Gray also arrived at the City Hall.
However!
What he faced was a hostile magic army—an unwelcome greeting of weapons and glares.
"Don't let the Fairy Tail mages in!"
"Your partners hurt our comrades! Take him down! Everyone together, seize him!"
"We won't let Fairy Tail destroy our city again!"
...
Aside from Erza, there were no other Fairy Tail members who had arrived yet.
Facing this magical army, Gray scratched his head. "No way! Erza, you were that violent?"
"Since you've already made a move on the magic army, I won't hold back either!"
He pressed his hands together, and a chilling aura saturated the surroundings. "Ice-Make: Floor!"
The frost spread instantly, a layer of ice racing toward the magic army at incredible speed.
"AHHHHH!"
"OHHHH!"
Accompanied by various strange cries, the soldiers charging at Gray all slipped and fell, tumbling over one another in a chaotic heap. Gray took the opportunity to dash into the City Hall.
But once inside, he was bewildered. The massive building was eerily empty; he had no idea where the broadcasting room was.
At that moment, a figure emerged from behind Gray, unnoticed, slowly creeping closer.
Broadcasting Room.
Kageyama brought Lullaby to the microphone. He knew Erza was right behind him, but at this moment, he felt no fear.
With Lullaby in hand and the microphone right there, no matter if Erza was a hundred times stronger, it was impossible for her to kill him before he could take a single breath!
One breath could kill everyone in the city. Kageyama, who had never done anything on this scale before, felt a surge of excitement.
Erza charged in with her sword, pointing it straight at his head: "Put down Lullaby!"
"I've investigated you. You haven't been with Eisenwald for long, and your crimes aren't many."
"If you drop that flute now, I can guarantee your punishment won't be severe!"
Kageyama looked at Erza with disdain, his voice tinged with madness. "Punish me?"
"Erza! Have you realized the situation yet?"
"With just one breath, everyone in this city dies."
"What use is being stronger than me?"
"No matter how fast you are, can you kill me in the time it takes to exhale?"
"Even if I die, so what? To have an entire city of people buried with me—what a glorious way to go!"
"From the moment I joined Eisenwald and became a Dark Mage, I knew I wouldn't have a peaceful end!"
He pointed Lullaby at Erza. "Kneel before me now, and I might consider delaying the song! I'll let the people of this city live just a little bit longer!"
Erza's expression froze.
Kageyama was right about one thing: her strength was far beyond a small fry like him. But no matter how strong she was, she couldn't kill him before he could blow into the flute.
A single breath—it wouldn't even take a second.
As soon as Lullaby was played, everyone in the city would die under the soul-stealing melody.
But...
Was Erza the type of person to bow her head?
She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, they were filled with unwavering determination!
Her longsword pointed directly at Kageyama: "I may not be able to kill you in the time it takes to breathe, but I can destroy this entire broadcasting room!"
"If I die with you, not another person in this city will perish!"
"Requip: Heaven's Wheel Armor!"
The re-equip was completed in an instant. Dozens of magic weapons hovered behind Erza, each pointing at a critical spot within the broadcasting room.
Kageyama stared blankly at this scene, his face full of disbelief. "...You intend to die with me?"
Kageyama knew exactly what kind of person he was. In no world was his life worth a trade with a top-tier mage like Erza.
Yet Erza was determined to kill him regardless.
She would not be threatened.
"Is this... Fairy Tail?"
Kageyama admitted that at this moment, he felt the urge to retreat. Erza was too uncompromising. She knew her life was worth far more than his, yet she refused to be manipulated. That unwavering look in her eyes told him she would not yield. If he dared to blow that flute, her weapons would launch.
They would all go down together.
His previous words were nothing more than a bluff. Kageyama didn't want to die!
If he weren't afraid of death, he wouldn't have joined a Dark Guild. Dark mages don't follow the Council's rules; they make money as they please, by any means necessary. They join so they don't have to face fierce magical beasts or the ruthlessness of other dark guilds.
Wrapped in her metal armor, Erza's heroic and valiant posture was fully on display. Her sword remained fixed on Kageyama as she barked:
"Put down Lullaby! I promise your punishment won't be too harsh."
"But if you insist on playing it..."
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