edited chapter 19
It would take them two days to get there, and the entire time Erza never looked so weak.
But she manages to pull through it with Natsu and Ultear by her side, and Cobra was grinning the entire time.
His thoughts were going over his life since he left the tower, especially the purple-haired barmaid.
Juvia was sitting there with a smile as she was finally able to pay back Gray for clearing the path out of her misery.
They now stood on the coast with the tower off in the distance.
Natsu called out to Simon via curse. He was ready and waiting for them.
There Rendezvous points at the bottom of the tower where the tunnel connects to the ocean.
"Wait, you caught that scent too, Erik?"
"Yeah, shouldn't be surprised."
"Who?" Erza had to ask.
Half an hour later
Standing before them was Gray, and Lucy unable to look them in the eyes.
Juvia was fighting off a blush. Natsu, Ultear, and Happy had smirks on their faces.
Cobra and Sebastian had unreadable expressions.
And Erza had an unreadable expression. "Leave now both of you," she demanded
"No!" Gray said fiercely, causing Erza to glare at them menacingly.
"Erza remembers what you said on Galuna," he stated.
Erza bangs covered her eyes as the memory of her speech to Ultear and Gray played back in her mind.
"You can choose to run away and hide or stand up and fight."
She felt a hand on her shoulder. She looks to see Natsu with his famous grin.
"We're a team, Erza. So what one person problem is all of ours," Lucy chimed in.
A small smile formed on her face, with a few tears streaming down her eye.
"Fine, you can join, BUT if it gets too difficult for you, don't hesitate to run and save yourself is that clear!"
"You don't have to worry about that, Erza!" Gray added.
He looks to Juvia, "nice to see you again, Juvia," he said with a smile.
Juvia had a blush on her face at his comment.
Natsu and Ultear traded glances, and unknown to them, Ur had a grin of her own.
"So I got word from Simon he'll be waiting for us Juvia mind giving us a hand," Natsu said with a hand like so.
"Yes"
With her help, they made it to the tower with ease.
They were all given water bubbles to breathe underwater and made it to the tower in secret.
The moment they got out of the water, Erza locked eye with Simon, both having a smile.
"It's good to see you again, Erza."
"As am I, Simon"
"So, what the plan?" Gray asked
"Erza going to face Jellal, and I'm going with as back up. So don't try and fight me, Erza, and you all with follow Simons lead," Natsu explained.
He looked around and, based on their facial expressions. They didn't argue.
Simon did his part in explaining what was going in the tower and what to expect.
"I should point this out now. Try and refrain from killing anyone as this all points to Jellal," Natsu added, getting nods from everyone.
"Sebastian, I want you to stay with Happy. Happy, I want you to circle the tower and give either me Ultear or Simon anything that catches your eye,"
"Aye, sir."
They went their separate ways to do as they were told.
"Erza?"
"Yeah, Natsu, I just want to make it clear when we're dealing with Jellal. I'll leave him in your hands, but if you go too far, I will step in."
Erza didn't say anything for a few minutes, "thank you, Natsu, Ultear was right."
"Hmm"
"It was during our conversation on Galuna."
"I heard," he said with a grin.
With the others.
Cobra, Gray went on to take out the main force.
"We should be coming up to the barrack. Are you two ready."
"Yeah, let's show these clowns who they're messing with," Cobra said with a grin.
Ultear Juvia and Lucy's job was to follow up the others, taking out any stragglers.
With Jellal
"Seems we have some unwanted guests" he looks to the Trinity raven, "please show them the door."
"There are three groups we should each target one group," a man with an owl for a head said.
"Titania, all mine," the pink-haired woman said.
"I'll handle those fine ladies," the last one who is a rocker said.
"I'll handle Simon and his group," the last one said before going their separate ways.
With Natsu and Erza
The two were gradually scaling the tower before a woman approached them with long pink hair.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the famed titania Erza," she said as she drew her sword.
But Natsu and Erza drew their swords and a dagger in case.
"Natsu, I'll handle her as I'm the better swordsmen of the two of us."
"Ok, then I'll keep anyone from interrupting," he said, taking a few steps back with his blade at the ready.
While Erza was fighting off, Ikaruga Natsu was thinking over his conversation with her about Jellal sudden change, and from what Ultear mentions, he was bringing possed by Veronica.
It was also at this time they had an uninvited guest showed up.
The person in question had Blond hair, which he quickly incapacitated while Erza was continuing her fight.
Erza was three armor into this fight before switching to her clear heart armor.
