Her words were plain, yet they conveyed a deep-rooted bond and an undeniable resolve.
Immediately after, Max also strode out of the crowd and stood beside Cana.
His body was ramrod straight, like a drawn sword.
"EZ is my best friend," Max's voice was low and powerful, devoid of flowery language, only an extremely simple yet weighty statement, "Someone like him, even if he dies, should be surrounded by flowers."
Every word was as firm as a rock.
Natsu was the third to step forward.
He clashed his fists together, and hot flames danced on them, emitting crackling sounds.
He looked directly at Makarov, his eyes burning with an unyielding fighting spirit and a deeper will to protect.
"What a joke! How can that guy just disappear before I've officially defeated him! He promised to have a proper fight with me! How can he go back on his word after making a promise!" Natsu's declaration still had his unique style, but everyone felt the urgency and determination to bring back his comrade.
Levy pushed up her glasses, then bent down to solemnly pick up the colorful magic book that had fallen to the ground, as if holding the most precious treasure.
She walked to Natsu's side, her eyes clear and firm, her scholarly face filled with determination.
"My story… isn't finished yet," Levy's voice carried a hint of her characteristic softness, yet it was exceptionally clear and powerful, "The next volume of 'Fairy Tail's Adventures' has only just begun to be conceived."
"If it weren't for EZ's encouragement back then, I might never have dared to write down my fantasy stories, let alone submit them to a publisher. He was the 'first reader' of my story, and one of the most important 'witnesses'."
"EZ's story… shouldn't end like this. We will definitely bring him back, let the story continue, and make his chapter… even more exciting."
Immediately after, Lucy took a deep breath and also stepped forward.
The golden key chain at her waist made a crisp, pleasant clinking sound, and among them, a silver, antique-looking horologium key was particularly conspicuous.
She subconsciously pressed her hand on that key, as if drawing strength from it.
"I… I want to go too!" Lucy's voice carried a hint of nervousness, but even more, it was the courage ignited by her companions, "EZ… he helped me a lot. From the very first mission… he was like a reliable senior, always appearing at critical moments. And…"
She looked down at the horologium key at her waist, her eyes becoming firm, "I possess the key to horologium. horologium… it has the ability to manipulate the flow of time and create an absolute defensive barrier. Perhaps… perhaps in the process of bringing EZ back, it can protect us, or… protect EZ."
Gajeel snorted coldly, chewing on iron scraps as he also stepped forward: "Tch, troublesome guy. But… without him, the guild is missing someone to fight, it's quite boring."
He awkwardly expressed his concern, but in his defiant eyes, there was also an unmistakable determination.
Ikaruga did not speak, but simply took a step forward, her hand firmly on the hilt of her sword, her cool eyes sharp as blades. Her actions already explained everything—where the blade pointed, that was her direction forward.
Yukino also held Lucy's hand and nodded gently, her eyes equally firm.
Makarov looked at the people who had stepped forward, a deep sense of relief flashing in his eyes, but even more, the solemnity and responsibility of a Guild Master and elder.
He slowly shook his head, his gaze like a torch: "No. The stability of the spatial aisle is extremely fragile, like walking on a spider's thread."
"The more people there are, the greater the pressure on the aisle, the higher the risk of spatial turbulence, and the possibility of getting lost increases exponentially. Moreover, as I said, a sufficiently close connection, like a soul resonance, is needed with EZ."
His gaze, like a precise ruler, swept across the faces of those who had stepped forward, finally resting on Cana, Max, Natsu, Levy, and Lucy.
"Cana, Max," Makarov's voice was steady and powerful, "You are EZ's closest friends, his earliest bonds in the guild. Your connection is beyond doubt."
"Natsu," he looked at the young man in the flames, "You and EZ have performed and fought on the most missions together. That obsession to surpass him, to stand alongside him, and even defeat him, is itself a deep-seated connection, a special bond."
"Levy," his gaze fell on the girl holding the magic book, "Your creative inspiration comes from EZ, and his shadow flows through your stories. This spiritual resonance is an invisible yet incredibly tenacious bond, enough to guide you to find him in the chaotic space."
Finally, his gaze fell on Lucy, and on the silver-glowing horologium key at her waist, his eyes holding a hint of expectation and caution.
"Lucy… you possess the key to horologium," Makarov said in a deep voice, "The horologium Celestial Spirit, horologium, has the ability to manipulate the flow of time and create an absolute defensive barrier."
"It is rumored that its 'Eternal Protection' can block all attacks in the world, and even temporarily distort time. In the process of bringing EZ back, you might encounter the tearing of spatial turbulence, or the violent impact of residual sealing power… The ability of horologium might become your final shield, buying you crucial time."
"Moreover, before joining the guild, you and EZ fought side-by-side multiple times due to your family's Northern Kingdom request, enduring life-or-death trials together. This connection… is also sufficiently close."
