A/N: Episode 196.
Enjoy!
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE: SIN AND SACRIFICE
"Jellal..." Millianna muttered.
"Millianna!" Jellal exclaimed.
Ezekiel quickly slaps Jellal's hand away. "Millianna, wait!"
"It's okay, Zeke." Jellal informed.
"No, she needs to hear this. You do, too." Ezekiel said, facing Millianna. "Erza has forgiven Jellal. I've forgiven Jellal."
Jellal widened his eyes at Ezekiel's claim. "Why protect Jellal? He killed Simon!" Millianna argued. "I don't forgive him! I never will! I'm going to kill Jellal!"
"That wouldn't solve anything. You wouldn't get anything out of it, Millianna!" Ezekiel told her.
"So you're saying I should forgive him? You're wrong!" Millianna exclaimed.
"That's true. He is wrong."
Ultear soon appeared. "Ultear..." Jellal muttered.
"In the first place, your grudge against Jellal is misplaced." Ultear stated.
"Who are you?" Millianna questioned.
"I'm the woman who manipulated Jellal from the shadows." Ultear replied, confusing Millianna.
"You're lucky, boy. You get to meet a god. As the most powerful wizard in history, I am a god. Follow me. Hatred itself is my existence."
"You are one stubborn bastard, you know that? I can't wait to break you."
"Go to hell, Jellal!"
"Ooh, so vulgur."
"Stop it, Ultear!" Ezekiel said.
"That's the kind of woman I am." Ultear chuckled. "It just doesn't work for me. No matter how long I play at being on the side of justice... I'm just corrupt at heart."
"Did something happen?" Jellal questioned.
"Not especially. More importantly, this is no time to stand around and chat. Those mini-dragons are still crawling out of the woodwork. Let's split up and beat them. Also, kitty-cat..." Ultear paused, turning to Millianna.
"I'm the one who murdered Simon. And I'm the one who ordered the Tower of Heaven built." Ultear confessed. "If you want to hold that against me, survive. I'll give you a chance at revenge later on."
Ultear waved goodbye as she left.
"I... I don't understand any of this..." Millianna muttered in confusion.
Jellal looked up at the sky. "There's something wrong with this world."
"Even so, we have to live." Ezekiel stated.
A little ways away, Kagura sheathed Archenemy, lost in her own thoughts.
Jellal and Ezekiel have separated from Millianna. "Was it true what you said?" Jellal questioned as Ezekiel hummed. "Do you really forgive me, or was it an act to calm Millianna down?"
"My battle with Erza during the Games really opened my eyes. I could spend my whole life hating you, but then I wouldn't have truly moved on." Ezekiel responded.
"I'm trying to be a better man, Zeke. That's the honest truth."
"I'm glad. I'm sure Erza appreciates it."
"Who says I'm trying to be a better man for Erza?" Jellal questioned.
Ezekiel cocks an eyebrow in confusion. "Don't you and her have some complicated thing going on?"
"We almost kissed, but I told her that I liked someone else - and who they were. She was shocked but supported me." Jellal replied.
Ezekiel hummed. "Well, whoever that woman is, she's lucky to have you."
"Still as dense as ever, I see." Jellal thinks to himself as he smiled slightly.
"The only way to put the world back the way it was... is by killing Rogue..." Ultear told herself.
"The present-day Rogue hasn't done anything wrong. Kill him, you say... You want us to go down the wrong path, too?"
Akame's words rang in Ultear's ears as she dropped to the ground, clenching her fist. "This... is me..." She thought, standing back up and continuing on her way.
"What're you just standin' around for?!"
Rogue heard Sting's voice as he turned around. "Sting!" He exclaimed as Sting was running towards him.
"I'll give you a hand! Let's go!" Sting shouted.
"Did you take one of them down?" Rogue asked.
The dragon appeared behind Sting, crashing into some buildings. "Nope! I brought it with me!" He replied.
"What?!"
Sting laughed. "This is funny?!" Rogue questioned as Sting began running in place.
"No matter what anyone says, we're partners!" He claimed.
