Erza's scream echoed through the corridors of Tartaros.
In a nearby chamber, the former Speaker raged.
"I turned my house into a ruin for this?!"
"Calm down, Lord Speaker," Franmalth soothed.
"I gave up my pension to join this battle!"
Franmalth grinned. "But think of the wealth we'll gain once it succeeds."
Crawford forced a smile. "If this betrayal's theater required my home's destruction, I can bear it."
"When will Erza be finished?" the Speaker asked.
"After Lady Kyôka's interrogation," Franmalth replied.
"She must die. If she survives, they'll suspect me."
Franmalth bowed. "Rest assured—no one will ever discover this place."
Suddenly, Old Ford spotted something approaching.
"What's that flying over?"
Before he could finish, the wall shattered. Natsu burst in, punched Crawford's dentures free, and sent the Speaker sprawling unconscious.
"Where's Erza?!" Natsu roared.
Franmalth blinked. "Intruders in Tartaros?! My ruined walls—!"
From the prison cell, Kyôka frowned. "Aktoriga, bring me that woman. I want her alive."
A gecko-like monster slithered forward.
"Don't kill her," Kyôka commanded. "I want the torture to begin."
"Erza is back!" Franmalth snarled, turning to face Natsu.
"You must be Fairy Tail," Natsu growled.
Happy soared in, sniffing the air. "It's definitely here."
Franmalth sneered. "How did you find us? Follow the former Speaker's trail? Hah!"
Natsu charged and punched Franmalth.
"So noisy!" Franmalth howled, countering with a brutal blow that drained Natsu's strength.
Happy lunged to help, but Franmalth shrugged him off and slammed him to the ground.
"How dare you touch Happy!" Natsu cried, dodging another strike and grabbing Franmalth's eye.
"Fire Dragon's Grip!" Natsu roared, flames bursting from his hand.
"My servant!" Franmalth staggered back. "Your soul's debt just doubled!"
Suddenly, a cold voice cut through the chaos.
"Enough, Franmalth."
Franmalth froze. "Master Silver!"
A graceful figure stepped forward. Franmalth seized the fallen Speaker.
"We need him ready to enact the plan."
"Don't waste words," Master Silver said, the air around her shimmering with frost.
Natsu's eyes widened. "You're the one who froze Sun Village!"
Master Silver nodded, embarrassed. "I should apologize. I never imagined living there."
Natsu sniffed. The scent was familiar—impossible unless they were blood-related.
Before he could react, Master Silver raised a silvery finger. La!
Natsu's body froze solid.
"Forget the name 'Fire Dragon,'" Master Silver whispered. "You belong to us now."
Meanwhile, at Fairy Tail's guildhall:
Lucy burst in, breathless. "Erza, Natsu, and Happy—they never returned!"
Wendy trembled. "I tried tracking them by scent… but I lost the trail."
"Gajeel?" Lili asked. "Can you help?"
Gajeel shook his head. "Even Natsu's nose couldn't keep a scent this long."
Makarov folded his arms. "Is there any way to find Tartaros's HQ?"
Su Yan stepped forward. "Don't worry. I know how we can locate them."