"I survived," Gray's voice regained its calm but carried power, "thanks to Master's sacrifice and that idiot Lyon."
"Since that day, I've been blaming myself, feeling guilty."
"Because of my recklessness, my hatred, my foolishness."
"Not only did I cause the death of my parents, but also my Master, who was like a mother to me."
"I've lived until now burdened by this heavy sin."
"But," Gray raised his head, looking towards the Moon God Temple with firm eyes, "now I understand."
"Master's sacrifice wasn't for me to live forever in hatred and self-reproach."
"She wanted me to see a wider world."
"She wanted me to understand that a person's life shouldn't only be about hatred."
"Beyond hatred, there are companions, responsibilities, things to protect, and the right to see and experience this world."
His voice echoed in the mountain forest in the early morning:
"And now, I am here."
"No longer just for revenge against Deliora."
"Deliora is a cruel and bloodthirsty demon."
"It has taken countless lives, taken away countless people's right to see a wider world."
"I will inherit Master's will."
"With my own strength."
"Overcome the darkness."
"Protect others."
"Protect their right to see a wider world!"
Gray's words were like a warm current breaking through the ice.
Juvia stared blankly at Gray.
The tears in her eyes had not yet dried, but at this moment, her heart was filled with an unprecedented emotion!
She heard the deepest pain and struggle within Gray!
She saw him struggling to climb out of the abyss of hatred, bearing a heavy sin, and finally understanding the true meaning of Master's sacrifice, finding new beliefs and goals!
This resilience in pain!
This awakening in darkness!
This resolve to bear everything for the sake of protecting others!
It deeply shook Juvia's soul!
She truly fell in love with this man's soul!
"Lord Gray," Juvia's voice trembled, but her eyes were incredibly bright and firm, "Juvia understands!"
"Juvia will always, always stay by Lord Gray's side!"
"Juvia will use her water to protect Lord Gray!"
"Help Lord Gray protect everyone's right to see a wider world!"
Gray looked at the fervent and pure love and determination in Juvia's eyes, and deep within his own eyes, something seemed to subtly melt a little.
He nodded gently: "Mm."
The two continued forward, their steps even more resolute.
At the end of the mountain path, the grand and ancient silhouette of the Moon God Temple appeared before them.
Giant stone pillars supported the dome, and the temple appeared solemn and majestic in the morning light, but the temple gate was tightly closed, and the wide plaza in front of the gate was filled with a chilling, heart-pounding aura.
The entire ground of the plaza was covered with a thick layer of ice, emanating an ominous frosty white glow!
Countless sharp ice spikes, like a demon's fangs, broke through the ice, forming a giant, frosty white ice prison cage radiating a terrifying oppressive feeling!
In the center of the ice prison cage, a figure stood silently with his back to the mountain path.
He wore a snow-white coat, and his silver-white long hair gently swayed in the morning breeze. A suffocatingly cold pressure emanated from him.
Gray and Juvia stopped at the same time.
As if hearing their footsteps, the figure slowly turned around.
With handsome, sharply defined features, it was Lyon!
But at this moment, his ice-blue eyes glowed with an evil, cold red light!
A cruel and playful smile played on his lips, completely devoid of his usual pride and sharpness, replaced by an inhuman indifference and malice.
"So you've finally arrived, Gray Fullbuster." His voice was deep and hoarse, with a metallic grinding quality, "From the memories of this body, I've seen many interesting things. Ur's disciple, that brat Lyon's junior?"
He let out a low laugh, his gaze sweeping over Gray and Juvia, finally settling on Gray, his crimson pupils filled with mockery.
"I heard your parents also died by my hand?" He deliberately elongated his tone, "And your foolish Master Ur? To seal me, she turned herself into an eternal ice sculpture? How pathetic and ridiculous…"
He spread his arms, a look of enjoyment on his face: "Look at this body, how perfect. That brat Lyon, to save his Master who turned into ice, went to great lengths to collect Moon Drip, for three whole years! And what was the result?"
The smile on his face turned sinister, "Moon Drip not only failed to undo Absolute Zero, but instead nourished my residual power! Allowing me to fully awaken! And easily devour his consciousness, taking over his body!"
"Hahahahaha!" He threw his head back and laughed wildly, "Everyone around you! Parents! Master! Senior Brother! All killed by me! Gray Fullbuster! What do you have left?!"
Lyon's words, like poisoned ice picks, fiercely stabbed into Gray's heart!
Gray's body trembled violently!
His ice-blue eyes stared fixedly at that familiar yet strange face, at those red-glowing, evil eyes.
A destructive rage and bone-deep sorrow instantly surged to his head!
But just as this rage was about to erupt, Ur's final words flashed through his mind… He took a sudden deep breath, forcefully suppressing the flames of hatred that threatened to burn everything!
Gray slowly turned and looked at Juvia beside him.
His gaze was cold, but deep within it, there was an indescribable heaviness and an almost tragic resolve.
"Juvia," Gray's voice was unusually calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness, "Please let me deal with him alone."
Juvia looked into Gray's eyes.
In those ice-blue eyes, the previous wild rage was gone, replaced by a deep, calm stillness like ten thousand years of ice, and a resolve to give everything to protect something!
She understood instantly.
"Yes! Lord Gray!" Juvia nodded vigorously, her voice choked slightly, but her eyes were incredibly firm, "Juvia will wait for you here! Lord Gray, please be very careful!"
She stepped back a few paces, moving to a safe distance at the edge of the plaza.
Gray nodded, then slowly, step by step, walked towards the ice prison cage in the center of the plaza, towards the demon that had occupied his senior brother's body.
His steps were steady and firm; with each step, the frost beneath his feet became more solid.
"Everyone should have the right to see a wider world," Gray's voice was not loud, but it clearly echoed across the empty plaza.
"So, let the darkness stop here!"
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