"Oh ho ho ho, how unexpected… To think the Time Arc Witch and the Trembling Noble Prince of Fairy Tail would appear here. I hope they don't discover this place's secret… though that's probably wishful thinking. Oh ho ho ho… ah well, I should report this to Lord Bai Ye first."
Behind a giant tree about ten meters from the Moon Temple, a man with a rat-like, sharp-featured face stood with his eyes closed. Through a mouse inside the temple, he observed Arlen and Ultear, letting out strange chuckles from time to time.
"Who's there? Show yourself!"
Arlen suddenly turned toward the mouse's hiding place, having sensed a gaze upon him.
"What is it, Lord Arlen?" Ultear followed his line of sight, but all she saw was a scurrying mouse—nothing unusual.
"It's nothing. I felt like I was being watched just now. Maybe I was mistaken," Arlen said, withdrawing his gaze and shaking his head.
"Oh ho ho ho… As expected of the Trembling Noble Prince—such sharp perception. That was close. Oh ho ho ho… I'd better go find Lord Bai Ye now."
The man let out another eerie laugh before transforming into a mouse and slipping into the grass.
Ultear leaned closer and whispered, "What did you notice just now, Lord Arlen?"
"I definitely felt someone watching us," Arlen replied calmly. "But the moment I looked over, the presence disappeared."
"So, there's another group on this island," Ultear said with a faint smile.
"That just makes things more interesting, doesn't it?" Arlen smirked slightly and turned to leave the Moon Temple.
"We're not continuing the investigation?" Ultear quickly followed.
"No need. As long as we eliminate the one behind all this, everything will come to light," Arlen said indifferently.
Beneath the Moon Temple lay a man-made cavern.
At its deepest point, directly below the temple's center, stood an enormous stone altar engraved with complex runes. At the center of the altar rested a massive demon encased in ice, its size comparable to a small mountain.
Its body was covered in jagged armor of dark purple and black. Ghostly green flames burned within its eye sockets, and its enormous maw was filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth. Though sealed in icy blue frost, faint wisps of soul-devouring black mist still coiled around it.
Every inch of the creature radiated a chilling aura of malice and brutality.
Standing before the altar was a tall, powerfully built man dressed in white, his face hidden behind a grotesque mask. He stood motionless like a statue, staring at the demon as he muttered to himself:
"Void Prison Beast… Master, I will prove it to you…"
"Oh ho ho ho, Lord Bai Ye, guess who I found~ Oh my, oh my~"
A strange laugh broke the silence. The masked man—Bai Ye—turned around to see the rat-faced man emerging from the shadows.
"Agor. What do you want?" Bai Ye asked calmly.
"Oh ho ho ho, Lord Bai Ye, I've identified the newcomers to the island—they're mages from Fairy Tail."
"Fairy Tail?" Bai Ye showed a hint of interest. "Do you know who exactly?"
"Oh, quite a lineup. Three S-Class mages: the Trembling Noble Prince—Arlen, the Time Arc Witch—Ultear, and the Fairy Queen—Erza. In addition, there's Natsu the Fire Dragon Slayer, the ice mage Gray, and one new member of little renown."
Agor relayed all the information he had gathered in a short time—remarkably thorough.
"How interesting… truly interesting," Bai Ye murmured, a faint smile forming beneath his mask.
"Oh ho ho ho, Lord Bai Ye, shall we stop them from investigating the Moon Temple?"
"Go warn them," Bai Ye said coldly. "If they back off, so be it. But if they insist on interfering… then show no mercy. No one will stop me from reviving the Void Prison Beast."
His voice carried a chilling killing intent—and a trace of madness.
"Understood, Lord Bai Ye. I'll have Sherry and the others issue a warning. However, Arlen, Ultear, and Erza are no ordinary opponents. We may need your Royal Guard."
"That's fine. If necessary, I'll have the Four Divine Generals take action," Bai Ye replied with a nod.
Elsewhere on Galuna Island—
Erza and Lucy, who had split off earlier, finally encountered Natsu, Gray, and Happy, who were heading toward the Moon Temple.
"You three dared to take on an S-Class request without permission, violating the Master's rules. Have you prepared yourselves to face punishment?!"
Erza raised her hand, summoning a magic sword, her expression cold and severe.
"E-Erza?! And Lucy?! What are you doing on Galuna Island?" Gray and Natsu broke into cold sweat, both startled and guilty.
"It's not just us," Lucy added with a mischievous grin. "Arlen and Ultear are here too. They've gone to investigate the Moon Temple."
That statement hit the trio like a second blow.
"Waaah! Erza, Lucy, it's all Natsu and Gray's fault! They forced me to come!" Happy immediately surrendered and threw the two under the bus.
"Hey! Happy, have some loyalty!" Natsu and Gray snapped.
"That's enough," Erza cut them off. "I don't care who's responsible. All of you will return with me and accept punishment from the Master."
"No way! We haven't completed the mission yet! There's no way we're going back like this!" Natsu shot back without hesitation.
"Yeah, please, Erza," Gray added. "Let us finish this S-Class mission. We'll accept any punishment afterward."
"You idiots… still making demands at a time like this?" Erza's anger flared. "Looks like I'll have to force you to comply."
With that, she raised her sword and swung it down toward Natsu and Gray.
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