https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-333-Our-Crystal-Lucy-Hartfelicia/12935290/
Chapter 334: A Solo Mission
Chapter 334: A Solo Mission
Rod used his Transformation Magic to retrieve Mira's luggage and found two sets of clothes for her, as well as the outfit from the mysterious small bag that she had previously forbidden him to touch.
As for Lucy's clothes, he simply took them from the wardrobe as she had suggested.
It was impossible for them to enter the bathroom, so Worm had to deliver the clothes to her, as he was more capable than a Pororo.
Before long, both of them emerged from the bathroom, their heads wrapped in towels.
Mira pushed Rod, who had been staring at her, and said, "You should go too. Lucy's bathwater in the tub hasn't cooled down yet, so feel free to use it."
"But Lucy exclaimed, "But that's your bathwater too!"
Rod nodded, "Then I won't be polite."
"Be more considerate! And it's already been drained!" Lucy protested.
Mira covered her mouth and laughed, knowing that Rod was teasing Lucy, both now and earlier.
He was willing to go to great lengths to cheer her up, even at his own expense.
Rod took a regular shower and returned to find Lucy's hair freshly blown dry, as she was now helping Mira blow-dry her hair.
Although her task had been taken over, Rod didn't mind, considering her low spirits.
"He doesn't really care about me at all. Otherwise, he wouldn't have waited a whole year to come find me," Lucy confided in Mira, as if sharing her story with her. She had been away from home for a year, and her father, Jude, had only just seemed to remember that he had a daughter.
Ever since her mother's passing, Lucy's relationship with her father had been strained. On the day she ran away from home, their relationship had reached its lowest point.
Jude seemed completely oblivious to his daughter's thoughts and feelings, his mind solely occupied with business matters.
Lucy guessed that her father might have initially immersed himself in work to cope with his grief over her mother's death.
She could understand that, as she too had been deeply saddened by her mother's passing.
What she couldn't comprehend was why, seven years after her mother's death, her father had neglected her for six or seven years, even though she, at the age of ten, had already moved on from the pain and was determined to live her life to the fullest.
"Now, all of a sudden, he sends the Phantom to bring me back, and in such a forceful manner. He hasn't changed at all," Lucy said, her voice filled with sadness and anger. "How can there be fathers like this in the world? I just can't accept it!"
"If your relationship with him is truly as you say," Rod thought, somewhat impolitely, "then there must be a compelling reason for you to return."
He speculated that either her father was gravely ill and wanted to see Lucy one last time, or he was forcing her into an arranged marriage, a typical dramatic plot twist.
"How can parents not love their own children?" Mira comforted Lucy. "Even someone like Marco cares deeply for Romeo."
"After this is over, have a good talk with your father. Perhaps he treated you like a child before, but now you're a capable mage in your own right."
Although this comment was a bit impolite towards Marco, it held some truth.
"Mmm," Lucy seemed to have made up her mind. "After this, I'll apologize to everyone too. But right now, I want to help you all."
The unpleasant topic was momentarily put aside, and Lucy admired Mira's hair, which was now dry, as she stroked it enviously. "Mira's hair is so beautiful."
Mira smiled and said, "Lucy's hair is beautiful too. Golden hair is so pretty."
Lucy touched her own hair and said, "It's because it's the same as my mom's, and Kasha has always helped me take care of it."
The two of them chatted about some girl talk, sharing tips on hair care, and the atmosphere lightened considerably.
Mira retied her loose bangs and stood up, stretching lazily. "Alright, now that we've bathed, the fatigue is gone. Let's go!"
Fatigue couldn't possibly disappear so easily.
However, continuing to rest would only make them more worried about their companions. The three of them, with Sol and Juvia in tow, set off towards Og City.
Rod considered the possibility of someone else from the guild being captured and decided that they could use them as bargaining chips.
After all, even with Wendy's help, their injuries would take time to heal before they could fight again.
