The information is still fragmentary,
so I don't have a proper grip on the situation myself.
But the 12 Golden Gates won't respond when they're summoned?
That's right.
Celestial Spirits and Celestial Spirit Wizards have contracts with each other,
so this is unthinkable, unless something very unusual happened.
This is the first time I haven't been able to make contact with the Celestial Spirits.
In other words, "something very unusual" has happened?
Gimme a break.
That bastard Loke... I swear I'll kick his ass!
First of all, tell me what happened in detail.
"Perfect freedom"?
Is that what Loke said?
He's the leader of the 12 Golden Gates, right?
So maybe he's behind all of this...
Then if I pound on him, this could all go away!
Chill out.
Like I can chill out! Those guys are Lucy's—
Hey!
The 12 Golden Gates... are rebelling...
What could be the cause?
I can't believe they're rebelling!
Of course, neither can I! But...
That's right! I'll ask Old Master Crux one more time!
But Virgo forced the gate shut...
I'm sure he'll come!
Gate of the Southern Cross, I open thee! Crux!
Why Horologium? Where's Old Master Crux?
"It is very dangerous to come here, so I had him bring me, indeed"...
...he said.
He's been through a lot. And now he's sleeping...
Library Panic!
We're back!
I'm starving!
Mira-chan, make me the special dish that gives you stamina. Uh...
What the heck?
Is something wrong?
I want you to tell me what's happening in the Celestial Spirit World.
It's absolute mayhem!
And it all began so suddenly...
The contracts between the 12 Golden Gates and the Celestial Spirit Wizards
have spontaneously become nullified out of the blue.
Perhaps due to that influence, they are wreaking havoc,
the Celestial Spirit World has become a wasteland,
and we can only hide...
What happened to your mustache?
Can't the Celestial Spirit King do something?
But we don't know where he is. He's disappeared without a trace.
The Celestial Spirit King is missing? I don't believe this!
In any event, Leo-sama the Lion is the leader of the 12 Golden Gates.
It seems like they forgot about us.
Loke was going on about "perfect freedom" or somethin'...
Liberum.
Liberum?
Does it have something to do with this ancient tome?
What is that?
Show me.
Sure.
Um... A grimoire written in ancient Meridius.
No, it's a study...
It looks like most of the entries talk about "Liberum."
That's our scholar!
Were you investigating it on your own, Yukino-chan?
Yes. I made it as far as that text, but I didn't know where to go next,
so I thought I might be able to get answers by coming here.
So an old text like that is even in the Human World?
Liberum is the name of a certain ritual that Celestial Spirits perform.
A ritual...
Then maybe...
Indeed, if Liberum is performed,
they can acquire the "perfect freedom" that Leo-sama spoke of.
But listen to this. "When Liberum is performed,
a celestial globe is required to liberate the Celestial Spirits from their chains."
"Chains"... We never thought of it like that...
Lucy-sama...
This ain't no time to be bummed out, Lucy.
That's right! You've got a frown line between your brows.
Yeah...
I'll definitely mess Loke up.
And then I'll bring him back to normal.
Thanks, Natsu.
The ritual needs a "celestial globe." And where is that?
I don't know.
I couldn't even tell you if they already have it or not.
My guess is they don't have it yet.
Mine, too!
If they did have it, they wouldn't go to the trouble of appearing before Lucy.
You mean they would've already started the ritual, huh?
Then Loke just showed up to declare their independence?
Levy, are there any other clues related to Liberum?
Calculating formulas and lore are recorded here,
but a lot of it's vague, and the words are too old for me to glean anything else.
We won't get anywhere without digging deeper.
Wait a second. Come to think of it...
That's right! The Magic Library may have more detailed archives!
The influence of the anomalous weather may be extending to the Celestial Spirit World.
But we won't be able to move forward on conjectures alone.
Master...
We'll go on from here, getting ahead of the 12 Golden Gates
by getting our hands on more detailed information. It all begins from there.
Erza, you're in charge!
Right! Cana, you're with me.
Wendy, you're with Carla. Gray, you're with Juvia.
Gajeel, you're with Lily. And Mira, please go with Elfman.
We'll gather information from anywhere likely to have a clue about this.
Upon Warren's return, we'll set up lateral communication between teams.
I want Lucy, Natsu, Yukino, Levy, and Happy to head for the Magic Library.
