The other demons of Tartaros remained silent, though each had their own thoughts when they saw Jiemma.
Tartaros was never truly united. Though Mard Geer ruled as king, the Nine Demon Gates were not of one mind. Each had their own faction. Kyôka had even taken Minerva under her wing.
This Jiemma clearly belonged to Mard Geer's side.
"Dragon? Then let me test your power myself, Hades! Once I've dealt with this dragon, it'll be your turn next!!"
Jiemma stomped hard, his body surging forward. In an instant, his fist smashed into Su Yan's head.
BOOM!!
The blow landed squarely against Su Yan's face. But Su Yan's expression never changed.
Then, calmly, he raised a claw and seized Jiemma.
"What are you doing?! Release me!!" Jiemma roared, gathering magic in his hands.
Su Yan's claws tightened.
CRUNCH—!!!
Jiemma's body burst apart before he could even scream.
The demons of Tartaros froze, their faces twisting in shock.
Though Jiemma had been reborn as a demon, the power that radiated from him had been no weaker than theirs. Yet this man—this dragon—had crushed him instantly.
Only now did they realize just how terrifying it was for Su Yan to stand before them.
The Dragon King's gaze swept across the battlefield, looking down at them as if they were ants.
"Vines—!!"
Mard Geer thrust out a hand, and countless thorned vines surged from the ground, binding Su Yan's massive frame.
"Magic Eye Release!"
"Magic Ray!!"
"Current Shock!!"
"Amaterasu—Hundred Forms!!!"
Seilah, Kyôka, and Franmalth all unleashed their magic at once.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
Explosions ripped the vines apart.
"Did… did we get him?" Franmalth asked, trembling.
A sharp gleam pierced through the smoke.
SHHHK!!
A massive wind blade shot out, slicing Franmalth in two.
"GAHHHH!!!"
Light spheres poured from his body—the souls he had devoured, finally freed.
"Damn it!!" Kyôka cursed. Franmalth was gone. Only four demons remained.
Su Yan didn't waste words. In his eyes, these monsters deserved death a thousand times over.
He lunged. The demons scattered.
"TORNADO!!!"
Su Yan's massive body spun, releasing a storm of blades.
"Hardening Spell!!"
Torafuzar's body gleamed like diamond as he blocked the storm.
"Smash Claws!!"
Kyôka's blades clashed against the winds, barely deflecting them.
Seilah and Mard Geer avoided the strike entirely.
"Underworld Tree!!"
Mard Geer raised his hand, and a massive demonic tree burst forth, slamming into Su Yan.
BOOM!!
The impact knocked him back, but Su Yan merely grasped the trunk in one claw and swung it like a club.
CRASH!!!
The colossal tree slammed down on Torafuzar.
"GUAAHHH!!"
Torafuzar's body was smashed deep into the ground. Su Yan roared and swung again, again, and again.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The earth shook with every strike, Torafuzar's screams growing weaker… until they were gone.
Finally, the Underworld Tree itself snapped apart.
What was left of Torafuzar was nothing but a broken mass of flesh.
Kyôka's eyes widened. For the first time, she truly understood what Erza had meant. This was no man, no wizard—this was a monster.
Even Seilah trembled.
"Kyôka! Seilah! Hold him in place!! I'll finish him with my strongest curse!!" Mard Geer roared.
The two demons exchanged glances. They knew—this was life or death. Either Su Yan fell here, or they did.
"Command! Stop where you are!!"
Seilah's curse struck, but Su Yan's body only faltered for an instant before his Haki shattered it completely.
The raw force of will that defined a king resisted all such control.
"Blade Bind!!"
Kyôka's claws elongated, wrapping around Su Yan's body like steel chains.
At the same time, Mard Geer gathered his power, a black-purple aura radiating from him.
"Fall into Purgatory!!! This curse was crafted to slay even Zeref himself. Today, it shall erase you!"
"Memory of Death!!!"
BOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!
The ground erupted in a storm of black and violet smoke, filled with countless wailing spirits. Anything they touched was dragged into endless reincarnation.
"To kill the immortal Zeref, one must shatter the very concept of life and death itself!!" Mard Geer declared coldly.
"Those bound by this curse will neither live nor die. They will simply… cease to exist. Forever turning the earth to nothing!!"