The bright, coastal town of Sunflower Town, usually alive with laughter and the salty scent of the sea, had been swallowed by a heavy, suffocating fear.
The air was thick with anxiety. The cries of gulls overhead were drowned out by the frantic shouting of townsfolk, the clatter of wooden barricades being nailed together, and the distant, thunderous rumble echoing from the Phoenix Mountains far to the east.
That rumble wasn't a storm. It was the ground trembling beneath the march of countless claws.
Men and women hurried through the cobbled streets, their faces pale, eyes darting between the distant mountains and the endless stretch of the Fishy Fish Sea to the west. The twin threats—the roaring monsters from one side and the impassable sea on the other—had trapped them like mice in a cage.
"They're saying the swarm's already reached the valley!" Shouted one man, his voice cracking as he hauled a crate of arrows to the half-built wall near the docks.
"What good'll arrows do if there's hundreds of them?!" Another barked back, gripping a rusted spear.
Across the harbor, the waves slapped against the wooden piers. Fishermen and sailors worked frantically to ready their small boats, but the numbers didn't add up. There were far too many people, and far too few vessels.
The town's elder—a grizzled man with a white beard and a cane—stood near the dock shouting orders. "Get the women and children ready! If no help comes, we launch the boats at sunset! The rest of us will hold the line!"
A sharp cry broke out from the crowd. "That's suicide!"
Another voice followed, trembling. "We'll all die if we stay here!"
The elder slammed the butt of his cane into the wooden dock, the sound cracking through the air like thunder. "If we flee blindly, we'll all die anyway! Someone has to hold them off—so the children have a chance to escape!"
The murmurs of the crowd quieted for a moment, but the despair never left their eyes. Mothers clutched their children tightly, whispering prayers to any god that would listen. Men gritted their teeth, gripping crude weapons they knew wouldn't be enough.
In the midst of all this turmoil, a small figure wove through the legs of panicked humans—a walking, talking red-furred Exceed, no taller than a child. She wore a small adventurer's vest and a pair of worn leather gloves, a tail flicking anxiously behind her. Her name was Ruby, one of the few non-human residents of Sunflower Town.
She looked up at the crowd, her golden eyes wide with worry. "No, no, no… this can't be happening…"
She hurried past a group of sailors carrying rope and supplies. "Hey! Hey! Did anyone hear back from the capital?! From the guilds?!"
One of the men shook his head grimly, sweat glistening on his brow. "Nothing yet, Ruby. We sent messengers yesterday, but—"
"But what if they don't come?!" She cried, her small voice trembling. "We don't have enough boats! The sea's too rough! Half the kids can't even swim!"
Another villager—a young woman with soot-streaked cheeks—knelt down and placed a gentle hand on Ruby's shoulder. Her eyes were soft but tired. "Ruby, we're doing what we can. We just have to… have faith."
"Faith doesn't stop monsters!" Ruby snapped, her voice cracking with fear and frustration. "Faith won't keep them from eating us!"
She turned and ran toward the center of town, where families were gathering around the stone fountain. The once-lively plaza was now filled with frightened faces and hurried whispers. Ruby stopped and stared eastward, her fur bristling as the distant earth-shaking tremor rolled again through the ground.
The sound of it made her tail puff out.
"They are coming from the Phoenix Mountains…" She muttered, clenching her small paws. "If they reach the coast, we're doomed."
Overhead, the gulls screeched again, startled by the growing vibration underfoot.
Ruby glanced around at the frightened villagers—at the children crying in their mothers' arms, at the men sharpening old, chipped blades—and her stomach twisted.
"Someone… someone has to come," She whispered under her breath. "Please… someone…"
Her gaze lifted instinctively toward the sky, where the sunlight shimmered off the waves. She didn't know what she was hoping to see—maybe a miracle, maybe a sign that the world hadn't abandoned them yet.
And far above the horizon, so high she almost thought it was a trick of the light, a shadow briefly crossed the sun. Something large. Something flying.
Ruby blinked, tail flicking. "…What was that?"
—-----------------------------------------------
The wind roared past as Kuromaru soared high above Fiore, his vast wings cutting through the morning air like dark blades. From this height, the world stretched endlessly below—rivers glinting like ribbons of silver, forests rolling in deep green waves, and far to the west, the faint shimmer of the sea.
