Hey Guys hope you enjoy this. I'm wrapping up this quickly so I can start the next section. Also I have a deal for yall if you can hit 5 comments and 1 review or more before 12 hours from now I will release another chapter Saturday. Anyway enjoy
P.s.
I still need 3 more girls for tensura I have 2 I need 3 more unfortunately we cant have any true dragons and dont even suggest milim (because she is his sister) or any loli I dont mess with those no offense to anyone who does.
Rimuri (fem rimuru)
Luminous Valentine
Need 3 others
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Varion kept one hand firmly on Jellal's back as he hoisted the unconscious mage over his shoulder. The glowing rope around Jellal's wrists hummed softly, sealing away every trace of his magic. Simon moved quietly beside him, carrying the limp forms of Miliana, Sho, and Wally with careful strength. None of the old friends stirred—their bodies slack after the swift takedown.
"Down we go," Varion said, voice steady. "Everyone stays close."
They descended the spiraling stairs in tight formation. The air grew lighter with every level, the distant sounds of fighting already faded. When they pushed through the final archway onto the lower dock, the scene that greeted them was almost peaceful.
Mira stood at the center of it all, Satan Soul wings folded, a satisfied smirk on her face. Lucy was directing Taurus and Virgo to help the last few freed slaves board, her keys still glowing. Brandish lounged against a crate, arms crossed, looking bored in that effortless way of hers.
"Already done?" Varion asked, a hint of pride warming his tone.
Mira gave a lazy salute. "Lower levels cleared in fifteen minutes flat. No one left behind, no one hurt worse than a bruise."
Lucy waved, ponytail bouncing. "The slaves are safe. We've got them all accounted for."
Brandish pushed off the crate with a small grin. "My turn." She flicked her wrist once—smooth, practiced. Green light rippled outward. Every freed slave, every captured guard, and the three unconscious friends in Simon's arms shrank down to the size of dolls in an instant. Tiny, harmless, and easy to carry. Brandish swept them all into a reinforced pouch at her hip like it was nothing. "Boat's ready. Let's not waste daylight."
Varion nodded, shifting Jellal's smaller form into the same pouch for good measure. "Perfect. Everyone on board."
The short sail back to the mainland passed in quiet relief. The boat cut through calm waters, the Tower shrinking to a jagged silhouette behind them until it vanished over the horizon. They docked near the Akane Resort just as the sun began to dip, painting the sky in soft oranges and pinks. The resort town bustled in the distance—innocent, unaware—but the group stayed on the quiet stretch of beach, away from prying eyes.
They set up a simple camp circle on the sand. Brandish released the shrunken group one by one, restoring them to normal size under a wide awning Varion conjured for shade. The freed slaves huddled together, wide-eyed but hopeful. The three old friends—Miliana, Sho, and Wally—remained unconscious for now. Simon sat nearby, keeping watch.
Varion crouched beside Erza, his hand resting lightly on her lower back. Mira leaned against his other side. Lucy sat close enough that their knees touched. Brandish stretched out on the sand, head propped on one hand, watching everything with half-lidded eyes.
"Now what?" Erza asked quietly, staring at the cluster of people they'd saved. "There are so many… and Jellal…"
Before anyone could answer, a low groan cut through the air.
Jellal stirred where he lay bound on the sand. His eyes snapped open—sharp, furious, glowing with that same twisted conviction. He glared up at them, lips curling in disgust.
"You… ruined everything," he spat, voice hoarse but venomous. "Lord Zeref has only been delayed. Someone else will build another Tower. Someone will finish what we started. You've accomplished nothing."
Erza's breath caught. She stepped forward, dropping to one knee in front of him, her expression a painful mix of hope and heartbreak. "Jellal… listen to me. You were brainwashed. The magic they used on you twisted everything. None of this was really you. Please… come back to us. We can help you."
Jellal laughed—a cold, broken sound that made her flinch. "Brainwashed? What tricks are you trying to play? You think I would actually fall for that. Zeref's will cannot be stopped. He will be resurrected and bring a new age of magic to this rotten world."
