Lucy Defeats the Mercenary 'Gorilla' with One Finger

"Let's get along well today," Gray said with a business-like smile.

"Yes, that's right." Natsu nodded stiffly in agreement.

Erza nodded with satisfaction, a look of contentment on her face. "Yes, having a good relationship is the most important thing."

Jiang Bai, watching this scene, couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Didn't you used to fight Mira all the time?"

Erza's ears twitched slightly, and her crimson eyes swept over instantly.

"Jiang Bai, what did you just say?"

No, no!

Jiang Bai, with an extremely strong survival instinct, immediately denied it, then solemnly looked up at the sky.

"I said the weather is really nice today, not a cloud in the sky, sunny and breezy, a perfect day for a mission."

Erza stared at him suspiciously for a few seconds, but ultimately didn't pursue the matter.

At this moment, Lucy, who had been trying to keep her presence to herself, forced herself to come up and greet Erza.

"Hello, you must be the newbie we met at the guild yesterday." Erza's gaze fell on Lucy.

"Yes!" Lucy nodded quickly. "Miss Mira asked me to travel with you. Please take care of me!"

"Nice to meet you." Erza's attitude softened considerably. She looked Lucy up and down, a look of approval on her face.

"I've heard of you, Lucy. You took down that mercenary 'Gorilla' with just one finger. That's impressive. I'm very grateful that you came to help me."

"Ha?"

Lucy's smile froze on her face; the rumors were way too far from the truth!

That was clearly Natsu's doing! And it certainly didn't just use one finger!

She awkwardly wanted to explain, but looking at Erza's serious expression that said "I have high hopes for you," she didn't know where to begin.

And so, in an eerie yet harmonious atmosphere, everyone boarded the train that was about to depart.

The train whistle blared, and the wheels turned slowly.

It happened the instant the car started to shake.

"Hmm..."

Natsu, who was full of energy just a moment ago, suddenly turned deathly pale.

He seemed completely drained of energy, slumping limply onto the table, looking as if his soul might leave his body at any moment.

"What an idiot,"

Gray, with his legs crossed, mocked mercilessly.

"I've taken so many modes of transportation, yet it's still so useless."

"Although I've seen it many times before,"

Lucy felt a pang of pity seeing Natsu's pained expression.

"But it looks like it's really painful."

There's really nothing I can do.

Erza sighed and stood up from her seat.

"Let me help him."

She strode over to Natsu's side.

Lucy thought she was going to use some gentle magic to ease Natsu's pain.

Erza simply raised her hand without any expression.

"Bang!"

A swift and clean chop landed precisely on the back of Natsu's neck.

Natsu didn't even utter a sound; his eyes rolled back, his head lolled to the side, and he completely passed out.

The world is peaceful now.

Erza casually sat down next to Jiang Bai, as if she had just swatted a fly.

Lucy stared, mouth agape, dumbfounded at the fluid, effortless movement, her mind going completely blank once again.

Looking at the stunningly beautiful red-haired woman who remained calm and composed, a thought uncontrollably surfaced in her mind.

"Miss Erza... doesn't seem like a normal person either."

The train traveled smoothly, and the carriage was unusually peaceful.

Natsu was fast asleep, sprawled in his chair, with a suspicious trickle of drool even dangling from the corner of his mouth.

Seeing this harmonious scene, Lucy finally mustered up the courage to break the silence.

"Speaking of which,"

She looked at the red-haired woman sitting upright opposite her.

"In the guild, I only know about Natsu and Jiang Bai's magic. What is Erza's magic like?"

"Just call me Erza." Erza's tone was calm, but not distant.

"Hey~ Erza's magic is so beautiful!"

Happy, munching on a dried fish, answered first, "Blood will spray everywhere..."

Lucy's face turned pale instantly.

Happy paused, then slowly finished the sentence.

"... the other party's."

"Is this what you call pretty?!" Lucy thought to herself, utterly bewildered.

"I actually think Gray's magic is quite beautiful."

As she spoke, Erza naturally took a small piece of strawberry cake from the one Jiang Bai handed her and put it in her mouth.

That was Jiang Bai had just taken out of his Space Pouch, specially prepared for Erza.

"Yeah?"

Gray remained calm upon hearing Erza's praise.

He stretched out his hand, assuming a gesture as if to unleash magic.

A chilling aura instantly gathered in his palm.

In the blink of an eye, a crystal-clear, lifelike ice sculpture in the shape of Fairy Tail appeared in his hand.

"Mine is Ice-Make Magic," Gray said with a hint of pride.

"Ah~" Lucy suddenly realized. She looked at the ice in Gray's hand, then at Natsu sleeping not far away, and felt that she had finally found the root cause of the two's irreconcilable differences.

"So that's why you and Natsu don't get along—one uses fire, and the other uses ice."

She had barely finished speaking when Erza's voice, tinged with pure confusion, rang out.

"Really? Don't you get along?"

Gray broke out in a cold sweat instantly.

He looked into Erza's clear, crimson eyes, which seemed to be asking, "Aren't they good brothers?" and his survival instinct surged to its peak in an instant.

No, no!

He shook his hand like a rattle drum.

"We have a great relationship! We just argue occasionally!"

The scene shifts.

In the dark, damp forest, a foul odor mixed with the smell of rust and blood permeated the air.

This is the temporary stronghold of the dark guild "Eisenwald".

A man draped in a black cloak and wielding a massive scythe sat in a chair; he was none other than the ace of the Eisenwald, known as "Shinigami" —Erigor.

His fingers were impatiently tapping lightly on the cold hilt of the sickle.

Has Kageyama not returned yet?

Erigor's voice was hoarse and deep.

A guild member with a sleazy appearance quickly stepped forward, smiling obsequiously, and replied, "Boss, that seal isn't so easy to break. Please wait a little longer."

Erigor's eyes instantly turned icy cold, and the undisguised murderous intent made the member shut his mouth instantly, cold sweat pouring down his back.

"Hurry up..."

Erigor stood up and slowly walked towards the exit of the stronghold. Sunlight streamed in from outside, casting long shadows on his face.

"Those old men from the regular guilds should all be at their routine meetings by now."

"This is the perfect opportunity for us to make our move."