Chapter 359: The Predator

The hidden underground ruin, buried deep within a scorching desert between Magnolia and the town of Onibos, was supposed to be completely isolated from the world. Yet, despite its cryptic location, the interior was decorated with excessive, decadent luxury.

The reason was simple: a certain female member of the Dark Guild absolutely refused to live in anything less than the utmost comfort, demanding plush velvet cushions and expensive silks to accommodate her lavish lifestyle.

"It’s so ridiculously stuffy in here! I’m melting! I want to go somewhere cold! I want to go out and buy new clothes!"

Angel whined, squirming restlessly on her throne-like chair. The suffocating desert heat was taking its toll on the silver-haired beauty. Her incredibly lewd, voluptuous body was slick with a glistening sheen of sweat. Her dangerously revealing white outfit clung agonizingly tight to the heavy, plush curves of her breasts, the thin fabric turning practically translucent where the moisture gathered. She let out a frustrated sigh, dramatically fanning her flushed face while her thick, bare thighs shifted uncomfortably against the cushions.

"Why the hell did we even move here?!" she complained, tugging at her damp collar to expose more of her spilling cleavage.

"Don’t do anything stupid," a rough voice snapped. "Fairy Tail has just returned, and that bastard from the Magic Council has been watching all of us—especially with those shitty birds of his."

Hearing Cobra’s words, the expressions of the other Reborn Oracion Seis members turned solemn and tense.

Finn Hoen.

While the mages of Fairy Tail might have just thought of Finn as a greedy, manipulative politician, the members of this Dark Guild knew the terrifying truth. He was the most difficult opponent they had ever encountered. He rarely faced his enemies directly, preferring to control his army and opponent completely from the shadows.

It was only by sheer luck that Cobra, the Poison Dragon Slayer who could hear thoughts from miles away, had accidentally intercepted Finn’s inner monologue, revealing the Councilman’s secret: his Take Over magic allowed him to create an invisible, continent-wide spy network out of birds.

It was an incredibly troublesome ability. While Cobra could easily read a human’s thoughts, deciphering the chaotic, primal mind of a random bird was impossible. Humans possessed language; birds did not. Furthermore, with millions of birds filling the skies of Earth Land, there was absolutely no way to tell which ones were Finn’s eyes and ears.

To avoid being caught utterly unprepared, the Reborn Oracion Seis had relocated to the most lifeless, bird-free environment they could find: the deep desert.

Coincidentally, this barren wasteland was located dangerously close to the Zentopia Church, the largest religious organization on the continent. Ordinarily, a Dark Guild hiding right under the nose of a holy army would be suicide. But unexpectedly, it was the safest place in the world for them—because the Reborn Oracion Seis had already secretly taken complete control of Zentopia from the shadows.

"Brain, when are we finally going to take control of that weapon?"

Racer, a man obsessed with speed, anxiously tapped his foot. "Everything is moving too slowly. We’ve been planning this for seven years, and the results are mediocre at best!"

Now that Fairy Tail had returned, Finn Hoen would undoubtedly make his move. If it were just Finn alone, they might stand a chance. But knowing the White Devil’s ruthless personality, he wouldn’t fight fair. He would likely mobilize the Ten Wizard Saints and the entire Magic Council Knight squadron to crush them. Even with their reborn strength, the Oracion Seis had limits.

"Soon. It will be under our control very soon," Brain II replied calmly. The gothic, effeminate man sat with total confidence. "I know you are all impatient. So am I. But once all the pieces are collected, we will seize the Infinity Clock, and everything will go exactly according to our wishes."

The Infinity Clock.

Even though they now controlled the massive Zentopia Church, their true goal was always this calamitous weapon—an ancient artifact originally forged to control or destroy evil.

The Reborn Oracion Seis didn’t care about its holy origins. They were all wanted criminals forced to hide in the shadows, but none of them actually wanted to remain criminals forever. The Infinity Clock possessed the terrifying power to completely reverse the concepts of good and evil, alongside absolute time manipulation. With it, they could rewrite their pasts and erase their tragic futures.

