Luxury Inn.
Theme Park.
Sunshine, beach, swimsuits.
This was Acalypha Paradise - a popular seaside resort town in Fiore Kingdom.
Erza and Lucy changed into swimsuits. Both were stunning beauties, their curves drawing countless admiring glances.
However, seeing their formidable companions, no one dared to approach them.
The four played beach volleyball.
Well, technically three people.
Erza took on two opponents by herself, slamming the ball with such force it nearly collapsed, exploding sand with each impact.
Natsu and Gray teamed up, neither holding back - the sound of their hits like cannon fire.
Lucy initially participated enthusiastically.
But after witnessing the display, she hid behind Erza, too scared to even touch the ball!
Not far away...
A beach umbrella stood beside two chairs and a table.
Jehfrit wore a shirt patterned with kittens and beach shorts, left open to proudly display his well-defined, symmetrical abs.
He sat cross-legged, wearing a pair of glasses made from a long flexible straw he'd twisted together, casually sipping through the remaining length.
Beside him, Happy imitated Jehfrit, wearing sunglasses while drinking his own beverage while imitating Jehfrit's facial expression.
So calm...
So beautiful...
The waves rolled in.
Jehfrit only needed to look straight ahead as girls continuously entered and left his field of vision.
No need for regret.
Nor to turn his head.
The fleeting, blurred impressions were what made them beautiful.
As the sun set,
Natsu and the others finished playing.
They returned to the inn, showered, changed clothes, and regrouped for evening activities.
Lucy watched Erza in her elegant form-fitting dress, eyes lingering on her slender waist. She secretly pinched her own soft flesh, looking somewhat disheartened.
"Happy, let's go! Tonight we'll become millionaires! Let's Go Gambling" Natsu shouted.
"Aye!" Happy responded excitedly.
The cat and boy ran toward a lottery facility.
"You might as well give up. Those pure luck-based games are impossible to win," Gray shook his head, heading to a card table instead, full of confidence. "This is how you make money."
"Gray-sama." Suddenly, a beauty in a blue dress with matching curly hair appeared beside Gray.
"Juvia?" Gray was surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Just coincidence..." Juvia said, looking guilty.
"Well, since you're here, enjoy yourself," Gray suggested.
"Okay!" Juvia shyly replied, "Can I play with Gray-sama?"
"Huh?" Gray was taken aback.
"As long as I can play with Gray-sama, I'm willing to do anything!" Juvia declared enthusiastically.
"Willing to do anything, huh..." A muscular man with an eyepatch approached, observing with his single visible eye.
"Who are you?" Gray frowned, sensing danger.
"Nice to meet you, Gray Fullbuster." The muscular man suddenly attacked.
A magic circle appeared over his eye.
"Watch out!" Before Gray could counter, an explosion sent him flying!
*BOOM*
The massive explosion miraculously didn't affect any bystanders.
Earlier, all passersby had instinctively avoided coming near.
As the smoke cleared...
Juvia lay on the ground, face contorted in pain.
"Juvia, are you alright?!" Gray quickly got up, shielding Juvia behind him, glaring angrily at the sudden attacker.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Where's Erza?"
The question surprised Gray.
*Splash splash*
Water gathered before Gray. Juvia stood up, now shielding Gray, declaring, "Whatever your reasons, I won't allow you to hurt Gray-sama!"
"What?" The man placed a finger on his forehead, clearly communicating with his companions through magic.
"Found Erza?"
"Does it matter if we kill them?"
"Got it."
The man looked at Gray and Juvia, saying nothing more as he cast his magic.
"Dark Moment--"
Suddenly, Gray and Juvia found themselves plunged into darkness, unable to see anything - similar to when Jehfrit used his magic to deceive their senses.
The man suddenly appeared behind Gray and Juvia, casting another spell.
*BOOM*
Just as Gray and Juvia tried to react, overwhelming fear flooded their minds!
That terror consumed them instantly.
*Thud*
Both collapsed.
"With this explosion, you won't wake up anytime soon." The man turned and left.
Elsewhere...
Natsu also came under sudden attack.
But he directly punched his enemy in the face.
"Something's off..."
Though he'd knocked down his opponent, Natsu's instincts told him something doesn't add up.
Far from where Natsu and Gray were...
A girl suddenly appeared behind Lucy, binding her with rope.
"Lucy!" Erza was about to draw her weapon but recognized the attacker, shocked: "Millianna?!"
"It's been a while, Erza-nee." The girl Millianna moved and behaved like a cat.
"You've learned magic, Millianna?"
Erza urgently said, "Release Lucy! She's my comrade!"
"We were comrades too, Erza-nee." A blonde-haired young man appeared behind Erza, angrily stating, "Before you betrayed us!"
Erza turned to face this familiar yet strange man, her expression complex.
"Erza, you've become very beautiful." A block-faced man suddenly appeared to greet her.
"Long time no see, Erza." A strong one-eyed man emerged from the shadows.
"Simon... Wally..." Erza's expression was complicated. "You've all learned magic?"
"Magic isn't that difficult once you grasp the basics, right?" The strong one-eyed man said indifferently.
"...Why are you here?" Erza asked after a moment of silence, then her expression turned serious. "You were my comrades, but so is Lucy!"
"I won't harm you, but I won't allow you to harm Lucy either!"
Powerful magical energy surged around Erza as she confidently declared, "Even though you've all learned magic, I'm confident I can subdue all of you without causing harm!"
"Simon." Erza looked at the strong one-eyed man, her tone serious. "Release Lucy. Whatever you want to say, just say it!"