Everyone squeezed into the surging crowd and struggled to get to the front row of the square.
At that moment, everyone was stunned on the spot.
Wendy subconsciously covered his mouth, and his eyes quickly filled with tears.
I saw an astonishingly huge Magic Crystal placed in the center of the square.
The crystal showed a magnificent deep purple color, exuding a charming luster in the sunlight.
But in the eyes of Lu Chongwei and Mage, it was not a gem at all.
Through the crystal clear crystal surface, you can clearly see countless faint figures swaying inside, and that familiar aura made Natsu's breathing become heavier.
"That's... that's Macao! And Wakaba!"
Natsu made a deep the Roar, his eyes immediately turned red, and he clenched his hands tightly.
"And everyone... everyone's in there!"
Around the huge Magic Crystal, dozens of fully armed Royal Army soldiers were holding magic spears and guarding with stern expressions.
The leading officer was loudly proclaiming the king's so-called achievements to the crowd of spectators.
"Look! This is the Eternal Magic that His Majesty took back for us!"
The officer waved his arms, his tone full of fanatical admiration.
"With these Magic Crystal, the royal capital will always be glorious! We no longer have to worry about running out of magic power!"
The surrounding people burst into cheers. They looked at the piece of Magic Crystal where countless souls were imprisoned, with only greed and excitement in their eyes.
"Lu Chongwei, this is the one we are looking for."
Lucy gritted his teeth, dug his nails into his palms, and his voice trembled with anger.
"Fairy Tail's companion... is inside."
Lu Chongwei stood there, and he noticed that Ryujin Jakka was trembling slightly in the scabbard, which was anger at this evil act.
He stared closely at the huge Magic Crystal, his right hand already resting on the handle of the knife.
"Yes, these are them."
Lu Chongwei's voice was deep, but it contained strong murderous intent.
"That old guy actually turned them into this kind of thing."
Just when Natsu couldn't bear it anymore and wanted to rush forward, Nancy suddenly stretched out his paw and held down Lu Chongwei's shoulder.
"Wait a minute, Lu Chongwei, look over there."
Nancy pointed at a section on the side of Magic Crystal, with a calm and solemn look in his eyes.
"This cut is too neat, and judging from the flow of magic power, this Magic Crystal is incomplete."
Nancy jumped off Lu Chongwei's shoulders, walked half a circle around the edge of the square, and his tone became serious.
"This is only part of it, not all of the companions in it."
Nancy turned around and looked at Lu Chongwei and Natsu.
"There are other Magic Crystal that have been sent to different places as backup energy sources or research materials."
Nancy's golden eyes shine in the sun.
"We haven't found all the people we are looking for yet, and we have to keep looking."
Inside the dilapidated hotel, the light was dim and the air was filled with a depressing heaviness.
Natsu was lying on the window sill, his eyes always burning with fighting intent, staring closely at the outline of the palace in the distance.
He has maintained this posture for a long time, like a beast in a cage, with anxiety all over his body.
Lucy and Wendy sat side by side on the edge of the bed, both with their heads lowered and their hands intertwined.
In this world where their magic power has been deprived, they even find it difficult to breathe.
Happy and Nancy huddled in the shadows of the corner, neither of them spoke.
Carla was leaning in front of the desk, holding a charcoal pen in his hand, and was drawing attentively on several pieces of yellowed paper.
"Squeak--"
The sound of the door being pushed open was sudden.
Everyone looked up quickly like frightened rabbits.
Lu Chongwei stepped in. The black robe on his body was stained with a lot of dust, and his brows were slightly frowned.
"Zhongwei brother!"
Natsu quickly jumped down from the window sill, rushed to Lu Chongwei in two steps, his voice was urgent.
"How's it going? Do you have any clues? Where are everyone being held?"
Lu Chongwei shook his head, casually pulled up a chair and sat down, with helplessness in his tone.
"I have sneaked into the supply depots and warehouses near the royal capital, and found no trace of large-scale Magic Crystal."
Natsu waved his fist and hit it heavily in the air, making a deep sound.
"Damn it! Where did those bastards hide everyone!"
Lucy raised his head, his eyes full of worry.
"If we can't find Magic Crystal, then we won't be able to carry out subsequent operations at all."
Lu Chongwei took the water glass handed over by Wendy, took a sip, and spoke calmly.
"There are only two ways before us now. Either continue to look for Magic Crystal, or find a way to restore your magic first. In this world, without magic, you can't even protect yourself."
Wendy asked in a low voice.
"But... how do we restore magic? There is no magic in the air here."
Lu Chongwei put down the water glass and his eyes became dark.
"Mystogan has been operating in this world for a long time, he must have a way. In addition, there is another Dragon Slayer here."
Natsu was stunned for a moment.
"Who? You mean that iron head of Gajeel?"
"That's right."
Lu Chongwei nodded.
"His whereabouts are strange, but I can sense that his aura is nearby. As long as we find him or Mystogan, things may turn around."
Lucy's eyes suddenly lit up, she quickly stood up and clapped her palms.
"I have an idea!"
Everyone's eyes turned to her.
"We can use Gemini!"
Lucy took out Celestial Spirit Key from his waist, with the light of wisdom in his eyes.
"Gemini can transform into anyone it has met and read the other person's recent memories. If we can find a chance for it to transform into the old king, even if it is only for a few seconds, we can know the exact whereabouts of Magic Crystal!"
Nancy shrank his neck in the corner and whispered a reminder.
"But... there are countless guards around the king, and the captains of Magic War Squad are also in the palace. It is too difficult to get close to him."
Lu Chongwei sneered and pressed his right hand firmly on the handle of Ryujin Jakka.
"There are many guards? Then go in. As long as you clear out all the people blocking the way, it won't be difficult to get close to him."
Natsu Hearing this, he immediately became excited and clenched his hands tightly.
"That's right! Just punch in! I can't wait to demolish that ruined palace!"
"Don't be ridiculous."
Carla's cold voice interrupted Natsu's fantasy.
She stood up and slapped the drawing in her hand on the table.
"Forcibly breaking into the palace is asking for death. This is the secret passage diagram I just drew based on the fragments I foresaw."