'Whoosh whoosh whoosh'
A violent surge of magical energy enveloped the entire station, creating a rapidly spinning hurricane.
Erigor's Wind Wall magic had taken form, steadily draining the air from within its confines!
Jehfrit, however, remained unfazed. After methodically dealing with the remaining stragglers, he calmly made his way upstairs.
Erza and the others had already gathered on the top floor.
Natsu was covered in injuries but still burning with fiery rage. Ignoring the danger, he charged at the Wind Wall head-on, relying on his brute strength to break through.
Unfortunately, this unbridled anger wasn't enough to match his full potential. He was violently repelled, sent flying backward.
"Enough, Natsu! Stop it—you'll be torn apart!" Lucy shouted as she wrapped her arms tightly around him, heartbroken by the sight.
"Damn it!" Natsu growled in frustration.
Suddenly, inspiration struck his usually empty brain, which somehow managed to function at peak capacity during combat.
"Huh?"
He turned to look at Lucy.
Still holding onto him, Lucy stumbled slightly as Natsu twisted around. Her soft curves pressed firmly against him, their faces nearly touching. The heat radiating off Natsu flushed Lucy's cheeks bright red.
"What is it?" Lucy asked, her gaze darting away nervously.
"That's it!"
Completely oblivious to the awkwardness, Natsu wrenched himself free from Lucy's embrace with surprising force.
"Right! Spirits!" Natsu exclaimed excitedly, turning to share his brilliant idea with everyone.
Using Celestial Spirit magic, they could retreat into the Spirit World and return to reality safely.
"It won't work, Natsu," Lucy explained patiently. "The gate can only open where a Celestial Spirit Mage is present. We'd need someone outside to bring us back!"
"Huh?" Natsu tilted his head in confusion. "Stop overcomplicating things! Just do it already!"
"I'm telling you, it's impossible!" Lucy tried again, though her efforts seemed wasted on him.
"Tch." Natsu shook his head stubbornly. "I don't get any of that."
'Gurgle gurgle'
Jehfrit leaned casually against the doorway, sipping on a bubble tea.
"You're completely relaxed, aren't you?" Gray muttered, exasperated.
"Don't ruin the mood, Gray," Jehfrit said lightly, snapping his fingers.
'Click'
The camera at his feet snapped a photo.
"Crisis breeds emotion, details fuel ships—don't be such a buzzkill," Jehfrit teased.
"You…" Gray sighed. "You're always fixated on these trivial matters."
"Is that really something you should say, Gray?"
"Hmph." Gray crossed his arms and looked away.
Jehfrit smirked knowingly.
Trivial matters, huh?
Gray, I'll make sure to save this moment for your wedding day. Rest assured, I'll play it back then!
"Still…" Gray let out a resigned sigh. "Going on missions with you feels so… anticlimactic. Something this dangerous shouldn't feel so mundane when you're around."
"You've got it backwards, Gray," Jehfrit chuckled softly. "It's because all of you are here that I feel safe."
"You actually said something heartfelt for once," Gray remarked, half-smiling. "But… do you mean it?"
"Of course!"
"Hey, you two!" Erza barked. "If you've got a plan, spit it out already! Stop wasting time!"
"I don't have one," Jehfrit admitted, shaking his head. "My magic isn't exactly offensive. Besides, someone like Erigor challenging the guild masters? Talk about overestimating himself."
"Cough cough," Kageyama sneered weakly from the ground. "But he has the cursed flute Lullaby. Once it's played, those old geezers will drop dead!"
"The Master?!"
Hearing this, Natsu tensed up and lunged recklessly at the Wind Wall again.
"Oh! I remember now!"
Suddenly, Happy shouted excitedly.
"Virgo!" he proclaimed.
"What is it?" Erza asked.
Happy quickly explained:
After defeating Evarle earlier, Virgo wanted to stay close to Lucy and handed her key over to Happy. Virgo possessed the ability to dig underground tunnels.
