In the tense atmosphere, Levy slammed a book shut and looked up, her face beaming.
"I've got it! So that's how it is! I understand now!"
"Erza" (currently inhabited by a fragile Lucy) rushed over, grabbing Levy's hands with desperate hope.
"Really, Levy?! What does the incantation say?"
Levy adjusted her gale-force glasses, her eyes sparkling.
"The meaning of this ancient text is: 'Only by permanently exchanging souls can one attain true happiness!' That's the translation!"
"That's amazing, Levy!" "Erza" clasped her hands together in admiration. "You're a genius!"
Standing nearby, Mirajane whispered to Ankh.
"Seeing Erza act so... girly... is really hard to process."
Ankh nodded, sipping his drink. "Well, she is Lucy right now. If she tried to act like the real Erza, she'd probably pull a muscle."
Suddenly, the realization hit.
"Erza" froze. "Wait..."
"Gray" (Natsu) rested his chin on his hand, his eyes narrowing. "Permanent exchange... happiness..."
The guild went dead silent.
Then, "Natsu" (Gray) roared, slamming his fist onto the table.
"DOESN'T THAT MEAN WE HAVE TO STAY LIKE THIS FOREVER?!"
"Lucy" (Erza) crossed her arms, her patience snapping.
"This only translates the request, Levy! It doesn't solve the problem! We need to lift the Magic, not read poetry!"
Levy blinked. "Ah! You're right!"
With no time to waste, she dove back into the pile of books while Jet and Droy cheered obnoxiously in the background.
"Go Levy! You're the best!"
Wakaba watched them, deadpan.
"Those two are really annoying."
"Three minutes left," Mirajane announced with a terrifyingly calm smile.
"Happy" (Loke) had completely given up.
He was kneeling on the table, sobbing into his paws like a teenage girl.
"This weird winged cat body... I'm going to be stuck like this forever! What about my ladies? My harem! Waaah!"
"Loke" (Happy) crossed his arms, pouting.
"Loke's mouth has become so mean! I don't want to be a playboy!"
Nearby, "Natsu" (Gray) was frantically scratching his head.
Somehow, without realizing it, he had stripped off his shirt again.
This enraged "Gray" (Natsu).
"Stop stripping with my body, you pervert!"
"One minute left..." Mirajane chimed.
Inside Erza's body, Lucy was trying to stay calm, but internal panic was setting in.
If this became permanent, her Celestial Spirit contracts would be voided.
She couldn't lose Aquarius and the others!
At that moment, Ankh walked into the center of the chaos with a mischievous smile on his face.
"By the way," Ankh said casually, "I recall reading that for this specific Soul Swap Magic, only one pair can be decoupled at a time."
"WHAT?!"
The scream was collective.
Macao marched past holding a numbered sign like a ring girl. "Thirty seconds left! Give or take!"
"Then it should be me first!" "Natsu" (Gray) shouted, shoving his rival.
"In your dreams, Ice Princess!" "Gray" (Natsu) roared back.
"I'm the main character!"
"No way!" "Happy" (Loke) jumped up. "Are you saying I should stay as a cat forever? I have needs!!"
"I don't really mind, though!"
Mirajane sighed, watching them brawl. "Humans can be truly terrifying when pushed to the brink..."
Suddenly, Levy jumped up, waving the request paper.
"I found it! I figured it out!"
"Levy! Hurry!"
Macao paraded past again. "Ten seconds remaining! Ten... nine... eight..."
"SHUT UP!"
At the last moment, the irritable Gray and Natsu displayed astonishing teamwork.
They spun around in perfect sync and delivered a simultaneous double-slap that sent Macao flying across the room.
"Explain later, Levy! Just cast it!" they screamed.
"Understood! Here goes!"
'The prank has gone on long enough.'
'Levy found a solution, but she's rushing. If she casts that incantation now, she might just scramble the souls further. Imagine if Mirajane got swapped with Elfman... No, I'd better handle this.'
While everyone's eyes were glued to Levy, Ankh's lips moved silently.
"Arupoya, Pasra, Ruki, Geu..."
He wove a high-level dispelling charm into the air, masking it beneath Levy's voice.
Levy shouted her incantation.
A blinding golden light erupted from the request form, instantly enveloping the entire guild.
When the flash faded, there was a moment of silence as everyone checked their limbs.
Lucy looked down at her chest. "We're back! Oh, thank goodness!"
Erza rotated her shoulder, smiling contentedly. "This body feels much more comfortable. The armor fits again."
Loke adjusted his glasses as a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead.
"I'm... me again. Excellent."
Natsu laughed maniacally. "Finally back to normal! I'm all fired up!"
"Put some clothes on first, you flame-brain!" Gray shouted.
"Bastard! This is all your fault for stripping!"
Lucy ignored them and tackled Levy in a hug. "Thank you, Levy! You saved us!"
"How did you figure it out?" Erza asked.
Levy pointed at the ancient text. "Actually, the phrase itself has no meaning if you read it straight. I tried reading it backward. In ancient times, with limited characters, they often reversed sentences to hide counter-spells."
'Not bad. Her intuition for language is S-Class, even if her combat magic isn't. She guessed correctly.'
Ankh leaned against a pillar, watching the celebration with a faint smile.
He thought he had been subtle enough.
However, a shadow fell over him.
Erza Scarlet was standing right next to him.
"Brother," she said calmly. "You're playing pranks again."
Ankh raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "What makes you say that? Levy saved the day. I was just a bystander."
Erza crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "Just now, when Levy was reciting the incantation, I saw your lips moving. And the magical pressure... that wasn't Levy's mana."
They locked eyes.
Her gaze was steady as a tranquil pond reflecting the moon—clear, cool, and seeing right through him.
Ankh scratched the back of his head and whistled, looking toward the door.
"I was just... murmuring about what to eat for dinner."
"Oh?" Erza's expression didn't change. "How about a strawberry chocolate double-layered cake?"
Ankh paused. He looked back at her.
"...Cunning girl," Ankh smirked. "You've really grown up."
Erza smiled, a small, victorious thing. "Deal."
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