Gabriel was different from her siblings.
Where Michael was a leader, tempered by duty, and Raphael a warrior, hardened by battle, Gabriel was the embodiment of pure, unconditional love. She was the warmth in Heaven's light, the gentle whisper in the wind, the voice that soothed the hearts of mortals and angels alike.
She did not wage war.
She did not judge.
She did not hate.
She only loved.
Among the Seraphim, she was the most radiant—her twelve white wings unmatched in brilliance, her presence capable of bringing peace even to the most tormented of souls. Her voice alone could calm storms, and her touch could purify even the darkest hearts.
But there was a truth about her nature that even she did not realize.
Gabriel was never meant to experience grief, pain, or loss.
For love to remain pure, it must not be tainted by sorrow.
For the light to stay bright, it must never fall into shadow.
The highest Seraphim knew the risks. If Gabriel were to ever feel true hatred, despair, or betrayal…
She would fall.
Not as a fallen angel. Not as a devil.
But as something far worse.
A being created entirely from love could not simply shift to another path. If love shattered within her, there would be nothing left but destruction.
She would become a calamity.
A walking, breathing paradox.
Love turned into ruin. Light turned into shadow.
The moment Michael forbade her from returning to Earth…
The moment Raphael admitted she attacked Naruto without reason…
The moment she realized that her own family was willing to harm those she loved…
Gabriel shattered.
It was not a dramatic descent into rage.
It was not an instant explosion of fury.
It was silent.
The breaking of something so delicate, so fundamental, that it could never be repaired.
And in that moment…
For the first time in all of existence…
A Seraph's halo turned red.
Chapter 9: Storm
The air crackled with tension.
Ophis and Lilith stood side by side, their energy fluctuating in perfect sync. Their once playful and mischievous auras were gone—replaced by the cold, suffocating presence of two beings who knew exactly what kind of monster they were facing.
Envy twirled the blood-red kitchen knife between her fingers, her pink eyes gleaming with amusement as she observed the twins. "Ara~ I was hoping you'd react that way."
Lucy, still bound by unseen forces, could barely breathe as she felt the suffocating weight of Envy's presence. The air itself grew heavier, warping like a mirage.
Lilith's fingers twitched, shadows forming around her hands like writhing tendrils. Ophis, ever silent, barely moved—her piercing eyes locked onto their opponent.
Then the battle began.
A Sudden Blitz
BOOM!
The ground beneath Ophis shattered as she launched forward—faster than any human eye could follow. A blue-tinged afterimage trailed behind her as she closed the distance in a fraction of a second.
Envy barely blinked before the first punch landed.
CRACK!
The impact sent a shockwave through the entire forest. Trees bent and split apart as the force of Ophis' strike connected with Envy's stomach—sending the Sin hurtling through the air like a cannonball.
But she was smiling.
"Ooo~ That actually hurt a little."
Before she even hit the ground, Envy twisted midair and flipped, digging her knife into the air itself.
A ripple spread from the blade, and suddenly gravity reversed.
Ophis' eyes widened as her feet left the ground involuntarily.
"Che."
Lilith reacted instantly. With a flick of her wrist, the shadows around her surged forward and wrapped around Ophis' ankle, yanking her back down before she could be pulled into Envy's distortion.
Envy landed gracefully, giggling as if she were playing a game. "I always wondered how you twins fought together. So in sync~ So dependent on each other~ How cute!"
Her knife vanished in a flicker of green light, only to reappear in her other hand, now warped and grotesque—like something that had been melted and reshaped into a serrated monstrosity.
"Let's see what happens when I break that little bond of yours."
Splitting the Twins
SLASH!
The moment Envy moved, the world twisted.
One moment she was several feet away—the next, she was right between them.
A distorted pulse of magic erupted from her body, sending Ophis flying to the left and Lilith to the right, forcibly splitting them apart.
Envy's voice echoed unnaturally as if she were speaking into both of their ears at once. "Let's see how strong you are when you can't rely on your precious sister."
Ophis hit the ground hard, her body skidding through the dirt. She immediately tried to teleport back—
But she couldn't.
Lilith, on the other hand, was stuck midair, unable to land. Something invisible wrapped around her body, keeping her suspended like a marionette.
Envy, standing between them, tilted her head, a sick grin spreading across her face.
"Oh? You're struggling? That's adorable."
She lifted a finger—and Lilith screamed.
Black veins spread across her body as pain—something no ordinary force should be able to inflict on them—ripped through her nerves.
Ophis' face darkened.
"Let her go," she ordered, her voice dangerously low.
Envy laughed. "Make me."
CRACK!
The air shattered as Ophis broke through space itself to get to Lilith.
Her body vanished, reappearing above Envy in an instant, her fist already descending.
Envy, instead of dodging, grinned wider.
"Gotcha~"
At the last second, her body blurred, and Ophis' attack missed—striking only empty air.
Before she could react—
SHLICK.
A small, nearly silent sound.
Ophis' eyes widened.
She looked down.
The tip of Envy's twisted knife was embedded in her stomach.
For the first time in a long time, Ophis felt pain.
"Ugh—!"
A deep, sickening pain spread from the wound, making her entire body weaken.
Envy leaned in close, whispering in her ear. "You little devils really don't know how to fight properly, do you?"
She ripped the knife out, and Ophis stumbled backward—clutching her wound as blood dripped onto the ground.
"Ophis!" Lilith's eyes widened, and she thrashed against Envy's magic.
But it was useless.
Envy licked the blood off her blade and sighed dramatically. "Mmm~ Not as delicious as Wrath's, but close enough."
Ophis gritted her teeth. This isn't working.
They couldn't fight her like this.
They needed to be together.
Lilith closed her eyes, focusing all of her remaining power.
One chance.
The Final Gambit
Envy was mid-laugh when the sky turned dark.
A pulse of energy erupted from Lilith's body, and the air vibrated with raw, chaotic magic.
Ophis, despite her injury, instantly recognized what Lilith was doing—and matched her energy.
The twin's eyes glowed, their energies resonating as one.
Envy froze, her grin faltering for the first time.
"Oh?"
The moment she hesitated, Lilith broke free.
The twins vanished—appearing on either side of Envy in an instant.
"Twin Dragon's Wrath—!"
A black and blue explosion of pure destructive energy erupted from their hands, swallowing Envy whole in an unstoppable torrent of power.
The shockwave was so powerful that the trees uprooted, the ground tore apart, and the very air burned.
Lucy covered her face as the sheer force of the attack threatened to throw her back.
Envy's scream of pain echoed through the battlefield.
And then—silence.
The dust settled.
The area where Envy had been standing was nothing but a crater.
The twins stood tall, breathing heavily, their wounds healing rapidly as their energies rebalanced.
