NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Whispers of the Dark
Chapter 9: Whispers of the Dark
Kael's POV
After everything that happened in the cavern, you'd think we'd have time to rest. But this was Fairy Tail, and rest wasn't exactly in the guild's vocabulary. The morning after our return, I found myself back in the guildhall, surrounded by the usual chaos.
Gray and Natsu were already at each other's throats, bickering over who was stronger. Lucy sat at the bar, quietly sipping a drink, while Erza stood in her usual commanding pose, scanning a board full of job requests.
I tried to keep my head down, flipping through my tome and experimenting with my newly unlocked spells. The system had rewarded me handsomely for completing the last mission, and I was eager to see what else it had in store.
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[Skill Tree Updated: Advanced Arcane Spells Unlocked]
**- Shadow Seal (Level 2): Improved efficiency for disrupting corrupted magic.
Arcane Wave: Releases a focused shockwave to incapacitate multiple targets.
Arcane Blink: A short-range teleportation spell for mobility.]**
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"Arcane Blink, huh?" I muttered. "That could be useful."
"Talking to yourself again?" Lucy's voice pulled me from my thoughts. She stood beside me, arms crossed, a curious look on her face.
"Just… studying," I said, closing the tome. "What's up?"
"Makarov wants to see us," she said, her tone serious.
That got my attention. "What for?"
Lucy shrugged. "Probably something to do with those shadow crystals. He seemed pretty worried."
Great. More trouble.
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The Meeting
Makarov's office was quieter than the rest of the guildhall, though the tension in the room was palpable. Erza, Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and I stood before the guild master, waiting for him to speak.
He looked up from the papers on his desk, his expression grim. "The situation is worse than we thought."
"Worse how?" Erza asked, her tone steady.
Makarov sighed, folding his hands. "The shadow crystals are spreading faster than anticipated. We've received reports from several towns across Fiore, all describing the same symptoms: corrupted creatures, magical decay, and signs of forbidden magic."
"Zeref's magic," I said quietly.
Makarov nodded. "It's unmistakable. These crystals are remnants of his experiments, and someone—or something—is using them to spread chaos."
"Then let's find them and stop them!" Natsu said, his fists igniting. "We can't let this go on!"
"It's not that simple," Makarov said. "The crystals aren't appearing at random. They're being placed strategically, and whoever is behind this is staying one step ahead of us."
"Do we have any leads?" Erza asked.
Makarov hesitated before pulling out a map and placing it on the desk. Several locations were marked with red Xs, forming a rough line across Fiore. "Our only clue is this pattern. If it continues, the next likely target is Crocus."
"The capital?" Lucy asked, her eyes wide.
"Yes," Makarov said. "If a crystal appears there, the damage could be catastrophic."
My system chimed, displaying a new quest.
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[New Quest: Prevent the Crystal's Activation in Crocus]
Objective: Locate and neutralize the shadow crystal before it activates.]
Reward: +1,000 System Points, Unlock: Arcane Strike Spell.]
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"Looks like we've got our next mission," I said, closing the interface.
Erza nodded. "We'll leave immediately."
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Journey to Crocus
The trip to Crocus was long but uneventful, giving me plenty of time to practice my new spells. I focused on Arcane Blink, getting the hang of short-range teleportation. It wasn't perfect yet—I'd accidentally landed in a tree at one point—but it was progress.
Natsu and Gray spent most of the trip arguing, as usual, while Lucy alternated between reading her books and scolding them. Erza, ever the leader, kept us focused on the mission.
By the time we reached the capital, the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the sprawling city. Crocus was beautiful, its streets bustling with life and its iconic Domus Flau arena towering in the distance.
"Hard to believe something so dangerous could be hiding here," Lucy said, glancing around.
"That's how they work," Erza said. "Hidden in plain sight."
My system chimed again, highlighting a map of the city.
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[Hint: Crystal Energy Detected in the Lower District]
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"It's in the lower district," I said, pointing toward the map.
"How do you know that?" Lucy asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Just… a feeling," I said quickly, not eager to explain the system.
Erza nodded. "Then that's where we'll start."
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Into the Shadows
The lower district was a stark contrast to the vibrant streets of Crocus. The buildings were older, the air colder, and the magic traces more potent. My system guided us to an abandoned warehouse, its doors hanging loosely on their hinges.
"This place screams 'trap,'" Gray muttered.
"Perfect," Natsu said, grinning. "Let's smash it!"
Erza raised a hand, silencing him. "We proceed carefully. Stay alert."
We entered the warehouse, the shadows swallowing us whole. The air was thick with dark magic, and the faint hum of energy grew louder as we moved deeper inside.
At the center of the room stood another crystal, larger and more ominous than the ones before. Its dark energy pulsed in time with my heartbeat, sending chills down my spine.
"This is it," I said, gripping my tome. "This is the source."
As if on cue, the crystal flared to life, and the shadows around us began to move.
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The Guardian
A figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, cloaked figure with glowing red eyes. Its voice echoed, deep and distorted. "You should not have come."
"Who are you?" Erza demanded, her sword at the ready.
The figure didn't answer. Instead, it raised a hand, and the shadows coalesced into a massive, hulking beast. The creature roared, its claws glowing with dark energy.
"Finally, a challenge!" Natsu shouted, charging forward.
The rest of us followed suit, the room erupting into chaos. Erza clashed with the cloaked figure, their swords ringing out with every strike. Gray and Lucy focused on keeping the beast contained, while I worked to disrupt the crystal's energy.
"Come on, system, give me something good," I muttered, flipping through my tome.
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[New Spell Unlocked: Arcane Strike]
Description: A high-power, single-target attack designed to pierce magical defenses.]
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"Perfect," I said, channeling the spell. Energy crackled around my hands as I targeted the crystal. With a shout, I unleashed Arcane Strike, the energy slamming into the crystal and sending cracks spidering across its surface.
The cloaked figure turned toward me, its voice a low growl. "You… will regret this."
"Not today," I said, preparing another spell.
The battle raged on, the crystal weakening with every attack. Finally, with one last surge of energy, it shattered, the shadows dissolving into nothing.
The cloaked figure let out a roar of frustration before disappearing into the darkness.
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Aftermath
As the dust settled, we regrouped, our exhaustion evident.
"That was intense," Lucy said, leaning against a wall.
"No kidding," Gray muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
Erza sheathed her sword, her expression grim. "Whoever that was, they're not done. We'll need to be ready."
My system chimed again, displaying my rewards.
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[Quest Complete: Prevent the Crystal's Activation in Crocus]
Rewards: +1,000 System Points, Unlock: Arcane Strike Spell.]
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As we left the warehouse, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Whoever was behind the crystals was still out there, and they weren't going to stop.
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End of Chapter 9