Jellal?
Seeing the composed Shane, the name of this man instantly popped up in Ultear's mind.
Thinking carefully, when that chestnut-haired boy reported news about Shane to Jellal, it was a bit too deliberate. As if he intentionally let me know.
So—
"You came for me?" Ultear's cold brows swept over Shane, then glanced at Gray and Erza in the distance.
An anger of being looked down upon surged in her chest.
She had already decided in her heart that after resolving things here, she would definitely deal with Jellal. As for Brain's plan? What did it have to do with her? She wished that man would die sooner.
"Although I don't know what you are expecting—"
Shane took a step forward with a smile. The surrounding dancing flames, as if receiving a command, hissed and gathered toward his hand, compressing, and finally condensed into a simple-shaped, pitch-black Tachi.
"But you don't think you can still leave, do you?"
He lowered his arm, pointing the pitch-black sword tip obliquely at the sandy ground.
With just a casual movement, a pressure far richer and more substantial than the flames just now permeated, pressing heavily on Ultear's heart.
Ultear frowned tightly. "You got stronger again? Is this your new magic?"
She felt a deep sense of foreboding.
During this period, she thought her strength had improved hugely, enough to wash away her shame. But Shane's aura before her eyes had become deeper and stranger, completely different from before.
Shane was very happy to answer all questions about Heroic Spirits. "The one who gave me power this time is called Senji Muramasa, a swordsmith."
"Tsk." Ultear had a premonition that the other party's annoying long-winded speech was about to start again, so she decisively launched an attack first.
She couldn't give him a chance to stabilize his momentum.
Her long leg kicked swiftly on the sandy ground. The splashed gravel accelerated instantly in mid-air under her Magic Power enhancement.
Turning into countless golden fine threads indistinguishable to the naked eye, they shot toward Shane with sharp whistling sounds.
"More tricks, and more flexible?" Shane sighed in his heart; sure enough, he wasn't the only one improving.
"But that's all—" He didn't use the Heart Fire to strengthen his speed, just calmly extended his left hand—
A large shield, fiery red in color with intricate petal-like patterns on the edge, opened up with a bang like a giant umbrella.
Bang bang bang bang!
Dense sand grains hit the shield surface, making exploding sounds like rain hitting banana leaves.
Also in this fleeting moment when vision was obscured, the air above Shane's head distorted, and countless dazzling star points suddenly emerged, each containing heart-palpitating Magic Power fluctuations.
"Flash Forward!" Ultear pressed her arm down vigorously, her cold shout carrying determination. "This is the failed future you reflect; take it well!"
"With this amount of Magic Power and power, no wonder you have the confidence to come knocking." Shane looked up, the sky full of star points reflected in his pupils, several thoughts flashing through his mind instantly.
In this situation, should he tough it out with Arash's [Robust Health EX], or rely on Senji Muramasa's [Magic Resistance B] to offset it?
Thinking took only an instant.
He raised the pitch-black Tachi as dark as ink in his hand, raging flames igniting in his eyes. "Sure enough, it's more appropriate to slash them all."
There was no earth-shattering momentum, only a black-red blade light condensed to the extreme, gently slashing upward like tearing silk.
Hiss—!
Where the blade light passed, the brilliant star points falling from the sky seemed to meet their nemesis, annihilating one after another the moment they touched the blade light, turning into primordial light specks and dissipating.
Shane dragged the Tachi, his pace unchanged, walking calmly out of the airflow caused by the dissipation of Magic Power.
The burning Eyes of Karma in his eyes jumped more violently. "If you have no other moves, stay quietly without moving, and let me count your karma carefully."
As he spoke, he suddenly swung a backhand slash.
Dark red sword energy tore the air, landing not far from where Ultear stood.
"At your wit's end again?" Shane shook his head, his tone carrying a trace of disappointment. "Still dare to use this kind of blindfold in front of me? Do you think just because I changed a pair of eyes, I can't see your position clearly?"
How could the fire eyes that could see through karma and cause and effect fail to see through this mere visual illusion!
The aftermath of the sword energy swept past, accurately slicing the corner of Ultear's white robe.
The fabric tore at the sound, revealing a section of smooth calf. Immediately after, a thin blood line appeared, and crimson blood beads oozed out rapidly, staining the pure white robe with a dazzling red.
Ultear clenched her teeth. Burning pain came from her leg, but what was more unbearable for her was the frustration and incomprehension in her heart.
She completely couldn't understand why, after not seeing him for such a short time, Shane's strength could improve to such a terrifying level.
Previously, she could still exchange a few blows, but now she couldn't even resist.
Shane approached unhurriedly, his gaze falling on her forcibly calm face, nodding approvingly. "It was right not to continue running away. You are smart; you know we have business with you."
Before his voice fell, he punched out suddenly, hitting Ultear heavily in the abdomen!
"Ugh!" Ultear groaned. The intense pain instantly drained her strength, her legs went soft, and she knelt involuntarily on the sand.
She bit her lower lip hard, holding on to prevent the painful expression from distorting her face.
She absolutely didn't want to show weakness in front of this man again.
"Not using Ice-Make Magic this time?" Shane looked down at her condescendingly. "Giving up resistance just like that?"
"That kind of magic—how could I use it again!" Ultear raised her head resentfully, fire almost spewing from her eyes.
Last time when she was driven to desperation by him and on the verge of death, she actually subconsciously used that woman's magic to protect herself.
This was the point she hated Shane for the most!
That instinctive reaction at that moment made her feel like an incredibly ridiculous child who couldn't help seeking her mother's embrace when encountering danger. This felt more humiliating to her than failure.
"Sure enough, you are the arrogant one," Shane looked at the fierce hatred in her eyes, his tone still without ripples. "I have always been very cautious."
At the same time, he was also somewhat surprised in his heart.
In the fiery red perspective of the Eyes of Karma, he could see that the "karma" entangled on Ultear was unexpectedly far less than imagined.
Those few cause-and-effect threads were dim in color, and were all "causes" provoked by others, without too many deep sins.
"This is good too," Shane thought. "Don't have to struggle over whether to kill her; there's room for talk."
He neatly twisted her hands behind her back, pressed his knee against her shoulder blade, and sat on her lower back, suppressing her completely.
"I ask, you answer," Shane's voice returned to the usual flatness when facing enemies. "You know me."
However, the expected struggle or scolding didn't come; the person beneath him was unusually silent.
Is this girl such a stubborn person?
Shane looked down strangely and found that Ultear was using all her strength to hold her head up, her fair neck showing clear lines due to tension, stubbornly refusing to let her cheek be buried in the sand.
"So that's it; unexpectedly has self-esteem." This kind of resistance was somewhat unexpected to Shane.
He moved his body considerately, trying to shift to the rear to save the other party more effort.
But in this way, the center of gravity naturally moved slightly toward the other party's buttocks.
This made Ultear's body stiffen instantly. Strong shame and unease made her turn her head abruptly. "What are you doing?!"
This posture is indeed a bit indecent—
Shane realized suddenly, simultaneously sighing in his heart that it would be great if Erza could have half of Ultear's awareness of common sense shown at this moment.
Just then, Erza and Gray, seeing the battle end, hurried back.
Shane hurriedly waved to the red-haired girl and pointed to the position behind Ultear's waist. "Erza, come sit here!"
He signaled for Erza to come over and replace him.
And Gray just ran close, taking this scene into his eyes perfectly. The teenager widened his eyes, looking at Ultear's face that was extremely similar to his master. "You—what are you doing?"