The Beginning of Calamity

At night, Ye and the others followed Captain Gries to the camp to rest and ask what had happened in the forest.

Jura asked, "Captain Gries, do you know why the Monster Forest has fallen into chaos? Did something happen?"

Gries thought for a moment. "I'm not sure about the exact reason, but I do know a few things. A few weeks ago, I received an urgent mission. The count asked me to escort something back."

Jura asked, "Do you know what the item was?"

Gries shook his head. "No. I wasn't told what it was, but I knew it was alive. During my night patrols, I heard rustling sounds."

"I'd encountered missions like this before, so I didn't pay much attention at first. That was until after we delivered it. While I was patrolling that night, I heard the miserable howls of a beast."

"I followed the sound and discovered it was coming from the count's estate. Just as I was about to ask about it, several mysterious people appeared and stopped me. They told me the count was conducting research and that no one was allowed to disturb the estate."

Gries wore a helpless expression. "I was only a minor captain. I had no authority at all. All I could do was pretend nothing had happened."

"The sounds continued for about three nights, then they stopped completely. Nothing else happened after that, until two days ago."

Gries's expression turned grave. "That night, after patrolling the streets, I was planning to get some air on the city wall. As I neared the city gate, the ground began to tremble. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but the disturbance grew louder and louder. The animals in the city began crying out wildly, and then the alarm bell on the wall rang."

"I immediately ran up to the wall and asked the soldiers what had happened. One of them tremblingly pointed ahead. When I looked, I saw countless monsters sweeping toward us!"

At that moment, Ye said, "You've worked hard. You held out for two days."

Gries shook his head self-deprecatingly. "The monsters only began attacking this afternoon. How could we possibly hold out for two whole days?"

After hearing Gries's account, Jura said solemnly, "It sounds as though they are being controlled by someone."

Gries said angrily, "Lord Jura, is that true?"

"Based on the current situation, it seems so. Lord Ye, have you noticed anything?"

Ye looked at everyone and slowly said, "Is that direction where your count's estate is located?"

Gries looked in the direction Ye was pointing. "Yes!"

"Don't you find it strange? We came to help clear out the beast tide, yet this count hasn't even shown his face. It seems we need to visit the count's estate and see what's going on."

Everyone was startled by Ye's words. Indeed, such a huge incident had occurred, yet the count acted as though it had nothing to do with him. It was far too suspicious.

Gries said, "My lord, what about the monsters outside?"

Ye looked at the flustered Gries. "Don't worry. I think those monsters have already woken up, but they haven't launched an attack because their instincts are warning them that there is someone extremely dangerous inside. They won't act rashly. Still, you need to stay alert. The monsters here now are only low- and mid-level ones. Their leaders are still in the rear. If anything changes, ring the alarm bell. We'll return immediately."

"Yes, my lord!"

Ye, Jura, and Ichiya headed toward the count's estate.

Jura said, "Lord Ye, did you discover something unusual about the count's estate?"

Ye slowly replied, "I have very strong senses. The moment I stepped into this place, I sensed an extremely nauseating aura. I felt this aura several years ago."

Ye explained what had happened back then to Jura and Ichiya.

Jura pondered deeply. "Demon Gods? I've never heard of them. Were they demons created by Zeref?"

Ye shook his head. "I don't know."

Ichiya said, "Pegasus is the guild with the strongest intelligence network. Once this matter is over, I'll return and investigate thoroughly. Men!"

Ye (ꐦ°᷄д°᷅): "Can you just talk without making such a disgusting pose?"

"Lord Ye, the estate is ahead. I can feel it too—a very evil aura!"

"Let's go in."

Ye arrived before the estate and kicked the gate to pieces.

"Who dares trespass into the count's estate? Seize them!"

Aura of Lost Will to Fight Men~!

A cloud of gas drifted over. Then the wind suddenly changed direction, and the gas blew back and struck Ichiya.

Ye and Jura were speechless...

Ye cried out, "Brother, are you here to be funny?!"

Ichiya lay on the ground, trembling as he crossed his hands before his chest. "Sorry, Men!"

