The Valley of Illusion was silent.
Too silent.
The thick mist swallowed everything beyond a few meters, turning the ancient forest into a maze of shadows.
Then—
Creak...
A carriage wheel dragged across the muddy ground.
Two figures emerged from the fog.
One walked casually, a massive cleaver resting across his shoulder.
The other was bent forward, pulling the carriage behind him with thick magical ropes.
Lior's face was exhausted.
His clothes were covered in dirt.
His breathing was heavy.
He stopped.
"Master."
Gabriel didn't even turn around.
"What?"
Lior stared at the carriage.
"Can you pull this thing?"
Gabriel stopped.
Slowly, he looked over his shoulder.
"...What?"
"I've been pulling it for hours."
"And?"
"My arms are going to fall off."
Gabriel stared at him for a moment.
Then continued walking.
"Good."
Lior's eyebrow twitched.
"Good?!"
"You'll become stronger."
"That's not how training works!"
Gabriel laughed.
"Then stop complaining."
Lior sighed and continued pulling.
"You're unbelievable."
"I'm your master."
"Unfortunately."
Gabriel grinned.
They continued through the fog.
After a few minutes, Lior finally spoke again.
"Master."
"Hm?"
"Don't you think Jaro's requests have become strange lately?"
Gabriel's expression didn't change.
"They were always strange."
"No, I mean..."
Lior glanced toward the carriage.
"First he wanted one thing."
"Then another."
"Now he's sending us after things like this."
Gabriel shrugged.
"I don't care."
"You don't think he's planning something?"
Gabriel finally looked at him.
"Kid."
He stopped walking.
Lior stopped as well.
Gabriel pointed at himself.
"Do I look like someone who worries about other people's plans?"
Lior looked him up and down.
"...No."
"Exactly."
Gabriel resumed walking.
"That idiot can plan to become emperor of the world for all I care."
He tapped the enormous cleaver on his shoulder.
"As long as he pays me."
Lior nodded.
"We're mercenaries."
"Exactly."
Gabriel smiled.
"We're mercenaries."
He looked ahead.
"We kill."
"We protect."
"We steal."
"We escort."
"We do whatever the client pays us to do."
He glanced at Lior.
"That's the job."
Lior nodded.
"But if Jaro doesn't pay?"
Gabriel's smile disappeared.
"Then..."
He casually touched the handle of his cleaver.
"I collect my payment another way."
Lior swallowed.
"...Understood."
A moment passed.
Then Lior suddenly laughed.
"Still, I can't believe that idiot actually became a king."
Gabriel burst out laughing.
"King?!"
He nearly stumbled.
"That clown?"
Lior grinned.
"Look at where he lives."
"He's not a king."
Gabriel wiped a tear from his eye.
"He's an heir."
"There's a difference."
"An heir to a rich family."
Gabriel shook his head.
"Some people are born in palaces."
His voice became quieter.
"Others..."
He looked at Lior.
"...are born in blood."
Lior's smile faded.
Gabriel reached over and casually patted his head.
"Don't worry about it."
Lior looked up.
"You want to become stronger?"
"Yes."
"Then become stronger."
Gabriel grinned.
"Make them regret ever looking down on you."
Lior's eyes sharpened.
"I will."
"Good."
Gabriel turned forward.
"Now pull."
Lior's smile disappeared.
"...I hate you."
Gabriel laughed.
---
The fog began thinning.
A massive stone structure appeared ahead.
The gates of the City of Illusion.
Two guards stood beneath the enormous archway.
One of them immediately recognized Gabriel.
"Gabriel."
Gabriel raised a hand.
"Open the gate."
The guard glanced at the carriage.
"Another delivery for Jaro-sama?"
Gabriel smirked.
"Something like that."
The guard didn't question him.
He turned.
"Open it."
The massive gates slowly moved.
GROOOOAN...
Gabriel and Lior entered the city.
The carriage followed.
The fog swallowed the gates behind them.
---
But somewhere else...
Something was moving.
A huge silhouette pushed through the mist.
Step.
The ground trembled.
Step.
A massive man emerged from the darkness.
His clothes were torn.
