Demon Blade

Mira said helplessly, "Ahem, what did we come here for again? You over there."

Feng Lan reluctantly put the sword back. "Sorry, I forgot about the important matter."

At that moment, the Village Chief took out a box from the side and said, "Everyone, this is the box Adou brought back before he went mad."

Elfman stepped forward, took the box, and placed it on the ground. "Have any of you seen this kind of box before?"

Everyone shook their heads. Only Feng Lan stepped forward and examined it carefully. "This is a Blade Case, specially made for storing swords."

Mira asked in confusion, "So? Can you tell anything from it?"

Feng Lan nodded. "Blade Cases of this quality are mostly used to hold famous blades. And Adou must have been someone who understood and loved swords, so he definitely wanted to take out the famous blade inside and examine it properly. But..."

"But what?!" Natsu asked anxiously.

Feng Lan continued, "Like I said, they are only mostly used for famous blades. From what I can see, this box bears marks of having been bound by iron chains. So it clearly didn't contain a famous blade, but... a Demon Blade!"

Everyone asked in confusion, "A Demon Blade?"

Feng Lan closed the Blade Case and explained, "Demon Blades are cursed, ominous swords. Legend says they bring misfortune to their wielders. But likewise, their quality is first-rate, and they grant their wielders power."

Feng Lan walked over to Mira and added, "But that isn't the most important part. What makes them truly special is that every Demon Blade possesses its own independent consciousness. Against people with weak mental strength, they can even take control of their bodies."

Mira looked at Feng Lan in confusion. "How do you know so much about this?"

Feng Lan smiled and summoned a dark-blue sword into his hand. "Because my personal sword, Onikiri, is a Demon Blade."

Everyone stared at the sword in Feng Lan's hand in shock.

Lisanna asked fearfully, "So, Feng Lan, have you been cursed?"

Feng Lan smiled and shook his head. "No. Those who rashly draw a Demon Blade will be cursed to death. But those chosen by the blade, or the strong who defeat its curse, will gain a companion loyal to them for life, one that will stay by their side for life." As he spoke, Onikiri flashed with blue light, responding to Feng Lan.

Elfman sorted through his thoughts and said, "So... Feng Lan, you mean Mr. Adou rashly drew the Demon Blade, was cursed by it, and had his body taken over?"

Feng Lan nodded. "Exactly! Mr. Adou's dazed state was caused by the Demon Blade's curse, while his madness was likely because the Demon Blade took control of his body."

"What should we do, then? We can't exactly transfer the sword's curse onto ourselves," Mira asked, at a loss.

Feng Lan rubbed his chin with his right hand. "We can try defeating Mr. Adou while his body is occupied by the Demon Blade, and see whether that will make the blade submit. That way, we can save Mr. Adou and obtain a Demon Blade as well."

Natsu blurted out, "Why make it so complicated? Why not just snap the sword in half?"

Feng Lan said with dark lines across his face, "Forget it. Didn't I just say it? Demon Blades are of exceptional quality and can't be easily destroyed. And forcibly breaking the blade would cause the curse to run wild, dragging many innocent people into it. Besides, could you stop ruining things? A Demon Blade! Countless people spend their whole lives without even catching a glimpse of one, and you want to snap it in half just like that? Forget other sword lovers—I'll beat you up first!"

Natsu immediately backed down. "Hehe, I was just joking. Don't take it seriously, bro."

"Fine, I won't hold it against you." Feng Lan walked out the door. "Village Chief, Mr. Adou ran toward that mountain, right?"

The Village Chief nodded. "That's right. Then I'll leave it to the five of you."

Mira and the others had already rushed outside. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"

"You guys, wait for me!" Feng Lan hurried after them.

Deep in the mountains beside the village

Lisanna hid behind Natsu. "Natsu, aren't you scared?" Looking at the broken white bones and rotting corpses scattered across the ground, Lisanna was terrified. Mira and Elfman could not help feeling afraid as well, while Natsu and Feng Lan remained expressionless.

Natsu said calmly, "No. Igneel took me to Feng Lan's personal training grounds a few times before. The environment there was about the same as this... no, it seemed even worse than this."

Feng Lan merely smiled without saying anything. (Those training grounds were not where Feng Lan and Slokard lived. They were a forest on the shore nearest to the island where they lived. Besides, Feng Lan himself was an extremely bloodthirsty person. He was naturally unafraid of this sort of environment and even liked it somewhat.)

The three youngsters' gazes once again focused on Feng Lan, that freak.

Crack—whoosh—ah! Mira accidentally stepped on a bone and snapped it. The sound startled the Flying Bird in the trees, and the bird taking flight startled Mira in turn.

With a scream, Mira dodged to the side. When she finally recovered and opened her eyes, she realized she had thrown herself into Feng Lan's arms and was hugging him tightly.

Feng Lan's face turned red as he stammered, "Mi... Mira, what are you... doing?"

"N-no, that's not it, it's because..." Mira was just about to explain when Lisanna said, "Mira, no need to argue. We all understand~"

Mira's face turned bright red. "Aah! That's not it!" Under the gossiping looks of Lisanna and the other two, Mira grew more and more embarrassed and ran off to the side.

"Hey, Mira! Where are you going?!" Feng Lan hurried after her.

Lisanna and Elfman had originally intended to follow as well, but Natsu stopped them. Thinking himself especially perceptive, he said, "Hey, why are you two going over there? Give them some time alone together. Let their feelings warm up a little."

Elfman smacked his own forehead. "Right! This must be an excuse for my sister and Feng Lan to be alone together."

Lisanna also came to a sudden realization. "So Mira and Feng Lan are going on a date! Then the three of us should go find the sword!"

Elsewhere, Mira finally stopped and rested against a tree.

Feng Lan followed close behind and caught up to her. "Mira, why did you run?"

"Ah!" There was an enormous spider in the tree, and it suddenly leaped onto Mira's hand. Mira sprang into the air again.

This time was even worse. Mira jumped onto Feng Lan, and Feng Lan instinctively caught her. The two inevitably fell over from the momentum. Mira ended up sprawled atop Feng Lan, while Feng Lan held her tightly. Then they looked into each other's eyes and kissed, lips pressed together.

Mira sprang to her feet again, and Feng Lan hurriedly got up as well.

With her face flushed in embarrassment, Mira said, "You pervert who traffics girls, so you really were planning to make a move on me?!"

Feng Lan was somewhat at a loss, so he shouted at Mira, "Are you stupid?! Both times, you were the one who threw yourself at me, and now you're blaming me again? What kind of person does that?!"

Mira was stunned by Feng Lan's shout, and tears began streaming from her eyes. "I... I just, sob..."

Seeing this, Feng Lan regained his senses and hurriedly tried to comfort her. "Mira... I'm sorry. I was too harsh just now."

Mira turned her head away and wiped the tears from her face. "Since that's the case, I'll forgive you! But if I get scared later, you have to protect me properly."

Feng Lan replied fondly, "Yes. I, Feng Lan, swear that no matter what happens, I will protect Miss Mira."

Mira blushed again and said shyly, "Um... don't misunderstand! It's not because I like you or anything... Ah! No, that's wrong, I don't like you at all! Ah!!! Hurry up and find that Demon Blade!"

Feng Lan gently patted Mira's head, a faint blush appearing on his face. "Hehe, I heard that~"