The next morning, at the square in front of Notre Dame, the citizens had gathered to witness the commencement of the bonfire. At the center of the platform, Erza, now dressed in white, was tied to a wooden stake with a rope around her waist, and bundles of dry straw were thrown at her feet. The gypsies and Jellal had been thrown into large cages, anxious of whatever fate awaited them after the bonfire was finished.
The Minister of Crocus stood on the platform, overseeing the progress of the execution. The crowd recognized his dark blue outfit, his high collared black cape, and his long dark blue hair. Boos and hisses welcomed Acnologia, as the crowd recognized him as the man who burned down their houses and persecuted their neighbors. However, the Minister paid no attention to the angry screams as he began his proclamation.
"The gypsy, Erza Scarlet, has been found guilty of the crime of witchcraft," Acnologia announced, reading a proclamation in the form of a scroll. "The sentence: death!"
"Let her go! She's done nothing wrong! She's innocent!" Resounding shouts of anger erupted as the citizens tried to push past the guards. Despite their best efforts, they were pushed back, and the guards had no intention of letting anyone interrupt the ceremony. Kain Hikaru and Rustyrose tossed more sheaves of straw, piling up on Erza, and Azuma was holding the torch to start the bonfire. When Archdeacon Makarov saw the commotion outside, he tried to intervene, but was held back by two guards, barring the way with their spears.
Erza turned to her side as Acnologia took the torch from Azuma and strode in front of her. Looking at the crimson-haired gypsy's eyes, he dropped his voice to speak to her alone.
"The time has come, Erza," Acnologia told her. His voice had no tone of gloating to it; it was as if he was reminding a helpless girl of the impending consequences. "You stand upon the brink of the abyss." His lips then formed a grin, "Yet even now, it is not too late. If you listen to my offer, I'll consider letting you go."
Erza scowled, "Why don't you just kill me now?"
"Why would I kill you when I see a lot of good things in you?" Acnologia chuckled softly. "When I met you the first time, you had shown tremendous promise. You can still be of some important use." His grin festered, with a bit of seductive charm in it, "Become my mistress, Erza. Join me, and together, we will bring this city to a higher social order. And in return, I will make your dreams come true. I will give you anything you desire. And I will save you from the flames of this world and the next. Choose me…" Acnologia's voice then changed to a threatening note as he inched the torch closer to the stake, "…or the fire."
Erza's only reply was a spit in Acnologia's face and a defiant glare. Acnologia glared back, and he decided that if she cannot be his, she might as well just burn.
"The gypsy, Erza Scarlet, has refused to recant," Acnologia projected over the crowd. "This evil witch has put the soul of every living citizen in Crocus in awful jeopardy!"
As Acnologia's booming invocation echoed, up in the bell tower stood a despondent Zeref, his arms and legs chained to the pillars, preventing any chance of escape. He didn't have the heart to attempt escape; he felt guilty for putting his friends in danger. The three gargoyles caught wind of Zeref's capture and tugged on the chains, desperately trying to free their friend.
"C'mon, Z-Man!" Yury shouted, pulling on a chain. "Snap out of it!"
"Your friends are down there!" Precht added, trying to saw at a chain with a sharp rock.
"It's all my fault," Zeref said sadly. "Everybody's in danger because of me."
"It's not your fault!" Zera cried, trying to bite the chains in half. "You're trying to help your friends! They need you! More than ever! You've got to break these chains!"
"I tried," Zeref responded. "The chains are outmoded with metal that cancels out magic. But what difference would it make?"
"No, it can't be over like this!" Precht exclaimed. "You can't let Acnologia win!"
"He already has," Zeref pointed out despairingly.
"So you're givin' up?" Yury cried in disbelief, dropping a chain. "That's it? You're just gonna let 'em die?!"
"These chains aren't what's holding you back, Zeref," Zera stated sternly.
"Leave me alone," Zeref spat, turning his head away.
The gargoyles were shocked and hurt by what he just said. How could their best friend turn them away like that? They were upset to hear that Zeref had admitted loss, and he was going to let his friends suffer at the hands of a madman. If he had surrendered himself to his fate, there was nothing they could do.
"Okay," Yury sighed sadly. "Okay, Z-Man. We'll leave you alone." He walked to the balustrade and turned straight so he was facing the execution, before he turned to stone.
"After all, we're only made out of stone," Precht added, standing by Yury, facing outside, and turning to stone as well.
"We just thought you were made of something stronger…" Zera mused, sitting by her friends and following suit.
