A month had passed since the Phoenix incident, and the Veronica Duchy had, unsurprisingly, been completely destroyed.
The news reaching the outside world was that Prince Cream's excessive ambition led him to try and use the power of the Phoenix for eternal life, resulting in the Phoenix wiping out the entire duchy.
Fairy Tail's destruction of the Phoenix was regarded as an act of justice.
Since Prince Cream was long dead and the duchy was in ruins, naturally, there was no one left to object.
As for the surviving soldiers and civilians, some chose to rebuild the duchy while others chose to join other kingdoms; life had to go on.
Eclair and Momon did not join the Fairy Tail Guild. She didn't know any magic and didn't plan on learning any, so she chose to open a dessert shop in Magnolia Town.
Everyone was naturally delighted and helped with the construction. Erza and a few others who loved sweets even invested together, so they wouldn't have to pay for desserts in the future... "Everything really was resolved perfectly!"
Lucy took a bath and lay on her bed, leisurely kicking her feet, feeling completely relaxed.
"Lucy!"
Natsu and Happy burst in high spirits, only for Lucy to kick Natsu right in the face, sending him tumbling back.
Lucy crossed her arms and shouted in a rage, "You two, remember to knock!"
Luckily, she had just finished bathing, otherwise... Lucy imagined the scene and her face instantly turned red and steamed. These two impolite bastards.
Natsu sat on the floor rubbing his face, then excitedly held up a piece of paper. "There's a new mission! Happy and I snatched one!"
"A mission?"
Lucy took it and looked closely. "Sendorfia Church... the infinite clock parts were stolen?"
Her anger flared up immediately. They had been so adamant about using the infinite clock to save the world, and they lost it this quickly?
Even with Lucy's good temper, she wanted to call them useless. Those infinite clock parts were stolen from her home, and they even injured the guards.
Happy reminded her, "It was stolen by the Oración Seis."
Natsu said confidently, "They're old rivals. Let's go take them out!"
The Sendorfia Church knew that the members of the Fairy Tail Guild were the ones who had imprisoned the Oración Seis last time, so they sent the commission here.
They also felt very ashamed. After collecting the infinite clock for so long, they had essentially handed it over to the Oración Seis on a silver platter.
Lucy analyzed, "Last time the Oración Seis were defeated, it was entirely thanks to Acnologia. We only defeated that guild master, Brain, because we had help from two of the Ten Wizard Saints, Jura and Jellal. They're incredibly strong."
Natsu said excitedly, "We'll bring Acnologia and Irene along. We're the Fire Dragon Squad after all!"
Most importantly, with Irene there, they wouldn't have to take the train, and he wouldn't have to suffer that kind of torture anymore.
Lucy's face lit up with joy. "If those two are with us, it's a sure thing!"
Happy raised his hand excitedly, "Aye~!"
Soon, the two humans and the cat arrived at Acnologia and Irene's home and enthusiastically told them about the matter.
Acnologia raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oración Seis?"
He remembered that Jellal's trio was supposed to recruit the Oración Seis. Had they not met yet?
Irene lay lazily on the sofa with her legs crossed and said dismissively, "You guys can go on your own. Those guys are pushovers."
Instead of wasting time on that, she'd rather sleep at home and let the people of Sendorfia Church deal with their own headaches.
Lucy leaned on Irene's legs and pleaded pitifully, "Sister Irene, please help. I haven't even earned enough for next month's rent yet."
She hadn't earned a single cent from helping Eclair destroy the Phoenix last time, and now she was so poor she was practically eating dirt.
Irene gave a bored yawn. "I really can't say no to you!"
Acnologia asked curiously, "Are there still six of them? Didn't that guy Brain die?"
Happy took out the mission sheet and handed it over. "It seems they've added two bald guys, one named Arthur and the other named Caesar. That Arthur is already the master of the Oración Seis."
The mission sheet recorded information about the two; both were very strong and were said to be Dragon Slayer Mages.
