Chapter 91: Night Parade of a Hundred Demons vs. Phantom Dragon (1)
"Waaah~!! Waaah~!!"
"Se–Setsura… don't cry, sweetheart. Mommy's here."
"Ah… ahh, I made her cry again."
The baby's wailing grew louder as the walls trembled from Mirajane's earlier howl. The cracks spread along the marble floor, and the echo of the demon's roar made even the chandeliers shake.
Holding her crying daughter awkwardly, Erza of Edolas forced a smile and gently tried to soothe her child.
Ciel Nightwalker sighed, shaking his head as he looked at Mirajane.
"You've got quite the voice, don't you? Our Setsura doesn't usually cry this much in front of us— you must be really talented to make that happen."
"Eh… wh–what…?"
Ciel tilted his head. "Hmm?"
Mirajane stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the two.
The way they moved together, the effortless rhythm between them — it was natural. Too natural.
She couldn't believe it.
The Ciel and Erza she knew were comrades — dependable, yes — but nothing more.
They'd always seemed more like siblings than lovers.
Yet the scene before her was unthinkable.
The man she secretly admired — with the woman she considered her rival — was standing there, tenderly rocking a baby.
Calling himself husband.
Calling Erza his wife.
And there was even mention of another child on the way.
Mirajane's mind was a whirlwind of disbelief.
"T-Total Commander!!"
"Oh, Coco! Perfect timing."
"Huh?!"
Through the shattered doorway rushed a young girl with brown hair and drooping rabbit-like ears beneath her cap.
Panting heavily, Coco, the assistant to the staff officer, stumbled into the room.
Ciel smiled at her arrival, then pulled Erza and the baby close — and in an instant, the three of them vanished right before Mirajane's eyes.
Mirajane blinked, stunned. "W-What… where—?"
Then she heard his voice again, behind her.
"Coco, take care of Setsura for me."
"Ah— y-yes, sir."
Mirajane turned sharply. "H-how… when did you get over there?!"
A moment ago, Ciel and Erza had been standing right in front of her.
Now they were behind Coco, as if they'd simply stepped through space itself.
No sound, no scent, no trace.
They had completely vanished from her senses—
Even her Satan Soul perception couldn't catch their movement.
In less than two seconds, they'd bypassed her entirely.
As Mirajane stood frozen, Coco quickly accepted the baby from Erza, her voice trembling.
"M-more importantly! There's trouble! His Majesty has activated Code ETD!"
"Code ETD?!" Ciel's brow furrowed. "That's the Final National Territory Defense Protocol... I told him I'd handle it myself. He's acting far too rashly."
"E–ETD?" Mirajane muttered, still lost.
Ignoring her confusion, Erza glanced briefly toward Mirajane, then turned to leave.
"Ciel, deal with the intruder. Coco, take Setsura somewhere safe. You'll be secure near Byro."
"B-but Lady Erza, where are you going?!"
"The intruders and the Fallen Angels are running wild in the castle. They're probably heading to the Western Tower to rescue their friends. I'm going there."
"W-wait, please—!"
But Erza was already gone, dashing out of the palace without hesitation.
She knew Mirajane's strength, but she also knew that Ciel could handle her easily.
Their daughter, Setsura, would be safe under Coco's care near Byro's division.
With that thought, she ran toward the Western Tower— determined to prevent her husband from ever meeting his Earthland counterpart.
Ciel watched her go, sighing quietly.
"My wife worries too much for her own good… Coco, do as she said. Go to Byro."
"Y-yes, sir! I wish you good fortune!"
Coco nodded, clutching the baby tightly as she hurried down the corridor.
Now, only two figures remained in the fractured palace:
Ciel Nightwalker of Edolas and Mirajane Strauss of Earthland.
They faced each other, the air between them heavy with tension.
Ciel rested his sword on his shoulder, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.
"My wife told me to take you down… but before that, I want to ask you something. Mind answering?"
"…What is it?" Mirajane's voice was low, cautious.
Ciel's smile widened slightly.
