The story splits into two paths.
While Natsu's trio was being tortured by Gajeel's music, Gray and Juvia were also running into trouble.
As they were heading towards the top of the tower, a pretty figure blocked their path.
It was a woman wearing a chest-high kimono, with long cherry-blossom-colored hair falling down her back and waist, a long red sword held across her chest, two symmetrical red moles on her cheeks below her eyes, and high-soled wooden geta on her feet.
Accompanied by elegant steps, the geta made a loud and crisp sound on the ground, yet she was very polite to the wary Gray and Juvia.
"This humble one is named Madara."
"Please favor me with your guidance."
Seeing a woman of outstanding beauty and unique temperament, Juvia instantly entered a state of high alert, immediately shielding Gray behind her and shouting sharply, "Get lost! Don't block the way for Lord Gray and Juvia!"
Madara covered her face with her sleeve and let out a soft laugh, "Oh my, what a rude girl."
Juvia, however, didn't want to waste words with her.
"Competing" with the women in the guild for Lord Gray was considered internal competition, but these beautiful women of unknown origin from the outside definitely couldn't be given a chance to get close to Lord Gray.
Otherwise, what if Lord Gray's soul was lured away by this woman's classical charm?
Lord Gray can only belong to Juvia!
Thinking of this, Juvia no longer hesitated. Her magic surged, and dense arc-shaped water blades swept out like sharp scythes, "Water Slicer!"
However, what happened in the next instant caused Juvia and Gray's pupils to shrink slightly.
Madara lightly raised her hand, and a sharp cold light flashed and vanished from the scabbard, its speed so fast it almost exceeded the limits of visual capture.
Juvia's water magic attack, which was strong enough to cut through steel, was actually severed by this sword light. Furthermore, the sword light didn't stop there; its cold edge came straight for Juvia's face.
"Juvia!"
Seeing his companion in danger, Gray reacted extremely quickly, acting almost on instinct as a thick and hard Ice-Make Shield instantly condensed and rose in front of Juvia.
But Madara's swordsmanship was so superb that it far exceeded Gray's expectations.
With a crack, the ice shield, which was sufficient to withstand ordinary weapons, shattered under Madara's sword like it was made of paper, failing to provide even a moment's hindrance.
Fortunately, taking advantage of that split-second gap, Gray had already grabbed the still-dazed Juvia and quickly pulled her away to a distance.
Juvia was held tightly by the wrist by Gray, and feeling the warmth from his palm, her face was instantly covered in a deep blush, with steam even faintly rising from the top of her head.
Ahhh! Lord Gray's hand is so warm!
Lord Gray actually cares so much about Juvia's safety... but Juvia's body is made of water and can be immune to almost all physical attacks.
Unlike Juvia's love-struck brain, Gray hadn't forgotten the enemy in front of them. That sword strike just now, whether in speed, power, or precision, could be described as terrifying.
Severing magic so casually, what a terrifying swordsman.
Looking at Madara, who was calmly sheathing her sword, Gray felt an unprecedented pressure. In terms of swordsmanship, he feared that even Erza was far from being her match.
"Hey, Juvia! Stop spacing out!"
Gray reminded her in a low voice, while simultaneously ripping off his shirt to reveal his lean torso. Cold magic began to condense around him, and tiny ice crystals formed in the air.
Juvia also got serious. Her 'Water' magic made her immune to physical damage, placing her in a naturally invincible position against Madara.
However, with the opponent's swordsmanship being so divine that it could even sever magic, they probably wouldn't be able to take her down even if they teamed up with Gray.
But as long as they stalled Madara and waited for their other companions, it would be enough.
Madara looked at Gray and Juvia as they entered their battle stances, a curve lifting the corner of her mouth as her slightly unsheathed long sword reflected a chilling light.
For a moment, the atmosphere dropped to freezing point.
A great battle between water and ice colliding with ultimate swordsmanship was about to break out!
"Oh? Did we come at a bad time?"
A flippant voice came from the stairs. Gray turned his head and saw it was Hope, who had just come up from the lower floor, with the others following closely behind.
The scene suddenly changed from one-on-two to one-on-eight.
This caused Madara's originally confident and elegant posture to stiffen slightly, and a drop of cold sweat even seeped from her brow. Although she prided herself on her matchless swordsmanship, two fists are no match for sixteen hands... especially when there was an old man with an unfathomable aura on the other side.
She forced herself to calm down, a slightly strained smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. "Surely you all don't intend to bully this humble lady just because she is alone?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Hope immediately became displeased. With his hands on his hips, he said righteously, "Our Fairy Tail is a righteous and orthodox guild; why should we talk about chivalry with someone as wicked as you!"
Then Hope waved his hand grandly, "Ignore her, everyone attack together!"
Hearing this, everyone's foreheads were simultaneously lined with three black streaks.
Lucy's urge to complain was off the charts. They were the protagonists, so why did the words coming out of Hope's mouth always sound like something a villain would say? Is this right?
Gajeel snorted coldly, "Just a woman, watch this uncle take care of her!"
But just as Gajeel took a step, he was pulled back by Natsu from behind. Natsu grumbled dissatisfiedly, "You fought that Rock Guy just now, it should be my turn for this opponent."
"Hope took care of the Rock Guy, so it should still be this uncle this time!" Gajeel retorted, not backing down.
"Huh?! Do you take me for a fool?"
"Aren't you?"
"Damn it! You want to fight?!"
"Let's fight then!"
"..."
Watching Natsu and Gajeel start arguing on the spot, Madara was a bit dazed.
Although she had long heard that Fairy Tail Mages all had... uh... distinct personalities.
But to argue among themselves over who gets to fight the enemy, isn't this a bit too ridiculous?
"These two brats are making fools of themselves in public again." Makarov held his forehead and sighed deeply, suddenly feeling his blood pressure rise.
Then he looked at Madara, a flash of admiration passing through his eyes.
In fact, he had already arrived when Gray, Juvia, and Madara were fighting. With Madara's divine swordsmanship that could easily sever magic, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her the Number One Swordsman in Ishgar.
If it were one-on-one, besides himself and the mysterious Hope, perhaps only Gajeel, whose magical properties naturally countered swordsmen, would have a high chance of winning.
Such a swordsman, yet she had become a killing tool for a Dark Guild; it was truly a pity.
Makarov turned his gaze to Hope, who was watching the scene with amusement, and irritably jumped up to kick him in the knee. "Brat, stop watching! Hurry up and finish her off, we still have to deal with the culprit at the top!"
"Eh? I me?"
Hope, being called upon, looked reluctant. He had already defeated two of the Trigonometric Wings; if he had to handle the last one too, wouldn't the others feel like they had no part in this?
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