"How rude. Did you not notice us?"
Before Noel could respond to Edolas Erza's words, Carla had already spoken up.
"This is… the Exceed lords? What is happening? …Is it the queen's order to eliminate this woman?" Edolas Erza finally noticed Happy and Carla, hesitating slightly as she spoke.
Carla put on a serious expression and said, "The order has been revoked."
"But even a direct order from the Exceed doesn't have the authority to override Her Majesty the Queen's command. Please hand that woman over to me," Edolas Erza replied, her expression returning to normal as she frowned.
Hearing Erza's response, Carla displayed a haughty and disdainful expression, crossing her paws in front of her chest as she spoke slowly, "You are far too arrogant, human. Do you know who I am? I am the daughter of Queen Shagotte, the princess of the Exceed—Carla."
Silence filled the scene.
Apart from Noel, Edolas Erza, Happy, and Lucy all stared at Carla in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Princess of the Exceed?"
Before anyone could react, a playful voice suddenly came from afar, breaking the silence among them.
A golden young man dressed in black armor slowly approached, his face filled with mockery and amusement. "Oh? I've never heard that Queen Shagotte had a daughter. My dear 'princess,' may I ask where exactly you came from?"
"Lord Noel!" Upon seeing the golden youth, Edolas Erza hurriedly knelt on one knee in salute.
"My Edolas counterpart?" Seeing the newcomer, Noel's pupils slightly contracted as he muttered to himself.
"This has nothing to do with you, human. Do you think I would pretend to be a princess?" Though Carla's claws tightened slightly, almost imperceptibly, she maintained her proud and disdainful expression.
"Heh." Edolas Noel let out a chuckle, then reached for the longsword on his back, its blade wrapped in a bandage inscribed with countless runes.
With a casual motion, he pointed it toward Noel and his group.
"I don't know if there's really a princess or not… but I did hear that recently, two 'Fallen' appeared in Extalia. And you all just so happen to match their descriptions."
"Danger!" A chill ran through Noel's heart.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand, conjuring a radiant shield in front of the group.
Boom! A black slash of sword energy tore through Noel's hastily formed barrier, continuing its path straight toward him, Happy, and the others—until Noel's glowing fist shattered it in an instant.
Feeling a slight pain in his hand, Noel's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"Happy, Carla, please take Lucy and leave here quickly. The place where the kingdom is holding the Dragon Slayers should be the Western Tower. Mira and the others have already gone there, so you should hurry and meet up with them."
"What about you, Noel?" Lucy asked.
"My Edolas counterpart won't just let us escape so easily. That's why I have to stay behind and cover for you." Noel sighed, handing Lucy over to Happy before turning his full attention toward Edolas Noel.
"I understand." Carla nodded without hesitation and immediately turned to leave.
Lucy and Happy cast a worried glance at Noel but quickly followed after Carla.
"Wait!! Damn it." Edolas Erza finally reacted, but unable to fly, she could only watch in frustration as Happy and the others disappeared into the distance, powerless to stop them.
Edolas Noel, on the other hand, remained completely unfazed.
Even as Happy and the others fled, his expression showed no signs of change.
Instead, he looked at Noel with an amused gaze. "Oh? And why aren't you running, my Earthland counterpart? Or do you actually believe you have what it takes to defeat me and my forces all on your own?"
Noel scratched his cheek. "If possible, I wouldn't want to stay here either. But turning my back on you is far too dangerous—especially since your ranged attacks aren't weak. Happy and Carla have no combat ability at all. If we all left together, an attack from behind would be incredibly risky."
This was the only choice Noel could make under the circumstances.
If he had another option, he wouldn't waste time here, especially against such a powerful opponent.
Being surrounded by enemies was far from ideal.
However, there was no other way.
Even if he assumed that Edolas Noel didn't have any flying abilities, that last ranged attack of his was both fast and powerful.
If Noel left and exposed his back, there was no doubt that Edolas Noel would strike.
And with Happy and Carla's low defensive capabilities, if either of them got hit… it would be an instant kill.
"A smart choice. Looks like there's no need for further discussion." Edolas Noel's lips curled into a satisfied smirk.
Ignoring Pantherlily, who had just arrived with reinforcements, he spoke coldly, "This one is mine. The rest of you—notify all soldiers to hunt down those two 'Fallen' and the blonde girl. If you find them, show no mercy. Kill them on sight!"
His domineering tone carried an unquestionable and irresistible authority.
Upon hearing his words, whether it was the two captains of the Magic Warfare Corps, Pantherlily, Erza, or the other kingdom soldiers, they all felt a chilling sensation engulf their bodies.
Those familiar with Edolas Noel's personality knew one thing—if they disobeyed his order, there would be only one outcome: they would be torn apart in an instant.
"Yes!" Without any hesitation, everyone present—except for Noel—responded in unison and swiftly departed.
"My, quite the prestige you have," Noel remarked, watching the kingdom's forces leave with an ambiguous expression.
Edolas Noel let out a cold laugh. "The useless ones are gone. Now, let's begin—our battle, Earthland's me. Oh, and let me clarify something first. You were wise not to simply try and run away, because…"
From behind Edolas Noel, black metallic wings spread open.
He stepped forward, then leaped into the air, his body hovering effortlessly.
"…I also have a magic tool that allows me to fly."
Noel let out a sigh, a bitter smile forming in his heart.
(Figures. It wasn't going to be that easy, huh? The Edolas version of me is this exceptional… should I feel proud, or just annoyed?)
...............
"Thank you both."
Meanwhile, as they flew toward the west tower, Lucy smiled and expressed her gratitude to Happy and Carla, who were gripping onto her collar.
"Aren't you angry?" Carla hesitated before asking. She still felt a bit guilty, knowing that because she had led them into the capital, everyone had ended up captured.
"Hm? Angry about what?" Lucy tilted her head, showing a puzzled expression.
"You were captured because of us."
Hearing Carla's words, Lucy suddenly burst into laughter. "Didn't you two just save me? Right, Happy?"
"I'm sorry, Lucy," Happy said apologetically.
"I already told you, I'm not mad at all! But… I'm more surprised that you're actually the queen's daughter."
Happy also looked puzzled. "I didn't know that either."
"That's obviously a lie," Carla said nonchalantly.
"Eh?!" Lucy and Happy both wore expressions of shock.
"What's with those expressions?" Carla asked, crossing her arms. "By the way, aren't you worried about that guy? I never really liked him, but if something happens to him, Wendy will be sad."
Hearing Carla's question, both Lucy and Happy smiled confidently.
"Of course, we're worried," Lucy admitted, "but Noel is really strong—he'll be fine."
"Aye! That's right! Because it's Noel, there's no way anything bad will happen to him."
"Eh? Is that so?" Carla looked curious.
Since she had only recently joined Fairy Tail, she wasn't too familiar with Noel's strength.
She wanted to ask what made them so confident, but in the end, she chose to remain silent.
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