DW DXD Chapter 99 Karasuba’s First Date Part 1 (Patreon)

Morning, Lakeside Hyoudou Mansion, Living Room

The warm rays of the early morning sun filtered brightly through the mansion's grand arched windows, illuminating the spacious living room in a warm, golden glow. On any other day, the morning hours would be filled with the loud, boisterous energy of the household. But today, however, that familiar liveliness was entirely replaced by a mixture of exhaustion and comedic tension.

Lying flat on his stomach across the wide, plush cushions of the main sofa lay Issei Hyoudou, letting out a weak, pathetic groan. His spine felt completely stiff, his back was aggressively sore, and his hips felt exactly as though they had been repeatedly run over by a train as his entire lower body was completely destroyed.

Despite already being fully dressed for today's outing in the practical combat clothes Uzume had meticulously prepared for him, a vibrant crimson shirt beneath a sleek black combat jacket, durable dark trousers, reinforced leather boots, and fingerless gloves. He was currently in absolutely no physical condition to appreciate the rugged aesthetic.

Hovering directly over his prone form was Tamamo-no-Mae. Her golden fox ears were twitching rapidly in irritation, and her palms glowed with a dense, warm magical aura as she methodically massaged and channeled dense healing magic deep into his battered muscle tissues to piece his broken body back together and forcibly restore his depleted stamina.

"Aaaaah... Tamamo, right there... oh god, please," Issei wheezed directly into the couch cushion, his voice heavily muffled but filled with profound gratitude. "I feel like my entire spine was completely dismantled piece by piece last night and put back together backward." He winced sharply as Tamamo's glowing hands hovered directly over his lower region.

Tamamo couldn't help the amused, slightly wicked smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she worked. "Ufufu~ My poor, sweet Darling," Tamamo cooed softly, though her amber-yellow eyes flashed with a potent mixture of possessive envy and smug satisfaction. "Don't you worry for a second, your devoted number-one wife is right here to piece you back together perfectly. But my, my... someone certainly didn't hold back a single ounce of their strength last night, did they?"

"I—I am so, so incredibly sorry, Issei-kun!"

Standing a few feet away, Miya, the usually regal, perfectly poised, and utterly unflappable former landlady, was currently performing a flawless, textbook dogeza bow directly on the carpet. She looked like she wanted nothing more than for a hole to open up beneath the floorboards so she could vanish from the mortal plane entirely as her flawless face was flushed in a bright red flush from pure, agonizing embarrassment as she continuously and nervously fidgeted with the long sleeves of her kimono. Her reddish-brown eyes were locked onto the floor in a state of mortified regret. She quickly wrung her hands together, bowing her head even lower toward Issei.

"I... I completely lost all sense of restraint," Miya stammered frantically. "The atmosphere was simply so comfortable, and... and I never intended to become so violently intense and physically break my precious husband!"

Every few seconds, her internal guilt would spike, and she would violently bow again. "I am so sorry." Another bow. "I am truly, deeply sorry." Another. "I swear it will absolutely never happen again!"

Unfortunately for her, the rest of the girls sitting around the room were showing absolutely no mercy as a chorus of laughter erupted through the living room.

Uzume was practically rolling across the opposite sofa, clutching her sides as she giggled hysterically, her legs kicking the air. "Pfft!! I—I still can't believe it!! Our elegant, proper Lady Miya saying she 'lost all sense of restraint' is the absolute understatement of the century! You didn't just lose restraint, Miya, you practically tried to drill a hole straight through the foundation of the house!"

Yuuka covered her mouth with one hand, her shoulders shaking violently as she tried and failed to hide her laughter. "I honestly thought the mansion was under attack last night. I was already preparing to grab my guns."

"Indeed," Matsu added, sliding her round glasses up the bridge of her nose with a highly mischievous, analytical smirk. "According to the highly sensitive sensors I installed in the basement, the sheer kinetic impact produced by the two of you actually caused micro-fractures in the support beams!" She proudly held up a small digital tablet, displaying a complex graph to the room. “From a purely academic standpoint, it was a spectacular test of the mansion's architecture, though a highly destructive one. The largest seismic spike actually exceeded the force produced during Issei's full-powered spar with Natsu-san."

Issei buried his face completely in one gloved hand, groaning into the cushion. "...Please, for the love of god, stop keeping records and spying on our bedroom intimacy."

"I spy and keep a detailed record of absolutely everything in this household, Issei-kun." Matsu answered proudly.

Yuuka, finally controlling her laughter, rolled her eyes at Matsu’s unrepentant voyeuristic attitude. A dry, weary sigh escaped her lips, though a faint smirk still tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Seriously, though, Miya. You're the one who always lectures the rest of us on maintaining proper decorum, order, and fulfilling our 'duties' with grace. And then the very moment the bedroom door closes, you go and turn into a literal natural disaster."

Miya's head dropped even lower, a pitch-black raincloud practically forming over her slumped shoulders. "I... I have absolutely no excuses. My own words have returned to haunt me. I again sincerely apologize to you all… I truly did not realize that my lack of control would cause so much widespread trouble..."

"Oh, don't worry about it, Miya! We'll happily repair the torn drywall later today," Uzume teased, winking playfully.

"Actually, the drywall is the absolute least of our concerns," Matsu chimed in, tapping her tablet. "Tamamo and I are going to have to heavily reinforce Issei's master bedframe with high-density magical alloys and triple-layered industrial shock absorbers. We'll probably then need to ward the entire room for absolute soundproofing and kinetic dampening, too. Hopefully, we can get the installation completed by the time his date with Karasuba ends."

