Chapter 368: New Players
Just as undercurrents surged through the Shinobi World,
four new Universal Invitations were activated, and four figures from different worlds gathered together.
[New player login successful. Beginner trial will commence shortly…]
In the danger zone on the outskirts of Dark City,
one figure was the first to rise. After scanning the surroundings, she frowned slightly as she noticed the other three were still unconscious.
She had a tall figure, thigh-high boots, and a short military-style skirt uniform that accentuated her curves.
A wide-brimmed hat couldn't hide her porcelain-doll-like face, and the most striking feature was her long ice-blue hair.
"Just a nap, and I end up in some strange place?"
The woman, who stood out both in appearance and aura, didn't panic despite the unfamiliar surroundings.
Her eyes landed on the fire in the center of the camp,
where black text appeared across her vision.
[New Player Transfer Fire]: Until all new players awaken, no corrupted monsters can enter the fire's illumination radius. Time remaining: 6 minutes.
She slowly raised her hand, spreading her fingers,
and three sharp icicles appeared in her palm. The temperature plummeted, and frost began to bloom in the air.
Thud!
The ice spikes shot forward, aimed at the three unconscious figures by the fire.
"To attack strangers on sight… you really are a cold-blooded human."
At the moment the spikes launched,
two figures suddenly rose. Whether they had already been awake and feigning sleep,
or were just now jolted awake by the killer intent, was unclear.
One of them—a red-haired girl clad in half-plate armor and a blue skirt—
instantly conjured a knight's sword in her hand.
Crash!
With a single swing, she shattered the three ice spikes.
"Hm?"
The military-dressed woman with the flawless face didn't follow up with another strike.
Instead, she looked with interest at the red-haired girl,
like a hunter discovering a powerful new prey.
A dangerous aura radiated from her.
She smirked softly,
a laugh filled with undisguised arrogance—
imperious as a queen.
She stared at the red-haired girl and said,
"I've already conquered the northern barbarian court. Even the so-called wise and brave prince knelt like a dog at my feet.
And yet… there are still those who resist?"
She was the daughter of the Barutus chieftain, a beast that roamed the frozen plains since childhood.
Also the empire's youngest and strongest general.
This latest campaign against the northern barbarians was expected to take a full year,
but she crushed them in mere days.
Esdeath.
No introductions needed.
Her name resounded through the empire and the entire world.
"To be transported here without warning…
Could this be the work of another Teigu wielder?"
Esdeath crossed her arms. Her alluring figure was as dangerous as it was enticing.
She had just noticed—
the red-haired girl had no weapon when unconscious, yet the broadsword she used had appeared out of nowhere.
"A Teigu user?"
"The north?"
The red-haired girl gripped her sword tightly, eyeing her hostile opponent warily.
That "northern" description was awfully vague.
Was she referring to the northern reaches of the continent?
None of it made sense…
Just moments ago, she had returned to her guild after completing a magic quest.
Then her vision blurred, and now she was here.
Fairy Tail was located in the center of Fiore Kingdom. Even by express train, the north would take days to reach.
How could she be in the north?
And what was a Teigu user?
Was that supposed to mean a type of magic?
Actually… now that she thought about it, her Requip magic kind of fit that title.
Sounded cool, too.
Maybe she should start calling herself a Teigu user.
Natsu and Gray would probably be dumbstruck by it.
Despite the killing intent from Esdeath, the cheerful redhead wasn't overly tense.
She still had room in her mind for silly thoughts.
Because she had absolute confidence in her power.
She was one of the top S-Class mages in all of Fiore.
Regardless of whether this ice-wielding woman was a rogue mage or from a dark guild,
she wouldn't lose.
Because she was—
Erza Scarlet!
"I'm a mage from Fairy Tail. Whoever you are,
I won't allow unprovoked killing!"
With a burst of light, she activated her Requip magic.
Heaven's Wheel Armor materialized—cold, metallic armor gleamed with brilliance, and four wings of swords unfurled behind her.
Each wing was composed of dozens of enchanted blades, sharp enough to blind the eyes.
Glittering motes of magic swirled around Erza like a steel angel.
This was her go-to combat armor—excellent defense and the ability to summon up to two hundred magic swords.
Ordinary mages wouldn't last a minute against it.
Clearly,
she saw Esdeath as a worthy opponent.
"How interesting…
To think the north, whose prince crumbled so easily, had someone like you."
"Let's fight, then!"
Esdeath licked her lips, a flush rising to her cheeks,
eyes flashing with madness.
She leapt into the air and slashed downward,
the temperature dropping so fast that frost swept across the field,
spreading out from beneath her feet.
Pillars of ice shot skyward,
while upside-down ice thorns, like the roots of frozen roses,
aimed to envelop Erza entirely.
"No magical fluctuations?"
"But it's so powerful…"
A rain of blades descended like a meteor shower,
shattering the massive ice pillars into shards.
Erza's eyes narrowed,
confused—and stunned.
Had her magic perception failed?
This woman unleashed massive-scale ice magic,
yet there wasn't even a trace of magical energy?
Still,
if her opponent attacked, then she was prepared to counterattack.
Erza steeled herself.
"Heaven's Wheel: Blurred Sword Dance!"
With a flick of both blades, her sword wings exploded outward.
Hundreds of magic swords rained down like a storm.
Just as the downpour of blades crashed toward her,
Esdeath punched the ground.
Boom!
The sky darkened.
A colossal ice sphere plummeted at incredible speed, colliding with the sword storm.
Ice and steel exploded on impact,
as the storm drilled through the ice sphere and barreled toward Esdeath.
"Impossible…"
Esdeath's eyes widened.
The strength of her prey had vastly exceeded her expectations.
"It's been so long since I found prey this powerful.
Tormenting you… will be absolutely exhilarating."
She didn't know what image flashed in her mind,
but her cheeks flushed.
Pressing her palms together,
a red three-pointed star symbol flared on her chest.
"Mahapadma."
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