"Scissor Runner, my capture mission is quite a chore. Help me out."
"I don't care about that, Levia." Scissor Runner said as him and Levia looked down at Sting and Rogue. "I'm going to obliterate all the humans!"
"Let's show 'em the power of the Twin Dragons, Rogue!" Sting grinned.
"Sure." Rogue agreed as him and Sting stood back to back, facing Scissor Runner and Levia.
"That's right. As long as he's with me, everything's okay." Rogue thought as Sting winked and still had a grin on his face. "And if I become steeped in evil, I'm sure the light will kill me!"
Gray, Lyon, and Juvia dodged the incoming beam as Lyon leaped into the air, his fists placed together.
"Ice-Make: Snow Tiger!" Lyon called out as the beam destroyed the ice tiger,
"Ice Cannon!" Gray shouted as the ice cannon was destroyed.
"Gray-sama's Ice Cannon... was pulverized?" Juvia muttered to herself as Gray landed on the ground.
"It's not in my nature to be on the defensive end like this. Let's go, Lyon!" Gray said.
"Of course!" Lyon agreed.
"Ice-Make: Freeze Lancer!"
"Ice-Make: Snow Dragon!"
The two attacks combined, destroying three of the mini dragons and causing an explosion. However, three more showed up.
"Bastard!" Gray cursed.
"Secure the shields! Let's go!" Lyon said, rushing off.
"Gray-sama!" Juvia called for him.
"I know!" Gray responded as beams were shot at them. Both Gray and Lyon used their Ice Magic to put up a large ice shield around them, blocking the beams.
"Damn things keep poppin' up... I'm sick of ya!" Wakaba blew out some smoke.
Macao and Romeo were blasting purple fire from their hands. "Keep it up, Romeo!" Macao encouraged.
"I know!" Romeo said.
Macao and Romeo's attacks combined with Wakaba's as it made an explosion. Two of the mini dragons fired their beams at them as the three of them ducked down.
"Dammit! Those sons of bitches are tough!" Macao claimed.
"There's no end to 'em! What do we do, Macao?!" Wakaba asked.
"You're asking me?" Macao questioned.
"Are you giving up, Pop?" Romeo asked. "Are you givin' up?!"
"Idiot, who said anything about that?!"
Romeo fell forwards as Macao caught him by the shoulders. "I'm not gonna let you die on me." He claimed.
"Don't treat me like a little kid." Romeo looked up at his father. "Pop, I'm a Fairy Tail wizard, too!"
"Hey, father and son! No time for a tender moment! We got incoming!" Wakaba informed as the beams fired at their hiding spot.
Macao had shielded Romeo from the blast. "Romeo..."
"I've still... got a long way to go..." Romeo stated.
"Dammit. That hurt." Macao groaned, falling back.
"Cripes... I'm gettin' old, too. Good grief..." Wakaba commented.
"Are you a Dragon Slayer?" The rock dragon asked Cobra.
"Don't address me so familiarly. Your vile voice makes my ears ring. I'm in high spirits after being locked up for so long. I wanna absorb many voices. So don't get in my way, stone monstrosity!" Cobra claimed.
"Cheeky human!"
Cobra avoided the attack as he leaped into the air. "I can hear your attack!"
"I'll lend you a hand!" Ichiya offered.
"Out of the way, you extra!" Cobra declined, poison coming from his fist as he slammed it down on the dragon. "Poison Dragon's Sharp Horn!"
"You're calling me an extra...?!" Ichiya said, offended as he narrowly avoided the poison coming at him. "My rear is cooking! Men!"
Ichiya flew up in the air. "I warned you to get out of the way." Cobra said as the dragon roared once more. "Bastard. So that didn't work?"
"Crystal Dragon's Spear!" Quartz shouted, turning his left arm into a crystal spear as he struck the gold-colored dragon in front of him.
"Nothing's working, Quartz!" Peridot told him.
"I know! But I have to keep trying!" Quartz replied.
Akame was still riding on Ayuna. "You're built to last... but come on!" Akame challenged.
"One who has determination knows no defeat!" Future Rogue claimed.
