Fairy Tail: The Last Saiyan

by Kaz-35

Trained under immense pressure from his potential to be the legendary Super Saiyan, Jin's life is shattered when a dragon destroyed his home and people. Haunted by guilt, he spends eight years honing his skills in isolation. Now seeking connection rather than vengeance, he joins Fairy Tail in Magnolia, hoping for a new beginning.

11. Island Siege

11: Island Siege

---

Jin, Lucy, and Happy stepped out of the tent and into the village storage area. Jin took in his surroundings—the scattered villagers nursing wounds, resting near crates of supplies. He looked to Lucy with his brow furrowed.

"So… they moved everyone here after the village was destroyed?"

Lucy nodded. "We managed to evacuate everyone to the center of the village while Natsu took care of the acid… It was close, but he saved them. Everything else, though, was pretty much leveled."

Jin exhaled, relief flickering in his eyes. "Glad they all made it. No one should have to live in hiding like this."

Lucy followed his gaze as it swept over the villagers—men and women with bodies twisted and limbs that weren't entirely human, scars from a curse they didn't ask for. It was one thing to see them as enemies; it was another to know that they were victims, innocent people desperate for a cure. Jin's eyes softened with pity as he took in each person, lingering briefly on a young woman with short black hair dressed in tribal jewelry, her left leg resembling that of a grasshopper's.

"We should tell Gray the good news," he said to Lucy, nodding towards him not too far away, speaking with one of the villagers.

Lucy squinted in Gray's direction, then nudged Jin. "Uh… yeah. About that."

Following her gaze, Jin spotted Erza approaching Gray, her expression set in that familiar steely focus. Lucy's lips pressed into a worried line, her brow furrowing.

"Do you guys think she's still mad?" Happy asked, frowning slightly in concern.

Jin shook his head slowly. "Look again."

Lucy and Happy blinked before returning their gazes to the pair, noticing the way Gray and Erza spoke with surprising calmness. Gray didn't tense, and Erza didn't look like she was about to chew him out. They were just… talking.

Jin could feel the relief ripple through them as Gray looked and waved them over, a small but welcome sign that things had been settled.

"Nice of you to join us," Gray greeted lightly, though he looked a little tired.

Jin gave a quick smile. "Seems like we're all set for now, huh? Good to see you two aren't at each other's throats."

Gray chuckled, shooting Erza a grateful look. "Glad we're on the same page. Good timing, too." He gave Jin a small, grateful smile. "It's good to have you here. Both of you."

Erza's nod was almost imperceptible, but Jin caught it. He couldn't tell if she was still upset, but he appreciated her effort to keep things civil.

"So… what's the plan?"

Erza's gaze softened slightly as she turned to him, appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood. "First, we need to find Natsu," she began. "Then we locate where they're performing the Moon Drip ceremony. Natsu is likely already headed toward where it's happening, which should also lead us to Deliora, and Lyon as well."

Jin turned to Gray. "You know this guy, right? What exactly are we dealing with?"

Gray's face hardened, and he let out a sigh. "Lyon… he was a friend. We trained together under Ur, my master." He glanced down for a moment. "He's using the Moon Drip spell to thaw out Deliora from Ur's Iced Shell. It's the only thing keeping Deliora sealed, but Lyon's planning to kill the demon once it's free, as if that would prove anything."

Jin's face darkened. "But… why would anyone want to let something that dangerous loose?"

Gray's fists clenched. "Lyon thinks he needs to be the one to defeat it. It's something he's always wanted for as long as I could remember. Problem is, he doesn't care what happens to the island's people, or anyone else, to get there."

Jin let out a slow breath, shaking his head. "Another group of people causing unnecessary destruction just to prove themselves superior. Where have I seen that before?"

Gray's lips thinned. "Trust me, Jin, you're not the only one who thinks that. He's in over his head, and he's unfortunately set on it." He gestured towards a large structure in the distance, overgrown and worn by time. "That temple over there is where the ritual happens. Deliora is sealed beneath it, and Lyon's probably biding his time until nightfall to continue the spell. I'll bet Natsu is already on his way there to cause a ruckus, if not already."

Happy's ears drooped slightly. "Do you think he's gonna be okay?"

Jin placed a reassuring hand on Happy's head. "Natsu won't go down that easily. He'll be fine, but he's going to need backup, I'm sure."

Erza nodded approvingly at their focus, though something else flickered in her expression. "Then it's settled, but there's one thing I must do before we leave," she said, turning her eyes on Jin. "Come with me. I'd like a word with you in private."

They exchanged glances, a faint tension rising as Erza began walking ahead.

"Pretty sure this is about earlier," Lucy whispered, nudging Jin's arm. "I know you got through to her, but still…"

Gray shrugged. "She's probably still pissed at you, but… hey, I owe you one." He paused, his eyes softening with a sincerity Jin hadn't seen often. "Thanks for talking some sense into her earlier. It… it means a lot to me."

Jin scratched the back of his head, a little bashful at his words. "Don't mention it. Just… trying to do the right thing."

Gray's smirk sharpened slightly. "Oh, I won't mention anything… except maybe how you kinda admitted that you enjoyed Erza spoon-feeding you?"

Jin's face gained a slight tinge of crimson, letting out a quick hiss. "Especially don't mention that."

Lucy giggled, delighted by Jin's reaction, while Gray snickered as he gave Jin a light clap on the shoulder.

"Go on, man. You don't want to keep her waiting."

With a resigned sigh, Jin nodded and jogged off to catch up with Erza, feeling the eyes of the others on him as he left. Even with their well-wishes, he couldn't shake the thought that this conversation would be more than he bargained for.

---

Jin trailed after Erza as she led him into a shaded patch of forest beyond the village storage area. She hadn't spoken a word since leaving the others, her silence weighing on him like the fog that curled through the trees. He cleared his throat, then forced himself to speak.

"So, uh… this is about what happened earlier, right?"

Still nothing. Erza's steps barely broke the quiet as she continued walking. Jin's eyes darted around the forest, and he felt the rising prick of anxiety. He wanted to say something—anything—to break the quiet, but the memory of her glare in the tent made him hesitate. He had faced her down once today, and though he had spoken his mind, he couldn't shake the feeling he was walking a thin line.

"Look, if this is about what happened in the tent, I only did it because—"

Erza stopped abruptly, her back still to him. His nerves tightened, and when she finally turned to face him, the intense look in her eyes struck him silent. He instinctively backed up, but then he remembered himself and squared his shoulders. He had stood up to her once; he could do it again, especially if it meant helping these people.

"Erza…" His voice wavered, and he cleared his throat, forcing himself to meet her stare. "I still believe we should help these people. They're suffering, and if we can do something about it—"

Jin's words died as Erza stepped toward him. He took another step back, but planted his feet once again, gathering the courage to stand his ground.

"Look, I'm sorry if I was out of line earlier, okay? I wasn't trying to defy you. I just couldn't stand by while the villagers… they didn't deserve this. I know you were focused on the team, but—

Before he could finish, Erza closed the remaining distance between them, and to his utter shock, her arms wrapped around him. Jin stiffened, his eyes wide as he struggled to process the unexpected warmth of her embrace. His defenses slipped away, his confusion replaced by understanding as she held him.

"I should be the one apologizing, Jin. You were right." She drew back enough to look at him, her expression shadowed by regret. "I was so… fixated on making sure Natsu and the others understood the consequences. I thought it was my duty to follow the rules, even if it meant ignoring the obvious suffering right in front of me."

Jin blinked, taken aback by the raw honesty in her words. "Erza…"

She nodded, almost as if she could sense his unspoken thoughts. "I let my sense of duty blind me to everything else. You had to step up and make me see it, and I'll admit that's not an easy thing to do. It was… selfish of me to act that way, and I know that now."

Jin's hands slowly found their way to return her hug. He had no words at first, just an understanding that came from a place beyond mere sympathy. They held the silence for a moment longer before Erza drew back, taking a small, almost hesitant step away.

"You didn't deserve my anger. It was wrong of me to be so callous, especially when you were only trying to show me what I refused to see." She met his gaze, her brow furrowing as she added, "Will you forgive me, Jin?"

He hesitated, though only to let her words settle fully. "Of course. It must've been tough for you to decide on something that feels like going against everything we're supposed to follow."

A flicker of warmth crossed her face, though her tone turned serious again. "Just so we're clear, this still doesn't change what's going to happen when we get back. Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Happy will still face punishment. They broke guild rules, and I have a responsibility to uphold them."

"I figured as much. Guess we'll cross that bridge when we get there. For now, at least we're back on the same side."

Erza sighed, and this time, there was a quiet gratitude in her eyes. "I owe you my thanks, Jin, for standing up to me even when it wasn't easy. You prevented me from making a decision I'd have regretted. For that, I am grateful."

Jin managed a light smile. "Well, it's good to have you back, Erza." He chuckled. "Not that I ever thought you'd stay mad at me for long."

She raised an eyebrow, her expression back to her usual self. "You know, I didn't expect Saiyans to have such a way with words, but perhaps I was wrong about that, too." She gave him a wry smile, one that Jin felt compelled to return.

"I was just trying to do the right thing," he replied, a little bashful now that the tension had finally lifted. "That's all."

They stood there for a moment, the tension finally melting away. Just then, the ground beneath them trembled, faint at first but unmistakable. Jin stiffened, his senses sharpening, and he glanced in the direction the tremor had come from. He could sense it—a familiar, fierce energy somewhere in the distance. Natsu.

The tremors faded, but the direction he'd felt him in was unmistakable.

"Guess Natsu's giving us a sign," Jin said with a chuckle, nodding toward the distant hills. "Right toward that temple Gray mentioned."

