Chapter 86: Ciel Illusian and Ciel Nightwalker (1)
"Wh—?!"
I was certain my spear had struck his neck.
It should have pierced him clean through—
But...
"...."
"Y-you... who are you?! There was no one else here—where did you come from?!"
"...."
The spearhead that should have hit its mark was stopped—by a steel tonfa.
There were only two people in this room: Illusian and me.
And yet, a third man now stood before us, blocking my strike.
He had pitch-black hair and eyes darker still.
Despite his calm and well-groomed appearance, the wild light in his eyes was that of a beast that could never be tamed.
He looked at me as though I were prey and licked his lips.
"You… look strong."
"Answer me. Who are you?!"
"That's not what matters," he said, grinning. "What matters is—"
Before he could finish, he lunged.
Unlike the long reach of my spear, his strikes were swift and close—too close.
All I could do was parry each furious blow at the last second.
I barely managed to block one final strike and kicked him back.
But he met my kick with his tonfa, blocking it easily, and smiled.
"Kh…!"
"To kill or not to kill… that's all that matters."
"Ku… fufufu…"
"You called for backup, didn't you?!"
I swung my spear to force him back.
Watching us, Illusian chuckled as though watching an amusing play.
The man's gaze shifted from me to him, his lips curling.
"To think you'd be struggling like this... how pathetic."
"That's an unpleasant thing to hear."
"I'll kill you both."
"W-wait—?!"
The man's tonfa came crashing down toward Illusian—But in the next moment, his fist shattered into fragments, and his entire body dissolved into a swirl of navy mist.
"Ku…fufufufu… As expected, it's wise to only bring forth illusions within my control. Still, I must say—what an irritating creature I made in that flash of annoyance."
"Illusion…? You're saying that man… was an illusion?!"
I was stunned.
That man had been alive—his killing intent, the weight of his strikes, the pressure he gave off—it had all been real.
Yet Illusian claimed it was only a hallucination.
"So that's it… this is the hidden power you possess beyond magic?"
"Oh? Most people would've frozen in shock, but you analyzed the situation instantly. As expected of Erza—always sharp."
A normal human would've been paralyzed by what they'd just seen.
But I'd been by his side—the real Ciel.
I'd already witnessed power far beyond reason.
So no—Illusian's illusion didn't scare me.
It only reminded me how deep the abyss truly went.
"As I thought — he really is half of Ciel. I'm a little surprised."
"'A little surprised' and that's it? I find that disappointing."
"But now that I know it was an illusion, there's no need to be on guard. If I recognize the illusion, your attacks are useless."
I tightened my grip on the spear.
I must kill this man here and now.
If I don't, he'll steal away the happiness I've finally found.
Illusian pulled out the "Spear of Sonic Wind (Silferion)."
"Before you cast any illusion, I'll kill you."
"How amusing. But the Erza I know — and you — are still just that little child. Even tied like this, I can subdue you."
"Come then. Try me!"
I set my stance and lunged forward.
At that moment the torture-room door burst open and a soldier rushed in.
"E-excuse me!"
"What is it?"
"We've just received word. In the castle's underground passage, the Exceed have captured several key Dragon Slayers involved in today's operation."
"I see. Then go immediately and prepare to set out."
Having received the report that the Exceed were detaining intruders, I relaxed my stance and stepped out with the soldier.
Just before leaving, I glared at Illusian and warned him.
"You'll live for a little while longer."
"Is that so? Who's the one still alive, I wonder?"
"I'll be back soon to kill you."
"Kufufufu…"
Walking down the corridor, I thought: I cannot let that man meet Ciel.
He is the target Ciel has hunted for so many years—if I hand everything over to him and let him fill his half, I'll have given up my life.
Is fate immutable? No — it can be changed.
Even if I stake my life on it, I will stop him.
Before Ciel meets Illusian, I will kill that man with my own hands.
For the happiness of my beloved husband and children…
"I will definitely protect them."
"Eh? What did you say?"
"Nothing. Hurry along."
"Understood!"
…
"Carrying a torch makes me feel strange."
"It is odd — normally I can produce fire easily."
Natsu and the others had traveled from Luen village through Shika village and arrived at the Edolas royal capital.
Although ordinarily the islands would be far apart, they managed a quick trip thanks to Edolas's Lucy and Natsu.
At Shika village the Edolas Lucy vanished, and soon after, Edolas Natsu informed them of her message.
Natsu Dragion, from Edolas, appeared in the center of the village with an airship, took the party aboard, and carried them to the palace gates.
Edolas's Natsu looks exactly like the Natsu from Earthland but is still a different person.
When he's in his mount he's the strongest of all, but when he leaves it he becomes a crybaby coward.
They had only asked him for guidance, so after delivering them to the capital, Edolas Natsu departed and the party disembarked.
They reached the square and overheard the Edolas king delivering a grandiose speech about the companions who had become gigantic mana cores.
