Fairy Tail: Strongest Creature

"They're not villagers on this island; they don't smell the same," Natsu said, sniffing the air.

Natsu's nose, sharper than any dog's, could easily catch scents even from over 20 meters away.

Yuka frowned. "Intruders, perhaps?"

The large mouse Angelica, raised by Sherry, was no ordinary rodent. It possessed considerable strength, and it was unlikely to be frightened into hiding without encountering a significant threat. Coupled with the noises they had heard earlier; it seemed highly probable that someone had trespassed into their domain.

Sherry sighed dramatically. "The light of Lord Moon is almost ready to be collected. Oh, what a sorrowful event this is! Before Lord Zero discovers this intrusion, let's remove them."

"Yes, we must."

"Ooh!"

"If they've seen Deliora, we can't let them leave alive," Yuka added coldly.

"Let the invaders rest in eternal slumber. That... is love~!" Sherry declared.

"It's not love! It's killing them!" Yuka snapped.

The three conversed briefly, then exited the underground chamber.

Su Yan and the others stepped out of their hiding spot after the intruders left.

"Why didn't we just grab them and ask what's going on?" Natsu grumbled, his fists twitching. Stealth wasn't his style; he preferred straightforward confrontation.

"The timing isn't right. Let's wait and observe," Lucy countered. Ever cautious, she wasn't one to act rashly without gathering all the facts.

"But Su Yan agrees with me, right?" Natsu said, looking at Su Yan.

Su Yan shrugged nonchalantly. "Sure. I don't really care."

For Su Yan, who recalled this storyline clearly, the mission had technically already reached its climax. Still, he chose to stick around to gain some valuable experience, so he wasn't in any rush.

"Damn it," Gray muttered. "Why did they bring Deliora here? And how did they even find the seal?"

"The seal?" Lucy asked.

Gray clenched his fists, his voice filled with bitterness. "Deliora was originally sealed in an iceberg in the northern region. Ten years ago, it wreaked havoc across Isvan, destroying everything in its path and remaining invincible. My master, Ur, sacrificed her life to seal it away."

Natsu's face turned serious. "Wait, this is the demon your master sealed?"

"Yeah. There's no mistaking it. That's Deliora," Gray confirmed. "I don't know how this is tied to the island's curse, but this thing should never have made it here."

Gray's voice trembled as he began recounting his story.

Deliora had destroyed Gray's home, taking his parents' lives. Ur, his master, rescued him and became his teacher, helping him hone his ice-molding magic. Years later, Gray learned from passersby that Deliora had resurfaced in another region. Consumed by hatred, he recklessly set off to confront the demon, ignoring Ur's warnings.

He failed miserably.

Not only did he nearly lose his life, but his actions also forced Ur to sacrifice herself to seal the demon. The burden of that failure had weighed on Gray ever since.

"I'm terrible, aren't I?" Gray muttered, covering his face in anguish.

Su Yan placed a firm hand on Gray's shoulder. "Don't dwell on it too much. Your master wouldn't want you to live the rest of your life drowning in guilt."

Gray glanced at Su Yan, surprised.

"Ur chose to sacrifice herself to seal the demon—and the pain in your heart. That means you mattered more to her than even her own life. Would you really want her to come back just to see you waste your life in self-blame?"

Gray's eyes widened as Su Yan's words struck home. Slowly, he wiped the tears from his face and stood taller, his resolve visibly strengthening.

Seeing this, Su Yan allowed a small smile. He saw many of the Fairy Tail guild members as his younger siblings. Whether it was Gray or Laxus, Su Yan took his role as a big brother seriously. He wouldn't let any of them live burdened by regret.

"So, what now? Do we go after them?" Natsu asked, his fists twitching. Though he often bickered with Gray, seeing him so vulnerable had unsettled him. Natsu felt an overwhelming urge to punch something—or someone.

"No," Gray said firmly. "We wait until the moon rises."

"The moon?! It's still daytime!" Natsu exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. "No way I'm sitting here bored!"

Gray ignored him. "The island's curse, Deliora, and those people—it's all tied to the moon. They said they're collecting moonlight. I want to see what they're planning to do with Deliora."

He clenched his fists. "I don't care who this Zero guy is. If he dares to sully Ur's name, I'll make him pay."

Gray turned to Su Yan. Although their missions were free-form and lacked strict hierarchies, Gray still deferred to Su Yan, the only S-class mage in their group.

Su Yan nodded. "Fine, we'll wait."

The group settled in. The initial hours were tedious, but eventually, weariness overcame them, and they drifted off to sleep.

A loud rumbling sound jolted them awake.

"What's that noise?" Lucy mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

Natsu sat up abruptly, noticing the dim surroundings. "Wait, is it night already?"

Above them, a hole had opened in the ceiling directly over Deliora. A beam of purple light shone down, illuminating the demon's frozen form.

"Purple light? Is that… moonlight?" Lucy asked, her voice tinged with unease.

"This isn't a coincidence," Gray said, his jaw tight. "Come on, we need to find out where that light's coming from!"

"Right!" Natsu shouted, already on his feet.