Zeref just stood there hopelessly, listening as Acnologia's voice continued to boom out. The Black Wizard looked up at the rafters with a tear streaming down his cheek, dreading what was to come.
Wait… the chains…
Zeref's eyes widened, and quickly sprang to his feet, the chains wrapped around his body rattling with every movement. And then it hit him.
The chains were not only tied to the pillars, but the bells as well! The chains also had weak spots that could only be broken by large vibrations!
"…for justice, for Crocus, and for her own salvation…"
As Acnologia's voice rang across the square, Zeref finally made his decision. If his mother Margaret did the impossible, then so would he! His eyes reigniting with brave determination, and his irises burning with a red glow, he walked over to the edge of the balustrade and looked down.
"…it is my sacred duty to send this unholy demon back where she belongs!"
With that, Acnologia hurled the torch closer to the hay. The flaming end touched the straw, and the rest quickly caught fire below Erza's feet.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
With a loud and furious scream, Zeref used all of his strength, all of his might, to tug against the brute force of the chains. With every tug, the bells rang softer, then louder, and louder, and the pillars began to crack.
Down below, the fire stretched and burned every piece of straw, and Erza coughed from the smoke surrounding her. Through the smoke, she saw Acnologia's cruelly grinning face.
Zeref tugged the chains again, his next attempt even stronger than the last. The bells' sounds grew loud and strong, and the vibrations created cracks in the chains, causing them to fall along with the crumbling pillars.
Finally free from imprisonment, the Black Wizard emerged from the smoke with fire and anger in his eyes. He grabbed a rope, tied it around a large gargoyle's head, and swung down to the side of the cathedral. Bracing his feet against the wall, he saw Erza tied to the stake, consumed by the ring of fire. He ran alongside the building before jumping off and swinging to the platform below.
Meanwhile, Natsu and Happy, who had survived their ordeal at the Court of Miracles, arrived at the square in time to see Erza being burned at the stake.
"Erza!" Natsu shouted. "We're coming! Help is on the way!"
Then again, they don't have to as Natsu and Happy saw Zeref standing on the platform. Summoning a Water Magic Circle, the Black Wizard quickly extinguished the flames surrounding the stake with a giant wave of water. He untied Erza, who fell unconscious and into his arms. Pushing her onto his shoulder as guards climbed onto the platform, Zeref summoned an Ice Magic Circle, creating a hailstorm of ice that knocked down the guards. Finally, Zeref grabbed the rope and jumped off the platform, swinging on it.
"Zeref!" Acnologia exclaimed furiously, watching his nephew climbing up the cathedral. Mavis, Jellal, Natsu, Happy, the gypsies, and the crowd were excited to see Erza whisked away to safety.
"Way to go, Z-Man!" Natsu cheered.
Reaching the parapet in front of the large glass stained window, Zeref raised Erza's body into the sky and screamed in a loud and clear voice for the people to hear:
"SANCTUARY! SANCTUARY! SANCTUARY!"
The crowd answered Zeref's proclamation with screaming cheers. From where he stood, Acnologia gritted his teeth, his temper reaching a boiling point. He would not allow his nephew to win, no matter what. "Rustyrose!" he shouted.
"Sir!" Rustyrose saluted.
"Seize the cathedral!" Acnologia ordered.
Back up in the bell tower, Zeref carried Erza into a solitary room with a bed. He placed her gently on the bed as the gargoyles watched from the door. "Don't worry," Zeref said. "You'll be safe here."
"Charge!" Rustyrose's voice yelled.
Zeref turned to the gargoyles and cried, "Come on, guys! They need our help!"
"Alright!" the gargoyles shouted happily, and they followed Zeref outside.
"Now you're talkin'! That's the Z-Man we know!" Yury smirked.
"He's regained his confidence!" Precht added.
"Let's go! We've got a fight to catch!" Zera cried.
The Black Wizard stood on the parapet and threw his arms out, his hands glowing blue. Waving his arms in a circle, a large mist of ethereal light appeared out of nowhere and surrounded the entire cathedral. When the mist cleared, a giant magical barrier protecting the large structure took its place. Just as the guards were about to approach the cathedral, they were suddenly pushed back by the barrier's powerful force, flinging their bodies into the air and collapsing onto the ground.
Next, Zeref raised his arms and his hands glowed yellow. As if to answer his gestures, a giant storm cloud formed and surrounded the square, and a barrage of yellow lightning bolts rained down. The citizens ran to avoid them, but the guards weren't that lucky. Countless squadrons were electrocuted by the sheer force of the lightning bolts, and many objects were destroyed, including Acnologia's carriage.