His hair was wild.
His expression was exhausted.
He rubbed his forehead.
"Damn it..."
He looked around.
"Why does this place always have to be so creepy?"
He took another step.
Then stopped.
"Especially that woman..."
His expression twisted.
"Cornelia!"
He shouted into the fog.
"Why do I always see the same damn illusion?!"
Silence.
Then his face turned red.
"Every time I come here, I see her!"
He clenched his fists.
"And she keeps telling me I have a daughter!"
He threw his hands into the air.
"I DON'T HAVE A DAUGHTER!"
His voice echoed through the valley.
He stood there panting.
"...Damn nightmare."
Then—
His expression changed.
He sniffed the air.
Once.
Twice.
"...Blood?"
He immediately became serious.
He followed the smell.
The further he walked, the stronger it became.
Then he saw it.
A dark pool spreading across the ground.
His eyes widened.
"What...?"
He stepped forward.
Another pool.
Then another.
And then—
Bodies.
Four of them.
The man's face became completely serious.
"Hey!"
He rushed toward them.
The first was James.
He dropped beside him.
"Come on, kid..."
He checked his pulse.
Nothing.
He frowned.
Then—
A faint pulse.
His eyes widened.
"You're alive."
He immediately moved to the next.
Eyal.
Alive.
Barely.
Then Samuel.
The older man stared at him.
"Another one..."
He checked his breathing.
Still alive.
Then he looked around.
"Where's the fourth?"
A few meters away...
Someone lay motionless.
Yaman.
The man hurried toward him.
"Hey!"
Nothing.
He placed two fingers against Yaman's neck.
For a moment—
Nothing.
Then...
A faint pulse.
The man's eyes widened.
"...You're kidding me."
He exhaled.
"You're alive too."
He immediately began working.
"No time to think."
He carried them one by one toward a safer area.
Minutes passed.
He cleaned their wounds.
Stopped the bleeding.
Wrapped their injuries.
Started a fire.
The three men were placed inside a makeshift shelter.
Finally—
Yaman remained.
The man crouched beside him.
"Let's see what you've got, kid."
He carefully removed Yaman's torn scarf.
Then his ruined shirt.
And froze.
His eyes widened.
The boy was covered in injuries.
Deep wounds.
Cuts.
Bruises.
Blood.
The man stared.
"...What kind of monster did this?"
His expression darkened.
"That should have killed you."
But then—
Something caught his eye.
On Yaman's left shoulder.
A Black emblem.
A familiar emblem.
His breathing stopped.
"...No."
He leaned closer.
His eyes widened.
"Fairy Tail?"
Silence.
He stared at the symbol.
Then at the unconscious boy.
"So you're the kid..."
He remembered Makarov's words.
A new member.
Young.
Stubborn.
Missing.
The man slowly clenched his fist.
"And those three..."
He glanced toward the shelter.
"The Council trainees."
Then his eyes moved toward Samuel.
"The merchant."
His expression became cold.
"So..."
He stood.
"Who the hell did this to you?"
No answer.
Only the sound of rain.
He looked into the darkness.
His hand tightened around his weapon.
"Whoever you are..."
A dangerous smile appeared.
"You picked the wrong guild."
He looked back at the injured children.
"For now..."
He sat beside the fire.
"Stay alive."
He reached for his bottle.
Took a drink.
Then stopped.
He looked at the bottle.
Looked at the unconscious Yaman.
Then suddenly smashed it against the ground.
CRACK!
"Damn it!"
His voice echoed through the valley.
"I was supposed to bring you home..."
He clenched his teeth.
"Not carry your corpses back."
He stared into the darkness.
"When you wake up..."
His eyes narrowed.
"You're telling me everything."
Then his stomach growled.
He froze.
"..."
He looked toward the three unconscious boys.
Then toward Yaman.
"Right."
He sighed.
"You can't fight on an empty stomach."
He rolled up his sleeves.
"Soup."
He began preparing food.
The strongest man in Fairy Tail sat alone beside the fire.
Cooking soup.
Waiting.
And completely unaware that the arrival of Gildarts Clive had just changed the fate
meanwhile
Rain hammered against the enormous windows of Jaro's palace.