Erza's gaze followed his, and she nodded. "Then we have no time to waste."

---

The team, minus Natsu, sprinted through the narrow forest path toward the temple. Erza led with her unrelenting stride, Lucy and Happy close behind, while Gray ran beside Jin, his face shadowed and tense.

Erza slowed her pace and glanced at Jin. "If you're able to scout ahead, now's the time."

He nodded, already lifting off the ground, but he hesitate as he looked at Gray. "Actually, before I go… I need to ask: what's Lyon trying to achieve by releasing Deliora? I mean… freeing a demon just to kill it? There's gotta be more to it than that."

Gray's pace faltered, his eyes clouding over as he looked to the side, unable to meet Jin's gaze. He clenched his fists, and the others slowed, sensing the heaviness settling around him.

"Lyon wants to prove he's stronger than her—stronger than Ur."

Lucy tilted her head, brow furrowing. "Stronger than… Ur?"

Gray took a shaky breath, then sank to sit on a tree stump nearby, as if the weight of his memories was pressing down on him. "This isn't easy to explain, but… it goes back to ten years ago." He glanced at the ground, his hand curling around his knee. "Lyon and I… we trained under Ur. She… she saved me when Deliora destroyed my village."

"What happened?" Jin asked quietly, sensing the layers of pain embedded in Gray's voice.

"When she found me, I was nothing but a kid… bent on revenge. I wanted to destroy Deliora so badly that I didn't care about anything else. Ur took me in, but I was reckless and stubborn… just like Lyon. The only difference was that while I wanted to kill Deliora, Lyon wanted to surpass Ur. It was all he ever thought about."

Jin's eyes softened, memories of his own haunted past flashing before him. The guilt, the drive, the need to make everything right, even if it meant training until he could barely stand. It was a desperation he knew all too well.

"One day, we heard Deliora was close by, in this village called Brago," Gray continued, his shoulders tensing slightly. "Ur warned me to stay away, but I went after it anyway. I was stupid… I thought I could kill it myself. But when I faced it…" His hand clenched into a fist, trembling slightly. "I was no match for it. Not even close. Ur and Lyon found me in the middle of the fight and tried to help, but they couldn't touch it either. And when Deliora struck at us, Ur shielded us. She… She lost her leg right there."

Lucy and Happy gasped, and Jin's eyes darkened. Gray took a deep breath and paused, looking off into the trees as if seeing a much younger version of himself and Lyon trailing behind Ur in the snow; before everything went wrong.

"But Ur didn't back down. She used Iced Shell, a spell that uses your own life force in exchange for sealing the enemy in unbreakable ice. She knew it would cost her everything, but she went through with it anyway, sealing the demon forever… until now."

The words seemed to fall like stones. Lucy put a hand to her mouth, and Jin felt his chest tighten. He could practically feel Gray's anguish, the sense of helplessness as he watched someone he loved give everything for him. Gray forced a smile, but it was hollow.

"She asked me to tell Lyon she was dead, and made me promise to go out and see the world. That's why I came to Fairy Tail. Ur gave her life, and the last thing she told me was to live, not to waste myself away in revenge. I thought if I stayed away, Lyon would forget all that and move on."

Erza placed a hand on her chin, putting the pieces together. "But he didn't," she said gently.

Gray nodded grimly. "Lyon spent years in that obsession. He believes if he frees Deliora, he can finally prove himself by doing what Ur couldn't… by destroying it."

A moment of silence passed, broken only by the wind rustling through the leaves above them. Jin swallowed, feeling the familiar weight of Gray's words settle in his chest. He understood the loss, the guilt, the drive for vengeance, and the bitterness of survival. It was all too familiar. And hearing Ur's last words to Gray—the encouragement to live his life, even without her—hit him like an echo of his own parents' last words to him.

"Ur sounds like… she knows the real way to be strong," Jin said quietly, almost to himself. "It's hard to think about life after losing the people who gave you everything, but she knew. She wanted you to live, to find peace, to let you know you're worth more than vengeance." Jin's gaze lowered, the last words of his parents echoing in his mind like he heard them yesterday. "Before they were gone, my own parents wanted me to live a life I could be proud of. They also wanted me to keep going, even after everything."

Gray blinked as he looked at Jin, surprised by the empathy he saw there.

"Yeah… right. I guess Fairy Tail has a way of finding people like us," he said, a faint smile breaking through the pain. "Guess this guild really does bring together all the broken ones, huh?"

Jin chuckled lightly, thinking of Makarov's words on the importance of sharing each other's burdens, and for the first time, he felt that sense of kinship even deeper. Erza glanced at Jin, a flicker of curiosity and empathy in her gaze at his mention of his parents, as though a door had opened just a little wider on something she hadn't fully seen before.

Gray took a deep breath, his expression turning serious once more. "But Ur… she didn't die the way we thought. She's… she's still alive, sort of. She's still there, but she can't return. Lyon never knew that, and he… Well, he wants to melt that ice and destroy Deliora to prove he's stronger than her. To do what she couldn't."

Lucy gasped, and even Erza's expression shifted in surprise. Jin frowned, caught between hope and confusion.

"What… what do you mean by that?" Jin asked, frowning slightly.

"Are you saying… She's in that ice?" Lucy asked softly.

Gray shook his head, the uncertainty clear on his expression. "It's complicated. She's not really alive, but she's not gone either. I promised not to tell Lyon, but I think… he has to know now. He deserves the truth. But that's for me to tell him."

The weight of Gray's words left them all speechless. Jin understood the restraint it must've taken for Gray to even share that much, and he could sense the silent plea to let this secret remain Lyon's to know first.

Gray nodded, a sense of resolve settling over him again as he stood up. "Thanks. Now, I've wasted enough of our time here." He glanced at Jin, smirking slightly. "I think Erza's getting impatient."

Erza scoffed, crossing her arms with a smirk. "Indeed. I'd say you've wasted quite enough time sulking."

They all managed a laugh, the tension melting as they regained focus. Satisfied Gray was back on his feet, Jin took a step back, glancing at Erza.

"Right. If Lyon's just taking his time at the temple, we'd better hurry." He placed a hand on Gray's shoulder briefly, offering a reassuring squeeze before stepping back. "I'll scout ahead like you asked, Erza."

Erza nodded. "Do that. Let's keep moving."

Without further delay, Jin ascended above the treetops, glancing back at his friends as they sprinted along the winding path toward the ancient temple. As he ascended, he saw the ancient temple come into full view—a towering, pyramid-like structure. Plant life covered the stone blocks, creeping along cracked walls, evidence of the structure's age and abandonment.

But something was strange. The whole structure looked… tilted.

Jin craned his neck to align his view. It was definitely crooked. He touched down and waved the others over as they caught up.

"Uh… you guys are seeing this, right?" Jin pointed out, his eyes still glued to the tilted temple.

Lucy tilted her head too and squinted. "Yeah… why does the temple look kinda… sideways?"

Happy mimicked her, tilting his head in the same direction. "What happened to it?"

"I'm guessing… Natsu," Gray remarked as he crossed his arms, a mix of amusement and exasperation in his tone. "I don't know how he managed it, but he's the only one who'd do something that crazy."

Erza nodded in agreement. "I agree. This must be the reason for that tremor earlier."

"Wouldn't put it past him," Jin said. "At least we know for sure he's over there."

Gray squinted at the tilted temple. "Actually, if he did it on purpose, it's kind of genius. Since it's tilted, the moonlight won't shine down on Deliora."

Lucy blinked in realization, piecing it together. "So his habit of destroying stuff actually came in useful for once?"

"My head's stuck!" Happy complained as he wiggled around, his neck visibly strained from holding it tilted too long. After a moment of struggle, he twisted it back with a loud crack, making Lucy jump in shock.

"My head's stuck!" Happy exclaimed. "Looking sideways at that crooked temple hurt my neck!" Happy struggled to reorient his neck, before he suddenly cracked it in the opposite direction, making Lucy jump in surprise.

But Jin's amusement faded as Gray's mention of the moon, a chill running down his spine. The moonlight—it wasn't just Deliora that could be affected. Jin knew too well what it could do to him if he looked too long. The thought of his own transformation, the uncontrollable power, the chaos he could cause to everything and everyone around him…

He glanced at Erza, who returned his gaze with a flicker of silent understanding. They had talked about it, but hearing it mentioned here was another matter.

"Erza," he whispered, swallowing down the fear as he pulled her aside. "Should… we tell them?"

Erza exhaled slowly before giving a reluctant nod. "We might as well. They deserve to know."

With a grim nod, Jin turned back to the others, who were all still squinting at the tilted temple.

"Hey, come here for a second," he called, his tone somber enough to snap their attention to him. "I need to tell you something important."

Lucy, Gray, and Happy stepped closer, sensing the weight of his words.

"What's up, man?" Gray asked.

"It's… well, it's about me," Jin began, feeling the words drag. He'd never told anyone about this, not fully, but they needed to know. "Look… in case… in case I ever look at the moon too long—"

"WATCH OUT!"

Erza's voice rang out as she lunged forward, shoving Lucy and Happy aside as a flurry of crescent-shaped blades sliced through the air, narrowly missing them where they had been standing.

Erza and Gray jumped out of the way, while Jin dodged effortlessly, deflecting a few of the blades with the back of his hand. He felt a small sigh of relief that his hoodie—the one Erza had given him—remained intact.

"Who's there?!" Erza demanded, landing on her feet.

They didn't have to wait long. They turned to see a small army of cultists dressed in purple robes and long white rectangular veils, with an emblem that had a design resembling the crescent moon.

"We've got you now, Fairy Tail!" one of the cultists taunted.

"We won't allow you to interfere!" another added.

Gray's face twisted with irritation, groaning loudly. "Not these guys again!"