Issei sat near the front of the wyvern's back, his hands resting against the warm scales as his eyes scanned the horizon. Behind him, his companions talked, their voices carried by the wind.
"So," Uzume said with her usual grin, "this is our first official quest as Dragon Heart, huh? Guess that makes us proper adventurers now."
Yuuka adjusted the scope on her rifle, her sharp eyes scanning ahead. "Let's just hope this isn't a wild goose chase. A 'monster swarm' could mean anything. Insects. Boars. Or something much worse."
"Hmm," Akitsu murmured softly, her tone thoughtful. "If it's truly a swarm… something must be driving them. Animals shouldn't gather in numbers like that naturally."
Yashima nodded. "I agree. It's strange. And if they're all heading toward the same direction, then something's pushing them. Or leading them."
Karasuba smirked, lounging lazily with her arms crossed. "Who cares what's leading them? A horde means more targets. And more fun."
Issei turned slightly, giving her a dry look. "You know, normal people don't describe a stampede of monsters as fun."
"Good thing I'm not normal, then." She grinned, flashing teeth.
The group chuckled lightly, but the mood still carried an undercurrent of tension. The word "swarm" lingered too heavily to ignore.
Issei's gaze drifted to the horizon again, the wind tugging at his jacket. 'Please, let us make it in time.'
They continued westward, and before long, the terrain beneath them began to change. The lush greens gave way to rugged, cracked earth. The air shimmered faintly with heat, and the once-blue sky turned faintly red as they approached the jagged ridges of the Phoenix Mountains.
The mountain range lived up to its name. From above, it looked scorched—ashen ridges streaked with veins of crimson stone, as though the ground itself still remembered fire. Smoke drifted lazily from scattered vents in the earth, and here and there, molten light pulsed faintly within fissures.
Uzume shielded her eyes, frowning. "Geez… this place looks like the world's biggest oven."
"Red, barren, and quiet," Yuuka muttered as she looked around. "I don't like it."
Akitsu watching the ground below started to notice something. "The ground is… trembling. Something is moving down there."
At her words, Kuromaru released a low growl, his massive head turning slightly as if he too felt the disturbance.
And then they saw it.
Stretching across the lower valleys below—a moving, shifting mass. A stampede.
From above, it looked like a living river of chaos. Hundreds—no, thousands—of creatures surged westward in a rolling tide. Wolves with molten fur, lizards with multiple eyes, enormous boars with spikes along their backs—all different species, all charging in the same direction.
Yashima's jaw tightened. "That… that's more than a swarm. It's an army."
Uzume swallowed hard. "How the hell does something like that even happen?"
Yuuka's expression was sharp and calculating as she tracked the movement below. "This isn't migration. They're running from something."
Akitsu's pale brown eyes narrowed. "Either way… if they reach the town, no one will survive."
Karasuba, however, grinned wide, her excitement palpable. "Heh. Finally, something worth cutting." Her hand went to her sword, the blade already half-drawn, its edge glinting hungrily in the light. "We could just drop in and start killing them, you know."
Issei looked over his shoulder at her, his tone calm but firm. "No."
She blinked, frowning. "No? What do you mean 'no'? You see that horde, right? It's begging to be slaughtered."
"I know," Issei said, eyes narrowing as he looked down again. "But we can't just jump in blind. We don't know what's happening yet. I want to reach the town first, talk to the people, and make sure they're safe."
For a moment, no one spoke. Even Karasuba's smirk faltered, though only slightly.
Yashima nodded firmly. "He's right. Charging in without a plan would be suicide. We'll help them best if we understand what we're dealing with."
Karasuba rolled her eyes but sheathed her blade with a huff. "Fine. But if that horde gets any closer, I'm cutting loose."
Issei gave her a small smile. "Deal."
As Kuromaru glided higher, Issei turned his attention back toward the distant horizon. Beyond the haze of heat and smoke, the faint glint of sunlight reflected off water, marking the western edge of Fiore.
Now that they'd seen the monsters for themselves, they didn't need a map. The sheer dust cloud raised by the moving horde marked their trail clearly.
"We know where they're headed," Yuuka said grimly.
"Then let's move," Issei ordered. He leaned forward, patting Kuromaru's neck. "Full speed, buddy. Straight to Sunflower Town."
