Wes Elwin waved his hand, and countless black arrows rained down from the sky like a meteor shower. Each one carried destructive power capable of obliterating anything that dared stand in their way.
Facing such a fierce assault, Ultear quickly activated "Arc of Time."
For a mage who mastered time magic, as long as they had enough mana, this ability was practically an impenetrable defense.
And Ultear was exactly that kind of mage—one with immense magical power.
"Arc of Time: Rewind!"
With her incantation, time within the space rewound by thirty seconds. Every single black arrow vanished as if it had never existed.
A deep crease formed on Wes's forehead—an expression that revealed both frustration and contemplation.
Looks like I can only either exhaust her mana… or strike before she has time to activate her magic.
He quickly devised two possible strategies to break through Ultear's defenses.
Ultear, on the other hand, had originally intended only to test Wes's strength, not expecting to encounter such a formidable opponent.
His magic power rivals mine. Are we about to enter a battle of attrition?
After several exchanges, she clearly realized that Wes's strength was no less than that of any S-Class mage. Judging from his style and aura, he didn't seem to belong to any recognized guild either.
That realization sparked her curiosity—and a desire to recruit this powerful man.
"Hey, what's your name?"
Wes frowned. "Before asking someone else's name, basic etiquette dictates you introduce yourself first."
"My apologies," Ultear said with a slight bow, though her tone lacked any true sincerity. "My name is Zalty. I apologize for my earlier rash behavior."
Still using a false name. Seeing her insincerity, Wes decided to resume his attack.
Is this guy some kind of battle maniac? Can't he see I'm trying to de-escalate?
Ultear bit her lip in frustration but knew that if she dragged this fight out any longer, she wouldn't be able to maintain her transformation magic.
Once her true identity was exposed, it would jeopardize her entire plan.
"Well then, farewell… mysterious mage."
She drew out a card and flicked it into the air. It dissolved into countless motes of light that scattered and vanished.
Her body faded along with them, disappearing from sight—but inwardly, she swore that once her hands were free, she'd make Wes pay for this humiliation.
"Prearranged spatial magic, huh? But don't think you can escape my grasp so easily."
Wes narrowed his eyes. The fact that Ultear was still using her middle-aged male disguise meant that, at this stage, she was still hiding at Lyon's side—plotting to resurrect the fearsome demon known as Deliora.
Deliora was one of the demons created by the Black Mage Zeref, recorded in the Books of Zeref.
As an undying calamity demon, it possessed overwhelming power—strong enough to destroy an entire city in mere moments.
Many years ago, when it ravaged a northern city, it was sealed away by Ur, the mother of Ultear, using her ultimate magic, Iced Shell, finally ending that disaster.
"So that means… if I find Galuna Island, I'll find her," Wes Elwin thought, his goal now crystal clear.
He recalled his sacred scarabs, then turned and departed.
An hour later, a small investigative squad from the Magic Council arrived at the scene.
The lead investigator surveyed the area, awe in his eyes.
"It's hard to believe such immense power was unleashed in this forest."
He began issuing commands, and the squad scattered to begin their inspection.
Although the battle had ended over an hour ago, these experienced investigators could still sense the lingering traces of magic power and the changes in the environment, allowing them to roughly gauge the strength of the two combatants.
"Judging from the residual mana," one investigator said, holding a crystal orb alight with faint magical ripples, "both fighters possessed power close to S-Class level."
At that moment, a frog messenger—a special courier used by the Council—hurriedly arrived, walking upright and holding two portraits.
"Sir, these are the sketches of the two individuals involved."
Apparently, several residents of Hargeon Town had witnessed Wes and Ultear's confrontation—particularly their clash in the restaurant—allowing artists to draw highly accurate portraits based on eyewitness accounts.
The lead investigator examined the sketches.
"There's always the chance they used transformation magic," he murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"In any case, send these to headquarters along with the report. This matter concerns S-Class mages—it must be handled carefully."
After thoroughly clearing the scene, the investigation squad withdrew from the forest to continue their mission.
Meanwhile, Wes Elwin was already making preparations to head for Galuna Island.
At the coastal town's port, he began asking around for information—but the moment he mentioned the island's name, people's reactions turned strange.
Some changed the subject immediately; others walked away without a word, as though he had spoken a forbidden word.
"Young man," said an old sea captain, his weathered hands stilling on the ropes, "I'd advise you not to go there."
His cloudy eyes fixed on Wes as he spoke in a gravelly voice.
"They say a demon lives on that island… even the moon above it shines purple. Not even the boldest pirates dare sail near those waters."
Finding a crew willing to take him to Galuna Island proved impossible. As the old captain warned, no price was enough to tempt sailors into that cursed region.
So Wes changed his plan. Instead of searching for a ship, he spent a hefty sum to purchase a detailed map—a precise navigational chart leading straight to Galuna Island.
With it in hand, he activated his flying car and took to the skies, setting out alone.
As the vehicle drew closer, the island's unique crescent shape emerged in the distance—outlined under the eerie glow of a moon that seemed to shimmer with violet light.
Rumors of demons and curses swirled endlessly around this place, but to Wes Elwin, they were nothing more than surface-level legends.
At the island's center stood an ancient pyramid-like structure.
From afar, deep, resonant chants echoed through the air—the voices of mages performing a ritual.
A circle of robed magi, all clad in violet, surrounded a vast magic array. The formation gathered and refracted the moonlight, transforming it into countless shimmering droplets of light.
One by one, the luminous drops fell upon the massive iceberg below, where something ancient and terrible slumbered within.
The entire scene shimmered with a strange, almost sacred beauty—mystical, haunting, and ominous all at once.
°°°
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