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A Holy War

~Deception and Illusions~


MERRY CHRISTMAS, folks!

I am back after an eternity to present a miraculously fresh-out-of-the-oven update! I know I've been gone since forever, but hopefully, the wait was worth it as I came with another intense chapter featuring our favorite red goddess and blue god in the Fairyverse. I hope you like it! For the past months or so, I was busy filling in the stuff for college applications and working on personal essays. So I am really sorry for the long delay, but I will do my best to compensate with more thrilling chappies. So here you have it, guys!

Thank you, moonlight, crimson sana, LlamaDragneel, NAO-chan33, Youdontloveme123, Kereny, Starstruck, AvenLeaf, SinfulSoulX, angel2009, MightyNinjaOfTheNight, Court818, Still A Lover Of Franchises, xxAllInMyFeelingsxx, SPokemonGames, SilverSapphire34523, Eveangela, BlackCatNeko999, NightLocker, Louise24Zoldyck, CrimsonNight41, Sarabi, KayGe08, MagicWarriorDragon, Ellis, chocolatebackground, superkangaroo, nonni88, TheBeatOfWar, Moeset, and Sovereign64. Thank you guys so much for the patience, support, and time! Stay jolly and healthy, everyone!

Now read and enjoy! Remember to dress warmly and enjoy the holiday break and frosty weather!


An impenetrable silence swarmed upon the dark, vacant world as both petrifying dread and stupefying shock fogged over the amber orbs that had dilated to the size of moons.

What would you do?

At that moment, to say the seemingly invulnerable Erza Scarlet was shocked and terrified would be a euphemism.

What would you do, indeed, Erza Scarlet?

As her devastated and dazzled amber orbs glowed unblinkingly within the dark, vacant world, Erza could not help but feel the tendrils of the vigorous fire that had once burned within her pumping veins cool into shards of piercing ice as her bewildered mind blazed in numbing disbelief.

What would you do if the murderous darkness that shall soon rise and devour the Worlds...

Those haunting words resonated within her ears as an invisible but invincible storm tore within her mind and soul.

And simultaneously kill the boy that you love...

Terror immersed her mind, destroying any traces of coherent thoughts as her lips quivered uncontrollably.

Is none other than your beloved Jellal Fernandez himself?

It was only a dozen seconds or so as Erza gazed vacantly into the distressed but expectant visage of the two deities before her. But to her, that soundless moment reigned almost eternally as the inauspicious words of the Life Goddess echoed within her mind.

J...Jellal...Jellal? Those ruby lips trembled, but suddenly Erza could not find the strength to speak as dread pierced through her mind. How...how...how...in the Worlds can it be?

Immediately after, Ikaruga approached her with disheartened green eyes as one of her hands soothingly reached forward. "Are...are you alright, Erza dear?"

But she could not hear the Goddess as her lifeless amber eyes gazed vacantly into the faraway distance. She remained unresponsive even when Ikaruga gingerly touched her quivering shoulder, failing to register the vivid confusion and concern that nearly glowed from the deity by her side.

She could not think. She simply could not.

At the moment, the calamitous truth the deities had revealed to her was simply too much for her to comprehend. She just could not imagine what the deities from the World above had just revealed to her.

Jellal Fernandez.

The perfect boy of her wildest dreams. The celestial boy she had loved for an eternity. The one boy for whom she would, in her own volition, joyously surrender her body, life, and soul for...was the one rising, demonic darkness that the Gods had solemnly vowed would spell the Doomsday for all of the Three Worlds?

He... He is...the...one...he...he...he will...destroy...every...everything...

Then suddenly, a thousand voices quivered to life within her mind until a deafening raucous was tearing at her senses.

A deleterious agony threatened to melt her skull as the voices roared desperately in denial despite the incriminating images that flashed before her in a dizzying sequence, causing her to released a tormented scream.

"The leader, eh? I suppose that's understandable...."

"Hey–"

"But I'm not sure if it'd be in your best interest for me to tell you."

"Erza? What is–"

"Oh my god! Spit it out, Jellal! Are you seriously–"

"Scarlet!"

"It is me."

"W-what?"

"Erza!"

"I'm the leader of Sacred Akuma, Erza."

"Scarlet, what's wrong?"

"What had Earth Land ever do to you?"

"What..."

"Plenty, Erza.I am merely getting even with it."

"What?"

