"Loke!" Lucy rushed to Loke's side first, and together with Zorn, helped Loke sit up.
"Lucy, it's up to you now."
"Um"
Lucy nodded in response, then turned to look at everyone who looked on with anticipation. She then used all her Magic Power to try and open the gate to Leo.
"These are the rules of the Celestial Spirit World, and they cannot be changed. Don't waste your energy, Lucy. I've always hoped for this, hoped to atone for my sins."
"And I am truly happy now, so very happy, that everyone is by my side in the final moments."
Loke's face was full of relief as he finished speaking, and he saw happy smiles on everyone's faces.
"No, I will definitely save you. As long as you can return to the Celestial Spirit World, your life force will be replenished immediately. I will definitely let you go back, and we can all spend many, many more hours together."
"Open the door, Leo!"
Lucy hugged Loke and shouted, feeling extremely resentful. It was clearly an accident, so why, why was Loke subjected to such severe punishment?
Zorn was also channeling his full Magic Power, trying to delay Loke's disappearance. "Damn it, old man, open the door now!!" Finally, he roared and released all his Magic Power, working together with Lucy to pry open the gate to the Celestial Spirit World — the Leo.
"Lucy, Zorn, everyone, it's okay, it really doesn't matter." Loke reached out and nudged Lucy, who was crying and hugging him, then looked at everyone with guilt as they wasted so much Magic Power on him.
"Loke, I don't want Loke to disappear! Open the gates of Leo!" Seeing Loke's figure fading, Happy flew straight into Loke's arms, crying and shouting that he didn't want his friend to disappear, not anyone.
As Happy shouted, his own Magic Power surged through the void along with the golden beam of light, but there was still no response from the void for a long time.
"Damn it, I don't care about the Celestial Spirit World, Celestial Spirit King, open it for me!" Natsu also directly charged his own Magic Power into the void. Seeing this, the Fairy Tail members also put their hands on Natsu, and their Magic Power also erupted, converging with Natsu's Magic Power.
At the same time, two streams of Magic Power shot into the sky, impacting the void together.
"I will definitely save you. Even if it's the gate to the Celestial Spirit World, we will all break through it together. Open it, gate to Leo, open it!"
Ah~
"It's no use, Lucy Zorn, let go! And everyone, quickly withdraw your magic! Your bodies are being slowly assimilated and will disappear."
"I really, really don't want to commit any more sins. I... I can't let you all be dragged down with me."
Seeing that everyone was already somewhat weak, Loke also forced himself to stay upright, trying to break free from Zorn and Lucy's restraints and sever his connection with them, hoping to break the ties.
However, he was still held tightly by Zorn and Lucy, and had no way to break free.
"We will never give up. Even if it means death, we will not let go. How can we allow our comrades to disappear before our very eyes? If we cannot protect our companions, then what is the point of Magic?"
"So what if the rules were set by the Celestial Spirit King? I'll change them!"
Lucy, holding Loke in her arms, roared to express her thoughts, while the other Fairy Tail members beside her unleashed their full Magic Power, demonstrating their agreement with Lucy's idea.
"Bang!"
"Everyone, you all..." Before Loke could finish speaking, the waterfall's water reversed, the sky was instantly replaced by a sky full of stars, and a gigantic figure appeared before everyone.
"No, how could this be, Celestial Spirit King!!"
"My old friend, according to the covenant with humanity, I strictly forbid the Celestial Spirit from killing those who possess the key, though it is not you who directly does so."
"However, Leo the Lion, who indirectly caused this incident, has been banned from returning to the Celestial Spirit World."
"Wait a minute, isn't this going too far!"
Lucy directly confronted the Celestial Spirit King.
Just as Natsu, who was also full of complaints and had a fiery temper, was about to jump up and give this arrogant Celestial Spirit King a good scolding, Erza covered his mouth and restrained him in place.
"My old friend, the little human girl, there's only one thing that can't be changed..."
"What are you talking about, old friend? This is your current partner, so you better listen carefully, old bearded man."
Lucy, hearing the Celestial Spirit King repeat his old arguments, retorted even more fiercely. However, her last sentence made the Celestial Spirit King pause, after all, he was the Celestial Spirit King, the ruler of a realm, and no one had ever called him that before.
"This was an accident. Tell me, what crime has Loke committed? I will only accept charges against him if he is innocent."
"Enough, Lucy, I just want to atone for my sins. Just let me disappear like this!"
I'd rather die than agree!
The desire to protect one's comrades is not a sin.
At this moment, Lucy roared, unleashing all of Lucy remaining Magic Power.
At this moment, the Celestial Spirit Fairy at Lucy's waist also emitted its own light, and then fully revealed its form around Lucy, also agreeing with Lucy's point of view.
"How could this be? The Celestial Spirit have all appeared at the same time!!"
Loke was also shocked by what he saw, because even Karen Lilica hadn't done something like this.
As the Celestial Spirit disappeared, Lucy collapsed into Loke's arms and continued, "All the Celestial Spirit friends who just appeared share the same thought. You're Celestial Spirit too, so you should understand Loke and Aries' feelings."
"Since my old friend has come to this point, perhaps... the laws really are wrong."
"For Aries's sake, to save Leo, and for the sake of you all, to save Leo, in consideration of your beautiful and steadfast friendship."
"Special treatment, Leo. I will grant you special permission to return to the Celestial Spirit World and absolve you of your sins."
The Celestial Spirit King looked at the determination in Lucy's eyes, the affection of Leo's Fairy Tail behind Leo, and of course, Natsu, who was staring intently at him.
As if he had made up his mind, he felt the genuine emotions between humans, and he felt the same profound emotions between the Celestial Spirit and humans.
"You're still pretty kind, old man with the beard!" Lucy gave a thumbs-up, praising the Celestial Spirit King.
"But, but I..."
After announcing the verdict, the Celestial Spirit King slowly dissipated into the air. Sensing Leo's deep remorse, he added, "If you truly wish to atone for your sins, become the power of your friend, and swear to protect her with your life."
"Lucy, thank you." Loke wiped away his tears, stood up, and reached out to shake Lucy's hand. A key also appeared in Lucy's hand.
And thank you everyone!
"Loke, I'll teach you a lesson when I get back!"
Loke turned around and thanked the Fairy Tail members with a smile. Natsu was also released at this moment and shouted loudly.
Loke returned to the Celestial Spirit World amidst everyone's happy smiles.