At Porlyusica's Hut
Kael appeared in a shimmer of light, supporting Erza as they arrived amidst the quiet forest. The scent of herbs and damp earth lingered in the air.
He gently handed the wounded Erza over to Porlyusica, the elderly healer, before turning toward the trees. The instant he did, his expression hardened. A deadly pressure erupted from him—his killing intent so suffocating that even the wind itself seemed to freeze.
The forest fell silent.
"Boy," Porlyusica's sharp voice suddenly cut through the stillness, "mind yourself. This isn't a battlefield."
Her tone snapped him out of it. The bloodlust vanished, replaced by calm once more.
Kael exhaled slowly and turned back to her, a faint, apologetic smile crossing his lips. "Sorry, Granny. Didn't mean to trouble you."
"Hmph." Porlyusica waved him off. "Just make sure you drive every last one of those bastards out of Magnolia."
"I will," Kael replied simply—and in the next heartbeat, his form blurred and disappeared from sight.
The old healer stood for a moment, gazing in the direction of the distant battle. With a sigh, she turned back inside to mix medicine.
Gray vs. Juvia
Rain poured steadily over the streets.
"You're one of the Element Four—the Rain Woman, right?" Gray asked, lowering his stance. His breath came out in mist as he stared at the blue-haired woman before him.
"That's correct," Juvia said softly, raising her umbrella. Raindrops tapped against it in rhythm.
"Doesn't matter who you are," Gray said coldly. "Anyone who hurts my friends—I'll never forgive them."
His icy eyes locked onto her. The memory of Lucy being trapped inside that water prison moments ago burned in his chest.
But Juvia, staring back at him, felt something entirely different.
That cool, calm gaze… so strong… so noble!
Her heart thumped loudly. Could it be? Is this… my prince?
Lost in her own fantasy, she completely ignored Gray's glare.
Our wedding… our life together… ahh, Gray-sama!
Gray blinked, uneasy. "What's with this woman…?"
Juvia's cheeks turned pink. If I capture him and take him back, maybe—yes, that's it!
"Water Magic—Aqua Lock!" she cried.
Water surged up from the rain-soaked street, encasing Gray inside a floating sphere. His air supply was instantly cut off, his face twisting in strain.
Seeing his pained expression, Juvia hesitated, guilt flashing through her eyes. But before she could release the spell—
Gray's hands came together.
A freezing blast erupted outward. The water sphere crystallized into ice in an instant. With a powerful shove, he shattered it apart, shards scattering like diamond dust through the rain.
To Juvia, the glittering fragments and the man standing in the center looked breathtaking. Her heart fluttered wildly.
So strong… so dazzling! He's the one… the only one for me!
"You attacked me first," Gray said flatly, shaking off water from his hair. "Guess I'll just have to make you surrender quickly."
He crouched, tossing aside his jacket without a second thought—completely oblivious to Juvia's sudden, flustered squeal.
"Ice-Make: Grand Battle Axe!"
He spun, bringing down a massive axe of ice, cleaving Juvia clean in half—only for her body to dissolve into water, reforming behind him.
"It's useless," she said gently, raindrops trailing down her face. "You can slice me a thousand times—it won't change a thing. Perhaps this is fate between two rivals. Farewell, my little blossom of love…"
"Water Magic—Aqua Slash!"
Blades of high-pressure water hissed through the air. Gray leapt aside as they sliced past, splitting an entire row of houses clean in two.
"The pressure alone can cut through steel," Juvia said, smiling faintly. "Don't underestimate water, Gray-sama."
"Now, hand over Lucy. Do that, and I might spare your guild."
That single sentence made Gray's temper flare white-hot.
"Are you kidding me?! Lucy's one of us. I'd die before handing her over!"
Those words hit Juvia like a dagger. Her imagined rival—Lucy—the girl he had risked his life to protect. Jealousy burned through her chest.
"Lucy… Lucy! I'll never forgive her!"
"Water Magic—Surging Torrent!"
"Ice-Make: Geyser!"
The two spells collided, hissing violently as scalding water clashed with freezing ice. Magic energy roared between them, vapor filling the air.
Driven by jealousy, Juvia's water turned boiling hot, steam swirling around her. But Gray's icy willpower refused to yield. His magic surged, overpowering hers completely.
With one final push—
"Ice-Make: Super Geyser!"
An enormous blast of freezing energy erupted outward, freezing Juvia and her water torrent solid. The rain itself crystallized midair, turning into snowflakes that drifted gently down. Houses, streets, and trees around them glittered with frost.
Even the other Fairy Tail members nearby paused, feeling the wave of Gray's power. They smiled grimly—knowing he had won his fight.
As Gray released the spell, Juvia's frozen form thawed. She fell from above, unconscious, but before she could hit the ground, strong arms caught her.
She blinked weakly, staring up at the man holding her. Warmth. Safety. His heartbeat.
"Why… why did you save Juvia?" she whispered faintly.
Gray sighed. "No reason. Just… couldn't let you fall."
The clouds parted. Sunlight poured through, golden and warm.
Juvia stared at the sky in awe—it was the first sunlight she had seen in years. Then her gaze shifted back to Gray, whose face glowed softly in the light. Her heart raced wildly.
So bright… so warm…
Unable to hold it in, Juvia's face turned scarlet—and she fainted, smiling, in Gray's arms.
Gray — Victory.