Renamon's Fox Leaf Arrowheads descended like a cruel storm, utterly crushing the swarming horde of giant rats.
The dozen or so remaining rats were scared out of their wits by this terrifying power.
They let out frightened squeaks and tucked their tails, trying to flee in panic to the corners of the abandoned village.
However, Ace, believing waste to be a disgrace, had Garurumon finish them off.
Renamon landed slowly, its white fur looking a little dull from the intense consumption of its demonic power.
It panted slightly; clearly, that large-scale ultimate move had taken a considerable toll on its stamina.
"Good work, Renamon. Come back and rest," Ace said with concern, recalling Renamon.
Garurumon, however, remained vigilantly by Ace's side, its sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.
Its instincts told it that the danger had not completely passed.
Erza walked over to Ace and nodded in approval. "Your Summoned Beasts are extraordinary. That fox used its tactics exceptionally well."
However, her brow then furrowed slightly. "But the appearance of these rat swarms seems too concentrated and abnormal. It doesn't look like a natural infestation..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a sudden change occurred!
"Hehehe... As expected of a Fairy Tail wizard, your senses are quite sharp."
A sinister voice came from the roof of a relatively intact house.
In an instant, more than a dozen figures shot out from behind the dilapidated houses, from cellar entrances, and even from a dried-up well!
They were all dressed in black outfits embroidered with a twisted serpentine pattern, their faces bearing cruel and greedy smiles.
Waves of chaotic and evil magic power emanated from their bodies.
It was the notorious dark guild—"Shadow Serpent's Claw"!
"A dark guild..." Erza's eyes instantly turned icy.
Her hand was already on the hilt of her sword as she shielded Ace behind her.
What she detested most were these dregs who trampled on the honor of guilds.
The leader was a fatass with a scar on his face.
He stared greedily at Ace and Garurumon. "We originally planned to use these Magical Beasts to wear you down, but I didn't expect a single fox to take care of them. No matter. Once we finish you off, that rare wolf-type Summoned Beast, and all the valuables on you, will belong to us, the 'Shadow Serpent's Claw'!"
"In your dreams!" Ace shouted angrily.
Garurumon also let out a low growl, baring its fangs.
"Garurumon, crush them!" Ace commanded.
Seeing the enemy reveal themselves, Garurumon let out an earth-shattering roar.
Its massive body transformed into a bolt of lightning that tore through the air, pouncing towards the rooftop at an astonishing speed!
"So fast!" The members of the dark guild were aghast, hastily using their own abilities.
Some raised shadow shields, while others leaped back in a hurry, their formation instantly thrown into disarray.
"Subzero Ice fang!" Garurumon opened its massive jaws wide, spewing not flames, but a vortex of extremely cold white frost!
Wherever the frigid air passed, ice crystals condensed in the air, and the rooftop was instantly covered in a layer of white frost.
Two mages who failed to dodge in time, along with the magic shields they had hastily conjured, were frozen solid in the midst of their desperate cries.
They turned into two ice sculptures with terrified expressions, reflecting an eerie light under the sun.
"Be careful! There's something strange about that wolf's cold breath!" the fatass shouted in horror, simultaneously waving his hand to shoot a swift shadow arrow.
But Garurumon's combat instincts were extremely sharp.
With an agile leap to the side, the shadow arrow grazed past its tough fur, leaving only a faint trail of black smoke in the air.
Having succeeded with its first strike, Garurumon's assault grew even fiercer!
Using the narrow terrain of the rooftop, its massive body displayed surprising agility.
It spin around abruptly and its mouth gathering energy once more—
"Howling Blaster!"
A torrent of azure flames, possessing a strange heat different from ordinary fire, spewed forth like a bursting dam, sweeping across the rooftop in a fan shape!
The remaining dark mages dodged in a sorry state.
One of them was a bit too slow, and the corner of his robe was licked by the blue flames.
The fire spread rapidly like a maggot feasting on bone, causing him to scream miserably as he tumbled off the roof, desperately rolling on the ground to extinguish the flames.
"Damn it! Don't get tangled up with that beast! Get the summoner kid first! He's the core!" The fatass saw the key to the battle and immediately commanded his two most agile subordinates.
"You two, go around!"
The two dark mages understood.
One used Shadow Stealth to merge into the shadows, while the other used wind magic to accelerate.
