"Let's head out tomorrow. Get yourselves ready, and we'll talk about the mission details on the way."
Erza didn't wait for a response, turning and leaving the guild as soon as she'd spoken. Su Yan shook his head with a faint smile—this was so typical of Erza.
Still, he couldn't deny it felt good to have something to do after a week of idle rest. And it had been over a year since he'd seen Erza; just the chance to catch up with her was reason enough to go along.
A wave of chatter spread through the guild as Erza's departure sank in.
"What?!"
"Erza and Su Yan are teaming up?!"
"This is unprecedented!"
"They're going to destroy a whole country, aren't they?"
Lucy's eyes widened at the comments around her. "Are Su Yan and Erza really that scary?"
Gray crossed his arms, his expression uneasy. "Scary? That doesn't even begin to cover it. It's… terrifying." The thought alone made him shudder.
"Yeah!" Natsu added, only to realize he was unconsciously leaning close to Gray. The two of them jerked back from each other with identical looks of disgust, glaring briefly before turning away. Erza's mere presence had left them so on edge that they'd forgotten why they'd been fighting in the first place.
Mira noticed Su Yan's thoughtful expression and smirked, tempted to step on his foot. But knowing Su Yan, he'd be unfazed, and she'd only hurt her own foot. Seeing Lucy and Natsu nearby, an idea formed, and Mira's smirk widened.
---
**Eisenwald Dark Guild**
"Which guild is that armored woman from?"
"Who knows?"
"She's stunning..."
"Damn it! I should've tried talking to her."
"Yeah, like you'd have a chance."
"What did you say?!"
The guild's leader, a man wielding a scythe, cut into their conversation. Known as Erigor, or the "Grim Reaper," he was Eisenwald's ace. "Has Kageyama returned yet?"
"Breaking that seal isn't easy. Just wait a bit longer."
"Don't waste time. This is the perfect moment; all those old fools are tied up at the regular meeting."
---
The next morning, Su Yan and Erza arrived at Magnolia train station. While magic was a core part of their world, science and technology had evolved as well. Trains now crisscrossed the land, marking a tech level similar to late 19th-century Earth.
Erza's luggage, however, looked like she was moving house. An entire cart was stacked with her bags, large and small.
Su Yan glanced over the towering pile, sweating a little. "You're still the same as always—packing like you're preparing for a siege."
Erza shrugged. "What's wrong with being prepared? Look, the train's here. Let's get on board."
"Right."
As the two boarded, three heads peered out from behind a nearby pillar—Natsu, Lucy, and Happy.
"Hey! Are we really doing this?" Lucy whispered, nervous about being spotted.
"No problem! That monster Erza actually invited the big monster Su Yan to do a mission with her. Aren't you curious?" Natsu grinned.
"Aye, sir!" Happy chirped, equally curious.
Lucy could only sigh. Thinking back on how Erza had shattered her sword against Su Yan's head, she had to admit both of them were more than human. And then there was Natsu, who devoured flames like snacks… She suddenly felt like the only human tagging along with a gang of monsters.
"Hurry! They're on the train! Let's go!" Natsu whispered, creeping toward the train.
"Let's go!" Happy followed, copying Natsu's stealthy moves.
As Natsu and Happy boarded, Lucy reluctantly followed. "Please don't let us get caught…"
Yet as soon as she stepped into the car, she saw Natsu on the floor, clutching his stomach with a nauseous expression. He looked seconds away from throwing up, drawing stares from the other passengers—including Erza and Su Yan.
"We've…we've been discovered!"