Boom—!
As Qi Yan's massive slash descended, the entire ruin was cleaved, leaving a huge gash. Everyone's eyes widened and mouths agape, staring. Although they had witnessed it once before, such an attack was incredibly shocking no matter how many times it was seen.
Crack—!
A vertical line appeared in the middle of Deliora's body.
Following that, crackle, crackle—!
Dense cracks appeared on Deliora's body.
Bang—!
Deliora's body began to crumble.
Rumble—!
Deliora's body fell to the ground like ice.
"What?!"
Everyone except Qi Yan was stunned by this scene.
"What... what's going on?!"
They were no longer surprised that Qi Yan's attack could kill Deliora; after all, Qi Yan had already displayed terrifying combat power.
But Qi Yan's attack shouldn't turn someone into frozen ice.
"Could it be..."
"How could this be... Deliora is... already dead..."
Lyon finally understood: "Ten years... Ur's ice gradually took its life. Were we merely witnessing its final moments? There's no chance left... I can never surpass Ur now."
Tears streamed down Lyon's face, partly from his unwillingness to be unable to surpass his master, Ur, but mostly from joy that his strongest master had not lost to this monster.
Gray also stared blankly at the scene before him. It turned out that his master had already killed Deliora for his sake.
"Master..."
Gray lowered his head, covering his face, tears flowing uncontrollably.
With Deliora dead, there was no longer any need for battle, and Qi Yan returned to his original form.
Whew—!
Qi Yan let out a long breath. Whitebeard was indeed powerful. Using him consumed magic power very quickly, making him not last long again.
Using Whitebeard with five and a half stars of magic power was still a bit strenuous. Perhaps seven stars of magic power would allow for more free use.
"Yay—! That's great! Deliora is dead! This means the village's curse is lifted!"
"Aye—!"
Lucy and Happy jumped around, high-fiving each other.
"It's not great at all! I didn't do anything!"
Natsu was very unhappy. Last time, when dealing with Iron Forest, he was stuck riding transportation for too long and ended up being a bystander the whole time. This time, he was a bystander again. This S-Class Quest should have been completed by him.
Lucy scoffed, "Whose fault is it for being careless and getting frozen directly? Serves you right!"
"Damn it! You didn't do anything either!"
Seeing himself being mocked by a mere Lucy, Natsu was furious, not figuratively, but literally.
Lucy retorted, "I... I just didn't have time to make a move yet, yes, that's right!"
Qi Yan smiled and said, "Alright, if you want to complete the quest, you actually still have a chance."
"What do you mean? Deliora isn't already..."
"Who told you the curse was related to Deliora?"
"What?!"
"The villagers' curse hasn't been lifted. If you can figure out a way to lift the curse on the way back, it can also count as you completing an S-Class Quest."
"Really?! That's great!"
"Aye!"
Lucy grumbled, "What are you guys so Happy about? You couldn't figure it out after discussing it for a day and a night. Do you think you can figure it out on the way back?"
She had completely given up now; as long as the curse could be lifted, it was fine.
Natsu said with a grin, "There's still hope, isn't there?"
Gray looked at Lyon and asked, "Do you know how to lift the curse?"
Lyon replied, "I don't know, but I also have some doubts about the curse. For these three years, we have also been under this light, and even closer, yet nothing happened to us, but they were cursed."
"That's right!"
Lucy suddenly realized, "Oh, right! If it was really the moonlight or Deliora causing the curse, Lyon and the others, being closer to the moonlight and Deliora, should have been cursed. But they don't look cursed at all."
"Let's go, it's about time to head back. If we don't, the villagers will start to worry."
Qi Yan said, then turned and left. Natsu, Lucy, and Happy quickly followed.
Natsu said to Qi Yan, "Qi Yan, can't you give us a hint?"
"Yeah! Just a little, just a little."
Lucy also chimed in, as this was a good opportunity to greatly enhance the guild's standing, and she didn't want to miss out.
"Aye!"
If it could complete this quest, it could buy a lot of fish to eat.
"No!"
"Tch! Stingy!"
The group walked out, talking as they went.
Gray stopped and looked at Lyon, filled with guilt. He knew that Lyon resurrecting Deliora wasn't just simply for the dream of defeating Deliora and surpassing Ur; his true goal was to eliminate Deliora and avenge Ur.
"What are you looking at?"
Lyon said grumpily. He had lost this time, and although it wasn't to Gray, he had undoubtedly suffered a terrible defeat. He didn't want Gray to laugh at him.
"You should also find a guild to join. There are companions there, rivals, and you'll definitely find new goals."
"Boring... Get lost!"
****
Qi Yan and the others returned to the village. Along the way, they discussed for a long time but still had no clues. Upon returning to the village, they immediately saw the entire village filled with demons.
"As expected, the curse hasn't been lifted!"
They had still hoped the curse might have been lifted, but it seemed it wasn't that simple after all.
The village chief, with all the villagers, came forward, his tone somewhat anxious: "Mages! When exactly are you going to destroy the moon?!"
Qi Yan smiled and said, "Don't worry, isn't it just destroying the moon? Let's do it now."
"What—?!"
Everyone was startled when they heard this.
Lucy whispered, "Hey... do you know what you're saying?"
"Aye!"
Natsu immediately got excited when he heard Qi Yan say he was going to destroy the moon: "I knew it! We really have to destroy the moon!"
Gray quickly waved his hand: "No, no, no... that's impossible!"
"Full Body Takeover: Edward Newgate!"
Qi Yan began to take over Whitebeard. His height rapidly increased, and his appearance also began to change. In a flash, Qi Yan transformed into Whitebeard's likeness.
"So big—!"
The villagers were startled to see Qi Yan suddenly become so tall.
Qi Yan stood firmly on the ground, his right hand clenched into a fist and placed on his left hip.
Hum—!
A white, transparent spherical light shield enveloped Qi Yan's fist.