Chapter 47: The Paradise Game – The Beginning of the Counterattack (1)
Natsu and his group had just finished their battle in the underground and made their way back up to the surface.
During the fight, a hidden passage suddenly appeared.
Outnumbered and unable to hold out much longer, they rushed into the corridor without hesitation.
"This door… it wasn't opened from here. It was remotely activated with magic."
"...Which means..."
"They already know we're here."
"Then why open it for us at all?"
"They're taunting us."
"Taunting, huh..."
"Wait—what's with your outfit?"
As they spoke, Gray finally noticed Lucy. She was no longer in her drenched, bedraggled swimsuit.
Somehow, without her even realizing, she was now wearing a finely woven dress embroidered with the image of a crab, with a matching headscarf tied around her hair.
Puffing up proudly like a child showing off a new toy, Lucy explained with a grin:
"It's clothing from the Celestial Spirit World! I asked Cancer earlier—wearing wet clothes was just too uncomfortable. Juvia can turn into water, but you two… you're fine staying in those soaked rags?"
"Ah, this? It'll dry quickly."
"My, my! Who knew we had a clothes dryer right here!"
Watching Natsu standing next to Gray, his body blazing to dry himself off, Lucy could only sigh at their ridiculously simple solution.
It was at that moment that the group was spotted.
"There they are! Intruders!!"
"Tch, don't these guys ever get tired of this?"
Natsu set his stance, ready to charge forward—when suddenly:
"HYAAH!!"
"Urgh?!"
"Guhh?!"
"Wh-what?!"
The soldiers screamed as they were struck down from behind, collapsing in just a matter of seconds.
The one who had cut them down stood with fiery crimson hair and gleaming armor—one of the very reasons the group had come here.
"Erza!"
"Thank goodness, you're safe!"
"S-So cool..."
"Y-You guys?! How did you get here?!"
After defeating the soldiers, Erza finally noticed the group. Her eyes widened in shock as she rushed toward them.
Relieved that her comrades had survived after the chaos at the casino, her face softened—only for it to harden again as she realized exactly where they were.
This tower was far too dangerous. Her friends didn't belong here.
This had nothing to do with Fairy Tail.
She couldn't allow them to get dragged into this.
Quietly but firmly, she spoke:
"Go back... This isn't a place for you."
"But Erza—"
"Happy's been captured! We can't just leave!"
"Happy?! Don't tell me… by Millianna...?"
"Where is that cat-girl?! Tell me!!"
"...I don't know."
"Fine! Got it!"
"What do you mean, got it?!"
"That Happy's waiting for us!!"
"Natsu!!"
"H-Hey, wait—Natsu…!"
Ignoring everyone, Natsu sprinted down the corridor with all his strength, determined to rescue Happy.
Juvia and the others tried to stop him, but before they could even reach out, he was already gone.
Lucy and Gray rushed forward to follow—but Erza stepped in their way.
"No! Go back!"
"Erza!!"
"Millianna can't resist cats. She won't put Happy in danger. I'll take responsibility for bringing both Natsu and Happy back. But you two—you must leave this place immediately."
"Are you serious?! If you're not going with us, then forget it!"
"This is my problem. I don't want to drag you into it."
Lucy and Gray couldn't understand why Erza kept drawing that line.
Yes, it wasn't good to get too deeply involved in someone else's personal matters.
But they had already been attacked at the casino, Happy had been kidnapped, and—above all—they were Fairy Tail.
As family, there was no way they could abandon Erza to her suffering.
"We're already plenty involved. You saw Natsu, didn't you?"
"Erza… what is this tower? And who exactly is Jellal?"
"..."
Erza turned her back in silence.
But Lucy recognized that posture—it was the same distant back she had seen from Erza during the Phantom Lord incident. She remembered what Erza had once told her, and threw those same words back at her now.
"If you don't want to talk, then don't. But those people—your so-called old friends, right? …The truth is, we're your friends now. No matter what, we'll stand by your side."
"...Go back…"
Gray, who hated seeing Erza look so weak, nodded at Lucy's words and spoke firmly.
"That's not like you, Erza. Normally, you'd just order us to shut up and follow your lead. So let us follow. Even if you're scared sometimes, that's nothing to be ashamed of. Let us share that with you."
Erza looked at them both. Tears welled up in her eyes, sorrow written plainly across her face.
Seeing her like that, their worry deepened.
After a long moment, Erza wiped the tears clouding her vision, and finally spoke.
"This battle… whether we win or lose… I'll vanish from the outside world."
"What?!"
"W-What are you talking about…?!"
"It's… an unavoidable future. That's why, while I still exist, I'll tell you everything."
And with that, Erza finally began to share the past she had never once spoken aloud since joining Fairy Tail.
....
"This tower is called the Tower of Heaven. Its other name is the R-System. Over ten years ago, a cult that worshiped black magic built it to create a magic that could 'resurrect the dead.'"
"Resurrect the dead…?"
"Because the construction was illegal—unauthorized by both the government and the Magic Council—they abducted people from all over and forced them into slavery to build it. I… was one of them."
I told my comrades everything—because this might be the last chance I would ever have.