Lucy, still stunned, exhaled shakily. "D-Did you… get her?"
A beat passed.
Then—clapping.
Slow, deliberate, mocking claps.
A chill ran down Lucy's spine.
She turned—and her heart dropped.
In the center of the destruction, amidst the rubble and devastation—
Envy stood, completely unharmed.
She tilted her head, her usual smirk twisted into something horrifying.
"Well…"
She lifted her knife, running her finger along the edge.
"That was fun."
And then—she moved.
Faster than before.
Stronger than before.
Too fast.
Ophis and Lilith barely had time to react.
And this time…
They weren't the ones winning.
"Ara~" she sighed, twirling her knife between her fingers. "That was impressive. Really, it was. But…"
Her pink eyes flickered—a deep, ugly emotion swirling beneath their glow.
"You two… piss me off."
A pulse of sickly green energy burst from her body, warping the space around her. The very air twisted, growing heavier—as if gravity itself was bowing to her will.
Lucy, still bound by invisible forces, felt her lungs squeeze shut.
Something primal told her to run.
Ophis and Lilith, despite their exhaustion, stepped forward without hesitation.
Their hands crackled with energy—ready for another round.
Envy's laughter was hollow.
"A perfect pair," she murmured, her tone almost… bitter.
And then—
She moved.
The Turning Tide
CRACK!
Ophis barely registered the attack before her vision blurred.
Her body jerked violently, sent flying through multiple trees, each one shattering upon impact.
Lilith's eyes widened.
"—!"
Before she could react, a hand gripped her throat.
Her breath caught as she was lifted off the ground—Envy's fingers tightening like a vice.
The pink-haired Sin's expression was blank, her grip unrelenting as she stared at Lilith like one would an insect.
"You have no idea how much I hate seeing siblings work together," Envy whispered, her voice laced with venom.
Lilith struggled, her shadows flaring to life—but they wouldn't respond.
Envy's corrosive magic had infected them.
"Why do you two get to have something so perfect?" Envy continued, her grip tightening.
"Why do you get to have each other, while I have no one?"
Lilith's vision darkened.
Ophis, despite the immense pain coursing through her body, forced herself up—her entire left arm hanging limp from the sheer force of the blow she took.
Her icy blue eyes burned with fury.
"Let. Her. Go."
Envy smirked.
And then—she snapped Lilith's wrist.
"AHHHH—!"
Lilith's scream pierced the sky.
Ophis' mind blanked.
She moved without thought—closing the distance in an instant.
Her remaining hand glowed with divine energy, prepared to rip Envy apart—
But the moment she reached them—
Envy twisted her body unnaturally, slamming her knee directly into Ophis' ribs.
CRACK!
The shockwave of the impact tore apart the ground, sending Ophis skidding across the dirt.
She barely had time to register pain before Envy appeared behind her.
Her hand buried itself in Ophis' back—not piercing the skin, but sending a pulse of corrosive magic directly into her bloodstream.
"Fall."
Ophis collapsed, her body completely unresponsive.
Lilith, still gasping for breath, reached out weakly.
"Sister—"
Envy kicked her in the stomach.
Hard.
Lilith choked, coughing up blood as her body crashed against a nearby boulder.
Neither twin got back up.
For the first time since the battle began—
The battlefield was silent.
The Fall of the Guardians
Lucy's heart pounded.
They…
They lost.
Just like that.
Ophis and Lilith—devils who could challenge Wizard Saints—had been dismantled like they were nothing.
Envy sighed, rolling her shoulders as if the battle had merely been an annoying exercise.
"Honestly," she murmured, flicking her knife to shake off the lingering blood, "I was expecting a little more from Wrath's so-called pets."
She kneeled beside Ophis, gripping a handful of her long, dark hair, and lifted her limp body slightly.
"But I guess…" she whispered, her tone mocking, "even strong dogs break when you put them down properly."
Lucy struggled against her bonds, her entire body trembling in rage.
"Y-You… monster!"
Envy tilted her head—as if she had forgotten Lucy was even there.
"Oh? Still have some fight in you?"
Lucy gritted her teeth. "I won't forgive you for this!"
Envy's smile returned.
"Oh, how adorable."
She let go of Ophis, letting her hit the ground like a discarded doll, and strode toward Lucy with purpose.
"You're lucky, y'know," Envy murmured, reaching out.
Her cold fingers traced Lucy's cheek.
"I was going to kill you."
Lucy froze.
Envy leaned closer, her breath warm against Lucy's skin.
"I ENVY your beauty.. But someone wants you alive."
Her fingers curled into Lucy's hair, yanking her head back.
Lucy bit her lip, refusing to cry out.
Envy grinned, victorious.
Then, with one swift motion, she slung Lucy over her shoulder—as if she were nothing more than baggage.
"Juvia!"
From the shadows, Juvia emerged, dragging a beaten and unconscious Sol behind her.
"The mission is complete," Envy declared.
Juvia hesitated, looking at the two fallen twins, before nodding.
"...Understood."
A portal of green and black flames tore open behind them.
Lucy thrashed, desperate to free herself—desperate to fight back—
But it was too late.
With one final mocking glance at the unconscious twins, Envy stepped through the portal.
The flames swallowed them whole.
And then—
They were gone.
The forest was silent.
The twins lay motionless.
And Lucy…
Lucy Heartfilia had been taken.
The golden halls of the Seraphim's sanctuary trembled—no, screamed.
A ripple of inconceivable power tore through the once-holy domain, splitting divine constructs, shattering halos, and burning away the very harmony that had reigned for millennia.
The sky—that eternal, celestial blue—fractured like glass beneath the weight of a power it was never meant to contain.
Michael stood at the edge of the ruined dais, blood staining the pristine white marble, his hand pressed against a wound he never believed he'd receive. Beside him, Raphael had collapsed to her knees, her golden eyes wide, glassy with unshed tears.
And above them both…
She hovered.
Gabriel.
But not the sister they once knew.
Not the seraph born of light, of compassion, of unwavering, unconditional love.
That Gabriel was gone.
What hovered there now was a storm—a divine paradox.
Her once-lustrous golden hair whipped violently in unseen wind, strands now streaked with black, her robes tattered and crimson, like they had been dipped in blood. Her wings—twelve of them—were no longer radiant feathers of light but massive constructs of shadow and flame, thrumming with power both holy and unholy.
And above her brow… a twisted halo of black red as lightning crackles around it, pulsing erratically with every beat of her fractured soul.
Raphael choked out a cry, hands trembling. "G-Gabriel… no… no this—this isn't—!"
She looked toward Michael, her voice cracking like a child's. "This wasn't supposed to happen! This wasn't—"
Michael remained silent. The weight of failure crushed his voice.