Kuromaru released a low, thunderous roar that echoed across the mountains before his wings beat powerfully, propelling them forward with incredible force. The world below blurred as they shot across the red ridges, following the path of the approaching swarm.
The wind grew colder as they neared the coast, carrying with it the faint, desperate sound of bells ringing in the distance—a warning signal from the doomed town that awaited their arrival.
Issei clenched his fists. 'Hang on, everyone. We're coming.'
—---------------------------------
The wind howled louder as Kuromaru got closer to a coastal town, the massive black wyvern cutting through the low-hanging clouds like a blade of night. The sunlight shimmered against his obsidian scales, each flap of his wings casting long shadows that rippled across the coast. From afar, he looked every bit the harbinger of doom—a beast from legend coming to swallow the horizon whole.
Unfortunately, to the already panicked people of Sunflower Marine Town, that's exactly what they thought he was.
Down below, where the cobbled streets met the sandy docks, a scream pierced the air.
"IT'S A WYVERN!"
Heads snapped up. Every pair of frightened eyes turned skyward. What they saw there made their blood run cold—a vast, black-winged silhouette blotting out the morning sun, descending straight toward them.
The first instinct wasn't awe. It was terror.
"RUN!"
"They've come already!"
"It's one of the monsters! The town's doomed!"
The bells that had been used to signal the oncoming swarm rang wildly again—not as a warning this time, but as the death knell of hope itself.
Mothers grabbed their children, dragging them toward the harbor where sailors were desperately trying to push boats into the choppy waters. Men dropped tools and weapons alike as hysteria spread through the streets like wildfire.
"Get the boats out!"
"There's no time!"
"That thing will burn everything down!"
And at the center of the panic, the little red Exceed, Ruby, looked up from the marketplace and froze. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the enormous creature cutting through the sky, its black form glinting like a blade against the sun.
"N-No way…" She whispered, her fur bristling. "That's—That's a Wyvern! A black one! They're S-class monsters! Why now of all times?!"
Her tail puffed up as she stumbled backward, knocking into a barrel. "We're doomed… totally doomed!"
Kuromaru roared once—not in aggression, but to signal his descent—but the sound that shook the air only added to the chaos below. Windows rattled, crates toppled, and people screamed louder.
"IT'S ATTACKING!"
Even the bravest of the town's guards, those who had been preparing to fight the oncoming monster swarm, now turned their weapons skyward, shaking as they pointed arrows and ballistae toward the descending shape.
"Ready the ballista!" Shouted one guard captain, his face pale. "If it comes any closer, fire!"
"Captain, are you sure?!" One of his men shouted, his hands trembling as he loaded a bolt. "If it's an S-class, it'll destroy us before we even—"
"I said get ready to FIRE!"
Meanwhile, high above, Issei and the girls were completely unaware of the growing hysteria.
From their vantage point, the town below looked small and tense, but peaceful enough—at least until the alarm bells started wailing again.
Uzume squinted. "Uh… Is it just me, or does it look like they're running away from us?"
Yuuka peered through, frowning. "They look really scared for some reason."
Karasuba laughed, resting a hand on her sword. "Guess Kuromaru's reputation precedes him."
Issei blinked, confused. "Wait, what reputation?"
Uzume turned her gaze on him. "Matsu told me that wyverns are classified as catastrophic creatures in Fiore. A black wyvern especially… they're known to level entire cities."
Issei groaned, pressing a palm to his forehead. "Oh, great. So instead of calming them down, we just gave them heart attacks."
Kuromaru growled lowly, glancing back at Issei as if to say, 'Not my fault I look awesome.'
"I know, buddy," Issei sighed. "But we're not helping right now. Alright, let's not land in the middle of town—they'll think we're attacking."
Yashima frowned, gripping her hammer tightly. "Then what do we do? They're panicking. If we don't make contact soon, they might fire on us."
Issei's eyes darted toward the edge of the docks where smoke from hastily lit signal fires rose. "We'll have to land outside town. Somewhere open—where they can see we're not hostile."
Yuuka nodded. "A good option and probably best if we give them time to breathe."
"Fine," Karasuba muttered, disappointed. "But if they shoot at us, I'm cutting something."
"Let's try not to make that happen," Issei said quickly.
He leaned forward, patting Kuromaru's neck. "Take us down, buddy—outside the walls. Slowly this time. No roaring."
