With the acceleration from the Meteor spell, Jellal's speed was blindingly fast.
Like the Big Dipper, seven magical light pillars formed and fell from the sky, their power comparable to a real meteor impact.
Raizel, using Take Over to become Jesmon, dodged and weaved through the air to avoid the crashing pillars of light.
"Dark Paradise!" Jellal shouted.
Jellal crossed his hands upward, and a black vortex that seemed capable of devouring everything appeared above his head.
The surrounding shadows began to stretch toward Jellal in the opposite direction.
Jellal rarely used Dark Paradise.
This move acted like a black hole, drawing matter into endless darkness to be destroyed.
"One for All!" Raizel called out.
The Three Sword Spirits formed a triangular formation, and a green barrier appeared in the center. Raizel channeled his magical power into it.
A green triangular light pillar shot out from within, aiming directly at the black vortex above Jellal's head.
The black vortex and the green light beam clashed in mid-air.
After a dazzling flash of light, both Dark Paradise and One for All vanished into thin air.
"In that case, I'll use that move!" Jellal's expression turned serious.
"Bring it on," Raizel challenged.
"True Heavenly Body Magic: Sema!" Jellal leaned his body, his left hand pointing toward the ground and his right hand slanting upward.
A massive magic circle appeared high above Tenrou Island, and a colossal meteor slowly emerged from within the seal.
If this enormous meteor were to descend, it would cause extensive, catastrophic damage over a wide area of the island.
"Heavenly Body Magic?"
"He's even using this move?"
On the coast, Makarov and Precht paused their fight, noticing Jellal's Sema illuminating the sky.
"So big!"
"If this thing hits, will Tenrou Island really be okay?!"
Down in the jungle, Happy was running around in a panic, looking for cover.
Actually, Jellal hadn't originally planned to use Sema, but seeing how easily Raizel dealt with Dark Paradise made him eager to test his limits.
'Interesting,' Raizel thought.
This was his first time seeing True Heavenly Body Magic up close.
The imposing presence of the meteor was impressive, but it didn't carry the same oppressive, world-ending feeling as when Irene Belserion used her version of the spell.
The size of Jesmon continuously grew as Raizel flew higher, charging straight toward the meteor falling from the sky.
"Schwertgeist!"
The arm blades on Jesmon's left and right arms glowed with blinding white light.
Raizel charged head-on into the meteor, which was far larger than his current size.
The magically-enhanced arm blades struck repeatedly, slicing the entire meteor into hundreds of neatly cut stone fragments.
The expected earth-shaking roar that would have reverberated throughout Tenrou Island never came.
Only some shattered stones fell to the ground, but since the fragments were too small, they caused no significant damage to the canopy.
It was as if the meteor had never appeared at all.
"What?!" Precht naturally noticed Raizel's actions from afar and even he couldn't help but feel surprised by the sheer power on display.
Actually, Jellal had felt some regret after casting Sema, wondering if it would cause too much collateral damage to Tenrou Island.
Now it seemed he had overthought it.
In his current state, he couldn't cause Raizel any real trouble.
But there was a benefit to the theatrical display.
Having used his ultimate spell, Precht couldn't possibly accuse him of slacking off, could he?
Though Jellal had no intention of returning to Grimoire Heart after this mission anyway.
If persuasion was possible this time, he'd give it a try.
If not, then so be it—he'd wash his hands of the dark guild. Precht likely wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble afterward.
...
On the other side of the island, Mira and Rustyrose were still locked in battle.
Despite his elegant appearance, Rustyrose's words were as venomous as a Karen on a weekend.
"You're somewhat capable, demon, unlike those two worthless fools earlier. Even in the Ultimate Magic World, trash like them would only waste precious magical power!"
No matter how finely dressed he was or how often he spouted incomprehensible jargon, it couldn't conceal his deep contempt for life and ordinary people.
"Compared to me, you're more of a demon," Mira replied coldly.
Mira, having activated Take Over: Satan Soul, appeared ferocious with her dark wings, sharp claws, and fine scales.
Her gaze was piercing, yet her words held undeniable truth.
"Also, you made one mistake. There are no worthless members in Fairy Tail. Since you've uttered those words, you will pay the price." Mira narrowed her eyes, coalescing a dense black energy sphere in her hands.
Her killing intent was sharp and directed squarely at Rustyrose.
Tilting his head back and covering one eye, Rustyrose laughed mockingly.
"Hahaha! Pay the price? Let's see you try!"
As a Lost Magic, the Arc of Embodiment relied entirely on imagination for combat.
Was this magic powerful? The answer was yes.
But there was a strict prerequisite: it depended entirely on the user.
Among the Lost Magics practiced by the Seven Kin of Purgatory, the Arc of Embodiment ranked highest in raw potency and versatility.
Unfortunately, Rustyrose lacked a true boundless imagination.
Additionally, his inherent limitations and the steep magical side effects of the spell restricted its full potential.
Initially, Rustyrose managed to maintain his elegant facade against Mira's assaults.
But he soon grew disheveled under her relentless barrage of Dark Torrent, Dark Spark, and Extinction.
Even his so-called Golden Shield, deployed defensively, couldn't prevent him from being scorched black by her wrath.
Now, Rustyrose resembled a frantic, cornered stray dog.
Mira seldom fought like this nowadays due to the immense magical power consumption, but Rustyrose had trampled on two of her sorest spots.
Though typically understanding and slightly airheaded, Mira had two non-negotiable triggers no one should cross: Fairy Tail, and her younger siblings.
Or perhaps it was just one trigger: family.
For Mira, who lost her parents young and joined the guild while raising her siblings alone, Fairy Tail and family were one and the same.
Driven to desperation by her relentless attacks, Rustyrose had no choice but to materialize another winged, speed-type Guardian Beast suited for battling Mira in the air.
Materializing a guardian beast consumed substantial magical power, and he had already lost one earlier to Elfman.
He hadn't planned to summon another, but without it, he could only stand there and take a beating.
"Behold my Guardian Beast! Gale Belfast!"
Belfast stood about as tall as an average person, its body composed of an unknown silver-gray metal, with razor-sharp metallic wings extending from its back.
Its hands were no longer human in form, each bearing three long metallic claws that gleamed coldly.
A single careless touch would result in bloodshed.
Though composed of heavy metal, its form was not cumbersome.
Its speed was remarkable, rivaling Mira's Satan Soul in the air.
Belfast and Mira engaged in fierce close-quarters combat in mid-air, momentarily locked in an evenly matched exchange of strikes and parries.