Disclaimer: I don't own FGO or Fairy Tail. The former belong Type Moon meanwhile the latter belong to Hiro Mashima.
"..." = Talking.
'...' = Though.
Last time
"Wendy, are you alright?" Morgan called, her voice calm yet firm. Wendy, however, ignored her, her gaze unfocused and distant. Confused, Morgan approached and gently touched Wendy's shoulder. "I asked you again, are you alright?"
Wendy's eyes darkened, and a cloudy haze seemed to obscure her mind. She remained unresponsive until her palm began to glow with a sinister light. Morgan felt a sharp, stinging energy pulsate through her arm, and she quickly shook Wendy off, managing to free herself from the strange grip. To Morgan's shock, a twisted smile spread across Wendy's face, one that was far from innocent or inviting.
"Sky Dragon Roar!" Wendy shouted as a magic circle appeared and fired a hurricane-like blast at Morgan, who avoided it easily.
'What's happening to her?' Morgan thought as she saw Wendy's strange behavior. Then it hit her—'Could it be because of Nirvana?' She glanced toward the pillar of light.
As Morgan glanced toward the pillar of light, she noticed Wendy staring at her with a sinister smile. Knowing how out of character this was for Wendy, she realized she had to do something to bring her back to normal. Unbeknownst to Wendy, she was acting as if everything was normal, but there was something deeply wrong with her that she herself couldn't recognize.
She had fallen into darkness because Nirvana had affected her
With Morgan and Wendy.
Morgan dodged and weaved through Wendy's relentless attacks, the forest floor erupting with blasts of magical energy. Wendy's strikes were fierce and wild, driven by the dark influence of Nirvana. Morgan watched her with a calculating gaze, analyzing her movements and waiting for the right moment to strike back.
"Wendy, snap out of it!" Morgan called, but her words fell on deaf ears. Wendy's eyes were empty, her face twisted with a malevolent smile that wasn't her own.
Realizing that reasoning with Wendy was futile in her current state, Morgan knew she needed to act decisively. As Wendy launched another attack, Morgan sidestepped and closed the distance between them in a flash. She channeled her magecraft into a single, precise strike, aiming to incapacitate Wendy without causing lasting harm.
"Morgause!" Morgan's voice rang out as she released a concentrated burst of magical energy, summoning her spear. A dark flame shot forth, striking Wendy squarely in the chest. The force of the impact knocked the wind out of Wendy, breaking the dark spell's hold over her. She collapsed to the ground, the twisted smile fading from her face.
Morgan knelt beside Wendy, her expression unreadable. She extended her hand and channeled a soothing, purifying energy into Wendy's body, countering the effects of Nirvana with her own powerful magecraft.
"Wendy, wake up," Morgan commanded, her voice gentle yet firm.
Wendy stirred, her eyes fluttering open. As she regained her senses, the memories of her actions flooded back. She recoiled in horror, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Lady morgan... I... I attacked you..."
Morgan regarded her with a steady gaze. "You were under Nirvana's influence. It wasn't your fault."
Wendy shook her head, sobbing. "I healed Jellal... I put everyone in danger... I'm useless. I'm a burden to everyone, including my team."
Morgan was silent for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, with a snap of her fingers, a majestic throne materialized behind her. The throne itself was an architectural marvel, combining elements of nature and sophistication. It was framed by an elegant archway adorned with delicate spires, giving it a regal and almost celestial appearance.
The throne sat upon a raised platform, accessible by a series of broad steps that enhanced its grandeur. The entire structure appeared to be made of crystalline material, shimmering in shades of blue and white, which added to the otherworldly ambiance. She took a seat, her eyes fixed on Wendy, who looked surprised and amazed.
"Talk," Morgan ordered, her voice firm but not unkind. Wendy hesitated, but the weight of her guilt compelled her to speak. She started slowly, her voice trembling with insecurity.
"I met Grandeeney when I was around four years old," Wendy began, her eyes downcast. "She was Sky Dragon, and she took care of me until she disappeared in X777. After that, I was alone, scared, and wandering aimlessly. That's when I met Jellal, seven years ago."
Morgan listened intently, not interrupting. Wendy continued, finding it easier to talk now that the words had started to flow.
"He found me when I was lost and afraid. He was alone too, and we formed an instant connection. Jellal asked if I wanted to join him on his journey, and without a second thought, I accepted. We traveled together across the countryside. He became like a big brother to me, always watching out for me and teaching me how to survive."
Wendy's voice faltered, and she took a deep breath before continuing. "Then one day, Jellal started acting strange. He told me he needed to leave. It came out of nowhere and it hurt so much. I felt abandoned again, like I was the problem, like I drove people away. Cait Shelter found me after that. I met Carla, who hatched from an egg and has been with me ever since. She's strict and serious, but she cares about me and tries to help me break out of my timid personality."
Morgan's gaze remained steady, her expression unchanged as she absorbed Wendy's story.
"The reason I joined this mission to destroy Oracion Seis was to find Natsu and ask him about Grandeeney's disappearance. But then I made an awful decision. I healed Jellal, and now I feel like I've put everyone in danger. I can't be useful; I don't have any offensive abilities. I'm the weakest compared to everyone else. I should never have come here or joined the alliance."
Wendy's voice broke, and she buried her face in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm useless... I'm a burden to everyone, including my teammates..."
Morgan remained silent for a few moments, allowing Wendy's words to hang in the air. Finally, she spoke, her tone even and measured.
"Wendy, your insecurities are unfounded," Morgan said, her voice surprisingly gentle. "You possess a strength that is different from others, but no less important. Healing is a rare magic from what i heard and the mistakes you've made do not define you. What matters is how you choose to move forward from them."
Wendy looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. Morgan's words were unexpected, and they resonated deeply within her.
"You are not a burden," Morgan continued. "And you are not useless. You have the power to make a difference. Do not let the Nirvana cloud your judgment. You are stronger than you realize." She leaned back in her throne, her gaze softening slightly as she looked at Wendy. After a moment of contemplation, she began to speak again, her voice filled with unexpected warmth.
"Wendy, you may not have been aware of it, but you've been thinking of the power to hurt others—to hurt the world—as something bad. Consequently, you've been running from it," she said, her tone measured. "But everyone has the ability to cause harm, and with that ability comes responsibility."
"It isn't that everyone want to do good. They just keep choosing things that they think will give them the best possible future. And there's no right answer in those choices, no matter how many people they may end up saving," Morgan continued. "Since there are no right answers, you must decide for yourself what to protect, and what you will fight against, Wendy." Her words resonated deeply within Wendy, stirring something inside her.
"You will come to know many hearts and minds, and all will be different. Some will try to understand. Some will refuse to give up. Some will be accepting. Some will refuse to succumb to hate. Some will try to shake hurt off. Some will refuse to be corrupted or influenced," Morgan explained, her voice steady and calm. "But no matter how wonderful a person may be, they will never have a heart free of conflict. Every heart has its battles to fight. Try to stop running from that , Wendy. Because when the hole in your heart is filled with a reason to fight that's all your own, you'll find strength you never knew you had."
As Morgan finished speaking, memories of her time as Savior Aesc flooded her mind. She recalled the third timeline, where she had once encouraging Mashu with similar words of reassurance and strength. That moment, just before she sent Mashu to the High Queen Era, was pivotal. Mashu had reassured her that the title of Savior was not a mistake, even though her fate seemed destined to fail. After successfully sending Mashu to the High Queen Era, the timeline reverted to the second timeline to ensure no contradictions.
Fortunately, Mashu had finally found her resolve after Totorot appeared to help her defeat Cernunnos. Totorot had given the Black Barrel to Mashu, despite the risk that she might be erased by the world. Morgan clenched her fist at the unfairness of their world.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts and refocus on the present, Morgan stood up and walked over to Wendy. Her footsteps were silent on the mossy forest floor. She gently patted Wendy's head, her touch surprisingly tender.
"You saved my life, Wendy," Morgan said softly. "That's the reason I came here to help. You may feel weak now, but that's why you should focus on what you can do rather than lamenting what you can't." Wendy looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. Morgan's words were a balm to her troubled heart.
"If you can fight, then fight. If you can support, then offer your support," Morgan continued, her voice firm yet encouraging. "Someday, you will become powerful in your own right."
