The raging magical storm lasted nearly a minute before gradually subsiding.
When the sea surface returned to its former calm, the once towering Tower of Heaven had completely disappeared.
In its place were glittering fragments covering the entire island.
Those were the magic crystals Jellal had placed inside the Tower of Heaven, meant to absorb Etherion — the Magic Council's 2.7 billion concept magic power — to achieve his ultimate goal of reviving Zeref.
Although Chase and Jellal's magical clash hadn't reached the level of Etherion, the magic crystals had still absorbed a considerable amount of energy.
From a distance, the small island looked like it was frozen in ice, shimmering with a dreamy light blue glow.
On this ground paved with magic crystal fragments, Chase and Jellal stood facing each other from afar.
Both bore bloodstains on their bodies. Their chests heaved violently. They looked ragged and depleted, clearly both having reached their physical limits.
Silence surrounded them, broken only by rapid, heavy gasping.
"Y-You... managed to push me this far. Even the forbidden magic Purgatory Break couldn't finish you..."
Looking at the magic crystal fragments scattered everywhere, Jellal's eyes were bloodshot with rage. His heart bled.
It was over. The Paradise Plan he had schemed for eight full years had completely failed. There was no turning back.
"Even without magic power, I'll kill you. With my fists — one blow at a time — I'll smash your damned skull into meat paste! CHASE!!"
Jellal clenched his bloodied fists. His eyes were fixed on Chase, filled with near-insane murderous intent.
"Transitioning from flashy magic to the most primitive, wild fistfight? Sounds somewhat interesting. However..."
Facing Jellal's, Chase didn't move an inch. The smile at the corner of his lips, accentuated by the blood, was incredibly confident. "Sorry, Jellal. I'm not in the mood for that right now."
He looked very excited.
Because in that last clash of ultimate attacks, he had — unprecedentedly — gotten two new cards to drop from Jellal!
"Heh. Don't you think it's a little too late to be afraid?"
Seeing this, Jellal's momentum surged. He sneered. "Both of us are out of magic power. Whether you like it or not, you have no choice!"
"Both of us are out of magic power? Sore wa dou kana." Chase smiled and shook his head.
The moment his words fell, a faint light flickered beneath his feet. The outline of a face-down card gradually became clear.
It was the card capable of instantly replenishing magic power —
Trap Card — Energy Potion · Super Z!
HUM!!
As the strange liquid inside the emerging demon bottle emptied, a gust of wind surged. Chase's depleted aura suddenly expanded, rising higher and higher!
Although Energy Potion · Super Z only replenished magic power — it couldn't heal physical injuries or mental fatigue, nor could it restore Chase to his peak state —
Just replenishing his magic power alone was enough to plunge Jellal into an endless abyss of despair!
"A-Are you kidding me?! How can such a card exist?!"
Jellal was completely dumbfounded. His features twisted together as he let out an incredulous, horified scream.
If he had another chance, he would probably rather die than fight Chase — who would want to play against such a trap-heavy magic ability?!
"Don't underestimate the bond between a card wizard and his deck."
Chase took a deep breath. While stretching his muscles, he beckoned to Jellal with a teasing smile. "Didn't you say you were going to smash my skull with your fists?" Well? Come on."
Jellal: "..."
He stood frozen for several seconds. Seeing no hope, he collapsed completely. At the cost of burning his own life energy, he made a desperate last resort, forcibly bursting with surging magic power.
The golden light that should have completely dissipated once again enveloped the battlefield.
Chase crossed his arms and quietly watched Jellal's death throes.
When the golden light reached its critical point, he slowly reached out, assuming the pose of drawing a card. "My turn. Draw!"
SHWOOP!
A dark purple streak of light flashed. Between his fingers appeared a "monster" card he had never used before.
"Come forth! From the depths of hell — the sovereign symbolizing ultimate destruction — the legendary demon god standing at the apex of the demon realm —"
"Halphas!!"
A deep, intricate dark magic circle lit up. From the wildly churning magical vortex, a figure with a terrifying aura slowly stepped out.
Beneath ice-blue demon horns, pure white long hair fluttered in the wind.
