Each Search Expedition lasted three days, because the paths that were chosen covers the original location of Tenrou within a hundred-mile radius. It was a rough estimate given by Hibiki, analyzing the possibilities of how its destructive aftermath came to be.
Any trace of life, debris, and magical energy could forward their progress, no matter how small. Unfortunately, even taking these points into consideration, only the tranquility of the waters greeted the hopeful wizards throughout every occasion.
In fact, the eerie nothingness chilled some to their very bones, since the Black Dragon completely erased everything, as if its mocking the puny humans for entertaining the thought of trying. This simply showcased its unparalleled might from written tales and legends.
This doesn't mean that they will grovel in despair, they're already past that period.
A routine sweep was established for the areas with the highest chance of evidence. Attributing at least ten to twelve hours of doing in depth-probing. The boat they currently owned was of high quality, its inner functions based on larcima-type powered cores.
Its traveling speed was also fast, so going from checkpoint to checkpoint was fortunately smooth.
Blue Pegasus' Magic Bomber, Christina, is still being repaired from the Oracion Seis fiasco. If it were fixed, then Ichiya would have requested permission for temporary usage.
The airships' main cabin had various functions that were implemented to operate the flying behemoth, and one of them had a specific role for detecting the Ethernano levels of living or non-living objects.
Hibiki made the extra effort to use his Archive Magic to scan its data and apply the principle to the boat they were on, making the job easier. Although the boat was advanced in terms of the model, Christina was still leagues above when it came to foundation and knowledge.
The expedition was now on its conclusion, with rays of the morning sun indicating the start of the fourth day. And as usual… no results.
It didn't surprise the group, which only made the atmosphere more solemn. The soft breeze and the clear blue sky had no effect in improving their moods. Except for a certain dragon slayer that was leaning powerlessly on the railings.
Blurrghhh!
His ongoing motion sickness lifted their spirits somewhat, making them wryly smile at Natsu's stubbornness and determination to push through such a weakness. A stoic purple-haired woman gently rubbed his back in comfort.
"Natsu-san, would you like another lap pillow?" Kagura offered.
Before the expedition went underway, she asked if it was okay to join. The others didn't mind since anybody would be welcomed aboard. She was also the one who took care of the dragon slayer during this trip.
"Yeah… Enduring this nightmarish trip is beyond me. Thanks a ton, Kagura." Natsu slowly stood up as he was guided by Kagura towards the bench. They both sat down afterwards, prompting the woman to place his head on her thighs.
Three days was a lot for someone with motion sickness like him. Heck, a few hours was already too much. But when it involves the fate of his friends? He might as well suffer and fight through it. It's only headaches and a bit of throwing up, nothing he can't handle!
"Natsu, forcing yourself likes this isn't healthy." Happy was floating beside the swordswoman, chiding him with worry.
"It's the last expedition for now. I ain't missin' such a thing, you know?" The dragon slayer closed his eyes as he replied.
Those who watched the scene unfold turned a blind eye, not daring to disturb their private moment. It was the least they could do when Natsu willed himself to give his full effort.
His sharpened senses managed to scope out different signatures that extended their reach at times. Whether it would be ordinary marine life or magical beasts, their activities could be potentially related to the island's disappearance.
Happy obviously carried him to fully utilize his specialty. Then, they would return to the boat once they finished circling the vicinity. The duo did this each time to make sure that nothing was missed as they traveled from area to area.
Although it was a stretch that granted no progress, at least it gave them an illusion of comfort. This was their final expedition before stopping for a while, they already did their best with all of the available resources currently.
Since the three day trip was coming to a close, a peaceful period of rest to recover their physical and mental fatigue was important.
"What a lovely bond they have, don't you think so, Ren?" Sherry observed them as she glanced at the Trimen beside her. "We should also follow their example, no?" Nudging him while pouting.
Ren looked away in embarrassment. "Damn. I have no choice then." He wrapped his right arm around the giggling woman.
"Men~! Youthful romance is the height of passion!" Ichiya posed on the edge of the boat, the usual sparkles surrounding him.
"Maestro's insights are profound!" Hibiki and Eve clapped as they complimented their leader.
Lyon, Warren and Max gazed at them with weird expressions, already used to the comical displays of these fashionable men. The Ice Make wizard sighed while walking towards the central hub.
Once he was inside, he arrived before a displayed screen. It presented an accurate chart of units pertaining to the levels of Ethernano. His eyes darted around as he read its contents.
