Snow fell heavily, blanketing the ground as two struggling figures left a trail of crimson blood in their wake.
They were a fugitive couple—a human tribal chief and a goddess with the power of ice and snow. Their love had broken the sacred rule forbidding romance between gods and humans, and now both their tribes hunted them relentlessly.
"We can't keep going like this! They'll catch us eventually!"
"I'm so sorry. Because of me, you broke your tribe's laws. I've put you in such a tough spot."
"Don't say that! I've got a lifetime's worth of regrets—too many to count—but loving you? That's the one thing I've never regretted, not for a second!"
"Ha… I knew you'd say that. And you know what? Even if I had five more lives, I'd fall for you every single time without hesitation."
Exhausted, the man and woman collapsed into each other's arms in the snow, using the last of their strength to whisper their final words of love.
"Dying here together with you… it's not so bad."
"It's just a shame these two little ones won't get to see the world… If we could've lived, what names would we have given our kids?"
"…"
"So you're leaving me behind first, huh? Damn it, why now…?"
Fueled by a mother's boundless love, the ice goddess gave birth to twin daughters in the snow.
"Such a pity… I never got to hear you call me 'Mama'…"
---
Footsteps crunched through the snow, chaotic and hurried.
"Elder, we found them!"
"They're already dead! But… what about these two baby girls?"
The one called the Elder pointed at one of the infants. "Take this one back. I can sense the aura of God-Slaying Magic on her."
"God-Slaying Magic…? How's that possible?"
"Maybe it's because her mother died in childbirth, so the power passed to her? Who knows!"
"And the other one?"
"Forget her. Let's go."
---
More footsteps echoed in the snow.
"Chief, we found Snow and her husband!"
"What about this baby girl?"
The one called the Chief sighed. "Take her back."
"But… she's human!"
"So what?" the Chief said, cradling the infant. "Haven't we had comrades before who were born of gods and humans?"
His companions hesitated. "But…"
"Enough! I'm the Chief here!"
"…"
"If it makes you feel better, think of it as revenge against the humans. Satisfied?"
---
And so, the sister who inherited the goddess's power was taken by the divine tribe. As the only human among them, she couldn't be called the "Goddess of Ice and Snow," so they gave her the next highest title: the White Celestial Maiden.
The sister who bore Ice God-Slaying Magic was taken by the humans, becoming a prodigy wizard born with this rare power. Because her magic rivaled that of the gods, the humans gave her a title surpassing even "wizard": the Black Celestial Maiden.
---
For over a century, gods, humans, and demons had formed a tense, three-way stalemate across the continent, marked by constant conflicts and wars.
Then one day, to defeat the demons, the humans and gods joined forces. They decided to turn the demons' greed against them, creating the Demon Devours Demon magic and covertly introducing it into demon society.
The magic worked wonders. Within a few years, the demon population plummeted. Though it gave rise to a few stronger demons, they were mindless beasts, easily outwitted and defeated one by one by the allied humans and gods.
To deliver a final blow to the demons, the two tribes staged a fake feud, pitting their most prominent warriors—the Black and White Celestial Maidens—against each other in a dramatic showdown at Zonia to lure out the remaining demon kings.
The plan worked flawlessly. During the battle, the Black and White Maidens recognized each other as sisters. Bound by their familial love, they fought with unmatched strength and won, though they perished from exhaustion. They managed to kill nearly all the demon kings, save for one—the Sea Demon King. Too weak to finish it off, they sealed it away instead.
The spell they used was an early version of Absolute Freeze, but it was imperfect, and the casters were in poor condition, so it didn't work as intended.
As for Ice Demon-Slaying Magic, it emerged by chance. The powers of destruction, ice, and demonic essence were inherited by a close-blooded kin during the battle. Their descendants, claiming to be heirs of the ice goddess, settled in seclusion to guard the sealed Sea Demon King.
---
The recollection ended there.
"Okay, so… why are you showing me all this? If you just want someone to chat with, can we do it later? I've got urgent stuff to deal with!" Wendy said, exasperated.
[We know everything that's happening out there. It's fine for now, and there's not much time left. Hear us out!] a voice urged.
Wendy sighed. "Fine, go ahead."
[Whether it's the Demon Devours Demon magic or the Sea Demon King, it's our responsibility. Since its power has been taken by another demon, you must inherit our power to face it!]
"What?!" Wendy's eyes widened, a mix of shock and excitement. She hadn't expected an opportunity like this! But why her?
[We're the ones who defeated the Sea Demon King, so we know it better than anyone. Only our power can counter it because we know its fatal weakness!]
"What do I need to do?" Wendy asked eagerly.
[Use your magic to accept our souls!]
---
At the Forgotten Tavern…
Boom!
Elfman crashed through the tavern's tables and chairs, sending splinters flying. Nearby, Loki, Cana, and Lucy lay sprawled on the floor, with the tavern's owner barely clinging to life.
"What's with this insane magical power?!" Cana coughed, struggling to her feet.
Minutes earlier, Ace—having absorbed Snoi and Ferg—descended from the sky. With a single wave of his hand, he obliterated the tavern, exposing tables, drinks, captives, and the owner to his cold gaze.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the four quickly regrouped to protect the tavern owner. As for the captives, there was no time to worry about them. The aura radiating from this demon made it clear he was far beyond their ability to handle.
The only silver lining was that the wolves had stopped attacking, so at least they weren't fighting on two fronts. But…
"Why's a demon here? Where are Kira and Erza?"
"Did they fail to beat their opponent?"
"Is Natsu okay?"
"Be careful—this demon's no joke!"
Cards, celestial spirits, beams, and beast fists struck at once, but every attack was swept away by a torrent of icy water.
"Compared to those four humans who came knocking, you guys are way out of your league!" Ace sneered.
"What happened to them?!" Cana shouted.
Ice Demon King Ace flashed a dangerous grin. "Probably still alive… for now."
They were indeed alive and well, but his vague words sent a chill through Cana and the others, making them fear the worst. "Did Kira, Erza, and the others really lose, even together?"
Ace sauntered toward the bound Chloe, his smug expression growing.
Hearing his footsteps, Chloe's mind screamed, Save me! Somebody, save me!
But with her body sealed, all she could manage were muffled whimpers.
"Traitor! You're still alive, huh?" Ace taunted.
Chloe's heart sank. Traitor? What's he talking about? I got beaten and captured—does that make me a traitor?
She had no memory of her mind being probed.
Then she felt Ace's massive hand rest on her head.
What's this creep planning? Some kind of sick move?
But she quickly realized she was wrong. No… soon, she couldn't think at all.
"MMMPH!!!" she screamed through her gag.
Being devoured was agonizing, a soul-tearing pain that drew gut-wrenching sobs. The sound made Cana and the others' hair stand on end. "What's he doing to her?!"
The sobbing lasted a full minute.
When it stopped, Chloe was gone. All that remained on the tavern's wooden floor were a few sealing stone cuffs—and an Ice Demon King, now radiating an even more overwhelming presence.
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