"Lyon's minions?" Erza remarked, glancing around.

"They're all around us!" Lucy exclaimed as more cultists appeared, emerging in a wave from both sides and slowly surrounding the group.

"Jin, you're with me!" Erza said, creating a magic circle and brandishing a sword. "We'll handle this!"

He blinked but quickly joined her side, dropping into his fighting stance. "Right! I'm with you!"

Gray arched an eyebrow at the pair, concern flickering in his gaze. "You sure?"

Jin gave him a look of disbelief. "Are you kidding me? We'll be fine!"

"We'll take care of them," Erza said, not taking her eyes off the cultists ahead of them. "You go and settle things with Lyon."

Gray hesitated, glancing from Jin to Erza, but a determined expression crossed his face as he gave a curt nod. Lucy stepped forward with her whip, determination sparking in her eyes.

"We'll fight with her. You just go and do what you gotta do!"

"Aye!" Happy chimed in, wielding a bony fish as his weapon.

Gray's uncertain expression softened into a grateful smile. "Thanks, you guys."

But before Gray could leave, Erza turned to Jin, her eyes searching his face. "Actually, Jin, why don't you go with Gray? It'll even the odds a little more."

Jin froze, caught off guard as he turned to Erza. "You sure?"

Erza's lips curled into a faint smile. "You know me. I'll be fine."

"You might as well!" Lucy chimed in. "We've got this, Jin. Go!"

Gray scoffed, raising a hand in invitation. "I don't mind the company. It'd be good to have some extra muscle if Lyon's as stubborn as he used to be."

Jin's gaze bounced between Gray and the others. He knew Erza could handle herself, especially with Lucy and Happy's support, and joining Gray could be useful especially if Deliora was unleashed. But this fight was personal for Gray, and Jin couldn't shake the feeling that he'd only be interfering if he went along.

After a beat, he shook his head, glancing back at Gray with a reassuring look. "This is your fight, Gray. I'm staying."

Gray looked taken aback, but a small, appreciative smile soon tugged at his lips. "Thanks, Jin. Break a leg… and maybe a few other things too, for good measure."

Lucy and Happy chuckled, and even Erza's lips twitched in a faint smile. Gray gave them one last nod before dashing toward the temple, his figure disappearing as Jin, Erza, Lucy, and Happy turned back to face the encroaching cultists, preparing themselves for the fight.

Erza raised her blade, her expression hardening. "Everyone ready?"

Jin planted his feet, his eyes narrowing with resolve. "Born ready."

"The Cold Emperor must not be disturbed!" an old woman among the cultists cried, pointing a gnarled finger at them. With a collective roar, the cultists charged.

The narrow path turned into a chaotic battleground, Jin and Erza leading the charge with precise, heavy strikes. Lucy and Happy stayed close behind, the former cracking her whip to ward off any who got too close, while Happy lobbed fish left and right, catching unsuspecting cultists off guard.

"Jin, go easy on them!" Erza called out, deflecting a blade that sliced toward her. "They're still people under those masks!"

Jin gritted his teeth at the reminder, narrowly dodging a crescent-shaped blade hurled in his direction. With a quick glance upward, he launched himself into the air to regain his focus, then descended back with a nod to Erza.

"Got it. I'll… try!"

The group broke off into different directions along the path, spreading the cultists thin. Jin took on several at once, moving gracefully between them, countering their attacks and using their own momentum against them. He avoided delivering any serious blows, but the sheer numbers began to press him harder. A cultist lunged at him with a crescent blade, and Jin sidestepped, catching the blade with a swift kick that sent the attacker sprawling.

Erza barely broke a sweat as she fought. A flash of light signaled her Requip into a spear, which she wielded to knock the cultists aside like ragdolls. Lucy was managing well on her end, keeping the cultists at bay with her whip. Happy, too, darted between the attackers, zipping in and out to distract them with a well-timed fish slap.

Suddenly, a glint of silver shot past Lucy's wrist. She gasped as a sharp pain stung her arm, and her whip slipped from her grasp. She barely had time to react before a group of cultists tackled her to the ground. Jin whipped around, hearing her scream, his eyes widening as he spotted her struggling.

"Lucy!" Jin yelled as he sprang into action. He plowed through the cultists, making his way to her, and his eyes fell on the whip lying in the dirt nearby. He snatched it up, giving it a dubious look. "Uh… how does this thing even—"

"Just use it like I do!" Lucy called out desperately, ducking another swing. Lucy was now backed up against a tree, kicking and dodging the cultists closing in on her. "Get them off me!"

Jin gripped the handle, holding it as he'd seen her do. He gave the whip a firm snap, managing to flick it forward and disarm a cultist. With a deep breath, he swung it in a wide arc, clearing a path as he forced his way toward her.

"Alright, I think I got this!" he called to her, feeling the unusual weight and pull of the weapon as he fought his way to her side. The whip snapped and cracked, sending cultists sprawling and clearing a space around Lucy, who scrambled to her feet.

Just as Lucy looked up, Jin landed beside her with a powerful punch to the ground, sending a shockwave that forced the cultists back.

"This thing is pretty useful," Jin said, handing the whip back to her. "But I prefer using my hands."

Lucy chuckled despite herself. "Fair enough."

She took her weapon, grateful for the breather as they scanned the swarm of cultists surrounding them. Their backs pressed together as more emerged from the treeline and closed in.

"Got any ideas?" she asked.

"Well…" Jin trailed off. He leaned back toward her. "I've got one. Duck!"

Lucy immediately dropped down, and Jin unleashed a powerful roundhouse kick that sent a gust strong enough to knock back the cultists around them. He straightened, exchanging a quick look with her, as they cleared a path with her whip snapping around them and his fists driving back attackers. But just as Jin raised a fist, he felt something tug at his arm.

Lucy's whip was tangled around his arm.

"Oh crap!" Lucy exclaimed, her eyes widening at Jin's predicament. "I didn't mean to—"

But Jin didn't even hear the end of it. He instinctively yanked his fist forward to free himself, and the force of his movement pulled Lucy forward like a ragdoll, sending her crashing into a group of cultists. Jin grimaced, his widened eyes darting between his entangled arm and Lucy ahead of him.

"Lucy! I'm sorry, I didn't know that was—!"

"It's fine!" she said as she picked herself up, only to yelp as another cultist closed in. She pulled on her whip to defend herself, only to realize she'd accidentally yanked Jin.

Jin also yelped as he was suddenly jerked forward, hurtling toward Lucy. Jin twisted his body with the pull in midair, somehow redirecting his momentum to kick the cultist rushing toward Lucy, sending them flying backward. He landed and they both blinked at each other, a second of bewildered silence between them before Jin chuckled.

"Maybe… a little coordination next time?" he said, helping her up.

"You're insane," Lucy muttered, but a small grin broke through as she tightened her hold on the whip. "But let's do it!"

In a quick motion, she pulled on the whip, yanking Jin toward a row of cultists advancing on them. He surged forward, feet hitting the ground with the force of a small quake, his free fist swinging as he cleared a path. Lucy took the chance to pull back, and Jin tightened the whip around his arm, pulling Lucy toward another wave of cultists. As she barreled toward them, she spun into a perfect dropkick.

"Lucy Kick!"

Jin watched as she plowed into a cluster of cultists like a bowling ball, scattering them to the side. She crashed to the ground on her bottom with a thud, wincing at the impact. Jin couldn't help but chuckle, bracing himself as she quickly got up and whipped him forward again. He twisted mid-air, landing with a heavy strike that cleared another path through the horde.

"And theJin Punch!" he quipped, mimicking her tone as he cleared another group. The two grinned at each other, breathless and exhilarated, but the cultists didn't let up. "Think you got another one in you?"

Lucy gave a determined nod. "You bet."

She tightened her grip, and the two launched into their makeshift attack, a back-and-forth that had them swinging and pulling each other through the swarm. They alternated their movements as they weaved through the cultists in a clumsy, rhythmic flow that had them moving almost like one.

From across the path, Erza cleared another group of cultists with a quick twist of her spear. She caught sight of Jin and Lucy, the two now a whirling, chaotic team of limbs and laughter, each haphazard toss only sending them closer together and deeper into the horde. She let out a small laugh, shaking her head.

"Those two…" she murmured, turning her focus back to the cultists surrounding her.

Jin and Lucy continued their unplanned combo, their movements becoming an oddly synchronized, if not entirely efficient rhythm. It was chaotic, but with each pull of the whip, they covered each other's blind spots, moving with a strange synergy that worked. They paused to catch their breath, and Jin flashed a tired grin at Lucy.

"Well, that was… kind of fun," he muttered. "Not exactly practical, but…"

"Yeah, but hey—it worked!" Lucy laughed, wiping a bit of dirt off her cheek. "Now, come on! There's still more incoming!"

---

Jin, Erza, Lucy, and Happy pressed on against the cultists, but the fight was stretching well into the evening, and the relentless waves had barely let up. Jin fired a restrained blast into a group that tried to flank Erza, who retaliated with a swipe of her greataxe, scattering the cultists. Lucy cracked her whip at the nearest group, and Happy zipped around, swinging fish like miniature clubs and even… force feeding them seafood. Eventually, the four regrouped with their backs to each other, surrounded yet again.

"You guys doing okay?" Jin asked, catching his breath.

Erza steadied her axe with a quick nod. "I haven't even tried yet. What about you?"

Jin scoffed. "Me? This is nothing." He glanced to his right. "Lucy? Happy?"

Lucy flicked sweat from her brow. "I'm fine, but I'd kill for a break from fighting these guys."

"Me too," Happy chimed in smugly. "I'm still waiting for a challenge!"

