Chapter 95: Night Parade of a Hundred Demons vs. Phantom Dragon (5)
While the great battle raged beneath the castle, chaos had already reached the topmost floor, where the Dragon Chain Cannon—the weapon central to Code ETD—was housed.
Screams echoed through the corridors.
Soldiers lay scattered on the floor, pale as corpses.
Every fallen man had a dark lipstick mark pressed on his cheek.
"Kyaaaaaa!!"
"Send reinforcements! Quickly!"
"But if we move more troops, the cannon—!"
"We can't let that thing reach His Majesty! Hurry!"
"Where are the squad captains when we need them most?!"
"Captain! H-he's coming—uwaaaaaaagh!!!"
The temporary commanders of the Magic Army swallowed hard as the dying screams of their men filled the hall. They tightened their grips on their weapons.
They couldn't allow that monster to reach the throne.
"For Edolas, I offer my life—!!"
"For eternal magic—!!!"
The five squad leaders roared and charged toward the violet aura drawing closer, magic blazing in their weapons.
Two of the bravest hurled themselves forward, thrusting and slashing with all the magical power they could muster.
But then—
"M-my spear…!"
"My sword broke?!"
"A♥ You only tease my nipples like that~♥ Such adorable little boys you are~♥"
"Guh?!"
"W-what the—?!"
Their weapons shattered the moment they touched the enemy's chest. And before they could even react, the thing blushed deeply, then swept them into its bulging arms.
They froze in horror as their attacker puckered its glossy black lips, drawing closer.
A massive, muscle-bound body—enough to crush three grown men at once.
Only a tight pair of red suspenders and shorts clung to its sweaty, glistening skin.
Its upper body was bare, muscles rippling, oiled with sheen.
A nauseatingly seductive face.
And above that—a golden halo and angelic wings sprouting from its back.
"Blessings of love~♥ to you both~♥"
"Urghhghhh—m-mmmghhhh!!"
"Roy!!!"
Their screams died under the "angel's" lips.
They couldn't deny it any longer—this creature was truly…
"A… an angel…?!"
"Oh my my~♥ And over there, I see more of my lovely students who haven't received my love yet~♥"
"H-he's coming!!"
"Don't worry~♥ Your teacher is here to give you alllll the love you deserve~♥"
"A-ahh… nooo…"
The remaining three squad leaders aimed their weapons with trembling hands.
They knew it was useless—no strike could harm this perverse angel.
The more damage he took, the more aroused he became.
Still, they couldn't retreat.
Even if it cost their lives.
"Damn it! We can't back down! Raise your weapons!"
"E-Eren?!"
"Eren's right! We have to fight!"
"Mikasa!"
"Armin, we'll survive this! And when it's over—I'll propose to you!"
"Ere—"
"Why… not me… Armin's a guy—"
"Forget that! Attack the monster befor—mmfhhghhh!!"
"Eren!!!!"
"A-aaahhh…!"
Before they could finish their dramatic last stand, the "angel" Hepsiel descended on them, smothering them all in kisses.
Their valiant resistance ended before it began—their bodies falling lifeless, marked with pure white flowers of bliss.
And then—
「Please… send me back to Ciel!」
The desperate cry echoed faintly through the crumbling halls, swallowed by the chaos above and the roaring inferno below.
Erza Nightwalker, pulled from the underground by Ciel's familiar spirit, staggered into the corridor facing Hepsiel.
The familiar, its energy spent, began to fade into smoke.
Erza, her body covered in wounds and her mind slipping, reached out desperately to hold onto him.
She knew—her husband might already be dead.
Even on the verge of collapse, she forced her trembling arms toward the vanishing mist.
But he disappeared completely.
And then—
"Oh my my~♥ Such a poor, wounded lady~♥"
"Wh-what are you?!"
"Oh? Aaaah~♥ A beautiful mother carrying such precious love inside her~♥ You mustn't let yourself stay hurt like this~♥♥"
"W-what?! Stay back! Don't come any closer!!"
Seeing Erza's battered form, Hepsiel's eyes widened in delight. He lunged forward, seizing her in his massive, sweat-slicked arms.
Erza struggled, but breaking free from those iron muscles was impossible.
"I—I have to save him… my husband…!"
