Black Clover: The Son of Fire Dragon Igneel

"The Truth"

Thanks to Lucy's explanation, Drake finally understood the situation.

After arriving on the island, Lucy and Natsu learned the mission details from the village elder.

The elder explained that the moon had been problematic for three years. At night, villagers exposed to moonlight transformed into demons.

The elder had even killed his demon-possessed son. He asked Natsu and Lucy to destroy the moon.

Natsu was enthusiastic, but Lucy was more sensible.

Destroying the moon was impossible; the curse had another cause.

Lucy led Natsu to find the curse's source—an abandoned temple.

They found the frozen Deliora at the temple's base, but so did Lyon and his group; a fight started.

Lyon froze Natsu; Happy and Lucy rescued him.

The village was the only settlement; Lyon's men planned to destroy it.

Natsu's flames couldn't melt Lyon's ice because he wasn't serious! He rarely tried hard unless his comrades or Fairy Tail were involved.

But Drake believed things would be different now.

Lyon attacking villagers crossed Natsu's line; Natsu would be serious now.

Drake pondered, addressing Natsu and Lucy.

"Gray came with me; I'll tell you everything when he arrives."

Natsu jumped. "What? That droopy-eyed bastard is here?!"

"Who are you calling 'droopy-eyed'?"

Natsu and Gray had a strange connection; Gray's voice came from outside.

Gray entered.

Drake stopped Natsu from attacking Gray.

"Gray, I'll tell you everything."

Drake paused. "First, the frozen monster Natsu and Lucy found is Deliora, a demon from Zeref's book, like Lullaby."

Gray jumped up. "Deliora? Impossible! It's not here, because…!"

Drake said, "It was sealed in the North Continent ten years ago! Someone brought it here."

Gray controlled his anger. "Who? He knows Deliora is a disaster!"

Drake replied, "Lyon, also known as Sub-Zero."

Gray was shocked.

Drake continued, "They brought Deliora here to use the Moon Drip in the Moon Temple to unseal him.

"Iced Shell" couldn't be undone, but Moon Drip can undo any magic. The island's curse is caused by Moon Drip's waste gas."

Gray hung his head. "Why did Lyon do this?"

Drake said, "A disciple wanting to surpass his deceased master—defeating an opponent his master couldn't."

Gray was pained. "Ul isn't dead; she's frozen with Deliora.

Lyon wants to melt the ice; he's killing Ul!"

Natsu was confused. "Who are Lyon and Ul?"

Drake said, "Lyon is Gray's senior; Ul is their master; she sealed Deliora, sacrificing herself."

Natsu was silent; he understood Gray's pain.

Gray looked at Drake, smiling wryly. "That's why this mission concerns me?"

Drake sighed. "Face your shadows. Lyon's mistake must be corrected by you."

Lyon's mistake wasn't unsealing Deliora, but his methods.

Wanting to surpass his master was fine, but his recklessness became obsession.

Lyon didn't know Deliora was dead; he didn't consider the consequences of unsealing him.

Even if he could defeat Deliora, ordering the village's destruction showed he was insane!

Gray looked determined.

"I'll end this! Even if it costs my life; it's my responsibility!"

Natsu kicked Gray, sending him flying into a wall.

"Damn it! Natsu, what are you doing? I'm not fighting you now!" Gray said, rubbing his head.

But Gray saw Natsu's serious face.

"Are you crazy? That's my prey; you can't take it."

Gray grabbed Natsu's scarf.

"I said it's my responsibility! Because of me, Ul used Iced Shell; I need closure."

Lucy said, "Don't fight now!"

Drake stopped Lucy. "Leave it to Natsu."

Happy said, "Lucy worries too much!"

Lucy said, "Traitor, shut up!"

But she said nothing else. Natsu was reliable when comrades needed help.

Natsu looked at Gray. "Closure? You're escaping!"

Gray let go of Natsu, silent.

Natsu fixed his scarf.

"Are you afraid of losing to Lyon? If you're not confident, let me defeat him."

"I won't lose! I'll win easily!" Gray's depression vanished.

