"What just happened? Damn it!"
King Faust saw the scene unfold before him and immediately flew into a rage. But when he tried to rally his troops, he realized there were hardly any left to command. Still, the enemy couldn't be allowed to advance unchecked! He sent out a squadron mounted on magical beasts, flying toward the sky.
"Roar of the Lightning Dragon!!!"
*BAM*
A massive pillar of lightning erupted from below, sweeping away all the soldiers in one fell swoop!
Laxus made a dramatic entrance.
"Damn it!" Ed-Erza charged at Laxus.
"Your opponent is me!" Erza stood firmly in her path.
"Wow, so strong!" Ed-Laxus couldn't help but see stars—his alternate self was incredibly powerful. If only he could be that strong!
"He really is powerful," Ed-Jehfrit agreed, nodding. Seeing Ed-Laxus's disheartened expression, he added, "If you work hard enough, you can become just as strong. You're Laxus too, after all."
"Yes, Mr. Jehfrit!" Ed-Laxus regained his confidence.
"Uncle Laxus, slow down! Wait for me!" Emily struggled to keep up.
"Don't follow me." With that, Laxus transformed into a bolt of lightning and shot into the sky.
"Tsk!"
"Emily, don't click your tongue like that!" Ikuto scolded sharply.
"Whaa…" Emily's eyes instantly welled up with tears as she turned to look at Lisanna.
"Sorry, there's nothing I can do about it," Lisanna said with an apologetic shrug.
The three women pressed forward, with Ikuto leading the charge while Lisanna and Emily provided support.
"Laxus!" Natsu called out upon seeing Laxus soar overhead. "Let's take them down together!"
"Hmm."
With Laxus joining the fight, the process of undoing the magic accelerated significantly.
"How dare you succeed?!"
King Faust was livid.
"Your Majesty, we must activate our final trump card. If they continue destroying everything, even if the two floating islands collide, it will be meaningless!" Byro urged desperately.
"Fine then, let them witness the true power of the Edolas Kingdom!" King Faust nodded grimly, his eyes radiating icy resolve.
*Hummm*
A colossal magic circle appeared.
The ground began to tremble.
"What is this?"
Everyone watched in shock as events unfolded.
"Stop, Father!" At that moment, Mystogan appeared atop the palace walls, his back facing the city's residents. He shouted furiously at King Faust.
"Activating this magical weapon will drain all the magic from this world!"
His words stunned everyone into silence.
"Jellal!" King Faust glared at Jellal, roaring, "This is all part of your scheme, isn't it?!"
"No, Father, I've come to stop you!" Mystogan declared. "Using this weapon will consume an enormous amount of magic—and we're already running low!"
"So what? Once we defeat those people, their magic will replenish ours!" King Faust countered. "Don't get in my way, Jellal. Otherwise, you'll become my enemy, and I won't hesitate to kill you!"
"Father!"
"Please leave some hope for this world!"
Jellal shouted.
*Vrrrrm*
A massive sphere slowly rose from the ground, drawing all the magic from the surrounding area toward it.
The citizens felt their magic slipping away and, recalling the prince's warning, panic spread like wildfire.
"Please don't use this weapon!" someone cried out.
"King Faust, don't take away what little magic we have left!" others pleaded.
"You fools! Didn't you hear His Majesty? Defeating them will give us more magic than ever!" Some loyalists supported the king's plan.
Hope?
Sorry.
There won't be any.
Standing beside the king, Jehfrit adjusted his glasses slightly.
*BOOM*
The dragon chains' cannon roared to life, pulling the two floating islands closer at an alarming speed!
"We can't stop it!"
"It's useless!"
"Are we really going to die?!"
"Damn you, Faust!"
The enraged Exceeds were powerless against the situation.
Who could save them now?!
"Hahahaha—"
King Faust laughed maniacally.
*CRASH*
The giant sphere cracked open, transforming into a colossal steel dragon!
King Faust leapt inside the steel beast, bringing it fully to life.
Its crimson, bloodshot eyes scanned the crowd, exuding terrifying magical energy and unmatched intimidation.
"I am the eternal King of Edolas!"
"Nothing can defeat me, the invincible ruler!"
