Handling the Earth Mother Dragon's heart took a bit of time, and by the time Rhode rushed back, Future Rogue was already on the brink of death.
Looking at him, his nose didn't look like a nose, his eyes didn't look like eyes, his leg seemed to be broken, and his arm seemed dislocated—he had clearly been beaten badly.
The Marine Sub-Dragon had already left, leaving Wendy and the two Lucys accompanying Mira.
As Rhode just landed, Warm ran over, rubbing against his leg, shivering.
"You're back, did everything go smoothly?" Mira, back to her usual self, greeted Rhode with a smile, "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine." Rhode carefully examined Mira, confirmed she was okay, then picked up the clinging Warm, stroking its fur, puzzled, "What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing much, the battle was a bit intense, probably scared Warm." Mira skipped over the topic directly, "What do we do next?"
"You take the two Lucys back to the guild, I'll bring Wendy to check on Natsu and the others, let's bring this guy along too."
Rhode crouched down and drew several binding magic arrays on the barely-alive Future Rogue to prevent further mischief, then exercised some healing magic to keep him from dying.
"Alright, be careful." Mira didn't say much more, casually straightened the creases on Rhode's clothes, preparing to leave with the people.
"Oh, this is for you." Rhode tossed Mira a gray-white, multi-faced transparent crystal.
"This is..." Mira immediately felt the powerful magic power within the crystal as soon as she grasped it.
Rhode said, "It's the Dragon-Slaying Magic Crystal from the Earth Mother Dragon, just made, to keep for our child, might be useful in the future."
"Ah..." Mira held the crystal to her chest like a treasure, showing a happy smile.
Their child might be like Laxus, born with strong magic power pressing on their body, causing various illnesses.
Embedding a Dragon-Slaying Magic Crystal helps with such symptoms, and it was just a concept proposed a few days ago, already accomplished now.
What to do with the strong action of the child's father.
If not understanding the whole event process, Mira might even suspect Rhode decided against prematurely destroying the Eclipse Gate, asking to let out a few dragons just for the Dragon-Slaying Magic Crystal.
Watching the child's mother leave with the people, Rhode also brought Wendy, heading towards Natsu and their direction.
He also needed to pick up more supplies as backup.
Because previously chatting, Mira said at least have three, in line with her family's three siblings.
So Rhode contemplated having to prepare two more magic crystals.
Moreover, what if the third one is twins, three magic crystals might not even be enough.
Hard to encounter so many dragons opposing coexistence with humans, must cherish the opportunity well.
On the way, Rhode curiously asked, "What exactly happened? Why was Future Rogue beaten so miserably?"
"I, I don't know either." Wendy answered honestly, "It seems because that Future Rogue said something like wanting to kill Brother Rhode, then Sister Mira told me to close my eyes, later... and then it happened."
"Oh~" Rhode nodded, his wife still kind indeed, even remembered to remind Wendy to close her eyes.
Warm continued to tremble, the mistress was so fierce, even the Marine Sub-Dragon was scared off by her.
…
"Kid, go, eat him!"
Purgatory Sub-Dragon successfully led Atlas Frey near Natsu and the others.
Natsu protested, "What's this, uncle, we're busy here!"
"Oh, You three did well, beat him to this state?" Purgatory Sub-Dragon saw the beaten all over Emerald Dragon, grinned, and rushed over, "Go over there, this one's mine!"
"Even the Coexistence Faction guys dare look down on me!" Emerald Dragon didn't want to admit it was hurt by mere humans, but couldn't refute it, only tried to vent towards the Purgatory Sub-Dragon.
—This guy seems to have failed beating Atlas Frey and came over here, if I can't handle those strange kids, I definitely should be able to handle you, traitor dragon!
Two dragons, one red and one green, immediately started fighting.
After a few moves, Emerald Dragon realized something amiss, this... seems really can't beat.
"Damn it!!!"
Hapi saw Purgatory Sub-Dragon gave them no chance for discussion, had to ask, "Natsu, what do we do?"
Natsu looked at the flame-covered Atlas Frey, rubbed his stomach, "Just feeling hungry, let's eat!"
"Aye!" Hapi took Natsu flying towards the 'flying buffet'.
Natsu shouted back, "Hey, uncle! I'll come back after I'm full!"
Purgatory Sub-Dragon didn't respond, he fought happily—in fact, targets with immediate feedback were the most fun to hit.
"Then what do we do?" Carla asked Laxus.
Laxus thought for a moment, "Go help Natsu."
Though it looked like a living fireball, it was still a dragon, he worried Natsu might not handle it.
Li Li asked, "Gajeel, should we go too?"
"Tch, why help Fire Dragon?" Gajeel turned his face, displeased, "Isn't there an Iron Attribute Dragon?"
Li Li smiled, knowing Gajeel agreed, flew over with him.
Hapi brought Natsu directly charging at Atlas Frey, and at the moment of collision, Hapi urgently changed direction upwards.
Natsu seized the timing, "Hapi!"
"Aye!" Hapi immediately let go, allowing Natsu to fling out alone.
Atlas Frey felt a human landed on his back, but he didn't care.
Because he determined that human was doomed.
He was covered with Hellfire, even Fire Mages absolutely couldn't withstand.
He only wanted to catch up with that foul-mouthed 'Magma Dragon', to determine the superior one.
That was his principle, whenever seeing another Fire Attribute dragon, must determine superiority, not caring about Coexistence or Opposition factions.
Then, Atlas Frey quickly felt an itch on his back, akin to a mosquito biting feeling to humans.
He turned his head to look at his back, amazed, "What are you?"
Natsu held onto him, buried in the flames, opening his mouth to devour while saying, "I am Natsu Doraguniru, gulp gulp (chewing swallowing sound), Fire Dragon Slayer Mage, here to eat you!"
Because Natsu was eating, speaking was a bit unclear, Atlas Frey only heard the latter part, angry, "Audacious! Mere human, dare to devour my Hellfire..."
Before the words finished, he was smacked in the face by incoming attacks:
"Lightning Dragon's Shattering Fist!"
"Iron Dragon Spear·Ghost Wood!"
Golden lightning fists and raindrop-like iron spear tips hit Atlas Frey's face, causing his facial flames to tremble.
He originally wanted to habitually say, 'My flames can burn all magic', but felt a burning pain on his face surprisingly.
Something's wrong, when did human magic make him feel pain?
Natsu said nothing, just crawled to his neck to continue devouring, seemingly wanting to taste if the flame flavor differed in various spots.
At the moment the flames on his neck were devoured, as a Fire Dragon, Atlas Frey surprisingly felt a chill:
This being restrained and devoured bite by bite feeling, seems somewhat familiar?