SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 12 out, this is Chapter 13 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OC.

Chapter 13: Paradise Game

"Damn," Simon cursed as the group continued their way. "My communication link with Wally and Milliana is being disrupted. I don't know where they are."

"Telepathic Communication Magic, right?" Ulyo asked.

"Are you all right, Shô?" Erza stopped.

"Yeah…" Shô muttered. "Nee-san, let's go together."

"Still, can we really trust this guy?" Gray wondered. "It's true that he deliberately avoided killing us, but…"

"I won't explain myself any further." Simon cut in. "If any mage were to be killed by that, they would certainly be unable to stand against Jellal. And I am confident that… Natsu won't die. You people haven't realized the true potential of Natsu's power. When Natsu obtains the true power of the dragon, he will slay any evil that stands before him."

"Welcome everyone, to the Paradise Tower." Jellal voiced over the loudspeaker. "I am Jellal, the ruler of this tower. All the pieces have been set."

"It's Jellal." Simon remarked. "He can be heard from any place in the tower."

"Isn't it time to get things started?" Jellal taunted. "The Game of Paradise. The rules are simple. I wish to use Erza as the human sacrifice for the ritual to resurrect Zeref. In other words, should the Paradise Door be opened, it's my win. If you can prevent me from doing so, it's your win. However, that alone wouldn't be interesting at all. So I have assembled three warriors here. If you cannot break through them, then there's no way you can reach me. In other words, it's a 3 vs. 9 battle royal. And one final thing: it is highly probable that the Magic Council will launch an attack on this place through the Satellite Square, using the magic that reduces everything to nothingness: Aetherion. It's unknown how long we have. But the moment Aetherion is fired, that will be the end. The game will be over, with no players left."

"Erza!" Gray turned to see Shô having trapped Erza into a card.

"Now, let us enjoy it." Jellal grinned.

"I won't let anyone harm Nee-san." Shô swore. "Jellal, I will defeat him myself."

"Stop it!" Simon warned. "That's impossible."

"What the hell was that?" Natsu wondered, Fukuro having slammed him back into the tower.

"Salamander!" Simon barked.

"Who are you?" Natsu turned.

"Natsu, this guy, he's one of the blockhead's friends." Happy reported.

"Which means you're Jellal's subordinate, right?" Natsu blinked.

"You're wrong." Simon protested. "I'm your ally. I was just pretending to be deceived by Jellal. All in order to stop him."

"I don't believe you." Happy snapped.

"Wait." Natsu voiced. "Is that really the truth?"

"Yes." Simon confirmed.

"Who is this Jellal?" Natsu questioned. "What's his objective in setting up this stupid game?"

"He's the younger twin of a member of the Magic Council, Siegrain." Simon explained. "He must have figured out that the Council would resort to using Aetherion."

"What?" Natsu snorted. "A sibling's quarrel?"

"I wonder…" Simon mused. "Even I don't have a single clue about what happened between them. This guy is…" he gaped when Fukuro appeared.

"I won't tolerate any violation of the rules." The owl-headed assassin declared. "I shall pass judgement upon you in the name of justice! The Warrior of Justice, Fukuro, has arrived."

"This is bad…" Simon muttered. "'Dark Instance'! Now's your chance!" he barked. "Run away! Don't engage him in combat!"

"There!" Fukuro was instantly behind the Dark Mage. "I, Fukuro the Just, can see through the darkness." And blasted Simon off.

"This power…" Simon winced. "He must be one of the Assassin's Guild's Death Head Caucus: one of the dark Guilds. They don't get themselves involved in common jobs. They're the worst kind of Guild that specializes only in assassination requests. And then there's this team called Trinity Raven. They're the ones who assassinated every officer from the Western Army in the Cabria War. He's a professional assassin! You must not fight him. Don't do it, Salamander!" he warned, Natsu powering up nonetheless. "You can't fight against members of the Assassin's Guild."

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.