Fairy Tail: My Magic is a Yu-Gi-Oh! Deck — Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Dark Magician, Ten-Year Quest

Crack!

A sharp, bone-rattling smack echoed through the chaotic guild hall.

Just as Natsu planted his feet to launch another fiery assault, Chase blurred into motion. He closed the distance in a fraction of a second, driving a lightning-fast “Friendship Face-Breaking Punch” squarely into the Dragon Slayer’s jaw.

Natsu let out a muffled yelp as the sheer kinetic force lifted him off his feet. He shot backward like a human cannonball, hurtling through the air before violently crashing into a heavy oak tavern table. Splinters of wood and half-empty mugs exploded outward in a cloud of dust.

While Chase’s primary combat style revolved around his unique card magic, he was still an S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail. His raw Magic Power was dense and overwhelming, and his physical conditioning was more than enough to put a dragon in its place.

Across the room, the collateral damage groaned. Several guild members who had just been trying to enjoy a midday pint were caught in the crossfire, sent sprawling across the floorboards by Natsu’s high-speed collision.

“You walking birthday candle, do you have a death wish?!”

Gray Fullbuster shoved a pile of shattered lumber off his chest and shot to his feet. He stomped over to the wreckage, grabbed Natsu by his trademark scarf, and yanked him upward until they were nose-to-nose.

Their foreheads slammed together. Natsu bared his fangs, completely ignoring the spit flying into his face.

“You wanna go, you drooping ice pop?! You’re just begging for a fight, aren’t you?!” Natsu roared back, sticking his neck out to meet Gray’s glare head-on.

“If you’re this pathetic, stop making a fool of yourself!” Gray shoved him back. “With your half-assed flames, you seriously thought you could challenge Chase?”

“I’ll shove those words right down your throat! If your stupid face wasn’t in the way, I would’ve already sent Chase flying!”

“What was that, you reckless ash-brain?!”

“I said you’re a coward who doesn’t even have the guts to fight him! You just hide in the back shivering!”

“Alright, I can’t pretend I didn’t hear that…”

After a brief, highly destructive round of their daily fisticuffs, Gray voluntarily stepped back from the brawl. He cracked his knuckles, rolled his shoulders, and strode confidently toward Chase.

“Open your eyes wide, flame-brain. Watch carefully, and see how I take Chase down—”

Halfway through his dramatic declaration, a cool breeze brushed against Gray’s skin.

He paused, blinking, and slowly looked down. His shirt, his pants, and even his underwear were completely gone, lying in a discarded heap on the floorboards several feet away.

“What the… when the hell did my clothes come off?!” Gray’s jaw dropped in absolute disbelief. Completely ignoring his exposed state, he pointed an accusatory finger at the S-Class Mage. “Hey! Chase! Just how much stronger did you get while you were away from the guild?!”

Watching the bizarre spectacle unfold, the newest recruit, Lucy Heartfilia, felt her face burn crimson. She let out a squeak and slapped both hands over her eyes, peeking only through the gaps in her fingers.

“Oh my.”

Mirajane Strauss stood behind the bar, a serene, angelic smile gracing her lips. A single wooden sandal—blown off Natsu’s foot during his flight—was currently balanced on the side of her head. She was entirely unfazed by the chaos, calmly admiring Gray’s well-defined physique without a hint of Lucy’s embarrassment.

The rest of the guild collectively groaned, slapping their palms against their foreheads.

“Gray, while it’s true I’ve gotten much stronger, I don’t have a perverse hobby like stripping you naked in the blink of an eye.” Chase crossed his arms, an amused smirk tugging at his lips. He nodded toward the pile of clothes. “You took those off yourself.”

“Eh?! I… I did?!” Gray stared at his own hands, utterly bewildered.

“Hey, ice-freak. I suddenly have a great idea.” Natsu cracked his neck and stepped up beside Gray. His signature, battle-hungry grin stretched across his face. “How about we team up and take Chase down together?”

“Team up with you? Just the thought of it makes me want to puke.” Gray spat to the side. He looked back up at Chase, and a matching, reckless grin formed on his face. “But… if the target is a monster like Chase, I guess I can make an exception!”

