Fairy Tail: I Stole the Ryujin Jakka in My Sleepwalking

"Natsu, do you really think Laxus is a comrade now?" Makarov thought, watching Natsu's naive expression.

"You really think I'm joking, Natsu?" Laxus's figure shimmered into existence behind them.

"Laxus!" Natsu exclaimed, joyously igniting flames on his fists and charging forward, only to punch through empty air.

"It's a thought projection," Happy explained.

Makarov's face darkened. "Laxus…what are you doing?"

Laxus stepped in front of Makarov. "Comrades…or are they still just 'brats' to you?"

"The brats are fighting each other. You can't bear to watch, can you?" Laxus's expression was a stark contrast to Makarov's grim face; it was arrogant and full of youthful rebellion against authority.

Makarov's heart ached as he watched the numbers on the magical barrier steadily decrease. Just minutes ago, they had numbered over a hundred; now, fewer than thirty remained.

This meant that over seventy percent of their guild members had been incapacitated in a matter of minutes—an unprecedented level of damage.

Makarov sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping. "Enough…stop this meaningless war. I surrender." He valued his children far more than any pointless display of pride or stubbornness.

Natsu stared at Makarov in disbelief. "Old man, what are you saying?!"

"It's enough. Stop it, Laxus."

Laxus looked at Makarov, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, but how can I? If I were to stop now, you'd first have to give me the Fairy Tail Master's seat."

"Impossible. That, at least, is absolutely impossible," Makarov retorted without hesitation.

Laxus, as if he'd anticipated this response, shrugged. "Very well, then. Just sit back and watch as your guild members fall one by one. In the end, the victor will be me."

Happy, his fists clenched, shouted, "Finn's still out there! He'll definitely defeat you!"

"Finn? Let him find me first. Besides…" Laxus's face lit up with unrestrained excitement. "Who says he can beat me? Hahaha!"

With a booming laugh, Laxus's image dissolved into thin air.

Happy looked anxiously at Makarov, who was now breathing heavily, his chest heaving.

Makarov waved a dismissive hand, indicating he was alright. "Laxus is absolutely unfit to be Master. His mentality and convictions are far too weak."

Happy, speechless, glanced at the magical inscription above the guild doors, his eyes suddenly widening in surprise.

"Master! Erza and the others are saved! Finn found Evergreen!"

At Happy's urgent announcement, Makarov immediately turned his attention to the magical inscription.

The latest battle report displayed clearly: Finn vs. Evergreen

Makarov breathed a sigh of relief. "Excellent! If Finn defeats Evergreen, then everyone who's been petrified will be restored."

Elsewhere, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, Elfman, his body battered and bruised despite his Beast Soul transformation, lay powerless on the ground, surrounded by a swirling cloud of dust.

The blindfold he had been wearing to protect himself from Evergreen's petrification magic was torn and damaged, revealing the desperate measures he had taken to avoid her gaze.

Evergreen landed gracefully, her eyes fixed on the fallen Elfman. A cruel smile played on her lips.

"I rather like statues, you know. No matter how ugly a beast might be, once it's transformed into a statue, it can sometimes acquire a certain…aesthetic appeal."

Lifting her glasses, she revealed her eyes, now glowing with an intense golden light. "Come now, look at me. Surrender to the beauty…" The moment her words left her lips, Evergreen's gaze locked directly onto Elfman's.

Her petrification magic activated, instantly transforming the still-transformed Elfman into a stone statue.

Evergreen shook her head, a dismissive sigh escaping her lips. "Honestly, there isn't a single strong person among them."

She reflected on her recent string of victories, noting the lack of any significant resistance she had encountered.

Crack—The sharp sound of crushed rubble echoed through the air.

"Who's there?" Evergreen spun around, her eyes widening in alarm as she spotted an approaching figure. A wave of self-reproach washed over her; she mentally berated herself for her earlier boastfulness.

Just as she had declared the lack of strong opponents, one of Fairy Tail's strongest contenders had appeared.

"Evergreen?" Finn's voice cut through the air, a hint of pleased anticipation coloring his tone as he gazed upon the woman in the green dress.

"Taking you down should un-petrify everyone in the guild," Finn stated calmly, his eyes fixed intently on Evergreen.

Finn approached, the sheer weight of his magical presence pressing down upon Evergreen like an insurmountable mountain.

Finn's gaze shifted to Elfman's petrified form lying on the street, his fists clenching involuntarily.

"Un-petrify everyone. That's your only chance," Finn's voice was low, a dangerous undercurrent of power thrumming beneath the surface, hinting at the imminent release of his overwhelming strength.

Evergreen involuntarily took a step back, but she forced herself to maintain a facade of composure. "Finn, I have no reason to listen to you. I only obey Laxus!"

Finn shook his head, a mixture of exasperation and impatience lacing his tone. "Really? Since you're unwilling to cooperate, then I suppose I'll have to force the issue." With those words, Finn unleashed a torrent of magical energy, his body enveloped in a raging inferno.

A powerful gust of wind erupted as the raw magical energy blasted outwards, creating a whirlwind that swept through the surrounding area. The temperature soared dramatically, making Evergreen acutely aware of the intense heat pressing down upon her.

"This…this is Finn? The mere release of his magical power is enough to send shivers down one's spine!" Evergreen pinched her arm hard, forcing herself to regain her composure.

Against an opponent of this caliber, even the slightest misjudgment could lead to immediate defeat or even death.

