Flames danced over Natsu's fist, their color restored to a pure, blazing red.
He stared at Shadow Crow but didn't take another step forward. The purification earlier had drained a lot of strength from everyone but Natsu knew this wasn't the time to slow down.
Erza stood half a step behind him, her armor still on. She glanced at Gray, then at Wendy. Wendy leaned against a reef rock, her breathing steadier now, though her face was still pale. Bickslow crouched nearby, star-map crystal pressed to the ground, fingers sliding lightly as fresh data continued to stream in.
"You said you can help us," Natsu said. "Then prove it."
He turned and shouted toward the sky,
"Cana!"
A moment later, a streak of golden light pierced the clouds and dropped straight down. Erza raised her hand and caught it a card. Its front was etched with intricate patterns, while glowing runes shimmered faintly on the back. She recognized it instantly: one of Cana's trial cards, something only someone with true access to black-market keys could activate.
Shadow Crow was silent for a few seconds. Then he reached up and removed his goggles.
Embedded in his left eye was a mechanical crystal implant, glowing faint green. He touched it lightly with his fingertip and murmured a short phrase under his breath.
The runes on the card lit up at once, spinning and unfolding. The card reshaped itself midair into a silver-gray bracelet, which flew straight toward Gray.
Gray caught it instinctively. The moment it touched his wrist, a warm current flowed up his arm. He frowned and tried circulating his magic there was no resistance at all.
"Seastone resistance amplifier," Shadow Crow said. "For the next three hours, contact with seastone won't suppress your magic. This is just the beginning."
Bickslow immediately ran a scan. The star-map crystal stabilized, then he nodded.
"No tracking function. No explosive trigger. It's clean."
Erza handed the bracelet to Wendy. Wendy put it on, closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and nodded lightly. Her magic flowed smoothly, unaffected.
Romeo stood a little farther back, still holding the Blue-Flame Flower. He watched Shadow Crow closely, fingers gripping the rune tablet's edge. Only after Wendy nodded did his shoulders loosen slightly.
"All right," Natsu said with a crooked grin. "You get to live for now."
Shadow Crow didn't respond. He put his goggles back on and walked toward the airship. Opening a compartment, he pulled out a metal case. Inside were several small devices shaped like ear clips.
"Secondary-band synchronizers for rift-signal receivers," he explained. "They let you sense undisclosed magi-resource sites. One use each but better than searching blind."
Erza took one and examined it carefully. Fine patterns covered its surface, a blue crystal set at the center.
"Why give us this?" she asked.
"Because I want to stay alive," Shadow Crow replied evenly. "You just destroyed one of their toxin systems. You're already enemies. And the information I have is only valuable if it's given to someone strong enough to use it. You're strong and you don't hesitate."
Natsu studied him for a few seconds, then laughed.
"I like people who talk straight."
Suddenly, Romeo snapped his head up, staring toward the eastern shoreline.
"Over there!" he shouted. "It's on fire!"
Everyone turned at once.
In the distance, thick smoke rose into the sky. Flames raged along the coast. Houses were burning, and faint screams carried on the wind.
Happy and Panther Lily took off instantly, climbing into the air to get a clear look.
"It's not an accident!" Happy yelled. "Someone's torching the place! Speedboats just landed several people smashing houses!"
Wendy closed her eyes and activated her senses. Her brows knitted immediately.
"People are hurt… more than one. There are children trapped in the innermost house the roof's about to collapse!"
Natsu's fist clenched. Flames erupted violently, darkening to a deep crimson. He stared at the firelight in the distance, voice low.
"Who gave them the nerve?"
Erza issued orders without hesitation.
"Gray, cut off their retreat. Wendy, prepare rescue. I'll draw the front line. Bickslow, keep monitoring. Romeo, stay here watch Shadow Crow."
Gray moved at once. He slammed both palms into the sand. Ice surged outward along the beach, forming a curved wall at the shoreline, sealing off any escape by sea.
Erza switched to Heavenly Wheel Armor, swords flashing into existence. She leapt onto a high reef and looked out over the water.
Eight armed speedboats were beached along the coast. One was clearly larger. At its bow stood a tall figure, black Haki coiling around his body. Red flames burned in his right hand, as if he'd just punched through a wall.
"Fairy Tail is here," Erza called out, her voice carrying across the shore.
"Your attack ends now."
The man paused, then slowly turned to face them. A cold smile curved across his face as he raised his hand, flames gathering around his fist.
Gray stood at the flank, ice axe ready. He watched the enemy movements and noticed something unsettling.
"They're not panicking," he muttered.
"They're not scared," Erza said sharply. "They don't even see us as a threat."
Wendy was ready to move, taking a breath and stepping forward but Bickslow stopped her.
"Wait." He stared at the star-map crystal. "The leader's vitals are abnormal. His flame temperature is far higher than a standard Devil Fruit user's and his Haki range is at least rear-admiral level. He's not an ordinary pirate."
Wendy halted, glancing back.
Natsu stood at the front, feet planted wide. The flames around his fists burned higher and higher. He didn't speak his eyes were locked on the man at the bow.
The man suddenly raised his right hand. The flames surged outward. He made a slicing motion across his throat then slammed his arm downward.
The speedboats' turrets rotated instantly, cannon barrels lining up with the last smoking house in the village.
"He's going to kill everyone," Wendy said, her voice tightening.
Natsu moved.
He took one step forward and the ground exploded beneath his foot. Flames surged up his arm and over his shoulder, turning him into a moving inferno. He didn't charge the boats.
He sprinted straight toward the collapsing house.
Erza followed immediately. She leapt down from the reef, her light-blade carving an arc toward the enemy fleet. At the same time, Gray unleashed his ice magic new ice spikes erupting ahead of the boats, forcing them to keep their distance from shore.
Bickslow crouched, star-map crystal updating rapidly. As the enemy fleet's energy distribution came into focus, something clicked.
"Their power core is unstable," he said under his breath. "If we disrupt the main engine, the whole group will shut down."
He looked up toward the battlefield.
Natsu had already burst into the burning house. A beam snapped overhead as he punched through a wall and charged inside. Wendy followed close behind, both hands raised as her healing aura surged into readiness.
Erza landed in the shallow water before the boats, her blade held level. Enemy fighters jumped down, weapons raised, closing in.
Gray stood atop the ice wall, eyes fixed on the man at the bow.
At last, the enemy leader moved.
He leapt from the ship, fist wrapped in flame and Haki, rocketing straight toward Erza.
Erza raised her sword to meet him.
The moment their attacks collided, the shockwave overturned three nearby boats. Seawater vaporized in an instant, leaving a scorched ring on the surface.
Gray seized the opening. He brought his hands together
Ice spears erupted from beneath the sea, slamming into the underside of the enemy flagship.
Bickslow watched the star map as the main engine's energy readings spiraled out of control.
"Now!"