The halls of Tartaros echoed with footsteps and ragged breaths. Gray kept his pace steady but sharp, just a step behind Elfman. Juvia was right beside him, her brows furrowed in determination. Lucy, Wendy, and Carla followed a few paces behind, each silent and focused.

When Lisanna left with Natsu, Happy, and Ron to save Hermione, Elfman declared rescuing Mira. But they couldn't let the big man go alone. So, Gray followed, and wherever he went, Juvia was right behind. Lucy tagged along, wishing to save her friend. Wendy and Carla came because the sky dragon slayer believed Mira needed healing. She would have gone with Natsu, but those guys were already too far away, and some of the mages in the cells needed treatment.

Gray clenched his fists. 'Damn it, Mira… hang in there.'

A pressure filled the air, making his body tense. A chill swept through the corridor, one that didn't come from the base's structure. Gray swept his eyes around the hall, searching for the source of the magic energy.

Then a blur of silver shot past them. Gray barely had time to register the figure before a hand gripped his arm in a vice.

"What—!?"

"Gray Fullbuster," came a voice like cracking ice, low and commanding. "I need to borrow you for a moment."

The unknown person yanked Gray forward, preventing him from demanding answers.

"Gray!" Juvia cried, reaching a hand out toward him.

The ice mage twisted in the man's grip, trying to break free, but they were already gone.

They reappeared in an open chamber far from the others. It was wide, barren, and the stone floor had a light dusting of frost.

Gray ripped his arm free and took several steps back. As he turned to face the enemy, icy mist formed around his fists. "Who the heck are you?!"

The man in front of him said nothing at first. He stood tall, armor-clad arms at his sides, the cold aura rolling off him in waves. His spiky, dark hair swayed in the breeze from a broken wall nearby.

That face—Gray had seen it before. In old photographs. In dreams. In nightmares. The only difference was the scar marring his face.

The ice mage couldn't move. 'No... It couldn't be.'

Gray clenched his fists, causing the knuckles to whiten.

"You…! Why do you look like my dad?" he demanded.

"Because I am your father," the man said quietly.

Something inside Gray snapped. "Liar!" he roared, launching a flurry of ice projectiles at the man.

Silver's doppelganger raised one hand. The ice shattered mid-air before it could reach him.

Gray didn't let up. He dashed forward, fists blazing with his ice-make magic. "You expect me to believe that?! My father died—he died because of Deliora! I saw his body! My whole village was—!"

Their fists clashed, the air around them freezing, cracking.

"I know what happened," Silver said, parrying another blow. "I was there."

Gray gritted his teeth and formed twin blades of ice in his hands. "Then you should be dead. What kind of sick trick is this?!"

Silver sighed, blocking the X-shaped attack. "This isn't a trick. I was brought back… by a demon named Keyes. He's a necromancer and one of the Nine Demon Gates of Tartaros."

Gray widened his eyes and took a step back. His mind absorbed the information, but it was a slow process.

Silver took the opportunity and struck, knocking Gray back. He hit the ground hard, skidding across the stone.

"Harry Potter is fighting him right now," Silver continued, voice calm, even as his hands dropped to his sides. "And when Keyes dies... I'll go with him."

Gray pushed to sit up, shoulders heaving. "So you're saying… this is temporary?"

Silver nodded. "I don't have much time left. That's why I needed to find you. There are things you need to know."

Gray didn't speak. He forced himself to his shaky feet, breathing hard.

Silver looked him in the eye. "The main thing you need to know… is about Natsu Dragneel."

Gray flinched, and his chest tightened. "What about him?"

Silver's expression darkened. "He's END."

The words landed like a punch to the gut. Gray sucked in a breath, almost choking on it.

In a whisper, he said, "...No."

"I'm telling you the truth," Silver said with sadness and warmth. "END, the most powerful demon created by Zeref... is Natsu. He doesn't know it. But if his book is opened, the transformation will begin. You'll lose him."

"N-no..." Gray stuttered. "That's not—Natsu isn't like that. He's not some monster!"

Silver nodded. "He's not. That's what makes it worse. If the book opens, everything could change. That's why I'm telling you. You have to protect him, Gray. Never let that book fall into the wrong hands."

Gray swallowed hard, his mind spinning. Zeff's cryptic warning danced in his head. "END won't be a problem."

Wait," he said aloud, voice cracking, "how would Zeff know that?"

But he didn't wait for an answer.

With trembling hands, Gray asked, "Where's the book?"

Silver hesitated, looking away for a moment. He sighed, then answered, "Mard Geer has it."

Gray clenched his fists, ice trailing up his arms. "Then I'll stop him. I'll destroy the book myself if I have to."

Silver gave a small smile. But then his body tensed. His knees buckled, causing him to fall.

"Dad!"

Gray caught him before he hit the ground.

"It's starting…" Silver whispered. "Keyes must be gone…"

Gray's eyes burned. He wasn't ready for this. Not again. Not like this.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be with you longer," Silver said, his voice growing fainter. "But at least now…you know the truth. And I can leave knowing I gave you something to fight with."

A soft, pale-blue glow began to shimmer from Silver's chest, pulsing like a fading heartbeat. It drifted from him in gentle waves, gathering between his hands before reaching out toward Gray.

"You've always been strong, Gray," Silver murmured, "but this… this is different. This is Ice Demon Slayer magic. It was created to destroy demons—corruption, evil, the darkness that poisons the world. This magic burns cold, not from emptiness, but from purpose. It won't just freeze your enemies—it will cleanse them."

The light touched Gray's skin, and instantly, he felt it flood into him. The cold wasn't biting or lifeless. It moved like a current through his veins—sharp, heavy with grief, but steady.

Silver's expression softened as he watched Gray grit his teeth, trying to contain the sudden rush of power. "It's harsh magic," Silver continued, "and it will test you. Your heart has to be stronger than your hate, or it'll consume you. But I know you, son. I know you'll wield it better than I ever could."

Gray dropped to his knees as the magic settled deep in his core. A weight pressed into his chest, cold as a winter storm—but behind the cold was something else. A familiar warmth. It was his father's presence.

"Live, Gray," Silver whispered. "And protect him. Protect your friend Natsu."

"I will," Gray promised, biting back tears. "I swear, I will."

And then Silver faded, like frost in the morning sun.

Gray knelt there for a long moment, the new power humming inside him.

He looked up, eyes steeled with purpose. "I'll defeat Mard Geer," he whispered. "Before Natsu gets to him."

TBC

Well, that was sad. :( There wasn't much action in this chapter, but I'm sure you already knew that fighting wasn't the main point. Also, I'm keeping the whole "destroying the book will kill Natsu" a secret from Gray for now.

Harry: You didn't tell me that I'd end up killing Gray's father when I killed Keyes! O0o

Enj/Dark: I didn't?

Harry: NO! DX

Natsu: That's messed up.

Enj/Dark: I guess I forgot to warn you.

Zeref: If he had known, he wouldn't have killed Keyes. He would look for a way to seal the guy instead or bring Silver back himself.

Harry: I wouldn't do that…

Voldy: Potter's right. He wouldn't bring back a dead guy for anyone. He doesn't do it for himself.

Enj/Dark: Did that come from you? Anyway, it's your turn.

Voldy: *Glare* Please review.