A New Life in Fairy Tail

Ikaruga realized she was at a disadvantage. She knew she couldn’t continue like this.

”Hah!”

Ikaruga exerted herself, swinging her sword rapidly several times to force Erza and Mirajane back.

The three separated, all panting.

After the fierce exchange, all three had depleted a significant amount of stamina.

However, Erza and Mirajane were in much better shape than Ikaruga. While they were only breathing slightly heavier, Ikaruga’s face was covered in sweat.

The conversation between Noah and Makarov had reached them, so they knew Etherion was about to fire.

”Time is tight. We’re finishing this now,” Erza declared. She requipped into her Black Wing Armor, crouching slightly and holding her sword horizontally in front of her eyes.

”Indeed. We still have a lot to do,” Mirajane agreed. Black magic surged, enveloping her claws completely. She crouched, gathering power, her eyes locked on Ikaruga.

”Hehe... Defeating me won’t be that easy.”

Ikaruga crouched as well, one hand on her scabbard, the other on her hilt. She held her breath, focusing intently on Erza and Mirajane.

”HAH!”

The three shouted simultaneously and vanished from their spots.

BOOM!

A massive explosion erupted from the center of the clearing where they met. A powerful shockwave blasted outward in all directions.

When the figures of the three reappeared, they were facing away from each other.

Erza’s sword shattered, scattering pieces across the ground.

Mirajane had a cut on her hand, blood seeping out.

”The winner is decided... Splendid...”

Ikaruga’s sword shattered. Blood erupted from her body, and she fell backward, collapsing to the ground.

”Even though... I faced two... to think... I... would lose... Since joining... this is the first time...”

Ikaruga lay on the ground, gasping for air.

”From the sky descends~ The light of justice~ Killing everything~

”Sigh... That poem was terrible...”

With that, her head fell to the side, and she passed out completely.

”Phew...”

Erza and Mirajane exhaled deeply. Erza switched back to her standard armor, and Mirajane deactivated her Take Over.

They walked over to Noah and the others.

”How long until Etherion hits?” Erza asked immediately.

”About 20 minutes,” Noah estimated.

A gentle light radiated from Noah, washing over everyone. Their wounds began to close, and their stamina and magic power started to recover.

”Are there any enemies left in the tower?” Mirajane asked.

”No one else. Just one person at the very top,” Noah replied after sensing the area.

”Then let’s go up and finish him.”

”Wait. We have something else to do first,” Noah stopped Sorano, who was about to head up.

”Hm? What is it?”

”I’m going to transport everyone in the tower out to avoid the Etherion blast.”

”Right. We still have to do that,” Sorano realized.

”You’re sending them all away now?” Mirajane asked.

”Yes. It’s about time. Since there’s only one enemy left, it’s better to get everyone else out first. By the way, you guys are going too.”

”Why? You’re going to face the last enemy alone?” Ultear asked seriously.

”First, I’m afraid the captives might wake up and run off. I need you to watch them. Second, you know my strength. If I want to leave, no one can stop me. Not even Etherion can kill me,” Noah smiled at them.

”Or maybe you just want to study the Tower of Heaven. A magic rumored to resurrect the dead must be very attractive to you,” Sorano said dryly.

Noah scratched his head awkwardly. ”That is part of the reason.”

”Fine. We won’t stop you, but remember to be careful,” Ultear said seriously. Erza and the others looked at him with concern.

”I will,” Noah promised.

”Ah, I wanted to fight the boss,” Natsu complained, having recovered from his motion sickness.

”Don’t you get enough fighting usually? Alright, I’m sending you and everyone in the tower to a nearby island now.”

Noah clapped his hands together. Powerful magic surged around him, creating an invisible pressure in the air.

He closed his eyes, using his magic to sense every person in the tower.

Seeing Noah begin, Ultear and the others stepped back to give him space, keeping watch to ensure no one interrupted him.

”Hah!”

Having locked onto everyone, Noah opened his eyes abruptly. A golden magic circle appeared before him.

Simultaneously, golden magic circles appeared beneath everyone in the tower except for the person at the very top.

”Be careful!” Sorano shouted as the magic circle glowed beneath her feet.

Noah nodded. With concerned looks, Ultear and the others vanished.

In a clearing on a nearby deserted island, Ultear’s group appeared first. Then, unconscious bodies from the Tower of Heaven began to materialize around them.

”Alright, our job is to watch over them,” Ultear said, clapping her hands.

Mirajane checked a few of the bodies on the ground.

Standing up, she turned to the group. ”They’ve already been sealed by Noah. Our job won’t be too hard.”

”Well, that’s definitely Noah’s style,” Sorano laughed, spreading her hands.

”Let’s split up. One team stays here to guard, the other scouts the island to secure the area,” Erza instructed. Everyone agreed and moved out.

Back at the tower, after sending everyone away, the surging magic around Noah calmed down and receded.

”Alright, they’re gone. Time to do my own thing. I still have time.”

Noah summoned his Archive. Typing on the holographic keyboard, he walked toward the top of the tower.

Layers of magic circles appeared and disappeared around him as he fully analyzed and explored the secrets of the tower.

Under his scrutiny, the secrets of the R-System unraveled.

”It really is a brilliant concept, but it’s a shame about the sacrifice requirement.”

Noah closed his Archive. The magic was powerful, but it violated too many ethical boundaries. It was truly worthy of being a creation of Zeref.

By this time, Noah had reached the top of the tower and met the person waiting for him.

”You finally came. Thank you for coming,” Jellal, wearing a hooded cloak, said sincerely.

”Of course. I do what I promise.”

”Is everyone in the tower gone?”

”Yes. I sent them all to a nearby island.”

”That’s good.” Jellal let out a long sigh of relief.

”If you hadn’t said you could transport them all away, I wouldn’t have dared to go through with this plan.”

To maintain his cover within Grimoire Heart, Jellal couldn’t let the Tower of Heaven plan fail. But the tower was filled with people who would likely die regardless of the outcome. He had agonized over this, even considering abandoning his infiltration.

After confessing to Noah, and hearing Noah’s solution, Jellal finally decided to continue. Noah’s attack provided the perfect cover to evacuate everyone.

”So, are you planning to wait for Etherion to fall? The Tower of Heaven needs at least 2.7 billion Edea of magic power. It’s hard to gather that alone. Using Etherion to charge the tower is a brilliant idea. Too bad the Council is going to be humiliated by you,” Noah said.

”That wasn’t my idea. It was Grimoire Heart’s Guild Master, Hades. He’s not only powerful but also incredibly intelligent. That’s why I have to stay undercover—to find a chance to take him down once and for all,” Jellal said hatefully.

Since breaking free from the brainwashing and remembering everything he had done, Jellal hated Hades immensely. That was why he endured the humiliation, waiting for the chance to strike.

”Let me know if you have any news. I’ll help.”

”Thank you.” Jellal had calmed down and looked at Noah gratefully.

”Etherion will fire in about 10 minutes. I need to fight you,” Jellal said after a pause.

”Hm? Why?”

”Because I’m afraid Hades might be watching, or have someone watching. He made me spend eight years building this tower; he won’t want it to fail at the last moment. Since he knows you’re attacking, if I do nothing, it will raise suspicion.”

”So, a fake fight?”

”No. I want a real fight,” Jellal said seriously.

”I want to know your true strength. I know you’re strong, but Hades is stronger. I don’t want my benefactor to be in danger.”

”So you’re afraid I’m not a match for Hades, and you want to test me?”

~~~

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