"Do not falter!" One of the cultists cried out. "We must strike down all who oppose the Cold Emperor!"

The cultists cheered once more, causing the team to shift closer to each other. Jin let out an audible groan.

"This is a lot of commitment to freeing then killing a demon, don't you think?"

Lucy snorted. "First time dealing with a dark guild?

Jin paused for a moment in consideration before shrugging. "No, not my first. There was Eisenwald, then that dark guild in Talonia that—"

Lucy rolled her eyes and cut Jin off with a groan. "Jin, it was sarcasm!"

Before they could react, the ground trembled beneath them, a rumbling that rose until the cultists themselves faltered, turning to the temple in confusion. The tremors intensified, stone grinding and shifting, until the earth stilled once more.

Jin braced himself, steadying against the shaking earth. "What now?"

Lucy gasped, her gaze locked on the temple. "No way… Look!"

As the shaking subsided, Jin, Erza, and Happy followed her gaze. The temple—once leaning and askew—stood upright, perfectly aligned with the horizon as if nothing had happened.

"Whoa!" Happy's exclaimed. "The temple just untilted itself!"

"How's that even possible?!" Jin asked. "Buildings don't just fix themselves, right?!"

"It must be one of Lyon's followers." Erza's eyes narrowed as she watched the cultists rally around the change. "It must be some kind of magic that reverses damage. Which means…"

"Any kind of damage we do just won't matter," Jin finished, shaking his head in frustration.

A nearby cultist gave a rallying cry, their spirit renewed at the sight of the restored temple. Jin clenched his fists and glared at them, launching a ki blast that erupted in a controlled explosion, scattering a nearby group of followers. Yet as the light faded, Erza observed something.

"Notice anything strange?"

Jin's brow furrowed. "Besides the temple fixing itself?"

"No, I see it." Lucy said. "Even if there's a whole bunch of them, their magic seems weak for some reason."

Erza nodded. "Exactly. As far as I can tell, there are only five wizards among them."

Jin looked skeptically between the cultists. "If you say so. At least that could mean we can just finish this quickly."

Happy let out a mischievous chuckle. "Aw, man! Guess that means I'm gonna have to go easy on them!"

Lucy shook her head at Happy's smugness. "Keep telling yourself that."

"Jin, Lucy," Erza said, her greataxe disappearing in a flash of light. "Do you think you two can handle this one?"

Jin met Lucy's gaze, his lips curling into a quick smirk. "You wanna try what we did with your whip earlier?"

Lucy shuddered, waving a hand in dismissal. "Ugh. My stomach's gonna have to say no."

Jin raised an eyebrow, genuinely puzzled. "How would a stomach… say no?"

Lucy sighed, rubbing her temple. "Never mind. I have a better idea."

She brandished one of her Zodiac Keys from her keychain. She held the key aloft as a golden aura surrounded her, making two sweeping motions in a cross in front of her.

"Open, Gate of the Giant Crab: Cancer!"

A large, radiant magic circle appeared before them, and a figure emerged—a tall, lean man with black hair braided into red cornrows ending in crab-like pincers. A pair of scissors gleamed in each hand, and six crab legs protruded from his back, giving him a formidable yet poised look.

Jin's eyebrows lifted as he took in Cancer's appearance, unsure how to react to the odd yet dignified figure. Lucy turned to Jin, smiling as she introduced him to her Celestial Spirit.

"This is Cancer," Lucy said, proud and pleased. "I don't think you've met any of my Spirits yet, right?"

Jin took a quick acknowledging glance at Lucy and nodded, but before he could open his mouth to say hello, his words died as Cancer abruptly strode over to Erza, dropped to one knee, and presented her with a bouquet of roses.

"We've met before, haven't we?" Erza asked flatly, raising an eyebrow.

"Indeed, we have," Cancer replied in a deep yet smooth voice. "And as always, I am at your service, Miss."

Jin blinked, feeling a sudden tightness in his chest. He couldn't quite place it, but watching Cancer shower Erza with attention ignited something he hadn't felt before. Irritation, maybe… or was it jealousy? He felt his jaw clench and loosened it quickly, hoping no one had noticed.

"I thought you always said 'baby?!'" Lucy interjected, utterly bewildered at the Spirit's gesture. "What's with 'Miss'?! And aren't you supposed to be at my service?!"

Happy piped up, his grin widening. "Looks like someone's jealous!"

Jin forced his gaze back to the still-lingering cultists, who were now murmuring among themselves seeing Cancer, and he cleared his throat a bit too loudly.

"Hey, the fight's not over yet. We still need to deal with these guys and get to Natsu and Gray."

Happy flitted up to Jin's shoulder with a sly grin. "Aw, I think someone else is jealous too!"

"Shut it," Jin shot back, sharp enough to make the blue cat yelp in surprise and scramble out of reach.

Straightening himself, Cancer finally turned to Jin, a glint of interest in his eye. "I don't believe we've met yet, baby. Haven't seen you with Lucy and her friends before."

Realizing he was being addressed, Jin shook gave a polite nod, still casting glances toward Erza as he tried to brush off the unusual discomfort.

"Uh, Jin," he introduced himself. "I actually haven't… met any of Lucy's…" He looked at her uncertainly, "What do you call him again?"

"Celestial Spirits," Lucy clarified with an amused smile.

"Right. Celestial Spirits." Jin nodded, slightly embarrassed.

Cancer took it in stride, raising a hand in greeting. "A pleasure, Jin," Cancer replied smoothly, examining him with a keen eye. "If you ever need anything fashion, style, or hair-related, I'm your guy, baby."

Jin reflexively brushed a hand through his hair. "I think my hair's fine, but, uh, thanks."

Cancer took a moment longer to look at Jin, his gaze sharpening slightly. "You seem… different."

Jin laughed a little at the familiar words, scratching the back of his head. "You're not the first to say that, and I doubt you'll be the last."

Cancer's eyes narrowed as he studied Jin, his brow creasing slightly. "No, not just different." He paused, as if examining something only he could sense. "You're… You're one of them."

Jin's breath caught. There was no question what Cancer meant by "them," and for a second, he held the Spirit's intense gaze.

"Hey!" Lucy interjected, waving her hand impatiently. "Less chatting, more fighting! Take 'em down!" She gestured at the remaining cultists. "But don't kill them! Just wrap 'em up, okay?"

"Alright, baby," Cancer replied, his gaze snapping back to the cultists as he brandished his scissors. He threw a nod to Jin. "Let's take 'em down, yeah?"

Jin matched Cancer's nod, and the two launched into the horde with synchronized precision. Cancer moved gracefully, wielding his scissors with speed, and within seconds, he disarmed the cultists, giving them bewildering haircuts on the fly that made Jin almost laugh despite himself.

He followed the Spirit's lead, weaving in and out of Cancer's path, punching through the remaining cultists with measured precision. Side by side, they cleared the field, the last few cultists stumbling backward, too stunned by the combined force to put up any more fight.

---

Jin dusted his hands, casting a final glance over the fallen cultists. They lay strewn around the dirt, motionless save for the slow rise and fall of their breaths. Beside him, Cancer adjusted his suit, brushing stray bits of dust off his sleeves, as though the entire battle had been no more than a mild inconvenience.

"Excellent work, both of you," Erza said with a nod. "Let's head to the temple."

Lucy glanced at Cancer with a grin, giving him a thumbs-up. "Thanks for the help as always, Cancer!"

"All in a day's work, baby," Cancer replied smoothly, slipping the scissors away. He looked at Jin and gave him a nod. "You weren't too shabby yourself."

Jin blinked, scratching the back of his head. "Uh, yeah. You fight well too. At least… for a guy with scissors."

Cancer smirked, raising an eyebrow. "It's not every day I get to work with such a distinguished warrior like yourself. I had no idea there was anyone of your kind still around."

Lucy's head snapped up, eyes wide. Happy flitted nervously in the background, while Erza's gaze sharpened, focused entirely on Jin. Jin felt his throat tighten, wishing he could ask what he meant, but Cancer simply let out a laugh, saluted, and with a flash, disappeared back to the Celestial World.

Erza noticed the way Lucy and Happy stared after Cancer, glancing cautiously at Jin. His gaze was fixed on where Cancer had vanished, his hands still and his shoulders tense.

"Jin…?" Lucy began cautiously, stepping closer to him. "'Anyone of your kind?' Is it actually true that there's others like you out there?"

Jin's mouth opened then closed it, looking away. "It's… a lot, but I'll explain later," he said quietly, and a little too quickly. "Promise."

The look on Lucy's face made it clear she didn't entirely believe him, but Erza placed a reassuring hand on her looked like she wanted to press further, but Erza's hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Another time," Erza said gently. "For now, we must go to the temple."

They exchanged a brief nod before moving forward together, but they hadn't taken more than a few steps when two figures staggered into their path—two cultists, one an older woman, the other younger, both clutching at injuries as they staggered forward.

"No… wait," the elder rasped, raising a hand in defiance despite her exhaustion. "We won't let you interfere… with the Cold Emperor."

Lucy raised her arms defensively, readying herself for yet another fight, but Jin only sighed. "Look, it's over. Just… stop."

Erza eyed the two women, her gaze falling on the worn headpieces they wore. She frowned, looking between them and then back at the others.

"Those headpieces," Erza murmured, tilting her head at their hexagon-patterned crowns. "You're from Brago, aren't you?"

The mention of Brago had an immediate effect. The elder cultist's face twisted with grief, and she hesitantly nodded. Jin's eyes darted between the two women, the realization settling like a lead weight in his chest.

"Brago?" he echoed. "That's the place Gray mentioned, right? Where Deliora… was sealed?"

Lucy's eyes widened. "Wait, then that would mean… these 'cultists' are actually… we've been fighting survivors this whole time?"

