Chapter 60: Return of the Phantom Wizard, The Unbroken Bond (1)
Before Mystogan's fight with Laxus.
At the very moment the activation of Fairy Law (Thunder Palace) was announced, inside Fairy Tail's infirmary lay Makarov, who had collapsed from a seizure, and Bisca, unconscious after being struck down while trying to destroy the thunder orbs.
All the members had already left the guild to stop the Thunder Palace, leaving only Levy behind. She tended to Makarov and Bisca while also working desperately to decode Freed's runes to release Natsu and Gajeel.
"Mm… if I break down the rune's array into letter materials…"
"..."
"…pick out the words used to construct the rule, L.O.S.U., then convert them back into Guild Grammar…"
Watching Levy work, Gajeel found himself strangely impressed. He'd always thought of her as weak, yet here she was doing something far beyond his own understanding.
"...You're amazing. I don't get a single thing you're saying."
"No! L and S are breath runes! (Als) is the key code!!"
"Uh… right…"
"Don't worry. I'll definitely get the two of you out of here."
Seeing Levy so focused, Gajeel turned his head slightly, embarrassed, and muttered words he normally would never say. He wasn't even sure why he said them—just that in this moment, he felt he had to.
"I'm not really… well… anyway… I'm counting on you."
"In return, you better stop Laxus."
"...Got it."
For some reason, Gajeel felt that this small girl looked bigger than he did. He was obviously stronger and tougher, yet whenever he looked at Levy, a strange pang of guilt and weight pressed on his chest.
....
Magnolia – Eastern Shopping District
Searching for Laxus, Mirajane stumbled upon her younger brother Elfman lying wounded amidst the rubble of a destroyed shop. She ran to his side.
"Elfman!"
"...Sis..."
"Oh god… look at these wounds…"
"I'm… I'm just glad… you're back to normal…"
Elfman's face lit up, relieved to see Mirajane returned from stone to her true self.
But Mirajane only felt frustration and grief. Her brother had been hurt fighting, and once again she had been unable to do anything.
"I'm sorry, Elfman… I'm so sorry…"
"Why are you apologizing… sis?"
"During Phantom Lord too… and now again… I couldn't do anything… nothing at all…"
"You don't have to do anything. Sis, all you need to do… is wait for this stupid fight to end, and then greet everyone with your smile."
Elfman didn't want to see his sister fight anymore. After losing both Ciel and Lisanna, he couldn't bear to see Mirajane burden herself with sadness again.
Back during the Phantom Lord war, Elfman had made a vow to himself—and to Ciel. He would never let his sister cry again. He would stake his pride as a man on it.
And now, if Mirajane was in tears because of him, that was something he could never forgive himself for as a man.
"Ugh… nghh…"
"I'm begging you, sis… don't cry."
The siblings embraced one another, gently patting each other's backs.
At Elfman's words, Mirajane held back her tears and smiled.
From afar, a snow-white crow silently watched over the siblings.
....
Magnolia – Western District
Juvia and Cana were walking together, searching for Laxus.
"Juvia… how much time do we have until Thunder Palace activates?"
"About thirty minutes left, I think."
"Damn it! What kind of Battle of Fairy Tail is this?! That guy Laxus hides away and does nothing, and still dares call it a game!"
"Where could he be…?"
Cana muttered in frustration, her eyes darting around the streets before lifting to glare at the countless Thunder Palace lacrima floating in the sky.
They were supposed to be Magnolia's protectors, yet here they were, holding the townspeople hostage in some twisted contest.
It was absurd.
Cana was furious with the whole situation. She swore she'd find Laxus and land a solid hit on him.
As the two walked, a calm voice spoke from above.
"Laxus is gathering his magic power."
"You—Freed!"
"He truly intends to fight the Master. For that, he's focusing all his strength."
"This is the man behind the runes…?!"
Freed said nothing more. He simply turned his back to them, as if to lure them into pursuit.
Laxus had ordered him to kill Cana and Juvia.
But Freed still hesitated. He couldn't bring himself to kill a comrade with his own hands.
"Ah!"
"He's running?!"
"Stop right there!"
He lured Cana and Juvia straight into one of his rune traps.
"Rule" — Neither may leave this barrier until one of the two is incapacitated or near death.
If they were to kill each other through the rule's compulsion, at least it wouldn't be by his direct hand.