Okay!
Aye, sir!
If it's related to books, leave it to me!
Thank you for letting me help.
Huh?
Natsu isn't here.
Old Master Crux and Horologium are gone, too.
D-Don't tell me...
That idiot!
Thanks for the clothes, Old Master Crux! I owe you one!
"I don't mind,
but indeed, don't you have to follow Erza-sama's instructions?"
he said.
They're responsible for Lucy's gloomy expression!
So I'm gonna open a can of whup-ass on every last one of 'em!
"Indeed, weren't you supposed to gather information first?" he said.
Never mind that! Here I go!
Where are you?! All of you clowns, get out here now!
Crap! You two hide!
Indeed! Please be safe!
Mooo. Welcome to the Celestial Spirit World.
Taurus! That ain't you! You're a lusty bull!
The Celestial Spirit that lacked dignity is no mooore.
I am a Golden Bull who eliminates his enemies in a gentlemanly manner.
Dammit...
I hope Natsu is okay...
Apparently, time flows differently in the Celestial Spirit World,
so I believe Natsu-sama has just arrived there.
Oh, I see.
I'm worried too, but if we don't find a clue about stopping Liberum...
Still, you've been through a ton of books.
Have you learned anything?
Not yet. So keep bringing all the books that are on that list.
Aye,sir!
"According to one theory,
the folklore surrounding Liberum is extremely dubious."
"Meridius in the Meridius language means 'south'..." I know that already!
"It is necessary to perform Liberum in a certain area.
The name of that place is 'Astral Spirytus.'"
"Astral Spirytus"? Is that...
This book doesn't state its whereabouts. I'll try another one.
Levy-chan, have you found out anything about the celestial sphere?
Not yet. The books here are also so old that the descriptions are ambiguous.
But we have to do something.
What is that?
It feels like... Don't tell me it's...
Hey!
What is it?!
Ouch!
Is everyone all right?
M-More or less...
We fell from a great height. What happened?
Lu-chan?
Be careful, everyone!
I was right. I realized it right away from that feeling.
Virgo!
It's time for punishment.
That's Virgo, Lu-chan?
Yeah!
I love watching you run away!
More screaming! More agony!
Come, come, the pleasure of punishment has only just begun!
Solid Script! Iron!
No childish pranks now!
Stop it, Virgo!
I won't stop! And by the way,
even though we both have Etoile Whips, mine is more powerful!
Lucy!
Lu-chan!
You're not getting away!
Yukino?!
I've studied martial arts at Sabertooth!
Levy-sama! Investigate while you have the chance!
Please! We'll keep Virgo in check somehow!
Okay!
Yukino is scary. I'll try to never get in a fight with her...
Why would you ever get in a fight with her anyway?
I enjoy inflicting pain, but I hate to be on the receiving end.
You have no right to interfere!
I have to research, but which book and where?
Wait, is this the list of donated books?
That hurt!
But now I'll pay you back with punishment!
Whoa!
Virgo, stop this already!
"Stop"? Say it again!
Hearing that word gets me fired up.
Virgo has become a total sadist!
Virgo, remember us!
Levy?!
It has to be...
Where's she going?
Other Celestial Spirits could show up, too. Please protect Levy-chan, Yukino!
Understood!
Oh, you shouldn't look away. Look at me!
Show me a look of agony, Lucy Heartfilia!
Ow...
Well, well. It looks like you still have some fight left in you.
I once mistook you for a monster and sent you flying.
So this makes us even.
I no longer remoomber.
Is that right? Then I'll keep sluggin' you 'til it comes back.
I'm afraid you will only be wasting your time...
Shut up and go back to normal, cow!
Roar of the... Fire Dragon!
Ow...
You're heavy, Lucy. I'm gonna die!
That's rude!
Your butt is heavy...
Huh? Where's Virgo?
Oh, no! She took off after Levy and Yukino!
Levy-sama! Where are you going?!
I found the list of donated books!
Books that were donated to this library?
The celestial globe we're searching for is in this library!
Really?!
Apparently, it was discovered during an archaeological dig.
No one at the time recognized it as anything important,
but this is also an archaeological institute, so they donated it.
Except I don't know where it is in here!
Anyway, we have to look!
Let's start by figuring out where they keep the donated items!
Wait, Virgo!