Erza gave a grim nod. "It would appear so."

A raw edge of guilt twisted Jin's stomach as he looked at the women, no longer seeing cultists but scarred survivors. He approached them slowly, raising a hand in what he hoped was a sign of peace.

"Tell us the truth," he said gently. "What really happened back then? I don't want to fight—I just want to understand."

The elderly woman hesitated, staring at the group as though they were a puzzle she hadn't solved. Their expressions softened as if hearing, perhaps for the first time, the unfamiliar tone in their enemy's voice—a tone that wasn't drenched in hostility or disdain. The desperation in Jin's voice broke something in her resistance, and she took a breath, her eyes narrowing as memories resurfaced.

"You ask why?" She scoffed. "Deliora took everything. Our homes, our families… all burned in one night. We were peaceful once, you know? We went about our days without thinking of monsters—until one day, we didn't. Deliora left our people scattered and dead."

The younger cultist stepped forward. "I was just a girl back then. My family didn't… didn't make it. But the Cold Emperor was also there, and he was just a boy himself back then. He fought alongside the ice wizards who came to stop it, and I would've been dead if not for them."

Jin's throat tightened as he listened, something bitter and familiar stirring within him. "So… Lyon promised revenge?"

The elder nodded, her eyes growing distant as she continued. "He lost someone precious to him, too, and that… that pain became his only reason to go on, I presume." She glanced up at Jin. "Years later, the Cold Emperor returned, the same one you see now. He said he would make Deliora pay, and… and he asked us to help him make it happen. It was our last chance to take back what little we could. He... he made us believe that with Deliora gone, we could finally have peace. So how could we not?"

Lucy's face softened, and she looked away, as if unsure how to respond. "So that's why… You all suffered because of Deliora."

A heavy silence fell over the group as the weight of their words sank in. Jin looked down, his fists clenching and unclenching. They weren't just fanatics—they were people, people who had watched everything they loved burned away by a demon.

It was all too familiar. He'd seen that desire before, felt it. The insatiable hunger for justice against a monster that could never truly be repaid for its deeds. He lowered his eyes, chuckling humorlessly.

"No matter where I go, it always seems to end up there, doesn't it?" He shook his head slightly, more to himself than anyone. "You really just… wanted your lives back. You had to hold on to something. But the thing about revenge is that it… It becomes you. It blinds you."

The elder looked at him with guarded curiosity, as if confused by the shift in his tone. "And you'd understand, how?"

Jin didn't even meet her gaze. "Because I know what it's like for revenge to be the only thing keeping you going. I know what it's like to lose everything because of a monster, and it never gets any better."

Lucy and Happy watched him closely, sensing the weight behind his words. Even the cultists seemed affected, their wary expressions softening as they took in his unexpected empathy. Jin took a step toward them, his expression a blend of sorrow and regret.

"Look," Jin continued, running a hand through his hair. "I'm really sorry for what happened to you and your people back then, and for earlier. This whole thing… It seems like a huge misunderstanding."

The elder looked at him incredulously. "You… apologize to us? But… we are enemies, are we not?"

"Exactly," the young woman added, her tone tinged with the same disbelief the elder held. "We tried to stop you and endangered the people on this island, and you're apologizing?"

"I'm completely aware," Jin replied as he nodded slowly, each word seeming to cost him more than the last. "But how can I really call you my enemies when we both know what it's like to have lost everything? You just wanted your lives back. I get that… more than you might realize."

The cultists exchanged a look in stunned silence. Jin didn't miss the shine of tears in the younger woman's eyes, her expression softening with an almost reluctant gratitude.

"It's okay," Jin continued. "Bringing harm to the islanders is inexcusable, but at the very least you understand—"

Suddenly, an ear-piercing roar shattered through the night, rippling through the island with a force that made them all cover their ears. The ground quaked as if even the earth beneath them were recoiling. Jin winced, glancing around with alarm as the sky seemed to grow darker overhead.

"My ears!" Happy cried out as he abruptly dropped to the ground, his paws over his ears. "It's so loud!"

"What the heck is that?!" Lucy exclaimed over the noise.

Erza turned toward the direction of the roar, her eyes widening. "That doesn't sound good!"

"Is that supposed to be Deliora?!" Jin yelled, though his voice was drowned out by the roar. "Are we too late?!"

"Deliora…" the younger one whispered, her face paling as she brought a hand over her mouth. "So the time has come…"

"Please, you have to help the Cold Emperor defeat the demon!" the elder cried desperately. "If he fails… if that monster's freed again…"

The team shared a quick, urgent look. The mission was to prevent Deliora's freedom—but the way the cultists looked at them, pleading for help… They couldn't turn their backs on the people of Brago either. Jin knew they had to stop Deliora. Not just for them, but for himself, to prevent anyone else from living through his own nightmare.

"We'll do what we can," Jin said as he knelt, meeting the elder's eyes directly. "For now, just get to safety."

The cultists backed away, giving the team space. Without another word, Jin, Erza, Lucy, and Happy turned and dashed toward the temple, urgency spurring them forward.

The ground shuddered beneath their feet as Jin, Erza, Lucy, and Happy sprinted up the uneven path leading to the temple. The air was thick with tension, the faint hum of magic reverberating from above. Happy flew alongside them, his small wings flapping frantically as he pointed toward the temple's peak.

"Look!" Happy shouted. "The Moon Drip's still going!"

Jin followed Happy's paw, spotting the brilliant purple beam cascading down from the moon and onto the temple's apex. Magic circles layered the light, growing in size as they neared the ground. He squinted, catching a quick glimpse of the moon high above before jerking his gaze downward. His breath hitched as his instincts roared, focusing instead on the uneven ground ahead.

"If the ritual is still active, Deliora hasn't been freed yet. We still have time to stop this!" She stopped abruptly, turning to Jin. "We need to get to the temple's peak. Fly us there."

Jin hesitated, glancing between her and Lucy. "I can't carry both of you at the same time. One of you will have to—"

"I got Lucy!" Happy interrupted, puffing out his chest with a confident grin. "She's not too heavy… I think."

Lucy scowled. "Excuse me?! I'm not heavy! You better not drop me!"

"Only if you don't squirm!"

Jin crouched down, motioning for Erza to climb onto his back. She didn't hesitate, wrapping her arms securely around his shoulders. Happy, meanwhile, struggled to lift Lucy, who shot him a glare when he let out a strained grunt.

With a deep breath, Jin steadied himself and rose into the air, Erza's weight a manageable anchor. Happy followed closely, wobbling slightly under Lucy's protests.

As they ascended, the moonlight grew stronger, the air colder. Jin felt the pull again, an insidious urge creeping up his spine, whispering to him to look, to surrender. He clenched his jaw, keeping his eyes fixed downward.

"That's the Moon Drip," Lucy said, nodding toward the temple. "They're using moonlight and converting it into magic to melt the Iced Shell. See the circles? That's how it's being channeled—"

"Look!" Happy interrupted, gesturing toward the beam. "There's only one person doing the ritual!"

Lucy nodded, squinting at the figure bowing rhythmically before the beam. "You're right! They're—hey, Jin, what are you looking down for?"

Jin's grip on Erza tightened slightly. "Safety measure," he muttered quickly.

"Safety measure?" Lucy echoed. "Why? What happens if—"

"He can't look at the moon. Not now, not ever," Erza interjected. "It's something he can't risk. That's all you need to know right now."

Lucy opened her mouth to press further, but the urgency in Erza's tone stopped her. She exchanged a worried glance with Happy before looking back at Jin, his grip on Erza tightening slightly as he felt her weight shift on his back.

"We'll need to improvise," Erza continued. "I have an idea: Jin, throw me."

The team collectively froze, and Jin faltered mid-air, his descent causing Erza to grip his shoulders tighter.

"What?!" Lucy and Happy exclaimed simultaneously.

Jin twisted slightly to glance at her, disbelief etched on his face. "Throw you?! Are you serious?!"

Erza nodded. "We can't risk you looking at the moon, and this will allow us to stop the ritual quickly. Trust me."

"That's insane!" Jin's voice shot up an octave. "I've never—what if I miss? Or worse, what if—"

"Then now's your chance to start." Erza said, shifting herself slightly. "Do it before you have time to second-guess yourself."

Lucy let out a strangled gasp. "Are you crazy?! Can't we just fly straight there?"

"It'll be faster this way," Erza replied briskly, already climbing onto Jin's shoulders. "And unexpected."

Jin's heart raced as her boots pressed against his collar. "This... doesn't seem like a great idea."

"You'll do fine," Erza replied. "I trust you."

He hesitated, his hands flexing by his sides. The idea of throwing someone—throwing her—was insane. He'd never done anything like this before. What if he messed up? What if he hurt her? Jin's stomach churned, unease tightening his chest, but he forced himself to take a breath.

"All right. Let's do it."

With a deep breath, Jin shifted his stance mid-air, allowing Erza to climb onto his shoulders. She balanced herself effortlessly, her boots pressing against him as she summoned her sword. Jin steadied himself, his muscles tensing as he adjusted to the weight. Lucy and Happy watched in stunned silence as Erza crouched slightly.

"On my mark," Erza began.

Jin's heart pounded. He forced his gaze downward, focusing solely on the lone figure performing the ritual far below. The purple beam of light pulsed rhythmically, growing fainter as Erza counted down.

"One…"

Jin inhaled sharply. "Two…"

"Three!"

With a powerful leap, Erza launched herself forward. Jin caught her boots instinctively, flipping forward to build momentum. The air whistled past his ears as he swung her in a smooth arc, and in one fluid motion, he surged upward and flipped forward, launching Erza with a powerful throw.

