When the two demon blades broke through the defense magic and struck his chest, Jellal thought he was going to die from this move.
A sharp pain came from his chest, with two blade marks intersecting into an X-shape, his shirt burst open, and blood gushed from the wound, Jellal almost lost consciousness.
At this moment he's definitely not Erza's match, but he can't just die here, so then...
Clang! Clang! Two blades crossed and were stuck on either side of Jellal's neck.
Erza seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, sitting beside Jellal. "What's your real purpose? I've investigated the R-System, the structure and principles might make sense, but the most crucial condition can't be met at all."
As long as there's room for dialogue, things can be handled. Erza is still that Erza, unable to finish off a former companion.
Jellal was secretly pleased, pulling out an evil smile at the corner of his mouth. "I should have told you, the most important living sacrifice, which is you..."
"It's not about the sacrifice!" Erza glared at him. At this critical moment, he still wanted to hide from her, "It's the magic power! To activate the R-System requires at least 2.7 billion Idea magic power! Even if you gather all the mages on the continent, it might not be enough!"
Jellal stayed silent. If he said more about this, it would reveal too much, adding uncertainty. So he changed the subject: "Aren't you going to run? In a few minutes, the Magical Elf Power will fall."
"Jellal! Your ambition is over! Do you want to die here?!" Erza still wanted to save this person who inexplicably strayed from the path to the very end.
Jellal unexpectedly showed a gentle smile identical to the one in Erza's memory. "I can't decide my own actions—my body is possessed by Zeref's spirit, I'm just a puppet for Zeref's resurrection."
"Possessed?"
Perhaps because the smile that once brought her light and hope in childhood was too infectious, Erza's thoughts were easily led astray by Jellal's words.
"I cannot save myself, nor do I have any companions to save me..."
"I..."
Bam! Rhode crashed in from outside the tower, with Mira following closely behind.
Seeing Jellal lying on the ground, Rhode said, "Is it resolved?"
Erza wanted to argue, "No, he..."
"If you can't do it, I'll take care of it, otherwise just restrain him for now. Leave here and then talk. The Magical Elf Power might fall any moment, and who knows if this ruined tower can be trusted. Our companions are still waiting for our news below!"
Rhode hurriedly spouted a string of words, while moving forward to take action.
Erza wanted to stop him, the talk of being possessed by spirits meant there might still be a chance to save him, but knowing the urgency, it couldn't be explained clearly: "Wait, Rhode, it's a bit complicated. Mira, you hypnotize him."
Jellal's expression changed, the Fairy Tail Strategist was not easy to deceive.
...
"Ultear."
In the Advisory Council, Zikrein, who was waiting for the final stage of the Magical Elf Power, suddenly whispered something to Ultear, then turned into a golden stream of light and rushed out of the room.
"What is that guy doing?" Org rebuked angrily, "Proposing the firing of the Magical Elf Power was his suggestion, yet now he wants to avoid responsibility at the last minute?"
Although the Advisory Council holds the Magical Elf Power, it can never be fired indiscriminately. Each usage requires a justifiable reason.
Especially this time, even while taking the risk of potentially wiping out innocent people inside the Tower of Paradise, they must shoulder enormous pressure to prevent Zeref's resurrection.
Afterward, it might lead to resignations out of guilt, or even being sent to the Judgement Court.
This young man rashly proposed the usage of the Magical Elf Power and tirelessly persuaded them to agree.
Yet when it comes down to it, he's running away. Does he think this will evade responsibility?
"Please remain calm, Lord Org." Ultear spoke soothingly. "The decision is made, and the Magical Elf Power is ready to launch. He wouldn't choose to flee at such a moment."
Ultear's tone was very gentle, and she spoke slowly, sounding as if she intentionally spoke that way to soothe the other evaluators' emotions.
However, in reality, she just wanted to buy a little more time, to think of a better excuse that could at least cover the last few minutes.
"Lord Zikrein received critical information suddenly, which he must verify immediately."
"What information warrants such personal verification at this moment?"
Ultear smiled, "It's about what everyone is most concerned about, even having resolved to bear the burden, the lives of innocent civilians."
"What are you saying?"
"Speak clearly!"
Several anxious evaluators couldn't wait to start questioning. Although they were prepared to bear the responsibility for the stability of the Magic Realm.
But if possible, who would willingly carry the burden of so many lives and stain their life?
Ultear, confident in her reading of the evaluators' psyches, spoke at an unhurried pace:
"There is intelligence from the Kai Arum Kingdom stating that laborers forced to build the Tower of Paradise have safely returned home. This means..."
The evaluators became somewhat excited, "This means Jellal released the people once the tower was completed?"
"Is the tower already void of civilians?"
"Is the information accurate?"
Ultear smiled as she replied, "That's why this matter is so significant, and why Lord Zikrein had to verify it immediately."
"If that's true, that would be wonderful!"
If there were indeed no civilians within the tower, their guilty conscience would significantly lighten.
When asked later, they could confidently state that deploying the Magical Elf Power was a decisive and correct decision.
Only Yajima remained unmoved, staring directly at Ultear.
Could matters truly be this simple?
...
No one in the Advisory Council knew that once Zikrein was out of the evaluators' sight, he disappeared entirely.
The next moment, he had already arrived inside the Tower of Paradise.
"Wait a minute!" Zikrein loudly stopped Mira, "Hypnosis Magic will make Zeref's spirit..."
"Summoning: Crimson Marked Tree Monster, Crown of Embers, Receiving: Mountain Dragon Soul!"
As Zikrein appeared, Rhode launched his magic. He forcefully flapped his wings close to the ground, violently knocking Erza away, and punched Jellal in the temple.
"Stop it!" Erza shouted urgently, but she'd already been sent flying, her back slamming against a wall covered in spells.
Ignoring the pain in her body, she scrambled to her feet, "Jellal!"
However, caught off guard, Jellal was punched so hard his eyes rolled back, his body flung horizontally.
Jellal's body crashed through the magic crystal positioned in the room's center, then continued flying, smashing through the altar at the room's edge, and hitting the wall behind the altar, barely being halted by the railing on the outer edge.
His neck was cut by the sword originally stuck in the ground, blood gushing. It was unknown whether his trachea or artery was severed, or whether he was still alive.
"You..." Zikrein's form suddenly shimmered and, like the opposite pole of a magnet, was drawn into Jellal's body.
He merely intended to buy a little more time. This individual, why was he so decisive? Did he not consider Erza's feelings at all?
Erza, shocked, looked at the vanished Zikrein: "Thought Body?!"
"Councilor Zikrein, is actually Jellal's Thought Body?" Rhode and Mira were just as shocked.
If Lucy were here, she would surely mock Rhode; he acted presumptuously against someone he knew nothing about.
Rhode initially thought the two were merely twin brothers, conspiring together.
He acted to prevent the Judgement Court's internal mole from interfering, turning a fight against one boss into two.
Yet Zikrein was merely a Thought Body?
Managing to become one of the Ten Wizard Saints with a mere Thought Body, infiltrating the Advisory Council for years unnoticed...
Furthermore, his physical body was even capable of severely injuring Erza.
If he were complete, just how powerful could he be?!