"Oh… no."
Chase immediately regretted that powerful kick.
Because the direction Ikaruga had been sent flying was straight toward his own house.
Boom!
The fragile single-family home couldn't withstand the impact. The explosion of force shattered its walls and snapped its supporting pillars.
In moments, the small building trembled, then collapsed entirely, swallowed in a cloud of billowing smoke and dust.
This fight was really going to cost him.
Chase's mouth twitched, his heart aching at the sight.
Through the haze, a razor-sharp glint of steel sliced through the smoke. Footsteps crunched over broken stone and splintered wood.
"You really are a barbarian with no gentlemanly manners, Mr. Chase," Ikaruga said coldly. "With an attitude like that, I doubt you'll ever find a girlfriend."
She emerged slowly from the dust, long blade in hand. Her once-calm, detached eyes now carried a sharper, more dangerous edge.
Blood traced a thin line from the corner of her mouth. The twin loops of her tied hair were now disheveled, and her pristine white kimono was stained with dust and dirt. She looked far from composed.
It was clear now despite her deadly assassination skills, she carried the classic weakness of an assassin: overwhelming attack power, but fragile defense.
"I'm not the sort of gentleman who shows manners to someone trying to assassinate me," Chase replied with an easy smile, stretching his shoulders.
"I see… and strangely enough, I find that kind of talk appealing," Ikaruga said, wiping the blood from her lips.
Her gaze shifted to the three summoned knights standing guard around Chase.
She let out a regretful sigh. "It's unfortunate… but my assassination missions have never failed. You are destined to die tonight."
With that, she slowly slid her blade back into its sheath, making no move to attack again.
She knew perfectly well the attack that had the best chance to kill him had failed. Now that the card wizard had reacted, the fight would only get harder.
If this were a one-on-one duel, she wouldn't hesitate. Her confidence in her swordsmanship was absolute.
But this was Magnolia. Continuing here would only draw more Fairy Tail mages to the scene, and that would mean certain failure for the mission.
Which left only one option activate the second plan.
Her eyes narrowed, and a cruel smile curved across her lips.
Chase caught the change instantly, his brows knitting together.
A sudden thought struck him. His pupils contracted sharply.
The Three Crows always operated together but Vidaldus hadn't appeared at all during the raid.
That long-haired, deranged guitarist…
And with the commotion just now, there was no way Lucy, who lived nearby, wouldn't have noticed.
Which meant…
"Ah!!"
The sudden cry of pain confirmed Chase's worst suspicion.
He spun around.
Down the street, the grinning, half-crazed Vidaldus was walking toward him. His long hair writhed like living chains, coiled tightly around a struggling Lucy.
Her face was contorted in pain, her arms straining against the unyielding grip of the hair. She couldn't break free.
"Do you know the price of doing this?"
Chase's expression changed in an instant like a beast whose reverse scale had been touched.
Boom!!
A ferocious, dark-gold magic burst forth from Chase, exploding into a violent storm that tore across the street. Gravel was hurled into the air, his clothes snapping in the wind as the magic pressure surged.
The sheer force of it made the ground tremble. Buildings rattled, and the entire street seemed ready to split apart under the pressure.
"I didn't want to go this far… but it can't be helped. Mr. Chase, you're more troublesome than any assassination target I've ever had," Ikaruga admitted.
Cold sweat beaded on her brow. Her face remained calm, but deep inside she was shaken.
This suffocating magic power… it was nearly on par with Jellal himself!
Were all Fairy Tail's S-Class mages monsters like this?
Her intel had been wrong.
"Hahaha! That beat this is the soul of rock 'n' roll!"
Vidaldus barked out a crazed laugh, but even he was unsettled by the wave of magic. His already twisted expression contorted further as he strummed his guitar, sending sharp, cutting sound waves through the air.
Targets like this… they were far more worthy of assassination!
"That's enough. If you don't want your friend hurt, then stop resisting."
Ikaruga's chest rose and fell as she breathed deliberately, easing the crushing pressure from Chase's magic storm. Her tone was low and dangerous. "You have ten seconds to decide."
Chase's gaze shifted toward Lucy, her neck bound tight in Vidaldus's writhing hair.
His brows furrowed, pain and frustration showing in his eyes or at least, that's how it appeared.
Seeing this, Vidaldus grinned like a madman. He stepped forward, and his hair tightened around Lucy's throat, cutting off her air.
But this time… the expected scream never came.
Lucy gritted her teeth, refusing to make a sound.
She didn't know exactly what was happening, but the truth was clear enough these two were here for Brother Chase.
She would never let herself become his weakness.
"You're still not surrendering, Mr. Chase? Only five seconds left," Ikaruga pressed. "Or is this girl's life meaningless to you?"
At those words, the storm around Chase began to fade. The air grew calmer, the oppressive pressure loosening.
Ikaruga's eyes lit with triumph. Her fingers brushed the hilt of her blade, preparing to draw.
The moment the magic storm lifted, she would unleash her deadliest slash and finish the job.
"Oi, damn woman what are you doing?!"
Vidaldus's voice broke in, startled.
Lucy's eyes burned with determination. Ignoring the choking pain, she forced her legs forward in a violent struggle.
Not to escape no, her movements only tightened the noose of hair around her throat.
"If… if it means becoming a burden to Brother Chase… I'd rather die!!!"
Her voice rang out, fierce and unshakable, answering Vidaldus's question with unwavering resolve.
Vidaldus froze. The sensation in his hair told him plainly this frail woman wasn't bluffing.
She was ready to end her own life.
For her guild partner.
Even the cold, unflinching Ikaruga faltered, shock flickering in her eyes.
In contrast, Chase stood unusually calm.
Buzz!
A magic circle flared to life beneath his feet.
"Cards?!" Ikaruga's expression shifted instantly.
She had come armed with prior intelligence, watching Chase's every move, ready to counter any card effects he might set into play.
But when ?
As the magic storm around Chase steadily weakened and dispersed, realization struck her like a blade. Her breath caught.
This man… he had seen through her guard in such a short time, using the storm to mask the subtle fluctuations of his card magic.
He had predicted her prediction.
"Moonless Style "
Now grasping the truth, Ikaruga's hand darted to her hilt, aiming to cut him down before the magic could trigger.
But Chase had no intention of giving her that chance.
"Trap Card: Enemy Controller – Effect Swap, activate!"
Whoosh!
Lucy, still struggling forward despite the tightening coils of hair, suddenly felt her body grow light.
A rush of weightlessness swept over her. When she blinked her eyes open, she was surrounded by a sky filled with dazzling starlight her view framed by Chase holding her securely in a princess carry.
In her place, the summoned Prince Knight had taken her position as the exchange target only to be shredded instantly by Vidaldus's writhing hair.
"Brother Chase…" Lucy's eyes shimmered, a wave of relief washing over her.
"I'm sorry I scared you, Lucy."
Chase's voice was gentle, trying to steady her. But when he lifted his gaze toward the charging Ikaruga, the warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, burning anger.
"How dare you make my precious sister cry…"
His grip tightened, magic rising once again.
"Now… be prepared for what's coming!!"
....
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