Chapter 36 : Hand Slipped?

Suddenly, a raspy and eerie laughter echoed through the air.

"Hehehe! How pathetic! I can't stand watching this incompetence any longer. Allow me to handle it myself."

"What?!"

The eerie sound sent shivers down the spines of many, causing discomfort.

"It's coming from Erigor," Happy pointed out, gesturing toward the unconscious Erigor.

Lucy noticed the source of the sound emanating from Erigor's flute. "It's the flute! The flute is speaking!"

As everyone watched, green smoke billowed from the skeletal flute, gradually coalescing into a massive, three-eyed monster standing about 20 meters tall.

"A monster!"

The sight of the monstrous creature startled almost everyone present.

"What in the world?!"

"I've never seen anything like this before!"

"Why is there a monster in the flute?!"

Kageyama, the one who had broken the seal of the cursed melody, trembled at the sight of the creature. Had he known such a monster lurked within the flute, he never would have released the seal.

Kyros couldn't help but scoff at the absurdity of the situation. What kind of amateur fantasy plot was this?

Kageyama, recognizing both Kyros and Erza from Eisenwald, seemed to recall the creature as well.

With fear etched on his face, Kageyama stammered, "We're done for... This is the demon from the Book of Zeref. We're all doomed."

"Zeref? The legendary Black Mage Zeref?!" Lucy exclaimed incredulously upon hearing Kageyama's words.

"Who's that?" Natsu's face was a canvas of confusion.

Lucy elaborated, "Zeref, the most powerful and malevolent black mage in magical history. It's said he created numerous demons through his magic. He's known as the demon from the Book of Zeref, responsible for countless disasters in the magical world. But why would his demon appear here?"

Erza, her face pale and body trembling slightly, couldn't help but recall her childhood trauma as a slave.

She remembered being captured by the Dark Magic cult, worshippers of Zeref, the dark wizard. That period of her life had been her worst nightmare.

"Erza?" Lucy was taken aback by Erza's expression. Could someone as formidable as Erza truly be afraid?

"I'm hungry! Let me taste your souls."

"What?!"

"Can souls really be consumed—? And are they delicious?!" Natsu turned to Lucy, his mouth watering with curiosity.

Lucy grumbled, "How would I know?! And stop looking at me when you say that!"

"Lullaby" with a wicked grin, spoke up: "Originally, I intended to have these fellows perform the 'Lullaby,' but it seems they're too incompetent. Even three kids couldn't be beaten, so I had to take matters into my own hands."

"Tremble in fear! For now, I shall feast upon your very souls!"

"Hahahahaha!!…Kah…Kah!!"

As 'Lullaby' chuckled, his expression suddenly shifted, a sensation of something caught in his throat nearly choking him into the past.

"Cough! Cough!"

The monstrous figure of 'Lullaby,' previously appearing as the main antagonist, now knelt in embarrassment, clutching at his throat, leaving many onlookers bewildered.

After a brief pause...

"Bang!"

A dark, hefty object crashed to the ground, creating a small crater - a pitch-black mace.

"What's this…?!"

Gasps filled the air as all eyes turned towards Kyros's weapon. Kyros, a striking figure with his mace, naturally stood out for his strength.

All eyes then shifted to Kyros, confirming that his hands were now empty.

"Ah! My apologies! It slipped from my grasp!" Kyros approached 'Lullaby' with an apologetic smile.

"Bang!"

Upon hearing Kyros's explanation, everyone collectively facepalmed, the excuse of a slip proving too absurd.

"You insufferable wretch! Daring to toy with me! Prepare to meet your end!" 'Lullaby' wasn't foolish; he knew he'd been outplayed by Kyros, a mere human, a grave humiliation.

"Boom--!!"

A powerful force surged forth, shattering the ground beneath Kyros's feet. Yet, Kyros remained rooted, as though his feet were anchored in place.

With a raised palm, Kyros effortlessly blocked the assault from 'Lullaby.'

Arching an eyebrow, Kyros remarked, "Such feebleness. Are Zeref's demons truly of this caliber? It appears you're nothing more than the bottom-feeders among Zeref's minions."

Recalling Fairy Tail's battle against Tartaros, where Zeref's demons proved formidable, Kyros couldn't help but find 'Lullaby' lacking.

"Bastard!! What did you say?!!" Kyros's words ignited 'Lullaby's' fury. Being labeled a "trash fish" by Kyros, even though he might have been considered a low-ranking demon among Zeref's forces, he refused to be equated to a mere human wizard.

"Snap!"

Kyros seized 'Lullaby's' hefty fingers and flung him backward with force.

'Lullaby's' body hurtled through the air.

"Boom—!!!"

'Lullaby' crashed onto the ground.

"What?!!"

Eisenwald's members and Lucy's eyes widened in astonishment as they witnessed the powerful reversal of fortune. This man was undoubtedly no ordinary human!

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