At the exit of Naraku Palace.
Lying on the ground, Natsu raised his head and looked at the black-clad figure who had suddenly appeared before him with a puzzled expression.
He asked, "Who are you?"
Under the watchful eyes of the Fairy Tail members, the black-clad figure finally spoke.
His voice was hoarse and filled with deep exhaustion.
"I've finally found you… Natsu, His Majesty Nord."
"This voice…"
"You are?"
As everyone watched in shock, the black-clad figure slowly lifted his hood, revealing a face that was extremely familiar to the Fairy Tail members.
"Ishu!!"
Standing before them was none other than Ishudora Atarante, the former Fifth Throne of the Demon God's Soul, who had once aided them in the past.
However, he looked significantly different from seven years ago.
His entire body appeared thinner and more gaunt, and his face, in particular, bore a faint yet clearly visible scar.
"Ishu, why are you here?" Natsu voiced the question on everyone's mind.
Facing everyone's gaze, Ishu spoke slowly, "You all know about the temple, right?"
"The temple? Ishu, you know about this too?"
"Yes… This country is about to…" Ishu spoke softly, but before he could finish his sentence, his body started to sway.
Before he could say another word, he completely collapsed to the ground.
"Hey!"
"Is… is he okay?"
The Fairy Tail members hurriedly gathered around him, all utterly confused about what had happened to Ishu.
With no other choice, Natsu crouched down and lifted Ishu onto his shoulder.
"Anyway, we can't just leave him here. Let's take Ishu with us."
"Yeah. Also, once we're out of the castle, fire the signal flare to let everyone know Natsu's rescue was a success."
................
"But I still don't understand," Darton said, standing before Hisui in the Mercurius Palace, his face filled with confusion.
"If the princess wishes to awaken the temple, she would need the power of both gods and dragons. This contradicts the act of banishing Natsu Dragneel to the Naraku Palace."
"In truth, that was merely a ruse to deceive others," Hisui replied.
Hearing Darton's question, Hisui let out a bitter smile.
"In reality, there's no need for the power of dragons or gods at all. That temple, though severely damaged and thus forced into slumber, still has an intact core. As long as the ritual is completed, it can be activated. The claim about needing divine and draconic power was merely a diversion to shift attention."
"Ritual?"
"Yes," Hisui nodded.
"Yesterday, the ritual to awaken the temple was performed. And in truth, it has already been completed. Now, all that remains is to quietly wait for the fated day to arrive. Then, through the hands of a certain person, the temple will be activated. This is something I alone cannot accomplish."
"So, I need both your and Arcadios' approval."
"...The one who performs the activation ritual must bear the heavy burden of opening Pandora's Box," Darton said, his forehead already beaded with cold sweat, his tone heavy.
"Yes," Hisui replied, a deep melancholy settling on her face.
Gazing into the distance toward Fiores, she spoke softly, "All we can do now is witness the end of this tournament and await the arrival of the fated day."
.................
Somewhere in Crocus, the battle between the three women was still ongoing.
However, the situation had begun to shift subtly.
Kagura and Erza's sharp gazes were locked onto Minerva, who was holding Miliana hostage.
A thick, almost tangible killing intent radiated from both of them, pressing toward Minerva with overwhelming intensity.
Yet, the woman at the center of it all remained unfazed, wearing an indifferent expression as she said, "Yes... that's the expression I wanted to see."
"Let go of Milliana," Kagura said in a low voice, her tone laced with unmistakable murderous intent.
Minerva ignored Kagura and spoke coldly, "Then allow me to show you the way a true ruler fights."
"Don't make me say it twice." Kagura slowly placed her hand on the hilt of her blade, her face shadowed by an ominous gloom.
"If you want to live, release my comrade."
Seeing Kagura in this state, Minerva raised an eyebrow slightly and sneered, "I'll take everything from you."
Whoosh!
Kagura's figure vanished in an instant, reappearing right in front of Minerva in the next moment.
Her long blade slashed toward Minerva as she declared, "Sabertooth… you are the second to fall."
Despite the approaching blade, Minerva remained calm, responding in a meaningful tone, "Let's hope this time, it's a tiger worth devouring."
A sharp whoosh echoed as Minerva, who had been standing in front of Kagura, suddenly switched places with Erza.
The abrupt change caught both Erza and Kagura off guard.
However, Kagura's blade was already mid-swing, and there was no time to pull back.
She could only watch as her sheathed sword slashed toward Erza.
Boom!
In a split second, Erza hastily raised her sword, barely managing to block Kagura's attack.
At that moment, the same thought flashed through both of their minds.
(A switch?!)
Watching from the side, Minerva smirked in satisfaction.
With a slight movement of her fingers, Millianna, who was still trapped within the spatial force, suddenly vanished once again.
"Once you two decide a winner," Minerva said with a smug tone, "I shall take on the victor."
Erza gritted her teeth as she watched Minerva prepare to leave, her voice cold.
"You barge into someone else's battle, and then you just walk away? Some 'king' you are—no sense of honor at all."
Minerva remained indifferent, replying nonchalantly, "A true king uses their pieces according to their strategy."
She smirked and continued, "Feel honored. Two against one—even I cannot win under such circumstances. I underestimated your strength before, I admit that was a miscalculation. However, no matter the situation, a king must always claim victory."
With those words, Minerva turned and walked away, paying no further attention to Erza or Kagura.
"I understand now," Kagura murmured.
Still locked in a clash of swords with Erza, Kagura suddenly spoke.
"A tigress with that kind of magic cannot be captured. Given that… though I don't like it…"
Boom!
The power surging through Kagura's blade suddenly intensified, forcing Erza back.
Her expression remained cold as she stated, "Defeating you is the only way to earn the right to fight that tigress."
Momentarily pushing Erza away, Kagura turned her head and shouted toward Minerva's retreating figure, "I accept all your conditions! Let Miliana go!"
However, by the time she spoke, Minerva had already vanished without a trace.
"I was completely outplayed," Erza said grimly after being forced back by Kagura.
Kagura, her expression indifferent, turned her head and raised her blade, pointing it at Erza.
"Now, I have only one choice—defeat you first, then take down that tigress."
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