Magnolia, Fairy Tail Guild.
The afterglow of the setting sun streamed through the broken windows. But at this moment, the atmosphere in the guild was heavy with the solemnity of having survived a disaster.
The main doors were suddenly pushed open.
"Mirajane! Ms. Porlyusica!" Natsu rushed in, his voice hoarse and anxious, carrying a weakened Macao on his back.
Lucy followed closely behind, carefully cradling an object—a basketball-sized blue Slime. Its surface was covered in a web of dark cracks, its gelatinous body appearing murky and dim, and the light from its core was as faint as a candle in the wind. It was Christian.
"Macao!"
"Christian!"
Exclamations erupted! The once noisy guild instantly fell silent, and everyone gathered around.
Mirajane's expression changed, and she immediately gave instructions.
"Quick! Put Macao on that bench over there! Ms. Porlyusica will be here any minute!" Several members immediately stepped forward to help.
Lucy gently placed Christian on a clean cushion next to the bar, her eyes filled with worry.
"Mr. Christian..."
"What happened?!" Erza pushed through the crowd, her armor clanking, her brows furrowed as she looked at Macao's terrible state and the shrunken, cracked Christian.
"It was a Vulcan from Mount Hakobe... It mutated, and it's very strong."
Natsu gasped for breath, his fists clenched, his gaze complex as he swept over the direction of the claw marks on the mountain wall, then immediately focused on Christian.
"Chris took the monster's full-power blow to save Uncle Macao... and me... That power carried a curse!"
"A curse?!" Gray's eyes narrowed, and Cold Air/Chilling Aura involuntarily seeped out.
"Yes, a very powerful curse. It can petrify and erode magic power." Natsu nodded, looking at Christian with unprecedented solemnity and a hint of guilt. "If it weren't for him... Uncle Macao might have already... and I also..."
"Christian..." Lucy knelt beside the cushion, her fingers wanting to touch him but afraid of hurting him, ultimately hovering just above the dark cracks. "How are you feeling?"
Chris's core flickered faintly.
"Haha, I'm fine, don't worry," Chris responded weakly.
The core's voice sounded, carrying a barely perceptible, electronic-like weakness: "Core... undamaged. 'Self-regeneration'... in progress. Status: Moderate damage... Estimated repair time: 72 hours. Energy... depleted."
Just then, the guild's side door opened. An old woman, Porlyusica, dressed in a dark green robe with a clear and cool demeanor, walked in, followed by a floating basket of herbs. She walked directly towards Macao.
Porlyusica is a pink-haired middle-aged woman wearing a dragon tooth-decorated cape. In her youth, she was a long-haired beauty in a black monastic habit. She despises humans but is skilled in top-tier healing magic. She often carries a herb pouch, and her catchphrase "idiot" is especially directed at Gildarts.
Everyone made way.
The old woman examined Macao's condition.
"Forest Breath," Porlyusica's palm faced upwards, and she gently exhaled green light dust.
When "Forest Breath" is released, withered grass straightens and sick flowers bloom. The air freshens, and the smell of decay disappears. It can identify pathological factors, cause wounds to contract, necrotic tissue to slough off, new flesh to grow, and wounds to close.
As the dust scattered, Porlyusica understood Macao's condition and that of the newcomer.
Especially the lingering cursed aura, which made her frown slightly. "A powerful petrification curse... The erosion is very deep. It's a miracle he survived."
Her sharp gaze swept towards Christian by the bar.
"Did it... devour most of the curse's origin?"
"Yes, Ms. Porlyusica," Lucy quickly replied. "Mr. Christian protected Mr. Macao and Natsu..."
"Hmph," Porlyusica snorted lightly, said no more, and began to concentrate on preparing a potion to treat Macao.
"He needs high-purity magic power, or substances rich in magic power."
"Give him my magic power!" Natsu unhesitatingly extended his hand, a small cluster of flames igniting at his fingertips.
"Stop that at once!" Porlyusica immediately stopped him.
"Your Dragon Slayer Magic... its violent nature under his current condition... forcibly devouring it... could interfere with the recovery process... or even... trigger unknown conflicts."
Natsu froze, the flames extinguished, and his gaze towards Christian became even more complex. "You, you guy..."
"Use this!" Cana came over, carrying a huge barrel of alcohol, and set it down with a thud.
"Guild's special brew! Magic Ale! Contains rich plant and grain magic power!"
"Cana! This is not the time to drink!" Levy rubbed her forehead.
"Just try it!" Cana clapped open the barrel lid, and the rich aroma of alcohol and magic power diffused.
"High concentration alcohol... impure magic power... absorption efficiency... low," Porlyusica responded.
"Eh? He doesn't even drink?" Cana was disappointed.
"What about this then?" Levy took out a small piece of faintly glowing blue magic crystal, an experimental product of text magic. "Refined magic power crystal, with few impurities."
"Yes, yes, this will work."
Christian 'analyzed and appraised'. "Analysis... Purity: Medium. Attribute: Text Magic (inert). Absorption efficiency: Good. Acceptable."
Levy immediately placed the magic crystal next to Christian. A small portion of the blue gelatin slowly extended, enveloping the crystal.
"Alert. Beginning absorption of refined magic power crystal..."
"Alert. Regeneration speed increased by 15%... Cracks being repaired..."
The dark cracks on the surface visibly lightened and healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. Although slow, it was indeed improving, and the murky gelatin also seemed to clear a little.
The guild members breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's great..."
"As expected of Devouring Magic, it can even withstand and repair curses..."
"Chris is amazing!"
Makarov had also arrived in the hall at some point, his small figure standing by the railing on the second floor, his gaze deep as he looked down. Seeing Christian steadily absorbing magic power to repair himself, and seeing the genuine concern of the members, a barely perceptible look of relief appeared on his serious face. 'Devouring Magic'... Perhaps in Fairy Tail, it could find a different future.