Chapter 29: The Legendary One
After a while, accompanied by the rumble of the magic four-wheeler, Erza and the others arrived at the disaster scene. Looking at the badly damaged train, Lucy felt her heart sink. Thank god I wasn't on that thing, she thought, sweatdropping as she surveyed the destruction. The scene was absolutely terrible—now she finally understood how Dino earned his title.
"Everyone, come out!"
The surviving members of Eisenwald emerged from their hiding spots. Upon seeing Erza, they froze. "It's you!" Her distinctive long scarlet hair, beautiful features, and signature armor made her impossible to forget. It looked like they'd accidentally leaked information to the wrong person.
"The Fairy Tail Guild!" The dark mages noticed the guild mark on the group.
Erza's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Where is Lullaby?"
"So you're after Lullaby! Give it up! The Death God Erigor already took it—he's probably using it right now. You're too late!"
"Buzz!" A white halo suddenly materialized around Dino's fist.
Seeing Dino about to attack, the dark mages panicked. "Wait! Don't you want to know what Erigor plans to do with Lullaby?!"
Dino's expression remained cold. "Not necessary. Whoever survives will be more than willing to tell me everything."
"————!"
"CRACK! CRACK!" The very air seemed to shatter like glass.
"BOOM!" A devastating shockwave blasted through the area, sending bodies flying.
"GYAAAAAAHHH!!!" The screams of Eisenwald's members echoed as nearly all of them were taken out in one strike.
"Y-You're the one who attacked the train!"
"M-Monster!!"
Dino surveyed the groaning survivors. "Now then… is anyone willing to tell me where Erigor went?"
One man, clutching his ribs, shakily raised his hand. "Y-Yes! Just don't kill me, please! I'll tell you everything!"
Dino glanced at him. "Talk."
"Erigor took Lullaby to Clover Town!"
Erza's face went pale. "Clover… That's where the Guild Master Conference is being held!"
A surviving dark mage laughed bitterly. "Hehehe… That's right! Where all those old geezers gather for their meeting. Once Lullaby's song is played, every single guild master there will be cursed to death! Finally, the regular guilds will—"
"————!"
Before he could finish gloating, Dino's fist connected with his face. "AHHHHH!!!"
"CRASH!" The man's body crumpled, creating a crater in the ground beneath him.
Dino turned to Happy. "Happy, you fly ahead with Natsu. With Natsu's Fire Dragon's Roar as propulsion, you'll be the fastest. If you can stop Erigor, do it. We'll catch up soon!"
"Aye, sir!!"
Natsu grinned, flames already sparking around his fists. "Don't worry! Anyone who tries to hurt Gramps is gonna get pounded!" Happy immediately took flight, carrying the fired-up Dragon Slayer toward Clover Town.
Dino and Lucy quickly boarded the magic four-wheeler alongside Erza.
"Hold on tight!" Erza gunned the engine, pouring magic power into the vehicle. Since Dino's Devil Fruit abilities didn't work well with the magic-powered vehicle, he couldn't help with the driving. As Gray had once explained, too much raw magical power could overload these things—even Gildarts couldn't use them without breaking them.
As Dino and the others disappeared into the distance, the few surviving Eisenwald members huddled together, their expressions hollow. Less than an hour ago, they'd been enthusiastic and confident. Now, barely anyone remained alive.
One of the older guild members spoke up, his voice trembling. "That man… if I'm not mistaken, he's that one."
"Which one?" A newer member asked, confused.
"A living legend. Five years ago, the 'Destroyer' annihilated thirteen allied dark guilds in a single night. I always thought it was just a rumor—after all, no one who saw it lived to tell the tale. But… he's real. And he's part of Fairy Tail!"
Another survivor nodded shakily. "Everyone who witnessed it firsthand died. We're lucky to be breathing right now."
On the magic four-wheeler, Lucy gripped the handles for dear life, trying not to get thrown around as Erza drove like a woman possessed. "Dino! Do you always handle things so… directly?!"
"That was the most efficient approach."
"Erza, ease up a little! You're burning through your magic too fast!"
"But! Master Makarov…"
Dino smiled calmly. "Gramps is the master of Fairy Tail—one of the Ten Wizard Saints. And he's surrounded by other guild masters too. You think he'd be taken down easily by a cursed flute?"
Erza's grip on the wheel relaxed slightly. He was right. Master Makarov was one of Fiore's strongest mages. How could he fall to something like Lullaby?
"Looks like the dark guilds have been getting bold again lately. Time for another cleanup."
When Dino and the others arrived at Clover Town, they found Natsu already engaged in battle with the Death God Erigor, wind magic clashing against roaring flames. More importantly, they spotted numerous guild masters—including Master Makarov—watching from a safe distance.
The moment Erza saw Makarov safe and sound, she leaped from the four-wheeler. "Master! Thank goodness you're all right!" She rushed forward and hugged him tightly.
"OW! OW! SO HARD!!" Makarov's head bounced off her armor breastplate.
"Master, what are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here? We were having a nice meeting when suddenly the whole city started shaking like there was an earthquake. Naturally, we suspended the conference. Then I sensed magic power colliding in this direction, so we came to investigate." Makarov gestured toward Erigor. "That guy's from the dark guild Eisenwald—the Death God Erigor. What's going on?"
"Earthquake?" Lucy and Erza immediately glanced at Dino. The word "earthquake" could only mean one thing when he was involved.
Erza quickly began explaining to the master why they'd come to Clover Town and what Eisenwald had been planning with Lullaby.