Chapter 184: She's Alone

Rhodes counted a total of 14 children—12 were forced to walk on their own, while two were carried, appearing to have just been beaten.

"I can go underground and get the children out. But to be safe, it'd be best to draw their attention before I make my move," Rhodes suggested.

Erza replied, "Leave that to me."

One of Fairy Tail's specialties was attracting attention—in all sorts of ways.

"Alright, wait for my signal," Rhodes said as he summoned Vorm again to use as a signal for Erza.

"Summon, Ancient Stone Beetle! Split, split, burrow!"

Rhodes summoned the other group of Stone Beetles, and they all split into mini stone beetles—12 in total—all of which burrowed into the ground.

"Receive·Ancient Stone Beetle!" Rhodes transformed into the stone beetle form, gave Erza a thumbs-up, and then submerged into the ground.

Erza, holding Vorm, moved to another hiding spot for the time being.

…

Near the altar, the leader of the "Shadow of the Ogre" dark magic cult, Shadow Ghost, was questioning his subordinates. "What's the matter with those two brats?"

"They tried to run away on the way here. They got roughed up when we caught them."

Shadow Ghost looked at the person speaking. Roughing them up? It was clear that they had taken the opportunity to vent their anger.

Luckily, the kids were still alive.

He sniffed the air, frowning. "Clean them up. Offering sacrifices that stink like this is disrespectful to Lord Carnibro."

"Yes, sir!"

Of course, they weren't going to boil hot water just for this; the robed men simply fetched some cold water to wash the children.

The gray-haired boy was covered in bruises, but he still held his sister tightly, speaking to her in broken phrases: "It's… it's okay… Just hold on a bit longer… It'll… it'll be over soon."

The little girl cried uncontrollably. She had long realized that her brother was a liar.

The signal, Vorm, disappeared. This meant Rhodes was ready.

Erza stepped out and shouted down the mountainside, "It ends here, Shadow of the Ogre!"

The dozens of cult members were shocked. "Who's there?!"

"Requip·Giant's Armor!" Erza's body was suddenly clad in a set of thick yellow armor, a long spear appearing in her hand.

Without wasting any time, she gathered her strength and hurled the spear. "Spear of Exorcism!"

"How dare you!"

"One person, and she dares to attack first?!"

Shadow Ghost realized something was off. "Her target is the altar! Stop her!"

Erza's spear, thrown in fury, was not something that could be easily intercepted.

Five men near the altar leapt up to try and block it.

Two of them misjudged the speed of the spear and missed it completely.

The other three tried to stop it with their weapons but were carried down along with it.

A spear like a falling star? Yes, a spear like a falling star—but one that was crashing down on their heads.

A loud boom echoed.

The altar, which had taken the Shadow of the Ogre countless efforts to build, was blasted to pieces by Erza's single spear.

The robed men stood in shock, staring at the destroyed altar, unsure how to react.

Was that really just a thrown spear, and not some kind of magic cannon? "Damn it…" Shadow Ghost watched as the woman on the hillside destroyed the product of their painstaking efforts, along with years of their dreams.

He gripped his staff tightly, veins bulging on his hand. "Kill her! Offer her to Lord Carnibro!"

"Boss, the brats are gone!"

"What did you say?!" Shadow Ghost turned sharply—where the children were supposed to be, there was now empty space.

"That woman, she's not alone!"

Erza was already making her way down the hillside.

Twelve mini stone beetles emerged behind her, each holding a child in their claw-like mouths.

Rhodes appeared, carrying the brother and sister.

He had wanted to get farther away, but the children didn't understand magic and weren't protected—staying underground too long could cause them to suffocate, so he had to surface early.

"Ah!"

"Whoa!"

The children cried out in surprise, gasping for breath.

"Don't be afraid. We're mages here to save you. Don't worry; we'll take you home soon."

Rhodes transformed back, trying his best to calm the children.

"Home? You won't be going anywhere!"

At Shadow Ghost's command, all of the robed men with staffs fired magic projectiles at them.

These magic projectiles weren't like the usual shock and explosive spells used by the Council's forces—each one was imbued with a dark, cursed effect.

Rhodes reached for his pendant, but Erza stopped him. "Take the children and leave—leave the rest to me!"

"Go!" Unlike in cheesy dramas, Rhodes didn't hesitate—when Erza told him to go, he went immediately.

The mini stone beetles sprang into action, lifting the children onto their backs and scuttling away.

"Requip·Adamantine Armor!"

Erza equipped a set of even heavier armor. Raising her forearms, the armor plates on them closed like two gates, forming a shield.

Simultaneously, a massive green defensive magic circle formed in mid-air.

The thirty-odd magic projectiles were all blocked by the green magic circle, bursting into unappealing fireworks.

Erza's scarlet hair fluttered in the wind, her solid back exuding reliability.

"Keep attacking—she's alone!"

Another round of multicolored magic projectiles rained down. The defensive magic circle flickered.

More black-robed men adept at close combat rushed up, wielding various weapons.

Erza glanced back.

Rhodes, the expert in retreating, had already swapped the children-carrying beetles for Beak Birds, who were now half-flying, half-running at high speed.

They were almost over the ridge with the children, while 12 mini stone beetles burrowed underground. Meanwhile, six Shadow Wolves ran downhill.

Two Swamp Frogs were also moving to outflank the enemies. Against such foes, Rhodes had no qualms about using poison.

Erza smiled—he was a reliable partner indeed.

Turning back to face another barrage, her expression grew solemn, even murderous. "Requip·Heaven's Wheel Armor!"

Erza wielded dual swords, metallic wings sprouting from her back as she hovered in the air. Sixteen swords of the Heaven's Wheel Armor shot toward the approaching dark mages.

These dark mages seemed to be more formidable than ordinary minions, as the Heaven's Wheel swords only managed to take down six or seven of them.

But Erza's signature armor and technique made them recognize who they were facing:

"A special requip magic that changes the entire armor, that scarlet hair, and that armor… It's the Fairy Queen—Erza Scarlet!"

"Then that guy earlier was also a mage from Fairy Tail!"

"The number one guild in Fiore..." Shadow Ghost clenched his staff. Now, things had gotten really troublesome.