Lullaby

After Erigor flew away, Ye looked at Kageyama and Karaka, who were still there. "Your companion has run off. How are you two planning to deal with me?"

Kageyama and Karaka swallowed hard. Kageyama spoke first. "Lord Ye, I'm your fan. Could you give me an autograph?"

"Oh! You're my fan? Then why did you join a dark guild? Why did you help Erigor commit evil?"

"Lord Ye, I..." Kageyama had no idea how to explain himself after hearing Ye's words.

"Forget it. No need to explain. Since you chose this path but happened to run into me along the way, then take a different path. This one doesn't suit you. I can tell that there's still conscience in your heart. Maybe you've suffered setbacks and hardships before, but they can't become a reason for you to be defeated."

"Young man! You still have a long road ahead of you. Don't fix your eyes on these little gains for now. One day in the future, you'll definitely be grateful for the change you make today!"

Kageyama was deeply shocked by Ye's words. No one had ever said anything like that to him. Once people learned that he belonged to a dark guild, all they showed him was disgust, curses, and beatings.

Holding back tears, Kageyama gave a deep bow.

"I understand! Meeting you truly was wonderful!!! I'll remember what you said today for the rest of my life!!"

"All right, all right. Get going. My companions will be here soon."

"Yes!!"

"Oh, right, Lord Ye. Erigor's target isn't the people at the station. It's the guild masters at the Magic Council."

"So that's how it is. Find somewhere to hide first. Leave after I break this wind barrier."

"Yes!"

"And you, fatty."

"Yes, Boss Ye! What are your orders?" Karaka immediately straightened up when Ye called him.

"I'll let you go this time. But if I find out you're doing this kind of thing again, I'll take your head myself. Understood?"

"Understood, Boss Ye!!"

"Good. Go find somewhere to hide with him."

Inside the train station, Erza and the others had finished dealing with the grunts and learned the plan from them. It turned out they were not planning to play Lullaby at the station. They intended to release the cursed song at the guild masters' council and use it to kill the masters of every major guild.

After learning the news, they hurriedly tried to head for the council. But when they were about to leave, they found the station surrounded by raging winds. No matter what techniques they used, they could not break through them.

Erza said angrily, "Damn it! If we hadn't spent an entire day traveling by train, we wouldn't have used up so much magic power!"

"Right, Ye was just fighting Erigor."

The group hurried over to Ye.

"Ye, did you take care of Erigor?"

Ye looked at the people running over to question him. "No. He got away."

Erza looked at Ye in confusion. "He got away? With your abilities, how could you let him escape?"

"That's right! I let him go on purpose."

Erza grabbed Ye by the collar. "You bastard! Do you know where they plan to release Lullaby? At the guild masters' council!"

"Calm down, Erza. Of course I know their target is the guild masters."

"You knew, and you still let him go?!"

"The old man is one of the Ten Wizard Saints. Do you think someone like him could threaten the old man? You're underestimating him too much."

Erza was left speechless by Ye's words. After a moment of silence, she said, "No, I'm still worried. We have to get to the master."

"Ye! Hurry and break this wind wall!"

Ye looked at Erza. "All right."

"Everyone, step back."

Natsu, Gray, and Happy watched excitedly as Ye prepared to get serious. The guild master had expressly forbidden Ye from casually using force inside the guild.

Lucy looked at Natsu and the others in confusion. "What's with you guys? You look really excited."

Happy explained, "Honestly, barely anyone in the guild has ever seen Ye use magic. The master expressly forbade Ye from using magic. I didn't expect we'd get to see it today."

After Happy's explanation, Lucy also stared at Ye curiously, eagerly waiting to see what would happen next.

Ye slowly stepped forward.

"Armament!"

Lucy cried out, "His hand turned black!"

Ye clenched his fist tightly. A dim blackish-purple aura emanated from it as he twisted his body.

He instantly unleashed a powerful strike.

"Ghostly Wail!"

The instant his fist touched the wind barrier, the entire station trembled. The wind barrier exploded at once, and the raging winds dispersed into the air.

Lucy looked at the wind wall that none of them had been able to break just moments ago. In Ye's hands, it was like paper.

"All right, let's go!"

At the regular council meeting hall, Makarov and several guild masters were drinking and boasting.

"Ah, Makarov, I really envy you. With such a powerful wizard in your guild, you don't even have to worry about its future."

Makarov said proudly, "You mean that brat Ye? He's still got a long way to go. He's the one I worry about most in the entire guild! Hahahaha!"

"Then how about introducing him to my guild? I can take that burden off your hands."

Makarov looked at his old friend, who was trying to poach one of his members. "You really have no shame! You dare try to steal my people right in front of me? Absolutely not!"

