Erza crossed her armored fists in front of her, being forced back by the strong wind generated by the enemy's slash.
"Flame Empress Armor... that's a fire-resistant suit of armor, isn't it? Impressive how you changed into it in an instant," Ikaruga chuckled lightly, her tone dripping with condescension.
"Let's end the probing here. Please change into your strongest armor."
"Requip! Purgatory Armor,"
The Purgatory Armor was Erza's second strongest armor, armed with a serrated giant blade and possessing immense destructive power.
Its appearance was intimidating—a dark black, spiked steel armor that looked capable of crushing anything.
The Purgatory Armor radiated powerful magical power, the force of which swept toward Ikaruga like a gale, but the swordswoman remained unfazed.
"Is this your strongest armor? Bring it on."
Erza and Ikaruga continuously dodged and weaved, their battle becoming incredibly destructive, with stray slashes of sword light shooting toward the bystanders.
Kagura drew her sword, Archenemy and severed the stray sword light to protect Simon and the others.
After exchanging a heavy blow, the two combatants shifted positions.
Suddenly, Erza's Purgatory Armor shattered once again, falling to the floor in pieces.
Ikaruga's Moonless Style excelled in the speed of her sword swings—she was so fast that Erza couldn't keep up.
While it seemed like Erza was trading blows with her, in reality, Ikaruga had landed many extra strikes on Erza's armor during the exchange, compromising its structure.
"You understand now, don't you? No matter what armor you wear, you can't win against my sword. You should just give up."
Erza struggled to her feet while panting.
"Erza!" Simon shouted, preparing to step forward. "Kagura, let's go help Erza!"
This time, however, it was Kagura who stopped Simon, holding him back.
"No need. She will win."
Since Erza hadn't asked for help, Kagura knew she didn't need it.
Besides, Erza was only temporarily at a disadvantage, not defeated.
Erza slowly turned around and used her Requip magic once more.
This time, Erza did not choose her stronger Fairy Armor, which she had named after her guild, but instead selected a different set entirely.
Now, Erza stood barefoot, wearing simple bloomers with yellow flame patterns and a few small white flowers on the lower half, while her upper body was wrapped only in bandages.
She held two katanas in her hands.
Ikaruga narrowed her eyes slightly as she observed Erza's attire, sensing no powerful magical power radiating from it.
"What's going on? What is this outfit? What are you doing? This outfit is just ordinary fabric, isn't it?"
"I never expected you to look down on me so much," Erza said calmly.
Erza reversed her grip on the Dual Blades, her aura intensifying not through armor, but through sheer will.
"This isn't looking down on you. Now is the time to get serious. By abandoning defense, I can focus all my power into offense."
Ikaruga felt a fierce fighting spirit in Erza's eyes and, responding to it, slowly drew her sword for the final strike.
Both charged at each other, swinging their blades without any intention of retreating.
CLASH!
After a single, lightning-fast exchange, they stood still with their backs to one another.
CRACK.
One of the blades in Erza's hand shattered first.
"The match is decided..." Ikaruga whispered.
However, before Ikaruga could finish speaking, the sword in her own hand also shattered completely.
A deep wound opened on her chest, and she collapsed uncontrollably.
"You really are... strong..."
Lying on the ground, Ikaruga recalled her past battles.
"I never thought I would lose. This is the first time i lose since I joined the guild."
Kagura stepped forward, sheathing her sword, and said, "That just means you haven't encountered enough strong opponents."
"Whatever... you've already lost anyway. In fifteen minutes, the Light of Justice will kill everyone."
After saying this, Ikaruga lost consciousness and collapsed completely.
Erza looked at Simon with urgency.
"Etherion huh? Fifteen minutes... Simon, take Sho and Wally and leave first. Evacuate this tower as quickly as possible."
"But..."
"What comes next will be too dangerous. I can't guarantee your safety," Erza insisted.
"Alright." Simon and the others understood their own limitations well enough—staying here would only hold everyone back.
Erza didn't ask Kagura to leave; she knew Kagura would never agree to abandon her.
...
Meanwhile, Raizel had just defeated the members of Grimoire Heart stationed outside and arrived at the top floor room where Jellal waited.
"How disappointing, the game ended so quickly."
Seeing Raizel and Wendy's arrival, Jellal rose from his throne.
"Using human lives as a game? Are you enjoying yourself, Jellal?" Raizel asked coldly.
"Of course. Because life and death are the source of all emotions that unite everything. Conversely, there's nothing more boring and empty than life itself."
Jellal stepped down from the dais.
"This is our first time meeting face to face, Raizel... or perhaps not."
Seeing Raizel's expression seemed lost in memories, Jellal continued speaking without regard for Raizel's presence.
"The Tower of Heaven is complete."
Raizel immediately retorted, "No, it's not finished yet."
Jellal looked intrigued. "Oh? It seems you know something?"
He then shook his head and checked the time. "Ten minutes. In ten minutes, the Etherion will descend. The outcome is already decided. Erza and Kagura will become living sacrifices for Zeref!"
"In that case, let's fight."
Raizel's body began to glow with immense light.
"Take Over: Omnimon!"
Raizel transformed into the Royal Knight Digimon and charged toward Jellal.
'Please wait, Raizel-san. Please cooperate with me in this fight first and listen to what I have to say.'
During their initial clash of magical energy, Jellal's voice transmitted directly into Raizel's mind via telepathy.
Though uncertain whether Hades was monitoring them through some hidden magic, Jellal thought it better to be cautious and maintain the charade of a battle.
'Do you remember me? When I was young at the Tower of Heaven, you were the one who saved me.'
Raizel paused momentarily, giving a slight nod—barely noticeable to an observer, but Jellal caught it.
'No need to speak politely. Just speak normally,' Raizel projected back.
Raizel hadn't expected Jellal to be so courteous, addressing him with such respect in his mind while acting villainous outwardly.
It really wasn't necessary to that extent.
Raizel knew the true nature of the Tower of Heaven and understood that this thing honestly wasn't very useful in its current state.
If it were truly useful, Jellal would have used it himself rather than leaving it to others.
It wouldn't hurt to hear him out and get a general idea of what he actually wanted.
Of course, if the Tower of Heaven were actually to be activated, Raizel would definitely stop it.
He couldn't turn a blind eye to something that defiled life itself.
'After the Tower of Heaven incident years ago, I was sent to an orphanage,' Jellal explained telepathically while firing beams of dark magic that Raizel deflected.
'But not long after, the current leader of Oración Seis—Brain—secretly took me from the orphanage.'
'He made me his disciple, but seeing my exceptional talent, he sent me to Grimoire Heart to be personally trained by Master Hades.'
While appearing to fight fiercely, destroying pillars and shattering the floor, the two were actually communicating silently through magic.
'After I had studied magic for only a short while, Hades made me change my name and join the Council, assisting him in secretly building the R-System while evading the Council's notice.'
'Siegrain and I are not twin brothers. I simply changed my name before joining the Council. The current Siegrain in the Council is a Thought Projection.'
Initially, it wasn't like this.
Jellal originally joined the Council in his true form.
After rising through the ranks and becoming one of the Ten Wizard Saints, he was recalled by Hades to oversee the tower's completion.
What remains at the Council headquarters now is merely a Thought Projection he maintains from afar.
Leaving a Thought Projection there is not unusual.
Many Council members are occupied with numerous affairs and cannot be in multiple places at once, so no one pays attention to a Thought Projection staying in the Council chambers.