Wendy nodded, the weight of her guilt and self-doubt beginning to lift. She felt a renewed sense of purpose, a determination to be strong for her friends and herself.
"Thank you, Your Majesty" Wendy whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.
Morgan nodded, her throne disappeared into a pocket dimension with a snap of her fingers. She retrieved a vial filled with a glowing yellow elixir and handed it to Wendy. The liquid shimmered with healing energy, promising to restore vitality and strength.
"Drink this," Morgan instructed gently, her voice carrying a note of reassurance. "It will help you recover."
Wendy took the vial with trembling hands, gratitude shining in her tear-filled eyes. She uncorked it and drank the elixir in one swift motion, feeling warmth spread through her body as it worked its magic. The fatigue and strain from her ordeal began to ease, replaced by a sense of calm and rejuvenation.
Morgan turned to leave, her steps silent on the forest floor, she didn't look back. Wendy watched her silently, a mixture of emotions swirling within her. She wanted to thank Morgan again, but the words caught in her throat.
Left alone with her thoughts, Wendy leaned against a nearby tree, feeling the elixir's effects soothing her body and mind. She closed her eyes, letting herself drift into a much-needed rest, grateful for Morgan's unexpected kindness and support however she notice there three figure come to this way.
Carla, Eve, and Hibiki hurried through the dense undergrowth, their concern evident as they approached Wendy, who was seated on a patch of moss, clutching Morgan's healing elixir in her hands.
"Wendy, are you okay? We were so worried!" Eve exclaimed, her voice tinged with relief.
Hibiki nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we thought Oracion Seis might have taken you ."
Wendy looked up, a small smile touching her lips despite the lingering shadows in her eyes. "I'm okay," she assured them, holding up the vial. " Lady Morgan saved me"
At the mention of Morgan, Eve and Hibiki exchanged wary glances. Lyon's warning about Morgan had made them cautious, and they couldn't shake the unease that lingered around her.
Carla, always perceptive, crossed her arms and studied Wendy intently. There was something different about her demeanor—something subtle that didn't quite add up. Wendy's smile, though reassuring, seemed tinged with an unfamiliar edge.
"Why are you smiling like that, Wendy?" Carla asked, her voice soft but probing. She had noticed the slight shift in Wendy's demeanor, and her instincts told her there was more to the story than Wendy was letting on.
Wendy hesitated, unsure of how to explain the complex emotions swirling within her. "I... Lady Morgan said things... things that helped," she replied carefully, choosing her words. "She helped me understand... things."
Carla raised an eyebrow, unconvinced but willing to trust Wendy for the moment. "Alright, if you say so," she said, her tone indicating that she would keep a close eye on Wendy.
North of the Forest with Midnight , Gray and Erza..
Gray Fullbuster stood on one side of the battlefield, his breath visible in the cold air as he summoned his magic. On the other side, Midnight stood calmly, a smug expression on his face, unmoved by the threat before him.
"Let's see how long you can keep that smug look," Gray muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing in determination. He extended his arms forward, summoning his first attack. "Ice-Make: Lance!"
Long, curved ice lances shot towards Midnight, but with a slight wave of his hand, the air around Midnight distorted, bending the lances away from him. The icy projectiles crashed harmlessly into the ground around him.
Gray clenched his fists, undeterred. "Ice-Make: Freeze Lancer!" he shouted, creating larger, more powerful ice lances. He hurled them at Midnight, but the result was the same. The lances twisted and missed their mark, diverted by Midnight's Distort Shield.
Midnight chuckled softly, his amusement evident. "Is that all you've got?"
Ignoring the taunt, Gray conjured another attack. "Ice-Make: Hammer!" A massive ice hammer appeared above Midnight, dropping with tremendous force. However, Midnight barely moved. The hammer shattered before it could reach him, its fragments twisting and scattering in all directions.
Gray's frustration was mounting, but he didn't relent. "Ice-Make: Saucer!" he cried, launching a large, spinning ice disk at his opponent. The disk, capable of cutting through solid rock, spun rapidly towards Midnight. Yet again, the air distorted, and the saucer veered off course, crashing into the trees behind Midnight.
Gray's attacks continued, each more desperate than the last. "Ice-Make: Arrows!" Multiple ice arrows shot from an ice bow, zipping towards Midnight at high speed. "Ice-Make: Sword!" Gray charged forward, wielding a blade of ice for close combat. "Ice-Make: Ice Cannon!" A large ice cannon appeared in Gray's hands, firing a powerful ice cannonball.
But each attack was met with the same fate. Midnight's Distort Shield twisted the air, deflecting the arrows, redirecting the sword strikes, and diverting the cannonball. Midnight stood there, untouchable and seemingly invincible.
Gray panted, his breath coming in short bursts as he tried to catch it. His mind raced, trying to think of a way to break through Midnight's defenses.
"You can't hit me," Midnight said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You can try all you want, but you'll never land a blow."
Gray's eyes narrowed, his frustration boiling over. "We'll see about that," he growled. He took a deep breath, focusing all his energy on his next move. He had to find a way to bypass Midnight's distortions.
"Ice-Make: Ice Geyser!" he yelled, slamming his hands onto the ground. Massive pillars of ice erupted from the earth, shooting towards Midnight from all directions. For a moment, it seemed like Midnight would be overwhelmed.
But Midnight merely smirked, raising his hands and made ethereal slashes of air sliced through the ice geysers, shattering them into a million pieces before they could touch him.
The battlefield fell silent as the ice shards rained down, glittering in the sunlight. Gray stood amidst the wreckage of his own attacks, his shoulders heaving with exertion. Midnight, untouched and unbothered, lowered his hands, his expression one of supreme confidence.
Gray realized he needed a new strategy. Direct attacks were futile. He had to find a way to outthink his opponent, to exploit a weakness in Midnight's seemingly perfect defense. His mind raced, desperate to find a new strategy. But Midnight wasn't giving him any time to think. With a lazy flick of his wrist, Midnight summoned his next attack.
"Invisible Scythe," he said, his voice low and almost bored. Ethereal slashes of air hurtled towards Gray, invisible and deadly.
Gray barely had time to react. He tried to dodge, but the slashes were too fast, too precise. One caught him across the chest, slicing through his clothes and drawing blood. Another clipped his arm, leaving a deep gash. Gray gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out in pain.
"You're outmatched," Midnight taunted, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Why don't you just give up?"
Gray responded with a growl, summoning another attack. "Ice-Make: Ice Cannon!" he yelled, firing a massive ice cannonball at Midnight. But once again, Midnight's Distort Shield twisted the air, diverting the cannonball harmlessly to the side.
Before Gray could react, Midnight was upon him. "Invisible Scythe," Midnight intoned, slashing at Gray with ethereal blades. Gray tried to block with his ice sword, but it was futile. The blades cut through his defenses, slicing into his flesh.
Gray staggered back, blood dripping from multiple wounds. His vision blurred, and he struggled to stay on his feet. Midnight's attacks were relentless, each one more brutal than the last.
Midnight watched him with a cruel smile. "This is the end for you," he said, raising his hand for the final blow.
Gray tried to summon another ice shield, but his strength was failing. The shield shattered almost as soon as he created it. Midnight's final Distort Blade slashed across Gray's chest,sending him crashing to the ground.
Gray lay there, coughing up blood, his body battered and broken. He tried to push himself up, but his limbs refused to cooperate. Midnight loomed over him, victorious and unscathed.
"You fought well" Midnight said, his voice dripping with mockery. "But in the end, you were no match for me."
With one final, dismissive flick of his wrist, Midnight sent Gray flying with a blast of distorted air. Gray's body hit the ground with a sickening thud, and he lay there, unconscious and defeated.
Midnight stood over Gray's unconscious body, his expression cold and unfeeling. "It's time to end this," he muttered, raising his hand to deliver the final blow. Just as he was about to strike, a flash of steel caught his eye.
"You're not touching him!" Erza Scarlet's voice rang out as she charged forward, her Heart Kreuz armor glinting in the sunlight. Her sword slashed through the air with deadly precision, aimed directly at Midnight.
