Chapter 181: FTRJ: Chapter 181

He nodded. “I’m leaving now.” With that, Zeref turned and walked away in another direction. “Finn…?” Zeref murmured softly, his voice too lo

He nodded. “I’m leaving now.”

With that, Zeref turned and walked away in another direction.

“Finn…?” Zeref murmured softly, his voice too low for Finn to hear. “When you are strong enough… I will come for you. Perhaps only you can destroy me.”

Ultear showed no reaction to Zeref’s departure; or rather, she didn’t seem to notice. She was kneeling on the ground, head in her hands, her body trembling slightly.

Finn knew she had completely broken down. Zeref’s words echoed relentlessly in her mind.

“There is no Great Magic World… then what was the point of all my efforts?!”

“What have I been doing all this time?”

“Damn it!” She repeatedly slammed her fists into the ground, her unprotected hands tearing on the sharp stones. Blood welled up, but she seemed oblivious to the pain.

A series of gritted, fragmented curses escaped her lips, interspersed with the sound of her ragged breathing. Tears streamed down her face, wetting the dry earth.

Ultear resembled a believer whose faith had been shattered, questioning her beliefs, the meaning of her actions, everything. She even questioned the meaning of her own existence.

“Um… is she alright?” Nancy whispered softly, her voice laced with concern.

Finn looked at Ultear, kneeling on the ground, and sighed deeply.

“Let it all out, Ultear. Cry if you need to,” he said softly, offering a rare moment of compassion.

Ultear wept uncontrollably. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the girl who had long suppressed her emotions finally unleashed a torrent of tears. She raged against the cruel hand of fate, pouring out her sorrow and despair.

Misunderstandings and coincidences had conspired to create a tragic tapestry of her life. In her memories, she was a child abandoned by her mother, left alone to be used as a test subject in the cruel experiments conducted by the Magic Council. Facing the horrors of that hellish existence, she mustered the courage to escape.

At that time, she possessed only a thin dress, not even shoes to protect her feet, as she ventured into the snow-covered landscape. The biting cold, however, failed to deter her. She yearned to see her mother again, to feel her mother’s embrace once more.

But when she finally saw her mother’s radiant smile and the two children standing beside her, Ultear’s belief in her mother’s love crumbled for the first time. In that moment, she felt utterly betrayed and abandoned.

She couldn’t forgive her mother. Never.

Fueled by this unwavering belief, she dedicated herself to mastering time magic, growing stronger with each passing day. Then, she encountered Finn.

On Galuna Island, she discovered the truth—the extent of her mother’s love for her. Her long-held belief crumbled a second time.

Fortunately, Hades had promised her that by obtaining Zeref’s power, she could perfect her time magic, travel back to the past, and alter the course of her tragic destiny.

Therefore, when faced with Finn’s invitation to join Fairy Tail, Ultear hesitated, ultimately choosing to return to the dark guild. She immersed herself in a world of darkness, a world rife with evil and bloodshed. But Ultear didn’t waver; her desire to return to her mother’s embrace remained her driving force.

Then, today, she had almost reached the threshold of hope, only to be struck down by the harsh realities of the situation. Her belief crumbled for a third time.

“I… I just wanted to go back to before I started hating my mother…” she sobbed, her voice barely a whisper.

“I just… want to go back to the past… to make amends… to start over with my mother…”

Ultear clutched a small stone in her hand, squeezing it so tightly that it crumbled into dust. Tears flowed incessantly from her eyes, seemingly unstoppable.

Nancy remained silent, deeply moved by Ultear’s heartbreaking confession. She, too, had experienced her share of tragedy in life. In that moment, Nancy felt a profound sense of empathy and shared understanding with Ultear.

“Do you remember what I once told you?” Finn’s voice cut through the silence, as he approached Ultear.

“Join Fairy Tail,” he said softly, extending his hand towards her.

“Fairy Tail is a place where those of us without homes can find solace. Everyone here carries their own burdens, their own pain, but we learn to rely on each other,” Finn explained, his voice gentle and reassuring, like a calming breeze soothing her troubled heart.

“Here, whether you’re in pain or sorrow, you will never be alone!” he continued, his voice filled with genuine compassion.

“In times of pain, in times of sorrow, we will always be here for you!”

“That’s how we’ve always been… supporting each other, relying on each other, and that’s what makes us comrades,” Finn concluded, his voice filled with warmth and sincerity.

Ultear slowly raised her head, sunlight filtering through Finn’s fingers, forming beams of light that illuminated her face, as if symbolizing the dawn of a new and brighter future.

“So warm… is this the warmth of light…” she whispered, her voice filled with wonder.

“Fairy Tail…”

She slowly extended her hand, grasping Finn’s hand tightly, as if afraid that he might let go, plunging her back into the depths of despair.

Sensing the desperation in her grip, Finn smiled gently, mirroring her firm grip.

“Don’t worry, Fairy Tail will never abandon a single one of its comrades,” he reassured her.

A gentle smile touched Nancy’s lips as she discreetly wiped away a tear from her own eye. Finn, she thought, was truly a remarkable person.

————

Juvia embraced Meredy tightly, their feelings intertwined. Meredy could feel Juvia’s overwhelming emotions flooding her mind, leaving her momentarily stunned.

Mirajane, sensing the intensity of the emotional connection, released her own link, her magic receding.

Earlier, during their battle with Meredy, she had revealed her burning desire to kill Gray. That confession had ignited a fierce surge of protective fury within Juvia, unleashing a level of combat prowess that was far beyond anything she had previously displayed, even during her confrontation with Finn.

This unexpected outburst of power had momentarily thrown Meredy off balance.

However, Meredy remained unfazed, a subtle smile playing on her lips. She activated her Lost Magic, Guilty Love.

Using Juvia’s intense feelings for Gray, Meredy successfully linked the feelings of the three mages—Juvia, Mirajane, and herself. They now shared pain and damage. This magical link made it impossible for Mirajane to attack Meredy without harming her own comrade.

However, Juvia’s powerful emotions fueled her strength, inflicting even greater damage upon Meredy. Meredy, however, possessed equally strong emotions—those she held for Ultear.

Ultear had saved and raised Meredy after her entire city was destroyed. Ultear was like a mother to her.

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