told you I was old? I am incredibly strong!"
"Th-that is so man. I am sorry. Because you did not look like much, I naturally assumed as much." Ichiya was surprised and apologized profusely.
"How bizarre..." Lucy sighed, holding her forehead.
It seemed the seventh member of Oración Seis was quite sensitive about his age.
And Ichiya, why apologize just because he is your type?
You have no problem shoving your nose in my face and Erza's, but all your manners are reserved for the enemy, huh?!
WHOOSH!!
A terrifying magic power suddenly erupted from within Brain's body. It transformed into a dark, gloomy wind that swept across the entire battlefield.
Lucy, who had been silently bitching in her mind, was shocked. She quickly hid behind Erza, frightened by the monster-like magic power.
Deep within the dark, shadowy aura, a man with no facial features stepped out slowly, red lightning crackling around him.
"Things seem to have gotten interesting, Claude. Even Midnight has been taken down?" Zero said.
"Welcome back, Master Zero. And I am terribly sorry. I am truly, deeply sorry!" Claude kowtowed frantically.
Though he was just a staff, he seemed to have remarkable flexibility.
Yes, and quite a strong sense of loyalty, too.
"Enough of that boring nonsense. This body... this power... this magic power... all of it feels so nostalgic..."
Zero's eyes were bloodshot. A brutal smile appeared on his lips. He shrugged off his tattered coat and put on a blue-green magic uniform.
The sickeningly evil magic power erupted once more, causing the very ground to tremble violently.
"You brats. You are the ones who have reduced my guild to this state?"
"Heh heh. As the master of Oración Seis, I must show you all—GLRK! "
Before Zero could finish his grand entrance speech, a dark golden streak of light shot toward him and slammed hard into his face.
"You kept me waiting, Master of Oración Seis!"
Chase's deep blue cape fluttered wildly. His hands already itching for a fight, he adjusted his stance, stomped the ground to pieces, and swung his clenched fist, the Right Arm of the Forbidden One, with all his might.
BOOM!
The explosive force of the impact sent Zero flying. He smashed through countless giant trees along the way and plunged deep into the Wise Woods, causing a massive explosion.
***
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