Drake really wanted to tell the three to pay attention to their flight safety; they were acting recklessly at such a high altitude.

  Fortunately, they arrived at Sosshi Vilge without incident. Sosshi Vilge, also in the Outer Region, was as impoverished and remote as Hage Vilge.

  In mid-air, Drake narrowed his eyes, turning to the others. "Magna-senpai, something's below. Let's check it out."

  He nded, using his fme wings.

  Magna grumbled, "Damn it! I'm the senior; I decide the course of action!"

  He followed Drake down.

  They nded, and Drake examined something on the ground.

  Magna asked, "What is it, Drake? Did you find something?"

  Drake showed them something in his palm.

  Asta said, puzzled, "It's just a piece of ice. What's so strange?"

  Drake held a small piece of ice; more scattered on the ground.

  Noelle was speechless at Asta's ck of observation. "Idiot Asta, it's impossible to have ice this time of year."

  Asta spped his forehead. "That's right! So what's this ice?"

  Magna's expression turned serious. "It's magic. Someone used ice magic here!"

  Drake nodded. "Exactly. And they're skilled! The lingering magic power is significant; the mage must be strong!"

  Asta still didn't understand. "So, what's the problem?"

  Noelle knocked Asta on the head. "Use your brain, idiot! A powerful, unknown mage wouldn't appear here without reason. What's their purpose?"

  Magna's face darkened. "That's near Sosshi Vilge…"

  Drake said, "Let's check Sosshi Vilge. Our mission isn't urgent."

  Magna, decisive, was about to go, but Drake stopped him. "You used a lot of magic power carrying Asta and Noelle. A fight would be bad. Recover first."

  Magna understood and sat down to recover. Drake did the same.

  Magic power is life and soul; natural recovery is slow without recovery magic. But willpower is also a source of magic power; Magna recovered quickly.

  He rushed toward Sosshi Vilge, recounting his past with the vilge. It was a story of a boy, guided by a wise elder, finding his purpose and changing his life.

  "Besides Captain Yami, Sekke-ojisan is the person I respect most," Magna said sincerely.

  They reached Sosshi Vilge, seeing it enveloped in a gray mist.

  "A fog-type barrier spell. It blocks perception; entering blindly would lead to being controlled," Drake assessed.

  "Magic…" Magna grabbed Asta's colr.

  "Asta, use your sword to cut through the fog."

  Asta said, "I don't understand, but I'll do it!"

  He drew the Demon-syer Sword, cutting through the fog, revealing the surroundings.

  Magna, having grown up here, knew the vilge well. He could find his way even with limited visibility.

  Asta cleared a path, and they reached the vilge center. Their magic sense returned.

  "Not good!"

  Fmes enveloped Drake's hands, startling the others. He unched a combined attack.

  "Fire Dragon's Bzing Inferno!"

  The fmes dispersed the fog, revealing the scene.

  Dozens of vilgers, old and young, knelt in terror and despair. Sharp ice spikes hovered above them. Drake's magic targeted the spikes.

  The fmes destroyed the spikes, easing the vilgers' fear. The Bck Bulls' cloaks reassured them.

  Magna's expression darkened; he saw Sekke, the vilge chief, lying among the vilgers. The old man was unconscious, his clothes bloodstained, lifeless.

  A child cried, "The Magic Knights! They saved us!"

  Magna went to Sekke. "Hey! Old man, snap out of it!"

  "Vilge chief!"

  "He protected us…"

  The vilgers showed the old man's worth.

  Sekke's grandson cried, "Grandpa, the Magic Knights came! Your prayers were answered!"

  Rage almost consumed Magna. He addressed a group of people. "You did this!"

  A scarred man sat impassively, wearing a blue-gray robe and holding a pocket watch. Three others, simirly robed and hooded, stood behind him.

  He looked at his watch. "Execution was scheduled for ten seconds. You disrupted my pn! In ten seconds, everyone dies!"

  Ice spheres with spikes appeared, hurtling towards them.

  Before Drake could act, Asta intervened, cleaving the spheres in two.

  Angry, Asta said, "Why did you do this? Who are you?"

  Drake knew the answer: The man belonged to the Eye of the Midnight Sun, a group aiming to overthrow the Clover Kingdom.

  The first antagonists had appeared.

  Drake looked at Sekke, his eyes bzing.

  His memories were blurry; he remembered the protagonists' triumphs but overlooked the tragedies. If he'd been more mindful, he could have prevented Sekke's death.

  His worldview and Igneel's teachings made him despise those who disrespected life.

  "I… am burning with rage! I'll burn these bastards to ashes!"

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