Juvia's eyes were locked on the spinning sphere, every movement precise, every breath in sync with the flow. Water surged and twisted under her command, wrapping tighter around the struggling demon within. The air trembled with the weight of her magic.
Makarov stood beside her, his expression grave. His small frame seemed carved from stone as he watched the battle between will and chaos unfold. He was ready to intervene at any moment if the control faltered—until a new voice, smooth and calm as rippling water, flowed into the tension.
"To use the currents themselves," the voice said, low and deliberate, "to disrupt its rhythm and prevent it from gathering power or escape…"
Makarov's eyes widened before he even turned.
"…Beautiful, Beta. You have grown strong."
The words were like thunder to Juvia.
Her entire body stiffened, then flooded with warmth so sudden it nearly broke her concentration. Her cheeks flushed pink, her breath caught in her throat, and the corners of her mouth quivered into an uncontainable smile. The voice that had echoed in her dreams, the one that guided her through darkness, was here—he was here, behind her, praising her!
"Sh–Shadow-sama…" she whispered, trembling, eyes wide and shining. Every word of praise from him felt like sunlight spilling through clouds. Her heart fluttered so wildly that her magic rippled in rhythm with it. She wanted to kneel, to turn, to see him—but her hands were busy with the spell, and her mind was dissolving into bliss.
Makarov, meanwhile, felt a chill crawl down his spine. He hadn't sensed it—hadn't felt it. But the instant the voice had spoken, the air behind him had changed.
Slowly, cautiously, he turned.
A figure stood there. Cloaked in black, framed by moonlight, his presence neither heavy nor light—it simply was. The air bent around him, yet he exuded no magic, no sound, no trace of existence until he chose to speak.
How… when did he get here? Makarov thought, his heartbeat quickening despite his discipline. To appear behind me—without a single flicker of magic…
He swallowed hard. He'd faced demons, and warlords. But this… this was different.
And still, beside him, Juvia stood in another world entirely.
Her heart sang. He praised me… He saw me! The water around her began to tremble, matching her heartbeat, her face now crimson. She bit her lip, but it was no use.
The current faltered.
The sphere quivered.
"Ah…"
And the Lullaby inside—its monstrous form coiled and battered—felt it.
The instant the pattern wavered, the demon's hollow eyes blazed purple. A guttural, triumphant sound tore from its throat as the containment shattered.
With a deafening crack, the water exploded outward.
A tidal blast erupted from the collapsing sphere, waves roaring across the clearing. Makarov threw up his arms, preparing to defend himself as sheets of water approached the ground, the demon's shadow looming through the mist.
From the distance, Natsu's voice echoed in alarm. "Erza! The barrier's down!"
He charged forward, fire sparking in his fists, only for Erza to grab him by the collar.
"Stay back!" she barked, dragging him away with Lucy's help. "Everyone, fall back now! The Master will handle it!"
"But—!"
"No buts!" Lucy yelled, smacking him over the head again.
As she turned, she caught a glimpse of movement in the chaos—something that hadn't been there before. A tall, cloaked figure standing calmly behind the Master and the blue-haired mage. Her breath caught. That silhouette… from the hill…!
Erza had seen it too. Her hands tightened on her sword. He was up there moments ago… and now—behind them?
Even Bob, halfway through pulling Goldmine away, stopped long enough to stare. His usual flamboyant grin faltered for half a heartbeat. "Oh, my…" he murmured, fan trembling slightly. "That one doesn't walk—he just appears."
Then, forcing a laugh to cover the chill creeping down his spine, he added in a sing-song tone, "Welp! Time to retreat before the serious folks start breaking the scenery, darling~!"
Goldmine nodded gravely. "Yes… let's."
They ran.
Back in the center of the chaos, Juvia had fallen to her knees, staring in horror at the collapsing spell. The great sphere had burst apart, and torrents of water raged outward in every direction.
"N-no…! Shadow-sama, I—I failed you!" she gasped, voice trembling. But even as despair clawed at her, instinct and devotion overrode it. She didn't want her spell to wet her respected Shadow-sama.
Her arms lifted weakly, fingers twitching through the air. The flood answered her. With the last of her focus, she bent the raging current, splitting it cleanly to both sides. The waves curved in two massive arcs, crashing harmlessly into the earth around her — leaving Shadow, Makarov, and the others a bit behind them untouched.
The effort tore through her reserves like a blade. Her magic shimmered once, then flickered out.
She slumped forward, body trembling, breath shallow. The world around her blurred, and her voice came out in a whisper barely audible over the roaring wind. "Please… forgive me… Shadow-sama…"
Then her consciousness slipped, and she collapsed, the remnants of her spell cascading gently around her like falling rain.
The demon's bellow roared through the mist, shaking the very ground — not from its voice alone, but from the sheer impact of its massive body crashing down, the earth trembling beneath the weight of its fall.
Shadow looked at Beta for a brief moment. The wind tugged gently at his cloak. Then he sighed softly, as though the entire situation were a minor inconvenience in his grand performance.
Lifting his right hand, he extended his palm forward.
"Ugly sound," he muttered, almost lazily. "You've ruined my atmosphere."
He pushed.
There was no chant. Just a low hum of magic— and then reality itself moved.
The air detonated outward with a VWOOM that split the mist and dust clean apart. The sheer pressure vaporized the last of the water still hanging in the air, turning it into a brief cloud of steam before it vanished. The remaining force struck the Lullaby like a hammer, sending the massive demon hurtling backward through the haze.
The creature crashed through the council hall, the explosion of debris echoing through the mountains. Stone, smoke, and purple light erupted skyward. When the dust cleared, the once-mighty demon lay buried under rubble, its twisted body broken and silent.
The only sound that remained was the wind.
Not far beside him, Makarov exhaled slowly, lowering his hand that had been half-raised to cast a spell. He looked from the wreckage to the calm figure standing in front of him, cloak rippling softly.
Such power, such control…
He shuddered again.