"Between my other self from Earthland and you— was there something special?"
"Because right now, I'm sensing something strange from you… the same feeling Erza gives me whenever she looks at me that way."
"....."
At his words, Mirajane flinched — her eyes meeting Ciel Nightwalker's.
He had one eye half-closed, his sword lazily slung over his shoulder in an almost carefree stance — yet there was nothing playful in his gaze. His eyes were calm… but serious.
Mirajane could feel it.
This Ciel was not the one she knew.
Accepting that truth, she took a deep breath and answered without hesitation.
"To me, Ciel is the only family I have in this world… and the most precious person in my life."
Ciel's faint smirk faded.
"So even the other me had someone precious like that, huh…"
"...You…"
Gone was the teasing, relaxed aura. His expression darkened with something like sorrow.
A black aura began to seep out from his body, swirling around him like smoke.
Mirajane instinctively raised her guard, her demonic instincts flaring.
This was different from before — when he vanished in an instant.
Now, she could feel him, his presence still there — yet somehow slipping out of her senses.
And then—
"How…?! You were right in front of me just a second ago—!"
"I am the moon reflected in water… You can't grasp me. With your current strength, you'll never win."
"—Kyah?!"
In a blink, Ciel reappeared right before her, forcing her against the wall.
Before she could react, his hand reached up gently, fingers brushing under her chin — tilting her face toward his.
"Mira…"
"Eh—?!?"
His voice — soft, low, tinged with melancholy — called her name with such tenderness that her breath caught.
Those vivid blue eyes shimmered like a calm ocean at dusk.
A faint, sweet scent of lotus brushed her senses, dizzying her thoughts.
She could feel heat rising in her cheeks — unable to resist the charm radiating from him.
Every movement, every look, exuded dangerous allure.
He leaned closer, and closer still, his face filling her vision.
Even knowing he wasn't her Ciel… Mirajane found herself paralyzed, heart pounding, eyes squeezed shut.
"W-wait… I—!"
"You left an opening."
"—Khuh?!"
Before she could react, Ciel moved — faster than her eyes could track.
Two sharp blows — one to her solar plexus, another to the back of her neck.
In an instant, her strength left her.
Mirajane collapsed, unconscious, into his arms.
"..."
Ciel sighed softly, catching her before she hit the floor.
He gently carried her to the bed and laid her down, brushing a stray lock of white hair from her face.
Then, turning toward the corridor, he smiled faintly — that same warm, melancholy smile — and spoke before vanishing in a swirl of dark aura.
"Sorry for the cheap trick. But… just like I cherish Erza, the other 'me' must cherish you too. I didn't want to hurt someone that precious."
"Your friends who were turned into lacrima — my disciple will save them."
"So, until everything's over… just sleep peacefully here."
....
Meanwhile—
"I think things just got a whole lot worse."
Lucy's anxious voice echoed as she, Happy, and Charle hurried down the stone steps of the Western Tower's underground passage, still reeling from the king's shocking declaration moments ago.
"I never thought humans and Exceeds would go to war."
"That's none of our business. Both sides are the same… let them do as they please."
In Edolas, King Faust had turned Exceeds into lacrima.
Before all his soldiers he declared war on the Exceeds — humans had issued a formal proclamation against those once treated as gods and angels.
Lucy felt a growing unease about the conflict unfolding in this world, but Charle couldn't have cared less.
Whether Exceed or human, their quarrel was nobody else's concern. If they destroyed each other, it wouldn't matter to Charle in the slightest.
They spoke as they hurried down the stairs — and then a spear flew beneath their feet and exploded, engulfing them.
"Kyaa!"
"Ugh!"
Lucy barely avoided the blast and tumbled to a lower level. When she looked back toward the direction the spear had come from, Erza Nightwalker and a group of soldiers were descending the corridor.
"Heh… you survived my magic, did you?"
"Ugh…"
"Haah… haah…"
Though they had dodged, none of them escaped unscathed — the shockwave of the magic had wounded them, leaving them unable to stand easily.
