Fairy Tail's "talk-no-jutsu" is different from the kind you'd find elsewhere. While others use it to weaken an enemy's will or redeem them, Fairy Tail's version is all about pumping up your own team's morale. And if the opponent mocks, belittles, or opposes you? That just makes the buff even stronger!
"Why?!" Gray roared, unwilling to back down. "What's your real goal here? Lyon's doing this to surpass Ur, but what's your reason? Did Deliora kill your family too? If so, you should know how terrifying it is!"
Not far off, the ever-handsome Kira watched the scene unfold, keeping a straight face but inwardly cheering: Yup, Gray, you nailed it! Her family did die because of Deliora!
"My goal?" Ultear replied, pausing for just two seconds before resuming her act. "Obviously, it's to harness Deliora's power! Even a so-called immortal monster must have a way to be controlled. If I can wield its strength, wouldn't that be a thrill?"
Gray's anger +1, magic power recovery +1…
"All this for that?" Gray shouted. "Just for some power, you'd revive Deliora?"
He turned to Lyon. "What's with your ally, Lyon? Isn't your goal to defeat Deliora? Why let someone like her join your plan?"
Lyon brushed it off. "Don't worry about it. I'll deal with her after Deliora's revived. I'm going to take it down myself, so even if she controls it, it's no big deal."
Gray's anger +1, magic power recovery +1…
"Ice-Make: Lance!"
A flurry of ice spears shot toward Ultear, but with a wave of her hand, her Arc of Time activated, and the ice evaporated into thin air.
"What the?!"
Gray had no idea how his ice vanished, but he knew one thing: if he didn't stop her, Deliora would be revived.
But…
The magic power and stamina he'd just regained were already drained. Desperate, he turned to his friends. "Damn it! You guys! How long are you gonna just stand there?!"
"Well, well…" Kira, still lounging on the ground, didn't budge, almost tempted to lie down and nap. "Didn't you say you'd handle the mastermind yourself?"
With Kira around, Loke and Cana weren't worried at all. They even teased Gray. "Yeah, didn't someone charge in all high and mighty just a minute ago?" they said, plopping down next to Kira. Their earlier fights might've looked quick, but they'd burned through a ton of magic power. Cana, especially, had taken on three opponents at once.
Gray's face flushed with embarrassment. "Alright, fine, I was too reckless! Please, I'm begging you guys! If Deliora gets revived…"
"Let it be revived!" Kira declared.
Gray: !!!
Loke: ???
Cana: ???
Lyon: Wait, what's this now?
Ultear: What's this guy's deal?
"I'm saying, let the Moon Drip ritual finish!" Kira's words stunned everyone.
Gray shouted, "Kira, this isn't the time for jokes! You—"
"I'm not joking!" Kira's face was dead serious. "I'm not stopping the ritual. Let them bring Deliora back!"
Seeing Kira's resolve, Gray went quiet for a moment before exploding. "You idiot! What the hell are you talking about?!"
Loke and Cana exchanged confused looks. "Yeah, why would you let them revive Deliora?" Cana asked.
Kira sighed. "Even if I step in now and beat these two, what then? We can't stay here forever to stop their ritual. Or what, you wanna drag Deliora back to the guild and babysit it for life?"
He pointed at Lyon. "You've seen how stubborn this guy is. Unless he gives up, you could beat him a hundred times, and he'd still keep trying. So, fine—let them finish the Moon Drip. Then we'll destroy Deliora right here, once and for all!"
Gray lowered his head, silent. As guildmates, Kira, Loke, and Cana knew him well. That look meant his emotions were in turmoil.
He knew Kira was right, but he couldn't accept it. This was about his mentor, the person he respected most. Gritting his teeth, he made one last plea. "If we take it back to the guild, the master could handle it!"
"Even if you could keep it sealed your whole life, what happens after you're gone?" Kira countered. "There's no guarantee someone else won't unseal and use it. The best way is to end it now!"
"Iced Shell can't be broken…" Gray trailed off, his words faltering. Can't be broken? It's being broken right now, isn't it?
"But if Deliora revives, its power…"
"Deliora won't revive!" Kira said firmly, radiating confidence. "You don't trust me? Fine. But don't you trust Ur? Open your eyes and see the true power of Iced Shell!"
Gray wanted to argue, but he was too exhausted, collapsing to the ground and muttering, "The true power of Iced Shell? What do you even know?"
"There's no invincible magic—or demon!" Kira declared.
Gray scoffed. "If Ur couldn't beat it, how could you?"
"Believe in your own strength—and your friends'! We're Fairy Tail, aren't we?"
Gray paused, then nodded. "Alright, fine."
Kira faked a cough, mimicking Master Makarov's tone. "You said Ur sealed the darkness in your heart with Iced Shell, right? So let that same magic melt away that guy's obsession now."
"I bet your master would agree with my call if she knew what was going on!"
Gray fell silent, processing it all.
Lyon, hearing Kira's words, felt a stir in his heart. Since they weren't stopping him, he leaned against a rock to rest and recover his strength.
Cana leaned in and whispered to Kira, "I don't know why you're so sure Deliora won't revive, but what if…"
Kira smirked dismissively. "Relax. If it comes to it, I've got this. A mere demon? I'll crush it with one hand!"
Cana looked skeptical, so Kira pulled out his trump card. "We're Fairy Tail, aren't we?"
"Alright, fine," Cana relented.
Kira: "…"