If one looked closely at the various girls sitting around the living room, the primary source of their relentless teasing became even more obvious: nearly every single one of them possessed faint, dark circles under their eyes. They had barely slept. The aggressive shaking of the mansion had kept the entire household wide awake and vibrating in their respective beds for hours.

Uzume lazily stretched her arms with a massive, jaw-cracking yawn. "Man... I think I got... maybe two hours of sleep total."

Yuuka rubbed one tired, heavy eye. "I spent the entire night staring at my ceiling, genuinely wondering whether the plaster was about to collapse onto my face."

"And our poor child was completely frightened out of her wits!" Tamamo added, giving a brief glare over at Miya that made the landlady shrink even further into the carpet. "Sakura woke up crying in the middle of the night," Tamamo explained gently, her tone softening. "The poor dear was worried that the world was literally ending. I had to spend all night calming her down."

"And Ruby nearly flew straight through the ceiling trying to find everyone in a panic," Yuuka said with a tired laugh. "Your parents weren't much calmer, Issei. Gorou-san came charging out of his bedroom in nothing but his underwear. Meanwhile, Miki-san had already packed a full emergency evacuation bag. They honestly believed Magnolia had been hit by a catastrophic earthquake."

Thinking of how her unrestrained actions had terrified young Sakura and completely disrupted her respected in-laws, Miya's chest tightened with more guilt. "I... I am deeply mortified. I must go apologize to Sakura-chan and to Mother and Father immediately..."

Issei let out a defeated groan, his voice muffled by the sofa. "...Man, I don't think I'll ever recover from this level of embarrassment… Nor from the state of my back."

Tamamo chuckled softly, her hands flaring one last time as a massive wave of soothing, golden magic flowed completely through his frame. "There, there, Darling. The healing process is almost complete."

Feeling a sudden rush of vital energy and finding himself capable of actually moving again, Issei glanced around the room before noticing a distinct absence. "Hey, by the way..." Issei muttered, slowly raising his head from the cushion. "Where exactly is Karasuba? And why aren't you girls helping her get ready for her date like you did for Miya, Akitsu, and Yashima?"

Uzume snorted loudly, waving a hand dismissively. "Are you kidding me, Hubby? This is Karasuba we're talking about. Do you honestly think she'd let any of us touch her hair or force her into a fancy, frilly dress?"

"She would undoubtedly slice my styling tools completely in half before I could even get her ready," Matsu added, shuddering slightly at the memory of past threats. "The Black Sekirei has absolutely zero interest in romantic aesthetics."

Then, as if summoned by the conversation itself, the crisp, slow sound of deliberate footsteps echoed clearly from the grand staircase.

Karasuba stepped into the living room, splaying one hand confidently on her hip. As expected, she hadn't changed her style in the slightest. She wore her usual short, black kimono, tightly bound at her slender waist by a stark white sash, revealing her matching dark miniskirt and black stockings. Her long, shimmering silver hair swayed beautifully behind her back, and her cool grey eyes locked onto Issei with an eager, dangerous intensity.

"Are you finally done whining pathetically on the couch, Issei?" Karasuba asked, her voice dripping with a cool, sharp amusement as her left hand rested habitually on the wrapped hilt of her massive nodachi. "Let's get moving. I want to kill something already."

The entire living room immediately fell into a stunned silence.

Yuuka sighed heavily, crossing her arms over her chest. "Hey, cold-blood. Relax for a second, will you? Issei isn't even back to a hundred percent yet. And what kind of romantic date involves starting a bloodbath right out of the gate?"

"A fun one," Karasuba replied instantly, a slow, razor-sharp smirk cutting across her features. She crossed her arms tightly, her chest pressing provocatively against the dark fabric of her kimono. "We're going straight to the guild hall to take a high-ranked quest. Specifically, one that legally allows me to slaughter something powerful. To me, that seems romantic enough for a date."

Issei sweatdropped comically, slowly pushing himself up from the couch into a sitting position. "...Yep. That really is the most Karasuba answer imaginable."

"What can I say? Fighting is fun," She said with a dismissive scoff, narrowing her grey eyes slightly as she looked down at him. "The more dangerous the quest, the better the thrill. Don't tell me you've gone completely soft after a single night with the Innkeeper, Ashikabi-sama."

"No, I definitely haven't gone soft," Issei sighed, rubbing his temples in mild exhaustion. "But I actually value our lives. Hopefully, we can find a quest that isn't too catastrophic.”

"Hmph. Boring," Karasuba muttered, though the tiny, expectant twitch at the corner of her lips completely betrayed her bubbling excitement.

It was right then that Tamamo finished brushing the last lingering traces of exhaustion from his shoulders. "There!" She clapped her hands together with a bright smile. "Good as new, Darling!"

Issei stood up fully, twisting his torso side to side and flexing his back muscles. He let out a long, appreciative breath of relief as his joints popped satisfyingly. "Wow. Thanks, Tamamo. The pain is completely gone, and I feel great. You're an absolute lifesaver."

"Mmm~ You are very welcome, Darling!" Tamamo squealed happily, suddenly wrapping her arms tightly around his neck from behind and rubbing her cheek affectionately against his like a spoiled pet. Then, she cast a dramatic, heavily teasing glance over at the still-kneeling landlady. "After all, unlike a certain second wife who leaves her husband physically crippled and broken, your devoted number-one wife would only ever treat your precious body with the gentlest, most restorative care~!"

Miya's shoulders slumped entirely into a state of absolute defeat, her head dropping so low it practically touched her chest. "I... I entirely deserve this scorn..."

