The volcanic clearing was a cauldron of chaos, the air thick with the stench of burning chitin and the metallic tang of venom. At its center, Viperion—Yume's ultimate fusion of serpent, lion, and monkey—towered above the carnage. Its purple mane blazed, gold-and-white armor gleaming, and its sword-tail split into a storm of blades, each humming with lethal energy. The Kinton cloud coiled beneath it, holding the beast aloft like a god of destruction.
The Wasp Queen, her golden eyes narrowed in Macao's twisted sneer, let out a shriek that split the air. "A new pet? How quaint! It changes nothing!"
Yume's eyes, reflecting a flicker of recent loss, now burned with cold focus. This isn't just a new ally. This is the endgame. "Viperion, eradicate the swarm," he commanded, voice a low growl. "Stormwing, aerial suppression. Rika, cover my flank."
Viperion surged forward, a living tempest. Its sword-tail split, dozens of blades spinning out, carving through the swarm with a sound like tearing metal. Each blade moved with ruthless precision, slicing wasps in half, leaving trails of emerald ichor and scorched air. Its monkey-like arms swung wide, purple fire trailing, smashing elite drones from the sky. From its jaws erupted a torrent of concentrated purple flame, incinerating wasps by the dozen.
Above, Stormwing's armada rejoined the fray, hundreds of jet-black replicas spitting gunfire and lightning. Sonic screams, amplified by Viperion's presence, shattered the wasps' formations. The two Stormwings perched on Viperion's shoulders spewed thick smoke, blinding the enemy, their cries echoing like war horns.
Rika, a blur of dark energy, danced through the chaos. Her crimson fire blasts targeted the largest drones, burning them from the inside out. She moved with righteous fury, her attacks weaving perfectly with Viperion's onslaught.
The Queen's golden aura flared, her desperation palpable. With a guttural roar, she unleashed a psychic shockwave, the air vibrating with raw mental force. Yume felt the pressure claw at his mind—a thousand whispered doubts, a surge of fear and guilt. Ignore it. Focus. She's desperate. That's your opening.
The Queen's elite guard, massive armored wasps with venomous stingers, formed a spearhead and dove at Viperion. Too direct. Predictable. Viperion will handle it. The sword-tail blades converged, forming a massive, two-headed serpent sword crackling with purple energy. With a thunderous roar, Viperion swept the blade in a wide arc, obliterating the elite guard in a single, devastating blow. The shockwave cracked the earth, sending molten stone flying.
The Queen recoiled, genuine fear flickering in her golden eyes. She lashed out, draining more life from Macao's body, her aura swelling with stolen power. "You think you can break me? I am eternal!"
Yume's mind was steel. She's draining him. Time's up. He waited, watching for the moment her focus wavered. Opening. Don't waste it.
With a flick of his wrist, Yume's Pandora Orbs snapped out, transforming into chains of darkness that lashed around the Queen, binding her limbs. The chains snapped tight with a sound like thunder. Viperion's sword-tail split again, blades pinning her to the scorched earth. The Queen thrashed, golden fire lashing out, but the bonds held. For a moment, Macao's voice broke through, pleading: "Yume, please—stop her—" But Yume's eyes were cold. "No escape. Not this time."
"Stormwing, pin her!" he barked.
Mini Stormwings unleashed a barrage of iron lightning magic bullets and sonic screams, pinning the Queen's wings and blinding her with smoke. She shrieked, struggling, her blasts wild and unfocused. The psychic hum of her swarm faltered, panic spreading through the ranks.
Rika and Viperion moved in perfect sync. Rika unleashed a focused beam of energy, a lance of crimson and black. Viperion opened its jaws, unleashing a flamethrower of purple fire. The two attacks merged in midair—a vortex of swirling amethyst and crimson light, shrieking as it tore into the Queen. The ground cracked, air vibrating with the force of the blast. The Queen's golden aura shattered, her form convulsing as the combined attack engulfed her.
Yume advanced, gunswords shifting from sonic pulses to darkness-infused piercing blasts. Chains. Solid. No escape. He fired, each shot a miniature explosion of shadow, striking her wings, chest, and finally, her heart.