Natsu just stood there with sho as Erza took down Ikaruga with a single strike.
Erza turns to face Natsu only to be stunned to see sho before her. "I'll leave you two alone for a little bit," he said, going past Erza.
The conversation was brief, but it was a heartwarming one as she finally found peace with Erza.
When Erza faced Natsu, he was down by Ikaruga, "Natsu, what are you doing?"
"Remember, our objective is to stop Jellal, and I want to keep the body count to a minimum."
He then cauterized Ikaruga's wound, causing her to scream in pain before passing out.
Erza had a slightly guilty look here in her eyes. "Relax, Erza, this is why I came with you to keep you from doing something you'll regret. Besides, we might have a new ally in the future and a proper sparring partner for you," he said with a grin.
Erza couldn't stop the smile from forming on her face, "thank you, Natsu."
"No problem, so what are we going to do about him," he pointed to sho.
"Sho, you need to find the others and get out of here. The tower will be destroyed when we're done here," she said sternly.
"No, I won't leave you after being separated from you for so long."
"I know, but it's not safe for you here."
"But-"
"Enough as my battle just shown you could die if you stay here any longer, and I don't want that," she said through tears.
He was taken aback at this before guilt weight in on him "fine, just when this is all over, make sure you still be the Erza we know and love," he said smile.
"I don't know that might be hard for Erza after knowing her so long," Natsu teased.
Erza and sho could only glare at him. "I'm kidding, but we have a job to do, Erza."
Erza gave sho one final hug before heading off with Natsu "please stay alive, Erza," sho whipered.
With Cobra, Gray & Simon
They were dealing with the main force.
They didn't make any lethal blow, but enough to get the message across, it's better to run than fight.
As they ascended the tower, they ran across a man with a jetpack with a head like an owl.
"Careful, it's Fukuro, a member of the assassin group known as Trinity raven."
"Ah, you know of us that makes introductions easier."
"Mind if I take this guy on," Cobra walks forward with a sadistic grin.
"Be careful and were not here to kill anyone. Natsu wouldn't want that," Gray throws in.
"I know otherwise. The flames prince would have my head."
"Flame Prince? Well, that just won't do as he could put a damper on Jellal's plan," Fukuro said as his head turned upside down for a moment.
"I'm ready when you are," Cobra said as his fist started radiating poison.
Gray and Simon took a few steps back as they don't want to get caught in the crossfire.
Suddenly Cobra's arms turn crimson red, taking on a draconic appearance "POISON DRAGON TWIN FANG" Two whips of poison lash out toward Fukuro.
Fukuro, with the help of his jetpack, dodges most of them but was quick enough to get nailed on his right leg.
Cobra smirked at this "POISON DRAGON SPIRAL JAW" with the poison in his legs. Then, he jumps toward him while using his twin fang attack.
He flipped around the room, succeeding in nailing Fukuro with poison attack after poison attack.
It wasn't long before Fukuro was starting to get sloppy with his attack and dodging.
Cobra let off on his attack as his poison was doing its work.
"What did you do to me" Fukuro struggled to say as he is having trouble keeping his jetpack steady.
"When someone is hit with my poison, a virus is put in their system, slowly wearing them down."
"I underestimated you," he said weakly with a pained look.
"Never underestimate Fairy tail," he said with a smirk getting a grin out of Gray and Simon.
Using his magic, Cobra launched toward him, nailing him hard in the gut knocking him out cold as they landed with a thud.
"Is he gonna be alright?" Gray asked
"Yeah, I only used enough poison to incapacitate him. So he won't die, or Natsu would have my head."
"Hmm, what are we waiting for? Let go," Simon said as they continued onwards.
With Ultear Lucy and Juvia
They were ascending the tower at a leisurely pace when they met up with a man with long hair and a guitar.
"Well, I got Lucky. I get to face some fine females, the names, Vidaldus," he said with a wicked grin.
All three females shutters at his tone of voice but quickly put it aside as he was an enemy.
"Let me handles this," Ur said as she appeared out of nowhere.
"Are you sure, mother? You haven't been able to hold your form for very long."
"Yes, as this is the perfect test to see where I stand after being Ice for a decade," she got into her maker stance.
"Well, who is this fine lady?"
"The names Ur Milkovich mother of Ultear Dragneel and master of Gray Fullbuster," she said with a proud smirk.
"I don't know where you came from, but let's see what you got against my musical prowess."
"Yes, Let's, ICE-MAKE GATLING GUN," a gun made of pure ice formed before shooting a barrage of ice spikes toward her opponent.