As they struggled to catch their breath, Wendy's scream echoed from deeper in the corridor.
"Wendy's voice… she's nearby."
"What have you done to Wendy?!"
Lucy peered up, shaking with anger, and glared at Erza. Erza looked down at her calmly.
"We're drawing the mana needed for Code ETD."
"Aaaaah—nooo!!"
"Stop… please—"
"Kyaaaaaaaa!!"
"Stop it!!"
Natsu and Wendy's screams—somewhere at the far end of the hall—rang out, but Charle, injured and unable to move, could do nothing but cry out for them to stop.
Erza planted her spear into the floor, stepped forward, and spoke coldly:
"Give Wendy back."
"Don't strain yourself. You'll die here anyway."
"No—!"
"Happy…!!"
"You think you can lay a finger on Charle?!"
As Erza raised her spear high, preparing to bring it down on Happy, he leapt up and threw himself in front of Charle to block her.
"Then I'll kill you first."
"No—!!"
Just as Erza's spear began its downward arc toward Happy—
"Aaaah—!!"
"Kgh!!"
"What the—?!"
From behind Erza came an explosion — soldiers screamed and fell as fire and smoke engulfed the corridor.
Startled by the sudden ambush, she froze mid-swing, her spear halting in the air, and turned toward the thick haze rising behind her, weapon raised.
The soldiers' dying cries echoed — then through the fading roar came two calm, cutting voices that reached Lucy's group like a cold wind.
"Hey… you bastards realize you're messing with our guildmates, right?"
"Anyone who lays a hand on our comrades— we never forgive."
"Wh-what… how… you—?!"
"That voice…!!"
Through the smoke stepped two familiar silhouettes.
Lucy's eyes widened, tears welling up before she broke into a bright smile.
"That means every last one of you is our enemy now."
"That's the Fairy Tail way."
"Gray!! Erza!!"
Bursting through the haze, Gray and Erza of Earthland appeared, scattering the Edolas soldiers like leaves in a storm. Lucy and Happy shouted in joy— while Erza Nightwalker stared in shock, frozen before her counterpart.
The soldiers were just as stunned.
"W-Wait, there's another Lady Elza?!"
"And that's Gray, isn't it?!"
"No, you idiot— they're from Earthland! The intruders!"
"Ehh?!"
Realizing who they were, the Edolas troops scrambled to raise their weapons—
But they never got the chance.
"Where are our comrades?"
"P-prepare to atta—"
"The comrades you turned into lacrima… where are they?!"
"Guaaah!!"
"Kyaaa!!"
"Uwaaaah!!"
Gray's voice boomed like a growl as ice magic erupted across the hall. His creations—razor-edged lances of frost—swept through the Edolas soldiers, freezing their magitech weapons and hurling them aside.
Amid the chaos, only Erza Nightwalker broke free, leaping high to evade the icy blast. She brought her spear down in a flash toward Earthland's Erza Scarlet.
"….."
"….."
Steel met steel.
The clash rang out like thunder.
The collision unleashed a shockwave that split the stone floor and tore through the smoke, blowing it clean away.
Even Gray and Lucy, watching from the side, were struck speechless.
With a single exchange, the two warriors had proven themselves equals— the wind from their blades slicing faint lines across each other's cheeks.
"Erza versus Erza…?!"
"What kind of monster battle is this…?"
"Kyaaaaaa!!"
"Huh?!"
"That's Wendy's voice!!"
From the far corridor came another terrified scream. Gray's head snapped toward the sound.
"She's close!"
"Probably just ahead!"
"Natsu will be there too."
"Gray—go!"
Erza Scarlet's order rang clear through the battlefield as she locked blades once more with her Edolas counterpart.
"Right!"Erza shouted back, trading blows with her counterpart, Erza Nightwalker, while signaling Gray to go. Their weapons clashed again and again, the ringing sound of steel echoing through the collapsing corridor.
Gray quickly moved to Lucy's side, helping her up and breaking the magical restraints that bound her.
"Can you stand, Lucy?"
