They'd all agreed, after listening to Cobra's tale, that a close combat attack sounded like a bad idea. Not impossible, but it would likely bear the same results as it did for him yesterday. Instead, they opted to keep their distance if the situation looked the same as yesterday. Thus, the "Cutting Cords Plan" was born.
Cobra took a defensive stance by Lucy, who raised a key into the air. A key that looked reminiscent of a small crab. "Open the Gate of the Giant Crab, Cancer!" she shouted.
A powerful burst of magic filled the room, one that was strangely nostalgic to Cobra, given how many times he'd sparred against Sorano, witnessing the same effect. Within seconds, a Celestial Spirit entered the room. He was a tall man, his skin only a shade lighter than Cobra's own, with a blue buttoned shirt and black pants. His hair sat in alternating red and black cornrows, with crab pinchers sprouting from each side of his head like antlers. In his hands were two pairs of scissors, which he snipped dramatically.
"Ready to trim at your orders, Lucy," the crab-man stated.
"Cancer, cut the threads from the spool!"
"Wait!" Percy cried. For the first time since they entered the room, a look of panic overtook him. "You don't mean you're going to erase these?"
This gave Lucy pause, even though Cobra's brain screamed that if he was panicking, this was the time to strike. Although, that distressed edge to his voice…
"If you use that spirit to cut the threads…they won't come back. They'll be lost to time!" He clutched the threads close to his chest, his eyes going wide. "You'd condemn all of these bonds just like that?"
Well…damn. That had been a possibility in coming up with this plan. If they cut the threads, what exactly would happen to them? All they could do at the time was speculate, but if the person who controlled them himself said so…Cobra nervously glanced at Lucy and found himself gasping at her face.
For it was not the face of one who took that information as a reason to back down.
"I don't know if I believe you in that, Percy. From what I've witnessed, the bonds between others aren't so fragile that in merely cutting them away they are forever lost. But, even if it is true…" she looked directly at him, a fire in her eyes, "then I'm afraid all I can do is pray that the ones severed can reconnect. They might not do so the same, but it would be far, far worse if they were forever held hostage by you." She turned to Cobra, and he could spot the hint of doubt she'd kept hidden from Percy. "Do you…think I'm being too callous?" she whispered.
"…I think it's realistic. You're the one who will need to do it, but I support you either way." He set his voice as gently as he could manage, knowing that, despite what she said, it would take a toll on her if true.
Cobra briefly tried to listen in to see if Percy's panic was genuine and…well it felt genuine, but so did the rest of the emotions crowding inside him. It was almost impossible to tell the distinct source of one, given the noise of all of them combined. He subtly shook his head, a signal that he couldn't read him.
Lucy took the signal with pursed lips, then set her sights on Percy again. He cowered before them, backing away. "Cancer, cut!"
In an instant, the crab man's hands shot towards Percy, who screamed as the scissors lunged forward, eager and willing to cut his "dream" to pieces.