Perhaps then, the suffocating guilt crushing his heart would feel just a little lighter.
With a cold, steely gaze, Freed glared at Cana, who was already fuming at the trap.
"One of you must fall… choose your opponent."
"I'll take on the winner. Now… begin."
"Coward! If you want a one-on-one, then fight me directly! Don't drag us into this trap! Let us out, now!"
"To make comrades fight like this…"
"What's the matter?! Afraid of facing two women at once?! Pathetic, Freed—what a disgrace!!"
"…I only wish to keep the number of lives I take to the bare minimum."
His words only stoked Cana's anger further.
"'Lives you take'...?!"
To Freed, they weren't comrades.
They were simply targets to be eliminated.
Realizing this, Cana's fury boiled over.
"In that case, we have no choice."
At that moment, Juvia transformed her body into water and spread her magic through the barrier. She looked at Freed again and demanded clarification of the rule.
"Freed… if one of us truly falls, will you keep your word and fight fairly?"
"I never break the rules."
"That's… a relief."
"Are you insane, Juvia?! If we fight each other now, it's just playing right into his hands—!"
Cana's protest was cut short as Juvia suddenly dashed forward.
Cana flinched, shutting her eyes, certain the attack was meant for her—only to realize it wasn't. She turned, confused, to see where Juvia had leapt.
"Wha—?!"
"No matter how high you fly, you can't escape my runes."
Freed judged her reckless, believing she was trying to break free of the barrier.
But Juvia's target wasn't the barrier.
She struck at the Thunder Palace above, shattering one of the lacrima orbs.
In an instant, a massive bolt of lightning crashed down upon her, engulfing her body. The runes dissolved.
Her scorched body plummeted to the ground.
Cana caught her in her arms, crying out in horror.
"T-The barrier… is broken now…!"
"Are you out of your mind?!"
"Juvia just… wanted to be acknowledged… wanted everyone to see she's truly a part of Fairy Tail… Juvia loves them all so much…"
"You're already our comrade! No one needs to 'acknowledge' it—you're Fairy Tail's wizard, one of us, through and through!!"
Cana's heart twisted with grief.
Yes, Juvia had once been a member of Phantom Lord's Element 4, and that had made things awkward… but none of that mattered anymore.
She was family. A precious comrade.
And now Cana could only feel guilt—guilt that her fellow guildmate had hurt herself to prove what should never have been doubted.
Hearing Cana's heartfelt words, Juvia managed one final whisper before losing consciousness.
"…I'm happy…"
"JUVIA—!!!"
....
Freed stood frozen in shock.
He had believed Juvia's past as Phantom's Element 4 would divide them—that she'd cling to survival, that Cana would never truly accept her. He expected bloodshed.
But instead, she had chosen self-sacrifice.
Sweat trickled down his face as he faltered, unprepared for such an outcome.
And in that moment, Cana's fury ignited. She charged him head-on, eyes blazing with wrath.
"FREEEEED!!!"
"Tch—!"
....
Kardia Cathedral
Meanwhile, Laxus and Mystogan clashed, their blows reverberating through the ancient stone.
"Majestic Spire (Matenrō)!"
"What?!"
The ground roared beneath Laxus, launching him high into the air.
For a moment, he lost control of his body, shocked by the spell's effect—only to watch, horrified, as the cathedral below crumbled to rubble under Mystogan's magic.
"The cathedral… you destroyed it—ghhhrrr!!!"
And then—shadows surged.
Great, inky tendrils wrapped around his body, binding him in midair.
Before he could break free, the clear blue sky itself cracked open.
From that rift emerged two colossal azure hands, tearing the heavens apart.
"Wh-What is this magic?!!"
From the sky tore forth a colossal demon—its body clad in hard, azure, scale-like armor, with enormous horns crowning its monstrous head.
"Lord Of Phantasms, Rabiel!"
"Lord Of Phantasms…?!!"
"Uwoooohhh?!"
The gaping maw of the gigantic Lord Of Phantasms descended, ready to swallow Laxus whole.
But with a furious roar, Laxus split space apart with his lightning, rending both air and illusion. Rabiel's massive form was torn to shreds, and in an instant, Laxus found himself back within the cathedral's walls.
"Gh—?!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!! Pathetic! Did you really think a cheap illusion like that could take me down, Mystogan?!"
