"Awakening"
Drake no longer had the mental capacity to monitor the battle above. The magical energy leaking from the Tower of Heaven was intensifying, and the pressure on him was becoming unbearable.
Yet, even amidst this overwhelming strain, he sensed a significant shift in the battlefield above—a familiar power had awakened.
It was a power Drake possessed as well: the Fire Dragon King's power, inherited from Igneel.
For Dragon Slayers, only the Dragon Force represents their most fundamental power. Awakening this Dragon Force signifies true maturity.
However, even with the guidance of a dragon, awakening the Dragon Force within a human body is far from easy.
Physical strength, magical prowess, and unwavering resolve are all indispensable prerequisites.
Drake himself had only managed to fulfill the basic conditions for awakening thanks to the blessings of World Magic.
Even then, he had to confront his inner self, pushing past his limits before he could awaken that power.
Natsu, too, had been on the verge of awakening, but that final step was the most difficult to overcome.
Drake surmised how Natsu had managed it: he must have consumed a fragment of the magic crystal infused with the Etherion, forcefully stimulating the awakening of his Dragon Force.
As a manifestation of natural energy, the Etherion contain magical energy of all attributes. A Fire Dragon Slayer, however, can only absorb fire-attribute magic; other attributes would normally cause severe damage.
Drake had once experimented with absorbing other types of magic, given that Natsu, in the original storyline, not only consumed the Etherion but also used Laxus's Lightning Dragon Slayer Magic and Jellal's Celestial Spirit Magic as power-ups.
The result was that Drake had been left severely injured; he couldn't absorb any magic other than fire-attribute.
Natsu's success, beyond mere protagonist luck, could be attributed to another factor.
Natsu is not human; he is END, the strongest demon created by Zeref for the purpose of "destruction." Perhaps this is why Natsu could surpass the limits of a Dragon Slayer.
With Natsu having awakened the true power of his Dragon Slayer Magic, defeating Jellal should be no problem.
No one understands the power of Dragon Force better than Drake, who has also awakened it.
Coupled with Jellal's reluctance to damage the Tower of Heaven, hindering his fighting style, Drake had no concerns about Natsu losing.
His biggest worry was the increasingly intense battle, causing further damage to the Tower of Heaven and escalating the magical energy leak.
Fal let out a mournful cry; even as an elemental spirit, he was reaching his limit.
Not only Fal, but Drake himself was bleeding from the mouth, suffering significant internal injuries from the intense magical energy.
However, Drake couldn't stop until the battle was over.
In the original story, Jellal merged with the magic crystal at the last moment, dispersing the Etherion into the sky, allowing Natsu and Erza to survive.
Drake doubted Jellal would do that now; he'd likely drag Erza and Natsu into the explosion.
Drake knew he had to persevere, but…
"This won't work!" Drake gritted his teeth, realizing he needed another approach.
Suddenly, an idea struck him. "Fal, channel all excess magical energy into this magic!" he shouted.
A magic circle far more complex than the satellite magic array unfolded, the black and silver magical energy radiating like a starry expanse.
A qualitative change resulting from quantitative change—with such a massive influx of magical energy, the World Magic reacted intensely, displaying a phenomenon never seen before.
Above in the Tower of Heaven, Natsu, battered and bruised, panted, facing Jellal. Although he looked battered, Natsu had a smile on his face.
Jellal looked just as bad, his body scorched and bleeding in several places.
However, Jellal's grim expression wasn't due to being suppressed by Natsu's awakened Dragon Force, but because he sensed the rapid depletion of the Etherion absorbed by the Tower of Heaven's magic crystal.
Simple destruction couldn't cause such a massive energy loss. Something was frantically draining the crystal's magic.
Jellal didn't understand what was happening; he only knew his plan would fail if this continued.
"Eight years... eight years I spent building this! You damned fools are destroying it!"
Jellal's voice was filled with rage, his reason lost.
Natsu's expression turned serious. "You spent eight years on this! That means Erza suffered for eight years!"
Natsu hadn't intended to sabotage Jellal's plan when he attacked the Tower of Heaven; he simply couldn't control himself.
While Drake explained the Tower of Heaven's situation, he hadn't revealed the details of Erza and Jellal's past.
Natsu learned the details later from Simon: Erza's feelings for Jellal, and her suffering.
That's why he lost control and shattered part of the magic crystal.
His rage, far from subsiding, intensified with the battle.
"I'm fired up! More than ever!" Natsu clenched his fists.
"Then burn to ashes!" Jellal roared, drawing a dangerous magic circle.
It wasn't Jellal's Celestial Spirit Magic, but the forbidden magic, "Abyss Break."
Abyss Break is a forbidden magic known to many mages, focused on pure destructive power. It requires high magical skill and immense magical reserves.
Phantom Lord's masters also knew this magic, but used it through a magical giant.
Phantom Lord's headquarters could transform, becoming a magical giant capable of using magic like a mage.
Powered by the Four Elements, the giant could use a massive Abyss Break capable of obliterating a town!
Drake, however, prevented them from using it, attacking and defeating Jose before they could.
Jellal's Abyss Break wasn't as powerful, but enough to detonate the magic crystal.
Erza recognized the magic. "You want to destroy the tower?"
Jellal continued. "In eight years—no, five—I'll rebuild the Tower of Heaven.
Zeref, wait for me! We'll achieve true freedom together."
"You won't be free!" Natsu roared, dragon scales appearing more prominently on his face due to the awakened Dragon Force.
Jellal's eyes reflected Natsu's image; a fire dragon spread its wings behind Natsu, roaring.
"How can you be free when bound by the dead? You're the one who refuses to be free!"
Enveloped in flames, Natsu charged at Jellal.
Jellal's Abyss Break magic circle was almost complete.
Then, Jellal froze, shocked.
Erza's earlier cut had finally taken effect.
The sudden pain stopped him for a moment; in that instant, Natsu's attack landed.
Natsu's full-powered punch sent Jellal flying, smashing through the Tower of Heaven's wall.
At the same time, Drake completed his World Magic.
Watching Erza support Natsu as they leaped from the hole in the Tower of Heaven, Drake, enveloped in the magic circle, vanished.
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