On the battlefield without Allen and Jellal, the situation had turned chaotic. On one side, the members of Trinity Raven were baffled to find that even Jellal's own subordinates were included among the targets to be eliminated. As for the tower, despite having been divided by destroying the R-System, it did not collapse, because the sword cut it with surgical precision. But it was still not a safe place to fight.
Lucy, Juvia, and Mirajane felt the ground vanish beneath them as the massive sword disappeared.
"Huh—Ahhh!" Lucy screamed in panic, only to realize she wasn't falling. Looking down, she saw a glowing halo of light wrapped around her waist, slowly lowering her to the ground, of course, Juvia and Mirajane were also in the same situation.
"As I thought… Allen-sama still cares about Juvia❤️~" Juvia held her own cheeks as she had heart eyes.
Mirajane locked her eyes on the Trinity Raven members, particularly the pink-haired woman. That woman's amused smile said only one thing to Mira: She's strong.
Once they were on solid ground, Erza glanced at the three girls—especially Lucy—with a mix of shame and guilt.
"Lucy, I…" Erza's voice carried a hint of bitterness. She believed her happiness had come at a price—and that price was breaking another girl's heart.
But to her surprise, Lucy wasn't sad or depressed. She wasn't even angry. Instead, she met Erza's gaze with eyes full of determination.
"Erza, this isn't the time to argue… Your feelings are clear to me now, but that doesn't change a thing. I'm not giving up…" Lucy pouted slightly. "But you could at least have a little consideration. I don't kiss him right in front of you…"
"…!"
Erza's eyes widened, stunned. She hadn't expected Lucy to have such mental strength. It made her admire Lucy in that instant—because in that sense, she admitted she had lost. The girl who seemed so delicate was actually far stronger than she looked.
"Erza-san, Juvia won't give up either! …Huh?! Wait a second!"
Juvia's expression became somber. Lucy paled instantly under her sharp gaze; she knew she'd slipped.
"Lucy-san… what do you mean by that?" Juvia asked in a chilling tone. "Because that sounded like you kissed him when no one was watching…"
"No, I… That's nothing… just a slip of the tongue…" Lucy stammered, sweat beading on her forehead. Juvia wanted to interrogate her further, but lacked evidence, and this was hardly the place.
Mirajane, who up until now had seemed like a passive observer, narrowed her eyes slightly. Her gentle smile didn't fade, but a dark aura seemed to flicker behind her as she mercilessly exposed Lucy.
"Now that I think about it… after the Phantom Lord incident, Allen and Lucy disappeared for a while. When they came back, Lucy was so clingy—like a lovestruck girlfriend. When I asked what happened, they both just said Lucy's father's issue had been resolved and wouldn't bother her anymore."
"M-Mira-san!" Lucy wailed, but it was too late. Juvia grabbed her by the collar.
"You did something! You did something, didn't you?! That's why you're not so worried about the kiss! Because you'd already done it before, isn't that it?!" Juvia shook Lucy violently, unable to control her jealousy.
"Wait! Calm down!"
"Ara ara~ Calm down, Juvia," Mira said softly, placing a hand on her cheek—but making no real effort to stop her.
As the commotion between the Fairy Tail girls continued, Erza's childhood friends were left stunned. These girls were from the same guild as Erza and clearly had a close bond. But they had underestimated just how deep that bond went—because suddenly, Erza burst into laughter watching the trio squabble.
Juvia, Lucy, and Mira all froze at the sound of her laugh. Then the three of them exchanged glances and smiled. Regardless of everything else, they were just glad to see Erza happy and safe.
Millianna sighed softly, a hint of envy in her eyes. "Erza-chan has such a wonderful place to belong…"
Wally nodded, adjusting his hat. "That's true…"
"…" Sho stayed silent, trembling. All he could think about was apologizing to Erza when he finally had the chance.
"Don't you think you're all being a bit rude?" Ikaruga's voice cut through, her lips curving into a provocative smile as cherry blossom petals began to drift around them.
Ikaruga was a stunning woman with long, brilliant pink hair tied up at the top of her head. Her figure was curvaceous, her skin peach-toned, with a beauty mark beneath each eye and lips painted a striking red. She wore a long white kimono with a crimson stripe down the center and flame patterns near the hem. The top of the kimono hung loosely to bare her shoulders and cleavage, and she wore traditional platform sandals—except hers were extremely tall, adding to her imposing presence.