"Okay, okay, that's more than enough teasing, everyone," Issei said gently, tapping the fox servant’s arm until she giggled happily and let him go.

He turned around, stepping past the couch to stand right in front of Miya. Seeing the usually proud, elegant woman looking so deeply dejected and consumed by guilt caused his heart to ache. Issei reached out, gently placing a hand on top of her styled head and ruffling her smooth hair softly.

"Hey... don't listen to a single word they're saying, Miya," Issei said, his voice dropping into a warm, deeply tender tone meant only for her. "Don't worry about last night at all. It's not like I tried to stop you or anything either. If anything, last night just proved to me that I still have a whole lot of training left to do if I want to match my beautiful wife's true strength." His cheeks turned a slight shade of pink as he grinned. "So next time… I'll simply have to become strong enough to keep up with you."

Miya blinked in surprise, slowly looking up from her posture. Her reddish-brown eyes softened beautifully, shimmering with a wave of deep warmth and gratitude. Before she could even utter a response, Issei leaned down and gave her a soft, sweet kiss right on the lips. When he pulled back, a radiant, slightly shy smile played on her lips, her guilt completely melting away into pure devotion.

"Thank you, Issei-kun..." Miya murmured softly, her heart hammering happily against her ribs.

Issei grinned brightly, then turned on his heel toward Karasuba, who was leaning casually against the living room wall with her arms crossed, watching the domestic display with a dry, amused smirk. "Alright, Karasuba. Let's get going."

"Finally," she said, her shimmering silver hair swaying elegantly over her shoulder as she straightened up to her full height. "I feel like I've been waiting forever for you to finish playing nice."

"We're heading out, everyone!" Issei called out to the rest of his family, waving a hand over his shoulder as he walked toward the grand front door.

"Have a wonderful time, you two!" Uzume waved happily from the couch.

"Don't pick anything too reckless, Issei!" Yuuka called out, crossing her arms with a fond look. "And try your best to bring him back in one piece, Karasuba!"

"No promises on that one!" Karasuba laughed sharply, a thrilling, dangerous edge to her voice as she quickly followed Issei out the front door, eager to begin their long-awaited date.

—-----------------

Stepping out into the crisp, refreshing morning air of the estate's wide yard, Issei took a deep breath, looking toward the barn. Pushing two fingers to his lips, he let out a loud, piercing whistle that echoed sharply across the grounds.

An enormous shadow immediately bursted from the structure, rushing forward across the green grass with surprising agility. With a low, affectionate rumble that vibrated through the earth, the giant black wyvern Kuromaru lowered his massive, sweeping snout, practically nudging Issei's chest in an eager demand for attention.

"Hey there, buddy. You ready for a quick flight?" Issei smiled brightly, reaching up to fondly pat the creature's thick, armored scales before smoothly climbing up into the reinforced leather saddle secured across the wyvern's back. Once settled, he turned around and offered a firm, gloved hand to his silver-haired companion.

Karasuba accepted his grip without a single moment of hesitation. With a fluid, athletic leap, she hoisted herself up onto the saddle directly behind him. She slid in incredibly close, wrapping her slender arms tightly around his waist and pressing her frame firmly against his back, her grip secure and unyielding.

"Fly fast, Kuro," Karasuba commanded, a dangerous, thrilling purr leaking into her cool voice. Her grey eyes danced with anticipation as she looked toward the horizon. "The sooner we arrive at the guild, the sooner we find something worth cutting into pieces."

Kuromaru let out a deep, understanding rumble. With one powerful beat of his enormous wings, the wyvern launched them violently into the open sky. The sudden rush of wind whipped violently through Issei's spiky brown hair and sent Karasuba's long, shimmering silver locks flying out behind them like a brilliant banner.

Soaring with magnificent grace high over the sparkling, sun-dappled waters of the lake, the giant beast tilted its wings, banking sharply and heading at high speed straight toward Magnolia, officially marking the start of their chaotic date.

—----------------------------------

Fairy Tail Guild, Magnolia

Kuromaru circled gracefully above the rooftops of Magnolia before slanting his massive wings to descend toward the familiar, newly reconstructed Fairy Tail guild hall. Unlike the citizens of other towns, who routinely panicked at the mere shadow of the giant reptile, the people of Magnolia had long grown accustomed to the spectacular sight of the black wyvern. As the beast glided through the air currents, townsfolk simply pointed upward, offering casual waves and friendly shouts to the enormous creature as if he were nothing more than a giant flying house pet.

The guild hall itself stood proudly, radiating the exact same chaotic energy it always did. Even from high in the sky, the thunderous sound of boisterous laughter, crashing furniture, and drunken shouting spilled generously from the wide-open front doors. The iconic Fairy Tail insignia hung prominently above the roof, framing a constant stream of colorful mages who came and went carrying massive request sheets, magical supplies, and the occasional unconscious teammate slung over their shoulders.

Kuromaru executed a flawless landing a short distance away from the courtyard, carefully angling his massive tail to avoid crushing the stone front steps.

Issei hopped down first, landing lightly on his boots before naturally offering Karasuba a hand. She accepted the gesture more out of ingrained habit than any actual necessity, her grey eyes already locking hungrily onto the guild's entrance.

"...Let's go," She muttered, her thumb instinctively resting against the polished guard of her massive nodachi. "I can't wait to find out if there are any strong opponents."

Issei couldn't help but chuckle softly, adjusting the collar of his black combat jacket.

The two stepped through the heavy wooden doors, walking side-by-side straight into the lively atmosphere. The very second Issei’s spiky brown hair and red shirt crossed the threshold, a sudden, massive wave of recognition swept through the nearest drinking tables.

