At those words, it seemed that only the wind remained between heaven and earth.
Lucy froze in place. Her head hung low, her expression sorrowful, and her slender shoulders trembled faintly.
It was all because of her that the guild had been destroyed and Levy had been targeted... everyone had come all this way to risk their lives because of her, too.
Now even Blanc, the strongest in the guild, couldn't withstand the enemy's weapon. Everyone might die next...
It's all... because of me... if I stepped forward...
She bit her lip hard, tears brimming in her eyes, and unwittingly edged half a step forward.
"Lucy!"
Erza's icy voice suddenly rang out beside her. Though she called Lucy's name, her gaze remained fixed on the distant giant.
"If you dare take another step forward, I'll tie you up right now and have Happy throw you back."
Lucy froze in surprise.
"Hand over a comrade just to cling to life?" Erza tightened her grip on her sword and declared firmly, "If you want us to betray a comrade, you'll have to step over our corpses first!!"
"You've gotta be kidding!!"
Natsu's furious roar followed immediately, flames of anger erupting from his body:
"No matter what happens, our answer won't change!! We're going to crush you!"
"That's right! Lucy is our comrade. Even if it costs me my life, I won't hand her over!" Cold air poured from Gray.
"Using a comrade as a bargaining chip is a coward's move! A real man would die before doing that!!" Elfman roared.
"If Lucy's gone, there won't be anyone in the guild to call us out! How boring would that be!" Happy waved his little paws and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Exactly! We're never handing her over!!"
"Keep dreaming, you bastard