Just then, a small demon child, hiding behind his mother, looked at Toby, who was groaning in pain in the ice prison, and couldn't help but murmur, "Uncle Toby... he seems to be in a lot of pain..." The voice was very soft, almost drowned out by the villagers' cheers.
But the child's mother heard it, her face subtly changed, and she immediately reached out to gently cover the child's mouth, whispering quickly, "Shh! Don't make a sound!"
Then she quickly picked up the child, forced a smile, and said to Gray, "This child, he's scared silly, just talking nonsense."
As she spoke, she carried the child and retreated to the back of the crowd.
Lord Gray's attention was focused on Toby in the ice prison, observing his injuries, and he didn't clearly hear what the child specifically said. He only saw the child being carried away by his mother, seemingly frightened.
He frowned slightly, but didn't think much of it.
Juvia and Elfman were also immersed in the victory and their sympathy for the villagers, and didn't notice this small interlude.
The village chief, Moca, timely raised his voice, thanking the three Mages again, and drew everyone's attention back.
The villagers also cooperated by continuing to cheer, making the scene a bit noisy.
Lord Gray waved his hand, signaling the villagers to be quiet.
He walked to the ice prison where Yuka was held. The biting cold permeated the air, waking Yuka.
"Speak!" Lord Gray's voice was icy and piercing, "Where is Deliora? Lyon... how is he now?"
Yuka coughed a few times, spitting out a mouthful of bloody saliva, his face showing an expression of pain and helplessness: "Deliora... is deep within the Moon God Temple... As for Lord Lyon... he... he is no longer Lord Lyon..."
Lord Gray's heart sank sharply!
The worst had happened!
Senior Disciple Lyon... was truly possessed by Deliora!
"We... we were also forced!" Sherry "cried" out at the opportune moment, "Deliora is too powerful! We couldn't resist! We could only obey him... otherwise... it would be a dead end!"
Toby added in a muffled voice, "Deliora's power... is unfathomable... You... you can't defeat him..."
Lord Gray remained silent, his face terrifyingly grim.
At this moment, the village chief, Moca, stepped forward and bowed deeply to Lord Gray: "Mage! Thank you for defeating these three demon generals! But... the real threat is Deliora in the Moon God Temple!"
He paused, a look of determination on his face: "Our village... our ancestors once passed down a magic specifically to counter demons! It's called 'Devil Slayer Magic'! Perhaps... it can be effective against Deliora!"
"Devil Slayer Magic?" A glint flashed in Lord Gray's eyes.
"Yes!" Moca turned and instructed Aka: "Aka! Quickly go and get... get the ancestral Devil Slayer Magic scroll!"
"Yes! Village Chief!" Aka responded, turned and ran. After a few steps, he couldn't help but look back, quickly glancing at Toby in the ice prison, his eyes full of worry, and then gritted his teeth and ran off quickly.
Soon, Aka ran back, holding an ancient scroll made of some kind of animal skin. He was breathless and his face showed anxiety.
Moca respectfully handed the scroll to Lord Gray: "Mage! This is the scroll that records Devil Slayer Magic! Our villagers' power is meager. Now, I entrust it to you!"
"I hope... I hope it can help you defeat Deliora!" Moca's voice carried a hint of imperceptible "hope" in his last sentence, but the hand that handed over the scroll trembled slightly, as if he was worried whether the scroll could truly help Lord Gray, and also worried about... the safety of the one in the Moon God Temple.
Lord Gray solemnly accepted the scroll.
It was cool to the touch, and the animal skin scroll exuded an ancient aura.
He opened it and glanced at it, seeing complex magical runes and cultivation methods recorded on it.
"Thank you, Village Chief!" Lord Gray said in a deep voice, "I will remember this kindness!"
Night had fallen deep.
Elfman voluntarily took on the task of guarding the prisoners and keeping watch.
His injuries were not light, but his spirits were high. He patted his chest and declared, "A man! Leave guarding the prisoners and protecting the village to me! You two go rest assured!"
Juvia, however, looked very tired.
She had expended a great deal of energy by transforming into water to cross the sea, and had just gone through a battle, so her face was a bit pale at the moment.
"Juvia, you go rest first." Lord Gray looked at her tired appearance, his tone leaving no room for doubt, "Get enough rest, there's another tough battle tomorrow."
"But... Lord Gray..." Juvia still wanted to say something.
"Listen to me!" Lord Gray interrupted her.
"...Yes, Lord Gray." Juvia looked at Lord Gray's determined eyes and could only nod obediently.
A middle-aged demon woman warmly took Juvia's hand: "Girl, you must be exhausted? Come with me quickly, I've prepared a clean room and hot water for you!"
Looking at Juvia's pale face, she couldn't help but whisper with concern, "You don't look too good, is it because you've used too much magic power? You need to rest well, tomorrow... tomorrow you still have to go to the Moon God Temple, and it... it's really dangerous there."
On the way to take Juvia back to her room, as they passed the ice prison where Sherry was held, the woman's footsteps paused slightly. Looking at the small, curled-up figure in the ice prison, a hint of heartache flashed in her eyes, but she immediately lowered her head and quickened her pace, pretending not to have seen anything.
After Juvia left.
Lord Gray, holding the ancient Devil Slayer Magic scroll, walked alone into the room arranged for him.
He did not rest.
He lit the oil lamp, and in the dim yellow light, carefully studied the contents of the scroll.
Devil Slayer Magic... a magic that transforms one's own magic power into power specifically to counter demons... requiring extremely strong magic control and unwavering will... Lord Gray's brows were sometimes tightly furrowed, sometimes relaxed.
He tried to follow the method on the scroll, mobilizing the ice magic power within his body, attempting to transform it.
Streaks of radiant light, imbued with extremely cold Ice Demon magic power, began to shimmer faintly at his fingertips... Time flew by in focused study. Outside the window, the purple moonlight gradually faded, and a hint of dawn appeared in the eastern sky.
The next morning.
Juvia woke up early. Although still a bit tired, her spirits had recovered considerably.
Worried about Lord Gray's condition, she gently pushed open the door to his room.
She found that Lord Gray was already fully dressed, standing by the window.
He turned around, and Juvia saw that his eyes were bloodshot from staying up all night, but those icy blue eyes were unusually bright, sharp as knives, as if burning with fire!
A certain indescribable aura, with a hint of sharpness, seemed to have been added to him!
"Lord Gray... did you not sleep all night?" Juvia asked with concern.
"Mm." Lord Gray nodded, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable power, "Time is short. We should depart."
He walked to the table, picked up the ancient scroll, and carefully put it away.
"Elfman!" Lord Gray walked out of the room and said to Elfman, who was guarding the door, "The village is entrusted to you! Guard the prisoners well and protect the villagers!"
Elfman looked at the bloodshot eyes and resolute aura in Lord Gray's eyes and nodded forcefully: "Don't worry, Gray! A man keeps his word! You two must be careful!"
Lord Gray nodded, his gaze fixed on the mountain range in the center of the island, shrouded in morning mist.
"Juvia, let's go!"
"Yes! Lord Gray!"
Lord Gray and Juvia's figures, facing the rising sun, embarked on the final journey to the Moon God Temple.
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