"Come back, you cowards!" Acnologia screamed to his incompetent subordinates, who were forced to retreat. The evil Minister was flustered and frustrated. The gypsies' prophecy couldn't be more right; Igneel's heir had indeed grown strong. Pushing Azuma aside, he commanded his remaining soldiers, "You men, take down that barrier!"
The squadrons that elected to stay with Acnologia hurried over, leaving Kain Hikaru to guard Jellal's cage. Seizing the opportunity, Jellal grabbed Kain by the neck, knocked him out, and snatched the keys from him. "Alone at last!" he grinned, as he unlocked his cage and got out.
"Fire Dragon's Grip Strike!" Grasping the door of one particular cage, Natsu's hand glowed, and then ignited in a small explosion, destroying it. Inside the cage was Mavis, with her mouth gagged and her hands bound. "Don't worry, Gypsy Queen. I'll get you out of here," Natsu assured. He removed the handkerchief and ropes that restrained Mavis and helped her out of her cage.
Mavis smiled, "Thank you, Natsu."
Natsu asked, "What now?"
"We fight!" Mavis said in determination, and she climbed on top of her cage, holding a spear. She announced to all the citizens in the square, "Citizens of Crocus! Acnologia has persecuted our people, ransacked our city! And now, he has declared war on Notre Dame herself! Will we allow it?!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" the citizens shouted, grabbing weapons, such as shovels and pitchforks. They broke open the gypsies' cages and opened the doors, allowing them to run out. Among them, in different cages, were Millianna, Gajeel, the Sabertooth Troupe, and the Lamia Scale Troupe.
As the battle began, the soldiers and the citizens, joined by the gypsies, met and engaged in physical combat. The gypsies fended off Acnologia's troops with their own brands of magic: from Dragon Slayer Magic to Maker Magic to Celestial Spirit Magic, whatever the works. Explosions and flashes of light flew everywhere as the battle intensified.
"I think the cavalry's here!" Yury grinned, as he, Precht, Zera, and Zeref watched the battle below. He pointed down, "Look! It's the Royal Army!"
True to Precht's words, the citizens and the gypsies weren't the only ones fighting. Regiments of soldiers bearing the royal symbol of Fiore assembled in the town square, and offered their assistance in the battle against Acnologia's army.
"The Royal Army?" Precht wondered. "I heard King Toma fell ill. I wonder who is leading it?"
As the gargoyles looked down closely, they were surprised to see that the one leading the Royal Army turned out to be Princess Hisui E. Fiore, riding on a white horse, and giving orders to her soldiers.
"Princess Hisui!" Zera exclaimed. "Acnologia thought she was too young to take charge of the army. I guess he's about to find out the hard way."
Yury then noticed a familiar-looking light blue-haired man, "Hey, isn't that…"
"Wally?" Precht wondered.
"Jelly," Zera guessed.
"Jellal!" Zeref exclaimed happily. He then noticed Mavis, "And Mavis, too! They're all okay!"
Jellal punched Azuma in the face, knocking his teeth out.
Waving his glowing hands, Zeref unleashed a variety of spells, from small meteors to tidal waves to lightning bolts, to decimate the advancing guards. He then telekinetically lifted a pile of rocks, throwing them down and smashing the soldiers' reinforcement carriages.
Meanwhile, Precht dropped a brick with a cringe, looking away. Yomazu looked up and got hit on the head by said brick. "Sorry, sorry," Precht apologized.
Yury picked up some rocks from the floor and crunched them into little pieces. He flew himself around, making airplane sounds, and landed onto the balustrade. He spat the little pebbles out of his mouth like a machine gun, knocking a few guards out.
"Fire the Jupiter Cannon!" Acnologia bellowed.
"Yes, sir!" Zoldeo saluted. He and Bluenote Stinger carried a large mechanical weapon known as the Jupiter Cannon, set it on the ground, and aimed it directly at the barrier protecting Notre Dame.
"All systems go!" Zoldeo operated the controls of the cannon. "Magic Energy charge commencing…" The cannon began compressing large amounts of magic, until it finally reached full power. "Charge complete! Ready… FIRE!"
The Jupiter Cannon released a compressed beam of energy towards the barrier. Once struck, a large explosion erupted. From out of the smoke, the barrier was still active and unscathed.
"Impossible!" Zoldeo exclaimed. "The barrier is still active! It's too strong! We need more Jupiter Cannons!"
"Then get more!" Acnologia yelled. "I want that barrier destroyed at once!"