"Hahahaha! And you dare break into the count's estate looking like that? Leave now, or we won't be polite!"

Ye looked at the guards before him. "The people of the city have all evacuated. Why haven't you left?"

A guard said solemnly, "We must protect the count."

"I see."

Buzz~ Buzz~!

Suddenly, every guard in the estate rolled their eyes back and collapsed to the ground.

"It seems you don't know what has happened in this estate either. Get some good sleep. Jura, carry Ichiya!"

Jura hoisted Ichiya over his shoulder and followed Ye into the estate. Once inside, they found not a single person.

"Lord Ye, which way should we go?"

"Follow me. This way!"

Jura asked doubtfully, "How strange. We haven't seen a single person along the way, and even the guards outside didn't know what was going on inside."

Ye stopped walking. "We're here. It's beneath this place."

Jura looked around. "There doesn't seem to be an exit. There must be some kind of mechanism. Let's search around."

Ye smiled. "No need to make things so troublesome!"

Ye raised his fist and swung it! The ground instantly shattered, revealing an underground passage.

"See? Very simple, right?"

Jura laughed heartily. "As expected of Lord Ye."

At that moment, Ichiya regained consciousness. "Mr. Jura, please put me down."

The three of them then entered the passage together. Waves of nauseating aura drifted through it from time to time. When they reached the end and entered the chamber, they saw a huge magic circle. At its center was a monster cub, while five black-robed people stood around the circle, chanting something.

"You finally came."

A sixth black-robed person appeared in front of the magic circle.

Ye looked at him. "You mean me?"

"That's right, you. You were the one who killed Lord Fiegel."

Ye scratched his head after hearing the name.

"Fiegel? Who's that? What did I do to it?"

The black-robed man said furiously, "Have you forgotten what happened at the mine?"

Ye suddenly realized. "You mean that stupid bull? So it had a name. Why didn't it tell me?"

The black-robed man roared, "Do not insult Lord Fiegel!"

The black-robed man stared at Ye with hostility. "You finally remember, do you? We could have ruled this world under Lord Fiegel's leadership! But because of you, all these years, we have lived like rats! Always! Always!"

"Today, we can finally avenge Lord Fiegel! We prepared for this plan for three years! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

Ye said impatiently, "Say, why do little lackeys like you always laugh like that? You think a few scrubs like you can deal with me? To put it bluntly, even if I stood here and did nothing, you couldn't hurt a hair on me."

The black-robed man smiled sinisterly. "The few of us certainly can't do it. But the father of this little fellow is another matter. It is the cub of Glingfins, the lord of the forest. We have already prepared ourselves to die, but before we do, we'll drag you down with us."

Ye said disdainfully, "Then just return it."

The black-robed man said confidently, "It's useless. What do you think this magic circle is for? To trap this little beast? Don't be foolish! This circle can awaken the evil within its blood relative's heart. That evil will grow without limit until it dies!"

Jura said furiously, "Such an evil spell! Do you know how many lives will be wiped out because of this?"

The black-robed man said fearlessly, "My faith is already dead. What do their deaths have to do with me?"

The black-robed man's expression gradually turned crazed. "Hahahaha, boy, stay here and wait for death too! We have completed the final step of the magic circle. It will be here soon!"

Ye looked at the crazed black-robed man. "Where did the count and the servants inside go?"

"Of course, they have already been used for Blood Sacrifice!"

Just then.

Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong!...

Jura cried out, "Oh no! The lord of the forest may have arrived!"

"Jura, keep an eye on these people and notify the guild to send reinforcements. Ichiya, hurry and tell Gries to evacuate everyone. I'll go hold them off!"

"Lord Ye, you...!"

"Enough! Listen to me!"

Jura looked at the youth before him and gritted his teeth. "Un...derstood."

The black-robed man laughed madly. "Hahahaha! No matter how hard you try, it will all be useless! I'll wait for you below! Hahahahaha! Ah~~"

Thud~ Thud~ Thud~ Thud~ Thud~ Thud~

One after another, all six black-robed people collapsed to the ground, lifeless.