"Coco!"
Byro called out.
Coco ran away.
He looked helplessly at Jehfrit.
"She's a good girl, she knows when to turn back," Jehfrit smiled.
Coco ran all the way to the dungeon and found the imprisoned "Lucy."
"What do you want?" Lucy asked.
Coco unlocked the chains and said, "You need to escape quickly!"
"Why are you helping me?" Lucy asked in confusion.
"To gain magic by sacrificing an entire world… and even a kingdom…" Coco regretted. "I just can't accept it!"
"This is the key to activate the magic; I'm going to destroy it!"
"No." Lucy shook her head and said, "Good girl, your actions have satisfied me, but this key is needed by everyone."
Lucy swiftly snatched the key from Coco.
"You!" Coco was shocked and tried to grab it back, but suddenly an overwhelming sense of fear overcame her, causing her legs to go limp and drop to her knees.
"Some people need a beating before they can communicate."
"Sometimes, war is unavoidable. There's no running away—running only leads to failure."
Lucy said, "Coco, wait and witness the arrival of a new era."
"Your Highness!" Coco stared at the man who gradually transformed in front of her.
It wasn't the blonde woman anymore but a blue-haired man. His eyes were filled with sorrow, yet brimming with determination and courage.
Mystogan extended his hand, and the key vanished.
Then he disappeared as well.
A key slowly appeared at Byro's feet.
He quickly picked it up, inserted it into the lock, and activated the magic!
'Boom'
Two massive chains shot skyward like snakes, fiercely piercing into the two floating continents.
Everyone watched in shock.
"Hahahaha—" King Faust laughed maniacally.
His dream was finally coming true!
"Eternal magic!" Erza and others were ecstatic.
'Boom'
The tremendous force pulled the two floating islands closer together.
The Exceeds' Kingdom was terrified.
Even if they could escape, their homeland would be gone!
All the Exceeds flew to the palace gates, pleading with the queen to unleash magic.
"Kill those humans!"
"Damn humans!"
"How dare they attack us Exceeds!"
"How dare they offend the gods!"
"Queen! Punish Faust!"
The crowd was enraged!
'Boom'
The palace doors opened.
Queen Shagotte and her ministers stepped out slowly, their faces filled with indescribable expressions.
"Queen, please use divine magic to kill those human barbarians!" The Exceeds knelt down, shouting angrily.
"I'm sorry," Queen Shagotte gently shook her head.
The Exceeds froze, looking at the queen with confusion.
Shagotte slowly removed her royal robe, revealing herself to be a cat with only one wing!
"As of today, I must reveal the truth to everyone."
Shagotte spoke.
"You've all seen that I only have one wing—I can't even fly steadily."
"I'm weaker than an ordinary Exceed."
"I don't possess any magic, let alone divinity."
"I am just… a weak cat."
"I have no power to fight against humans."
"And neither do any of you."
"Other than flying, we have no magic."
Shagotte continued, "In reality, we Exceeds have always been a weak race."
"A long time ago, we were constantly bullied by humans."
"Many still remember that history, right?"
"Later, to protect our race, I spread the lie that I possessed divine powers."
"But I don't have such powers. All I have is the ability to see glimpses of the future."
"I can foresee death, so I made prophecies as if I were punishing someone for dying."
"…"
Silence filled the air.
Then the Exceeds began shouting.
"Queen, stop joking!"
"You are a god! Kill those humans!"
After shouting for a long while, neither Shagotte nor her ministers moved.
The Exceeds' cries grew fainter.
They gradually accepted that what the queen said was true.
Many older Exceeds recalled the days when they were bullied.
"What should we do?" An elderly Exceed cried.
"Are we doomed to extinction?"
"Or should we abandon our homeland and flee?"
"Will we return to being bullied by humans?"
"We can't let that happen!"
The Exceeds sobbed pessimistically.
"I'm very sorry, everyone," Shagotte removed her jewelry and said, "Though I know how weak I am, everyone else can run away—but not me!"
