The ship scraped against the rocky shoreline, the sound echoing through the mist like bones grinding together. The air was heavier here, thick with the tang of salt and something darker — the curse that clung to Galuna like a shroud.
Erza was the first to step off, her armored boots crunching against the sand. "Stay alert. The villagers requested our help, but cursed lands are never straightforward."
Gray followed close behind, eyes narrowing as he scanned the jagged cliffs rising above us. "Doesn't feel right. The whole place reeks of magic."
Natsu stumbled down the plank last, collapsing onto the sand like it was a gift from the gods. "Ughhh… land… sweet, unmoving land!" He kissed the ground dramatically until Erza dragged him up by the scarf.
Happy fluttered after him, carrying the same fish he'd been holding since the ship. "We made it! Aye, sir!"
I stepped off quietly, my eyes fixed on the village in the distance. Huts of weathered wood and stone huddled near the shore, their roofs patched with mismatched planks. Smoke curled weakly from chimneys, but there was no laughter, no life — only silence broken by the wind.
And then, from the shadows of the village, the people emerged.
Their appearances made Natsu and Gray stiffen instantly. Skin mottled with scales, limbs twisted into animalistic forms, eyes glowing faintly under the curse. Some bore horns, others tails, their humanity warped into monstrous shapes.
A woman with scales covering her face stepped forward, clutching a child whose arms ended in claws. Her voice trembled but held hope. "Fairy Tail… you came."
Erza bowed slightly, her tone firm. "We accepted your request. We will do all we can to lift this curse."
Natsu, despite his usual bluntness, straightened and nodded seriously. "Don't worry. We'll fix this!"
The villagers murmured, relief flickering across faces twisted by the curse.
But as I watched them, my system flared with quiet notifications.
System Scan CompleteCurse Origin: Residual Demon MagicEstimated Source: Subterranean Ruins (Northwest of Village)Threat Level: S-Rank
So it was already confirmed. The ruins held the key — and deep within, Deliora's prison.
While Erza and Gray questioned the villagers about when the curse began, I slipped my notebook open again, pretending to jot down observations. But the pages quickly filled with something else: schematics of defensive walls encircling the village, obsidian watchtowers powered with redstone lamps, hidden dispensers rigged to fire splash potions of healing.
If the curse worsened, these people wouldn't just need a cure. They'd need protection.
"Hey," Gray's voice pulled me back. He stood beside me, arms crossed. "You've been scribbling non-stop since we got on the ship. What's all that?"
I flipped the notebook shut, offering a half-smile. "Plans. Just in case things get messy."
Gray snorted. "Heh. Messy? This place already is." He glanced back at the villagers, something softer flickering in his eyes. "Still… it's worse for them."
Before I could answer, Natsu's shout echoed. "Let's go check out those ruins already! Sitting around isn't gonna fix anything!"
"Idiot," Gray muttered. "Rushing in blind is how you get killed."
Erza cut them both off with a sharp glare. "We move at dawn. Tonight, we stay in the village and gather our strength."
Natsu groaned but didn't argue — at least not loudly.
The villagers offered us a longhouse for shelter, its interior dimly lit by torches. The walls were lined with fishing nets and broken tools, signs of a community struggling to survive. Natsu and Gray were already bickering in one corner, Erza sat polishing her sword with calm focus, and Happy had promptly fallen asleep in an empty basket.
I sat apart, notebook balanced on my knees. With a thought, I summoned blocks from my inventory, hidden beneath the table — smooth stone, iron, obsidian. In the flicker of torchlight, I quietly pieced together miniature structures before storing them away again.
Blueprints Saved:
Emergency Obsidian Shelter (Capacity: 50)
Regeneration Beacon Array
Potion Dispenser Network
If things went wrong tomorrow, I'd have to deploy these in seconds.
The night outside was restless. Winds howled through the village, and faint, haunting cries echoed from the cliffs. More than once, I thought I saw glowing eyes in the trees.
Sleep was impossible. My system's countdown burned in my vision whenever I closed my eyes.
Time Until Awakening: 10 Days
When dawn broke, the village was eerily silent. The villagers stood in the square, watching us leave, their monstrous forms huddled together like frightened children.
Erza led the way, her armor gleaming under the gray sky. "Our destination lies northwest. Stay vigilant."
Gray walked beside her, tension sharp in his voice. "If this really is demon magic… we could be way out of our league."
Natsu cracked his knuckles, fire already sparking around his fists. "Good. I've been waiting for a real fight."
Happy zipped overhead, tail flicking. "Aye, sir! Let's clobber the curse!"
And me? I stayed silent, notebook clutched tight.
Because I knew the truth.
We weren't walking into just ruins.
We were walking into the shadow of Deliora.