The Queen's shriek faded. Her monstrous form flickered, then collapsed, golden fire dying. As the smoke cleared, only Macao's battered, unconscious body remained, pale and barely breathing.
Yume didn't hesitate. He summoned the towering, eleven-foot Round Deer—majestic and antlered like a living legend, radiant with healing light. As the deer's magic washed over Macao and Yume, wounds closed and exhaustion faded. Yume realized he'd never named the deer. He placed a hand on its flank, voice low. "You need a name… How about Regalus?"
The deer's eyes glowed with pride. It bowed gracefully, then lifted its head, antlers gleaming, before Yume unsummoned him.
Macao stirred, blinking up at the volcanic sky, confusion etched across his face. "Yume…? What… happened? Why does my body feel like it's been through a war?"
Yume crouched nearby, silent for a moment. "You were possessed. The Queen took you over. You fought hard, Macao—harder than most could have."
Fragments of memory flickered in Macao's eyes—a golden haze, the feeling of his own magic twisting out of his control, the sensation of watching his own body move, powerless to stop it. He shuddered as the memories sharpened, recalling flashes of the battle: the swarm, the flames, the towering serpent and the cold, relentless advance of Yume himself.
"I… remember fire. And pain. I saw you. I tried to stop myself, but I couldn't. I was… I was fighting you, wasn't I?" His voice was raw, thick with shame and disbelief.
Yume nodded, gaze steady. "You did. But you weren't yourself. The Queen was strong, but you held on longer than anyone else could've. You made it hard for her."
Macao struggled to sit up, his hands trembling. "I took out hundreds… but in the end, I was just a puppet. I couldn't stop her. I couldn't protect anyone. That's… pathetic."
Yume's expression softened—just a fraction, but enough. "You did more than anyone could ask. Most would've broken. You gave us time. You gave your son hope. That's a number worth bragging about."
Macao looked away, fighting tears, then managed a weak laugh. "You're a strange one, Yume. Not much for comfort, are you?"
A ghost of a smile flickered on Yume's lips. "I'm not here to coddle anyone. But I know strength when I see it. You did good, Macao."
For a long moment, the two sat in the clearing, the silence between them heavy but not uncomfortable. Macao finally nodded, shoulders squaring as some of the weight lifted from him.
"Thank you, Yume. For everything."
"Yeah." Yume stood, offering a hand to help Macao up. "Let's go home."
They made their way back to town, Yume supporting Macao despite the older mage's protests. Macao's wounds were healed, but magic exhaustion left him weak. Yume, with Rika at his side, barely felt the drain—his reserves, like Yuta's, seemed bottomless.
As they neared the guild, Romeo sat on the steps, head bowed, tears streaking his face. He remembered the taunts of other boys—how they'd mocked his father and Fairy Tail for being drunks and layabouts. He remembered how he'd begged his dad to take a job, desperate to prove them wrong. Now, regret and guilt twisted in his chest.
The world blurred around Romeo, the weight of his guilt replaced by a blinding, impossible hope as a familiar voice broke through his sorrow. "Romeo!"
He looked up to see Macao, battered but alive, hurrying toward him with Yume's steady support. Romeo's tears turned to joy as he threw himself into his father's arms.
"Dad! You're back! You're really back!"
Macao hugged him tight, voice thick. "I promised, didn't I?"
Romeo turned to Yume, eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you! Thank you for bringing my dad home!"
Yume adjusted his hat, looking away with a faint, rare smile. "Don't thank me, kid. Thank your old man for hanging in there. You got guts—don't waste 'em."
As Yume walked away, Romeo's voice echoed after him, full of hope. "Thank you, Yume! Thank you!"
He paused, then added, voice low and cool, "Yare yare daze… Looks like things worked out."
Yume didn't look back, but a small, satisfied smirk tugged at his lips. For once, he let himself feel it—the quiet pride of a job well done, and a faint warmth that had nothing to do with the volcanic heat.
End of Chapter 6: