There was no time to waste.
The moment Makarov gave the order, I was already moving. Deliora wasn't a threat to me, but the longer I waited, the more lives would be lost. I wasn't about to let that happen.
My first stop was Alma.
The sun had barely started to rise by the time I reached my house. The familiar warmth of home greeted me, but it felt distant now. There was no time to linger. I pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Alma was already awake. Of course she was. She always knew when something was off.
Her golden eyes met mine, and for a second, I saw the flicker of understanding cross her face. She knew I wasn't just heading out for some routine mission.
"You're leaving," she said. It wasn't a question.
I nodded. "Deliora is rampaging across Fiore. I need to put an end to it before more people die."
She exhaled, crossing her arms. "How long?"
"No idea. Won't be too long, though."
Alma studied me for a moment, then sighed. "You better come back in one piece."
I smirked. "You know me."
She rolled her eyes. "Exactly. That's what worries me."
I chuckled, stepping closer. "You worry too much."
Before she could retort, I cupped her cheek and leaned in, pressing a soft kiss against her lips. She stiffened for a fraction of a second before melting into it, her hands resting lightly against my chest.
When I pulled away, her expression was unreadable, but the slight redness on her cheeks gave her away.
I smirked. "That should hold you over until I get back."
She huffed, turning her head to the side. "Just don't make me wait too long."
I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear before stepping back. "I won't.
There was no time to waste. Every second Deliora rampaged through Fiore meant more innocent lives at risk.
I stepped outside, feeling the weight of urgency settle over me. Without hesitation, I raised my hand, focused my energy, and summoned Vimana.
The golden and emerald ark materialized in front of me, its sleek and futuristic design gleaming under the morning sun. The ship was a high-tech marvel, defying the laws of physics with its ability to travel at the speed of thought. Powered by solar crystals and rutilated quartz, it surged to life almost instantly.
I didn't waste a moment. With a single command, Vimana shot into the sky, its engines roaring to life, leaving the earth far behind.
As soon as we reached cruising altitude, NIMO's voice chimed in, calm and informative as always. "Aiden, I've pinpointed Deliora's location. It's in the land of Isvan, heading toward the capital. The destruction it's left in its wake is catastrophic. Villages have been destroyed, and more are at risk."
"I know," I muttered under my breath, my eyes fixed on the horizon. I pressed my hand against the controls. "How much time until I'm there?"
"At your current speed, you'll reach the location in approximately five minutes."
I smirked, leaning back into the seat as Vimana hummed in response to my every movement. "Perfect."
"Proceed with caution. Deliora's magic is highly volatile and unpredictable."
"I've got it covered," I replied, pushing the ship even faster. The landscape blurred below me as Vimana tore through the sky, its speed making the world feel like it had slowed to a crawl.
Deliora wouldn't have much longer to cause destruction. I was coming for it—fast.
"I'll make sure it doesn't harm anyone else," I said, a determined edge in my voice.
"Understood," NIMO replied.
As Vimana surged forward, the distance between me and Deliora closed rapidly. In a matter of moments, the chaos ahead would be over.
—-
The moment Vimana touched down, the destruction around me was clear—scorched earth, shattered buildings, and the heavy scent of smoke. Deliora had left its mark on Isvan, and there was no time to waste.
The roar of Deliora echoed across the barren landscape, its hulking form looming over Gray, Lyon, and Ur. The demon's massive claws scraped the ground as it turned toward the three, the rage in its eyes burning like molten fire. The moment I stepped off Vimana, I could feel the heat of the destruction it had already caused—the very earth itself seemed to be scarred by the beast's presence.
Gray, despite his small frame and lack of power, stood his ground in front of the demon, his ice magic flickering feebly against Deliora's brute force. Lyon, equally powerless in the face of the demon's power, remained silent, a mix of fear and determination on his face. Ur, however, looked ready to sacrifice everything. She was preparing to use Iced Shell to seal the beast, but I could see the exhaustion in her posture. It would kill her.
I didn't have time to waste.
Without hesitation, I summoned the Gate of Babylon. A brilliant, golden light erupted around me as the immense gates swung open, the power radiating from them enough to make the very earth tremble beneath my feet. Weapons, countless and diverse, materialized in the air, each one glimmering with an aura of unimaginable power.
"Out of my way," I said, turning my gaze to Deliora, who towered before me, enraged and ready for battle."I'll take care of this for you."
Gray, still stunned by the appearance of my golden gate, turned to me, his face a mixture of confusion and awe. "Who—who are you?!"
I didn't even spare him a glance. With a simple snap of my fingers, I summoned an endless barrage of weapons, each one dropping from the gate like a storm of death. "It doesn't matter, kid."
