The Magic Merchant in Fairy Tail

"Fortunately, it wasn't Erza who came…"

Happy patted his little belly in relief, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead.

"Erza is here too," Kira added nonchalantly.

"What?!" Happy instantly froze, then exploded into panic. Without hesitation, he blurted out, "Kira, this has nothing to do with me! Natsu and Lucy forced me to do it!"

Kira raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin forming. "Oh, really? Happy, Laxus saw it happen. Everyone knows it was you who grabbed the mission list. Who knows? When we get back, maybe they'll say you were the mastermind."

Happy froze, visibly petrified. "W-Wait… I was forced! I swear! Woooo…" His attempt at cuteness was met with Kira's unimpressed stare.

"Enough with the act. We'll deal with this when we get back to the guild. Don't worry, there will be punishment," Kira said with mock reassurance.

Then, turning his gaze to Klaue, who hovered in the air, he asked, "Is this the target of the mission? A demon?"

"How do you know?" Natsu asked, startled by how quickly Kira identified their opponent.

Kira smirked. "I've encountered more demons than you've seen dragons," he replied coolly. "It's not hard to tell. Her magic fluctuations and aura give her away."

Though Klaue looked mostly human, the subtle differences in her presence were obvious to Kira. After returning from Karna Island, he had studied demons extensively. The results of his research—on demon factors, magic fluctuations, and more—allowed him to discern demons with ease.

Kira's explanation made Natsu bristle slightly. "So what? I'll beat her myself!"

"Her magic is clouds," Happy interjected. "The problem is, she can turn into a cloud. Natsu can't land a hit!"

"Elemental?" Kira mused, his interest piqued. Rare magic like this was a fascinating find. In the Fairy Tail world, elemental magic was exceedingly uncommon. Except for Juvia and the Nine Demon Gates' Keith, few wielded it.

"Maybe she ate some 'Cloud-Cloud Fruit,'" Kira joked.

While Kira examined the situation, Natsu's frustration grew. "You're not taking this fight from me!"

"This is an S-rank mission," Kira replied sharply. "You're not an S-rank wizard, Natsu. By guild rules, you shouldn't even be here. The moment I arrived, she became my opponent."

"I don't care! I'll defeat her myself!"

Kira raised a brow. "You were already defeated."

"Nonsense! I've figured out how to beat her!" Natsu declared confidently.

Kira regarded him for a moment before relenting. "Fine. You have ten minutes. If you don't finish it by then, I'll step in."

Hearing this, Natsu's competitive spirit ignited. "Deal!" He charged forward, flames rekindled.

Klaue watched the exchange with a mix of irritation and curiosity. While the white-clad man exuded an intimidating aura, his decision not to engage gave her a strange sense of relief.

"Is he underestimating me?" Klaue muttered to herself.

Her pride refused to let her back down. "Fine. Let's see if the fire idiot can survive this!"

With a wave of her hand, she conjured a series of magical clouds, each with a specific purpose.

"Ball Cloud!"

Klaue summoned hundreds of small, dense cloud orbs that floated ominously around Natsu.

When Natsu tried to punch one, it exploded, knocking him backward.

"What the—?!" he exclaimed, looking up to see the cloud balls hovering menacingly. If he moved carelessly, a chain reaction would occur.

"Haiyun!"

A massive sea-like cloud formed beneath Natsu, wrapping around his feet and slowing his movements.

This magic amplified resistance, draining magic power and stamina from anyone trapped inside it.

"Rope Cloud!"

Thick, sturdy ropes of cloud materialized, ready to bind Natsu at any moment.

Finally, Klaue conjured her ultimate weapon.

"Tieyun!"

The clouds condensed into a sword in Klaue's hand. With a powerful swing, the cloud sword extended, whipping toward Natsu like a lash.

"Whoa!" Natsu barely dodged the strike, the blade slicing into the snow behind him with explosive force.

From her hiding spot, Lucy watched in horror as the battle intensified. Natsu and Happy were doing their best to evade the attacks, but Klaue's magic seemed overwhelming.

"Her attacks are so fast and powerful… Is there anything I can do to help?" Lucy muttered.

Before she could act, Kira's voice broke through the chaos.

"Natsu! Time's running out."

"I know!" Natsu shouted back, determination blazing in his eyes. "I'll finish this now!"

Natsu's fiery resolve reignited his flames, the heat melting the snow beneath his feet.

Klaue sneered. "Still struggling, fire boy? Haven't you realized your flames are useless against me?"

"You talk too much!" Natsu shot back.

With Happy carrying him, Natsu launched himself directly at Klaue, dodging the Ball Clouds and Rope Clouds with newfound precision.

The flames around him intensified as he shouted, "Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!"

Natsu's fiery headbutt smashed into Klaue's Cloud Sword. The collision sent shockwaves through the battlefield, scattering snow and clouds alike.

Watching from a distance, Kira crossed his arms, a slight smile on his face.

"Well, it seems he really has improved," Kira mused.

"But he still has five minutes left," he added, his wings twitching slightly as he prepared to step in if necessary.

Klaue reeled from the impact, her Cloud Sword dissipating into mist.

"Impossible! How did he—?!"

But Natsu didn't give her time to recover. With his flames burning brighter than ever, he lunged forward again, ready to deliver the final blow.

The battle wasn't over yet, but one thing was clear: Natsu's determination, combined with Kira's watchful presence, was beginning to turn the tide.

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