He had led the hosts of Heaven for eons. Had quelled wars. Had defied cosmic entropy.
But he could not stop this.
"I should have let her go," he whispered, shame pooling in his eyes. "I thought… I thought I was protecting her. But all I did was break her."
A flash of white light cut through the sky as another figure appeared—Uriel, the Seraph of Diligence.
Tall. Radiant. Imposing.
His long red cloak whipped behind him like a banner of war. His blade—Godslayer, forged in the first breath of creation—was already in hand.
He had arrived too late.
"Michael. Raphael. What… what is that?"
He froze when he saw her—Gabriel, once the most innocent among them, now radiating an energy that made even him hesitate.
Uriel clenched his jaw. "What have we done…?"
Raphael stood, tears burning down her face. "We did this, Uriel. We all did…"
Gabriel slowly descended, the air vibrating around her.
No words.
Only silence.
And that made it worse.
Because she had always spoken in kindness.
Now she said nothing.
She did not see them as family anymore.
"Gabriel!" Michael stepped forward despite his wound. "You don't want this!"
Finally… her gaze locked onto him.
Empty. Unforgiving.
A voice—not hers—emerged from her lips. A deeper, hollow, broken thing.
"Y̷̥͛ŏ̵̝ṷ̵̓ ̷̢̕w̷͇̑e̸͂͜ŗ̵̉e̶̻͝ ̵̼̅ẗ̴̳́h̸̘̅ë̶͉́ ̵̜̔ó̵͈ṉ̷̇é̴̙ ̷̘͗w̷͓̋h̵̬̎ö̴͙́ ̷̫̑ḍ̸̋i̸̭̾d̸͚͝ ̵̳̐ṅ̶͜o̵̓ͅt̴̪̔ ̶͔̈́w̸̪͝a̴͓̕n̴̝̿t̴͎̏ ̶̡̈́m̷̢̛é̴͙."
And then—
BOOM.
Gabriel was gone.
And then she was there, in front of Michael.
Her crimson spear already piercing his side.
CRUNCH.
Blood sprayed. Divine essence spilled like stars falling from the sky.
Michael screamed—not in pain, but in realization.
He had truly lost her.
His back slammed against the sacred walls of the sanctuary, shattering marble older than the world itself.
Raphael screamed.
Uriel stepped forward—but hesitated.
This wasn't Gabriel.
This was rage without purpose. Grief without shape. Love, twisted by despair.
Gabriel turned now.
Her dead eyes found Raphael.
The sister who doubted her. The sister who tried to keep her from Earthland. The sister who wounded the man she now loved.
The crimson spear raised again—
And before the blow could fall—
A pulse of chaos.
A portal tore open.
A fusion of hellfire and celestial black.
It spiraled into the sanctuary, warping the laws of this world—
And through it stepped:
Naruto. Akeno. Trihexia.
They froze.
Naruto's icy blue eyes widened.
And his heart… stopped.
Gabriel.
The girl who laughed innocently. Who admired the human world like a wide-eyed child. Who clung to him during nights and sang lullabies to injured animals.
She stood before him now.
Halo red.
Eyes dead.
Wings tainted.
And holding a weapon aimed at her own sister.
"...Gabriel?" he whispered, voice cracking.
She didn't respond.
She couldn't.
Because the love that once defined her—was now the very thing that had destroyed her.
The once thunderous battlefield of Phantom Lord's guild had been reduced to eerie silence. The sound of retreating footsteps echoed as Fairy Tail pulled back, their morale shaken. Makarov, their unwavering pillar of strength, had fallen—not in combat, but to a single, unseen attack from Aria of the Element 4.
As the surviving mages regrouped outside of Phantom Lord's territory, the weight of their defeat settled in.
Erza stood tall, her battered armor cracked, yet her voice was unwavering. "We have no choice but to retreat. Master needs treatment, and we need to rethink our approach."
Natsu clenched his fists, his body trembling with barely restrained rage. Lucy had been taken. He had overheard Jose himself gloating about it—his voice dripping with arrogance. The mere thought of Lucy, trapped in enemy hands, made his blood boil.
"I'm going after her," he growled, turning away.
Before he could take a single step, Erza's steel grip seized his shoulder.
"You're not going anywhere," she said, her voice like iron.
Natsu whipped around, his fiery glare meeting her unwavering gaze. "They took Lucy! And you're telling me to just stand here and do nothing?!"
"She's our friend, and we'll save her." Erza's voice was resolute. "But we're not rushing in blindly. Master is down, and Phantom Lord isn't just any enemy—they've already beaten us once."
Natsu growled in frustration but knew deep down she was right.
Before another word could be spoken, a blinding flash of violet light erupted in the sky above them. A swirling vortex, wreathed in hellfire and shadow, tore open in the fabric of reality.
And from it—two figures fell.
Ophis and Lilith crashed into the ground, their bodies battered, their elegant gothic dresses torn and bloodied. Despite their wounds, they landed gracefully—though barely able to remain standing.
Erza, Gray, Natsu, and Happy instinctively took defensive stances. The twins looked like hell.
Ophis, usually composed and unreadable, was breathing heavily. Lilith, her ever-present blank stare now laced with exhaustion, struggled to stand straight.
"What happened?" Erza demanded, her grip tightening around the hilt of her sword.
Lilith wiped blood from her lips, her voice as calm as ever. "We lost."
A heavy silence fell over them.
Gray narrowed his eyes. "Who did this?"
Ophis finally looked up, her icy blue eyes glowing dimly in the moonlight. "The Sin of Envy."
Erza's breath hitched. A Sin. A true Devil.
Ophis continued, her expression unreadable, yet her voice tinged with something close to frustration. "Envy… she overpowered us."
Lilith scowled, clenching her fists. "We underestimated her. That mistake cost us Lucy."
Natsu's flames erupted around his fists, his fury igniting the air. "Where is she now?!"
Ophis shook her head. "She was taken into a portal. Most likely Phantom Lord's base."
Gray crossed his arms, his mind racing. "Phantom Lord was strong enough on their own, but now they have a Sin on their side?"
Erza closed her eyes briefly before opening them again—determination burning in her gaze. "Then we'll just have to be stronger."
"We need a plan," Gray stated. "Rushing in will just get us killed."
Erza nodded. "Phantom Lord's headquarters is said to be a moving fortress, and with Envy there, we'll need to be smart about this."
"Forget smart! We just punch through and get Lucy back!" Natsu barked.
"Idiot," Gray scoffed. "That's exactly what they'll be expecting."
"Gray's right," Erza said. "Phantom Lord's base isn't just a guildhall—it's a weapon. Jose is a Wizard Saint. If we take the direct approach, we'll be overwhelmed."