Midnight barely flinched as Erza's blade neared him. The air around him distorted, and her attack was deflected harmlessly to the side. He smirked, his eyes locking onto Erza's furious expression. "Interesting," he mused. "Another one steps up to the plate."
Erza didn't waste a moment. She unleashed a flurry of attacks, each one faster and more precise than the last. But no matter how skillfully she wielded her sword, each strike was twisted and diverted by Midnight's Distort Shield. Her frustration grew with each failed attempt.
Midnight chuckled softly, his gaze never leaving hers. "You're too weak to harm me," he replied coolly. "But I can sense something deeper within you, Erza. A darkness that you've been trying to suppress."
Erza's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't let his words distract her. She continued her assault, determined to find a way through his defenses. "I won't let you hurt my friends!" she shouted. As she continued trying to slash him, Midnight pushed her back with Invisible Scythe, creating a distance between them. The two combatants stared each other down, the tension in the air palpable.
Midnight broke the silence, a sly smile playing on his lips. "It's nice to see Erza Scarlet, Titania, in person. He was right—you truly are strong."
Erza's eyes narrowed, her resolve hardening. "What does he want?"
There was no answer from him, just laughter. "What's so funny?" she demanded.
"I see," Midnight stopped laughing. "Just as he said, you're trying to run away from the past and enjoy your freedom, leaving us alone." He noticed Erza's confused expression. "My father is the leader of Oración Seis. There was another student in his care. Your guild already defeated him, and now he's been resurrected to seek revenge for what you did to him and to us," he told her, his smirk filled with victorious satisfaction.
Erza's eyes widened, the realization dawning on her. She didn't want to remember her past again. Midnight had mixed his words with truth but also with lies. Cobra had informed him during their first fight against the Alliance Guild that he had seen Erza's memories as a slave of the Tower of Heaven and her close connection to Jellal. With Nirvana activated, Midnight decided to manipulate Erza into darkness.
"D... don't tell me you guys are also from that place too," Erza's eyes widened as she stepped back. "And one of your father's students is him," she muttered slowly.
"That's right, Jellal Fernandes is back to life, and he's resurrected to bring back Nirvana," Midnight said loudly enough to make Erza's expression turn to horror.
His words shattered her world.
East of the Forest with Lucy , Ren and Happy.
Lucy, Ren, and Happy tended to Natsu, who remained unconscious. Lucy's worry for Wendy and their teammates weighed heavily on her mind. She paced back and forth, her usual nervousness tempered by a fierce determination to see their mission through.
"Come on, guys," Lucy muttered, glancing at Natsu's still form. "They have to stop Nirvana and save Wendy. We have to believe in them."
Ren leaned against a nearby tree, his usual flirtatious demeanor subdued by the gravity of the situation. "Yeah, they'll figure something out," he said confidently, though his eyes betrayed a hint of concern.
Happy fluttered around, his usual cheeky self momentarily subdued. "Aye, they've got this," he chimed in, trying to lift the mood. "They always pull through somehow."
Lucy nodded, trying to stay positive despite the uncertainty. "We have to trust in their strength," she said, determination firming her voice. "They'll bring Wendy back safely. We just have to believe."
Ren smirked, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. "Yeah, they better," he added, a hint of his usual bravado creeping back.
Happy nodded, his tone more serious than usual. "I believe in them, Lucy," he said softly. "They won't let us down."
As the three of them were deep in discussion, they heard footsteps approaching. Turning, they saw Jura Neekis, one of the Ten Wizard Saints, walking towards them with a calm demeanor. Beside him, to their surprise, was Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki, his eccentric presence immediately noticeable.
"Lucy-san, Ren-dono, Happy-dono," Jura greeted them with a respectful nod, his deep voice resonating in the quiet clearing. "It's good to see you all well."
Ren's face lit up with relief at seeing his guild leader still alive. "Ichiya-sama! I'm so glad you're okay," he exclaimed, a genuine smile breaking through his usual flirtatious facade. He bowed before his leader, causing Lucy and Happy to sweatdrop.
Lucy, recovering from the surprise of Ichiya's theatrical greeting, turned to Jura with concern. "Jura-san, how did your battle against the Dark Guild, Red Hood, go? Are you alright?"
Jura nodded calmly. "I managed to handle them. Thank you for your concern, Lucy-san," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of reassurance despite the seriousness of their situation. "And what about Natsu-dono?" Jura inquired, his gaze shifting to Happy, who hovered nearby.
Concerned about Natsu, Happy chimed in, "Jura-san, Carla and I found Natsu unconscious by the river. The three of us are keeping watch over him.
""What about the others?" Jura asked, glancing toward the pillar of light. "Are they all heading toward Nirvana?"
"Yeah," Ren nodded. "Hibiki, Eve, and Carla are walking toward this road. Meanwhile, Lyon and Sherry went to the north side to get Gray and Erza. They got injured fighting one of the Oración Seis."
"I see," Jura said, understanding their situation. He noticed Natsu starting to open his eyes, regaining consciousness. "It looks like Natsu-dono is waking up from his unconscious state."
Natsu groaned softly, his eyes fluttering open. He squinted at the light filtering through the trees and slowly sat up, clutching his head. "Ugh, what happened?" he mumbled, looking around in confusion.
Lucy rushed to his side, her worry transforming into relief. "Natsu! You're awake!" she exclaimed
"Natsu!" Happy cheered, flying over to his friend. "You had us worried, buddy."
Ren remained leaning against the tree, a small smile on his face. "Took you long enough to wake up," he said, his tone light but hiding a deeper concern.
Natsu shook his head, trying to clear the fog from his mind. "Where are we? What's going on?"
"We're at our new basecamp," Lucy explained, her voice steady but filled with urgency. "Our friends are fighting the Oración Seis. We need to stop Nirvana and save Wendy."
Natsu's eyes hardened with determination as he slowly stood up, his strength returning. "Right," he said, clenching his fists. "Let's go save Wendy and stop Nirvana. But" he added, glancing at Lucy, "why did you use a raft and How did you grab it ?"
Before Lucy could respond, Natsu grabbed her by the shoulders and started shaking her slightly. "Lucy, what were you thinking?" he asked, a mix of confusion and frustration in his voice. "Are you even the real Lucy?"
"Of course, I'm the real Lucy!" she replied, trying to steady herself despite Natsu's shaking.
"But your scene was just like when I found you in the river," Natsu insisted, not letting up. "And you used one of your Celestial Spirits to throw me into the waterfall!"
Lucy looked utterly confused, her eyes widening as she tried to comprehend what Natsu was saying. "Natsu, I have no idea what you're talking about," she said, finally managing to stop his shaking. "I didn't use a raft to make you fall into motion sickness! I've been busy fighting Erigor and ordering Virgo to help Hibiki get our new basecamp set up."
Natsu paused, blinking in confusion as he processed Lucy's words. "Wait, so you weren't the one who did that?" he asked, scratching his head.
"No!" Lucy exclaimed, exasperated. "I was dealing with Erigor!"
Happy, who had been watching the exchange with a bemused expression, flew over and chimed in, "Aye! Looks like you got the wrong person, Natsu."
Ren chuckled, leaning against a tree. "Guess you're so used to Lucy's antics that you assumed it was her."
As Natsu processed what Ren said, he suddenly caught a scent that made his eyes widen. His abrupt change in demeanor caught everyone's attention.
"Is something wrong, Natsu?" Happy asked, hovering beside him. "Your face looks scary," he added with a frightened expression.
Natsu sniffed the air again, his eyes narrowing. "This smell... it's Oración Seis," he said, causing everyone to gasp in shock. "She's here!" Without another word, he dashed off into the deep forest, leaving the others scrambling to catch up.
"Wait, Natsu!" Lucy called after him, her heart racing with worry and determination. "We can't just charge in blindly!"
Ren pushed off from the tree, his usual confident smirk replaced by a look of concern. "We have to follow him," he said, glancing at Lucy and Happy. "Who knows what kind of trap Oración Seis might have set up."
Happy nodded, his small wings flapping frantically. "Aye! Let's go, Lucy!"
All of of them hurried after Natsu, their minds racing with thoughts of Wendy and the threat that Oración Seis posed. As they ran, Lucy couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that hung over them.
