Lucy's Shock

"We have five people, and they have over forty. Averaging it out, that means each of us has to fight about nine... Um... How are we supposed to win?!" Lucy compared their numbers and let out a miserable cry.

"Don't be ridiculous. This isn't five against forty—it's Ed against all of them," Natsu said calmly. Gray added, "Don't blink. Ed's fights are pretty spectacular."

"Ed? Wait, I think I've heard that name before... Oh no, spread out! It's the Golden Flash!" Someone on the other side heard Ed's name from Natsu and Gray, thought for a moment, then shouted the warning in horror.

"Isn't it a little late for that?" Ed said as he threw several kunai into the crowd. Before he had even finished speaking, he vanished from where he stood. In the next instant, a golden flash had already cut into the center of their formation. "Watch closely. This is Ed's specialty—spatial movement magic, Flying Thunder God!"

The battle erupted in an instant. More than a dozen quick-reacting mages lunged at the figure at once, but Ed moved. The Flying Thunder God Kunai in his hand became streaks of cold light as he hurled them out, and his figure flickered across the battlefield.

One enemy had just gathered magic power to attack when Ed appeared before him and sent him flying with a heavy punch. A second enemy heard his companion fall and whipped around, only to see an azure Rasengan rapidly fill his vision before blasting him away.

The Golden Flash flickered ceaselessly through the crowd. He appeared on the eastern side and threw a kunai, then caught it on the western side in the next instant, using the momentum to slash open the third man's chest. The magic attacks surrounding him were always a moment too slow, striking only the afterimages he left behind.

As the golden light continued to flash, the noisy battlefield returned to silence in less than a minute. Ed stood quietly in the middle of the area, looking at the enemies strewn all around him as he asked flatly, "Now, can anyone tell me which way Erigor went?"

"So... so amazing... He took down so many people in such a short time..." Lucy was too shocked by the sight to say anything more. Looking at the unconscious enemies around him, Ed clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Tch... I think I hit them a little too hard..."

After thinking briefly, Erza said, "If he wants to play Lullaby, he'll definitely go to the broadcast room." They hurried to the station's broadcast room, but it was completely empty.

"Damn it, he's not here! Where the hell did that bastard go?!" Natsu burst into flames and shouted furiously.

Ed looked at the route map in the broadcast room and silently considered it. They came from Onibus, passed through Kunugi Station along the railway, and arrived at Oshibana Station, where we are now. Since they aren't in the broadcast room, they've probably continued along the tracks. If they keep going, the next station is the terminal, Clover Station. Wait... Clover? Oh no!

Ed's expression changed as he shouted, "Their target is the guild masters holding their regular meeting in Rokuba Town!" "What did you say?!" "Those bastards!" Erza and the others changed expression at Ed's deduction and rushed toward the platform, planning to pursue Erigor along the railway.

The moment they stepped outside, they saw the entire station enclosed by a wall formed from concentrated gale-force winds. Erza tried to force her way through, but the Wind Wall knocked her straight back. "Tch... Looks like we can't break through..."

"This is Boss Erigor's Demonic Wind Wall. You can enter, but you can't leave. You lot can just stay here with us..." At that moment, a pineapple-headed man among those Ed had beaten woke up, came outside, and spoke to them.

"Ah! That's right!" Happy suddenly remembered something. He pulled a golden key from the little bundle on his back and handed it to Lucy. "This is the Virgo Key from last time. Since her previous owner was sent to prison by you and Natsu, her contract was dissolved, and she wanted to make a contract with you."

"That's right! Virgo the Celestial Spirit can dig tunnels. We can go through underground!" Lucy remembered the gorilla maid as well and spoke excitedly.

After Lucy summoned Virgo, they were first startled by Virgo's new appearance. Following a chaotic commotion, they successfully escaped the Demonic Wind Wall. Erza also brought along the awakened pineapple-head, intending to interrogate him for information on the way.

Erza put on the magic-powered vehicle's mana supply ring again and immediately called for everyone to set out. Suddenly, her vision went dark, and her body swayed uncontrollably. Tch... I've used up too much magic power...

Seeing Erza's reaction, Ed said directly, "There's no need to rush. I'll go on ahead and pursue Erigor. Let Gray supply the vehicle with magic power."

"I'll leave it to you, Ed. I knew bringing you along was the right choice." After thinking it over, Erza did not force herself. She handed the ring to Gray and entered the carriage.

"Then, everyone, I'll be going on ahead. Catch up soon~" Ed waved, turned around, gathered strength, and used Monster Strength to hurl a kunai into the distance. At the same time, he took out another one and began charging it. Just as the first kunai was about to fly out of sight, a golden flash appeared, and Ed materialized beside it.

He then threw the second charged kunai in his hand while gripping the first and charging up once more. With golden flashes blinking through the air, Ed's figure swiftly vanished from Erza and the others' sight.

"Ah... No matter how many times I see it, Ed's fighting is still shocking. And his magic is incredibly convenient too," Gray remarked as he drove, watching Ed disappear.

Lucy, inside the carriage, hurriedly nodded at Gray's words. "Mm-hmm, mm-hmm! He Flash-ed around with a swish, swish, swish, and then everyone got knocked down. He's so strong."

"Ed really is dependable. I'm relieved to leave it to him." Erza nodded, then fixed a fierce stare on the pineapple-head named Kageyama and began interrogating him.

"Now, tell me everything you know. Do you have any other accomplices? Are your targets the guild masters holding their regular meeting? And who told you about Lullaby? Talk!"

Meanwhile, Erigor was flying along the railway toward Rokuba when a strange dart embedded itself in the tracks before him. A golden flash followed, and Ed appeared.

"Yo, Erigor. You can run pretty fast. Now, would you mind surrendering and handing Lullaby over to me?" Ed said expressionlessly as he looked at Erigor in midair.

"Tch... You got here fast, fly! Get out of my way! Storm Bringer!" Erigor summoned a tornado directly where Ed stood, trying to blast him away. Ed's calm voice came from within the storm.

"Looks like you don't plan to cooperate. Then you'd better hope you can take a beating. Don't accidentally die on me!"