With one stroke of guitar, those ice spikes were stopped dead in their tracks, "gonna have to do better than that!"
"I know I was just testing you" she still held her smirk, but this time with the firm expression, "ICE-MAKE SHARD FLOOR," she slapped her hands on the ground as jagged shards of ice sprung out of the ground.
The shards raced towards Vidaldus with breakneck speed, but with a few strokes of his guitar, they were gone, or so he thought.
The shards grew back with even sharper points replacing the ones he destroyed.
"Damn these things tougher than I thought" with his guitar. He pushed himself up into the air before landing on a platform above the spikes.
"Woah" were the three females' responses to Ur's attack.
"Like it, I've been working on this one before iced shell," she said with a grin getting nods from them.
"How?" was Ultear response.
"When I cast the spell, I pulsated my magic into the ice so they can regenerate broken pieces."
"I'll have to learn that trick, and Gray will want to as well," she added.
"When this is all over, I'll gladly show you two how it's done, but first, I have to take care of him."
She slammed her hand on the ground causing the spike to regrow even height and sharper. They chased Vidaldus off the platform.
"Damn, these could be a problem" then he saw the blue-haired woman standing by her lonesome, a wicked grin formed on his face.
Using his hair, he cleared away the ice, but it could only last for a moment as Ur was regenerating it as fast as he could destroy it.
One of the hair whips struck Juvia but passed right through her water body.
"This just got interesting," he declared, "ROCK OF SUCCUBUS," he shouted, playing a song causing both Ultear and Lucy to cover their ears.
Ur didn't have to worry as she was in spirit form, but Juvia, on the other hand, could not thanks to her water body.
The song reverberated in her being, allowing him to gain control of her.
When the spell was finished, she was wearing a very skimpy outfit with a wicked grin "yall going to hell," she said before unleashing her water magic on them.
But to her surprise, it was completely frozen after a few seconds, "you'll have to do better than that if you want to impress Gray Juvia," Ur spat.
And so began a fight between water and ice as they traded blows. But, much to Juvia's frustration, she wasn't making any progress.
"I'm nearly at my limit. I better end this quickly, ICE-MAKE FERAL SHARD FLOOR" unlike last time, these shards was far more aggressive and sharper.
Much to Juvia's best efforts, she was quickly overrun and frozen in ice.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break free.
Vidaldus was visibly scared as try as he might. This ice would instantly regenerate after he destroyed it.
In a moment, he was encased in a thick block of ice.
For good measure, the ice grew to the size of a house with him in the center.
They assume victory when his spell wore off on Juvia when she returned to her standard form, and with Ur's help, she is freed from her icy prison.
"Better Juvia," Ur said, holding her hand out.
"Yes, thank you" she took her hand got before phasing through her.
"Looks like I reached my limit" she rubbed the back of her neck with a light chuckle.
"What about him?" Lucy pointed out
"Oh, he'll be fine. But, unfortunately...for him, that ice is colder and stronger than my usual, so he'll be frozen for some time."
"How do you know that?" lucy said in a slightly scared tone after realizing how powerful Ur is.
"You can't see it, but that shards are growing in all directions inside the ice, strengthening each other, and he just returned to his what I can only assume is his normal form," she chirped.
"You really are amazing, mother," Ultear said with a smile, causing Ur to mirror her smile.
"Well, I better rest up then," she returned into the necklace.
"Who was that a moment ago?" Juvia asked
"That was my mother and the wizard who taught Gray his magic," She informed.
"Hows is that possible?"
Ultear went into detail about how her mother is with them now, and she had a smile like no tomorrow.
"Let keep going, girls," they followed Ultear's lead.
With Natsu and Erza
Erza was, for the second time shedding tears as she was embracing Millianna after a heartfelt apology for leaving them behind.
"It's terrific to see you again, Erza," she said through tears.
"Same here, but you have to leave this place and soon!"
"but I don't want to leave you!"
"I know, but it's too dangerous for you because when we're done here, this tower will be destroyed."
"Hmm, I understand. I'll meet up with sho by Happy and Sebastian" she waved off the two exceed sitting on Natsu's shoulders.
"You owe me big Natsu for showing up," Happy informed.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure you get a barrel of fish when we get back to fairy tail."
"Aye, sir," he shouts before they continue their circle around the tower.
"Come on, Erza, we still have to take care of Jellal."
"Right," they continued onwards.
