The roar of the flying craft's engine tore through the air as it dove straight for the ruins' entrance.
The guild mark on Natsu's left chest was still burning hot. He didn't wait for it to cool his right fist was already swinging. Crimson-gold flames carved a blazing arc through the sky, slamming directly into the craft's belly. The fuel line detonated. The entire machine exploded into a fireball midair, and the red signal light vanished instantly.
Erza raised her hand, armor snapping into place. The Heavenly Wheel swords spun into the air, locking onto the remaining two aircraft. Gray slammed his palms to the ground, ice racing outward and weaving into a dense net suspended in the air. Wendy clasped her hands together; a soft glow spread over the three of them, smoothing the flow of magic.
The second aircraft banked sharply to evade but its tail was caught in the ice net.
Happy swooped in from the flank, wings fully spread, carrying Carla close to the cockpit. Carla closed her eyes for a split second. When she opened them again, she had already read the pilot's movement rhythm.
"There!" she pointed down-left.
Happy immediately dropped altitude. Panther Lily leapt from the ground, beastly strength surging. His claws ripped through the aircraft's outer shell, tearing away the armor plate. The instant fuel began leaking, Gray fired an ice spike straight through the tank.
The explosion hurled the wreckage into the sea.
The last aircraft triggered its auto-protocol, dropping three black devices. They hit the ground and began to hum, concentric ripples spreading outward. Natsu's flames shuddered violently, nearly going out. Gray's ice blades shattered midair.
"Electromagnetic interference," Bickslow said, crouching with his star-map crystal pressed to the rock. "They're suppressing magical output."
Natsu glanced at his fist. The flames reignited this time darker, threaded with faint violet. He didn't say a word. He simply took two steps forward.
Erza switched into Adamantine Armor, positioning herself in front of him. Two Marines leapt from a landing craft, black Haki wrapped around their fists. One struck for her face, the other swept low.
Erza crossed her arms to block. Metal rang sharply. Her arms dipped slightly but she didn't retreat.
Gray formed seals on the ground, an ice path surging beneath the enemy's feet. Natsu hit the ice at full speed, momentum exploding. He didn't slow he charged straight into their formation. His left fist absorbed residual energy from the earlier shell and detonated outward.
The shockwave blasted surrounding soldiers off their feet.
A third enemy approached from behind, body fading transparent.
Wendy's eyes snapped open. Observation locked on. She thrust out her hand Sky Dragon's Claw ripping the invisible attacker into view. A wave of cold followed, freezing the man solid inside an ice pillar.
"The main cannons have intervals," Bickslow called. "Twelve seconds per cycle. This is the window!"
Erza nodded, sheathing her sword. She didn't switch armor she simply stood beside Natsu. Gray rolled his wrist, fresh ice blades forming. Wendy maintained her healing aura, eyes sweeping the field.
Natsu stood at the island's peak, fists crossed. Flames compressed into a spiraling core before his chest, growing denser by the second. He swung his arms wide.
A hundred-meter-long blade of fire swept across the sea.
The lead destroyer's engine room was pierced clean through flames erupting skyward. The fireblade didn't stop. It carved through four more warships in succession, each strike hitting a vital point. Within moments, five Marine vessels exploded and sank beneath the waves.
The distant flagship began to withdraw, its cannons no longer charging. Urgent calls crackled over open channels, requests for retreat flooding the line.
Erza looked toward the largest battleship, her voice carrying across the battlefield.
"Tell your commander this
We don't accept bounties.
We accept challenges."
Silence fell.
Burning wreckage drifted on the waves, black smoke rising. No one lowered their guard.
Bickslow's star-map crystal suddenly vibrated. An encrypted signal forced its way in, text scrolling across the surface:
[World Government Announcement: Initial "Magi Threat Bounty List" Released.
Fairy Tail Guild All members classified as S-rank threats.
Natsu Dragneel Bounty: 10,000,000 Beli.]
Romeo stared at the screen, fingers frozen on the rune tablet's edge. He looked up at Natsu, voice trembling.
"We… we're really wanted now."
Natsu grinned. He raised his right hand, flames dancing in his palm. They were no longer pure red dark gold mixed with faint violet, as if infused with something new.
He looked toward the retreating flagship and said,
"Then let's see how high it climbs next."
Wendy suddenly frowned. She closed her eyes, Observation spreading. Something felt wrong something approaching.
"That fog… it's not right," she whispered.
Everyone followed her gaze.
Far out at sea, gray-green mist was rising. Unlike ordinary sea fog, it was thick almost liquid hugging the surface as it flowed steadily toward the island.
Bickslow ran a deep scan. The star map showed the source: a drifting, abandoned island structurally ruined, yet radiating abnormal energy.
"Not natural," he muttered. "There's something under it."
Happy landed, wings folding. Carla leaned close, ears twitching. Panther Lily stepped in front of Romeo, claws digging into the rock.
Gray moved beside Natsu, tossing his coat aside. He formed an ice axe and gripped it tightly. Erza didn't change armor she simply tightened her hold on her sword. Wendy placed her palms against the ground, sensing vibrations below.
The fog drew closer, sunlight swallowed. An oppressive pressure crept into the air. Romeo hugged the rune tablet tighter. The Blue-Flame Flower against his chest trembled, heat rising sharply.
Natsu stood at the front, flames unextinguished. He stared into the advancing mist, fist clenched until it creaked. Erza stepped to his side. Gray followed, ice axe angled down. Wendy took position behind them, healing magic ready.
Bickslow crouched again, star map pressed to the stone, data scrolling wildly. Happy spread his wings. Carla closed her eyes to predict. Panther Lily growled low, muscles tensing.
Romeo looked down at the Blue-Flame Flower. The edges of its petals had turned violet, heat nearly scalding. He lifted his head, watching his companions' backs in silence.
The fog was three hundred meters from shore.
Natsu stepped forward. Stone cracked beneath his foot. Flames spread along the ground, leaving a blackened trail. Erza drew her sword, blade leveled at the mist. Gray swung his ice axe, freezing the sand ahead. Wendy's healing aura flickered but held.
Bickslow spoke suddenly.
"The energy pattern changed."
Everyone felt it.
A deep sound rolled out of the fog like massive machinery grinding into motion. The ground began to tremble, steady and rhythmic, growing stronger by the second.
Natsu raised his fist, flames surging.
At the fog's leading edge, something split open
a narrow crack gap tearing through the mist.