In an unknown location, Gray is laying down near a lake known as Estiria Lake. He then gets company from two girls from a guild in Fiore on a job near the lake. They ran over to him and saw the bruises all over his body and asked, "What happened to you? You don't look good."

Darke appeared and said, "Hello ladies."

They heard that and went into defensive mode and then asked, "Who are you?"

Darke answered, "I'm a member of the Magic Council. Get up, Gray Fullbuster. I know that you are awake."

Gray said, "Juvia isn't here, right?"

Darke answered, "Nope. She's still in Fairy Tail."

Gray said, "Thank god."

He stood up and then saw two other girls and said, "Oh, Millianna, Kagura. What are you two doing here? Wait, where am I?"

Kagura Mikazuchi answered, "You are at the end of Estiria Lake. We're on a mission to catch the Bascus Killer Fish which made 40 citizens of Estiria disappear. You are supposed to be at the meeting place. What happened?"

Gray heard that and then Darke answered, "They got wiped out. No, I should say decimated. Natsu woke up first. I was actually expecting Erza to wake up first. But she didn't wake up yet."

Gray asked, "So does that mean that I'm second?"

Darke answered, "Nope. Lucy was second. You are third. Natsu was captured by the enemy. Everyone else was separated from each other."

Millianna said, "You gotta be kidding me. Is the enemy that fast?"

Darke answered, "Yes. They moved everyone within 20 minutes. They do things according to plan. Nothing more. Someone is already after Lucy's life. But she's got good friends with her right now."

Gray asked, "Who is with Lucy?"

Darke answered, "Minerva and Yukino of Sabertooth. They happened to be on a job in Hargeon Port."

Kagura said, "Hargeon Port. That's where we saved Ishgar from the Alvarez Empire and Acnologia."

Darke said, "Exactly. You are going to need to do a lot more damage than what you did at the meeting place, Gray. You need more power."

Gray heard that and then asked, "Why? Why are they so strong?"

Darke answered, "Illegal tactics. But the Atomic Rain that hit you all was just one attack that could have ended your career. Ice Bomb is another. Natsu Dragneel is crazy. But do you think that he can escape from a moving cell?"

Gray heard that and then answered, "Nope. He gets motion sick all the time when it comes to motion other than Happy and Dragons."

Darke sighed and then said, "I guess that his only chance of escape is at night then."

Kagura asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Gray answered, "Everyone needs there sleep. Even if there is a battle going on, correct Mr. Magic Councilperson."

Darke said, "Correct."

Millianna questioned them, "Do you really think that they'll fall asleep? They'll probably go on shifts to keep an eye on him."

Darke said, "Now that you mention that, you have a point. He's most definitely screwed."

Gray laughed and said, "That's what Natsu gets for being famous. Wait, did you say that they are obsessed with Natsu?"

Darke answered, "I never said that. That came out of your mouth."

Gray said, "I see. So they are obsessed with him."

Darke answered, "Yep. The Empress wants to marry him. But first, she has to kill Lucy who is in her way of that goal."

Gray said, "Kill Lucy. That'll be a very hard feat. We've been training a lot after all."

Millianna said, "We can tell."

Kagura said, "Correct."

Darke said, "Gray, Millianna, and Kagura, good luck with getting your teams back together. You'll need it."

Kagura heard that and asked, "Why are you asking us to join him?"

Millianna said, "We have nothing to do with the alliance."

Darke answered, "They already know that you are two are with him. So you might as well join him. You want to meet everyone again, don't you?"

Millianna answered, "Yes, but this is crazy."

Kagura said, "Agreed."

Gray said, "And there it is."

The Bascus Killer Fish jumped out of the water and Gray said, "Ice-Make: Spear."

A spear made out of ice appeared in his hands and then Gray threw it right into the Bascus Killer Fish and it flew out of range of the water and then said, "You got it."

Millianna screeched and then Kagura said, "Thank you."

Darke said, "Well, I have to head to the next person now. Talk to you all later when everyone gets back together. After all, it is very difficult to keep the enemy down. You already know that."

Gray said, "Yeah, they were bringing them back to life after we knocked them out."

Millianna said, "Someone is controlling them."

Kagura said, "No, it's Life Magic. He's waking up the fallen and strengthening them. It seems that they are capable of doing such things."

Gray said, "Yep. We know that they can do such things."

Darke said, "Farewell and good luck on your mission. Don't let them find 9th Hell. Or Earthland will vanish."

Gray said, "I know that, sir."

Darke said, "Call me Darke. Sir doesn't fit me at all."

He walked away and then Gray said, "One more thing."

Darke heard that and stopped. He asked, "What is it?"

Gray asked, "Who is next?"

Darke answered, "Wendy Marvell, the Sky Dragon Slayer."

Gray said, "I see."

Darke disappeared and then they saw that and said, "Teleportation Magic, huh? It seems that the new Magic Council isn't after our lives. Oh well. We need to get to the others. And forge this Ishgar Alliance once again."

Kagura said, "Just like when we faced all of Alvarez Empire. But you know, this is a totally different game we're playing here."

Millianna said, "Agreed. These guys are professional killers."

Gray said, "Well, we can't afford to let them stay on our land."

As soon as he said that, Daniel's voice appeared saying, "Oh, Gray Fullbuster just woke up."

Gray said, "You again. Is hitting me with those huge ass raindrops not enough for you?"

Daniel answered, "Nope. But I'm not going to be your opponent this time. The Empress wishes for someone far stronger than I to take your ass out."

Gray asked, "Is that so?"

Another voice appeared saying, "That's correct boy. And I'm coming for that head of yours. I'm going to take you straight to hell."

Gray heard that and he started talking incredibly fast and then Gray said, "Uh, talk slower. I didn't understand a damn thing that you just said."

Daniel heard that and then he yelled, "You will regret saying that."

Gray said, "He's pissed for no reason."

Daniel said, "He doesn't like it when people tell him to slow down. Just say that you're ready to die."

Gray said, "Nope. I'm not going to die."

He smiled and then Daniel said, "Then go get him, Rupert."

Rupert, one of the 50 Apostles said, "Good. I'm coming for you, Gray Fullbuster. See you soon."

Rupert took off toward his location and then Millianna said, "I have a bad feeling about this."

Kagura said, "Agreed."

Gray said, "There is always a bad feeling when facing strong enemies. I just happened to anger a really fast person."