Chapter 197: 197. Zeref
Ben goes to the source of the ominous Magic Power wave. Makarov does as Ben asks and shoots a signal flare to the sky. It tells everyone that the exam is on hold and there are enemies on the island.
Soon, Ben reaches where the ominous Magic Power came. He finds Elfman, Natsu, Evergreen, Happy, and a black-haired young man. Ben can sense the dark and ominous Magic Power that comes from the unknown man.
Their surroundings are also in very bad condition. There is no living thing around the unknown man, not even grass. Now Ben has a guess what caused it and even guess who this man is.
Immediately, Ben gets between his guildmates & the man before saying, "You four, listen to me! This exam is on hold due to an outsider's interference and I think you know that already. Now leave this place and return to the camp, it's dangerous here. Also, brings Bella with you."
Ben gives Bella to Elfman while he sizes up the unknown man and tries to measure his Magic Power. The man hasn't unleashed it all, but Ben can already feel his immense Magic Power. This is the highest amount that he ever felt from someone.
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?" shouts Ben to the 5 who haven't left.
"By enemy, you mean this guy, right? How can we leave you to fight him alone?" says Natsu.
"That's right, from your tone, I can see that this guy is not an easy opponent, even for you. So we will help," says Elfman.
"Tch, you will just get killed if you stay here. You see these dead trees around him? That's the effect of the Curse of Ankhseram. I only know one person with that curse, the Black Mage, Zeref," says Ben seriously.
The 5 except Bella have surprised expressions and Natsu asks, "Zeref?! Who is he?"
Ben almost falls when he hears that question because it means they don't know. It will take time for him to explain it and they don't have time so he just tells them that he isn't an opponent that they can defeat right now.
"Even if every Fairy Tail Mage in this island works together, we still can't win," says Ben.
"What?! Even Gildarts?" asks Natsu.
"Even him," says Ben.
Now it makes the 4 fully surprised because it means this guy is very very strong. But they still can't leave because they know Ben will stall time for them. So they want to stay and make Ben clicks his tongue in anger.
Zeref suddenly smiles and says, "You are quite knowledgeable to know about me and my curse. But you also surely know the effect, right? It's not something that you can face. Now, please leave before it gets unleashed again because I can't control it."
As he said the last part, Zeref feels as if he is in pain. Ben widens his eyes because he can sense Zeref's Magic Power get into turmoil. He clicks his tongue and turns back to grab his 4 guildmates.
"HOLD ONTO ME! NOW!" shouts Ben.
The 5 don't question him and just grab his extended hands. Then right as Ben feels Zeref's Magic Power moves, he teleports back to the camp with the 5 of them. They've avoided death right on time.
Their sudden appearance surprises everyone in the camp. Ben looks around and doesn't find Erza so Mira explains that Erza leaves to find the other participants after the signal was shot. It will be very dangerous if they encounter enemies, after all.
Mira asks Ben what happens and Ben gives her a short explanation. Even he doesn't fully know about the situation on the island and only knows that Zeref has appeared. So it won't be strange if Zeref's men are also on the island.
Ben wants to go find the other participants, but suddenly he sees something from afar. The others also see it and look at it which appears to be Makarov. Makarov has transformed into a giant on the coast of this island.
"It seems the enemies have come and they are strong enough to make Master transform like that. You guys stay here while I will go to Master's place and check the situation. It will be good if Master can handle the enemies, but if not, then I will help him," says Ben.
"Wait! I'll go too," says Natsu, followed by Gajeel & Elfman.
"No, just stay here and protect the others. We don't know if the enemies just appear there. It will be very bad if more enemies suddenly come here and you aren't here. Besides, you need to replenish your energy first after using it in the exam," says Ben.
They all realize that and finally agree to stay in the camp. Ben nods and gives Gajeel some iron scraps to eat from his storage. He also burns all their firewood so Natsu can eat the fire and replenish his Magic Power.
As for the others, there's nothing he can do except let their MP recover naturally. He can't transfer his MP to them, after all. So they can only recover it naturally, but it won't take long with this island's dense Ethernano.
After doing that, Ben 5 clones because there are 2 active clones already. One clone is guarding the camp while the other one is following Mest. The one who follows Mest hasn't reported anything so far even though Ben is waiting for it.
"Lazy, you keep guarding the camp like before. The other 5 go and find the rest of the participants then take them here. Help them if they are in danger. Go!" orders Ben before his 5 clones flash away.
Ben then gives all his guildmates a golden marble each. These marbles send distress signals that will inform him of their locations once they break the marbles. When the marble breaks, they will send the Magic Power inside them to the one on his necklace that he has just taken out too.
'They're the magic items that Morgbitt crafted and gave me. I've improved them before so they have better precision. I've also made more marbles, so I have enough for everyone. Now I can go to their locations instantly when they are in danger,' thinks Ben as he wears the necklace that also has a blue marble on it.
"Just break them if you need my help, I will try to come immediately. Wendy, Bella, use all your protective magic items when you need them," says Ben.
"Yes," replies Wendy, followed by Bella's nod.
Ben is just about to leave when suddenly a clone teleports to the camp. It's Pride clone, the one that he sent to observe Mest. The clone comes back with 2 individuals that surprise everyone there, they are Carla & Lily.
"Carla, what are you doing here?!" asks Ben with a surprised tone.
"I was suspicious of that Mest guy and decided to come here with Lily because I don't want Wendy to be in danger," says Carla.
"You can just contact me, you know? I am also suspicious of that guy from a few days ago. So I didn't let Wendy go with him after the 1st test," says Ben.
"Y-Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm just very worried," says Carla with a guilty tone.
Wendy hugs her & smiles before saying, "It's okay, Carla. Thank you for worrying about me. Ben nii-san is just worried about you too."
Ben sighs and pats their head while smiling softly. Then he looks at Pride clone to ask for an explanation because the clone didn't inform anything to him.
"Sigh, I couldn't inform you because I know you were busy with the unknown enemies. I still could take care of it myself, so I didn't tell you," says Pride clone.
Pride then explains that Mest is a spy from Magic Council. He wants to find proof to disband Fairy Tail. But as Lily interrogated him, another enemy appeared. The new enemy destroyed the Magic Council's ships just now.
"He tried to use a wide range attack, so I take Lily & Carla here. That guy said his group is searching for Zeref," says Pride Clone.
Ben nods & says, "Good job for saving them. But Magic Council, huh? First Zeref, then his worshippers, and lastly the Magic Council. This is very problematic."
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