"Is that right? Well, the same thing applies to me!" Akame said as Motherglare and Ayuna clashed.
Meanwhile, Ultear was walking through the destruction as the battle against the dragons raged on before she finally stopped and fell to her knees.
"He stopped me." Ultear thought as wind blew through her hair. "I didn't kill him, but that's not the point. I was about to kill an innocent human being! I was on the verge of snuffing out a person's life... without considering any consequences."
Ultear's hand shook. "I really haven't changed." She continued as a tear fell onto her palm. "What good is Crime Sorciére? My crimes can't be expunged."
Lucy was running through the debris holding a journal. "Where is everyone?!" She called out. "I have to tell them about this!"
A beam was suddenly shot at Lucy as she collapsed to the ground. "Ow..." She mumbled. Lucy looked up as she saw that she was surrounded by the mini dragons.
"The little dragons! Oh, no! I'm surrounded!" Lucy exclaimed as the dragons prepared to fire once more. "I don't have time to..."
Red hair suddenly moved Lucy out of the beams in time as she was raised in the air before she was let down. "What is this?" Lucy wondered as she looked back and saw Flare peeking out.
"Flare?! Um... Thanks!" Lucy thanked her before rushing off again.
"Take this!" Laxus shouted, firing lightning at Zirconis. "Wretch! You're outclassed, dirty old man!"
"I wonder how long you'll be able to prattle, snot-nosed brat." Zirconis claimed as Laxus continued firing lightning at him.
Zirconis, however, fired the attack right back as everyone else ducked. Laxus was attacked as he fell to the ground.
"When you call someone a snot-nosed brat, be sure you're prepared to face the blowback that goes with it!" Laxus shouted, attacking Zirconis with his lightning once more.
"Come! Bring it on, stripling!" Zirconis challenged.
"Bastard..." Laxus muttered.
Ezekiel continued to slash at the mini dragons before dodging the incoming beams. Jellal leaped into the air before shooting out black spheres that combined into a black hole attacking four of the dragons and destroying them while Ezekiel took down another.
"There are too many of them!" Ezekiel informed.
"That's unusual. Are you complaining, Zeke?" Jellal asked.
Ezekiel slashed another dragon. "It's not a complaint!" He responded.
"That's fine." Jellal turned around. "With the two of us together... we'll fight to the very end!"
"If I was a woman I would've fallen head over heels for that sappy ass line." Ezekiel commented, making Jellal chuckle.
Jet was helping Droy stand up. "Stand up, Droy!" Jet said, trying to support him. "You're heavy!"
"I can't! My legs won't listen to me..." Droy informed.
"Dammit! Get ahold of yourself, Droy." Jet told him as he struggled to lift Droy up. "This is why I'm always tellin' you to go on a diet!"
"Jet... You've done enough. Leave me here." Droy said.
"Idiot! Like I could do that... I'll move you through will alone!"
Three dragons fired their beams at the two as they both laid on the ground. "Damn, that hurt!" Droy exclaimed.
"That was close..." Jet sat up. "Come on, stand up... while you have the chance."
"I'm telling you... I can't... I'm worried about Levy. Please, even if it's you alone... go help her..."
"Stand up!" Jet winced. "Jeez... You're not makin' this easy... Feels like I've got one foot in the grave myself... I'm not going to help Levy alone. The two of us are goin' together."
Jet stands up again, supporting Droy. "I swear... we're gonna help her together..." He continued.
"Sorry I'm so heavy..."
"Don't give in! If your spirit breaks, it's all over, Droy!"
Another dragon came up and fired their beam at them.
Lucy continued running. "I have to tell them! I have to tell them all!" She claimed.
Arcadios, Lily, and Jim were fighting off the mini dragons while the royal guards surrounded Hisui to protect her.
Dawn was engulfed in a pink magical aura. "Take Over: Gabriel!" She shouted as she had yellow armor with yellow angel wings and a sash around her eyes. "Shrine of Turbulent Fang!"
Dawn swiped her arm as whirlwinds attacked the dragons.
