"Good news? Bad news?"

  Azuma frowned. He immediately recognized that the figure before him was once again under parasitic control.

  "You're Voldemort?"

  Voldemort smirked and began speaking to himself:

  "The good news is that what you’re looking for is indeed at Fairy Tail."

  "And the bad news?"

  "The bad news... hehehe, it’s already gone."

  With a chuckle, Voldemort strolled to the edge of the airship and lightly hopped onto the railing. He gazed down at the city, two thousand meters below, his expression thoughtful.

  What does that even mean? Azuma was perplexed. How could the good news and the bad news not contradict each other?

  Kain Hikaru wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and muttered, "If it’s gone, then maybe we should just go back?"

  Azuma responded calmly, "If you’re that scared, stay here and guard Hades-sama’s heart."

  With that, he leaped from the airship.

  The stillness of Magnolia’s night was broken only by the occasional scurrying of rats in the sewers.

  In front of Fairy Tail’s guildhall, Hades descended gracefully from the sky. Cd in armor, wielding a staff, and wearing an iron helmet, he approached the guildhall doors. With a slight push, they creaked open.

  "Hmm? Has Magnolia become this trusting? Leaving doors unlocked at night, not worried about thieves?"

  Hades chuckled and stepped inside.

  The hall was pitch-bck, save for a faint light at the bar. There, an elderly man sat quietly, illuminated by the soft glow.

  "It’s been many years, little brat, Makarov," Hades said, his gaze locking onto the figure.

  Makarov responded coolly, "We met in the [Magic Arena] just a few months ago."

  The memory of that battle was still fresh. If Makarov had to describe it in one word, it would be overwhelming. Hades was far stronger than he was, and Makarov knew it.

  "Why are you here, Precht?" Makarov took a sip of his drink. "If you came to share a drink, I wouldn’t mind offering you one."

  "No need. I’m here to take the Fairy Heart." Hades made no effort to hide his intentions. "Rest assured, little brat, I have no intention of harming your children."

  Crash! Makarov crushed the gss in his hand and stood up, his expression grave. His magic surged, forming a Saint-ranked shield around him.

  Hades sneered. "You’re going to stop me? You, little brat?"

  "What you’re looking for... isn’t here anymore."

  A familiar voice echoed from the second floor. Hades froze, gncing upward.

  In the pale moonlight, a small figure with golden hair appeared on the second-floor balcony.

  "Mavis!" Hades frowned. "Your body...?"

  Years ago, Hades had arranged for Mavis’s empty tomb on Tenrou Isnd and sealed her body in a crystal beneath the guildhall. That body had become the source of the Fairy Heart. But the Mavis standing before him wasn’t an ethereal ghost—she was flesh and blood.

  Hades’s disbelief grew. "Impossible! You’ve been resurrected? No... you’ve recimed your body?"

  Suddenly, a fsh of gold illuminated the room. Nate appeared in the guildhall, yawning.

  "Staying up te to steal things? Second Master, you really have unique hobbies."

  Hades’s gaze sharpened. "Nate! This was your doing?"

  "Of course," Nate replied nonchantly, nodding. "Honestly, aren’t you too old to be pulling all-nighters? It’s bad for your health."

  He had been peacefully asleep at home until the approach of his parasitic worm, Jell, near Magnolia jolted him awake.

  "Couldn’t you come during the day? Why must it be at night?" Nate felt nothing but resentment at this disturbance.

  Meanwhile, Hades stroked his beard as he studied Mavis’s figure on the second floor. After a moment, he chuckled.

  "Hohoho... remarkable. Truly remarkable. As expected of the genius mage who created Internet Magic. What I couldn’t accomplish back then, you’ve done!"

  Hades had tried countless methods to awaken Mavis, all of which had failed. Now, witnessing this sight, he was intensely curious about Nate’s method.

  "You ftter me, Second Master," Nate said, smiling. "So, any chance you could just leave? Honestly, I’d prefer not to fight you."

  Hades grinned widely. "First Master, Mavis. Second Master, me. Third Master, that little brat Makarov. And now you, the Fourth Master..."

  Each generation surpassed the st! Hades genuinely believed he had long surpassed Mavis. Ignoring Makarov, that brat, Fairy Tail’s legacy had only grown stronger with each generation. And now Nate had done what he could not.

  "If you can stop me, then come and try!"

  Hades raised his staff, striking it heavily against the floor before removing his long robe. He gestured for them to attack.

  As expected, there’s no reasoning with him. Nate sighed internally. Hades’s obsession consumed him, rendering words useless.

  "I was just sleeping and dreaming about a new magic... No, perhaps it’s better called a curse technique."

  Nate raised his right hand, two fingers extended, a faint smile pying on his lips. "Let me learn a thing or two from you, Second Master."

  A curse technique? Hades was taken aback. Wasn’t that the power of the demons from Tartaros?

  Bck mist began to emanate from Nate, spreading like a thick fog and engulfing the space around them.

  "Domain Expansion!"

  In an instant, Hades felt the distance between himself and Nate stretch infinitely. It was as if space were warping, growing farther away. Bck mist snaked along the ground like tendrils, enveloping Hades in a dark void.

  "What is this?" Hades muttered in shock, his voice trembling. He had never encountered such magic—no, such a curse technique—before.

  The surrounding space became an endless emptiness, and Nate’s voice echoed from every direction:

  "This is an experimental move inspired by someone else. Creating a Domain Expansion is tricky. This one’s still unfinished. Don’t be so tense, Second Master. It’s just to prevent us from destroying Magnolia if we fight."

  The final words sounded clearer, as if Nate were right behind him. Hades’s expression darkened as he spun around. A hand was already pressing against his chest.

  "In this domain, I’m everywhere. Distance has no meaning—"

  Before Nate could finish, Hades unched a counterattack.

  "Amaterasu, Formu 28!"

  Three violet magic circles materialized around Nate instantly, glowing with intense energy. They required no preparation—an extraordinary feat.

  Boom!!

  Explosions lit up the domain, dispersing the darkness momentarily before it quickly returned as if nothing had happened. The magic energy vanished into thin air, leaving Hades bewildered.

  "What kind of power is this?"

  Nate’s voice came again, calm and teasing. "No need to rush, Second Master. I was just expining the domain’s purpose to you."

  Hades turned once more, spotting Nate standing nearby, wagging his finger with a pyful smile. "I don’t usually go to such lengths to expin things to others."

  Hades ughed in frustration. "Cocky brat! You’ve got some nerve. Everywhere at once, are you? Then how about this?"

  Hades csped his hands together, dark magic surging rapidly. "Grimoire Law!"

  Bleam