[The Sealed One's Right Wrist]: A mysterious card of unknown meaning. If fully released, it will grant unimaginable infinite power.
Single card effect: can gradually increase attack power in battle. (From the card story)
"Now maybe… I can actually summon my fist to attack."
Chase gazed into the depths of his mind, where the dark golden card floated faintly over his right wrist an image not physical, but imprinted onto his consciousness. A subtle glow pulsed from it, as though resonating with something deep within him.
He let out a sigh.
Still need to test this in real combat… No idea how far this power goes yet. I'll have to study it carefully…
But the thought that lingered the most one that sent a slight thrill down his spine was this:
What would happen if I gathered all five parts… and summoned Exodia, the Forbidden One?
The legendary dark wizard said to surpass even the gods…
As Chase's thoughts spiraled through awe and anticipation, his vision suddenly went dark and before he could react
Thud!
His head was firmly pressed into something hard, flat, and… oddly familiar.
Whump!
"Ugh…"
He was crushed against a cold yet strong surface, and the force behind it made his thoughts blur.
Erza, having changed back into her usual armor, had silently stepped beside him and now had his entire face stuffed against her armored chest.
Her arms wrapped lightly around the back of his head, keeping him pinned in place.
"It's been a while since I had such a satisfying battle," she said with a smile, her voice sweet yet carrying a dangerous edge. "I really enjoyed it, Chess."
That gentle, almost affectionate smile she gave him?
It had the sly gleam of a successful ambush.
Bang… bang…
So hard…
Chase's forehead was throbbing. He had been so absorbed in his new card that he completely forgot to activate any protective magic. His guard was down and his face paid the price.
Sure, it was technically an intimate gesture.
And sure, it was one that Erza only offered to close friends.
But damn, it really hurt!
He pulled his head free, rubbing the red bump on his forehead with a groan.
"Y-You know… that really wasn't necessary."
Erza released him with a sigh, folding her arms beneath her chest.
"Looks like fighting you seriously might be a little too much for me right now," she murmured.
Chase stopped rubbing and turned to look at her, his expression sharpening.
"Wait… You held back at the very end, didn't you? That final clash your strike could've gone even further."
Erza gave him a side glance, lips curving slightly.
"You did too, didn't you?" she replied calmly. "If I really had shattered your Holy Shield… you'd have summoned Kuriboh at the last second, and the result would've been the same."
Chase blinked, and a slow smile formed on his face.
She really has studied my card playstyle…
Their battles in the past had given Erza ample familiarity with his magical patterns.
She had learned to read him like a deck.
"Not bad, Erza. You're starting to develop a solid instinct for cards," Chase said with a teasing grin, spreading his arms wide. "How about it? Ditch the costume magic and join the world of duelists!"
He laughed.
It was clearly a joke.
But one filled with genuine admiration.
"Besides, you didn't even summon that eight-star Chaos Dark Magician," Erza said, lightly resting her chin on one hand. "And you still haven't used explosive cards like Pot of Greed."
She completely brushed off Chase's offer to join the world of card magic treating it as if she hadn't heard it at all and continued to analyze the match with unwavering seriousness.
"I heard from Natsu that you recently got a powerful Red Dragon card too, didn't you?"
This woman… she's a master at pretending not to hear things she doesn't want to respond to.
Chase sighed and looked at Erza, who had already entered full analytical mode. "You didn't wear your strongest armor either," he said flatly. "Fairy Armor."
He paused, then added cheekily, "Oh, and the breast wrap."
"…Breast wrap?" Erza blinked, her eyes widening in disbelief. "What did you just say?"
Fairy Armor was her symbolic equipment named after their guild itself. A sacred, powerful armor designed to protect everything Fairy Tail stood for. There was no way she'd use that against her own family.
But what kind of name was breast wrap?!
"Huh? You didn't know?" Chase smirked. "That's what the Pure Heart Garment is nicknamed. Because, you know… it barely covers anything. Just like a breast wrap."
Erza froze for a second, her mouth twitching.