Kuromaru rumbled in acknowledgment, angling his massive wings to glide lower. His shadow rippled across the rooftops like a moving storm as he began to descend.
Down below, Ruby gripped her vest tightly, heart pounding as the wyvern's silhouette grew larger. "Oh no… oh no, oh no, oh no!"
The guards at the edge of town braced themselves, the captain yelling, "Steady! Hold your arrows until I give command!"
The air was thick with tension, every eye fixed on the monstrous shadow drawing nearer.
And then, with a gust of wind strong enough to shake the trees, Kuromaru landed on the open field just beyond the sunflower-covered cliffs. His massive form crouched low, wings folding carefully at his sides.
From his back, several figures jumped down one by one—humanoid and not monstrous.
The watching townsfolk froze in confusion.
Ruby blinked, rubbing her eyes. "Wait… are those—people?"
As the dust settled, the figures came into view. Issei, standing at the forefront with his red jacket fluttering in the breeze, surrounded by five women—each armed, confident, and powerful in their own right.
The black wyvern behind them let out a low growl, but it wasn't hostile. It sounded… protective. and in that stunned silence, for the first time in hours, the townsfolk didn't scream and were left in confusion.
—--------------------------------------------
The air hung thick with tension as Issei and his group stood before the sprawling crowd of townsfolk that had gathered outside Sunflower Town. Kuromaru's massive shadow loomed behind them, his wings folded tight, the sunlight glinting off his scales like dark glass. The people had formed a wide semicircle—men with spears and makeshift weapons, women clutching their children, and guards keeping their distance with hands trembling on crossbows.
For a long, uneasy moment, no one spoke. The only sound was the whispering wind that carried the faint cries of gulls from the sea.
Issei rubbed the back of his neck, glancing over the sea of wary faces. The guilt pressed on him like a weight. He hadn't meant to terrify them. The sight of their fear—of mothers clutching children who still sobbed into their sleeves—made his stomach twist.
"Well," Uzume murmured beside him, her voice quiet but wry, "I'd say our entrance could've gone smoother."
"Understatement of the year," Yuuka muttered, holstering her rifle with a sigh.
Akitsu, her pale hair fluttering softly in the wind, simply looked over the crowd and spoke in her calm monotone. "They're scared."
Yashima's eyes softened as she looked at the townsfolk. "Of course they are. They think we're another threat."
Only Karasuba, her grin sharp and unrepentant, seemed utterly unfazed. She stretched her shoulders and smirked. "If they're scared, that means they're smart."
"Karasuba," Issei said flatly, giving her a look.
"What?" She asked innocently. "I'm not the only one who showed up riding a black wyvern over a panicking town."
"Yeah, thanks for the reminder," He muttered under his breath.
Finally, one man stepped forward, a burly figure with a graying beard and the air of authority. His leather armor was worn, his sword old but well-cared-for. He looked up at Issei and his group, cautious but determined.
"I'm the mayor of Sunflower Town." He said, his voice rough but steady. "If you've come to finish what the monsters started, you'll have to go through us first."
The guards behind him raised their weapons slightly, though their shaking hands betrayed their fear.
Issei immediately raised both arms in a gesture of peace. "Wait—no, no! You've got it all wrong! We're not here to hurt anyone!" He took a step forward, his tone earnest. "We're from the Fairy Tail Guild! We came to help with the monster swarm!"
The moment the name Fairy Tail left his lips, the murmuring began.
"Did he say Fairy Tail?"
"The Fairy Tail guild from Magnolia?"
"Those crazy strong wizards?"
Hope flickered across a few faces, but uncertainty still lingered.
Seeing that, Issei bowed slightly, a rare show of humility. "I'm sorry for the scare. Really. We didn't mean to cause panic. Kuromaru here might look terrifying, but he's on our side."
Behind him, Kuromaru rumbled softly, lowering his head in what almost looked like a bow. The gesture drew gasps from the crowd.
"Impossible…" One guard muttered. "A wyvern… tamed?"
"By humans?" Another whispered.
"It does look like it listens to him…"
A few steps away, a high-pitched voice suddenly cut through the murmuring. "Well, you've got some nerve flying that thing into a town full of terrified people!"