Erza soared through the air, a crimson blur streaking toward the temple's peak. Her form twisted mid-flight, adjusting for a perfect landing. The figure performing the ritual barely had time to react before she crashed into them with a powerful dropkick, sending them skidding across the stone floor.

Landing in a crouch, Erza thrust her sword into the stone to stop her momentum, her boots skidding to a halt. The purple beam flickered and died. The ceremony was stopped.

Happy's lips curved into a wide grin. "She made it!"

"Ha! Of course she did!" Lucy cheered, though her words died as she glanced over at Jin, who was glancing away. "Jin, what's wrong?"

Jin didn't answer right away, mumbling incoherently as his face flushed red. He hadn't realized it until now, but the motion brought his head upward for a split second, and his gaze caught something it wasn't supposed to.

He'd accidentally gotten a glimpse under Erza's skirt mid-throw.

"Uh… Jin?" Happy called, tilting his head to the side. "You okay?"

"I, uh…" Jin stammered, his cheeks burning crimson. "I'm fine. I-I saw—nothing!"

Lucy glanced at him with a frown. "Huh? Saw what?"

"Nothing!" Jin barked, his voice cracking slightly as he shot forward, leaving Lucy and Happy to exchange bewildered glances before following.

As they landed, Erza stood firm at the center with her sword still in hand, looking over the lone figure slumped near the center, motionless yet unmistakably peculiar.

Jin blinked at the strange sight—a man with canine features; short floppy ears and a doglike snout, complete with a spiked collar around his neck.

"Uh… guys?" Jin murmured, his brow furrowed as he pointed a finger. "Why does he look like... a dog?"

"Hey! I know that guy!" Happy said as he stepped closer. "I think I saw Natsu fight him last night."

"That's Toby, I think," Lucy added, moving beside Jin. "He's one of Lyon's close friends."

Jin's gaze darted between Toby and the center where the Moon Drip shined. "So... he was doing this alone? Isn't this ritual supposed to take more people?"

"Too late! It's over!" Toby suddenly yelled as he sat up, almost barking his words. "The ceremony's already completed!"

The words struck like a hammer, the team collectively gasping as the air thickened around him. Before they could react, with a crackling surge, a column of green light shot into the sky, forcing everyone to shield their eyes as more magic swirled around the beam.

The temple trembled violently, cracks forming in the stone beneath their feet. The roar of wind was nothing compared to the earth-shaking bellow that followed. From deep below, an unholy roar rippled through their bones, shaking even the air around them. It wasn't just noise—it was raw malice given form.

"Oh no…" Lucy whispered, instinctively stepping back with wide eyes. "Is that—?"

"Deliora," Erza finished, clenching her sword.

Jin's eyes were locked on the green light. His mind flashed to the Lullaby's monstrous form—its darkness, its hunger for destruction—and he felt the same overwhelming pressure to act. He gritted his teeth, his fists trembling.

"No." The word left his lips before he realized he'd spoken. "No way I'm letting that thing loose," he continued, turning to Erza and Lucy. "I'm going down there."

Erza's head snapped toward him. "What?"

"Natsu and Gray are down there, right? I'm not gonna stand here while they're fighting for their lives."

"Are you crazy?!" Lucy grabbed his arm, her grip tight. "You can't just charge in! Do you even know what Deliora is capable of?!"

"No, I don't," Jin admitted, his mouth twitching into a dry smirk. "But I have to try."

Erza stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "Jin, this isn't like before. Deliora isn't some mindless creature. We'll—"

"Erza, I know what it sounds like," Jin interrupted, his gaze locking with hers. "But you, of all people, should understand. I have to do something."

Her lips parted as if to protest further, but she stopped herself. She studied him for a moment, and Jin could see the worry in her eyes. After a tense silence, she nodded reluctantly.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Toby interjected, watching the exchange with a tilted head before finally barking. "Who the heck are you?! And why do you think you can just waltz down there like some big shot?!"

Jin turned to him and smiled a little. "I'm… Jin. Nice to meet you," He replied curtly, rolling his shoulders and forming two glowing spheres of ki in his palms. "And you'd better stay put." The energy hummed as they spun faster and faster. "Get back!"

Erza and Lucy instinctively stepped back as Jin crouched low. With a powerful leap, Jin launched himself into the air and came down like a comet, slamming the left ki drill into the stone. The impact cracked the ground as Jin began to drill through the stone, a torrent of debris flying upward as he tunneled underground at an incredible speed.

Dust and debris swirled upward, forcing the group to shield their faces. When the dust settled, all that remained was the faint glow of the tunnel Jin had left in his wake. The others peered down, gazing into the darkness below where Jin had vanished.

"I still think he's insane," Lucy remarked, tinged with worry as she crossed her arms.

"Is it just me, or is that guy totally nuts?" Toby said, scratching his head as he leaned over the edge. "Who even does that?"

Erza stepped back from the edge, her gaze lingering on the hole for a moment longer before looking up at the moon above.

"He'll be okay," she replied, almost to herself. "Jin's stronger than he gives himself credit for, but right now, we just have to trust that he, Natsu, and Gray can see this through."

---

The temple groaned around Jin as he drove a spiraling sphere of energy into the stone beneath him, his other hand crackling with a second drill-like orb of ki at the ready. Dust and chunks of rock erupted in his wake, the screech of grinding stone reverberating through the ancient halls. As the rubble gave way, he caught fleeting glimpses of the temple's interior.

Brief flashes of crumbling altars, fractured statues, and walls lined with ancient, unreadable scripts passed his peripheral vision. But none of it mattered. Whatever this place once stood for, it was now just the resting place of a monster.

He thrust the right ki sphere forward, carving deeper through the floor. He plummeted past another level, then another, the layers of the temple a blur of crumbling stone. The air grew heavier with every meter as heat and an eerie chill ran down his spine, signs of a presence far more menacing than the temple's age.

He drilled through compact rock until finally, with one last push, the stone beneath him gave way. The weightless sensation of open air struck him as he tumbled high above a massive cavern hidden beneath the temple. The temperature dropped immediately, the air heavy with ancient magic that prickled at his senses. It was a massive, hollowed expanse with jagged stone walls, and his eyes were briefly drawn to the scene below.

Natsu stood braced and ready, flames engulfing his fists, while Gray stood behind him, his arms raised and in an x-shape in front of him, the telltale stance of a spell in progress. Near the cavern's entrance behind Gray was another figure sprawled limply on the ground—Lyon. The silver hair was unmistakable based on Gray's description of him, though he appeared to be heavily injured.

But what demanded Jin's full attention was the monster towering before them, freed from the Iced Shell.

Deliora was massive, its dark blue form towering over Natsu and Gray. Its eyes were hollow but alive, locked on the three mages before it. Spiked shoulders jutted like jagged mountains, its claws twitching with restrained malice. The demon's mane-like hair rippled as it moved, a predator savoring its prey.

All three heads snapped upward as Jin landed between them and the demon, the swirling ki drills in his hands still alive and screaming.

"Jin?!" Natsu's voice cracked with disbelief. "Is that you?!"

Gray's spell faltered, his hands dropping slightly. "What are you—how did you—?"

Jin didn't answer. With the ki drills in his hands, he hurled the first ki sphere and followed immediately with the second. The blasts struck Deliora's chest, erupting into fiery explosions that sent shockwaves rippling across the cavern. The demon staggered, roaring as it raised an arm to shield itself, but Jin didn't relent.

He extended his hands to his sides and charged ki into his palms. With a yell, he brought both hands together, launching a rapid barrage of blue ki blasts, each one lighting up the cavern as it collided with the demon's body. Deliora shielded itself with its massive arms, roaring in defiance, but the continuous strikes forced it to stumble.

"Now we're talking!" Natsu cheered as he pumped a fist in the air. "Go get him!"

Gray, on the other hand, didn't share his enthusiasm. He dropped the spell he was preparing, his arms falling to his sides as he stared at Jin's back.

Jin leapt into the air, his aura flaring a bright purple as he brought his hands to his side, gathering energy for another attack.

"Galick Gun!"

He thrust his hands forward, the beam slamming into Deliora's torso and sending the demon reeling backward into the cave wall. Smoke billowed around the demon's massive form as Jin landed lightly on the ground, dusting his hands. He turned back to the others, giving a small grin.

"You didn't even say you were coming!" Natsu exclaimed, already at his side and grinning from ear to ear. "I missed you, man!"

Jin blinked, smiling as he returned a high-five from the Dragon Slayer. "Missed you too, Natsu. And you're welcome."

Natsu scoffed, pointing over his shoulder. "Yeah, yeah, thanks for the fireworks, but can you knock some sense into—"

"Jin!" Gray's voice cut through as he stepped forward. "You don't understand! If I don't use Iced Shell, this thing won't—"

"You were going to what?" Jin's voice rose, his smirk vanishing as his eyes narrowed. He stepped toward Gray, his presence imposing despite the cavern's size. "You were going to use that spell? The same one Ur used?"

"You don't get it!" Gray snapped, his voice cracking. "This is my fight! My responsibility! My burden! I can't let anyone else—"

"Don't give me that!" Jin snapped, causing Gray to flinch as Jin turned fully to face him. "Iced Shell costs your life, doesn't it? And for what? You think dying is the only answer?"

Gray turned his head, but Jin stepped closer. "I'm not letting you do this alone, Gray. You don't have to carry this by yourself. You guys are the ones who taught me that."

"No, Jin!" Gray barked, though his voice wavered. He looked back at Jin, his fists trembling. "This thing... it took everything from me."

"I do get it. And that's exactly why I'm not letting you throw your life away. Not for revenge. Not for this. Not while I'm here."

Gray opened his mouth to argue but hesitated. His silence spoke volumes, and Jin turned his back to him.