"Dragon Slayer Mages?"
Although Acnologia was a bit puzzled, he didn't take it to heart. There were many powerful Mages in this world, and it was understandable if they hadn't appeared in the original plot.
Natsu said excitedly, "I can't wait to trade blows with them."
He wasn't afraid at all, firmly believing that the Dragon Slaying Magic taught by Igneel was the strongest!
Irene narrowed her eyes comfortably and asked, "Are there any clues about their location? We can't just go searching all over the world."
Lucy explained, "There's only one last part of the infinite clock left, and it's in the Ancient Ruins in the Northwest Desert."
"The Oración Seis probably don't know this yet. That means if we get that part first, we just have to wait for them to come to us."
Their mission was to defeat the Oración Seis and reclaim the infinite clock. The Sendorfia Church didn't want the infinite clock to be destroyed; they still needed it to face a terrifying future.
"Then we'll go get the last part first and take back the infinite clock."
Acnologia said disdainfully, "The people from the Sendorfia Church are too useless. It's better off in my keeping."
He was somewhat interested in the infinite clock—the Real Nightmare, manipulating life's perception of time, blurring the concept of time.
In the original story, Happy even turned into a dog, and Elfman became a paper man... Irene agreed, "Our house just happens to be missing a clock. That infinite clock would be quite nice."
Lucy said helplessly, "The Sendorfia Church probably won't agree to that."
Irene looked disdainful. "If those weaklings who can't even beat the Oración Seis don't agree, I'll just go and smash their crappy church!"
Happy said excitedly, "Sister Irene is so domineering!"
Natsu was also one to stir up trouble and said excitedly, "Call me when you go to smash the church."
In his eyes, since those people had trashed Lucy's house, they certainly weren't good people. If it weren't for the Master's disapproval, he would have stormed their doors long ago.
"You guys, be a little more serious!"
Lucy covered her face. They hadn't even started the mission yet, and they were already discussing the aftermath. How much did they look down on the Oración Seis? They were major early-game bosses!
Acnologia waved his hand. "Those small fry... I feel like you, Natsu, and Happy could handle them yourselves."
Irene smiled and said, "Keep using that Gemini Celestial Spirit of yours. By combining your magic with Natsu's, which member of the Oración Seis couldn't you beat?"
Natsu said confidently, "I feel like I could defeat the Oración Seis all by myself."
Acnologia was full of admiration and praised, "As expected of Natsu. Your spirit has completely surpassed Laxus's. Taking on six at once is no problem at all. Those outdated Dark Guilds are no longer a match for you!"
Irene also feigned surprise. "Is Natsu really that strong now?"
"I noticed it the first time I saw you. Your talent is the highest in our guild, far beyond even Laxus and Erza."
Natsu was a bit incredulous. "Am I really that amazing?"
So, in the hearts of Acnologia and Irene, he had always been a genius who surpassed Laxus.
Acnologia smiled. "Don't underestimate yourself. Your potential hasn't been fully realized yet. I believe that one day, you will reach the pinnacle of magic!"
Irene said with great emotion, "The future belongs to your era. All enemies will merely be scenery on your path forward!"
Lucy could already see the ill intentions of this couple. They were completely setting Natsu up for a fall.
She was worried Natsu would actually be foolish enough to try and take on six alone, so she hurriedly advised, "Natsu, don't listen to their nonsense. The Oración Seis are very strong..."
Under the flattery of the two, Natsu was already floating on air. He waved his hand dismissively with a face full of confidence.
"Lucy, you have to have faith in me. Just watch me when the time comes!"
Even Acnologia and Irene were full of confidence in him. Maybe he already had the power to defeat Gildarts.
Lucy looked at Natsu, who was laughing heartily with his hands on his hips, and couldn't bear to look. "You big idiot!"
This guy doesn't use his Brain at all. If you cracked his skull open to look, it would probably still be brand new inside.
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