Chapter 55 : Dead?

"Hahaha! Finally... finally resurrected..."

"You... can't defeat... me..."

"That's... that's mine..."

"In order to surpass Ur, I... hahaha..."

At that moment, Lyon also woke up from his coma. He saw Deliora resurrected and, despite his injuries, struggling to stand up and confront Deliora.

"Finally, Deliora... the only monster that Ur didn't defeat. Now, it's up to me to vanquish it."

"I... now... will surpass Ur-sensei..."

Lyon forced himself to stand, but Gray appeared behind him. A blade pressed against Lyon's neck, causing him to collapse to the ground.

"Gray... what are you doing?!"

Gray struck a stoic pose and spoke gravely, "Deliora, I will seal you!"

"Iced Shell!" Lyon's expression changed drastically as he witnessed Gray's stance.

Natsu, Lucy, and Happy, who had previously heard from Gray that Iced Shell was magic that cost the caster's life, reacted with alarm.

"Stop! Gray! Do you know how long it took me to melt this ice cube?" Lyon pleaded.

"Don't waste time! I'll break the ice and challenge Deliora again!" 

Gray's body radiated powerful magic. "It's the only way to ensure everyone's safety!"

A sudden kick from Kyros knocked Gray to the ground, interrupting his spellcasting.

Gray turned angrily to Kyros, "What are you doing?!"

Kyros looked down at Gray disdainfully. "Why should I explain to you? Risking your life for a mere demon from the Book of Zeref? Your life is too insignificant."

"You don't understand! Deliora's strength is overwhelming, invincible! If we don't seal him now, countless lives will be lost!" Gray argued.

"It's you who doesn't understand!" Kyros retorted.

"Roar—!!"

Deliora roared furiously, shedding the ice covering him and breaking free from his frozen state.

"Attack!"

Deliora gathered powerful magic in his mouth.

"Whoosh—!!" A beam of magical energy shot towards Kyros.

"Kyros! Move!" Lucy shouted.

But Kyros stood his ground, raising his palm.

"Boom—!!"

The magic beam was blocked by Kyros's barrier.

"Kyros!"

"Is this the extent of your power? Then prepare to meet your demise!"

"Om–!"

Kyros's presence radiated a fearsome, overbearing aura, causing the ruins to tremble violently. Manifesting his Conqueror's Haki, Kyros conjured a long sword with unparalleled Haki before him. 

However, just as he was poised to strike, a furrow appeared on Kyros's brow. With a subtle gesture, he dispersed the formidable blade of Conqueror's Haki.

"What… what happened? Why didn't you attack?" Lucy inquired, bewildered.

Kyros replied casually, "There's no need, because… it's already dead."

"What?!!"

At that moment, "Crack Kacha!"

A rift tore through Deliora's form, spreading rapidly throughout his entire being.

"What… what's occurring?!"

"Boom boom boom!"

Deliora's corporeal form began to disintegrate, crystallizing into ice cubes that plummeted to the ground.

"No… this can't be… Deliora… he's… gone…"

Kyros explained, "Over the course of a decade, the ice engendered by Ur gradually drained Deliora's life essence. The blow we just witnessed was the culmination of its retribution."

Kyros's countenance turned grave, frozen in solemnity. This was undeniably formidable magic; even now, he harbored doubts about his ability to withstand such a spell that exacted mutual destruction.

"There's no hope… I can't surpass Ur any longer." Lyon's fist pounded the ground, tears streaming down his cheeks. Whether it was due to reluctance or relief that his master's nemesis was no more, only he understood.

"Your master is incredible!" Natsu exclaimed, casting a glance at Gray.

Recalling Ur's final words before her passing—her desire to seal the shadow within her heart—Gray pondered the true meaning behind her statement.

"Master Ur…"

Gray sank to his knees, tears flowing unabated, soon giving way to sobs.

Simultaneously, Yuka, Toby, and Sherria, the trio of victims of Deliora, wept alongside. Their hatred for Deliora was no less fervent than anyone else's.

Kyros and the others left them to their emotions. A decade of pent-up anguish demanded an earnest release for Gray.

After a while, calm settled upon the group once more, and the bond between Gray and Lyon was restored to its former strength.

"Yes—!! It's finally over—!!"

"Hurrah–!"

Natsu and "Happy" cheered.

Lucy, too, breathed a sigh of relief. The S-class mission had been perilous indeed. Were it not for Kyros's intervention, success would have been far from guaranteed. Thankfully, the formidable power of Gray's master, Ur, had frozen the demon into oblivion.

"Thus concludes our S-class mission!!"

"Great!"

"We've got a shot at reaching the second floor!"

Gray couldn't resist dousing their excitement. "I get it, you're eager to explore the second floor, but have you forgotten how we ended up here? Going back means facing punishment. And if my memory serves me right, the punishment could be..."

Gray's words sent a chill down his spine.

Natsu and Happy exclaimed, "No... that can't be!"

Their eyes turned to Kyros, who simply smiled and nodded.

"No!!" Natsu and Happy attempted to flee, only to be apprehended by Kyros, one by one.

"If you want to keep your legs intact, come back with me and accept the consequences. But first, let's complete this mission."

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