When Ice See and Rain See saw the pillar of surging blue lightning piercing into the sky, they froze for a moment before their expressions changed drastically. They immediately rushed toward Agol's location.
"Nope~ Our battle isn't over yet. I can't let you go support them."
Ultear formed hand seals with both hands, and an ice wall suddenly rose before Rain See and Ice See, blocking their path.
"Damn it, what an annoying woman. Ice See, I'll go support Agol and Thunder See. You hold her off," Rain See cursed angrily.
"Got it. Agol and Thunder See need help immediately."
Ice See nodded grimly. He knew he wasn't Ultear's match, but he could at least stall her for a while. If Agol and Thunder See didn't receive support soon, they'd probably lose their lives.
"Ice-Make: Ice Serpent."
Ice See stretched his hand toward Ultear. In the next instant, a giant magic circle lit up beneath her feet, and a massive blue ice serpent burst from the ground with jaws wide open.
Ultear leapt backward into the air, narrowly avoiding the serpent's bite. Rain See immediately seized the opportunity and dashed toward Agol's position at top speed.
"Hmph. Did you really think I couldn't see through your plan? Crystal of the Gods."
Ultear snorted coldly and flicked several crystal spheres toward the fleeing Rain See. In an instant, dozens of crystal orbs surrounded him.
Focused entirely on rushing to his allies, Rain See never noticed the spheres appearing above him. He had no time to defend himself before dozens of energy beams bombarded his body from every direction.
"AAAAAHHH!!"
Rain See's body stiffened as he endured the relentless barrage, letting out agonized screams.
"Rain See!!"
Ice See panicked and rushed toward him. Without magical support, the ice serpent that had been pursuing Ultear vanished immediately.
"Ice-Make: Rose Crown."
Ultear stopped moving, a faint smile curling at her lips. She clasped her hands together as an icy-blue magic circle appeared. Cold air rapidly gathered around her while she formed hand seals.
Crossing her arms, a massive pale-purple rose bloomed behind her. Far more refined and powerful thorned vines and roses than before shot forward, wrapping toward Rain See and Ice See several times faster than earlier.
The moment Ice See reached Rain See's side, both men were already engulfed and bound by the Rose Crown. No matter how violently Ice See struggled, it was useless.
"If you two hadn't split up, you really might have managed to stall me. Too bad you were too desperate."
Ultear gracefully walked up to the two men, who were frozen in ice with only their heads exposed.
As she passed by, the ice vines and roses melted like spring snow, turning into sparkling ice fragments that drifted behind her, making her appear both beautiful and terrifyingly powerful.
"Damn it… you win. Kill us or do whatever you want," Ice See roared unwillingly after Rain See had already lost consciousness.
"Don't worry, you won't die. But until this whole matter is resolved, you'll remain sealed in ice."
Ultear looked at him calmly.
"So then, Mr. Ice See… are you willing to tell me about your plan?"
"Hmph. Give it up," Ice See replied stubbornly, closing his eyes.
"Very well. Then sleep peacefully."
Ultear wasn't angry. She had expected this outcome from the beginning.
As soon as her words fell, both men were completely sealed within enormous blocks of ice. The roses and ice vines dissolved into shimmering frost.
"Alright, time to find Lord Arlen."
Ultear casually clapped her hands and headed toward Arlen's location, leaving behind two massive frozen blocks.
"Lord Arlen, are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"
Ultear immediately shed her earlier cold demeanor as she ran to Arlen's side. She carefully looked him over and even reached out with her soft hands to check him herself.
"I'm fine. And seeing that you're alright puts my mind at ease too."
Arlen gently patted her head and inspected her carefully as well. Aside from heavy magic consumption and a few minor injuries, she wasn't seriously hurt, which reassured him.
"Mhm."
Smiling brightly, Ultear threw herself into Arlen's arms. Arlen softly wrapped an arm around her slender waist.
At that moment, the atmosphere between them seemed warm and peaceful—
provided one ignored the devastated battlefield and Agol and Thunder See lying unconscious in the giant crater like sleeping babies.
"These two as well. Freeze them up for now," Arlen said gently after releasing Ultear and stroking her hair.
"Leave it to me."
Ultear waved a hand. An icy-blue magic circle appeared beneath the two men, and freezing cold rapidly engulfed them, turning them into giant blocks of ice just like Rain See and Ice See.
"Lord Arlen, should we go find Erza and the others? Or head to the Moon Temple?" Ultear turned and asked.
Neither Arlen nor Ultear were fools. They had barely left the Moon Temple before being ambushed. That practically confirmed the enemy headquarters was inside the temple.
"No need. Erza and the others are already coming."
Arlen shook his head. His senses had already picked up several presences rapidly approaching. He never believed Erza and the others would lose to their opponents.
Erza's title of Fairy Queen certainly wasn't self-proclaimed—it had been earned through countless battles.
And aside from her, there was Natsu, the Fire Dragon Slayer. Natsu might not perform well during guild sparring matches because everyone was his companion and he subconsciously held back, but when real trouble appeared, he was incredibly reliable—and only grew stronger the longer the fight lasted.
"Arlen! Ultear! Are you guys alright?!"
Even from far away, Lucy's energetic and worried voice could already be heard.
"We're fine. Looks like everyone managed to defeat their opponents," Ultear said with a smile.
Arlen carefully looked over the group. Aside from Lucy looking somewhat bedraggled, Natsu, Gray, and Erza only had minor injuries, much like Ultear.
As for Happy—
well, the little guy was currently sitting on Arlen's shoulder happily devouring a fish in his hands. Other than Arlen himself, he was probably the only one completely unharmed.
"Natsu, Gray, and Happy—you three really went too far this time. How could you secretly accept an S-Class request? If we hadn't come today, how exactly were you planning to deal with this?" Ultear scolded with her hands on her hips.
"Ahh, why is Ultear saying the same thing too…" Natsu, Gray, and Happy all looked utterly miserable, as though life itself had lost all meaning.
"Enough with the pathetic act," Arlen interrupted their exaggerated performance.
"We won't say much more about it, but as for the Master… you'd better pray for yourselves."
"So what do we do next? These people's mouths are sealed tight. We couldn't get any useful information," Erza said with her arms folded.
"Simple. We go straight for the enemy headquarters."
Arlen looked toward the direction of the Moon Temple and spoke calmly.
At the same time, beneath the Moon Temple—
White Night sat upon a fairly ornate throne with his eyes closed.
Behind him was the demon beast sealed in ice—
Deliora.
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