Natsu: We'll Defeat Deliora Together!

"Roar—"

Deliora let out an even louder roar.

Terrifying magic power had already blanketed the entire temple. Even before they got close enough to see its true form, everyone could feel the demon's oppressive presence!

They could not help quickening their pace.

They arrived underground.

"Ah—"

Natsu went all out, charging straight through Sardi's magical attacks and throwing a vicious punch at him!

Boom!

Sardi was blasted far away.

Not everyone possessed Natsu's physique. With that punch, the battle could be declared over.

"Natsu!" Erza called out.

"Erza?!" Natsu had just defeated a powerful enemy and had not even had time to celebrate before he saw Erza. His entire face twisted into an exaggerated expression, and he went pale with fright!

"Hmph!" Erza snorted. "I'll settle things with you later!"

"Whew—" Natsu let out a small sigh of relief.

"Natsu." Ifrit appeared beside Natsu, holding a torch.

"Thanks." Natsu swallowed the flames in one gulp, recovering some of his magic power.

Then Natsu said to Gray with guilt, "Sorry, I still couldn't stop it."

The ice covering Deliora had nearly completely melted. Its revival was now inevitable.

Hearing Natsu's words, Gray shook his head. "No, it's fine."

"I'm at fault too. If I'd been just a little faster..." Erza blamed herself as well.

But then, she suddenly turned to Ifrit, her eyes openly blazing with anger.

"Ifrit, you could clearly have stopped it!"

"I could have." Ifrit nodded.

"Then why?!"

"Because there was no need."

"Why was there no—" Erza was just about to ask.

"Roar—" Deliora let out an even more terrifying roar.

Everyone instinctively covered their ears and gathered all the magic power in their bodies just to withstand the pressure of that powerful demon's magic!

"Finally..." Leo forced himself over as well.

"I'll defeat Deliora! I'll make Ice-Make Magic known throughout the world!"

Thud!

With a gentle chop to the back of the neck, Gray knocked Leo down. "If you can't even stand steadily, then calm down."

Then Gray's gaze hardened.

"Ice-Make Magic may be cold magic."

"But it is magic that can protect the people you cherish!"

"Last time, Ur protected Leo and me."

"This time, I'll protect my family!"

Gray walked resolutely into the water and assumed the stance for Absolute Zero.

"Absolute Ice—Natsu, what are you doing?!"

A figure with a white checkered scarf fluttering behind him stood between Gray and Deliora.

It was Natsu!

Without even turning his head, he said seriously, "I'm going to fight that guy. With you, Erza, Ifrit, Lucy, and Happy—we'll defeat that big monster together!"

"Natsu..." Erza smiled and tightened her grip on her sword.

"I don't know how much help I'll be, but I'll do my best!" Lucy clenched the key to the Gate of Taurus.

"Aye!" Happy flew straight to Natsu's side.

"Ifrit..." pushed up his glasses.

Elsewhere, where the others could not see him, Ifrit held a camera in his hand.

How could he not record Natsu's cool moment?

"You... Natsu, you don't understand Deliora's terror at all! Such a powerful demon can't be defeated. It can only be sealed again with Absolute Zero!" Gray gritted his teeth. "Go, Natsu, Happy! My magic is about to erupt!"

"The old man said it before," Natsu said. "There's no hardship that can't be overcome with family by your side! As long as you use the power of your heart, magic can become strong enough to defeat any enemy!"

Boom!

Natsu's flames erupted. A pillar of fire shot into the sky, evaporating even the seawater beneath his feet. After exposing the ground, it melted it into magma!

"Gray, believe in us," Erza said.

"That's right, Gray. Didn't the Guild Master say magic can create miracles?" Lucy said as well.

"Gray," Natsu said. "I only wanted to stop you because I didn't want you to die. Didn't my feelings get through to you?"

Then he said earnestly, "Use it if you want, that magic. But I'm not moving!"

"Roar—" Deliora let out an earth-shaking roar. It had completely awakened!

Crack!

All the remaining ice shattered beneath its force!

The awakened Deliora looked down and immediately spotted Natsu, standing out brilliantly amid the erupting flames.

It smashed down a fist!

"Get out of the way, Natsu!" Gray cried in alarm.

"Ah—" Natsu roared, converting all his magic power into scorching flames!

His companions stood behind him!

His enemy stood before him!

Flames with immense destructive power covered his right fist. With the desire to protect his family in his heart, Natsu threw this magnificent punch that refused to yield to the strong!

"Fire Dragon's—"

Iron Fist!

"Purgatory Armor!" Erza, now clad in black armor, leaped up as well and swung her massive serrated blade viciously at Deliora.

"Open, Gate of Taurus—Taurus!"

"Moo—"

Taurus of the Gate of Taurus appeared with a huge axe in hand. He leaped high into the air and chopped at Deliora as well.

"Void Flash." Ifrit raised his gun and fired at Deliora.

"You all... honestly..." Gray withdrew his Absolute Zero spell and instead drained every last drop of his magic power to cast Ice-Make Magic.

Ice-Make: Lancer!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Even a powerful demon—

Under the bombardment of everyone's united magic—

Deliora ultimately could not withstand it.

It staggered back several steps, its back slamming hard into the mountain wall.

"Take this!"

"Natsu, wait."

Natsu was about to pursue it, but Erza stopped him. "Something's wrong. Look."

"What?"

To everyone's shock, numerous cracks had appeared across Deliora's body.

"Gray, you should understand now, right?" Ifrit walked over to Gray's side.

"So that's how it is..." Gray said blankly.

"Roar—" Deliora let out a dying wail as its body rapidly crumbled.

"For ten years, within Ur's ice, Deliora's life had been continuously drained away..." Leo broke down, tears spilling from the corners of his eyes as he gritted his teeth. "We only witnessed this demon's final moment!"

"I lost. I'll never surpass Ur."

"Damn it!"

"Idiot!" Gray gritted his teeth as well. "All we need to do is live as Ur hoped we would! Defeat our enemies, protect our family, and Ur will be proud of us! Whether we surpass her or not isn't important at all!"

"So that's how it is." Natsu smiled. "Gray, your master was really amazing."

"Ur is our role model." Gray covered his face, unable to stop the tears from pouring out.

He recalled what Ur had once told him: "Gray, I'll seal away your darkness."

"Thank you..." Gray laughed through his tears. "Master."

Only at this moment did the shadow from years ago, buried deep within Gray's heart, finally dissipate.

Ifrit silently lowered the camera. This part was better left unrecorded.

He slowly walked over to Deliora.

This demon was already close to death.

"Miko," Ifrit said flatly. "Hold a funeral."

Whoosh—

A fresh breeze carrying the scent of soil, flowers, and grass blew from behind him.

Deliora's body disintegrated faster under that wind, its magic power returning to nature.

"Ifrit, what did you do?" Erza noticed something unusual about Ifrit.

"Nothing. I'm just collecting garbage." Ifrit answered with a "sincere" smile.

Erza did not ask further. She had never doubted Ifrit's feelings for everyone, so when it came to important matters, she trusted him without reservation—whatever he did, he would never harm them.