The invincible Titania… looked completely speechless.
"…I think only you call it that," she muttered at last.
She had to admit… the name was annoyingly accurate.
But couldn't he at least come up with something a little more elegant? Like the butter-bread twin-blade robe or something?
Chase just laughed harder. Her rare flustered expression was worth all the teasing.
"But all jokes aside…" Erza looked around at the shattered battlefield, her voice returning to a calm and steady tone. "Chase, I lost this battle."
She didn't hesitate to admit it.
Despite her power, Erza had never seen herself as invincible. On the contrary because she was so aware of her own fragility, she clad herself in heavy armor, hoping it could protect the parts of her heart that were easily wounded.
But Chase… Chase was different.
In Erza's heart, Chase was someone she could completely trust someone whose strength and potential were not just impressive, but terrifying. She had always believed that one day, he would surpass her by a wide margin.
So, losing to him in a friendly match didn't feel like a disgrace.
If anything… it was a relief.
"At least you're honest," Chase said with a grin, his eyes gleaming playfully and without even a hint of modesty.
"…Why are you looking at me like that?" Erza felt a strange chill creep down her spine. She instinctively stepped back half a pace.
Chase clasped his hands behind his back. "According to guild tradition, the loser of a formal duel must accept any punishment the winner gives. No conditions."
"Wait, when did we ever have a rule like that?" muttered a veteran member who had been in the guild for eight years.
"I get it now," Chase said, shrugging. "Even the almighty Fairy Queen can sometimes pretend not to know the rules when it's convenient."
His voice was light, almost teasing, as if the outcome didn't matter. "It's fine, Erza. If you don't want to follow through, I won't force you."
That hit a nerve.
"You jerk, Chase!" Erza shouted, her pride flaring instantly. "You think I'm going to run from a punishment? I'm Erza Scarlet!"
She stood stiffly for a second, thinking her cheeks slowly turning red before raising her voice like a soldier heading off to war.
"If you want me to warm your bed, I won't back down!!"
Chase froze mid-smile. "…What?"
"Don't pretend, you pervert! I heard all about your dirty mind from Lucy when we were forming our team!" Erza declared with absolute conviction, hands on hips.
Chase twitched. He clenched his right fist tightly at his side.
Lucy… you're so dead!
He took a deep breath. "Just to be clear, my punishment was NOT to warm my bed."
"Then what is it?" Erza asked, puzzled.
Chase raised a single finger.
"You have to imitate the first person you talk to tomorrow… for the entire day."
Erza blinked. "Oh. That's… honestly, not what I expected."
Erza folded her arms, her expression brimming with confidence. "You might not know this, but I'm actually quite fond of stage plays."
Her crimson eyes sparkled. "So really, this isn't a punishment at all. It's more like a chance to show off my acting skills."
But Chase merely raised an eyebrow and pointed toward the crowd of guildmates rushing over.
"Before you get too excited," he said slyly, "maybe take a good look at who you might be imitating."
The confident smile on Erza's lips froze instantly.
She turned her head in the direction of Chase's finger and saw a parade of chaos heading their way.
Gray completely shirtless as usual marching forward like nothing was wrong.
Elfman, thumping his chest and shouting, "This is what it means to be a man!"
Cana, stumbling a little as she walked, clutching a massive barrel of booze that sloshed with every step.
And Pidgetta, spinning and twirling like a ballerina on fast-forward, eyes closed, mumbling something about the stars aligning.
Just looking at them made Erza's forehead twitch.
Imitate one of them? That sounded more like a curse than a punishment.
And then her gaze landed on Lucy.
She blinked. And suddenly, as if struck by lightning, she remembered that armor.
Her own… Armor of Temptation.
If she had to imitate Lucy, would she have to… wear that?
Erza's face went bright red. Steam practically poured from her head as her expression turned blank and horrified.
This is impossible!!
Only now after confidently accepting the challenge the Fairy Queen finally realized something critical:
Chase was a filthy, scheming, vicious man.
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