Thunder rolled across the dark sky, illuminating the grand halls of the palace for brief moments before plunging them back into darkness.
Inside one of the palace's private drawing rooms, Jaro Sharla stood beside a small table, carefully preparing tea.
He was dressed far more elegantly than usual, wearing an expensive royal coat and gloves. His blond hair was perfectly arranged, and every few seconds he glanced toward the tea set as though preparing it were a matter of national importance.
Behind him stood his young minister, Gareth.
Gareth was around Jaro's age. He had long black hair, pale skin, a slender build, dark eyes, and formal clothing befitting a royal minister.
He watched his king anxiously.
Jaro, meanwhile, muttered to himself.
"Where the hell is Gabriel...?"
He stirred the tea.
"That bastard has been gone for far too long. I specifically hired him for this."
He stopped.
His eyes widened.
"...The sugar."
Gareth blinked.
Jaro suddenly turned toward him.
"Gareth!"
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Bring me the sugar."
Gareth stared at him for a moment.
"...The sugar?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"No, Your Majesty."
Gareth sighed internally before walking toward the cabinet.
He returned a moment later with a jar of sugar and handed it to Jaro.
Jaro carefully took it.
"Good."
He opened the jar.
Gareth watched him.
"Your Majesty."
No response.
Jaro was completely focused on the amount of sugar.
"Your Majesty."
Still nothing.
Gareth's eyebrow twitched.
"Your Majesty."
Nothing.
He finally raised his voice.
"YOUR MAJESTY!"
Jaro jumped.
"WHAT?!"
His hand jerked.
The entire spoonful of sugar fell straight into the cup.
Silence.
Jaro slowly looked down.
Then at Gareth.
Then back at the cup.
"..."
Gareth swallowed.
Jaro's eye twitched.
"Did you see what you just made me do?!"
"I merely called you, Your Majesty."
"You screamed!"
"You didn't hear me!"
"You could have approached me!"
"I did!"
"You should have shouted louder!"
"I DID!"
Jaro grabbed his head.
"Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful."
Gareth sighed.
"Your Majesty..."
"What now?"
Gareth hesitated.
Then he spoke carefully.
"Why are we serving that Girl ?"
Jaro froze.
Gareth continued.
"Isn't this humiliating? You're the ruler of this city. Why should you personally prepare tea and sweets for some mage?"
Jaro slowly looked at him.
"Gareth."
"Yes?"
"You're still a beginner."
Jaro placed the spoon down.
"This world is built on interests. Sometimes you have to do things you hate to stay alive."
He pointed toward Gareth.
"So tell me..."
"Yes?"
"Which is more important?"
"Your dignity..."
Jaro stared at him.
Gareth immediately corrected himself.
"...or your life?"
"Your life."
"Exactly."
Jaro returned to his tea.
"So shut up and let me finish."
Gareth lowered his head.
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"Your Majesty?"
Jaro's eyebrow twitched.
"What?"
Gareth leaned closer.
His voice became a whisper.
"Why don't we just kill Ultear?"
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Jaro's face went pale.
His breathing stopped.
Then—
"No."
He immediately rushed toward the door.
His foot caught the carpet.
"Whoa—!"
He fell forward, scrambled across the floor, and hurriedly opened the door.
He looked left.
Nothing.
He looked right.
Nothing.
He slowly closed the door.
Then locked it.
Gareth stared.
Jaro turned around.
He crossed the room in an instant, grabbed Gareth by the collar, and pulled him close.
"Are you completely insane?!"
Gareth's eyes widened.
"Your Majesty—"
"How could you even THINK of saying that?!"
"But—"
"If Ultear heard you—"
Jaro shuddered.
"You wouldn't even have time to regret it!"
Gareth swallowed.
"But Your Majesty, she's only—"
"Only what?!"
Jaro's voice dropped.
"Do you even know who that girl is?"
Gareth hesitated.
Jaro's expression became grim.
"She's a member of Grimoire Heart."
Gareth's face went pale.
"The Dark Guild...?"
"The strongest Dark Guild in Fiore."
Jaro released his collar.