Just like that, fire and ice reached a temporary truce. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder, they cracked their knuckles and advanced.

Their sudden alliance sparked a wave of courage across the tavern. Macao, Cana, and a dozen other members who had been drinking on the sidelines suddenly jumped up, knocking over their chairs.

“Hahaha! Don’t blame us for ganging up on you! It’s your own fault for being too strong, Chase!” Macao yelled, rolling up his sleeves.

“I’m gonna leave a boot print right on your smug face!” Cana cheered, pulling out her own deck of magic cards.

“A real man fights together!” Elfman roared.

Wicked, eager grins spread through the crowd. Magic circles of various colors flared to life across the hall as the Fairy Tail members closed in, forming a tight pincer movement. They had been holding back for too long; it was time to give this overpowered bastard a proper beating.

“Oh? Now that’s some impressive momentum.” Chase’s smirk widened into a confident grin. Instead of stepping back, he planted his boots firmly against the floorboards. “In that case, you won’t mind if I get a little serious.”

He reached his right hand into the empty air.

“My turn. Draw!”

His fingers snapped together, executing a sharp, flawless draw. A glittering card materialized in his grasp, leaving a faint trail of light as he swept it through the air.

Vwoom!

The moment the card was revealed, an oppressive, suffocating wave of Magic Power slammed into the room.

A brilliant fusion of crimson and pitch-black light erupted, bathing the entire guild hall in an eerie glow. The beams of light intertwined on the floor, expanding into an ancient, complex magic circle covered in jagged runic script.

From the center of the blinding light, a phantom figure began to rise. It wore deep purple armor layered over black robes, a pointed magician’s hat casting a shadow over its eyes. A glowing green staff hummed with devastating energy in its grip.

Lucy’s breath hitched. Her brown eyes widened in sheer terror. Even from a distance, the sheer density of the Magic Power radiating from that single summoned figure was far beyond anything she had ever felt. It was an abyss of raw energy.

The younger, inexperienced members of the guild instantly lost their nerve, scrambling into the corners of the room and huddling together.

Just as the Level Seven monster, the Dark Magician, prepared to fully materialize, a booming voice shattered the tension.

“Enough, Chase. This building cannot withstand the torment of your magic.”

Standing on the second-floor railing was Makarov Dreyar. The diminutive Guild Master adjusted his striped top hat, his eyes narrowed as he glared down at the glowing summoning circle.

“Oh, Master! You were here?” Chase blinked, his terrifying aura instantly vanishing as he feigned a look of innocent surprise.

“Stop playing dumb! You brat, were you planning to tear the entire roof off again?!” Makarov barked, a vein pulsing at his temple. No one understood the sheer collateral damage of Chase’s magic better than the man who spent half his life writing apology letters to the Magic Council.

“Ahaha, you misunderstand. I would never do something so reckless.” Chase chuckled dryly, rubbing the back of his neck.

With a flick of his wrist, the Dark Magician dissolved into motes of purple light. The suffocating pressure vanished, allowing the guild members to finally breathe again.

Makarov didn’t respond to the excuse. He simply swept his stern gaze over Natsu, Gray, and the rest of the mob, silently demanding they stand down. Only when the magic circles faded and the brawlers backed off did Makarov return his attention to Chase.

His expression hardened. “How did it go? The Ten-Year Quest… the one no challenger has ever completed.”

The tavern fell dead silent.

Chase let out a slow, heavy exhale. He walked past the frozen forms of Natsu and Gray, making his way to the bar.

Mirajane didn’t need to be told. Her sweet smile returned as she turned around, quickly brewing a fresh cup of coffee loaded with sugar. She slid the ceramic mug across the counter.

Chase picked it up and took a slow sip. The rich sweetness, undercut by a faint trace of bitterness, warmed his chest.

Perfect. Mira always knows exactly how to make it.

He lowered the mug, tilted his head back, and offered a small, self-deprecating smile.

“Sorry, Master. The Ten-Year Quest…” Chase paused, his eyes reflecting a rare moment of defeat. “I failed.”