Aside from the readings about the lurking residents across the vast body of water. Lyon softly sighed in acceptance as he clenched his fist, seeing the motionless bar of data that focused on pulsing magical energy.
"Hibiki, are these the final results?" He called out to one of the two praising Ichiya for confirmation.
Hibiki looked back and nodded helplessly. "A culmination of everything from all four expeditions." He frowned while feeling indignant. "I tried every trick in the book by sourcing the elements that were within the essence of Ethernano. This meant that the scanner could dive into more minute details in terms of a living being's traces."
"But even with that…" Hibiki gritted his teeth at not being able to progress on all the four trips he participated in. "I'm an embarrassment as an Archive Wizard." It was also his pride to be a storage of knowledge that spanned across different branches of magic.
"Hey…!" They glanced at the dragon slayer who was still powerlessly resting on Kagura's lap. "Don't beat yourself up over this, we already owe you that much." Natsu spoke softer than usual, yet one could still feel his fiery emotions.
"I feel at peace… So these expeditions weren't useless." He shakily gave a thumbs up while the stoic woman continued to gently rub his hair.
"Aye! I agree with Natsu! You guys were a huge help!" Happy ate his fish as he followed up after his partner.
Max walked towards Hibiki and slapped his back to assure him. "Yeah. This was something that we wanted in the first place, a way to balance our raging emotions."
"We'll bounce back after more time passes… cause we're Fairy Tail Wizards, damn it----! Gueh!" Natsu added with sudden energy, but he stopped an incoming wretch in the process.
Kagura lightly chuckled and activated her gravity change, guiding him to the edge of the railing again. Only the sound of vomiting followed afterwards, ruining the heartfelt moment instantly.
His remarks still raised the others' spirits and dispersed the gloomy atmosphere. Warren laughed with no restraint. "That's our Ace for ya! He really knows what to say when the moment calls for it."
"Natsu-kun! I truly respect you from the bottom of my heart." Ichiya genuinely admired the young man's mindset.
"If he's radiating with that much optimism, then there's no room for being ashamed and sad, right?" Eve patted Hibiki's shoulder, and the latter's tense demeanor relaxed.
"A form of love that one must match as they live to the fullest."
"He really is something else."
Lyon calmed himself down, glancing at Natsu who was comically wailing in distress. Moving forward while remembering those you cherish always from the past and present. Maybe that's how he saw it with a positive outlook. He smiled as he formed a conclusion.
"Haha, you guys." Hibiki shook his head in amusement. "Now I'm just embarrassed for bringing the mood down."
The fourth and final expedition ended on a high note, and the boat was finally steered around towards the direction of Hargeon Port.
Idle conversations filled the transport with a lively atmosphere. Although Natsu was still out of sorts for the most part, he could talk normally. He simply endured such a weakness, not caring about his blurry visions, dizziness, and countless vomits.
Kagura reminded him to not overdo it in a stern tone, since he went beyond the line of what he could take. If it weren't for Happy being there to lift him up for respite, Natsu would have been literally a motionless body for the entire thing.
Well, Happy also couldn't do it forever, or else his arms will be strained to the absolute limit. The duo decided to regulate every time he was well rested, and the longest airtime that the Exceed could do was thirty minutes at the very least, which was good enough.
It was currently that time again. Natsu and Happy were flying slowly with the boat while Kagura was silently waiting near them. She was there to catch and support the dragon slayer once they were done.
"I better get stacks of fish for this, Natsu." Happy had a slightly tired expression. "Enough to fill a quarter of our house." He already drooled as he spoke, there has to be rewards for overexerting himself.
"I'm pretty sure you ate a lot already." Natsu sweat dropped in disbelief, returning to his normal self within this short window of not touching that annoying boat.
"Max and Warren fished for you, right? There was even a box full of them prepared when we set off!"
"Aye! But this is different."
"... How?"
"Because I said so."
"That doesn't make any sense."
The duo began with their usual bickering, while Kagura watched them with a smile. Their arguments were just random gibberish, but it simply made it even more entertaining that way.
A few minutes passed by as Natsu suddenly paused, prompting Happy to inquire curiously. "What's wrong?"
"I smelled something over there, and it ain't anything magical." He pointed at a specific direction. Natsu furrowed his eyebrows in deliberation, wondering if it was okay to check it out.
"Do you mean it's something not influenced by Ethernano?" Hibiki overheard their conversation and arrived before them, putting the transport on autopilot was convenient.