As they dashed through the , they finally caught up to Natsu, who had come to a halt in front of an unexpected sight. Angel, one of the Oración Seis, was encased in a tomb of ice.
"Angel?" Lucy exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.
Jura, Ichiya, Ren, and Happy stopped beside Natsu, each wearing expressions of shock and curiosity. Natsu, with an evil smirk spreading across his face, ignited his flames. "Let's melt this ice and see what she has to say!"
"Natsu, wait!" Lucy cried, panic rising in her voice. "What if she attacks us once she's free?"
But Natsu was already channeling his flames, the intense heat starting to melt the ice. The group watched in a mix of horror and fascination as the ice slowly turned to water, releasing Angel. As the last of the ice melted away, Angel slumped to the ground, her eyes fluttering open. Natsu, his smirk still in place, stepped back, ready for a potential fight. Instead of attacking, however, Angel looked around and then, to everyone's surprise, began to cry.
The jaws of the entire group dropped in shock. They stood there, dumbfounded, as Angel sobbed uncontrollably.
"Uh... did not see that coming," Ren muttered, scratching his head.
North of the with Midnight and Erza.
Erza's mind raced as she grappled with the revelation that Jellal had been resurrected. Her thoughts swirled with anger and pain.
'Jellal is here. How can this be happening? Why did he get resurrected again?' Erza thought, her fists clenching at her sides. She gritted her teeth, memories of the suffering Jellal had caused flooding her mind. He had framed her, making her believe she had escaped the Tower of Heaven alone, leaving their friends behind.
Shou, Miliana, Wally—they had all fallen for his tricks. And Simon... Simon had died protecting her and Natsu from Jellal's attacks. The weight of his sacrifice bore down on her heart, intensifying her anger.
'Why? Why? Why should Jellal come back again?' she thought, her anger mingling with a sense of helplessness. She had tried so hard to forget him, to move on from the past and the pain it brought. But now, with Jellal's return, those old wounds were ripped open once more.
First, there had been Mystogan, a man who looked so much like Jellal it had been almost unbearable. And now, the real Jellal was back, threatening to undo all the progress she had made in moving on.
'Is it not enough that he haunted my past? Must he return to torment my present as well?' Erza's thoughts seethed with a mixture of anger and sorrow. She tried to steady herself, but the flood of emotions was overwhelming.
Without she knows Midnight's smirk widened as he watched her emotions swirling with anger and sorrow. The sight of her inner turmoil was like a feast for his sadistic nature, and he relished every moment of her distress.
'Look at her,' Midnight thought, his eyes gleaming with malevolent satisfaction. "So much anger, so much pain. She's on the brink of falling into darkness, all thanks to Nirvana's effect. How delightful.
He observed the way her fists clenched, her teeth gritted, and her eyes filled with a storm of emotions. The more she struggled with her memories and the weight of Jellal's betrayal, the more Midnight's anticipation grew.
'She's strong, but even the strongest can break,' Midnight mused, his smirk deepening. 'And when they do, the fall is even more satisfying.'
He reveled in the thought of Erza succumbing to the darkness, imagining the chaos and destruction she could unleash. The idea of her formidable strength turned against her own allies was a tantalizing prospect.
Midnight decided it was time to interrupt Erza's thoughts, his amusement at her internal struggle turning to boredom. With a flick of his wrist, he sent an Invisible Scythe hurtling toward her.
Erza barely managed to dodge, her warrior instincts kicking in just in time. She swiftly Requipped into her Black Wing Armor, the dark, menacing outfit enhancing her offensive capabilities. "Moon Flash!" she cried, unleashing a powerful slash of energy towards Midnight.
The attack sliced through the air with deadly precision, but it never reached its target. Instead, it was deflected by an invisible shield surrounding Midnight. Erza's eyes widened in frustration as she realized her assault had no effect. Midnight stood there, his expression one of sheer boredom. "Is that all you've got?" he taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "You can't even touch me."
Erza's grip tightened on her sword, her frustration mounting. She launched another series of attacks, each more powerful than the last. But every Moon Slash was met with the same fate, twisted and diverted by Midnight's invisible shield and reflector.
He yawned, his lack of interest evident. "You're wasting your energy, Erza," he said, his tone mocking. "Why don't you just give up?"
Erza gritted her teeth, determination blazing in her eyes despite the futility of her efforts. "I'll never give up. Requip!" she growled as her armor transformed into Heaven's Wheel Armor. Midnight's smirk returned, sadistic pleasure gleaming in his eyes. 'Good' he thought. 'Keep fighting. The more you struggle, the more satisfying your fall will be.'
Quivering with unbridled fury, Erza summoned a dozen hovering blades and sent them hurtling toward the raven-haired man. Midnight sneered and effortlessly redirected the swords back at her. Erza deflected them with the two blades she held, but as soon as the barrage ceased, Midnight twisted her Flight Armor around her like a constrictor.
"That's better! Sing me a lullaby of pain and torment!" Midnight cackled as Erza screamed in agony. "Hehe! Nothing wets my appetite like tortured screams!"
Using her free arm, Erza threw a sword aimed at his head, but Midnight effortlessly tilted his head, letting the blade fly past him.
"Impressive, but futile! Spiral Pain!" He conjured a fierce tornado around her, even as she finally Requipped out of her Heaven's Wheel Armor. Now down to her white blouse and blue skirt, Erza collapsed to the ground, giving one last yelp of pain as she hit the stone floor.
"Is this all you can do, Titania? If you don't stand up, Jellal, I, and most of Oración Seis will be attacking every guild including Fairy Tail. The fact that you're lying on the ground proves your weakness." Midnight laughed at Erza's situation, mocking her as she lay on the ground, listening to his taunts.
Erza lay on the cold ground, Midnight's mocking laughter echoing in her ears. Her body ached from the relentless assault, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart as memories of her past flooded her mind.
Weakness.
'Had I been stronger... I could have protected my hometown.' The thought gnawed at her, a bitter reminder of her perceived failures.
She remembered the incident vividly, as if it had happened yesterday. Rosemary Village, her home, was attacked by Zeref's followers. The peaceful village was turned into a scene of horror and destruction. She saw the lifeless bodies of the townspeople, friends and neighbors, scattered across the ground. The air was thick with the stench of death and the cries of the dying.
They captured her and that is the beginning of her nightmare. The cultists had ruined her childhood, turning her life into a series of painful memories and relentless suffering.
'If only I had been stronger... Grandpa Rob would still be alive.' The thought repeated in her mind, an unending loop of self-hatred, anger, and guilt. She blamed herself not only for not being able to save her village but also for the death of Grandpa Rob. He was the one who taught her about the nature of magic, how it came from the depths of their hearts. That was one of her happiest memories from her childhood, a moment of light amidst the darkness. But that moment was destroyed when he sacrificed himself to protect her from Zeref's cult magic attack.
'If only I had been stronger... Simon would still be alive.' Another thought repeated in her mind. Simon had been one of her best friends in the Tower of Heaven, alongside Sho, Milliana, and Wally. Of all of them, only Simon continued to believe in her despite Sho, Milliana, and Wally falling into Jellal's ruse. The moment when he died protecting her and Natsu from one of Jellal's attacks, Altaris, she screamed in regret, tears streaming down her face while Jellal laughed at their suffering.
'If only I had been stronger... I SHOULD HAVE KILLLED JELLAL 8 YEARS AGO SO MY LIFE WOULD BE BETTER THAN NOW' Her final thought reflected her current situation. She regretted ever trusting him from the first time they met. The fact that he replaced her for punishment must have been a trick. She should have killed him if she had known how evil his heart was. The demand to keep the Tower of Heaven a secret from the government made her clench her fists. When she met him the second time and hesitated to kill him, that was a grievous mistake. Simon's death was her fault, and now Jellal had been resurrected to take revenge for what they did to him. With Oración Seis on his side, the situation had become worse than ever, filling her heart with anger and hatred toward him, Oración Seis, and herself.
Without her knowing, her resentment, self-hatred, and anger toward herself, Jellal, and Oración Seis made her heart fall into darkness due to the effect of Nirvana. The light in her heart was extinguished, replaced by shadows. All her negative emotions surged to the surface, consuming her subconscious mind.
