"..."
Keyes said nothing.
He activated his Curse, and his figure quickly disappeared, already fleeing to another tomb.
Buzz!
However, Marco's figure appeared right after him.
Pat.
Marco's hand landed on Keyes's shoulder.
Before the skeleton could react, Marco crushed his shoulder directly.
"I already said running is useless. You thought you escaped because of your own ability, but in truth, I deliberately let you run."
Marco's words rang in Keyes's mind like a death sentence, striking him so hard that he instantly lost all will to resist.
The main reason was that Marco's actions had already proven those words were not false.
If Marco had wanted to catch him, he would never have escaped before.
Buzz!
Marco grabbed Keyes and activated Psychic Teleportation, directly returning to Underworld Island and Hell's Core.
"How is it, Mira?"
Marco's gaze turned toward the graceful figure standing inside Hell's Core.
Mirajane had her eyes closed, magic power surging around her body, while the Nine Demon Gates had all disappeared.
Clearly, they had all been completely Taken Over.
In all of Tartaros, only Keyes in Marco's hand and Mard Geer, sealed inside Crystal Wall, had yet to be Taken Over.
"Better than ever."
Mirajane opened her eyes, and the aura around her returned to calm.
She looked at Marco with obvious joy on her face.
"Huh? There's another one?"
Seeing Keyes in Marco's grip, Mirajane tilted her head, then reflexively reached out to Take him Over directly.
"Wait. Before you Take him Over, we need to confirm something first."
Marco quickly grabbed Mirajane's hand and stopped her.
After all, Keyes was now one body tied to two lives.
They still had to make an effort and see whether Silver Fullbuster could be saved.
After all, this man was Gray's father, and he had also spent all these years working hard to eliminate demons.
Just like Jellal, Silver Fullbuster had inevitably been controlled into doing some evil things after Keyes the Black Archbishop first revived him. But that had not been his intention.
If Jellal's crimes were not deserving of death, then Silver Fullbuster, who had been working hard to eliminate demons after breaking free of control, naturally did not deserve to die either.
"After you Take him Over, can Gray's father continue existing?"
Holding Mirajane's hand, Marco asked directly.
"This... I can't guarantee it either. After all, I've never experienced something like this before."
Mirajane thought for a moment, then shook her head helplessly.
She really could not be certain about this matter.
They would only know the answer by trying.
"Then just do your best." Marco nodded.
This answer was not unexpected. In that case, there was no other way. They could only do everything they could and leave the rest to fate.
"It's impossible!"
After roughly understanding what was about to happen, Keyes roared loudly, trying to save himself.
Crack!
Marco punched him, directly smashing Keyes mouth and leaving him only able to make clattering sounds as his bones knocked together.
"Don't listen to him!"
After hitting him, Marco spoke to Mirajane.
There was naturally no need to hear what Keyes had to say.
This guy would of course deny it with all his strength.
He had seen a chance to keep himself alive, so of course he would claim that Silver could only live if he stayed alive.
"Should we call the father and son in to witness this together?"
Mirajane nodded, then made a suggestion.
After all, this involved Silver life and death, so it was best to inform them.
"Sure."
Marco accepted her suggestion and called Silver and Gray in.
"Keyes! Your end has come!"
The moment Silver entered Hell's Core and saw Keyes, he immediately became agitated.
Keyes the Black Archbishop looked at Silver Fullbuster with confusion in his eyes.
He could not understand it.
If he died, then Silver Fullbuster had an eighty percent chance of dying with him.
So why did Silver seem completely unafraid?
"I have no regrets left. Lord Marco, thank you for everything you have done, and thank you for taking care of Gray all these years. There is no need to consider my matter anymore. Please kill Keyes."
Silver Fullbuster looked toward Marco and bowed very solemnly.
When he had been speaking with Gray just now, Silver Fullbuster had learned that Marco had helped Gray a great deal.
That made his respect for Marco grow even deeper.
The help Marco had given Gray was not limited to daily life or work. Marco had also accepted Gray as a disciple and taught him magic, making him stronger.
He could truly be called a good big brother.
Where else could one find a Guild Master like this?
Gray stood at the side without speaking, his expression heavy.
Although Gray also knew that if Keyes died, his father would most likely die too, he truly could not say anything like asking everyone to spare Keyes.
He also had no way to make his father accept it.
Or rather, his father would definitely be the first to oppose it, and he would oppose it more fiercely than anyone else.
"This is what I should do, Silver. Are you ready? I can only say that we will do everything we can to help you survive, but the chance of success is not high. If there is anything else you want to say to Gray, say it quickly. I can still give you time."
Marco waved his hand, signaling that Silver Fullbuster did not need to be so formal.
Taking care of Gray was something he should have done.
Even before he became Guild Master, he had still been willing to take care of every member of the guild, because everyone was one big family.
"I've already said everything I needed to say.... Let me hug you one last time, Gray. From now on, you must listen properly to Guild Master Marco! He's a good person, and he's capable. You definitely won't go wrong following him."
Silver Fullbuster opened his arms and hugged Gray, giving him one final reminder.
He had already reminded him of far too many things.
"Mm..."
Gray also hugged his father.
Although he could not feel any warmth from his father's body, he still felt the warmth of paternal love.
"Then let's begin."
Marco looked toward Mirajane, signaling that she could start.
"Haa..."
Mirajane took a deep breath.
The sight of such deep father-son affection before her suddenly made the pressure on her rise.
After all, whether Silver Fullbuster could continue existing depended entirely on what she did next.
"Relax. We'll just do our best."
Marco gently patted Mirajane's back and quietly comforted the girl, who was clearly feeling the pressure.
Marco knew Mirajane would definitely do everything she could.
She also did not want Gray to be separated from his father forever a second time.
Having lost both parents once in childhood, then growing up and seeing his father turned into a living corpse, only to experience another farewell between life and death—that was far too cruel.
Ordinary people could not bear it.
Buzz!!!
Mirajane adjusted her condition and decisively began Taking Over Keyes.
She would not hesitate in this situation. Hesitation was useless. All she could do was give everything she had.
Silver held his son Gray tightly, his face full of satisfaction and happiness.
He had not even imagined that such a day could come.
Although the time he had spent with his son had not been long, he was already extremely satisfied and grateful.
He even felt that spending more time together might not be a good thing for Gray.
In the end, he would have to leave.
Perhaps it was better to have this brief time together.
Gray also hugged his father tightly.
In the end, he could not hold back his tears.
Men did not shed tears easily, only because they had not yet reached the point of true sorrow.
At this moment, for Gray, this was clearly sorrowful enough.
Marco watched from the side.
He thought that if this ended in a bad ending, then in a moment, Silver Fullbuster would probably slowly turn into particles of light in Gray's arms and disappear.