"What is going on with her–"

"What exactly happened to the Jellal from all those years ago?"

"Erza-san!"

"Where is he? Where is he? Answer me"

"Erza!"

"He died a long time ago, Erza."

Icy pain erupted against her knees as Erza violently collapsed onto the illustrious dark ground, her trembling hands clutching at her throbbing head as those amber orbs scrunched shut, gleaming tears suddenly streaming down her feverish, screaming cheeks. "No, he can't be! He can't! It can't be! It just can't! I forbid it!"

"Can't say otherwise, can you? Face it, Erza!"

"Jellal...Why must you be like this? Why–"

"What, what's happening to her, Erik?"

"Cease speaking to me as though you comprehend my pain!"

"I must seem crazy to you...Erza–"

"She...I think–"

"But what do you know about me? Nothing."

"Nothing!"

"No!" She howled as fiery hellfire danced within her mind and as excruciating sadness tore through her heart. "This can't be real! This can't be real!"

"Erza! Erza, can you hear me?" Ikaruga was screaming as she violently shook the sobbing woman, but Erza could not hear her as virulent words roared within her mind.

"I love you, Jellal... P–please, please"

"Please!"

"What a stupid woman you are, Erza–"

"Erza-san!"

"Why would you love some monster like me?"

"Because I do!" She roared in agony as burning tears flooded down her burning face. "Because I just do, Jellal. Isn't that enough...isn't it?"

"I am... I represent everything you are against."

"I am your enemy, Erza.So stop."

"Stop, Scarlet!"

"Stop wasting your time and heart on me."

"Wake up!"

"Oh dear!" Her brokenhearted sobs were momentarily drowned out as Ikaruga released a desperate cry, her brimming green orbs gawking at the tormented woman before with a mixture of fear and shock. "She is losing it!"

"I should have expected such repercussions. The illusion, the mental link...but the severity of the truth, especially, are way too inundating for her to absorb all at once." A low growl escaped from his lungs as the God of Peace narrowed his pensive brown eyes at the sight of the struggling and sobbing young woman. Immediately, his hands began to dance against the icy atmosphere of the vacant world as he summoned forth a wave of formidable Magic. "Enhancement Magic: Serenity!"

As soon as his words had faded into the surrounding dark space of the vacant dimension, a soft green light suddenly rippled over Erza's vigorously trembling body. Seconds later, an ethereal sense of eccentric but welcomed tranquility seeped into her mind and immediately quelled what perforating agony that had once unrelentingly thrashed against her skull.

Gradually, Erza stopped quivering on the ground as the pernicious headache vanished from her dazed mind. Slowly, her echoing screams died away into breathless gasps as her bloodshot amber orbs slowly slipped open and gazed into the impenetrable darkness above her. A drizzle of sweat carved down her forehead, and her heart continued to drum away at a thunderous cadence even as she struggled to quell her breath.

But despite how feverish and torrid her throat had suddenly become, she still managed a small, hoarse whisper. "T–thank you."

Erik nodded, as impassive as ever except for the relieved gleam within his eyes. "Don't mention it, Scarlet. Saving your breath is more important."

Dazed, Erza awkwardly tried to stand, only to stumble back onto the black, icy ground unceremoniously as her suddenly weakened legs ached in protest.

"Oh my!" Ikaruga released an anxious whisper as she slowly helped the shaken woman to her feet before she admonished gently. "Please, there is no need to push yourself. Are you feeling a little better now, Erza-san?"

Her dazed amber orbs turned to meet those concerned leaf green eyes, and she immediately nodded in a vain attempt to comfort the distressed Goddess of Life.

"I apologize, on our behalf, to have distressed you." Ikaruga murmured softly when Erza slowly regained her balance. "But you must understand that, however harrowing and surreal it may appear to be, we are speaking of the truth."

A moment of silence lapsed in the dark, vacant world before the darkness and the quietude was finally interrupted in the form of a sparkling, iridescent droplet.

"I...I...I...see..."

At last, Erza released a small, heartbroken smile as the realization suddenly came through. Slowly, those bloodshot amber orbs gazed up at the impenetrably dark zenith as she attempted in vain to keep the glowing, burning droplets from escaping her pained amber eyes, "Somehow...I, I can feel it. I can tell that you aren't lying. So...this, this is really what awaits us in the imminent future."

