I'm in a Bit of a Hurry

Time passed bit by bit. As night gradually approached, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. The Ancient Knight Order expanded its patrol range; any slightest disturbance would not escape their notice.

At that moment, thirteen figures stood atop a building in the distance. They were the Phantom Thief Guild's Thirteen Great Thieves.

"Whoa! There are so many people! Captain! Why don't we just attack directly? Why bother sending some notice?"

A member with an afro held a hand over his eyes as he looked toward the heavily guarded mayor's residence.

"Idiot! This is the captain's plan! Right, Captain?"

Another blond-haired member looked worshipfully at the man in the middle. He was tall and slender, draped in a black cloak and wearing a silver mask. He was the leader of the Phantom Thief Guild, the man known as the "King of Assassination," Camille.

"This world needs terror to announce our return. This mayor is the perfect target. I want everyone to understand that once the Phantom Thief Guild sets its sights on someone, not even the Magic Council can protect them!!"

"Anyone who dares provoke us, once they receive a death notice, has only one fate—death!!!"

"Go! Tonight, the name of the Phantom Thief Guild will resound throughout the world! We will become this world's nightmare!!!"

"Woooooo!!!"

Boom—!!

An explosion rang out in the courtyard.

"Enemy attack—!!"

The Ancient Knight Order members shouted as everyone swiftly sprang into action.

The mayor was instantly startled.

Elfman tensed up as well. "They're here?!"

Qi Yan nodded. "Looks like it."

The mayor immediately panicked. "Mr. Qi Yan, what should I do?"

"You don't need to do anything. Just don't cause trouble. The Ancient Knight Order has already set up a magical barrier here. As long as you don't stupidly run outside on your own, you'll be fine for the time being."

Qi Yan looked out through the window. The Magic Council's Ancient Knight Order was fighting the enemy outside.

The Ancient Knight Order was not as useless as it had been portrayed in the anime. In terms of magical power, they were comparable to ordinary wizards, and with their excellent equipment, they were even stronger than average wizards.

Yet even the Ancient Knight Order was now being driven back step by step. Before long, every member had fallen to the ground.

Seeing this, the mayor grew even more frantic. "Mr... Mr. Qi Yan..."

"Elfman, protect the mayor."

"Qi Yan, you..."

"I'll deal with them."

At this moment, the thirteen members of the Phantom Thief Guild had gathered before the house's main gate.

"Haha~! Those Magic Council fools were way too weak! That wasn't satisfying at all! Not even a little!"

"They joined the Magic Council because they're weak! What real ambitious wizard would ever want to join a place like that?"

"Now all that's left is killing the mayor to finish the job, right? Then let's get it over with!"

Several of them stepped forward.

Bang!!

An invisible wall blocked their way.

"Hee-haw! A magical formula! Interesting. Watch me break it!"

One of them immediately prepared to decipher the magical formula.

"Creak!"

The main gate opened. Qi Yan stepped out, then walked straight toward them, leaving the range of the magical formula in the blink of an eye.

"Huh! Another one came out to die."

Then Camille noticed the guild emblem on the back of Qi Yan's right hand. "Fairy Tail. So that's it. The mayor asked a wizard guild for help."

"Fairy Tail? That wizard guild that's been especially active lately?"

"That's the one!"

"Hee-haw! Kid, you know who the Phantom Thief Guild is, yet you still dared accept this job. You've got guts!"

"Phantom Thief Guild? Sorry, never heard of it."

He had heard of the Phantom Troupe, but that was from Hunter x Hunter. There really had been no such part in the Fairy Tail anime, and judging by the timeline, the story had not even begun yet.

Camille looked at Qi Yan. "Kid, since you clearly know nothing, I'll spare you if you give up this job now."

The blond-haired member said in surprise, "Huh?! Kid, you're really lucky! The captain rarely shows this much mercy."

Qi Yan shook his head. "I've already accepted the commission, so I can't abandon it. You targeted my client, which makes you enemies of Fairy Tail."

"Kid, since this is the road you chose, there's nothing more to say. Do it!"

Camille had only acted on a whim. It was like seeing an ant pass by—there was no need to crush every single one.

Full Takeover! Ulquiorra Cifer!

Qi Yan's body began to change. His original black clothes became a white-faced, black-backed high-collared long-sleeved coat. He wore white hakama trousers below, secured with a broad black sash. A Zanpakutō was tucked into the sash, along with black socks and white shoes.

His skin became slightly pallid, and his eyes turned green. Green tear streaks appeared beneath them, while a white horned helmet covered the left side of his head.

"Hee-haw!! Die!!"

The blond-haired member raised his hand and threw a stone at Qi Yan. Qi Yan lifted his hand and caught it.

Boom—!

In the next instant, the stone exploded like a bomb, engulfing Qi Yan in the blast.

"Hee-hahaha!! What an idiot! How can you just catch something someone throws at you? Hee-hahaha~!"

The blond-haired member clutched his stomach and laughed wildly.

"Qi Yan!!"

From upstairs, Elfman saw Qi Yan get caught in the explosion and immediately grew anxious. He was about to rush downstairs.

Suddenly!

Bang!!

A powerful spiritual pressure erupted, blasting away the smoke from the explosion.

Qi Yan reappeared without a single injury on his body.

"What?!"

The thieves were all shocked to see that Qi Yan had emerged from the blast completely unharmed. They had seen him catch the explosive with their own eyes.

"Y-You're not dead?!"

Hierro covered an Arrancar's body in skin that could not be pierced even by blades. Ordinary attacks could not hurt him at all. Ulquiorra's Hierro could even withstand Getsuga Tenshō from Hollowfied Ichigo, suffering only minor wounds—injuries that Ulquiorra could heal in an instant. An explosion of this level could not even break Qi Yan's defense.

"Damn it! I don't believe I can't blow you up!"

Stones appeared one after another in the blond-haired member's hands, and he rapidly hurled them at Qi Yan.

Sonído!

Whoosh—!

Qi Yan's figure vanished instantly.

The next moment—

Squelch—!

A long blade pierced through the blond-haired member's body from behind.

"W-What...?!"

The blond-haired member stared in disbelief at the blade piercing through him.

"Sorry, but I'm in a bit of a hurry."

Qi Yan spoke calmly. His magical power was too low. Even in Ulquiorra's most basic form, he could maintain it for only ten minutes at most. If he failed to take these people out within ten minutes, then he would be the one taken out. He had to end this quickly.