As the tense and heavy atmosphere in the hall weighed on Lucy, she trembled beside Roy, whispering to him, "Erza was the one who brought you back to the guild, right? What kind of person is she? Why is everyone so afraid of her?"
Before Roy could answer, Mira appeared beside them, responding with a gentle voice, "She's currently Fairy Tail's strongest female mage!"
"Strongest... female mage?" Lucy murmured, letting those words sink in as she began imagining Erza's image in her mind.
The title "strongest" said it all. Lucy's imagination took over, conjuring a terrifying figure. She pictured Erza as a towering, muscular woman with a fierce face, monstrous fangs, and a blood-curdling snarl—someone who could crush both Natsu and Gray's heads with one hand!
With this frightening image now fully formed in her mind, Lucy's expression turned utterly horrified, her face as pale as a sheet. Trembling, she clutched Roy's sleeve, her voice quivering, "Senpai, please, you have to protect me!"
Roy blinked, confused by her intense reaction. He didn't have telepathy, so he couldn't know that Lucy was wildly over-imagining Erza's appearance.
Just as he was about to ask what was wrong, heavy footsteps sounded from the entrance.
At that moment, an overwhelming sense of pressure—like that of a monstrous beast—swept across the hall, creating an apocalyptic atmosphere (though, in Lucy's perspective, it was far more exaggerated than reality).
*Thud. Thud. Thud!*
The echoing footsteps beat like a drum on Lucy's heart, confirming her wild imagination about Erza.
"How can any ordinary person's footsteps sound this loud?!" Lucy thought, horrified.
Finally, just as Lucy was about to further demonize Erza's image, Erza entered the hall, bringing with her an imposing presence but also dispelling any misconceptions.
She carried a massive monster horn that she dropped heavily onto the wooden floor, causing it to creak under the weight. At that moment, Lucy finally got a clear look at the real Erza.
Erza wore a short blue pleated skirt that reached near her knees, paired with a bright silver armor emblazoned with the cross of Heart. Her flowing crimson hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, framing a beautiful, resolute face with an air of justice.
She appeared as an untouchable, noble beauty—approachable yet with a majestic presence that warned against overstepping.
"So... so beautiful!" Lucy whispered, marveling at the stark contrast between the real Erza and her over-the-top mental image.
"I'm back, everyone!" Erza greeted with a cheerful smile before turning her gaze toward Roy. "Are you adjusting well to the guild, Roy?"
Roy nodded, returning her smile. "I'm doing great; no need to worry."
"That's good. I was a bit worried you might not adjust well to guild life," Erza said, relieved. She patted her armored chest, then scanned the hall. "Where are Natsu and Gray?"
Gray responded, his voice the only one steady enough to reply, "Oh, Erza, we're getting along great today!"
While his words expressed calm, his stiff face betrayed his anxiety. Natsu was faring even worse, sweating profusely and practically turned into a second Happy, able only to nod along with a squeak of agreement.
"Good!" Erza said with satisfaction, a look of contentment on her face as if a mother bird watching her chicks grow up. "It's nice to see friends getting along, even if they sometimes argue. I prefer it when you're all at peace with each other."
"Yes, yes!"
"Aye!"
Gray and Natsu nodded vigorously, like chickens pecking grain, afraid Erza might suddenly target them if they didn't.
Suddenly, Erza's expression turned serious. She fixed her gaze on Roy and issued him an invitation. "Roy, I have a mission and could use your assistance."
Then, she looked over at Natsu and Gray, ignoring the surprised glances from the other guild members, and added, "Natsu and Gray, you'll join us as well. We leave tomorrow morning."
Her words sent a shockwave through the hall as everyone started murmuring in astonishment.
"What? Erza's actually inviting others to join her mission?"
"That's unheard of!"
"It must be some insanely difficult mission!"
At this, everyone collectively gasped, taking in the gravity of her request.
Witnessing their dramatic reactions, Roy could barely hold back a snicker, thinking, "Can you guys stop gasping for once? If you keep it up, no doubt you're the real cause of global warming! Oh, wait... there's no global warming in this world. Never mind then."
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