After hours of riding in a carriage, Ken and Erza finally arrived at Hakobe Mountain, where the snow-covered peaks loomed high, gleaming in the silver light of the sun.
Ken couldn't help but shiver slightly at the sight of the cold, mountainous expanse before him. The chill in the air was already biting at his skin.
Erza, unfazed by the cold, surveyed the path ahead. "Climb this snow slope and you'll reach the area where Vulcan is often found. The weather's still clear, but we should move quickly and find the King of Vulcan as soon as possible."
Ken nodded and followed, each step crunching through the thick snow that quickly built up to cover his feet. Despite the sunny weather, the snow was persistent and deep.
"Be careful. The snow can be treacherous, and you might slip or step in unstable patches," Erza called out, her voice steady and filled with authority.
Ken couldn't help but smirk. "I'm a wizard too, you know. I'm not some child who needs constant reminders."
Erza glanced over her shoulder with a wry smile. "True. But still... What kind of magic do you use?" she asked, genuinely curious.
Ken hesitated, a glint of excitement flashing in his eyes. "Well, you'll see soon enough. It's better shown than told."
As they trudged deeper into the mountain, the path steepened, and the snow began to pile up higher, reaching their ankles with every step. Ken had a thought that struck him out of nowhere.
"I remember I have a dragon-slaying magic crystal with water properties inside me. I wonder if consuming some snow might help replenish my magic power..."
He quickly bent down, rolled a snowball, and popped it into his mouth. The cold, icy sensation spread through his body, and though he felt a slight increase in energy, it was barely noticeable compared to what he had experienced before. It didn't hold a candle to the power he'd gained from swallowing rocks in the past.
While he was lost in his thoughts, Erza suddenly held out her arm to stop him.
"Vulcan spotted at one o'clock, on the hill!" she exclaimed, her voice sharp.
Before Ken could respond, the air was filled with loud shrieks as a group of Vulcans—large, white, ape-like monsters—descended from the higher ground. Their eyes gleamed with an unsettling hunger.
The pack of Vulcans had been living in Hakobe Mountain for years, perfectly adapted to its harsh conditions. In the snow, they were faster than expected, and within moments, they were right in front of Ken and Erza. The number of them had to be over thirty.
Ken quickly assessed the situation, but to his surprise, none of the Vulcans seemed to be interested in him. Instead, they were all focused on Erza, their eyes leering at her in a way that made Ken feel uncomfortable.
Erza didn't seem to be bothered. With a determined glance, she activated her magic.
"Change your clothes! Heavenly Wheel Armor!"
In an instant, her armor shifted, the magic circle beneath her spinning with rapid precision. The change left her in an even more formidable suit of armor, revealing more of her snow-white skin but also increasing her battle readiness. The Heavenly Wheel Armor—with steel wings extending from her back—was designed to handle large groups of enemies.
Gripping two swords in her hands, she summoned more than a dozen blades made of pure magic, each one hovering in the air around her.
"Heavenly Wheel: Sword of Chaos!"
The swords rained down on the closest Vulcan, cutting through its body like a hot knife through butter. The creature fell to the snow with a scream, leaving the rest of its pack recoiling in fear.
Despite Erza's overwhelming power, the Vulcans seemed to have one thing on their minds: Erza's exposed beauty. They bared their teeth and charged forward, unafraid of the woman who had just decimated their ally.
But their eyes quickly darted toward Ken, as the leader of the pack gave a sharp wave, signaling the remaining dozen to circle around him.
Ken clenched his fists. He didn't want to be just a bystander. He glanced over at Erza, who was engaged with her own group of enemies.
"Erza, watch out!" she shouted, but Ken didn't wait for her. He remained rooted to his spot, studying the Vulcans' movements.
"Just a little more... almost in position," Ken muttered to himself.
He let the magic flow through him, feeling the power building from his core. His body trembled as the magic reached his throat, his cheeks puffing out as he prepared for his attack.
Just as the leader of the Vulcans leaped toward him with a roar, Ken unleashed his magic.
"The Roar of the Fire Dragon!"
A massive torrent of flames shot from Ken's mouth, engulfing the Vulcans in a blistering heat. The fiery blast hit them head-on, and within moments, they were reduced to charred remains, the smell of burnt flesh filling the air.
Ken wiped his mouth, feeling the satisfaction of his attack. The Vulcans never saw it coming. They probably thought him just another helpless bystander, not knowing he was a Dragon Slayer.
Erza stood in awe as she watched the flames dissipate, leaving nothing but smoldering piles of ash.
"That's... Dragon Slayer magic!" she exclaimed, clearly surprised.
Ken looked over at her with a sheepish grin. "It's fire Dragon Slayer magic, actually. Pretty similar to Natsu's, I guess."
Erza's eyes widened. "Other fire Dragon Slayers? Could it be that you were trained by a dragon too, like Natsu?"
Ken scratched his head awkwardly. "Not exactly. I... obtained my magic through a different way. I implanted a rare dragon-slaying crystal into my body. I've never met a dragon, but yeah, I can absorb fire to replenish my magic."
Erza nodded thoughtfully, but her expression betrayed a hint of disappointment. She had heard Natsu's story, about the fire dragon who raised him and disappeared. It seemed Ken's story was much different—and less traditional.
Vulcan bodies lay scattered across the ground, the once pristine snow now scorched and broken, a testament to the destructive power of two wizards in the midst of the mountain's unforgiving cold.
As the minutes passed, the clouds began to cover the sun, and snowflakes began to fall, blanketing the ground once again. The fierce battle had left behind nothing but the remnants of what had once been a savage pack of beasts.
Erza turned to Ken with a proud, yet curious smile. "I underestimated you, Ken. Seems like master really has brought us a new Dragon Slayer Mage."
Ken gave a shrug, his eyes glowing with quiet confidence. "Guess I'll have to keep up with the rest of you."
Erza chuckled softly. "Just make sure you keep up with me."
The two of them, their spirits high after the battle, continued deeper into the snow-covered mountains, ready for whatever came next.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Next Chapter: The Storm of Vulcan