"…Impressive. You can stare Rabiel in the face and remain standing. But you should have realized it sooner."
Mystogan smirked coldly as five enormous magic circles bloomed across the cathedral ceiling.
"You're already inside my spell. Pentagram Magic Array, Mikakura!"
"Who's the one who didn't notice, huh?!"
"What—?!"
Laxus's words rang out as a massive lightning strike erupted beneath Mystogan's feet, engulfing him in blinding radiance.
At the same time, Laxus himself was caught in the overwhelming light of Mystogan's Mikakura.
Both men roared as their powers crashed down upon one another.
"GYAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
"UWOOOOHHHH!!"
Their attacks tore into each other, neither yielding, neither delivering the decisive blow.
The next exchange followed instantly—Laxus weaving through with raw lightning, Mystogan dissolving like mist, evading.
Again they faced off, distance between them, their magic clashing in sheer force of will.
"Tch. You're better than I thought."
"This ends here, Laxus. I'll grind you into dust—along with the man inside this coffin."
Both raised their power once more, preparing for the decisive strike.
But then—
"LAXUS!!"
"LAXUS!!"
"…?!"
"Erza!"
"Natsu!!"
Bursting through the cathedral doors, Natsu and Erza appeared.
For a heartbeat, Mystogan faltered, covering his face to hide his identity.
Laxus would not miss such an opening.
He unleashed lightning straight at Mystogan's face, ripping through his mask.
Mystogan staggered back—his disguise shredded, his true visage revealed for all to see.
"…You're… Jellal…"
"You…"
"You were alive…"
"Oh? Someone you recognize, is it?"
"W-Wait… what's going on?! Mystogan is Jellal?!"
Erza froze in disbelief. The face beneath Mystogan's mask was none other than the one she thought long dead—Jellal's.
Natsu, too, was stunned. The idea that Jellal was not only alive but also an S-Class Wizard of Fairy Tail was something he could not wrap his head around.
But Mystogan spoke in a calm voice, his eyes downcast.
"Erza… You, of all people… I never wanted you to see my face."
"What…?"
"I'm not Jellal. I know of him—but I am not him."
"…"
"I'm sorry. I'll leave the rest in your hands—…?!"
Just as Mystogan turned to go, the coffin he had dragged all this time suddenly began to glow.
Light spilled out, the lid slowly creaking open.
Mystogan's eyes went wide, his composure shattering as he stared at the coffin in shock.
"What—It's opening…! Finally, it's happening?!"
"What the hell's going on?!"
"That coffin… ugh—!!"
Laxus, Erza, and Natsu all turned their eyes to it.
Mystogan gritted his teeth.
"Laxus… from here on, the one inside that coffin will deal with you."
Everyone's gaze locked on the bizarre spectacle.
The glass coffin, decorated with Master Bob's infamous statues, split apart.
Inside, the iron coffin lid burst open, spilling purple light and a storm of black rose petals into the cathedral.
And then—
"Love & Peace~!! ♥"
"Uuueeeeggghhhh!!!"
"Natsu!"
"Wh—what the—?!"
From within the coffin rose a hulking figure: a man with slicked-back hair drenched in oil, a smug expression on his face, lips painted black, and a muscular chest left bare save for a pair of red suspenders.
On his head, a glowing halo.
On his back, tiny angel wings far too small for his massive body.
And covering his lower half… a pair of women's short hot pants.
The overwhelming, nauseating aura of his appearance was too much to handle.
Natsu collapsed to the ground and vomited.
Erza trembled, her entire body quaking.
Even Laxus broke into goosebumps, his bravado faltering.
The man struck a dramatic side chest pose, reveling in the stunned silence.
"This—! This is my Policy~!!!"
"Uwaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!"
"Wh-What the hell is that?! Mystogan, what the hell is that thing?!"
"I—I don't know!! I swear I don't know!! Don't ask me!!!"
With flamboyant laughter, the man twirled among the black petals.
"Ohohoho~! I am the Celestial Spirit of the Phoenix Seat—Hepsiel! I've come to spread loooove to you children~! ♥♥"
The Kardia Cathedral plunged into absolute chaos as the Celestial Spirit of the Phoenix Seat, Hepsiel, made his dazzling—and horrifying—entrance.
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