They couldn't bear it. As soon as they arrived at the capital, they decided to storm the castle.
Thus, Natsu and the others resolved to break in directly via the underground passage Charle had vaguely remembered—an old tunnel connecting the outskirts of the town to the castle.
"Here it is."
"Great! Open, 'Gate of the Golden Bull Palace' — TaUros!!"
"Umm~ MOO! Did somebody call~!"
"Tauros, break this wall for us."
"That's easy. Umm~ MOOOO!!!!"
Following Charle's directions, Lucy summoned Tauros and smashed through the wall. Just as Charle had said, a hidden passage opened before them.
"Amazing, Charle."
"There really is a tunnel."
"I hope it connects safely down to the castle cellars."
Happy's face grew sullen as he listened to Charle, and Natsu, worried, asked him, "What's wrong, Happy?"
"It's just… why do I have no 'info' at all? We're both cats from Edolas, supposedly sent to Earthland on the same mission… so why I can't remember anything?"
"We agreed not to talk about that."
"Ah…"
"I don't know either — your case is weird."
"…"
"Let's go inside."
"Okay."
Happy continued to brood over the mission he didn't remember. Born without clear memories, all of Charle's remarks only raised questions for him.
Still, when the path appeared just as Charle had recalled, he had no choice but to accept that Charle's information was true.
"This feels like it could collapse any second."
"Don't jinx it~"
"But… this is one old tunnel."
"Think there'll be ghosts?"
They walked for a long time through the torchlit, creaky tunnel as if it might cave in at any moment.
When they reached the end of the passage, it opened up into a wide space, completely different from the narrow corridor.
"Oh! I don't know where we are, but this is a roomy place."
"Whoa~"
"This must connect down to the castle cellars."
Charle scanned the chamber and, finding it matched the images in her head, nodded slightly and told everyone, "I don't know how it works, but I'm glad I'm here."
"I don't get it either. These memories keep surfacing."
"Thanks, Charle."
"Save the thanks until after we get everyone out."
Charle grumbled but moved forward. She, too, was confused by the images and information that kept flowing into her head. She shook her aching head, then briefed everyone on the plan again.
"This is where it gets serious. We sneak to the king's bedchamber, get in and out without being noticed. If the soldiers spot us, we don't stand a chance with our current numbers."
"At worst, I've got my magic, right~?"
Lucy said in a confident, heroic tone—almost like a champion of reversal—but nobody really expected much from her.
"Can't say we're counting on it."
"What's that supposed to mean?! This whole operation's only possible because of my Gemini, you know!"
"Yes, yes~"
"Let's go already."
"Okay…"
Grumbling at their reactions, Lucy stepped forward—and at that exact moment, something slimy shot out from somewhere and wrapped around her body, binding her tight.
"Eek!"
"Lucy!"
"W-What is this…?"
"Kyaaah!"
"Wendy?!"
"Whoa!"
"Natsu!"
Starting with Lucy, both Natsu and Wendy were also caught and restrained by the sticky substance.
Happy and Charle rushed toward them, reaching out to help—but then, countless lights in the cave began to gather in one spot.
"Soldiers?!"
"How are there this many troops in a mine tunnel…?"
"Did we get found out…?"
Inside the tunnel, kingdom soldiers were stationed everywhere, surrounding them completely.
It was as if they had known all along and had been waiting for this moment.
While everyone stood there in confusion, the formation of soldiers briefly parted—revealing Erza Knightwalker.
"So these are the wizards from Earthland."
"Mmff!!"
"Erza!!"
Seeing her, Lucy shouted in shock for the gagged Natsu.
Although she had already met her own counterpart in this world, she hadn't heard that Erza was part of the kingdom's army—so her eyes widened in disbelief.
Erza Knightwalker glanced lightly at the three restrained mages, as if looking at something curious, and spoke.
"They really do look exactly like them. [Natsu Dragion], [Lucy...]… Are you truly different people?"
"Erza! It's really you, right?!"
"I've already met Illusian, so this doesn't surprise me anymore."
"W–Wait! Illusian?!"
"Mmph! Mmmph!!"
"Miss Erza, could it be—you met Master Ciel?!"
The moment she mentioned having met Illusian, Natsu and the others grew noisy again.
If Ciel was also in Edolas and hadn't been turned into a lacrima, that was shocking news to them.
But Erza ignored their words, simply giving orders to her soldiers.
"That's enough sightseeing. Take them away—"
"Guaaaah!!"
"Ghhhk?!"
"Urghhh?!"
"Wh–What's going on?!"
"W-well… I don't really… ugh?!"
The moment Erza turned her back briefly to give orders to the soldiers, those who had been aiming spears at Natsu's group suddenly screamed and fell down.
At the sound of their screams, Erza turned her head and shouted to the other soldiers, asking what was happening.
One of the soldiers who had been speaking to her suddenly frothing at the mouth collapsed unconscious — and then the rest of the escort she'd brought dropped all at once.
