In every world torn by war, a hero rises.
Each world has its warriors, mages, soldiers, chosen ones, assassins, snipers… and more.
But there is another — one who wields no blade, casts no spell, and yet changes everything.
He doesn't fight. He plays.
And when he does… the battle shifts. Hope returns. Destiny begins to move.
Because within every hero… lies a melody yet to be heard.
...…
Well… I don't know how I got here.
I was just doing my homework (music theory, I think), and maybe I dozed off.
So… is this some kind of dream?
Then an explosion shook everything. The walls rattled. Panic hit me.
"I need to get out."
I grabbed my guitar (instinct, I guess) and ran to the door. It wasn't locked.
The moment I opened it, a shout rippled through the air:
"WE'D SOONER DIE THAN ABANDON OUR FRIENDS!"
A bunch of people started shouting, backing up the cry of a red-haired girl.
She was on the ground, clothes torn, crawling forward.
"What the hell...?" I honestly felt like closing the door again.
In the distance, I saw a giant house with mechanical legs — and was that a... cannon?
It was aiming straight at where I stood.
"OUR ANSWER WON'T CHANGE, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO!"
A pink-haired guy started screaming like his throat didn't even exist.
"WE'RE GOING TO DESTROY YOU!"
(Okay… that guy has issues.) That was my first thought.
A booming voice echoed from the building:
"The next shot will be even stronger. Jupiter will finish recharging in fifteen minutes. You'd better start praying, Fairy Tail."
I stopped listening to the shouting. Or whatever else they were saying. I just froze. "Fairy… Tail?"
Did I die in my room and get transmigrated into this anime? But I wasn't sick. I slept fine. And I'm pretty sure no truck can reach a third-floor apartment.
I forced myself to focus again. I saw the pink-haired guy (Natsu, no doubt) flying with a winged cat. (Okay, that's Happy.)
Everyone else started running in all directions.
And me? I just stood there like an idiot, guitar in hand.
Wait… My guitar? Do I have music-related magic?
"Heh..." I chuckled under my breath. Is this my isekai?
"Died while doing music homework... Now I'm a bard in Fairy Tail?"
While I was still trying to process everything, hooded figures (people or maybe summons?) started approaching the guild. The mages didn't hesitate. They rushed in to fight.
Punches, explosions... even spikes of sand shot up from the ground.
Cana, the girl with the cards, attacked the intruders with no mercy.
Then, one of them (a guy with a necklace made of skulls) came straight toward me.
His face twisted in anger. "And who the hell are you!?"
I didn't remember his name, or what kind of magic he used.
I just stared, frozen, unable to say a single word. His eyes told me he was one second away from punching me. So I said the first thing that popped into my head: "I was… coming to join the guild. But…"
He stared at me for a moment. Just stared. Then he burst out laughing.
"A new recruit? In the middle of a war?!"
He slapped his knee, still chuckling. "Man, you've got guts or zero brain cells. Maybe both."
I forced a nervous smile. (Okay… he's not punching me. That's progress.)
He leaned in (way too close) and, with a serious tone, said:
"Better pick a side fast. People who hesitate don't last long around here."
And just like that, he turned and ran back into the chaos (like I hadn't nearly peed myself thirty seconds ago).
(Okay… if I'm really in Fairy Tail, and if this thing is actually magical... it wouldn't hurt to try, right?)
I looked down at the strings.
I strummed a slow, soft chord.
"Wind of Change - Scorpions" It wasn't flashy. It wasn't loud. Just… honest.
Somehow, the sound carried across the battlefield. Through the yelling. Past the explosions.
Everyone slowed down.
The clashing paused. One of the hooded guys blinked and lowered his weapon, like he forgot what he was doing.
A warm, golden ripple spread out from me like a pulse.
🎵 "I follow the Moskva, down to Gorky Park, listening to the winds of change…" 🎵
Then the cannon crashed down with a thunderous explosion, snapping the spell.
The fighting resumed. Chaos was back. But it felt different. Calmer. A little less desperate.
I stared at my guitar. "…Okay. That definitely was my magic."
Affecting both allies and enemies? That's not good. There has to be a way to fix that.
I tried strumming the guitar again, but the battle was moving closer to me. Time to get out of the danger zone.
I heard the Fairy Tail mages cheering over the destroyed cannon.
I took only a few steps before the enemy guild stirred. That massive contraption began to move. My eyes widened.
The house was shifting… twisting… like a freaking Transformer.
"BEHOLD! The Super Mage Giant Phantom MK II!" boomed a voice from inside the robot-house-thing as it took a thunderous step forward.
The Fairy Tail mages didn't even flinch.
I did… I ran. Put at least 50 meters between me and the battlefield. Though for that monstrosity, 50 meters might as well be five.
Then it started writing in the air — magical symbols, runes maybe. I didn't know. Honestly, I barely remembered this part of the arc. It's been years since I watched the early episodes.
