"Hm? Alyan, Erza—what are you all doing here?"
As soon as Natsu stepped out of the wrecked room, he ran straight into Alyan, Erza, Lucy, and the others. He looked surprised.
"We tied up all the Iron Forest members. We were worried something might happen to you and Gray, so we came over," Lucy explained.
"Why are you alone? Where's Gray?" Erza asked.
"I split up with him. I was just about to come find you guys. Erigor is gone—according to Kageyama, he already left the station," Natsu said, scratching his head.
"Thank goodness, Alyan, Erza—you're here!"
At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor as Gray came running toward them.
"What's wrong? What's so urgent?" Alyan frowned.
"This is bad—really bad! Iron Forest's real target isn't this city at all—it's the city ahead, Clover City, where the guild masters are holding their regular meeting!" Gray spoke rapidly, relaying everything he had learned.
"I see… those bastards actually dared to target a group of old men with immense magical power. Aren't they afraid of biting off more than they can chew?" Alyan sneered.
"Now's not the time for that. Erigor is getting closer and closer to the meeting location—we have to stop him!" Erza said urgently.
"It's no use. While I was looking for you, I checked outside—the station is surrounded by a Demonic Wind Wall. Anyone trying to leave will be shredded by the storm. We need another plan," Gray said gravely.
"Wait—I remember that Iron Forest guy, Kageyama, was the one who released Lullaby's seal. Maybe he can undo the wind wall," Erza suggested.
When Natsu led them back to find Kageyama, they arrived just in time to see him being impaled through the chest by that fat Iron Forest member. Enraged, Natsu punched the man flying into a wall, burying him in rubble.
"Damn it!" Erza snapped, frustrated. Their lead had just been cut off.
"What wind wall? I'll just blast it apart! Besides, we've got Alyan—I don't believe a mere storm can stop us!" Natsu declared confidently, flames igniting around his fists.
The result—
At the station entrance, Natsu attacked the wind wall again and again, but the moment his flames touched it, they were torn apart by the raging currents.
"I'm telling you, stop—it's useless. You don't want to end up shredded, do you? Leave it to Alyan," Gray said, arms crossed, watching stubborn Natsu.
"Damn it! I'll break through you yet! Aaah!!" Natsu charged again.
"The railway to Clover City has been destroyed. Erigor flew there through the air," Erza said.
"The magic-powered four-wheeler could catch up… but only if we break this wind wall first," Gray added.
"Wait… do we even still have a magic four-wheeler?" Lucy deadpanned.
Everyone turned to look at Alyan.
He shrugged. "Nope."
"Honestly…" Erza sighed. "That plan's out too."
"Not necessarily," Ultear said.
"Don't forget—I can use Arc of Time to restore the vehicle, reverting it to when it was still functional," she added with a smile.
"Oh! Right, how did I forget that?" Erza brightened. "Then the only problem left is breaking the wind wall."
"Simple."
Alyan stepped forward calmly, stopping before the raging barrier. In one smooth motion, he drew Alaya Consciousness, poured magic into the blade, and slashed.
A massive blade of energy tore through the rapidly spinning storm—splitting the Demonic Wind Wall clean in two. It dissipated instantly.
"So strong… Natsu attacked for so long and couldn't break it, but Alyan destroyed it with a single strike…" Lucy stared, eyes shining.
"Alright, Ultear, go fix the vehicle. We'll just wait a bit," Alyan said casually.
"Wait—where did Natsu go?" Gray turned to mock him, only to realize Natsu had vanished.
"Happy's gone too… huh? Why is there a key here?" Lucy picked up a golden key from the ground. "Wait—isn't this Virgo's key? That stupid cat—when did he steal someone else's key? Whatever, I'll hold onto it for now."
"Looks like Natsu went after Erigor. That's fine—if he goes all out, he might actually win. We'll follow once the vehicle's fixed," Alyan said seriously.
Meanwhile, above the Clover Canyon—
Erigor sped through the sky, rapidly approaching Clover City.
"Almost there… I can already see Clover City. Damn old men—just wait. The Grim Reaper is coming to claim your lives," he sneered.
What he didn't realize—
A streak of fire was closing in behind him at an even faster speed.
By the time Erigor noticed, it was too late.
"This is Happy's MAX SPEED!"
Burning through all his magic, Happy carried Natsu straight toward Erigor.
Erigor turned—only to be met with a flaming roundhouse kick. With a grunt, he was knocked out of the sky.
Natsu landed, catching the exhausted Happy.
"I… can't fly anymore…" Happy said weakly, barely able to move.
"Good work, Happy. Rest now," Natsu said softly.
"You bastard… Fairy Tail?! How did you get here?!" Erigor climbed to his feet, shocked and furious.
"To take you down, wind freak," Natsu replied, taking a fighting stance, flames swirling around his fists.
"Watch closely—I'm going to burn you and that stupid flute to ashes."
"So you found a way through the wind wall… I underestimated you. What a disgusting little fly," Erigor said coldly.
"Wind wall? That thing? One slash was all it took," Natsu scoffed.
"Is that so? Doesn't matter—you're about to disappear anyway."
Erigor raised his hand. A pale purple magic circle formed, unleashing a powerful spiraling gale toward Natsu.
"What the hell is that supposed to be?!" Natsu roared, flames igniting at his feet as he leapt high into the air, diving down with blazing fists.
Erigor dodged, and Natsu's punch slammed into the tracks, sending debris flying. Using the momentum, Natsu spun and lashed out with flaming kicks.
Erigor blocked with his massive scythe and counterattacked. For a moment, the two fought evenly.
"He can use fire to propel himself… and attack with it too. What an annoying pest," Erigor muttered, now more serious.
"Stop flying around up there! Get down here and fight me!" Natsu shouted angrily.
Though Natsu could briefly stay airborne using flames, he couldn't match Erigor's agility.
"Don't get cocky, you little fly. Take this—Storm Wave!"
A larger magic circle appeared as a massive tornado engulfed Natsu.
"AAAH!!"
Caught in the storm, Natsu was spun violently, his body torn and battered by the raging winds. When the storm finally dissipated—
He fell straight into the canyon below.
"NATSU!!!"
Happy, lying on the tracks, cried out in panic as he watched Natsu plummet.