Lucy's jaw dropped.
She clutched her head in shock. "It's so huge! What kind of Celestial Spirit is that?!"
Ankh raised the key in his hand.
"This is the black key of Ophiuchus, the thirteenth zodiac spirit that shouldn't exist!"
"Ophiuchus?" Lucy was stunned.
She remembered her mother telling her stories about this Celestial Spirit years ago.
The hidden thirteenth zodiac, Ophiuchus, was said to have power greater than the other twelve and was a cursed, forbidden spirit.
Lucy had always thought it was just a legend, especially since no one had seen Ophiuchus for so long...
But today, she was seeing this terrifying spirit with her own eyes.
Bora and his men stared dumbfounded at the mechanical serpent blocking the sky, nearly fainting from terror on the spot!
"Ophis! Don't let a single one escape! Throw them all onto the shore!" Ankh commanded the giant serpent.
Ophiuchus's snake-like pupils contracted.
Its massive tail swept toward the ship, coiled around the cruise liner, and violently hurled it toward the land!
Screams of terror immediately erupted from the people on the ship, including Natsu.
"Wah—blah blah—vomit..."
The cruise ship crashed onto the shore and exploded, dealing a second round of damage to everyone on board.
The massive waves lifted Ankh, Lucy, and Happy, carrying them gently back to shore like they were on a magic carpet.
The cruise ship explosion created a huge blaze, instantly blackening the shoreline.
A dust-covered Bora struggled free from the wreckage.
He stared in horror at the sky serpent, all thoughts of fighting gone from his mind.
Just then, Lucy slapped her forehead. "Oh no! Natsu is still in the fire! He won't get burned to death, will he?!"
Hearing this, Ankh and Happy both turned to look at Lucy with expressions that said she was being stupid.
"You're so funny," Happy blurted out with his typical blunt honesty.
Lucy: ???
'Any normal person falling into that ferocious fire would be lucky to survive, so what was with their reaction?'
Lucy was completely confused.
Ankh patted Lucy's shoulder understandingly. "Don't worry, Natsu is an incredibly strong Mage. Flames like these are just a snack to him."
Lucy scratched her head.
'A snack? What did that mean?'
Soon, Lucy got her answer.
The raging sea of flames suddenly seemed to find a drain, swirling violently toward one spot...
No, it looked more like the flames were being forcibly sucked in against their will!
"You said you're a Mage from Fairy Tail, right?"
From within the towering flames, a tall figure became visible against the orange firelight, like a fierce beast bathing in the blaze.
Bora's legs trembled uncontrollably. He pointed a shaking finger at the figure.
"Who are you! How are you still alive?!"
Before Bora could finish, the flames that had been devouring the shore were completely sucked dry in a matter of seconds!
"Ahhh—"
Natsu opened his mouth wide, steam rising from within.
He stared sharply at Bora and said in a deep voice, "Lift your head and let me see your face!"
Natsu's aura grew wilder.
He reached out and tore off his long-sleeved coat in one motion.
His eyes seemed to burn with fire as he roared, "I'm Natsu of Fairy Tail! I've never heard of someone like you!"
This roar was like a wake-up call, shocking everyone present.
Under the bright white moonlight, the fiery red Fairy Tail emblem on Natsu's shoulder was clearly visible.
"Natsu... is a Mage from Fairy Tail?!" Lucy was shocked once again.
The guild member she had dreamed of joining had been right beside her all along!
Ankh lifted his sleeve, revealing a black Fairy Tail emblem. "Natsu, Happy, and I are all Mages of Fairy Tail."
"And the reason the fire didn't hurt Natsu is because he uses Dragon Slayer Magic."
Before the words faded, Natsu had already raised his hands to his mouth, forming them into a tube shape.
A crimson magic circle appeared, and a powerful blast of fire shot from his mouth!
Fire Dragon's Roar!
Overwhelming heat surged forward.
Bora quickly snapped out of his despair and rode his purple flames into the air.
His men weren't so lucky—with just one roar, the burly men were sent screaming in pain...
But Natsu wasn't done.
He slammed his fiery fists together and menacingly pursued Bora through the air, starting another one-sided beating.
Lucy stood frozen, unable to believe her eyes. "Breathing fire one moment, fighting with fire the next... is this really magic?"
Ankh nodded, taking on the role of commentator. "A dragon's lungs breathe fire, a dragon's scales melt fire, a dragon's claws capture fire..."
"Dragon Slayer Magic is an ancient, powerful magic that changes the user's body to have the traits of a dragon. It's a type of Lost Magic!"
Lucy blinked, breaking out in a cold sweat. "I've never heard of it..."
Ankh stood with his hands behind his back, watching Natsu and Bora fight.
"It's a magic that was originally created to fight against dragons long ago."
"This specific magic was taught to Natsu by his adoptive father, the fire dragon Igneel."
Lucy finally understood how powerful Fairy Tail was. "So this is a real Salamander... the real Fairy Tail..."
"But..."
"Isn't this going too far?!"
Lucy stared in despair at Bora, who had been knocked unconscious by Natsu, and the street that was now destroyed.
She felt like her soul was about to leave her body.
Natsu tossed the half-dead Bora aside, snorted a puff of flame, and grinned.
"That feels much better."
Ankh looked into the distance and saw groups of town soldiers already approaching.
Lucy, who had never seen such a scene, immediately panicked.
Natsu, however, acted like it was completely normal, looking quite experienced at it.
Natsu skillfully called out to Happy. "Alright Happy, let's go!"
Just as Lucy was hesitating, Natsu suddenly rushed over and grabbed her hand.
"Huh?" Lucy was startled and looked at Natsu.
Natsu's smile was as warm as sunlight. "We're in trouble, let's run!"
"But why do I have to run too?!"
Natsu smiled brightly. "Aren't you going to join Fairy Tail?"
Lucy was instantly stunned.
Then, as if she'd already guessed what was coming, she held her breath.
A moment later, she heard the boy who burned like summer speak with a brilliant grin.
"Let's go together!"
---------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator