"What?!!"
Gray's expression twisted in shock. If the magic of the entire continent disappeared, then Fairy Tail too… would cease to exist.
"I have to tell everyone…!!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out: "Gray-sama!!"
"Juvia?"
Juvia came running toward him, face filled with joy. "Gray-sama! Finally, Juvia found you!"
Gray immediately barked: "Stop! Juvia, listen carefully—go inform everyone right away!! Tell them to stop fighting! Tartaros is controlling the corpse of a Councilor and secretly activating Face!! It must be stopped!!"
"Huh?! Y-Yes!!" Juvia answered quickly. Though confused, she saw the urgency in Gray's eyes and ran back without hesitation.
The Hell Core
Inside the dark chamber, a stormy figure floated in a magic tank. It was Tempester.
"Tempester?! You're dead too?!" Jackal snarled in frustration. His hatred had already shifted away from Natsu and burned now for Minerva—the traitor who betrayed him. The thought of her made his blood boil. "That damn woman!! When I revive, she's the first I'll kill!!"
Tempester shook his head, still dazed. "That man… I couldn't even see what happened. I was killed instantly… what kind of monster was he?"
"Run?!" Jackal snapped. "Don't be ridiculous! Once you join Tartaros, there's no escape! Betrayal means death!"
But suddenly, a calm voice echoed through the chamber.
"I don't know if she's dead… but I know you are."
A figure stepped from the shadows—Su Yan. Beside him stood Mirajane.
"It's you!!!"
The three demons' faces twisted in fear. They remembered well the terror Su Yan had brought them before.
"H-How did you find this place?!" Jackal demanded.
Su Yan smirked. "This is the place where you demons cling to life, isn't it? Your so-called resurrection chamber. Infinite lives… self-destruction without consequence… truly pathetic."
A suffocating aura of Conqueror's Haki exploded from him.
Crack… BOOM!!!
The glass of one cultivation tank split apart, then shattered.
"STOP!!!" the demons screamed in terror. "What are you doing?!!"
Su Yan only smiled.
Crack… crack… BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
One by one, the surrounding tanks ruptured, spilling their contents. Only three remained—those belonging to Jackal, Tempester, and Ezel.
"You… what are you planning?!" Their voices trembled. For the first time, death was real to them.
Su Yan waved a hand toward Mirajane. "Me? Nothing. These three… are my gift to Mira."
"Eh?" Mira blinked, then her eyes widened with delight. "Really?! That's wonderful, meow~!"
Overcome with joy, she hugged Su Yan tightly and kissed him.
Su Yan froze for a heartbeat at the unexpected affection, then looked up to see Mira's flushed, shy face. Unable to resist, he pulled her close and kissed her deeply.
The three demons were dumbfounded. To be humiliated like this—while they flirted in front of them—it was unbearable.
At last, the two broke apart, breathless, though still unwilling.
"Mira," Su Yan said firmly, "I'll deal with the rest of the demons. These three are yours."
Mira licked her lips, her smile dangerously sweet. She turned to the trembling Jackal, Tempester, and Ezel. "Don't worry… I'll take good care of you."
Su Yan left, and Mira's eyes gleamed. "Now then… which one first? …No, never mind. All together!!"
The three demons screamed in horror.
"No—!! Don't!!!"
"Stop, stop, stop—!!!"
"AAAHHHHHHH!!!"
Their voices echoed, then vanished into silence.
Moments later, another figure arrived.
Seliah—the "Goddess of the Underworld" of the Nine Demon Gates—stepped into the chamber. She had sensed the voices of her comrades and rushed immediately.
"What is this…?!" Her eyes widened in horror. All around, shattered culture tanks lay in ruins.
Then her gaze fell forward—onto a lone figure standing before the three broken tanks.
"You!! Who are you?!" Seliah shouted.
Her eyes darted again—her blood froze. Inside the shattered tanks were the mangled corpses of Jackal, Ezel, and Tempester.
"Lord Jackal! Lord Ezel! Lord Tempester!!!"
Her fury exploded. She glared at Mira. "What did you do to them, human?!"
Mira hiccupped lightly, then quickly pressed her fingers to her lips, embarrassed. "Ah… excuse me. I ate them."
"…What?" Seliah froze, stunned. "What nonsense are you spouting…?"
Mira tilted her head, smiling sweetly. "Just as I said. I ate them all."
Seliah's face twisted. "Ridiculous!! A mere human claiming to have eaten demons?!! Enough of this!! I command you—commit suicide immediately!!!"
Her Command Tartaros spell surged forward, trying to take hold.
But Mira only stood there, blinking innocently.
Seliah's eyes widened in shock. "Wh-What?! My command… why isn't it working on you?!"