"Over there, Carla!"
The fierce battle had long since completely destroyed the magic crystal maintaining the Illusion Magic Array.
Along with the great commotion on the battlefield, Wendy and Carla easily found them.
Carla said, "We're too late, they're already fighting."
Wendy hesitated for a moment, "Then... let's go help."
"Do you still have magic power left?"
"If it's just a few support spells, it's no problem."
Carla couldn't argue her point, so she had to take Wendy and fly over.
The night sky tonight was adorned with a crescent moon. With the moonlight and the scattered flames on the ground, the two could see what was happening below.
Carla was so shocked her pupils rapidly enlarged, "The mountain was... what kind of battle is this?"
Below, the three people went through another fierce struggle.
The powerful 'Earth Magic' was used as if it cost nothing, with small-scale landslides and earthquakes being commonplace, and rolling stones and earth spikes frequently appearing.
Canopus, who was on all fours, seemed to have entered a furious state, charging like an enraged bull.
Even Erza's Vajra Armor could not withstand its charge.
Rhode's small wild beasts were unable to deal effective damage, not even the Magic Swamp Frog. As Mira had said, the toxin does not affect demons.
Void Nest Insects couldn't block the opponent's wide-ranging Earth Magic; now only Red and Blue could inflict effective harm.
At the same time, they could assist their companions.
The good news was that Canopus's left foreleg seemed useless, and as the battle went on, that leg became more of a burden to it.
Canopus was now in a poor state, its mouth and nose spewing white gas, panting heavily, its body incessantly bleeding.
The three facing it were also panting heavily.
"Mr. Rhode! Miss Erza! Mr. Natsu!" Wendy and Carla landed behind the three.
"Wendy, Carla?" Rhode exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you here?"
Carla said, "Wendy wanted to warn you to be careful and not approach here, but it was too late by the time we found you."
Natsu clenched his fist, "No worries, we'll take care of this right away."
"Ah, it's about time we bring this to an end and send this demon back to hell," Erza's body began to glow, as a dark, heavy armor appeared, her hands gripping a menacing black serrated saber.
"Requip: Purgatory Armor!"
"An end, huh... Receiving: Crimson Marked Tree Monster, Crown of Embers!"
Rhode had nearly exhausted his magic power and didn't forget to hand Hapi to Wendy, "Take care of him for me."
Natsu struck his right fist against his left palm, "Rhode, fire."
Rhode raised his hand, but Natsu said, "Not Text Magic, the 'other' fire."
If he wanted it, he'd give it to him; Rhode didn't waste any words, and as he swung his left fist to the side, flames appeared on his hand.
Natsu took a deep breath, successfully swallowing the flames!
"So spicy! But... the power surges up when I eat it." Natsu was covered in scarlet flames.
"I'll help too!" Wendy handed Hapi over to Carla, while she raised her hands with palms to the sky:
"Swift wind soaring the skies, Bania! Steel arm power tearing the sky, Ames!"
The three of them were enveloped in a glowing barrier of magic power, feeling their bodies lighten as they moved.
Carla explained, "This magic enhances speed and attack power, don't waste Wendy's thoughtfulness."
"Alright! Let's go!"
The three exchanged glances, then charged towards the demon simultaneously.
Canopus seemed to realize something, its face twisted in ferocity, and it even bit off its own left foreleg with one savage tear.
"Roar!!!"
A roar, of either pain or wrath, forced Wendy and Carla to cover their ears.
Canopus charged up with its three legs planted firmly on the ground.
Rhode rushed to Canopus's right front, his hands pounding to the ground, "Crimson... Tripwire!"
Several thick red vines quickly sprouted from the ground, twisting together to firmly trip Canopus's right foreleg.
Canopus lost its balance, falling forward, its heavy body dragging forward under inertia.
Erza, in the middle, leaped high, the terrifying force of her black serrated saber slashing towards Canopus's back.
Rhode's right hand transformed into a claw, an intense red flame slicing fiercely against Canopus's right neck.
Natsu, his body covered in scarlet flame and faint dragon scale marks on his face, ran as the flames around him grew more vigorous as if a roaring giant dragon crashed into Canopus's body.
"Purgatory Boundary!"
"Crimson Split-Blade Claw!"
"Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Crimson Fire·Red Lotus Flame Bullet!"
Black and red shockwaves, scarlet blade-like claws, and red humanoid fire bullets struck Canopus's body almost simultaneously.
The ground underwent a more violent tremor than before, with Canopus's head embedding into the earth.
Wendy and Carla, a short distance away, struggled to stay upright, nearly falling.
Canopus let out a howl from the heavy impact before falling silent.
Rhode's Receiving Magic dissipated, and the faint dragon scale marks on Natsu's face vanished. Both were exhausted, lying on the ground, their chests heaving heavily.
Erza returned to her usual attire, still able to move.
She lifted Rhode and Natsu, heading towards Wendy.
"Mr. Rhode, Miss Erza, Mr. Natsu! You're all so strong!" Wendy greeted them with a smile.
Erza smiled, "Thanks to you, it was an excellent support spell."
Rhode complained, "I'm exhausted."
Natsu, with his carefree grin, gave a peace sign, "We won!"
After celebrating for a while, Rhode managed to steady himself and suddenly said, "Also, we shouldn't drop our guard; we better..."
Before he finished speaking, Canopus's body began to disintegrate like blowing sand, disappearing into the wind.
"Looks like no need for a finishing blow."
However, Rhode quickly felt a new concern. Though they defeated the demon, they flattened two small mountains.
Moreover, they had trespassed into the Advisory Council's sealed area, and destroyed an expensive Illusion Magic Array they'd installed...
It seems hard to explain to the Advisory Council, even if this was likely due to their negligence in the first place.
This will give the President a headache.
After resting on the spot for a while and slightly recovering their magic power, Rhode stretched out his hand, "Requip."
A medical box appeared in his hand.
Due to Wendy's lack of magic power, she could not use Healing Magic, so she manually tended to everyone's wounds.
Carla helped out, leaving Hapi with no attention until he 'woke' up.
Those moments were the pinnacle of Hapi's life as a cat.
After the basic bandaging, Rhode asked, "By the way, Wendy, what did you find earlier?"
"It's... about Miss Liss," Wendy's mood became somber,
"Miss Liss is already... she's already gone, a long time ago."