Natsu, still seething, gritted his teeth. "So what do we do?"
Erza's gaze was unwavering. "We infiltrate. Take them down from the inside."
Gray crossed his arms. "That's easier said than done."
"That's why we're not going in alone," Erza continued. "Fairy Tail may have retreated, but we are not broken. We'll send word to the others. We move tonight."
"Lucy is waiting for us."
Natsu cracked his knuckles. "Then let's go get her."
Ophis and Lilith, despite their pride, were forced to acknowledge their exhaustion.
They knew Naruto would be furious when he found out about their failure. They could feel it—a distant, burning rage simmering within their bond.
But they couldn't go back yet.
They needed to recover.
Wordlessly, the twins stepped back from the conversation.
Then, to everyone's shock, their bodies began to glow.
A thick cocoon of energy enveloped them—pulsing like a heartbeat.
Their small forms became encased in what appeared to be dragon eggs, deep crimson and sapphire, veins of power coursing through the shells.
Erza, Gray, and Natsu stared in disbelief.
"They're… hibernating?" Happy asked, tilting his head.
"A self-imposed stasis," Erza deduced. "They're recovering."
Gray exhaled. "Good. We'll need them at full strength when we take down Phantom Lord."
As the wind howled through the battlefield, the fate of Lucy Heartfilia hung in the balance.
The rescue mission had begun.
The atmosphere inside the Phantom Lord guild was heavy with malice and ambition. The grand hall, once a place where warriors gathered in conquest, now stood silent, save for the flickering torches along the walls and the slow, calculated steps of Jose Porla.
At the center of the dimly lit chamber, Lucy Heartfilia sat in a chair—her wrists bound with chains inscribed with anti-magic runes. The cold metal bit into her skin, but it wasn't the bindings that made her shiver.
It was the man standing before her.
Jose's presence was suffocating, his magic oppressive. But what unnerved her the most was the key dangling from his fingers.
A twisted mockery of the celestial keys she held so dearly.
The Key of Envy.
Its silver, black, and green metal shimmered ominously in the torchlight, pulsating with a sinister energy. The mere sight of it made Lucy's stomach churn.
Jose smirked, noticing her gaze.
"Ah, I see you've taken an interest in my new little triumph card," he mused, twirling the key between his fingers. "I must admit, I never expected a Devil's Key to fall into my lap so easily."
Lucy swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "What do you want from me?"
Jose chuckled darkly, taking a slow step forward. "Oh, Lucy Heartfilia… What I want is simple."
He leaned down, his piercing yellow eyes locking onto hers.
"You are the check your father is writing."
Lucy's breath caught in her throat.
"No…"
Jose grinned wider at her reaction. "Did you really think this was about some petty guild rivalry? Please. I couldn't care less about you, girl. But your dear father? Now that is a man who knows how to pay for what he wants."
Lucy's fingers clenched into fists. "You're lying."
Jose merely laughed, stepping back. "Oh, am I?" His smirk grew cruel. "Jude Heartfilia has offered me a fortune to bring you back to him. And I? Well, I'm a businessman first and foremost. If I get to wipe Fairy Tail off the map in the process, consider that a personal bonus."
Lucy's heart pounded in her chest.
Her father… was the one behind this?
After all these years, after everything she went through to escape…
"He's still trying to control me."
Her anger surged past her fear, and she glared at Jose. "And you think I'll just go with you quietly?"
Jose smirked, holding up the Key of Envy once more. "I think you don't have a choice."
Before Lucy could speak, the key began to glow, and a familiar, terrifying voice echoed through the chamber.
"Ara~ Ara~ Calling on me so soon, Master?"
A swirl of crimson energy burst forth, and Envy materialized in front of them.
The pink-haired devil's piercing eyes landed on Lucy, a sadistic smirk tugging at her lips.
"Oh my, you're still alive~" she purred, twirling her kitchen knife in her fingers. "I was hoping you'd at least be fun to chase down again."
Lucy gritted her teeth. "You…"
Jose chuckled. "Magnificent, isn't she? A true Devil of Sin, bound to my will." He turned to Envy, confidence radiating from him. "Tell me, my dear summon, how do you feel about destroying Fairy Tail?"
Envy's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with hunger.
"Oh, Master~" she cooed, licking the edge of her knife. "That sounds absolutely delicious."
Lucy's stomach dropped.
Jose wasn't bluffing.
He had a Sin under his control.
And Fairy Tail was running straight into a massacre.
Lucy clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms. She needed to get out of here. She had to warn them.
But as Envy turned to her, those cruel pink eyes locking onto hers, Lucy felt the creeping realization of just how powerless she was.
And how little time they had left.
A heavy silence filled the war room of Trihexia's fortress. A tension so thick it felt as if the very air had turned solid, pressing down on everyone present.
Naruto stood at the center of it, his icy blue eyes burning with determination as he adjusted his coat, preparing for what was undoubtedly going to be a battle.
"I'm going," he said simply.
Trihexia, seated on her throne, massaged her temples, frustration clear in her loli nun form. She had seen this coming the moment Naruto stopped asking questions and started preparing to move. That damn stubbornness of his… it was both his greatest strength and his biggest flaw.
"You really are an idiot," she sighed, looking up at him. "Do you even realize what you're saying?"
"I do," Naruto replied, his voice firm. "Gabriel is in trouble, and I'm getting her out of there."
Akeno, standing beside him, smiled wickedly, though her eyes held a gleam of amusement. "Ara~ Naruto-kun, you really know how to get yourself into trouble, don't you?" She tapped her chin before shrugging. "Well, wherever you go, I go."
Trihexia gritted her teeth. "This isn't some damn field trip!" She rose from her throne, a pulse of dark power radiating from her, shaking the entire fortress. "Do you have any idea what Heaven is like right now?! It's in chaos! That's not even our war, Naruto!"
Naruto narrowed his eyes at her. "And since when do I care about whether something is 'our' war or not?" His voice was colder than usual, more controlled, but filled with resolve. "Gabriel isn't just some angel. She's my friend."
Trihexia growled, clutching her head. "Infuriating. Absolutely INFURIATING!" She snapped her gaze to Akeno. "And YOU, Lust, are you just going along with this because it's fun?"
Akeno giggled. "Of course~ But more importantly…" She leaned toward Trihexia, her violet eyes shimmering with something unreadable. "If Naruto-kun has decided something, what's the point in arguing? You know he never backs down."
Trihexia clicked her tongue in annoyance.
She knew. Of course, she knew.
Naruto was a force of nature, something that couldn't be stopped once he set his mind on something. And if she wasn't going to stop him, then…
"Damn it," she muttered under her breath before glaring at him. "Fine. I'm coming too."
