Chapter 223: SFDI: Chapter 223
After mentally preparing himself, Drake finally led his group into the villa with its unique aesthetic. However, the moment they stepped ins
After mentally preparing himself, Drake finally led his group into the villa with its unique aesthetic.
However, the moment they stepped inside, Drake’s carefully constructed mental fortitude crumbled.
They were at the Blue Pegasus guild master’s villa, and naturally, Blue Pegasus mages were there to greet them.
Drake wasn’t sure what Blue Pegasus’s atmosphere was like, but seeing the three "pretty boys" before him, he couldn’t help but feel like he’d stumbled into a high-class gentlemen’s club.
It was clear that Guild Master Bob had successfully "trained" his guild members. These three even had their own flamboyant nicknames.
Trimen’s was a three-person mage team, whose members were frequent subjects of wizard magazines.
"Hundred Night Hibiki" Hibiki Lates, "Holy Night Eve" Eve Tearm, and "Silent Night Ren" Ren Akatsuki were the three mages Blue Pegasus had sent to participate in the joint extermination operation.
However, the moment these three appeared, they immediately began showering Erza and Lucy with attention, leaving Drake utterly speechless.
While their behavior was somewhat unsettling, Drake could sense that the three mages possessed considerable magical power. It was no wonder Blue Pegasus had chosen to send them.
Then, as Erza’s ominous premonition came to pass, the leader of the Blue Pegasus contingent finally made his entrance.
Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki, the leader of the Trimen’s team.
Blue Pegasus was known for recruiting handsome men and beautiful women, but Ichiya was a clear exception to this rule.
His appearance was as "unspeakable" as Blue Pegasus’s overall style.
"Erza, you truly are as fragrant as ever!"
As Ichiya approached Erza, sniffing the air, Drake witnessed Erza display a look of utter bewilderment for the first time.
Drake sighed. "Let’s put a stop to the jokes, shall we? We’re not here for a social gathering."
Ichiya, spinning around like a dancer, declared, "We’re more than enough for this mission. Everyone except Erza and Miss Lucy, please feel free to return to your respective guilds."
"Exactly! Exactly!"
The three other mages echoed Ichiya’s words, prompting Natsu and Gray to immediately roll up their sleeves, prepared for a brawl.
Drake restrained the two. "Is this Blue Pegasus’s attitude towards a joint operation?"
Despite preventing Natsu and Gray from engaging in fisticuffs, Drake released his own magical aura towards the Blue Pegasus contingent.
The effect was immediate and palpable. Not only did the Blue Pegasus mages fall silent, but even Natsu, who had just moments before been clamoring for a fight, instantly quieted down.
The sheer magnitude of the magical power emanating from Drake exerted immense pressure on everyone present.
Ichiya and his team forgot their playful antics; the sheer weight of Drake’s magical power left them feeling as if they were suffocating.
While this was a joint operation, they were all representing their respective guilds; Drake couldn’t afford to let Fairy Tail lose face, so he adopted a strong and assertive stance when necessary.
Just then, a voice echoed from the entrance.
"We will be fighting together in the coming battles, so Mr. Drake, I implore you to exercise a degree of patience."
Drake turned his head and looked towards the entrance, from which three individuals were entering.
The group consisted of two men and one woman. The man and woman at the rear were Lyon and Sherry, both of whom had been present on Galuna Island.
After Lyon had been defeated by Gray, he had heeded Gray’s advice to join another guild, and he had ultimately chosen Sabertooth. Sherry, his former subordinate, had followed him into the guild.
Sabertooth was one of the top guilds in the land, possessing considerable strength. And the leader of their contingent, in addition to Lyon and Sherry, was someone truly exceptional.
"Jura Neekis." Drake withdrew his magical aura, calmly stating the name of the newcomer.
Natsu scratched his head, his expression a mixture of confusion and curiosity. "Jura... what? Who is that? Is he someone famous?"
Drake sighed. "You really should make an effort to familiarize yourself with some of the basics, you know! That man is one of the Ten Wizard Saints, just like our guild master."
Jura was bald, his simple attire barely concealing his incredibly muscular physique; his immense strength was immediately apparent.
Gray stepped forward to greet Lyon, while Drake and Jura began to assess each other.
Jura spoke politely, "Master Makarov is a senior figure to me; I am still far from reaching his level. Furthermore, the title of Ten Wizard Saint is merely a designation. Judging from the magical aura you just released, Mr. Drake, your strength has already surpassed that of a Ten Wizard Saint."
