Compared to the two fairies, Natsu is truly slaying a dragon!

The guild members gathered here, forming a circle around the two people in the middle.

Those two are Erza and Natsu.

Clearly, this is yet another challenge from Natsu to Erza.

[This all stems from the Lalab incident, when Natsu proposed a fight with Erza after everything was over, to show her how much he had improved over the years.]

Erza readily agreed.

Thus, today's battle took place.

[At the scene, people moved about, and shouts and comments filled the air.]

[Even more extreme, a betting pool was set up, but clearly, almost 99% of people chose to bet on Erza to win.]

[There's also Lucy, whose situation is unclear, who didn't place a bet.]

Soon, the battle began under everyone's watchful eyes.

This battle successfully demonstrated Natsu's growth to everyone.

[This guy was even able to hold his own against Erza for a couple of rounds, which is truly surprising.]

But, just as the outcome was about to be decided...

The battle was interrupted by the sudden intrusion of a frogman from the Council.

Erza was arrested on charges including damaging stations and roads, and causing large-scale destruction.

Natsu was immediately displeased upon hearing this.

[He desperately tried to stop the frogman, but was ultimately stopped by his own guild members, and could only watch helplessly as Erza was taken away.]

The atmosphere within the entire guild plummeted.

To prevent Natsu from doing anything reckless, Makarov ordered Natsu to be imprisoned.

However, it was discovered midway through that the Natsu who was imprisoned was actually Macao in disguise; the real Natsu had already gone to the Council of Judges alone.

Meanwhile, inside the Magic Council, a trial concerning Erza's reputation is unfolding.

Erza didn't care about the accusations of wrongdoing; her gaze remained fixed on a figure in the council seats.

【Zikurain!】

Just now, Erza had a conversation with this guy outside. Based on a woman's intuition, Erza had always felt that something was off about this Zicrein.

[It wasn't just that he had the exact same face as the evil person she remembered, but also... his stance, his code of conduct, and so on—all of these made Erza extremely suspicious.]

However, these are all just speculations, so no conclusions can be drawn.

The trial is proceeding normally.

According to procedure, once the trial is over, I should be able to return to the guild safely.

This is almost universally acknowledged; it's something everyone can see.

After all, the Magic Council couldn't actually capture all the Fairy Tail members.

At least, at this critical juncture, it's absolutely impossible.

The purpose of this whole charade, frankly speaking, is to divert public attention from the fact that the authorities failed to properly supervise the Lala Bay, leading to its loss.

[The story shifts to a case involving Fairy Tail's daily disruption of official duties.]

This way, they can cover up their own incompetence.

However, at this very moment...

Natsu brazenly stormed into the Council Chamber.

[And loudly proclaimed that she was Erza, and so on.]

[This guy even wore a wig and ill-fitting armor to appear in the courtroom for the sake of realism.]

After this commotion, everyone present was left humiliated.

Ultimately, Speaker Crawford had no choice but to order him detained for a day, at least to set an example for the public.

[And so... Erza, who was supposed to return to the guild today, was dragged down and ended up spending the night in a cell within the Magic Council.]

However, regardless of the circumstances, at least they meant well.

Although good intentions led to bad results...

The matter concluded successfully the following day.

Having regained his strength, Natsu once again challenged Erza to a one-on-one duel.

However, Erza was currently enjoying her long-awaited strawberry cake and clearly had no time to pay attention to Natsu, knocking him down with a single punch.

Seeing this, Igneel almost couldn't bear to watch any longer.

Throughout the entire piece, only one characteristic is revealed.

I've definitely raised a stupid son, he really is stupid...

The footage is still playing.

On this day, a new face returned to the guild that Lucy had never seen before.

[Um...or rather, this is someone very few people in the entire guild have ever seen before.]

[Miston Hill, the one who always uses sleep magic to knock out the entire guild before appearing alone.]

The mystery surrounding Miston Hill has also sparked much discussion.

When asked who knew the face of Mistonhill, Gray said that probably only the guild leader knew.

This immediately drew opposition from another person on the second floor.

Laxus, he too had seen Mistonhill's face.

However, Laxus clearly didn't want to talk to the others much.

Laxus's appearance instantly ignited Natsu's desire for a challenge.

Without a word, he planned to rush upstairs to challenge Laxus to a duel.

However, Natsu was stopped halfway through his run.

"The second floor is a place only S-rank individuals can set foot on. You're not qualified yet! Absolutely not!"

Looking at Natsu pinned to the ground, Laxus uttered a merciless taunt.

After all, how dare someone who can't even reach S-rank presume to challenge themselves?

This incident also solidified Natsu's ambition to become an S-class rank member.

[That means secretly completing an S-rank mission. Even Makarov couldn't say anything then, right?]

[Thinking it through without hesitation, that very night, with the help of Happy, the two of them sneaked into the second floor and stole an S-rank mission request form.]

[And then he approached Lucy.]

Initially, Lucy refused, because during her conversation with Mirajane earlier that day, she understood what S-rank truly meant and just how dangerous S-rank missions were.

However, the moment I saw that the reward for the commission included the key to the Zodiac, I was truly astonished.

Lucy agreed without hesitation.

Those are the twelve signs of the zodiac!

There are only twelve of these weapons in the entire world, and for a Celestial Spirit Mage, there is nothing they cannot challenge.

So the group set off that very night.

The next day, after Mirajane discovered this, Makarov angrily dispatched Gray to capture Natsu and the others.

However, no matter how much he planned, he never expected that Gray would be outmaneuvered by Natsu.

[They knocked him unconscious and took him, bag and all, to the mission location: Karna Island!]

Meanwhile, Makarov, who had been waiting anxiously for a long time without any news, finally received Erza's return from her mission.

Makarov immediately informed Erza of this.

[In response, Erza, equally enraged, immediately dropped her bag and stormed out of the guild.]

[I plan to go straight to Karna Island and give those guys who broke the guild rules a blood sacrifice on the spot!]

Meanwhile, Natsu and the others, who had already arrived at Karna Island, were completely unaware.

The enraged female knight has closed in on them!

Chapter 194 Natsu: I'm a professional at causing destruction!

【Galna Island.】

[This is the main location for this mission.]

[This is also the specific objective of the mission.]

This is a cursed island.

Legend has it that a strange purple moon exists on this island.