Naruto raised a brow. "Didn't you just say this wasn't our war?"
Trihexia huffed, crossing her arms. "Yeah, well, if you die, I'd rather be there to drag your sorry ass back."
Akeno giggled again, clearly enjoying the exchange.
Naruto sighed. Fine. If Trihexia wanted to come along, she could. He wasn't about to waste time arguing.
He turned away from them and raised his hand, dark energy swirling as he prepared a portal. Unlike his usual rifts, this one shimmered with celestial energy—a gateway meant for entering Heaven itself.
Trihexia muttered, "Tch. Heaven's security is gonna be a nightmare."
The swirling vortex expanded, the temperature in the room dropping as an overwhelming sense of divinity leaked through.
And then—
Everything stopped.
The three devils froze as a presence unlike anything they had felt before washed over them.
The air turned heavy, as if the very world was bending under an unseen force. The swirling golden skies of Heaven… had darkened.
A black shadow stood beyond the portal.
Tall. Monstrous. Divine.
Twelve black wings spread wide, each feather crackling with black lightning.
And above the figure's head…
A crimson halo, sparking with red and black electricity.
A cold shiver ran down Naruto's spine as he finally laid eyes on the being from Trihexia's vision.
"…No way," Trihexia whispered.
Akeno, for the first time, was silent.
The figure took a step forward, their red glowing eyes locking onto Naruto.
Lucy's breathing was ragged as she pressed herself against the cold stone wall, peering around the corner of the dimly lit corridor. The Phantom Lord fortress was eerily silent, save for the distant echoes of shifting guards. She had done it—she had slipped past them.
The figure took a step forward, their red glowing eyes locking onto Naruto.
"Almost there."
Lucy found the nearest window and pushed it open. The cold night air rushed over her skin, filling her lungs with the scent of freedom. She didn't know how far up she was, but she'd figure it out. There had to be a way down.
Just as she was about to climb out—
CLAP. CLAP. CLAP.
A slow, mocking applause echoed through the stone chamber.
Lucy froze, her blood running cold.
"Impressive," came the smooth, arrogant voice of Jose Porla.
She turned slowly, finding him standing in the archway of the corridor, his piercing yellow eyes glinting with amusement. He had been waiting for her.
Jose's lips curled into a smirk. "I must admit, you have quite the nerve, escaping all the way up here. But did you stop to wonder…where you are?"
Lucy's stomach dropped as she turned back to the window—her eyes widening in horror.
She wasn't just escaping.
She was at the very top of Phantom Lord's fortress.
A sheer drop of at least a hundred meters stretched between her and the hard stone ground below.
Jose chuckled, taking slow, deliberate steps toward her. "Go on, Lucy. You're so eager to escape, aren't you?" He gestured grandly to the open night sky. "Well, here's your way out."
Lucy swallowed hard, her mind racing. There were no ropes, no ledges, no balconies. No way to climb down.
Only one way to go.
"You'll die," Jose mused, tilting his head. "But perhaps that is a better fate than what I have planned for you."
Lucy took a shaky breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
She had spent her whole life being controlled—by her father, by circumstance, by the fear of being powerless.
She would not let someone like Jose make her feel trapped again.
Lucy steeled herself and met his gaze with burning defiance.
"If those are my choices…" she whispered.
And then—
She jumped.
Jose's smirk faltered for just a second, his eyes widening in surprise. "What—?"
The wind howled in Lucy's ears as she plunged downward, the fortress shrinking above her. Her body tensed as she braced for the inevitable impact.
"At least I went on my own terms."
Then—
Something soft and feathery grabbed her mid-air.
"WAAAAAH! LUCY, YOU'RE TOO HEAVY!"
Lucy's eyes snapped open just in time to see Happy struggling to hold onto her, his little wings flapping wildly.
"WHAT THE—HAPPY?!" she shrieked.
"Aye!" he grunted, barely keeping them aloft. "Good thing I came when I did!"
Lucy's breath hitched as she looked down. Standing at the ready beneath her were three familiar figures.
Natsu, Erza, and Gray.
Waiting for her.
Natsu grinned like a madman, his fists already igniting. "Oi, Lucy! Took ya long enough!"
Erza crossed her arms, smirking. "Not bad, but I would have gone for something more… graceful."
Gray sighed. "Tch. You really don't know how to make things easy, do you?"
Lucy felt her heart swell.
They came for her.
She wasn't alone.
Jose's mocking laughter rang out from the top of the fortress.
"So, Fairy Tail's little rescue party has arrived," he sneered. "How touching. I was hoping you would come. Now, we can finally settle this properly."
Natsu cracked his knuckles, his eyes blazing.
"Yeah, Jose," he growled. "Let's settle this."
As Happy carefully lowered Lucy to the ground, she felt something shift inside her.
A fire she had never felt before.
Fairy Tail was her family.
And she was going to fight for them.
Lucy felt her heartbeat pounding in her chest, her breaths coming fast as she stood between Natsu and Gray. The relief of seeing her friends had been overwhelming, but that momentary solace was shattered as the temperature around them dropped—not in the way of cold, but something far worse.
An unnatural chill of malice.
A presence that seeped into their bones.
And then—
She appeared.
A figure materialized in front of them out of nowhere, as if reality itself had been rewritten just for her arrival.
Envy.
Her pink hair swayed as she tilted her head, her expression caught between amusement and pure disdain.
She was dressed in a traditional white yukata, stained faintly with red from the fresh blood of Ophis and Lilith. Her fingers twirled her infamous kitchen knife, dark energy crackling from its edge.
And those pink eyes—so deceptively innocent—gleamed with something far more twisted.
Something that ran far deeper than hatred.
Envy.
"You thought it would be that easy?"
Her voice was soft, deceptively sweet, but dripping with venom.
Lucy's breath hitched. No. Not now. Not after they were so close.
Erza stepped forward, brandishing a blade in a flash of light, her crimson hair flowing behind her. "Move aside."
Envy's smile widened.
She sighed dramatically, pressing her free hand against her cheek. "Ahh~ What a beautiful face you have, Titania. So elegant… so strong… so perfect."
Erza's grip on her sword tightened.
"But," Envy continued, her lips stretching into a dark grin, "It's infuriating."
Natsu growled, flames erupting around his fists. "I dunno who you are, but I don't like you."
Gray stepped beside him, ice forming at his fingertips. "She's Phantom's trump card. We saw what she did to the twins."
Lucy swallowed. Ophis and Lilith lost to her.
And now… they had to fight her?
Erza's expression remained unreadable, but her stance shifted. "Natsu, Gray—get Lucy out of here. Now."
