With the mission completed and a hefty reward collected, Ace set off on his return journey in high spirits.
The setting sun dyed the sky a warm orange-red.
On the forest path, the shadows of the trees swayed, and a gentle breeze caressed his face.
However, this tranquility was soon shattered.
On the main road up ahead, the crisp, rhythmic sound of horse hooves echoed.
Ace looked up to see a magnificent carriage pulled by two majestic, pure-white pegasi slowly approaching.
The carriage was entirely white, adorned with flashy golden patterns, and the side of the cabin was painted with the crest of a blue pegasus with its wings spread wide.
"Blue Pegasus..." Ace recalled his guild knowledge.
This was the guild led by Master Bob, an old friend of Master Makarov, and was famous for its "handsome wizards" and host club atmosphere.
The carriage stopped right in front of Ace.
The window slid open, revealing three handsome faces.
Eve, Hibiki and Ren.
Hibiki struck a pose, sparkling as if under a spotlight, and spoke in a voice like an opera singer.
"Oh~! An encounter under the twilight! You, the young wizard with an extraordinary air before me... judging by that crest, you must be a new star of Fairy Tail, yes?"
Ace stopped and nodded politely.
"Fairy Tail, Ace."
Garurumon warily trotted back to his side, letting out a low, vibrating growl at the strange men.
"So... so cool!" Eve's eyes instantly lit up, staring intently at Garurumon's blue and silvery-white fur, which seemed to gleam in the sunset.
Hibiki was also excited as he nearly leaped out of the carriage window.
Clasping his hands to his heart, he cried out in an even more exaggerated tone.
"Oh! Beautiful! Powerful! Noble! Aloof! This perfect form, this aura brimming with power and speed! This is an existence practically tailor-made for our Blue Pegasus guild!"
He pointed a dramatic finger at the wolf. "This... Lord Wolf! You shouldn't be in the boorish, sweaty Fairy Tail, that place will only bury your brilliance! Come, join us at Blue Pegasus! We will craft the most magnificent saddle for you and make you the most dazzling star in all of Fiore!"
Garurumon obviously couldn't understand Hibiki's flowery words, but it could clearly sense the possessive intent in the short man's words, as well as the disdain for its partner, Ace.
It snorted contemptuously, exhaling a puff of white, frosty mist, its gaze growing even colder.
Hibiki wasn't deterred. "We at Blue Pegasus gather all that is beautiful and powerful in this world. I believe that any creature with taste—one that understands true 'beauty' and 'power'—will realize where the most suitable stage lies."
His words seemed directed at Ace, but his gaze swept meaningfully over Garurumon, as if certain the wolf could be seduced by the promise of fame.
At that moment, in the front seat of the carriage, a man who had been resting with his eyes closed slowly opened them.
He was dressed in an even more exquisite suit than the others.
It was Ichiya.
He looked at Ace, his tone calm yet carrying a hint of seniority. "Young man, Hibiki's words may be direct, but they make sense. A powerful partner deserves a better environment. Why not let our young men have a little spar? Perhaps your partner will realize the difference in class."
Evidently, Blue Pegasus's trip had the purpose of probing and, to some extent, "showing off" to the rival guild.
Ace patted Garurumon's sturdy leg and spoke to Hibiki, "Hibiki-san, I think you're mistaken. Garurumon is my partner, not a piece of merchandise, and he certainly won't be joining any other guild."
"Partner? Non! This is a criminal waste of a masterpiece!" Ichiya shook his head dramatically. "Such a perfect being should enjoy the most top-tier treatment! Not be fighting and killing in a rowdy place like Fairy Tail! Eve! Ren! To help this lost, noble being realize its true home, it is necessary for us to display the passion and strength of Blue Pegasus!"
Eve and Ren exchanged a glance.
Although they felt Hibiki's proposal was impulsive, they were also genuinely curious about Garurumon's strength, and they rarely disobeyed Ichiya's orders.
The two leaped gracefully from the carriage.
"Then let's speak with our strength!" Ace's eyes turned cold.
Their arrogant attitude had truly annoyed him!
"Garurumon, no need to hold back. Let them see just how 'boorish' Fairy Tail can be!"
"In that case, Sir Ace, please forgive our offense," Eve said with a polite bow, though his magic was already flaring.
Ichiya gave Hibiki a slight nod, indicating that the younger members should handle it.
Hibiki then leaned casually against the window, preparing to "enjoy the show" with a rose in his hand.
"ROAR!"
Garurumon could no longer hold back.
Upon receiving the command, it instantly transformed into a blue bolt of lightning and pounced at Eve!
Eve's specialty was Snow magic.
"Snow Magic: White Blizzard!"
He formed defensive barriers and binding chains made of snow.
However, Garurumon's speed and power far exceeded his expectations!
Its sharp claws swung out with an aura that could tear through anything, easily shattering the barriers.
It either nimbly dodged the chains or bit them apart with its sharp teeth!
Ren used his Air Magic, his body moving like the wind as he tried to interfere from the side.
But Garurumon's sense of smell and hearing were extremely acute; Ren's high-speed movements were like slow motion to the wolf!
A swift whip of its tail, whistling through the air, precisely swept toward Ren's path, forcing him into a clumsy retreat.
"Impressive indeed!" Eve exclaimed, but his hands didn't stop.
Garurumon charged ferociously toward Eve.
Before the mage's horrified eyes, it swatted away his hastily constructed final defense with one paw, then rammed him hard with its head!
"Gah!" Eve cried out as he was sent flying backward, tumbling several times on the dusty ground, his clothes disheveled.
Ren wanted to provide backup, but Garurumon's cold gaze swept over him as it gathered frost in its mouth again.
"Freezing Fang!"
A blast of extreme cold erupted, not to attack Ren directly, but to instantly freeze the ground around him!
Ren's feet were frozen in place, stuck to the road, and he could only watch helplessly as Garurumon streaked past him.
Seeing Eve and Ren being pushed back steadily, Ichiya, who had been watching calmly, could no longer sit still.
To preserve the guild's honor, he instantly appeared at Garurumon's side using his magic.
With energy swirling around his palm, he delivered a precise chop toward Garurumon's shoulder joint.
The angle was tricky—his experience was evident!
"Garurumon, be careful!" Ace warned.
Garurumon's combat instincts were extremely sharp.
It twisted its body violently mid-air, taking Ichiya's blow with the hardest, metallic fur on its shoulder.
Thud!
At the same time, it retaliated with a point-blank blast of frost at Ichiya!
Ichiya hadn't expected Garurumon's reaction to be so swift or its defense so hard.
He hastily gathered a magic shield to block the cold air and was knocked back two steps, his palm numb and his face filled with shock.
Garurumon seized the opportunity.
It pounced on Eve, who had just caught his breath, sending him flying again with a single swipe.
It followed up with a sweep of its tail, knocking down Ren who was attempting to break the ice on his feet!
The battle was completely one-sided.
The mages from Blue Pegasus were completely outmatched by Garurumon's absolute speed and ferocious fighting style.
They were left panting, covered in dust, their clothes in disarray, having long lost their earlier elegance.
Garurumon stood proudly in the center of the road and let out a low roar of victory.
The composure on Hibiki's face vanished, replaced by solemnity.
He took a deep look at Garurumon and Ace, then sighed, dropping his rose.
"...I have been rude. Fairy Tail truly lives up to its name. Let's go."
Hibiki helped Eve and Ren up while Ichiya already leap back to the carriage.
They gave Ace a complicated look of embarrassment and respect, and the three returned to the carriage, looking rather pathetic.
The pegasi neighed, and the carriage departed quickly, disappearing down the road much faster than it had arrived.