Countless Royal Army soldiers surrounded Finn and Erza, attempting to block their path.
"Why are there still so many Royal Army soldiers?" Finn muttered, looking at the overwhelming number of soldiers encircling them.
Over the past few days, Finn alone had likely eliminated close to a thousand Royal Army soldiers in various skirmishes. Yet, it seemed an endless supply continued to pour into the area.
"This is the capital. A high concentration of soldiers is normal," Nancy explained.
"Plus, the king's constantly sending reinforcements, so this isn't surprising."
"Forget the rest, let's go!" Erza declared, a magic circle appearing beneath her feet.
Light enveloped Erza, and instantly, steel-like wings sprouted from her back, numerous flying swords circling her.
"Heaven's Wheel Armor!"
Erza swung her sword, and the surrounding swords shot out, decimating a large swathe of Royal Army soldiers in the blink of an eye.
"So beautiful!" Nancy, the Exceed, exclaimed involuntarily, captivated by the sight of Erza, who resembled a Valkyrie in her majestic display of power.
A bead of sweat trickled down Finn's forehead, but he remained silent.
He raised a single hand, a fiery red light gathering in his palm.
"Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!"
A torrent of flames erupted, hurtling towards the palace gates like a barrage of cannonballs.
Witnessing the incoming attack, the soldiers guarding the palace gates hastily raised their magic shields, attempting to repel Finn's onslaught.
BOOM—
A deafening explosion rocked the area, sending countless Royal Army soldiers flying through the air. The sheer force of the blast wave successfully obliterated the palace gates.
"Erza, let's go!" Finn yelled, seizing the opportunity presented by the breach in the palace defenses.
He turned towards Erza, who was still engaged in fierce combat with the remaining Royal Army soldiers.
"Heaven's Wheel—Circle Sword!"
A devastating barrage of flying swords once again cut down the last remaining group of soldiers encircling them, allowing Erza to retreat safely to Finn's side.
"Ms. Erza is incredibly strong!" Nancy exclaimed, her voice filled with admiration as she surveyed the scene of fallen Royal Army soldiers.
"You flatter me. These soldiers were not particularly strong opponents," Erza replied modestly, shaking her head.
"We should proceed inside without further delay," she added.
"Finn, look! That looks like Happy and the others!"
Just as Finn and his companions were about to enter the palace, Nancy suddenly pointed towards the sky, her voice sharp with urgency.
Finn and Erza followed the direction of Nancy's finger, their gazes fixed upon the figures soaring through the air.
"That's Happy, Carla, and Lucy!" Finn identified the figures.
"They appear to be pursued by a large number of individuals," Erza observed, her eyes fixed upon the figures chasing after Happy and his companions.
"I'll go and rescue them," Finn declared, turning his attention towards Nancy.
Nancy nodded understandingly, her wings unfurling as she gracefully lifted Finn into the air, carrying him towards the sky.
————
Following their failed mission the previous day, Happy and Carla were apprehended and subsequently transported back to Extalia, the kingdom of the Exceeds. Upon regaining consciousness, they were informed of their supposed mission to Earthland:
To escort the Dragon Slayers to Edolas.
However, Carla's own memories held a conflicting directive—to eliminate the Dragon Slayers.
Regardless of the conflicting instructions, Carla had already made the firm decision to abandon both missions and had, through sheer willpower, journeyed to Edolas of her own accord.
However, Nadi, Extalia's Minister of State, asserted that Carla's actions were a direct consequence of their manipulation.
They had manipulated Carla's feelings for Wendy and Natsu, and her thoughts and actions had been entirely under their control.
This revelation left Carla utterly devastated. The Exceed, known for her unwavering strength, finally broke down, overcome with grief and despair.
Happy, his head bowed low, stood before Carla, his face streaked with tears, yet his expression resolute and defiant.
"We will not be your puppets!" he declared vehemently.
"Because we are… Fairy Tail mages!!" he roared, his voice filled with unyielding defiance.
"We will rescue our friends! We absolutely must!" Fueled by this unwavering conviction, Happy and Carla made their daring escape from Extalia.
The very act of their escape branded them as Fallen Angels, transforming them into enemies of the entire kingdom of Extalia.
In their desperate flight, Happy and Carla stumbled upon a secluded farm, where they unexpectedly encountered the giant magic crystal they had been tirelessly searching for.
It was here that they encountered Lucky and Marl, a kind and compassionate couple.
Carla, her mind clouded with confusion and uncertainty, found solace and clarity in the wisdom offered by the couple.
"The heart that cherishes friendship cannot be controlled by anyone. Believe in the sincerity of your own feelings," Marl stated gently, her words laced with kindness as she offered a reassuring smile to Carla.
Upon hearing these words, Carla seemed to grasp a profound truth, her resolve strengthened. The dejection that had weighed heavily upon her since the commencement of their journey finally lifted, replaced by a renewed sense of hope and determination, and a genuine smile graced her features.
In contrast to Marl's gentle approach, Lucky adopted a far more austere and demanding tone in his interactions with Happy.