"A heart that fights for family… oh, how it moves me~♥ To push your body so far, just for love~♥ What a wonderful mother~♥"
"Let me go—!!"
"Then let me bless you with happiness~♥"
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
In that corridor, where all other soldiers had already fallen, the "angel's love" bloomed once more—
and a single red flower wilted to pure white.
....
Meanwhile, in Extalia, the land of the Exceeds—
With Charle's help, Wendy finally arrived.
As she approached the royal palace, the surrounding cats began to whisper and murmur.
"What's going on…? A fallen angel… bringing a human here…?"
"Please, I must see the Queen! Extalia is in grave danger!"
Surrounded by the feline guards, Wendy bowed deeply, pleading with urgency.
If the floating lacrima struck Extalia, it would all be over.
She had to warn Queen Shagotte and beg for cooperation.
But despite her desperate plea, the Exceeds only whispered among themselves, distrustful and unmoved.
At that moment, the Minister of State, Nadi, pushed through the crowd and appeared before Wendy.
"You—you can't be serious! Humans and fallen angels are forbidden from entering Extalia!"
"Now isn't the time for that! If you value your lives, listen to me!"
"Where are Nichiya and the others who went after you?"
"The Royal Army… turned them into lacrima."
"…..Wahahahahahahahahaha!!!!"
The surrounding Exceeds burst into mocking laughter.
Only Nadi looked pale, sweating profusely as his eyes darted nervously between them and Wendy.
"Our Royal Guard of Extalia would never lose to mere humans."
"Stop spouting nonsense!"
"It's true! The Royal Army is coming here next!"
"Who cares?"
"Her Majesty will blast them all away with her magic anyway."
"Yeah, yeah~!"
Wendy clenched her fists, feeling her hope slipping away.
No one believed her—no one but Charle, whose anxious tail flicked beneath her cloak.
The sky above Extalia began to tremble faintly.
"If you don't run now, something terrible will happen!!"
"Silence, human!!"
"Ahh!"
"Wendy!!"
Wendy's desperate cries echoed through the square, but the Exceeds refused to listen.
Instead, stones began to rain down on her.
"You don't even understand the Queen's power!"
"We are Exceeds! We're superior to humans!"
"Ugh!"
"Stop it!"
"A-ah…"
"Humans and fallen angels, get out of here!"
"This is Extalia, the land ruled by Her Majesty!"
"We will never lose to humans!"
"As long as our Queen reigns!"
Their chants drowned out everything else.
Blood trickled down Wendy's forehead and lip as she endured the hail of stones, yet she refused to back away.
"If you hate humans that much, then fine—take it out on me! But Charle is different! She's one of you!Please—listen to her! I'm begging you!"
"Wendy…"
But her plea was answered only with a rising chorus:
"Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out!"
Blinded by arrogance and the belief that they were the strongest race, the Exceeds threw even more stones, shouting for Wendy and Charle to leave their holy land.
And then—
The sky darkened.
A low rumble shook all of Extalia as black storm clouds gathered overhead.
Lightning split the heavens—followed by explosions that rocked the city.
The Exceeds froze mid-motion and turned their eyes upward.
"Kyaaaaaaa!!"
"W-what is that?!"
"Are the humans attacking?!"
"I see the Royal Army—but… those things… what are those monsters?!"
"D-demons…! The bringers of calamity—the beasts of the world's end!!"
From the storm emerged three titans—A red phantom demon, coiling through the clouds, breathing torrents of fire.
A golden one, spreading radiant wings and striking down thunderbolts.
And between them, a blue giant, roaring so loudly the air itself quaked.
The three Phantom Demons loomed above the kingdom, their mere presence casting the city into chaos.
"Those things look far more dangerous than any human!"
"It doesn't matter! Demon or human, before Her Majesty's power they'll all fall!"
"Yes! This is our chance to show them the might of Extalia!"
"You'll see—the Queen's magic will wipe them out!"
"There's nothing to fear! Our Queen will protect us!"
Their fear quickly twisted into fanatic confidence.
The Exceeds—blinded by faith—raised their voices toward the sky.
Watching them, Wendy's heart clenched with dread.
Her gaze turned upward—toward the demons blocking the sun.
"They've collided with the lacrima…"
"Not yet! Look closely—they're holding it back at the edge of the island!"
