FT: The Phantom Dragon Slayer Chapter 72: The Man Revived, Nirvana Activated (1)

Chapter 72: The Man Revived, Nirvana Activated (1)

In the western part of the Worth Woodsea.

Natsu, Gray, and Charle were on the chase, following Wendy’s scent.

As they ran, Natsu suddenly recalled something and threw a question to Charle.

“Hey, Dragon Slayer of the Sky
 what does she eat?”

The mention that Wendy was the Sky Dragon Slayer had sparked his curiosity.

He didn’t know, but Ciel did—Ciel knew both him and Gajeel, and also Wendy.

So Natsu wanted to learn more about Ciel’s other disciples, the Dragon Slayers.

The Fire Dragon Slayer replenished magic and stamina by eating fire.

The Iron Dragon Slayer did so by eating iron.

The Phantom Dragon Slayer—Ciel—ate illusions, or more precisely, the mist he himself created.

So then
 what was the Sky Dragon Slayer’s food?

That’s what Natsu wanted to know.

“Air.”

The answer was so simple, so straightforward.

The Sky Dragon Slayer ate air.

Though his question was answered, another curiosity sprang up inside Natsu.

“Is that even tasty? There’s nothing to chew on!”

“I wonder.”

“So
 is it different from oxygen?”

Even at Natsu’s absurd question, Charle’s expression didn’t change as she calmly replied. Gray, running just behind, gave them a bewildered glance as he overheard their conversation.

Charle continued, giving Natsu some insight about Wendy.

“She volunteered for this mission, saying she might be able to meet you, and
 father. No, Ciel.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You’re a Dragon Slayer too, and she thought maybe Ciel would know something about the missing dragons’ whereabouts.”

“
!”

“The dragon that taught her Dragon Slayer magic disappeared seven years ago. She thought maybe you or Ciel would know where it went
 I believe it was called the Sky Dragon Grandeeney?”

At Charle’s words, Natsu’s face darkened as a memory hit him.

“Wait! That dragon—did it vanish on July 7th?!”

“I don’t know.”

“Igneel
 Gajeel’s dragon
 and Ciel’s Phoenixia
 Wendy too
 seven years ago
 That’s right! Laxus?!”

Natsu’s mind reached a single conclusion.

All the dragons had disappeared exactly seven years ago.

X777, July 7th.

They had all vanished on the same day.

With that realization, Natsu remembered another Dragon Slayer—Laxus.

“The old man said it, didn’t he? That guy isn’t really a Dragon Slayer at all
”

“Wait
 what’s this?!”

“What’s wrong?”

As they ran, Charle suddenly halted, pointing at the trees ahead.

From that point onward, every tree was stained pitch-black.

Natsu and Gray finally sensed it too—the ominous aura radiating from the woods.

“The trees
”

“They’re all black
”

“This
 this creepy feeling—what the hell?!”

Just then, from behind them, multiple human presences and voices rang out.

“It’s the influence of Nirvana, Jato-nii.”

“Kyaho~! They say it’s such a terrifying magic, it kills the earth itself, Gato-nii.”

“Wait—what?! We’re surrounded?!”

Before they realized it, Natsu’s group had been encircled by a dark guild.

The “Naked Mummy” slowly advanced, weapons in hand, closing in on them.

“They said it’s the influence of Nirvana.”

“I already told you that, Gato-nii.”

“Did you? Jato-nii.”

“Whoa! Two monkeys! Two monkeys!”

“Subordinates of Oración Seis
 the Naked Mummy.”

“Kyahohoh~! Let’s play!”

While Charle was bothered by the chatter of the two ape-like men, Natsu and Gray casually rolled their fists and readied for a fight.

Even though they were badly outnumbered, the two showed nothing but confidence. Charle raised her voice in panic.

“This is bad—”

“Uhohoh! No, it’s perfect, uho~!”

“What are you saying?! You idiots!!”

“We’ll make them tell us where their base is.”

“Let’s go, Happy! Wendy!”

Natsu swung his fists with vigor, while Gray loosened his hands and readied his Ice-Make magic stance.

The dark guild “Naked Mummy”, under Oración Seis, advanced.

Its masters, the brothers Gato and Jato, clenched their fists as Natsu ignored them, brimming with arrogance.

“These brats are really looking down on us
”

“Under Oración Seis—the Naked Mummy
”

“You’re dead.”

“What’s this—Fairy Tail wizards
! Do you even realize the situation you’re in?!”

“Doesn’t matter. We’ll just smash them all!”

Charle muttered at Natsu’s idiotic bravado, but before she could scold him further, Natsu and Gray’s battle had already begun at full force.

....

Southern Worth Woodsea.

While pursuing Oración Seis, Ren and Eve of the Trimens suddenly found themselves face-to-face with a rival guild of equal notoriety—Black Unicorn.

“Black Unicorn?!”

“What are you guys doing here
?!”

Dressed in delinquent-styled school uniforms, they struck cocky poses, surrounding the two Trimens.

“Blue Pegasus, full of nothing but flashy hosts
 against us, Black Unicorn, the free and wild delinquent mages. We’ve always wanted to settle this score.”

“What nonsense! Bratty delinquents like you could never beat us of Blue Pegasus!”

“That smug attitude of yours makes me sick!”

Blue Pegasus versus Black Unicorn.

A two-versus-forty battle ignited in the southern forest.

....

Northeastern Worth Woodsea.

While Ren and Eve clashed with Black Unicorn, Ichiya had disembarked from the Christina to relieve himself.

“Maaaan~
 this is the fragrance of a restroom~”

“There’s an enemy here!”

“Ugh! This stench—what the hell?!”

“Gaaaah, gross!”

