Ken said nothing.
Suddenly, his eyes burst into a radiant golden light, his pupils swallowed by the brilliance. Beneath his feet, eight different-colored magic circles unfolded in a dazzling bloom.
An overwhelming surge of magic power roared outward, its momentum seeming to tear at the very sky itself!
For a moment, everyone could faintly hear the ancient roar of a dragon echoing through the air.
Releasing magic power to exert pressure was, without a doubt, one of the most direct ways to display one's strength.
Normally, Ken could only wield three Dragon Slayer magics simultaneously when performing the ancient Secret Art of Dragon Slaying.However, if it was merely for the sake of display without launching an attack, releasing eight types of magic power at once was not beyond his capabilities.
Jura and Lyon, who had been standing closest to Ken, bore the full brunt of his pressure. In that moment, they gained an undeniable, instinctive understanding of Ken's terrifying power.
They had only ever felt such overwhelming magic pressure from the very strongest of the Ten Wizard Saints.
In any guild, Ken would be considered a true powerhouse.
After a long, stunned silence—
Lyon was the first to recover, awkwardly scratching the back of his head as he said, "You… you're seriously strong."
He then turned toward Jura, seeking guidance from the man he always looked up to.
Jura's expression was solemn. "In terms of magic reserves alone, Your Excellency Ken's strength is certainly not inferior to mine. If you have a strategy in mind for defeating the enemy, I am willing to follow your lead."
His tone carried genuine respect.
Ken couldn't help but develop a favorable impression of Jura—he was humble despite his strength, a true gentleman of magic.
"The first clash with the Oración Seis ended in failure. We must regroup and reorganize," Jura continued. "I support Brother Ken leading this mission."
Following Snake Princess' Scale, the leader of Blue Pegasus quickly voiced his agreement as well.
"Men~! We too, put our trust in Ken!" Ichiya declared, striking a dramatic pose and winking at Ken.
Ken nearly choked on his own breath.
While Ichiya claimed to be the strongest member of Blue Pegasus, his greasy demeanor and eccentric mannerisms made even Laxus look charming by comparison.
As for Fairy Tail's team, they already trusted Ken completely.
Wendy and Carla, after a brief exchange of glances, also nodded in agreement.
The motion passed unanimously.
Ken smiled calmly. "Since there are no objections, I'll explain my plan."
"Right now, the Oración Seis has yet to locate Nirvana. They're likely scattered across the Gas Tree Forest, searching independently. This gives us the perfect opportunity to split into smaller teams and take them down."
"On the way here, I passed an area thick with gray smoke—it's likely the remains of the magic cruiser 'Christina,' half-destroyed after their attack."
"Ivan, Yvon, and Hibiki of Blue Pegasus, along with Lyon—you'll retrace our path and attempt to restart Christina. It might come in handy later."
"Jura, the strongest among us, will pair up with Sherria and search the eastern sector."
"Natsu, Lucy, and Hibiki will head west."
"Erza hasn't fully recovered from the poison yet. Wendy, Happy, and Carla—you'll stay and guard her. If danger arises, you can escape quickly thanks to Wendy and Carla's flight magic."
Ken issued orders swiftly and clearly.
Only one member remained without an assignment—the perpetually half-naked Gray.
"Hey! What about me?!" Gray protested.
Ken grinned. "Gray, whether or not today's operation succeeds will depend heavily on you. You're coming with me—straight ahead!"
He gave Gray a meaningful look.
Everyone exchanged curious glances, wondering what Ken had up his sleeve.
Even Gray was scratching his head. "What does that mean... depending on me?"
Ken's expression turned serious.
He continued, "One more thing—if Nirvana is accidentally activated, everyone must keep control over their emotions. Those wavering between light and darkness are especially vulnerable to its influence!"
"Now—move out!"
The thick Gas Tree Forest loomed above, its dense canopy blotting out the sky. Strange fluctuations in magic prevented flight, forcing Ken and Gray to move forward on foot.
They searched carefully, eyes sharp.
For a long time, Gray stewed in confusion, then finally blurted out, "I still don't get it. You and Jura are way stronger than me. Why am I the key to this mission?"
Ken slowed his pace, a small smirk playing on his lips.
Instead of answering, he asked, "Do you know who the real leader of the Oración Seis is?"
"Isn't it that guy Brian? The one with the creepy skull staff and black markings all over his face?" Gray answered, recalling the brief, chaotic skirmish.
Ken shook his head. "Not exactly."
"What do you mean?"
Ken's voice grew serious. "Brian has a split personality. The one we encountered—the knowledge-obsessed magician—is only his surface self."
"But hidden deep inside him... is 'Zero,' a destructive personality bent on erasing everything. Zero is the true master of the Oración Seis—and his strength surpasses even Jura's."
Gray's eyes widened in shock.
Ken continued, "Brian had to seal Zero within himself using powerful magic. Those black markings you saw? They're the seals holding Zero at bay."
"The seals are tied to the wishes of the six members of Oración Seis. If their wills are broken—if they're defeated—the seals vanish, and Zero awakens."
Gray's mouth fell open. "Wait... if we win, he shows up and wrecks everyone? And if we lose... we're doomed anyway?!"
Ken flicked Gray's forehead. "Think, Gray."
"That's why you're with me. Your Ice-Make magic is the key."
Ken's voice was firm. "If we capture even one member of the Six alive—while they still have the will to fight—the seal won't fully break. Zero stays locked away."
"With just one of them conscious, I can handle the rest."
It finally clicked.
Gray's eyes sparkled with admiration. "That's... brilliant! Seriously smart!"
Ken's expression froze slightly.
His gaze shifted downward—and his face darkened.
"Gray... put your pants back on. It's fine if you ditch your shirt, but pants are non-negotiable."
"Eh? When did I—?!"
Flustered, Gray scrambled to yank up his pants, muttering apologies. Stripping unconsciously when excited was apparently an unbreakable habit.
Gray coughed awkwardly and changed the topic. "Ahem—by the way, how do you know all this about Brian? Even Blue Pegasus' data magic didn't have that level of detail."
Ken waved it off. "I'll explain later. For now, just trust me and focus on capturing one alive."
He didn't intend to tell Gray the truth—that he had memories from another timeline.
They picked up their pace again, weaving through the labyrinthine forest.
Not long after, Ken abruptly stopped, his senses sharpening.
A strange magic signature flickered nearby—unsteady, shifting locations in the blink of an eye.
Ken held out a hand. "Stop."
He scanned the dense branches ahead.
The chaotic magic finally settled—on a massive branch high above.
Ken's sharp gaze locked onto it immediately.
"It's Racer—one of the Six."
He whispered to Gray, "We're lucky. We're the first team to run into one."
Gray squinted. "I don't see anyone…"
Ken chuckled quietly. "It doesn't matter. Racer's magic is tricky. Stay close and follow my lead…"
High above, crouched in the shadows, Racer grinned maliciously.
He had spiked yellow hair, a pointed nose, and gray goggles over his eyes, making him look almost goblin-like.
Seeing that he had been noticed, Racer showed no fear—only excitement.
"I'm the fastest!" he cackled. "Let's see if you slowpokes can even touch me!"
(Next Chapter: A Cage for Speed)