Explosions rang out one after another across the dark castle, causing the entire earth to tremble violently.
Inside the castle corridors, where debris continually fell from the ceiling, Grimoire Heart mages in their uniform purple robes and masks shouted as they charged out to support the main battlefield.
In this anxious, tense atmosphere, they failed to notice that two people were moving against the flow, heading deeper into the castle.
"These uniforms... Grimoire Heart's dress code is proving quite convenient for us," Chase remarked.
After turning a corner up ahead, he and Mira left the main thoroughfare, crowded with personnel, and entered a relatively quiet side passage.
"Being too formal isn't always a good thing. And they're a dark guild, after all," Mira said softly.
The white masks, engraved with the Grimoire Heart emblem, perfectly concealed their appearances. At this point, she didn't even need to use her transformation magic!
Thanks to this, combined with the commotion Natsu and the others were causing, the infiltration was proceeding even more smoothly than expected.
After surveying their surroundings, Mira asked, "Chase, how much farther to where Ultear is being held?"
"Just through this passage, two more levels down toward the basement. We should be there soon," Chase said, pointing toward the dark stairway entrance ahead.
With the incredibly convenient magic card Brain Control, he had obtained the castle's entire detailed structure, facilities, and troop deployment from the captured guards with almost no effort. He knew the place better than the back of his hand.
"Then let's hurry. Rescue Ultear, then destroy Hades's infinite magic source!" Mira showed rare seriousness and urgency.
Judging from the clash of horror magic power earlier, the master had probably already started fighting Hades.
Although they had obtained intelligence on Hades in advance and the main objective was only to delay and distract, not fight to the death, she couldn't help but feel some concern.
Not that she didn't trust the master's abilities or his judgment of the situation, but his health was truly not what it used to be...
"Don't worry. The old man also has a Kuriboh derivative. If anything happens, I'll know immediately," Chase said calmly, reading her thoughts.
Hearing this, Mira finally felt at ease. With Chase around, there would definitely be no problems!
...Right?
She suddenly remembered Makarov's solemn instructions before the operation. Her gaze, hidden behind her mask, focused entirely on Chase:
I must keep a close eye on him!
"What is it? Why are you suddenly staring at me like that?"
"Nothing. I just think you look quite handsome in this outfit."
"Haha, isn't that only natural?"
"..." -_-
Just as Mira was inwardly lamenting how thick-skinned this guy was, a shout came from behind them.
"You two! The enemy has already come knocking, and you're still lurking around here? Trying to desert?!"
Turning around, they saw another man in a magic robe. However, his mask was a higher-grade purple.
According to Grimoire Heart's job assignment, this was an elite monster at the squad leader level, roughly corresponding to an A-Class mage of a legal guild.
Decent strength, but in front of Chase, he wasn't much different from an ordinary grunt.
A magic card's magical array flashed. The aggressive elite mage's eyes instantly went vacant, and his body went limp as he knelt to the ground.
"What a considerate fellow," Chase said.
After obtaining the man's information, Chase took off the elite's purple mask and put it on his own face.
The place where Ultear was imprisoned had specialized guards. Going there as a "grunt" would certainly invite obstruction and questioning. Although he could easily crush them, having to fight every single person he encountered would be annoying—as boring as swatting flies.
But now, with the identity of "squad leader," the entire process would be much smoother.
And indeed, as Chase had anticipated, on the way to the underground prison, they occasionally encountered Grimoire Heart mages who came up to greet them. The entire journey was unobstructed.
Finally, after eliminating several guards, Chase and Mira successfully reached the room where Ultear was being held.
A domineering golden magical torrent violently broke through the binding magical array at the entrance. Amidst the scattered specks of light, Chase and Mira stepped inside.
"Who are you?" Ultear frowned, looking at the two with a guarded expression.
Even trapped in this underground prison, she had sensed the unusual commotion outside.
"Didn't you send us a cry for help? Why are you looking at us with such confusion?" Chase said with a soft laugh.
Mira took off her mask a step ahead of him, stepped forward, and held Ultear's hands with concern. "Long time no see, Ultear. Are you hurt?"
"Chase... Mira..."
Seeing their familiar faces, Ultear's pupils dilated in disbelief, a tremor in her voice.
"Didn't I tell that furball to warn you not to do anything rash?! Just contact the Magic Council and make sure Ur was protected?!"
Having been a councilor herself, she knew the Magic Council's workflow very well. There was no way they could have organized a joint crusade force in such a short time.
That meant, most likely, only Fairy Tail was attacking Grimoire Heart right now!
She had repeatedly emphasized how terrifying Master Hades was. This was far too reckless and dangerous!
