The last echoes of Lullaby's scream faded into the night, leaving behind only the groan of the trembling earth and the faint hiss of torn wind.
From the hill's edge, Natsu slammed his fists together, flames bursting to life around him. His teeth bared in a feral grin.
"Heh… now that thing's done screaming, it's my turn!"
He lunged forward — only for Erza's armored fist to smash down on his head with a clang.
"OW—! Erzaaaa!" Natsu staggered, clutching his skull. "What the hell was that for?!"
"Because," Erza said, glaring down at him, "Look at the Master— he is ready to take action. It's not our turn this time."
Down below, the Fairy Tail guild master had already stepped between the demon and the others, his small frame glowing faintly with condensed magic. His face was grave, the carefree grin gone.
"Natsu, stand back!" Makarov's voice thundered through the clearing, carried by power alone. "He's too dangerous for you! I'll take care of him myself."
Kageyama, still kneeling nearby, looked up weakly. "B-but… this is all my fault—"
"Go back," Makarov said without looking at him. His tone softened. "You've already chosen your path. Leave the rest to us."
The words hit Kageyama like a lifeline. He bowed his head, shaking, and stumbled away from the battlefield.
Up on the hill, Natsu growled, flames licking his shoulders again. "Tch, like hell I'm just gonna stand here while that thing's making a mess!"
Lucy grabbed him by the scarf, digging her heels into the dirt. "You heard him! Stay put, you flame-brained idiot!"
Gray smirked, crossing his arms. "Yeah, sit down before you embarrass yourself, hothead. Let the adults handle this one."
"What'd you say, ice cube?!"
"You heard me!"
Erza loomed over both of them, cracking her knuckles. "If either of you moves before I say so, I'll send you flying higher than that demon."
Both fell instantly silent.
Bob — who had wisely taken several steps back already — clapped his hands delicately.
"Now, now~! Let's not ruin our hairstyles over testosterone, boys."
He turned to the other guild masters, his usual calm gone. "Everyone, get back! The old man's serious — and when Makarov's serious, the terrain usually isn't afterwards."
The masters nodded, retreating to a safer distance as the ground pulsed again under Lullaby's presence.
The demon loomed far taller than the trees, its hollow skull turning slowly toward Makarov. A grotesque grin split across its bony face as waves of cursed energy rippled outward.
"Someone dares to oppose me? Then you shall hear my true song!"
The magic circle beneath it expanded — the air itself beginning to vibrate with a new, rising hum.
Makarov's aura flared gold, the wind whipping violently around him. "Then allow me to teach you," he said calmly, "how we silence noisy brats in Fairy Tail."
He raised one hand, his palm glowing with a blinding light. The pressure built — the kind of magic that could level mountains.
And then—
A sound like rushing thunder.
The air twisted. The clouds above broke apart.
From the eastern edge of Clover, a massive wall of water — easily taller than the demon itself — surged forward, crashing through the forest like a tidal wave.
Everyone froze.
"What the—?!" Gray shouted.
Lucy's eyes went wide. "Is that… water magic?!"
Erza squinted, her hair whipping in the wind. "No mage here could cast something of that scale…"
Makarov's spell fizzled in his hand as he stared up at the incoming wave, the reflection of the moon shimmering through it. His face hardened.
"What in blazes is this…?"
The Lullaby turned its skeletal head just as the wave loomed overhead, a vast shadow swallowing the clearing whole.
And before anyone could react—
The wall of water came crashing down.
---
Long before the demon's roar split the heavens, two shadows had already arrived...
The night wind was cool and sharp, brushing across the open hill overlooking Clover.
The moon peeked from behind drifting clouds, painting the land below in streaks of silver and shadow.
Two figures stood at the summit, cloaked in black — unmoving, unseen, yet perfectly placed.
Shadow and Beta.
The faint glow of the guild masters' gathering shimmered in the distance like scattered lanterns.
Beta adjusted her hood, her voice low and reverent. She fought to keep it steady; standing so near to Shadow-sama, witnessing such an epic moment unfold beside him, made her heart tremble.
"Shadow-sama, the one from the dark guild Eisenwald… has arrived. The man holding the flute."
Cid tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing as he peered down at the clearing. A single figure stepped out of the trees — Kageyama, trembling as he clutched the cursed flute in both hands.
The faint moonlight gleamed off the wooden surface.
Ah… there it is, Cid thought, his lips curving faintly. The legendary flute magic that produces a sound so beautiful that it puts people to sleep: The Lullaby.
His heart raced a little. The atmosphere was perfect. The moonlight, the stillness, the tension… all of it.
At last… the first main event.
He unfolded his arms, watching with the serene satisfaction of a director admiring his own stage.
Somewhere deep down, he could almost hear the background music swell.
Kageyama raised the flute to his lips, hands shaking.
Here it comes… Cid's eyes gleamed under the hood. Another bucket list moment completed: standing in the shadows while a dark guild magician plays a beautiful melody before the light guild masters of Fiore. How poetic.
He adjusted his cloak slightly — timing the wind just right so it fluttered dramatically. Because if there was ever a moment for the Eminence in Shadow to exist… this was it.
But the flute never played.
Kageyama's hands froze midair. His arms trembled. The sound that came out wasn't a melody, but a pathetic squeak of hesitation.
Cid blinked.
…Eh?
He leaned forward slightly, expression dead serious, as if analyzing a cosmic mystery.
Was he… nervous? Did he forget the lyrics? Wait, no—flutes don't have lyrics…
Unable to help himself, he hummed thoughtfully. "Hmm."
Beside him, Beta took that sound as the weighty contemplation of an omniscient being.
As expected of Shadow-sama, she thought, trembling with admiration. He foresaw the cowardice of this man… yet still hoped he would have the resolve to complete his role.
She bowed her head slightly. "He lacks courage, as you predicted, my lord. The light in his heart was too weak to carry the burden of darkness."
Cid nodded sagely, completely unaware she was narrating his confusion.
"Yes," he murmured, keeping his tone perfectly calm and wise-sounding. "A disappointment indeed."
Inside his head, however—
Come on, man! Don't freeze up now! This was supposed to be the big flute concert scene!
Beta sighed softly, gazing down at the trembling Kageyama. "He's trembling before Makarov Dreyar… one of the Ten Wizard Saints. Even a fool would feel the weight of such presence."
Cid nodded again, pretending to understand. "Yes. That must be it," he said gravely.
Or maybe he just forgot how to play…
He adjusted his cloak again, making sure it rippled just enough to reassert his dramatic silhouette.
Below, Makarov began to walk toward Kageyama. The atmosphere shifted — the calm before the storm.
Cid exhaled slowly, the faintest smile returning to his lips.
Well, at least the weather is still perfect.
---
Author's note : By the way, I make funny meme videos with anime / immortal cultivator energy over on Instagram 👉 @spiritstonemerchant.
If that's your vibe, go check it out! If that's not your vibe… then you leave me no choice but to send Delta to chase you and cut you down 😏⚔️(little hint for those who can get it)