"We'll talk about this later," He continued. "Right now, focus on staying alive. We'll finish this together."

Gray nodded slightly, but behind him, Lyon slightly raised his head as his eyes locked onto Jin, flickering with a strange sense of recognition.

The ground trembled as all eyes turned back to Deliora. The smoke cleared, revealing the demon standing tall, its body bruised but unbroken. Its glowing eyes locked onto Jin, and it let out a roar that rattled loose stones from the cavern walls.

Jin stepped forward instinctively, his gaze narrowing. But something held him back—the strange feeling of Deliora's ki, faint and erratic like a flickering flame. It didn't match the monster's imposing frame or its raw power. He hovered off the ground, his eyes narrowing as he focused on Deliora.

Something was wrong.

He wasn't simply looking at it—he was feeling it. Despite its immense power, its movements seemed sluggish, its aura flickering unnaturally. The demon's energy—its ki—wasn't just low; it was unstable, like a flame flickering before it burned out. It wasn't just injured. It was decaying.

"Wait," Jin muttered, his eyes narrowing in realization. "Is it actually…?

"Jin, quit spacing out and hit it again!" Natsu called out, igniting his flames and stepping forward. "Come on! Don't just stand there!"

"What are you doing?!" Gray yelled, panic breaking through his anger as Deliora reared back for a devastating punch. "Get out of the way!"

"Don't... don't take this from me," Lyon croaked, clawing at the stone to lift himself. "Not... after everything..."

But Jin stayed put, floating mere feet from the demon as it reared its massive fist. Deliora roared as it swung its fist, and time seemed to slow as the punch hurtled toward him.

Jin didn't move.

He braced, letting the impact hit squarely. Dust and rock exploded outward, obscuring everything for a moment. Natsu, Gray, and Lyon shielded themselves from the debris.

"JIN!" Natsu and Gray yelled in unison.

For a moment, the cave was dead silent, save for the faint sound of rubble in the aftermath. When the dust cleared, Jin remained unmoved, hovering mid-air. Unscathed.

Suddenly, the demon's hand fractured, and massive cracks spread up its arm. Green light seeped through the fissures, pulsating wildly. Jin's eyes narrowed further, his suspicions confirmed.

The cracks spread rapidly, Deliora's body crumbling piece by piece. The demon let out one final, guttural roar as its form collapsed entirely, reduced to fragments of dark stone before disintegrating into nothingness. Green light flashed briefly before fading into the cavern's gloom.

The cave settled into an uneasy stillness as Jin hovered in the air, his gaze fixed on where the demon had stood moments before. The faint glow of his aura faded, and he lowered himself to the rocky ground. Behind him, Gray, and Lyon stared in stunned silence, the enormity of what had just happened sinking in.

"No… It… it can't be… Deliora… was already dead…!" Lyon croaked, his fists clenching. "For ten years... Ur was gradually depleting the demon's life force... and what we saw... was nothing more than its last dying breaths!"

"So that explains it," Jin murmured, his eyes darting between Lyon and where the demon once stood. "I could feel it too. Deliora's life force was fading fast, and it wasn't because of us. Looks like Ur finished the job a long time ago."

Lyon's trembling grew worse, and he slammed a fist into the ground as he began to shed tears. "Ten years I wasted chasing a dream to surpass her. And she… she was already ahead of me, even in death." His voice broke, a raw sob escaping him. "There's no hope now. I'll never surpass Ur!"

Natsu grinned as he glanced at Gray. "Man, your teacher's pretty awesome, Gray! You should be proud of her!"

Jin nodded. "No kidding. Ur took Deliora with her, even if it took years." He turned to Gray and smiled softly. "She didn't just stop Deliora—she made sure no one else had to go through what you did. You're lucky to have had someone like her."

Gray's eyes were fixed on the space where Deliora had stood. He seemed frozen, his hands hanging limply at his sides. His lips parted, but no words came.

Jin took a slow step toward him. "Gray?"

Gray didn't respond right away. His shoulders began to shake as a tear slipped down his cheek, followed by another. He lifted a hand to his face, covering his eyes as his breath hitched.

"You… you saved me. Again," he whispered, his sobs muffled as his shoulders shook. "I'm so sorry… and thank you. Thank you, Ur!"

Natsu stepped back and grinned, letting Gray have his moment. Jin watched him quietly, a strange mix of emotions swirling in his chest. Relief for Gray's closure. Admiration for Ur's sacrifice. And somewhere, buried beneath the surface, envy.

The demon of Gray's past was gone, vanquished by someone who cared for him, while the shadow of his own past still loomed. His own monster was still out there. Somewhere.

The thought lingered, but he shoved it aside. He looked at Gray again and felt something else—a spark of relief, even joy. Jin rested a hand on Gray's shoulder, squeezing it lightly.

"It's over now. She did it," he said softly. "I'm happy for you, Gray."

Gray gave a watery laugh, wiping his face. "You're one to talk. What the hell were you thinking, taking that hit from Deliora? You scared the crap out of us!"

Jin raised a brow, feigning offense. "What, you didn't think I could handle it? I kind of knew something was off about Deliora before you guys did. Its energy was fading fast, so I figured I just had to hold out long enough to be sure."

Natsu barked a laugh. "You're lucky you were right, or we'd be dragging your unconscious body out of here."

Gray shook his head, his smile growing just a little. "Still… Thanks for being here, guys. You have no idea how much this means to me."

Jin gave him a genuine smile in return. "You'd do the same for me or any of us, really." He hesitated, then added, "And… you deserve this. To move forward."

Gray nodded, his gaze turning to where Deliora's remains had vanished. "Yeah. I… I guess you're right."

Natsu stretched, groaning as he flopped onto a nearby rock. "Man, I'm beat. Can we chill here for a bit before heading back?"

Jin glanced at Gray, who gave a small nod.

"Yeah. Why not?" Gray said. "I think we could all use a moment."

---

Gray sat on the smooth, cool stone beside Jin and Natsu, his gaze locked on the rippling water pouring out of the cave and into the endless sea. The liquid shimmered faintly, catching the faint light filtering in from the distant opening. His thoughts swirled, bittersweet and heavy, but peaceful in a way he hadn't felt in years.

"And then—get this—the guy's crystal ball just flies right back into his hand like it was alive or something!" Natsu exclaimed, recounting his fight with Zalty. "It was so annoying! Bet he wasn't expecting me to melt his stupid tricks with real firepower."

Jin tilted his head, his arms crossed over his chest. "Time magic. Sounds like a headache. Good thing Deliora was already… well, gone. I doubt he'd have had any trouble with that guy."

"Gone or not, I could've handled it!" Natsu grinned, slamming his fist into his palm. "Though that guy was definitely planning to mess things up big time."

Jin smirked, but his eyes flicked over to Gray. The Ice Mage hadn't said a word since his request to stay in the cave for a moment longer. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes told enough of the weight of his thoughts.

Gray stayed silent, his focus still locked on the water. He saw more than just the reflection of the cavern. The melted ice seemed to carry a part of Ur with it, her essence flowing into the endless sea.

She's not gone. Not really, anyway.

The thought didn't erase the ache in Gray's chest, but it gave him a thread of comfort to hold onto.

On the other side of the cave, Lyon sat apart from them, his knees drawn up and his arms resting across them. He wasn't looking at the water. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the cavern wall. His eyes were closed, but his clenched fists and his jaw tensed. Whatever reflections he was lost in, they weren't comforting.

The faint echoes of footsteps and a familiar voice snapped everyone to attention.

"Gray! Jin! Natsu!" Lucy's voice called out. "Are you guys in here?!"

Jin turned his head toward the entrance as Lucy and Erza appeared, with Happy flying just ahead of them. Lucy waved, her face lighting up when she spotted them. Relief washed over Gray as he rose to his feet. Jin and Natsu did the same, Natsu grinning wide at the sight of his blue-furred partner.

"Natsu!" Happy called out joyfully.

"Happy!" Natsu leapt up and caught his flying companion midair, spinning him around. "I missed you, buddy!"

"I thought you got eaten!"

"Me? Eaten?" Natsu puffed his chest. "Yeah, right! I took care of everything."

Their laughter echoed through the cave—until his gaze shifted to Erza, who entered the cavern with calm, determined strides. Natsu froze, his face draining of color.

"Oh no," he muttered. "Oh no, oh no, oh no…"

Realizing the consequences of his earlier actions, Natsu immediately turned on his heel to bolt deeper into the cave. Before he could take two steps, Jin's hand shot out, catching him by the scarf.

"Where do you think you're going?" Jin said with a mischievous yelped, flailing like a trapped fish.

"No! What're you doing, man?!" Natsu protested, trying to wriggle free. "I thought we were friends!"

"Nothing personal," Jin replied with a smirk. "Just upholding an agreement."

Erza strode toward them, ignoring Natsu's desperate attempts to shield himself behind Jin. Her gaze softened when she saw everyone in one piece.

"You had me worried when you went off on your own like that," she said to Jin. "But… I'm glad you're all safe."

Jin gave her a small smile. "You and me both." He glanced over at Gray, who had moved and was now helping Lyon to his feet. "Excuse me."

As Jin walked away, Natsu flailed even harder. "Hey! Don't leave me! She's gonna kill me!"

"I wouldn't kill you," Erza said calmly, grabbing Natsu's scarf. "But I will have words with you."

Jin approached Gray and Lyon, but paused as Gray looped Lyon's arm over his shoulder, steadying the other man.

"Lyon, it's over," Gray said to him quietly. "Let's get out of here."

Lyon let out a faint scoff, though there was no strength in it. "What's left for me to do, anyway? My dream—"

"Wasn't worth her sacrifice," Gray interrupted. "Ur wouldn't have wanted this for you. For either of us. She would've wanted us to keep going. No more fighting. No more obsessing over what's done."