“W-wait! I
 I’m just separated from my comrades
 I’m not suspicious at all, maaaan!”

With his pants down mid-business, Ichiya was suddenly discovered by a dark guild squad.

...

Eastern Worth Woodsea.

At the same time, the Lamia Scale team was encircled by another dark guild under OraciĂłn Seis.

“What is this
!”

“We’re surrounded?!”

“So many ambushers
 But overcoming this trial will prove our justice! Everyone, prepare yourselves!”

“Yes!”

“Got it!”

Immediately, Jura raised stone pillars to strike, while Lyon sent forth ice eagles. Their three-on-many battle began.

....

“Haa
 haa
 haahhh
”

“Fuuu
”

I pressed my lips to Erza’s wound, drawing out the poison and blood from her body.

With that last draw, I had sucked out all of the poison from Erza.

She no longer risked instant death, but her strength was depleted, leaving her burning with fever.

“As expected
 even though the poison is gone, the aftermath leaves her fevered. There’s nothing more I can do about that.”

“Ciel, here—water.”

“Perfect timing.”

Just as I finished removing the poison, Lucy returned with a bucket filled to the brim.

I took off my coat and laid it over Erza, then tore the sleeves off my dress shirt to make makeshift towels—one to clean the wound, the other to place upon her forehead.

“Ciel, you’re surprisingly gentle, you know?”

“
”

As I wiped the sweat from Erza’s brow, Hibiki spoke up.

“Erza is an irreplaceable partner to me.”

“Partner, huh
 to my eyes, you two look more like lovers than just partners.”

“W-what?! That’s absurd!”

“Does Blue Pegasus have some habit of calling anyone lovers just because they’re close to a woman?”

My voice carried a faint chill, and Hibiki gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

To me, Erza was the first comrade in this world whom I had truly acknowledged—my partner.

In truth, I saw in her a reflection of those who once followed me.

The chance of ever viewing her as a lover was near zero.

“Sorry~ I just couldn’t help it. The bond you share felt so
 intense.”

“Anyway, my work here is done. I’ll head out to search for Wendy now. Lucy, I leave Erza to you.”

“W-wait! It’s dangerous if you go alone!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be taking her along as my guide.”

I pointed toward Sorano, leaning against a tree.
The moment I singled her out, she darted toward me, clinging to my arm with a coquettish smile.

“If I guide you, will there be
 a reward?”

“Well
 guide me properly, and I’ll give you whatever you desire.”

“Haa
 haaah
”

“Ciel, is she
 really alright?” Hibiki asked, pointing warily at Sorano.

Sorano, catching his words, shot him a sharp glance.

“For Master’s reward, I’ll do anything. So butt out, ugly.”

“U-ugly?!”

“I’m no longer an angel. I’m nothing but a slave, addicted to pleasure. For Master’s reward, I’d gladly give my life.”

Rubbing herself against my arm as she spoke, Sorano made me sigh inwardly.

This ability’s effect
 it persists forever unless I release it.

Once, I had used it carelessly on a goddess without knowing how to undo it—she pursued me obsessively until her dying breath. After that, I swore never to use it again.

And yet, perhaps spending too much time around Natsu had made my mental age regress.

All it took was a little provocation for me to foolishly unleash such an irritating power.

“Master~♄ Let’s go. Our temporary base is in the western forest.”

“The west, then
 lead the way.”

“Yes~♄”

I let out a wry chuckle and followed Sorano westward into the sea of trees.

While we walked through the forest she told me a number of things: why she’d joined the Oracion Seis, that she had a younger sibling, and everything she knew about this so-called “Nirvana” magic — and about herself.

“So you were a slave in the Tower of Paradise, too,” I said.

“Yes. That’s why I joined the Oracion Seis — my prayer was to ‘ascend into the sky like an angel and disappear.’ But it no longer matters. Thanks to my master, my eyes have been opened to a new world. Now I live only for my master’s reward; I am nothing more than his slave.”

People move through the world carrying their own stories.

Her past resembled Erza’s in some ways, but in the end she’d been tainted by darkness. Even though she could have walked toward the light
 in a sense she wasn’t so different from me — now merely ruled by lust.

“There — that’s our base,” she said.

“A village?”

“The ruins where the ancient natives once lived. It’s almost entirely collapsed now. We use that cave as our stronghold.”

“I see
 but what’s that smell?”

She pointed toward the cave, and as we neared its mouth Wendy’s scent reached me. But alongside Wendy’s scent there was another aroma tugging at my senses — a familiar, faintly sharp perfume that wasn’t from any Oracion Seis member inside. It was different from them and from Wendy
 the same subtle, incisive scent I’d known before.

I knew who that scent belonged to. But why was he here
?

“Come on, let’s go.”

“O-okay, l-let’s go together!”

“Such a bother.”

“Kya
 kyaah?!”

To hurry, I scooped Sorano up and leapt off the cliff, plunging toward the cave entrance. We landed, wind slicing around us, and strode into the cavern — where Brain greeted us with a sneer.

“Well, look who it is. The sadistic wizard and his slave, and the traitor who’s turned into their pawn?”

“Brain
”

“Ciel—”

“Ugh
 I’m sorry
 Ciel-sensei
 I’m really sorry
”

Inside the cave I saw Happy crying and calling my name; Wendy kneeling before an altar and begging forgiveness. And standing motionless beside Wendy was a man whose presence stiffened my expression.

That familiar scent I’d noticed earlier
 it belonged to someone I knew.

A black coffin in the shape of a cross lay open. From within it came blue hair and deep eyes. A red tattoo marked one side of his face.

He was someone I had been sure died along with the R-system — Jellal Fernandez — yet here he stood before me, perfectly alive.

“
”

“Master?”

“
Jellal
 how are you
?”