"You… you bastard! What did you just do?!"
The last traces of blinding lightning flickered out, leaving behind the acrid stench of burnt flesh and metal.
Maria, the whip-wielding mage of "Black Sails," stood trembling, her once-seductive face twisted in shock and disbelief. Her wide eyes darted past the scorched, twitching bodies of her fallen subordinates, fixing instead on the three figures emerging side by side from the darkness of the cave.
Her question was answered not by words—but by the shrill cry of a sword tearing through the air.
"Your opponent is me!"
Erza's voice was cold and decisive. The moment her words fell, her body vanished.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared before Maria. No wasted movement. Her sword flashed, unfolding into a storm of silver death that came crashing down from above.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Maria's pupils contracted to pinpoints. Her survival instinct surged, lightning magic roaring to life. The whip in her hand became a golden serpent of thunder, thrashing wildly to meet Erza's overwhelming barrage.
Electric arcs and blade trails collided, exploding with each impact, lighting the cavern in blinding flashes accompanied by deafening thunder.
But the gap in power was undeniable.
Against Erza—the "Titania," the Fairy Queen, an S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail—Maria's struggle was meaningless.
Erza's strikes were fierce and sweeping, yet precise down to the smallest detail. Each parry neutralized Maria's lightning. Each counter targeted her weakest point.
After barely three exchanges, Maria's arms went numb. The backlash from her whip almost shattered her bones.
She caught a glimpse of Erza's scarlet eyes—cold light flashing within.
This is bad!
Before the thought fully formed, Erza's assault changed rhythm.
A feint drew Maria's focus. Then Erza twisted her body at an impossible angle, her armored leg snapping out in a brutal roundhouse kick that slammed directly into Maria's abdomen.
"Urgh!"
The air was driven from her lungs as her body folded and shot backward like a rag doll.
Her whip flew from her grasp, spinning through the air—only to be caught and deflected by Erza's blade, embedding itself deep into the far wall.
Boom!
Maria crashed against the cave wall with bone-cracking force. Blood sprayed from her mouth as she slumped to the ground, limp and broken.
The battle was over—decided in mere seconds.
On the other side of the cavern, the remaining Black Sails members froze in horror. Seeing their boss crushed so effortlessly shattered their will. They turned and tried to flee in every direction.
"Oh, now that won't do," came a lazy voice.
Gildarts, who had been standing with hands in his pockets like a spectator, finally moved.
He didn't even take a step. Just lifted his right hand.
"Funsai (Crush)."
The power spread invisibly.
The ground beneath the fleeing men disintegrated without warning, collapsing into a cloud of glowing dust—pure magic particles reverting to their primal state.
"AAAAH—!"
Their screams echoed as they fell into a sudden pit, landing with sickening thuds. Not one of them got back up.
The fight was clean, swift, and ruthlessly efficient—a display of overwhelming power and precision.
Erza strode toward the collapsed Maria. The edge of her sword pressed gently but firmly against the woman's throat, the cold metal making her skin tremble.
"Where is your Guild Master?"
Erza's tone carried no warmth. The killing intent radiating from her eyes was tangible—suffocating.
Maria's entire body quivered. For the first time in her life, she could see death staring back at her.
"I… he's… he's in there… in the chamber…" she stammered, pointing a shaking hand toward the far end of the cave.
The three advanced.
Before them stood a door—massive, ten meters tall—radiating an oppressive aura.
It was forged entirely from black alloy, its surface smooth as glass, yet inscribed within were countless ancient defensive sigils. The runes pulsed faintly with magical light, guarding the entrance with impregnable strength.
"This… this door is made of enchanted magisteel…" Maria whispered, her fear giving way to faint, foolish hope. "Even the Council's strongest siege cannon, Jupiter, couldn't break through from the outside!"
"Oh?"
Erza's scarlet eyes gleamed, not with hesitation but anticipation.
"Perfect. I can test my new armor."
She murmured softly, magic light blooming across her body as a golden circle flared beneath her feet. Her aura thickened—solid, unyielding. She was ready to equip her famed Kongō no Yoroi (Adamantine Armor).
But then—
"No need for that."
The calm voice cut through the tension.
Arashi stepped forward, lifting a hand to stop her.
Erza paused mid-motion. Both she and Gildarts turned toward him, puzzled.
He approached the massive gate, one step at a time, until he stood before it. Then, without a word, he raised his right hand and pressed his palm flat against the cold, unyielding surface.
No magic circle. No surge of energy.
Only silence.
He closed his eyes.
Then—softly, almost as if speaking to himself—he whispered two words.
"Jūryoku Hōkai (Gravity Collapse)."
Crack.
A faint, almost delicate sound.
Then—
CRACK… CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!
The metallic groan of twisting steel filled the cavern.
Maria's eyes went wide in terror as she watched the impossible unfold.
The "indestructible" magisteel gate—said to withstand the Jupiter Cannon itself—was bending inward, collapsing upon itself like clay under an unseen god's hand!
The runes screamed. Their lights flared erratically, then shattered one by one in a cascade of sparks.
BOOM!
At last, the gate gave way.
It imploded with a deafening roar, crumpling into a mangled heap of warped black metal that crashed to the ground, sending dust flying in waves.
A dark passageway stretched beyond.
The path forward—opened by raw, divine power.
Erza froze where she stood, her raised hand still half-extended, the fading magic circle beneath her feet dissolving into the stone.
She looked from the wreckage to the black-haired boy standing calmly before it—expression unchanged, as if he'd merely brushed away a speck of dust.
Gildarts let out a long, impressed whistle. His grin widened, full of awe and amusement.
"Well," he said, voice light but eyes sharp, "looks like the stage is ready."
Arashi lowered his hand and spoke in that same calm, steady tone.
"Time to meet the Guild Master of Black Sails."
(End of Chapter)
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