The Enemy Retreats

Su Yan let out a displeased growl as he watched the Oración Seis vanish. He'd wanted to finish them off, but they'd escaped. No help for it now; he'd just have to track them down again.

"Is everyone okay?!" he called out.

Wendy, Carla, and Happy came running over. Su Yan had told them to stay behind the boulders for safety. Wendy, who had never experienced a battle this intense, was still trembling. But with Oración Seis gone, she found the courage to run out and help.

"We're fine!"

"D-Damn it, they got away!" Natsu fumed. Despite being knocked down earlier, his robust stamina had him back on his feet.

"A total defeat," Ichiya said bitterly, feeling frustrated.

"They're too strong," Ren agreed. The Alliance had the numbers, yet Oración Seis had played them like puppets. Without Su Yan's interference, they might've been wiped out.

Leon and Sherry from Lamia Scale felt similarly disheartened. They'd arrived so full of confidence, yet nearly everyone had been pinned down or injured. If Su Yan, from Fairy Tail, hadn't intervened, the Alliance might have been destroyed.

Suddenly, Leon remembered something Oración Seis had said before retreating. "Wait—Master Jura?!" he blurted.

"We're here," came Jura's voice. He emerged, leaning on Ichiya for support.

"Brother Ichiya!"

"Oración Seis, those cowards…they ran as soon as we arrived, definitely not worth fearing!" Ichiya tried to sound dignified, despite the bruises and cuts on his face.

Lucy muttered a snarky comment, "But you're covered in injuries…"

"Teacher Ichiya is amazing, as always!" the Blue Pegasus trio tried to flatter him anyway.

"Master Jura, you're alive and kicking, that's a relief," Leon said, though he saw Jura's abdomen wrapped in bloody bandages—a serious wound, presumably from Oración Seis's sneak attack.

Just then, a timid voice spoke up: "If y-you like, I c-can…try healing it?" All eyes turned to see Wendy, flustered by their sudden attention.

"Yes, sorry," Wendy stammered. "I'm too weak to help in battle, but I can use some Healing Magic."

"Healing Magic? That's lost magic, isn't it?!" Sherry exclaimed. None of them had expected such a young girl to wield a rare lost magic.

Carla interjected, chest puffed up proudly. "Wendy can heal injuries, cure fevers, relieve pain, even detoxify poisons."

"Wow," several voices murmured. Indeed, a nurse-type mage was invaluable, especially in group operations.

Wendy bowed her head apologetically. "M-My healing is part of my Sky Dragon Slayer Magic."

"Sky Dragon Slayer Magic?!"

Everyone except Su Yan gaped in shock. Dragon Slayer Magic was famously powerful, and they already knew about Fire Dragon Natsu, Iron Dragon Gajeel, and Lightning Dragon Laxus. Now here was a fourth user?

Natsu's jaw dropped. He knew there was more than one Dragon Slayer, but hearing about another still caught him off guard.

"All right, Wendy," Jura said, lying down. "I'll accept your help."

Wendy knelt beside Jura and concentrated, beginning the healing process on his gaping wound.

Meanwhile, deep in the endless Sea of Trees, inside the crumbling ruins of an ancient city stood Oración Seis's temporary hideout.

Brain and the others regrouped. Racer asked, "Hey, Brain, we nearly had them. Why'd we retreat?"

"You underestimate Su Yan," Brain snapped, nursing his own injuries. "He alone is stronger than the rest of those alliance fools put together—almost monstrous. We've more pressing business: finding Nirvana. Once we have that, no one can stop us."

Racer let out an annoyed huff. "Tch, just means we'll let our underling guilds harass them, pick them off or wear them down."

"Right," Brain nodded. "Come. Let's scour the ruins. We must locate Nirvana."

They headed into the depths of the ancient city, determined to awaken the sealed magic that could supposedly eradicate all light.

Elsewhere, the allied guilds regrouped. Despite the blow they'd taken, they pressed forward into the Sea of Trees. They understood now how formidable Oración Seis was—each member a powerhouse, and together, a seamless team. They'd need to coordinate more effectively themselves.

Still, they also needed to fan out to search for Oración Seis. Splitting into multiple teams offered the best chance of finding their hidden base.

Thus:

Natsu, Gray, and Happy formed one group. Erza and Lucy teamed up. Blue Pegasus stuck together. Lamia Scale also gathered their forces. Su Yan took charge of Wendy and Carla, since Wendy was their invaluable healer. Under Su Yan's formidable protection, she'd be safest.

Hibiki employed his Archive Magic to keep all teams in contact. If anyone found Oración Seis—or encountered trouble—they'd signal the nearest allies for backup.

With that, the Alliance once again ventured into the Sea of Trees, battle-weary but resolved to stop the dark guild's ambitions.