"Not a chance," Gray muttered.
Natsu grinned in defiance. "Yeah, Erza, you know that's not happening."
The very moment they refused, something inside Envy snapped.
Her smile vanished.
And in its place—pure, raw fury.
Her energy spiked violently, the air cracking under the sheer weight of her presence.
Her hands trembled as her fingers dug into her own skin, her nails leaving crescent-shaped wounds along her arm.
"You… You won't abandon each other…?"
Her voice was shaking, as if barely holding back something monstrous.
Her pink eyes darkened, flickering with something far more unstable than rage.
"You have everything I don't," she whispered, her breath hitching. "And you won't even let me break it?"
The knife in her hand elongated, stretching into a wicked, jagged blade, pulsating like a living thing.
"I won't let you go," Envy whispered.
Her aura surged—a sickly, suffocating force that shattered the stone beneath her feet.
"You won't leave me behind—not in one piece."
And then—
She attacked.
A storm of unseen pressure pressed against the four mages as Envy's aura expanded, turning the already ruined fortress into a battleground of life and death.
Her pink eyes gleamed, unblinking and hungry, as she raised her jagged, pulsating blade—a weapon that did not belong to this world.
And then—
She moved.
Faster than sound.
A blur of white and pink crashed into them with graceful lethality, her every movement precise and flowing, as if she were dancing upon the battlefield.
Erza barely had time to react.
CLANG!
Sparks erupted as Envy's blade clashed against Erza's sword, the force of impact sending a shockwave that ripped through the fortress walls.
The ground shattered beneath them.
But Envy was already gone—
She twisted mid-air, using the momentum to redirect her attack, her knife whipping toward Lucy's throat.
"Open! Gate of the Golden Bull—Taurus!"
A massive golden minotaur materialized before Lucy just in time, intercepting the attack with his mighty axe.
"MOOMOOO! That was close, babe!" Taurus bellowed, muscles bulging as he swung his weapon at Envy.
But—
She dodged effortlessly.
She spun—her body weaving through the air like water, sidestepping the attack with unnatural precision.
And then—
Her knife sliced through Taurus's shoulder, carving into his celestial form.
"GAH!" Taurus roared, golden light spilling from the wound before he dispersed back into the Spirit World.
Lucy's eyes widened.
One strike? That was all it took?!
Envy landed lightly, her bare feet barely disturbing the debris beneath her.
She exhaled softly, her expression calm, indifferent.
"Pathetic," she murmured.
"TAURUS!" Lucy called out in horror, reaching for another key—
But before she could react, Envy was already in front of her.
Her blade glowed with crimson energy, raised for the killing blow—
"I don't think so!"
BOOM!
A pillar of fire erupted between them, forcing Envy to leap back gracefully.
Natsu stepped forward, flames roaring around his fists, his teeth bared in a vicious grin.
"Now I'm fired up!"
Envy landed without a sound, unfazed.
She tilted her head.
"You're fascinating," she mused. "A dragon's child... how precious."
Her blade pulsed violently as she extended her free hand—
A wave of invisible energy rippled through the air—
Natsu's flames twisted unnaturally, pulled toward Envy's grasp.
"Wha—?!"
The fire flickered, as if being siphoned away, before—
"ICE-MAKE: PRISON!"
A dome of ice suddenly encased Envy, cutting off her attack.
Gray stood behind Natsu, breathing heavily, his hands outstretched from casting the spell.
"Don't let her control the fight!" he snapped.
CRACK!
The ice splintered.
And then—
Envy laughed.
A soft, melodic sound.
So out of place.
So utterly mocking.
Then—
The ice EXPLODED.
A shockwave ripped outward, sending all four mages flying.
Erza slammed into a stone pillar.
Gray crashed through a ruined wall.
Lucy barely managed to catch herself, her body rolling across the ground.
Only Natsu remained standing, flames still raging.
Envy stepped out of the destruction, untouched, elegant, her yukata barely ruffled.
She wiped a speck of dust off her sleeve.
"You're all so weak," she sighed.
Natsu growled, his flames flaring dangerously.
"You talk too much!"
He lunged forward, flames roaring as he threw a powerful punch—
But Envy—
She moved like liquid.
She spun around him, her blade dancing in the air, cutting through the fire like it was nothing—
Her heel connected with his ribs.
CRACK!
Natsu's body shot backward, crashing into Gray.
"DAMN IT!" Natsu coughed, forcing himself up, spitting blood.
Lucy's hands shook as she reached for another key.
They couldn't win.
Envy was too fast, too strong.
They needed something—
Anything—
Erza stepped forward.
And her armor changed.
A flash of blinding light.
Then—
Erza stood in her strongest armor.
"Armadura Fairy."
Gold and silver radiated from her form, her twin swords humming with raw power.
Envy stopped.
For the first time—
She tilted her head, intrigued.
"Oh?"
Erza pointed her swords at Envy.
"This ends now."
Envy's lips parted.
And then—
She smiled.
A genuine, excited smile.
The wind howled through the fortress.
The ground was scarred from the previous battle, chunks of debris littered across the battlefield like gravestones marking a war already lost.
But Fairy Tail never knew defeat.
Envy, standing untouched amidst the wreckage, smiled.
Her pink eyes gleamed with something unfamiliar—something she wasn't sure if she loved or hated.
Excitement.
A fight worthy of her attention.
Erza Scarlet—Titania, Queen of the Fairies—stood in her strongest armor, golden light gleaming off her Armadura Fairy, her twin swords humming with an unbreakable resolve.
Behind her, Natsu, Gray, and Lucy stood ready—beaten, bruised, but still standing.
Fairy Tail stood together.
And Envy?
She tilted her head.
"Interesting," she mused, twirling her knife lazily. "You humans… You refuse to break even when you should know better. What is it about you that makes you so—"
"Fairy Tail doesn't break!" Erza interrupted, her voice booming like a war drum.
Envy's smile widened.
"Good," she whispered. "Then let's dance."
And then—
She vanished.
CLANG!
Metal screamed as Envy's knife collided against Erza's swords—
But Erza was ready.
She pivoted, using her overwhelming strength to push back against the Sin, sending her skidding across the broken ground.
Envy barely reacted.
Instead—
She twisted mid-air, landing lightly on the tip of her toes, her body moving with inhuman elegance.
Then—
She flickered out of sight again.
"BEHIND YOU!" Gray shouted.
Erza didn't need the warning.
CLANG!
She spun just in time, blocking Envy's knife with a powerful cross guard, sending out a shockwave from the force of their clash.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
A roaring fire crashed toward Envy's side—
She bent her body unnaturally, twisting around the punch like liquid.
