Chapter 230

[There was no other good way.]

[As for Gray, Lucy, and Happy...]

[They shouldn't be in any life-threatening danger.]

[After all, the opponent's strength is not strong, and in the current situation, Gray should be able to control it.]

[Thinking of it, they did it; the group immediately turned around and continued to walk into the dark, sunless passage.]

[The passage was very long! So long that... it was somewhat despairing!]

[Black Natsu and the others walked from the starting point for nearly an hour before they finally saw the faint light ahead.]

In this hour or so.]

Even the people outside the sky screen felt almost desperate watching this scene!]

Walking in that dark, sunless passage without a glimmer of light was like walking in a bottomless abyss with no end.]

Even through the screen, it made one feel a sense of endless powerlessness.]

If one were to imagine being trapped in such a place, one's spirit would probably collapse and fall into complete madness.]

But fortunately, after more than an hour, Black Natsu and the others, who had been walking in the dark, finally saw a glimmer of light coming from ahead.]

This was a light enough to inspire the heart.]

It also meant that they seemed to have found the exit of the passage.]

Irene: "So, what kind of hellish place is this? How could it be so long?"]

Kagura: "This is very wrong; it's been over an hour."]

["Judging by the speed of Black Natsu and the others, an hour would be enough for them to cross the entire Jiaernadao."]

["But... they only just saw the exit here?"]

["This ruin isn't that big, is it?"]

Even without Kagura saying this, almost most of the people watching the sky screen realized this.]

Makarov: "The only explanation... is an anomaly in space."]

["Perhaps, for some reason, the passage Black Natsu and the others entered is in a distorted state of space."]

Mavis: "Distortion of space... honestly, I'm even doubting now whether they are still on Jiaernadao."]

Hades: "Mavis means that Black Natsu and the others actually entered a space passage leading to somewhere else?"]

Mavis: "I just have this feeling; specifically, we'll have to see what it looks like after they walk out of the passage to judge."]

[Inside the sky screen.]

[The group, who had been walking in the dark for a long time, finally saw some light not far ahead.]

[Mirajane let out a long sigh of relief: "Finally... we've seen the exit."]

[Heaven knows what kind of mental torture everyone faced in the hour or so just now.]

[If it weren't for Black Natsu's nose constantly smelling an indescribable scent coming from ahead, guiding everyone to continue moving forward.]

[I'm afraid that even now, they would still be trapped in that dark, sunless passage.]

[Facing the torture of endless darkness.]

["Speed up, let's go over and take a look."]

[Black Natsu said.]

[As long as there is light seeping in, it proves that the exit is not far away.]

[The group regrouped and continued to stride forward.]

[Finally, heaven rewards the diligent; the closer they got to the location where the light was coming from.]

[The darkness around them became dimmer; in fact, when the group was less than a hundred meters from the light, the entire passage had already lit up.]

[And they also saw the end of the passage; it was an open door.]

[Bright light seeped in from the crack of the door.]

[This time, there was no obstacle at the exit, and the group crossed over directly.]

[Arriving at... a completely unfamiliar place!]

[Yes, everything here was so unfamiliar.]

[The surrounding scenery showed no traces of Jiaernadao at all.]

[The afterglow of the setting sun illuminated the sky into a golden yellow.]

[The place where Black Natsu and the others were was a place like a martial arts arena.]

[A huge circular ring protruded from the ground; in the center of the ring was a huge crescent totem.]

[They stood on the edge of the ring; behind them was a huge open door.]

[Of course, these were not the point; the important thing...]

[Is that there were twelve such doors!]

[Arranged in a circle, surrounding the entire massive ring.]

[The twelve doors were all slightly ajar.]

[But there was not the slightest movement.]

[Above the ring, besides Black Natsu and the others who appeared here.]

[There were also countless stone statues standing on this stage.]

[Most of these stone statues were strange in shape; there were dogs with three heads? And gorillas with huge bodies and hideous faces.]

[There were also terrifying monsters covered in bone spurs and horns.]

[Their bodies seemed to be covered in traces of time, and the bodies of the stone statues were full of cracks.]

[One by one, their expressions were extremely bizarre, and their movements were also very uncoordinated.]

[It made one feel a bit creepy.]

["Where... exactly is this place??"]

[Mirajane, looking at this scene, couldn't help but cover her cherry mouth.]

[The surprise in her eyes was clearly visible.]

["There are actually so many... magical beasts? Or should I say monster statues, inside the Moon Temple?"]

[Erza wandered between the gaps of the stone statues, her gaze constantly examining one statue after another.]

[Her expression was suspicious and uncertain.]

["Why would the person who created this place make so many stone statues? Could it be that they have some special hobby?" Seilah touched her chin and said jokingly.]

[Hearing this, the footsteps of Erza and Mirajane stopped at the same time.]

[They turned their heads to look at Seilah and said with a serious expression: "Actually... there really is someone with such a hobby."]

["There is one in our guild."]

[Seilah was slightly surprised: "Is it that perverted? Does anyone really like stone statues like this?"]

[Outside the sky screen, in the Fairy Tail guild.]

[Evergreen's expression was a bit stiff.]

[Bickslow: "Haha, they're talking about you, Ever."]

["What a perverted hobby."]

[Evergreen: "What do you know? These are art!! Do you understand art or not?"]

[Bickslow: "Hahaha, say whatever you want; anyway, I didn't intend to argue with you."]

[Inside the scene, the group was all examining this bizarre place.]

[Black Natsu was standing in front of a statue, silent.]

[Until Seilah noticed Black Natsu's expression, she asked with some confusion.]

["What's wrong with you?"]

[Black Natsu, upon hearing this, glanced at Seilah and then fixed his gaze on the stone statue in front of him.]

["Remember, I said just now in the passage that I had been smelling a certain scent, and with the help of that scent, I guided the way."]

[Seilah nodded.]

[Black Natsu continued: "Actually, there is one more thing I didn't say."]

["The scent I kept smelling was the stench of rot!"]

["And now I have confirmed one thing; this scent..."]

[His gaze simultaneously locked onto the stone statue in front of him.]

[He said in a deep voice: "It is coming from these stone statues."]