As intelligent beings, dragons were not simple-minded magical beasts. They wielded various magics like humans and possessed extensive combat experience.
Other factors aside, if a dragon used spatial or mind-control magic, the Kuriboh teleportation might not trigger properly.
That was why Chase had emphasized before the full-scale battle that he couldn't guarantee absolute safety.
The ones taken out early wouldn't have much trouble. But once the dragons adapted, those who remained would face escalating danger!
Of course, Chase hadn't mentioned one thing.
Even if someone truly died, he had the power to revive them.
Under Lucy and Loke's tense watch and Shizalansa's skeptical gaze, Zirconis stepped forward.
THUD, THUD, THUD.
Each of the dragon's footfalls tugged at Lucy and Loke's nerves.
Loke subtly shifted to shield Lucy's side, ready for any unexpected threat.
Soon, Zirconis stopped. Its massive shadow loomed over them. Its bloodshot eyes gleamed with menace.
After a moment of deliberation, the confident dragon opened its foul-smelling maw.
"Hey, human. Tell me—how do we remove that teleportation array on you?"
Shizalansa: "..."
Lucy: "..."
Loke: "..."
A gentle breeze swept through, stirring up clouds of dust.
It felt as if crows were flying overhead. The tense, oppressive atmosphere had turned oddly awkward.
Staring into those dragon eyes—which showed no sign of jest—and confirming there was no hidden scheme or magic in its words, Lucy shouted, "Why would I tell you that?!"
She had steeled herself to fight to the death even if Kuriboh failed. And Zirconis's "countermeasure" was just to ask outright?!
"Tch. She won't tell."
Zirconis frowned, its look of genuine surprise and disappointment almost comical. "I see that your Celestial Spirit was right—you're not honest at all!"
"Your curiosity is seriously messed up! And this has nothing to do with honesty! Who reveals their weakness to an enemy in the middle of a fight?! Would you tell me yours?!" Lucy's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
There were too many absurdities. Her words came out in a rush.
If Chase had been here, he would have argued: in all of Fairy Tail, who was more open and generous than their beloved fan-service girl Lucy?
Well, Cana didn't count.
"What's the problem? I'm afraid of fire magic."
"And Shizalansa—if I'm not mistaken—is allergic to seafood, right?"
To everyone's surprise, Zirconis actually picked up the thread, resting its claw on its chin in thought, casually revealing both its own and the Iron Sound Dragon's weaknesses!
Lucy's eyes lit up mid-tirade. Even Loke's pupils widened in disbelief.
This dragon, with its sinister, scheming face, was actually more straightforward than it looked?
Or was this deliberately false intel to mislead them?
"Are you a complete idiot?!" Shizalansa's mouth twitched in rage.
"Relax, Shizalansa. I've already figured out this woman's magic. Even knowing our weaknesses, she—"
VWOOM!
Before Zirconis could finish, a golden Celestial Spirit magic circle blazed before its eyes.
"Let's find out if it's true or not!"
Lucy switched to Aquarius Celestial Spirit Dress and traced a surging stream of water in the air with her key. "Open! Gate of Aquarius!"
In the past, she could only summon Aquarius near water—whether a pond or a ditch.
But after mastering Celestial Spirit Dress, that limitation was effectively gone. In Aquarius Dress, she was a Water Mage herself!
With a DING DONG, Aquarius emerged from the surging current.
Her flowing blue hair, sexy figure, and eye-catching fish tail made for a striking scene.
The next second, Aquarius tore that scene apart.
"Who gave you permission to summon me using such a cheat?!" Aquarius grabbed Lucy's collar and screamed in her face.
Cowed by natural authority, Lucy shrank back without a word. Loke greeted Aquarius with a smile.
Shizalansa's reaction was even more extreme. It instinctively stepped back, breaking out in a rash. "Fish... sea fish..."
"Look closely, you stupid lizard! I'm a Celestial Spirit—one with a boyfriend!" Aquarius showed no respect, annoyed at having her date interrupted.
"Totally just showing off..." Lucy couldn't help but mutter.
Seeing that Zirconis's intel was genuine, she gestured to Aquarius. "Aquarius, blast that dragon away!"
"Don't order me around! You think I need you to tell me?!"
Aquarius slammed her jar down. Surging currents erupted, spreading in all directions.
True to form, it was an indiscriminate attack—Hydro Storm—with Lucy as priority target number one!
CRASH!
The devastating flood swept across the field like a tsunami, overwhelming the caught-off-guard Zirconis and Shizalansa.
After the storm passed, debris littered the ground.
"Tch. What an irritating spell."
Glancing at Lucy, who stood unscathed behind a water barrier, Aquarius clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Next time you interrupt my date with Scorpio, I'll kill you!"
But the slight smile at the corner of her mouth betrayed her true feelings. Seeing Lucy's growth in another world was genuinely satisfying.
Watching Aquarius dissolve into motes of light, Lucy dropped her barrier and was about to complain—when a violent magic power exploded, evaporating all remaining moisture.
A massive shadow loomed. Shizalansa's eyes burned red with fury.
Aquarius's Hydro Storm had inflicted no real damage—but it had successfully enraged the dragon!
Its maw opened wide, magic gathering rapidly. Without concern for the teleportation array, it fired its Iron Sound Dragon's Roar!
The devastating energy beam annihilated everything in its path, reaching Lucy in an instant.
Lucy's pupils dilated. Her face went pale.
The attack was too fast. She had no time to use an Ultra-Magic to counter!
At the critical moment, a golden light flashed before her eyes—Loke had thrown himself in front of her.
BOOM!!
Amid the flames and smoke, a small mushroom cloud rose.
After the explosion, the ground was scorched and shattered. Only the small area where Lucy stood remained intact.
Before her, Loke's body was battered and broken.
"Sorry... this is all I can do, Lucy..."
"Loke!" Lucy cried out in concern.
Though Celestial Spirits couldn't truly die, they felt pain just like humans.
"Little girl, now's not the time to worry about others."
Zirconis had circled behind her. Its claw closed around Lucy like she was a figurine. "Heh heh. Got you!"
Lucy struggled desperately, but couldn't break free from the crushing force.
Zirconis wore a smug expression. "Just as I thought. Your teleportation magic only triggers when you take fatal damage, right?"
Its feigned ignorance, its deliberate exposure of Shizalansa's weakness—all of it had been a ploy to lower Lucy's guard.
The goal: capture Lucy and extract all information about these "future people" and Chase!
The concealed Kuriboh watched silently: Go on, I'm listening.
But before Zirconis could begin its interrogation, the distant sky blazed red with the light of burning dragon wings.
SHING!
Atlas Flame streaked through the air like a meteor, crashing into Zirconis's back and exploding with towering flames!
Caught off guard, Zirconis coughed up blood. Its grip involuntarily loosened.
Cherry-colored hair whipped in the heatstorm. Natsu leaped forward, catching Lucy as she fell.
Future Natsu, meanwhile, swung a blazing Iron Fist at Zirconis's head.
"Don't you—"
"Dare touch Lucy with those filthy claws!!!"
***
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