"Yo! Look who finally decided to show his face around here!" Macao yelled out boisterously, raising a massive wooden mug filled to the very brim with dark ale.

"Oi! It's been absolutely forever, man!" Gray Fullbuster waved casually from a nearby table, completely shirtless as usual, while Cana Alberona lifted her own giant barrel in a silent greeting to one of her favorite drinking partners.

"Hey, Issei! It seriously feels like an eternity since we last saw you walking through the hall!" Wakaba chimed in from the next table over, blowing a thick, lazy cloud of smoke from his pipe. "Where exactly have you been hiding yourself lately, kid?"

"Long time no see, Issei!" Levy McGarden smiled brightly, waving a small hand from where she sat surrounded by stacks of books beside a grinning Jet and Droy.

Even Elfman stood up fully, violently flexing his massive biceps until his shirt seams groaned. "A MAN HAS FINALLY RETURNED!!"

The warm, loud welcome immediately brought a massive grin to Issei's face. "Hey, everyone!" He waved back cheerfully, his chest warming up. "Sorry I haven't visited the guild lately. To be completely honest, I've just been a little bit busy at the mansion."

Macao folded his arms over the table, giving him a curious squint. "Busy? Doing what exactly? You haven't taken a single guild request in weeks."

Issei paused for a split second. Then, without missing a single beat, a profoundly proud, incredibly smug smirk spread entirely across his face. He puffed out his chest to a comical degree, resting a thumb confidently against the lapel of his black combat jacket. "Well, see, unlike the rest of you single guys... I'm happily married. And since I happen to have several incredibly devoted, beautiful wives waiting for me at home… I've been spending all my time making sure every single one of them gets quality time and the attention they rightfully deserve!"

The entire, multi-story guild went dead, terrifyingly silent for one collective heartbeat. The sound of a single dropped mug echoed clearly across the room.

"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!!!"

Within a fraction of a second, an explosion of outraged shouts, jealous roars, and furious protests erupted from every single male mage within earshot. While a few guys like Gray merely sweatdropped and Elfman muttered something about the sheer manliness of domestic commitment, the vast majority of the bachelor population completely lost their minds.

"YOU BASTARD!!" Macao roared at the top of his lungs, slamming his heavy mug down so violently against the wooden tabletop that the ale splattered everywhere.

"Are you seriously bragging about your domestic bliss right to our faces right now?!" A random mage with tears in his eyes screamed, pointing an accusing finger at Issei's smug face.

"You lucky, intolerable jerk!"

"He's out here with a fully functional harem of elite supermodels while we're stuck drinking alone!"

The suffocating aura of romantic jealousy in the room began to skyrocket exponentially as the single men of Fairy Tail suddenly remembered the staggering, unfair reality of Issei’s lifestyle. This guy didn’t just have a gorgeous girlfriend; he possessed an entire household of strikingly beautiful, supremely elite women who treated him like an absolute king. The mere thought of it was enough to send their collective blood pressure straight into the stratosphere.

Macao pointed an trembling finger. "Look at him! This kid is out here collecting beautiful wives like they're stamps!"

Wakaba dramatically dropped straight to his knees, clutching his chest in mock agony. "The heavens truly have favorites... and it clearly isn't me..."

Nab Lasaro slowly looked up toward the ceiling beams, completely ignoring the request board for once. "I've spent years standing here researching the perfect quests... and it turns out the ultimate quest was just finding multiple wives. My life is a lie."

The bitter complaints continued to echo from every single corner of the guild hall. Meanwhile, across the room, several of the female mages, including Cana, Levy, and Laki, couldn't help but burst into loud fit of giggles at the outrage of their male comrades.

Issei merely folded his arms across his chest, his smug grin swelling up to an insufferable size as he basked in their envious reactions. He chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck while thoroughly enjoying the sheer, polarizing chaos his simple status report had caused. "Heh. Hey, I won't deny it, guys. My wives are all undeniably beautiful. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it."

This smug declaration was the final straw as the room exploded into violence all over again.

"I'M SERIOUSLY GONNA HIT HIM!!"

"GET HIM, BOYS!!"

"THAT SMUG, SATISFIED FACE NEEDS TO GO DOWN IMMEDIATELY!!"

Issei laughed out loud as dozens of wildly jealous mages aggressively rushed toward him in a disorganized dogpile. Utilizing his enhanced reflexes, he quickly dodged, spun, and ducked, cleanly evading every single flying fist and tackle thrown his way. "Whoa! Hey! I was just kidding around, guys!"

"NO THE HELL YOU WEREN'T!!"

"YOU SOUNDED PROUD OF YOURSELF, YOU BASTARD!!"

Completely ignoring the screaming crowd for a brief moment, Issei and Karasuba smoothly made their way over to the primary request board. Standing right beside the wooden frame was Mirajane Strauss, neatly organizing a fresh stack of flyers. The beautiful, white-haired barmaid blinked in surprise, her gentle blue eyes lighting up with joy the moment she noticed the duo approaching the counter.

"Oh! Issei-kun, Karasuba-san! Hello there," Mirajane greeted them warmly with her radiant smile. "How are the two of you doing on this lovely morning?"

"Hey, Mira," Issei smiled warmly, leaning against the counter. "We're doing absolutely great. How are things holding up around here?"

The moment her blue eyes locked fully onto Issei's face, a soft, lovely rose hue suddenly bloomed across Mirajane's porcelain cheeks. She looked down slightly, a shy, endearing expression overcoming her features as her fingers nervously played with the corner of a Quest sheet. "I... I'm doing quite well myself, thank you. To tell you the truth, Issei-kun... I’m just incredibly excited... since our official date is scheduled in exactly four days."

