"Shh! Don't let Su Yan know we're here, or we're done for!" Natsu whispered, his face filled with dread.
"Su Yan seems normal most of the time…" Lucy began, recalling her interactions with him over the past month. He was playful and a bit mischievous, like when he'd physically taken on a moving train. But this reaction from Natsu and Happy felt strange.
"Normal? You've never seen Su Yan mad," Natsu replied. "When he's angry, he's terrifying!"
Outside, Su Yan's voice called out, cool and unbothered. "Still hiding? Natsu, Happy, remember when we played hide-and-seek? No matter where you hid, I always found you easily."
A nervous feeling crept over Natsu, Lucy, and Happy.
"I know everything you do, even if it's behind my back," Su Yan continued. "I have magic that senses attacks, predicts opponents' moves, and even senses emotions and locations. So yes, from the moment I stepped on this island, I knew exactly where you were."
*Boom!*
With a single punch, Su Yan shattered the village gate.
"Whoa!"
The villagers jumped back in alarm as Su Yan strode in, giving Natsu, Lucy, and Happy a sharp smile. "Surprise! So, you three thought you'd sneak off on an S-class mission, huh?"
Happy immediately flew to Su Yan, pleading, "Su Yan, I had nothing to do with this! Natsu and Lucy made me do it!"
"You traitorous cat!" Lucy hissed.
Su Yan's gaze hardened. "Playtime's over. You're coming back to the guild with us to face the master's punishment."
Natsu clenched his fists. "I'm not going back!"
"What did you say?" Su Yan's eyes narrowed, and a dark, dangerous energy emanated from him.
"I'm doing this S-class mission, no matter what!" Natsu insisted.
"Humph!" Su Yan scoffed.
Suddenly, an intense wave of Su Yan's magic, his "overlord's aura," blasted toward Natsu.
*Boom!*
"Whoa!" Natsu screamed, knocked off his feet and crashing through several houses, leaving a trail of splintered wood behind him.
The oppressive aura spread throughout the village, filling everyone with dread. Even Lucy and Happy, who weren't directly targeted, felt a crushing fear.
Lucy shivered. "Natsu and Happy were right. Su Yan is terrifying when he's mad!"
Su Yan walked over to Natsu, who was struggling to get up, and said, "You can't even handle one hit, and you think you're ready for an S-class mission?"
Without another word, Su Yan kicked Natsu squarely in the face, sending him flying again.
"The guild only allows S-class mages to take on S-class missions for a reason," Su Yan continued, his voice cold. "These tasks are life-threatening. If you want to take them, then earn the rank first."
He turned to Lucy and Happy, who were shaking their heads furiously, clearly too scared to ever attempt sneaking off again.
Then, Su Yan addressed the villagers. "I apologize for the mess. I had to discipline these troublemakers. I'll compensate for the damages."
"N-no need!" the villagers stammered, their eyes wide with fear. Compensation was the last thing they wanted from someone as powerful as Su Yan.
Su Yan glanced around. "Now, tell me about this mission."
Gray raised an eyebrow. "Su Yan, aren't we supposed to take them back? Why are you going along with this mission now?"
Su Yan shook his head. "We're already here. It's too late to turn back without completing it. Besides, if we don't finish it, Fairy Tail's reputation will be at risk."
"Alright," Gray agreed, nodding. "So, what's this curse all about?"
The village chief stepped forward, nodding. "Thank you, wizards. Please, everyone, show them."
At the chief's request, the villagers began removing cloths they had wrapped around their bodies, revealing limbs and features that looked twisted and monstrous, part human, part demon.
"This… what is this?!" Lucy gasped.
The chief sighed. "This is the curse that has plagued us all. Everything on this island—humans, animals, even the plants—has started transforming into demons. We call it the Curse of the Moon."