Erza's body trembled as the darkness took hold, her once fierce determination now twisted into something far more sinister. The bitterness of her past failures, the pain of her losses, and the fury she felt toward her enemies—all of it boiled over, drowning out any semblance of hope or light.
As Midnight stood over her, relishing in her torment, he couldn't help but notice the change. A wicked smile spread across his face as he watched her transformation, knowing that Nirvana's power was doing its job. Erza Scarlet, the mighty Titania, was succumbing to the darkness within her own heart.
Erza's eyes flickered with a dark flame, her mind a storm of rage and despair. She could feel the darkness pulling her down, wrapping around her heart like a vice. Her thoughts turned even more violent and vengeful, each one feeding the growing abyss within her.
Her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms as the darkness continued to spread. The memories of Rosemary Village, the Tower of Heaven, and Simon's sacrifice all twisted into a singular focus of hatred and revenge.
Midnight's laughter echoed in her ears, but now it only fueled her anger. The man standing before her was no longer an enemy to be defeated, but a target for her wrath. "Yes, let it consume you," Midnight taunted, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "Embrace the darkness, Erza Scarlet. It's the only way you'll find the strength you seek."
Erza's vision blurred as the darkness overtook her completely. In that moment, she was no longer the heroic mage fighting for her friends and her guild. She was a vessel of vengeance, driven by the shadows that had taken root in her soul.
"Requip" She whispered slowly as light glowing in her armor. As the light faded, she was now adorned in a new set of armor, if it could be called that. It had a short sleeveless tunic with a multitude of flower motifs, open on the sides and revealing much of her chest. The openings were closed by a dark obi with a red rope. A pink flower-patterned cloth enclosed her waist, which had a long purple cloth coming from her tunic. Another cloth was held on her sides by a large red ribbon. The cloth was yellow-bordered and was edged several times. She had pink stockings and simple sandals. The weapon she carried was a Bisentō, the blade having a cove at the blunt side of the blade with a hole, looking similar to a halberd. This armor is Robe of Yūen.
Midnight stepped forward while staring at the redhead coldly. "Looks like I'll get my real fight after all." He smirked madly as his face contorted into a maniacal expression. "Destroying you will be a treat!"
Erza twirled the bisentō in her hand and pointed the tip at Midnight. "I will kill every last of your to the point cease to exist"
Midnight grinned in delight from having an opportunity to tear the Fairy Queen apart even more. "Well then…come on Erza, or should I call you Titania? I want to see your strength with my own two eyes, but I won't feel it."
Needless to say, Midnight was fully confident in his victory.
Erza readied her bisentō and dashed toward Midnight before slashing the weapon twice, both of which were simply deflected by Midnight in an instant. The deflected slashes hit the sides of nearby tree . She swiped yet again and the attacks went through Midnight this time, yet they still hit tree
Midnight chuckled. "You can be the fastest person alive, but you can't touch-!" his word get cutted as suddenly struck Midnight in the chest with a palm strike, sending him crashing into a tree.
Midnight slowly pulled himself out of the now concave wall, looking at Erza in astonishment. "No… you hit me!?"
Erza remained posed with her palm still stretched out, and then held up two fingers. "Two. There are two crucial weaknesses in your Reflector Magic." Midnight's eyes widened further. No… she couldn't have figured it out so quickly!
"It's true you can bend weapons and magic attacks, but you can't manipulate the human body. If you could, then you wouldn't have twisted my armor. Isn't that right?"
"Maybe." Midnight arose and he extended his hand, causing a distortion to appear around him. "But why would that matter?" Erza's robe entangled her and began to constrict her. She was forced to drop her blade to the ground, which disappeared in a flash of light. She, however, remained stoic.
"I can make those clothes you wear squeeze you until you pop!" Midnight claimed.
"Now your second weakness…" Erza summoned a red magical seal above Midnight, shooting forth a barrage of various swords and blades down on her foe.
Midnight panicked and jumped to escape the weapons raining down around him. He barely dodged several lethal blows but still received many cuts and lacerations. He landed on the dusty ground with a pained yelp.
Erza remained still and continued her explanation. "When you were twisting my armor, you dodged my sword. Why didn't you simply change its trajectory? It's because you can only control one space at a time. Either your enemy or yourself, but not both. While you're bending me, you're defenseless."
"What's more, this is my Robe of Yuen. By far the most elastic in my collection, and therefore immune to your Reflector Magic. I suppose you could consider this Armor a third weakness." Erza smirked darkly as she Requipped a blade into her hand and began walking toward him. She was done gloating – now was the time to end this fight and move onto the next one as Midnight pounded the ground in frustration.
Midnight, still on the ground and nursing his wounds, looked up in fear. "Wait... please..." he began to beg, his voice trembling with genuine terror.
But Erza showed no mercy. She swung her blade down, each strike precise and brutal, breaking through Midnight's defenses. His body twisted and convulsed with each hit, his cries for mercy growing louder, more desperate.
"Stop... please... I beg you!" Midnight's voice was now a pitiful whimper, but Erza's expression remained unchanged.
"You have caused too much pain, too much suffering," she said coldly, her blade continuing its relentless assault. "There is no forgiveness for what you've done."
Midnight's cries grew weaker, his body a broken mess on the ground. He could barely move, his limbs mangled, blood pooling around him. He looked up at Erza with wide, terrified eyes, realizing the full extent of her wrath.
"It's almost night," he muttered weakly, his breath ragged. "Not midnight... my potential..." He was supposed to fight Morgan at midnight to defeat her, but now his pride was shattered by Erza, an opponent he had considered weaker than Morgan.
Erza paused, her sword poised for another strike. "Your potential?" she spat, disgust evident in her voice. "You think you can become stronger at midnight? You won't live to see it."
With a final, devastating blow, she brought her sword down, shattering the last remnants of Midnight's strength. His body lay limp and broken, his eyes wide with shock and pain.
Erza stood over him, her chest heaving with exertion and rage. She looked down at the pitiful figure at her feet, feeling a cold satisfaction at his death. "This is what happens to those who bring suffering to others," she said quietly, her voice filled with conviction.
As Erza stood there, watching Midnight's lifeless body, she didn't notice the two figures walking toward her and Gray—Lyon and Sherry.
"Gray, are you alright?" Lyon asked, his voice tinged with concern as he knelt beside Gray's unconscious form. He carefully checked Gray's injuries, noting the numerous wounds covering his body. He placed a hand on Gray's neck, feeling for a pulse. "He's still alive," Lyon announced with relief. "Just unconscious."
Sherry looked at Erza, her eyes wide with shock and a hint of fear. "Erza, what happened here?" she asked, glancing between Midnight's death body and Erza's bloodied sword. Erza didn't answer. She glanced toward Sherry with an emotionless expression, which terrified Sherry even more. The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy.
Without a word, Erza's armor transformed into her Heart Kreuz Armor. She turned and ran, leaving them alone with Gray. Lyon and Sherry exchanged worried glances as Erza's figure disappeared into the distance. "What happened to her?" Sherry whispered, still shaken by Erza's cold demeanor.
Lyon, still tending to Gray, could only shake his head. "I don't know, but we need to get Gray to safety. We can worry about Erza later." They carefully lifted Gray, supporting him between them as they made their way back to somewhere. The weight of the events pressing heavily on their minds.
Worth Woodsea with Jellal and Cobra.
Jellal watched with silent melancholy as the light shot up above him, awakened by a mere touch. He couldn't remember… and yet, at the same time, he felt some kind of memory. He obviously knew how to activate this, but why? For what purpose? None of it made any sense anymore. He didn't feel like a person at all. Emptiness… that's all he felt. Emptiness and loneliness…
"We need answers from him," Cobra decided, having overcome the initial excitement of Nirvana's awakening. He stepped away from his hiding spot, approaching Jellal.
"How did you unlock Nirvana?" he demanded, his voice sharp. Cubelios coiled around Cobra, hissing at Jellal. "What is it you think you're doing?"
The tall, blue-haired man turned to stare at them with blank eyes, unsettling Cobra. "What are you saying…?" Jellal asked carefully.
"I don't know who I am… I can't remember anything!" Jellal shouted, thrusting his palm forward, magic igniting without an incantation.
