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The shattered remnants of Zeref's lacrima glittered on the deck like cursed diamonds. Nami stood defiant, clima-tact still sparking, while Zeref's spectral form wavered, his voice a venomous whisper.
"You cling to fleeting hope," he sneered, fading into the mist. "When corruption consumes him, remember this moment."
Weiss slumped against the mast, his dragonbone arm pulsing with sickly light. The corruption had climbed to 80%, veins of obsidian threading across his chest. Lucy knelt beside him, her cracked keys glowing faintly as she channeled starlight into his wounds.
"It's not working," she muttered, tears blending with sweat. "The celestial energy… it's repelled by the dragonbone."
Nami gripped Weiss's trembling hand, her voice sharp to mask her fear. "We'll find another way. We always do."
System Alert
Ding!
Corruption: 85% (Critical Threshold)
Harem Sync Efficiency: 15% (Unstable)
The Final Voyage
Laugh Tale's silhouette emerged through the mist—a jagged island crowned with skeletal trees and a sky choked by swirling void. The sea itself resisted them, waves rising in blackened peaks as if the Starved King's will permeated the waters.
"Full sail!" Erza commanded, her Sea Empress armor gleaming. "Gray, freeze the portside waves! Natsu, burn a path!"
Natsu's flames clashed against the dark water, steam hissing like a thousand serpents. Gray's ice forged a precarious bridge over the tumult, the guild ship lurching violently.
Levy clung to the helm, her eyes scanning a frayed scroll. "The texts mention a 'Heart of Laugh Tale'—a relic that can sever Im's bond to the Starved King!"
"Where?" Lucy shouted over the storm.
"The throne! But we'll need—"
A tendril of void energy smashed into the deck, splintering wood. Wendy barely shielded Levy, her sky magic flickering.
"Focus!" Weiss roared, his corrupted arm shattering the next tendril. The impact sent him to his knees, dragonbone cracking under the strain.
Bonds Forged in Storm
In a rare moment of calm below deck, Weiss faced Lucy and Nami, his breathing labored. "If this fails…"
"It won't," Lucy interrupted, her fingers brushing his corrupted jawline. "We didn't come this far to lose you."
Nami pressed her forehead to his, clima-tact humming between them. "You're stuck with us, dragon boy. Even in hell."
A faint smile tugged at Weiss's lips. The system flickered:
Harem Affection Update
Lucy Heartfilia: 100/100 ("Eternal Light")
Nami: 100/100 ("Storm's Anchor")
Passive Unlocked: Soulfire Resonance (Temporary corruption immunity for 5 minutes)
The Throne's Gambit
The ship ground ashore on Laugh Tale's blackened beach. Before them loomed the throne of bones, the Starved King's eye glaring from the void above.
"Anomaly…" The voice shook the island. "You are too late."
Im's shadowy form materialized on the throne, his crown of dead stars leaching light from the sky.
Levy unfurled the scroll. "The Heart is beneath the throne! Destroy it, and he's mortal!"
"Easier said," Gray muttered, ice forming around his fists.
The guild charged, Erza and Natsu leading the assault. Im raised a hand, summoning Void Knights—obsidian-armored warriors wielding scythes of pure entropy.
"Go!" Erza shouted to Weiss. "We'll hold them!"
Weiss, Lucy, and Nami sprinted toward the throne, dodging falling debris and voidfire. The Heart pulsed below—a crystalline orb entwined with dragonbone roots.
"DESTROY IT!" Levy's voice echoed.
Weiss raised his claw, but the corruption flared. 90%. His arm froze, dragonbone consuming his shoulder.
Zeref materialized, offering a hand. "Accept my pact. Reset the corruption. Save them."
The Starved King's tendrils closed in. Lucy and Nami stood back-to-back, keys and clima-tact blazing.
"Choose, Anomaly," Zeref urged. "Power… or annihilation."
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