The night wind blew. It kicked up dust. It made the damaged island feel even more desolate.
Edo Chase and the others fell silent. When they first arrived, the bones had scared them. Now, they felt respect.
Those bones were proof. Proof that the people of Edolas had fought.
"He said a lot of familiar names," Chase sighed.
Igneel. That one was obvious. But Precht and Mard Geer? That was a surprise.
In Earthland, they were dark guild masters. At the top of the Balam Alliance.
"You know them?" Acnologia asked.
They died over a hundred years ago. This man was only in his twenties.
"You guessed it. I am not from Edolas. I am from a world called Earthland."
He explained.
"So, the kingdom on the other continent made a device. It can steal magic from other worlds."
Acnologia was angry. He punched the ground.
He knew better than anyone how dangerous that was. People with no magic were trying to invade a world where everyone had it.
If that world fought back, Edolas would be destroyed. The man from Earthland was proof of that.
"Do not worry. I am not interested in that."
Chase raised his hands. He meant no harm. He had already explained why he was here.
Acnologia calmed down. "Sorry. I am emotional."
Looking at Acnologia's fierce face saying something so polite was strange.
"It is fine. I understand. But do you know someone named Brain?"
Chase was curious. The two dark guild masters were good here. What about Brain?
"Brain?!"
Acnologia was angry. "He betrayed Edolas. He worked for the Apostles of God. I killed him myself."
"That makes sense."
Even here, Brain was evil. No surprise.
"Is Brain a good person in your world?" Edo Evergreen asked.
"No. He deserved it."
"Enough. Go back. Do not touch Face. Do not stay here. You will only die."
He turned away. "You are too weak. You cannot keep up with me."
It sounded rude. But Edo Chase and the others were not angry.
They could feel the sadness in his voice. He had seen too many friends die. He was afraid.
That was why he turned away. He could not look at them.
"I remember you said Anima could send magic away. What if we empty Edolas of magic? Would the Apostles of God leave?"
Edo Evergreen remembered an old conversation.
It was possible. The prince of Edolas had done that in the original story.
But Chase did not agree. Even without magic, there would still be war. Over money. Over power. Over resources.
And there were still invaders from the God Realm.
Hoping for mercy from the enemy was too idealistic.
"That could make things worse," Edo Chase said. He was from the God Realm.
"Right. We do not know if they will give up," Edo Gildarts said.
There was no other way. They could not fight. They could only let Acnologia carry the burden.
They had left home to find magic. Because they were weak. They wanted to protect their friends.
Now, they had found the magic. But they still felt weak.
"Enough. I can keep them out. Go back."
Acnologia picked up his cape. He walked away.
"Hey. Have you not seen their resolve?"
Chase spoke. "You want friends to fight with. Do not pretend otherwise."
"Everyone in Edolas is an idiot."
Those idiots?
Acnologia stopped. He walked back. He grabbed Chase's collar.
"What do you mean?"
He did not want to see people die. That was not showing off.
Chase looked him in the eye.
"How much longer can Face's magic last?"
"A hundred years? Two hundred? Four hundred?"
***
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