The dark purple beam churned the clouds, making the already gloomy sky even heavier and more oppressive.
Thunderbolts occasionally struck down to the ocean surface, kicking up turbulent waves, bringing a scene of doomsday to this dead sea area.
When two Ten Wizard Saints let loose in battle, their magic particles colliding would directly affect the surrounding environment the sky, the earth, and the air itself.
This was what they called —
Heaven and earth turning upside down!
On the turbulent sea, a small boat bobbed up and down, as if it would be swallowed by the merciless natural forces at any moment.
"Even from this far away, we can feel that terrifying, heart-palpitating magic power... those two really are monsters..."
On the boat, Simon stared blankly at the top of the Tower of Heaven, which had been blown apart. His heart was filled with shock.
After eight long years of patience, this was the first time he had so directly witnessed Jellal's power.
What he hadn't expected was that Erza's comrade — that Mr. Chase — could actually fight Jellal to this extent!
"The battle... seems to have just begun." Wally was equally shaken.
Millianna hugged her knees, hiding among a pile of plush toys. Her voice even trembled. "I'm so scared, meow... what's going to happen next..."
As a terminal cat lover, she had brought all the cat plushies from her room with her.
BOOM!
A loud crash interrupted their worries and panic.
From the shattered top of the Tower of Heaven, two streaks of light — one red, one gold — shot out through the falling debris, engaging in intense chase and collision across the dark sky.
Chase and Jellal were moving too fast. Simon and the others could only hear the continuous booming in their ears; their naked eyes couldn't track the two figures at all!
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
After another high-frequency collision, the golden light and the red dragon phantom separated instantly. Both put safe distance between themselves and stared at each other across the void.
What kind of damn magic is this guy using? It can forcibly weaken my magic power?!
"And that strange right arm... it feels like its explosive power keeps getting stronger..."
Jellal was secretly alarmed.
After a high-intensity exchange of blow-for-blow combat, his body had gained quite a few injuries. He panted heavily.
Chase, who had also taken several hits, wasn't in much better shape. His chest rose and fell, his breathing rhythm inevitably became disordered.
It was only now, in formal combat, that Chase fully appreciated just how much Jellal's magic power alone qualified him as a Ten Wizard Saint — and enabled him to become a Magic Council member.
If he had faced this guy before Jose, the outcome would have been hard to predict!
"Chase!!"
"Jellal!!"
After their analysis, both Chase and Jellal exploded with magic power again and charged at each other with roars.
Only this time whether because he was too focused on Chase's magic or for some other conspiracy Jellal's movements suddenly became somewhat sluggish and redundant. He completely failed to utilize his absolute speed advantage.
Chase noticed the abnormality. But he gave Jellal no chance to catch his breath. Seizing the opening, he landed a Sky Dragon Iron Fist right on Jellal's face, knocking him out of the sky and smashing him heavily into the Tower of Heaven below!
In an instant, the ground cracked. Gravel flew in all directions.
Deep in the smoke, Jellal stood on the ruins. He opened his mouth and spat out a bloody, broken tooth.
Looking at Chase, who had slowly landed opposite him, the blue-haired man curled his lips into a twisted smile. "Heh... made it."
The moment the words left his mouth above Chase's head, along the path Jellal had taken earlier, golden magic circles lit up one after another.
The circles connected end to end, outlining the pattern of some mysterious constellation, blooming golden light bright enough to illuminate the sky!
"This is an unavoidable all-round strike. Accept the judgment of the seven stars — Seven Stars Sword!"
SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH!
Golden light, containing terrifying destructive power, fell like torrential rain. Dense and overwhelming, it blocked every possible escape route for Chase!
"So he was really drawing that magic..."
Chase smiled calmly. He stepped forward heavily, activating a dazzling, cool magic circle beneath his feet.
Knowing Jellal's fighting style well, he had anticipated this and prepared countermeasures in advance.
The pattern of a Trap Card appeared in the center of the circle — Mirror Force!
HUM!
An energy barrier flowing with sacred light instantly expanded, directly bearing the barrage of Seven Stars Sword.
After a brief pause, all the golden light was bounced!
The moment Jellal's pupils sharply contracted, the sky full of golden light was already upon him, exploding in his area with deafening blasts!
"Are you kidding me?! This is MY magic!"
A golden magic circle pushed through the still-unsettled raging flames and rolling smoke.