The two Crabs carried the five of them towards Og City.
...
Rod and Mira never imagined that their guild would suffer such a devastating defeat.
And the reason for their retreat was the collapse of the Guild Master.
"Quickly! Let's get back to the guild!"
The Guild Master's fall had significantly lowered morale, and Fairy Tail, who should have held the advantage, began to sustain injuries.
Gajiru, the one who had ambushed the Guild Master, glared at him, while the other three of the Four Elements and Phantom Lord's Guild Master, Joseph, had yet to join the battle.
If the fight continued, the outcome was unpredictable, and Elusa had no choice but to issue the order to retreat.
Members of Phantom Lord pursued relentlessly, including elite forces from the headquarters and ordinary members from the branches.
They chased the Fairy Tail group all the way out of Og City.
Carla, at the rear of the group, kept throwing card traps to hinder the enemy's pursuit.
Natsu, Gray, and Loki, the stronger members, were at the back, occasionally using magic for attacks or defense.
Alzack and Bisca would turn around from time to time to fire their guns.
Elfman, the largest in stature, carried the Guild Master and ran at the front, with Elusa by his side to protect the Guild Master from further harm.
In the middle of the group, some members carried their more severely injured companions as they ran.
"Don't even think of escaping, Fairy Tail!"
"Stop right there, cowards!"
"Don't you have an S-Class Mage? Why isn't he here?"
"I heard you have a Strategist; he must be too smart to show up!"
Despite their anger, wanting to turn back and fight, no one stopped running.
The retreat was to regroup and strike back with full force later.
Even hot-headed members like Natsu and Gray, though nearly bursting with rage, followed Elusa's orders, as this was also for their comrades.
Several dozen people fled the boundaries of Og City, with nearly two hundred pursuers relentless in their chase. However, due to various magical interferences, their speed slowed, and the group gradually became more scattered.
The shouts of anger and ridicule never ceased, but the group could only suppress their fury and keep running.
At one moment, Elfman, who was carrying the Guild Master at the front, suddenly slowed down.
"Elfman..." Elusa was about to ask why when she saw two Crab Ships rushing towards them.
Elusa felt the immense pressure on her body dissipate, and her tense expression finally relaxed, almost bringing her to tears.
Perhaps only she knew that she wasn't as strong as she usually appeared.
It was such a relief to see them! Elfman shouted with joy, "Sister! Rod!"
The others, hearing Elfman's shout and seeing Rod and Mira, finally showed a glimmer of joy on their gloomy faces.
The reassuring reinforcements had arrived! Rod, Mira, and Lucy, riding on the Crab Ships, all wore looks of disbelief... We actually retreated?
The taunts and laughter of Phantom Lord members echoed faintly in their ears, and anger surfaced on the faces of the three.
No, this wasn't right. Why were they mocking our comrades?
Why were two hundred of them chasing a few dozen of us?
Numbers?
"Summon, Azure Engraved Golem, Crimson Mark Treant, Magic Swamp Frog, Scarlet Beaked Bird, Shadow Wolf, Ancient Stone Beetle... Void Nest Insect!"
Over thirty wild monsters appeared out of thin air and charged towards Phantom Lord's forces.
Three Void Nest Insects landed at the rear, and purple little insects jumped off their backs, bypassing Fairy Tail's group to join the battle.
One person... formed an army.
Lucy was stunned, as this magic seemed to surpass her understanding.
Just how powerful must one's magic power be to achieve such a feat?
Their comrades were getting closer, and Rod saw his injured companions and the Guild Master in Elfman's arms.
His chest heaved, and he tightly clenched the pendant in his right hand, "Summon..."
"No!" Mira grabbed Rod's hand, knowing what he intended to do, but summoning a dragon in this condition would cause his body to collapse.
Rod looked into her eyes, took a deep breath, and finally gritted his teeth, "Canyon Vanguard!"
(End of Chapter)
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