Raizel looked at everyone around him and said, "The next course of action is quite clear."
"Split up, find their temporary base, and crush their plans!"
"Yes!" Everyone raised their arms in response, their morale high despite the crash.
...
Inside the Worth Woodsea—
At this moment, the Allied Forces were advancing deep into the forest in several groups.
Erza, Lucy, Natsu, and Gray formed the first assault group.
Jura and Sherry made up the second.
Raizel, Wendy, Ultear, and Kagura formed a third powerhouse group along with the four members of Blue Pegasus.
The reason for this division was simply because the Worth Woodsea was too expansive.
As soon as any group encountered the Oración Seis or located the base, they would notify the others immediately.
Both Raizel's and Hibiki's Archive magic could communicate their location and exchange information at any time.
...
"What is this?"
Erza and the others stopped in their tracks.
The ancient trees in front of them were shrouded in a thick, creeping mist resembling the aura of death itself.
The vegetation was withered and blackened.
"Black mist?"
"It feels disgusting." Natsu felt particularly uncomfortable, his Dragon Slayer senses revolted by the evil magic.
Crunch.
Footsteps and the sound of leaves crunching came from behind Erza and the others.
Erza turned sharply to look.
"I heard it's the influence of Nirvana, Brother Zato."
"Aha, I heard it's such an astonishing magic that the earth is gradually dying, Brother Gato."
The two Mages, who referred to each other as "brother," stepped out of the shadows.
They had large yellow teeth, hunched postures, and resembled gorillas more than men.
Rustle—Rustle—
Dozens of other Mages suddenly emerged from the trees as well, surrounding the Fairy Tail team.
"We're surrounded," Lucy said, clutching her keys and looking at the Mages circling them as the four stood back-to-back.
"Oh! Monkeys! There are two monkeys!" Natsu was quite excited to see the two leaders.
"We are the Naked Mummy guild, under the Oración Seis!"
"Naked Mummy Men!"
"One of the Dark Guilds."
"No, I mean, that's a really random name..." Natsu scratched his cheek, unimpressed.
"They came at just the right time. Since they showed up on their own, it saves us the trouble of searching for them."
"Lucy, protect yourself!"
Erza charged forward while switching armors in a flash of light.
"Re-Quip: Black Wing Armor!"
"Our goal is to make them reveal their base," Gray said as he rushed forward, his hands forming an Ice-Make stance.
"How dare you look down on us, you brats!"
...
At the same time, the four members of Blue Pegasus were also surrounded by new enemies.
"They are the Dark Unicorn guild."
"Why are they here?"
Jura and Sherry also fell into an ambush further east.
Meanwhile, Raizel and Wendy encountered only small fry from the subordinate guilds.
"Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!"
Wendy unleashed a whirlwind of wind, knocking back a group of attackers.
Raizel left it to Wendy to handle to build her confidence, while he merely used a partial Take Over to support her and deal with any Mages foolish enough to try and flank him.
...
Back with Group 1, after Erza and the others defeated the minions of the Naked Mummy guild.
"Hello there, Ash Brat. Long time no see," a raspy voice came from high in the trees.
"You really gave us a hard time back then, you flies."
Standing on a thick branch was the former ace of the Eisenwald Guild, the "Grim Reaper" Erigor.
"Yo, you cool breeze bastard, long time no see. How have you been?" Natsu was only slightly surprised before casually greeting him.
Erigor, standing in the tree with his scythe, was utterly dumbfounded.
"We're not on such friendly terms!"
Gray couldn't help but comment, "Read the mood... That guy is the mastermind behind the Lullaby curse magic attack targeting the old man and the others."
"After leaving 'Eisenwald,' I served as a bodyguard for a guild under the 'Oración Seis,' waiting for this day to come—the day of my revenge against you all, which also marks the resurrection of the Death God."
Erigor leaped down, wind magic swirling violently around his scythe.
"Why waste words on him? Let's go!"
Erza didn't have time for nostalgia.
She switched instantly to her Heaven's Wheel Armor.
