Chapter 7 : Angry Gray!!

"Huhuhu,"

Accompanied by violent magical fluctuations, the entire station was encircled by a high-speed rotating hurricane.

Erigor's magic, Emera Baram, took form, continuously draining air from its surroundings.

Everit remained composed. Dealing with each enemy that escaped skillfully, he ascended the stairs leisurely.

Erza and the others had already convened on the top floor.

Natsu bore visible injuries.

Red flames engulfed him as he braced against Emera Baram with his sturdy physique.

Unfortunately, this version of Natsu wasn't his apex, and he was forcefully repelled.

"Enough, Natsu. Don't proceed any further; you'll be torn asunder!"

Lucy embraced Natsu tightly from behind, her distress palpable.

"Damn it!" Natsu grunted reluctantly.

In that moment, his typically combat-sharpened mind sparked an idea.

"Huh?"

He glanced back at Lucy.

Lucy held him close, and as Natsu turned, their bodies collided and pressed against each other.

Their proximity was intimate, faces almost touching.

The warmth radiating from Natsu flushed Lucy's cheeks.

"What's the matter?" Lucy's gaze wavered slightly.

"That's right!"

Natsu, oblivious to the allure of a woman, forcefully broke free from Lucy's embrace.

"By the way, Celestial Spirits!"

Natsu excitedly shared his idea with everyone.

Through summoning the Celestial Spirits, they could be transported to the Celestial Spirit World and back to reality.

"No, Natsu," Lucy interjected. "The gate only opens where there's a Celestial Mage. In other words, there must be one outside!"

"Huh?" Natsu, confused, said impatiently, "Enough chatter, let's get to it."

"So, that won't work!"

Natsu attempted to learn more about the matter, but with little success.

"Hey," Natsu shook his head, "I'm completely lost."

*Gululu*

Everit leaned against the door, sipping on milk tea.

"Don't you feel nervous at all?" Gray's forehead creased with frustration.

"Stop it, Gray," Everit snapped his fingers.

'Click.'

He took a photo with the camera placed at his feet.

Everit remarked, "Crisis stirs emotions, and focusing on details can be exasperating. Don't spoil the moment."

"You..." Gray was at a loss for words. "You always fuss over such trivial matters."

"Is it really trivial, Gray?" Everit questioned.

"Humph," Gray snorted coldly.

Everit glanced at him. 

Something trivial, huh?

Gray, I'll save this moment and reminisce when you tie the knot!

"But..." Gray sighed, "Teaming up with someone like you doesn't give me any sense of danger. Despite the peril, seeing your calm demeanor makes it seem trivial."

"On the contrary, Gray," Everit smiled, "Your presence makes me feel secure."

"You occasionally spout such heartwarming words," Gray said with a smile. "But are you sincere?"

"Of course!"

"Those two over there!" Erza yelled. "Everit, if you have a plan, spill it out quickly and let's not waste any more time!"

"I'm left with no choice," Everit shook his head. "You know, my magic isn't offensive, but this Erigor is foolishly challenging the guild masters."

"Ahem," Kageyama, lying on the ground with severe injuries, spoke with a proud grin. "But he possesses the cursed flute Lullaby. Once Lullaby is played, those old geezers will meet their end!"

"Old geezers!"

Upon hearing this, Natsu tensed up and collided with the Storm Wall inadvertently.

"Ah, I remembered!"

At that moment, Happy shouted.

"Virgo!" Happy exclaimed excitedly.

"What's the matter?" Erza inquired.

Happy then explained.

After defeating Everlue, Virgo wished to accompany Lucy, so she entrusted the key to Happy.

Virgo had the ability to tunnel underground.

After a fierce struggle,

Virgo, having transformed from a massive tank into a graceful form, dug underground to create an escape route.

"Princess, please wait a moment," Virgo looked defensively at the four men as Lucy was wearing a skirt.

"..." Gray was stunned, then recalled something and said, "Natsu, I'll go down first!"

With that, Gray leaped into the hole.

"You jerk, why are you going first!" Natsu punched Gray aside and descended first.

"Damn it!" Gray had no choice but to drag the injured Kageyama along, muttering viciously, "Follow me down, got it!"

