Brain turned back to his subordinates. "Until the spirit is viable, we keep him occupied. We drown him in combat. We spread chaos among the allied guilds, forcing them into disarray. The more stretched their forces become, the easier it will be to isolate him when the time comes."
Racer cracked his knuckles. "A war of attrition. Overwhelm him with numbers. Drain him dry no- we will drown him before we even make our real move."
Brain nodded. "Correct. And when Gemini gathers enough power to function in the field, we will unleash our true strike. Once we have our answer, once we have the one person who will force his hand-" He firmly held an eerie dark lacrima, the Stygian.
Angel smirked. "And then, we break him."
The cavern fell into a tense silence, the weight of their plan settling over them. In the flickering darkness, Brain's smirk widened.
The orange leech had proven himself formidable.
But soon, he would learn what it meant to be truly vulnerable.
The atmosphere within the guild's vantage point was heavy with tension. Dim lanterns cast flickering shadows on the walls as Naruto, Wendy, Carla, and the rest of the alliance convened. Their ranks had suffered a blow—morale was shaken but not broken.
Naruto gently laid Ichiya on a nearby couch, where the Blue Pegasus Trimens—Hibiki, Ren, and Eve—gathered around their unconscious leader. The lingering scent of perfume suggested that his collapse was no mere exhaustion; it was a deliberate act.
"How bad is he?" Hibiki inquired, his usual composure tinged with concern.
Naruto glanced at Wendy, who knelt beside Ichiya, her hands emitting a soft blue glow as she assessed his condition.
"He's stable," Wendy murmured, uncertainty evident in her voice. "But something's off. This wasn't just an attack—it feels... different."
Ren crossed his arms. "So, we have an enemy capable of incapacitating us without leaving a trace. Wonderful."
Eve clenched his fists. "This is Oración Seis. We knew they'd play dirty."
Before anyone could respond, Jura stepped forward, his tone measured and filled with genuine respect. "Naruto, your ability to see through their disguise is impressive. Our gathered intel confirms it: your sensory precision uncovered details even that celestial spirit couldn't mask. Without your insight, we would have been completely blindsided."
A murmur of agreement passed among the Trimens, their eyes reflecting gratitude and renewed determination.
Naruto remained silent, his expression unreadable as his heightened senses detected faint, elusive traces of something foreign. He didn't like it.
"That settles it," Gray interjected, leaning casually against the wall. "We're dealing with someone who infiltrated us without setting off a single alarm. If they could do this to Ichiya, they could do it to any of us."
Erza's eyes narrowed. "Which means we need to act now, before they strike again."
"But what's their goal?" Lucy pondered aloud. "They could've done much worse than just knocking someone out."
Carla, hovering protectively near Wendy, sighed. "This wasn't a random attack. It was calculated. They wanted something—information, perhaps."
Naruto exhaled slowly, crossing his arms as he pieced together the puzzle. His instincts screamed that something larger was at play. "They're observing us," he finally spoke. "Testing us. Identifying our weaknesses before making their real move."
A heavy silence enveloped the room, the weight of his words sinking in.
"Then we ensure they don't get the chance," Erza declared firmly. "We take the fight to them."
Naruto's fists clenched as he steeled himself. He had a bad feeling about this—but whatever Oración Seis was planning, he would be ready.
The Blue Pegasus Trimens nodded their appreciation for Naruto's keen perception, their quiet gratitude adding a new layer of resolve to the alliance.
After Wendy's healing magic restored Ichiya, he sprang to his feet with his characteristic flamboyance, seemingly unaffected by the earlier attack. With a dramatic flourish, he struck a pose and declared, "Men! I am revived, thanks to the exquisite ministrations of our dear Wendy!"
Turning to Naruto, Ichiya's eyes sparkled with gratitude. "Ah, Naruto! Your keen senses have once again proven invaluable. You possess the 'perfume' of a true ally!"
The Trimens—Hibiki, Ren, and Eve—nodded in agreement, their respect for Naruto evident.
"Now," Ichiya continued, his voice adopting a commanding tone, "it is time to embark on our noble steed, the Magic Bomber: Christina! She shall carry us to the location where Nirvana awaits."
With a grand gesture, he led the allied guild members toward the impressive airship, its design reminiscent of a majestic Pegasus, ready to soar into the skies.
As they boarded, the alliance felt a renewed sense of purpose, united in their mission to confront the looming threat of Nirvana.
As the alliance boarded the Magic Bomber: Christina, spirits were high. The airship, with its majestic Pegasus-inspired design, soared gracefully toward Worth Woodsea, where the ancient magic Nirvana was said to be sealed. The guild members prepared themselves for the impending confrontation with Oración Seis, unaware of the danger lurking ahead.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocked the vessel. The Christina shuddered violently as a projectile, devoid of any magical signature, tore through its hull. Alarms blared, and the once-stable airship began a rapid descent.
"Brace yourselves!" Ichiya shouted, his usual flamboyance replaced by urgent command.
The crew scrambled, attempting to stabilize the ship, but the damage was too severe. With a final, jarring impact, the Christina crash-landed near their intended destination. The forested expanse of Worth Woodsea loomed around them, its dense canopy casting eerie shadows.
Groaning, the guild members extricated themselves from the wreckage. Despite the rough landing, there were no serious injuries.
"Is everyone okay?" Erza called out, her eyes scanning the group.
"We're fine," Gray responded, helping Lucy to her feet. "But what hit us?"
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his senses extending outward. "It wasn't magic," he muttered. "Some kind of high-powered cannon."
Before they could ponder further, rustling noises surrounded them. From the shadows of the trees, multiple groups of wizards emerged, their dark guild insignias visible.
"Looks like Oración Seis has some friends," Ren observed, drawing his weapons.
"Small-time dark guilds," Hibiki added, his tone disdainful. "They must have been lying in wait."
Erza brandished her sword, her armor gleaming even in the dim light. "Prepare for battle!" she commanded.
The allied guild members formed a defensive circle, ready to face the oncoming threat. Despite the unexpected setback, their resolve remained unshaken. The path to Nirvana was fraught with peril, but together, they were determined to see their mission through.
The battle erupted into chaos.