Fairy Tail: The Fraud Mage

Zeref had already fainted.

At this point, Jehfrit could've stepped in—but he remained in the shadows. Someone reliable was approaching from the distance.

Ultear supported Zeref as they walked forward, a look of relief and joy spreading across her face.

"Careful, we're getting close," she whispered.

From behind the trees, Gray raised a hand, slowing both himself and Juvia. They'd sensed magical surges in this area and came to investigate. Now they were suppressing their auras, watching from cover.

When she came into view—Ultear—Gray's eyes widened.

"Ur…?!"

Seeing the woman, Gray was momentarily stunned.

But he quickly shook his head. "No... she just looks like her. Ur is gone."

"Gray-sama…" Juvia's eyes welled up with tears. She immediately spiraled into a tragic mental drama—Gray, falling for a beautiful enemy at first sight, forgetting her entirely. She saw herself on her knees, reaching out to him as he coldly said, "I'm sorry, Juvia… I love her."

"NO!" she nearly screamed, but Gray clamped a hand over her mouth. "What are you doing, Juvia?!"

Feeling Gray's hand over her lips, Juvia's face turned bright red.

"Don't make a sound," Gray whispered into her ear.

Ultear hadn't noticed them. With all the chaos across the island, it was easy to remain hidden.

Gray exhaled slowly, relieved. Still crouched low, he reached back and instinctively grabbed Juvia's hand as they quietly began tailing from a safe distance.

Juvia's mind instantly melted.

Ah… if only Juvia could stay in Gray-sama's palm forever…

Suddenly, a large, pale-skinned mage charged in, attempting to stomp on Cana.

"Watch it!" she snapped, rolling to the side mid-run and dodging with ease.

'BOOM!' His foot shattered the ground where she'd just been. A direct hit would've crushed her.

"Huh?" the mage blinked, only now realizing he'd attacked a beautiful woman. Under Cana's fierce glare, he turned bashful and scurried behind a tree.

"E-Even if you look at me like that, I—I won't go easy on you… unless… unless…"

He trailed off.

"So annoying," Cana sighed, pulling out a card. "If you want to fight, let's fight. Spare me the theatrics."

"W-Wait!" the man stuttered. "Shouldn't we… introduce ourselves first? I mean, you're a beautiful lady and all—uh, no! You're the enemy!"

Cana blinked.

"Ahem! I am Kain Hikaru, one of the Purgatory Seven of Grimoire Heart!"

Purgatory Seven? Cana's heart tensed. He looked like a clown, but that title wasn't something to take lightly.

"A-And… may I have your lovely name?" he asked, blushing.

"Fairy Tail. Cana."

"Cana-chan… What a cute name…" he murmured, totally smitten.

Cana frowned.

"N-Not that I'd fall for a beauty trap! I'm immune to that! Your charm won't work on me!" he said, twisting his hips in a bizarre dance. "You can try if you like, though…"

So it was a beauty trap, huh?

Cana instantly changed her stance—from battle-ready to ballroom queen. With a sultry toss of her hair, she inhaled deeply and narrowed her waist like she was fitting into a corset.

" Hikaru-kun," she cooed, "what kind of magic do you use? Will you tell me—pretty please?"

Watching from afar, Jehfrit involuntarily rubbed his face. For a second, he was intrigued—until the memory of her heavy alcohol breath shattered the illusion instantly.

"O-Of course!" Hikaru blushed madly. "My magic is Cursed Marionette. It's a form of Black Magic. I insert someone's hair into a doll to control them. Inserting my own hair can also change or enhance my physical form."

"Woooow~" Cana purred, wriggling her hips. "That's soooo powerful."

"H-Hehe…" he scratched his head.

"What kind of dolls do you use? Can I see one?"

"Ah, no. That's classified…" he hesitated.

"Aww, really? I'm super curious." Cana inched closer.

The scent that disgusted Jehfrit seemed to enrapture Hikaru.

"Well… I guess… maybe just a peek…"

"How about this?" Cana cupped her face flirtatiously. "Close your eyes for me, just for a second."

"Wh-What?!"

His heart nearly exploded. His mind conjured... all the wrong possibilities.

"Close them."

"Okay!" He shut them immediately.

Cana's expression turned stone cold. She scanned her surroundings, picked up a frog, and smacked it against Hikaru's cheek.

"Wha—how could you?!" Hikaru gasped, clutching his face like his world had shattered.

Fortunately, Cana tossed the frog before he could see.

"Can I open them now?" he asked.

"Sure."

He handed her an ugly, handmade doll.

"You mean, you insert the hair into this?"

"Yep."

"Got it." Cana yanked a hair from his head.

"Hehe~" Her giggle made him swoon, unaware of the danger.

Snap! She jammed the hair into the doll and leapt back, starting to move it.