The small red-furred Exceed, Ruby, stomped forward through the crowd, her tiny claws tapping against the stone road. Her tail flicked furiously as she planted herself before Issei, glaring up at him with fierce golden eyes.
"You nearly gave everyone a heart attack!" She scolded, her voice surprisingly loud for her size. "You can't just drop in with a monster like that when people are already panicking!"
Issei blinked, completely thrown off. "…You're… a talking cat."
Uzume tilted her head. "Wait—she looks like Happy!"
Yashima blinked in surprise. "I didn't know there were more of them here."
Ruby's ears twitched. "Yes, I'm an Exceed, thank you very much! And you—" she jabbed a small paw at Issei "—should be apologizing!"
Issei laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Ahaha… yeah, I guess I deserve that. Sorry about that. Really."
Ruby huffed, crossing her tiny arms. "Hmph! You better be."
But her glare softened slightly when she noticed how the others around her were staring at the group. When she looked up at the massive wyvern again, her fur bristled—but this time not entirely in fear. There was awe there too.
"Fairy Tail, huh?" she said quietly. "You mean… you're actually here to help?"
Issei nodded. "That's right. We heard your request and came as fast as we could. We saw the swarm on our way here—it's big. But we're not going to let it reach your town."
A murmur spread through the crowd again, this time carrying something different—hope.
"Fairy Tail's here to help?"
"They came all the way from Magnolia?"
"Maybe we can still make it!"
The mayor's expression softened as he lowered his sword. The tension in the air began to break like fog in sunlight. He stepped forward and extended a hand. "Then I owe you an apology for doubting you. And our thanks for answering our call."
Issei reached out and shook his hand firmly. "No need to apologize, sir. You were just protecting your people. We understand completely."
Around them, the guards slowly lowered their weapons. Mothers pulled their children close again, but this time in relief, not terror. A few even waved shyly toward Kuromaru, who blinked his golden eyes at them curiously.
Ruby tilted her head, tail swishing. "Guess I overreacted, huh?"
Uzume grinned. "A little bit."
Ruby puffed her cheeks. "Hmph. You still scared half the town!"
Karasuba chuckled. "They'll live."
"Karasuba," Issei said with a sigh, "not helping."
The mayor straightened, his expression grave once more. "Please. We should talk inside my home. I can explain the situation more clearly, the monsters, their numbers, and the defenses we've tried to set up."
He turned toward a modest building near the plaza, its roof marked with the town's crest: a golden sunflower encircled by waves.
"Follow me," He said. "There's much to discuss before nightfall."
Issei nodded. "Understood."
As they followed him through the wary but now somewhat calmer crowd, Ruby trotted alongside, still glancing curiously at Issei and the others.
She looked up at him, her ears twitching. "So you really ride that wyvern, huh?"
"Yeah," Issei said, smiling faintly. "He's family."
Ruby blinked, processing that answer, then gave a small grin of her own. "You Fairy Tail wizards are weird."
Uzume laughed lightly. "You're not wrong."
And as Dragon Heart followed the mayor and Ruby toward his home, the people of Sunflower town watched them go, not with fear this time, but with fragile, growing hope that maybe, just maybe, they might live to see another dawn.
—----------------------------------------------
The mayor's home wasn't particularly large or grand, but it was sturdy — built from old timber and stone, with sea-worn walls and the faint smell of salt and herbs lingering in the air. Inside, the wooden floors creaked softly as Issei and his companions stepped into the main room. A single map covered one wall, pinned with markers and scribbled notes, the ink smudged from anxious hands.
The mayor motioned for them to sit around the low table, where steaming cups of tea were already waiting. "Please," he said, voice heavy. "It's not much, but you must be tired."
Issei gave a grateful nod. "Thank you, sir. We appreciate it."
The group took their seats, Yashima and Uzume sitting cross-legged beside Issei, while Yuuka leaned against the wall. Akitsu remained quiet as ever, hands folded neatly in her lap, and Karasuba stood near the window, peering out at the anxious townsfolk still gathered outside.
Ruby hopped up onto the table, her tail flicking as she stared at the large map on the wall. "That's… a lot of red pins," She muttered.
The mayor exhaled slowly and rubbed the bridge of his nose. His face was lined with exhaustion, his eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep. "Two weeks ago," he began, "hunters in the Phoenix Mountains started reporting strange behavior from the monsters. They weren't attacking travelers or wandering aimlessly like usual. They were… gathering."