Erza grasped her spear and braced herself, unable to believe what she saw right before her eyes.
No visible cause, yet a soldier shrieked on his own and collapsed.
On alert, she noticed from the fallen torches that a thin fog hung in the tunnel.
Seeing the mist filling the gallery, a realization flashed through her mind.
She suddenly remembered that she had seen this fog just a short while before…
"Kufufufu...…."
"This voice…?!"
At the voice coming from the fog, Erza swung her spear.
The mist congealed in front of Lucy, forming a silhouette.
Seeing the figure appear, Erza leveled her spear and hissed the name as if she meant to kill.
"Well, fancy seeing you again after the interrogation room."
"Illusian!!"
"Ciel!"
"Master Ciel!!"
"Mmph! Mmphmm!!"
When Ciel materialized from the gathering fog, Natsu and the others cheered and welcomed him.
Erza, however, tightened her grip on the spear until her hands hurt.
"How did you escape?! I thought you had all your gear and weapons taken!"
"Why are you so surprised? Didn't you just see it a moment ago? My tangible illusion…"
"Tangible… illusion… no way?!"
Hearing Ciel, Erza immediately understood the situation.
The manifestation she'd seen in the interrogation room had been an illusion with substance.
The man in that hallucination had tried to attack Ciel.
But Ciel had said this:
"Kufufufufu… Even if it's an illusion, extracting it within a controllable range is the wiser choice. I got a little annoyed momentarily, so I made something annoying, you see."
What he meant was that if he made a person into a "tangible illusion," he could move them to his will.
If so, it was only natural he could slip out of the interrogation room.
"You bastard!!"
"Don't expect reinforcements to help. As I came here I cast illusionary arts across the entire castle. By now they're probably lost and wandering about."
"Even if no help comes, I'll kill you with my own hands!"
"Didn't I tell you? Subduing you is as easy as handling an infant."
Erza launched herself forward with 『Sonic Spear』, moving at a speed imperceptible to the eye.
Ciel reached out, formed a spear of mist, and stopped the 『Sonic Spear』 that Erza hurled — a blow too quick to be tracked by sight.
"—You stopped 『Sonic Spear』?"
"Now try stopping my attack."
"No—!!"
Frozen in motion, Ciel forcefully kicked at Erza's abdomen.
There was a way to endure the strike and then counter, but because of the child in her womb, Erza had no choice but to lower her spear and shielded her stomach with both arms to block the blow.
But the force of the kick sent her flying, and she rolled hard across the ground.
Seeing Erza collapsed, Ciel let out a mad laugh.
"Kufufufufu… That was a mistake on your part."
"You bastard…!!"
"It's over, Erza Knightwalker."
"C–Ciel!"
"Master Ciel! No!!"
Ciel charged at the fallen Erza with his spear raised. Lucy and Wendy, sensing something terrible, cried out to stop him — but Ciel ignored their pleas and lunged, thrusting the spear toward Erza.
"Kyaaaaaaaa!!"
"Erza!!"
Just as Ciel's spear was about to pierce between her brows, a loud clang rang through the cave — the tip of his spear was stopped mid-thrust.
"What…?"
"The attack was blocked."
"What's happening?! What just happened?!"
[My, my… fighting an expectant mother in earnest, are we?]
"You are…"
Startled, Ciel looked up. The blade that had intercepted his spear shimmered — a sword, dark aura seeping from it as a man slowly appeared before him.
Ciel's eyes widened; he drew back his weapon and stepped away.
The newcomer had his hair tied back, a pure blue color like the sea, giving off a serene elegance.
His eyes, sharp and feline, glinted with amusement — and though one eye was closed, his gentle smile carried not Ciel's eerie malice but an alluring charm. A sensual grace radiated from him.
With his left hand, he aimed his sword toward Ciel and, with his right, lifted the fallen Erza into his arms.
Nestled against him, Erza looked up with a flushed face and whispered his name.
"C… Ciel…"
"Seems I showed up at just the right time, huh?"
"Ciel… Knightwalker."
The Ciel of Edolas glared at him as his name was spoken.
"So, we finally meet — my other half."
"Yes. Our first face-to-face meeting, isn't it? My other half… my split soul. There's quite a lot I'd like to say."
"Oh really? What a coincidence~ I've got plenty to say to you too. Kicking another man's wife — and a pregnant woman at that — don't you think that's going too far?"
"And what about you, wandering around without purpose? It's hard to believe that you're actually the half of my divided soul."
Two Ciels — one holding a spear, the other a sword — faced each other.
For a few silent seconds, a single droplet from a stalactite fell.
The instant it hit the ground, their weapons collided — spear and sword clashing with a shockwave that shook the cavern.
"Ciel Knightwalker!!"
"Cieeeeel!!"
Thus, Ciel Illusian and Ciel Knightwalker finally stood face-to-face in the royal capital.
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