Erza's shoulders trembled. She looked over her shoulder, eyes meeting Ultear's. "Ultear… is there anything you can do? Anything at all?"
The dark-haired woman stepped closer, hands clasped tightly in front of her. She looked at Jellal for a long moment, guilt and determination warring across her face. "I'm not sure," she admitted softly. "I didn't create the magic that was used on him. But… I've been thinking about this since the moment I realized what I helped cause. I started trying to think of a counter-spell. It might not be perfect yet, but I will try my hardest. For all of them. I owe them that much."
She met Erza's gaze directly, voice steady despite the weight in it. "I won't promise miracles. But I will fix what I can. Every single one of them."
Varion's hand found Erza's shoulder, warm and solid. Mira's fingers brushed her other arm. Lucy gave a small, encouraging nod. Brandish simply watched, quiet support in her lazy posture.
Jellal's furious glare stayed locked on them, mouth opening for another venomous rant about Zeref. Varion didn't give him the chance. A quick, precise palm strike to the side of the neck dropped the blue-haired mage back into unconsciousness. Brandish flicked her wrist without a word—green light flashed—and Jellal shrank down to doll size. She tucked him into the reinforced pouch with the others.
"Handled," she said simply.
Erza exhaled, tension easing from her shoulders for the first time since the Tower. She turned toward Miliana, Sho, and Wally, who were now stirring under Simon's watchful eye. The three looked dazed, confusion and lingering anger flickering across their faces as the last of the brainwashing haze lifted.
"Miliana… Sho… Wally…" Erza's voice was gentle but firm as she knelt in front of them. "You were led astray. Jellal was the one who destroyed the boats that day. He blamed me on purpose and sent me away so I couldn't stop him. None of you knew the truth because he twisted everything. I never abandoned you. I never betrayed you."
Miliana's cat ears twitched, her eyes widening. Sho's hands froze mid-shuffle of his cards. Wally lowered his guns slowly, brow furrowed.
Simon stepped forward, his deep voice calm and steady. "She's telling the truth. I stayed behind because I never believed Jellal's lies. I watched him change. I watched him turn on all of us. Erza came back for us—for every single one of you. She risked everything to end this."
The three exchanged uneasy glances. Miliana's claws retracted as memories surfaced. Sho's cards dimmed. Wally's shoulders slumped first.
"…We were wrong," Wally muttered, voice rough. "All this time… we thought you left us to die."
Sho nodded slowly, shame coloring his face. "We treated you like the enemy. We were cruel."
Miliana's ears flattened, tears welling. "Erza… we hurt you. I'm so sorry."
Erza didn't hesitate. She pulled all three into a fierce hug at once, arms wrapping tight around them as her voice cracked with relief. "There's nothing to forgive. You were hurting too. We're family again. That's all that matters."
The group clung to her for a long moment, the years of pain and misunderstanding finally breaking. Simon watched with quiet satisfaction, a small smile tugging at his lips.
They wasted no more time on the beach. Brandish kept the slaves and captured guards shrunken for the journey. The boat carried them to the nearest Rune Knight outpost along the coast. The officers there took custody of every freed slave and every brainwashed guard with professional efficiency, promising medical care and proper processing.
With that done, the group turned toward Magnolia. Erza's three friends traveled with them—now awake, subdued, and quietly grateful. Jellal remained shrunk and tightly restrained in Brandish's pouch, just in case Ultear's counter-spell wasn't ready in time.
As the train rolled northward, Erza leaned against Varion's side, Mira and Lucy close on the other, Brandish stretched out across the seats. The pouch sat safely between them.
"If your spell doesn't work," Erza said quietly to Ultear, "Master will know what to do. Fairy Tail always finds a way."
Ultear nodded, determination set in her eyes. "Then I will try my best to make sure it does. I want to be able to help fix some of what I have done."