"Yeah." The dragon slayer paused for moment, his expression turning serious. "It's blood."
"Here? In the middle of the sea?" Kagura readied herself immediately, manifesting her weapon in the process.
Hibiki widened his eyes, then nodded as he informed the rest. The boat veered its course to follow Natsu and Happy in front of them. Once they traveled further and further along the path, small pieces of debris were seen floating on the water.
The group heightened their vigilance, expecting numerous possibilities that may come from it. After a while, more wreckage covered this section of the sea. Whether it would be planks, or something that was similar to a hull, they all had different sizes.
"This…!" Natsu and Happy arrived at the destination first. The scene before them could only be described as a tragedy. They saw flaming pieces of destruction that appeared to be reminiscent to that of a luxurious boat.
But the most alarming part… were the lifeless bodies staining the tranquil sea with a crimson color. Natsu urged his partner to move instantly to look for any potential survivors.
The others were the next to witness the stench of death and destruction. "MEN~! We need to move quickly, my friends! Widening our coverage is the priority here, so that nothing will be missed!" Ichiya's demeanor changed as he quickly formulated the best approach for this situation.
"Lyon-kun!" He glanced at the young man beside him. "Please create footholds across the surface of the water. Our boat will not be enough to flexibly navigate… Can you do it?"
Lyon firmly nodded. "Of course! I'll try my best to freeze the whole area." He jumped with no hesitation, his magic power pulsing as he turned the spot he landed on into ice.
"Follow me, guys! I'll create paths as I go, just tell me which direction you want to start on." He put his right fist on his open palm, aiming it at an angle to avoid the bodies that were in the way. There was also a slim chance that survivors were among them.
"Ice Make: Floor!"
The water solidified as the rest jumped down, leaving it to Warren to notify their guilds in tandem. Each of them shot out towards different directions after Lyon assisted in creating numerous footholds that stretched out like branches.
Meanwhile, Natsu and Happy were in the air, hoping to discover any type of life that was still breathing.
They found nothing up until now, so the dragon slayer told Happy to fly towards the center of all this mess. He ate the raging flames during their search, making sure that everything can be visible.
A huge figure of a blown-up ship was seen in the distance as the duo observed the lingering destruction.
"There's gotta be someone alive within this big thing, right?" Natsu muttered loudly.
"Let's hope that's the case." The Exceed wasn't sure after witnessing such a scene. He wasn't used to this level of carnage and almost wretched on the spot.
Natsu was of the same sentiment, but hid it very well to soothe his partner. He's needs to be strong for his friends, no matter the situation.
"I'm sure of it! Go full speed, Happy! We need to save 'em before it's too late!" He said with conviction.
"Aye, Sir!"
Happy fully circulated his Aera Magic to the max, closing in on the ship quickly. Natsu exhaled as he ate the flames, showing the entire exterior that was crumbling non-stop.
Since the sinking ship had at least half that was still above the water, they entered it with no hesitation. The duo scoured each room as Natsu tried to identify these scents that were intertwined.
"Each room had the same smell as those exploding Lacrima from that dark guild we beat with Ordo." Natsu concluded after they went through a few.
"Doesn't that mean that there was a bomb in each one, then?" Happy spoke in a frightened tone. "A bunch of crazies must have did this! Who would even take their time to meticulously plant such dangerous things." Destruction of this scale had to be planned by multiple individuals.
Natsu gritted his teeth as he recalled the burnt bodies throughout their entire search in this place. He clenched his fists while veins popped on his arms and face.
"Whoever they are, they'll definitely taste my flaming fist with full force." The dragon slayer promised in pure rage.
Cough! Cough!
"H-Hello? Is anybody there?" A weakened voice called out to them, prompting the duo to instantly go towards the source.
Natsu and Happy spotted a middle-aged man in a torn formal suit who was slumped on the wall, clutching what appeared to be a magical item on his right hand. It was probably what kept him alive against the explosion.
"We got someone! Let's bring him to the others for first aid, Natsu!" Happy slighly sighed in relief as the finally found a survivor.
"Right! The entire ship is sinking fast! We'll have to check again quickly before the entire thing is gone. C'mon, let's pick up the pace!" Natsu carried the man as he used his boosters this time, not wanting to burden Happy with the extra weight.
…
Devala Commerce
A manufacture that focuses on the creation of various magical weapons. They were supported by a dozen Craftsman Guilds of solid reputation, which made its name well known across Fiore.
