Fairy Tail: The Dark Swordsman

67 - A Challenging Smile

[X784, Tower of Heaven]

— Laxus Dreyar —

The wind howled at this altitude, but Laxus didn't let it bother him.

Perched atop a floating wooden table, high above the churning sea and shifting clouds, Laxus Dreyar stood with arms folded, his coat fluttering from the winds.

Bickslow had fashioned flying platforms for each member of the team by attaching his souls to random tables he had grabbed from Akane Beach. Since they were trying to stay hidden from Natsu's senses, they flew over the clouds where the winds were rough enough to mask their scent and limited their magic as much as they could.

"Natsu already went inside. But...Laxus-sama, I might be wrong but I'm sure I felt Dannis-sama's magic before it disappeared." Freed said hesitantly.

Laxus didn't reply for he felt the same thing. It was brief, barely even registered for a second, but he definitely felt it.

'So not only is Natsu's team here, but Dannis as well.' He clenched his jaw. 'What the hell is going on in this damn tower?'

The sheer stench of dark magic that permeated through the air had even him shake a little bit. The atmosphere felt rotten. It was like walking into a room that hadn't seen sunlight in a century.

"You three listen up. I'm pretty sure you've realized it, but this place ain't simple," Laxus growled. "The magic in the air is disgusting."

Evergreen frowned. "It feels like cursed magic."

"More than that," Freed muttered. "It's... ritualistic. Sacrificial. Someone's playing with old, dangerous magic. I've never seen anything like it before."

"Even so, our mission doesn't change." Laxus continued. "We're here to find Ivan. Find out what the hell he's planning with Oración Seis. Nothing else matters. Got it?"

All three nodded without hesitation.

"Good." Laxus cracked his neck. "The three of you head to the entrance and make your way up from there. Stick together and don't stray. I'll scour the tower from the top."

"Gotcha, boss!" Bickslow cackled, tongue flicking out as he guided the spirits downward, ferrying the others toward the hidden base of the tower.

Laxus hovered in place as they departed, allowing the table beneath him to fly off as lightning crackled across his body to keep him afloat. He gazed back at the tall obsidian tower.

'Dammit, pops. What the hell are you wrapped up in?'

When he saw his team vanish into the lower levels of the tower, he raised his arm high, magic spiraling into his palm. Sparks gathered. The sky roared in response.

"Raging Bolt!"

A spear of golden lightning appeared in his palm that he threw forwards, slicing through the clouds and obliterating a wall of the tower like a divine hammer. Stone and steel exploded outwards in a storm of rubble and smoke, the entire tower shaking from the impact.

Without waiting for the debris to settle, Laxus launched himself forward—lightning propelling him like a living thunder bolt.

He landed in a small, forgotten chamber somewhere deep in the upper quadrant of the tower. It looked unused—dusty, dirty, and stale.

Except for what was behind the wall. His raging bolt had pierced through the outer layer and struck something in the inner wall.

The masonry beneath it was hollow—too hollow.