Chapter 19
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On the Way Back
Although Natsu could be a knucklehead, Igneel—within him—felt a faint, oppressive vibe from Weiss's superior bloodline.
It unnerved the Fire Dragon King.
Not a human peering through Natsu, but an ancient dragon god from the Age of Myths!
That eerie familiarity chilled Igneel.
He quashed it fast, resolving to watch closer.
Natsu'd sensed it too—Weiss's Five-Clawed Golden Dragon power at Hargeon.
Now, witnessing Weiss's spatial "magic," Igneel zeroed in.
That wasn't magic—more an innate gift!
Night passed quietly—dawn broke.
Weiss's crew trekked back to the guild.
Crossing riverbank mangroves, they hit a mountain forest with broad views.
Rustling snapped them alert—bushes stirred nearby.
Their eyes sharpened toward the sound.
"Who's there?!"
Natsu ditched his pack and blanket, diving in!
Combat clashed.
A familiar figure emerged with him.
"Gray?!"
Gray Fullbuster—down to shorts and boxers.
After grilling, they learned he'd been hunting a pit stop on his guild return.
Weiss, Lucy, Natsu, and Happy stared, speechless.
A toilet out here?
Post-relief, Gray regrouped.
Weiss pulled food from his Pocket Dimension, divvying it up—no hunger pangs with him.
Mid-meal, Gray dropped a bomb that jolted Natsu and Happy.
Erza was back!
Natsu froze—Lucy and Weiss perked up.
After grub and a breather, they pushed on.
Hours to the guild.
Boom!
A magic blast kicked up dust, blinding them.
A figure lunged, aiming for Happy.
Weiss flashed forward, seizing a squat goblin's wrist.
"What're you doing to our pal?!"
Dust cleared—Weiss's grip was icy.
"How—?!"
The fat, blue-skinned goblin gaped, terrified.
His Flying Sand Bomb—dust magic—flopped!
This guy—unfazed?
"Weiss!"
Happy, nearly snatched, teared up, hugging Weiss's shoulder.
"You punk—why hit us?!"
Natsu and Gray clawed free, roaring.
"Let him go!"
More foes burst from hiding, charging to free their buddy.
"Beat it!"
"Thunderstorm Grid!"
Dark Guild trash—Weiss recalled them plotting to eat Happy.
No mercy.
Wind and lightning wove a vast electric veil, swallowing the grunts!
"You too!"
Bang!
Weiss punted the cyan goblin airborne.
"Arghhh!"
Screams rang out.
Gulp!
Gray watched the wind-lightning havoc, then Weiss—throat tight.
Brutal!
Erza-tier, maybe!
Seconds later, the charred foes crumpled, out cold.
"Kageyama's next, right?"
Weiss smirked, intrigued.
Sure enough—
As Natsu and Gray bickered—
A giant shadow loomed, racing at them!
"Danger!"
Happy headbutted Natsu and Gray clear.
Weiss yanked Lucy back.
The shadow aimed for the bound Iron Forest goons—a massive hand swelled, snatching them into darkness.
It clenched, yanking—the towering tree they were tied to bent!
Iron Forest punks—gone in a flash!
"What's that?"
"Who did it?!"
"Vanished?!"
Natsu and crew gawked—magic unseen!
"Hmph! Easy getaway?"
"Stop World!!" (Note: Corrected "Smash Varudo" to "Stop World"—clarified as a JoJo-inspired riff, not Cleopatra's stand.)
Weiss sneered at a white figure bolting through distant trees.
He flickered—hundreds of meters in a blink.
Hand clenched—
Time halted within a kilometer.
Leaves froze midair, winds died—everything but Weiss stalled.
Kageyama, mid-leap, cursed—"Damn!"—then blanked.
To Natsu, Happy, Lucy, and Gray, the distant zone froze instantly.
Eyes bulged, jaws dropped.
Bang!
Weiss reappeared, Kageyama cocooned in ropes, thudding down.
The Iron Forest goons spilled from the shadows.
"What happened?!"
"How?!"
Kageyama's eyes widened, baffled.
Subdued in a flash—no resistance, trussed like a bug!
"Weiss, that was ancient time-stasis magic, right?"
Gray gaped, probing.
"Ancient magic?"
Natsu, Happy, and Lucy jolted—super-rare time magic!
A treasure among wizards!
But—no magic circle when Weiss cast it?!
That baffled them most.
"No way! Tsk!"
Kageyama's face twisted, hearing Gray.
He'd blundered into this freak!
He'd risked the save to gag his crew's Lullaby leak—now he was sunk too!
Damn!
"Yeah, I paused time there."
Weiss shot Gray an approving nod, owning it.
No point hiding from teammates—full disclosure cut future flubs.
"LULLABY…"
"LUL, LULLABY…"
The green goblin muttered unconsciously, snagging their ears.
"Damn!"
Kageyama's face flickered—gritting teeth.
"Fairy Tail—I'll remember you!"
His aura dimmed—a shadow circle flared beneath.
Shadows surged, swallowing him—he vanished!
"He got away?!"
Natsu and Gray tsked.
"Chase?"
"Nah—he didn't do much."
"What about these clowns? Haul 'em back?"
"Leave 'em. Iron Forest's a murder guild—tip the Magic Council, let them mop up."
"Their luck if they last 'til then."
Gray capped it.
No mercy for Dark Guild trash—fact.
No one fancied lugging these creeps back—gross.
Nodding, they packed up, resuming the hike.
No more surprises—they hit Magnolia, filed the Daybreak commission.
The guild buzzed, stunned by the tale.
A fake job?!
Fairy Tail gaped—someone dared scam them!
Weiss's crop haul as "payment" eased their shock.
Smart—kept the Council off Kaby's back with a loophole.
Next day, guild chatter roared.
Knowing Lucy was Weiss's girl, Loke steered clear—no trouble there.
Loke, fresh from a two-girl outing, burst in—
"Erza's back! Erza's back!"
Gulps echoed at his frantic shout.
Footsteps confirmed it—unmistakable.
Seconds later, a crimson-haired girl strode in, hefting a giant horn.
Silence gripped—all held their breath.
Like canon, Erza chewed out nearly everyone.
But at Macao's name, she sighed, silent.
Macao nearly choked—pressure crushing.
Say something—don't just skip me!
No scolding, yet the weight tripled!
"You're all kids who'll never grow up. I'll let it slide today—no more nagging."
Erza rubbed her forehead, exasperated.
"You've said plenty—guild disciplinarian?"
Lucy, ever the commentator, quipped.
Happy swooped in, explaining Erza to her puzzled look.
"Natsu, Gray—here?"
Erza scanned the guild.
"Ahh!"
Natsu and Gray—sweating—clung to each other.
"See? Even best buds squabble. But I like this harmony."
"You did well."
Erza softened, pleased at their rare truce.
"Not that well…" Gray muttered.
"Aye!" Natsu squeaked.
Erza's glare neutered their grit.
"On my last gig, I caught wind of trouble. Planned to brief the master first."
"But it's urgent—Natsu, Gray, I need your strength!"
Shock rippled—Erza, the titan, needing Natsu and Gray?!
Weiss alone mused thoughtfully.
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I want to give a huge thanks to the Dragon king card holder : Andrew Morale
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