Chapter 391: A Rift in Time
"Wendy" asked Dante as he opened his eyes to see Wendy in his field of vision. A dull throbbing was radiating across Dante's body, the pain much less intense than it was when he lost consciousness. Smiling at her master, Wendy started to speak.
"You're going to be okay master, just let me finish healing you first" responded Wendy in a relieved tone. When Wendy ran into Erza, she was told that Dante was facing Acnologia alone in battle. Worried for her master's safety, Wendy pursued Dante and came across him collapsed on the ground. Seeing that Dante's injuries were bad, Wendy immediately got to work healing Dante.
"Thanks Wendy" responded Dante in a grateful tone as Wendy's healing magic poured into his body, melting away the pain as his injuries were slowly healed. Suddenly Dante remembered that he was supposed to be battling Acnologia and that he failed. Shooting up, Dante sat up as he continued to speak.
"Where's Acnologia" asked Dante in a worried tone as he looked around for any sign of the black dragon. Dante remembered watching as Acnologia morphed into his dragon form and he was worried that Erza and Irene were in danger. Taking a look around, Dante became even more curious since he wasn't where he lost consciousness. Confused where he was, Dante continued to speak.
"Come to think of it, where are we" asked Dante in a confused tone since it seemed like he was in the interior of a ship. Looking out a nearby window, Dante could see that they were in the sky and clearly moving at a decent pace.
"Are we flying" asked Dante in a confused tone. After saying these words Dante felt Wendy place her hand on his injured chest and began to heal him once again as she started to speak.
"Don't move around too much master, I still need to heal you" responded Wendy as she continued to heal Dante. Turning his attention back towards Wendy, Dante started to speak.
"I'm feel better now Wendy, you don't need to fuss over me right now" responded Dante as he stood up, glad that his injuries were mostly healed. Standing up, Dante repeated his earlier questions.
"Do you know where we are Wendy" asked Dante in a curious tone as he looked around. Standing up, Wendy started to speak.
"We are in the Christina" responded Wendy as Dante continued to look around.
"The Christina? Why are we here" asked Dante thinking that Wendy or someone else must have carried him on board the flagship of the Blue Pegasus guild. Instead of Wendy answering Dante's question, a familiar voice started to speak.
"We are here to put an end to Acnologia" responded Jellal in a serious tone as he walked over to Dante and Wendy. Following behind Jellal was Erza and a woman that looked vaguely like Lucy. Seeing Erza safe and sound, Dante rushed over to her and enveloped her in a strong hug as he started to speak.
"Erza you're okay. When I fell against Acnologia I feared he would go after you and Irene" stated Dante, hugging Erza tightly as he said these words. Smiling at her master's affection and concern for her, Erza returned the hug as she started to speak.
"I'm glad your okay also master. Acnologia did come after us, but Jellal showed up and helped us evade him" responded Erza as she enjoyed being in her master's warm and strong embrace. Taking a step back from Erza, Dante turned his attention towards Jellal as he started to speak.
"Thank you Jellal, I owe you a great debt" stated Dante, grateful that Jellal saved Erza and Irene. Shaking his head, Jellal started to speak.
"You owe me nothing, what I did was merely atonement for my past crimes" responded Jellal in a serious tone. Nodding his head in understanding, Dante started to speak.
"You said we are putting an end to Acnologia, but how" asked Dante in a curious tone. Dante thought that the only way to stop Acnologia was to use his final trump card and he was sure that Jellal knew nothing about that. Instead of Jellal answering Dante's question, the blond woman started to speak.
"I can answer that. As I'm sure you already know Acnologia is impossible to beat in just a normal fight since he can absorb all form of magical power" responded the blond woman as she stepped forward. Nodding his head in agreement, Dante started to speak.
"Yah Acnologia's ability to absorb all magic is a huge problem but who are you" asked Dante in a curious tone, confused why this woman he had never meet reminded him of Lucy. Smiling at Dante, the blond woman started to speak.
"Sorry I forgot to introduce myself" responded the blond woman in a friendly tone before she continued to speak.
"My name is Anna Heartfilia, and I am from the past four hundred years ago" responded Anna to the shock of Dante. After Anna said these words, Dante turned his attention towards Erza to see what she thought about this reveal. Smiling at her master, Erza started to speak.
"I was shocked at first also but what Anna says is the truth, you can trust her master" responded Erza with a smile. Nodding his head in understanding, Dante turned his attention back towards Anna as he started to speak.
"That is a lot to take in. How could you be from the past? The eclipse gate is the only way to time travel and that was destroyed" asked Dante in a confused tone. Smiling at Dante, Anna started to speak.
"The eclipse gate was destroyed in your time but not in mine. Since I am from the past, the destruction of the eclipse gate didn't affect me being in this timeline unlike if someone from the future travel backwards" responded Anna. Nodding his head in understanding Dante started to speak.
"That makes sense" responded Dante as he remembered that future Rouge vanished when the eclipse gate was destroyed because his being in the present timeline was dependent on the past eclipse gate not being destroyed. Still not understanding how they were supposed to put an end to Acnologia, Dante continued to speak.
"Okay you're from the past and obviously you are Lucy's ancestor. I still don't know how we are supposed to end Acnologia" stated Dante in a curious tone. After Dante said these words, Anna explained her plan to put an end to Acnologia. After Anna's explanation, Dante started to speak.
"A rift in time? Something like that really exists" asked Dante in a shocked tone. Nodding her head, Anna started to speak.
"Yes it does. I spent many years studying it, and I can say that once trapped there is no escape. If we can lead Acnologia into the time rift then he will be trapped there for all of time" responded Anna. Nodding his head in understanding, Dante started to speak.