"Right away, sir!" Zoldeo nodded, and he ran off.
Up in the cathedral, Yury and Precht were working on some contraption, sawing pieces of wood, throwing candles off a candelabrum, and pounding pegs into wood with a mallet.
Wendy Marvell and Romeo Conbolt ducked, avoiding Arlock swiping at them with a spear. The spear broke the prison stock holding Grandpa Rob. He stood up, shakily moving with excitement. "I'm free! I'm free!" he cried, before he fell into the sewers. "Dang it!"
As Yury and Precht were finishing their contraption, Zeref summoned a few more random elemental spells to repel the guards. For instance, Erigor, Rayule, Kageyama, Karacka, and Byard somehow managed to get past the barrier, but the Black Wizard, flickering his glowing hands, telekinetically lifted them up into the air and pushed them flying and screaming into the Seine River.
Yury and Precht finished building their latest contraption: a catapult. They pushed it over the edge as Precht said, "Ready... aim... fire!" The catapult fell in front of a surprised Abel, Briar, D-6, Goumon, Jerome, and Mary.
"Are you sure that's how it works?" Precht asked, scratching his head.
The catapult set off, sending the body onto the soldiers and slamming them before they got away.
"Works for me!" Yury grinned.
Back below, Jellal was locked in a battle with Rustyrose. They pushed, punched, and kicked each other, before Jellal stuffed his coat over his head, blinding him.
"Kitty Kick!" Millianna flung a straight kick, knocking Rustyrose near Achilles, Jellal's horse.
"Achilles, sit," Jellal called.
Rustyrose looked up in shock as Achilles sat on his face with his rear ends. "Ahh! Ahh! Get off me!"
Millianna smirked, "How's that for kitty horsepower?"
"Yeah!" Jellal cheered, and he gave Millianna a hi-five.
On the balustrade, Zera summoned hundreds of pigeons and sent them to attack the guards. She cackled, "Fly, my pretties! Fly, fly!" A squadron of guards led by Kawazu saw the birds flying down. They made a run for it as birds pecked them repeatedly, scaring them away.
Meanwhile, Acnologia's men gathered multiple Jupiter Cannons and fired a rain of blasts, trying to destroy the protective barrier, but no matter how many shots were fired, the barrier remained invincible. "Put your backs into it!" Acnologia bellowed. Soon, the cannons showed signs of being depleted of its magical energies, and they began overheating in the process.
Up in the cathedral, Zeref and the gargoyles decided to initiate their final retaliation, knowing that Acnologia's forces were weakening by the minute. Zeref raised his arms, and with a thunderous cry, his glowing hands touched the ground, creating an immense shockwave that spread all over the cathedral. If that wasn't surprising enough, the statues surrounding Notre Dame came to life and removed themselves from their usual spots! With a flick of his hands, Zeref gave out the order, "Attack!"
The living statues advanced to attack the remnants of Acnologia's army, destroying all of the Jupiter Cannons and the guards' carriages along the way. Finally unable to withstand the Black Wizard's assault, Acnologia's soldiers ran away from the square, leaving the baffled Minister behind.
Acnologia was shell-shocked, then furious. His army had been defeated, and his nephew drove them away! Burning with more rage than ever, he decided to personally finish what his men could not. With a loud roar, Acnologia pounced high into the air and pounded on the barrier multiple times, his fists colliding with the electrifying force, and each pound creating huge shockwaves. Seizing his chance, he grasped the force holding the barrier, and in one swift movement, Acnologia ripped the whole barrier apart! WHOOSH! The barrier surrounding Notre Dame was torn asunder, its remnants dissolving into ethereal magma that fell and surrounded the cathedral's entrance, burning everything in its path.
Acnologia, his clothing scorched and torn as a result of destroying the barrier, broke down the doors with a single kick and went inside. Mavis and Natsu took notice. Fearing that Zeref could be in danger, they decided to follow Acnologia.
The evil Minister of Crocus began making his way towards the spiral staircase, but Archdeacon Makarov stopped him.
"Acnologia, have you gone mad?!" Makarov exclaimed. "I will not tolerate this assault on the house of God!"
"Silence, you old fool!" Acnologia growled, grabbing the old man by the collar and shoving him aside. "The Black Wizard and I have unfinished business to attend to. And this time, you will not interfere."
Climbing up the spiral staircase, he closed the door, created a protective barrier around it, and advanced upward. He still had a score to settle with his nephew. He was unaware that Mavis used her magic to disable the barrier, and she and Natsu walked up to follow him.