Countless crystal balls flew rapidly towards Zorn, who stood still, unmoving. Countless light beams also appeared out of thin air within the magic circle, each precisely shattering the crystal balls.
However, the moment they shattered, they were instantly restored and attacked Zorn again.
Zorn tried several times, but the result was always the same, so he gave up on destroying them and directly attacked the magic user.
"Ah, what a troublesome magic," Zorn exclaimed, then instantly vanished from his spot, reappearing behind Ultear, with a glowing foot poised to kick her waist.
Ultear instantly transformed all the crystal balls into a circular defensive shield, concentrating it in front of her. The moment Zorn kicked the shield, she was simultaneously sent flying by a massive force, and the shield instantly shattered, scattering everywhere.
After tumbling several times in the air, Ultear finally used the force of a crystal ball under her feet to stop herself.
"Your magic is very strong; it can control time, but it also has a big weakness, doesn't it? You can't use it on living creatures other than plants," Zorn explained to himself.
Ultear bit her lip, looking at Zorn with a solemn expression. This Arc of Time magic, it seemed, couldn't deal with Zorn for now.
Even the other magic, Pantheon, seemed unable to deal with Zorn, as it was essentially a beam attack.
She had to switch to a different magic. Ultear's magic power completely erupted at this moment; in terms of magic power, she was truly strong. A chill slowly enveloped the entire beach.
Zorn's playful expression had become somewhat serious. It seemed there was a reason why Ultear's magic power was very strong from a young age, and then Ur sent her to the research institute for treatment.
Meanwhile...
Gray and Lyon's battle was also in its heated phase.
"Gray, your strength has really grown a lot."
Lyon was currently supporting himself with one hand on the ground, looking at Gray, who was only injured, with an unwilling expression.
The surrounding environment had been completely destroyed by Ice Make Magic, filled with ice crystals.
"There are many ways to surpass Master. Your actions are completely killing Master again; it's truly disappointing." Gray recalled what the Guild Master had told him then: completely melting the ice was equivalent to killing that person again.
"Say whatever you want. My purpose in life was for this day, but, but this day was completely ruined by you. It was only a little bit off."
"Damn it!"
Lyon's hands were now covered in ice, and he charged at Gray with ice spikes, attacking Gray frantically over and over again, while saying, "The only way is to personally bury Deliora, whom Master couldn't even defeat. That's the only way, do you understand, Gray?"
"Your ambition is indeed admirable, but you've gone astray, haven't you? A guy who can't even see the truth shouldn't expect to defeat Ur. You're still a hundred years too early."
Gray easily dodged Lyon's attacks, which made Lyon even angrier, and his attacks became more ferocious. But Gray directly grabbed Lyon's ice spikes with his right hand, shattered them, and then threw Lyon away, scolding his senior brother who had gone astray.
Lyon, however, stopped speaking. The moment he hit the wall, he extended a single hand and released: "ICEMAKE: White Tiger," a dynamically moving tiger made entirely of ice that charged at Gray.
Gray, however, jumped directly, also casting Ice Make Magic: "ICEMAKE: Cage," trapping the tiger and standing on top of it, looking at Lyon with a pained expression.
"Is this your true face, Lyon? Just a pitiful animal who doesn't understand the world."
"Boring. Your static ICEMAKE can't defeat my dynamic ICEMAKE. Watch me destroy your cage."
Lyon angrily reached out, wanting to manipulate the White Tiger to break free from the cage, but no matter how he channeled his magic power, the White Tiger remained tightly bound by the cage.
"Don't you understand yet? Ice made with one hand has very poor stability and balance. At a crucial moment, it simply can't exert power."
"ICEMAKE: Ice Snow Cannon"
Gray jumped down, looking at Lyon, who was still struggling with all his might. After speaking, he put his hands together, a blue magic circle rising from beneath his feet. A large cannon made of ice and snow appeared in Gray's hands, aimed at Lyon.
After Gray fired the cannon, accompanied by Lyon's scream, a large hole was blasted into the temple building, and Lyon lay on the ground, unconscious.
Gray VS Lyon—Gray wins.
At the top of the temple, Natsu and the others' battles were 1v1, but unlike Gray's, their fights ended quickly. The members of Lamia Scale all fell to the ground, losing consciousness.
The people performing the Moon Drip ritual nearby were also taken down, and the Moon Drip ritual was consequently dispelled.
Natsu, Lucy, and Cana breathed a sigh of relief at this situation. After tying up the members of Lamia Scale and those performing the ritual with ropes, they took them down to the bottom of the temple to rendezvous with Gray.
Once the two groups met, they collectively pondered in the cave how to transport Deliora back to the north and re-seal it in ice.
After all, even after the ritual was canceled, the freezing effect remained. The ice formed by Absolute Zero could not be melted by normal flames or in normal conditions, so this plan of transporting it back was entirely feasible.
When they thought of Zorn, this situation could be entirely handled by him, getting it done directly.
"Where's Zorn?! At a time like this..."
Gray didn't see Zorn present, so he anxiously asked Cana.
"Don't worry, he just went to deal with another enemy."
"It seems the mastermind behind this incident is someone else, but rest assured, it will be resolved quickly," Cana explained, but this explanation made Natsu jump up.
"Oh, right, we also need to check if the curses on the villagers have been lifted." Natsu suddenly remembered something, as the Moon Drip ritual had stopped, but he didn't know that all the people in this village were originally demons.
"No rush, let's wait until Zorn returns."
...
On the beach at this moment, Ultear was supporting herself with both hands on the ground, panting heavily. A huge ice spike had appeared on the path in front of her, and the surroundings were completely covered in ice and snow.
"Damn it, is it dealt with now!"
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