Fairy Tail: Strongest Creature

The power Su Yan mentioned wasn't entirely foreign in the magical world. Techniques like Mystogan's sleep magic could affect large areas, stunning people in a way similar to Conqueror's Haki. Similarly, various forms of hardening magic mimicked Armament Haki, and many wizards who enveloped their bodies in magical energy achieved similar defensive boosts.

Take Natsu, for example. When his body was engulfed in flames, his attack and defense increased dramatically. The same principle applied to Erza's magical armors, which amplified her already formidable abilities.

Ultimately, strength depended largely on the individual. Even in the world of One Piece, where many possessed Devil Fruit abilities or mastered all three forms of Haki, few could rise to the pinnacle of power. This was why Roger became the Pirate King, and why the Red-Haired Shanks ascended to the status of one of the Four Emperors.

The same principle explained Su Yan's strength. His seemingly simple techniques were elevated to an unparalleled level by his extraordinary physical prowess. Though his current physique was only half as robust as Kaido's, Su Yan was confident his overall strength surpassed even the Emperor. After all, in One Piece, Haki could only grow through personal evolution—not mere training.

Su Yan mused that while the Red-Haired Shanks was perhaps the most adept in Conqueror's Haki in his world, even he paled in comparison to Su Yan's abilities.

"Hey! Look! There's a building up ahead!" Lucy shouted, pointing to a structure built into the mountainside.

The group ventured along a jungle trail, eventually arriving at the ruins of an ancient structure. Though the building was in shambles, its grandeur from a bygone era was still apparent.

"Wow, it's massive," Natsu marveled.

"More like massively broken," Gray muttered.

"How old do you think this place is?" Lucy wondered aloud.

The main hall was a chaotic scene of collapsed pillars and trees sprouting through cracked stone slabs. Judging by its dilapidation, the ruins must have been abandoned for centuries.

Natsu examined a series of crescent moon carvings on the wall. "Look! These symbols look like moons!"

Gray nodded. "Wasn't this island called Moon Island before?"

"Island of the Moon, Curse of the Moon, Moon Chapter... Everything about this place feels suspicious," Lucy said.

Su Yan gazed at the carvings, his memories stirring faintly. Something about this felt familiar.

Meanwhile, Natsu stomped the ground experimentally. "The floor looks weak here. Is it really safe to walk on?"

Lucy panicked. "Don't step on it! It's obviously unstable—"

CRACK!

The floor gave way beneath them, collapsing into a deep hole. The group fell, landing amid a heap of rubble.

"You idiot!" Lucy shouted.

"This floor had no backbone!" Natsu argued, brushing himself off.

"Floors don't have backbones!" Lucy snapped.

"Boom boom boom!"

Su Yan pushed himself out of the rubble, glaring at Natsu. "You absolute moron! Could you use your brain for once?!"

Lucy groaned. "If he did, he wouldn't be Natsu."

"Love~!" Happy chirped cheerfully.

Natsu squinted into the shadows. "Wait a second… what's that?!" His shocked voice drew everyone's attention.

The group turned to see a massive demon-like creature encased in ice. It was enormous, its features frozen in a fearsome snarl.

Gray's face went pale. His voice trembled as he stammered, "D-Deliora?!"

"Deliora?" Natsu and Lucy echoed, confused.

"How is this possible?! How could Deliora be here?!" Gray was visibly shaken, his fists clenching at his sides.

"Gray, calm down," Su Yan said, his tone steady. He recognized the name and understood the significance of the creature before them. Memories of this story arc surfaced, along with the realization that this tied directly to the curse affecting the island.

Gray's breathing slowed, and he finally steadied himself. Lucy seized the opportunity to ask, "What is this thing?"

Gray's voice was filled with a mix of fear and loathing. "Deliora. The Demon of Disaster."

"A demon?" Natsu tilted his head, puzzled.

"It's exactly the same as before… but how did it end up here?"

Su Yan suddenly tensed, his gaze shifting sharply. "Someone's coming. Two people."

His Observation Haki picked up on their presence.

"Let's take them out!" Natsu said, cracking his knuckles.

"Wait!" Lucy hissed. "Let's see what they're up to first."

Moments later, two figures entered the ruined chamber. One was shirtless, with dog-like facial features and decorative ears. The other was shorter, with comically thick eyebrows.

The man with the thick eyebrows—Yuka—spoke first. "I thought I heard voices here."

"Ooo!" replied the dog-faced man, Toby, as he scratched his belly.

"Look at all these broken stones," Yuka said, inspecting the rubble. "This place is falling apart. I hope it doesn't collapse before our job is done."

"Ooo!"

"Are you a dog?" Yuka suddenly asked, exasperated.

"Of course not!" Toby snapped, pointing to his ears. "These are decorative!"

"Then why do you have them?!" Yuka shouted.

"Because I like them!" Toby retorted.

Their argument was interrupted by a heavy make-up wearing girl descending the stairs. Her dramatic flair was hard to miss.

"Yuka, Toby, I have bad news," she declared dramatically.

"Sherry," Yuka acknowledged.

"Angelica got spooked by something and is now hiding in a cave," Sherry said, pouting.

Toby sighed. "It was just a mouse. Of course, she's hiding!"

Sherry dismissed the complaint with a dreamy tone. "No, Angelica isn't just a mouse. She's brave, kind, and a hunter in the dark! That's love~~!"

Lucy shivered, muttering under her breath, "What a weirdo..."