"Do you understand now?"
Gareth slowly nodded.
"But why would Grimoire Heart be here?"
Jaro sighed.
"Because this city is under their influence."
He glanced toward the window.
"They control this place from the shadows. And I pay them protection."
Gareth stared at him.
"Then why did you bring them here?"
Jaro's face became embarrassed.
He scratched his cheek.
"Well..."
He laughed nervously.
"I thought I could become their partner."
Gareth stared at him.
"...Partner?"
"And eventually..."
Jaro's eyes gleamed.
"...rule Fiore."
Gareth's mouth fell open.
"How did the king ever make you his heir?"
Jaro's expression immediately darkened.
"Don't insult me."
He stepped toward Gareth.
"You have no idea what I'm planning."
Lightning flashed outside.
Jaro smiled.
"Once I get my hands on that thing..."
His eyes narrowed.
"Ultear, Hades, Grimoire Heart , the Dark Guilds, the Light Guilds, the Magic Council..."
He raised his hand dramatically.
"They'll all kneel before me."
Gareth stared at him.
"And what exactly are you planning to obtain?"
Jaro's grin widened.
"I hired Gabriel Karoushi."
Gareth froze.
"Gabriel Karoushi?!"
"The famous mercenary?"
"The Butcher himself?"
Jaro laughed.
"Exactly."
He leaned against the table.
"I ordered him to retrieve something for me."
His smile faded.
"But then I discovered that a damn smuggler named Samuel Isaac had stolen it."
Gareth frowned.
"Samuel Isaac?"
"A fugitive from one of my prisons."
Jaro clenched his fist.
"So I sent Gabriel after him."
"To recover what Samuel stole?"
"Exactly."
Gareth looked confused.
"What did Samuel steal?"
Jaro slowly turned toward him.
Thunder exploded outside.
His voice became almost theatrical.
"The treasure map..."
He paused.
"...of the legendary pirate Captain Gustavo."
Gareth's eyes widened.
"What?"
Jaro smiled.
"When I obtain the map, I can perform the ritual."
"The ritual?"
"It will reveal the coordinates."
Jaro's eyes sparkled with obsession.
"And then..."
He pointed toward the window.
"I'll sail straight to Gustavo's treasure."
Gareth looked stunned.
"But Captain Gustavo is only a legend."
Jaro's face instantly twisted with anger.
"Don't say that!"
Gareth flinched.
"Only idiots call him a legend!"
Jaro slammed his fist onto the table.
"I've studied Captain Gustavo since I was a child!"
His voice became emotional.
"He was a genius!"
His eyes watered.
"A true adventurer..."
Then he suddenly began crying.
Gareth stared awkwardly.
"...Your Majesty?"
"I wanted to be just like him..."
He wiped his tears.
Then—
Ring!
A communication Lacrima suddenly rang.
Jaro jumped.
"GAH!"
He nearly fell backward.
Gareth sighed.
Jaro hurriedly pulled the Lacrima from his pocket.
His expression changed when he saw the caller.
"Gabriel!"
He answered immediately.
"Gabriel, my friend! Where are you?! Did you get it?!"
Gabriel's cold voice came through.
"I'm beneath your palace."
Jaro's eyes widened.
"You're here?!"
"At the storage entrance. Open the door."
Jaro practically exploded with excitement.
"I'm coming!"
He turned toward the door.
"Please tell me you brought what I asked for!"
Gabriel paused.
"Don't worry."
A faint smile appeared on Jaro's face.
"Excellent."
He grabbed his coat.
"Gareth!"
"Yes?"
"Serve Ultear her tea."
Gareth stared.
"And if she asks where I am?"
Jaro pointed toward the ceiling.
"Tell her I'm in the bathroom."
"...The bathroom?"
"Yes."
"And if she asks how long you'll be gone?"
"Don't let her leave the library."
Gareth sighed.
"Understood."
Jaro rushed out.
"Gustavo's treasure... here I come!"
---
Meanwhile...
Several corridors away, inside the palace library, Ultear sat comfortably in a large chair.
The enormous room was almost completely silent except for the sound of rain against the windows.
