Clear stream water flowed gently. Sunlight filtered through the wind-blown branches and leaves, scattering speckles of light.
Under the shade of a tree, Chase, Dark Magician, and Zeref sat on the ground.
After the outburst of Death Predation, the agitated forbidden aura within Zeref had calmed, returning to the state he had been in when he first arrived on Tenrou Island.
Though it still radiated deadliness, at least it no longer damaged the surrounding environment.
Of course, Chase still maintained his God Slayer Magic to protect himself.
The expense was considerable, but now that he had the "Heart," he could easily afford it.
"How is this possible? Are you saying that the curse of Ankhseram on me is actually a type of God Slayer Magic?!"
Hearing information about the God Realm from Chase, Zeref's gloomy face showed an expression of incredulous shock.
As a Black Mage who had mastered almost all Lost Magic, he naturally knew of God Slayer Magic.
Within the Alvarez Empire, which he had established on a whim, his loyal guardian, the "War Princess" Dimaria, used this very magic. She could even take in the soul of the Time God Chronos, entering the realm of the "Gods"!
Though Dimaria was enthusiastic about starting wars and reaping lives, she wasn't as uncontrollable as him. Nor could she do what Chase did—using God Slayer Magic to resist the curse of Ankhseram!
In Zeref's eyes, everyone in the Alvarez Empire were mere "chess pieces" to pass the boring time, inanimate objects like tools. So, the curse didn't activate—he simply didn't care about their lives.
The more you respect life, the more you take it away. Conversely, if you see all life as worthless, Death Predation won't trigger.
That was the paradoxical curse of Ankhseram.
Having been tormented for over four hundred years, Zeref knew very well that if he truly regarded Dimaria as a person, she would die instantly. There was no way he could achieve what this man before he had!
Was there a fundamental difference between God Slayer Magic and God Slayer Magic?
"If the information I've gathered is correct, then yes," Chase said, seeing the confusion on Zeref's brow.
After meeting him in person, though their natures were vastly different, the oppressive aura emanating from Zeref did indeed resemble Slifer's.
From this, it seemed that Ankhseram truly valued Zeref's potential to "toy with life," granting him the highest level of divine power and nearly limitless life.
Its form, however, was filled with unyielding violence and arrogance. It didn't care about Zeref's feelings at all. It only wanted to transform him from a flesh-and-blood human into a god who looked down on all things.
To him, this was probably much like Zeref's own attitude in establishing the Alvarez Empire—just a game to pass the boring time.
Chase could probably guess what kind of person—no, what kind of god—Ankhseram was.
"Um, Mr. Chase, could you teach me this God Slayer Magic you use?"
Zeref stared intently at the crimson magic power twining around Chase, an undisguised longing flickering deep in his bloodshot eyes.
If this man could use this magic to resist the curse of Ankhseram, did that mean that if he mastered it, he could become normal?
Having been lonely and lonely for over four hundred years, he yearned desperately for normal human contact, almost to the point of madness!
"Sorry. The way I gained this power is much like yours—directly bestowed by a god. Even if you learned it, it wouldn't work," Chase said, shaking his head regretfully.
"God Slayer Magic" was a somewhat vague term. His magic also incorporated a trace of Slifer's sacred aura from the Card Space. Otherwise, it wouldn't be able to counter Ankhseram's curse.
The only possible way would be to use himself as a conduit, building a power transmission channel between Slifer and Zeref.
But doing that...
Aside from the question of whether he needed to go that far for Zeref, the endless consumption alone would drain his body.
And more dangerously, it might even attract Ankhseram's attention!
"I see..." Zeref instinctively clenched his fists, his head drooping dejectedly.
But soon, he looked up again, his eyes shining as he gazed at Chase.
Being able to communicate normally like this was already the greatest salvation.
The corner of Chase's mouth twitched. He was made extremely uncomfortable by that ambiguous gaze, mixed with joy, excitement, longing, and desire.
Four hundred years of loneliness—who knows if this guy's orientation has become distorted!
