The Magic Merchant in Fairy Tail

The icy mountain peak lay desolate before Kira, its snow reflecting the sunlight in dazzling brilliance. It was completely empty, save for the unrelenting wind that whipped at his cloak.

"So much effort for this?" Kira sighed, his breath forming a mist in the cold air. "I should've known I'd pick the wrong path. It's just my luck with multiple-choice questions—always wrong."

Ahead of him was nothing but a barren expanse of snow and ice. The cave, which had seemed so promising, had merely led him up the mountain's long flight of stairs.

"This better not be a prank by whoever built this place." He muttered, looking at the snow-covered peak. "Why make this pathway to nowhere? Was it just to save climbers some effort? What a disappointment."

Kira paced the mountaintop, boots crunching in the snow as his frustration grew.

"Should I head back and try the other paths? But what if they all lead here?" He groaned, imagining the frustration of climbing and descending the same steps repeatedly. "That'd feel like being tricked twice over... or maybe even three times. What a headache."

He contemplated calling Erza and the others to explore the remaining paths. "At least if they do the climbing, it's evenly distributed."

But as he stood there lost in thought, a sudden boom echoed through the mountains, startling him. He turned his gaze toward the distant peaks.

From afar, he could see snow cascading down in a massive avalanche. Along with it came a faint yet distinct surge of heat, breaking through the biting cold of Zonia. A hot, swirling current collided with the icy air, creating gusts that howled across the mountaintop.

Kira narrowed his eyes. "That magic... I know it." He closed his eyes to focus, the magic's familiar intensity unmistakable.

"Natsu!"

His sense for magic power told him all he needed to know: Natsu was battling somewhere down the mountain, his flames burning wildly.

"What's he gotten himself into this time?" Kira muttered. "Fighting something powerful enough to agitate his magic like that? And in Zonia of all places?"

Kira's mind raced as he pieced things together. Zonia was not mentioned in the original Fairy Tail timeline, yet the setting seemed to connect to the broader world of gods, demons, and ancient magic.

"Did my arrival cause a butterfly effect? Or is the world just filling in its own gaps?" He smirked. "Either way, this mystery is too good to pass up."

The possibilities tantalized him. The battles of gods and god-slayers might be part of the land's history. If so, Zonia could hold answers to the origins of god-slaying magic and even its relationship with dragon and demon-slaying arts.

"If dragons shared their power with humans to fight other dragons, could gods and demons have done something similar?" Kira mused.

Known facts about god-slaying magic flashed through his mind. It was ancient, lost, and could be learned from texts—but only by those with talent. Its dark, elemental magic rivaled dragon-slaying magic. Most intriguingly, users didn't suffer from motion sickness.

Kira grinned. "Natsu might be too focused on fighting to ask the right questions. I should 'help' him and maybe learn something from the enemy."

As he prepared to descend, a thought struck him.

"How should I make my entrance?"

Style was important. He couldn't just appear unceremoniously. He needed to exude confidence and authority, enough to unsettle his enemies and reassure his allies.

After a moment of consideration, he decided.

"Change clothes."

In an instant, Kira's outfit transformed. His ensemble was a masterpiece of craftsmanship: snow-white robes made of ice silk, adorned with sea-blue ripples and lavender embroidery. Silver crystal accents sparkled along the fabric, and his boots radiated a soft, magical glow.

The finishing touch was his set of twelve radiant wings. They extended majestically from his back, shining like angelic plumage against the snowy backdrop.

"Now, this is how you make an impression."

Kira spread his wings and leapt into the air, soaring gracefully toward the source of Natsu's fiery battle.

Far below, Natsu and Klaue's duel raged on. The clash of red flames against ethereal white clouds filled the snowy valley, the heat of Natsu's fire creating bursts of steam that hissed and swirled around them.

Lucy and Happy watched from a safe distance, both anxious and awestruck.

Natsu darted through the air, propelled by Happy's flight, as Klaue taunted him from her perch atop the clouds.

"Foolish human!" Klaue sneered. "Your flames are useless against me. I am the master of this domain, and your attacks cannot harm me!"

"Keep talking," Natsu growled, his fists blazing. "I'll find your weak spot eventually!"

"Ha! A mere human dares to challenge a demon? Your kind has always been weak, incapable of surpassing us. Your flames are nothing but a fleeting annoyance."

Though Natsu's relentless attacks consumed vast amounts of his energy, he showed no signs of giving up.

"There's no such thing as invincible magic," he shot back, his voice filled with determination. "You've got a weakness, and I'll find it!"

Happy flapped harder to keep Natsu airborne. "We're counting on you, Natsu!"

Meanwhile, Lucy was desperately wracking her brain for a way to help. Her Celestial Spirits might not fare well against Klaue's intangible form, but there had to be some way to turn the tide.

As Klaue continued to gloat, a sudden gust of wind swept through the battlefield.

"What's that?" Lucy shielded her eyes from the snowstorm kicked up by the disturbance.

Above them, Kira descended, his wings catching the light in a dazzling display. He landed gracefully between Natsu and Klaue, his aura exuding calm authority.

"Kira!" Natsu and Lucy exclaimed in unison.

Kira smiled at his comrades. "Need a hand?"

Klaue's eyes narrowed. "Another human? What's this—backup?"

Kira turned to face her, his voice steady and confident. "You must be the demon causing all this trouble. Don't get too comfortable."

Natsu grinned. "Now you've done it! When Kira gets serious, nobody stands a chance!"

Kira's wings spread wide as he addressed Klaue. "Care to test that theory?"

The battle was far from over, but with Kira's arrival, the tide was about to turn.

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