Time passed quickly, and three months were gone in the blink of an eye.
During that time, the entire Magic World fell into unrest. Both Light Guilds and Dark Guilds, regardless of size, remained on constant alert. The Magic Council, guild masters, and even the rulers of various kingdoms were all tense.
The cause was simple.
Three months ago, a mysterious killer appeared, one who specifically targeted mages.
He showed no mercy. Light Guilds, Dark Guilds, royal mages, even magical beasts, none were spared.
In just three months, more than a hundred low and mid level guilds had been completely wiped out, and the number kept rising.
Fragments of information began to spread.
Some claimed it was a single individual, while others insisted it was a group. Survivors described wildly different attackers, children, young girls, beautiful women, elderly figures, young men, muscular adults, even those who looked weak and harmless.
The only thing they all shared was the same magic.
Gun Magic.
Whoever it was, they killed mages on sight. Ordinary people were not directly targeted, but if they got caught in the crossfire, they were slaughtered without hesitation.
Fear spread like a disease.
Light Guilds stopped accepting missions. Dark Guilds also went quiet, unwilling to risk stepping outside.
Every day, the Magic Council was flooded with complaints. Emergency meetings were held repeatedly with guild masters across the continent, but no meaningful progress was made.
The killer was too elusive.
His movements were impossible to predict, and his targets seemed completely random.
"So scary…"
Inside Fairy Tail, Lucy Heartfilia sat at the bar, staring at a magazine in her hands. The latest report detailed yet another destroyed guild.
Anyone who encountered the killer alone had no chance of survival.
Lucy had not taken a job in two months. To pay off her debt, she worked as a maid at Ares's mansion. Food and lodging were covered, but she earned no salary.
Her life was stable, but stability did not mean comfort.
She was broke.
Ares, being wealthy, did not stay in the guild dormitory. Instead, he owned a lakeside manor in the outskirts, surrounded by blooming flowers and calm waters. The scenery was beautiful enough to make anyone forget their troubles.
"The Master is back!"
A voice called out, drawing attention to the entrance.
Makarov Dreyar stepped inside with a grim expression.
"Master, how did it go?"
The guild members quickly gathered around him. With missions nearly nonexistent, everyone had been struggling to get by.
"No progress," Makarov said as he jumped onto the bar and sat down. "The killer is too difficult to track. Even the Council's capture teams found nothing."
The atmosphere grew heavier.
It was not just Fairy Tail. Every Light Guild faced the same situation.
There were plenty of requests available, but no one dared to take them. More than thirty S Class mages had already died.
Even groups sent together had vanished without a trace.
In simple terms, taking a job now was gambling with death.
If the killer chose you, you were finished.
No one even knew how the victims died.
The Magic World had entered a bleak period. The economy slowed, then stagnated.
Ordinary people suffered as well. Without mages to handle requests, problems piled up. In some areas, entire villages were wiped out by monsters.
Complaints flooded the Council, damaging its credibility. Support from the public weakened, including financial backing.
Kingdoms began to feel the strain.
"So what do we do now? I'm about to go bankrupt."
Several mages complained loudly, their fear obvious.
Natsu Dragneel looked frustrated. He had been wandering outside recently, hoping to encounter the killer, but had found nothing.
Erza Scarlet and Gray Fullbuster sat quietly nearby, both deep in thought.
Ares was absent, most likely relaxing by his lakeside villa, either fishing or enjoying the sun as usual.
Suddenly, a strange ripple spread through the guild hall.
"Huh… my head feels weird…"
Lucy held her head, swayed, then collapsed onto the bar.
Happy wobbled unsteadily before flopping down beside her.
One by one, people fell.
The noise faded as bodies dropped across the hall.
"I feel so sleepy…"
"This magic…"
"It's Mystogan!"
Behind the bar, Mirajane Strauss tried to stay upright, but her strength gave out and she slumped down.
"Mystogan!"
Makarov turned toward the entrance.
A figure stepped inside, completely covered in dark clothing. A black hat and a green mask hid his identity.
Mystogan had returned.
"Master."
"Here for a mission?" Makarov asked calmly.
"Yes."
"Have you been safe out there?"
"Are you referring to the mysterious killer?"
Makarov nodded.
"I have not encountered him, but I have heard the reports."
Mystogan walked to the mission board, scanned it briefly, and tore off a request.
"Be careful," Makarov said.
Mystogan gave a slight nod.
"I'm leaving."
"Wait, undo the magic first," Makarov called out.
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1…"
As his voice faded, the unconscious guild members began to stir.
By the time they woke up, Mystogan was already gone.
"That was definitely Mystogan…" Macao Conbolt muttered while rubbing his eyes.
"That guy…" Wakaba Mine yawned, clearly annoyed.
"His magic is still overwhelming."
"No resistance at all."
"Seriously terrifying."
Everyone had recovered, except Natsu, who remained sprawled out, snoring loudly.
"Mystogan…?"
Lucy blinked sleepily, clearly unfamiliar with him.
"He's one of Fairy Tail's strongest," Elfman Strauss said with a serious expression.
"For some reason, he doesn't want anyone to see his face. Every time he comes for a mission, he puts everyone to sleep."
Mirajane nodded and added, "Only the Master has seen what he looks like."
"That's really suspicious…"
Lucy widened her eyes.
Before anyone could respond, a voice echoed from the second floor.
"That's not quite true. That face isn't worth seeing anyway."
The tone was arrogant and dismissive.
"Laxus?"
"When did he get back?"
"That's unusual…"
The appearance of Laxus Dreyar caught everyone off guard, and a trace of unease spread through the guild.