The scent of scorched earth hit Lucky and Gray like a wave the moment they entered the burned zone. Trees stood like skeletal remains, blackened and hollow, and ash floated through the air like winter snow. Every step crunched underfoot, the ground brittle from flames.
"This place... it was hit hard," Lucky muttered, glancing around. His golden eyes scanned for movement.
Gray walked beside him, arms folded. His face was set in a deep frown. "No survivors. Not even birds."
Lucky nodded solemnly. "Let's keep moving."
He raised a hand and summoned his Wind Wolves. Five of them shimmered into existence, tails flicking, ears perked.
"Scout ahead. If you see anything unusual, relay it through the link."
They bounded off silently into the woods. A second later, Lucky called forth his Golden Eagle, commanding it to patrol the skies. Finally, with a flash of light, the Spirit Fox appeared beside him, tail glowing softly.
"We might need your illusions soon," he whispered. The fox nodded.
The two mages walked deeper into the devastated forest. The silence was oppressive. Even the wind seemed to hesitate.
Then a ripple ran through Lucky's senses.
He froze. One of the Wind Wolves had just vanished.
The shared memory blinked in his mind: a blur of motion, heat, and flame. Then darkness.
"We have something!" Lucky called.
Gray tensed. "Direction?"
Lucky pointed southeast. "Move."
They broke into a sprint. After two minutes, they reached a clearing. The trees here were reduced to charcoal stumps. A deep crater in the center radiated residual heat.
Then it emerged.
A massive beast burst from the treeline—four-legged, lion-shaped, its fur molten flame, its bones like blackened steel. Fire dripped from its jaws, and its molten tail lashed the air with a sizzling crack.
Lucky's breath hitched. "That's... intense."
Gray's voice dropped to a cold whisper. "I recognize that shape."
The monster let out a deafening roar that blew ash and heat across the clearing. It lowered its head and charged.
"MOVE!" Lucky yelled.
They dove to opposite sides as the beast scorched the earth behind them.
Gray was the first to retaliate. "Ice-Make: Geyser Lance!"
A jagged spear of ice launched from his palm, striking the beast's flank. Steam exploded as it hit, but the creature barely flinched. The ice melted on contact.
Lucky gritted his teeth. "Solid Script: IRON!"
He wrote it midair with his fingers, and thick metallic letters formed a barrier. The beast slammed into it, slowed but not stopped.
Then Lucky acted again. He had no choice.
"Lucky Hit: Activate."
He mentally selected the spell—Solid Script: WATER—and dumped 2,000 MP into the activation. The multiplier flashed in his mind.
x4.
"Solid Script: WATER! WATER! WATER! WATER!"
Four massive bursts of pressurized water exploded from his script, slamming into the fire beast. Steam roared through the clearing as the water met heat.
The beast shrieked—a high, grating cry of anger—but it wasn't enough.
"It's still moving!" Lucky shouted. "Restrain it!"
"Got it!" He slashed his finger again. "Solid Script: WIND!"
The glowing letters of WIND wrapped into a cyclone that spun around the creature's legs, lifting dust and ash while attempting to pin it.
It bucked and snarled, struggling against the wind vortex.
Gray's eyes gleamed. "I see the core! Inside its chest!"
Through the flickering fire, Lucky caught sight of a black crystal pulsing red behind the monster's ribs.
Lucky snapped his gaze to Gray. "I'll dump everything I have into one last water wave. You freeze it—strike the core!"
Gray gave a sharp nod. "Ready."
Lucky inhaled deeply, his body glowing with magical energy. "Lucky Hit: Activate!"
Another surge of mana—2,000 MP poured into the command.
Multiplier: x6.
"SOLID SCRIPT: WATER!"
A massive torrent of water erupted, cascading like a waterfall into the beast. The flames sputtered violently, steam blanketing the battlefield.
"NOW, GRAY!"
"ICE-MAKE: LANCE!"
With a roar, Gray launched a glistening spear of condensed ice. It shot through the fog like a comet, piercing directly into the beast's chest.
The fire creature let out one last, horrible cry.
Then—
BOOM!
The core exploded. A wave of heat and force blasted outward.
Lucky reacted instantly. "IRON GOLEM!"
In a flash of light, the Iron Golem materialized between them and the explosion, arms outstretched.
The shockwave crashed into the golem, shielding both mages from the worst of the blast.
When the steam cleared, all that remained was a smoldering crater.
And in its center... a single glowing card.
Lucky sat up, wiping ash from his eyes. His chest burned from exertion. He stumbled forward.
The card floated down slowly, its back glimmering with magical energy. He reached out.
It snapped into his palm.
CARD OBTAINED
Lucky glanced at Gray, who was on one knee, panting hard. His gaze was unfocused, not at the card, but at the ashes.
"Gray," Lucky called gently.
Gray blinked, then looked up. "I'm fine."
Lucky raised a brow.
Gray stood slowly, brushing himself off. "I said I'm fine."
But Lucky saw the tremble in his hands.
Still, he didn't push.
Not yet.
The fire was gone, but something else had been ignited. And Lucky wasn't sure what it meant.
——————————————————————————————————
They reached the town just as the sun began its descent toward the horizon. The guards recognized them instantly and quickly escorted them to the mayor.
When the mayor heard the news, he burst into tears. The relief in his expression was overwhelming. "You did it! You really did it!" he cried, moving as if to fall to his knees.
But before he could, both Lucky and Gray reached out simultaneously, gently stopping him.
The two mages looked at each other and nodded in silent agreement.
"It's our job," Lucky said with a soft smile.
The mayor wiped his tears and hurried to retrieve the promised reward. With gratitude in his voice, he handed them the payment. Lucky and Gray split it evenly.
After exchanging farewells, they turned and began the journey back to Magnolia. The trip took time, and while the sky was darkening, there was still a hint of daylight left.
As they approached the guild, the comforting sound of chatter and clinking mugs reached their ears. They pushed open the doors to find Fairy Tail alive with energy.
They walked over to report, but Gray remained quiet.
His silence drew attention. Just as someone was about to ask, Gray quietly said, "I'll be going. I need some air."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and left.
Lucky stood silently, watching him go.
Some things were better faced when the time was right.