"You're right… those are Ciel-sensei's familiars… but that sun—"
"I'm sorry, Charle… this is about to get worse…"
The light from above grew harsher, the "sun" swelling unnaturally—as the heavens over Extalia began to burn.
"What are you saying?! It's not too late yet!"
Wendy cried out, watching the Three Phantom Demons holding the floating island—where the lacrima hovered—at bay, altering the very climate to resist its fall.
But high above them, Ciel and Nightwalker clashed fiercely. The shockwaves of their battle tore the air apart, and cracks began to spider across the bodies of the demons themselves.
Moments later, within the swirling storm, an enormous sun flared into existence. It burned between the demons, its unbearable heat scorching their colossal forms until they disintegrated into molten embers that fell through the clouds.
Wendy's shoulders trembled violently. Powerless, she clenched her fists, tears streaking down her face.
Seeing her like that, Charle couldn't stand it anymore. She turned toward the Exceeds and screamed:
"Everyone, please listen!!"
"You're still here? How dare a fallen angel speak to us?!"
"Eek!"
"Stop!"
An enraged Exceed hurled a stone. Charle squeezed her eyes shut—but before it could hit her, Nadi threw himself in front, taking the blow with his own body.
The crowd gasped.
"Throwing stones is… dangerous, nyan…"
"Huh?"
"Minister Nadi?"
"They were trying to warn us! And none of you would listen! Now look—see what's happening above us!"
"W-what do you mean?!"
"As long as the Queen's magic protects us, we're fine!"
"We're not afraid!"
"Your Majesty, please—quickly!!"
"Mm… ah…"
Nadi drew a deep breath, preparing to tell them the truth—that their pride had blinded them, and that Extalia was in grave danger.
But the Exceeds shouted him down, unwilling to hear a word more. Nadi's tail drooped; he didn't know how to make them understand—
Until a sharp yet elegant voice cut through the chaos.
"That will be enough, Nadi."
"Your Majesty!"
"So… the time has come."
Descending from the royal hall, draped in a magnificent robe and adorned with glittering ornaments, appeared a pure-white cat—the Queen of Extalia, Shagotte.
Accompanied by her elderly advisors, she walked into the plaza with calm dignity.
Nadi and every Exceed bowed deeply.
But the Queen—rather than radiating divine power—wore a face full of sorrow and guilt.
"Everyone… raise your heads. And please, listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
The murmurs died down. The crowd lifted their eyes, confusion spreading among them.
"Extalia now stands at the brink of destruction. We can no longer defy the course of fate. Therefore, I have made a decision."
"A decision to destroy the humans?!"
"Silence and listen!"
The Queen's voice remained soft, but her words carried immense weight.
Then—without warning—she began to remove her royal garments.
The advisors bowed their heads in silence.
The citizens gasped.
The being they had worshipped as divine—tall, radiant, and godlike—stood revealed as something entirely different.
Beneath the elaborate robes was not a towering deity, but a small, slender Exceed, just like them.
Yet the greatest shock was not her size—It was the single, fragile wing on her back.
"I… am merely an Exceed. No different from any of you."
"I have no divine power to oppose humans. No strength worthy of being called a god."
The plaza fell silent. The cries of faith and arrogance vanished—replaced by disbelief and the faint sound of wind.
The Queen's sincere voice silenced the once-chaotic plaza in an instant.
With solemn eyes, Shagotte gazed upon her stunned citizens and finally began to reveal the truth she had hidden for so long.
....
Earlier — Before the Sky Battle Above Extalia
Long before the grand aerial war began, Natsu and Gray were already fleeing from the out-of-control Hepsiel.
After defeating both Magical Army captains, Sugarboy and Hughes, with nothing but his "kisses of love," the angelic menace suddenly declared that there were still adorable students needing his affection—and headed straight for Lucy and the others.
Lucy had tried to recall Hepsiel back to the Celestial World, but realizing the spirit was moving of its own will—untethered from her magic—she, Natsu, and Gray split up to reach the royal palace from different directions.
...
"Ugh… what the hell…?"
"This must be that disgusting angel's doing!"
"Horrific… Even if they're enemies, I can only pray for them now."
