The Magic Merchant in Fairy Tail

The snow-covered landscape was littered with remnants of a ruined village. Wooden beams jutted out from the frozen ground, remnants of walls and homes long since abandoned.

Kana surveyed the wreckage, noting the desolation. "It's incredible that there was once a village in a place like this."

Rocky squinted as the fog thickened around them. "Speaking of incredible, how about this fog? It doesn't feel natural at all, especially in a snowy mountain."

Kana nodded thoughtfully. "It's strange. Could this be some kind of magic?"

"Possibly. Do you think it's connected to Natsu and the others' mission?" Rocky asked.

Kana hesitated. "The mission's objective was to repel monsters, right? Something unusual is clearly going on here."

Rocky turned to Elfman, who stood silently, scanning the surroundings. "We're dealing with monsters, and we've got Fairy Tail's own Beast King here. That's reassuring."

Elfman's deep voice broke the silence. "Something's coming. There are a lot of them."

The three quickly shifted into a defensive formation, standing back-to-back as rustling sounds approached through the snow.

The wolves came into view, their sleek, snow-white forms blending into the frosty terrain.

Elfman frowned. "Snow wolves? Why didn't we hear any howling?"

As if in answer, a smooth, resonant voice emerged from the mist. "Because without a wolf king to command them, there is no howling."

The voice carried an eerie calm, and as the fog thickened, it formed into a pale, humanlike face—a sight that unsettled even these seasoned wizards.

"Let me introduce myself," the figure said, the face smiling faintly. "I am Ferg, and you are trespassing. If you don't leave now, I will consider you enemies."

Elfman stepped forward, placing himself protectively in front of Kana and Rocky. "Are they enemies?"

Kana's hand instinctively went to her deck of cards, while Rocky adjusted the ring on his finger. "Looks like the master was right. There's more going on here than just monsters. Is this related to the legend of the celestial maiden Kira mentioned?"

The wolves began circling, their numbers multiplying until the pack was nearly a hundred strong. Each beast was as large as a person, their glowing eyes brimming with hostility.

The tension was palpable. The wolves edged closer, growling lowly, their hot breath steaming in the frigid air.

Kana's voice was steady as she drew a card. "These wolves aren't ordinary. Be ready for anything."

Ferg's face darkened as he read their resolve. "So, you've chosen to become my enemies." He raised a hand, his voice sharp. "Kill—"

Before the command was fully issued, Kana, Rocky, and Elfman launched their counterattack.

Kana's deck flashed in her hand, and five cards materialized in quick succession. Each card radiated a different magical aura—fire, water, metal, wood, and earth.

"Let's see what you can do!" Kana shouted, throwing the cards into the air.

The cards spun around her, their magic intertwining to form a glowing Five Elements Magic Circle. The circle pulsed with energy, and in the next moment, it unleashed devastation upon the pack of wolves.

[Pyroblast] erupted in blazing flames, reducing several wolves to ashes. [Frost] unleashed an icy chill that froze others solid. [Hurricane] whipped up sharp wind blades, slicing through the pack. [Thunderstorm] rumbled with electricity, striking wolves down with bolts of lightning. [Stone Strike] shattered the frozen ground, sending boulders crashing into the beasts.

The combined effects were catastrophic. In mere moments, the snowy field was littered with charred, frozen, and shattered wolves.

Kana wiped sweat from her brow as the Five Elements Magic Circle continued to spin, sustaining its assault. "This deck… it was worth every Jewel."

The circle's lasting effect was one of Kira's ingenious designs. Unlike ordinary cards that vanished after use, Kana's deck was capable of creating a sustained magic field. This feature allowed her to conserve her energy while maintaining a powerful offensive.

Ferg's voice wavered in disbelief from within the mist. "So many wolves… wiped out in a single strike? What kind of magic is this?"

Kana gritted her teeth, her voice laced with frustration. "It's the power of money, you idiot!"

Ferg was momentarily confused. As a demon isolated in the snowy mountains, he had no concept of monetary systems. "The magic… of money? How peculiar."

His innocent response struck a nerve. Kana's irritation deepened as she remembered the exorbitant price Kira charged for the deck. "You wouldn't understand! You don't know what it costs to use this magic!"

While Kana's cards wreaked havoc, Rocky darted into the fray, his golden light streaking across the battlefield. His agility was unmatched, and with each swift strike, he took down wolf after wolf. The sound of his rings slicing through the air was accompanied by the dull thuds of falling bodies.

"Too slow," Rocky muttered, dispatching another wolf with a precisely aimed blow to its side.

Elfman, on the other hand, charged head-on into the pack. His Beast Soul: Arm of the Beast King transformed his right arm into a massive, scaled limb, brimming with raw power. With a single punch, he sent several wolves flying, their bodies crashing into the snow like ragdolls.

Elfman's straightforward fighting style contrasted with Rocky's finesse and Kana's tactical precision, but the three of them worked together seamlessly.

Elfman's strength cleared the path, Rocky's speed eliminated stragglers, and Kana's magic circle ensured no wolf could escape.

In less than a minute, the battlefield fell silent. The once-formidable pack of wolves lay defeated, their bodies scattered across the icy ground.

Elfman dusted off his hands. "A man fights with strength. These wolves didn't stand a chance."

Rocky smirked, spinning his ring on his finger. "Impressive teamwork, as always."

Kana, still annoyed, sighed as the magic circle faded. "Let's not celebrate yet. We still have that guy in the mist to deal with."

From the thick fog, Ferg's voice echoed ominously. "The power of money, speed, and brute force… impressive. But can you see through the confusion of life itself?"

The mist began to swirl, thickening and warping the light around them. A strange, unsettling sensation crept over the three wizards.

"What's he planning now?" Kana muttered, her grip tightening on her cards.

Rocky's smirk faded, replaced by a wary expression. "Stay sharp. This isn't over."

Elfman stepped forward, his beastly arm still glowing with power. "Whatever it is, we'll take it head-on. That's what men do!"

As the fog deepened, obscuring their vision, the trio braced themselves for the next phase of the battle.

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