Issei's face instantly heated up with a matching red blush rapidly creeping up his neck to color his cheeks. He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, offering her a crooked, embarrassed yet happy smile. "Yeah... honestly, Mira, I feel the exact same way. I've been looking forward to spending the day with you."

Unfortunately for Issei, this tender romantic exchange was blurted out in the absolute worst location in the entire Kingdom of Fiore. Because the entire guild was already hyper-focused on his presence, a massive crowd of nearby mages overheard every single syllable of their quiet conversation.

Causing the collective jaws of the entire Fairy Tail bachelor population to drop straight to the floorboards.

"MIRAJANE TOO?!" Gray, who had just been walking past with a plate of hot food, nearly choked entirely on his own saliva, his eyes widening to the size of saucers.

"HE'S MOVING IN ON MIRA-SAN!" Jet and Droy wailed in unison, dramatically tearing at their hair as if their souls were leaving their bodies.

Wakaba clutched his heart, stumbling backward against a pillar. "No! Dear god, no! Don’t tell me he's officially dating Mirajane as well?!"

Someone screamed in pure, unadulterated agony from the very back of the room. "THAT BASTARD IS ACTIVELY ADDING OUR GUILD'S GODDESS TO HIS INVENTORY!! HE'S STEALING ALL OUR WOMEN!!"

"YOU ABSOLUTE MONSTER! THAT IS NOT MANLY AT ALL! GOING AFTER MY PRECIOUS OLDER SISTER! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS, HYOUDOU!" Elfman yelled, his protective brotherly instincts flaring up instantly as his arms shifted into a massive, furry Beast Arm.

"GET HIM!! FOR THE GLORY OF THE SINGLE MEN, WE CANNOT LET HIM ESCAPE WITH ALL THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS IN FIORE!!"

Before Issei could even attempt to open his mouth to explain the situation, a massive, multi-directional brawl detonated directly around him with the force of a landmine. Tables were violently flipped into barricades, wooden chairs flew through the air like missiles, mugs shattered against the walls, and someone, Issei was pretty sure it was Macao, somehow managed to launch an entire wooden barrel of heavy liquor straight at his head. A tidal wave of jealous, booze-fueled mages instantly charged forward like an army to pummel Issei straight into the ground.

"Whoa—hey! Chill out, guys! It's seriously not what it looks like!" Issei yelled frantically. He barely had enough time to raise his arms defensively before immediately having to duck beneath a roaring right hook from a red-faced Macao.

“DIE, YOU SMUG BASTARD!!!” Came the voice of every single male mage in the building.

With absolutely no other choice left, Issei cracked his knuckles with a wry grin and began actively fighting off the waves of screaming guildmates. He cleanly countered a charging Gray with a swift sweep of his leg, ducked a flying chair, and threw a quick punch that sent another random mage skidding completely across the room into a pile of broken timber.

While the surrounding floor completely devolved into a massive storm of flying bodies, breaking glass, and random magical circles, Karasuba stood unfazed. Her cool grey eyes thoroughly ignored the rowdy brawl taking place right behind her as she casually and lazily scanned the numerous colorful flyers pinned to the main request board.

"Bor-ing," Karasuba muttered under her breath, her fingers dismissively flicking past several high-paying B-rank and A-rank monster-hunting quests. None of them held the slightest promise of a true challenge, let alone a target actually worthy of her blade.

Eventually, her gaze gradually drifted upward, landing squarely on the forbidden, second-floor balcony where the elite quest were. A wicked spark ignited in her eyes. "If we're going out on a date together, it might as well be something that gets the blood pumping. I should just go up there right now and pick out one of the S-rank quests."

Mirajane, who was currently ducking beneath a stray wooden table flying randomly through the air, quickly held up a hand to stop her, her professional demeanor instantly kicking in. "Karasuba-san, wait! Please, you can't do that! Since you and Issei-kun aren't officially registered as S-rank mages within Fairy Tail yet, you do not have the legal authority or permission to choose those specific quests. Master Makarov would be very—"

Karasuba let out a sharp, mocking scoff, her left hand resting lazily on the wrapped hilt of her weapon. "Permissions? Rules? What exactly in this world should we be afraid of?"

Before Mirajane could even formulate a verbal response, Karasuba's physical form suddenly dissolved into nothing more than a blurred, pitch-black shadow. Utilizing her blinding speed, she completely vanished from the ground floor in the literal blink of an eye.

Mirajane's eyes widened in sheer disbelief as she stared blankly at the completely empty space where the silver-haired woman had just been standing. Looking up at the empty second-floor railing where the flyers fluttered, Mira let out a soft, worried sigh to herself, pressing a hand to her cheek. ‘Oh dear... the Master is definitely not going to be happy to hear about this. And I'm not fast enough to catch up to her when she moves like that…’

Before the anxious thought could even fully process in Mirajane's mind, a sharp, deafening crack of displaced wind echoed violently through the main lobby.

In a terrifyingly fast black blur, Karasuba materialized right back down on the ground floor, the wind from her arrival blowing a few loose papers off the counter. In her left hand, she was casually holding a randomly grabbed, S-rank quest flyer. Without breaking her stride, she lunged straight into the ongoing brawl.

