WebNovels

Chapter 55 - Chapter 55

"Mm… Kael. Long time no see."

Erza's voice was calm but soft, her usual intensity dimmed for a moment. One hand clutched her injured arm; the anger and guilt on her face slowly melted away into a faint smile.

"Hey, hey, there you are! Finally caught up!" Lucy gasped as she scrambled up the stairwell to the station's rooftop, still out of breath. "You guys ran so fast— did you manage to catch Erigor?"

"Yeah, we caught him. Sorry for making you chase after us, Lucy."

"It's fine, it's fine— as long as you did." She bent over, hands on her knees, trying to steady her breathing. When she finally lifted her head, her expression froze.

All around them, massive cyclones of wind spiraled violently, forming a cage of roaring air that enclosed the rooftop.

"What… is this?"

"Don't worry," Erza said, her tone steady. "Kael's here. It's over now."

"Eh~?"

Natsu grinned, throwing an arm around Lucy's shoulders. "See? Told you everything's fine! Look— Kael's already taken care of it."

Lucy followed his pointing finger, gazing up. There, floating effortlessly above them, Kael smiled down with calm confidence. Seeing his expression — and the relief washing over her teammates — Lucy finally felt her own chest loosen.

"The wind barrier's still up," Kael said with a teasing grin. "I'll let you all figure your own way out… or maybe I'll come back for you after I'm done dealing with Erigor."

He chuckled mischievously, then turned away without waiting for a response, his golden aura flickering as his eyes shifted toward the crumbling ruins in the distance.

From within the dust and shattered stone, a hoarse voice echoed.

"Ugh… you think you can stop me… even if you're one of the Ten Saints?" Erigor coughed harshly, blood dripping from his lips as he staggered to his feet. His face twisted into a deranged grin.

One hand slid toward his belt— where he'd hidden the Cursed Flute. That was why he hadn't fled earlier; he knew he couldn't outrun Kael, not even with his speed magic. So instead, he'd decided to use Lullaby to kill him where he stood.

"I'll make you die here, Saint or not," he hissed, magic flaring violently around him.

"Oh? You mean this?" Kael raised the flute in his hand, smirking.

Erigor's eyes widened.

Kael had already taken it— during that last blinding kick that had sent him flying.

"Damn you! Why? Why do you stop me? It's your kind— people like you— who destroyed everything I had!" Erigor's voice broke into a snarl, his aura surging until the air itself howled. "Power… only power gives me what I deserve! Anyone in my way— dies!"

"Tempest Break!"

Purple magic circles spun before him, and a violent tornado exploded outward, ripping through the ruins.

But the wind slammed harmlessly against a golden shield of light that shimmered before Kael. The Saint hadn't even lifted a hand.

That calm defiance only drove Erigor deeper into madness. Roaring in rage, he poured everything he had into the spell. The cyclone grew so fierce that stray blades of wind tore through the surrounding buildings, shredding them to rubble.

"Die! DIE! All of you— DIE!" Erigor screamed.

But his fury only made his failure more pitiful. When his magic finally hit its limit, the winds shattered the shield— engulfing Kael in a roaring column of air.

Erigor broke into a hysterical laugh. "Hahahaha! Even one of the Ten Saints— nothing before me!"

He didn't even notice the shadow that appeared behind him.

A hand touched his shoulder.

Then— crack!

Kael struck him down with a single blow, the golden light in his eyes glowing cold. Chains of pure light coiled around Erigor's body, binding him where he fell unconscious.

Kael landed softly, turning the cursed flute over in his hand.

Something about it caught his attention— the three eyes carved into its skull-like design had flickered earlier, when Erigor's hatred reached its peak. But now, they were dormant again.

—Meanwhile, inside the Wind Barrier—

"Ahhh!"

"Stop it, Natsu! You idiot!" Lucy yelled, clutching her hair.

Natsu was hurling himself again and again into the raging winds, his body already covered in shallow cuts from the razor-sharp gusts.

"It's no use," Gray grunted. "That barrier's not normal wind magic."

Sure enough, even Natsu's flames couldn't hold back the storm. The next blast threw him back hard, slamming him into Lucy.

She gasped and instinctively caught him, wrapping her arms around him to stop him from getting up again. "Enough! You'll just hurt yourself!"

For a moment, neither of them moved. Natsu blinked, startled by her closeness. Lucy's face turned red— and the sudden tension in the air made even Erza and Gray exchange knowing looks.

Maybe Kael had intentionally left them trapped here just to see this play out.

But the moment vanished as Natsu jumped back, clueless as ever. "Oh! Wait! Lucy— can't you use your Celestial Spirit magic to get us out? Like you did back at the Elba Mansion?"

Lucy shook her head. "No. That only works if there's another Spirit Mage outside the barrier to open the gate. And humans entering the Celestial Realm directly… that's strictly forbidden by contract."

At that, Happy suddenly gasped, as if remembering something. He scrambled forward, both arms and legs flailing awkwardly, holding up a shining silver key.

"Lucy! Look! It's Virgo's key!"

Lucy blinked. "Happy! You stole that?! Bad cat!" She grabbed his cheeks and stretched them furiously.

"Ow ow ow— she told me to! Virgo said her last master was arrested, so the contract was broken! She wanted you to have it!"

"And— and— Virgo can dig underground! If she opens a path, we can escape!"

"What?! Really?!"

Erza, Gray, and Natsu all froze in shock. Lucy's face lit up, pure joy replacing her earlier frustration.

"Alright then— let's get out of here!"

She held the key high, took a deep breath, and called out the incantation.

"I am the one who opens the gates of the Celestial World! Hear my call and come forth— Open, Gate of the Maiden— Virgo!"

A glowing blue magic circle formed, and from it stepped a slender woman in a maid's uniform, spinning gracefully before landing with a bow.

"How may I serve you, my Master?" she asked softly.

"Uh… who are you?" Lucy blinked.

"I am Virgo. I take whatever form best pleases my master. Do you like this one?" she asked, glancing toward Lucy's whip with a hint of understanding.

Lucy nodded with approval. "Hmm… this look suits you."

Virgo smiled faintly. "Then what shall I call you? Queen? Princess?"

"Not Queen," Lucy said, placing a hand on her hip with a playful grin. "But 'Princess' does sound nice."

The guys could only stare, dumbfounded.

"Uh, Lucy… maybe less roleplay, more escaping?" Gray said dryly.

"Oh! Right!" Lucy yelped, cheeks red. "Virgo, please— dig us a way out!"

"As you command, Princess."

With a spin, Virgo plunged her hands into the floor. The ground trembled— then opened into a massive tunnel leading below.

Gray jumped in first, followed by Natsu, Erza, and Lucy.

When they finally climbed out through the other end, they found Kael standing calmly nearby, holding the flute in one hand— and Erigor, bound in golden chains, unconscious beside him.

"Oh, you're out," Kael said casually. "Perfect timing. Let's go meet the Guild Master. And… figure out what to do with this thing."

He lifted the cursed flute slightly, its carved eyes glinting faintly in the sun.

...

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