"Heaven's Wheel: Pentagram Sword!"
Erza slashed through the wind barrier, striking Erigor with the force of a falling star.
Erigor was sent flying thousands of miles away into the horizon before he could even swing his scythe.
...
Elsewhere, Jura and Sherry faced a mage using Pict Magic.
"Unison Drawing Magic!"
"A Wyvern? They can even draw something like this." Sherry stared at the massive ink-construct Wyvern screeching down at them.
"What a beautiful stroke," Jura couldn't help but admire the artistry calmly.
"Iron Rock Wall: Spikes!"
Dozens of massive rock iron pillars erupted from the ground, trapping the Wyvern's movements and pinning it in place.
"Puppet Attack—Rock Puppet!"
The mage tried to counter, but Jura was faster.
"Clap—Iron Rock Dust Explosion!"
Jura clapped his hands together, and the rock iron pillars pierced through the Wyvern before detonating with immense magical force, causing the ink Wyvern to vanish completely into dust.
This was just a drawn Wyvern—even if a real one came, it wouldn't be a big deal for Jura Neekis.
"The Wyvern was taken down so easily! What should we use next?" The mage with the "red headband" panicked, seeing his creation destroyed, and fled into the bushes.
"Although it's fake, they easily manipulate and use living creatures. It's really something I can't agree with."
Jura narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression turning grim.
BOOM—
With a loud explosion from Jura's attack, a cloud of dust shot into the sky.
...
"Ho, did Jura encounter a strong enemy? Or is he angry, why is he using such powerful magic?"
Raizel remarked after sensing the surge of magical power from miles away.
"Should we go help?" Wendy asked worriedly, looking at Raizel.
"Probably not. If needed, Jura would have notified us."
Jura had a way to contact Raizel and Hibiki.
Since he hadn't said anything, it must be just an ordinary opponent.
Moreover, with Jura's strength as one of the Wizard Saints, he could hold his own even against the inner personality of Brain... "Zero."
...
"We got the information. The base is in the abandoned village to the west."
Kagura interrogated over a dozen defeated mages, her sword at their throats, and confirmed the location of the Oración Seis's temporary base.
Kagura and Ultear were also attacked by a Dark Guild, but they quickly dealt with it.
"Sherry, head west. It's best for you to regroup with the members of 'Fairy Tail' first."
"What about you?" Sherry asked, hesitant to leave her ace.
"A powerful magical power is approaching—likely one of the 'Oración Seis.' I'll intercept them here."
Jura slightly raised his head, gazing in the direction of the oppressive magical energy heading his way.
"Alright." Sherry knew she would only hold Jura back here against such a foe and turned to hurry westward.
"The base is in the abandoned village to the west. I'm heading there now. Mr. Jura is preparing to intercept a member of the 'Oración Seis.'"
Sherry communicated through the telepathic group chat as she rushed westward.
"We got the same information and are heading west too," Kagura and Ultear replied through the link.
...
"Hey! That speed freak from earlier! Come out and settle this!"
Inside the cave base, the "Oración Seis" could already hear Natsu's provocative voice echoing from outside.
Erza, Natsu, Gray, and Lucy stood on the ridge above, looking down at the cave entrance.
...
"Racer, go out and stop them."
"As you command!"
No sooner had Racer spoken than he appeared beside everyone on the ridge.
"Speed!"
Racer launched a flurry of kicks.
However, this time, being prepared for his speed, none of them were caught off guard by the attack.
They each dodged, leaping back.
"Found you, you glasses-wearing bastard!"
"I'll handle him. You guys go down," Erza said, stepping forward to block Racer's path with her sword drawn.
"Alright, but how do we get down?" Natsu looked at the steep cliff.
"Leave it to me!"
Gray slammed his hands together. "Ice Make: Slide!"
An elaborate ice slide formed, spiraling down into the cave entrance.
"Auoooooooouoooo!"
Natsu immediately grabbed Lucy and jumped onto the ice track, sliding down at high speed.
Gray jumped on after them, complaining from behind.
"Don't shout such meaningless exclamations!"