Shit! Cobra jumped back, barely avoiding the blast of comet magic as it slammed into a nearby tree. "Hey, hey, calm down!" he urged. 'I can't read his mind when there's nothing in it!'
"Stay away from me!" Jellal shouted, fear lacing his voice. He was afraid of allying with the wrong people, afraid that anyone could claim to be his friend or comrade, and it would be the wrong choice. Not until he had an inkling… just an inkling! 'We're going to unlock Nirvana.' What did that even mean?
"Memory loss?" a familiar voice said, startling Cobra. He turned to see Morgan approaching the scene, a smirk playing on her lips. "Convenient excuse," she added. She began to walk toward Jellal, but was halted when Cobra blocked her path.
"If you think for a moment I'm going to let you get near him, you're wrong, Witch," Cobra snapped. "Poison Dragon's Fang Thrust!" He generated a wave of poison, shaped like a large-fanged snake head, and sent it toward Morgan.
Morgan dodged to the side, her movements fluid "Is that the best you can do?" she taunted, her eyes gleaming with dark amusement.
Cobra's frustration grew. "Poison Dragon's Twin Fang!" he roared, forming two massive waves of poison shaped like fangs and hurling them at her. She ducked and weaved through the attack. She summoned her black curse spear, its dark energy crackling menacingly. With a swift motion, she lunged at Cobra, who barely managed to raise his arm in defense.
"Poison Dragon's Guard!" Cobra crossed his arms, creating a large shield of poison. The shield deflected Morgan's spear, but the force of her strike pushed him back, his feet skidding across the ground.
"You're slowing down," she said, her voice dripping with condescension and disdain. She spun around, her spear slicing through the air with deadly precision. Cobra barely managed to avoid the blow, the spear's dark energy humming ominously close to his skin.
"Poison Dragon's Spiral Jaw!" Cobra jumped into the air, gathering poison on his legs, and kicked at Morgan while rotating. Morgan sidestepped the attack with ease, her spear striking out like a viper. The sharp tip grazed Cobra's arm, the dark magic seeping into his flesh. He winced, feeling the curse start to take effect.
Cobra's eyes narrowed in anger. "Poison Dragon's Roar!" he gathered and released poison from his mouth in the form of a deadly, poisonous stream aimed directly at Morgan. Morgan twirled her spear, creating a maelstrom of darkness that swallowed the poisonous stream. She advanced on Cobra, her spear a blur of motion as she struck again and again, each blow finding its mark. Cobra struggled to keep up, his attacks growing more desperate.
"Poison Dragon's Twin Wings!" Cobra attacked with a poisonous open-hand strike, his fingertips trailing poison mist. Morgan dodged and countered with a quick thrust of her spear, the dark energy piercing Cobra's side. He gasped in pain, the poison and curse coursing through his veins.
"Poison Dragon's Sharp Horn!" Cobra punched Morgan, releasing a burst of poison at point-blank range. She took the hit, but her dark magic absorbed most of the damage. She retaliated with a powerful swing of her spear, the force of the blow sending Cobra crashing to the ground.
For a moment, thought returned to Jellal. Though it was still deep and for the most part subconscious, he could feel a conscious emerging.
'Why …? Why is everyone fighting over this …?' Jellal wondered worriedly, his gaze trailing from the two fighters back to the pillar of light. He could recall the voice, again and again … saying 'We're going to find Nirvana.' It haunted him. He wasn't sure if it was because he enjoyed or feared the words, but above all it frightened him that he did not know his own mind on the matter. But the mantra … the mantra of finding Nirvana …
He carefully stretched his hand, and though he did not know it, he was placing a magical seal on it. Great violet letters began to etch their way across the pillar of light, forcing it to become contained as the letters attempted to gauge the full scope of the monument they were assigned to. Destroy … Nirvana …
Cobra, just standing up after Morgan's attack, was momentarily distracted by Jellal's actions. 'Jellal's planning to destroy Nirvana?! Damn, where are Midnight and Brain?!' As much as he wanted to stop Jellal, he knew he had to deal with Morgan first, who also seemed intent on stopping their plan.
Jellal turned his attention to his own self, placing his hands before him. He knew the code … he had just programmed it, and he was deathly afraid that the code would leak out even if he could not fully remember how, what or why. In that case, he felt there was only one more thing to do.
Back to Morgan and Cobra, they continued their fierce battle, each attack more desperate than the last. Cobra, sensing that he was outmatched, called for his companion. "Cubellios!" he shouted. The large serpent appeared, her eyes gleaming with venomous intent.
Cubellios slithered swiftly towards Morgan, her fangs bared and dripping with deadly poison. Cobra, now more confident with his ally by his side, launched another attack. "Poison Dragon's Fang Thrust!" he cried, sending another wave of poison shaped like a large-fanged snake head towards Morgan.
Morgan dodged the attack, her dark magic weaving a barrier that deflected the poison. As Cubellios lunged at her from behind, Morgan spun around with incredible speed. "Garden of Lost Will," she intoned, her voice cold and commanding.
A cursed artifact materialized in Morgan's hand, glowing with malevolent energy. She hurled it at Cubellios just as the serpent lunged. The artifact ensnared Cubellios, trapping her in a tormenting illusion within the Garden of Lost Will. That artifact was a cold and unforgiving place, designed to strip away the delusions of its victims and torture them with self-loathing.
Cobra watched in horror as his beloved companion was sealed away. He could hear Cubellios' despairing screams echoing in his mind, her pleas for release tearing at his heart. "No! Cubellios!" he screamed, his voice filled with anguish.
Desperate, Cobra begged Morgan for mercy. "Please, release her! Don't do this!" But she expression remained cold and detached. With a flick of her wrist, she used her teleportation skill to send the Garden of Lost Will to an unknown location, far out of Cobra's reach.
Cobra's despair turned to rage. "You'll pay for that!" he roared, launching himself at Morgan with renewed fury. "Poison Dragon's Twin Fangs!" he shouted, forming two massive waves of poison shaped like fangs and hurling them at her.
Morgan dodged and countered with a quick thrust of her spear, the dark energy piercing Cobra's side once more. He gasped in pain, the combined effects of the poison and the curse weakening him further. Despite his rage and desperation, Cobra was no match for her superior skill and power.
Unbeknownst to the three of them, Brain approached the scene with an angry look on his face. That witch had dominated Cobra again for the second time. "I had faith in you to keep her distracted, Cobra," Brain muttered to himself, nodding with determination as he walked forward. He soon spotted a third figure—Jellal. He could see the code writing its way up Nirvana, and on Jellal himself.
"What do you think you're doing, Jellal?" Brain asked, not in a teasing manner but with genuine inquiry. Jellal turned his head, forcing a weak, hollow smile.
"I will destroy Nirvana… and myself. You won't be able to access the code in time," Jellal answered stubbornly, wincing. "I don't know… I don't know who any of you are… but I won't let any of you have what I was woken for."
But contrary to what Jellal expected, Brain's face twisted into amusement. Why? Why isn't he upset with this?
"You fool," Brain sneered. "I am the one who taught you the code."
Jellal's eyes widened in horror. "W-what…?"
I'm the one … who he taught the code to … it couldn't be. It really, really couldn't be. Shouldn't he have remembered something like that, even in the absence of any memory? No … Jellal didn't move. He felt paralyzed. 'What … what can I do?'
Meanwhile, Morgan kicked Cobra's left leg, twisting his body and slamming him to the ground, leaving him writhing in pain. She stomped on his stomach, their eyes meeting. There was no interaction beyond her cold, disdainful expression and his look of anger, despair, and sadness, tears streaming down his face.
Her attention then shifted to Brain and Jellal. She released her leg from Cobra's stomach and used gravity magecraft to prevent him from moving. Cobra felt himself suddenly forced down, his movements slowing as if he were wading through thick mud. With one last glance at Cobra, she returned to the other two enemies in sight.
She wouldn't have to worry about him anymore.
Brain jumped as the seals on his face stung, another one dissolving. His expression turned to shock as he realized another of the Oración Seis had been taken down. 'Midnight has been defeated?! That must be the work of the Alliance Guild. I underestimated them' he thought, clenching his staff tightly. His expression faltered as he saw Morgan making her way over to the remaining two. Jellal was struggling on the ground, fighting the emptiness, the seal, and the unfairness of the situation. He groaned in pain, trying to push himself up but failing as the weight of the seal and the burden of his lost memories bore down on him.