"I am the Queen of Extalia!"
"I will do everything in my power to protect this nation and the homeland of the Exceeds, even if it costs me my life! Nothing will make me retreat!"
Shagotte's gaze was resolute as she roared, "I will protect my home!"
With that, she clumsily took flight toward the edge of the island.
"I'll protect my home too, even if it means being crushed!" Two-Night shouted and followed her.
"I won't leave my home either!" State Minister Nadi also flew up, using his head and hands to push against Extalia. He didn't even wave his usual gesture, giving it his all.
"Queen…"
The Exceeds were astonished.
Finally, a white cat shouted, "Ka—my child is still fighting. How can I lose to him?"
That white cat took off, followed by a blue one!
'Whoosh whoosh whoosh'
One by one, the Exceeds flew toward the edge of the island, trying to prevent the collision of the two lands.
"Hahaha, what a bunch of foolish cats," King Faust laughed. "How could they possibly stop the power I've planned for decades!"
Panther Lily stared blankly at the sky.
"At a time like this, aren't you going to put in some effort?" Gajeel asked.
"You're going to lose," Lily looked down at Gajeel.
A large army was approaching.
Gajeel had held back multiple times, now panting heavily, seemingly unable to continue fighting much longer.
Lily said, "I don't understand why you haven't finished me off directly."
"Heh," Gajeel chuckled. "It's just to show you how strong your future partner—the Iron Dragon Slayer—will be."
"I won't become your cat. Give it up; I've already pledged loyalty to the kingdom!" Lily emphasized again, "I'm the captain of the First Magic Combat Squad of Edolas!"
"So what?" Gajeel swung his arm and said, "My goal has already been achieved."
"Lily, take a good look. Your future partner, the Iron Dragon Slayer, will be this strong!"
He kicked up a sword from the ground and bit into it!
"What?" Lily was shocked.
The other man ate the weapon like it was chocolate, taking large bites.
"I'm full," Gajeel chewed on the last piece.
'Boom'
An overwhelming surge of magic erupted, shocking Lily's pupils.
What kind of monster was this?
Eating iron?
And then restoring his magic to full strength!
"Iron Dragon's—"
"Roar!!!!"
'Boom'
A terrifying burst of magic completely overturned the incoming army!
"Stop!" Lily rushed toward Gajeel but was knocked down by a punch from Gajeel turning around!
'Crack'
Gajeel's arm turned into an iron blade, scraping past Lily's face and plunging deeply into the ground.
Looking into Lily's shocked eyes, Gajeel sneered, "The captain of Edolas' Magic Combat Squad is dead."
"Now you're Panther Lily, a free cat."
"It doesn't matter whether you help Edolas or Extalia."
"But either way, you're my cat!"
"…" Lily stared at him in disbelief.
His wavering heart finally settled—he had made his decision.
He asked, "Is it too late now?"
"From the start, everything has been part of my companion's plan," Gajeel grinned.
"Your companion?"
"Jehfrit, and… Jellal."
"Prince?!" Lily's eyes widened.
After a moment, he laughed and said, "I don't eat cat food."
"Haha." Gajeel pulled him up.
"Iron Dragon Pillar!"
He punched a nearby Lacrima Crystal.
The transformation magic was broken.
Two figures appeared in the square.
Erza and Gray looked bewildered at their surroundings.
"What's going on? Where are we? Gajeel?"
"Erza, Gray, calm down and listen to me," Gajeel walked over and explained.
He recounted the events and handed them pills to consume.
"Understood," Erza and Gray nodded.
Erza said, "Jehfrit's plan?"
"Then our companions won't be in danger."
'Crackle crackle crackle' Frost magic surged from Gray's hands.
Imitating Natsu, he clenched his fists tightly.
"If they dare treat our guild like this, let's cause chaos!"
The two immediately charged toward the palace.
"Gajeel, don't die," Lily said before soaring into the sky.
He was going to protect Extalia.
