Outside Obi City, the night was like water, deep and tranquil.
Jose's leather shoes crushing the dry branches in the countryside sounded like bones snapping.
The moonlight was incomplete, gnawed away by dark clouds, and the wine stains on his trench coat had long since frozen solid, each step leaving tiny blood marks on the grass—proof of his fingernails digging into his palms when he clenched his fists.
Jose, who had appeared calm at the party, now had a ferocious expression, his eyes filled with a venomous hatred that was almost chilling.
"A Ten Wizard Saints-level ghost…" His low murmur, rolling in his throat, carried the stench of a decaying corpse, "To be defeated by those scumbags…"
Under the distant tree shadows, a dark figure stood silently.
A wide Black Robe hung down, covering his entire body, with only the huge scythe on his back gleaming with a cold light in the night.
"You're late." Jose's voice was as cold as ice, "I thought you wouldn't dare to come."
The Black Robed Man did not answer, only slightly raised his head, and a pair of emotionless eyes were faintly visible in the shadow of his hood.
"Fairy Tail's summoner and swordsman have been lured away." The Black Robed Man's voice was hoarse and low, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time, "The folk singer Arad from Bayar City, he is very suitable to be offered to Lullaby."
Jose's lips twisted into a sinister arc: "Finally some progress? I thought you only knew how to hide in the shadows and talk nonsense."
"The altar is ready." The Black Robed Man slowly raised his hand, pointing southeast, "As long as her soul is sacrificed before midnight tomorrow night, Lullaby's cursed song can be unsealed."
Jose narrowed his eyes, the aura of necromancy magic swirling around him: "And then? Can you guarantee that those meddlesome Fairy Tail bastards won't suddenly show up?"
The Black Robed Man was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice: "They are currently chasing false clues all over the world; by the time they realize it, the cursed song will have already resounded throughout Fiore."
Jose sneered, then suddenly raised his hand, and a ghostly blue magic power, like a poisonous snake, coiled around the Black Robed Man's neck: "Don't think I don't know what you're planning. If you disappoint me again this time…"
His voice suddenly turned sinister, "I don't mind feeding you to my undead."
The Black Robed Man did not struggle, but merely stood still, as if completely indifferent to the threat of death.
"Before midnight tomorrow." Jose released his hand, a crazed glint in his eyes, "I want to hear Magnolia's wails."
The Black Robed Man nodded slightly, and a hint of a sinister smile seemed to flash in the shadows beneath his hood: "As you wish."
Jose snorted, turned, and left, his trench coat flapping in the night wind.
His figure quickly disappeared into the darkness, leaving only a few withered blades of grass on the ground, corroded by necromancy magic.
The Black Robed Man stood in place, slowly raising his hand, a wisp of black mist condensing at his fingertips, transforming into a dark crow.
The crow flapped its wings and flew into the night sky, soaring towards Bayar City.
"Soon…" the Black Robed Man whispered, the scythe on his back gleaming with a chilling light under the moonlight, "Soon, the cursed song will resound across the land."
...Magnolia, Fairy Tail Guild Hall.
The Guild's door was violently pushed open, Natsu kicked open the half-open door panel, shouting excitedly: "Hey! We took care of that ghost! That guy was nothing!"
Gray followed behind, hands in his pockets, a look of disdain on his face: "If it weren't for someone getting in the way, we would have finished it even faster."
"Huh?!" What did you say?!" Natsu immediately turned and grabbed Gray's collar.
Lucy sighed, rubbing her forehead: "Can you two just calm down for a bit…"
Erza strode into the Guild, battle marks still on her armor, she looked around, her brows slightly furrowed: "Strange, why is it so quiet in the Guild?"
Just then, Mirajane rushed down from the second floor, clutching two letters, her expression grave: "You're finally back! Something big has happened!"
Everyone was stunned, and the previously noisy atmosphere instantly solidified.
Cana put down the cards she was shuffling with her fingertips, frowning as she asked: "What's wrong, Mira?"
Mira took a deep breath and held up the first letter: "This is a call for help from Ezreal and Ikaruga!"
She quickly unfolded the letter, her voice urgent: "The Eisenwald are capturing musicians and singers from the Fiore Kingdom everywhere, their goal is to unseal the cursed song demon Lullaby! They have already captured six people, and their actions are extremely covert. Ezreal and Ikaruga have been tracking them, but the other side seems to have counter-reconnaissance methods, always one step ahead…"
"Lullaby?!" Levy suddenly stood up, her face pale, "Isn't that the legendary cursed song demon? They say its song can drive people insane, even kill them directly!"
Erza's eyes sharpened: "They are capturing musicians to sacrifice them?"
Mira nodded: "The letter says that once ten people are captured, the sacrifice ritual can be completed, and Lullaby will be unsealed! Ezreal hopes we can split up to protect famous singers and musicians in the country, to prevent them from being captured."
Natsu slammed his fist on the table, flames burning on his knuckles: "Then what are we waiting for! Let's go!"
Gray also stood up, his eyes stern: "Those Eisenwald bastards, daring to pull such a sinister trick."
Lucy clenched her fists: "We must stop them!"
However, Mira's expression grew even more grim, and she slowly raised the second letter: "…The problem is, just as you all went out to deal with that ghost in the city center, the Eisenwald have already successfully sacrificed nine people."
The Guild instantly fell silent.
"Nine… nine?!" Cana's eyes widened, "Doesn't that mean there's only one left?!"
Mira nodded heavily: "Ezreal and Ikaruga have already rushed to protect the last target—the folk singer Arad. They are currently in Bayar City. The letter says they hope we can provide support as soon as possible."
Erza suddenly clenched her fists, her armor making a metallic scraping sound: "…So that's it, that ghost in the city center was Eisenwald's diversion tactic!"
Gray gritted his teeth: "They deliberately released the ghost to tie us down, precisely so we wouldn't be able to pay attention to their real operation!"
Natsu angrily kicked over a nearby chair: "Damn it! We were tricked!"
Levy quickly pulled out a map, pointing to the location of Bayar City: "From here to Bayar City, it will take at least half a day. We must leave immediately!"
Erza made a decisive call: "Natsu, Gray, Cana, Levy, you come with me to support Ezreal! Lucy, Marcus, Yukino, you stay at the Guild, ready to provide backup at any time!"
Marcus frowned: "Don't we need more people?"
Erza shook her head: "Time is critical, the few of us are the fastest, we must seize every second!"
Mira worriedly said: "You all must be careful, since the Eisenwald dared to plan such a large operation, they must be well-prepared."
Natsu grinned, flames igniting on his fists: "Who cares what preparations they have, we'll just beat them all up!"
Gray snorted: "Just don't hold us back."
Cana took a deep breath: "Let's go!"
The Guild's door was pushed open again, and their figures quickly disappeared into the night.
Mira stood at the doorway, watching them leave, and whispered a prayer: "You must make it in time…"
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