"Wow, this ruin is huge."
Lucy stared at the Moon Temple before her, her eyes full of amazement and curiosity as she looked around.
"This place is overflowing with lunar magic power. It's truly incredible," Erza said in surprise after carefully sensing the surroundings.
"Are we going to search floor by floor, Lord Arlen?" Ultear asked.
If they really searched the entire structure level by level, it would take an enormous amount of time and effort. Natsu, Gray, and Lucy also turned toward Arlen.
"No. This place is far too large. If someone genuinely wants to hide, the few of us would waste a huge amount of time searching. There's still time before nightfall, so everyone should eat something and recover their strength first. Once the moon rises tonight, we'll know exactly where they are," Arlen said calmly.
Inside a side hall with one corner collapsed, everyone sat side by side on the floor, propping up their chins as they boredly stared out toward the dense sea of trees in the distance.
The ocean breeze drifted through the hall, gently lifting their hair.
"This waiting around is so boring… Ah! I know, let's listen to some music."
Lucy suddenly seemed to think of something. Her eyes lit up, and she clapped excitedly before pulling out the Silver Key of Lyra from her belt.
"Open, Gate of Lyra — Lyra!"
Lucy channeled her magic and summoned the Spirit Singer, Lyra, for a heartfelt performance.
And honestly—
Lyra's singing voice was truly beautiful. It resonated directly with the soul.
Smiles appeared on Arlen and the others' faces as they quietly closed their eyes. The sea breeze brushed gently across their cheeks, filling their hearts with peace and tranquility.
Time quietly passed.
Night descended.
A bright moon hung high in the sky.
The resting group simultaneously opened their eyes.
"Let's go. Time to meet this so-called Lord White Night," Arlen said calmly as he draped the silver-gray cloak Ultear handed him over his shoulders.
"Come on, Happy! Once we find the mastermind, I'm definitely gonna beat him up!" Natsu shouted energetically as he charged out of the side hall, with Happy flapping after him.
"You idiot, trying to get ahead again?" Gray immediately chased after him. There was no way he'd let Natsu steal all the action.
"Those two are still as impatient as ever."
Erza pressed a hand to her forehead helplessly.
"I think we should hurry too."
Lucy was getting excited herself now. With Arlen, Ultear, and Erza backing them up, she felt completely fearless.
The group rushed upward through the ruins and quickly reached the very top floor.
There, they found an open-air altar.
Around the altar stood countless figures draped in black robes, their appearances hidden from view.
The cloaked figures stood in orderly circles around the altar, arms spread wide as they chanted complex and ancient incantations.
The next moment—
four enormous purple magic circles appeared in the air, spaced far apart from one another.
A beam of purple lunar magic passed through all four layers of magic circles before pouring down onto the altar below.
"What is this?!" Natsu, Gray, and Lucy cried out in shock.
"Arlen, Ultear… have either of you heard of this before?" Erza asked quietly with a frown.
"It sounds like Bellial Scripture… I think it's called Moon Drip," Ultear said after thinking for a moment.
"Moon Drip? What's that?" Lucy asked curiously.
"It's a ritual that gathers moonlight—lunar magic power—through special magic circles. Concentrating it onto a target can dissolve, nullify, or break virtually any magical effect," Ultear explained.
"So these people are trying to undo some kind of seal… or revive something," Arlen concluded.
"Then the mastermind must be underground. Let's move, Arlen," Erza said immediately.
"Agreed. But first, we need to stop this. I don't know exactly what they're trying to release, but interrupting the ritual is the safest option."
Arlen turned toward Gray and Ultear.
"Gray, Ultear, freeze everyone here. Once everything's settled, we'll decide what to do with them."
"Understood, Lord Arlen."
The two nodded and burst through the broken wall.
Each immediately activated Ice-Make Magic.
Gray raised his hand, layers of ice nets spreading outward, while Ultear released vast waves of freezing air from both palms, sealing every black-robed figure participating in the ritual inside giant blocks of ice.
None of them would die.
"All done. Let's go already, Arlen," Gray said smugly while dusting off his hands.
"Move out."
Arlen wasted no time leading everyone deeper underground.
Along the way, Lucy voiced another question that had been bothering her.
"The villagers on this island… their transformations were caused by Moon Drip too, right?"
"Yes," Ultear replied gravely.
"A concentrated stream of lunar magic doesn't just affect seals—it also corrupts the human body."
"What a bunch of bastards…" Natsu and the others growled angrily.
"Then is there any way to reverse the villagers' transformations?" Gray asked.
"I can't think of a solution immediately. Let's deal with the enemy first. Once we identify the true source behind the villagers becoming demons, solving it shouldn't be difficult," Ultear replied.
The group rushed all the way underground.
The instant they entered the subterranean chamber, they were stunned by the sight before them.
The underground space was enormous.
Bright torches illuminated the surroundings, and intricate runes were carved across the stone walls.
At the very center sat a man dressed in white upon a stone throne.
A mask covered his face.
His calm gaze, deep as still water, rested quietly upon Arlen and the others.
Behind him stood a gigantic block of ice—
and sealed within it was a grotesque demonic monster.
"So you've finally arrived… Fairy Tail," the man in white said emotionlessly.
"Oh? So you're the 'White Night' they kept talking about."
Arlen slowly stepped forward, his own voice equally calm and indifferent.
"You don't seem very surprised to see us. Almost like you expected us to come."
"Of course," White Night replied calmly.
"From the moment Agol described you to me, I already knew the Four Divine Generals and the others wouldn't be your match. And since the Moon Drip ritual has stopped, I assume that was your doing as well."
"Mind introducing the demon behind you?" Arlen asked.
"You're trying to break the ice sealing it, aren't you?"
"It would be my pleasure."
White Night gently touched the massive block of ice, a trace of nostalgia entering his voice.
"What lies sealed within is Deliora—one of the demons created by Zeref. It feeds upon the souls of living beings. Wherever it goes, not even grass survives. Even powerful mages struggle to oppose it."
"Deliora? Never heard of it," Lucy muttered before sighing.
"But seriously… why does everything somehow involve Zeref?"
"If it's as dangerous as you say," Erza asked sharply, "then how did it end up sealed here? And who sealed it?"
"My master."
White Night's voice remained calm, as though speaking of someone else's story.
"Ten years ago, Deliora destroyed countless towns and cities. In the end, my master sacrificed herself to stop it, using the forbidden spell—"
"Iced Shell."
"She transformed herself into eternal ice and completely sealed Deliora away."
Though White Night's tone stayed steady, everyone still caught the faint tremor hidden beneath his words.
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