In the Human World, before Karen's tombstone.
Under Loke's narration, the past, sealed away for three years, was revealed to Lucy without reservation.
"From the day Karen died, I could never return to the Spirit World again."
Loke slumped to the ground, weak, his body flickering and becoming visibly transparent.
"Loke..."
Lucy's pupils constricted violently, her hands tightly covering her mouth, her voice trembling.
"Your body... is disappearing?!"
"It's okay, Lucy."
Loke looked up, a sense of relief in the smile at the corner of his mouth.
"This is the rule of the Spirit World, the law, an ironclad rule that cannot be defied."
"I have lingered on until now just to wait for this mont to vanish before Karen's grave, and in my final monts, to be able to et such an outstanding Celestial Spirit Wizard..."
"Thank you, Lucy!"
"I leave the companions of Fairy Tail to you."
"No!!!"
Lucy shook her head and cried out, tears streaming down her face, "I do not accept this outco!"
She grabbed Loke's shoulder, which was beginning to fade.
"As long as you return to the Spirit World, your vitality will recover imdiately. I will make sure you go back!"
Loke looked at the stubborn girl before him and shook his head bitterly.
"It's impossible, Lucy. Rules are rules; no one can defy them..."
"I do not acknowledge such rules!!!"
Lucy stood up abruptly, unprecedented golden fury burning in her eyes.
"You have to disappear because of such an absurd reason? What kind of ironclad rule is that?!"
"It wasn't you who killed Karen; it was just an unfortunate accident! Why should you bear all the sin?!"
"If this is what they call the law..."
"Then I will break it for you to see!!!"
Boom—! Golden magic power erupted like a volcano, surging madly from Lucy's petite body, illuminating the entire night sky.
She hugged Loke tightly, roaring at the sky with all her might.
"Open—! Gate of Leo!!!"
Hum—! Dazzling golden light turned into a pillar of light that reached the heavens, attempting to forcibly blast open the tightly shut Gate of Leo.
"Lucy! Stop!!"
Loke realized with horror that Lucy's body, under the backlash of forcibly opening the gate, was also starting to beco transparent!
"Stop! Have you gone crazy?! Don't continue!"
"You've already started to assimilate with the Spirit, if this continues... even you will disappear!!!"
"So what!!!"
Lucy did not retreat a single step, letting her magic power pour out, her expression incredibly firm.
"I absolutely! Absolutely will not let you die here!!"
"If I can't even protect my companions... then what use is this magic!!!"
Hum—!!! Just at the mont when this will to shake the rules reached its peak.
Far away in the Spirit World, the Celestial Spirit King's body jolted.
He stood up abruptly, his gaze piercing through dinsions, looking at that distant coordinate.
"This power..."
He looked down at the confused Ron.
"My old friend is calling from the Human World..."
"Ron, it is ti for you to return as well, so co with ."
"Hey! Wait—!!"
The Celestial Spirit King didn't give Ron any chance to react; with a wave of his large hand, the starlight in the sky instantly swept them both up.
Swoosh! Their figures instantly vanished from the Spirit World.
The next mont. Waterfalls flowed backward, stars distorted, and ti was pressed to a pause at this mont.
Only a vast, boundless pressure descended from the sky. The Celestial Spirit King had descended upon the Human World!
"Th-this is..."
Loke stared blankly at the giant figure before him, his mind blank.
"How is it possible... The Celestial Spirit King... has personally descended?!"
"The King? Is this the greatest Celestial Spirit?"
Lucy was also intimidated by this aura, but then, her gaze locked onto the Celestial Spirit King's palm.
"That is... Ron?!"
Seeing that in the Celestial Spirit King's hand, he was holding a black-haired young man with a look of utter despair on his face.
Ron swung twice in mid-air, looking down at the two dumbfounded people below, and instantly understood.
'Good grief, has it reached this point already?'
'I completely forgot that one day in the Spirit World equals three months in the Human World.'
Thinking of this, Ron tidied his hair and signaled the Celestial Spirit King to put him down quickly.
We're in the sa guild; do I have no face?
After landing, Ron waved at the two of them, teasing in a light tone.
"Yo! In the middle of the night, a man and a woman in this desolate wilderness... could it be a date?"
"Who, who is out on a date!!!"
Lucy retorted subconsciously, then suddenly realized what was happening, rushed over, and grabbed Ron, shaking him.
"No, Ron, you guy, where have you been these days? And... how were you caught by the Celestial Spirit King?!"
"Nowhere special, just warmly invited by a certain bearded fellow to go on a trip."
Ron shook his head, intentionally emphasizing the word "warmly".
After speaking, he couldn't help but roll his eyes.
'I just accidentally opened a gate, and he forcibly dragged over, almost slapping to death on the spot.'
'Lucy forcibly opens a gate, and you co descending in your main body, all happy.'
'Pah, double-standard dog.'
"Alright, let's save the catching up for later."
Ron waved his hand and pointed to the sky, "You two should solve your own business first."
"My old friend..."
The Celestial Spirit King looked down at Lucy below.
"We who have ford contracts with humans are strictly forbidden from killing those who hold our keys."
"Although he did not act directly, Leo the Lion, who indirectly caused the death of the original holder Karen... is not allowed to return to the Spirit World."
"Wait a mont!!"
Lucy showed no fear, looking up and glaring at the Celestial Spirit King.
"That's too harsh; that was just an accident..."
"Old friend."
The Celestial Spirit King interrupted her, seemingly unmoved, "Only this rule cannot be changed."
"Pfft—"
Ron, who was watching from the sidelines, let out an abrupt scoff, the sound not loud but particularly jarring.
Celestial Spirit King: "..."
He glanced at Ron indifferently, his eye twitching, pretending not to hear.
Finally. With Lucy's eloquent arguing and the support of her Celestial Spirits.
The Celestial Spirit King pondered for a mont.
"Since my old friend has put it this way, then... perhaps the law is indeed wrong."
"In view of this beautiful and resilient bond of yours, let this matter be an exception. Leo, I permit you to return to the Spirit World once more!"
"Really?! That's great!!"
Lucy broke into a smile through her tears, directly giving the Celestial Spirit King a playful wink.
"You're actually quite reasonable, Beardy Daddy!"
'Beard?!'
The Celestial Spirit King's large beard twitched, a hint of pride appearing on his face, and his mouth couldn't help but widen, revealing a set of sparkling white teeth.
"I laugh—"
Subsequently, his figure began to dissipate like starlight.
Before disappearing completely, he first looked deeply at Ron, then turned to Leo.
"If you still wish to atone..."
"Then beco the strength of this friend beside you. She is a friend worth doing this for, isn't she?"
"Bet your life and protect her!"
The stars returned to their positions, and the waterfall roared again. Everything settled down.
Leo finally shed the shackles he had carried for three years and returned to the Spirit World to recuperate.
And in Lucy's hand, there was an extra golden key representing the strongest Zodiac.
She wiped away her tears and turned around, walking aggressively toward Ron, who had been watching the show.
"Ron!!"
Lucy put her hands on her hips, looking puffed up with anger.
"You guy, you suddenly disappeared; do you know everyone was worried about you!"
Looking at Lucy, who had concern in her eyes, Ron smiled and raised his hands in surrender.
"My fault, my fault, there will absolutely not be a next ti, I promise."
After smiling and soothing the bristling Lucy, he seed to rember sothing and blinked his heterochromatic eyes mysteriously.
"As compensation, I'll give you a little gift!"
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