"So…" Makarov took a deep breath, as if to place all hope and heavy responsibility on this one breath, "The rescue team will be the five of you: Cana, Max, Natsu, Levy, Lucy!"
The eyes of the five named instantly became sharper and more determined, like quenched steel.
Although a hint of disappointment flashed in the eyes of Gajeel, Ikaruga, Yukino, and others, they immediately understood the Guild Master's profound meaning and painstaking efforts.
They silently took a step back, casting their trust, worry, and blessings unreservedly towards the five figures about to embark on an unknown journey.
"Everyone else!" Makarov surveyed the hall, his small stature erupting with a powerful leadership aura, "Prepare immediately! We need an unprecedented, powerful enough magic array to stabilize the spatial aisle! Mira! Bisca! Laki! Alzack! Macao! Warren! Wakaba! And all members with sufficient magic power! Drop everything! Assist me with all your might!"
"Yes! Guild Master!" Everyone responded in unison, their voices loud and filled with unprecedented determination and efficiency!
Sadness was replaced by hope, despair ignited by fighting spirit!
The entire guild instantly operated at high speed like a precise machine!
Soon, a huge and complex, dazzling golden magic array was completed in the center of the guild hall.
The patterns of the magic array were composed of countless intricate, golden-glowing ancient runes, layered one upon another, emitting powerful and stable spatial fluctuations.
At the core of the magic array was the little blue cat—Yuumi—who was gently held by Mira, appearing a bit nervous but trying hard to stay calm.
The little one also seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation; her clear blue eyes were full of earnestness, and she lay obediently at the center of the array, motionless, her tiny body emitting a faint blue halo that shimmered with the golden light of the magic array.
Cana, Max, Natsu, Levy, and Lucy stood at the five vertices of a pentagram, positioned at the edge of the magic array.
They looked at each other, seeing the same thing in each other's eyes—determination, trust, and the resolve to bring back their comrade at all costs!
"Are you ready?" Makarov stood outside the magic array, his hands slowly clasped together, and a vast, ocean-like magic power began to surge and converge within his small body!
Golden light erupted from him, growing brighter and brighter, illuminating the entire hall, even dispelling the gloom outside the windows!
"Ready anytime!" The five spoke in unison, their voices ringing with power, like drawn swords!
"EZ…" Makarov whispered, his eyes blazing with golden light, like two burning miniature suns! "Fairy Soul · Spatial Anchor · Activate!"
Boom—!!!
A vast, heart-pounding magic power, like a golden torrent, surged madly into the magic array!
The entire magic array instantly erupted with blinding golden light!
The complex runes flowed and spun wildly as if alive!
The powerful spatial fluctuations caused the entire guild hall to tremble violently, paintings on the walls rattled down, and wine glasses clinked on the bar!
Centered on Yuumi, a huge, incredibly deep golden vortex slowly opened above the magic array!
The interior of the vortex was not dark, but flowed with countless brilliant starlight points and distorted spatial turbulence, emitting a chilling spatial fluctuation as if connected to the end of the universe!
The blue halo around Yuumi suddenly brightened, strongly resonating with the golden vortex, emitting a low "humming" sound.
"Meow! Master! Yuumi is coming!" Yuumi let out a clear and firm call.
"Now! Go in!" Makarov's hair stood on end, and he let out a thunderous roar!
Cana, Max, Natsu, Levy, and Lucy, without the slightest hesitation, their eyes resolute, simultaneously leaped up, transforming into five streaks of light, each a different color yet equally brilliant—Cana's gold, Max's earthy yellow, Natsu's crimson, Levy's rainbow, Lucy's starlight—and plunged fearlessly into the swirling, all-consuming golden vortex!
"You must succeed!"
"Bring EZ back!"
"Everyone be careful! Come back safely!"
"We await your triumphant return!"
In the guild hall, all members clenched their fists, their hearts in their throats, their gaze tightly following the five figures disappearing into the golden vortex, their hearts filled with the most devout prayers and the most fervent blessings!
Mirajane clasped her hands, tears falling.
Gajeel, Ikaruga, Yukino, and others gazed firmly at the vortex.
After the five entered, the golden vortex, like a giant beast closing its mouth, slowly contracted, finally transforming into a single brilliant golden star, completely disappearing into the air.
The light of the magic array in the center of the hall also gradually dimmed, leaving only Yuumi, lying on the ground, appearing somewhat tired but with bright and firm eyes, and the lingering energy ripples in the air, not yet completely subsided, carrying strange spatial fluctuations.
Silence once again enveloped the hall, but this time, the silence was filled with the anxious anticipation of hope, like a fully drawn bowstring, poised to strike.
Guild Master Makarov looked at the spot where the vortex had disappeared, his aged face etched with fatigue, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, like the brightest stars in the night sky.
"EZ… my children…" he murmured softly, his voice filled with endless anticipation, "You must… come back safely…"
Fairy Tail's rescue operation officially began!
The light of hope had been cast into that unknown land of slumber.
The gears of fate began to turn once more.
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