Chapter 131: FTRJ: Chapter 131

“Huh?” The stark contrast in personalities caused everyone’s eyes to widen.

“Are you really the Natsu who was just in the car?” Finn asked, a wry smile playing on his lips.

“Y-yes,” Edolas Natsu stammered, his body trembling slightly.

“Everyone says I become a completely different person as soon as I get in a car,” Edolas Natsu said, unconsciously backing away.

The image of Finn’s punch that had knocked Earthland Natsu unconscious was still fresh in his mind, intensifying his fear of Finn.

“So that’s the real Edolas Natsu!!” Happy exclaimed, clutching his head in shock.

“Don’t shout so loud! It’s scary…” Edolas Natsu whimpered, shrinking into a ball on the ground.

Earthland Natsu was stunned into silence.

“He’s the one with the real multiple personality disorder,” Nancy stated calmly, her observation seemingly confirmed.

Finn shook his head. “Regardless, thank you for getting us here.”

“Yes, thank you!” Lucy added, extending a hand in gratitude.

Upon seeing Lucy, Edolas Natsu was seized by a sudden wave of terror.

He scrambled on all fours towards the back of the magical four-wheeled vehicle, desperately seeking refuge.

Peeking out from behind the vehicle, he repeatedly offered profuse apologies.

“I’m so sorry! I’ll do absolutely anything you ask!”

Lucy stared at Edolas Natsu, who was trembling behind the car, his head poking out timidly, a mixture of exasperation and amusement evident on her face.

“I say, couldn’t you be a little gentler with me?” Earthland Natsu remarked, his voice laced with a hint of playful reproach.

“…” Lucy was rendered speechless by Edolas Natsu’s excessive display of fear.

“Is that the royal capital?” Finn murmured, his gaze fixed on the city in the distance.

“The magic crystals containing our friends are somewhere in that city,” Wendy stated, her voice laced with a hint of apprehension.

“Alright then, let’s get going without further delay,” Carla declared, taking the lead and setting off towards the city.

Finn and his companions turned to bid farewell to Edolas Natsu. “Well then, goodbye!” they chorused.

“Do you think they’ll actually succeed?” Edolas Natsu whispered to himself, his gaze fixed on the departing figures of Finn and his companions, his voice laced with a mixture of doubt and apprehension.

…

Royal Capital, within the Castle walls.

Edolas Erza, her spear held firmly in her grasp, arrived at the meeting hall.

The captains of the other Royal Army squads, along with the kingdom’s chief of staff, were already assembled, engaged in a hushed discussion.

“Yo, Erza, you made it,” Hughes, the captain of the third Royal Army mage squad, greeted her casually.

Erza acknowledged his greeting with a nod, proceeding to her designated seat.

“So, does anyone know why His Majesty the King has summoned us so suddenly?” Hughes inquired, his voice laced with curiosity.

“Hmm… not a clue. It was a completely unexpected summons,” Shug, captain of the fourth squad, responded, shaking his head in uncertainty.

“I heard something happened in Sicca Town. Nearly a thousand casualties. The king’s furious,” Byro, the kingdom’s chief of staff, announced, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.

“And, apparently, Fairy Tail is to blame. Captain Erza, what’s your take on this matter?” Byro inquired, his gaze fixed intently upon Erza.

“They’re nothing more than a pack of stray dogs. It’s merely a matter of time before we apprehend them,” Erza responded dismissively, her tone devoid of any emotion. Her dislike for Byro was well-known.

“Alright, alright, let’s not dwell on that, Byro. I believe the matter of the magic crystals is far more pressing at this juncture,” Shug interjected, his voice measured as he attempted to mediate the conversation.

“Hehehe, I had no intention of causing any offense, Captain Erza. Please do not take my previous remarks to heart,” Byro responded smoothly, before falling silent.

Throughout the discussion, Pansa Lily, captain of the first squad, remained seated silently, his arms folded across his chest, choosing not to participate in the conversation.

Erza harbored no ill feelings towards Pansa Lily. After all, he was an Exceed, and life in a predominantly human settlement was never easy for members of his race. Moreover, his recent discontent over the kingdom’s aggressive military buildup had left him with little inclination to engage in idle chatter.

The several squad captains patiently awaited the king’s arrival.

However, before long, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the tense silence.

Edolas’s King Faust pushed open the massive doors and entered the hall.

The moment the king made his presence known, everyone in the room rose to their feet, bowing their heads in respectful obeisance.

Faust proceeded to the central seat, offering a brief nod to the assembled captains before gesturing for them to resume their seats.

“I have received a report concerning the events that transpired in Sicca Town,” Faust declared, dispensing with any pleasantries and getting straight to the heart of the matter.

“They were attacked by Fairy Tail, resulting in significant casualties,” he stated, his tone grave.

As Byro had already reported, the assembled captains exhibited little surprise at this news.

“However, based on our investigation and the type of magic employed by the assailants, we’ve concluded that it was likely Earthland’s Fairy Tail that was responsible for the attack,” Faust stated slowly, his voice measured.

“From another world?” Shug stroked his chin thoughtfully, his brow furrowed in contemplation.

“Then their objective must be the magic crystals,” Hughes surmised, his voice laced with certainty.