I don't do that, man. Don't you dare fall in love with me!
"Perhaps, you could try a method you've never thought of before," Dark Magician said in a deep voice, breaking the strange atmosphere among the three.
Chase let out a huge sigh of relief.
That's more like it. You're both black mages. Your titles alone make you a perfect match. You must have a lot to talk about. Just don't bother me.
Fortunately, Dark Magician's attention was still focused on Zeref, so he didn't notice Chase's thoughts.
"A method I've never thought of before?" Zeref's gaze was indeed successfully drawn away.
"Use human means to dominate and control the forbidden curse," Dark Magician said directly.
The core of magic originating from the power of emotion was a fundamental setting of the Fairy Tail world, a type of world rule. It was also a direction he, obsessed with magic, wanted to study: the different essences of magic in different worlds.
"Control... the power of the curse..."
Zeref's pupils contracted. His expression went blank as he stared at his own hands.
Beneath the seemingly calm surface, tumultuous waves were already crashing.
Ever since he had transgressed and been cursed by the god Ankhseram, living in torment and pain, he had sought death. He only wanted to escape and rid himself of this desperate power that felt like a nightmare.
He had even gone so far as to create a large number of demons—Etherious—including END and Larcade.
Ancient magical texts contained records of a Demon King capable of killing an immortal phoenix.
Having come to deeply hate and detest the curse, he had never even considered the possibility of mastering it!
Was this something humans could even do?
Perhaps it was unknown before, but now the answer was obvious. The man before him, Chase, was a living example!
"What... what do I need to do?"
Zeref tried to adjust his breathing, which had become erratic from excitement. He looked at Dark Magician like a schoolchild desperate for an answer, his expression somewhat adorably ditsy.
If Hades were here, his jaw would have dropped. Is this the Black Mage I've been pursuing for most of my life?
"Weren't you called the 'Progenitor of Black Mages' in this world? Since you bear that title, firm your resolve and forge your own path," Dark Magician said, stroking the staff in his arms, his voice deep. "Whether it's a curse or black magic, without the courage to face it, you cannot truly set foot in the abyss of magic."
Given enough time, he was confident he could crack the curse on Zeref. But that would only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.
Because the core of the curse originated from Ankhseram.
Chase, however, noticed the extremely rare look of appreciation in Dark Magician's words.
Not to mention his guildmates, to put it bluntly, even he, the holder of this deck, had never made Dark Magician this "interested" before!
The scene fell into a brief silence.
Zeref, who had been silently contemplating, seemed to have had an epiphany. When he looked up again, a touch of light had appeared in his previously lifeless black pupils.
"Thank you very much. I think I know what to do!"
Zeref slowly rose and bowed deeply and solemnly to Dark Magician.
Dark Magician's words hadn't been particularly substantive, but they had been enough to reignite the flames of passion within his dead soul.
Before being cursed, he was, after all, a super-genius who had an intense desire to explore magic. He had created forbidden magics like the R-System, Face, and the Eclipse Gate.
And now, his previously obscure research topic had become "the possibility of controlling the taboo," with himself as the test subject.
This was precisely his area of expertise!
"Congratulations. It seems you've been reborn," Chase said with a smile.
The future conflict against the gods of the God Realm would undoubtedly be bloody. If Zeref could stand on their side, he would be a rather powerful ally.
"Um..."
Zeref scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. After hesitating for a long time, he finally mustered the courage to say, "Mr. Chase, Mr. Dark Magician... could I... be your friend?"
The word was so foreign to him that it came out with noticeable stuttering.
"No problem." Chase didn't hesitate. He extended his hand directly to Zeref.
Zeref was stunned for a moment. Then, he tremblingly reached out his arm for a tentative touch.
Finding that the taboo hadn't been triggered, this guy, like a perverted obsessed man, began stroking Chase's calloused palm, tears streaming down his face!
Don't do this, buddy. Seriously, you're freaking me out!
Chase immediately pulled his hand back. Goosebumps instantly covered his entire body.
***
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