Chapter 16: The Most Effective Way to Solve Problems

Fairy Tail's brand of verbal combat differed significantly from that of their opponents. Where others might use words to weaken an enemy's resolve or create doubt, Fairy Tail wizards utilized their arguments to inspire themselves and their comrades, amplifying their strength. Strangely enough, if an opponent ridiculed or resisted their words, the effects seemed to magnify further.

"Why? What is your real purpose?" Gray shouted, his voice thick with frustration. "Leon wants to surpass Uru, but why are you doing this? Or... was your family destroyed by Deliora too? Then you, of all people, should understand how terrifying it is!"

Standing off to the side, Kira maintained an impassive exterior, though inside he was practically cheering: Yes, Gray, keep pushing! Her family was affected by Deliora. Keep going!

Urrutia, faced with Gray's accusations, remained quiet for a beat before smirking. "You want to know my purpose? It's simple: I want Deliora's power. Even an immortal monster like him must have a way to be controlled. Imagine wielding that kind of strength... it would be exhilarating."

Gray's fury surged, as did the faint glow of his recovering magic.

"You want power? That's it? For something as shallow as this, you're willing to risk everything to revive Deliora?!" He turned toward Leon, his expression incredulous. "Leon! What's the deal with your companion? I thought your goal was to defeat Deliora, not hand its power over to someone like this!"

Leon scoffed. "You still don't understand, Gray. It doesn't matter. Once Deliora is resurrected, I'll defeat it myself. If someone tries to control me or Deliora, I'll just destroy them too."

Gray's rage climbed higher, his magic crackling faintly.

"ICEMAKE: Lancer!"

Several ice spears materialized and shot toward Urrutia, but with a single wave of her hand, she summoned the Arc of Time. The spears shimmered, crumbled, and vanished into thin air before they could even graze her.

"What?!" Gray's eyes widened. His magic had been nullified in an instant. He had no time to ponder this mystery, as his energy was rapidly depleting. Realizing he couldn't win alone, he turned to his companions.

"Damn it! Hey! You guys! How long are you going to keep sitting there doing nothing?!"

Kira, still lounging on the ground, didn't even bother opening his eyes. "Didn't you insist on handling the 'main threat' yourself?"

Beside him, Rocky and Kana exchanged amused glances.

"That's right," Rocky teased. "Just a moment ago, you were so confident, rushing in all by yourself."

Gray's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but he gritted his teeth and persisted. "Fine! I'll admit it. I was impulsive. But please—if Deliora is resurrected..."

"It's fine if it is," Kira interjected calmly.

"!!!"

Gray: "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"

Rocky: "Excuse me?!"

Kana: "Are you out of your mind?!"

Leon: Is this guy on our side?

Urrutia: What kind of lunatic am I dealing with here?

Kira straightened up slightly, dusting off his robe. "I said, let them complete the Moon Drop ritual."

Gray's eyes burned with disbelief. "Kira, this is NOT the time for jokes!"

"I'm not joking," Kira replied, his tone measured. "I'm saying, let them finish."

Gray stood frozen, trying to process the words. After several moments of silence, he exploded. "You... you bastard! What the hell are you talking about?!"

Rocky and Kana stared at Kira, equally bewildered.

"Yeah, why would you let Deliora be resurrected?" Kana asked, her voice laced with concern.

Kira sighed and stood up, stretching. "Even if I defeated them now, what would change? Are you planning to stay here forever to guard against another resurrection attempt? Or do you want to drag Deliora back to the guild and babysit it for the rest of your life? Because if not, this cycle will never end."

He gestured toward Leon. "This guy's obsession will keep driving him back to this plan. The only way to stop it for good is to let Deliora rise... and then destroy it completely."

Gray clenched his fists, torn between anger and the nagging suspicion that Kira might be right.

"But..." Gray's voice faltered. "If we brought it back to the guild, the Master could—"

"Even if the Master could keep it sealed, what happens after we're gone? Magic like this will always find a way to be unsealed eventually. The best solution is to deal with it here and now."

Gray's shoulders slumped. His voice wavered. "Absolute freeze cannot be undone..."

Kira's eyes sharpened. "But it is being undone. Isn't that proof enough? Believe in Uru's magic. Believe in the strength she instilled in you."

Gray turned away, his voice a whisper. "What do you know about Uru..."

"I know enough. And I know there's no invincible magic in this world—not even the power of a demon."

Gray hesitated, but Kira's confidence finally pierced through his doubt.

"You have to trust in your strength, Gray," Kira said, his voice steady. "And even more so, trust in the strength of your companions. We are Fairy Tail."

Gray exhaled deeply. "Fine. Do what you want."

Leon, overhearing the exchange, lowered his head. For the first time, his unwavering determination wavered. He leaned against a nearby rock, conserving his strength.

Kana sidled up to Kira and whispered, "You'd better be sure about this. If Deliora actually wakes up—"

Kira smirked. "Relax. If things go sideways, I'll step in. After all, it's just a demon. I could kill it with a flick of my wrist."

Kana narrowed her eyes skeptically. "Really?"

Kira grinned wider, leaning in. "We are Fairy Tail."

Kana rolled her eyes but finally relented. "...Fine."

As the Moon Drop ritual reached its climax, a blinding purple light engulfed the area. The air vibrated with raw energy.

Kira's expression turned uncharacteristically serious. "It's almost time. Gray, Leon—get ready. This ends now."

Beneath the shimmering light of the ritual, the ground trembled violently, heralding the arrival of Deliora.

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