The magical four-wheeled cruiser rumbled along the dirt road, kicking up a trail of dust as it sped through the countryside of Fiore.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was a chaotic mix of anticipation and absolute misery.
"Ugh... I'm gonna die..." Natsu groaned, his face a sickly shade of green.
He hung halfway out the passenger window, completely incapacitated by his severe motion sickness.
Happy sat on his back, patting the Fire Dragon Slayer sympathetically.
"Pathetic," Gray scoffed from the back seat, though he was already stripped down to his boxers without realizing it.
"We haven't even reached the rendezvous point and this useless guy is already defeated by a bumpy road."
"Clothes, Gray," Lucy sighed, resting her chin on her hand as she stared out the window.
Ace sat comfortably in the corner of the carriage, he looked at the bickering mages with a faint smirk playing on his lips.
Despite their usual antics, he could sense a subtle underlying shift in their demeanor.
Their magical energy was tightly coiled and their eyes darted instinctively to the windows, casually but constantly scanning the tree lines.
The humiliating defeat by the Dark Masters had left a lasting impression.
They were no longer just a group of reckless brawlers going on a road trip, they were like a strike team heading into a warzone now.
"We're arriving," Erza announced from the driver's seat, smoothly steering the magical vehicle off the main path and through a set of towering ornate iron gates.
The carriage came to a halt in front of a sprawling, ridiculously opulent mansion.
The Blue Pegasus villa was a masterpiece of extravagant architecture, featuring pristine white marble pillars, crystal-clear fountains, and perfectly manicured rose gardens.
It looked less like a military staging ground and more like a vacation resort for royalty.
Natsu practically threw himself out of the vehicle, kissing the cobblestone driveway with tears of joy.
"Sweet, solid ground! I'm alive!"
"Get up, Natsu. We have to represent Fairy Tail with dignity," Erza commanded, adjusting her silver breastplate and marching toward the grand double doors.
As Ace followed the group inside, the heavy doors swung open to reveal an interior that was somehow even more extravagant than the outside.
The grand hall was dimly lit with romantic, floating lacrima lights.
Soft, jazzy music played from an unseen source, and the air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and fresh roses.
"Welcome, stray fairies," a smooth, velvety voice echoed through the hall.
Three young men stepped out of the shadows, practically glowing with a sparkling, charismatic aura.
Hibiki Lates, Eve Tearm and Ren Akatsuki—the infamous "Trimens" of the Blue Pegasus guild.
They moved with coordinated theatrical elegance, instantly surrounding Erza and Lucy.
"To think the fairies would send such beautiful flowers to our humble abode," Hibiki murmured, kissing the back of Erza's armored hand.
"We shall protect you with our lives," Eve added, offering Lucy a dazzling, boyish smile.
"Tch. It's not like I actually want to protect you, but I guess I have to," Ren said, looking away with a blush.
Lucy's eyes practically turned into hearts, thoroughly swept up in the host-club atmosphere.
Erza, on the other hand, looked incredibly uncomfortable, awkwardly trying to pull her hand away from Hibiki.
Natsu sniffed the air, his nose wrinkling in distaste. "They smell like too much perfume, Ace."
"Agreed," Ace sighed, stepping forward and smoothly placing himself between the Trimens and the girls.
"Gentlemen. While the hospitality is appreciated, we aren't here for a show. Where is your leader?"
Hibiki blinked, his charming smile faltering for a fraction of a second as he met Ace's gaze.
The Blue Pegasus mage possessed the Archive magic, allowing him to passively read data and magical signatures.
But when he looked at Ace, he felt a strange.... void—like staring into an endless abyss that completely defied Earthland's magical laws.
Before Hibiki could respond, a new voice echoed from the ceiling.
"Meeeeeen!"
A short incredibly blocky man with a large square face and an impeccably tailored white suit descended gracefully from the second-floor balcony.
He landed with a dramatic pose, sparkling lights magically appearing around him.
"I-Ichiya" Erza whispered, a rare, visible shudder running down her spine.
"He... has a very unique presence."
"Welcome, my beloved Erza! And the esteemed mages of Fairy Tail!" Ichiya declared, striking another pose.
"The sweet parfum of justice has gathered in this room!"
"Are we sure this is the right place?" Gray muttered, sweat-dropping.
Suddenly, the temperature in the room plummeted.
The sweet scent of roses was instantly overpowered by a biting, freezing wind. The grand doors of the villa blew open, revealing three figures stepping out of the chilly mist.
"It seems we aren't the last to arrive," a calm, familiar voice sneered.
