"That's right. The people from Eisenwald are inside. The army has already gone in, but none of them have come out yet. There's been no news at all," Erza said.
"I'm afraid the ones who went in are probably as good as dead," Ultear speculated.
"Let's go meet this madman. Oh, and Gray—Natsu's on you," Aylin said casually.
Without Natsu charging in headfirst, Gray glanced around at Erza, Ultear, and Lucy. Well… regardless of whether they had anything to do with Aylin or not, there was no way he'd dare object.
"Fine, I'll take care of this guy."
Gray walked over to Natsu, who was lying there like a corpse, and said irritably, "Hey, pull yourself together! We're about to fight Eisenwald, and this is the state you're in?!"
Even so, he hoisted Natsu onto his back and followed Aylin and the others into the station.
As they ran forward, they saw scattered soldiers lying all over the place, unconscious, covered in wounds of varying severity.
The closer they got to the main hall, the more soldiers they saw—broken weapons and shattered shields were strewn everywhere like discarded trash. Bodies lay sprawled in every direction.
The sight made everyone frown.
"That's awful…" Lucy covered her mouth, her face filled with shock.
"Looks like Ultear was right. This squad has been completely wiped out," Gray said, frowning as he carried Natsu.
"That's only natural. Their opponents are an entire guild of mages. For a single squad to take them down was nearly impossible," Erza said calmly.
"Let's keep moving. I imagine our 'Grim Reaper,' Mr. Erigor, is already waiting for us in the main hall," Aylin said.
Sure enough, when they stepped into the hall, all the core members of Eisenwald, led by Erigor, were already there, staring at them with vicious expressions.
At the front stood a tall, gaunt man with long silver hair, a tattoo beneath his eyes, and blue spiral tattoos covering his bare upper body. He wore a black scarf, tattered pants, and wooden sandals. His face was cold and sinister—this was Eisenwald's current guild master, their ace, known as the Grim Reaper: Erigor.
"Heh… so you've come, you flies from Fairy Tail," Erigor sneered.
As soon as he spoke, the members behind him burst into mocking laughter, their eyes filled with disdain and confidence.
"Why are there so many of them?" Lucy's expression changed as she asked in shock.
"No matter how many of this caliber show up, it won't make a difference," Ultear said indifferently.
"So you're Erigor, the one behind all of this?" Erza demanded, glaring at him.
"Heh…" Erigor floated in midair, staring at them without replying. Aylin noticed his gaze sweep over Erza, Ultear, and himself.
Not bad. At least he can tell who the real threats are, Aylin thought.
"What exactly is your goal? What do you plan to do with Lullaby?!" Erza demanded again coldly.
Erigor looked at her and chuckled. "Heh… don't you get it? Tell me—what's outside this station? Hahaha!"
"You bastard… so you really intend to play Lullaby here?!" Erza clenched her fists in anger. Gray and Lucy looked just as furious. Only Aylin and Ultear remained calm, though their eyes had grown colder.
"Outside this station, there are thousands of curious onlookers gathered. Now tell me—what do you think will happen if I play Lullaby here?" Erigor's tone shifted from teasing to outright madness. "If I crank the volume to the maximum, the entire city should be able to hear it. Just imagine how delightful that will be! Hahahaha!"
"You monster! You're planning to kill innocent people?!" Gray shouted.
"Innocent? No, no… this is purification," Erigor said, his expression twisted. "Those fools who cling to their lives, protected by power they don't deserve, while ignoring the suffering of those stripped of their rights—they all deserve to be cleansed."
"This is the sin of living without acknowledging the world's injustice. And so, I—the Grim Reaper—will deliver punishment! Hahaha!"
"Even if you do this, it won't restore your so-called rights! If anything, you were expelled because of all the evil things you've done. Honestly, you're just a bunch of brainless idiots!" Lucy retorted, hands on her hips.
"What a pity. Before the age of darkness even begins, you flies will be on your way to the underworld," said a man stepping forward. He had black hair tied into a short ponytail, sharp features, black eyes, and wore a white high-collared shirt with a dark red inner layer and teal pants. Black earrings hung from his ears—this was Kageyama, one of Eisenwald's notable members.
Kageyama crouched down, placing both hands on the ground. In the next instant, several shadowy claws shot toward Lucy.
Aylin lightly stomped the ground. An invisible wall of gravity shattered all the shadow claws instantly.
"Ambushing isn't exactly honorable," Aylin said coldly, his gaze fixed on Kageyama. "Try that again, and you're dead."
"What… what kind of magic is that?!" Kageyama's eyes widened in shock, disbelief written all over his face. At the same time, he felt a chilling killing intent from Aylin.
"Fight if you want. Go ahead," Erigor sneered. "Everything is proceeding according to my plan. There are certain people I must make hear that flute… they'll get a taste of my revenge. Heh."
"We're the strongest team in Fairy Tail! You'd better be ready for what's coming!" Lucy, still shaken, pointed angrily at the members of Eisenwald.
"I'll leave this place to you, Kageyama," Erigor said before his body twisted and vanished.
"He just ran away?!" Lucy stared in disbelief at where he had been.
"Erza, Ultear, Lucy—leave this place to you," Aylin said, his left hand resting lightly on the hilt of Alaya. His gaze swept across the Eisenwald members, calm yet carrying undeniable pressure. "Gray, Natsu—you two go after Erigor. Find him. Take him down. Make him regret insulting Fairy Tail."
"Huh?! When did you wake up?!" Lucy asked, noticing Natsu suddenly headbutting Gray.
"…Hm?"
Aylin let out a soft sound, his gaze shifting toward the two of them.
"Y-yes, sir!"
Feeling Aylin's gaze, both Gray and Natsu shivered, instantly behaving themselves as they dashed off in Erigor's direction like obedient cats.