Natsu's attack barely missed, the flames roaring past her, but before she could counter—
"ICE-MAKE: HAMMER!"
A massive block of ice crashed down from above, aiming to crush Envy—
She leaped back, flipping mid-air, landing gracefully.
And then—
"Lucy Kick!"
A golden boot slammed directly into Envy's face.
BAM!
For the first time, she staggered.
Lucy, panting, landed gracefully next to Natsu and Gray, her face set in determination.
"We fight together," she said.
Envy straightened her posture, her head tilted slightly as she wiped a thin line of blood from the corner of her lip.
She licked it.
Her pink eyes burned with fury.
"…I hate you," she whispered.
And then she attacked.
Envy became a blur, weaving through their combined attacks, her knife a whirlwind of destruction.
Her blade clashed against Erza's swords in rapid succession, sparks showering the battlefield.
She twisted through Natsu's flames, barely missing Gray's ice spears, evading Lucy's whips and celestial attacks.
But Fairy Tail adapted.
For every step forward Envy took, Fairy Tail countered together. For every dodge, every attack, every movement—
They fought as one.
Envy's movements were elegant, almost inhuman—
But Erza was a warrior, forged in battle, her instincts razor-sharp. She read her patterns, adjusting her stance.
Then—
She struck.
"Fairy Sword!"
A golden arc of destruction erupted from her blades, aiming directly for Envy. The Sin crossed her arms, blocking the impact, but the force sent her flying back—hard.
BOOM!
She slammed through a ruined stone pillar, the rubble collapsing around her.
Silence.
Then—
Laughter.
From the dust, Envy emerged. Her pink eyes glowed with raw fury.
"You made me bleed," she whispered, voice trembling with rage.
Her aura exploded— Emerald lightning cracked through the air, her energy shaking the battlefield.
"I HATE you," she hissed, voice distorting.
Then—
She vanished again.
This time, faster than before.
Erza barely had time to react—
Envy's knife was millimeters from her throat.
But then—
A shadow flickered behind her.
Envy's eyes widened.
A whisper—
"Surprise, bitch."
And then—
CRACK!
A blow to the back of her head.
A second strike to her gut.
Then—
SLAM!
A force crashed into Envy from behind, sending her into the dirt.
She coughed, gasping as she felt something she hadn't felt in centuries.
Pain.
She struggled to rise—
But two figures landed gracefully beside her.
Ophis and Lilith.
Both standing tall.
Both smiling coldly.
"That," Lilith whispered, "was for earlier."
"You lose," Ophis said simply.
Then—
They kicked her unconscious.
The Aftermath
The battlefield was silent.
The Sin of Envy—defeated.
Fairy Tail stood victorious.
Lucy collapsed to her knees, panting.
Gray wiped blood from his lip, exhaling.
Natsu grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Damn, that was fun!"
Erza sighed, relaxing her swords.
Then she looked at Ophis and Lilith.
"You two—"
The twins simply shrugged.
"Master would be mad if we didn't get payback," Lilith said smugly.
Ophis nodded. "And we don't like losing."
Erza shook her head, smiling slightly.
Then she turned to the unconscious Envy, frowning.
"Something tells me," she murmured, "this isn't over yet."
And she was right.
But even as the guild mages walked the familiar path toward home, a weight hung over them like a shroud.
There was no laughter.
No songs.
No cheers of triumph.
Only the sound of wind rustling through the trees and their own footsteps on the dirt path.
Lucy walked behind the group, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her eyes cast downward, hidden beneath the curtain of golden hair that fell around her face. Her steps were slower than the others, more hesitant—like every forward movement was a burden.
Above them, the sky was deceptively clear—azure blue and empty. But every few seconds, a flash of white-gold light would streak across the sky like distant lightning.
And yet…
There were no clouds.
The flashes were silent, but unnatural. The kind of light that didn't come from the sun. The kind of light that felt... wrong.
Natsu stopped mid-step and looked up, squinting.
"The hell…?" he muttered. "You guys see that?"
Another flash—this one violet, accompanied by a low rumble that came not from the earth but from the air itself. A pressure. Like something was tearing through the fabric of the sky, just beyond the blue.
Erza turned her head, eyes narrowed. Her armor clinked as she stood still.
"It's not a storm," she said quietly.
Gray frowned. "No clouds. No scent of rain either."
Even Happy, resting on Lucy's shoulder, was still. His wings twitched nervously as his tail wrapped around her neck protectively.
"It's like…" he whispered, "something's fighting up there."
Lucy didn't look up.
She couldn't.
Her mind was too loud.
My fault… It's all my fault…
Makarov injured. The guild destroyed. Her friends—hurt.
Because of her.
Because of a name.
Because of blood.
Because she was a Heartfilia.
If I had never joined...
Another pulse of golden light cracked the heavens. This time, it wasn't silent. A sound like glass breaking underwater echoed across the sky, reverberating through the air like thunder behind a veil.
The group instinctively looked up.
Far above—too far for mortals to reach, but too close to ignore—the clouds shimmered and broke, spiraling outward in a silent ripple.
Erza's hand moved to her sword.
"What kind of magic could cause something like that…?"
Gray shook his head. "Not magic. That's not any spell I've ever seen."
Even Natsu was quiet. His instincts were screaming, a primal voice in his soul telling him that something ancient was stirring. Something that didn't belong in the world they knew.
Happy's wings fluttered once, nervously.
"Do you think… it's gods?"
Nobody answered him.
Because deep down, they all felt it too.
Something was fighting beyond the sky.
Something divine.
Something terrifying.
And it made their own battles—against Phantom Lord, against other guilds, even against dark wizards—feel like dust by comparison.
Erza finally broke the silence.
"Let's keep moving."
They obeyed, but the silence that followed wasn't peace—it was dread.
And behind them, Lucy's heart trembled.
She didn't look up at the sky. She couldn't. If she did, she was afraid she might see something she could never forget.
Instead, she stared at the dirt path beneath her feet and whispered to herself,
"…Maybe I should've just stayed home."
The sky flashed again.
And somewhere far above, Heaven screamed.
Magnolia – The Guild in Ruins
When they arrived at Fairy Tail, the sight that greeted them only deepened the pain in Lucy's chest.
The once lively, welcoming guild was still in ruins.
Scaffolding and broken beams scattered across the ground. Members were hard at work trying to fix what they could, but the damage Phantom had caused still remained like an open wound.
As soon as they entered, the room fell silent.
All eyes turned to Lucy.
Cana, Macao, Wakaba—even the newer members—there was no anger in their gazes, no resentment.
Only relief.
"Lucy!" Mira rushed forward, her usual bright smile dimmed with worry. "Are you okay?"
Lucy stiffened, caught off guard.
She had expected blame.