"Y-yeah… but how did you—how are you here?"
"I'll explain later! For now—move!"
Without another word, Gray led Lucy, Happy, and Charle toward the direction of Wendy's desperate scream.
....
"….."
"….."
Once more, the two Erzas faced each other in silence.
Blood trickled from a shallow cut on Erza Scarlet's cheek; she wiped it away with the back of her hand.
Her counterpart—Erza Nightwalker—did the same, smearing away a crimson streak from her nose before finally speaking.
"I never imagined I'd be hindered… by myself."
"Heh. The feeling's mutual."
Scarlet tightened her grip on her sword, letting the weight of the moment sink in.
She never thought a day would come when she'd have to fight herself.
"I am Erza Nightwalker, Captain of the Edolas Royal Army's Second Division."
"And I am Erza Scarlet, mage of Fairy Tail."
"Let's see how strong the me from Earthland really is."
Nightwalker raised her spear high—its blade gleaming as magic surged through it.
Her body blurred with motion, her voice cutting through the air:
"『Sonic Lance — Sylpherion!』"
The spear transformed, vibrating with blinding speed as she launched a storm of thrusts.
Scarlet immediately shifted, her armor bursting into radiant light.
"『Flight Armor!』"
Her wings flared open, slicing through the air as she met Nightwalker's assault head-on, deflecting the rapid strikes one after another.
"Her speed… it just increased with the armor change?!"
Nightwalker twisted her wrist; her weapon changed shape mid-motion.
"『Vacuum Lance — Melforce!』"
A sudden shockwave struck Erza Scarlet, blasting her through the wall and sending debris flying.
She gritted her teeth, reading the rhythm of her opponent's attacks.
"Transformation…? No—she's altering the weapon's form itself."
Nightwalker smirked and slammed her new spear into the ground.
"『Explosive Lance — Explosion!』"
The ground erupted. Flames engulfed the corridor, swallowing both combatants in a roaring inferno.
But from within the fire, a red figure rose unharmed.
Scarlet's armor had changed again, flames coiling harmlessly around her blade.
"『Flame Empress Armor!』"
Nightwalker's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Her armor changed again…! Both sword and armor—she transforms them at once?!"
Scarlet pointed her burning blade forward, her expression calm but fierce.
"So, the Edolas version of me can only change her weapon's form, hm?"
Nightwalker smirked, spinning her spear.
"Depending on its shape, I can multiply my power a hundredfold."
"Different principles… but the same essence as my Knight Magic, then."
The two Erzas lowered their stances—magic pressure thickening between them like the calm before a storm.
The battle of the scarlet queens was only beginning.
"The true power of the Magic Lance — 『Ten Commandments』 begins now."
"Bring it on!"
Both Erzas steadied their footing and lunged at each other, the real battle finally igniting.
....
"Uwooooh!!"
"Haaah!!"
The clash of sword and spear rang through the chamber like thunder. Sparks flew, magic pressure surged, and neither side gave an inch.
Amid the relentless exchange, Erza Scarlet began to notice something strange — her counterpart, Erza Nightwalker, kept guarding her abdomen more than any other part of her body.
Suspicious, Scarlet narrowed her eyes.
"So… her weak spot must be her abdomen."
Feigning direct attacks toward the stomach, Scarlet instead diverted her blows at the last second — cutting at Nightwalker's arms and legs to slow her movement.
"If you're protecting it that much, it must be important."
"Y-you wretch…!"
Breathing heavy and bleeding from several slashes, Nightwalker glared daggers at her Earthland counterpart — but her knees trembled, and her balance faltered. She used her spear as a cane just to stay standing.
Scarlet herself wasn't unscathed either. Her hands quivered from the recoil of so many blows.
"I won't kill you… but this ends here! Nightwalker!!"
"No—!!"
Elza Scarlet charged in, swinging her sword flat against the other's chest — aiming to knock her out with a non-lethal strike.
But at the last second, Nightwalker suddenly dropped to her knees, clutching her stomach with both arms, curling inward as though to protect something precious.
