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Three years ago.
Zero's five-person gang secretly moved the demon Deliora, sealed in the snowy northern lands of the continent of Ishgar, to Galuna Island, which was rich in moon's power.
Then, they slowly broke the seal using the Moon Drip.
The reason for attempting to release the demon Deliora was that Zero wanted to defeat the demon head-on to prove himself.
After extracting the information, Mira swiftly knocked out the Cannon Fodder Trio.
Releasing a demon and then defeating it, all for the incomprehensible goal of "proving himself"—this Zero was also an incomprehensible fellow.
If he wanted to prove himself, he should target the demons still wreaking havoc in the world; there were plenty of demons on the same level as Deliora.
Moreover, Zero's strength was still questionable.
Roubaul had previously believed that, among the new Oración Seis, everyone except Sorano, who was still getting familiar with her new Magic, could easily solo Zero's gang.
After learning Zero's entire plan from the Cannon Fodder Trio, Gray's face turned ashen. The demon Deliora was sealed at the cost of his master Ur's life.
Ur was the person Gray respected most in his life. No matter who that Zero was, he would never let him off.
Burning with rage, Gray strode out of the cave and into the canyon. Mountain-sized colossal ice formations came into view. Even with sufficient mental preparation, Gray's heart still skipped a beat.
The hateful giant shadow frozen within the ice was the nightmare deeply buried in his memory, one he couldn't shake off.
Destruction, calamity, immortality... these were all its fierce and notorious names.
One of the Demons from the Books of Zeref—Deliora!
This abominable demon, which once rampaged across the northern lands of the continent, had lost the sharpness of its vicious fangs and claws. Its massive form remained motionless, like a lifeless specimen.
Gazing at the gigantic ice, which looked just as it did nine years ago, Gray clenched his fists.
"So this is the demon Deliora? It's frozen solid like a popsicle, how embarrassing."
Natsu, who followed Gray closely, looked up at the demon in the colossal ice peak. It didn't give him the same oppressive feeling as when the Curse Demon appeared. In his eyes, it looked exactly like a frozen salted fish.
The others who filed out also offered their comments.
Only Mira, upon seeing Deliora, showed a hint of doubt and surprise in her eyes. Her Take Over Magic actually sensed Deliora's lingering soul!
If she wished, she could immediately absorb this power.
This meant Deliora was already dead!
What could those people possibly revive then?
Thinking of this, Mira's mindset instantly shifted. She found it amusing to imagine Zero's gang's three years of effort, only to successfully unseal a giant demon corpse in the end.
As for whether to tell everyone, especially Gray...
After some thought, Mira decided to keep it a secret for now. Whether Gray could resolve his inner turmoil would depend on today.
The group, making no attempt to hide, naturally attracted attention.
Beneath the colossal ice, about ten Mages were maintaining the Moon Drip Magic circle. They were Mages hired by Zero.
After all, moving an iceberg-sized mass of ice and casting Magic that covered the entire island was not something Zero's five-person gang could do; they naturally needed helpers.
"Who are you?!"
A Mage maintaining the Magic circle questioned, but no one answered him, simply because another person's unique appearance and aura completely overshadowed this nameless cannon fodder.
A person appeared in the middle of the path in front of the ice. It was a mysterious individual wearing a cloak and a horned demon mask, exuding an attitude of "I'm really cool" in every gesture.
Regardless of his strength, at least his presence was impressive.
Undoubtedly, this person was the mastermind behind unsealing the demon Deliora—Zero.
"Hmph, I've been discovered after all."
A cold voice emerged from under the demon mask. "I suppose my three subordinates have now fallen into your hands as well."
For some reason, Gray found the voice somewhat familiar, but his rage clouded his thoughts. He roared, "So it's you! You're the scoundrel trying to release Deliora!"
"Scoundrel? Heh, do you even have the right to call me that?"
Zero sneered and waved his hand. The ten hired Mages put down their work and stepped forward with unfriendly expressions.
As members of a mercenary guild, they always obeyed their employer's commands. Moreover, among the intruders, there were only two young men; the rest were women and children, who looked very weak.
And their side consisted of well-trained professional mercenaries.
People from mercenary guilds might not be good at other things, but they excelled at bullying the weak.
"For Lord Zero's money! Brothers, charge!"
With a shout from Cannon Fodder B, the others seemed to be invigorated, pulling out weapons or conjuring Magic, charging forward fiercely as if they had no regard for their lives.
However, this momentum did not scare anyone in the slightest.
Even a young novice like Lucy, after experiencing the large-scale operation to encircle and suppress the Oración Seis's subordinate guilds, had grown much bolder.
It's just ten people. Don't they know I'm the strongest Celestial Spirit Mage of the future?
Before Natsu could act, Lucy took a step ahead, pulling out a golden key wrapped in a small black snake from her key pouch and drawing it forcefully in front of her.
"Open, Gate of the Serpent Bearer, Ophiuchus!"
With a bright flash, the Celestial Spirit Gate opened wide, and the canyon was immediately invaded by a deep black mist. In the dense darkness, faint rustling and hissing sounds of crawling could be heard.
"Mon... monsters!"
With a terrified scream, the mercenary Mages were scared out of their wits by the monsters emerging from the black mist.
Unlike any Celestial Spirit Lucy had summoned before.
It was a giant and grotesque mechanical serpent. The cold light flickering in its huge serpent eyes and its long, sharp teeth were chilling.
Merely upon its appearance, the mechanical serpent's aura terrified the mercenary Mages, rendering them immobile. Some even couldn't withstand the pressure, rolled their eyes, and fainted directly.
Cruel, ruthless!
This was the thirteenth Zodiac Celestial Spirit, independent of the twelve Zodiac—Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer!
Lucy was clearly startled by the form of the Ophiuchus Celestial Spirit, but fortunately, as its contractor, she could still clearly feel the mechanical serpent's goodwill towards her.
Then it was fine.
Lucy was relieved, but the mercenary Mages who were being targeted were in trouble, completely wiped out by the black mist casually spat out by the mechanical serpent.
Watching the Ophiuchus Celestial Spirit defeat his subordinates in an instant, Zero maintained his imposing demeanor, but cold sweat was already pouring down his back.
Are you kidding me? It's that strong?!
No, how can I be afraid? I am someone who will surpass Ur; how can I be intimidated by a mere Celestial Spirit?
Thinking this, Zero raised his hand, and a wave of coldness gathered in his hand, forming an ice surge that swept towards Lucy and the others. He didn't believe that girl could maintain such a powerful Celestial Spirit for long.
However, in the next second, the same Magic spell was cast by Gray.
The two ice surges collided, canceling each other out.
Gray looked at Zero. He had recognized the other's identity through his voice and Magic, and his eyes were filled with anger and confusion. "Lyon, do you know what you're doing?!"
"You recognized me after all."
Zero removed his mask, revealing a young face, and said indifferently, "Long time no see. You're still so weak, Gray!"