"Gathering?" Yuuka asked, frowning.
"Yes." The mayor nodded gravely. "In the beginning, we thought it was strange, but not dangerous. The monsters were keeping to themselves, further from the town. Frankly, most of us considered it a blessing."
He gave a tired laugh, one without humor. "Then, about four days ago, travelers passing through the eastern valley saw them start to move, hundreds of them, marching together, all heading in the same direction."
"Toward here," Yashima said quietly.
The mayor's expression tightened. "Aye. Toward Sunflower Town. That's when I knew we were in trouble. We sent out a few hunters to keep watch and report their progress, but…" His gaze flickered to the map again. "They never came back."
A heavy silence settled over the room. The only sound was the faint crackle of the hearth.
"I wrote an emergency request to the nearest guild," The mayor continued after a moment, his voice lowered. "But we're far from Magnolia, far from any major city. By the time help arrived, I feared it would already be too late." He looked up at them, his eyes full of weary disbelief. "I never expected anyone to actually come."
Issei met his gaze, leaning forward slightly. "Well, we're here now. And we've already seen the swarm."
The mayor froze mid-motion, his fingers tightening around his cup. "You've seen it?"
Uzume nodded grimly. "While we were flying over the mountains. It was massive with hundreds of species all moving together like a wave."
Ruby's fur stood on end, her golden eyes widening. "So it's true… all of them are coming."
"Afraid so," Yuuka said, arms crossed. "They're about two days out at most. Maybe less if they keep moving that fast."
The mayor's teacup trembled slightly in his hands. "Two days…" he whispered. "That soon…"
Ruby's voice cracked, the weight of it hitting her all at once. "T-two days? That's no time at all! We're not ready! We don't have enough walls, or weapons, or—"
Issei held up a hand, his expression calm and steady. "Don't panic. We'll handle it."
Ruby blinked, taken aback. "Handle it?!"
He gave her a reassuring smile. "That's what we came for. I promise you, those monsters won't touch this town."
Karasuba turned from the window, her grin sharp. "He's right. I could use a good fight anyway."
Uzume rolled her eyes. "You mean you always want a good fight."
But despite the banter, the confidence in their voices seemed to fill the small room. The mayor stared at them in disbelief , six people and a wyvern, promising to stop an entire horde. Yet something about the way they carried themselves, calm, united, resolute made him want to believe them.
He exhaled slowly, nodding. "Very well. You have no idea how much this means to us. You'll have whatever help we can offer."
Issei nodded, his tone softening. "Thank you. For now, though, we'll rest. We've been flying nonstop since we heard of this quest."
The mayor's brow lifted. "You came from Magnolia in one day?"
"Kuromaru's fast," Issei said with a small grin. "Really fast."
The older man shook his head in quiet amazement. "I see. Then rest is the least you deserve." He turned toward the red Exceed, who was still pacing nervously atop the table. "Ruby, would you mind showing our guests to the inn? I trust you to make sure they're comfortable."
Ruby blinked, surprised. "Me?!"
"Yes, you," the mayor said firmly. "You've got the sharpest eyes in town, and the quickest mouth to match. You'll keep them informed."
The little Exceed huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine, fine. But if they get mobbed by curious people, it's not my fault."
Issei chuckled softly as he stood, stretching his arms. "Guess that's our cue."
He turned to the mayor and bowed slightly. "Thank you for your trust. We'll start preparing at dawn."
The mayor rose and bowed deeply in return. "No, thank you, all of you, for answering when no one else could."
As Dragon Heart followed Ruby out into the fading afternoon light, the distant thunder of the sea echoed through the streets. The townsfolk watched quietly as the newcomers walked by — the fear still there, but now mingled with something new. Hope.
Ruby led the way down the narrow, sunlit streets, her tail flicking behind her as she glanced back at the group. "Are you guys sure about this? You saw the size of that swarm. It's suicide."
Issei smiled faintly, the evening sun glinting off the gauntlet on his arm. "It's not suicide if we win."
Ruby's ears twitched. She blinked up at him, startled by his tone — calm, but certain. She didn't know whether to call him brave or insane. Probably both.