I don't take orders from you anymore, remember?!
Ow!
S-Stop it!
"Stop it! Stop it!" Keep saying it!
Is it digging into you? It'll dig into you more! Look!
I-I'm gonna be cut in half!
Why are you doing this?!
The expressions on your faces are delightful! It must feel so good!
Not to me, it doesn't!
It hurts!
Oh, no! Lucy is bending!
She'll snap in two!
Why?! Virgo...
Hey, cow! You're Lucy's Celestial Spirit!
You and Lucy destroyed the Nirvana core together, remember?!
Remember Lucy! You're making her sad!
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Bastard!
Well?
I don't see anything that it could be.
Maybe it's in one of these storage rooms...
It would take days to search all of them.
There should be some kind of clue around here...
All right, I'll make you feel even better!
I'm dizzy...
Calm down... Clear your mind... There must be some clue...
Virgo's glance sticks in my mind.
When you noticed the donation list, she glanced over.
She noticed me searching for the celestial globe and gave chase?
I think she wants you to find the globe, Levy-sama, so then she can steal it.
I see. Then we have to hurry. Huh?!
Come on, run, run! Run for your lives!
Hang in there, Happy!
I can't eat all this...
You're dreaming?!
I see. Then maybe...
Levy-sama?!
Um, I'm sure it's around here...
There! The East Warehouse!
What about it?
It's "East"... Which means maybe there's a "West" and "North" one, too!
Four warehouses, one for each major direction...
That book in ancient Meridius... Meridius means south!
The South Warehouse, right?! But...
Yeah... W-We don't know what floor it's on.
All we can do is search every nook and cranny!
Lu-chan!
Lucy-sama!
It hurts!
You're heavy...
Levy-chan, Yukino, did you find any clues?
That's right! This is perfect timing!
Virgo isn't chasing us anymore...
I see. South Warehouse, huh? Leave it to me!
Gate of the Compass, I open thee!
Pyxis!
Thank you for coming! Do you know what direction the South Warehouse is in?
Okay! Over there, huh? Thanks, Pyxis!
We were closer than we thought, huh?
Let's hurry!
She was following us! That's playing dirty!
Levy-chan, go on ahead!
You aren't getting past us!
Got it! Be careful, you two!
Levy McGarden. That girl is heading for the celestial globe, isn't she?
Yukino, are you ready?
Yes!
I'd like to punish you more,
but I need to get what I came for.
Ow...
You're very tough for a human, mooo.
Dammit, how many times do I have to punch you before you remember?!
Mooo...
Certainly, it seems there was a contract between me and a human,
but I don't remember it well.
What?!
Besides, that kind of relationship doesn't mean anything anymooore.
Jackass! Quit sayin' things that would make Lucy sad!
Who was that again?
I'll have to beat it back into your memory!
Sword Edge of the Fire Dragon!
Moo.
Please come again.
I found it! This is the celestial globe!
Levy-chan!
I found it, Lu-chan!
Yay!
Now we can stop them from performing Liberum, right?
We have to get back to the guild!
Thank you for finding this for me.
Let go!
Levy-chan!
Oh, no!
You let go!
It's okay. Good globe...
Virgo! You musn't take that away!
I am taking it. But in exchange, I promise to fill Magnolia full of holes.
Wait! Listen, Liberum is...
And for starters, I'll turn this library into a really hole-y place!
She won't listen at all?!
Natsu?!
Ow... That was some fall...
Hi! What are you guys doin'? In fact, where are we?
What are you talking about?! You went off to the Celestial Spirit World on your own!
And you took forever to get back!
Virgo is gone!
The celestial globe!
What should we do? She made off with it.
What?!
Um, Lu-chan...
There's one more thing I found out about Liberum...
A note was written on the list by "celestial sphere."
The price of freedom that Liberum will bring the Celestial Spirits...
They'll only live for 12 more days.
W-What?!
12 more days to live...
So they're going to die in exchange for freedom?
Fish, fish! I smell fish!
Fish? You mean the Celestial Spirits, Pisces?
Of course!
But are they really fish? They talk.
Natsu, who decided that fish aren't allowed to talk?!
Well, true...
They can talk if they want! What's the difference, as long as they're tasty?!
All right! All right, already!
Next time: Stand, Hisui!
Fish are happiness! Fish are love!
Happy... Calm down a bit.