Erza immediately leapt forward, her armor changing midair. "Requip: The Knight!"
The Heaven's Wheel Armor appeared.
"Circle Sword!" Erza wasted no time and attacked. Dozens of blades materialized in a circle, launching toward the trio.
Ikaruga chuckled lightly, drawing her sword. With a single motion, she sliced through Erza's swords in an instant, leaving everyone stunned. Just as Mira had sensed—she was strong. Erza's expression hardened; this was an opponent who couldn't be underestimated.
The long-haired man smirked arrogantly.
"Oh? Then I'll join in too!"
Vidaldus Taka's magic flared violently, his form shifting from a calm man to someone straight out of a heavy metal concert, leaving everyone shocked. He didn't even look like the same person.
"I love that look~" Vidaldus grinned with sadistic delight. Black eyeliner framed his eyes, his lips painted black as his tongue slid across them. His outfit transformed, adorned with spiked pauldrons as he held an electric guitar in his hands.
"I can't get enough of watching pretty girls fight!"
"How vulgar…" Lucy muttered in disgust.
"Juvia abhors him just from looking at him…" Juvia huffed, her blue hair swaying.
Vidaldus wasn't offended. Instead, his grin grew wider as he strummed his guitar, sending out a massive soundwave. The pendants protected Mira, Erza, and Lucy, but Wally, Millianna, and Sho weren't so lucky—they were hit head-on. As for Juvia, a variant of the Protego spell protected her; this had been left by Allen on her clothing to prevent her from being recaptured.
"Damn you!" Erza charged at him, but Ikaruga appeared instantly, their blades clashing.
"You!"
"I won't let you pass, Titania-chan~" Ikaruga teased with a sultry smile. "I'm surprised. A girl who played so sweet suddenly so aggressive~ Is that man really that good? Maybe I should try him myself?"
Her smile froze instantly as she leapt back, but not fast enough to avoid the slash that grazed her shoulder. In an instant, Erza's speed and power had skyrocketed.
Erza's expression was pure, icy rage. "Say that again and I'll cut off your head, bitch!"
"So scary…" Ikaruga regretted provoking her immediately.
Meanwhile, something even more absurd happened—Erza's friends suddenly turned on the Fairy Tail girls.
"What the—?!" Lucy screamed, barely dodging Wally's gunfire.
"They're being controlled!" Juvia shouted, dodging Millianna's whip-like cords.
The situation had flipped completely. Their numerical advantage had turned against them in an instant. Juvia and Lucy knew they had no choice and began to fight.
"How troublesome!" Vidaldus growled in frustration. Those shields were blocking his sound magic from taking control of them—but he noticed one thing. Juvia had no shield. He assumed that the control effect of his magic did not apply to Juvia because of her water magic, however, it should not be impossible to control her if he concentrated on her alone.
Vidaldus' tongue ran across his lips hungrily.
Meanwhile, Fukuro—the owl-headed assassin who had been completely ignored—began to move in the shadows, searching for an opening. Like the silent flight of a true owl, his approach was undetectable. A trained killer from an assassin's guild… and he had found the perfect target.
Mirajane. The weakest of the group—the easiest prey.
He waited for the perfect moment, when everyone else was distracted, and lunged for her.
"…That's enough."
Mira's voice was soft, weary. She had been watching—watching the other girls fight, struggle, push their limits—while she remained on the sidelines, powerless. Was this really okay? Did she really want to stay like this, just being a burden?
In her mind, she saw it. Erza, Lucy, and Juvia were fighting desperately against multiple enemies… while she only watched. When Allen left and entrusted the battle to them, she had received the telepathic message too. Why? Why would he do that, knowing she couldn't fight?
Mira understood one thing: no matter what fate held for them, she couldn't stay weak. If she hid, if she ran, could she really keep standing in this place?
"…!" Fukuro's eyes widened.
Mira's hand shot out, gripping his throat effortlessly.
"That's enough… trash who only knows how to run… I don't want to be the only one left out!"
Her eyes had grown darker, her gentle face losing its softness. Yet, in those darkened eyes, there was still a faint trace of warmth.
