"In fact, I think not only Erza, but even you or Natsu could handle them if given enough time."
Natsu, who had returned at some point, was instantly invigorated by Kira's words. "Of course! I'm super strong!"
Happy chimed in with his trademark enthusiasm: "Aye, sir!"
Natsu, never one to miss a chance to jab, turned to Gray with a smug grin. "Gray probably can't, though."
Gray's eyebrow twitched. "What did you say? Let's see who can take them down first!"
"Let's compete! Who's afraid of you?!"
The two rivals leaned in close, sparks flying as their foreheads pressed together, their glares so intense they seemed to crackle with electricity.
But their fiery exchange was abruptly extinguished by Erza's booming voice: "You two, be quiet!"
"Yes!" ×2
Kira, who had been observing the commotion with mild amusement, turned to Erza. "So, what's the plan?"
"We'll go directly into the Iron Forest and capture them in one fell swoop. If possible, we'll also interrogate them about the sealed magic they mentioned."
Classic Erza, Kira thought with a smirk. Always the direct approach.
Feigning praise, he said, "What a great plan! You're truly one of a kind, Erza." Then his tone shifted, becoming more serious. "But as I mentioned earlier, Iron Forest doesn't seem like a significant challenge for you. Even Eligore wouldn't stand a chance. The real concern here is... Larabai, isn't it?"
Erza's expression hardened, and she nodded. "That's right. Larabai... have any of you heard of it?"
Natsu, Gray, and Happy chorused in unison: "Nope."
Kira rolled his eyes at the trio. "Of course not. I didn't expect you guys to know. Let's ask someone with a brain."
Erza frowned. "Who do we ask, then?"
"Who else? The guild's walking library. Levy! Come here!"
In the corner of the guild, Levy McGarden, her nose buried in a book, looked up at Kira's call. She walked over, clutching her book tightly. "What's up, Kira? Erza?"
Levy, one of Fairy Tail's brightest members, was petite, with short blue hair and pink-rimmed glasses. Despite her unassuming appearance, she exuded a natural warmth and intelligence.
"Levy," Kira began, "you've got the most extensive collection of books in the guild. Erza needs your help to find information about Larabai."
"Larabai? Sure thing!" Adjusting her glasses with confidence, Levy opened the book she had in hand and began flipping through its pages at an impressive speed.
Her book wasn't ordinary. It was enchanted with a special magic, connecting it to the contents of her personal library. The goggles she wore, also enchanted, allowed her to read at incredible speeds.
Both tools were custom creations from Kira's shop.
The guild watched in silence as the sound of flipping pages filled the room. Finally, Levy's face lit up. "Found it!" She handed the book to Erza and began explaining.
"Larabai, according to legend, was originally a tool for casting 'curse magic.' It was later modified by the black wizard Zeref into a flute capable of unleashing the 'Cursed Song.' It looks like a wooden flute with bones attached and has three eyes on its skull."
Erza and Gray exchanged shocked glances. "Zeref?" Erza echoed.
"The most infamous black wizard from hundreds of years ago," Gray added grimly.
Natsu, however, looked baffled. "Who's Zeref?"
Your brother, Natsu, Kira thought, rolling his eyes again.
"Didn't I just tell you? Are you even listening?" Gray snapped.
Lucy, who had been quietly listening, suddenly remembered something. "The three-eyed skull flute... the Cursed Song... Zeref?!"
Erza's sharp gaze landed on Lucy. "What do you know?"
"I've only read about it in books," Lucy admitted, then explained, "Larabai's magic is categorized under forbidden magic. It has the power to cast a 'collective curse,' killing all living creatures that hear the sound of the flute."
"What?!" Erza's eyes widened in alarm.
"If Eligore gets his hands on something like that..." Gray began.
Erza clenched her fists. "We have to stop them! We can't let them succeed!"
"Calm down, Erza!" Kira's voice cut through her rising panic, his tone steady and authoritative.
Erza turned to him, still tense. "Kira, this is—"
"Not as dire as you think," Kira interrupted. "Take a breath and sit down. We'll handle this logically."
After a moment's hesitation, Erza sighed and sat down. "You're right. I let my emotions get the better of me."
The guild often witnessed this shift in Kira during moments of crisis. The playful prankster was gone, replaced by the calm and analytical "Sage" they had come to rely on.
"Ahem," Kira began, swirling the juice in his glass as if he were lecturing an audience. "You all remember the magic theory I've explained countless times, don't you?"
Erza nodded. "There's no magic in this world that's invincible."
"And?" Kira prompted.
"The more powerful the magic, the greater its flaws and the higher its cost," Erza continued.
Kira nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Every spell, no matter how strong, has its limits."
Lucy, intrigued, asked, "Is this your personal theory, Kira?"
Kira's eyes sparkled at her interest. "It's more than a theory—it's a principle! I even compiled it into a book. You should check it out. It's available at my shop on Magnolia's central street—"
"Enough, Kira!" Erza interjected, exasperated.
"Right, right. Back to business," Kira said with a sheepish grin. He straightened up, his tone turning serious again. "Levy's information states that Larabai was a creation of Zeref, correct?"
Erza nodded.
"And Zeref is known for creating demons," Kira continued. "Larabai, modified into a magical item, was originally one of those demons. So here's the real question: What if Larabai isn't just a tool—but a demon itself?"
The room fell silent as everyone absorbed the implication.
Erza's jaw tightened. "If that's true, then Larabai is even more dangerous than we thought."
"And even more vulnerable to the same flaws as any of Zeref's other creations," Kira pointed out. "Demons, like all magic, have weaknesses. All we have to do is find them."
The tension in the room eased slightly, but Erza's resolve remained firm. "Then let's not waste any more time. We leave at dawn."
Kira smiled faintly. "Now that's the Erza I know."
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