The next morning the train pulled into Magnolia station just as the first light crept over the rooftops. The group disembarked quietly, keeping to the shadows of the platform. No one spoke much—the weight of the night before still hung heavy. Erza's old friends walked close together, heads down. Jellal—still doll-sized and bound in Brandish's pouch—remained silent.
They skirted the main streets, slipping through back alleys until the guild hall came into view. Instead of heading for the front doors, they veered around to the rear yard where the training dummies and overgrown vines offered cover. The kids were probably still asleep inside, and the last thing anyone wanted was a chaotic welcome.
Varion paused at the side entrance, glancing back at the group. "Stay here. I'll get Makarov."
He slipped through the half-open kitchen door, moving with practiced quiet. The main hall was mostly empty at this hour—only a few early risers nursing coffee. Makarov sat at the far end of the bar, nursing a mug of something stronger than tea. Their eyes met across the room. Varion gave a single, subtle tilt of his head toward the back exit—nothing dramatic, just enough.
Makarov understood immediately. He set the mug down, slid off the stool without a word, and strolled casually toward the rear door like he was just stepping out for air.
Outside, the group waited in a loose circle. Makarov emerged, closing the door softly behind him. His gaze swept over them—Erza's tired but determined eyes, Ultear's hunched shoulders, the three former captives looking small and uncertain, and the pouch at Brandish's hip.
"Report," he said quietly.
Ultear stepped forward first. "It's Jellal. The brainwashing… I've been working on a counter. It's not perfect, but it should strip away the corruption without harming him. A reversal spell based on the original one used to do this to him. I've never tested it on anyone, but I'm hoping it will work."
Makarov rubbed his chin, thinking. "Risks?"
"Minimal," Ultear said. "The worst is temporary disorientation. A dark residue will be pushed out. Someone needs to destroy it."
Varion nodded. "I've got that."
Makarov looked around the circle once more, then gave a short nod. "Do it."
Brandish opened the pouch. Jellal returned to normal size in a shimmer of green light, still bound and unconscious. Ultear knelt beside him, hands glowing with soft violet light. She murmured the incantation—words low and precise, weaving threads of magic that sank into Jellal's skin like water into dry earth.
The spell took hold. Jellal's body arched once, a choked gasp escaping him. Dark miasma poured from his mouth and eyes—thick, oily black smoke that reeked of despair and twisted devotion. It coiled upward, hungry and alive.
Varion raised one hand. Silver starlight flared around his palm. "Star Dragon's holy flame." A gentle wave of celestial fire swept through the miasma, erasing it layer by layer until nothing remained but faint sparks that faded into the morning air.
Jellal collapsed forward, panting hard. His eyes opened—clear for the first time in years. Memories crashed in all at once. The Tower. The slaves. The boats he'd burned himself. The lies he'd told his friends. The blood on his hands.
He curled in on himself, fists clenched against the dirt. "What… what have I done?"
Miliana dropped to her knees beside him first, arms wrapping around his shoulders. "We're here, Jellal. We're all here."
Sho and Wally joined, forming a tight circle around him. "You weren't yourself," Sho whispered. "None of us were. We followed you because we trusted you. And we still do."
Erza knelt in front of him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. No armor, no weapons, just the girl who'd once fought beside him. "You're home now," she said softly. "We'll get through this together. All of us."
Jellal's shoulders shook. Tears tracked down his face as he looked at her—really looked—and saw no hatred, only quiet forgiveness. He reached out, hesitant, and Erza pulled him into a steady, platonic embrace. The others closed in, a human shield against the grief.
After a long moment, the storm passed. Jellal drew a ragged breath and straightened, still shaky but present. The group slowly pulled apart, giving him space to breathe.
Makarov stepped to the side with varion, voice gentle but firm. "How'd it go, lad?"
Varion met his gaze steadily. "They did very well. It went off without a hitch. Everyone's safe. The slaves and guards are in Rune Knight custody. Erza's friends are back where they belong."
Makarov's eyes crinkled with quiet pride. "Good. Then let's get you all inside and get you some Breakfast ."