The first weapon that fell into my hands was a massive, golden bow. The intricate engravings on its frame gleamed, and the string vibrated with magical energy. The arrow I nocked wasn't just any projectile—it was made from the very essence of celestial magic, imbued with enough power to pierce the heavens themselves.
Deliora charged at me with terrifying speed, its massive limbs pounding the earth. But I was already prepared. I released the arrow, the string snapping with an almost deafening sound. The arrow pierced Deliora's chest, its rocky exterior cracking under the force of the impact. The demon roared in pain, but it was hardly enough to stop it.
I clicked my tongue in annoyance.
I didn't pause. A flick of my wrist summoned another weapon—a massive spear, gleaming with golden light. With a quick motion, I hurled it toward Deliora, but this time I added some flair. The spear spun through the air, cutting the wind with a whip-like crack. It sank deep into the demon's shoulder, causing it to stumble slightly, but still, it roared with rage.
"You're really starting to annoy me!"
Deliora's eyes blazed with fury as it swung its massive fists in my direction. I barely dodged, summoning a golden sword mid-swing. The blade was long, elegant, and sharper than anything the demon had ever encountered.
I charged, the blade in my hand cutting through the air with precision. My strikes were rapid, each one leaving deep gashes in Deliora's rocky hide. The wounds began to glow with magical energy, a radiant golden light spilling from them as they pulsed with the force of each slash. But even as the demon howled in pain, it wasn't enough.
I stepped back, but only for a moment, summoning more weapons from the Gate of Babylon—an endless stream of projectiles that rained down on the demon. Arrows, spears, swords, axes—each one appeared with a flash of golden light, overwhelming Deliora's defenses. The sheer number of attacks was enough to drown the demon, piercing its hide in every direction.
Deliora roared, its body writhing under the onslaught. It tried to swipe at me, but the weapons kept coming, relentless and unstoppable. Each strike landed with deadly precision, piercing through its thick hide, tearing apart its massive limbs, and leaving it reeling in agony. The ground beneath us trembled as Deliora struggled to maintain its footing.
But I wasn't done.
I summoned more, this time an infinite number of weapons pouring out of the Gate of Babylon like a storm. It was as though I had opened the floodgates of death itself. Spears, swords, and arrows, endless and unrelenting, bombarded the demon from all sides. Deliora's once-imposing figure was reduced to a mere target, unable to defend itself against the sheer volume of attacks.
I could see the demon faltering, its movements slowing, blood and debris raining down as the weapons tore into its body. Deliora's eyes, once filled with rage, were now clouded with desperation.
"You think you can stand up to me?" I called out, my voice dripping with disdain. "You're nothing more than a walking target."
Finally, with one last motion, I summoned the largest weapon yet—a colossal sword, radiating golden energy, its blade wide enough to cleave mountains in half. I hurled it through the air, and the weapon crashed into Deliora's chest with a deafening explosion of magical power.
Deliora's body trembled violently, its roars cutting off in a final, gut-wrenching scream. The sword pierced straight through its heart, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. The demon's massive frame began to collapse, its body disintegrating into nothing more than dust and shattered stone.
I watched as Deliora's form crumbled, its last breath escaping in a cloud of black smoke before it faded completely. The battlefield was silent now, save for the wind and the occasional clink of weapons falling to the ground around me.
"Well, that was easier than I thought," I said, snapping my fingers again. The last of the weapons vanished, returning to the Gate of Babylon. The golden light surrounding me dimmed, and I turned to Gray and the others, who were still standing in awe at the destruction.
Gray blinked rapidly, still trying to process what had just happened. "W-What the hell?! Who are you?!"
I flashed him a grin. "Like I said before, a guy who handles business. You should thank me later. Now, go find your own way back to town."
I turned toward the direction of Vimana, ready to leave, but before I could make my exit, I heard Ur's voice.
"Wait!" she called, her voice still trembling with disbelief. "Who are you?"
I didn't look back. "Oberon. King of the Fairies"
With that, I summoned Vimana again, my golden ark descending from the sky. As I ascended into the air, I couldn't resist one last quip.
"Next time, try not to get into trouble, alright?"
And with that, I vanished into the skies, leaving behind the confused trio and the now-vanquished Deliora.
—-
As the dust settled and the monstrous form of Deliora lay in pieces, Gray, Lyon, and Ur stood frozen. The silence was broken only by the faint whistle of the wind through the broken landscape. Gray's arms were still outstretched, his body tense with the aftermath of trying—and failing—to stop Deliora.
The sudden, overwhelming power that had torn through the battlefield was still fresh in their minds.
Lyon broke the silence first. "That guy was unreal. I've never seen anything like it."
