16 Chapter 16 : B59 Team??

"Don't fret," Lyon reassured, raising his right hand with an icy aura emanating from his palm. "No one can best me, the Sub-Zero Emperor Lyon who has surpassed Ur in magic!"

"Titania Erza is also present, along with someone named the 'Elegant Mage," the short mage informed.

Lyon responded with indifference, "That mage is merely capable of handling mundane tasks like apprehending thieves and quelling bandits. His reputation pales in comparison to Gray's, so there's nothing to concern ourselves with."

However, his tone shifted slightly, becoming more serious. "On the contrary, that Titania may pose a challenge to me."

"In that case, I shall join the fray too, hehehe," the short mage chuckled sinisterly.

'Boom'

The entire temple trembled, dust cascading from the ceiling, leaving everyone looking disheveled.

"Natsu, you're truly causing chaos," Everit remarked from a corner, clutching the wall for support while covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief.

"What's happening?" Lyon and the others looked bewildered, approaching the sudden gaping hole before them to peer down.

"Haha!"

Natsu's triumphant laughter echoed from below.

"By toppling half of the load-bearing walls and tilting the temple, the moonlight won't reach the demon in the underground!" he declared.

"You scoundrel!" Lyon and the others seethed with anger.

A clash was imminent!

"I just need your power!" Natsu's mind raced with strategies for combat. He realized that by facing Lyon, he could utilize their magic to expedite the destruction!

Lyon comprehended this as well, but he had to halt Natsu's rampage!

They had to subdue this reckless guy swiftly!

As Natsu and Lyon engaged in combat, the short mage who had earlier declared his intent to join the battle slipped away.

Everit refrained from aiding Natsu and trailed after the short mage instead.

Exiting the Temple of the Moon, the short mage led Everit to an unremarkable hillside. He located a stone nestled against the mountain and scraped it with his fingers a few times.

'Rumble'

The stone gradually shifted aside, revealing a dark passage beyond.

He entered, with Everit cautiously following suit.

Navigating through the shadowy passage, they emerged into...

Even Everit couldn't help but squint and adjust his glasses in astonishment.

Before them lay an expansive cavern.

From their vantage point, it seemed as though the entire mountain had been hollowed out!

Numerous peculiar and high-tech apparatuses adorned the space.

Several individuals in white lab coats, resembling researchers, were engrossed in experimental work.

Additionally, ten sizable jars stood upright, interconnected by numerous conduits. They resembled capsules seen in science fiction films, purportedly housing clones or monsters. However, at present, these jars lay empty.

There were still around a dozen mages lingering here, engaged in casual conversation.

"I'm back," announced the short mage.

"Zalty, how's everything going?" inquired a scholarly figure.

"According to the initial plan, Deliora was expected to be revived tonight, but an unexpected situation arose," Zalty replied. "Things have taken a complicated turn. Fairy Tail has intervened, and now Lyon and the others are caught up in it. It's unlikely they'll make it through the night. Even Titania is also here."

"It doesn't concern us," a calm voice came from a red-haired, handsome mage. "I will take action when the time comes."

"With your Lordship Gavin's intervention, this matter will naturally be resolved," Zalty complimented.

"Titania's reputation precedes her, even in our nation. I wonder what kind of woman she is. Luckily, I'll have the chance to find out tonight," Gavin remarked, sounding rather eager for the encounter.

Everit sauntered over to a corner where numerous materials were neatly arranged on bookshelves.

Among them lay a document with an intriguing title.

[Demon Research Record—B59 Team]

Demon Research?

Everit was tempted to peruse it.

"That's off-limits, Mr. Liar. It's classified; you're not allowed to read it," a voice chided from behind.

Everit turned to find a mage he'd encountered before, yawning and making his way towards him from the other side of the rest area.

Three eyes and an air of arrogance.

Everit faced the newcomer head-on.

This mage had seen through Everit's magic before, and it seemed the third eye possessed special abilities.

"Lord Reed, what are you insinuating?" confusion rippled through the group.

"Zalty," Reed, the three-eyed mage, directed a slightly displeased look at Zalty. "You let someone in, and you didn't even notice."

"What?!" Zalty gasped, involuntarily stepping back. As an experienced mage, he couldn't believe he'd been duped!

All eyes turned to where Reed had been gazing.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Reed continued calmly, "Reveal yourself, Mr. Liar. Your magic is futile against me. My eyes can pierce through any illusion."

"Can they now?" Everit chuckled. "Let's see about that."

"Want to give him a fright?"

Everit adjusted his cloak with grace, then crouched down smoothly. His gaze remained fixed on Reed, whose eyes stayed locked in their original direction.

As expected!

Everit's magic wasn't illusion but rather deception!

Illusion magic crafts illusions to confuse with false appearances.

If it were illusion magic, then to render himself invisible, he'd either conceal his form or project a false image.

But Everit couldn't simply vanish. What he did was manipulate the senses of all creatures within range, deceiving them into not seeing him even when their eyes fell upon him.

They'd see, but their brains wouldn't process the correct information!

Everit then "convinced" the individual he was elsewhere, and their mind processed the misinformation, making them perceive "him."

Hence, Reed's words exposed flaws.

Everit wasn't invisible; otherwise, Reed could truly see him.

Normally, when Everit made such an abrupt move like crouching down, Reed's line of sight should've shifted, but it hadn't at all!

So, the reason Reed could locate Everit must've relied on something else.

At the very least, not solely on sight!

Nevertheless, even if he discerned that the opponent was still under his magic's sway, Everit kept a few aces up his sleeve.

He wasn't one for Natsu's reckless brawling style; he preferred capitalizing on the enemy's errors and finishing them off in one swift stroke!

"Brother, can I have him for dinner?"

The peculiar-looking boy, lurking in the shadow of an object, circled quietly behind Everit. While inquiring, he simultaneously made his move!

The triangular, blood-red nails were razor-sharp, crackling with crimson lightning. With a menacing swipe, they aimed for Everit's waist!

Unruffled, Everit sidestepped in anticipation, evading the assailant's strike.

He turned to face the wild child. His appearance hadn't changed - clad in shorts akin to those of a prisoner, unnaturally pale skin adorned with bite marks.

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