At dawn the next morning, Kael led the group toward the ancient Moon Temple.
As they trekked through the forested path, Natsu and Gray were—unsurprisingly—arguing again.
One shouted that destroying the moon was impossible, while the other yelled that it was just plain ridiculous.
"You two have been fighting the entire way," Cana groaned, turning to glare at them. "It's obvious the problem isn't the moon itself."
"Yeah, I agree," Lucy added thoughtfully. "The moon back home is perfectly normal. Maybe the curse only affects this island… Could it be caused by something—or someone—here?"
"Hey, so where exactly are we going again, Kael?" Happy asked, fluttering over from Natsu's shoulder to perch on Kael's instead.
"Yeah, Kael," Lucy said curiously, noticing he hadn't spoken much. "You've been quiet this whole time. You already figured something out, haven't you?"
Kael nodded slightly, his expression calm but serious. "We're heading to the Moon Temple—the origin of all this. Based on what the village chief told us, there are a few key points we can work from."
He raised one finger. "First: timing. The curse only began a few years ago."
A second finger. "Second: the moonlight. It started turning purple around the same time."
And a third. "Third: cause. Why would the moonlight only change color over this island? That means something—or someone—here is behind it."
The group fell silent, lost in thought. Even Natsu and Gray stopped arguing, slowly nodding in realization.
"But what does that have to do with the temple?" Lucy asked.
Kael glanced toward the distant cliffs. "Because if someone's tampered with anything, the temple is the most likely place to hide it—or to perform whatever ritual caused this."
"Hah! Then let's go check it out already!" Natsu shouted, grinning eagerly.
Kael didn't respond. He didn't need to. When the moonlight had turned violet the night before, he had used his Observation Haki to sense it—several powerful magical presences at the temple's location… and one immense, ominous force sealed deep within.
After a long trek, the group finally arrived before the Moon Temple.
Its appearance stunned them all. The once-sacred structure was in ruins—crumbling pillars, shattered stone, and eerie sigils carved into every wall.
"This place doesn't look like it's hiding anything," Lucy murmured, tracing her fingers along a symbol glowing faintly in the moonlight. "It's just… creepy."
"Yeah, there's nothing here," Cana agreed, frowning.
Natsu and Happy, however, were already running around, poking and touching everything like children in a toy store.
"Hey, Natsu! Be careful!" Gray snapped.
Kael exhaled softly. "Actually… what we're looking for isn't above ground. Be ready, Gray, Lucy."
Without another word, Kael wrapped one arm around Cana's waist and stomped hard on the floor. The ground cracked beneath his heel—then shattered completely, sending the entire group plunging into darkness.
"Ah!" Lucy cried, but thanks to Kael's warning, she managed to brace herself. Gray reacted just in time as well, hardening his body with ice magic to land safely.
Meanwhile, Natsu—still running in circles seconds before—plummeted headfirst straight into the ground below.
"Ugh…! Ow!"
Gray sighed, grabbing Natsu by the legs and pulling him upright like a turnip.
Moments later, the group found themselves in a vast underground cavern. Natsu, undeterred, immediately sprinted forward again, torchlight reflecting in his eyes.
The deeper they went, the colder the air grew. Frost mist drifted through the passage, shimmering faintly in the dim light.
Then, as they rounded a corner—
Natsu froze.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Lucy called from behind.
But when she, Gray, and Cana caught up and saw what lay before them, they too went still.
"What… is that?" Lucy whispered.
Encased in a massive block of translucent ice stood a demon—huge, terrifying, with claws and horns, its monstrous face frozen in an eternal roar.
Gray's pupils shrank. His lips trembled as he took a step forward. "No… no, that's impossible…"
The words escaped him like a broken whisper. His fists clenched, his body shaking, the surrounding air dropping several degrees as his magic flared uncontrollably.
"Deliora…!" he rasped. "He can't be here! Who did this?!"
He bolted toward the frozen demon, disbelief twisting across his face.
"Gray, what's going on? You know this thing?" Lucy asked, confused.
Deliora was sealed in the North… sealed by Master Ur herself… So why—why is it here?!
Gray didn't answer. He just stared at the demon, lost in his memories—his guilt.
Kael sighed quietly, watching the young mage tremble with anger and fear. Then he stepped forward, his voice calm but grave.
"Deliora is a demon of calamity—immortal, destructive. Years ago, in the northern lands, the mage Ur sealed it away at the cost of her life. She was one of the strongest wizards of her time… and, if I'm not mistaken, the one who taught Gray his magic."
Lucy and Natsu both turned to Gray, eyes full of sympathy. They hadn't known. To them, this was just another dangerous mission—but for Gray, this was personal.
Kael's gaze hardened. "It seems someone's trying to revive Deliora."
Those words snapped Gray back to reality. His fists tightened until his knuckles turned white.
"Damn it… I won't allow it. Even if it costs me my life, I'll stop this monster from ever awakening again!"
He stood tall before the frozen demon, eyes glistening but fierce with determination.
"Don't worry, Gray," Natsu said with a grin. "You're not alone! You've got us!"
"Yeah," Lucy added, smiling softly. "We'll face this together."
Cana and Happy stepped closer too, placing their hands on Gray's shoulders.
Kael smiled faintly. "Besides, you're forgetting something, Gray. I'm still here. You know what I'm capable of."
The reassurance seemed to calm him slightly.
Then Kael's tone shifted—sharp and alert—as he looked up toward the cavern ceiling.
"Isn't that right… Lord Zero?"
He raised his hand, and light erupted from his palm, forming a radiant blade of pure energy. In one smooth motion, he slashed upward, sending a blinding arc of magic through the air.
A sudden crash echoed as an icy barrier materialized, blocking the strike.
From the shadows, a white-haired man wearing a mask leapt down, landing silently before them.
"Heh… as expected of one of the Ten Saints," the man said coolly. "I couldn't afford to underestimate you. The moment I heard my subordinates report your presence, I decided to follow you here myself."