Deep within the Vaas Tree Sea.
A cave where ancient people held sacrificial ceremonies was being used by Oración Seis as their hideout.
"Brain, how should we proceed with our next action?"
"We haven't even found Nirvana yet, and they've already come knocking!"
Laser and Cobra Erik looked worried. They were waiting for Brain's arrangements. With Ann gone and Midnight sleeping, there were only four of them who could act.
Not to mention, they also had to face Laxus and the never-before-seen Zorn, both of whom were clearly stronger than them. These were all stumbling blocks on their path.
"If only I had a lot of money right now, maybe there'd be a way!" Hoteye suddenly clapped his hands, expressing his thought, which, as usual, was related to money.
These words made Cobra Erik's forehead twitch with black lines. He took a few steps forward and said to Hoteye, "I say, you, besides money, can't you think in other directions?"
"With money, even love can be easily obtained!" When Hoteye said this, his entire body glowed with a light called 'love,' illuminating the slightly dark cave for a moment.
"Yes, yes," Erik said with a sigh of helplessness, his hands in his pockets, agreeing.
"Alright, now we'll split up. Call the other Dark Guild Members and try to stall for as much time as possible. Laxus will still be handled by me and Midnight!"
Brain's face was grim. Things were a bit out of his control. Now he could only try his best to hold back the Allied Forces while he and Midnight dealt with Laxus.
"Fine, there's no other way. Let's go then!"
"Hey, let's see who defeats more enemies, and we'll reward 1,000,000 J based on the number of people!"
"Seriously, can you not just think about money?"
Cobra Erik, Laser, and Hoteye slowly walked out of their hiding place and scattered in three directions.
"Now I must find Nirvana as soon as possible and use that Magic of light and darkness conversion!" Brain's mind was filled with a craving for Nirvana's Magic.
...
Meanwhile, the Allied Forces had also split into various teams, heading in different directions, searching for the possible hideout of Oración Seis.
Natsu, Happy, Gray, and Carla, a team with Wendy, a team from Lamia Scale, a team from Blue Pegasus, Erza and Lucy, all ran deep into the Tree Sea.
Waiting for them ahead were already the long-awaited Dark Guild Members.
"I can't believe it, Wendy, you're a Sky Dragon Slayer? Does the air taste good?" Natsu, having just heard Wendy say she was a Sky Dragon Slayer, immediately asked her the question that had just popped into his mind, not noticing Wendy's hesitant expression.
"Th-this... it's alright, but if I inhale air, my power does recover a bit," Wendy answered Natsu's question softly and gently. At this moment, she was also somewhat conflicted. She also had some questions she wanted to ask Natsu, but she didn't know how to begin.
Carla, who was beside her, noticed Wendy's unusual expression and helped by speaking up, "Wendy, didn't you choose to participate in this mission because you wanted to see Natsu? You can ask any questions you have."
"Questions for me?" Natsu looked at Wendy with a puzzled expression.
"I, I want to know, do you know the whereabouts of Grandeeney, the Sky Dragon?"
"Seven years ago, she, who taught me Dragon Slayer Magic, suddenly disappeared." When Wendy spoke of this, her previously nervous expression immediately turned into one of loss and a tiny bit of hope, hoping to get useful information from Natsu.
"Seven years ago? Grandeeney, the Sky Dragon? Is the timing the same as when he asked Gajeel last time?" When Natsu heard Wendy's question, his thoughts immediately went to what Gajeel had told him: Metalicana, the Iron Dragon, had also disappeared at the same time. Could there be some connection?
"Natsu, watch out!"
Natsu's thoughts had wandered, and he didn't hear the warning from the person beside him. With a "bang," he was directly knocked to the ground by a tree trunk.
"Are you alright, Natsu?"
"Ah, ah, sorry, Big Brother Natsu, let me heal you." Wendy instinctively apologized to Natsu and quickly, a green glow appeared on her hands, instantly healing the wound on Natsu's head.
"Oh, what do I see? Healing Magic, Lost Magic?" An extremely arrogant voice came from the sky. When Natsu and Gray looked forward, they saw an old acquaintance appear before them.
"Erigor? What are you doing here?"
"Last time, didn't the Council collapse? Those guards were no match for me. Of course, I had to run amidst the chaos. After all, I still have to get my revenge on you."
Erigor wore a wicked smile, clearly enjoying Natsu's surprise. His face grew increasingly sinister as he spoke.
"Be careful, we've been surrounded!" Carla said, her face solemn, as she looked at the crowd of people appearing around them.
"What? There are so many Dark Guild Members?" Gray turned his head and scanned around, realizing they were surrounded by a group of people who looked like monkeys.
"People? Oh, so many monkeys, and two big monkeys, oh ho ho." Natsu, upon seeing them, completely ignored Erigor and started mimicking monkey behavior, playing around.
"We are the Dark Guild under Oración Seis - the Naked Bandage Man Guild! Let us have a good time playing with you. Your doomsday has arrived!"
One of them, a man with sunglasses and an afro, excitedly and wickedly invited Natsu and the others, but he never expected that this action would lead him to suffer the most terrible beating.
"Oh, quite arrogant, aren't we?"
Gray's hands emitted bursts of cold air, angered to the point of laughter by the words of this group.
"Hey, what are you doing? We need to escape from here quickly!"
"Don't worry, Carla, Wendy, it will be over soon."
Natsu's hands erupted with scorching flames, confidently looking at his surroundings and Erigor in the sky.
"Gray, these small fry around us are up to you. Protect Wendy and them. I'll take care of Erigor."
"Hmm, no problem."
Natsu and Gray protected Wendy and Carla within a certain range.
Even Happy was holding a wooden stick, defiantly standing in front of Carla: "Carla, don't worry, I will protect you."
Meanwhile...
The other teams were also surrounded by the same number of people, but Erza and Lucy directly encountered Cobra Erik.
To be continued~