Chapter 76: FTRJ: Chapter 76

Erza vanished down the corridor.

Simon patted Shô on the shoulder. “Since Erza’s decided this, let’s follow her plan. Besides…” Simon looked upwards, though he couldn’t see anything.

But he could sense a man, engulfed in flames, battling above.

Simon remembered a private conversation with Finn. He’d asked, “Knowing Erza, she’ll definitely confront Jellal, but she’s no match for him. Can you bring Erza back then?”

Finn had nodded firmly. “No matter where she is, I’ll protect her.” It was a promise.

“You all must come back alive,” Simon murmured to himself.

Then he said, “Shô, find Lucy and the others. I’ll find Natsu and the others. Wally and Millianna, prepare the escape boat. We need to hurry.”

They nodded and set off.

…

At the top of the Tower of Heaven.

The area was heavily damaged. An explosion rocked the center, sending Jellal flying.

The smoke cleared, revealing Finn, unscathed.

“You’re not going to stop there, are you?” Finn was puzzled. He’d realized from the start that Jellal wasn’t using his full power.

Jellal was slow, his attacks weak. Finn wouldn’t be fooled. Honestly, Jellal was probably weaker than Natsu right now.

“C-cough…” Jellal rose from the rubble, his heart aching at the destruction.

He’d expected Finn to take longer to arrive, and even then, he could hold his own for a while. But Finn had attacked immediately, giving him no chance to breathe. And Finn’s overwhelming power was too much for him in his incomplete state.

Seeing Jellal silent, Finn wasted no time. He swung his blade, drawing in the surrounding flames. The flames converged onto his blade, burning steadily. A closer look revealed a scorch mark on Ryūjin Jakka.

This was a technique Finn had mastered after becoming more familiar with Ryūjin Jakka.

“Taimatsu!!”

“Whum————” A massive roar of the blade, mixed with the crackling of flames, echoed. Compared to his previous attacks, this one’s flames were minimal.

But Jellal’s eyes widened. This attack felt far more dangerous than any before.

“This is…a compressed flame slash?”

The slash cut through everything, melting anything it touched with its intense heat.

“Damn it, I’m going to die…”

In the distant Magic Council, Makarov’s eyes widened. His hand, gripping the armrest, crushed it.

“Etherion is in its final stage. My absence won’t matter.” Makarov vanished.

“Boom————” A massive explosion echoed, but Finn frowned.

Jellal was unharmed. Someone had intercepted the attack.

The dust cleared, revealing the person who’d blocked the attack.

“Makarov?” This wasn’t Finn, but Erza, who’d just arrived.

Erza rushed to Finn’s side, relieved to see him unharmed.

“What happened?” Erza asked, looking at Makarov and Jellal.

Finn shrugged. “Who knows? But Makarov’s up to no good. Enemy. Let’s fight.”

“So you two are working together,” Erza said, looking at the pair.

“Together?” Jellal laughed.

“Wrong,” Makarov shook his head.

Before Finn and Erza’s eyes, Makarov’s body began to fade, ultimately merging with Jellal.

“You got it all wrong. We were always one, Erza…” Jellal stretched.

“What? A thought projection?” Erza guessed.

“Probably a high-level thought projection capable of dividing its power,” Finn added.

Jellal’s full magical power surged. “False freedom and happiness, Erza?” Jellal taunted. “All for Zeref’s resurrection.”

“You bastard! How many people have you deceived?” Erza trembled with rage.

A magic circle appeared, creating a giant sword in Erza’s hand, but a hand stopped her.

“Finn?” Erza asked, confused.

“Erza, leave him to me. Your magic is depleted,” Finn said softly.

“I…I have to defeat Jellal,” Erza said, gripping Finn’s hand.

But exhaustion hit her. “This is…Mystogan’s sleep magic?” Sleepiness overcame her; she closed her eyes.

“Sorry, rest,” Finn caught her, gently laying her on the ground.

Jellal, hands in pockets, looked far from his previous state. “You gave me quite a heartwarming show.”

Finn stroked Erza’s hair, then stood. “You know, I really didn’t want Erza to see you.”

He drew Ryūjin Jakka from the ground. “Because you’re her nightmare. She doesn’t need to experience it again. She just needs to sleep.”

“Tomorrow, she’ll be the usual Erza.” Finn’s magical power surged.

“And I’ll crush her nightmare!!”

“Boom————” The surrounding flames burned more fiercely, as if responding to Finn’s words.

“All Things in the Universe, Turn to Ashes, Ryūjin Jakka!”

Flames erupted from the Zanpakutō. Finn released his Zanpakutō, but these flames were different—less outward spread, but far hotter. The temperature around Finn exceeded 6000 degrees Celsius.

Jellal raised a hand, magical energy rising. “I’m not the same as before. My power is fully restored. Can you really defeat me?”

Jellal was supremely confident. Even a thought projection had earned him a Ten Wizard Saint title. He never considered himself weaker than anyone.

Not even Finn, who’d defeated Ten Wizard Saints. He could defeat Jose himself.

Bang————

Both charged, like wild beasts.

A fist wreathed in starlight collided with a flame-covered blade, a deafening explosion echoing, magical energy spreading, creating a gale-force wind.

Outside, the sea churned. The boat tossed like a leaf in the wind.

Juvia struggled to control the water around the boat.

“This feeling…” Lucy struggled against the wind.

“It’s Finn! A clash of Ten Wizard Saint-level magic,” Happy held onto the unconscious Natsu.

“He has to win,” Simon watched the top of the tower.

A massive explosion echoed. They separated.

“Damn it…” Jellal looked at his abdomen, a scorched wound.

Finn swung his blade. “Is that all you’ve got?”

“Or are you worried about destroying the tower?”

“You bastard.” Jellal gritted his teeth. “Heavenly Body Magic: Grand Chariot.”

Jellal leaped into the air, making rapid hand gestures. Seven magic circles appeared behind him, like the Big Dipper.

“Receive the Heavenly Body Magic: Grand Chariot!” Seven golden beams shot towards Finn.

Finn swung his blade upwards, creating a wall of fire.

“Boom boom boom——”

The beams exploded in the flames.

Explosions rocked the area, destroying buildings. Jellal’s heart ached.

“That’s not enough,” Finn burst through the flames, Ryūjin Jakka slashing at Jellal.

“Meteor!” Golden light enveloped Jellal, boosting his speed. He narrowly dodged the attacks, but the surrounding buildings were destroyed.

“You damn bastard,” Jellal was no longer calm. He understood he couldn’t defeat Finn.

The Tower of Heaven was nearing its limit; it wouldn’t be able to absorb the Etherion’s power.

Jellal hated Finn. The burning buildings reminded him that eight years of work were about to be destroyed.

Finn charged again, his blade aimed at Jellal’s neck.

“Then you’ll die with this tower,” Jellal’s forehead bulged with rage. With Finn here, the Tower couldn’t be completed. He’d make Finn pay.

Golden light intensified. Meteor’s speed reached its peak, dodging Finn’s blade.

The blade hit the ground, shattering it, then consumed by flames.

“Can you escape?” Finn spun his blade, more intense flames erupting. “Ryūjin Jakka: Ennetsu Jigoku.”

The flames enveloped Jellal, forming a giant pillars.

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