In the mountains and forests, a golden-haired youth was striding around with a demeanor that showed he cared for no one.
A ten-man squad scattered around him, carefully observing everywhere.
The golden-haired youth was none other than Zancrow, one of the Seven Purgatory Dependents, looking impatient:
"We're supposed to be looking for the 'key,' so why am I doing such a boring thing here?"
The person next to him replied cautiously, "Because you promised Master Kaburico to bring back that pair of siblings.
Master Kaburico said the strongest warrior of the younger generation of the battle tribe is worthy of becoming his servant. Besides, that sister is a renowned beauty..."
Zancrow curled his lip, "Even a goat is interested in women it seems."
"If you say that, Master Kaburico would..."
Zancrow grabbed his throat, eyes fierce, "Would what?"
"Cough... cough, cough... I'm sorry! Truly sorry!"
"Tch..." Zancrow tossed him aside, disinterestedly.
If he could beat Kaburico, he wouldn't bother helping with such a task; that guy's magic was too unfair for a human like him.
"Lord Zancrow! We found them! Found the siblings!"
Zancrow said impatiently, "If you've found them, hurry up and capture them. Let's complete the mission and go back quickly."
"The people who went first are already fighting, but they're very strong, and there's also an extra Fairy Tail mage. We've already had dozens of our men defeated! Please..."
"Wait a minute!" Zancrow's expression suddenly became manic, "Did you just say 'very strong'?"
"Ah, no..." The messenger felt something wrong and started retreating slowly.
"Demon's Heart is the strongest!" Zancrow waved his hand, and the messenger was instantly engulfed in black flames.
"Ahhhhh..."
The messenger wailed and fell, reduced to ashes by the flames.
The others were silent with fear; this was why they spoke so carefully around this lord.
"Remember this, Demon's Heart doesn't need weaklings!"
"Yes!"
"Immediately go finish off those in the way!"
"Yes!" The ten-man squad immediately ran off.
"Hehehehe..." Zancrow chuckled, "Finally, something interesting is happening."
...
"Partial Takeover · Iron Bull Arm!"
Elfman's right arm turned into steel, delivering a punch that sent three people flying, even breaking the longswords in their hands.
Looking at the seemingly endless enemies, he complained, "Damn it, it's never-ending!"
Without the cooperation of the monsters, Elfman realized how comfortable it was to fight alongside Rhode.
That feeling of not worrying about anything but the enemies in front was ten times better than now!
Luckily, Mar and Vina, the siblings, weren't burdens; 'the strongest warriors of the younger generation' wasn't just talk.
These two, though they didn't know magic, used their well-trained bodies and superb combat skills, fighting no worse than those demon swordsmen.
And those using magic wands for long-range attacks, once they got close, hadn't the slightest ability to fight back.
In Elfman's memory, only some excellent knights without knowledge of magic could achieve such a level.
"How many of them are there?" Mar used his shield to block the enemy's weapon and stabbed his spear into the opponent's chest, "Vina, can you hold on?"
"No problem, brother!" Vina's forehead glistened with sweat, clearly not as easy as she claimed.
"At this rate, both stamina and magic power won't last... no choice." Elfman took out a book from his chest, "You two, come closer!"
Though confused, the two gave this powerful mage enough trust.
Elfman had just knocked out more enemies by himself than the two of them combined, a recognition of his strength.
"I don't want to use this, but..." Seeing the numerous enemies, Elfman shouted, "Manly spirit!"
His shout startled not only the enemies but also the siblings leaning against his back.
"What's he saying?"
"No clue."
As the siblings were puzzled, Elfman opened the book and injected a tiny bit of magic power.
The first page of the book shattered, turning into a large fireball with a two-meter diameter that flew into the crowd;
The second page shattered, transforming into three golden lightning strikes;
The third page, the fourth page...
Flames, lightning, hurricanes... various magical attributes flew out one after another.
"Waaah..."
"Defense magic, who knows defense magic!"
"Get out of the way!"
In truth, these magics weren't necessarily powerful, most couldn't even compare to Kana's card or even Reby's script, but in a group battle, such power was more than enough.
The main factors were the quantity, the range, and the fact that they required only a small amount of magic power to unleash.
The magic book consumed more than half, leaving an empty space in front of Elfman.
Not only were the mages gone, but even the trees and land were devastated, forcibly ripping an opening in the encirclement.
"Hey..." Mar swallowed hard, "Were you always this strong?"
Vina echoed, "Incredible!"
Even Elfman was amazed, "What level of a magic guidebook did Rhode give me..."
He steeled himself and shouted, "Anyway, let's break through now!"
The three dashed forward through the gap; just as they were about to escape the encirclement, a black flame shot over from the side.
"Watch out!" Elfman grabbed them both and dove to the ground.
The burst of black flames set the surrounding trees ablaze, the terrifying heat scorching Elfman's back.
Vina asked concernedly, "Are you okay?"
"It's just a small wound... manly spirit!" Elfman stood up and looked toward the direction the flame came from.
The siblings didn't quite understand what this 'manly spirit' meant, but they did feel this person was indeed a man.
Remembering Rhode's warning, Elfman told the siblings, "This isn't the time for a deathmatch with him; remember, run away the moment there's a chance."
Mar and Vina nodded in unison.
"Hehehehe..." Zancrow approached with big strides, arms open, holding a ball of black flame in each hand, as if proclaiming the earlier attack came from him.
A weird smile appeared on his face as if he saw an interesting prey: "Where do you think you're escaping to?"
Elfman stared at his hands, solemnly asking, "The black flames, the village... was it you?"
"You mean that weaklings' gathering place?" Zancrow's expression held a hint of cruelty, "Just burned some boring things, but you, you seem interesting."
"Was it you?!!" Mar, who just promised to run, suddenly had red eyes and charged with his spear,
"What did you do to our village!!!"
Elfman instantly felt this was bad, "Don't be impulsive!"
Mar couldn't hear; with the perpetrator who destroyed the village right before him, if he could calm down, he wouldn't have rashly gone to investigate dangerous individuals days ago.
Even Vina couldn't control her emotions; seeing Mar charge, she naturally couldn't let her brother fight alone.
"Hehe... even though Kaburico wants you... as long as you're not dead, it's fine, right?"
Zancrow waved his right hand, a black flame slashing out like a blade: "Flame God's Saber!"