Just as the giant ape's massive fist was about to crush him, Wes Elwin vanished, using Phantom Shift to dodge the attack.
The creature's blow slammed into the ground, leaving behind a deep crater. Though it missed Wes, the sheer impact forced him several steps back.
The giant ape reached out and scooped up Toby, leaping back beside Lyon.
Lyon's eyes scanned the misty battlefield, alert and wary, searching for any trace of Wes.
"I mean no harm."
A calm voice suddenly came from behind him. Wes had somehow circled around without making a sound.
(When did he get behind me? He must've used space magic.)
Lyon clenched his fists. This opponent not only commanded the strange black flames that countered his own power but was also skilled in spatial magic. That meant the entire advantage was in Wes's hands, while Lyon was left on the defensive.
Though confident in his own strength, Lyon wasn't reckless. He knew full well that, alone, he couldn't possibly keep Wes in check.
So he discreetly prepared to send a signal for backup—
—but his movement was too obvious. Wes caught on instantly.
To show he wasn't there to fight, Wes raised a hand slightly. The fiery vortex surrounding him dissolved in an instant, fading into nothingness.
The sudden stillness made both Lyon and Toby stare in disbelief.
As they tensed up, unsure of his intentions, Wes only shrugged and gave a faint, easy smile.
"I told you," he said lightly, "I don't mean any harm."
Lyon didn't lower his guard. His gaze stayed fixed on Wes, searching for any sign of deceit.
"Who exactly are you?" he asked coldly.
"Just a curious mage, that's all," Wes replied with effortless calm.
Even after Wes dispelled his magic, Lyon remained cautious. He didn't withdraw the two icy constructs guarding his flanks—
a massive ice phoenix and a towering ice ape, both standing motionless but radiating silent menace, ready to strike at any moment.
Lyon's expression stayed wary. He didn't believe Wes's words for a second.
(If he finds out we're trying to unseal Deliora, it'll be disastrous.)
Wes seemed to read his thoughts. A knowing smile curved on his lips as he asked, "You're Ur's disciple, aren't you?"
Lyon's heart skipped a beat. He immediately shot back, "How do you know that?"
"This level of Ice-Make magic could only come from the one who sealed Deliora—Ur herself," Wes said smoothly. "It's said she once had two young apprentices: one was Fairy Tail's Gray, and the other… was you."
Lyon was stunned. He hadn't expected this stranger to know such details. For a moment, his mind drifted back—
to those warm yet grueling years of training under Ur,
to Gray's stubborn determination,
to Ur's gentle, reassuring smile.
"Ur… Gray…" Lyon murmured, his voice softening with nostalgia.
Noticing the change in his expression, Wes seized the moment, spinning a convincing lie.
"It seems," Wes said slowly, "that some of the people whose homes were destroyed by Deliora have been trying to find a way to kill the demon completely. They're cautious—but I've managed to hear bits and pieces."
A smirk touched his lips. "How could I resist getting involved in something so interesting?"
He chuckled faintly, his tone laced with irony. "Ur—one of the Ten Saint Wizards—gave her life to seal Deliora away. And now, there are people foolish enough to try and finish what she started? How… amusing."
Knowing the events that were about to unfold, Wes Elwin couldn't help but think that these people's so-called "plan" was nothing more than child's play.
They intended to use the Moon Drip to unseal Deliora—and then let Lyon fight the demon alone, simply because Lyon believed his strength had already surpassed that of his former teacher, Ur.
Wes couldn't stop himself from muttering in his mind, "If you're sick, go see a doctor. Delusions are a kind of illness too."
Lyon caught the sarcasm in his tone and exploded with rage. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"Bastard, stop looking down on me!"
Right now, Lyon looked like a hot-blooded teenager straight out of a fantasy novel. He pounded his chest and shouted dramatically,
"My power has already surpassed Ur's! The demon she couldn't defeat—I'll be the one to destroy it!"
"That's right, woof!" chimed in Toby, nodding eagerly. "Lyon is super strong!"
"Oh really?" Wes countered, his tone dry. "I find that hard to believe, considering he couldn't even deal with a no-name like me."
Toby instantly spun around, baring his teeth and shouting, "You bastard! I'll kill you!" His jaw tensed so hard it creaked, as though he might lunge at Wes any second.
But to everyone's surprise, Lyon remained calm.
"You're right," he admitted, his tone serious. "I can't beat you."
"L-Lyon?" Toby's eyes widened, shocked that his proud leader would actually say that.
Lyon continued, his voice steady but earnest.
"I've never heard your name before, but your strength is extraordinary."
Wes shrugged, muttering inwardly, "That just means your horizons are too narrow."
"The black flames you use—they must be one of the legendary Lost Magics. That explains their overwhelming power," Lyon said, analyzing with the air of someone trying to convince both himself and the others.
"That makes sense!" Toby jumped in again, nodding vigorously. "Yeah, that kind of power is super rare!"
Wes's gaze flickered. He didn't care to explain or correct them. Let them think what they wanted.
"You don't seem like a mage from any legal guild," Lyon probed cautiously.
"I'm not," Wes replied evenly. "I haven't joined any guild, and I'm not with the Magic Council either. I'm just an ordinary mage obsessed with the study of magic."
"Is that so?" Lyon murmured, still doubtful.
He examined Wes carefully again, but Wes's calm, steady eyes betrayed no hint of deceit.
Then Wes spoke up with a sudden proposal.
"You can't defeat me, but you also don't want me leaving here to reveal your secret. So… why not let me join you?"
"What kind of joke is that?!" Toby barked immediately. "We're not taking in some shady stranger!"
"My strength speaks for itself," Wes replied coolly. "With my help, your plan would be far more likely to succeed."
Lyon fell silent, weighing the options.
Wes's power was undeniable. Having someone like him on their side could make all the difference.
But at the same time, Lyon was no fool. He knew accepting a stranger whose motives were unclear could easily lead to disaster.
"Even without you, our plan will succeed," Lyon said at last, though his wavering tone betrayed his uncertainty.
"Will it really?" Wes smirked. "Because I happen to know the villagers here have already sent a request to Fairy Tail—for an S-Class mission."
°°°
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