Morgan's gaze shifted from Cobra to Brain, her eyes cold and calculating. She stepped over Cobra's prone form, her presence exuding dominance and power. "So" she said, her voice dripping with condescension, "What do you plan to do now? Your minions are falling one by one."
Brain's grip tightened on his staff, his mind racing for a solution. "This isn't over," he muttered under his breath. "I still have one last trick up my sleeve."
Jellal looked up, his vision blurry, but he could make out Brain's determined expression. He knew that whatever Brain was planning, it couldn't be good. Gathering what little strength he had left, he tried to crawl towards Nirvana, determined to complete his mission.
Morgan, noticing Jellal's movement, turned her attention back to him. "You really think you can destroy Nirvana in your current state?" she taunted "Pathetic". She glanced towards Brain, ready to strike him down, her index finger pointed as she prepared to fire a blue beam. However, she caught sight of something behind him, and Brain turned to see Nirvana's light exploding into its final stage. The ground trembled and quivered more violently than before.
Seeing Morgan halt her attack, Brain took advantage of the situation to retrieve Cobra. A bright green beam of energy shot out from his staff, morphing into a hand that grabbed Cobra and promptly retracted, pulling him to Brain's side. He noticed Morgan grabbed Jellal's hand to prevent him from falling as the ground between them shattered. Brain smirked at the unfortunate turn of events for his enemies.
He tossed his head back and laughed, a maniacal sound that could rival the most insane of maniacs. He threw out his arms, one hand still firmly grasping his skull-topped staff. The rocky floor began to split and ascend beneath them; everything that had solidified over the past four hundread years shattered in a matter of seconds.
"Awaken, Nirvana! You will be MINE!" he proclaimed in dark blissfulness, gazing out over the city's emerging forms as large chunks of the earth and the Worth Woodsea crumbled away. He stood at its heart, reveling in the power amassing in its depths.
He stretched out the staff and began the incantations to awaken the magic known as Nirvana. He knew what he wanted his first target to be.
Back to Alliance of Guild.
Lucy felt a surge of fear, her heart pounding in her chest. Natsu's eyes widened in surprise as the ground beneath them continued to tremble. Happy, flapping his wings frantically, couldn't hide his panic. "Nirvana's center just exploded!" he exclaimed, his voice high-pitched with alarm.
Ren, urgency in his tone, answered them quickly. "The trees around us are starting to fall over. The ground is disintegrating!"
Natsu jerked, his eyes darting in another direction, his expression one of shock. "Oy, this is insane…"
"Natsu, what's going on?" Lucy asked, her voice trembling.
"Something's climbing out of the ground," Natsu replied, his gaze fixed on the scene before him. Suddenly, the forest floor erupted, shooting sky-high as a massive, metal, brick-covered leg ripped out from the ground.
"Jura-san, what's happening?" Ichiya demanded, shielding his eyes from the blinding light that engulfed them.
Jura's brow furrowed deeply. "… We're too late. It's awakening."
Angel's words offered no solace. "It's the final stage to resurrect Nirvana."
As she finished speaking, Lucy and Ichiya clung on for dear life, screaming madly as the ground continued to quake. Natsu's face turned pale, as if he could sense an impending transportation.
...
Hibiki, Eve, Wendy, and Carla stood together, wide-eyed and apprehensive, witnessing Nirvana's final stage unfold before them. The ground trembled violently beneath their feet, and the air crackled with energy as Nirvana's immense form emerged.
Hibiki, usually composed and analytical, struggled to maintain his usual calm demeanor. "This power… it's beyond anything we've faced before," he muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Eve was visibly shaken. "This… this is unreal," he murmured, his eyes fixed on the colossal structure rising from the earth.
Wendy, usually gentle and nurturing, clung to Carla, her blue eyes wide with fear. "Carla, what do we do?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Carla, ever the pragmatic and wise exceed, tried to reassure Wendy despite her own unease. "We need to find a way out of here," Carla said firmly, her voice tinged with urgency. "We can't stay here."
As Nirvana continued to awaken, its presence looming ominously over the landscape, the group felt a sense of impending danger like never before. Each of them knew that their skills and magic would be tested to their limits in the face of this overwhelming threat.
'I hope you're still alive, Lady Morgan,' Wendy thought, worry filling her mind.
...
Lyon, Sherry, and the unconscious Gray found themselves amidst the chaos unleashed by Nirvana's awakening. The ground shook violently beneath them, threatening to throw them off balance at any moment. Lyon, usually confident and determined, felt a surge of uncertainty as he struggled to keep his footing.
"Gray! Wake up, buddy!" Lyon called out desperately, kneeling beside his teammate. Sherry, her usually gentle demeanor replaced by worry, hovered beside Lyon, her eyes darting around anxiously.
"Is he going to be okay?" Sherry asked, her voice filled with concern as she glanced at Gray's still form.
Lyon checked Gray's pulse, his expression grim. "He's alive, but we need to get him out of here," Lyon replied, his tone urgent. "This isn't a safe place to be right now."
As they tried to figure out their next move, the ground continued to tremble, and the air crackled with energy.
...
Erza stood amidst the chaos, her normally steely eyes now darkened with an ominous glow. The final stage of Nirvana's awakening was wreaking havoc all around her, but her focus was solely on Jellal. The corrupting influence of Nirvana had twisted her heart, filling her with an intense rage and a desire for vengeance.
Her grip tightened on her sword, and she felt a dark power surging through her veins, amplifying her anger. As she witnessed the final stage of Nirvana, her mind replayed the betrayal she felt from Jellal. She swore to herself that she would make him and his followers pay for what they had done.
"This is all your fault, Jellal," she muttered under her breath, her voice dripping with venom. "You and Oración Seis will suffer for this, slowly and painfully."
Erza's eyes narrowed as she scanned the area, searching for any sign of Jellal or his allies. The sight of the towering structure of Nirvana only fueled her anger further. She took a deep breath, feeling the dark energy from Nirvana course through her.
"I will hunt you down, Jellal," she vowed, her voice barely more than a whisper but filled with deadly intent. "And I will make you pay for everything you've done."
...
"Look over there," Eve pointed. "One of Nirvana's legs. We can use it to reach the city."
Wendy's eyes followed Eve's direction, spotting the massive, brick-covered leg extending from the ground. She swallowed hard, trying to steady her nerves. "Do you think we can make it?"
Hibiki placed a reassuring hand on Wendy's shoulder. "We have to. We need to find out what's happening and see if there's any way to stop this." He looked around at his comrades. "Are we ready?"
Carla, ever the pragmatic and wise exceed, took a deep breath. "We have no choice. Let's go."
Determined, the group began making their way towards the colossal leg of Nirvana. The ground continued to shake, and the air was filled with the sounds of crumbling earth and cracking trees. Despite the chaos, they pressed on, each step bringing them closer to their goal.
Hibiki raised his finger to his head as he used his Archive magic to communicate with the Alliance Guild. "Everyone, listen to me. This is Hibiki. Nirvana is fully awakening and me and the others heading towards one of Nirvana's legs to reach the city. We need all available forces to focus on stopping its activation. Prepare for battle and stay alert."
With Morgan and Jellal.
Why did she grab him again?
Morgan grabbed Jellal once more, dragging him away from the chaotic scene as far as she could before the ground's tremors forced her to stop. The sheer momentum made standing impossible, and she lay still, waiting for the shaking to subside. Finally, once the earth was stable again, she turned to look at Jellal. The self-destruction seal was still spreading, a dire situation that required immediate attention.
Without hesitation, Morgan reached forward to examine the seal. Jellal, sensing her intentions, weakly grasped her wrist in protest. "No," he pleaded, his voice trembling. "Please, you can't let me live like this!"
Morgan shook off his hand and let her fingers do the work, testing the boundaries of the seal before it shattered. Her extensive knowledge and power, even from a different dimension, gave her a unique understanding of the magic in this world. Seals were mere child's play to her.
"Why …?" Jellal sat up, his fingers twitching uncontrollably as he stared at Morgan. "Why …?"
