"Before, I was weak… always silently crying, always hiding behind armor, because I had Fairy Tail, because I had those comrades who always trusted me by my side."
"So this time… I will move forward without hesitation."
Erza remembered when she first arrived at the guild, meeting Gray and the other companions, and all the moments that followed, including the mission she had undertaken with Kael. Those memories reminded her just how warm and comforting human connections could be.
"Big sister!" Hugh was completely captivated by the radiant figure of his sister.
"See? Your sister's incredible, isn't she!!!" Kana grinned, sharing in the joy. In that moment, it seemed Erza's spirit had truly been freed.
Erza's grip on her sword tightened, her aura radiating with such intensity that Tsubasa's excitement only grew.
"That's it! Defeat me, and you'll be able to move forward."
Tsubasa's sword slipped slightly from its sheath, while Erza held both hands on hers, fully ready.
"Ah!"
In an instant, both launched their charge. Blade light flashed, surrounding them with a deadly array, cutting through everything around them. Kana raised the Saint Shield card Kael had given her, protecting herself and others from the residual force of the attack.
As they switched positions and froze midair for a fleeting moment, time seemed to halt, the swords shattering in an instant.
"Impressive… I never thought I'd lose!"
"This is the first time since joining the guild!!"
Tsubasa slowly fell to the ground, lying on the floor in awe of the gap in strength.
"Big sister, let's go!"
"Yeah, let's."
...
On the shattered summit of the tower:
"Ugh… cough, cough."
Jerar knelt on the rubble-strewn ground, blood spilling from his mouth, his body covered in fresh wounds.
"Heh… Kael, you really are strong!"
Kael's body was scarred as well, though not as severely as Jerar's.
"Jerar… do you realize you're being controlled by dark power right now?"
"Think carefully—since you met Seraph, have you ever truly been free? Or have you been trapped in this tower all along?"
"You betrayed your friends, everything, to build this tower."
"Have you even looked at the world outside? Do you remember the last time you truly rested?"
Kael's words echoed in Jerar's mind, stirring memories of how long it had been since he had truly seen the outside world, living instead amidst calculation and lies. It seemed ages since he had seen Erza's smile.
"Ahhh… my head… it hurts…"
At that moment, the corrupting voice returned in his mind, twisting him until he screamed in agony. Black energy erupted from his body, engulfing him completely.
"Jerar!!!"
Erza and the others charged in, witnessing Jerar clutching his head, his face twisted in pain. Kael stood beside him, using his own magic to stabilize and suppress Jerar's current state.
"What is… happening?"
Everyone stared in disbelief at the scene, clearly realizing Jerar's condition and forming their own suspicions.
Within Jerar's mind:
"Jerar… everyone you deceived has returned. How can you face them now?"
"Hand over your body… you've done it so well before, haven't you? Hand it over, and freedom will come quickly. You can even do it now!"
"Look at their eyes—Erza and the others! All of them hate you! You have no right to face them. Just hand it over… sleep…"
The insidious voice in his mind tried to manipulate him, creating hallucinations of Erza and Hugh staring at him with hatred and disgust.
In truth, Erza and the others were only concerned, with traces of confusion in their expressions.
"Erza…" At the hallucination's peak, Jerar suddenly collapsed, losing consciousness. But within moments, an even more unhinged version of Jerar emerged before everyone.
"Hahahahaha! You finally arrived… quite the turnout. Perfect! I'll send you all to the afterlife."
Jerar rose slowly, his black magic erupting in tandem with his golden energy. A surge of black-and-gold power gushed from him, radiating a sinister pressure that weighed heavily on the battle-worn Erza and her allies.
"Damn it!" Kael shouted.
Breaking through Kael's suppression, Jerar surged skyward, hovering midair with a malevolent laugh.
"Die, all of you! I'll build as many towers as I want!!!"
Jerar tilted his body, left hand down, right hand raised, magic swirling around him as if summoning something from the heavens.
"This is…"
Lucy stared at Jerar's strange movements in the sky, the others equally puzzled.
But Erza and Kael realized the danger immediately. Erza shouted to the group:
"Run! That's Celestial Magic… Starfall!"
Kael, seeing the group frozen in place, summoned a teleportation spell, enveloping everyone and activating defensive magic to shield them as well.
"Kael, what are you doing?" the others cried out.
"Relax… I've got this, but first, I need to keep you safe."
With that, Kael teleported the group away from the island, placing them on a ship far from Jerar's reach.
Alone, Kael faced Jerar's magic.
Jerar, undeterred, accelerated his spellcasting.
"True Celestial Magic—Starfall!"
"Hahaha, Kael! Let's see how you'll stop this! Die!"
A massive meteor appeared from the sky, plummeting at terrifying speed toward the island.
Kael stared at the falling meteor. Summoning every ounce of his remaining magic, he began forming a colossal spear in his hands, ready to strike the celestial object.
...
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