Gray, still trying to catch his breath, gave a faint nod.
"That's Oberon," Ur said, suddenly stiffening. "The King of the Fairies."
Gray raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised that Ur knew about him. "Oberon?"
Ur gave him a pointed look. "Yes, Oberon. He's a legend. You didn't know? That man... he's got power like no one I've ever seen. He just wiped Deliora out in a minute."
Lyon whistled. "So, the fairy king saved us?"
Gray turned toward Ur, his fists clenching slightly. "Yeah, but... he didn't have to. I had it under control."
Ur narrowed her eyes at him. "You had it under control? Gray, you almost got yourself killed! What were you thinking, running at that thing without a plan? Do you know how reckless you are?!" She stepped toward him, her voice rising in frustration. "You were about to throw your life away for nothing, and he saved us. Do you even realize that?"
Gray rubbed the back of his neck, slightly sheepish. "I was doing my best. I thought—"
"Your best?" Ur interrupted, her voice sharp. "Your best isn't good enough when you're throwing yourself at something that powerful without thinking! Again! I told you before, stop being reckless!"
Lyon chuckled quietly, watching the exchange with amusement. "Guess Ur's not letting you off easy, huh?"
Gray shot him a glare but said nothing. He was still processing everything that had happened. His pride stung, but Ur wasn't wrong. He had been reckless, thinking he could take down Deliora on his own.
"Ur, I—"
Ur held up a hand, cutting him off. "Gray, I get that you want to protect people, but putting yourself in danger for nothing is not the way. You need to think things through."
"I know," Gray muttered, looking down. "I just... I couldn't let it happen again."
Ur softened a little. "I know you don't want to see anyone else suffer, but you have to learn to trust others, and not just throw yourself into harm's way." She looked at Lyon, then back at Gray. "Next time, don't be a hero on your own. We're in this together."
Gray nodded slowly. "Yeah... I'll try to be smarter next time."
Lyon grinned and clapped Gray on the shoulder. "Hey, you've got the Fairy Tail legend himself to thank for saving your hide, Gray. How about you just let them handle the heavy lifting next time?"
Gray gave him a small grin. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
—-
I landed Vimana outside my house, the familiar golden and emerald ark humming with energy as I disembarked. The sky was beginning to darken with the fall of evening, but it felt like the day had just begun for me. I stepped toward the front door, the familiar scent of home greeting me as I approached.
Pushing the door open, I called out softly, "Alma?"
Almost immediately, she appeared, a surprised look on her face. "Aiden?" she asked, clearly not expecting me back so soon. "You're back already? I thought you'd be gone much longer."
I chuckled, walking further into the house, still carrying the weight of the battle, but also the calm that always followed after finishing a mission. "Did you miss me that much?"
She narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms in that familiar, disapproving way. "You're unbelievable. What happened? I thought you were going after Deliora?"
"I did," I replied, still grinning. "But it turns out it didn't take long. Deliora's taken care of. The villagers are safe, and the threat is neutralized."
Alma's eyes searched me, looking for any sign of injury or trouble.
"You sure you're alright?" she asked, her concern softening the edge of her scolding tone.
"Fine," I said with a grin, stepping closer to her. "Nothing I couldn't handle."
Alma's eyes softened but didn't lose their concern. She stepped closer, still inspecting me with that careful gaze of hers. "You always say that, but I'm not so sure sometimes," she muttered, shaking her head.
I chuckled and gently ruffled her hair, hoping to lighten the mood. "You worry too much," I teased, though I understood her concern. She had every right to.
She frowned slightly, clearly not satisfied with my response, but she didn't press further. "Just don't push yourself too hard. I'll be here when you get back."
"I know," I said softly, giving her a reassuring smile. "I'll be back soon, I promise."
With one last look at her, I turned toward the door. "Stay safe, Alma. I'll be back before you know it."
She nodded, though there was a hint of reluctance in her eyes. "You better. And don't take too long."
I gave her a brief, knowing grin before I left the house, making my way toward the guild to report in. The familiar weight of responsibility settled on my shoulders again as I walked, but it was nothing I couldn't bear. Makarov would want to know the mission's details, and there was always something else that needed to be handled.
I arrived at the guild as the evening sun set, the familiar sound of laughter coming from within. Makarov was at the bar, going through papers. He looked up when I approached.
"Aiden," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Back already? Deliora's dealt with?"
I nodded. "It's done. The villagers are safe."
Makarov exhaled, relieved. "Good work. You've earned some rest."
I grinned. "I'm sure there'll be more to do soon enough."
He chuckled. "Take it while you can."
I gave him a nod. "Thanks, Master."
I turned and left the guild, heading back home.
—----------
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