"Huh? Wait a second—Alyan handed everything over to us… so what are you going to do, Alyan?" Lucy asked curiously.
"What else? I'll just watch," Alyan replied calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "With you all here, trash like them isn't worth me making a move."
"Th-this is bad! Two people went after Lord Erigor!" a grunt shouted in panic.
"Don't worry, leave it to me! Watch how I, Rayure, deal with them!" a man who used bandage magic declared arrogantly.
"I'm going too." Kageyama placed his hand on the ground as a golden magic circle appeared, and his body slowly sank into the shadows.
"They went after Gray and Natsu—shouldn't we follow them?" Lucy asked.
"No need. With their strength, taking those guys down will be easy," Alyan said lightly.
"Hehehe, what can three pretty women and one ugly guy even do?" a middle-parted grunt sneered.
"…Ugly? Who's he talking about? Me? I'm ugly?" Alyan went speechless, the corner of his mouth twitching. This was the first time anyone had ever insulted his looks.
Pfft.
Erza, Ultear, and Lucy all burst out laughing. It really was too funny—this was the first time anyone had dared to mock Alyan's appearance.
"Enough laughing. Take care of them—especially that loudmouth," Alyan said flatly, though there was a clear hint of displeasure in his tone. He casually pointed at the offending grunt.
"Hehehe, you damn flies! I'll rip your wings off myself!"
The leading Iron Forest member cracked his wrists and laughed viciously, looking as if he could defeat them in the next second.
"Being this cute really is a burden sometimes," Lucy said, striking a pose that accentuated her figure, looking utterly self-absorbed.
"Lucy, please snap out of it already!" Happy flew in front of her, shouting.
"I've realized something… Lucy can be pretty airheaded at times too," Alyan said with a faint smile. His silver hair swayed slightly in the breeze, amusement flickering in his eyes. Even Ultear found the scene entertaining.
"You bastards, prepare yourselves! If you dare insult Fairy Tail again, I'll make sure you never see tomorrow's sun!"
A magic sword materialized in midair, spinning as it descended. Erza caught it cleanly, holding it across her chest with a cold, killing gaze fixed on the Iron Forest members.
"Hah! What's so special about one magic sword? We've got plenty ourselves! Brothers, swarm her!"
Several grunts rushed forward with magic weapons—
—but Erza snorted coldly. With a few clean, decisive slashes, she cut them all down. Even their weapons were sliced into pieces.
"Amazing swordsmanship…" Lucy watched with wide eyes.
"Aye! Erza's swordsmanship was taught by Alyan! Just like Kagura's—it's super strong!" Happy explained midair.
Erza didn't retreat—she charged straight into the crowd. Wherever she passed, Iron Forest members screamed and fell, their weapons snapping in half.
"Damn it! Don't underestimate us! Take this!"
The Iron Forest members switched to ranged magic attacks, firing at Erza.
Erza didn't dodge. She kept moving forward, unwavering, even as the spells were about to hit her.
"Erza, watch out! Dodge!" Lucy shouted anxiously.
But then—
Something shocking happened.
Ultear slowly raised a hand. A silver-gray magic circle formed before her palm.
Softly, she said, "I'll send these attacks… into the future. Disappear."
In an instant, every spell targeting Erza vanished—completely, as if they had never existed.
Lucy's jaw dropped. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
"What just happened?! Why did all the magic disappear?!"
"It's Lost Magic—Arc of Time!" Happy explained like a teacher. "Ultear can control time and send attacks into the past or future!"
"That's incredible… so this is what 'Time Witch' really means…" Lucy murmured, eyes full of awe.
"What—how is that possible?!"
"Our attacks just vanished?!"
The Iron Forest members were even more shocked than Lucy.
Among the crowd, a fat man trembled as he stared at Ultear. "That face… that strange magic… could she be Fairy Tail's Time Witch—Ultear?!"
"And that red-haired woman with the magic swords… and that silver-haired man with the crescent mark behind them… could they be Fairy Queen Erza and the Trembling Noble Prince, Alyan?! This is bad… why are these three here?!"
Erza leapt into the air. Her sword vanished—replaced instantly by a spear.
She slammed it downward, knocking enemies back, then seamlessly switched weapons again—spear gone, dual swords in hand.
"So fast! How can her Requip Magic be this quick?!" one man exclaimed in shock.
"Requip Magic? What's that?" Lucy asked again.
"It's like your Celestial Spirits," Happy explained. "She can summon weapons stored in another space whenever she wants!"
"Erza and Ultear are both amazing…" Lucy said in amazement.
"Heh, Erza's real strength is just getting started," Happy added.
"Alright, I can't fall behind either! Open, Gate of Cancer—Cancer!"
Lucy excitedly pulled out a golden key and summoned Cancer, the stylish spirit wielding two scissors.
"Lucy-sama, fighting again today? Ebi!" Cancer said.
"I'm counting on you, Cancer! Show them what you've got!"
Lucy pointed forward enthusiastically.
In the next moment, Cancer demonstrated what "speed haircutting" truly meant—everything in his path, whether weapons or enemies, was cut apart. What remained was a field of groans… and a bunch of bald heads.
"My weapon! My hair!!"
Cries of despair echoed everywhere.
"They all look like kappas now," Lucy added mercilessly.
"That's way too cruel!!" the Iron Forest members wailed.
"Nice job, Lucy. That was impressive," Erza commented casually. "But his speech pattern is odd. Why does he end every sentence with 'ebi'? Shouldn't it be something like 'snip'?"
Lucy instantly froze in place.
"I… I just got roasted by Erza?!"
"Hahaha, don't worry about it," Ultear laughed as she walked over. "Erza can be a bit airheaded sometimes too. Either way, you did great, Lucy."