Chapter 188: FTRJ: Chapter 188

The island shook violently, and waves dozens of meters high crashed around it. Finn felt as if he could hear Tenrou Island itself—the mournf

The island shook violently, and waves dozens of meters high crashed around it. Finn felt as if he could hear Tenrou Island itself—the mournful cry of the giant Tenrou Tree, its protective power over Fairy Tail failing.

“Ugh…” Finn stumbled, clutching his head, overcome by dizziness and weakness. Ultear quickly steadied him. Nancy collapsed to the ground.

“I… I have no strength left…” Nancy gasped, struggling to raise her head.

“This is bad…” Ultear frowned, assessing the dire situation.

It wasn’t just Finn and Nancy. Fairy Tail members across the island suddenly fell, their strength seemingly drained along with the Tenrou Tree’s collapse.

The battle had drastically shifted. Gildarts, who had been dominating Bluenote, was now forced onto the defensive. Lily could no longer maintain his large form, reverting to his smaller size before collapsing. Even Laxus and his team were pushed back.

“Hahahaha, the brat’s finally reached his limit!” Hades roared with laughter, gazing across at Finn.

“Azuma took longer than expected, but he finally managed to control Tenrou Island’s magic.”

He spread his arms wide, as if celebrating a victory.

“With this, Fairy Tail has lost all chance of winning!”

————

“What in the world did you do?!” Erza roared, her eyes fixed on the fallen Tenrou Tree.

Azuma slowly emerged from the trees. “My Lost Magic is Great Tree Arc. Its true power lies in taking root in the earth and controlling the magic stored within!”

Erza frowned. “Then why did you destroy the Tenrou Tree?”

Azuma shook his head. “It wasn’t my intention, but it was Master Hades’ order. He understood the island’s power. The Tenrou Tree protected those with the Fairy Tail mark, preventing death and enhancing magic!”

Erza’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“So you felled the Tenrou Tree just to remove our protection?!”

The wood-like coloration gradually receded from Azuma’s body, revealing his true form.

He continued, his gaze drifting towards the fallen Tenrou Tree, a hint of regret in his eyes. “There’s another effect.”

He paused, then stated with grim determination, “It also drains the magical energy from all Fairy Tail mages!”

“What?!” Erza exclaimed, her voice sharp with alarm.

“Master Hades has already begun, and your comrades are on the verge of annihilation,” Azuma stated gravely.

“However…” he added, his tone shifting slightly.

“While I’ve controlled the island’s magic, I’ve deliberately left yours intact.”

Azuma extended his hand towards Erza. “Come, Fairy Queen. Your comrades are on the brink of death, and only you can save them!”

His eyes burned with intense battle lust.

“Just how powerful is your strength to protect your comrades? Let me witness it…”

“Why are you doing this?” Erza asked, her anger tempered by her unwavering rationality. She was deeply puzzled by Azuma’s decision to leave her magical abilities untouched.

Azuma’s gaze was unwavering and intense.

“I simply want to test my strength against you at your absolute best. Nothing more,” he stated with unwavering sincerity.

Erza lowered her head, a deep crimson magical array unfolding beneath her feet.

In the next instant, the Heaven’s Wheel Armor materialized around her body, her sword pointed directly at Azuma.

“If that’s the case, then once you’re defeated, you’ll restore everyone’s magic,” she declared, her voice firm and resolute.

Azuma nodded in agreement. “Of course. I personally dislike such underhanded tactics as well.”

“However,” he added with a determined glint in his eyes, “that will only happen after you defeat me!”

Without further delay, Erza, utilizing the wings of her Heaven’s Wheel Armor, launched herself into the air, her sword unleashing a relentless barrage of strikes against the leaf-shaped swords that were hurtling towards her.

“Heaven’s Wheel: Raging Sword!”

Dozens of swords transformed into streaks of silver light, hurtling towards Azuma.

Azuma responded by swiftly swinging his arm, causing countless branches to extend towards him, forming a formidable defensive barrier against Erza’s onslaught.

The thick branches, propelled by the force of Azuma’s powerful swing, lashed out towards Erza.

A brilliant light suddenly erupted from Erza’s body, momentarily blinding Azuma.

In the next instant, Erza, clad in her signature panther-print armor, moved with blinding speed, effortlessly evading the entangling branches.

With remarkable agility, she leaped onto one of the branches, using it as a springboard to propel herself towards Azuma.

Her blade sliced through Azuma’s body repeatedly, drawing small streams of blood.

“Then…” she announced, extending her arms outwards.

“Flame Tower!”

A terrifying surge of magical energy erupted from Azuma, centered on his body.

The moment Erza made her next move, an enormous pillar of fire erupted, engulfing both her and Azuma in its fiery embrace.

“Ugh…” a muffled groan could be heard from within the heart of the inferno.

Erza, now clad in her fiery red Emperor Armor, burst forth from the flames, her body slightly scorched but otherwise unharmed.

The moment Erza landed, a colossal fist, formed entirely of wood and imbued with immense magical energy, slammed down upon her.

BOOM—!!

A deafening roar echoed throughout the area, as Azuma watched in astonishment as the fist was abruptly stopped in its tracks.

Erza, her arms drawn together tightly, had raised her massive shield, firmly blocking the tree-formed fist.

“Adamantine Armor! Absolute defense, is it?” Azuma murmured, his voice filled with a mixture of surprise and admiration.

“The very armor that withstood the direct impact of Jupiter’s magical beam cannon, is it?”

Azuma, undeterred, swung his arm once more, unleashing a torrent of leaves and branches, each one sharpened into a deadly blade, aimed at piercing the Adamantine Armor.

However, Erza effortlessly deflected each and every one of these attacks with her impenetrable shield.

A golden light once again radiated from Erza’s body, causing her shield to dissipate into particles of light.

In the next instant, Erza, now adorned in her Star Dress, reappeared in the same spot, her beam cannon fully charged and ready to fire.

“Starlight: Photon Cannon!”

A blinding beam of golden light instantly struck Azuma.

BOOM—

Following a violent explosion, Azuma, his hands raised defensively, stumbled backward, his feet skidding across the ground for several dozen meters before he finally managed to regain his balance.

“Ha… ha…” Azuma gasped for breath, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he turned his gaze towards Erza.

“You truly live up to the title of Fairy Queen!”

His voice was filled with genuine admiration. “Your rapid costume changes, your flawless swordsmanship… this is truly an exceptionally exhilarating battle!”

Erza’s expression remained serious, her eyes conveying her assessment of her opponent.

The mage before her was undoubtedly a formidable and powerful adversary, without a single shadow of a doubt.

————

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