Chapter 83: Jellal, Die!
"BOOOOM~!~~!!!"
A sound like a colossal bell reverberated through the sky above the Tower of Heaven. Massive magic circles materialized overhead, spinning with ominous light. A tremendous golden beam descended from the heavens—divine judgment made manifest, meant to purify all sin from the world.
"The Etherion is falling!!!"
"Open it!!!"
Dino shouted. "Haaaah!" The densely cracked space above his palms finally crossed that critical threshold. Space itself began fragmenting inch by inch—ten spatial rifts resembling black holes tore open before him.
The Etherion beam plummeting from the sky seemed drawn by an irresistible force, bending and spiraling directly into the spatial cracks.
"Oh my god!!!"
"Is this really happening?!"
Everyone witnessing this spectacle stood frozen, mouths agape, unable to comprehend the magnificent scene unfolding before their eyes. Such a thing should have been impossible.
"BOOM!"
Cracks spiderwebbed across the floor beneath Dino's feet. He gritted his teeth, continuing to channel the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power, maintaining the shattered void state.
After what felt like an eternity, the Etherion's light began to fade. Dino's fractured space slowly began auto-repairing. The massive magic circles in the sky dissipated completely, and the last traces of Etherion vanished into nothingness.
The broken space before Dino's palms sealed itself whole again, as if nothing had ever happened.
"Hah… hah…" Once it was over, Dino dropped to one knee, breathing heavily, sweat pouring down his face. Maintaining such an enormous fragmented space placed tremendous strain on his body.
After all, he wasn't a Spatial Magic user. He relied purely on the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power to shatter space and connect two worlds—transferring the Etherion's attack to another dimension entirely. This technique only worked so effectively in this world because of the twin-world nature of Earthland and Edolas.
Magic Council ERA
"Emergency report! The Tower of Heaven still stands! The R-System has not been destroyed!"
"What did you say?! How is that possible?!"
"It appears that at the moment Etherion struck, violent spatial fluctuations occurred above the tower! The magical energy seems to have been redirected to another dimension!"
The Council members' faces went pale. Etherion was the Magic Council's ultimate weapon—humanity's greatest deterrent.
If something existed that Etherion couldn't destroy… that was simply inconceivable!
Several Councilors rushed to the viewing lacrima, finding the Tower of Heaven still standing tall, completely intact, as if the Etherion strike had never occurred.
Suddenly, the entire Council building began to shake. The once-brilliant Etherion transmission tower started decaying rapidly. The ground cracked and crumbled beneath their feet.
"No! This place is collapsing! Council members, evacuate immediately!"
"What's happening?! Why is everything aging so rapidly?!"
"Everyone, run!"
"This is… Lost Magic—the Arc of Time?!" The Councilors immediately recognized this magic, having witnessed its unique power not long ago.
"Ultear! What are you trying to do?!" Several Councilors demanded sternly.
Ultear smiled charmingly at them. "Completing the mission entrusted to me by the Chairman, of course!"
Tower of Heaven
Everyone stared blankly at the sky, unable to process what they'd just witnessed. Only when they noticed Dino kneeling on the ground, looking exhausted, did they rush over.
"Dino-san, are you alright?!"
Dino shook his head. To ease their worries, he managed a tired smile. "I'm fine. Just used up a lot of energy. I'll be okay after some rest."
"No! Impossible! Someone actually blocked Etherion?! You're not human—you're a monster!" Jellal stared at Dino with disbelief and terror, backing away frantically.
Then his expression twisted into something manic. "Creatures like you shouldn't exist at all!"
"Meteor!" Golden light erupted around Jellal's body as he shot into the sky in the blink of an eye.
"No good! That bastard recovered a lot of his magic power just now!"
Dino corrected, "His magic power wasn't consumed much—but his body suffered severe injuries."
Jellal waved his hands in the air, forming a magic circle in mere moments.
Seeing that familiar formation, Lucy's face went white. "That's the Four Elements Forbidden Magic—'Abyss Break'! It's the same spell the Phantom Lord used! It has enough power to destroy this entire tower!"
"Ahahaha! You ruined my plans this time, but it'll only take five years to build another Tower of Heaven! For now, you can all die here together with that monster!"
"ICE-MAKE: LANCE!!"
Whoosh! Gray reacted first, attacking Jellal in the air with a barrage of ice spears.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu exhaled a blazing torrent of flames toward Jellal.
For the first time, genuine fury appeared on Erza's face. "You're still this stubborn?! It seems only death will save you from yourself!"
"Requip: Purgatory Armor!"
Clad in pitch-black spiked armor and wielding a massive serrated blade, Erza looked like a demon who'd crawled out of hell itself, her murderous intent palpable.
"HAAAH!" Erza launched herself upward, shattering the ground beneath her feet with sheer force.
Jellal's face twisted in fear as he tried to flee, but his severe injuries made maintaining even simple flight magic nearly impossible. In an instant, Erza closed the distance.
"DIE!" Erza's massive purgatory blade cleaved into Jellal's body.
"GYAAAAH!!"
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!" Erza's blade carved a massive, fatal wound across Jellal's torso. Screaming, he crashed through the Tower of Heaven, smashing through nearly half the structure's floors before plunging into the sea below, whereabouts unknown.