While Natsu and Erza continued toward Jellal, the other was doing their best to take out as many of Jellal followers as they can
With Gray, Cobra, and Simon.
"Simon, you trader, we were going to heaven, and you had to stop us," a man made out of blocks shouts.
"Sorry, Wally, but there is no paradise in this tower," he stares at his friends, who are currently restrained in devil ice thanks to Gray.
"So, what do you want us to do with him?" Gray asked, leaning with his hand on the ice.
"I just checked with Natsu, Sho and Millianna are no longer a threat, but we can't leave him here."
"Why don't we just throw him out into the water" Cobra added.
"From this height, No!" Gray shouts.
"Wally, you need to understand something about Jellal," Simon said sternly.
Several minutes later
"Your kidding!" he heard about this for years, but he never believed it wholeheartedly.
"Yes, Jella plans to sacrifice her to bring back Zeref, which will bring damnation to Fiore."
"But-"
"And how do you know this, Simon?" Gray asked
"I've been in this tower for eight years. Believe me. I've had plenty of time to know what Jellal is up to. If he succeeds, Erza will die, and Wally, I know deep down you don't want that do you?"
At first, he was hesitant, "you're right, I don't want that," he said in defeat.
"Good, and you better not be lying, or I might actually throw you in the water from here!"
"YES, I'm serious. I'll meet up with Sho and Millianna waiting for you guys to finish" Gray then broke him free from the ice.
"I suggest you convince anyone you come across to leave the tower."
"Just don't die, Simon," Wally said before leaving them.
As Natsu and Erza continued upward, the others forced everyone to leave the island, waiting near the shore.
"So how much longer do you think it will take for them to beat Jellal," Gray said from the last remaining boat.
"No clue, but now we wait for them" Ultear through in with a concerned tone. Suddenly the top of the tower blows up in a cloud of dust.
"That's Natsu for you," Happy chimed in.
Era magic council
The magic council just learned the news of the eighth tower controlled by Jellal.
"These pictures are from Natsu's recon of the area after hearing words of disappearances around there," Yajima informed.
"I'd like to know why you didn't bring this up till now?" Veronica asked
"We felt it wasn't worth mentioning as disappearances is a more local matter, and the council has more urgent things to deal with," Org informed
"And where is Natsu Dragneel now?" she asked.
"If I know him, he dealing with it as we speak."
"Looks like I'll have to destroy the council now,"
This entire time Siegrain just stayed silent as he was forced to deal with a particular Lizard in his side.
"If Dragneel is dealing with it, there's nothing we should worry about. After all, he is a wizard saint," Yajima said.
"All we can do now is wait for his response, but is it possible to get Surveillance on the area?"
"No, as our navy ships in the past few weeks have been destroyed. now that we know what's out there."
"Maybe not since Dragneel is handling it."
"I agree," Seigrain said"
This shocked Veronica somewhat. It hit her that she hasn't been too preoccupied with other matters to keep his resistance from her possession in check.
"We'll send one ship, but make sure, but it needs to keep its distance," Org ordered.
"So, what should we do now?" Veronica.
"What I'm wondering who is in control of the tower since the worshipers of Zeref are long gone?"
"My twin brother," Jella through in
"On what grounds, Seigrain!" Org demanded
"The bond we share as brothers tells me so."
"Should we not have a contingency plan in case Dragneel fails?" Veronica interjected.
"Are you doubting the strength of a wizard saint Veronica?"
"Not at all. I just want to make sure if he fails, that tower no longer exists soon."
"And how would you go about that?"
"Etherion"
"WHAT?"
"I said it; with it, we can guarantee its destruction."
"No, that is out of the question."
"Veronica Etherton is far too powerful, considering the location is just off the coast."
"That would allow us to keep the collateral damage to a minimum," she chirped.
"I have to agree with Veronica. But, let's face it, Dragneel is hiding something from the council. It may have repercussions if we don't tighten that loose end," a man with sunglasses and a blue cloak said.
"I stand firmly against it," Yajima declares with a fierce look in his eyes.
"We only need a majority to fire it. What do you think, Seigrain?" she said as she tightens her control over him.
"I have to agree if Dragneel fails, then we must take matters into our own hands."
"Good Jellal"
"That makes three. All we need is two more."
They debated this for several minutes until they got a majority vote.
"I say we give Natsu more time before firing. He told me he would let us know when he's done," Yajima said.
"Fine, it will take time for Etherion to charge," Org said
"I'll take my leave then," Yajima said before despairing in a flash of light.