Natsu challenged, "We'll see! Losing would be embarrassing! It's not just your reputation."

"I know!" Gray replied.

"It's Fairy Tail's reputation!"

They both said, determined.

Drake smiled; Natsu and Gray's bond was deep. Natsu didn't preach, but he helped Gray.

Gray, with Fairy Tail's support, wouldn't lose to Lyon.

Approaching the Moon Temple, Drake sensed numerous magical presences within.

Drake recalled that Lyon's three underlings were former members of Lamia Scale. Besides them, Lyon had unidentified accomplices.

Drake suspected Ultear was behind this.

Ultear's involvement… Drake suspected she'd told Lyon about Moon Drip and helped transport Deliora.

She wanted to use Deliora to power the R-System in Jellal's Tower of Heaven.

The Tower of Heaven was Jellal's project to revive Zeref; it needed 2.7 billion jewels of magic power.

They hadn't expected Ul's power to destroy even a demon from Zeref's book. Later, they'd use the Council's magic to gather the needed power.

Ultear's accomplices were likely Dark Guild members. In the original story, they were insignificant.

Drake looked back. "As planned, Gray fights Lyon; Natsu and Lucy handle the others; don't interfere with Gray!

One's troublesome; I'll handle her! Forget the plan; you won't follow it anyway.

Start! Defeat your opponents and complete the mission!"

Everyone nodded; Drake flew to the top level, sensing a powerful magic presence.

Ultear's magic was stronger than Natsu's.

Lucy looked at Drake. "I wish I could fly!"

Natsu grabbed Happy. "I have Happy! Happy, take me up!"

Happy shook his head. "No! Drake will send Natsu flying!"

…

Drake sensed Ultear approaching.

At the temple's top, Drake saw a masked, thin old man.

Ultear's transformation magic was flawless.

But… Drake smelled perfume.

Ultear, disguised as an old man, said, "An impressive person has arrived."

Drake landed, facing Ultear. "You're confident; you knew we were coming; you didn't escape."

Ultear acted comically, unconcerned about being discovered.

"We have a mission; escaping isn't an option. Shouldn't the strongest be facing Sub-Zero? Why me?"

Drake waved his hand. "Sub-Zero will be handled. You're more dangerous."

Ultear stopped; she suspected Drake knew something.

Drake punched, shattering a crystal ball.

"Women should be gentler; don't ambush!"

Ultear said, "How did you know?"

Drake replied, "Your transformation magic is great, but don't use such strong perfume!"

Ultear laughed; her voice became feminine.

"Sharp; I underestimated you!"

Drake dodged a crystal ball.

"Complimenting while attacking is bad! Arc of Time is amazing!"

Ultear suspected Drake knew her magic.

She didn't plan to hide it, but his actions made her wary.

Ultear said, "I underestimated you!"

Drake's body blazed. "It's too early; I haven't used my full power!"

A crystal ball pierced the flames, heading for Drake's head.

Drake heard it; he caught it.

Ultear controlled the crystal ball's time, making it move quickly.

Even if destroyed, she could revert it.

Drake didn't catch it; it stopped instantly; Drake missed.

It circled Drake.

Time magic was strange; Drake couldn't counter it.

But magic is used by mages; he could defeat Ultear.

Drake dodged a crystal ball, charging at Ultear.

He punched, shattering a crystal ball; his foot sank; the ground crumbled.

The temple was sturdy; why did it break?

Ultear accelerated the ground's time; even strong materials weaken with time.

Drake launched himself into the air.

But a crystal ball fell from above.

Watching Drake fall, Ultear said, "The moon's appearing; you can't stay."

Ultear jumped down; the hole closed.

Accomplices appeared, waiting for the moon to complete the Moon Drip ritual.

Drake fell from the top to the bottom; the crystal ball vanished.

Drake landed, seeing the frozen Deliora.

Ultear landed on a stalactite. "Don't use Dragon Slayer magic here; the ice will melt faster!"

Drake ignored her, unleashing flames.

"This is Ul's ice; her soul and will are in it; it won't melt!"

Ultear froze; her ki became volatile. Ultear's resentment towards Ul was clear.

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