"Hoot-hoot!"
Fukuro engaged in a fierce aerial battle with Natsu and Happy, flying toward them at high speed.
Utilizing the speed advantage from the rocket boosters strapped to his back, Fukuro maneuvered swiftly and appeared behind Natsu in an instant.
With one heavy punch, he sent Natsu crashing into the stone walls of the Tower of Heaven.
"What was that just now?" Natsu grunted as he fell onto a hanging cage, quickly climbing back to his feet to face his opponent.
"No violating the game rules! In the name of justice, the outcome will naturally be decided. The Warrior of Justice—Fukuro, is here! Hoot!"
Fukuro landed perched on a massive chain and pointed a finger accusingly at Natsu.
"That bird actually..."
"The bird is talking about justice or something!"
"What warrior of justice!" Natsu and Happy complained loudly, looking as if they had never seen anything so ridiculous before.
"I am Fukuro, one of the Trinity Raven of the Grimoire Heart."
"Grimoire Heart is an assassination Guild, Natsu! The kind that specializes in killing people!" Happy shouted, immediately recognizing the name Grimoire Heart upon hearing it.
"Salamander, your notorious reputation has long reached our Guild. Today, the Warrior of Justice has come to eliminate evil once again."
Flames ignited around Natsu's hands as he glared angrily at Fukuro with a furrowed brow.
"A Guild is a place where our dreams and beliefs gather! Stop taking on such meaningless jobs for no reason!"
He would not allow anyone to defile the concept of a Guild!
"I've long been fed up with this assassination work, fed up with the existence of clients, and even more fed up with the existence of such Guilds! Because I'm fed up, I'll make sure to teach you a lesson!"
"Bring it on, you stupid bird!"
The flames around Natsu's hands grew more intense, veins bulging on his face in anger.
"Hoot, so young and impulsive, Salamander," Fukuro remarked, remaining unfazed by Natsu's display.
"In this world, there are evils that cannot be allowed to exist."
As he spoke, the twin rocket boosters on Fukuro's back began to spray exhaust.
"You are one of them. Just disappear for me—Jet Hover! Hoot!"
Natsu grabbed Fukuro's incoming left fist but was continuously pushed backward by the thrust of the rockets.
"I will never lose when it comes to firepower!"
Natsu roared and used the momentum to swing Fukuro away forcefully.
Utilizing the thrust from his jet, Fukuro avoided crashing into the wall and curved back toward Natsu.
"Jet again!"
While dodging, Natsu was caught by the leg and lifted high into the air by Fukuro.
"I throw!"
Natsu was slammed heavily onto the hard ground.
"Damn it..." Natsu punched the ground and struggled to stand up, wiping dirt from his face.
"Hoot, you're quite the resilient man. It's been a while since I've had such an enjoyable job."
Happy observed Fukuro's strength with concern. "Trinity Raven... they are stronger than the rumors suggested."
...
Meanwhile, Gray and Juvia arrived in a different room within the Tower of Heaven.
"Being alone in a room with Gray-sama makes me so happy," Juvia spun around continuously, her hands cupping her cheeks in delight.
Just as Gray was about to complain about the situation, he was interrupted by a loud, jarring noise.
"What is this noise, a guitar? So annoying."
'Juvia actually found it quite pleasant, but since Gray-sama finds it annoying...'
Juvia immediately chose to align with Gray's opinion and nodded.
"It really is annoying."
Vidaldus Taka walked out from the dark passageway while playing his electric guitar, shaking his long black hair wildly as he strummed.
After his screaming vocals and the screeching electric guitar sounds ended, he spoke.
"This is a hell concert—destroy!"
"His hair is so long, similar to that person we saw initially," Gray noted.
Though the aura was somewhat different—more unhinged—Gray couldn't help but feel he resembled the long-haired Mage they had encountered earlier with Erza and Kagura.
"You must be one of the seven warriors Jellal mentioned."
"I don't know about any backup plans Jellal-sama has, but I am one of the Trinity Raven members—Vidaldus Taka."
"Rock You!"
Vidaldus's loose hair suddenly moved like living tendrils, attacking Gray and Juvia.
Gray continuously dodged the hair assaults, while Juvia didn't evade at all—her body naturally transformed into water elements, making her immune to physical damage.
Noticing this, Vidaldus looked at Juvia and laughed. "Your body's composition is quite interesting, hahaha."
"Juvia's body is made of water, so your attacks are ineffective, drip drip."
Juvia then turned toward Gray, who was standing nearby, clasped her cheeks with both hands, and declared passionately.
"I will protect Gray-sama!"
"...Seems like it might not be necessary," Gray muttered, not knowing where to begin with his retort since she was the one who just got hit.
"Water Lock!"
Juvia immediately acted, attempting to trap Vidaldus inside a sphere of restraining water currents.
"You're not as impressive as you claim."
"Not bad at all," Gray couldn't help but admire the sight of Vidaldus trapped helplessly inside the water sphere.
"Hmm?"
Just as Juvia was about to speak, Vidaldus inside the water sphere suddenly moved, and the water began to vanish rapidly.
"Juvia's Water Lock disappeared!"
"And it's so gross..." Gray felt disgusted watching Vidaldus shake his soggy hair as the water absorbed into it.
"Thanks for straightening my messy hair, but washing it in the morning isn't good—it damages the hair quality," Vidaldus sneered.
"How did you break the Water Lock?!"
"My hair can absorb liquids, but it rejects oil and alcohol—those really harm the hair."
"Water is ineffective against him?" Gray narrowed his eyes.
This situation was very disadvantageous for Juvia, so... he would have to step in.
"Rock Succubus!"
As Vidaldus played a jarring chord, music notes infused with purple Magic Power coiled around Juvia.
"Juvia!"
"No, Gray-sama, don't come closer!" Juvia screamed in agony as the magic took hold.
A dark mist filled the entire room before slowly dissipating...
"Hell... hell... I'll show you the greatest and deepest hell!"
Influenced by Vidaldus's magic, Juvia became his subordinate.
Her entire demeanor changed instantly; she now wore a rocker's outfit with heavy eyeliner and purplish-black lipstick, her expression blank and hostile.
"Juvia, what's going on?" Gray frowned, asking the suddenly transformed Juvia.
"Any woman captured by the Succubus will obey my commands!" Vidaldus shouted.
Under Vidaldus's orders, Juvia relentlessly launched attacks at Gray.
Facing Juvia as his opponent, Gray couldn't bring himself to strike back and could only keep dodging the high-pressure water slicers.
"This is what I wanted to see the most!" Vidaldus watched gleefully, continuously playing his electric guitar to control her.
"A burning red rhythm—that's the true soul of rock!"
"Where's the rock in any of this?!" Gray angrily retorted.
Vidaldus gave Juvia a cruel order. "Grip harder, as if the man you love has betrayed you!"
"The man I love! I won't allow it... I won't allow any love rivals!"
Juvia grew increasingly furious, her entire body transforming into boiling, swirling water that enveloped Gray to crush him.
"..."
Gray was utterly speechless as he struggled against the water, not knowing where to begin his retort.
'We haven't even started anything yet, okay?'