"Ngh—! Hey—wait! Cana-chan! That move's a little much!"

She continued manipulating him like a puppet.

"If you keep this up, I'll get mad!" he cried.

Cana made him body-slam a boulder repeatedly.

This guy's body is absurdly durable! she thought. But up close, his magic was no joke. She had to figure out a way to end this fast.

"Give it back!" Hikaru charged.

Cana twisted the doll— Hikaru dropped into a painful split, sliding across the ground.

"ARRRGH—!"

No matter how strong his body was, some spots just weren't built for that.

"Cana-chan, that's not fair!" he wailed.

WHAM WHAM WHAM—she smashed him into jagged stones.

"Damn you! Even if you confessed to me now, I'd never forgive you!"

"Heh." Cana just smirked.

Suddenly—BOOM!

An explosion behind her sent Cana flying.

A hand reached from the smoke, snatching the doll. The figure casually fiddled with it.

"You bastard! Azuma!" Hikaru roared.

A wild-haired mage—Azuma—stepped from the smoke. "Tch. Useless."

Crap, Cana thought, seeing the new arrival. His overwhelming magic presence screamed danger—definitely another one of the Purgatory Seven.

"Give it back!" Hikaru demanded.

Azuma tossed the doll over.

"You could kiss me ten more times and I still wouldn't forgive you!" Hikaru snarled.

"She kissed you with a frog," Azuma deadpanned.

"WHAT?!" Hikaru turned to see the frog croaking nearby before hopping away.

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!" he wept. "You betrayed my heart, you wicked woman!"

He dropped into a sumo crouch and charged—awkward but fast.

"Fate of Thunder!" Cana shouted, drawing a card.

"Self-Enhancement: Lightning Resistance!" Hikaru countered, taking the hit with barely a flinch.

"Death's Icicle!"

"Self-Enhancement: Heat!" He negated that too.

Damn it! He's way too versatile!

"Emperor's Wind Blade!"

"Self-Enhancement: Steel!" He tanked the wind slash and barreled forward.

BOOM! He smashed the ground. Cana dodged—but her attacks weren't cutting it. She was versatile, but he was built like a tank and adapted fast.

Meanwhile, Azuma just stood by, watching.

Cana gritted her teeth. I can't lose! If I want to compete with Natsu and the others for S-Class, I can't fall here!

The duel intensified.

"Fool's Restraint!" A sleep-inducing mist filled the air.

"Self-Enhancement: Vapor!" Hikaru became mist, avoiding its effects.

"Sunburst Flame!"

"Self-Enhancement: Heat!"

"Praying Fountain!" Whips of water lashed out.

"Steel again!"

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Their magic clashed in a full-blown spectacle.

"Impressive," Hikaru panted. "You'd make a fine girlfriend."

"Shut your face!" Cana snapped.

"Fine! I'll get serious!" he roared. "Self-Enhancement: Radiant Core!"

A blinding light erupted from his body. Cana shielded her eyes.

"Flash Palm!"

He lunged in—she couldn't dodge in time.

"Moon Style—Yasha Sky Slash!"

A cold, commanding voice cut through.

Dozens of sword arcs rained down on Hikaru.

"HELP ME, AZUMA!!" he screamed.

Even with his steel-enhanced form, he wasn't invincible—especially not against a blade that could cleave through Erza's armor.

"You're interesting," Azuma grinned, raising a hand. "Inferno Tower Burst!"

A pillar of fire exploded upward, launching Hikaru skyward.

"Can't you be a little gentler?!" he howled.

WHOOSH—Ikuto appeared, pulling Cana to safety.

"Ikuto…" Cana stared at him, guilt flashing in her eyes. "I'm sorry."

She had said cruel things… then abandoned the one who supported her.

"Don't," Ikuto said, releasing her. "The enemy's still here."

He drew his sword.

"Right." Cana nodded, pushing emotions aside.

"Another beautiful lady?!" Hikaru shouted.

"Shut up," Azuma growled. "If you can't focus, don't fight beside me. I hate weaklings."

"Hmph! I won't let them distract me!" Hikaru replied.

Two on two. The real battle began.

"Exploding Claw!"

"Yasha Slash!"

"Flash Palm!"

"Fate of Thunder!"

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

The intensity far surpassed Cana's earlier solo fight.

Azuma was nearly on Erza's level.

And Ikuto? A former rival of Erza herself.

Cana held her own too—whether as damage-dealer or support, she adapted well.

But the tide was turning. They weren't at full power—ever since landing on Tenrou Island for the S-Class trials, they'd been burning through stamina and magic.

Even with the island's ambient boost, the wear was showing.

The enemy pressed harder.

Azuma, with cold precision.

And Hikaru, who despite his clownish looks, was a serious threat. As a member of the Purgatory Seven, he had real power—and the battle instincts to match.

This was far from over.