—----------------------------------
The streets of Sunflower glowed softly under the amber hues of the setting sun. Smoke from cooking fires curled lazily into the air, blending with the salt of the sea breeze that rolled in from the west. The cries of gulls had faded to the occasional caw, replaced by the rhythmic sound of waves lapping against the docks.
Ruby led the way, her little paws clicking faintly against the cobblestones. The red-furred Exceed walked ahead with a brisk pace, her tail swishing back and forth in agitation — though the way her ears occasionally perked toward the humans behind her betrayed her curiosity.
"Try to keep up," she said over her shoulder. "The inn's near the south side of town. Best one we've got, though that's not saying much."
"We're fine with simple," Issei replied with a grin. "We've stayed in worse places."
"You mean your room back home," Uzume teased, elbowing him lightly.
He groaned. "Hey! That's mostly because it's small."
Yashima chuckled quietly as they passed by a group of villagers stacking barrels. "It's strange," she murmured. "When we arrived, everyone looked terrified… but now they're smiling." And she was right.
As they walked, the townsfolk who had earlier fled in panic now peeked out from doorways and windows. Mothers held their children up to wave shyly. Older men nodded in gratitude, and a few even offered small gifts, baskets of bread or bottles of fresh water, which the group politely declined with thanks.
"Is that them?" Someone whispered from a porch. "The mages from Fairy Tail?"
"Look! The black wyvern's sitting outside the fields, just waiting! It didn't even attack!"
"Maybe we really will be saved…"
Issei heard the whispers and smiled softly to himself. 'Good. Let them have hope again.'
Karasuba, of course, looked amused by the attention. "I don't mind the stares," she said with a grin. "Maybe after we win, they'll give us some good booze and a statue."
Yuuka rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. They'll build a statue of Issei before you."
Uzume giggled. "Nah, they'll just carve all of us together. 'The Dragon Heart Beauties' — has a nice ring to it."
Akitsu blinked, tilting her head. "But we're not all beauties."
"Hey!!" Issei yelled, insulted.
Uzume's smile twitched as she hid a giggle. "...Thanks, Akitsu."
Ruby groaned, tail lashing. "You guys really are weird." But despite her grumbling, she couldn't stop a small smile from creeping onto her face.
By the time they reached the inn, the sun had dipped below the horizon. The building was modest, a two-story structure with whitewashed walls, a red-tiled roof, and wooden lanterns glowing faintly by the door. The sign above read The Golden Fin Inn, its paint faded but welcoming.
Ruby turned and gestured with a paw. "Here it is. The owner's already been told you're guests of honor. You'll be staying in the big suite upstairs — the one usually reserved for high paying customers."
Issei bowed slightly. "Thank you, Ruby. Really."
She looked away quickly, trying to hide the faint warmth in her ears. "Don't thank me yet. You still have to save the town."
"Don't worry," He said with that confident grin that somehow made her tail flick. "We will."
She snorted. "Cocky human."
"A confident human," Issei corrected.
Ruby shook her head but smiled anyway before turning to leave. "Rest up. Tomorrow's going to be rough." As she padded down the street, her small form disappeared into the crowd, her red fur briefly illuminated by lantern light before vanishing into the night.
—-------------------------------
Inside, the group found their room, surprisingly large, with a single enormous bed piled high with soft blankets and pillows. The window overlooked the sea, the moonlight shimmering across the calm water beyond. The air smelled faintly of lavender and salt.
Yashima, seeing the room, looked at the decorations. "This place looks really cozy."
Uzume flopped down face-first onto the mattress, muffling her voice into the blankets. "I could die right now and be okay with it."
"Don't say that," Issei said with a tired chuckle. "We've got a fight tomorrow."
Yuuka sat by the window, her eyes scanning the horizon, where faint fires from the distant mountains flickered red. "They'll be here soon," She murmured.
Issei followed her gaze, his expression thoughtful. 'Two days, maybe less.' He clenched his fists slightly. 'We'll stop them before they ever touch this place.'
Akitsu, sensing his tension, spoke softly. "You worry too much. We'll win."
"I know," he said quietly. "But I can't help it. This town's counting on us."
Karasuba stretched lazily and threw herself down onto the bed beside Uzume. "Then stop worrying and rest. If you're tired tomorrow, you'll just get in my way."
"Nice pep talk," Uzume muttered.
Yashima smiled faintly. "She's right though, Issei. Rest is part of preparation."