"Heh," Gajeel smirked triumphantly.
"Attack!!"
With Erza and Gray's assault, the palace gates were shattered.
"The power of muscle!"
"No weaker than magic!"
At this moment, the castle walls were smashed through by a group of muscular men!
"Isn't that… Jehfrit?!" Gray gawked.
"This world's Jehfrit," Erza was also surprised, looking at the muscular version of Jehfrit leading the charge, and suddenly said, "Doesn't this Jehfrit look cooler?"
"Agreed," Gray nodded.
"I'm obviously the coolest!" Jehfrit suddenly appeared beside them.
"You bastard," Gray said, "Where's your main body?"
"Controlling the whole scene, hurry up and create opportunities for Natsu. There are some strong individuals around the king."
"You've infiltrated the palace for so long, I don't believe you haven't secured them," Gray was no longer fooled.
Even though he didn't understand the principles of Jehfrit's magic,
he knew that as long as this guy stayed near the enemy for a while, he'd have the ability to knock them down instantly.
This guy had been lurking in the palace for so long, surely he already had confidence in dealing with the opponent, which was why he orchestrated all these plans.
"Just tell me, do you want to beat someone up or not," Jehfrit sighed.
"Yes!" Gray jumped up and charged toward the depths of the palace.
"Mystogan…"
"This is our farewell gift to him," Jehfrit smiled in response to Erza.
"Mm," Erza understood.
Mystogan ultimately belonged to this world. No matter how reluctant, once the king was defeated, according to Jehfrit and Mystogan's plans, magic would be depleted entirely.
There would no longer be Anima capable of traveling through time and space.
Mystogan would forever be separated from everyone.
She declared with determination, "Let's show Mystogan our passionate blessing!"
"Heavenly Wheel Armor!"
Erza joined the battle.
'Boom'
In the distance, Edolas Jehfrit punched a powerful mage, sending him flying.
"Everyone saw that, our muscles are never inferior to magic!" Edolas Jehfrit encouraged everyone.
"Then let's compete!" A loud shout rang out.
Edolas Jehfrit looked over.
Another group of people arrived.
"Miss Lucy!"
It was this world's Fairy Tail group.
"There's not much magic left!" Lucy laughed.
"Then let's have our final carnival!" Levy roared.
"Mages will never die in mediocrity!" Juvia shouted.
"With our last bit of magic, let's throw the most spectacular banquet!" Wendy also roared.
"Fairy Tail, all members join the battle!" All members raised their magical items high.
"Fantastic," Jehfrit clapped his hands, and his figure disappeared.
"What's going on over there? Where did those reinforcements come from?" King Faust furrowed his brow, not expecting so many disturbances at this critical moment.
"I'll go meet the enemy!" Erza said.
"They seem numerous; I'll go too," Sugarboy added.
"Go ahead, I don't need protection here," King Faust stated.
"Yes!" All the strong individuals set off.
"So you're Earthland's Erza?" Edolas Erza met Erza and mocked, "Such a boring hairstyle."
"Less talk! One-eyed dragon!" Erza retorted.
"What did you say?!" Edolas Erza instantly broke down—her bangs usually covered her right eye when still.
"I am Erza Scarlet, mage of Fairy Tail," Erza raised her longsword.
"I am Erza Knightwalker, captain of the Second Magic Combat Squad of Edolas!" Edolas Erza also raised her spear.
'Boom'
Their battle erupted.
On another side, Gray encountered Sugarboy.
"It's time to act," Jehfrit said.
"I'm fired up!" Natsu shouted.
Happy carried Natsu, and Carla pulled Wendy.
Two cats flew with two people.
Due to Gajeel causing trouble and Erza and others storming the palace, all the strong individuals went to defend.
The defense of the floating island became weak.
The two landed on the floating island and easily dealt with a few minor minions.
"Fire Dragon's—Iron Fist!"
"Sky Dragon's—Wing Strike!"
Dragon Slayer magic slammed fiercely into the Lacrima Crystal!