Ultear crossed one leg over the other while reading.
A half-empty plate of sweets sat beside her.
She turned a page.
Then another.
Her expression remained calm.
Suddenly—
A soft knock came from the door.
Ultear didn't look up.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Gareth entered carefully, carrying the tea tray.
"Ultear-sama."
She glanced at him.
"Where is Jaro?"
Gareth froze.
"...He..."
Ultear narrowed her eyes.
"He what?"
"He has gone to..."
Gareth hesitated.
"...the bathroom."
Ultear stared at him.
Then she smiled faintly.
"That sounded suspicious."
Gareth smiled nervously.
"He had an urgent royal matter."
Ultear shrugged.
"I don't care."
She returned to her book.
"Put the tea there."
Gareth obeyed.
As he turned to leave—
"Wait."
He stopped.
Ultear looked at him.
"Did Jaro make the tea?"
Gareth swallowed.
"...Yes."
Ultear looked at the cup.
Then back at Gareth.
"...Interesting."
Gareth immediately left.
Once outside the library, he leaned against the wall and exhaled.
"I need a different job."
---
The Valley of Illusion
Far away from the palace...
The fire crackled beneath a dark sky.
Inside a small campsite hidden within the fog, Yaman's eyes slowly opened.
Warmth.
That was the first thing he felt.
Warmth against his skin.
His breathing was heavy.
His vision blurred.
Then—
A massive blade suddenly appeared above him.
Yaman's eyes widened.
WHAM!
He shot upright.
"—!"
His hand instinctively moved.
His body tensed.
Magic surged through him.
"Where am I?!"
A deep voice answered.
"Well, well..."
Yaman turned sharply.
A massive man stood nearby, carrying an armful of firewood.
He looked at Yaman.
Then smiled.
"Looks like you're finally awake."
Silence.
Yaman immediately raised his guard.
"Who the hell are you?"
The stranger stared at him.
Then burst out laughing.
"Hahahahahaha!"
Yaman's expression darkened.
"What's so funny?"
The man dropped the firewood beside the campfire.
"Your body was practically dead."
He crouched down.
"You were bleeding everywhere."
Then he pointed at Yaman.
"And the first thing you do after waking up is prepare to fight me."
Yaman remained tense.
The man grinned.
"You're exactly as the old man described."
Yaman narrowed his eyes.
"The old man?"
"Yeah."
The stranger sat down beside the fire.
"A reckless little brat."
Yaman's eyebrow twitched.
"Who are you calling a brat?"
The man laughed again.
"See?"
He shook his head.
"You're injured badly enough that most people would still be unconscious."
He picked up a bowl.
"And yet here you are."
Yaman glanced at it.
"What is that?"
"Soup."
"I don't need it."
"You do."
The man extended the bowl.
"Drink."
Yaman stared at him suspiciously.
The stranger smiled.
"It's not poisoned."
Yaman didn't move.
The man sighed.
"Kid..."
He pointed toward Yaman's bandages.
"If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have spent half the night keeping you alive."
Yaman remained silent.
Slowly, he took the bowl.
He smelled it.
Then looked at the man.
"Who are you?"
The stranger leaned back.
"You can ask questions after you eat."
Yaman took a cautious sip.
The warmth spread through his exhausted body.
For the first time since waking, his shoulders relaxed slightly.
The stranger watched him.
Then smiled.
"Good."
Yaman continued drinking.
He still didn't trust the man.
Not even remotely.
But there was something about his presence...
Something strangely familiar.
The stranger finally spoke.
"My name is Gildarts Clive."
Yaman stopped drinking.
He stared at him.
"...Never heard of you."
Gildarts blinked.
Then slowly smiled.
"Huh?"
Yaman looked back at the soup.
"I said I've never heard of you."
Gildarts burst into laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
Yaman frowned.
"What now?"
Gildarts wiped a tear from his eye.
"Nothing."
He leaned back.
"This is going to be fun."
Outside the camp, the fog continued to swallow the valley.
And somewhere beyond it...
The fate of Yaman, Fairy Tail, Samuel Isaac—and the mysterious treasure of Captain Gustavo—was already beginning to move.