Though the soldiers still breathed, their pale faces were stamped with dark lipstick marks—signs of Hepsiel's "love."
Natsu and Gray shuddered, realizing that if they hadn't escaped earlier, they too would be lying senseless on the floor.
"Judging from this mess, Hepsiel's already gone further up, right?"
"Yeah… seems like it—"
Before Gray could finish, a heavily-injured Erza staggered into view, panting and clutching her side.
"Haa… haa… so you were here… haah…"
"Erza!!"
Natsu smiled with relief and stepped forward—but Gray quickly pulled him back.
Something was wrong.
This Erza had wavy hair tied in a ponytail and wore a bikini armor—a style far from the knight they knew.
"Wait—this isn't her. That's Edolas Erza! The Knightwalker!"
"Haa… haa…"
"W-what?! Then that means… our Erza… lost?!"
The Edolas Erza flashed a victorious smile at them.
Natsu and Gray froze, unable to believe that their own Erza had been defeated.
Before they could react, the Knightwalker charged forward with killing intent—giving them no time to resist.
....
Meanwhile — The Depths Beneath the Palace
"Kuhh…!! Haa… haa…"
Dodging the attacks of the Three Phantom Demons, I—Ciel—parried Nightwalker's enormous iron fan, which he had drawn from one of his seven tails.
The fan cleaved through the burning winds of Uria, forcing me back toward Hamon's massive shoulder.
Nightwalker's speed didn't falter; even as the demonic storm raged around us, he met me blow for blow.
With my staff in my left hand and my spear in my right, I blocked his strikes while his seven tails lashed like blades from every angle.
He obscured my vision with his fan—then struck from the blind spot with a piercing tail.
"Tch… you never run out of tricks."
"Haa… haa… Phantom Demons, huh… With power like this… I doubt I can win anymore…"
Amid the chaos of the collapsing underworld and the burning sky above, the true battle between Ciel and Nightwalker was only just beginning.
"Then… take this!!"
I swung my staff upward, parrying his unfolding fan before driving my spear straight forward.
The Spear of Mist pierced cleanly through Nightwalker's abdomen.
He coughed blood from his mouth, staggering from the blow.
For a moment, I thought it was over.
I thought I had won.
But I was wrong.
"Heh… finally… I've caught you…"
"What…?!"
Instead of falling, Nightwalker dropped his fan and grasped the shaft of my spear with both hands.
A crooked smile spread across his face.
"I don't know what you're thinking, but with a wound like that, you can't possibly fight anymore."
"Kufufufu… that might've been true—when I was still human."
"..."
"But I filled the empty half of my soul with something else… That's how I came to wield the power of 'Demon Bind – Gui Ten'. And you—you can summon the spirits bound to your staff of mist, can't you?"
"What are you getting at?"
"Just as you can call upon the Phantom Demons… I can wear the power of a god."
"No… you don't mean—Uria…?!"
At that instant, he shed the nine-tailed fox's aura that had cloaked him.
Blinding radiance poured from his body, searing the air itself.
Realizing the danger, I commanded Uria to engulf the glowing light and drag it upward.
The crimson demon roared, biting into the sphere of divine flame as we ascended through the castle's shattered depths, tearing through the ground and soaring toward the heavens.
Through the hole Uria had made, the other Phantom Demons followed, spiraling into the dark clouds above.
The sky darkened; lightning cracked across the storm.
And yet—his light outshone it all.
Even the hellfire-wielding Uria could no longer contain it.
The dragon demon released the sphere of blinding heat, and the next moment—
A miniature sun erupted from the clouds, swallowing everything in its radiance.
"Guh…?! T-this heat—?!"
Even the Phantom Demons screamed as the solar fire consumed them.
This… this was no mere spell.
He had truly clothed himself in divinity.
When the blazing light finally faded, the world beheld a figure standing at its heart—Garbed in flowing celestial vestments, wings of pure gold unfurled behind him, shining like the dawn itself.
"[Divine Bind – Tenka Ichinichi, The Golden Sun General]."
"Nightwalker… you actually… wrapped the power of a god around your mortal body?"
Bathed in the light of the sun god Ra, Nightwalker—once a man of Edolas—had transcended his limits, standing now as something between demon and deity.
The final battle between the Phantom Dragon and the Solar God was about to begin.
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