Fairy Tail: Strongest Creature

"I see— that's easy! I'll melt all the ice with my flames!" Natsu declared confidently as he looked around the stage.

"If that's the case, then I don't need my ice," Gray muttered, still annoyed at being dragged along with Natsu.

Erza replied, "It's not ordinary ice, Gray. Your strength will be essential. If this village is truly frozen solid, whoever did it must be terrifyingly powerful. That's why I asked Su Yan to come along."

Gray shrugged. "Even the Ten Wizard Saints aren't all-powerful. They're just ten mages chosen by the council—insignificant compared to the whole continent."

Su Yan admitted quietly, "I know nothing of offensive magic, and I doubt I could match someone who fights with sheer force."

Erza nodded. "We each have our strengths and weaknesses. Only as comrades—and as a guild—can we make up for each other's shortcomings."

At Warrod Sequen's words, several members' eyes lit up.

"You heard him— we accept this commission!"

"That's right!" "Leave it to us!" "Where is the village?"

"It's about two kilometers south," Warrod answered. "The road is rough, but I'll use my nature magic to carry you there. Gather your gear and meet me at the clearing."

They assembled where he directed, watching Warrod chant. A young sapling sprouted at his feet, then shot upward, its giant leaves forming a sturdy platform.

"Is that our transport?" someone asked.

"It's nature magic at its finest," Erza said in awe.

Su Yan smiled. "Anyone who can stay green all year in a desert commands respect."

Warrod watched his guildmates board the tree, whispering, "It works… A hundred and five years, Mavis. Your will lives on in these young mages."

A hundred and five years ago, he and Mavis had founded the Fairy Tail Guild. Seeing it still thrive was his greatest pride.

Soon, they arrived at the outskirts of the frozen village.

"We're here," someone announced.

"At that speed, it feels like no time passed," another remarked.

"Look!" Happy pointed at the ground. "The earth itself is frozen."

They stepped off and saw everything—paths, houses, even soil—encased in thick ice.

Erza studied the scene. "The buildings and streets alike… everything's frozen solid."

"Where are the villagers?" Su Yan asked. "Were they turned to ice too?"

They turned to find colossal ice sculptures shaped like people towering all around them.

"Incredible… Is this a giant's village?" someone breathed.

Lucy mused, "He must have left out that detail on purpose to surprise us."

They were all familiar with giants—Erza could summon them, and to many, giants were as mythical as dragons.

"Do you think they're still alive?" Natsu asked.

Su Yan nodded. "Yes. They're alive… but trapped."

"Then let's free them!" Natsu shouted, pressing his hands to a giant's icy foot. Flames flared from his palms—but the ice barely melted.

"Natsu, aim higher!" Happy urged, but nothing changed. Frustrated, Natsu stepped back, panting. "This ice isn't ordinary…"

Gray laid a hand on the ice and felt an unfamiliar magical pressure. He tried to melt it with his ice magic, but it did nothing.

Erza turned to Su Yan. "Su, your blue-dragon breath might do the trick."

They all looked at Su Yan, recalling how he once melted the floating city Nirvana with his scorching heat.

Su Yan shook his head. "My flames could thaw this ice—but if the village itself melts too quickly, it could collapse."

They fell silent, remembering the devastation when Nirvana fell.

Lucy glanced at the frozen giants, worry in her eyes. "Then what do we do?"