The request fluttered slightly as Ren pulled it free.
Galuna Island — S-Class Threat Suspected.
Ancient Curse. Demon Activity.
Urgent.
Mira leaned over his shoulder, eyes narrowing just a touch. "Galuna… that name again."
Erza crossed her arms. "Ice. Demons. Curses. Sounds like trouble."
Ren folded the paper once, neat and decisive. "Then we don't let it spread."
No debate followed.
Some missions didn't need discussion—only action.
---
POV — Voyage to Galuna Island
The boat cut through fog like a blade.
The moon hung unnaturally large in the sky, its pale light washing the sea in silver. Galuna Island rose ahead—jagged cliffs, ancient ruins, the air itself heavy with old magic.
Mira rested her hands on the railing, expression unreadable. "There's something sealed here."
Ren nodded. "And something pretending it should've stayed buried."
Erza's grip tightened on her sword. "Whatever it is, it ends tonight."
---
POV — Galuna Village
The curse was obvious the moment they stepped onto the island.
Frozen villagers. Twisted statues of pain. Magic etched into stone and bone alike—old, desperate, wrong.
Ren crouched, fingers brushing a cracked rune. "This isn't a natural curse. It's a binding ritual. Someone's feeding it."
"Then we cut the source," Erza said.
A laugh echoed from the ruins.
Slow. Arrogant.
"Too late for that."
---
POV — Lyon's Arrival
Lyon Vastia stepped forward, flanked by his followers, ice magic crackling eagerly around him.
"I won't stop," Lyon declared. "Deliora will awaken. The demon that killed Ur—"
Erza moved.
She didn't shout. She didn't warn.
Steel flashed.
One heartbeat later, Lyon's followers were embedded in ice walls—disarmed, unconscious, defeated before they even realized the fight had begun.
Erza stood alone before Lyon, sword resting on her shoulder.
"You're chasing a corpse," she said coldly. "And I don't tolerate fools who endanger lives for guilt."
Lyon lunged anyway.
He didn't land a single hit.
Erza's blade struck once—flat, precise.
Lyon collapsed into the snow.
Silence followed.
---
POV — The Ruins, Deeper Within
The seal chamber pulsed like a living heart.
Chains of magic bound a massive frozen cocoon—Deliora.
Or what remained of it.
Mira stepped forward slowly. Her magic resonated—not hostile, but recognizing.
"This isn't resurrection," she whispered. "It's a soul fragment. A shadow bound by rage."
Ren's eyes sharpened. "Then it doesn't need to be destroyed."
Mira inhaled deeply.
Her form shifted.
Dark wings. Pale markings. Power blooming—not violent, but absolute.
Take Over: Deliora.
The chamber shook.
The demon's essence surged, roaring—then faltered.
Mira held it.
Not dominating.
Accepting.
"I won't let you hurt anyone again," she said softly. "But I won't erase you either."
The rage unraveled.
The demon's howl faded into something… quiet.
The curse began to crack.
---
POV — Ren
The moonlight intensified.
The runes reignited—out of control now, panicking without their anchor.
Ren stepped forward, blade half-drawn.
"One cut," he murmured.
He slashed.
No flourish. No excess magic.
Just a clean, perfect arc through the heart of the spell.
The curse shattered like glass.
Ice melted. Stone cracked. Magic dispersed into harmless mist.
Galuna Island exhaled.
---
POV — Aftermath
The villagers began to move.
Breathing.
Alive.
Erza sheathed her sword. "Mission complete."
Mira's demon form faded, leaving her human once more. She looked tired—but peaceful.
"It's done," she said. "Deliora won't harm anyone ever again."
Ren glanced up at the moon, now shrinking back to normal, its light gentle instead of oppressive.
"Good," he said simply.
The island was quiet now.
Not cursed.
Not haunted.
Just land, sea, and people who would wake tomorrow free.
As they turned to leave, Erza allowed herself a small smile.
"Efficient," she said.
Ren smirked. "As planned."
Behind them, Galuna Island slept—finally at peace.