A quivering sigh escaped from her throat when nothing but silence greeted her words. Slowly, a sorrowful smile slipped across her lips as tears streaked down her feverish cheeks, "The...boy that I loved...has really fallen into a darkness from which he cannot be salvaged from, huh? And he will...you say... bring death and destruction to the Three Worlds? How utterly absurd it all sounds...but...but it's only the truth, isn't it?

"I...I... Oh Erza-san, how, how I wish I can refute you." The Goddess of Life finally mewed softly as vivid remorse and ragged sadness racked along her otherwise innocent features. "But the reality is rarely something so easily deniable. You can choose to disregard what we have divulged to you. But everything we have revealed to you today will realize in the very imminent future."

"Indeed, we detest this ordeal as much as you do, Scarlet." Erik dipped his head into a slow nod, his arms crossed as those chocolate eyes gleamed into her lifeless amber ones with a gleam of remorseful sadness. "But our words ring true. Org-sama's final prophecy rings true. I do, however, wish to apologize to you, Scarlet."

As his words dissipated, those bloodshot amber orbs widened in surprise as Erza echoed his strange revelation. "Y-you wish to apologize, Erik?" For...for what?

Slowly, those saddened brown eyes lowered as the once complacent God of Peace turned away in shame. "I apologize for having caused you such distress. Scarlet...I...I can only imagine what hellish agony and perforating sorrow I have encumbered you with. While it had been necessary...I do sincerely ask for your understanding and forgiveness, Scarlet."

"I...I still don't understand." Visible confusion nearly glowed from her teary amber orbs as she gazed at the remorseful deities before her, a soft whisper escaping from her lips. "What did you do?"

Erik released a deep breath before his anxious brown orbs gazed solemnly into her stunned amber ones, a weak smile at his saddened lips. "Prior to encountering Ikaruga and myself in this mental realm, you have seen Jellal Fernandez in the real world, yes?"

A moment of silence descended upon the dark world before Erza dipped her head cautiously, a vigilant gleam suddenly sparking within her once heartbroken amber orbs. "And...just how did you know, Erik?"

"Well, that was not the real Jellal."

Suddenly stunned, she gazed at him with widened amber orbs as the once arrogant and complacent God of Peace lowered his eyes in shame after what seemed to be in an eternity. "That was not your Jellal, Scarlet. The Jellal you saw...was unreal."

W-what?

"All along, what you had seen was merely an illusion I constructed with the memories within your mind."

What...

Suddenly, piercing shock and volatile fury exploded within her heart as her once melancholy orbs widened into the size of malicious moons. Murderous fury suddenly boiled within her aggravated heart, and immediately a tremble rippled throughout her body as her hands slowly curled into infuriated fists. A lethal gleam appeared within her eyes as Erza gritted her teeth.

What the absolute Hell did he say?

"Erza, are you alright?" Ikaruga mewed as her bright green eyes blinked in concern. But Erza could barely hear the Goddess's solicitous words as explosive fury pulsed through her vein like liquid fire.

He...he had actually dared to use an illusion of Him...to tease me...to mock me?

Ferociously, she gazed at Erik with vibrant rage as the saddened God of Peace reluctantly but calmly met her dangerous amber orbs. "The Jellal you had seen, tormented and miserable, was actually a mirage I created. He wasn't real. It wasn't real. I played with the images within your mind and reconstructed them in order to see how you would react, given the circumstances."

Erik...

"It was all an illusion." He whispered as his brown orbs slipped close. "I disguised myself as Jellal Fernandez to test you, Scarlet."


Oh. My. God. Someone is going to be veeeeery pissed in the next chapter. Let's hope Erik will survive the wrath of the mighty Titania. xD I know this chapter is a little short, but please bear with me for the moment. I have the next one coming up relatively shortly. This time I promise. Please help me reach the goal of 550 if that's possible! I believe in the magic of Christmas, so please don't make me cross my fingers in vain, mina-san!

Thanks for the support and patience everyone. Another shoutout of MERRY CHRISTMAS to all! Stay warm and safe, everyone! Now, since it's superrr late where I am at, I must log out and see you guys later. Also, if you can excuse any grammatical errors or of the like, I would be very thankful. I got this chapter out with multiple revision, but all in a rush. So please do excuse me should there be a problem.

Now, goodnight!

Updated on December 25, 2016. (1:32 Am EST)