Jellal's expression was crazy. After using magic equal to Seven Stars Sword to neutralize the rebounded holy light, he placed his palms in a specific gesture before him.
At the same time, Chase slightly turned his body and reached out his right arm.
His five fingers spread. A magic circle spun. Surging magic power condensed into the phantom of Slifer the Sky Dragon, its upper jaw open.
"Heavenly Body Magic: Six Stars!"
"Slifer the Sky Dragon's Thunder Force!"
Jellal swung his arm. Six meteors had barely emerged from the golden magic circle when they were precisely locked onto by crackling lightning orbs.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The lightning orbs seemed to contain some mysterious special energy. Though their power didn't appear particularly strong, the moment they made contact, they completely destroyed the six meteor spells!
No — more than destruction... it feels more like... he used magic to negate my magic?!
Watching the golden magic circle dissipate before it could fully activate, Jellal's pupils couldn't help but widen.
Possessing physical combat power equal to or even surpassing Dragon Slayer Magic... able to weaken opponents while amplifying oneself... AND capable of negating the meteors summoned by Heavenly Body Magic...
How the hell is a regular card wizard supposed to do all that?!
Even the usually composed Jellal couldn't help but curse.
He had been involved in the magical world for many years, yet he had never seen such magic before!
Maybe... today, I really might fall to this man...
"No! Don't be ridiculous! Eight years of preparation — the free, great magical world is right within reach! How could I lose!!"
Jellal roared in anger. His magic power rose to another level. Golden light flickered, becoming extremely violent.
To protect the Tower of Heaven, which he had been building for years, he had still been holding back somewhat in the previous exchanges.
But now, he had only one thought: to completely eliminate the threat — Chase!
Even if it meant destroying the entire Tower of Heaven, he didn't care!
"Meteor!!"
After powering up, Jellal's speed was terrifying. A golden afterimage still lingered in place while his true body had already appeared before Chase!
Chase's gaze sharpened. He raised both arms and crossed them in front of his chest.
BOOM!
Golden light exploded. Although Chase had caught Jellal's attack trajectory and assumed a defensive posture, the subsequent high-explosive force still sent him sliding backward, leaving two deep furrows in the ground!
Bathed in golden light, Jellal slightly bent forward to press the advantage but his attention was caught by something at the edge of his vision.
It was a card, slowly spinning in the air.
Thunder rumbled. A demon covered in white armor suddenly emerged from the card.
High above its raised arms, restless lightning power had already finished charging.
Without any pause, Summoned Demon fired Demon Descending Thunder at Jellal, who had hurriedly opened a defensive magic circle!
CRACKLE!!
Thunder fell from the sky, pressing down vertically against the golden light.
Amid the dense electric arcs that burst forth, the Tower of Heaven's floors shattered like foam, one layer after another exploding continuously!
Just as he was about to fall to the bottom level, Jellal forcibly stabilized himself. Using an instantaneous burst of Light Magic, he broke free from Demon Descending Thunder.
As he turned into a golden streak of light shooting upward through the holes, his right fist was highly condensed and compressed magic power.
Above him, Chase leaped down. His fist was also covered in God Slayer magic.
Amid the chaotic backdrop of falling gravel and steel, the red and golden streaks of light rapidly approached until their clenched fists collided with a heavy impact!
BOOM!!!
A tearing storm swept across the entire area. Red and golden energies bit at each other like wild beasts. The circular shockwave that bloomed from the impact annihilated all surrounding structures, leaving a completely blank void!
"I was... I was only one step away! One step away from ending this world full of tragedy and ushering in an era of ideal freedom!"
Jellal maintained his upward-punching posture. His facial features were twisted from excessive exertion. His eyes were bloodshot. He roared in breaking fury. "Why are you stopping me?! CHASE!!"
Chase's black hair violently swayed in the hurricane. He tensed his right arm, using all his strength to withstand Jellal's crazy assault.
"If you want to pursue a free world so badly, then create it with your own hands! Pin your so-called 'salvation' and 'hope' on someone you've never even met — that's nothing but pure cowardice!"
"You don't know anything about Zeref's mystery and greatness! I was chosen by fate! That's right — only I can hear Zeref's will!"
"Only I know how intoxicating that world truly is!!!"
A hopeless case...
Looking at Jellal, who was becoming increasingly insane, Chase gave up on the unreliable approach of talk-no-jutsu.