"Fire Hearts!" Riku called out, creating some burning red hearts and sends them towards the dragons, which exploded on impact.
More dragons soon showed up. They were about to fire their beams at the two, but Riku created a barrier around himself and Dawn, firing the attack right back at the dragons.
"Let's see how you like this! Frost Dragon's Roar!" Julian released his breath attack on the dragon, causing an explosion. "Now, that had some effect."
However, the dragon was still standing. "Dammit! That didn't do anything either?!" Julian cursed.
In the sky, Mother Glare and Ayuna clashed again. "That's the way, Aunt!" Akame cheered.
"Mother Glare!" Future Rogue shouted.
Mother Glare lifted into the sky before diving down, causing Ayuna and Akame to crash. Mother Glare lifted into the sky again.
"That's what happens when you underestimate Dragon Manipulation Magic." Future Rogue claimed.
Ayuna and Akame appeared from the smoke. "I'm only just gettin' started!" Akame shouted as Ayuna rammed into Mother Glare.
Chii soon saw an explosion up ahead as Loji groaned. "Loji-san, are you okay?" Ajar asked.
"I'm fine." Loji reassured. "Jeez, It feels like winning the Grand Magic Games happened ages ago."
"Loji, Ajar, Atugia! You're all okay!" Chii appeared above them.
"Chii!"
Debris soon fell on top of them as Loji was clenching his arm. "Dammit! My arm..." He groaned.
"All right. You're still unharmed, right?" Ajar asked Chii.
"I'll call for help! Wait here!" Chii replied.
Chii was about to fly away but Atugia grabbed onto her tail, keeping her from going any further.
"What's wrong?" Chii questioned.
"We're fine. We don't need no help." Atugia replied.
"But you're all beat up." Chii argued.
"Don't worry about us."
"You heard the lady. We don't need any help. Get going, Chii." Loji said.
"But I can't leave you like this!"
"We're Twilight Phoenix wizards! There's nothing we can't overcome!" Ajar informed.
"Ajar is right." Loji agreed.
"Loji, you too?" Chii asked.
"We're fighting. Akame and the rest of our comrades... Right now is the time to fight!" Loji replied.
"Loji... Got it! But promise me."
"Promise?" Atugia quoted.
"Promise that you'll live through this!" Chii said.
"Okay, you got it. I promise." Ajar told her.
"Good!" Chii nodded.
More debris soon fell onto the three Twilight Phoenix wizards as Chii flew off.
Beams continued firing and causing explosions. "Juvia!" Meredy shouted out.
"Meredy!" Juvia exclaimed.
"Have you seen Ul? I got separated from her!" Meredy asked.
"I haven't seen her, but..." Juvia trailed off as beams were pointed right at Juvia and Meredy.
"Look out!" Gray warned as he grabbed onto Juvia and Meredy, making them duck for cover.
"Don't lose focus!" Lyon shouted as he froze another dragon. "This is a battleground!"
Gray and Meredy stood up. "Sorry!" Meredy apologized.
Juvia's face was red. "Gray-sama touched Juvia's behind..." She muttered.
"Juvia..." Gray called out her name, getting her attention. "Juvia, I want to tell you something."
Juvia sat up. "W-W-What is it?" She asked.
"Oh, it's not important..."
"It may be important to Juvia!"
"I can already tell this involves a huge misunderstanding." Meredy commented.
"Maybe he's going to confess his love for me..." Juvia thought as she clasped her hands over her mouth. "W-What should I do?!"
"Juvia!" Lyon shouted out suddenly.
A dragon aimed its beam at Juvia as Gray grabbed onto Juvia's shoulder, pushing her down and causing the beam to strike him instead. Lyon and Meredy watched with wide eyes.
More beams fired at him. "Huh?" Gray spoke in confusion.
Another beam soon struck Gray in the head as he collapsed to the ground.
"No!"
"Gray!"
Meanwhile, Ultear was still on her knees as a tear fell from her face. "I don't deserve... to live anymore..." She thinks to herself.
A/N: Another chapter is finished!
Thanks for reading!
~ Kaleb.