With a resigned sigh, Gray hastily covered his exposed backside with one hand before leaping down into the unknown depths.

"What in the world does that signify?" Lucy queried, utterly perplexed.

"It's probably for the best that you remain ignorant," Erza remarked, massaging her temples in frustration. Kageyama trailed behind her, a silent witness to the unfolding events.

The trio of girls exchanged bewildered glances as Everit's enigmatic figure vanished into thin air.

"Ahhh—!" Gray's anguished cry reverberated from the subterranean passage.

"I swear I'll make you pay, Everit!" he vowed vehemently.

A surge of icy magic erupted from below, sending shivers down their spines.

"Princess, perhaps I should create another passage," Virgo suggested, sensing the urgency of the situation.

Lucy's expression mirrored a mixture of gratitude and apprehension. "I'm sorry to trouble you," she murmured, her thoughts tangled.

Meanwhile, outside the station, Gray wore a scowl that dared anyone to meet his gaze. Even Natsu seemed hesitant to approach him.

"Wait, where's Natsu?" Lucy inquired, scanning the vicinity.

"He's most likely already on his way," Erza surmised with a knowing nod.

Indeed, Natsu and Happy were conspicuously absent, having embarked on their own impromptu pursuit.

"Let's not waste any time," Erza declared, taking charge as she made her way to the waiting vehicle.

"Just a moment, I haven't laid eyes on Everit yet," Lucy interjected.

"Forget about that guy!" Gray snapped before Lucy could finish, his frustration palpable.

With that, Erza started the engine and steered the car towards Croba Town.

At the carriage station within the city, Everit sought out the attendant.

"Kindly arrange for a carriage with the utmost speed and stability," he instructed, flashing a generous sum of money.

"Certainly, esteemed guest, your wish is our command!" the attendant replied deferentially, bowing deeply before setting to work.

Before long, Everit embarked on his journey in the swiftly-moving carriage.

Though the carriage boasted impressive speed, it paled in comparison to Happy's aerial agility or the magical four-wheeler fueled by Erza's magical prowess.

He missed the showdown between Natsu and Erigor, but it held little interest for him.

From the outset, when he acquired Lullaby, the outcome of the game was essentially decided.

However, for the sake of Natsu and the others' growth, he refrained from prematurely ending the game.

In truth, Erigor posed no significant threat to Natsu; he was merely a minor obstacle.

Everit's attention waned as the journey brought him to his destination—Croba.

There, he observed the Guild Master and others engaging in conversation with Kageyama.

As Kageyama brought the flute to his lips, Everit could sense the weight of his inner turmoil, poised on the brink of a crucial decision.

"Nothing will change," Guild Masters Makarov remarked, his jovial demeanor fading into seriousness.

"Fragile people remain fragile, regardless of circumstance."

"But vulnerability itself isn't always a weakness." 

"Human beings are inherently fragile creatures. Fearing loneliness, they seek companionship in guilds and partnerships."

The quiet of the forest was interrupted by distant voices and the rustle of leaves.

Everit silently approached his companions through the forest's shadows.

Makarov's gaze shifted from Kageyama's face to the flute in his hand.

"Believe in tomorrow and take steps forward; strength will naturally follow," Makarov encouraged.

"With unwavering faith, even those in the shadows can face the future with a smile and step into the light," he added, gesturing towards Kageyama.

"Why rely on that flute?" Makarov questioned.

Kageyama remained silent.

"Let go of the flute before things become irreversible," Makarov advised earnestly.

With a resigned sigh, Kageyama dropped the flute and knelt in shame. "I've lost," he admitted.

Makarov smiled approvingly. "That's good, Everit, lower your gun."

"Everit?" The others looked around in confusion.

A soft thud came from under the tree to the left, drawing everyone's attention.

Everit emerged from the shadows beneath the tree, slowly lowering the black revolver with gold trim. 

He regarded Kageyama coldly. 

"Wise choice."

Kageyama's heart trembled with relief. At that moment, he was grateful he hadn't blown the flute himself. Had he done so, he knew he would have met his end at Everit's hands.

****

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