The Pict Magic Of Fairy Tail

Chapter 39: The Assessment Begins

The train soon arrived at their destination. Stepping out of the station, the group quickly made their way to the mayor's residence.

The client for this mission was none other than the mayor of this small town.

"As stated in the mission briefing, a green wyvern recently appeared near our town. For reasons unknown, this wyvern has developed a habit of attacking humans. Several townsfolk have already been injured by it. Everyone is worried that the wyvern might attack the town itself," the mayor explained with a troubled expression after understanding the group's purpose.

"So, to clarify, the green wyvern hasn't attacked the town directly but has been targeting people entering the forest, correct?" Erza asked seriously, her forefinger and thumb supporting her chin as she carefully considered the situation.

"Correct." The mayor nodded. "Our town's livelihood depends on gathering herbs and hunting in the forest. Since the wyvern's appearance, our economy has suffered significantly."

"Have you figured out why this wyvern is attacking humans? Normally, magical beasts don't target humans without reason," Mira inquired with equal seriousness after some thought.

"We don't know," the mayor admitted, shaking his head. "We didn't even know a green wyvern was in the forest until someone managed to escape one of its attacks."

As Mira and Erza continued questioning the mayor for details, he shared all the information he had gathered.

Unfortunately, their understanding of the wyvern's behavior was limited and riddled with uncertainties.

At the edge of the town, Gildarts stood with his arms crossed, addressing the four assembled before him. "We've got a rough idea of the situation. If there's anything else unclear, you can return to the town for more information. Now, you'll split into two teams to complete this mission. Whichever team finishes first wins. But before you set off, I want to stress one thing: prioritize your safety. Alright, you're free to go."

As Gildarts finished speaking, Mira beckoned Elfman and said, "Elfman, let's go. We'll make sure to complete the mission before Erza's team."

With that, she rushed into the forest, dragging Elfman along.

Watching the two disappear into the forest, Erza remained standing confidently with her arms crossed and a determined smile on her face.

"Aren't you and Cana going to head out?" Gildarts asked, scratching his head in confusion.

"I'm not one to wander aimlessly like Mira," Erza replied confidently. "We already have a solid plan in place before coming here." Turning to Cana, she called out, "Cana!"

"I'm on it," Cana responded. She pulled out a deck of cards from her bag, shuffled them, and handed them to Erza.

Drawing a card, Erza handed it back, and Cana interpreted the symbols on the card. "To the west, there's a low cliff. Beneath it is a cave. That should be the green wyvern's lair."

"I see. Let's go," Erza said decisively, and the two headed west into the forest.

Watching Erza and Cana's retreating figures, Gildarts sighed. "Well, it looks like Mira is going to lose this time."

Scratching his head, Gildarts strolled off in the direction Erza and Cana had taken.

Meanwhile, in the forest, Mira and Elfman scouted different areas. After regrouping, Mira asked, "Did you detect any acidic scent?"

"No, I didn't pick up any acidic smell," Elfman replied, shaking his head.

"Looks like this area isn't frequented by the wyvern," Mira deduced, frowning slightly. "However, since the townsfolk have been attacked often, the wyvern's lair shouldn't be deep in the forest. Let's check in that direction."

With that, the two quickly left the area, heading in a new direction to continue their search.

Erza and Cana sprinted rapidly in a clear direction.

"Stop," Erza suddenly commanded as she came to an abrupt halt.

"What's wrong, Erza?" Cana asked, puzzled.

Raising her hand, Erza showed the back of it to Cana. The surface of the armor plating on her gauntlet was visibly corroded.

"We're very close to the green wyvern. As is widely known, green wyverns possess acidic breath, and the air they exhale is also highly acidic. Around their lairs, the acidity in the air is so strong that it can corrode metal," Erza explained as she removed the corroded piece of armor.

"This armor plate is made from a specially chosen metal that is highly susceptible to acid corrosion. By monitoring its condition, we can confirm our proximity to the wyvern's lair."

"I see," Cana nodded, then quickly pulled out her cards, casting an air purification effect on both herself and Erza.

Erza began equipping a different set of armor.

After all, they were dealing with an S-Class magical beast.

Even if it was the lowest tier of S-Class beasts, it still required meticulous preparation to handle.

Unlike Mira and Elfman's "Take Over" magic, Erza and Cana's abilities demanded thorough pre-battle planning when confronting an opponent of this level to avoid unnecessary risks.

Once their preparations were complete, Erza soared into the air, pinpointing the direction of the low cliff they sought. The two then dashed toward the cliff with renewed speed.

Trailing far behind, Gildarts observed their readiness and began moving stealthily to catch up with them without being noticed.

...

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, Mira and Elfman regrouped after a rapid sweep of the area. Before Mira could speak, Elfman immediately reported, "Sis, I picked up a faint acidic smell in that direction."

Mira's eyes lit up with excitement. Laughing triumphantly, she declared, "Haha, we've got this! Erza the steel-plated queen is going to lose for sure this time!"

"Sis, isn't that a bit mean? We're all allies…" Elfman murmured in a soft voice, trying to reason with her.

"Alright, alright. Lead the way!" Mira said, dismissing his concerns, her joy at the thought of defeating Erza overwhelming her.