"Bang!"
Another meteor struck, and the Cave Dragon Shield, already riddled with holes, shattered into pieces.
Ken and Erza were completely exposed, without any means of defense.
Jellal stood with a stern smile on his face, his eyes glinting with dark amusement. He stared at Erza playfully, as if enjoying the moment.
"You even gave up your armor," he taunted. "Aren't you afraid of being killed by me?"
Erza, however, shook her head calmly, determination in her eyes.
"With people around me willing to protect me, the armor... is no longer needed."
In that moment, Erza, who had discarded all defenses, was a picture of resolve. Her focus was absolute as she channeled all her remaining energy into her attack. She was determined to fight until the very end.
The tip of her sword pointed forward.
"Let's end it."
Looking at Erza charging towards him, Jellal's lips curved slightly into a smug smile.
He raised his left arm above his head, summoning the power of the celestial bodies to draw down a barrage of meteors, the magical energy fueling them.
The bombardment of magic tore through the air, mercilessly striking Erza.
Without the protection of her armor, the pain was overwhelming, each second feeling like an eternity. However, Erza's speed and agility had improved due to her lack of heavy armor, allowing her to close the gap and reach Jellal.
The Demon Sword Benizakura came crashing down.
Jellal, however, had anticipated the attack. He quickly summoned a wall of starlight, blocking the blade with a shield of celestial magic.
"It's useless, Erza," Jellal sneered, his voice cold. "Your fate is to become a sacrifice for Zeref's resurrection."
Ken, watching from the sidelines, frowned as he saw Erza struggle. His mind raced.
"Wait, Natsu once absorbed part of the Magic Elf Power and defeated Jellal with the Dragon Slayer Secret, right?" he thought, recalling the battle at the Tower of Paradise years ago. "But I've only mastered magic for a short time. Can I really use the Dragon Slayer Secret? And with Jellal's body missing, I can't directly absorb the Magic Elf Power..."
A bold idea flashed in Ken's mind.
"Wait, maybe I can combine multiple Dragon Slayer magics and activate them at the same time..."
Ken quickly began channeling his magic, focusing on the elements that had once felt impossible to control.
A surge of energy exploded from him. Two fusiform crystals, one red and one yellow, responded, glowing brightly in his palms.
"Fire and Electricity... are the two most commonly used elements..." Ken muttered to himself. He could feel the magic swirling within him, testing the limits of his newfound power.
Suddenly, the wings of a storm dragon sprouted from his back, the wind howling as it sent the magic power racing forward.
"And Storm! Dragon-slaying magic, fusion..."
The three different strands of magic intertwined within him, flowing into his body. Scales, faint but unmistakable, began to appear on Ken's arms, an outward sign of his dragon-slaying power.
Erza, still engaged in her battle with Jellal, was knocked back once again, her body battered by the meteor magic. But Ken's fusion of magic had finally reached its peak.
"Secret of Dragon Slaying! The Dragon's Eternal Roar!" Ken shouted, unleashing the full force of his attack.
The magic, the power of the eternal dragon, surged forward, a projection of a massive dragon appearing in front of Ken.
Jellal's pupils dilated in disbelief. "An illusion! It's an illusion!" he shouted, his voice filled with panic.
"True Celestial Magic: Star Collapse!" Jellal retaliated, raising his hands to summon the last of his power, using the Magic Elf Power given to him by Zeref.
But Ken's attack was too strong.
Ken's eyes were filled with unwavering determination as he swung his arms, sending out a wave of magical energy. The might of the eternal dragon clashed with the celestial stars, creating a deafening explosion of magic that shook the entire Tower of Paradise.
The very ground beneath them trembled as the forces collided, an overwhelming display of power.
Erza, still recovering from her injuries, struggled to climb to her feet, her eyes focused on the battle before her. She watched in awe as Ken faced off against Jellal, feeling the overwhelming pressure of their magic.
But beneath it all, Erza's gaze was filled with concern and shock for Ken. "Is he... trying to defeat Jellal head-on?" she thought, her heart racing.
The two combatants locked eyes, their powerful killing blows moments away from tearing each other apart.
The magic swirled around them, cutting through the air, creating an atmosphere of pure tension.
Jellal gritted his teeth, and in a desperate bid to overcome Ken, he began to summon his thought-body, Chiklein, to further draw on the Magic Elf Power.
But suddenly, pain surged through his body. His eyes widened in horror as the backlash from his own magic spread like wildfire.
Ken, sensing Jellal's weakness, seized the opportunity. With a burst of speed, he swung his arms wrapped in Dragon Slayer magic, striking with everything he had.
"Boom!!"
The explosion rocked the tower, sending shockwaves through the surrounding area. When the smoke cleared, Ken was bent over, breathing heavily. The release of the Dragon Slayer Secret had drained him completely, leaving him exhausted.
On the other hand, Jellal had been blown away by the force of the attack, his body crashing against the back wall of the tower, cracking it with a thousand fractures.
Ken, realizing the severity of the situation, saw Jellal's pained expression and immediately understood what had happened. The Magic Elf Power had backfired on him.
"I can't imagine what will happen next..." Ken thought, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Withdraw!" Ken shouted, summoning the wings of the Storm Dragon to carry him away. With a final surge of energy, he kicked open the damaged wall and flew, scooping up the still-dazed Erza in his arms.
As they soared through the air, Ken could feel the weight of the situation. Jellal's power was still strong, and the Magic Elf Power was wreaking havoc.
But as they flew farther away from the Tower of Paradise, Ken felt Erza stir in his arms. Her voice, soft and weak, called to him.
"Ken... What's that in your hands?"
Ken looked down, surprised to see two long, thin objects in Erza's hands.
"Rebar... I got it for you when you kicked the wall open," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ken's eyes widened in surprise. He took the rebar from her hands and quickly devoured it, his body instantly recharged with magic. Though it wasn't much, it was enough to stabilize the fading wings of the Storm Dragon, giving them the strength to continue flying.
"Fly far, Ken!" Erza encouraged, her voice filled with hope.
Ken nodded, his determination renewed. They flew on, escaping the impending destruction of the tower. Only when they were far from the island did they stop, temporarily finding safety in the air.
Erza looked back at the Tower of Paradise, her eyes somber. "Ken... the magic power is becoming more and more unstable."
Ken glanced back, feeling the tremors in the air. The Tower of Paradise was collapsing.
Within moments, the top of the tower exploded, sending shockwaves rippling across the sea. The immense magical energy surged into the sky, tearing through the dark clouds and revealing a few stars.
The collapse of the tower marked the end of an era.
"Boom!"
When the dust finally settled, all that remained was ruin. The sins of the past were buried in the rubble, along with the boy Erza had once loved.
"Tower of Paradise... Jellal..." Erza whispered, her voice filled with bittersweet sorrow as she stared at the destruction before her.
Ken held her close, offering silent comfort.
After a long, quiet moment, Erza leaned her head against Ken's ear and whispered softly, "Thank you, Ken..."
Ken gently wiped away her tears, his voice calm. "Erza, your right eye is crying too."
Erza managed a faint smile, feeling the weight of the past finally lifting.
Ken, exhausted but content, felt a sense of peace. The nightmare that had haunted Erza for ten long years had finally come to an end.
(Next Chapter: The End of the Tower of Paradise)