"You're such a bad man… pushing me to my limits so mercilessly… you'll have to take responsibility~"
The moment the words left her lips, Mira's magic exploded. The sheer pressure left Lucy and Juvia breathless, not only because it reached the level of an S-Class mage, but because of the dangerous aura that came with it.
Ikaruga narrowed her eyes, immediately on guard.
Erza, on the other hand, wasn't surprised. Instead, a nostalgic smile touched her lips.
"Welcome back… Mira."
....
....
Not everything in life has to go right—and it won't. Not everything in the world is meant to be pleasant—because it isn't. Once someone falls, once they're defeated, once they hit their absolute limit, they can become depressed, break down… or even give up entirely.
That was Allen's case. He fell into a state of depression. His pride and confidence were shattered. And yet, because so many people depended on him, he didn't surrender. He held on, even through what was perhaps the lowest, weakest moment of his life.
But now… everything had changed.
He hadn't just regained his confidence. He hadn't just dispelled that gray cloud over his head. He had recovered something even greater…
(Allen's POV)
I feel… good.
My breathing is steady…
My mind is focused…
It's like the weight on my shoulders has vanished.
No… that's not it. The weight hasn't disappeared—it's just become so light…
"Altairis!" Jellal roared, summoning a black orb speckled with tiny lights, like the night sky condensed into his hands.
I didn't need to exert myself. Just a single swing of my sword was enough to cut the attack in half.
"You still haven't answered me… how do you want me to fight?"
Despite my words, I wasn't expecting a reply. So I would have to decide for myself. And since I'd just regained my Clown Crown… I might as well use it.
"What?!"
Jellal's eyes widened as his spell was effortlessly destroyed. Why? It wasn't that strange. Every type of magic has weak points—you just have to know where and how to strike.
Without giving him time to react, I slammed a kick into him, sending him crashing into the ocean once again.
I closed my eyes for a second. That nostalgic feeling… holding this sword again. I thought I'd never grip it once more.
Lucifer was fine… but the constant crushing pressure that came with him? It's gone. Strange… That absurd being who could erase me with a thought doesn't seem nearly as dangerous now. Is it because I've regained my Innocence? No… It's not just that.
There's something more. I still remember it…
When I first obtained the System, I was suspicious, cautious. I'd heard too many stories to know that half the time, a system was nothing but a curse—one that imposed abusive missions with horrific punishments for failure.
I didn't want to be a slave to some system…
But thankfully, my fear turned out to be unnecessary. My System wasn't looking for a host to control—it was looking for a partner to grow alongside. In that moment, I was thrilled. How could I not be? I had acquired a System! I imagined all the things I could do, all the places I could go. A hundred fun scenarios filled my head.
But it couldn't be avoided. My System was strange. A system based on live broadcasts? One where putting on a show was essential to getting stronger?
It was beyond bizarre. And then, before I could even enjoy any of it, reality hit me in the face.
The reality that I could die at any moment.
That reality took the shape of Doomsday—my first true enemy.
From Doomsday, I learned despair. I learned fear. I learned helplessness. And I learned that my naïve mindset would lead me to an ugly, meaningless death. Worst of all, that death would be seen by so many people… including those I cared about.
I couldn't allow that.
I suppressed those naïve dreams…
I suppressed the desire to have fun on this journey…
I hardened my heart, taking the full weight of my decisions. And step by step, problem after problem, enemy after enemy, I pushed forward. Because Allen Walker can't stop walking...
There was a time I thought this would just be a fun, dreamlike life… but I gave that up. I steeled myself.
Nostalgic…
It had been so long since my mind had felt this clear…
I couldn't help but smile toward one of the System's phantom drones that hovered nearby, always watching.
"I'm sorry for worrying you… I'm fine now. Better than ever."
"You haven't beaten me yet!" Jellal's voice roared behind me, full of frustration and rage. He brought both hands down in like a hammer, his magic flaring violently. I raised my right arm, caught the blow, and answered with my sharp left elbow to his gut, followed by a kick that sent him crashing into the sea once again. His body crashing into the sea caused a huge explosion, making me feel like I was hitting him with a force equivalent to the One-Man Army x100.