"Hey, you know our guild's style. This is standard operating procedure," Chase said, proudly patting his chest.
"Because Ultear is also a very important friend to our guild," Mira said matter-of-factly.
Hearing this, Ultear was momentarily stunned. Then, her eyes uncontrollably became moist. "For a piece of trash like me, burdened with so many sins... is it really worth mobilizing the entire guild?"
"There's no 'worth it or not.' The old man doesn't care about a person's past. Besides, you, who gave us the information on Grimoire Heart, are also considered a benefactor of the guild."
Chase glanced up at the ceiling, which was trembling violently, then continued, "Save the sentimental talk for later. Right now, we need to prioritize dealing with Hades."
Ultear was not one to be overly sentimental. Realizing the serious situation, she immediately put away her many emotions and reverted to her calm, calm self as the leader of the Seven Kin.
"The 'Grimoire Heart' is hidden in the magic airship behind the castle. I'll take you there!"
Meanwhile, at the southwest corner of the dark castle.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Blazing flames erupted, sending the swarming Grimoire Heart mages flying with overwhelming force, while also destroying the surrounding buildings.
"WAHAHA! Come on, all you bastards of Grimoire Heart! Bring it on!"
Natsu stood atop a pile of rubble, his entire body bathed in raging flames.
His fierce, terrifying appearance momentarily made it unclear who the real "demon" was.
"Natsu, they're already defeated!" Happy said, raising a paw from midair.
"Why does this guy seem even more energetic than usual? Weren't we only supposed to cause a distraction?" Lucy sighed, holding her forehead.
"Aye~ Because this is a dark guild's hideout. Even if we tear down the entire castle, there's no need to worry about compensation or writing reflection letters~"
"...So that means he doesn't even need to pretend anymore?!" Lucy pointed at Natsu in the distance and shouted.
Her loud voice immediately caught the attention of the Grimoire Heart mages rushing to reinforce. It was only then, having witnessed Natsu's terror from afar, that they suddenly realized:
Why were they stupidly running over to get beaten up? Weren't there perfectly weak women and cats right over there they could bully?!
Thus, a group of burly men wielding swords, axes, and staves showed cruel smiles, bypassed Natsu, and charged straight toward Lucy.
In the past, the cowardly Lucy might have been so scared by the sight that she would have screamed. But now...
"Gate of Cancer, open! Celestial Spirit Dress form!"
"Lucy: Draw Slash!"
Starlight illuminated the entire area. A flash of chaotic sword light.
Then, pained and fearful cries rang out as the Grimoire Heart mages collapsed one after another, unable to continue fighting.
"With this level of strength, you wanted to ambush me? Compared to the beasts of Bondari Forest, you're far too weak~"
At the end of the scattered mages, Lucy in her twin-tails training outfit lightly swung her twin blades and struck a cool sheathing pose.
"Amazing! Natsu, this Lucy is so strange to me!" Happy said, his eyes filled with envy and jealousy as he silently put back the two salted fish he had pulled from his pack for battle.
"Tch. Taking down only thirteen people is nothing to brag about," Natsu said, looking at Cancer Lucy with a condescending gaze. "I took down twenty-seven. You're way behind!"
"Don't look at me with that provocative gaze! Who's competing with you over something like that?! I'm not Gray, and I'm certainly not Gajeel!" Lucy felt like she had been targeted.
"Aye~ Lucy, please change back to the girl who looked like even stray dogs could chase her down and bite her! Natsu didn't even pay attention to you before," Happy said, even more heartbroken.
"Wait... now that you mention it, that's true..."
A flood of memories from her past missions with Natsu suddenly surfaced in Lucy's mind. Her expression immediately turned smug. "Does this mean... I've already become so strong that even Natsu has no choice but to take me seriously?!"
Perhaps because she had been the weakling for too long, this dense, silly girl was only now realizing this fact.
"In other words, Natsu will challenge you to a fight at any time from now on—including while you're soaking in the bath!" Happy cursed ed.
"I definitely don't want that!" Lucy was indeed frightened. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at Natsu with vigilant eyes.
Suddenly, Natsu's expression changed, and he charged straight at her with a fiery fist!
This really is 'at any time'?!
Lucy was horrified. Just as she was about to s
ternly tell Natsu that this was not the time to mess around, she saw Natsu leap into the air and swing his blazing fist toward the space behind her.
CRASH!!
Crimson flames and pitch-black flames collided in midair. A violent shockwave exploded in an instant!
Deep within the flames, Natsu wrapped one arm around Lucy's waist, pulling her protectively against him, and glared angrily at the person who had launched the surprise attack.
"Who the hell are you?!"
***
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