Flames churned around Natsu's fists as he kept moving.
The ground cracked beneath his feet as he charged straight into the inferno, his body like a cannonball ripping through the fire. Thick smoke slammed into him, but he didn't even blink. With a swing of his right arm, flames blasted apart a collapsed beam. His left hand plunged into the rubble without hesitation.
A child was curled up in the corner, face blackened with soot.
Natsu scooped the child up in one motion and turned to run. Another section of the roof collapsed, smashing into his back. He grunted but didn't slow down.
Wendy was already waiting at the doorway, hands raised. The instant Natsu burst out, she released her healing aura. Light washed over the child, his breathing slowly evening out.
Happy and Panther Lily circled low overhead, beating their wings to drive the smoke away. As visibility cleared, the villagers behind them finally saw what was happening outside.
"There's more!" Romeo shouted suddenly. "The house on the right its door's blocked!"
Gray turned instantly. Ice spread from beneath his feet, racing along the sand toward the enemy boats. Pirates who had just leapt aboard to retreat suddenly found the deck freezing underfoot, slipping and crashing down.
One speedboat tried to start its engine. The propeller barely spun before an ice spike jammed it.
Crack!
The boat jolted violently then went dead.
Erza stood knee-deep in the shallows, her light sword held across her chest. The tall man approached her head-on, black Haki coiling around his right arm, red flames burning on his fist.
They locked eyes for a heartbeat then charged.
Sword and fist collided. The shockwave blasted outward, shoving the seawater aside and exposing bare ground beneath. Erza used the rebound to spring upward, her boot smashing into his jaw. The man staggered back, blood at the corner of his mouth.
"You're not normal," Erza said.
The man sneered. "Neither are you."
He snapped his arm up. Flames stretched into a whip, lashing toward her. Erza twisted aside, her blade slicing through the air and carving a deep cut across his shoulder.
Bickslow crouched low, star-map crystal pressed to the rock, fingers flying as he tracked the enemy ship's energy flow.
"The main engine's cracked," he called. "One more shock and it'll collapse."
He looked up at Gray.
"Three seconds. On my mark."
Gray nodded.
Bickslow counted sharply.
"Three two one now!"
Gray slammed both palms down. Ice plunged deep into the sea floor. Massive, conical ice spears erupted upward, punching straight into the enemy ship's keel. The vessel lurched violently, its power system screaming in protest.
"We got it!" Romeo yelled.
The ship began to tilt. Pirates lost their footing, some tumbling straight into the water.
The tall man roared and turned to flee back toward the ship. Erza chased him down, sword swinging. He raised his arm to block the armor shattered, leaving his entire arm exposed.
Natsu handed the rescued child to Wendy and immediately spun back toward the fight. He kicked one pirate aside and drove his flame-wrapped fist into the man's back.
BOOM!
The man slammed to his knees, coughing blood.
"You think… this is over?" he snarled, forcing himself upright as crimson flames engulfed his body. "If I'm dying, I'm taking you with me!"
The flames surged higher. Temperature spiked. The air warped, and the ground began to scorch.
"He's detonating himself!" Bickslow shouted. "Fall back!"
No one moved.
Instead, Natsu stepped forward.
He opened his mouth and inhaled the flames. Scarlet fire surged into him, red lotus patterns spreading across his skin as heat roared from his core.
"Burn me?" Natsu grinned. "Then let's see who burns better."
He crossed his fists, compressing the flames into a single blazing sphere then thrust forward.
Red Lotus Fire Dragon King Explosive Fist!
A colossal fire-shaped punch erupted outward, smashing straight into the man. He didn't even have time to react before being completely swallowed. The explosion burst open, raining glowing embers across the sea.
Silence followed.
The wind drifted through the remains of the firestorm, carrying ash with it.
From the ruins, someone emerged.
An elderly man, leaning on a cane, clothes torn and singed. Several villagers followed behind him, fear still written on their faces but something had changed in their eyes.
The old village chief stopped before Natsu and tremblingly produced a yellowed parchment scroll.
"This… has been passed down in our village," he said. "A nautical secret map. It marks a place with Devil Fruits and minerals that can strengthen magic."
Erza accepted the scroll and examined it. The markings were clear. The route complete.
"Why give this to us?" she asked.
The old man looked at the burning houses, then at the fallen pirate bodies.
"Because you saved us. This map was meant to defend against bandits. Now… it belongs to those who truly need it."
Wendy leaned against a reef, breathing hard. Carla gently helped her sit.
Gray stood nearby, pulling off his coat.
Happy stared. "Is this really the time to strip?"
"Habit," Gray replied.
Bickslow closed the star-map crystal and walked over to Erza. They spoke quietly for a moment before he took the map and sealed it into his case.
Romeo stood at the edge of camp, watching everything. Shadow Crow was still there, unmoving, eyes fixed on the metal crate beside him.
"You're not leaving?" Romeo asked.
"I promised intelligence," Shadow Crow said. "This is only the beginning."
Natsu walked to the shoreline, gazing out at the horizon as the flames on his fist finally faded.
"We're moving out," he said.
Erza nodded. "Prepare the ship."
Gray headed for the frozen enemy vessel, stripping any usable parts. Happy and Panther Lily took to the sky to scout for additional threats.
Wendy closed her eyes, Observation spreading. The sea was calm no hostile signatures.
Bickslow activated the star map and input the secret route's coordinates. A glowing path appeared on the screen.
"Seven days' sailing," he said. "Two resupply points along the way."
Erza handed command to Natsu. He stood on the repaired ship as everyone boarded one by one.
The village chief and townsfolk gathered at the shore, waving silently.
Natsu raised a hand in return.
The sails went up. The sea wind filled them.
Bickslow ran one last systems check, confirmed synchronization, and closed his case before heading below deck.
Gray stood on deck, holding a metal plate taken from the enemy ship. A name was engraved on it.
"Black Reef Fleet," he said. "So it was them."
Happy leaned closer. "You've heard of them?"
"They caused trouble in the East Blue once," Gray said, tossing the plate into the sea. "Then vanished."
The ship slowly pulled away from shore.
Wendy sat quietly in a corner of the deck with Carla beside her. She opened her eyes and whispered, "There's wind ahead."
Natsu stood at the bow, flames flickering back to life on his fist.
The ship sailed into deeper waters. Night fell.
Below deck, Bickslow sorted through the newly gathered data. Suddenly, the star-map crystal flickered.
He looked down.
An unknown signal had appeared.
He opened the transmission.