Instead of participating in the S-Class Trials along Cana, Lucy is sent on an important mission by Master Makarov. During her mission, she learns the truth about a hidden secret about celestial spirits and how that could pose a threat. Once she retu...
My eyes snap open, and I push myself to my feet, trying to steady my breathing. What happened? When did I pass out? I rub my forehead, concentrating as the last thing I remember starts to come back. Before I blacked out, there was this overpowering pressure and an almost impenetrable darkness filling the space around me, thick and choking like the depths of the ocean. Now, though, it's gone, replaced by a stark, icy silence that sends shivers down my spine.
I glance around, a growing sense of unease prickling at the edges of my awareness. My hands tremble as I clench them, trying to ground myself. I've only ever felt magic energy like that a few times—when Master Makarov fought Master Jose and when the Magic Council released Etherion during the Tower of Heaven incident. My heart beats a little faster. Does that mean I'm getting close to Pluto's key?
A powerful wave of energy pulses from an icy hallway to my left, filling the air with an almost suffocating intensity. I can feel it pressing down on me, the sheer magnitude of the magic weighing on my chest. I swallow hard, glancing down at my trembling hands. Will I be able to do this? Every trial I've faced has left me more drained than the last, and the exhaustion from the battles so far clings to me like a shadow. Whatever's in that hallway... I'm not sure I have the strength left to face it.
Despite the fear gnawing at me, I force my feet to move, each step echoing softly against the frozen walls. The hallway stretches out ahead, dark and uninviting. My breathing is shallow as I move forward, the cold biting into my skin and leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. The walls seem to close in, the darkness thickening around me. I can't stop the nervous tremor in my hands or the chill settling into my bones.
Finally, the hallway opens into an enormous chamber. My breath catches in my throat as I take it in—a massive room with a raised podium in its center. My eyes go wide as I spot what I've been searching for all this time: a black key with icy blue crystals floating just above the podium, casting an eerie, shimmering light across the cavern.
Relief surges through me, and my eyes fill with tears. I did it. I actually found it—the first of the planet spirits! My pulse quickens as I step toward the podium, every step bringing me closer to my prize. After all the grueling trials, the uncertainty, the fear... I can't believe I've finally made it.
"Wow..." I whisper, stopping just before the podium to take in the sight. The key is primarily black, with small icy blue crystals embedded into the surface, each one refracting light and filling the room with ghostly reflections. It's beautiful, but there's something about it—a chill radiates from the key, colder than the air around me. My heart skips a beat as my hand reaches out, hesitating only for a second before closing around the metal. The surface is shockingly cold to the touch, as though it holds a sliver of winter itself.
With a deep breath, I hook it onto my keychain. I can't shake the uneasy feeling settling into my gut. This felt... too easy. Even after all the battles to get here, the final challenge was simply... taking the key? Pushing the thoughts aside, I remind myself to stay focused. I need to get out of here before anything else shows up.
Turning back, I retrace my steps, feeling the weight of the key against my hip. It's comforting, but each step fills me with a strange, prickling sense of urgency. I have to get out. The cold wind blows through the hallway, ruffling my hair and filling me with a sense of foreboding. Reaching the open space I fell into earlier, I scan for any possible exits. My eyes land on a jagged hole in the ceiling—my way out.
I let out a sigh, shaking off my doubts. Now's not the time for hesitation. My magic energy is dangerously low, drained from my battles with the Vulcans. If I run into another enemy, I won't have much of a chance. I pull out my whip, determination setting in. It's going to be hard, but if I push myself, I can make it.
With a steadying breath, I throw my whip toward an icicle jutting from the ceiling. It catches, and I swing forward, reaching for the opening. My fingers miss, scrabbling against the icy surface before finding a grip on another ledge. My muscles burn, exhaustion threatening to drag me down, but I grit my teeth and pull myself up, inch by inch. Finally, I heave myself through the opening, collapsing onto the snowy ground.
Relief floods me, and I let out a shaky laugh. I actually made it! My hands are still trembling, but a surge of accomplishment washes over me. I did it. All the hardship wasn't for nothing.
But before I can fully catch my breath, something black slices through the air—a card with a vivid orange outline, heading straight for me. My instincts kick in, and I dive to the side just in time to avoid the explosion that follows. Heat sears my skin, and I watch in horror as the snow melts away from the impact site. Heart pounding, I scramble to my feet, eyes scanning my surroundings.
A woman steps into view, her figure outlined against the snow. She's tall, with vibrant pink hair cascading over her shoulders and sharp blue eyes that gleam with amusement. She stands with one hand on her hip, a mocking smile playing at the edges of her lips. Her outfit—black with golden trim—clings to her frame, her presence radiating power and danger.
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Swallowing hard, I take a step back, trying to steady my voice. "W-Who are you? And what do you want?" The tremor in my voice betrays the fear thrumming in my veins.
She laughs, a soft, mocking sound that sends a chill down my spine. "Oh, sweetie, that's irrelevant. You wouldn't understand even if I told you." Her words are laced with condescension, her eyes glinting with sinister amusement. "You've done all the hard work for me, and now it's time to hand over that key."
I clench my fists, glaring at her. "So that's it? You waited until I was exhausted, hoping I'd do all the work. Now you think you can just take it?"
She smirks, clapping slowly in a mocking, exaggerated way. "Bravo, you figured it out. But here's the thing..." Her smile widens, and a dozen more black cards float around her, each one pulsing with ominous energy. "Now that you know, it won't change a thing. You're already as good as dead."
My heart sinks as I sense the depth of her magic, a weight pressing down on me with a force that makes it hard to breathe. She's powerful—more powerful than anyone I've fought before. Trying to stand my ground, I glance around, looking for any escape routes. Fighting her here, in my current state, would be suicide. I can't let this be the end.
Desperation tightens my chest, but I force myself to stay calm. I offer her a small, defiant smile. "Maybe so. But you'll have to catch me first." Without waiting for her reply, I throw my whip to a nearby tree, using it to propel myself forward. I don't look back as I sprint through the snow, adrenaline pushing me faster, each step taking me further from her shadow.
Her laughter echoes through the clearing, filled with a dark, mocking promise. "Run all you like, little girl. This isn't over." Her voice fades as I put distance between us, the trees swallowing me up like a sanctuary.