"Okay but how are you going to trap Acnologia in the" Dante started to say before things clicked in his head. Suddenly Dante understood why they were on the Christana and why they were moving at a fast pace. With a look of shock spreading across his face, Dante continued to speak.
"Wait don't tell me Acnologia is following us right now" asked Dante in a shocked tone. As if to answer his question, a mighty roar sounded indicating that the black dragon was indeed in pursuit of them.
"So the plan is to lead Acnologia into the time rift by using us as the bait" asked Dante. Nodding her head, Anna started to speak.
"Yes that is the plan" responded Anna. After Anna said these words Ichiya spoke over the speaker system.
"We have a bit of a problem. The Christiana won't reach the time rift before Acnologia catches up with us" stated Ichiya over the speaker system.
"We have to do something" stated Wendy in a worried tone. Without a word, Dante started to walk away from the group as Jellal did the same. Turning her attention towards Dante and Jellal, Erza started to speak.
"Where are you going master" asked Erza in a concerned tone since she already knew Dante's answer. Turning around to face Erza, Dante started to speak.
"If the plan is to trap Acnologia then we need to get to the time rift before he catches up with us. I'm going out there to make slow that bastard down a bit" responded Dante as Jellal nodded his head in agreement, showing that he intended to do the same. Seeing the look of protest on Erza's face, Dante smiled at her as he continued to speak.
"I'll be fine Erza, I promise" stated Dante with a warm and loving tone. Despite worry filling her, Erza knew that she wouldn't be able to convince Dante to stay put. Knowing that Dante and Jellal could handle themselves and they were the only two among them that could maneuver well enough in the air, Erza started to speak.
"You better come back to me master" responded Erza in a tone that told Dante he would be in major trouble if he died. Giving Erza an amused smile, Dante started to speak.
"I will Erza, I'll see you real soon" responded Dante with an amused smile before he started to walk away from Erza and the others. Soon Dante and Jellal were standing on the main deck of the flying ship, looking out as Acnologia quickly gained on them. Turning his attention towards Jellal, Dante started to speak.
"Are you ready" asked Dante as he channeled his magical power and transformed into his Arc Angel form. As Dante spread his wings wide, Jellal started to speak.
"I've been ready to atone for my sins for years now. Today is the day I achieve my atonement" responded Jellal as he began to channel his magical power. After Jellal said these words, Dante and Jellal flew into the air. Speeding towards Acnologia, Dante started to shout.
"Over here you stupid lizard" yelled Dante as he fired multiple beams of holy energy, doing nothing but annoying the black dragon as they crashed into him. Using his magical power to fly through the air, Jellal shouted at the black dragon.
"You're not scared of us are you" asked Jellal as he fired multiple magical attacks at Acnologia. Together Dante and Jellal continued to pester Acnologia with attacks, hoping that they could divert his attention for a few moments. After a few moments of pestering Acnologia with attacks, Dante smiled as the black dragon turned his attention towards them. With a mighty roar, the black dragon swung a claw at Dante and Jellal. As Dante and Jellal narrowly avoided the attack, Dante started to speak.
"You're going to have to try a lot harder than that" stated Dante in a mocking tone, wanting to further anger Acnologia so he wouldn't catch up to the Christina. Roaring at Dante and Jellal, Acnologia continued to attack them. After serval minutes Dante smiled as Acnologia unknowingly crashed into the time rift. Seeing the black dragon being pulled into the time rift, Dante started to speak.
"Hah take that you stupid lizard" stated Dante with a smile. After Dante said these words Acnologia let out a mighty roar as he began to fight against being pulled into the time rift. Seeing that Acnologia was slowly pulling himself out of the time rift, Dante continued to speak.
"Damn are you serious? How strong is this guy" asked Dante in an annoyed tone. Acnologia continued to pull himself out of time rift, it being obvious that something needed to be done. Knowing that if Acnologia got out of the time rift he would go after the Christina, Jellal crashed into Acnologia. Realizing what Jellal was doing, Dante started to speak.
"What the hell man? What do you think you are doing" asked Dante, hoping that Jellal's answer was something other than what Dante knew the answer would be.
"I'm atoning for my sins. Acnologia won't escape, I'll make sure that he is pulled into the time rift" responded Jellal as he continued to push Acnologia into the time rift. As Dante continued to watch Jellal push Acnologia into the time rift, he started to speak.
"Don't be an idiot, there's got to be another way" Dante started to say before he noticed that the Christina was flying towards them. Suddenly the Christina crashed into Acnologia, Jellal falling away as the black dragon was pushed into the time rift along with the Christina. Using his magical power to stop his fall, Jellan and Dante watched as the black dragon was trapped within the time rift. For a few moments Dante was worried Erza and the others were abroad the Christina until he noticed a small patch of land that they were all on. Landing on the small patch of land, Dante reverted back to his normal form as he rushed over to Erza and the others.
"I thought you guys were on board" stated Dante in a relieved tone as he enveloped Erza and Wendy in a strong hug. After taking a moment to hug Erza and Wendy, Dante realized that a few people were missing. Stepping back from Erza and Wendy, Dante started to speak.
"Where is Anna" asked Dante as he looked around. Seeing the worried looks from Jenny and the Trimens, Dante continued to speak.
"I don't see Ichiya around either" stated Dante hoping that those two weren't on board the Christina as it crashed into Acnologia. With tears in her eyes, Wendy started to speak.
"They stayed on board to make sure the operation was a success. They sacrificed themselves to ensure Acnologia was trapped in the time rift" responded Wendy in a tearful expression. Not knowing what else to do, Dante comforted Wendy by hugging her. While Wendy cried into his arms, Dante said a silent thank you to Anna and Ichiya. Anna and Ichiya had just saved the entire world with their sacrifice, the black dragon was gone till the end of time.
End of Chapter 391