"You... can't you just say less?" Shirley, concerned for Leon, grumbled at Kira, who ignored her. Kira was determined to create the dramatic, tear-jerking atmosphere he had in mind.
Spreading his arms wide, he forced an overly emotional expression: "In order to protect his disciples, he sacrificed himself to seal a powerful demon and erase the darkness in his disciples' hearts. Such great sentiment! What an admirable teacher!"
Hearing this, Urrutia clenched her fists, her expression hardening.
Why? she thought. Why could you do this for your disciples but abandon me so cruelly?
Kira continued his act, intensifying the melodrama: "This was a wizard so powerful that even Gildarts could only manage a draw. Uru, who could have shone brighter than anyone else in Ishgar, sacrificed her future and her life for her disciple's sake. Such a pity, isn't it?"
Gray began sobbing uncontrollably, his tears falling freely.
Rocky, noticing the increasing emotional intensity, whispered urgently to Kira, "Hey, that's enough! I know you want to lighten the mood, but you're about to make everyone burst into tears."
What? Kira thought indignantly. Lighten the mood? No, I'm trying to deepen it!
But perhaps his words weren't hitting quite the way he expected. Glancing at Gray, Leon, and Urrutia, Kira wondered if he had gone too far.
Switching tactics, Kira softened his voice to a gentler, almost magnetic tone. "Gray, Leon... and you over there," he said, gesturing toward Urrutia, "you all have to admit—ice shaping magic is a truly powerful and impressive magic."
"...What?" Gray's tear-streaked face turned toward Kira in confusion.
Not only Gray but even Rocky and Kana stared at Kira in disbelief. Hadn't he spent the entire journey mocking ice shaping magic as weak? Why the sudden change of heart?
"You... finally sound like an S-class wizard," Kana said with a sigh, a hint of relief in her voice.
Kira smirked internally. If only you knew how much it pains me to say this! Ice shaping magic is lame!
As the group processed Kira's sudden shift in attitude, Yuka, Shirley, and Toby went to console Leon. Meanwhile, Rocky and Kana checked on Gray, who was still emotional. Urrutia stood at a distance, her expression complicated. Kira, however, was already brainstorming how to spice things up again.
Then it happened.
A faint, ominous sound echoed through the air.
"What's going on?" someone asked nervously.
Everyone turned their attention to Deliora's shattered remains. Incredibly, the demon's broken pieces began to shift, moving as if being drawn together by some unseen force. The frost that had coated them melted away, and dark magic surged forth like a storm.
Tick.
A single drop of water fell from the regenerating demon, and then...
"Ah! Damn Uru! I am resurrected!"
PS: (Imagine this line being delivered with a "Holy Lord"-like booming voice effect.)
"!!!" ×N
Deliora's eyes, as large as a human head, glowed a menacing crimson, and the stench of death emanated from its gaping maw. Its massive arms, still partially encased in ice, raised high before slamming down with terrifying force, sending several people flying.
"Uh..."
"What's going on? I thought Deliora was dead! Kira, explain this!"
Kira turned away, concealing a smug grin reminiscent of Yagami Light. But when he faced the group again, his expression was one of utter confusion, as though the situation was completely out of his control.
"This... I don't know. Maybe it's... a last gasp?"
The excuse was flimsy at best, but because Deliora was a demon, the others reluctantly accepted it.
Gray: "We have to seal it again with Absolute Freeze!"
Leon: "This is my chance to surpass Uru!"
Urrutia: Something feels off. That burst of magical energy earlier wasn't natural... Could it have been Kira?
Ignoring the confusion, Leon charged forward. "Uru! Watch closely! This time, I will succeed!"
His comrades cheered him on as he unleashed a powerful attack:
"ICE MAKE—Ice Dragon!"
Simultaneously, Gray joined in with his own spell:
"ICE MAKE—Ice Cannon!"
The two attacks merged midair, their combined force amplified by the bond and emotions shared between the two ice wizards. The result was a stunning display of raw magical power.
"Combination magic?!" Kira's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected such a synchronized attack.
The combined ice magic struck Deliora, encasing the demon in an enormous block of shimmering frost. The air was filled with tension as the group waited to see if the attack had been successful.
"No!!!" Deliora's voice roared once more, but this time, it sounded... different.
Crack.
The scene before them shattered like glass, revealing the reality: Deliora's body was still in pieces, unmoving and very much dead.
"What?"
Kana, frowning, broke the silence. "Wait a second... Why would Deliora know Uru's name?"
"..." ×N
"???" ×N
"!!!" ×N
The truth hit them like a thunderbolt.
"I can't believe you all fell for that!" Kira's voice rang out, filled with laughter. "It was just an illusion! A very realistic one, wasn't it? Admit it—you were scared!"
"You bastard!"
Gray and Rocky both lunged at Kira, their faces red with a mix of embarrassment and anger.
"I take back what I said about you having the demeanor of an S-class wizard!" Kana snapped, crossing her arms.
Leon, meanwhile, stood frozen in place, his expression a mixture of bitterness and resignation. "I thought... I thought I had another chance."
Kira, undeterred, clapped his hands and addressed the group. "Alright, alright, calm down. I only did it to lighten the mood. No need to get so worked up."
"Huh? Lighten the mood?"
"Of course! This was all part of the mission, to let you experience what it's like to be in an S-class wizard's shoes." Kira smirked, continuing his elaborate justification. "I even left clues for you to figure it out! Kana was the only one smart enough to pick up on them."
"Should we thank you for that?"
"Yes, you're welcome!"
Despite their irritation, the group couldn't help but feel a bit relieved. The shared experience, however chaotic, had brought them closer together.
Leon and Gray exchanged a glance, their mutual understanding stronger than ever. In that moment, the two brothers silently forgave each other, their bond renewed.
Gray: "Uru is the person I respect the most. No matter who does this, I will never forgive him!"
Kira watched them, his smile widening. "Haha, smells like sweet reconciliation."
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