Above the temple.
Erza struck down the last enemy with her sword.
The magic circle began to fade.
"Thank goodness, the ritual has stopped!" Lucy exclaimed happily.
"No!" Toby the kobold smirked triumphantly. "The ritual is already complete!"
With that, his head lolled to the side, and he promptly passed out.
"We need to get downstairs quickly!" Erza urged.
"Yes."
"Let's go!"
---
Inside the temple.
Gray and Lyon were both gasping for breath, their bodies battered and covered in wounds.
"Lyon!" Gray spoke earnestly. "Stop this madness!"
"Ur is still alive!"
"Absolute Ice Make is a magic that transforms your body into ice!"
"That ice—it's Ur!"
"If you melt it, you're killing her!"
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner..." Gray's expression darkened slightly. "It was an agreement between me and Ur. She said if you knew she had turned herself into ice, you'd dedicate your entire life to undoing the spell!"
"Lyon, don't kill Ur..." Gray's voice was pleading. "Let's end this here."
"You've already found new family, so let the past stay in the past—"
'BOOM'
Before Gray could finish, Lyon froze half of his body with a block of ice.
"Hah..." Lyon gazed coldly at Gray. "You think I don't know all that? But..."
"That's no longer Ur—it's just chunks of ice."
"Gray, aren't you too old to believe in such fairy tales?"
"Bastard!" Gray roared, punching Lyon hard enough to send him flying. "You knew everything and still did this?!"
"So what?!" Lyon retaliated, delivering a punch that sent Gray sprawling.
Gray glared fiercely. "For three years, all you've done is chase after these pointless goals!"
"Pointless?! You dare say that, living comfortably in a powerful guild for ten years?!"
Their conflict escalated further, each strike more ferocious than the last.
The might and versatility of Ice-Make Magic were on full display as two mages of equal skill clashed!
"Lyon, I'm so disappointed in you for doing something that harms Ur like this!"
"Say whatever you want! I'll surpass Ur no matter what! I'll prove that Ice-Make Magic is the strongest magic in the world! I'll continue down the path Ur started!"
"As her disciple, the only way to surpass a fallen master is to defeat enemies even they couldn't conquer!"
"Deliora—I *will* resurrect it!"
"Lyon!" Gray unleashed a massive surge of icy energy. "How far have you twisted yourself? There's nothing wrong with striving to be the strongest, but never at the cost of those you love!"
"The one who took away everyone I loved... is *you*, Gray!"
"That's why we should cherish the people still alive! We absolutely cannot revive Deliora, sealed by Ur's sacrifice! Look at what dangerous things you're dragging your trusting companions into! Are you really going to repeat the same mistake I made back then?!"
"Gray!" Lyon summoned an ice ape with one hand. "Enough talk! I *will* bring Deliora back, no matter what!"
"Then I'll stop you!" Gray used both hands to create an ice prison that trapped the ape.
"What?! How is this possible?!"
Despite Lyon's efforts, the ice ape couldn't break free from Gray's prison.
"You idiot who strayed off the path!" Gray shouted. "Didn't Ur teach us that Ice-Make Magic is about freedom? To properly balance its forms, you need to use *both hands*!"
"How can someone who relies solely on one hand ever unlock the full potential of this magic?!"
"How dare you claim you'll surpass Ur when you don't even understand the essence of Ice-Make Magic!"
"Lyon, you've gone down the wrong road!"
"Now, as your junior, it's my duty to pull you back!"
"I won't lose to you, Gray!" Lyon gathered his magical power.
"Sorry, Lyon, this might sting a little!" Gray formed a massive ice cannon with both hands.
"Ice-Make: Blizzard Cannon!"
"Ice-Make: Great Eagle!" Lyon stubbornly stuck to using one hand.
'BOOM'
The two terrifying spells collided, unleashing a force that shook the entire temple!
"Gray!" Lyon bellowed. "I'm the one Ur would be proud of!"
"If that's what you want, take it!" Gray roared back. "But I'll never lose to someone who doesn't value their family!"
"The me who's fought alongside Natsu for years, carrying Ur's legacy and the hopes of my family!"
"Do you really think someone like you—who sees nothing clearly, exploits your comrades' trust, and arrogantly claims to surpass Ur—can defeat me? You're a hundred years too early!"
"GRAY!!!"
"LYON!!!"
The outcome became clear!
Even though Lyon desperately tried switching to two hands near the end, it was too late—he couldn't withstand Gray's explosive magic!
'CRASH'
The green ice shattered, and a torrent of white snow blasted Lyon against the wall with terrifying force!
The impact didn't relent!
The wall crumbled instantly!
"Lyon!" Gray cried out in alarm, rushing to help—but it was too late!
'SWISH'
A flash of red streaked through the air. It was Erza, arriving just in time to cut through the ice and pull Lyon back from falling out of the temple.
"Gray, are you alright?" Erza asked.
"Cough... I'm fine," Gray replied, leaning against the wall to steady himself.
"What about Natsu and Jehfrit?" Erza inquired.
"Natsu's below. As for Jehfrit..." Gray trailed off. "Who knows where that guy went."
"Gray, potions." Jehfrit suddenly appeared beside Gray, handing over three vials.
"Ah, those are the ones you gave me last time," Lucy recognized them.
"Exactly." Jehfrit smiled and nodded at her before turning to Gray. "You remember how to use them, right?"
"Of course." Gray accepted the potions, applying them while speaking. "You—you were watching the whole time, weren't you?"
"No, I just got here. Your fight looked intense, so I figured it was wrapping up soon. I came up to snap a photo of the climactic moment." Jehfrit pulled out the picture.
In the photo, captured from the side, was the dramatic image of Gray defeating Lyon.
"Not bad," Gray remarked, satisfied.
"I'll make copies and give you one later," Jehfrit offered.
"No problem."
Neither mentioned that Jehfrit hadn't stepped in to help.
Ordinary enemies were one thing, but when it came to Lyon, Gray didn't want anyone interfering. He insisted on defeating him himself—and he trusted fully that he would win.
"Alright, Gray, rest here while we go help Natsu," Erza instructed.
"No, the potion's helped me regain some strength. I'm coming too," Gray declared.
"There's no time to waste," Erza stated succinctly.
There were enemies below—and demons. She was deeply worried about Natsu's situation.
The group hurried downward without delay.