Its ice-blue wings and tail swayed slightly, adding infinite reverie to its flawless, sexy figure.
"That's right! I am the legendary demon god — Halphas — Mirajane Form, da!"
The "missing" Demon God Mirajane raised a finger, tilted her face, and gave a faint smile.
Under the rendering of the terrifying magic power radiating around her, what should have been a sweet smile sent a slight chill down one's spine.
If Lucy were here, she would definitely have turned back and mercilessly complained about Chase's chuunibyou summoning chant.
But Mira wouldn't.
She would only unconditionally play along with Chase — and genuinely found it particularly interesting, happily immersing herself in it!
"Go, Demon God! Direct attack on the opponent!" Chase waved his hand grandly, pointing at Jellal.
New card obtained. Tower of Heaven destroyed. Let Mira, who had been waiting so long, put the perfect finishing touch on this battle~
Seeing this, Jellal gritted his teeth so hard his jaw ached. Veins kept popping out on his forehead.
He was already incredibly angry. Under this playful, teasing display from this damn couple, his mental state simply exploded.
"GO TO HELL! METEOR!!"
The wind howled. A golden streak of light, carrying endless killing intent and fury, charged at them.
But — already a spent force — how could he possibly be a match for Mira at her peak?
Especially since speed was Demon God Halphas's greatest strength!
BOOM!
In just one exchange, Jellal was blasted away by Demon God Mira's magic beam.
As he crashed heavily onto the magic crystal ground, a shadow fell over him. Demon God Mira stepped on his chest, leaned down, and extended one demonized finger, hovering it over his forehead.
"Eyes." Demon God Mira's face was completely serious as she pushed her finger slightly forward.
Jellal's pupils dilated. His neck tilted to the side. He passed out on the spot. A small ghost-like figure emerged from his mouth.
According to Elfman's description in the original story, when Mira took in Demon God Halphas, just performing this scare tactic had destroyed half a city.
Makarov had paid out a fortune in pension funds for that — which was why he had strictly forbidden Mira from using this magic.
Of course, in Jellal's case, he wasn't actually "scared unconscious." The main reason was that his body and will had already reached their limits!
"Not satisfying!"
Demon God Mira pouted, turned her head to look at Chase, and her cruel gaze carried a hint of desire and anticipation.
"Give me a break. I'm seriously injured here." Chase instinctively stepped back half a pace.
"Fine then. For the sake of —"
Ice-blue smoke rose from Demon God Mira's body. She returned to her normal, gentle, sweet big-sister image. Her eyes glanced at something behind Chase as she smiled. " — letting me have such a good time showing off."
The wind and waves had calmed. Sunlight quite appropriately pierced through the clouds, shining on the girl's sweet, moving smiling face, announcing the end of the Battle of the Tower of Heaven.
Chase noticed something else entirely: One attack completely drained her mana bar? Isn't that way too short?!
If that's the case, how is he supposed to get new cards from Mira?
No way. If he gets a chance, he'll have to make her practice more!
"Chase!"
A sudden shout interrupted Chase's thoughts.
Turning around, he saw Natsu, Lucy, and the others already stepping onto this island covered in magic crystals.
The one who had called out was Erza, walking at the front.
After learning the full story from Simon, Erza's face was tight. Her expression looked very solemn — completely different from the seriousness she showed when scolding Natsu and Gray.
"Yo, Erza. How'd you guys get here?"
Chase greeted her, scratching his hair with an apologetic smile. "Sorry I couldn't keep the promise I made back in the prison — to not destroy the place that holds your childhood memories."
Erza kept her head lowered without answering. But her pace kept getting faster. Her steel boots crackled against the magic crystals.
"Chase... you... you..."
Arriving before him, Erza's body trembled slightly. She clenched her fists at her sides and shouted, "Why did you do something so dangerous?!"
When she had heard that Chase and Mira had gone to the Tower of Heaven, she had been completely stunned. The entire journey here, she had been on edge, full of fear.
No one knew better than her how perilous the Tower of Heaven was — how insane Jellal was.
If Chase or Mira got caught in danger — or worse — because of her personal matters...
As Erza herself had admitted, she was too weak.
Too weak to even dare imagine such a scene. All she could do was pray over and over that nothing would go wrong.