Before setting out on this mission, Jura had been specifically warned by the master of Sabertooth that Drake of Fairy Tail was the individual to watch out for during this joint operation.
Jura himself had also heard many things about Drake.
It was said that Drake had single-handedly defeated Jose, the master of the Phantom Lord guild (who was also a Ten Wizard Saint), during the war between Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord.
Jura, in fact, might owe his own selection as a Ten Wizard Saint to Drake’s defeat of Jose.
As Drake had stated, not all Ten Wizard Saints were created equal. In Drake’s estimation, Jura was merely there to make up the numbers; his inclusion in the team was likely a strategic move by the Magic Council to ensure a balance of power.
However, it was undeniable that Jura did possess considerable strength. Having such a reliable ally in this joint operation was certainly a positive development.
Jura surveyed the situation, then spoke, "It appears that three of the four guilds have now arrived. All that remains is the contingent from Mermaid Heel."
Ichiya interjected, "Oh, really? I heard that Mermaid Heel has only sent a single individual to participate in this mission."
"Only one person for such a dangerous mission? That must mean that person is incredibly powerful!" Lucy exclaimed, her imagination already conjuring up a terrifying image of a monstrous individual with sharp fangs and a menacing countenance.
At that very moment, a figure came rushing into the room; before she could even reach the center of the room, she tripped and fell flat on her face.
Drake sighed, walked over to the fallen figure, and extended a hand to help her up. "Still as clumsy as ever, I see. Did you hurt yourself?"
The young woman—or rather, young girl—lifted her head, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw Drake’s face. She then took Drake’s hand and stood up.
"Th-thank you! I’m Wendy Marvell from Mermaid Heel. I apologize for my tardiness."
"A girl!"
"A child?!"
"Wendy?"
The other members of the team expressed their astonishment that Mermaid Heel had sent such a young girl for such a dangerous mission, although Natsu seemed to find the name Wendy somewhat familiar.
Drake sighed inwardly; it seemed that not only Gajeel, but Wendy had also lost her memories.
While the situation was somewhat melancholic for Drake, the prospect of reuniting with his younger sister was a cause for genuine joy.
Just as everyone was expressing their doubts about Wendy’s capabilities, the white cat accompanying her stepped forward.
Carla, an exceed similar to Happy, possessed the unique ability of precognition. Her relationship with Wendy was much the same as Happy’s relationship with Natsu; they were a close-knit team.
It seemed that Dragon Slayers had a penchant for keeping cats as companions; Drake wondered if he should perhaps seek out an exceed to serve as his own partner.
As Drake’s thoughts drifted, and Happy, the ever-affectionate cat, showered Carla with attention, Ichiya suddenly announced his need to use the restroom.
It was rather inconvenient, considering that they were just about to discuss the operational plan for their mission. Ichiya’s actions were nothing short of infuriating.
However, when Ichiya reappeared, Drake immediately sensed something was amiss.
Approaching Ichiya and placing a hand on his shoulder, Drake stated, "If you hadn’t previously encountered Loki... or rather, Leo, as you all know him... then I might have actually fallen for your ruse! The ability to perfectly transform into another person... you’re the Gemini Celestial Spirit, aren’t you?"
The other members of the team had been initially puzzled by Drake’s actions, but upon observing the expression on the face of the individual posing as Ichiya, they instantly became wary.
At that precise moment, a woman’s voice echoed from the entrance.
"You’ve managed to see through my disguise. That is correct; they are indeed the Gemini Celestial Spirit with whom I have formed a contract."
Amidst a swirling cloud of white mist, the individual posing as Ichiya transformed into a pair of small, blue dolls, and a woman, clad in revealing attire, stepped into the room.
Hibiki exclaimed loudly, "You’re Angel from Oracion Seis! What have you done to Master Ichiya?!"
The newcomer was clearly an enemy, and one of the targets of their extermination mission.
Drake stated calmly, "Since you’ve already attacked Ichiya, I suspect that our operational plan has already been compromised.
In that case, let the battle commence! In the end, we’ll be defeating each of you one by one anyway."
"It’s about time! I’m fired up!"
Natsu bellowed, his fists ablaze with magical flames as he charged forward!
The roof of the villa shattered with a resounding crash, and several figures descended from the sky above.
Drake smiled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "It seems we needn’t expend any effort in searching for our targets; they’ve come to us of their own accord!"
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