Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
"Hmph~ You idiot Black Magic Priest."
"How dare you poaching from Fairy Tail, and also right under our noses."
Natsu, with his fiery temper, didn't care about politeness. He always despised dark forces. The moment he heard Boss was trying to recruit Mira, he immediately sprang into action.
Firebird Boss?
I'll beat you into a dead bird!
Seeing Natsu charge straight in with a flaming fist, Mira sighed and pressed a hand to her forehead. He really was just a hot-blooded idiot; he should have tried to figure out his opponent's intentions before attacking.
But in the end, they were from the Black Magic Cult. Everyone knew it was pointless to talk, so fighting first and interrogating later was just as good.
Natsu clenched his fist and charged, his white scale scarf around his neck fluttering wildly in the wind. Explosive flames erupted from him, rushing towards Boss.
This powerful punch was easily blocked by Boss with a single hand. His casual demeanor made Natsu's attack seem insignificant.
"Fire Dragon Natsu, not bad."
Boss's flippant comment instantly maxed out Natsu's annoyance as a hothead. He unleashed a barrage of fluid, continuous attacks.
Faster, fiercer, the Dragon Slayer flames burned brightly.
However, everything was easily suppressed by Boss's Dark Magic. The destructive power of Dragon Slayer Magic was like a spark to Boss, something he could extinguish with a flick of his hand.
Though Natsu usually seemed rather unintelligent, his entire intellect was focused on combat wisdom.
After only two exchanges, Natsu sensed something strange about Boss's Magic. On the surface, it looked like the Dark Magic commonly used by dark forces, but in reality, it was an unknown Magic that could weaken Magic Power.
"Hmph, weakening Magic? Today, I'll show you what a Dragon Slayer is!"
A Dragon Slayer's physique is exceptionally powerful. In terms of physical strength, few can compare to them, which is why almost every Dragon Slayer is a natural master of hand-to-hand combat.
Natsu quickly changed his fighting style, pressing in with close-quarters combat. His rapid punches and kicks caught Boss off guard.
Boss retreated repeatedly. Ever since he received the power bestowed by the Bishop in the Esoteric Cult, his martial arts had fallen into disuse.
He hadn't expected Natsu to see through his trick so quickly. Boss had originally planned to maintain his cool, at least until the most troublesome Mira made her move. He wanted to keep up the image of a master.
Unfortunately, Natsu's wild punches completely shattered Boss's image.
After a series of brutal, flesh-pounding blows, Boss, with his right eye swollen shut, finally managed to escape Natsu's beating. He glared fiercely at Natsu with his intact left eye, his voice trembling with rage. "You..."
"You what, Cyclops?"
Natsu made a face at Boss, then continued to exploit Boss's openings with aggressive attacks. A priest of the Black Magic Esoteric Cult was still a Black Magic Priest, and he had beaten them before.
Seeing Natsu charge again, Boss, well aware of the boy's martial arts, dared not be overconfident this time. His Magic Power circulated rapidly, and two gloomy, dark spells instantly rushed towards Natsu.
Natsu's figure flickered, dodging the attacks. He understood that Boss's Magic could greatly weaken his own Magic Power. Trying to win against Boss with a Magic clash seemed unlikely at the moment; only close-quarters combat was the way to victory.
Natsu's speed was too agile; Boss was temporarily unable to stop his movements. Damn it, if only I hadn't abandoned martial arts, I wouldn't be so passive now.
But it doesn't matter. With the power bestowed upon me by the Bishop, I cannot lose!
Boss roared, and an evil aura hidden within him surged wildly. When Natsu's fist landed on his face, this evil power actually sapped ninety percent of Natsu's strength.
Natsu's pupils constricted. First, it was weakening Magic, and now it could even sap strength? "Damn it, this Magic is really troublesome."
"It's not Magic, it's Curse Power!"
Boss was no longer in his previous disheveled state, and his aura surged. Though his physical strength was originally inferior to Natsu's, he suddenly gained immense power, sending Natsu flying backward with a single powerful punch.
Dark, evil, chaotic... A nauseating aura emanated from Boss, the same demonic Magic Power that had once appeared on Zero, the power of Soul Scale, one of the Eighteen Battle Gods.
However, the Magic Power on Boss was far inferior to Zero's.
Even so, without its nemesis, Devil Slayer Magic, the Soul Scale Magic Power, which claimed to balance everything, would likely leave Natsu and the others helpless.
But the people present did not know about the special Magic Power of the Battle Gods. Seeing Natsu get knocked away, they all conjured Magic and launched attacks.
Holy angels, shining Celestial Spirits... The roar of a Sky Dragon, rotating space... Even Lyon, who had been depressed by Gray, now rose to fight alongside his junior disciple.
The coordinated attacks of everyone, working together, were weakened beyond recognition by the power of the Soul Scale Magic Power. Furthermore, the Imbalanced Balance enhanced Boss's Magic Power and strength.
Boss, growing stronger with each blow, unleashed terrifying energy, directly pushing back his attackers several meters.
"How about that? Have you witnessed my true power!"
Having vented his anger, the frustration of being chased and beaten by Natsu vanished. Boss was very pleased. "You disrupted our plan to release Deliora; now you will pay the price."
Releasing Deliora, wasn't that Lyon's plan? How did it become the Black Magic Cult's?
Seeing Natsu and the others helpless against him, and himself growing stronger with each fight, in a position of absolute advantage, Boss immediately became conceited and began the classic villainous move of revealing his secrets.
"You don't actually think that useless Ice-Make Mage, hiring a few people from a mercenary guild, could really transfer Deliora without anyone knowing, do you?"
"He's just a tool."
"Releasing Deliora is a joint plan between the Black Magic Cult, Grimoire Heart, and Tartaros."
Just one demon Deliora actually involved three top-tier dark forces.
And Lyon was merely a tool, exploited for his psychological vulnerabilities to execute the plan. However, Lyon was indeed too clueless, completely unaware of his own limitations.
The purpose of the three major dark forces collaborating was naturally to gain something from this plan.
Tartaros only wanted Deliora itself.
Grimoire Heart wanted to know if the Moon Drip, which claimed to break all Magic, was truly as rumored. If so, how long would it take to dispel the forbidden Ice Magic, Iced Shell, which could freeze everything.
The Black Magic Cult... or rather, the hidden Esoteric Cult, what they wanted was... "We also want to use the Moon Drip to break an ancient seal."
Beneath the slowly rotating Moon Drip Magic Circle, evil Magic Power churned the light, making Boss's smile appear extremely eerie.
"You came from the Moon Temple, didn't you? If you understand Galuna Island's past, you'll know that the demons sealed on this island are not just the mere demon Deliora, you know~"