He sighed, the weight in his chest easing a little. "Yeah, yeah. You're all right."
When he finally lay down, the others naturally gathered close, something that had long since become normal for them. Uzume ended up curled near his arm, Yashima leaning against his shoulder, Yuuka resting by his other side, Karasuba sprawled without care near his legs, and Akitsu lying quietly at his back, her cold aura a strange comfort in the warm night air.
For a moment, the only sound was the quiet breathing of the group and the distant crash of waves.
Issei stared up at the ceiling, exhaustion pulling at his body, but his mind still sharp with thoughts of the coming battle.
He felt a soft movement at his side, Yashima's voice, gentle. "You're thinking too loud again."
He smiled faintly. "Sorry. Habit."
Uzume stirred sleepily. "We've got your back, idiot. Don't forget that."
"I won't."
And as the moonlight streamed through the window, bathing them all in silver, the group finally drifted into a quiet, peaceful sleep .
—---------------------------------------------------
The Phoenix Mountains loomed under a night sky, their cracked ridges glowing faintly with heat as dusk bled into night. Smoke rose from fissures in the ground, carrying with it the smell of ash and sulfur. The air vibrated with a low, rhythmic tremor, not from the mountains themselves, but from the countless pounding feet of the swarm.
Across the scorched valleys, a sea of monsters moved as one. Wolves with molten eyes snarled as they leapt over jagged rocks, lizards the size of houses slithered through ravines, and horned boars with blackened tusks tore at the earth in a frenzy. The ground shook beneath their combined charge, a living earthquake rolling ever westward toward the sea.
Their growls and shrieks echoed between the cliffs — a sound like a thousand storms. Dust clouds trailed behind them, glowing orange in the dying light.
But if one looked closer, past the stampede, deeper into the heart of the horde…
Figures cloaked in black rode could be seen on various monstrous beasts, their whips cracking through the air with sparks of magic. Each lash struck with precise cruelty, leaving glowing marks that burned against the creatures' hides, forcing them to run faster, harder, more violently.
"Keep them moving!" One of the figures shouted, his voice echoing over the chaos. "The master demands the town fall by tomorrow night!"
"Yes, commander!" Another mage yelled back, pulling hard on the reins of a twisted chimera beneath him. The creature roared in pain but obeyed, charging forward through the mass of lesser beasts.
There were at least a dozen of them, dark mages, their cloaks marked with crimson runes that pulsed faintly with light. Each one held a different kind of whip, some forged from living fire, others crackling with shadow or electricity. The air around them shimmered with the heat of their magic.
"These beasts are slower than promised!" One of them snarled. "At this rate, they'll never reach Sunflower by nightfall!"
A taller mage, his face hidden beneath a bone-like mask, raised his whip high. The lash burst into crimson flame before he brought it down hard against the earth. The ground exploded in a shockwave of energy that rippled through the stampede.
The monsters howled in fury and in response, their pace increased.
"See?" the masked mage growled. "They obey fear. Like all living things."
The others laughed darkly, though unease flickered in their eyes as they glanced at him.
"What about the wyvern?" one dared to ask. "Reports say it landed near the town. A black one and it's tamed."
The masked mage's head tilted slightly. "A tamed wyvern…? Hmph. I heard rumors that a mage recently tamed one from Fairy Tail."
A murmur rippled through the group, their confidence dimming slightly.
"If Fairy Tail's involved—"
"Then it makes no difference," The leader interrupted coldly, his voice dripping with venom. "Let them come. We'll crush them along with the town. The master wishes this coast burned to ash, and no guild will stand in our way."
He lifted a gloved hand, and the runes on his whip flared blood-red. "Drive them harder. The swarm must not stop."
At his command, the others raised their whips again, the air alive with snapping cracks and the agonized bellows of beasts.
From above, the view was hellish, an endless torrent of monsters surging westward under the command of dark silhouettes. The mountain valleys glowed with the fires of their march, the earth itself trembling beneath their advance.
The masked mage turned his gaze toward the town that was almost within reach, his eyes gleaming through the slits of his mask.
"Run, little wizards," He murmured, his voice low and cruel. "Run while you still have time. When dawn breaks, your sanctuary will burn."
The roar of the swarm rose again, shaking the mountains as the tide of monsters poured onward a living storm.