As the time for their parting drew near, Lucky, turning his gaze away, delivered a stern admonition.
"If you continue to allow fear and cowardice to dictate your actions, you will inevitably fail to accomplish even the tasks that are well within your capabilities. These modern youngsters… they simply lack even the most fundamental understanding of such straightforward principles!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation.
However, Happy was able to discern the underlying message concealed within Lucky's seemingly harsh words. They finally understood why, despite their status as Exceeds, they had been unable to utilize their magic within Edolas. It was because their hearts had been filled with anxiety and uncertainty, their resolve wavering.
..... ....
With smiles on their faces, they bid farewell to Lucky and Marl.
They ran without hesitation, leaping from the cliff's edge.
"Because we must bravely forge ahead, we must spread our wings and take flight!" Happy declared, his voice filled with unwavering conviction.
"Once we truly understand our hearts, our wings will naturally guide us forward!" Carla added, her voice echoing Happy's sentiment.
The wings that had remained folded since their arrival in Edolas now unfurled, carrying them towards the sky, guiding them towards their comrades.
Unseen by Happy and Carla, Lucky and Marl silently wept as they watched the blue figures soar into the sky.
They had finally seen… they had finally been reunited with their child, who had been sent to Earthland many years ago.
And their child's growth filled them with immense pride.
Happy and Carla, utilizing their wings, rescued Lucy, who had been thrown from a great height after being sentenced to death by the Edolas kingdom.
However, news had reached them from Extalia that Happy and Carla had been branded as Fallen Angels, leaving them with no choice but to flee with Lucy.
Witnessing the escape of the condemned criminals she was about to execute, Edolas Erza was consumed by a fit of uncontrollable rage. She immediately mobilized her second mage squad and launched a relentless pursuit of Happy, Carla, and Lucy.
As Happy and his companions were on the verge of reaching a safe haven, they unexpectedly encountered a contingent of Exceeds from Extalia's Royal Guard, who were dispatched to apprehend the Fallen Angels.
They were now pursued from both the sky and the ground.
Desperation gripping him, Happy suddenly heard the sound of explosions emanating from the direction of the royal palace. Although he remained uncertain as to the identity of the combatants, faced with such dire circumstances, Happy and his companions could only grit their teeth and fight back.
They were left with no choice but to fly towards the royal palace, harboring a glimmer of hope that they might encounter the Fairy Tail mages.
"That's… Finn!" Lucy, being dragged along by Happy, exclaimed, her face breaking into a broad smile of relief as she spotted a familiar figure approaching.
"It's Finn, and Nancy too! We're saved, Carla!" Happy's heart, which had been filled with anxiety, finally found solace.
A wave of flames surged forth, creating a protective barrier between Happy and his companions and their relentless pursuers.
On one side of the fiery wall, Finn, being carried aloft by Nancy, floated serenely in the air.
Behind him stood Happy and his companions, their previous state of frantic escape now replaced by a sense of cautious relief.
"Are you all alright?" Finn inquired, his gaze sweeping across the group.
"We're fine, but we're worried about Natsu and the others…" Lucy responded, shaking her head, her voice laced with concern.
"There's no need to worry about Natsu and the others. Laxus and his companions have already set off to rescue them," Finn explained reassuringly.
"Laxus? He's here too?" Happy exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise.
Finn nodded in confirmation. "Indeed, not only has Laxus arrived, but Erza and Gray have also been restored from their magic crystal forms," he revealed.
"That means the magic crystal in the plaza has been restored!" Lucy exclaimed, her face breaking into a broad smile of elation upon hearing Finn's words.
Carla, upon hearing this confirmation, also felt a wave of relief wash over her. She was well aware of Laxus's reputation. The man who was considered to be Fairy Tail's strongest candidate was undoubtedly more than capable of rescuing Natsu and Wendy.
At that moment, Erza, utilizing the wings of her Heaven's Wheel Armor, gracefully descended to join the group.
"It's wonderful news! It's truly wonderful that you're all safe and sound," Lucy exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine emotion.
Erza nodded gently, her voice soft and reassuring. "Thank you for your efforts."
"By the way, Finn, Carla and I found out where the rest of the Fairy Tail members' magic crystals are located!" Happy exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement as he recalled the sight of the magic crystals suspended high above the city.
"Really? Where?!" Finn's face lit up with hope and anticipation.
"Aye! They're located on a floating island situated directly above the royal capital!" Happy declared, pointing towards the sky.
"I see…" Finn murmured thoughtfully, before continuing. "Happy, Gajeel is currently causing quite a commotion within the city in his relentless pursuit of the magic crystals. Do you believe you could possibly guide him to the location where the crystals are being held?"
Happy nodded emphatically. "Understood. I'll be sure to guide Gajeel to the precise location."
Finn then turned his attention towards Carla and Lucy.
"Carla, Laxus is currently engaged in a rescue operation within the royal palace dungeons. You should proceed to the palace and inform him of this crucial discovery. As a fellow Dragon Slayer, he possesses the capability to restore the magic crystals as well," Finn instructed.
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