"I've finally waited for this moment… Father, it's time for you to see what I've accomplished all these years," Kana murmured to herself. Her aura surged, magic coiling tightly within her body.
Around her, the cards began to spin, responding to her magical control.
"Oh, not bad! Looks like you're ready. Then…" Gildas' gaze sharpened, and he assumed a battle stance, waiting for Kana to make the first move.
Kana glanced back at Lucy, who instantly understood with a nod, bracing herself.
"Fountain of Prayers!"
"Death's Icicle!"
Kana flicked two cards forward, one after the other, sending them hurtling toward Gildas at incredible speed.
As they neared him, countless water whips radiated outward from the cards in a wide-area magical attack. Gildas, however, remained calm, extending a hand as a flash of white light shattered the incoming water into fragments.
Seizing the opportunity, Lucy inserted the Aquarius key into a drop of water.
"Now… Open, Gate of Aquarius—Aquia!"
Ding dong! Aquia emerged from the star gate, cradling a sacred vase.
"Aquia, take care of the enemies over there—"
"Hey… Lucy… don't you know I'm on a date here… want to die?" Aquia began, her anger flaring, but was immediately struck by a powerful magical pressure.
Instantly, she realized that now was not the time to mess around with Lucy. The battle ahead demanded absolute seriousness.
"Stay focused, Aquia! This fight is crucial!"
"Tch~ Fine! Your magic is too weak. After one strike, I'll vanish—so be careful!"
Aquia's tone grew serious. Water poured endlessly from her vase, forming a massive whirlpool beneath Gildas' feet, completely engulfing him. He, in turn, made no move at all.
"Wave~" Kana snapped her fingers, activating the Death Icicle card. The water column instantly froze into sharp ice spikes.
"Did it work?" Lucy asked, glancing at the scene.
"Not even close. That man… this attack might only limit him a little," Aquia said, hands on her hips. "When I was controlling the water, it barely reached him before being shattered. There's probably a clear space in the center where he's standing right now."
Aquia then smirked, teasing Lucy: "I've got a date with my boyfriend, remember, boyfriend… See you! Hahaha!"
"Why do you always have to say it twice! Ugh, every time!" Lucy stomped angrily, flailing in frustration.
Kana's figure blurred in an instant. She activated Armament Haki over her left foot, condensing her magic into a pinpoint, and struck downward from above Gildas.
"Heaven-Piercing Kick!"
"Oh, this kind of attack, I approve!" Gildas grinned. Proud to see such potential in the guild, he clenched his fists and swung hard.
Boom~ The ice spikes shattered.
Crash~
The cave shook violently. Cracks spread across the ground like a spider web. The shockwaves swept the entire cavern. Gildas' feet trembled, the ground beneath him collapsing, yet he used it as a cushion.
"Ahhh~" Lucy clutched a pillar, barely keeping herself grounded against the raging wind.
"Too hasty!" Gildas warned, releasing a powerful flash of white light.
Rumble~ Explosions erupted inside the cave, forcing Lucy to struggle to maintain her stance.
Kana, already using the momentum, leapt back and pulled Lucy behind her, raising a golden Sacred Shield in front of her. She flicked a card, unleashing a wind blade toward Gildas, scattering the smoke.
"You okay, Lucy? Sorry, I didn't consider you earlier," Kana asked.
"I'm… fine, Kana… you're… amazing!!" Lucy exclaimed, eyes wide. Kana's strike had struck her to the core—it was the first time she'd seen Kana act so aggressively.
Clap clap clap~ Gildas applauded, impressed that Kana had paused her next attack to protect her companion. By all rights, this stage should have counted as cleared—damage done, character verified.
Yet he found himself curious about the girl's next moves, excited as if watching a promising child. Strange as it was, Gildas felt pride in this guild junior and looked forward to seeing more.
"Lucy, I might not be able to protect you for long. Take these Sacred Shield cards—they'll keep you safe," Kana said, handing several to Lucy.
"O-okay… Kana… when will you… tell me…"
"One moment. I don't want him to hold back because of this. I'll rely on my own strength to become an S-Class Mage!" Kana whispered, rising steadily. Her resolve burned brighter than ever.
"Thanks, Lucy!"
Kana planted her foot, crashing the ground, then teleported to Gildas' right side, throwing a punch.
"Brute Force!"
Gildas dodged slightly, but another strike came from the same side. Their fists collided with fierce wind pressure, initiating a rapid clash of martial techniques.
Thanks to the Sacred Shield cards, Lucy remained protected, untouched by the aftereffects of the fight.
"Her martial arts are impressive! That force is remarkable!" Gildas mused, crossing his arms to block Kana's straight punch.
The ground fractured again. The pain in his arms was intense. Kana, taking advantage, launched several magic cards. Even if they caused little direct damage, they disrupted him slightly.
The combination of magic and martial arts left Lucy awestruck. She had never imagined Kana could fight Gildas at such a level. Every attack and spell flowed seamlessly together—if Lucy were the opponent, she'd be finished. Quietly, she cheered for Kana in her heart.
The frequent tremors echoed into adjacent passages.
Meanwhile, in Kael's passage:
Debris fell from the ceiling as the ground quaked.
"What's wrong, Natsu? Your strength should be more than this!" Kael teased.
"D-damn it!"
The surroundings were utterly shattered. The ground had caved into a massive pit. Natsu struggled in the center, trying to rise.
Kael crouched beside the pit, propping his head with one hand, smirking at Natsu.
"Natsu…" Happy hovered anxiously, silently cheering him on.