### Chapter 57: Demon Island
If it were just Gray, there was no need to be afraid. Although Gray's strength was decent, as long as Natsu got serious, his strength would be a notch above Gray's.
But Riku was different. His usual magical displays were already very exaggerated, but his true strength was even more exaggerated than that.
Only those who had witnessed that strongest master-disciple battle three years ago could know just how terrifying Riku's strength was.
With Riku's strength at that time, even the current Natsu would be far from his match, let alone three years later.
Perhaps only Riku himself knew how strong he truly was now.
Those who had truly witnessed Riku's strength all believed that Riku might be the strongest mage in the Fairy Tail guild, including Natsu and Happy.
Natsu had fought Riku many times and was almost completely defeated every time. Moreover, Riku hadn't even used half his strength.
Gray also walked in and gave them a look that said "good luck": "Natsu, Lucy, Happy, the fact that you secretly went to do an S-Class mission has been exposed. It's still not too late to go back now, otherwise you'll be expelled from the guild."
"Expelled from the guild!"
Lucy was startled hearing this. She didn't expect the punishment for secretly doing an S-Class mission would be so severe. She had finally joined the Fairy Tail guild of her dreams just a month ago. Would she be kicked out so soon?
Natsu and Happy were equally startled.
But immediately Natsu gritted his teeth: "No way!! I must do an S-Class mission!!"
Zzzzt!
As soon as Natsu finished speaking, Riku's figure appeared in front of him. Before Natsu could react, Riku casually swung and slapped Natsu across the face.
"Ugh!"
Natsu flew sideways directly.
"Waaaah!!"
The sudden attack startled all the villagers. Lucy and Happy were so scared they hugged each other and sat on the ground trembling.
"You want to do an S-Class mission? Do you have the qualifications to do an S-Class mission? It's fine that you're usually reckless, but now you dare to secretly do an S-Class mission?"
Natsu stood up and said stubbornly: "I'll prove to you that I'm also qualified to go to the second floor!"
CRACK——!!
A lightning bolt struck Natsu directly.
"Ugh!"
Natsu screamed and was blasted away.
"Prove? Prove what? Running out hot-headedly without a care to do an S-Class mission can prove something? Prove what? Prove you're not worse than S-Class Mages? Prove you're stronger than S-Class Mages?"
"I..."
CRACK——!!
Another lightning bolt struck Natsu.
"Waaah!"
The villagers watching were filled with fear, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
"Lucy is a newcomer and might not know better, but you should be more aware of how dangerous S-Class missions are. For the sake of your proof, you dragged Lucy and Happy to their deaths?"
"I..."
CRACK——!!
Natsu's words were interrupted by another lightning attack.
"Are you prepared? Prepared to be expelled from the guild? Prepared to die? Or did you think that as long as you completed the mission, you wouldn't be expelled?"
"..."
Natsu was silent. That was exactly what he thought.
"Hmm, very good. Then the others in the guild see that you weren't expelled, become very envious, and they all follow your example and secretly do S-Class missions to prove themselves, then die during the missions."
Hearing this, Natsu's face turned pale. He hadn't thought about this at all and quickly shook his head.
"I know. Your head definitely didn't think about these things."
"S-Class Mages are all selected through layers of S-Class examinations. Fairy Tail has never had and never needs anyone to become an S-Class Mage through such despicable means as secretly doing S-Class missions!!"
Natsu lowered his head and knelt on the ground.
At this moment, Gray came out to smooth things over: "Alright, alright! Riku, don't be angry anymore. You've already punished them as they deserved. Looking at them, they know they were wrong. Why don't you all apologize!"
Gray gave them a look.
"We're sorry! We were wrong!"
Lucy and Happy immediately received the signal and bowed down in apology with a prostrating posture.
He was indeed a bit angry because of Natsu's recklessness. After this punishment, his anger had subsided. Besides, who hasn't been young and impulsive? Natsu was at a rebellious age. When he was that age, he also did many foolish things.
"Hmph! Now you know you were wrong. Apologizing to me is useless. Guild rules exist to maintain the normal operational order of the guild. Those who violate the rules must be punished. Whether you'll be expelled from the guild after returning will be entirely decided by the Master."
After saying this, Riku turned to the villagers:
"I'm sorry for borrowing your place just now to discipline a few disobedient guild members."
"It's... it's fine. May I ask... who are you mages?"
The village chief asked Riku anxiously.
"I'm the S-Class Mage from Fairy Tail guild responsible for this commission, Riku. Now tell me the specific details of the mission."
"Yes! Everyone, take off the cloth."
The villagers removed the cloth from their bodies, revealing their forms. Part of each person's body looked like a demon - some had demonic legs, some had demonic arms, and some had demonic horns growing from their foreheads.
"...?!"
Gray was shocked seeing this.
"Surprising, right! All living things on this island, even dogs and birds without exception, are cursed like this. We believe this transformation is related to the 'Moon Drip.'"
"This island has accumulated moonlight since ancient times, making the entire island shine like the moon. However, a few years ago, the moonlight suddenly turned purple."
"Purple? I've never seen such a moon."
Lucy couldn't help but speak.
"People outside say that, but for us on this island, the moon has turned purple. And when the moon appears, our appearance changes."
Almost as soon as the village chief finished speaking, the moon rose in the sky, and purple moonlight shone on the island.
"It really is purple!!"
"Looking at it really gives me the creeps!"
"Ugh—!"
"Uwaah—!!"
Suddenly, all the villagers showed painful expressions and wailed.
Then their bodies began to change rapidly - horns sprouted from their heads, scales grew on their arms. In the blink of an eye, all the villagers had transformed into demonic forms.
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