"It's over."
After finishing off Brain, Ide flicked the blood from his rapier, sheathed it at his waist, and turned around, not even bothering to spare a glance at the "corpse" behind him.
BOOM!
But just as Ide turned his back, a manic, evil surge of magic power erupted from Brain's lifeless body.
"Hahaha!"
"I'm finally free!"
"Since I'm free, that means that idiot Brain is dead, right?"
With a burst of maniacal laughter, "Brain" slowly floated up from the ground. With a wave of his hand, he healed his fatal wound and swapped his clothes for a dark green coat.
Not only that, but this "Brain" now had wild, unkempt hair, blood-red eyes, and deathly pale skin. His demeanor, his aura, his very magic signature felt like a completely different person.
"Who are you?"
Ide turned around, frowning at the "resurrected" Brain.
This gave Ide a new perspective on magic. So, resurrection magic actually exists in this world?
"You can call me Zero."
Brain—or rather, Brain's split personality, Zero—clasped his hands behind his back. He looked down at Ide with utter arrogance, introducing himself like a master addressing an insect.
"Call yourself whatever you want. I don't care."
Ide shook his head. The only reason he bothered speaking was curiosity about the strange magic he had just witnessed. Beyond that, there was nothing to discuss.
No point wasting words on trash.
"Divine Departure!" (Kamusari)
The moment Ide turned to face Zero fully, he drew his rapier and slashed in a single fluid motion.
BOOM!
A crescent-shaped slash, pitch-black and wrapped in both Armament and Conqueror's Haki, roared toward Zero like a hurricane.
"What is this?!"
Zero hadn't expected Ide to be so "dishonorable" as to launch a sneak attack without warning. He didn't even have time to prepare a defense before the slash hit him.
Splurt!!
Zero, who had just been resurrected and hadn't even had a chance to show off his Wizard Saint-level power, was instantly blasted away by the black crescent moon.
Faced with this Haki-infused slash, Zero had zero ability to resist. In a single exchange, every bone in his body was crushed. The force of the attack pushed him a full kilometer across the ground before he finally stopped.
As the slash dissipated and Zero lay broken on the earth, only one thought remained in his mind:
Brain, you bastard! Where the hell did you find a monster like this?!
---
"Ur, I found the way to save our daughter from Brain."
"As long as we can teach Ultear Dragon Slayer Magic, her physical constitution will be enhanced from the inside out, and the 'Magic Deficiency Syndrome' will resolve itself."
After insta-killing Brain twice, Ide immediately returned to Ur's side and explained softly.
"Dragon Slayer Magic?"
"That's one of the Lost Magics from ancient times."
"As far as I know, no one on this continent uses it anymore. Where are we supposed to find a teacher who can teach our daughter Dragon Slayer Magic?"
Upon hearing the solution, Ur didn't feel relieved. Instead, she became even more anxious.
Dragon Slayer Magic was lost to history. It was used by humans in ancient times to hunt and fight dragons. Now, no one knew how to use it, let alone teach it.
"That's why we need a Dragon Lacrima."
Ide smiled reassuringly.
"Dragon Lacrima?"
Ur was confused. She had never heard of such a thing.
"It's said to be a powerful item that allows someone to learn Dragon Slayer Magic. Senior Makarov from the Kingdom of Fiore used a Dragon Lacrima to cure his grandson of the same condition."
Ide explained.
"Makarov?"
"The Wizard Saint Makarov?"
Ur paused, surprised.
"That should be him."
Ide nodded firmly. He had read the information about Makarov being a Wizard Saint directly from Brain's memories.
"That's great!"
"I happen to know the town where Senior Makarov lives."
"It's called Magnolia, a town in the Kingdom of Fiore, the 'Perpetual Neutral Country' to the west of Iceberg."
"Ide, we shouldn't delay!"
"Let's head for the Kingdom of Fiore right now!"
Knowing that Makarov, a fellow Wizard Saint, might be able to help save Ultear, Ur didn't want to waste another second at the Bureau.
As for why Ide attacked the Bureau Chief?
Ur didn't ask. She knew Ide well enough to know he must have had a reason.
Besides, she trusted him unconditionally. No matter what he did.
"Okay."
"But before that, we have one important thing to do."
Ide gently pinched Ur's cheek, then looked down at Ultear in her arms. He smiled. "Ultear, Daddy is about to do something big. I have to apologize in advance. I hope you understand."
"Mmh~"
Ultear seemed to understand. She nodded vigorously, her eyes looking at him with determination, as if telling him to go for it.
"Haha."
"That's my daughter."
"Such a strong kid."
Ide praised her, then turned around slowly. His gaze turned cold and menacing as he looked at the terrified Bureau staff surrounding them.
He roared, "Listen up, you garbage!"
"Release every single child you've kidnapped from the cities! Send them out here, safe and sound, right now!"
"If a single hair on their heads is harmed, I will not spare you! Your boss Brain is exactly what your future looks like!"
Yes, when Ide used his Observation Haki to probe Brain's mind, he discovered a horrific secret.
For years, under the guise of the "Bureau of Magical Development," Brain had been conducting dirty experiments on humans—especially children. It was unforgivable.