The owner who formed this commerce was Mack Devala, an undisputed genius in realm of business.
It was of no surprise that the founder of a large organization would be respected and acknowledged by the masses. This was because these weapons were also compatible with normal people with no hint of magic.
Whether it would be Treasure Hunters, Mercenaries, or even Rune Knights… They all praised the consistent quality of their creations, which prompted them to request for partnership through their sponsored Craftsmen factions under them.
Wizard Guilds were also no exception, and there were even successful deals that satisfied both sides. Everything was going extremely well during the past decade, and Mack was content with how his vision panned out.
He was optimistic that his hard work would thrive for a long time, permanently etching itself as one of the major symbols for weapon crafting. Mack felt fortunate and was thankful for the opportunity that he grasped without letting go.
Mack settled down on the main headquarters of the commerce, Welbor Island. He started a family and divided his duties among his employees, intending to give more attention to his loved ones.
All was good and only a few minor issues popped up throughout the history of the organization.
Until a certain legal guild offered a lifetime partnership… something that Mack couldn't brush off. A Wizard Guild that was popular within this specific region that he was in.
Although most of them were under the affiliation of the Magic Council, they were still separate entities that operated in their own environments.
The name of this guild was Paramount Tide, and were stationed at the town near the island itself. They boasted of elite wizards that were beloved by the people, a group that never hesitates to help when needed.
On paper, it simply sounds like a guild that were just doing their jobs, a common practice that was all around Fiore.
Mack also believed them at first, not suspecting them in the slightest. He accepted the deal with good intentions in mind, benefiting from their influence to keep away business rivals and the likes.
It was a contract that focused on equal exchange and shared ownership. He was aware of the risks by doing such a thing, yet his analytical thought process made him confident that the pros outweigh the cons.
This was established five years ago, something that Mack planned to provide for his family with a steady income. Yet, even his logical perspective failed to completely understand the depths of the human heart.
The longer he spent time with the wizards of this guild, there was one detail that he noticed. It was like… his employees leaned towards their side more. This confused him for a while, although one can place it under paranoia for the most part.
Then, arguments happened within meetings, which surprised him. Mack always emphasized on the basis of harmony, unity, and understanding to run a manufacture that was as large as his.
Blunders like this were scenarios he never took into account. The most glaring part about it is that these heated conversations used him as a catalyst.
Once it continued and continued… It already got to the point where his reputation crumbled so easily. Protests increased, and the disagreements with his employees were frequent.
It was a change that was so sudden that he failed to react before it was too late.
Then, voices of replacing him as the head circulated, making Mack pale in disbelief. But the first thing he did was to move his family towards a safer town, this way, they wouldn't be implicated in the process.
Who was recommended to replace him as head, you ask?
The Guild Master of Paramount Tide, Vandis.
Mack instantly realized he was tricked, and those five years of their developing friendship amounted to nothing in the end. After finally understanding this seemingly innocent guild's objective, he bravely contacted Vandis for confirmation.
Gone was the was warmth of his voice, and told Mack the reality of his situation.
You could only blame yourself for this, Mack. We are only here to stabilize the mess you initiated.
What a bunch of hubris.
Mack slumped on his chair and ended communication right there. He was a target for whatever ambition this guild had, and fell for the bait so seamlessly.
The issue reached a boiling point after a few more years, forcing him to reside in a luxurious cruise ship that was known as a moving hotel. He wanted everything to cool down before going back to fix this chaos that was manipulated from the shadows.
Unfortunately, even he didn't expect that these animals would cross the line.
Explosions echoed across the ship as screams of pain and despair were engulfed within the fire. They were all just people living their lives, yet it was snuffed out mercilessly because of his presence.
Mack absentmindedly leaned on the wall due to heavy guilt as a bomb detonated in his room instantly. He only thought of his family while the fire threatened to turn him into ash.
However, in the next moment, the autonomous magical defense pendant that he wore protected him from the blast, decreasing its force the moment it made contact with the transparent shield.
But the item was average at best, still injuring him severely. Mack was half-conscious afterwards, only feeling the shaking and destruction of the moving hotel itself.
The next thing he knew, he woke up to the sounds of two voices that were probably here for a rescue operation. Mack called out to them, and felt himself being carried for emergency aid.
His vision weakened as he was about to go into slumber.
Mack hoped that after he regains consciousness again, there will be more survivors like him.