I instantly formed a hyper-condensed orb of magic and fired it. Just to make sure he couldn't escape, I'd placed a restrictive seal on him when I elbowed him. With his power, he should be able to break free—but even a second was enough. The blast hit dead-on. Through Auris Arcanum, I watched half his body vanish in an explosion massive enough to rival my composite magic. This power… is incredible. Who was he, really?
Thanks to him, I now have the power to oppose anyone who obtains Lucifer's particles.
Well, for now it doesn't matter... I just want to enjoy this moment of liberation...
"It really is fun… My life, even now, is full of interesting things. I'll never get bored."
Jellal emerged from the ocean once again, his body fully reconstructed. "Damn you… You're not even taking this seriously!"
"That's not true. Of course I'm serious… just in a more relaxed, calm way." I smiled again, remembering all the desperate moments I'd endured. "Back then… that was a luxury I couldn't afford."
Jellal didn't wait for me to finish. He lunged again. My massive sword shifted into a katana as I tilted my body forward, hand gripping the hilt. Jellal ignored the danger and charged straight for me.
"You know… I've realized something. I don't need to suppress who I am. I can take things seriously and smile… because I'm strong."
(POV end)
Jellal froze midair, staring at Allen's radiant smile. What is wrong with this guy?! He was here trying to kill him, wielding the power of the strongest dark mage to ever walk the world—and yet Allen could face him with that calm gaze, that bright smile, those clear eyes. Was this all just a joke to him?!
With a furious roar, Jellal attacked again, his power skyrocketing. That smile… he had to erase it. He had to show him this wasn't a joke.
Clink!
A sharp metallic sound rang out. And then, something strange happened.
Why am I stopping? Why am I not reaching him? Why is my magic… gone?
Jellal's vision split in half. For a split second, he didn't understand. Then he realized—he was falling. His perspective had shifted because his body had been sliced into hundreds of pieces.
Am I… going to die? No… not yet!
The power of Lucifer surged, pulling his body back together. Shredded flesh and bone reassembled in under a second. Terrifying power. Incredible regeneration. Endless magic. The power to rule the world itself. And yet… Jellal didn't attack again. Because even with all that… he couldn't see a path to victory.
"Oh, as expected… The immortality granted by Lucifer's particles really is amazing. Haha… I feel like I couldn't kill you even if I tried." Allen chuckled, then his expression softened into something serene. "So… what should I do with you now?"
If Allen waited long enough, Jellal would hit his limit—just like Jose… just like Deliora. This power was never meant for any mage to handle. Jellal, being a prodigy, had a higher tolerance than Jose… but eventually, he'd break. Still, it didn't seem like that limit was anywhere close.
"So what do you guys think? How should I beat him?" Allen asked his Chat.
…
Logan – All regeneration has limits. Hit him enough times and it'll start slowing down…
Wade – Al, use items. Nothing worse for an immortal than having a pipe shoved somewhere unpleasant so they can't regenerate.
Wednesday – Restriction magic… if you can shut down the regen long enough, he should die.
Amanda – Something with constant damage. Maybe corrosion-type attacks.
Allen chuckled at their responses but shook his head. "That sounds excessive. As much as I hate him, I'm not going to torture him. In the end… this man was once Erza's friend… Yeah. I know what to do."
…
Allen smiled calmly, a faint trace of pity in his eyes as he looked at Jellal.
What's with him?! Jellal instinctively stepped back. There was no threat in Allen's gaze, not even hostility—yet he chose to retreat. Something about this was dangerous. Very, very dangerous.
Lucifer's power was incredible. It could alter reality on a massive, detailed scale. It could reshape entire multiverses, change everything from the color of the sky to something as complex as creating life itself. Lucifer was the reason creation looked the way it did.
By contrast, Michael Demiurge's power was simpler. He was the origin of all things. From him, all existence was born. But he needed Lucifer to shape that creation. Together, they were the definition of omnipotence. Separated… one could mold everything, while the other could only do two things: create everything—or destroy it all.
Allen's eyes and hair began to glow as a white aura enveloped him. That tiny fragment of Demiurgic power slowly began to release. To Jellal, it was far from beautiful.
It was terrifying.
"…What are you?" Jellal whispered.
Allen smiled, bright and sincere, "A human, of course."
"…!"
One thing worth noting: as comparable as Lucifer and Michael were in raw power, when it came to direct confrontation... Michael was superior.