Lyon Vastia stepped into the hall with a confident smirk on his face.
Behind him stood Sherry Blendy, dramatically clutching her cheeks and a massive towering man with a bald head.
"Lyon!" Gray's eyes narrowed, immediately stepping forward.
"Gray. It seems you haven't frozen to death yet," Lyon replied smoothly.
"This icy reunion... it must be for love!" Sherry spun gracefully.
Before the rivalries could flare up, the towering man behind Lyon stepped forward.
"Peace, young ones. We are not here to settle personal grievances," Jura Neekis said.
His voice was deep and resonant, carrying the heavy immovable weight of a mountain.
The entire room fell silent.
Jura Neekis was one of the Ten Wizard Saints, a title given only to the strongest mages on the entire continent.
His magical presence was incredibly dense, completely anchoring the chaotic energy in the room.
Jura's calm eyes swept over the Fairy Tail group.
He noted Erza's sharp discipline, Gray and Natsu's coiled power and Lucy's nervous determination.
But then, his gaze locked onto the young man standing near the back.
Jura's eyes widened a fraction of an inch.
As a master of Earth magic, Jura was deeply attuned to the vibrations and weight of the world.
But the young man before him felt entirely detached from the earth's natural leylines.
Instead, Ace radiated a dormant pressure.
It was the aura of a commander who possess a terrifyingly calm authority.
Ace met Jura's gaze.
He gave a polite, respectful nod.
Jura returned the nod, a silent acknowledgment passing between the two heavyweights.
'Fairy Tail has truly sent a monster of their own,' the Wizard Saint thought.
"Now that Lamia Scale has arrived, we are only waiting for one more guild," Hibiki announced, snapping his fingers.
Multiple glowing, holographic screens materialized in the air around them.
It was Hibiki's Archive magic, displaying highly detailed profiles and magical signatures.
"Allow me to brief you on our targets," Hibiki said, his tone turning dead serious. "The Oración Seis. A guild composed of only six mages, but they control a third of the entire dark underworld. Brain, their leader. Cobra, Racer, Hoteye, Angel, and Midnight."
"Only six of them, huh?" Natsu cracked his knuckles, a feral grin spreading across his face.
"Don't get cocky, Natsu," Ace warned softly, his voice cutting through the room. "A small group with overwhelming power. Does that remind you of anything?"
Natsu froze, Gray stiffened, and Erza's hand drifted instinctively to the hilt of her sword.
The memories of the deserted island—the annihilating light of MetalSeadramon, the apocalyptic cannons of Machinedramon—flashed vividly in their minds.
"Right," Natsu muttered, his grin fading into a sharp, focused scowl.
He didn't rush toward the door.
Instead, he looked at his guildmates. "We fight together. Nobody charges in blind."
Ichiya and Jura exchanged surprised glances.
Fairy Tail was notorious for their chaotic destructive lack of teamwork.
Seeing them exhibit such disciplined, grim focus was incredibly unexpected.
"Footsteps," Happy suddenly spoke up, his sensitive ears twitching toward the main entrance.
"Someone's coming."
The allied mages turned toward the grand double doors.
The heavy wood slowly creaked open, revealing the delegates from the final guild: Cait Shelter.
"Um... excuse me..."
A small, timid voice echoed into the grand hall.
A young girl with long, dark blue hair stepped nervously into the light.
She couldn't have been older than twelve.
She wore a simple, oversized dress, and she clutched the hem tightly, her large brown eyes darting nervously around the room full of elite, hardened combatants.
Floating beside her was a small white cat with a pink bow and a perpetually stern expression.
"I-I'm Wendy Marvell," the little girl stammered, bowing so quickly she nearly lost her balance.
"And this is Carla! We're the delegates from Cait Shelter! P-Please take care of us!"
Silence stretched across the room.
"A kid?" Gray blurted out, completely dumbfounded.
"They sent a little girl and a cat to fight the Oración Seis?!" Lyon scoffed, shaking his head. "Is Cait Shelter mocking this alliance?"
Wendy flinched, tears instantly welling up in her eyes. "I-I'm sorry! I know I don't look strong, but I can use support magic! I'll do my best not to get in the way!"
Carla crossed her small arms, glaring fiercely at the room. "Don't mock the child! She has more courage than half the brutes in this room!"
Before the Trimens or Erza could step in to defuse the situation, Ace walked forward.
Ace stopped in front of the trembling girl.
He knelt down so he was at eye level with her, offering a warm reassuring smile.
"Don't listen to them, Wendy," Ace said gently. "You don't need to apologize,"
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