She had expected anger.
But all she got was concern.
"I…" The words caught in her throat.
Then Erza stepped forward.
"Everyone," the Titania's voice rang through the ruined hall. "We've won."
A cheer erupted through the guild, but Lucy barely heard it.
She lowered her head, gripping the hem of her skirt.
She didn't deserve this.
She wasn't a hero.
She was the reason all of this happened.
And the worst part?
It wasn't even over.
Mira ushered them all to a table, setting down drinks despite her hands still shaking from relief.
The conversation turned to what happened.
To why Phantom had targeted her.
Lucy hesitated at first, but she couldn't hide it anymore.
"…My father," she said at last, voice barely above a whisper.
Everyone stilled.
"He—he was the one who hired Phantom Lord," she continued, her nails digging into the wood of the table. "He paid them to bring me back."
Silence.
Then—
"That bastard!" Natsu slammed his fist on the table, fire sparking from his breath. "So all of this—everything—was because of him?!"
Lucy flinched at his anger.
"Oi, flame brain, calm down," Gray muttered, though his voice was dangerously low. Even he was furious.
Erza was silent, her gaze unreadable.
Cana crossed her arms. "So, what? He thinks he can just buy you back like you're some lost property?"
Lucy bit her lip. "I—I don't know. But if I go back, maybe… maybe this will all stop."
Happy's ears drooped. "Lucy…"
Natsu turned to her sharply. "Oi! What are you saying?!"
Lucy kept her head down.
"If I leave, Phantom won't come after me again. You guys won't get hurt because of me."
Natsu's fists clenched.
Gray scowled. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
"But it makes sense, doesn't it?" Lucy forced a bitter smile. "All of this started because of me. If I just go back to my father, Fairy Tail won't have to suffer anymore."
The silence that followed felt deafening.
Then—
A chair scraped against the floor.
Lucy looked up just in time to see Natsu standing, his fiery eyes locked onto hers.
"Don't say stupid things like that."
Lucy froze.
"You think Fairy Tail's about running away?!" Natsu growled, his voice loud. "You think we're just gonna let you go because of some stupid old man?! That ain't how this works, Lucy!"
Lucy's eyes widened.
"You're Fairy Tail," Natsu said firmly. "That means you don't run away."
Gray nodded. "Like hell we're letting you leave after all this."
"You're stuck with us now," Cana added with a smirk.
Happy flew up to her shoulder, pressing his little paws to her cheek. "Aye! Lucy is our friend!"
Erza, who had been silent this whole time, finally spoke.
"Lucy," she said, voice soft. "Do you regret coming to Fairy Tail?"
Lucy's breath caught.
Did she?
She had been dragged into fights, hunted, beaten, kidnapped—
But—
…Wasn't she happier now than she ever was before?
Wasn't Fairy Tail the only place she truly felt free?
Lucy's eyes burned, and she shook her head.
"…No," she whispered. "I don't regret it."
Erza smiled.
"Then that's all that matters," she said. "You belong here, Lucy. And we protect our own."
Lucy covered her mouth, trying not to cry.
They weren't mad at her.
They weren't blaming her.
They were fighting for her.
For the first time in a long time—
Lucy felt like she had a family again.
Gabriel.
Her once glorious white wings were now tainted black, shrouded in a swirling aura of malevolence. The halo above her head, once a pure ring of divine light, now burned crimson, crackling with streaks of black lightning.
But what sent an icy chill down Trihexia's spine—
What made her narrow her now crimson eyes in realization—
Was Michael.
The strongest Seraph.
Her equal.
Now impaled against a wall, unconscious, a red spear of divine energy driven through his chest. His golden blood stained the sacred halls.
Trihexia frowned, her breath slow and controlled, yet her fists clenched.
"…So," she murmured, scanning the battlefield. "This is it."
Her vision had come true.
And the one standing before them was no longer Gabriel, the Angel of Love.
She was something else entirely.
Something never meant to exist.
A Seraph who had fallen, yet retained her halo.
A being of divinity and corruption entwined into one.
The Black Angel.
A monster.
A miracle.
An abomination.
And she was staring at them with hollow red eyes—eyes that no longer recognized the world she once cherished.
"Gabriel! Stop!" Naruto's voice cut through the chaos, his icy blue eyes desperate as he stepped forward.
Gabriel's black wings flared, her scarlet halo crackling with unstable power.
But there was no recognition in her gaze.
Not for him.
Not for anyone.
Naruto gritted his teeth, refusing to believe it.
"You know me," he insisted, voice shaking. "I know you! You're Gabriel! The one who smiles at everything, the one who gets excited over dumb things, the one who—"
A blast of black energy erupted from her palm.
It tore through the sky, straight for Naruto.
Akeno gasped, reaching for him—
But Trihexia moved first.
In an instant, a massive energy sphere materialized, surrounding Naruto and Akeno in a perfect, impenetrable barrier.
The attack struck the barrier instead, sending shockwaves across Heaven's already broken landscape.
Naruto slammed his fists against the energy field.
"TRIHEXIA, LET ME OUT!" he roared.
Akeno pressed her palms against the barrier, her violet eyes wide. "Hexia! What are you doing?!"
Trihexia did not answer.
She stood in front of them, her back turned, her small frame rigid with fury.
And then—
For the first time since the Primordial Wars—
Trihexia let go.
A sound—like reality itself cracking—rippled across Heaven.
The sky above them fractured, forming red fissures as the air shuddered under her power.
Her small form shifted, twisting in a way that was neither human nor divine. Her nun-like robes disintegrated, replaced by a cosmic dress made of flowing, black nebulae.
Her once-short stature grew taller, more imposing, her body now radiating otherworldly destruction.
Her long white hair flowed wildly, streaked with cascading crimson that burned like molten fire.
And her eyes—
Gone was the childish playfulness.
Gone was the smug mischief.
Now, her crimson gaze burned like the embers of creation itself.
The Primordial Demon had returned.
"…Gabriel."
Trihexia's voice was calm.
Dangerously calm.
"You have made your choice."
Naruto's eyes widened as he saw it—
The absolute bloodlust in her expression.
The raw, terrifying hatred she had been holding back for centuries.
And for the first time since meeting her—
Naruto realized that Trihexia was not playing around anymore.
She wasn't here to tease.
She wasn't here to negotiate.
She wasn't here to plead.
She was here to eradicate.
Gabriel tilted her head, as if curious.
And then—
She smiled.
It was not the smile of an angel.
It was the smile of someone who no longer cared.
The heavens trembled.
And the battle began.
Ngl i was hyped rereading this.
Since this is posted, it means im done with chapter 10 and starting to write to 11. mostly closing the phantom lord arc.
Till next time!