Scarlet's eyes widened.
"What…?"
The move was far too defensive, too desperate. Something was wrong. But it was too late — her attack was already in motion.
Then—
[Stop.]
"What—?!"
A blade materialized out of nowhere, intercepting her strike effortlessly. The rebound of magic force slammed into Scarlet, hurling her backward.
She quickly switched to her 『Black Wing Armor』, absorbing the shock as she landed and slid to a halt.
[That was close.]
"You…!"
From the swirling black aura in front of Nightwalker, a figure slowly took shape— his outline forming between drifting embers.
Then, as the haze cleared, the man's full form appeared—
Hair the color of the clear sky, eyes like azure crystals.
Clothing light and flowing, revealing skin yet emanating an air of calm authority mixed with quiet sensuality.
Different aura— but unmistakable.
"Ciel…! No— the Edolas Ciel?!"
"And you must be the Erza from Earthland."
Though surprised, Scarlet instantly recognized him.
The presence, the tone — but the essence was inverted.
Where her Ciel was calm and steadfast, this one exuded warmth and gentle confidence, his gaze tender as he knelt beside the wounded Nightwalker.
He ignored Scarlet completely, his attention only on the woman before him.
"Are you all right?"
"Ciel… why did you come here…? You shouldn't be—"
"Honestly… what kind of husband would I be if I just watched my wife get hurt? And you—fighting like this while pregnant—really now…"
Nightwalker's eyes trembled.
Scarlet froze.
The words wife and pregnant hit like a shockwave through the air between them.
....
"...Still—"
"Don't forget, there's our child inside you. A pregnant woman shouldn't be fighting like this."
The moment I heard those words, my fingertips began to tremble.
My expression stiffened; a cold sweat I hadn't noticed before slid down my cheek.
What… what did I just hear from them?
I clenched my spinning head, trying to grasp reality, and stammered,
"W–Wait… what did you just say?"
"Hm?"
The Edolas Ciel turned toward me, his calm, almost tender expression vanishing—replaced by a dangerous, predatory smile as he pointed his blade directly at me.
"You sound just like that lady from earlier."
"Lady…? Don't tell me—you met Mirajane?!"
"That doesn't matter. What matters is—you hurt my woman and my child."
"Wha… what…?"
The smug, carefree aura he'd carried moments ago was gone.
In its place, a suffocating killing intent so sharp it cut through the air itself.
Even while smiling, his eyes glowed with a bloodlust that made my entire body tremble.
Every instinct screamed danger—the kind that makes even a seasoned warrior freeze.
He began walking toward me, introducing himself as he did, his voice calm but heavy with menace.
"I am Ciel Nightwalker, Commander of the Edolas Royal Army's Magic Corps."
"Even if you are Erza of Earthland, to drive a pregnant woman to such a state—that, I cannot forgive."
"Nightwalker…? And… a child?!"
"I won't kill you. But that wicked arm of yours—"
His blade rose, gleaming black—
"—I'll be taking it for myself."
"GAAAAAAHHHHH!!"
I could feel the sheer force radiating from him.
Though there was only one man before me, the presence behind him—
it was like an army.
Hundreds, thousands of phantom energies stirred and whispered behind his back.
A suffocating darkness poured out from his aura.
He raised his sword high—then swung it down toward my right arm.
I wanted to move. To parry. To dodge.
But my body refused.
That overwhelming presence crushed my will to resist.
I could do nothing but stare, trembling, as the blade came down.
And then—
[Ku…fufufufufu...]
"Tch…!"
"Wh—what…?"
The descending sword was suddenly stopped—
blocked by a long, violet-blue spear that shimmered with mist and laughter.
The Edolas Ciel narrowed his eyes, frowning as deep navy fog filled the hall.
Through the haze, a familiar silhouette appeared—steady and unwavering.
"...Illusian."
"Nightwalker. We meet again."
Ciel Illusian of Earthland stood before me, his spear locked against the Edolas Ciel's blade—the clash of two identical souls shaking the entire corridor.
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