"Us?"
The pink-haired woman said softly.
At that mont, a man with very long hair approached, head-banging constantly while shredding on a guitar. The cacophony of the instrunt grew louder as he drew near, forcing Wendy-kun and the others to cover their ears tightly.
The long-haired man ca to a stop beside the pink-haired woman, still playing his guitar. The owl-like man facing Natsu also moved to stand beside her.
"We are the Assassination Guild, Death's Head Caucus's Special Attack Squad, Trinity Raven.
"I am the captain, Ikaruga.
"Is not death the destiny of love and life? Tonight shall be a grand celebration!"
The pink-haired woman spoke.
"GO—TO HELL!
"HELL! I'll show you the deepest, most magnificent hell!"
The guitar man shouted loudly while continuing to play.
"HO—HOO! Fairy Tail's notoriety has reached even our guild!
"Today, the Warrior of Justice shall bury evil!"
The tall, owl-like man declared to Noah and the group.
"Assassination Guild?" Lucy asked, confused.
"It's one of the Dark Guilds. Because they couldn't get decent work, they specialized in taking assassination requests. It's as evil as a guild can get," Mirajane explained to Lucy.
"Within Death's Head Caucus, there's a trio known as Trinity Raven. They are the legendary unit that assassinated all the Western generals during the Kabria War.
"The captain is Ikaruga. The bird-like one is Fukuro. And the one playing the terrible guitar is Vidaldus Taka.
"They are experts in killing, completely different from us. Everyone, be careful."
Noah explained to Lucy and the others, issuing a warning to the group.
"Wah! That's scary!"
Lucy was startled, and Wendy-kun and the other young girls trembled. An Assassination Guild specializing in murder... it was their first ti encountering such enemies.
"They aren't sothing you can handle right now. Get behind us."
Noah took a few steps forward, shielding Wendy-kun and the others.
It wasn't that they lacked strength; Wendy-kun and her friends were strong, ranking upper-middle in most guilds. Noah was worried about their mindset. The oldest among them was only thirteen, and they had never dealt with enemies like this.
Against opponents skilled in killing, Wendy-kun and the others could easily suffer a major loss if they weren't careful.
"Okay. Be careful, everyone."
Wendy-kun and the others obediently hid behind Noah's group. Lucy also retreated behind Noah, standing protectively in front of the younger girls.
"It seems they're here specifically to stop us," Ultear comnted.
"Indeed. I'd find it strange if there weren't capable people trying to stop us," Sorano added, adopting a fighting stance.
"Let's defeat them quickly. Stronger opponents are waiting above," Mirajane said, readying herself.
"A quick battle," Erza declared, holding her sword in front of her with a serious expression as she faced the trio.
"Our notoriety? You evil bastard, you have the nerve to say that!"
After hearing Noah's explanation, Natsu glared furiously at the owl-man.
"A guild is a place where dreams and beliefs gather! Don't do that kind of boring work!"
Natsu raised his hands in a fighting stance, flas burning brightly.
"Those guys... they treat killing as a job?" Happy looked at the trio in shock.
"To think such people exist..." Carla added.
"So scary!"
Yukino-kun and redy-kun retreated and huddled with Wendy-kun, trembling as they watched the confrontation.
"Just having that kind of job pisses off! Plus, having a client makes even madder! And forming a guild for it makes the maddest!"
Natsu's anger fueled his flas. As he charged at Fukuro, he shouted, "Because I'm pissed off, I'm gonna wreck you! Bird!"
"HO—HOO! You are too young, Salamander.
"There is evil in this world that absolutely cannot be allowed to survive!
"You are one of them. It is best to send you to the afterlife.
"JET! HOOOO!"
Fukuro stomped the ground. Massive flas erupted from the two rocket launchers on his back, propelling him toward Natsu at high speed.
"If it's firepower you want, I won't lose!"
Seeing his opponent charge with rocket propulsion, Natsu roared and swung his fla-wreathed fists at Fukuro.
"HO!"
Fukuro jumped back. His rockets fired again, using the thrust to grab Natsu, lift him rapidly into the air, and slam him hard into the ground.
"Gah! That hurt!"
Natsu crashed into the floor but gritted his teeth and scrambled back up.
"HO—HOO! Quite a durable man. It's been a long ti since I've done such worthwhile work, HO!" Fukuro laughed.