Issei was currently in the very middle of dodging a stray ice spell from Gray, using his raw physical strength to lift and throw a particularly loud, charging mage completely over his shoulder. "Man, you guys are seriously persistent today—"

Suddenly, Karasuba's unyielding grip securely clamped right around the back of Issei's jacket collar. With absolute ease, she effortlessly hoisted him straight into the air as though he weighed nothing.

"...We're leaving," She stated flatly.

"Hey—whoa! Karasuba?!" Issei gasped out, flailing comically as he was abruptly yanked completely off his feet and dragged backward.

"We have our target, Ashikabi. Stop wasting our time with these low-level weaklings," Karasuba smirked wickedly, her grey eyes flashing with a manic, dangerous excitement.

The jealous mob of mages, seeing their target escaping, desperately lunged forward to cling onto Issei's boots and legs.

"Don't let the bastard escape!"

"He hasn't suffered anywhere near enough for his crimes!"

Karasuba stopped walking for a fraction of a second, letting out a heavy annoyed sigh. "...How annoying."

With a single, casual flick of her free right hand, a sudden burst of pure killing intent exploded violently across the entire guild hall. The air in the room instantly grew ice-cold and heavy as iron. The sheer, suffocating pressure of her bloodlust caused the entire room to completely freeze in terror. Every mage instantly let go of Issei's legs, their faces turning completely pale as sweat broke out across their brows.

"..."

"...You know, on second thought..."

"...He's totally free to go."

"...Yeah, have a great date, Issei."

Karasuba nodded once in satisfaction, her terrifying aura vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. She casually resumed her run toward the grand exit, dragging a sighing Issei right behind her by the back of his collar.

As the large front doors slammed shut behind them, cutting off the lingering mutters of the stunned guild, Issei finally managed to wiggle out of her grip and regain his footing on the stone steps. He adjusted his rumpled black jacket, running a hand through his hair before looking toward the tightly rolled request sheet held tightly in Karasuba's hand.

"...Alright." Issei said with a small smile unaware of what she just did. "So… what Quest did you choose?"

Karasuba slowly turned her head toward him, a beautifully predatory smile spreading across her lips as her silver hair caught the sunlight. "Who knows? I didn't bother reading the text. But I am absolutely certain it will be incredibly interesting.”

—------------------------------------

Hidden Laboratory, Somewhere Deep Within a Mountain Range

Far beneath the jagged peaks of an unremarkable mountain range, entirely insulated from the surface world by layers of solid stone and magical concealment barriers, an enormous underground cavern buzzed with mechanical and arcane activity.

The vast subterranean chamber had long since ceased resembling a natural formation. Massive steel platforms and reinforced gantries were bolted directly into the cavern walls, heavy magical conveyor systems continuously transported raw ore and highly volatile experimental materials between the facility's distinct sectors, and hundreds of glowing, emerald-tinted lacrima crystals embedded throughout the high ceiling illuminated the entire complex with an eerie, sickly light.

Rows upon rows of hooded researchers and mages hurried through the industrial corridors. They carried heavy stacks of encrypted research documents, delicate measuring instruments, surgical tools, heavy restraint collars, and numerous familiar, black bracelets, devices identical to the dark relic once used by Jellal Fernandes to subjugate beasts during the Tower of Heaven.

Along the perimeter, heavily reinforced cages lined entire sections of the cavern walls. Locked behind thick, magically warded bars rested a captured menagerie of rare magical creatures gathered from the wildest corners of Fiore: massive horned beasts, winged reptilian predators, crystalline insects, and elemental wolves infused with mana.

Yet, despite their inherently fearsome and wild natures, every single creature remained unnaturally calm. Not a single one struggled against its restraints; not a single beast roared, snarled, or even attempted to shift away from the bars. Instead, each sat completely motionless in the shadows. Their lifeless eyes stared entirely blankly ahead, reflecting the faint crimson light pulsing from the black command bracelets wrapped tightly around the wrists of the watching mages.

At the very center of the enormous laboratory stood the project's absolute crowning achievement. A colossal humanoid construct, standing nearly fifteen meters tall, knelt silently upon a massive, complex circular magic formation deeply engraved into the bedrock of the cavern floor.

The giant resembled a living mountain brought to life. Its monolithic body had been deliberately assembled from dozens of the rarest minerals and dense stones found across the continent: polished granite formed its broad, imposing shoulders; jagged shards of black obsidian reinforced its segmented forearms; smooth white marble covered the protective plates of its chest; and heavy veins of raw iron ore and highly concentrated earth crystal were fused seamlessly throughout its massive limbs. Its enormous, boulder-like fists alone were larger than a standard carriage.

Embedded deeply within the dead center of its marble chest sat an enormous, uncut emerald jewel that pulsed rhythmically, expanding and contracting with a deep, low hum that sounded almost exactly like a slow, sleeping heartbeat. With every single green pulse, a wave of dense, heavy earth-element mana rippled across the chamber floor, causing the entire laboratory to tremble ever so slightly.

Several specialized mages carefully monitored the shifting mana spikes on their consoles, while researchers continuously scribbled observations onto rolls of enchanted parchment.

Standing at the very front of the primary observation deck was a tall man clad in flowing black robe. Unlike his subordinates, his face was completely hidden beneath a stark white mask carved from polished bone. The mask's hollow eye sockets and fixed, expressionless grin gave him a deeply unsettling, phantom-like appearance. His hands were clasped calmly behind his back as he silently observed the kneeling monolith below.

"...Magnificent..." One of the chief scientists whispered breathlessly from behind his shoulder, adjusting his magnifying lenses. "Its physical density and mana absorption have adapted far beyond our most optimistic projections."

The bone-masked man merely offered a slow, cold nod of agreement.