Jin stopped a few paces away, observing the exchange before stepping forward. "Need a hand?"

Gray glanced at Jin and gave a small, tired smile. "Thanks, but I've got it. You've done so much for us already."

Jin hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Just glad I could help." He turned to Lyon, his expression softening. "You must be the 'Cold Emperor.' I'm Jin. Nice to meet you."

Lyon blinked, caught off guard by the formality. He hesitated, then gave a faint nod.

"Lyon…" he muttered, his voice carrying an undertone of shame and regret.

Jin caught the flicker of vulnerability in Lyon's eyes but didn't press it. Instead, he gave Gray a meaningful look, and Gray offered Jin a grateful smile, sensing the unspoken regret behind Lyon's words.

"Come on," Gray said, shifting his grip on Lyon. " We should go. There's nothing left for us here."

As Gray led Lyon toward the tunnel exit, Jin followed a few steps behind, Lucy and Happy falling into step beside him. Erza trailed a little further back, still dragging a panicking Natsu.

---

The night air was filled with the distant roar of waves, but here, amidst the aftermath of battle, the team sat or stood in relative calm. They were just outside the cave leading to the ocean, taking a rare moment of respite after the intense battles that had unfolded across the island. Natsu and Happy were predictably the loudest, their cheers echoing in the still night air.

"Oh yeah!" Natsu cheered, celebrating their victory alongside Happy. "That's right, we won!"

"Aye, sir!" Happy echoed, his wings fluttering in excitement.

"You know, I was kind of worried back there," Lucy said, turning her attention to a smiling Gray. "But it totally worked out thanks to your amazing teacher."

"We totally finished an S-Class quest all by ourselves!" Natsu jumped for joy as he laughed.

Lucy couldn't help but smile at their infectious enthusiasm. "Do you think Master Makarov will let us go to the second floor now?"

Jin loudly cleared his throat and drew their attention, standing beside Erza with his arms crossed. Natsu, Happy, Gray, and Lucy collectively froze knowing that their punishments for breaking guild rules loomed overhead.

"Oh no!" Lucy exclaimed, quivering in fear. "You're still gonna punish us, huh?!"

Jin and Erza shared a glance. He nodded subtly, and she acknowledged with another nod before turning her attention back to the rest of the team.

"Isn't there something you're all forgetting?" Erza began, placing her hands on her hips. "You came to this island to help the villagers. The request was to return them to their original forms, so you still haven't completed your S-Class quest yet."

Lucy frowned, glancing at the others. "But... the curse should've been lifted now that Deliora's gone, right?"

"Wrong. This curse you keep talking about never had anything to do with the demon," Erza replied, crossing her arms. "The villagers have been affected by the intense magic energy released by the Moon Drip spell. In other words, Deliora's death isn't going to change their current situation whatsoever."

A gasp escaped Lucy, and she clutched her hands together in worry. "What?! Oh no…"

"Well, we better go change 'em back!" Natsu said, remaining optimistic and offering a high five to Happy who eagerly returned it.

"Yeah, but we don't know how," Gray said before turning to Lyon, who was sitting against a large rock not far from them with his arms crossed. "Lyon, do you know?"

Lyon glanced at Gray, then at the rest of the group. "I'll be honest: I have no idea."

"You don't know?!" Natsu exclaimed, his eyebrow twitching. "Aren't you the big-shot genius? What gives?"

"But the villagers said the curse started when you and your group got here," Lucy said, tilting her head. Doesn't that mean—?"

"That's not entirely true," Lyon interrupted. "We knew there was a village somewhere on this island, but the villagers never approached us, and we had no reason to bother them. So, we left them alone, and they never came to the temple to see what we were up to."

"That doesn't make sense," Jin said, his voice low but cutting through the night like a blade. "You're telling me they saw the light from the Moon Drip every night for years and never once came to investigate?"

"My thoughts exactly," Erza added. "In three years, you've never once met?"

Lyon simply shrugged. "It's the truth. I had no interest in the villagers or their plight. My goal was Deliora."

Natsu frowned, stepping forward. "You've been here for three years, and you don't know anything? That's convenient."

Lyon narrowed his eyes. "Think about it, Dragneel. My team and I have been exposed to the Moon Drip's light every night for three years. Yet, none of us were transformed. Doesn't that strike you as odd?"

Erza's eyes narrowed. "What are you implying?"

"I'm saying there's more to those villagers than meets the eye. Maybe they're hiding something." Lyon leaned back against the rock. "I wouldn't trust them, but I'm sure you guild wizards can handle it."

"That's a load of bull!" Natsu shouted, his fists clenched. "You're just saying that to get off the hook! You destroyed the village a–"

"That's quite enough, Natsu," Erza interrupted, pinching his cheeks with one hand. "The real reason they all rallied behind Lyon was because Deliora killed their families, and they all wanted revenge. He convinced them that if they helped him release the demon, he would kill it, and it would be gone. They were doing what they believed to be right, so there's no need to criticize them for it," Erza let go of Natsu's face and walked away. "Let's go."

"But... what are we gonna do to lift the curse?" Natsu asked, watching her go

Erza shrugged. "I have no idea."

"Oh, great," Lucy muttered.

Natsu grumbled under his breath but said no more. The group began to disperse, with Erza motioning for them to follow her back toward the village. But Lyon's voice stopped them.

"Wait."

Gray turned, and the others followed suit. "What is it now?"

Lyon leaned in slightly, his gaze settling squarely on Jin. "You. There's something I need to ask."

Jin stiffened. "What?"

"Do you know someone named Zalty?"

Jin blinked, caught off guard. "Zalty?" he repeated, shaking his head slightly. "Never heard of him until earlier. Why?"

Lyon's brow furrowed. "How strange. He seems to know quite a bit about you, more than I'd expect for someone claiming to have never met him."

A wave of tension rippled through the group. Erza's eyes darted to Jin, her expression hardening with concern. Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Happy exchanged glances before their collective gaze returned to Jin.

"What are you talking about?" Erza asked as she took a step closer to Jin, her posture suddenly protective.

Lyon hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. "Zalty seemed... informed. He knows about a trial you and Titania went through before the Magic Council. And more importantly, he knew something else. He said you weren't just some wizard. He called you a Saiyan."

The word hit like a physical blow. Erza's sharp intake of breath echoed Jin's own horror. He stood frozen, and the air grew impossibly heavy. Jin's hands trembled ever so slightly, his mind reeling from the revelation. His secret—one he had only shared with Erza and, inadvertently, Natsu—was now exposed by someone he had never met.

"What… did you say?" Erza whispered, her gaze locked on Lyon.

"A Saiyan," Lyon repeated. "I don't know what it means, but Zalty seemed… concerned about it."

Natsu, Gray, and Lucy exchanged puzzled glances. "A Saiyan?" Lucy asked, her brow furrowed. "Jin, what's he talking about?"

"Oh yeah, you mentioned something about that before," Natsu said, scratching the back of his head. "What does it mean? You still owe me that explanation, ya know?"

"I..." Jin's voice faltered. He took a step back, his gaze falling to the ground as if searching for an answer beneath the dirt.

"Does it have anything to do with… you being different?" Gray asked cautiously. "Is this about your... ki stuff?"

Jin's mouth opened, but no words came out. His hands trembled, and his gaze darted between his friends and Lyon, who was watching him like a puzzle to be solved.

"It's... it's what I am," he finally managed, forcing the words out. "I'm... not like the rest of you. I'm from a race called the Saiyans. We don't use magic. We use ki."

Erza stepped closer, her hand hovering near Jin's arm but hesitating to touch him. "Jin, look at me," she urged gently. " Don't force yourself. You don't have to answer."

Gray crossed his arms. "But how does Zalty know about you? Have you met him before?"

"I haven't," Jin replied quickly, almost defensively. "I don't know him. I don't know how or why he knows."

"But he does now," Lyon pressed. "And he knew about you and Titania's trial. He seemed awfully confident about it. Are you sure you've never crossed paths?"

"I said I don't know him!" Jin snapped, his voice breaking slightly. "I don't... I don't know how he knows! I've never even heard of him before today! How would he know about me?"

"That's enough," Erza interjected, seeing his distress. She tightened her hold on Jin's arm, as if anchoring him. "We'll address this later. Right now, we have a mission to complete. Let's go."

Without waiting for a response, she tugged Jin forward, her determination pulling him from the weight of his spiraling thoughts. The rest of the team hesitated before following, their earlier joy dampened by the weight of the revelation. Meanwhile, Gray stayed behind, casting a glance at Lyon and Gray behind.

"What are you looking at?" Lyon demanded.

"I know you don't wanna hear it, but you really should join a guild," Gray said earnestly. "You can make new friends, meet new rivals, and maybe even find a new dream to live for."

Lyon gasped lightly, a hint of hope returning to his eyes. However, he merely glanced away as Gray smiled.

"Whatever," Lyon muttered, averting his gaze. "Just get out of here."

As the team trudged through the rocky terrain, Jin walked in silence beside Erza, his thoughts a storm of fear and confusion.

"How does he know?" Jin whispered, almost to himself. "I've been so careful. I've kept this secret my entire life... except..." His eyes flicked to Natsu briefly. "Except when I told you and Natsu about it. But even then, I made sure no one was around."

Erza glanced at him, the memory of that moment in the cell resurfacing briefly. "I recall you mentioning you sensed no one nearby, but I don't know either. We'll figure this out eventually, but first, let's finish what we came here to do."

Though her words carried a weight Jin could carry, her heart ached with the unspoken truth: whoever Zalty was, he knew far more than he should. And that knowledge could change everything.