"Ice-Make: Lance!"
Suddenly, Gray launched an attack from the side. Fukuro dodged left and right to avoid the ice projectiles.
"Dammit, Gray! I don't need your help!"
Natsu rushed up to Gray, and they slamd their foreheads together.
"You think I want to help you?! We're in a hurry! We need to take him down fast!" Gray shouted angrily.
"Dammit!"
Hearing Gray's words, Natsu realized ti was critical. He stopped arguing and turned back to Fukuro.
"It's all your fault, bastard! Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Natsu sprinted at Fukuro, aiming a flaming punch at his face. Fukuro leaned back to dodge and countered with a punch of his own. Natsu threw another punch, and their fists collided in mid-air.
BANG!
With a dull thud, both were knocked back.
"Ice-Make: Hamr!"
Gray waved his hands, creating a giant ice hamr above Fukuro's head and bringing it down with force.
CRASH!
Fukuro jumped back just in ti, and the hamr smashed into the ground.
"Fire Dragon's Talon!"
Natsu dashed forward, closing the distance to the dodging Fukuro, and delivered a flaming kick to his face.
This ti, Fukuro couldn't dodge. He took the kick squarely and was sent flying. He adjusted his posture in mid-air and landed on his feet.
"Ice-Make: Battle Axe!"
Gray conjured a long-handled ice axe and swung it at Fukuro. Fukuro retreated again, putting distance between himself and the duo.
"HOO!"
"Hmph!"
Facing the combined assault of Natsu and Gray, Fukuro felt the pressure. He needed to take out one of them first.
"It is ti to bring down the hamr of justice upon you! MISSILES, HO—HOOO!"
Fukuro crouched down in the distance, bending forward. The rockets on his back fired, launching straight at Natsu.
"Whoa!"
Seeing the missile coming, Natsu dodged to the side. However, the missile turned sharply, circling Natsu with incredible speed.
"Ice-Make: Lance!"
Gray attacked Fukuro, but the owl-man kept moving, dodging every shot.
"HOOOHOOOHOOO!"
Suddenly, the missile circling Natsu extended two clamps. It grabbed the distracted Natsu and carried him into the air.
"HO—HOO!"
Fukuro sighed in relief seeing Natsu captured.
"AAAAAHHHH!"
Natsu scread as he was spun around in the air by the missile.
"Crap!" Gray's face darkened seeing Natsu's condition.
"Could it be..." Happy watched with cold sweat.
"Urp!"
Clamped by the missile, Natsu covered his mouth, looking extrely sick.
"I know your weakness, Salamander!" Fukuro laughed.
"I knew it! It counts as a vehicle!" Happy shouted.
"Natsu, you idiot!" Gray yelled.
To think the enemy would exploit Natsu's crippling motion sickness.
"To eliminate a weakened enemy with certainty... that is hunting!"
Fukuro dashed toward Natsu.
"Did you forget about ?!"
Gray intercepted Fukuro, throwing a punch which Fukuro blocked.
BANG!
Both retreated. Gray had successfully stopped Fukuro's advance.
"Ice-Make: Lance!"
Gray extended his hands, firing dozens of ice spears at Fukuro. Fukuro dodged and punched, shattering the incoming projectiles.
"It seems I cannot finish the Salamander without finishing you first," Fukuro said coldly, eyeing Gray.
"Hmph. Finish ? Just try it," Gray snorted, extending his hands.
"Ice-Make: Hamr!"
A giant ice hamr appeared in the air, swinging down at Fukuro. Instead of retreating, Fukuro stomped the ground and charged toward Gray, dodging the hamr.
"Hah!"
Seeing his opponent dodge, Gray shouted and punched at the incoming Fukuro.
BANG!
Fists collided with a heavy thud.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Neither gave an inch, trading blows in a rapid lee.
BANG!
Both landed a punch simultaneously and were forced back.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
Gray panted heavily. He and Fukuro had been fighting for a while, and neither could gain the upper hand.
"Oooohhh..."
Natsu continued to groan in the air. Not only was he motion sick, but the missile was spinning him around, making him even dizzier. From the look on his face, he was reaching his limit. If they didn't get him down soon, he was going to vomit all over the battlefield.
"Dammit!"
Gray noticed Natsu's condition. He glared at Fukuro, resolving to go all out to defeat him and rescue the spinning Natsu as quickly as possible.
~~~
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