"I can do anything!"
"Obey me and live; defy me and perish!"
"You insects, face the judgment of your king!"
*BAM* A fist responded to his proclamation.
Ed-Jehfrit looked up at the dragon and said coldly, "You are a failed king. Step down."
"The Muscle Supremacy Church does not recognize you!" A group of muscular men charged forward, punching and kicking at the dragon.
"Insects."
With a single swipe of its tail, everyone went flying—including Ed-Jehfrit, though he didn't sustain serious injuries.
"Step down, failed king!" The entire Fairy Tail guild of Edolas rushed toward the dragon.
"Get out of my way!" The dragon swung its tail again, sending everyone sprawling.
"If you've got the guts, kill us all!" Some dissenting citizens charged forward as well.
"Stop!" Mystogan shouted.
Everyone froze, looking at him in confusion.
Mystogan stepped to the front of the crowd and declared, "If someone has to sacrifice themselves, I am the prince. Let me die first!"
"!!!"
Those words sent shockwaves through every heart present. Everyone stared at Mystogan's towering figure in disbelief, feeling immense respect wash over them.
"Step down, Faust!"
"Let Prince Jellal ascend the throne!"
"He should be the king!"
The citizens roared in agreement.
Between a tyrannical king and a prince who proclaimed, "Let the prince die first," which one deserved loyalty more? It was painfully obvious!
---
Up in the sky.
Many Fairy Tail mages had been rescued by now.
After explanations from Natsu and the others, they understood the situation. After swallowing the pills, they eagerly joined the battle!
"Gray-sama, Juvia is here to assist you!"
"That's what I look like in this world? I wonder how my drinking capacity compares."
"Bastard!!" Faust controlled the dragon and soared into the sky.
"A dragon, huh? Perfect timing—we're Dragon Slayers!" Flames erupted around Natsu's hands.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
"Lightning Dragon's Crushing Fist!"
"Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!"
"Iron Dragon's Steel Fist!"
*BOOM!!!*
The dragon was knocked out of the sky, though it wasn't severely injured.
"It's no use!" The dragon laughed wildly. "Dragon Knights are immune to all forms of magic!"
"But not fists, right?" Ed-Jehfrit charged forward, delivering a powerful blow!
"Jehfrit, you ingrate! Everything you have, I gave to you!" Faust roared. "Do you want to lose it all?!"
"As long as I have strength, I can reclaim whatever I lose! Besides, everything I possess was earned by me—not given by you!" Ed-Jehfrit retorted.
"Father, please turn back!" Mystogan pleaded.
"Damn it, damn it! Traitors, all of you deserve to die!" The dragon opened its mouth, preparing to unleash a spell.
"Lightning Dragon's Fang!" Laxus struck the dragon's head with tremendous force, causing it to stumble and interrupting the spell.
"I may not have overwhelming strength, but I can support everyone!" Wendy remembered her role as a supportive mage.
"Gale Rush!" Increased movement speed!
"Steel Wrist Power!" Enhanced attack capability!
"Armor Force!" Strengthened defense!
"My body feels so light!" Natsu exclaimed in delight.
"I feel stronger and tougher!" Gajeel thought he could take much more punishment.
"Not bad at all." Laxus clenched his fists appreciatively.
"Alright, Mystogan, stick to cheering us on and handling minor tasks. Don't actually step into the fray," Jehfrit pulled Mystogan back, saying, "You still have something important to do, don't you?"
"Right." Mystogan knew his magic, similar to Jehfrit's, wasn't suited for direct combat. Against a Dragon Knight, his spells would barely scratch the surface.
Fighting dragons—leave that to professional Dragon Slayers!
Turning around, he addressed the citizens, rallying their support.
Meanwhile.
The two floating islands grew closer, almost touching.
"This ends here." Jehfrit said quietly.
At the dragon chain cannon platform, Lucy gripped her key tightly and yanked it free.
*Buzzzzz*
The magic array dimmed.
The pulling force of the dragon chains ceased.
The two floating islands never collided!
"Byro, have you betrayed me too?!" Faust glared furiously at Lucy.
"I'm not Byro." Lucy turned and ran.
"Bastard!" Enraged, Faust prepared to chase after her.
