The snow was still falling.
Dreary clouds blanketed the sky, and not even a flicker of sunlight pierced the gloom. The land itself seemed anxious—like it knew what was coming.
Escanor stood outside the cabin, shirtless in the cold, stretching his limbs. His breath steamed in the air, but he barely felt the chill.
"Tch. No sun again today," he muttered. "This weather's starting to annoy me. These monsters are a stain that needs cleansing."
Inside, Ur was already prepping breakfast. She glanced out the window and chuckled as she saw Escanor moving through his morning warmup.
"What a diligent child," she said softly.
An hour later, after tuning his body and magic into its optimal state, Escanor returned inside.
"Today," he declared with a spark in his eyes, "I want a real fight. I hope these monsters aren't too disappointing."
Outside the cabin, Gray and Lyon were practicing Ice-Make magic. Of course, both of them were shirtless. Escanor couldn't help but smirk.
"Training in the cold? Still odd, but… whatever works."
After breakfast, Escanor stood by the door, cloak over his shoulder, "I'm ready. When do we head out?"
"We'll go now," Ur nodded, rising from her seat.
But just as they were about to leave—
"Ur! Let me come too!" Gray stood up, eyes burning.
"You're not ready," Ur said, firm and cold. "You still have much to learn. Stay here. Train. Don't slack off."
Gray gritted his teeth.
As they disappeared into the snowy forest, Lyon sighed.
"…Let's get back to training."
But Gray didn't move.
"My parents… they were in that town. I won't just sit here while someone else fights my battle."
Lyon looked at his friend, then nodded. "Then let's go together."
The town came into view by mid-morning.
Or rather, what was left of it.
Charred buildings. Collapsed walls. Blackened snow. The air carried a foul, demonic stench.
Escanor and Ur stepped over the frozen threshold. A moment later—
The monsters stirred.
Dozens—hundreds—of winged beasts burst from the clouds like a plague of dragons.
Ur's magic surged.
"Ice Make: Snowstorm!"
A cyclone of gleaming ice blades spun skyward, slicing through wyverns in a freezing flurry. Dozens fell from the sky, frozen in death.
Below, a bellow shook the street. A giant, horned beast with a war axe charged through the snow like an avalanche.
"Escanor, watch out!"
The axe came down like a meteor.
CLANG!
A single hand stopped it.
Escanor stood, arm outstretched. His hand glowed a molten gold.
"True Sun: Hand."
The demon's weapon melted like wax. Its roar turned into a scream as lava dripped onto its hide.
"You came to fight. Die with honor."
With one hand, Escanor conjured a blazing fireball. "Merciless Sun."
He hurled it into the ranks of charging monsters. The explosion painted the sky orange.
With the other hand—he summoned something new.
"Ice Make…" His voice echoed. "Divine Axe Rhitta!"
Ur turned in surprise. He's… fusing elements?!
The massive ice-formed weapon shimmered, infused with sunfire from within.
Escanor crouched—then launched forward like a missile, his body breaking the sound barrier.
Each swing of Rhitta vaporized monsters in golden blasts. Wyverns burned mid-flight. Ground beasts crumbled under molten weight.
"Escanor!! Don't get reckless!" Ur called from above, still battling airborne demons with her storm of ice.
But Escanor didn't stop.
There was no encirclement. There was no battle.
There was only a massacre.
The earth shook with every swing. The monsters screamed and retreated—but they had nowhere to go.
"Ur!" Escanor shouted. "Trap them! Block every exit!"
"Understood!" she answered, slamming her palms together.
"Ice Make: Ice Rose Paradise!"
Massive walls of enchanted ice erupted around the battlefield, forming a sparkling, beautiful—but deadly—prison.
"Now, Escanor!" Ur warned. "The walls won't hold long!"
Escanor floated above the battlefield. He pressed his palms together.
A golden glow radiated from his chest. His eyes lit up with the Fairy Tail crest.
"Fairy Law."
A vast magic circle opened in the sky. Brilliant white light beamed down like judgment from the heavens.
Every monster Escanor deemed an enemy was targeted. The light pierced their flesh, erased their shadows, and reduced them to dust.
The battlefield went silent.
Snow fell again.
But this time—softly.
The monsters were gone.
Escanor dropped to one knee, breathing hard. "That… takes more out of me than I expected…"
Ur landed beside him, eyes wide in disbelief.
"That spell… It was legendary. Escanor… where did you learn something like that?"
"From the First. Long story…" he said between breaths.
Just then—
"Ur! Escanor!!"
They turned.
Gray and Lyon came running through the frost, panting.
Ur's face went red with fury.
"You IDIOTS!! Do you know how dangerous this was?!"
BONK! BONK!
Two swift punches landed on the boys' heads.
"OWWW!!""She's crazy!""Say something, Escanor!""I… I'm just going to pretend I didn't see that."
They all laughed, loud and warm, echoing through the now peaceful town.
But that joy—was short-lived.
Escanor's laughter stopped. His eyes turned toward the distant horizon.
"…Wait."
The others turned too.
Above the town, the clouds twisted and churned. A dark figure emerged.
Wings the size of buildings. Eyes glowing like dying stars.
A monstrous roar shook the mountains.
Gray's legs trembled.
"…D-De…Deliora…" he whispered.
Ur's heart froze in her chest. "No… it can't be…"
Escanor stood tall, eyes locked on the beast. "Well… crap."
Sweat dripped down his face.
"…This mission just became an apocalypse."