Chapter 32: Zeref's Demon

Nate and his group returned to Clover Town with Makarov. Since Natsu and the others hadn't eaten, they first found a restaurant to have a big meal before checking into an inn.

Around 10 PM, Nate was browsing the collection in the [Library]. There were now over ten thousand books uploaded, including several magic-related texts. One of them caught his attention: a mind-related magic called "Thought Projection."

This magic allowed the user to divide a portion of their mind to create a duplicate of themselves.

"If I could master this magic, I could have my clone do all the coding while I take vacations every day," Nate mused, picturing the convenience.

The thought projection clone would handle all the coding at home, leaving the real Nate free to deal with more significant matters. For instance, Jellal had his body trying to resurrect the dark mage Zeref at the Tower of Heaven while his thought projection served as a member of the Magic Council, even becoming one of the Ten Wizard Saints.

Nate wanted this kind of useful magic. Unfortunately, the library didn't yet have any books on thought projection.

But that wasn't a problem. If the library didn't have it, he could post a bounty for it.

Soon, Nate had written a post and pinned it at the top of the forum:

[1000 Points Bounty for 'Mind Magic: Thought Projection'!]

The post quickly attracted many replies from curious forum members. However, as this was advanced mind magic with a high learning difficulty, most replies were just people jumping in for the fun of it.

Suddenly, a private message popped up.

Knight: "Nate, how are things on your end?"

Nate blinked and quickly replied.

Sigma Male: "You're still awake this late?"

Just as he sent the message, Nate's expression sharpened. He stood up, walked over to the window, and gazed out into the distance. Far away, near the guild meeting hall, he saw the flow of many magic energies.

"The mages from Eisenwald have finally arrived?"

Sensing such a large gathering of magic power in the middle of the night, Nate guessed that it must be Erigor and his group.

Knight: "I saw your post about 'Thought Projection.' You're looking to learn that?"

Sigma Male: "Hold on, I'll add you to a group."

Nate quickly created a chat group, pulling in Erza, Lucy, Gray, Natsu, and Happy. The group was named Food Sharing.

Sigma Male: "@Everyone, Eisenwald's people might have arrived. They're at the meeting hall."

Sigma Male: "Erza, you can ask them for the details."

After sending the message, Nate logged off from the magic net and flew effortlessly out the window.

Lucy: "What is this group? Food Sharing??"

Erza: "Lucy? What's your situation over there?"

Gray: "Eisenwald's finally here? I almost fell asleep! Let's move!"

Natsu: "Oh, oh, wait for me, Nate! Let's go, Happy!"

Happy: "Aye~"

Gray: "Why are you two sharing a room but still chatting in the group? Are you dumb?"

Member Natsu has gone offline.

Member Happy has gone offline.

Member Lucy has gone offline.

Member Gray has gone offline.

Knight: "???"

Knight: "Why is no one answering me? Don't leave yet!"

Knight: "Angry.jpg"

…

Late at night, near the meeting hall.

Erigor, carrying his massive scythe, floated high above the ground, frowning as he observed the dark and empty building.

"Where is everyone?"

He noticed that the front wall of the hall had been destroyed, and the area around it bore signs of a recent battle. Muttering to himself, Erigor speculated:

"Did someone beat me to the punch?"

"Another dark guild?"

"Who could it be? And where are those damned guild masters?"

Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine, and he spun around. Unbeknownst to him, a figure had appeared behind him, floating in the air under the moonlight—an unassuming young man.

"Who are you?!"

Erigor was startled. He hadn't noticed anyone approaching, let alone someone who could fly like him. If this person had intended to ambush him… Cold sweat began to form on Erigor's forehead.

"Does a dark guild usually call itself a dark guild?" Nate's voice carried a hint of irony, like a cult referring to itself as a 'holy order.'

"I've figured it out!" Erigor's eyes flashed. "This is your doing, isn't it? Are you part of a dark guild too?"

Nate shook his head. "I'm a mage from Fairy Tail—"

Before he could finish.

"Magic Wind Palm!"

Erigor slammed his palm forward, conjuring a powerful tornado from a magic circle. The fierce wind blasted toward Nate.

"Hmph, disappear, you piece of garbage from a legal guild!"

In the night sky, Nate had vanished.

"So rude, attacking out of nowhere. Can't we have a civil conversation?"

Erigor's eyes darkened. He glanced up and saw the figure still standing in midair, blocking the full moon with his body.

Nate sighed. "Your opponent isn't me. Look, here they come."

He gestured downward.

Erigor suddenly sensed a blazing surge of magic power rising from below. His expression shifted.

"Fire Dragon's…"

Natsu shot up from the ground like an arrow of flame.

"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!"

Erigor didn't have time to dodge. Natsu's head slammed into his stomach, forcing Erigor to spit out a mouthful of bile.

"Fire Dragon's Claw!"

Natsu followed up with a flaming kick, sending Erigor crashing down from the sky.

Clap, clap, clap.

Nate gently applauded. "Good job, Natsu. You're supposed to be the pillar of Fairy Tail. It'd be embarrassing if you couldn't beat Erigor."

As Natsu continued his attack, Nate's gaze shifted to a distant mountain.

With his Six Eyes, the mages of Eisenwald couldn't hide. He floated over to where they were gathered and landed in front of them.

"Good evening, gentlemen."

He greeted them amicably before his attention was drawn to one young man holding a flute—a skull-shaped, withered wooden flute.

"That's Lullaby, isn't it?"

"Damn Fairy Tail! Where are the guild masters?" Kageyama, the man holding the flute, exclaimed in shock, gritting his teeth.

"They're sleeping, of course. Not everyone stays up all night like you," Nate replied casually, tossing out a Tremor Ball.

The vibrating sphere landed in the middle of the group and exploded violently.

Boom!!

The ground trembled, and most of the mages from Eisenwald were instantly knocked out, with only two or three managing to flee. Kageyama wasn't one of them.

Nate walked over and picked up the Lullaby flute.

"A demon created by Zeref? One of the weakest, I assume."

Nate tightened his grip, intending to crush the flute, but the skull-shaped head suddenly lit up with eerie red light. Three red eyes glowed as black magic surged from the flute.

A chilling wail echoed through the mountains, and a massive black magic circle appeared in the sky. The flute rapidly expanded, transforming into a towering demon hundreds of meters tall.

Instead of being alarmed, Nate's eyes gleamed with interest. He gazed up at the magic circle in the sky, as if trying to decipher the secrets of the demon's creation.

"Fascinating magic."

Nate smiled slightly, and with his Six Eyes, he began to comprehend the complex demonology within the magic circle.