"Juvia… what's wrong?"
Lucy's eyes were wide with worry as she stared at Juvia, completely at a loss.
"Stop! Juvia doesn't want to become your puppet!"
But Juvia couldn't resist. The relentless waves of dark music filled her ears, clouding her mind, twisting her thoughts. Her appearance shifted, mirroring the dark, Gothic style of the long-haired man.
Smoke swirled around them, obscuring Lucy's view of what was happening.
"JUVIA!!!" Lucy shouted, panic lacing her voice.
"Hell… HELL! Let me show you the ultimate hell, hahaha!"
Before her stood Juvia, now grotesquely transformed with wild, cascading hair and dark, intense makeup.
"Juvia… what's going on?!"
"Clang, clang, clang, clang~"
The long-haired man behind them continued strumming his guitar frantically, and Juvia danced and spun in sync with the chaotic rhythm, utterly entranced.
"Could it be the music?" Lucy murmured, realization dawning.
"That's right. She's been captured by this Sleep Demon. Hahaha… now she obeys only me. She's no longer your ally."
The man's words cut through the air. "But if I make both of you prisoners… that wouldn't be as fun. It's much more entertaining to watch you fight each other."
Before Lucy could react, the piercing sound from the guitar surged forward, assaulting her senses. Juvia, now under his control, stared at Lucy with a twisted, evil grin.
"You ignorant little rocker… die!"
Juvia's body became a torrent of water, crashing toward Lucy. Within the swirling currents, Juvia's form struck relentlessly, fists pounding toward Lucy.
"Juvia, snap out of it!!"
Lucy dodged left and right, but the gap in their strength made it inevitable that some attacks would land. A whip of water struck, sending her flying backward.
"Juvia, you wanted to join Fairy Tail! How can you treat your comrades like this?"
"Yo, yo, yo! It's useless… so beautiful! Attack more!"
The long-haired man grinned wildly, intensifying his guitar assault. Juvia, now fully consumed by the magic, surged with violent water energy, hurling Lucy through the storming waves.
"Hahaha! Let's see how you resist now! Shatter to pieces!!!"
"Juvia… come back… I can't breathe…" Lucy gasped, struggling under the torrent.
"Lucy… this isn't Juvia! Juvia really loves Fairy Tail! She cares for her friends, enjoys every day… she didn't know a guild could be full of joy and laughter."
In the water, Juvia's heartfelt thoughts flowed with her tears, reaching Lucy: "So warm… Juvia's feelings are so warm!"
"It's time for the final strike."
The long-haired man's guitar roared, echoing through the hollow pipes. Juvia flung Lucy to the ground, spinning water around her with lethal intent.
Lucy, however, remained resolute, slowly rising with hope in her eyes as she looked at Juvia.
"Someone who sheds tears for their comrades… Fairy Tail will never reject them! Because that is true friendship… something you could never understand!"
"And speaking of friendship, it gives me an idea!"
Lucy stood, eyes shining, ready to act.
"Lucy…" Juvia's eyes welled with tears as she stared at her friend.
"Boring… Juvia, finish her already! Clang, clang!"
The man's frustration and hatred boiled over. He slammed the guitar with all his strength, erasing any trace of Juvia's regained consciousness.
"OK… Whirlwind Water Saw! Let's shred you to pieces, hahaha!"
Juvia spun violently, charging at Lucy. Dust and debris rose from the impact of her water surge.
Lucy quickly pulled out her Celestial Spirit key, gripping it tightly, waiting for the perfect moment. She thrust the key straight into Juvia's torrent.
"Now! Open, Gate of Aquarius—AQUAIA!"
"Ding dong!"
A brilliant burst of water erupted as Aquaia appeared. But Lucy had overlooked one crucial detail: Aquaia's attack does not discriminate.
"Are you kidding me?! Summon me at a time like this?! Die!"
"Ah… ah… I… forgot about this…"
The colossal waves from Aquarius' attack surged, sweeping Lucy, Juvia, and the long-haired man into the turbulent waters, tossing them violently.
"Juvia, are you okay?"
"Lucy… I'm fine… are you?"
Breaking through the surface, they reached for each other. The moment their hands touched, their magic resonated, merging into a powerful force.
The water surged outward with devastating force. The long-haired man, still trying to absorb the torrents, was sucked into a whirlpool and slammed into the ceiling.
"Plop." His once-proud hair fell away, leaving him bald on the floor.
"Success… finally."
"Hey! You brat! Do you know I had plans with my boyfriend just now?!"
Aquaia's anger boiled as she glared at Lucy, fully scolding her. Lucy cowered, speechless, while Juvia shivered beside her.
"Don't get cocky! My boyfriend and I are traveling for the next two weeks. If you dare interfere—watch your neck!"
Aquaia gestured near her neck. Lucy gulped: "O-Okay!"
"Ha! And you still won't find a boyfriend that way!" Aquaia sneered, then vanished, leaving Lucy fuming.
With that, the battle ended in Fairy Tail's favor.
The combined magic of Lucy and Juvia surged so powerfully that even Kael and Jerar could feel it. After a tense moment, both stepped back, acknowledging the overwhelming force.
"This magic… Fairy Tail really isn't to be underestimated. Even combined spells…"
"Exactly, Jerar. Your plan is doomed to fail!"
"Hahaha… you really enjoy lecturing, don't you, Kael."
"Dark Paradise!" Jerar sneered, raising his hands. A black hole formed, growing slowly, sucking in everything around it.