"Jehfrit." Elfman, seeing that Jehfrit had saved Mirajane, breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you!"
"Focus on your battle. I'll escort her out," Jehfrit replied.
"Not alive!" Sol manipulated the sandstone to attack Jehfrit, but all he shattered was an afterimage.
Jehfrit scooped Mirajane into his arms and drew his pistol, Teal. With a swift motion, he clicked in the wind-pressure clip—Gust.
Whoosh—
A sudden gale burst forth, launching them out of Phantom Lord's crumbling stronghold, soaring over the sea, and landing them gently on solid ground.
Jehfrit set her down.
"I'm always causing trouble," Mirajane said, a hint of guilt in her voice.
"Trouble?" Jehfrit smiled, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. With one soft motion, he revealed her full, radiant expression.
Mirajane's cheeks tinted pink. Her eyes flicked to the side, where a patch of quiet grass had begun to reclaim the land—one tiny flower bud pushing up toward the sun.
"How could that be trouble?" Jehfrit chuckled. "A castle may have towering walls, but a single loose brick lets the enemy in. "
"Pfft." Mirajane laughed, rolling her eyes. "Mr. Jehfrit, what kind of weird metaphor is that?"
Jehfrit straightened his glasses, deadpan. "Miss Mirajane, I'll be needing a glass of strawberry-flavored sparkling water. With ice."
She gave a mock-curtsy. "Right away."
Then she turned, walking toward the guild—shoulders just a bit lighter than before.
She took a few steps and then stopped, turning back and running up to him. "Jehfrit, Master Jose's magic has tremendous destructive power. You must be careful!"
"I will heed the advice of such a beautiful and kind lady," Jehfrit responded with a smile, placing his hand over his chest and bowing slightly in a very gentlemanly and polite manner to express gratitude.
As soon as this small gesture was completed, his figure disappeared.
'Swish swish'
Rain started to fall from the sky.
Jehfrit pulled out a card, flicked it with his finger, and a black umbrella appeared.
He looked up.
There was a good show happening above.
"Drip drop." Juvia, holding a very flashy pink umbrella, slowly approached Gray, who had just climbed out of the window. She elegantly spoke.
"I am one of the Element Four, Juvia, and I will be your opponent, Fairy Tail mage. Tell me your name."
"Huh? I'm Gray, Gray Fullbuster." Gray supported himself with both hands, jumped out, and turned to look at the newcomer.
His eyes widened slightly.
What a beautiful woman, great figure, and slim waist.
But, she's an enemy; he mustn't have any thoughts of sparing her!
The Element Four are strong. If he doesn't give it his all, he'll be defeated!
Juvia, holding her umbrella, walked gracefully.
"I didn't expect two of the Element Four to be defeated."
"But don't underestimate me and Aria."
"Of course." Gray's expression turned serious, his eyes focused as he said, "Whether it's a woman or a child, anyone who wants to harm my comrades will face my full strength in battle!"
Rain dripped from his hair, sliding down his handsome face. The man, fresh from a battle, exhaled white breath through slightly parted lips.
Juvia, now close enough, saw Gray's face clearly. Suddenly, she blushed and turned her face aside, saying, "Ah, is that so? Then I concede. Sorry to bother you."
With that, she turned and walked away.
"Huh?" Gray was utterly baffled.
Juvia, with her back turned, was extremely flustered, covering her chest with her hand.
"What's wrong with Juvia? Why is her heart racing so fast, and why does she feel weak all over?"
"Hey, wait! After finally encountering a strong opponent, I won't let you leave!" Gray quickly chased after her.
'Thud'
Juvia felt as if an arrow had pierced her heart.
"Won't let me leave? Could it be... a confession?!"
"How frivolous of this man!"
"Though I do like it, we've only just met!"
"Hey, stop right there." Gray had already run behind Juvia.
One of the Element Four of Phantom Lord.
After finally catching her, how could he let her escape!
Although the opponent didn't seem to have any intention to fight, who could predict what might happen on the battlefield?
In the world of magic, transformations aren't difficult.
There were many mages who had been deceived by children or pregnant women which were dark mages and then ambushed and killed!
Though she's one of the Element Four, her strength must undoubtedly be formidable.
If she escapes and encounters another comrade later, that would be troublesome!
"Come, come and catch me!"
Juvia, her face flushed red, turned and cast a spell.
"Water Lock!"
"How dare you think you can capture me so easily!"
"Ahh!" Gray was trapped inside a large water sphere.
Indeed, this woman was crafty, lulling him into a false sense of security before launching a surprise attack!
However!
Did she really think she could take him down so easily? That was underestimating him too much!
'Crack crack'
An icy magical power burst forth, instantly freezing the water sphere into an ice ball. Gray strained against it, shattering the ice into tiny fragments that scattered everywhere.
"So cool..." Juvia watched, mesmerized.
"No!"
"How could he break free from my Water Lock so effortlessly? He's a formidable enemy!"
"Ice Mage..."
"Water and ice, what a fateful encounter!"
"What on earth are you talking about?" Gray stripped off his shirt, officially entering battle mode.
"Ice-Make: Lance!"
Gray unleashed his magic, countless ice spears charging toward Juvia.
Juvia was still staring at Gray's upper body, lost in thought.
"Damn it!" Gray was startled and quickly maneuvered the ice spears to avoid vital areas, but they still pierced through Juvia's body.
Had this enemy gone mad?
Not dodging at all!
"Hey, are you alright?" Gray's words had a double meaning.
One was asking whether she had suffered a fatal injury. Although she was an enemy, killing someone who offered no resistance was hard to accept.
More importantly, the other meaning: Was this woman's refusal to dodge due to some mental issue?
"Is this concern?" Juvia paid no mind to the ice spear piercing her body. "You're such a gentle man. If you weren't so frivolous, we could develop our relationship slowly..."
"What nonsense are you spouting? If you want to fight, hurry up. If not, just surrender!" Gray said.
"Fight?" Juvia, her face red, replied, "Yes, opposing guilds meeting for the first time necessitate a decisive battle. Ice and water, understanding each other through combat, eventually developing a forbidden romance..."
"If that's what you're hoping for..."
"I can accept it."
"Then let's fight!" Juvia looked at Gray and declared, "I'll show you my strength. I'm not the kind of girl who gets captured easily!"
"Water Slash!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Juvia launched a water blade.
Gray hastily dodged, the sharp water blade slicing through the reinforced concrete pillar behind him.
So strong!
Gray was somewhat shocked. The water blade had such power.
The mainstay of Phantom Lord truly lived up to its reputation!
A powerful opponent, though seemingly a bit mentally off, had decided to fight. Now that the decision was made, it was time to begin!