He gritted his teeth, still struggling to muster his magic. But then, a massive golden claw clenched into a fist, growing larger and larger in his pupils with terrifying speed!
"Thud!"
A muffled impact echoed. A sharp, searing pain shot through him as his nose shattered, warm blood gushing out instantly, smearing across his face.
Mirajane wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Tch, one punch and you're already bleeding? Pathetic."
She grabbed Erigor's cloak collar, hoisting him up like a helpless chick. Her other demonic claw rose high as she barked, "Spill it! Where's the Lullaby?!"
Erigor, blood streaming down his face, managed a twisted, defiant smirk. "If you've got the guts… find it yourself. Kill me—I still won't tell you."
Erza, standing nearby with her arms crossed, let out a soft chuckle. "As expected, Mira, you're still too green. You clearly don't know the first thing about interrogation."
"Huh?" Mira shot her an annoyed glare, rolling her eyes. She grabbed Erigor's head and casually tossed him toward Erza like he was a sack of trash. "Fine, you do it! Let's see what fancy tricks you've got, big talker!"
Being thrown around like a ragdoll, Erigor's face flushed with humiliation, veins bulging on his forehead. "You two bi—" His curse was cut off as Erza yanked the scarf from his neck and shoved it roughly into his mouth.
She hesitated for a moment, then pulled the scarf out, using it to wipe the blood off his face with such force it was like she was scrubbing a floor. Once done, she stuffed the now-filthy cloth back into his mouth.
Her expression remained cold as ice. Her fist, encased in silver armor, sliced through the air with a whoosh. "Thud! Thud!" Two brutal punches landed square on both of his eyes.
"Arghhh!" Erigor's eyes nearly popped out of his skull, instantly swelling into dark, purplish panda eyes, bloodshot and horrifying. His body convulsed in agony, muffled whimpers escaping his throat.
As he weakly tried to raise an arm, Erza moved like lightning, grabbing it. Crack! Crack! With two sharp twists, she dislocated both of his arms, leaving them dangling uselessly.
Then came another punch, this one slamming into his stomach.
"Urgh!" Erigor's eyes bulged again. The pain in his gut felt like his organs were being crushed, a wave of nausea surging up his throat. His body spasmed violently.
Only when he caught a ragged breath did Erza, stone-faced, yank the cloth from his mouth.
"Where's the Lullaby?"
Gasping for air, Erigor wheezed, weak but stubborn. "If… you've got the guts—"
Before he could finish, the cloth was shoved back in. Erza's left hand pressed down on his head, a crimson magic circle flaring to life above him.
[Pain Amplification]
Her right hand flashed with white light, the silver gauntlet replaced by an eerie one glowing with an ominous, inky green hue.
Erza raised her green-armored fist and struck his stomach again, almost casually. "AHHHH!" Erigor's scream was no longer human. The indescribable pain, magnified a thousandfold, tore through every nerve in his body.
His body was drenched in cold sweat, his eyes rolling back, the light in his pupils fading fast. He collapsed like a boneless heap, only held up by Erza's grip on his head, his soul seemingly shredded by the torment.
Erza's green gauntlet pinched his cheeks, wisps of greenish mist drifting from the armor and curling around his nose and mouth.
Slowly, Erigor's unfocused eyes sharpened, now filled only with raw fear and despair—no trace of defiance left.
Her voice, cold as death itself, rang out again. "Last chance. If your answer doesn't satisfy me, I'll show you what true suffering feels like."
She ripped the cloth out.
"Where's the Lullaby?"
Erigor's body shook violently, his voice broken and trembling with terror. "I-I don't know… I swear, I just realized it was gone! I really don't know!"
"Oh?" A cruel smile curled on Erza's lips. "Looks like you need a little help remembering."
Her green fist began to rise again.
"Wait! Wait! I'm telling the truth! I don't know! AHHHH!" His bloodcurdling scream echoed through the station hall.
Nearby, Lucy's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground with a thud, her pupils shrinking to pinpricks, her entire body trembling.
"Tch… T-This is Erza…" Her voice quivered, almost breaking into a sob. "So terrifying… No wonder Natsu and the others are so scared of her…"
Happy, arms crossed, wore a rare serious expression on his feline face. "Roger can't always be with us. Even Erza often takes on missions alone. So, we have to learn how to interrogate enemies effectively."
"It looks brutal, sure, but it's the fastest and most efficient way. The quicker we get answers, the sooner we can save innocent lives."
He continued, "Her Pain Amplification magic heightens the enemy's pain receptors. Erza doesn't usually use it for interrogations, but Eisenwald planned to use the Lullaby to kill tons of wizards, including the guild master. Erza respects him deeply, and they crossed a line she won't forgive. That's why she's going all out."
Lucy swallowed hard, staring at Erigor, who was barely clinging to consciousness. "Then… why doesn't he just pass out? Most people would've fainted from the pain by now."
Happy pointed at Erza's green gauntlet. "See that? It's part of the Clarity Armor. When fully equipped, it protects against certain negative effects. But when it's just the gauntlet, anyone hit by it can't pass out, no matter how much pain they're in."
"And with Erza adding the essence of the Wakebloom flower, it keeps him fully conscious, feeling every single second of the pain… until he breaks—or dies."
Lucy bit her finger in fear. "This… this Pain Amplification magic… Does Erza always interrogate like this?"
Happy nodded slightly. "Yeah. Apparently, Roger was the one who first suggested and demonstrated it. Erza learned it from him and… well, perfected the process."
"Roger?!" Lucy yelped, her voice cracking in disbelief. Realizing how loud she was, she slapped a hand over her mouth, glancing fearfully at Roger—who just happened to be looking her way.
He smiled warmly and gave her a friendly wave.
Lucy flinched, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace, weakly waving back before whipping her head around like a startled rabbit.
No way! The rumors about Roger are totally wrong! He's nothing like what people say!
Roger, Erza, Mirajane… These three are absolutely, positively people you DO NOT mess with! Way too scary!
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