"Get past us first." Four Dragon Slayers blocked his path!
Extalia.
"We're saved!"
"The magic has stopped!"
"Our home is safe!"
The Exceeds burst into tears of relief.
Erza's battlefield.
"It's over. You've lost." Erza stated calmly.
"You live in a world where magic comes naturally—you wouldn't understand our sorrow!" Ed-Erza attacked furiously, shouting.
"Sorrow exists in every world—it has nothing to do with magic!" Erza countered. "And you are the ones creating this world's suffering!"
"There's no point arguing. You'll never defeat His Majesty. Magic will belong to us!"
"Do you truly believe that guy can win?"
Ed-Erza roared, "His Majesty is invincible!"
Erza countered, "Jehfrit is the one who's invincible!"
"If he wanted to, he could've killed all of you days ago!"
"Jehfrit? That muscle freak?"
"Our Jehfrit has been standing alongside you this whole time, hearing every conversation and knowing every plan!"
"You didn't notice a thing!"
"That's Jehfrit. If he wanted to, he could carve each of you up piece by piece!"
"From the start, your failure was inevitable!"
"Erza!"
"Since you claim to be Erza, lose with dignity!"
"Shut up!!!" Ed-Erza's composure shattered.
Someone had been among them the entire time?
Participating in their plans?
Everything seemed smooth until sudden setbacks occurred.
It turned out there was a mole!
No, a mastermind behind the scenes controlling everything!
Thus, their defeat was sealed from the beginning.
Eternal magic.
"All we wanted was magic. What's wrong with that?" Tears streamed down Ed-Erza's face.
"Even so, it shouldn't come at the cost of others' lives." Erza replied softly. "Let this end here."
Ed-Erza's mental state collapsed completely. She could no longer mount effective counterattacks.
And Erza typically seized openings to deliver decisive blows.
This time was no exception.
One strike later.
Ed-Erza collapsed, staring blankly at the sky.
"Tch tch, nice figure." Jehfrit crouched beside Ed-Erza.
Ed-Erza looked at Jehfrit and suddenly realized—he was the Jehfrit Erza mentioned earlier.
"You bastard..."
For some reason...
Ed-Erza felt an odd sensation. She smirked faintly and said, "I'll get my revenge."
"Oh? Too bad. I'll be leaving once I finish here." Jehfrit mocked.
Ed-Erza chuckled, gazing at Mystogan in the distance and recalling his words—"Let the prince die first." She said, "I'll marry the prince, become his princess, and make sure this world's version of you spends your days mining rocks."
Jehfrit: "???!!!"
What a venomous woman!
Jehfrit glanced at Ed-Jehfrit in the distance, thinking, *Sorry, bro. I didn't think she'd hold such a grudge.*
Ed-Jehfrit suddenly shivered. "What's going on? Am I catching a cold or something?"
He looked down at himself—wearing only shorts—and decided to grab a shirt.
---
"Has Erza fallen too?" Sugarboy sighed.
"Next is you." Gray said.
"I won't fall that easily."
"What if I join in?" Juvia stepped forward.
"Hey, hey, two-on-one is unfair!" Sugarboy panicked.
"This is called mixed doubles! Spousal teamwork!" Juvia blushed.
Gray tilted his head slightly.
"Lisanna!!!!!"
A Demon Queen descended from the sky.
*BOOM*
She unleashed a dark magical orb, blasting enemies away before landing gracefully.
"Mira-nee!" Lisanna rushed into her arms.
"Lisanna!" Mirajane embraced her sister, crying.
"How touching." Emily's tears flowed freely.
"Help me—" Lucy shouted as she ran, pursued by numerous foes.
"Lucy, don't move!" Ikuto commanded.
"Moon Style—Garuda Flame!"
Spinning flames surged forward, but Lucy trusted Ikuto implicitly and stayed rooted despite her fear.
The flames parted, creating a narrow gap just wide enough for Lucy to pass through unscathed. Her pursuers weren't as lucky—they were blown away instantly.
"Phew—" Lucy ran over, exhaling deeply. "I'm almost out of magic."
"Then let's fight together." Ikuto suggested.
"Okay." Lucy nodded.