Gathering

In a remote, mountainous forest, six figures stood at the edge of a cliff.

"I heard it! The sound of light falling." A man with a huge purple-scaled snake coiled around his body gazed toward the dark forest in the distance.

"You're too impatient, Cobra. We haven't even found it yet." The speaker wore a red racing suit, sunglasses, and had a pointed nose.

"You don't understand. This place holds legendary magic, Laser."

A massive man built like a priest said, "The magic that destroys light and brings darkness to the world, right?"

"That's right, Hoteye."

"It's called Nirvana, isn't it?" Angel, the only woman among them, spoke the magic's name.

"Hahaha! The legendary magic will finally fall into our hands!" Brain, the tattooed leader holding a skull-topped staff, said.

"Is it really good to have such high expectations? So much time has passed, after all."

"Look over there. Just by Nirvana drawing close, the earth has begun to die. There's no doubting its power."

Far above, ten thousand meters in the sky, an airship was flying through the clouds. It belonged to Grimoire Heart, one of the Dark Guilds.

"Oración Seis has begun moving, President Hades. What are we planning to do?"

"The Etherion launch tower was destroyed. Some people were bound to lose their patience and start making moves."

"As long as someone acts, the people outside won't remain idle. We'll use this chance to find Zeref's key and open the Gate of Zero."

Ultear smiled. "You mean the people from Fairy Tail? But I think President Hades's plans will be disrupted."

"What do you mean by that?!"

"Makarov, Fairy Tail's guild master, has raised a monster."

"You mean War God Ye? The strongest on the surface?"

"Yes, President Hades."

"He's just a fledgling brat. In the end, he's only a kid. Nothing to worry about."

Ultear looked at President Hades. He had not taken her warning to heart, but that was only natural. As Hades grew stronger and stronger, fewer and fewer people were worth his notice.

Still, Ultear had the feeling that War God Ye would become the greatest obstacle to all this. But she did not care. Whether Hades lived or died had nothing to do with her. As long as she achieved her own goal, that was enough.

Ye and the others arrived at the meeting point: a villa with walls painted entirely pink.

Erza said, "We're here. Let's go inside."

The front doors slowly opened, revealing decor that was even more horrifying than the outside.

Lucy complained, "This is Blue Pegasus Guild Master Bob's villa? His taste is really awful."

A spotlight suddenly shone down from above, followed by several voices.

"People of Fairy Tail, we have been awaiting you!"

"We are Blue Pegasus's chosen TRIMAN!"

"Hibiki of White Night!"

"Eve of Holy Night!"

"Ren of Sky Night!"

Lucy's heart raced as she looked at the three men before her. "So... so handsome! Blue Pegasus's TRIMAN!" Hibiki of White Night in particular ranked near the top of the [Most Desirable Wizard Boyfriend] list.

Lucy turned back to look at the three men from her own guild. Gray was stripping, Natsu was still vomiting, and even Ye, the most normal one, was picking his nose.

Ye noticed Lucy looking over and staring at his hand.

"You want it!?"

Lucy, her temper flaring, roared, "Who would want that?!"

When Lucy turned back again, she discovered that the three had already surrounded Erza and were eagerly fawning over her.

"You're just as beautiful as the rumors say."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty."

"Quickly, this way, please..."

Somehow, they brought out a sofa and seated Erza on it, then poured her tea before inviting Lucy over as well.

"Come! Please sit here too, lovely lady."

Gray stared blankly at the three men acting like hosts.

"What's with these three guys?"

Erza said, "Please take care of us, you three. Let's work together."

Eve, who looked like a little boy, gazed at Erza dreamily. "What an adorable expression. You're just like the goddess of my dreams."

"??" Erza was a little stunned by Eve's words.

The slightly dark-skinned Ren poured Lucy a glass of orange juice and said haughtily, "It's not like I prepared this for you or anything."

"A tsundere!!!" Lucy's skin crawled.

"All right, the journey here must have been exhausting. Tonight, stay with us and..."

"FOREVER." A sickeningly sweet voice suddenly rang out.