Morgan paused, considering his question. It was a good one. Come to think of it, they had only met for the second time and knew little about each other. Their first encounter was when she found the Oración Seis base where Wendy was healing him. And now, they met again in the chaos of Nirvana.
"Why did you save me?" Jellal pressed, his confusion growing.
Morgan's expression remained impassive. "You misunderstand," she replied coolly. "I did not save you out of kindness or pity. The only reason I did it was because Wendy helped us both, and I can share my suffering with you".
"...I see" that was all Jellal word. He remember blue girl healing him,although he don't remember about her deep down in his heart she is must be nice person.
As Jellal looking at himself Morgan found herself thinking about Nirvana, She suddenly found herself presented with opportunity. She began to work his way around the ancient, decaying rubble that once stood proud, painted and functioned as homes, shops and other buildings. As she started to walk away, however, something – rather, someone – trailed closely behind. She didn't need to turn her head to know that the amnesia-man was the one following her. Each time he following her she would be bombarded with some kind of question. She ignored all of them, but they consisted of things such as:
"Who are you?"
"Where are you headed?"
"Why did you deactivate the seal?"
"Please, can you tell me what's going on?"
She had enough.
"Will you just shut up already?" Morgan snapped. She couldn't take it anymore; this guy was getting on her nerves. She knew better than to tease or get angry with amnesia patients, but Jellal was comparable to a confused, whiny puppy—utterly annoying. Her patience had flown out the window the moment those visions had entered her mind, only adding to her troubles. Did she really want a confused man following her right now? No. Did she really want to talk right now? No. Did she really want to be stuck in this Nirvana business at all? Absolutely not.
The only reason she was involved was because Wendy had healed her, and she wanted to repay that kindness by taking down Oración Seis. As for the Alliance of Guilds? She didn't care about them in the slightest. If they were in danger? She would leave them to handle it themselves.
One of her memories from the past made her think of Ritsuka and the others taking down the Great Calamity of Norwich. The first time she met them, she declared how brave they were despite their efforts being useless in defeating the Great Calamity of Norwich and rewarded them with 100 million Quantum Pieces, or QP for short. And now, in her current situation stuck with this man.
Unfortunately, her responsiveness only encouraged the breakdown.
"Who…?" Jellal croaked out, his eyes locking with Morgan. "Who are you? I don't know you, but I can only remember a woman with scarlet hair and a man with salmon hair."
'So he remembers small bits of everything, then?' Morgan thought. But only the tips of the icebergs remained visible in his mind, the small fractions of time locking away vast spans of experience.
"You fought with the others, who claim to know me. Who are you…?" Jellal clasped his hands to his temples, rubbing them as if it would somehow stir the memories, but it only served to increase the probability of a headache. The unspoken words remained: 'Who am I? Who am I supposed to believe?'
"Why follow me if you don't even know what side you're on?" Morgan retorted sharply, hoping at some point she could shake the moron off.
Jellal's mind clogged, unable to come up with an immediate answer. The common sense that required no memory shouted to him: he didn't know.
"I don't know if you're an enemy or a friend. But somehow, seeing you…" Jellal clenched a fist to his chest, nearly in tears. "I don't know what it is, but when I see you, all I can think of is truth."
Morgan raised her eyebrows at his use of the word "truth."
"I don't know where to go from here. I need help…" Jellal's pleading would be enough to break any heart. "I need to know where to go from here… who else can I turn to…?"
Morgan felt something inside her crack, though it was not the pleading that did it. No… it was what was happening to him that rang all too familiarly inside herself,Despair.
"When the past forgets you," Morgan answered slowly and cautiously, her icy-blue eyes locking with Jellal's. "It's best to listen to your gut instinct. Your past will eventually come back when it is ready to, and until then you can't force it. Figure out where you'll go from here and don't look back."
"If you meet someone who knows about your past, just ignore them. There will be people who manipulate you into doing something you dislike. You can only judge yourself after you remember all of your memories, whether you're a good person or not."
Jellal took a minute for this to sink in before taking a few steps forward, catching Morgan in his arms before she could back off or dodge, grabbing her tightly in an embrace she really didn't care for. She could feel the emotions bubbling over from this guy, and it was mortifying. If this man existed in her Fairy Britain and dared to hug her as Queen of Britain, she would punish him with death. However, she decided to interpret him as someone who was too happy to contain himself after hearing her advice.
"You can follow if you want," Morgan said, bringing up one foot and shoving Jellal off. She didn't need any hugs—not from friends, not from stranger,not from girland definitely not from overly emotional men. "But there's one condition you must accept." He nodded.
"Close your eyes. Don't move your body or use any magic," Morgan ordered. He followed her instructions. He heard her chanting in a strange language he didn't understand and felt a foreign presence within his heart and mind. "Open your eyes," she commanded. He obeyed and saw nothing visibly different, but he could sense a change.
"What I did to you is called a Geas," Morgan explained darkly. The last thing she needed was someone like Spriggan or Wretched Aurora betraying her again. If one of them existed in this world, she would destroy them or make them suffer more than she had. "This spell creates a contract between us. Should you betray me, your body will shut down, rendering you immobile, eventually leading to self-destruction—your death. The Geas will be lifted once Oración Seis is defeated." Jellal was surprised but decided to keep silent. The negative effects of the Geas would only activate if he betrayed her, which was an acceptable condition for him to follow her.
Jellal watched as she summoned a yellow elixir and an unknown potion, skillfully mixing them into one. "Drink this," she ordered, her expression firm. "This concoction will grant you memories of all that happened from the first time I met Wendy until our current situation. It will also restore your magic to its fullest. When you activated self-destruction in Nirvana, most of your magic was drained." He took the mixture from her hand and, without hesitation, drank it. He saw memories about her getting saved by Wendy, save alliance guild from Oracion Seis and killing Hoteye, kill Vulcan and defeat Racer, How she found Oracion Base and this is first time he also meet met her,how she saved Wendy from effect of nirvana and finally both of them meet each other for second time in Nirvana.
Jellal now knew Morgan was not someone to be trifled with. Her frosty and detached demeanor towards the alliance guild members was intimidating. It became clear that the only reason she was aiding them in their fight against Oración Seis was to repay Wendy for saving her.
Guilt gnawed at him for awakening Nirvana, which had led to Wendy falling into darkness. But what caught his attention the most was how Morgan had met a girl with scarlet hair and a man with pink hair—Erza Scarlet and Natsu Dragneel. These were names and faces he couldn't fully place, yet they stirred something deep within him.
As the memories settled, Jellal's body suddenly kneeled without his conscious effort, and a single tear rolled down his cheek. The weight of his past actions and the connection to these pivotal people overwhelmed him.
Morgan observed him with a neutral expression, her icy-blue eyes showing no sign of empathy. She had shared her memories to help him regain his strength and clarity, not to evoke an emotional response. Still, seeing Jellal's reaction, she felt a small twinge of something—perhaps understanding, perhaps pity, but she quickly dismissed it.
"Now that you have seen my memories and understand the gravity of our situation, you must focus," Morgan said, her voice as cold as ever.
Jellal nodded, wiping the tear from his cheek. He felt a renewed sense of purpose and a determination to see this mission through. With Morgan's memories and her formidable presence guiding him, he knew he had to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
"I understand," he replied, his voice steady.
Morgan gave a slight nod of approval before turning away, leading the way towards their next objective. Jellal followed closely, he still don't remember about his memory, but his resolve was stronger than ever. Both of them had a clear motivation and there was only one thing left to do:
Time to end this battle.
Chapter 6 of "Winter Queen in Earthland" is here! I hope you all enjoy it. Thank you for your ongoing support. This chapter is showed Erza fall into Darkness because Nirvana, Morgan found Jellal and decide to follow her.
Here are the responses to your reviews:
jasonchenjunata99,c5GMersLifeisFUn21, Yuzuk1,A Lost Nuffians:Thanks for review. Here Chapter 6.
ErwinvonBeckendorf: This chapter have Morgan Pov. Hope you enjoyed.
Jebest4781:Wow you review every chapter of this story. Thanks for enjoying this story. Here chapter 6 for your.
Frontiers9: This is hard to answers. But the chance Morgan will likely meet Serene than Irene belserion.