The mission to eliminate the Oración Seis was completed without a hitch.
It was time for everyone to go their separate ways.
Before parting, amid Natsu and Happy's teasing about "having an affair," the group was shocked to find that Blue Pegasus's Ren and Lamia Scale's Sherry had taken a liking to each other.
After learning that Lucy possessed multiple golden Celestial Spirit keys, Hibiki used Ancient Texts to teach her a Celestial Spirit Mage-exclusive, large-scale spell—All-Day Constellation: Star Atlas Chronicle.
It was a spell Hibiki had chanced upon; only a Celestial Spirit Mage with profound insight into Star Spirit magic could master it.
In today's magical world, Lucy alone perfectly met that requirement.
Still, given her current magic capacity, casting it solo remained a distant dream.
The christina slowly started up. Ichiya and The Thunder God Tribe struck heroic poses on the airship's edge. "Man! Till we meet again, my friends—I'll miss your fragrances."
Watching the Magic airship rise, the three Lamia Scale Mages prepared to depart as well.
Lyon, in senior-brother fashion, warned Gray, "You'd better quit stripping, or you'll be branded a weirdo and never land a girlfriend."
Gray, eyeing Lyon—who'd unconsciously already removed his shirt—shot back, "You've no right to talk. Besides, I already have a girlfriend; you'll never know what it feels like to be pursued by a beauty."
"What?!"
Lyon was stunned. "I'm this handsome and still single—how can someone as ugly as you score one…?"
"Hey, hey, hey! Where am I ugly?!"
While the brothers bickered, Jura told the Fairy Tail group, "Give Master Makarov my regards. And Wendy, come visit Lamia Scale when you're free."
Watching Lamia Scale's trio ride off on Jura's rock serpent, Fairy Tail prepared to head home.
Hope checked the map: southeast of Blue Moon lay a coastal town that doubled as a shipyard, earning its keep by building and selling vessels.
By ship from that town, they'd reach Harujion—the unlucky port where Natsu and Lucy first met—in half a day at most.
From Harujion a Magic train would carry them back to Magnolia that very night.
Everyone agreed at once and set off for the coastal town, chartering a large vessel and sailing away.
"Wahaha!"
"The sea breeze feels amazing!"
"Transportation is the best!"
Natsu, for once not seasick, dashed excitedly across the deck.
"Big Brother Natsu, my balance spell's about to wear off," Wendy warned with a smile—only for Natsu to keel over and retch the instant it faded.
"Wendy… o-one more…"
Wendy shook her head. "Casting it again right away will greatly weaken its effect."
Before boarding she'd used a healing spell to steady his balance, but it wore off faster than expected.
She blamed Natsu's super-adaptive body for shortening the intended hour-long effect to barely ten minutes.
Lucy beamed at the four Spirit keys Sorano had handed her: Gemini, Aries, and a Scorpio golden key.
With three new golden Spirits, she now owned nine golden keys—barely three months after entering the magical world.
The thought curved her lips into a grin.
A Celestial Mage wielding a super spell, nine golden contracts, and several silver ones—no one had reached such heights in centuries.
Heh-heh, I really am a genius!
Yet joy flickered into doubt.
Her current limit let her summon only two Spirits at once; so many keys were wasted in her hands.
And then there was the distant Star Atlas Chronicle… Her budding ambition wilted before her own weakness.
Seeing Lucy suddenly gloomy, Erza asked worriedly, "Feeling sick? Want Wendy to check you?"
Lucy waved hurriedly. "I'm fine—just feel so weak…"
Noticing the keys jingling in her grasp, Erza understood: Lucy doubted herself after gaining so much so fast.
Other Holder-type Mages fretted daily over where to find gear that matched their magic.
Lucy, by contrast, had sailed smoothly since joining Fairy Tail.
Nine of the only twelve golden keys in existence—she owned more than she could use.
Yet the growing power left her afraid she'd hold her Spirits back—though at seventeen her magic was far from its peak and her future wide open.
Just as Erza moved to comfort her, Lucy's eyes lit up. "Erza, is there a way to boost magic power quickly—no side effects?"
No side effects? You dare ask… Erza flicked her forehead. "Nothing's free, but I do know one method—if you can stomach a world of pain."
Lucy's eyes blazed; she hugged Erza's arm, batting her lashes. "A little pain is nothing—tell me how!"
"You sure?"
At Lucy's eager nod Erza gave a cryptic smile, told Gray at the helm, and led Lucy to the aft deck.
There Hope was consulting Ancient Texts while Mystogan etched a complex array across the planks per its split-screen instructions.
Inside the array lay Crom Cruach, forcibly "sleeping." Lucy, transfixed, forgot why she'd come.
"What are you two doing?"
Hope peeked from behind the Ancient Texts screen. Seeing Erza's puzzlement, he explained, "While browsing the magic Master Rogue Cheney passed on, I found a vile curse. This serpent might be its victim."
His tone turned grave, tension gripping Erza and Lucy.
Hope drew a slow breath. "Crom Cruach is very likely… human."
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