Of the three visitors—August, God Serena, and Bloodman—August's elderly appearance seemed the least threatening.
Mard Geer did not let his guard down for even a moment.
"Cube is already moving at full speed, and with the powerful acceleration spell you cast, Lord August, we should leave Fiore very soon. One day will be more than enough to reach Ishgar's northern border."
Mard Geer's heart still trembled when he remembered August's magic.
An unfathomable ocean of Magic Power had engulfed the entirety of Cube in an instant, accelerating the enormous flying island to an unimaginable speed. It now streaked above cities like a meteor.
"That was the ancient Lost Magic, Laser Acceleration," August explained evenly, accepting Mard Geer's subtle flattery without any visible reaction.
"The former member of the Oración Seis known as Racer appears to have learned it as well. It is not particularly difficult."
Even Mard Geer, who did not use magic himself, understood how terrifyingly powerful the old man before him must be.
Lost Magic was notoriously difficult to master.
Most mages could spend their entire lives learning a single branch, yet August spoke as though he could pick one up whenever he pleased.
Ignoring the growing pressure weighing upon the Underworld King, August continued, "Once we reach the border, proceed according to His Majesty's plan. Use Face to draw those beings into the open."
"As you command."
At the mention of His Majesty, instinctive reverence appeared in Mard Geer's eyes.
After a moment of hesitation, he could not suppress his curiosity.
"Lord August, may I ask why Lord Zeref devised this plan so suddenly?"
Bloodman gave a cold snort.
"You need only carry out His Majesty's will. His intentions are none of your concern."
'You bastard…'
Mard Geer immediately raised his head and glared furiously at Bloodman.
The man had become unbearably arrogant simply because he served directly beneath Lord Zeref!
Did he think Tartaros had been cast aside?
They were known as Zeref's Bookshelf, and the strongest demon ever created—E.N.D.—was entrusted to them!
Mard Geer looked ready to attack, but Bloodman treated his fury as though it did not exist.
God Serena watched from the side with great interest, clearly delighted by the brewing conflict.
August glanced at his bickering companions and sighed helplessly.
Within his heart, however, he silently answered Mard Geer's question.
It was not truly His Majesty's command.
It was the will of Those Ones behind him.
The God-Making Plan…
Rumble—!
As August fell into thought, the ground beneath them suddenly shook violently.
The entirety of Cube seemed to drop several meters through the sky.
Mard Geer immediately abandoned his argument with Bloodman and prepared to contact Kyoka, but August had already completed his investigation.
The old man slowly opened his eyes.
"Someone has boarded the island."
"So quickly?!"
Mard Geer's heart jumped.
Cube was moving under powerful acceleration magic, racing through the sky at the speed of a meteor.
Who could possibly have caught up with it?
August picked up his staff and calmly walked toward the door.
"Send your people to stop Natsu Dragneel. As for the other intruder…"
A complicated emotion flashed through August's eyes.
"Tell your demons to avoid him. There is no need for them to die pointlessly."
...
On another face of the enormous cube-shaped island, Ankh, Natsu, and Happy had crashed down like a meteor.
Ankh could only bring out the true power of the God of Space while using Take Over Magic, but his divine nature still granted him an instinctive affinity for space.
He had managed to learn several teleportation spells through that alone.
Natsu stamped his feet against the crimson ground, still slightly dizzy.
"Ankh, when did you learn teleportation magic?"
"When my son showed up."
"Huh?"
Natsu tilted his head in confusion.
Fortunately, the hot-blooded idiot's attention was quickly drawn elsewhere.
Demonic soldiers emerged from every direction and surrounded them. Natsu immediately lit his fists and charged into the crowd with excitement.
Another chaotic battle erupted, flames flashing everywhere as Natsu tore back and forth through the demons.
Meanwhile, Ankh took out a Communication Lacrima and transmitted Cube's current location to the Magic Council.
At its present speed, the island might reach Ishgar's border before long.
If they delayed any further, the Council would have to negotiate—or fight—with Guiltina over the intrusion.
Once their backup route was secured, Ankh watched the reversed scenery racing away around the island and turned his attention toward the ground.
Cube's exterior possessed a special gravitational field that allowed people to stand on every surface.
Its most important facilities, however, would almost certainly be located near its core.
For example…
The source of the demons' resurrection.
Ankh drove his fist into the ground.
Boom!
A dark shaft opened straight through the earth into the depths of the island.
Without hesitation, Ankh jumped inside.
Happy hurriedly dragged Natsu away from the fight and pushed him down the hole as well.
Ankh and Natsu landed steadily at the bottom.
Natsu sniffed the air several times, then pointed excitedly in one direction.
"This way! Minerva's scent is here—and so is that familiar ice old man! They're both on this level!"
With their targets located, the two charged forward again.
As long as they dealt with Crawford, the entire Face crisis could be brought to an end.
"An intruder! I wonder how much you're worth!"
As they smashed through the walls toward Cube's core, an unpleasant voice suddenly sounded beside Natsu.
An arm stretched toward him, extending far beyond any human limit.
Caught off guard, Natsu was tripped and rolled across the floor several times.
He sprang back up and looked at the ugly green-skinned enemy who had appeared. A puff of air escaped his nose as his lips curled into an eager grin.
"Ankh, leave this one to me. You should—"
Franmalth's attack had caught Natsu's interest, and he turned to give Ankh a few instructions.
Ankh was already far down the corridor.
A distant voice drifted back toward him.
"I left the weakest one for you!"
Natsu's face flushed red.
He had been about to boldly declare that he could fight all nine of them, but the tentacle coiled around his ankle suddenly tightened.
Natsu fell silent.
'Fine. Whatever.'
It was not that he could not beat them.
He simply felt that fighting the Nine Demon Gates one at a time would be the more reliable approach.
Despite his hideous appearance, Franmalth was actually extremely powerful.
His Curse allowed him to absorb the souls of other beings and convert their power into his own.
Even Natsu, whose strength now ranked among the best on the continent, would not have an easy fight against him.
...
Ankh, having decisively "abandoned" Natsu, soon reached the central control chamber of Cube.
He stepped through the entrance—
And found the room full of delightful surprises.
A group of demons had gathered inside, every one of them radiating immense Curse Power. Judging from their strength, they all appeared to be officers on the level of the Nine Demon Gates.
A deeply satisfied smile spread across Ankh's face.
He raised a hand toward the wary demons.
"Hey. Did I interrupt your meeting?"
---------
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