He sighed softly, the
n suddenly pulled back his fist, removing the surging energy around him.
Jellal rejoiced. His golden right fist, no longer encountering resistance, swung forward without mercy.
In that gap of less than 0.1 seconds, purple and pink lights suddenly lit up behind Chase.
Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl appeared simultaneously. Their overlapping staffs pointed downward.
"Dark Burst Magician!!"
Jellal had just begun to show joy on his face when his field of vision was completely occupied by a chaotic black sphere crackling with dark purple arcs!
Caught off guard, he — despite his Heavenly Body Magic — was steadily suppressed by the chaotic black sphere, continuously falling along his original Meteor trajectory, and crashing heavily into the bottom level of the Tower of Heaven — the level he hadn't been able to reach before.
BOOM!!!
A massive amount of energy exploded instantly, shaking the entire Tower of Heaven until it was on the verge of collapse!
Deep within the intense flames, a golden streak of light shot upward. At extreme speed, it flew past Chase and reached even higher into the sky.
The golden light dissipated, revealing Jellal with tattered clothes and a blood-covered face.
"Chase... you forced me into this!"
"Just give me another eight years — no! This time, only three years — and I can build another Tower of Heaven!!"
Jellal's expression was nearly demonic. His hands moved rapidly, outlining a massive magic circle that radiated a annihilation aura.
Its complex and familiar pattern was exactly the same as the one that had appeared on Phantom Lord's Magic Colossus.
That's right — it was the magic the Magic Council had listed as absolute forbidden magic — Purgatory Break!
Chase hovered in mid-air. He didn't immediately interrupt Jellal's spellcasting.
The reason was simple: his other goal for this trip — getting new cards to drop from Jellal — hadn't been achieved yet.
Whether it succeeded or not depended on this final strike.
Chase took a deep breath. He canceled the Trap Card — Magic Cylinder — that he had previously placed. He chose to confront Jellal head-on, increasing the chances of getting a card drop.
"God Slayer Secret Art —"
As he mobilized all his magic power, crimson energy began to accumulate and compress, condensing into a miniature version of Slifer the Sky Dragon, nearly solid.
The Sky Dragon coiled around him. Its head tilted upward. Its majestic, majestic eyes stared directly at Jellal above.
From its wide-open jaws, thick, deep breath continuously exhaled — the manifestation of Chase's magic power!
"Turn to ashes — along with this entire tower! Purgatory Break!!!"
"Wrath of God: Superconducting Wave!!!"
Two beams of destruction fired toward each other simultaneously.
Even just the residual power that leaked out pulverized the Tower of Heaven into powder, annihilating it into nothingness!
The moment they collided, a shocking explosion rang across the entire sea area. Shockwaves swept in all directions, kicking up huge waves on the ocean surface!
Even Simon and the others, who had already retreated to a great distance, were affected. Their entire ship shook violently. All items fell over. The scene was pure chaos.
"Th-This... isn't this too exaggerated?! Are they even human?!"
Wally gripped the ship's railing tightly. His blocky face was filled with terror.
That was a massive tower nearly a kilometer tall — one they had spent eight full years building!
Simon and Shō were the same, having to hold on to the ship's hull to steady themselves.
Millianna, the terminal cat lover, couldn't bear to leave behind her scattered cat plushies. In a moment of inattention, she was flung away by the storm.
"Millianna!" Simon was alarmed.
Just as he was about to reach out to save her in the instant he turned his head he glimpsed, from beyond the surging waves behind them, a small, not-very-sturdy-looking wooden boat.
Several people stood on it. One was lying over the edge, continuously vomiting.
Simon's heart trembled.
Crimson long hair fluttered in the strong wind. He saw that side profile — branded deep in his memory, impossible to forget.
THUD.
The flying Millianna happened to crash into the arms of that beautiful figure in steel armor.
"Hiss, so hard! Oww, oww, oww!"
Millianna held her forehead, continuously hissing in pain.
Immersed in her pain, she didn't have the spare attention to notice her surroundings.
Looking at the cute girl who had suddenly flown into her embrace, Erza was momentarily stunned.
Various scenes, long buried deep in her mind, surfaced uncontrollably, one after another.
When the blurred, familiar face completely overlapped with the one before her — her eyes were already filled with overflowing tears.
"Are you... Millianna?"
***
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