What this tower truly was… how I met Jellal… and why Shou, Simon, Millianna, and Wally dragged me back here.
"I met Jellal back then, when we were forced to share the same cell. Shou, Simon, Millianna, and Wally—the ones you saw at the casino—were all children who slaved away here, too."
Days without dreams or hope… our lives bled away in endless labor and whips, building the tower for people who had stolen our freedom. We had given up on the future.
Then young Shou couldn't take it anymore. He urged us to escape. But our attempt failed spectacularly.
To shield Shou, Jellal claimed responsibility—and they dragged me away to be tortured in his place.
I was terrified. But I couldn't bear to see Shou or Jellal hurt. If it could end with me alone, that would be enough.
「Erza!… Hang on!」
「Ah… AAAAAHHH!!」
「Why?! Why are you doing this to us?! What did we ever do?! Damn you all!!」
「Jellal… is that… you…?」
「Erza… thank goodness, you're alive! Don't worry—I came to save you.」
「H-How…?」
「There's no turning back now. We have to fight.」
「Fight…」
To save me from torture, Jellal had stolen weapons and stormed the chamber, killing guards with his bare hands. But we were just children—he was soon overpowered and dragged off in my place.
Staggering back to the cell, I remembered Jellal's words. For freedom—for him—I chose to fight back.
We all did. Everyone in the tower rose up in rebellion.
To take back our freedom…
"We fought to be free… and to save Jellal. Back then, he was our leader, our beacon of justice… my ideal. But at some point, he changed completely. If 'evil' can be used to describe a human… then Jellal is what I would call it."
....
Meanwhile, in another plane—far removed from the human world.
The Celestial Spirit Realm.
An endless night sky stretched across eternity, stars glittering without end. But tonight the realm was alive with activity. A dreadful Gate, formed at the world's edge over four years ago in Spirit time, had opened once more.
The spirits assembled to greet the visitor. At the front stood the Celestial Spirit King himself.
"It has been a long time, old friend."
「…Indeed, it has. By Spirit time, about four years, hasn't it?"
From the Gate emerged a human man. His usual hair-tie had snapped, leaving his locks loose, giving him a strangely feminine yet sharp look. His expression was weary as he stepped into the realm and looked up at the King.
From across the threshold, Loki extended his hand like an old friend reunited.
"In human reckoning… more than 400 years have passed, hasn't it?"
"Kufufufu… Leo. Acting like you don't recognize me when we only just crossed paths not long ago?"
"…I'm still aching from what I took during that Phantom Lord war."
His hair, dark blue tinged with a strange azure glow, shimmered like the river of the night sky. His form was hazy, half-translucent, yet his left crimson eye still burned with a commanding brilliance.
The Celestial Spirit King welcomed the man with solemn courtesy.
"My old friend… if you have come here again, then it must be because danger has found you."
"That's right. As you can see, I haven't come with a physical body, but only as a spirit-form. When my soul nears annihilation, no matter the circumstances, the Gate brings me here. That was the contract we forged, wasn't it, Spirit King?"
"Indeed. Should you ever face such peril—even if you are imprisoned—if your soul is on the brink of destruction, you will be recognized as a guest of the Spirit Realm, and your Gate will be shattered. Such was our agreement."
"It seems the time has come to invoke that contract."
Hearing this, Leo glanced uneasily at the man. His expression was full of worry… but his concern quickly turned to envy. Before long, Virgo and Aries were fussing over the man's hair, while Aquarius dressed him in Spirit Realm garments prepared just for him.
Scorpio—Aquarius's lover—and Taurus, who could never resist fawning over women, both looked on with a jealous gleam in their eyes.
"My, my… Aquarius, your partner looks rather jealous."
"Even so, he's an old friend. I won't allow him to wander the Spirit Realm in tattered clothes, even as a spirit."
"Exactly. To receive him properly, this much is only natural."
"I… it's just… it's been so long since you came, I… I'm sorry!"
"...It seems none of you have changed."
The man's form, once hazy, grew sharper and clearer once he donned the Celestial garb. The spirits let out a collective sigh of relief, arranging themselves respectfully to the side so he could speak with their king.
The Spirit King regarded him.
"How do you feel now?"
"The quality of the magic here is excellent. Thanks to it, I may be able to hold a stable form even when I return outside."
"Outside…? Then, have you found the one capable of opening your Gate?"
The man smiled faintly and nodded with confidence.
"Yes. A girl you know as well. With her, I'm certain."
But before more could be said, the Gate behind him flared open once again, brilliant light spilling forth. Drawn by the pull, he rose to his feet and bowed to the Spirit King.
"It seems I must go already. Spirit King, our contract is now fulfilled."
"My old friend, though the pact has ended, neither I nor my subjects will forget you."
"And perhaps, one day, I'll return to see you again."
From across the hall, Leo raised a hand in farewell, striking a dramatic pose.
"I would've liked you to stay longer in the Spirit Realm… but I know we'll meet again, Ciel."
Ciel paused, smiled faintly, and replied,
"Yes—if I survive what awaits."
With that, he stepped through the Gate, vanishing into the light.
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