"You three, stop right there."

"That voice is?" Lucy shuddered upon hearing such a cloying voice.

"Master Ichiya!"

"Ichiya?"

"It's been a long time, Erza. I missed you, my sweetie. Ichiya exists for you!" A short, ugly man slowly descended while striking an exaggerated pose.

"Sweetie!!?"

Happy and Lucy were completely dumbfounded by the way Ichiya addressed Erza.

The Blue Pegasus trio spoke in unison. "So you're Master Ichiya's girlfriend. Our apologies."

"Absolutely not!!"

Ichiya looked at the trio. "Put everything away, now. They aren't here to play."

"Yes, boss!"

Lucy looked at them speechlessly. "What kind of guild is this? They're way too practiced at this."

Suddenly, Ichiya's nose twitched as though he had caught a scent. With a slide of his foot, he appeared beside Lucy.

"What a lovely scent! The fragrance of a maiden! It takes me back to my innocent youth at sixteen!"

"How disgusting." Lucy felt revulsion deep in her bones at Ichiya's behavior.

Erza said helplessly, "Sorry, I'm not good at dealing with him either. But there's no doubt that he's an extremely powerful wizard."

Gray stepped forward unhappily. "Blue Pegasus's pretty boys, could you stay farther away from the girls in our guild?"

"Huh? There are men here too? You've worked hard. You can go home now!"

Gray snapped, "Did Blue Pegasus really send nothing but these perverts? Do you have any sincerity at all?!"

"We're very strong."

"You want to fight?"

The moment he heard the word fight, Natsu immediately sobered up.

"A fight? Count me in."

"All of you, be serious. We're not here to play. And Ichiya, keep your guild members under control."

"That voice is..." Cold sweat ran down Ichiya's face.

"Lord Ye. I never expected Fairy Tail to send you."

The Blue Pegasus trio asked, "Master Ichiya, do you know this man?"

"You idiots, do you know who this is? He's War God Ye! Show some respect."

Ichiya knew just how terrifying this god of slaughter was. He had wiped out all three hundred thousand of them.

"So you're the guy who keeps taking first place from Brother Hibiki on the [Most Desirable Wizard Boyfriend] list!"

"I don't see what's so special about you."

"How rude. It isn't your place to comment on Lord Ye's contributions to the magic world."

"Yes, Teacher Ichiya!"

Lucy complained, "Why did you change what you call him again?"

Ye looked at Ichiya. "After all these years, you're still the same, Ichiya."

"I think I'm pretty great like this, MAN~!" Ichiya said, waving his arms around.

Ye found it just as disgusting as ever.

At that moment, the doors opened once more, and two men and a woman entered.

"Everyone is already here. Sorry to have kept you waiting. I am Jura Reiji, sent by Lamia Scale to carry out this mission. Please take care of me."

Ichiya said, "I never expected another Ten Wizard Saint to come."

"That guy is Lamia Scale's greatest trump card."

"Jura of Rock Iron."

Natsu asked in confusion, "Who's that?"

Lucy said in surprise, "You don't know who he is? Even I've heard of him. Like Ye, he holds the title of Ten Wizard Saint!"

"Lyon?" Gray cried out in surprise when he spotted a familiar figure among the three.

"Gray?!"

"And me too!" the third girl said.

Lucy immediately recognized her. "Aren't you that strange person from Galuna Island? How did you become like this?"

"Because love gave me a new life."

When Jura saw Ye among the crowd, he hurried over excitedly. "Lord Ye, we meet again. I heard that you became one of the Ten Wizard Saints as well. I was away on a mission then, so I didn't get the chance to congratulate you."

"Ah, it's nothing. It's only a title."

"Hahaha, Lord Ye is as modest as ever."

Ichiya jumped out and said, "This time, the greatest trump cards of three major guilds have gathered. We'll definitely wipe out Oración Seis."

Lucy asked doubtfully, "Isn't there still one guild that hasn't arrived?"

Ichiya said, "I heard that guild only sent one person."

"Just one person?!"