For Natsu, who knew nothing, this journey had only been seasickness and nausea.
But for her — every moment had been the painful ordeal of life and death, self-blame, and regret!
"The reason is simple. Because we're comrades."
Chase looked directly into Erza's tear-misted eyes. He dropped his joking expression and said seriously, "Didn't the master say it? A comrade's pain is everyone's pain. A comrade's suffering is everyone's suffering."
"Since this stupid tower and this stupid person have been tormenting you, Erza — then they should all be destroyed!"
Hearing him talk about something so dangerous with such ease, Erza angrily retorted, "That's a completely different concept!"
"The outcome is pretty perfect, isn't it?" Chase waved his hand lightly.
At this, Erza's pent-up emotions completely exploded. "You bastard!! Do you have no regard for your own life at all?!"
In the surging magical storm, crimson long hair flying, the furious Fairy Queen raised her fist high.
"Wait, Erza—"
Lucy had never seen such a scene before. Her face turned pale with fear.
She had been teaming up with Erza for a while now, and she had never seen her so angry.
Even though Chase had already defeated the enemy and resolved the Tower of Heaven crisis...
"It's fine, Lucy. Don't worry."
Mira, who had come up beside her, smiled and held back Lucy, who had wanted to step forward and intervene. She looked at Chase and Erza.
Nearby, Natsu, Gray, and Happy also stood there smiling, watching very calmly.
"Those trivial details don't matter."
"If you're the Fairy Queen, then just keep being the cool, strong image you are in Natsu and Gray's eyes."
Standing in the middle of the magical storm, Chase showed no intention of defending himself. Instead, he slowly turned around, completely exposing his back to Erza's fist.
"That night in the prison cell — the tears you shed out of fear and helplessness, Erza... I don't want to see them again."
He sighed as if accepting his fate. "This is your only chance to beat me. If you want to hit me... go ahead."
The heavily raised fist ultimately fell with incredible gentleness.
Then came a warm, damp sensation — Erza buried her face into that heavily wounded back, leaning weakly against it. Her body stopped trembling.
Drip.
Tears fell from her heroic, flawless cheeks, splashing onto the magic crystals beneath her feet.
Unlike last time in the Magic Council prison — this time, both of her eyes, including the prosthetic one, were filled with tears.
"Thank goodness!"
Seeing Erza's emotions stabilized, Lucy finally relaxed. The worry on her face disappeared.
"That's way too unfair, Chase! You went to fight without me!" Natsu had already started complaining resentfully.
"Idiot. Are you stronger than Mira? That guy was a Ten Wizard Saint — same as Jose and the master. Bringing you would just be dragging everyone down," Gray immediately opened fire.
According to Makarov's analysis after returning from the Magic Council, Jellal and the suddenly missing Siegrain were very likely the same person.
And the Ten Wizard Saints badge lying nearby completely confirmed this guess.
"Oh yeah? No matter what, I'm still stronger than a naked pervert!"
"Birthday-cake-candle-lighting idiot? What did you say?!"
"You brought it up again! Well, whatever in my eyes, Gray will always be a little brat who never grows up~"
Natsu suddenly mimicked what Ur had said to Gray during the banquet on Galuna Island.
Then Gray exploded. The two brothers' foreheads predictably met, turning on their daily gayish brawling mode.
"Aye~ Before that... can someone please save me?!"
Happy, tightly hugged against Millianna's chest, tremblingly raised his hand toward Mira.
Mira ignored Happy's plea for help.
The same person who had just told Lucy not to worry was now puffing out her cheeks, staring at Chase and Erza with resentful eyes.
Not happy!
Super not happy!
"Um... what about that guy? How should we deal with him?"
Lucy spoke up weakly, pointing at Jellal lying nearby, his eyes rolled back.
The memory of that magical clash that had blown away the entire tower was still fresh. Even though he was now unconscious, she was still a little afraid of a dangerous madman like Jellal.
"Leave him to me."
A heavy, somewhat sorrowful voice came from behind.
Lucy turned at the sound. The moment she recognized the newcomer, surprise appeared deep in her beautiful eyes.
"Ultear?!"
***
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