In response to Natsu's open attack, waves of Scarmeleon guild members surged forward, weapons and spells at the ready. However, their confidence shattered the moment Naruto reappeared in their midst, bodies dropping left and right before they could even register his presence. His strikes were merciless yet calculated, ensuring maximum efficiency without excessive harm. Natsu, on the other hand, was far less reserved. A savage grin split his face as he plowed through enemy ranks with unrelenting aggression. Fists wreathed in fire, he sent opponents flying with each devastating blow, their screams drowned out by the roar of his flames. He was a walking inferno, an unstoppable force drawing all attention onto himself. And that was exactly what Naruto needed. While Natsu acted as the perfect distraction, Naruto maneuvered in the shadows, swiftly eliminating enemies before they could alert reinforcements. The balance between brute force and precision proved devastating to their foes. One by one, Scarmeleon's forces fell, their bodies either bound or left unconscious in their wake. Within minutes, the battle was over. The surviving hostages huddled together, whispering in hushed relief as they watched the unconscious forms of their captors being secured by the local garrison. Several knights moved to contain the remaining members of Scarmeleon, ensuring none would escape to report back to their comrades. Naruto let out a deep breath, straightening his posture. "Well, that was a mess." "Yeah," Natsu chuckled, cracking his knuckles. "But it was fun, though." Naruto shot him a glare, but before he could say anything, a familiar voice crackled through the communication lacrima. "Report. What's the status of your sector?" Erza's commanding tone rang through, her voice sharp and urgent. Naruto sighed, rubbing his temples. "Southwestern vantage point secured. No casualties. But... we might have blown our cover." A heavy silence followed. "Might?" Erza's voice darkened, the sheer weight of her authority sending a shiver down Naruto's spine. "…It was Natsu." A beat passed before Erza responded. "Natsu, prepare yourself." Natsu paled, sweat instantly forming on his brow. "…Uh-oh." The call did not end. Erza's voice crackled over the commlink: her sector was secured—Wendy, Carla, and Gray had all taken out their targets—except for Lucy, whose frantic transmission had cut off mid-sentence. "Hyieeee—" At that moment, Naruto's expression darkened. Natsu shifted his stance, and without another word, Naruto only managed to call out Lucy's name before they bolted. Lucy was meant to cover the east vantage point, with her loyal spirit Loke by her side. Instead, her panicked voice had echoed through the channel, sending waves of worry through the group. When they reached her sector, the sight that greeted them was surreal—a throng of Fortenna's civilians, once timid and fearful, now parading Lucy like a heroine. Children and adults alike tossed her high into the air, their cheers ringing out in exultant unison. "Our Hero!" "Goddess!" The marketplace—usually a bustling haven of haggling barkers and colorful stalls—had transformed into a spontaneous celebration of Lucy's valor. Amid the jubilant chaos, Loke's voice cut through as he recounted the day's events to Erza, Naruto, Wendy, Carla, Natsu, Happy, and Gray. He explained that while he had been holding off the dark guild's muscle, Lucy had focused on rescuing innocents and dismantling the pillar essential for their sinister spell. With all five pillars of the dark guild's spell now reduced to rubble by Fairy Tail's relentless assault, their adversaries had lost the means to sustain their unholy ritual. In the outskirts of Fortenna, Fairy Tail forces had systematically hunted down the remaining members. The final act was a merciless annihilation—leaving the master of Scarmeleon bound, his head a patchwork of bumps and bruises. Fortenna itself, a commercial hub famed for its vibrant market and diverse clientele, now stood as a testament to the guild's intervention. Their client—a high-ranking general from the local garrison—had been relentless in exposing the dark guild's misdeeds. Thanks to Fairy Tail's swift actions, a lavish feast was arranged, and a hefty reward promised to those who had risked their lives to halt the catastrophic spell. As the celebrations began to ripple through the streets, Naruto stood apart for a moment, surveying the scene with a mix of relief and resolve. Despite the chaos and the cost, they had succeeded—and now, as whispers of Lucy's newfound status as a hero echoed through the city. While riding in a creaking carriage toward Magnolia after their Fortenna mission, Naruto's gaze kept drifting to the celestial wizard's hip, where a gleaming celestial key was affixed. The sight tugged at a memory from the night before Cait Shelter's disbandment… "Naruto?" Lucy's soft voice broke through the murmur of the dark night. Behind her, two small blue figures—twin-like, plush apparitions—hovered silently. They were the spirit, the one that had spied on their mission to subjugate Oración Seis by perfectly mimicking Ichiya's every nuance. Naruto's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. He'd always had an inkling about why Lucy had approached him that night. The spirit's uncanny imitation wasn't just in appearance; its movements, its aura—even its subtle expressions bore an eerie resemblance to Ichiya. He recalled, with a pang, that this same spirit had once used his mentor Jiraiya's face as a distraction—the very act that had led to his sealing in the Stygian Lacrima. Easing his presence so as not to startle the celestial wizard, Naruto murmured, "Hm?" in a low, measured tone. Lucy bowed her head respectfully. "I'm really sorry, Naruto…" she said softly, her voice carrying genuine remorse. "On behalf of Gemini…" she added, gesturing to the blue spirit whose form flickered slightly with an otherworldly glow. The spirit—Gemini—could only manage a quiet "Piri, piri…" Its limited vocabulary did nothing to mask the sincerity in its tone, a heartfelt apology for having used Jiraiya's face as a decoy. Naruto smiled faintly, waving a hand in acceptance. "I get it," he replied, his voice gentle. "No harm done." Curiosity lighting his features, he asked, "So, how exactly do you copy someone so perfectly without even needing to observe their every move?"
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