"Commander Valt." Before the scientist could expand on the data, a calm feminine voice echoed clearly through the vast laboratory, cutting through the ambient hum of the machinery.

Every single researcher instantly froze mid-motion. The bone-masked man immediately turned on his heel, dropping his hands to his sides. Floating silently in the empty air right behind the platform was a single crimson eye suspended without light or mechanical support. The atmosphere in the chamber instantly grew heavily and thick with a crushing, suffocating pressure. Without a single moment of hesitation, every hooded mage, dark soldier, and elite scientist dropped heavily to one knee, lowering their eyes to the metal grating.

"Lady Magnifica," Commander Valt spoke, his voice dropping into a tone of deep, practiced reverence as he bowed his masked head. "You honor our facility with your presence."

The floating crimson iris slowly rotated in the air, its gaze turning away from the mages to fixate entirely on the gigantic construct kneeling in the center of the formation. "I wished to inspect the project's progress personally," Her calm, telepathic voice vibrated with an absolute, quiet authority. "Now report."

Commander Valt immediately rose slightly, gesturing proudly up at the silent, stone monolith. "The project is proceeding flawlessly, milady. By carefully utilizing the raw data our agents gathered from the Black Sand Chimera during the recent incident at the Tower of Heaven, we successfully located another wild monster possessing a near-identical, highly adaptive composition."

The floating eye remained perfectly still, silently demanding him to continue his briefing.

"The creature originally possessed am unstable bestial form much like the Chimera," Valt explained. As he spoke, he gestured to his left, prompting a technician to activate several large magical projection screens around the laboratory. 

Detailed images of a monstrous, quadrupedal beast made entirely of jagged, unpolished stone appeared on the displays before rapidly shifting through a sequence of progressive forms, growing significantly larger and more humanoid with each iteration. 

"To unlock its true potential, we repeatedly forced the specimen into brutal, life-or-death combat trials against dozens of our highest-level captured magical creatures."

Each subsequent projection showed an increasingly refined evolution.

"Its survival instinct continuously altered its underlying physiology, constantly adapting to physical trauma, learning from elemental attacks, and rapidly evolving to counter any threat."

The final projection displayed the exact towering, armored stone giant that currently knelt before them in the cavern.

Commander Valt smiled darkly beneath his bone mask, his voice rising with pride. "The ultimate result of our labors... is the Earth Titan."

A scattering of nearby researchers applauded quietly in submission.

"We also heavily supplemented its evolution by systematically feeding it rare, high-density minerals recovered from these mountain ranges, such as pure adamant ore, magic crystals, and prime earth lacrima. Each influx of material caused its shell to rapidly accelerate its adaptation."

The crimson eye studied the massive, breathing emerald core of the construct with calculating precision. "And what of its obedience?"

Commander Valt nodded with absolute confidence, raising his left arm. "Complete and unwavering, milady. Unlike Jellal's unstable beast, which unfortunately evolved far too rapidly into the Red Etherion Lacrima Knight, this specific creature has displayed absolutely zero signs of rebellion or cognitive resistance." His grin widened behind his mask, showing off the polished, upgraded black command bracelet resting securely against his wrist. "Our refined command bracelet has successfully maintained total control throughout every single stage of its evolution."

"Excellent," Lady Magnifica's voice resonated, her gaze remaining fixed upon the Earth Titan's core. "However, I assume from its current magical signature that it has not achieved the exact same level of pure destructive power demonstrated by the Red Etherion Lacrima Knight."

Commander Valt released a quiet, dry chuckle, lowering his arm. "Unfortunately, it has not, milady. The precise conditions that accidentally produced that specific anomaly were entirely exceptional. The direct, raw Etherion exposure from the Magic Council's orbital strike... the massive, near-infinite influx of volatile magical power... replicating such precise circumstances remains entirely impossible within a controlled laboratory setting." He folded his arms across his chest. "Nevertheless, while it may not match the sheer power of that anomaly at the Tower of Heaven, the Earth Titan is more than adequate to serve as the vanguard of our forces."

The crimson eye slowly turned back toward the platform, locking onto him. "Elaborate."

Commander Valt's voice carried an unmistakable, smug pride as he delivered the news. "A few days ago, one of Fiore's official S-Class Mages was formally dispatched by his guild to investigate the earthquakes generated during the Titan's final combat trials. Through sheer persistence, he was unfortunately able to locate the outer perimeter of this hidden facility. He then entered the outer tunnels and attempted to single-handedly arrest every member of our team."

Valt turned his gaze back toward the silent stone giant. "Unfortunately for him, the fool never even made it past our guardian."

The Earth Titan remained perfectly still, the emerald hum echoing through the stone.

"The entire engagement lasted a mere matter of minutes. The Titan overwhelmed his magical defenses completely, and his body was utterly crushed beneath its fists. The physical remains were..." Valt shrugged his shoulders casually, his tone dripping with indifference. "...barely recognizable by the time the cleaning crew arrived."

A heavy, profound silence filled the vast cavern as the researchers held their breath.

"Excellent," Lady Magnifica finally said, her massive iris narrowing slightly in cold satisfaction. "A highly successful field test."

Commander Valt quickly bowed his head deeply at the rare praise. "It exceeded our highest expectations, milady."

"The experiment has officially fulfilled its primary purpose here," Lady Magnifica's calm voice brooked absolutely no argument. "Transmit every single piece of research, data, and material concerning the Earth Titan to our primary headquarters immediately. Our other hidden facilities across the continent will begin mass-producing additional Titans using your blueprints." Her crimson iris gleamed with a faint, dangerous inner light. "A completely controllable, mass-producible monster of this caliber possesses tremendous military, strategic, and commercial value to our benefactors."