Faust nodded in agreement. “And tomorrow is the day we extract the magical energy from a portion of the magic crystals. We must significantly bolster the defenses of the royal capital!”

“We absolutely cannot allow them to seize the magic crystals!” Faust declared firmly, his voice ringing with unwavering resolve.

“Yes, Your Majesty!” the assembled captains responded in unison, their voices filled with unwavering loyalty.

Faust then turned his attention towards Erza. “This time, I expect you to live up to your title, Fairy Hunter!” he declared, his gaze fixed intently upon her.

“Understood,” Erza responded, her head bowed low, her grip on her spear tightening slightly.

…

The atmosphere of the royal capital was markedly different from any other city Finn and his companions had encountered thus far.

An air of opulence and extravagance permeated the very air, with countless magical artifacts being widely employed throughout the city.

The magical energy, strictly prohibited in other regions, was being lavishly utilized to embellish the city’s infrastructure.

Under the influence of magic, the city’s dazzling structures and artifacts emitted a captivating luminescence, transforming the city into a breathtaking spectacle, even in the broad daylight.

The inhabitants of the royal capital were perpetually radiating smiles of unbridled joy.

“What’s going on here?” Lucy questioned, her voice laced with a mixture of bewilderment and apprehension as she surveyed her surroundings.

“I had assumed that this city would be just as lifeless as the others,” she added, her voice tinged with surprise.

“This city is completely unlike the previous two cities we visited,” Wendy commented, her gaze sweeping across the vibrant cityscape.

“Edolas’s king, in a desperate attempt to garner the support of the royal capital’s populace, has utilized the stolen magical energy to construct this extravagant city,” Nancy explained, her voice laced with a palpable sense of disgust.

Having experienced firsthand the harsh realities of life among the lower strata of human society, Nancy possessed a clear understanding of the situation. She viewed the king’s actions with profound contempt.

“What a self-centered and utterly selfish king,” Finn remarked, shaking his head in disapproval.

To be perfectly honest, if Finn had been unaware of this world’s history, he would have found it utterly inconceivable that this world was actually suffering from a severe shortage of magical energy. The sheer extravagance with which magical energy was being utilized throughout the city far surpassed even the most opulent cities of Earthland.

“Hmm?” A cacophony of cheers and joyous exclamations drifted towards them from a distance, capturing Wendy’s attention.

“Look! There’s a massive crowd gathered over there!” Wendy exclaimed, her finger pointing towards a sea of people assembled in the city’s central plaza.

“I wonder if some kind of parade or celebratory event is taking place,” Lucy mused, her voice laced with curiosity.

“Let’s go and take a look,” Finn suggested.

The group proceeded towards the throng of people gathered in the plaza.

The crowd was immense, the faces of the citizens radiating excitement and unbridled joy, their cheers echoing through the air.

Finn gently took Wendy’s hand, ensuring that the young mage wouldn’t be separated from the group in the crush of the crowd.

Natsu and Lucy followed closely behind Finn, the three Exceeds perched securely upon their shoulders. Thanks to Finn’s exceptional physical prowess, they managed to navigate the dense crowd without incident.

However, the moment they caught sight of the scene unfolding in the center of the plaza, their eyes widened in astonishment.

In the center of the plaza, a colossal magic crystal stood majestically, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly luminescence. The crystal was heavily guarded by a phalanx of soldiers, each armed with spears and shields.

“A… a magic crystal!” Wendy gasped, her voice barely a whisper.

“Is… is this the magic crystal we’ve been searching for?” Natsu murmured, his voice laced with a mixture of awe and apprehension.

Finn’s gaze was locked onto the massive magic crystal, his expression serious. “It seems highly probable. I believe that the magical essence of our Fairy Tail comrades is contained within that crystal,” he stated.

“However, it appears to be only a portion of the total number of crystals. Observe the smooth, cleanly cut surface,” Nancy pointed out, her small finger tracing the crystal’s surface.

“Huh? You mean not everyone is contained within this single crystal?” Lucy questioned, her voice laced with confusion.

“That’s impossible! There must be other crystals. After all, this crystal is formed from the combined magical energy of the entire city of Magnolia!” Carla declared, her voice filled with urgency.

Finn let out a long, weary sigh. “Carla’s assessment is correct. There must be other magic crystals out there. Our search is far from over,” he stated resolutely.

The group had found temporary lodging in a modest inn, the atmosphere thick with a palpable sense of tension and anticipation.

Natsu leaned against the windowsill, his gaze fixed upon the bustling cityscape outside, his expression unreadable.

Lucy and Wendy sat slumped on a sofa, their heads bowed low, their thoughts seemingly lost in a sea of contemplation.

Happy and Nancy remained silent, their attention seemingly focused on their own thoughts.

Carla, meanwhile, was diligently scribbling notes and sketches onto a piece of paper, her brow furrowed in concentration.

The sudden intrusion of a forcefully opened door shattered the heavy silence that had settled over the room.

Nancy’s gaze shifted towards the entrance, where Finn stood silhouetted against the doorway, her expression betraying no hint of surprise.

From the moment the group had learned that the colossal magic crystal in the city’s central plaza had been deliberately cut into smaller fragments…

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