Seeing that Takeshi and the others didn't react, the three of them repeated themselves.
"Treasure Hunter Guild."
"Sylph Labyrinth."
Takeshi said, "We heard you already, no need to repeat it."
Lucy asked in confusion, "Treasure Hunter Guild... is that a guild specifically for finding treasures and stuff?"
"Sorry, the treasure buried here belongs to us. Don't get in our way."
Natsu frowned. "Treasure? We have zero interest in that kind of thing."
Natsu's words immediately struck the three men as unbelievable.
"You're saying you're not here for the Eternal Flame?!"
"Then why have you Mages appeared in this super place?"
Happy answered very honestly, "We came to melt the ice and rescue the villagers here."
The three men exchanged looks.
"How is that not interference?"
"The eternal flame is a phantom flame that has been burning for hundreds of years."
"Among us Treasure Hunters, it's designated as a super S-class treasure."
"However, the giants protecting the village severely hindered our access to the treasure."
"But for some reason, didn't the giants all go 'boom' and get frozen solid?"
"Which means now is the optimal time to get the eternal flame."
Lucy said, "But I heard that flame is like the guardian deity of this village and is very important. Isn't just taking it away the same as being a thief?"
The three men immediately bristled at Lucy's words.
"You dare call Treasure Hunters thieves!"
"Things like this only happen because the side getting robbed was super careless, okay?!"
"This won't do. Before these Mages interfere with us, let's get our hands on the treasure first!"
"Oh! Let's go!"
The three of them immediately charged into the village.
Happy said, "It's no use, it seems that flame is also frozen."
"Don't underestimate the super treasure-hunting abilities of a Treasure Hunter Guild. With this super secret treasure 'moon drip,' melting the ice is something we can super do."
One of them took out a small bottle and said proudly.
"What!"
"Moon drip? Isn't that the thing from Galuna Island?"
The group still had a deep impression of the island of demons. Lyon and the others had used the moonlight to condense moon drip in order to melt the frozen Deliora.
Natsu suddenly thought of something. "Wait! With that thing, wouldn't we be able to restore the village to normal?"
"That's right!"
Lucy and Happy also realized.
"Quick, after them! Catch the Treasure Hunters!"
"Take it from them!"
Natsu, Lucy, and Happy immediately chased after them.
Takeshi followed unhurriedly, he already had an idea of how to break the freeze.
At that moment, a giant one-eyed monster was flying through the sky, with a man and a woman standing on top of it.
"Treasure Hunters and Mages, huh? It's a pain, but we still have to deal with them. It's our job, after all."
"I advise you not to act. Those petty thieves are easy enough to handle, but those Mages, especially that man, are simply not someone others can defeat. It's best to report this to headquarters."
"What? You know them?"
"Not just me, almost everyone on the entire continent knows them. Fairy Tail, the strongest Mage Guild in the Kingdom of Fiore—no, they should probably be considered the strongest on the continent of Ishgar now."
"The strongest? Hmph! Just a mere Light Guild. If you're scared, you can go back yourself. I'll handle these guys."
"Since you say so, I'll leave it to you. This lady won't be participating anyway."
The woman was none other than Minerva, who had left Sabertooth after the Grand Magic Games. She had offended Fairy Tail, and Takeshi's power had left her helpless. She felt that no Light Guild would want her, and later, by a stroke of luck, she joined the Dark Guild Succubus Eye. She hadn't expected to encounter the man who gave her nightmares on her very first mission.
—
"Stop! Thief!"
Natsu shouted from behind.
"We're not thieves!"
"We're treasure hunters!"
Boom!
The three of them, chased by just two, were getting irritated. "At this rate, we'll never reach the eternal flame."
"Exactly. We're the proud Sylph Labyrinth, no way we let two brats chase us around. Finish them."
The three agreed at once. Two spun about to block Natsu and Lucy while the third sprinted higher for a sniping spot.
"If Mages start looking down on us, we're totally screwed!"
"Anyone in the way gets crushed. Treasure hunting's a deadly job!"
Seeing their pursuers halt, Natsu and Lucy braced for battle.
"A Mage's work isn't easy either!"
"You got it!"
Rala the giant mace-wielder swung his fist-shaped hammer at Natsu, the impact shattering the ground.
"A hand-shaped weapon?!"
"Stronger, goes boom and it's brutal."
"Tch. Take this!"
Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!
Natsu punched back.
The huge hammer unfolded into a palm, caught the blow, seized Natsu, and hurled him away.
"Uwaaaah!"
"Natsu!" Happy shouted in alarm.
Hiroshi turned to Lucy. "I don't like hitting women, but you're in my way."
"Don't underestimate me!"
Lucy took out a golden Zodiac key.
"Open, Gate of the Goat! Capricorn!"
A goat-headed, suit-wearing, sunglassed spirit appeared before her.
Capricorn was the spirit she'd claimed during the brawl on Tenrou Island. Originally, he'd belonged to her mother Layla. Later, Capricorn had fused with Zoldeo to become one of Grimoire Heart's Seven Kin of Purgatory.
"A goat? Try blocking me!"
Hiroshi charged. Capricorn stepped up and stopped the blade with one hand.
"What?!"
Hiroshi was stunned the slash had been halted so easily.
"Capricorn's hand-to-hand is top-tier." Lucy boasted.
Capricorn kicked. Hiroshi brought his sword up to guard.
Bang!
Hiroshi skidded backward.
"Take this!"
Super Stab!
He flipped a mechanism and the blade shot out like a spear toward Capricorn.
Capricorn yanked Lucy clear.
Boom!
The tree behind Lucy exploded.
"Watch out!"
Sensing danger, Capricorn shoved Lucy aside.
Bang!
A bullet struck the ground.
"A gun?!" Lucy paled.
One hit and she'd be done for.
"Where did that come from?!"
Happy scanned the area, a hidden sniper was lethal.
Drake licked his lips. "Missed? Next shot goes through your skulls. My Nanayon's thirsty for blood."
"Young Miss, the sniper's over there."
Capricorn pointed, he had to guard Lucy and couldn't leave.
"Got it!"
"Open, Gate of the Archer! Sagittarius!"
A centaur-clad figure appeared. "Sniping's my specialty."
Sagittarius spotted Drake at once, drew, and loosed an arrow.
Whizz!
The shaft sped toward the sniper.
Bang!
Drake fired.
Bullet met arrow mid-air, and the arrow burst apart.
"No way!"
"He hit the arrow?!"
Happy and Lucy gasped.
"This guy…"
Even Sagittarius's expression darkened.
Drake smirked. "Never underestimate a genius sniper."
"These guys are tougher than I thought!" Natsu exclaimed, getting back to his feet.