"Thank you for your praise."
The toad spoke, and Ikuto couldn't hold it in anymore—it even had a sweet feminine voice.
"Wah—"
Emily happily pounced and hugged the big toad. The toad, in turn, elegantly extended its arms to embrace her and said, "Are you my master?"
"Yes," Emily replied, then stepped back two steps, but her body was already covered in slime.
"I'm very sorry, Master," the big toad self-reproached.
"No, it's fine," Emily shook her head and curiously asked, "Are you a demon freshly born?"
"Yes, I am a demon recently created by Mr. Jehfrit," the big toad replied.
Ikuto couldn't help but look at Jehfrit.
Creating a demon?
And it seemed so mature, with stable personality traits.
Mr. Jehfrit is truly powerful!
"Please accept my loyalty," the big toad slightly bowed.
"How do we sign the contract?" Emily eagerly asked.
"Just sign this." Jehfrit tossed out a contract.
He and Miko had a verbal agreement, as did Lucy when she contracted her Celestial Spirits. But with this demon, although she was his most successful creation thus far, there might still be defects.
So he crafted this contract using her soul. If she ever betrayed Emily, she would die instantly.
Unaware of all this, Emily signed her name on the contract.
The big toad extended its tongue, rolled up the paper, and swallowed it.
"Master, please give me a name," the big toad said.
"Don't call me Master. Just call me by my name. As for yours..." Emily thought for a moment and said, "You shall be called Lamy."
"Thank you very much, Miss Emily," Lamy said. "I currently have three types of magic."
"The first magic, *Repel*—it deflects any attack, but it consumes my life force. I can only use it three times."
"You mustn't use that magic!" Emily quickly said.
"I'm sorry, Miss Emily, but this is the purpose for which I was created," Lamy responded.
"Master—" Emily pouted and looked at Jehfrit.
"This is Mr. Jehfrit's way of showing care for you, Emily. Don't be unreasonable," Ikuto quickly scolded.
"Mm..." Emily reluctantly nodded.
"The second magic, Earth Magic." After saying this, Lamy demonstrated.
The ground beneath her rippled like water, and she sank into it before emerging from another spot.
"Wah, amazing!" Emily exclaimed.
"The third magic, Mana Sharing, can help protect you from some negative magic effects," Lamy explained.
"I get it! Like Mystogan-nii's sleep magic!" Emily immediately understood.
"Not bad, right?" Jehfrit chuckled.
"Master is super amazing!" Emily was very satisfied.
Jehfrit also felt more at ease.
This demon didn't fully meet his expectations, such as the ability to instantly appear and save someone like Horologium. However, he took a shortcut.
Since there was no Celestial Spirit World, he gave her Earth Magic to follow Emily underground at all times.
When needed, she could pop out to protect Emily.
Unfortunately, the protective magic could only be used three times because it consumed a vast amount of mana. This demon didn't possess such immense mana since she wasn't a powerful demon. Thus, Jehfrit tied the condition to her life force.
Though it was cruel to Lamy, Jehfrit didn't want to regret later due to inadequate protection if something happened to Emily.
Emily soon forgot about this matter. After all, she was still a child, and with no immediate danger, there was no need to constantly worry.
The next day,
It was raining.
Outside Magnolia,
A man walked in the rain like a zombie.
"Jehfrit"
"Jehfrit"
Drooling, with a vacant expression, he kept repeating one name.
"We've arrived, Magnolia."
A shadow appeared behind the man.
He had wings on his back and eight arms.
Early in the morning, Emily excitedly brought Lamy to the guild to show off, holding an umbrella.
"Oh, Emily, is this your contracted demon?" Mirajane asked. "She looks quite powerful."
"Yes, her name is Lamy. She's a demon created by my Master and given to me," Emily proudly replied, unusually haughty due to her excitement.
"Lamy, this is Mira-nee."
"Miss Mirajane, nice to meet you," Lamy said politely. Her calm demeanor contrasted sharply with her appearance.
After all, a poor temperament would lead Jehfrit to consider her a failure.
"Nice to meet you too, Miss Lamy," Mirajane smiled.
"Amazing," the guild members couldn't help but comment. "That Jehfrit guy can even create demons!"
Powerful abilities were understandable, but creating demons was truly shocking. Everyone has two shoulders and one head; how does that quirky guy have such a monstrous intellect?!
"My Master is super amazing!" Emily became even prouder.
"Carla, want some fish?" Happy offered a fish.
"No thanks," Carla coldly declined.
"Huh? I feel a bit dizzy..." Emily suddenly clutched her head.
"There's negative magic nearby, Miss Emily, be careful!" Lamy immediately alerted her. "Mana Sharing!"
Lamy shared her mana with Emily, making her immune to the dizziness-inducing magic.
"It must be Mystogan-nii," Emily said.
"Mystogan!" Wendy immediately stood up, having long anticipated meeting him after joining the guild.
"No, Mystogan's magic doesn't cause dizziness," Erza shook her head.
"Is it really Mystogan? There's no sleep magic!" Everyone watched in surprise as a figure walked into the guild through the rain.
"Wendy." Mystogan entered the guild, saw Wendy, and said in astonishment, "You're here at the guild too..."
*Thump*
Before finishing his sentence, he suddenly collapsed face-down onto the floor.
"Mystogan!" Everyone rushed over in alarm.
"No time... everyone, run, escape the town while you still can!" Mystogan struggled to say.
"What?" Everyone was still stunned when they suddenly felt something hooking their souls, pulling them upwards.
"What's happening?!"
Everyone was shocked.
"Wendy!" Mystogan crawled up with all his strength, hugging Wendy; Carla also leapt over.
"Natsu!" Happy and Lucy lunged toward Natsu.
"Emily!" A bolt of lightning struck down from the second floor—it was Laxus, who scooped Emily up. Beside him, Lamy swallowed both of them and sank into the ground!
*Boom*
A terrifying suction came from the sky.
No one had time to resist.
In an instant, the entire Magnolia Town vanished!
Only barren land remained.
"How... how could this happen..." Wendy snapped out of her shock and stared at the white expanse before her in disbelief.
"It seems Animus doesn't affect Dragon Slayers," Mystogan said, letting go of Wendy.
Carla in his arms was unharmed too.
"So this day has finally come," Carla said with a complex expression. "Mystogan, you are Jellal from Edolas, aren't you?"
Seeing two identical people who knew about Animus, Carla immediately figured it out.