Like phantoms, they attempted to bypass Garurumon's blockade from two different directions, aiming straight for the seemingly weakest link in the center of the square—Ace!
"You won't succeed!" Erza's cold shout was like a final judgment!
With a flash of light, she had instantly re-quipped into her Black Wing Armor, which balanced speed and defense.
The black, wing-like pauldrons made her look like a Valkyrie descending upon the battlefield.
She took a step forward, precisely blocking Ace's path.
The sword in her hand drew a sharp arc, its tip pointed directly at the attackers, her powerful aura instantly locking onto the two of them.
"Ace, stay behind me!" Her voice was unquestionable, carrying an absolute reliability that put one at ease.
Watching Erza unhesitatingly use her back to build a barrier for him, Ace felt a warm current flow through his heart.
'Perhaps joining Fairy Tail wasn't the wrong decision after all.'
But he wasn't about to be treated as a weakling so easily!
"Erza, thank you! But dont underestimate me you know!" A determined flame ignited in Ace's eyes.
The magic within his body surged and resonated with unprecedented intensity!
A summoning circle, possibly more complex than before and shining with a golden radiance, suddenly unfolded beside him!
"Answer my call and descend, blade of justice that slays evil—Leomon!"
Amidst the dazzling light, a majestic and powerful figure, as imposing as a mountain, stepped through the halo, making a stunning entrance!
Its golden mane was as brilliant as the sun, and its robust, perfect body contained explosive power.
It held the ancient, famed sword "Lion King's Edge."
Merely by standing there, a steady, righteous, and oppressive aura of a Champion-level Digimon spread out like a tangible force, causing the very air on the battlefield to freeze!
"Leomon is here! You who do evil, accept the judgment of justice!" Leomon's voice was like a great bell, his bright, piercing eyes sweeping like swords toward the two dark mages attempting to ambush Ace.
Locked by that gaze filled with righteousness and killing intent, the two mages felt their bodies stiffen as if targeted by a fierce beast.
Their movements came to an abrupt halt, their faces filled with terror!
Erza felt the immense aura coming from behind her, and an intense look of astonishment flashed in her eyes.
This newly appeared lion-man warrior, the depth of its magic power and the air of a seasoned veteran, was, like Garurumon, far beyond the previous Renamon.
'A fourth Summoned Beast. Ace, this newcomer, brought a huge surprise with every move he made.'
"Damn it! All of you, attack him!" The fatass leader, both shocked and enraged, ordered his men to surround Leomon.
The other enemies didn't engage head-on but used their numerical advantage to constantly harass and pin them down.
Several magical chains of shadow restraints shot out from the ground, attempting to entangle Garurumon's limbs; cold shadow arrows flew like venomous wasps from tricky angles and there were even strange cursed howls that assaulted Garurumon's mind.
"Insolence! Lion King's Edge—Slash!"
Along with a roar like thunder, a massive blade of light, like a dawn that tears through the night, carrying the will to sever all things, struck the dark chains with absolute precision!
Leomon's figure weaved through the crowd.
Every swing of the Lion King's Edge brought forth a sharp sword aura, precisely striking the enemies' weapons and shattering them.
"It's not over! Take this!" The fatass leader gathered all his magic power and fired a jet-black shockwave.
Facing this desperate struggle, Leomon did not dodge.
He concentrated immense energy into his right fist, on which the phantom of a lion seemed to appear!
"Beast King Fist!"
He threw a punch and a golden, lion-shaped energy wave roared out, instantly devouring the dark shockwave before slamming viciously into the fatass leader's chest!
"Puah—!" The fatass leader spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward like a broken kite, crashing heavily into the wall of a ruined house.
He was embedded within it, unconscious.
After Leomon's appearance, the battle swiftly concluded in a crushing victory.
In just a few seconds, most of the dark guild members were already on the ground, screaming in pain and having lost their ability to fight.
The tide of battle had been completely reversed in an instant!
At the front, Garurumon bared its fangs, on the flank, Leomon stood tall and imposing, his blade alone enough to strike fear into the enemy's heart, and in the center, Erza stood guard, not moving an inch.
he initial arrogance and greed on the faces of the "Shadow Serpent's Claw" members had long been replaced by desperate terror.
"Damn it... We've picked a fight with the wrong people! Quick... Retreat!" The fatass hoarsely gave the order to retreat, turning to flee first himself.