"Until then, I expect you all to remain patient," Brain II stated.

If the Fairy Tail members saw him now, they would instantly recognize him as Midnight—Macbeth, the adopted son of the original Brain. Now bearing his father’s title, his grand ambition aligned perfectly with Angel, Cobra, and Racer. They were sick of the dark, and they were willing to tear the world apart to stand in the light.

"Fine. But with those giant ears of yours, you can at least help me sneak into town to buy clothes, right, Cobra?" Angel pleaded. She arched her back, letting her heavy, sweat-slicked breasts bounce slightly as she gave him a pleading, lewd look. "I am so bored and hot!"

"...I told you already, right?" Cobra growled, completely ignoring her display. "Our enemy tracks us using birds! Do you honestly think I can talk to a damn bird?!"

While Cobra could speak to his snake, Cubellios, that was only because she was secretly a cursed human—the very person he treasured most in the world. He would do absolutely anything for her. But random desert vultures? Impossible.

"Then just make your magic stronger so you can understand them! I’ve had enough of sweating in this dump!" Angel shrieked, her tantrum echoing through the ruins.

"Enough!" Cobra finally snapped. Angel was undeniably beautiful, but his heart belonged entirely to someone else. Having grown up together as slaves in the Tower of Heaven, he viewed Angel as an annoying sister, not a woman. Her selfish whining grated on his nerves. "Who the hell do you think you are?! What if our entire plan fails just because you wanted a new dress—"

"I think even if she doesn’t throw a tantrum, your grand plan is already over."

"Huh?"

A chilling, predatory voice echoed from the corners of the room. Before anyone could even blink, the shadows beneath Cobra’s feet violently expanded, swallowing the Dragon Slayer whole.

"COBRA!"

The rest of the Oracion Seis instantly unleashed their magic.

If Cobra—a man whose hearing was so acute he could track a heartbeat from miles away—couldn’t even react to the ambush, it meant the enemy was terrifyingly fast.

Racer blurred into motion, moving at blinding speeds to pull his comrade from the darkness. But he was a fraction of a second too late.

"Who are you?!" Cobra roared from within the shadowy void. He was a Dragon Slayer; he wasn’t going down without a fight. His jaws unhinged as he inhaled a massive amount of toxic magic.

"POISON DRAGON’S ROA—"

Before the deadly stream of venom could leave his lips, a large, cold palm shot out of the darkness and forcefully clamped his mouth completely shut.

"Keep your mouth closed," a dark voice whispered.

"Hmn?!"

Cobra’s eyes widened in sheer terror as he finally saw his attacker. But it was too late. With his mouth sealed shut, the concentrated, hyper-pressurized magical energy of his Dragon’s Roar had nowhere to go.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM!

A muffled, sickening explosion detonated entirely inside Cobra’s mouth. His cheeks bulged violently, the searing heat and concussive force ravaging his throat and lungs. Smoke billowed from his nostrils as his eyes rolled back.

Yet, driven by his sheer, desperate obsession to secure a future with the woman he loved, Cobra somehow managed to stay on his feet, glaring through bloodshot eyes.

"H-How did... you find us...?!"

Of all the people who could have ambushed them, Erik never expected it to be him.

Finn Hoen.

"Sorry," Finn’s eyes glowing with dark, ravenous intent. "I’ve grown quite a bit stronger recently. Now... you all can’t escape."

Knowing he had to escape or defeat this monster immediately, Cobra tried to pull away. But Finn’s massive hand simply grabbed the Dragon Slayer by the face. With a brutal motion, Finn stepped fully out of the shadows, dragging Cobra into the light before slamming his head mercilessly into the solid concrete floor.

CRACK!

As Cobra’s body went completely limp, Finn stood tall amidst the settling dust. He slowly turned his gaze toward the remaining, utterly bewildered members of the Reborn Oracion Seis. His eyes dragged over Angel’s trembling, sweat-drenched body before locking onto Brain II.

"Now," Finn announced, rolling his shoulders. "It’s your turn."