Commander Valt hesitated for a fraction of a second, his brow furrowing slightly behind his mask. "If I may ask, milady... why not allow us to continue production within this specific laboratory? We possess the direct infrastructure to continue refining the Titan's armor here and produce several more units before moving."

The floating eye regarded him for several long, silent moments, the temperature in the room dropping slightly before she finally answered. "Did you not just boast that you eliminated an official S-Class Mage of Fiore?"

Commander Valt blinked, nodding slowly. "Yes, milady."

"Which means, Commander, that you have inadvertently attracted far more attention to this region than ever before," her telepathic voice remained perfectly composed, yet it carried a sharp, chilling reprimand. "The sudden disappearance of low-level mages or local merchants might have easily gone completely unnoticed by the authorities. But the death of an S-Class Mage cannot and will not be ignored. While the Magic Council itself remains completely disbanded and in total disarray for the time being, the legal mages' guilds are still highly active, vengeful, and remarkably strong. They will undoubtedly send their absolute strongest forces to this mountain range to investigate his final coordinates. They may perhaps go so far as to convince the Wizard Saints to intervene. The longer you remain stationed in this cavern, the greater the probability of them discovering the true nature of this facility."

Commander Valt’s eyes widened slightly beneath his mask as the reality set in. "...I see. We have become entirely too visible to the public."

"Precisely. Therefore, you are to begin an immediate evacuation of this sector. Erase every single physical and magical trace that you were ever here. Make absolutely certain you leave nothing behind for their investigators to analyze."

Commander Valt bowed deeply, his arm pressed firmly against his chest. "As you command, Lady Magnifica. We shall vanish like shadows."

The crimson eye drifted silently through the air, turning as if to depart, before pausing one final time. "There is one more lingering matter, Commander. What exactly have your scouts found out regarding the massive Kraken that Jellal Fernandes originally summoned from the depths? Have we successfully secured another aquatic specimen for our naval divisions?"

Several of the surrounding lead scientists exchanged deeply uneasy, anxious glances, sweating profusely beneath their hoods.

Commander Valt lowered his head apologetically, his tone dropping into a cautious, defensive mutter. "...Regrettably, milady, we have achieved very little success on that front. The open ocean is simply far too vast, and its depths are incredibly hostile to our scrying magic."

He quickly tapped his console, activating another magical projection that displayed a shifting topographic map of the coastline surrounding the smoking ruins of the island where the Tower of Heaven once stood.

"We meticulously searched every single known underwater trench surrounding the impact zone, and we even successfully located and cataloged numerous large aquatic monsters... but absolutely nothing comparable to the sheer scale of that leviathan." He folded his arms thoughtfully, staring at the map. "Our definitive conclusion is that Jellal's immense success in locating and binding that specific monster was largely an act of coincidental luck. The command bracelet he wore must have transmitted an immense, high-frequency signal deep beneath the island's shelf. The Kraken just happened to be resting directly below the structure at that exact second, and his raw magical power was just strong enough to seize temporary control before it woke up." Commander Valt shook his head slowly. "The mathematical odds of us ever recreating those exact circumstances out in the open sea are entirely negligible."

The floating crimson eye remained dead silent in the cold air. "...How unfortunate," She finally muttered. There was a rare, genuine trace of disappointment laced within her calm words. "Had our organization gained control over a creature of that caliber, the seas themselves could have belonged entirely to us."

No one in the laboratory dared to respond, the silence hanging heavy enough to suffocate.

After several long, agonizing seconds, Lady Magnifica finally spoke again, her iris dilating slightly. "Very well. Abandon the search entirely. Our priorities lie elsewhere." She slowly swept her massive, glowing gaze across every single kneeling member of the facility. "Remember my words: leave absolutely nothing behind in these tunnels. I refuse to allow the Magic Council or the legal guilds even the smallest, insignificant clue regarding the true identity of our organization."

Commander Valt placed his gloved hand firmly over his heart once more. "It shall be done precisely as you wish, milady. Glory to Titan Fall!"

The crimson eye gave one final, long, and deeply approving glance toward the kneeling, form of the Earth Titan. "I leave the execution of this operation entirely in your capable hands, Commander."

Then, without a single flash of light or a single sound of displaced air, the giant crimson eye simply vanished out of existence.

A heavy, lingering silence gripped the vast laboratory for several long moments as the mages waited to ensure she had truly departed. Only after the crushing magical pressure completely evaporated from the room did Commander Valt slowly rise to his full height from his kneeling position. His expressions and thoughts were instantly hidden once more behind the fixed, mocking grin of his bone mask.

He turned around slowly, his gaze sweeping over the hundreds of assembled, frozen researchers waiting on his word.

"Attention!" His sharp voice rang out like a whip, echoing loudly off the damp stone walls of the cavern.

Hundreds of scientists and dark mages instantly stopped what they were doing, snapping to absolute attention.

"Begin Phase Seven immediately! Pack every single piece of encrypted research document! Secure every live specimen in transport arrays, and prepare the Earth Titan for immediate transport! We will evacuate this entire facility before the sun sets over the mountains!"

Within mere seconds of his command, the entire hidden underground laboratory erupted into highly coordinated motion. Heavy wooden and iron crates were slammed shut and sealed with magical wax, invaluable research monitors were rapidly gathered from desks, and massive, glowing purple teleportation circles began to hiss and activate across the cavern floor, ready to pull their dark work deeper into the shadows.

Done. Tell me what you think and if I made any mistakes.