"Damn it…" Evergreen removed her glasses, acknowledging the stark reality of the situation. She knew that a direct confrontation was utterly futile; she had only one possible chance of victory. It was a desperate gamble, but it was her only option.

She would rely on her petrification magic…

Finn took a slight step, and in an instant, a powerful explosion erupted where he had been standing.

"He's disappeared?" Evergreen thought, her eyes darting around in a frantic search.

"No…he used the explosive force to instantly boost his speed beyond my perception," Evergreen realized, a sudden thought flashing through her mind.

"Then…where is he?" Driven by a desperate need to locate Finn, Evergreen's gaze darted frantically across the street, her eyes scanning every inch of the surrounding area.

"You're too slow," a voice whispered from behind her. Finn materialized behind Evergreen, his presence a sudden and terrifying shock.

"What?!" Before Evergreen could even react, Finn had seized the back of her head, slamming her head against the nearest wall with brutal force.

"Aaaaaah————" Evergreen's scream echoed through the street, her body embedded deeply into the brick wall. The sheer force of the impact caused cracks to spiderweb across the wall's surface.

"Wait…" Evergreen realized with terrifying clarity that she stood absolutely no chance against this formidable opponent.

In a mere instant, she had been rendered completely helpless, pinned against the wall. She was nothing more than a helpless chick, at the mercy of a far superior predator.

However, Evergreen still possessed one last, desperate gambit, and she seized the opportunity to use it.

"What is it?" Finn paused, his voice laced with a hint of curiosity as he heard Evergreen's desperate plea.

Evergreen's muffled voice emerged from within the wall.

"You know about my petrification magic, right? My petrification magic actually has another ability," she stammered, realizing that Finn showed no sign of letting her go.

"It's long-range control," Evergreen added quickly, hoping to buy herself some time.

Finn's brow furrowed slightly, and his grip on Evergreen's head loosened imperceptibly.

This slight shift in Finn's demeanor gave Evergreen a glimmer of hope. "Let me go, or I'll immediately turn all those people into dust!" she shouted, her voice filled with a mixture of desperation and defiance, finally unleashing the pent-up frustration and fear that had been building within her.

As Finn released his hold and pulled her free from the wall, a triumphant smile, tinged with blood, curved Evergreen's lips.

"So what if he's Fairy Tail's strongest contender? So what if he can defeat me in an instant?" she thought to herself, her eyes gleaming with a newfound determination.

"He'll still have to listen to my demands!"

But the events that followed unfolded in a manner entirely contrary to Evergreen's expectations.

Instead of releasing Evergreen, Finn, having freed her from the wall, unleashed a powerful, fiery fist that connected squarely with Evergreen's abdomen.

The searing pain caused Evergreen to gasp, her body collapsing weakly to the ground.

Bang— Finn's foot came down hard on Evergreen's upturned face, ensuring that she was unable to see his expression.

"Since you place so much value on Laxus's orders, then I suppose I'll have no choice but to kill you," Finn stated coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Despite the rapidly rising temperature around them, Evergreen felt no heat; only a bone-chilling coldness emanated from Finn's words.

"The souls of those people, reduced to dust…I will use your life to atone for their suffering," Finn declared, his voice laced with an icy resolve.

"Eh?!" Evergreen's eyes widened in disbelief. This was no longer a game; Finn was truly prepared to end her life.

Finn raised his hand, pointing it directly at Evergreen. "Hadō #33. Sōkatsui!"

Countless waves of explosive flames began to coalesce in Finn's hand, the sheer intensity of the magical energy creating an overwhelming sense of dread that pressed down upon Evergreen, bringing her face to face with the true meaning of death.

The inferno hovered menacingly above her head, poised to strike at any moment. Evergreen, realizing the imminent danger, cried out desperately, "I surrender, Finn! I surrender!!"

"Restore everyone to their original forms," Finn commanded, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Without a moment's hesitation, Evergreen focused her golden eyes, unleashing a wave of golden light. Elfman's petrified body instantly began to revert to its normal form.

Upon witnessing Elfman's restoration, Finn finally dispelled the raging inferno in his hand, releasing Evergreen from his grasp.

Feeling the immediate threat subside, Evergreen lay weakly on the ground, her gaze fixed upon the sky. She had never realized before how beautiful the sky could be.

Her body was drenched in sweat, and as she watched Finn's figure receding into the distance, Evergreen couldn't help but feel a surge of worry for Laxus. Against such a formidable opponent, how could Laxus possibly hope to win?

Simultaneously, within the Fairy Tail guild hall, the girls who had been transformed into stone statues were restored to their original forms.

"Eh? What…?"

"What happened to Juvia?"

"We…"

The recently unpetrified girls were still struggling to comprehend the events that had transpired.

Meanwhile, on the magical barrier at the guild's entrance, the latest battle report was clearly displayed:

Finn vs. Evergreen

Winner: Finn

Makarov let out a triumphant cheer. "Excellent! That Finn, he really showed them! All the hostages have been freed, which means we no longer have to play Laxus's ridiculous game!"

…

"Damn it!" Inside the Kardia Cathedral, Laxus slammed his fist against the wall in a fit of furious rage.

"Why…why did Evergreen end up fighting Finn?" he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief and frustration.

Laxus's meticulously crafted plan had called for the Raijū to avoid Finn at all costs, focusing instead on eliminating the other Fairy Tail members one by one until only Finn remained. Now, that plan lay in ruins.

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