"I was the one who brought it up, so I'll be near the square," she said
"As will I," Org said
"I have other matters to deal with, so I'll take my leave as well," Seigrain said before disappearing.
Jellal had his thought projection return to him as he'll need all his strength to deal with Natsu and Erza.
With Natsu and Erza
Natsu just blew out the last of some heavy iron door, "you ready, Erza?"
"Yes, and thanks for coming with me. Ultear sure is Lucky to have someone like you" she had a serine tone in her voice, causing him the blush.
"Let just get this over with," he said in a rush causing her to giggle.
When they finally made it to the top, they were greeted with Jellal sitting before them.
"About time you showed up," he had a wicked grin on his face standing up, "who will be my first opponent."
"I will, Jellal, after all. This is my mess to clean up," she said with conviction.
"I stand with her," Natsu through in.
"Very well, then I've wanted to see which one of us is stronger. Erza will make for an excellent warm-up" he threw off his coat.
Knowing she'll need all the power she can muster, she requiped in her war god armor.
"This is new."
"Yes, in the time I left the tower, I became the godsend of one of the 18 war gods. So now fight me like a man."
She charged at him with a lance intending to end this fight quickly and diligently as possible.
But unfortunately, Jellal, with his heavenly body magic, was too quick for her.
She blocked with her shield, and to his surprise, it absorbed his attack, no problem causing her to smirk.
"This could prove troublesome," but he didn't have time to dwell.
Her lance shifted forms to a sword and unleashed the magic he dealt with her back at him with great ferocity.
"Surprised as am I when I first learned this armor allows me to absorb my enemy magic so I can throw it back at them. You in for a rude awakening, Jellal" she got into a battle stance once more.
Suddenly the crystal on her armor changes colors from light to heavenly body magic. causing her to smile, "it seems I can unlock new magic from my enemies."
"Crap,"
With this new magic, Erza could keep up with him no matter how fast he moved.
The battle was long and fierce. Finally, both combatants were on their last leg.
Erza armored had done its job absorbing his magic, but it couldn't stack up to the brute force he was throwing at her.
It had a few dents and a few cracks here and there, but it was holding up against Jellal heavenly body magic.
Erza wouldn't admit it, but she was nearly out of magic as the armor uses a tremendous amount to maintain.
It goes to show she has a long way to go before she mastered it.
Natsu watched this whole fight with a heavy heart, he wanted to help her, but she needed to do this herself.
That's what happened in the old timeline. Only when she could fight no more did he step in and defeat Jellal.
Just as Erza was about to move, she was stopped in her tracks. She looks down and sees a red tape of some kind slithering around her body, the bind snake spell.
"I slipped that into you when I last punched you."
"Natsu!" she looks to see him in it as well.
"I made sure to leave one on the ground before you entered just for you, Flame prince."
Natsu struggled to break free, and to his horror, Jellal was casting the same spell that killed Simon.
"Damn it, break free" with all his might, he manages to break free and runs towards Erza as fast as he could.
Knowing he wouldn't make it, he had to use those flames. "AZURE DRAGON ROAR," he shouts, a blistering beam of blue fire shoot out of his mouth, catching the Altairis.
Jella smirk at first before shock overcomes him as the blue flames burn away his spell.
"Damn it, I was afraid of this," Natsu shouts as the flames start to spread, coming closer and closer to Erza.
Erza struggled to break free.
Luck was on her side, and Natsu jumped in the way, taking the flames.
And surprisingly enough, the heat from the flames freed Erza from the bind snake.
Natsu, for his part, was using all his strength to control the flames and managed to put them out.
"Sorry about that, Erza, and if you hadn't guessed, this is why I rarely use these flames."
"I had a feeling you were hiding stronger flames, but I'm glad you stopped them."
Jellal suddenly came out of nowhere, giving Natsu a devastating punch sending him flying.
"Now, where were we, Erza."
Seeing Natsu punch away to set a fire in Erza heart, she felt incredible strength well up inside her.
She pushed Jella away with relative ease.
She looks to Natsu only to see him shakily standing up clearly in pain, giving her the fairy tail salute.
She couldn't see them, but she knew Gray, Lucy, and the others who came with her were giving her the salute.
With all her willpower, she charges at Jellal, dealing blow after blow nonstop, not giving him a chance to counter before she planted him on the ground.
She brought her sword down on him, intending to end this, suddenly she hears blood dripping.
She looks to Jellal only to see and hand stopping her blade before connecting with Jellal.
"It's over, Erza. You beat him."
that it for this chapter
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