Following a brief scuffle—and transforming from a massive tank into her beautiful humanoid form—Virgo burrowed beneath the floor, creating an escape route.
"Princess, please wait a moment," Virgo said cautiously, eyeing the four men while noting Lucy's skirt.
". . ." Gray paused, realization dawning. "Natsu, I'm going first!"
With that, Gray leapt straight into the tunnel.
"What?! Why you?!" Natsu roared, punching Gray aside before jumping in himself.
"Damn it!" Gray groaned, dragging the injured Kageyama along. "You follow me down, got it?!"
Clutching his rear end protectively, Gray reluctantly followed suit.
"What does that mean?" Lucy blinked in confusion.
"You're better off not knowing," Erza sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Kageyama descended next.
The three girls turned to look at Jehfrit.
". . ." His figure vanished without a trace.
"AHHHH!"
A bloodcurdling scream echoed from below.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, JEHFRIT!"
Chilling magical energy surged upward.
"Princess, perhaps I should create another passage," Virgo suggested.
"That would be appreciated…" Lucy replied, expression conflicted.
---
Outside the Station
Gray's face was dark with fury. Everyone avoided looking at him—even Natsu had disappeared.
"Wait, where's Natsu?" Lucy asked.
"Natsu probably went ahead," Erza answered matter-of-factly. Knowing him, he likely charged off alone to confront Erigor directly.
"Let's go," Erza hopped into her magical four-wheeler.
"Hold on, what about Jehfrit?"
"Forget about that guy!" Gray snapped, cutting Lucy off mid-sentence.
". . ."
Erza revved the engine and sped toward Clover Town.
---
Clover Town Square
Jehfrit approached a carriage driver.
"Get me the fastest yet smoothest ride available."
"Right away, esteemed sir!" The driver accepted the payment and bowed respectfully.
Soon after, Jehfrit set off in his hired carriage.
Though swift, the carriage couldn't match the speed of Happy's flight or Erza's fully powered magical vehicle. By the time Jehfrit arrived, Natsu's battle with Erigor had already concluded.
But Jehfrit hadn't been particularly interested in the fight. From the moment he'd obtained Lullaby, the outcome had been inevitable.
Still, Natsu needed the experience. So rather than ending the game prematurely, Jehfrit chose to let events unfold naturally.
To Natsu, Erigor was hardly a formidable opponent—just another stepping stone on his path.
Thus, Jehfrit saw no reason to intervene further.
When he finally reached Clover Town, he found the guild masters confronting Kageyama.
Kageyama hesitated, raising the cursed flute to his lips. After a complex internal struggle, he prepared to blow.
"Nothing will change," Makarov declared, his usual jolly demeanor replaced by stern seriousness.
"Fragile people remain fragile no matter how much time passes."
"But fragility isn't inherently bad."
"Humans are inherently frail creatures. It's because we fear loneliness and insecurity that we form guilds and find companionship."
'Snap snap'
The tranquil forest carried distant voices, accompanied by the crunch of twigs and leaves underfoot.
Jehfrit stepped silently through the shadows, joining his comrades.
Makarov's gaze shifted from Kageyama's face to the cursed flute in his hands.
"Believing in tomorrow gives rise to strength."
"Believing you can live strongly allows you to face the future with a smile."
"Even those shrouded in darkness can step forward into the light."
"Why rely on a false crutch like that flute?"
". . ." Kageyama fell silent.
"Put down the flute. Don't let things escalate beyond repair," Makarov urged gently.
'Thunk'
Kageyama dropped the flute, collapsing to his knees in shame. "I surrender."
Makarov smiled warmly. "Good. Jehfrit, lower your gun."
Jehfrit?
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances.
'Rustle'
A sound came from the left. All eyes turned toward the source.
Emerging from the shadows beneath a tree, Jehfrit slowly lowered his black-and-gold revolver. He stared coldly at Kageyama. "A wise decision."
Kageyama shuddered, silently grateful he hadn't blown the flute. Had he done so, he would've been immediately eliminated by this man.