The sun sank into the horizon, and the salty sea breeze in Magnolia Port was cool.
"Mission briefing," Erza's voice was clear, her scarlet hair tied back, her trench coat fluttering.
"Target: Garna Island.
Content: Lift the curse.
Request Level: S-Class."
"S-Class?!" Lucy exclaimed. "Can we... can we do it?"
"Aye! Lucy's scared!" Happy snickered.
"Hmph. Just an S-Class," Natsu's fists ignited with fire, and Gray crossed his arms with a cold snort.
"Analysis: S-Class mission... potential risks... extremely high," Christian floated beside Erza. Chris basked in the afterglow of the setting sun.
"Suggestion: All personnel... status confirmation."
Erza nodded.
"Client: Moka, islander representative.
Curse phenomenon: Under moonlight... villagers transform into beasts.
Aggressiveness... extremely strong.
Origin... suspected... 'moon drop' ritual.
Source... island's central temple." She pointed to the moored magic-powered ship.
"Transportation: 'Water Lizard' No.
Captain: Ms. Porlyusica's assistant. Departing immediately."
Everyone boarded the ship, but the cabin was narrow, and the smell of engine oil mixed with the scent of the sea.
Whoosh—!
The whistle blared, the iron wheels turned, and the ship cut through the dark blue water, sailing towards the dark sea.
"Ugh..." Natsu's face was sickly green as he slumped in a corner.
"The ship... it's a demon..."
"The Fire Dragon gets seasick..."
"Aye! Natsu's so useless!" Happy flapped his wings.
Gray took off his shirt. "You idiot Squint Eyes! Don't puke next to me!"
"Ice Block Man! Wanna fight?!" Natsu struggled to look up, his flames weak.
"Anytime!" Cold Air rose from Gray.
"Everyone shut up!" Erza roared. The phantom of her Adamantine Armor flashed. Both instantly froze.
"Conserve your strength! After we land... battle is inevitable!"
Lucy hugged her knees, the dark waves outside the window churning.
"Garna Island... it sounds... so scary..."
"Fear... stems from the unknown. Our journey is to overcome the fear in our hearts," Christian floated closer, his gelatinous form lightly touching Lucy's hand. It was cold and calming.
"Individual name: Lucy Heartfilia.
Ability: Celestial Spirit Magic... potential... immense.
Team cooperation... can compensate for... lack of experience."
Lucy was slightly startled; the cool touch strangely soothed her anxiety.
"...Thank you, Chris."
"No problem at all." The core's blue light was steady.
The darkest hour is just before dawn.
Thud! The ship shuddered violently! It ran aground at the shore. The decaying wooden pier creaked.
"We're here," Erza was the first to leap down. Her Adamantine Armor silently materialized.
"Be on guard!"
The team stepped onto the wet beach, dead trees stood tall, and mist permeated the air in a dead silence, with only the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
"Smell of blood... smell of decay..." Christian's Omni-Perception was fully engaged.
"Ahead... three hundred meters... life forms... clustered... approaching rapidly!"
Howl—!!!
A mournful wolf howl tore through the silence!
In the thick fog!
Dozens of crimson eyes lit up!
Dark figures stirred!
Sharp claws cut through the wind!
"They're here!" Erza gripped her greatsword horizontally.
The fog dispersed!
The moonlight was pale, illuminating the true forms of the monsters—humanoid!
Covered in grey-black fur! Fangs protruding! Claws like knives! Saliva dripping onto the sand! Hissing!
"Moon-transformed... villagers!" Gray's arms were covered in Cold Air.
"Don't kill them!" Erza commanded. "Knock them out!"
"Understood!" Natsu's flames reignited. His seasickness was completely gone. "Fire Dragon's... Iron Fist!"
Boom! A fiery kick sent three werewolves flying!
"Ice Make: Cage!" Gray slammed his palms onto the ground! Ice cages trapped five of them!
"Open, Gate of the Golden Bull! Taurus!" Lucy's golden key flashed.
"Moo-moo—! Miss Lucy! Crush them!" Taurus's giant axe swept horizontally! The shockwave knocked over the pack of wolves!
"Aye! Air support!" Happy grabbed pebbles and dive-bombed, throwing them.
Growl! A cunning werewolf circled behind! Its claws aimed directly for Lucy's back!
A blue shadow flashed! 'Water Flow Movement'!
Christian blocked the claws, his gelatinous form hardening! 'Steel Transformation'!
Clang! Metal clashed! Sparks flew from the wolf's claws!
"Predator! Activate!" An invisible force field locked onto the werewolf! Its stamina was rapidly drained! The monster's movements visibly slowed! It stumbled and fell to the ground!
"Good job, Chris!"
"Open, Gate of the Clock! Crux!"
Ding! A giant golden bell descended, imprisoning several werewolves!
"Numbers... too many. Regeneration... abnormal." Christian's core flashed rapidly, his gelatinous form deflecting another pouncing attack.
"Analysis: Moonlight... provides... energy source.
Suggestion: Block... moonlight exposure!"
"We just need to block the moonlight!"
