Elsewhere, Erza and Kyôka clashed in a violent storm of steel and magic.
Kyôka's fingers had transformed into razor-sharp blades, cutting through the air with deadly speed, while Erza countered with twin swords, sparks flying with every impact.
Clang! Clang!
"She's strong…" Erza thought, her body tightening under the pressure. She could feel the immense magic pouring from her opponent.
Kyôka smirked. "Hehehe… not bad. For a human, your strength is impressive. You have the qualifications to become one of us."
"One of you?" Erza's eyes hardened. "To become someone who slaughters innocent lives without remorse?"
"Humans are nothing but foolish creatures," Kyôka replied coldly. "Their suffering is our entertainment."
"Entertainment… like before?!" Erza's expression twisted with fury. Though her body showed no wounds, Kyôka's curse still tore through her nerves with unbearable pain.
Kyôka chuckled darkly. "That was just a taste of torture."
"Then I'll return the favor—by torturing you!!"
Erza roared, blades flashing as she lunged again.
At the same time, Gray stood against an entirely different nightmare.
"Ice-Make: Lancer!!"
Dozens of ice spears shot from Gray's palms—only to shatter in midair, frozen solid by an even colder magic.
"What?!" Gray's eyes widened.
"Silver-sama!!"
The Tartaros soldiers' voices trembled with reverence.
Footsteps echoed. A tall figure stepped forward, his breath chilling the battlefield.
"I'll handle this one," the man said calmly. "You deal with the others."
"Yes, Silver-sama!!" The soldiers scattered immediately.
Gray looked up—and his heart stopped.
"That face… no… impossible…!!"
The man smiled faintly. "You've already sensed it, haven't you? I am your father."
Gray's chest tightened. "That's a lie!! My dad is dead—I saw it with my own eyes!!"
"My name is Silver Fullbuster. And I… am your father."
"Shut up!!" Gray roared, his hands flying into a magic circle. "Ice-Make: Sword!!"
He conjured dozens of blades and hurled them, even with one hand.
Silver raised his palm.
Crack! The swords shattered instantly, scattering into icy dust.
Gray charged, fists clenched, but Silver easily deflected the blow. His palm glowed, releasing a wave of cold that blasted Gray back across the ground.
"My dad can't be alive!!" Gray growled, forcing himself up.
Silver laughed harshly. "Ahahahaha! That's the look I wanted to see. Indeed, this body is your father's. But I am not him."
Gray's teeth clenched. "What do you mean…?!"
"I am something far more important to you. We were destined to fight each other."
"Destined… to fight…?!"
Silver's eyes gleamed. "This body is nothing but a container—a corpse I claimed. I am a demon of the Book of Zeref. My true form is not human. But in this shell, I can walk your taverns, drink your ale, even play with your women."
Gray's fists trembled in rage.
"One day, I stumbled across this corpse… and made it mine. And perhaps it was fate that it was your father's body. From that moment, I longed for the day I would kill you with these very hands."
"You bastard!! You defiled my father's body—for that alone I'll never forgive you!!"
"No, no… my hatred isn't just for you," Silver said with venom. "Until I erase every last remnant of Ur's disciples, I'll never be satisfied."
Gray froze. "…Ur…?"
Silver's voice dropped low. "Because she imprisoned me. Ten long years in Absolute Ice."
Gray's blood ran cold.
"My true name… is Deliora."
Gray staggered. "Deliora…?! That's impossible…!! Master Ur sealed you away! She gave her life to freeze you!!"
"Yes. She used her Ice Shell. But Tartaros possesses the Hell Core. Thanks to it, demons like me can return, no matter how many times we are destroyed."
Gray's body shook violently, veins bulging with rage. Deliora was his lifelong nightmare—the beast that slaughtered his family, destroyed his home, and forced Ur to sacrifice herself.
"If you don't believe me," Silver sneered, "I'll remind you of the face you saw when your parents died."
"DELIORAAAAA!!!" Gray roared, unleashing his magic.
Ice spikes erupted from beneath Silver's feet.
Silver leapt high, palm glowing. The ice shattered, exploding into shards that rained down on Gray like spears.
Gray dodged desperately, but Silver appeared in front of him in an instant, palm slamming into his chest.
"Ghhhaaahhh!!" Gray coughed, staggering.
But he refused to stay down.
"Ice-Make: Ice Sword!!"
Gray forged a massive blade and swung it down.
Silver raised a hand. Frost surged, freezing the sword solid before he laughed mockingly—then bit into the ice itself, devouring it whole.
Gray's eyes went wide.
"Wh-what…?!"
Silver grinned cruelly. "Fool. Against a Slayer, magic of the same element is useless. Just as Fire Slayer magic devours flames, I wield Ice Demon Slayer Magic. I'll consume all your ice… and then I'll consume you, Gray Fullbuster!!"