"Please, Miraaa! Just give me something already!"
The entire guild hall was filled with Natsu's whining as he leaned halfway over the bar, hands clasped like he was begging for his life. Mira, of course, smiled sweetly at him, looking completely unfazed by his antics.
"I'm sorry, Natsu," she said with that soft tone that made it impossible to argue. "But Master hasn't approved any S-Class missions for you."
"This isn't about S-Class! I'll take anything! Even chasing lost cats!"
Gray groaned from across the room, tugging his pants back on after realizing he'd stripped again. "Face it, flame-brain, you're just too desperate. Maybe try not burning down half the town before you ask for more work."
"What was that, ice-block?!"
And there it was again — their daily shouting match. Tables rattled as Natsu stood nose-to-nose with Gray, fists clenching, sparks of fire and ice already starting to flicker between them.
Happy floated above with his fish in hand. "Aye, Natsu! Maybe if you promise not to set anything on fire, Mira will give you a job!"
"I don't set everything on fire!" Natsu roared.
I sat at my usual corner table, notebook open but ignored. My eyes weren't on the fight. Instead, a faint shimmer only I could see hovered at the edge of my vision:
System NotificationEstimated Danger Level: CatastrophicTime Until Awakening: 12 Days
Each time I saw it, my chest tightened. That number was ticking down faster than I wanted, and no one else in the guild had a clue.
The demon sealed within Galuna Island was stirring. And when it awoke, Fairy Tail would be dragged into something far more dangerous than any simple job request.
"Alright, that's enough."
The hall went silent as Erza Scarlet entered, clad in her armor, scarlet hair flowing behind her like a banner. Every argument, every laugh, every sound died in an instant — except for Natsu and Gray, who both immediately pointed fingers at each other.
"He started it!""No, he started it!"
Erza's glare silenced them both. Then, without a word, she dropped a rolled-up parchment onto the nearest table. The mission request seal glowed faintly.
"This will be our next job," she declared.
I leaned forward just enough to glimpse the words. My stomach dropped. Galuna Island.
Of course.
"This is perfect!" Natsu cheered, fire practically sparking from his hair. "Finally, a real mission!"
"You don't even know what it is yet, flame-brain," Gray muttered, though even he was staring at the parchment with interest.
Happy chimed in, wings flapping. "Oooh, is it about fish? Please let it be about fish."
Erza crossed her arms, her voice cold and sharp. "This is not a game. The client has requested our help with a curse spreading across Galuna Island. It's dangerous. People are already suffering."
I forced my expression to stay calm, but inside I could feel my system buzzing in recognition. The curse… no. Not just a curse. A demon from Zeref's books.
"Sounds fun!" Natsu said, completely missing the gravity of the situation.
I closed my notebook slowly, hiding the sketches I'd drawn the night before — enchanted bunkers, bedrock sanctuaries, obsidian walls lined with dispenser turrets filled with arrows tipped in poison and fire. Preparations for a war no one but me knew was coming.
But maybe this was my chance. If I went with them, I could make sure Fairy Tail survived what was waiting on that island.
Mira looked at me, her smile gentle but knowing. "You're going too, right?"
I hesitated for only a heartbeat before nodding. "Yeah. I wouldn't miss it."
Erza studied me for a long moment, as if weighing something unseen, then finally nodded. "Good. We'll need every capable mage we can get."
The guild cheered, though I noticed a few uneasy glances. Even among Fairy Tail, Galuna's name carried whispers of curses and death.
As the noise picked back up, I leaned back in my chair, letting out a slow breath. My hand slid under the table, summoning a small obsidian block into my palm. Cool, unbreakable. A reminder that I wasn't just another wizard in this guild.
I had creative mode. I had infinite resources. I had the power to reshape the battlefield itself.
And I'd need every bit of it on that cursed island.
Because in twelve days… the countdown would end.