"Gray!" Erza's greatsword cut through the pack of wolves. "Ice Wall! Cover the top!"
"Ice Make: Dome!" Gray unleashed his full power! An arched ice dome rose from the ground, covering half the battlefield! The moonlight was blocked!
The trapped werewolves howled in unison! Their movements stiffened! Their fur receded! They gradually returned to human form! Collapsing unconscious!
"It works!" Lucy exclaimed in surprise.
Outside the ice dome! The remaining werewolves became even more berserk! They charged the Ice Wall! Cracks spread!
"Natsu! Clear them out!" Erza commanded.
"Just what I wanted!" Natsu grinned.
Flames engulfed his entire body! "Fire Dragon's... Wing Attack!!!"
A fiery storm swept across the beach! The remaining werewolves were blasted away! Falling into the cold sea! Struggling and sinking!
The battle paused, the beach was a mess, unconscious villagers lay sprawled, and the ice dome emanated a chilling aura.
"Hoo..." Gray panted. "Troublesome..."
"This moonlight... is the curse's medium..."
Christian scanned the unconscious villagers.
"Physiological indicators... weak... but stable. Beast transformation... reversible."
"The source... is in the temple."
Erza sheathed her sword and looked towards the depths of the island.
The silhouette of an ancient stone temple, hidden by dense forest, was ominous.
"'moon drop'... must be stopped."
The team delved deeper into the silent, withered forest, where moonlight was fragmented by twisted branches, casting fragmented shadows like ghostly claws.
"Perception... interference," Christian's gelatinous form rippled.
"Shadow magic... concentration... abnormal. Direction... straight ahead."
"Aye! Something's there!" Happy stopped abruptly.
Ahead, shadows under a dead tree writhed, coalescing into a humanoid figure, a black robe covering its face, revealing only a pale jaw.
"Lord Deliora... holy light... shall be reborn..." The figure whispered, its voice hoarse.
"Obstruction... eliminated."
"Eisenwald remnants?" Natsu's flames reignited.
"No..." Erza's expression was grave.
"Magic's nature... older... more sinister."
The robed figure raised its hand, and withered leaves swirled and gathered, forming three paint black spears! They shrieked through the air, shooting directly at the core of the team!
"Watch out!" Gray's Ice Shield rose!
Puff! Puff! Puff!
The black spears pierced through the Ice Shield! Their momentum undiminished!
"Requip! Adamantine Armor!" Erza blocked in front! Her greatsword parried! Clang, clang, clang! The black spears exploded! Corrosive black mist permeated the air!
"Analysis: Shadow materialization... with corrosive curse..." Christian absorbed the escaping black mist.
[Alert! Analyzing shadow magic... acquired 'Shadow Corrosion Resistance (Weak)'...] His gelatinous form extended! "Water Blade! Launch!"
Highly compressed streams of water cut towards the robed figure!
Whoosh! The figure dissipated! Turning into a flock of crows that scattered! Piercing shrieks!
"Clone... or... substitute..." Christian looked around warily.
"Up there!" Happy shrieked.
In the shadows of the tree canopy! The flock of crows gathered! The black robe reappeared! Its palms pressed down!
"Shadow Bind... Descent!"
A giant shadow vortex appeared out of nowhere! A terrifying suction pulled at everyone! Withered branches and broken stones on the ground swirled and were instantly annihilated!
"Gravity magic?!" Gray's Ice Cone/Spike pinned him to the ground! His body swayed.
Natsu shot flames to counter the suction! Unable to move an inch!
Lucy hugged the tree trunk tightly.
"Crux! Protection!"
Ding! The golden bell descended! But the suction passed through the bell! Lucy grunted!
"Erza!" Natsu shouted urgently.
The Adamantine Armor was heavy! Erza plunged her greatsword into the ground! Carving a deep gully! Still being dragged towards the vortex!
Christian!
Predator fully opened! Devouring the suction!
Sizzle! Shadow energy collided with the devouring force field! Space warped!
[Warning! High-purity shadow magic overload! Analysis speed... 60%... core load...]
"Ice Make... Slide!" Gray suddenly changed his technique! An ice surface extended beneath his feet! Using the suction, he charged forward! Directly at the robed figure's main body!
"Too slow, you idiot!"
"Ice Make: Battle Axe!" A giant ice axe cleaved down!
The robed figure dodged in surprise! The suction momentarily lessened as he was distracted!
"A weakness!" A glint flashed in Erza's eyes! She discarded her sword! Requipped! Flame Empress Armor! Her wings spread furiously! She charged against the current! "Evil-Slaying Spear!"
A golden flash! A spiraling lance pierced through the black robe!
Pfft!
The black cloth tore! Inside... it was empty! A few crow feathers drifted down.
"Another... clone!" Gray spat as he landed.
The suction vortex dissipated, and everyone gasped for breath.
"Target... probe... complete." Christian's core flickered.
"Main body... hidden... in the direction of the temple. Warning: Enemy... is unusually familiar... with the island."
"Advance!" Erza folded her wings. Her eyes were like knives. "No matter who it is... anyone who stands in our way... will be cut down!"