High above, Kira and Hyberion continued observing the candidates' progress.
"It's practically like a grade school field trip…" Kira muttered.
Hearing his quip, Hyberion, seemingly testing him, turned with a smile. "Kira, any idea why they're retreating?"
Kira rubbed his chin, nodding thoughtfully. "If they took out all the candidates in one go, they'd have to face the 'snatch team' next. Those guys don't care about stone numbers, but they need two stones of different colors, so they'd have more opponents to deal with, and it'd be tougher."
"On the other hand, leaving some candidates alive spreads out the competition. Plus, the ones who still have their magic stones at this point aren't pushovers—they've all got some skills, which makes them harder to take down."
Hyberion's eyes lit up, and he nodded approvingly. "Not bad! Worthy of Makarov's kid. Sharp mind, clear analysis, and top-notch reasoning!"
Kira wasn't sure what this had to do with Makarov, but he flashed a polite smile. "You're too kind, Senior!"
Keep the compliments coming, big guy!
"There's still half the journey left. I'm guessing two or three more skirmishes, but fewer people will join the fray by then. With over 400 candidates fighting for magic stones in the third round, the main players will probably dwindle to 30 or 40. The last 10 or 20 will come down to luck."
"Hm," Hyberion responded with a faint hum, no further praise forthcoming.
Kira: ??
What's with that reaction? Where's the rest of the flattery, old man? Did I overdo it?
Whatever, it didn't matter if he'd gone overboard. Right now, the priority was…
Under Hyberion's stunned gaze, Kira casually pulled a backup lunchbox—stocked with meat rations—from his spatial pouch and dug into his daily lunch.
"Huh? Senior, you're not eating?" Kira asked.
Hyberion, looking like some ascetic sage, replied coolly, "Milk's enough for me…"
What else could he say? That he didn't bring anything?
After finishing his meal with gusto, Kira excused himself, saying he wanted to wander the area alone. To an outsider, it might've looked like he was shooing Hyberion off the flying carpet, but…
When the host leaves the carpet, what guest would dare stay?
Strolling through the forest, Kira glanced around, scanning for clues. "So, what's up with Dean Konas, Chairman Guran, and Hyberion acting so weird today?"
Even now, he couldn't figure it out.
He wasn't buying that nothing was wrong—Hyberion's worry was practically written on his face.
"Speaking of, this spot's perfect for an ambush…" Kira noted, eyeing the dense, towering trees. He thought of the 100-plus eliminated candidates still unaccounted for. "There's definitely a group lying in wait here. And another near the valley—that's the final showdown spot, so the competition will be fiercest there."
"Magic Detection!"
To root out any lurkers hiding in the greenery, Kira activated his Word Magic, extending his senses to detect all magical fluctuations within a ten-mile radius.
"As expected, there's a cluster of faint magic signatures to the right—10… 20… about 40 people. Plus a few scattered ones nearby. Planning to double-cross each other, huh?"
"These kids, so scheming at such a young age. What'll they be like when they grow up? Man, I'm worried for Fiore's future…" Kira sighed like a grumpy scholar, though his face betrayed a mischievous grin.
Just as he stepped forward, his senses picked up a distinct magical presence—large, bright, and pure white with a hint of black.
If the candidates' magic was like firefly flickers, this one was a blazing crystal chandelier.
"This magic… feels familiar," Kira murmured, curiosity pulling him closer until he saw its owner.
"Well, well! Long time no see!" Kira waved enthusiastically, like greeting an old friend. "Ultear!"
Ultear's face flashed with shock, her mind racing: Kira Hoplight? How does he know my name? Oh, probably from the Magic Council. But 'long time no see'? I didn't reveal myself on Galuna Island… did I?
The memory of that punch on Galuna Island made her cheek throb faintly.
"Kira Hoplight? Why are you…?"
"Hey, no need to be so formal! Just call me Kira. We're old pals!" Kira cut in.
That half-finished sentence, interrupted again—ugh, that annoying feeling!
If Ultear had to rank her most hated people right now, Kira would be in the top five, right behind Ur, Lyon, Gray, and Deliora.
Back on Galuna Island, Deliora's final demise had reconciled Gray and Lyon, but Ultear still harbored resentment. She blamed Ur for abandoning her and Lyon and Gray for stealing her mother's love.
Suppressing the anger bubbling in her chest, Ultear snapped coldly, "I don't recall being your friend!"
"What?!" Kira mimicked Happy's tone and gestures, his face cycling through shock, surprise, and disappointment before settling into regret, pain, and reluctance. "I thought after that punch on Galuna Island, we'd bonded through battle!"
Here it was—his acting mode was in full swing! Bow to my masterful performance, foolish woman!
Ultear's anger: +1 +1…
"You jerk! Who's bonded with you through battle?! And that's not how that phrase works!" she shouted. How did this guy even recognize me?
Kira's expression turned serious. "Even if you don't count that punch, at least consider Jellal!"
"What does this have to do with Jellal?"
"Jellal and I became friends through battle too! And since he's your friend, that makes us friends by extension, right?"
Ultear: "…"
"Not to mention Gray…"
Before he could finish, a pale cyan crystal ball hurtled toward him, splitting mid-air like a ninja's shadow clone technique into dozens, then hundreds, reaching Kira in a blink.
BOOM!
The crystal balls exploded around him, kicking up clouds of dirt and debris, snapping branches and scattering leaves.
When the dust settled, a wall carved with forty dog heads stood tall. It slowly sank into the ground, revealing Kira, who brushed off the dirt and muttered with just the right amount of concern, "Wrecking the greenery isn't great…"
Ultear, still holding her throwing stance, fought to calm her raging emotions. Her eyes burned with unmasked killing intent as she demanded coldly, "How… do you know about me?"
"What?" Kira feigned confusion, then lit up as if it clicked. "Oh, you mean that? Isn't it obvious?"
Ultear stared icily, silent, waiting for him to continue.
Kira adjusted his disheveled clothes. "Plants absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen through photosynthesis, prevent erosion, reduce noise, purify water, regulate the climate…"
"Shut up!!"
"But you asked me…" Kira pouted, looking wronged.
Ultear felt her patience growing by the second. How does this guy say this stuff so naturally, do these things, and make that pitiful face? Are all Fairy Tail people this shameless?
"How do you know about me?" she pressed.
"Alright, calm down first," Kira said, eyeing her heaving chest and thinking if she kept this up, she'd be floored by his acting prowess. He waved a hand in the air. "Take a breath, and let me explain…"
"Forget it! Don't bother!" Ultear cut him off.
Kira gasped dramatically. "You… you just interrupted me again?!"
"…"
Gritting her teeth to suppress her boiling emotions, Ultear said, "I don't care where you got your info. Since you've dug up dirt on me, you must know who I am now, right?"
Kira nodded casually. "Yup. Grimoire Heart, one of the Seven Kin of Purgatory."