"Fairy Machine Gun!"
Evergreen spread her arms wide.
Golden light erupted from her palms, transforming into a relentless storm of magical bullets that rained down on Ezel like a divine punishment. Some slammed directly into his body, others detonated around him, chewing the ground apart.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The street collapsed under the bombardment. Stone shattered, debris flew, and clouds of dust mixed with glittering golden scales, swallowing Ezel completely.
Evergreen didn't even bother to look.
With a sharp gesture, she snapped her fingers.
"Fairy Bomb!"
The scattered golden scales detonated all at once.
A deafening explosion tore through the ruined building, golden light erupting upward like a pillar and illuminating the night sky above the town.
Her wings beat harder, lifting her higher into the air.
Evergreen thrust both palms forward.
Between them, golden magic condensed rapidly, swelling into a blazing sphere that grew larger and denser with every heartbeat.
"Fairy Cannon!"
A golden beam nearly two meters thick tore forward, drilling straight into the center of the fading explosion.
The sound came late.
Half a second later, the ground convulsed violently.
Elfman and Juvia, who had only just regained their footing, were nearly thrown off their feet again as the shockwave rolled through the street.
Juvia stared blankly.
"Miss Evergreen. Was all of that… really necessary?"
Elfman answered without hesitation, eyes shining.
"Manly Man!"
"Eh?" Juvia tilted her head.
Cana arrived a moment later and clapped Juvia on the shoulder.
"Only you could ask that."
Juvia still didn't understand.
Evergreen descended lightly, landing beside Elfman. Her anger still burned, but her voice faltered when she saw him up close.
"You.."
She caught Cana's teasing gaze and immediately snapped open her fan, pointing it sharply at Elfman.
"Look at the state you're in....shameful! You did bring a first-aid kit, didn't you? Hand it over!"
The scolding lasted barely half a sentence.
The rest came out far softer than she intended.
"It's fine," Elfman said, flexing despite the pain. "The cuts aren't deep. A Manly Man stops bleeding fast."
Cana's expression suddenly hardened.
"Heads up."
"This isn't over."
"What?"
The smoke ripped apart.
Ezel stood revealed.
His clothes were in tatters. His body was scorched and bleeding.
And yet, he was still standing.
Not only that, his presence was far more dangerous than before.
"Ether Demon Form-Slash Mode!"
Darkness crawled over his body.
His face and head turned pitch-black as horns erupted outward, twisting into a grotesque crown. His aura plunged, heavy and oppressive.
But most terrifying, his four arms.
Below the elbows, flesh reshaped into massive, double-edged black greatswords, each blade radiating murderous intent.
Juvia reacted instantly.
"Water Typhoon!"
Evergreen fired again.
"Fairy Machine Gun!"
Cana flung a card forward.
"Fate's Lightning!"
A roaring water tornado, golden bullets, and crackling lightning converged on Ezel.
"Useless!"
Ezel swung his sword-arms.
The air screamed.
The tornado was cleaved apart. The bullets were split mid-flight. The lightning scattered like broken sparks.
"My Curse is a demon blade that severs anything!"
He leapt into the air.
Four swords rose.
"Die! Five Swords-Crescent Moon!"
The blades swept down.
Curved slashes arced through the air.
They reached the four mages instantly.
There was no time to dodge.
No time to run.
Even knowing they were about to be cut down, the slashes were… almost mesmerizing.
"Cru.."
Cana tried to activate Crush, but Elfman roared.
"MOVE!!"
He slammed into her, knocking her clear, and in that same instant...
"Full-Body Take Over-Rock Dragon!!"
His body exploded outward.
Stone surged, expanded, layered, transforming Elfman into a titanic dragon of living rock. The ground cracked beneath his weight as his massive form shoved Juvia and Evergreen back without even spreading his wings.
Every slash now targeted him alone.
"Elfman!!"
"ROOOOOAR!!!"
His legs drove into the ground, shattering it.
Heavy stone wings snapped open, whipping the air into a violent gale.
The colossal stone dragon launched upward with impossible speed straight through the Crescent Moon slashes.
"Impossible! My demon blade..."
Ezel crossed all four swords to block.
CRRRUNCH—!!
Jagged stone ground the blades apart, shattering them like brittle glass.
The massive stone head smashed full-force into Ezel's chest.
"GAAAH!!"
Blood sprayed from his mouth as his body was hurled skyward like a broken projectile.
Elfman's massive stone body shrank rapidly, reverting to human form as his strength gave out.
He began to fall.
Evergreen sprinted forward, wings snapping open. She half-leapt, half-flew, catching him in midair and landing lightly despite his weight.
Elfman looked up at her through half-lidded eyes, exhausted but trying to smile.
"I-it's fine… I went through some really tough training."
"Idiot!"
Evergreen snapped the word out, gripping him tighter than necessary. She clearly had more to say.
Thud.
A dull, heavy sound echoed nearby.
Ezel's body hit the ground.
Cana and Juvia hurried over at once.
"Still conscious?" Cana asked coldly, eyes fixed on him. "What happened to Mr. Hog?"
Her voice hardened.
"And why did you kill civilians?"
"Bah-ha-hac."
Ezel coughed blood, then sneered, utterly unrepentant.
"The old man wouldn't die quietly," he said hoarsely. "A few extras got sliced while I finished him. So what?"
"You bastard."
Nothing more needed to be said.
From his tone alone, it was clear, Mr. Hog was already dead.
The slashes that ruined the houses hadn't been random. They were the collateral of his hunt.
The homes that still had lights burning…
Those people had probably stepped closer to their windows, wanting to see what was happening.
Now...
No one would ever turn those lights off.
"Bah-ha!" Ezel laughed again, blood-stained teeth flashing. "Your anger tastes wonderful! Kill me if you want, Tartaros is eternal!"
Cana stepped forward and punched him.
Once.
Twice.
The impact cracked several of his fangs, snapping them halfway off.
But she stopped herself before rage took control.
Breathing steadily, she stepped back.
"Evergreen. Your turn."
Evergreen lowered Elfman carefully, then walked forward.
She removed her glasses.
Their eyes met.
Stone crept over Ezel's body, starting from his feet, climbing relentlessly upward until he was frozen mid-sneer, transformed into a lifeless statue.
"There was some resistance," Evergreen muttered as she slipped her glasses back on. "I'd really like to smash it."
"No, big sis said..."
"Yeah, yeah," Evergreen cut in irritably. "Kill him and he just revives. We take him back and erase him properly."
Cana exhaled slowly.
"Right."
She turned toward the ruined streets.
"Rest here. Juvia and I will search for Mr. Hog, and any survivors."
They had to confirm the death.
And more importantly, they had to find anyone who could still be saved.
Those with minor injuries needed calming and protection. Those bleeding heavily would be brought back for Evergreen's petrification, buying time until proper healing arrived.
The search took a long time.
Too long.
Eventually, Cana pulled a communication magic crystal from her pack.
"Sorry, Master," she said quietly once it activated. "We were too late. We defeated one demon, but Mr. Hog has..."
"I understand." Makarov's voice was heavy, weighed down by grief. "Are you all right? Anyone injured?"
"We're mostly fine," Cana replied. "But many townspeople need help. Ordinary doctors won't be enough."
There was a brief pause.
"Understood," Makarov said at last. "I'll send Rhodes with Wendy."