Realization dawned on Lucy, and she ventured, "So the curse on the island's villagers was actually caused by the Moon Drop?"
"You could say that." Blanc nodded. Although the Moon Drop hadn't turned them into demons, it had caused them to lose their memories and forget that they had been demons all along.
"Who the hell are these people?!" Gray slammed his fist into the stone wall beside him. "Do they have any idea how terrifying Deliora is?!"
"Don't get so worked up, Gray." Watching Gray panic, Blanc spoke with a serious expression.
"Besides, you said Deliora was still alive just now-that's not true."
"!??"
Gray whipped his head around. Lucy and Natsu froze as well.
"I can sense it." Blanc patted Gray's shoulder and turned to look at the enormous figure inside the ice.
"After ten years of being worn down by Iced Shell, this demon's life force has long since been exhausted. All that's left now is a dried-out corpse that still holds the shape it had in life."
"Even if those people melt this ice, all they'll witness is the moment its death becomes apparent."
Gray jerked his head back toward the massive block of ice. His mouth hung open in shock, but he couldn't get a single word out.
Blanc withdrew his gaze and gave the dazed Gray a faint smile.
"Don't underestimate your master!"
Gray stood rooted to the spot, unable to believe it.
Dead? That Deliora?
The creature that had roared through his nightmares for ten years had died so quietly after all.
[I'll seal away the darkness in your heart.]
Ur's gentle yet resolute words from ten years ago crossed time and space, ringing in Gray's ears once more.
Tears instantly blurred Gray's vision, but he refused to let them fall.
He clenched