Just then, Mirajane's projection appeared before Makarov.

"Everyone, this is our guild's poster girl. Isn't she beautiful?"

"Master, I have two pieces of news for you. One is bad, and one is good. Which one do you want to hear first?"

"What is it, Mirajane? Tell me the bad news first."

"Just now, Ye told me that a wizard named Erigor has something called Lullaby and plans to come wipe you out. He told you all to be careful. They're heading your way too."

"Lullaby? Zeref's magic? I never thought it still existed to this day."

"Wait, why would that brat know about this?"

"That's the good news I was going to tell you next."

"Ye and Erza formed a team!"

When Makarov heard that those two had teamed up, his eyes rolled back and he instantly turned to stone. He muttered incoherently, "It's over. It's all over. I feel like I'll spend the rest of my life in prison!"

He instantly sprang up, bared his fangs, and roared, "Those are both bad news! No! The other one is even worse!!"

Mira smiled happily. "I've delivered the message, Master. I'll hang up now."

Makarov cried miserably, "Heavens, are you trying to kill me?! I'm already eighty-eight years old! Can't you let me enjoy a peaceful old age?!"

Bob walked over to Makarov, patted him on the shoulder, and comforted him. "Stay strong, my old friend."

At that moment, Erigor arrived on the roof of the council hall. Just as he was about to play Lullaby, a short old man appeared beside him.

"Young man, what are you doing? You're still on the roof so late at night. Be careful not to catch a cold."

"When did you get here?!"

Erigor panicked. "Old man, I just came up here to practice playing the flute."

Listening to such a clumsy excuse, Makarov said, "Young man, while you're still young, find another line of work. It's not too late."

Erigor struggled to keep up the act. "I don't understand what you're talking about, old man."

Seeing that Erigor remained stubborn, Makarov stopped wasting words. Using Giant Magic, he sent Erigor flying with Giant's Fist. Erigor crashed into a massive rock and passed out, while Lullaby fell out.

"What a nuisance. I still have to do it myself." The one speaking was the fallen flute. As soon as it spoke, a huge amount of black smoke poured from it, and a massive monster made of trees appeared at the council grounds.

The master of Four Hounds said, "This is bad. Zeref's demon has appeared."

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

From afar, Ye and his group saw the huge monster appear at the venue.

"How could a monster like that appear?"

Ye said seriously, "I think it's Lullaby itself. Zeref's magic is all living magic. It's not strange for a demon to dwell within it."

"This is bad, the master is in danger. Ye, you're the fastest here. Hurry and help him!"

"No, that monster is about to fire an energy blast!"

A magic circle appeared before Lullaby's mouth as it gathered magic power, preparing to wipe out the insects before it.

"Don't panic. I'm here." As soon as he finished speaking, Ye had already reached the top of the magic vehicle.

Kamehameha! Haa!!!!

Two beams of energy collided head-on.

Boom!

A massive explosion erupted beside Lullaby's mouth.

"Who was it?! Who ruined my plans?!"

"It's your daddy!"

At some point, Ye had already arrived in front of the guild masters.

"Old man, are you all right?"

Makarov grinned. "You came just in time."

"Hey! Tree spirit, why aren't you staying in the dirt at night, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon? What are you doing coming out here to scare old people?"

"You damn brat!!" Lullaby furiously swung its fist, determined to kill Ye.

The corner of Ye's mouth curled upward. "Good! Let me see what makes Zeref's demon different!"

"Armament!" Ye's fist, wrapped in Armament Haki, collided with Lullaby's. Wood chips flew everywhere. When they looked again, Lullaby's right arm was completely gone.

"That's it? What a disappointment!!"

"You have no reason to exist anymore. Die!"

Ye leaped up with force, leaving behind a huge crater in the ground.

"Heaven-Guard Kick!"

"Big brother! Big brother! We can talk this out! Sir! Don't hit meeeeeee!~"

A single Heaven-Guard Kick traveled from its head to its feet. Lullaby's head and body instantly shattered into scraps, and the ground within a hundred meters was left in complete ruin.

Makarov turned to stone again at the sight before him.

Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Happy, who had just arrived, had their entire worldview shattered by the scene.

"Is that even something a person can do?" The forest within a hundred-meter radius had been flattened.

The various guild masters stared at the scene in shock. As expected of the creature known as the strongest on land.

"Everyone, run! The Magic Council is coming! If they ask, tell them you never saw me! I'm leaving first!"

Watching Ye sprint away, everyone came to their senses and fled the scene of the crime. Erza ran off with the petrified master over her shoulder. Only Lucy remained where she was, staring blankly, still not understanding why.