After defeating Racer and Cobra one after another, Ken and Gray continued their march toward Nirvana.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Gray asked with concern, glancing at Ken's pale expression. "Your magic's almost drained. Maybe you should rest. Leave the rest to me—"
"No need," Ken interrupted, his voice firm. "Let's go."
Without another word, Ken shifted his arm into the form of an Iron Dragon Sword.He casually chopped down a thick gas tree nearby, picked up a sturdy branch, and started chewing it to restore his magic.
Though the severe headache from his earlier battle against Cobra had eased, it still lingered, a constant irritating pulse in the back of his mind.As he stared up at the looming white pillar of light in the sky, Ken couldn't shake the feeling that something deep inside him was changing — though he couldn't quite grasp what.
"We're almost there. The sooner we reach Nirvana, the better. Who knows what will happen if we wait too long..."
Suddenly, Ken stiffened. He could sense it — fierce magical auras clashing ahead.
"Someone's already fighting!" Ken barked."Leave Racer here for now and stay hidden!"
Grabbing Gray, Ken pulled him into the cover of the tall grass.The two crept forward cautiously.
It didn't take long before Gray's eyes lit up.
"There! I see them!" he whispered excitedly."It's Jura from Lamia Scale! And Sherria's behind him! They're facing off against... wait, isn't that Brian, the leader of the Six Demon Generals?"
He squinted. "Wait, there's someone else with them... I can't quite see—Ken? Ken?"
Ken's voice came from behind, dangerously calm."Gray... you know, it's one thing to block my view, but if you point your butt directly at my face while you're half-naked again, I might have to... introduce you to the Thousand-Year of Death."
Gray immediately yanked up his pants, his face turning red.
He didn't know what the "Thousand-Year of Death" was exactly, but judging by the cold dread that ran through his body, he knew it wasn't anything good.
"Ahem... Sorry," Gray muttered awkwardly. Then, returning to the situation, he asked, "In a head-on fight... can Jura take down Brian? Should we help?"
Before Ken had joined them, every member of the coalition had been humiliated by the Six Demon Generals.
But Ken remained composed.
"No need," Ken said. "As long as the alternate personality 'Zero' doesn't emerge, Brian's nothing but a loudmouth. Jura is one of the Ten Wizard Saints — he can handle this."
"But we can't just stay here watching, right?"
"Shift over there."Ken pointed toward a nearby boulder for better cover.The two repositioned themselves stealthily.
From this angle, Gray finally saw clearly who the mysterious figure beside Jura was.
He gasped."That's... Hoteye! A member of the Six Demon Generals!? Why's he standing with Jura?"
Ken explained calmly:
"That's Hoteye. He's strong, but Nirvana must've triggered a reversal in his heart. Nirvana can flip the light and darkness inside people. Looks like he switched sides."
Gray looked a little more reassured hearing that.
But inside, Ken frowned.
"Nirvana affects those teetering between light and darkness, causing good and evil to flip... but usually it affects at least two people."
"If Hoteye's turned good... someone from our side might be corrupted instead."
Ken recalled that, in the original events, Sherria fell into darkness after Lyon was seriously injured — though she was saved later.
Yet now, Sherria looked perfectly fine.None of the allies seemed affected... at least, for now.
"Strange... who's going to be affected this time? I have a bad feeling about this..."
"If Natsu snaps under Nirvana's influence, that would be a disaster..."
Keeping cautious, Ken and Gray decided to remain hidden, observing the battle unfold.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the tension between Jura and Brian was rising fast.
Brian's skin had turned a deep copper-black, his silver hair hanging like ancient threads, exuding a twisted, ominous aura.Dark markings etched across his face hinted at a sealed, terrifying power within.
Brian grinned coldly, glancing behind Jura at the shining beacon of Nirvana.
"So, I owe you thanks... Nirvana's been awakened. All without me lifting a finger."
Jura's face, normally impassive, showed a slight frown.The truth was bitter: during his earlier battle with Hoteye, the ground's disturbance had inadvertently unsealed Nirvana.
Though it was unintentional, Jura couldn't ignore his responsibility.
Steeling himself, Jura adjusted his stance, magic gathering at his feet like the earth itself bowed to him.
"I will not allow you to go further."
Brian's grin twisted into a scowl.Tightening his grip on the skull-topped staff, he raised it high and aimed it straight at Jura.
"Ever Dark Rondo!"
A dark-green wave of magic burst from the skull's mouth, serpentine and lethal, tearing across the ground toward Jura.
Without hesitation, Jura pressed two fingers together, and the earth responded instantly.
"Rock Iron Wall!"
A thick, towering rock wall erupted from the ground, shielding Jura, Sherria, and Hoteye behind him.
The blast struck — and though it blasted a massive hole in the wall, Jura and his allies emerged from the sides, unharmed.
Brian's eyes narrowed.Jura's defense was flawless.
"Tch... No wonder you're one of the Ten Wizard Saints," Brian growled.
If pure destructive power alone was measured, Brian was the deadliest among the Six Demon Generals.But against Jura's absolute defenses, even his devastating magic seemed ineffective.
Brian shifted tactics, raising his left hand this time.
"Ever Dark Palm!"
A condensed mass of dark magic shaped like a giant palm hurtled toward Jura.
Again, Jura calmly summoned a "Rock Iron Wall."
The impact left a massive palm imprint on the stone, but the wall held firm.
Brian cursed under his breath, frustration mounting.He had no time for drawn-out battles — Nirvana was already stirring, and he needed its power.
He snarled in fury, jeering:
"Holy Ten? Ha! All you can do is hide behind your stupid rocks, you Iron Bastard!"