Still… I had to do something. How do you stop a building from casting a spell? Or the mage controlling it?
I paused to think, watching Lucy step forward and shout, trying to stop the fight by offering herself. But wait… that wasn't Lucy.
It was Mirajane, disguised. When they called her out as a fake, she transformed and collapsed, crying in Cana's arms.
"Focus Ren…" Right. Emotional damage. Mental disruption.
I needed a song… something that could break focus. That could distract, unsettle, or lodge itself in the caster's head and refuse to leave.
Baby Shark? No way — I don't have the instruments to pull off the full annoying effect.
Numa Numa? Nope, missing drums and synths.
Banana Phone? Meh, not catchy enough to mess with someone's mind, also don't have a piano (or know how to play one).
No, I need something that hits hard. Something memorable, relentless, and just crazy enough to crash his brain.
Like… Livin' la Vida Loca. Yeah, that's it.
No trumpets or wind instruments, but I can work with this.
I tightened my grip on the guitar. "Okay… here goes nothing."
Livin' la vida loca - Ricky Martin - English version.
I strummed hard, upbeat, percussive. The rhythm was not perfect, but close enough.
🎵 "She's into superstitions… black cats and voodoo dolls…" 🎵
The effect kicked in when I started singing.
One of the hooded mages stumbled mid-cast. Another turned his head with a puzzled look, mouthing the lyrics after me.
🎵 "She's got a new addiction, For every day and night…" 🎵
The building (the giant freakin' Transformer) had Mirajane in its hand.
Suddenly, a monster burst out from inside, snatching her.
The machine slowed, then froze mid-rune. The glowing runes in the air began to flicker like a bad connection.
From the cockpit or control room or whatever, I heard a shout: "WHO IS PLAYING THAT CURSED SONG!?"
I kept going, leaning into the groove with reckless confidence.
🎵 "Upside, inside out, She's living la vida loca,
She'll push and pull you down, Livin' la vida loca
Her lips are devil red, and her skin's the color mocha,
She will wear you out, Livin' la vida loca
Livin' la vida loca, COME ON!
She's livin' la vida loca…" 🎵
The magical runes collapsed. One exploded midair. "Alright," I muttered. "Mental disruption spell confirmed."
Allies and enemies alike screamed "MAKE IT STOP!"
"Nope," I grinned. "We're livin' la vida loca now."
🎵 "Woke up in New York City, in a funky cheap hotel…" 🎵
Then the monster hurled a chunk of rubble at me.
Luckily, its aim was terrible (probably thanks to the song), but it forced me to stop.
The magic broke again.
"Damn, time to run" I bolted, searching for another not-immediately-deadly zone.
As I looked for a safer spot, it started to rain. The Fairy Tail wizards looked exhausted, but I was afraid to play something that might help them and the enemies too.
If only I could find a way to affect just some of them… Well, no better time to experiment.
First try: emotions. Maybe if I channel the feeling of wanting to protect something… the music will only reach those with that kind of heart. I strummed confidently and began playing… "Macarena."
Bad idea. Everyone froze. And danced at the same time with the Macarena steps. Even the freaking transformer. Then they all turned to me with the same horrified expression.
"Really!?"
"Are you serious right now!?"
"Stop being ridiculous!"
Someone threw a rock. I ducked. Okay. Emotional targeting: fail. Note to self (maybe don't try meme songs during wartime).
Second attempt: Maybe if I focus on the people I recognize as allies, the magic will only affect them.
I closed my eyes, pictured Cana, the sand guy, and smoker dude (basically anyone I've seen in the anime). I let that image fill me up. Loyalty, trust, teamwork… all that shonen stuff.
Take Until They Break… I lack drums for the full power
Given up… Nope. That one only works for me.
Eye…
Yes
Istrummed hard, upbeat and fierce, channeling energy into every note.
"Eye of the Tiger– Survivor." (Felt perfect)
🎵"Risin' up, back on the street, did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet, just a man and his will to survive…" 🎵
This time, the glow spread faster, like a storm. The Fairy Tail mages straightened up. Their eyes cleared. Most of them started grinning.
But the enemy mages? Nothing. No reaction.
Still… it only worked on the ones I was actually focusing on. Not the whole guild. Not yet.
🎵 "It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight, risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night, and he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger"🎵
I kept going. The three of them moved with better control, stronger spells; basically, they got a second wind.
Earlier, I saw Cana kneeling. Now? She looked like she could go five more rounds.
A stray spell (dodged by someone else) hit me square in the chest.
The impact threw me off balance. My fingers slipped on the strings. The rhythm shattered.
The song spell broke. I chose another spot.
Third attempt. Maybe if I clearly focus on who the song was meant for, the magic would only reach them.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, picturing the Fairy Tail logo. Most of the Fairy wizards were down, only the core fighters were still standing and battling.
"Still standing, huh?! I know what's next."
With intention sharp as a blade, I let the melody rise through me.
"I'm Still Standing - Elton John"