Chapter 261

[His cheeks had already deformed.]

[The eyes that had always been in the dark, not long after opening, hadn't even had time to take a look at this world.]

[Then at this moment, they were completely replaced by terror.]

[That pupil, which had shrunk to the extreme, was staring fixedly at the approaching Black Natsu.]

[How desperate is the feeling of being able to clearly hear the sound of bones breaking in one’s own body.]

[I’m afraid only Aria himself knows.]

[The pressure is getting stronger.]

[Black Natsu is getting closer and closer to him.]

[Crack... crack crack...]

[Indescribable pain surged into his heart, the opened mouth just wanted to let out a scream.]

[But, under the increasingly powerful pressure, even making a sound became increasingly difficult.]

[It was impossible to speak like just now.]

[Under that extreme oppression, he could only let out vague whimpers.]

[Like crying, and also like begging for mercy.]

[Gajeel’s hands were pressed together, and a giant iron sword extended from his palm, reaching dozens of meters high.]

[This is a real fifty-meter big sword.]

[The sharp blade was facing Black Natsu like this.]

[He started clamoring crazily.]

["Fire Dragon!! Damn it, look over here, look over here!!!"]

[However, Gajeel ultimately failed to attract any of Black Natsu’s attention.]

[No matter how Gajeel kept shouting, kept roaring, it was all to no avail.]

[He could only watch Aria being squeezed flat bit... by bit.]

[That originally fat figure was like a balloon being squeezed.]

0 (Requesting flowers)

[Started to extend toward all directions continuously.]

["Wuwah~"]

["Ugh...!!!"]

["Ugh ahhhh!!!!"]

[BOOM————!!!]

[Accompanied by a harsh explosion.]

[The whimpering sound from Aria disappeared completely.]

[That originally fat body was like a balloon being squeezed and burst!]

[The entire body burst open suddenly, at this moment...]

[Turned into blood flowers all over the sky!]

[The splashed blood evaporated completely the moment it approached Black Natsu.]

[But there was flesh and blood flying toward other places, and one piece even fell under Gajeel’s feet.]

[On the wall in front of Black Natsu, the outline of Aria’s previous existence could still be vaguely seen.]

[But soon, those bloodstains were evaporated clean.]

[Only the smoke left after being corroded by the terrifying power was rolling up.]

["Aria..."]

[Gajeel stared blankly at the piece of flesh that fell in front of him.]

[As if, even the instinctive fear was forgotten.]

[There was still billowing thick smoke on it.]

[The smell belonging to blood made Gajeel’s stomach churn crazily.]

[Almost, he was about to vomit.]

[The magic power gathered just now had vanished.]

[Gajeel knew it was useless.]

[Aria was dead, so the significance of his staying had become a joke.]

[He didn't think his Dragon Slayer Secret Art could really kill this fire dragon who was as terrifying as a monster.]

[Black Natsu turned his head.]

[His gaze locked onto Gajeel.]

[That gaze, which was like the Grim Reaper, locked onto Gajeel.]

[Gajeel suddenly came back to his senses.]

[Only then did he discover that his clothes had long been soaked through by sweat.]

[Tears were already spinning in his eye sockets uncontrollably.]

[In his life, he had never had such a feeling of a day feeling like a year.]

[This feeling of needing to keep his nerves tense at every moment, like walking on a tightrope, almost drove him crazy.]

[He even started to envy Totomaru, who had mental problems due to Black Natsu’s backlash.]

[At least, he didn't have to think about when he was going to die.]

[Or rather... by what method to die, right?]

[Black Natsu turned around and started to approach Gajeel.]

[Instinctively, he took a step back.]

[Gajeel’s footsteps were soft, his figure staggered, and he fell directly to the ground.]

[The next moment.]

[Black Natsu’s shadow gradually covered him.]

[Gajeel looked up blankly at Black Natsu, whose face was still calm.]

[His heart was accelerating crazily.]

[Even to the point where Gajeel himself could hear his heartbeat.]

[At this moment! He felt as if he saw the Grim Reaper waving at him.]

[But, the Grim Reaper didn't seem to have any interest in taking him away.]

[Black Natsu had his hands in his pockets.]

[His eyes narrowed.]

["By the way, you guys appearing here means that Phantom has started acting, right?"]

["The content of the action definitely wasn't just me alone, right?"]

[Gajeel didn't even know how to answer.]

[Black Natsu smiled, but the tone! was exceptionally grim:]

【Meanwhile, at the Fairy Tail guild.】

【A massive tremor echoed throughout the vicinity of the guild.】

【It was not an earthquake, nor was it a volcanic eruption.】

【Instead... it was the violent shaking caused by the movement of a colossal object.】

【At this moment, the members of Fairy Tail, led by Erza and Mirajane, stood in the guild's backyard, prepared for battle.】

【Facing the sea.】

【Each face wore a solemn expression as they stared at the gargantuan object moving across the horizon.】

【It appeared to be an island, or perhaps a massive slab of stone that had been forcibly gouged out of the earth.】

【Beneath the stone were six giant mechanical legs, resembling those of a spider.】

【Above, there was a sprawling complex of buildings, similar to a castle.】

【It is worth noting that the complex did not seem complete; at least half of the structures were in a state of disrepair.】

【Moreover, it looked as though the damage was quite severe.】

【However, this did not affect the movement of those six mechanical legs.】

【One could only say that it lacked certain transformation functions.】

【But in Jose's view, this alone was enough to deal with Fairy Tail.】

【On the surface of the massive structure, a wall slowly descended, and then, thick cannon barrels extended from within.】

【The muzzles were aimed directly at Fairy Tail ahead.】

【Terrifying magic power was accumulating.】

【"I will say this one more time! Hand over Lucy Heartfilia!!!"】

【From within the massive structure came Jose's low, gloomy voice.】

【On the side of Fairy Tail.】

【Lucy was already a tear-stained mess.】

【Just moments ago, Jose had stated his purpose, and that purpose was Lucy!】

【He had even laid out Lucy's entire family background.】

【No matter what, she never imagined that the culprit behind all of this would be herself!】

【That it was... because of her heartless father.】

【That it was because of some arranged marriage she had never consented to.】

【Because of these things, her father had hired the Phantom Lord guild.】

【This was what led to the attack on Fairy Tail.】

【Makarov had been summoned to the Council, Hei Black Nazi had vanished, and now...】

【The entire guild was facing the risk of being destroyed.】

【All of this, every bit of it, was because of her.】

【An indescribable sense of self-reproach welled up in her heart.】

【"I... I..."】

【Lucy opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something.】

【But a warm embrace wrapped around her.】

【"Don't be afraid, Lucy." Lisanna looked at Lucy with a smile.】

【"Whether it's Mira-nee, Erza-nee, or everyone else in the guild, there is absolutely no way we would ever hand you over!"】

【Lisanna's words quickly drew agreement from everyone.】

【"That's right, that's completely impossible!" Alzack glared at the direction of Phantom Lord.】

【"Who would ever hand their own comrade over to the enemy? Don't dream!" Bisca chimed in.】

【"Lucy is our comrade! You can give up on that idea!" Macao roared loudly!】

【"That's right! Whatever the Heartfilia family is doesn't matter at all! Lucy has always wanted to stay in our guild!!"】

【"That's right, that's right! Get lost!"】

【"Get lost back where you came from!!"】

【Lucy covered her trembling lips with both hands.】

【Her eyes, blurred by tears, stared blankly at the comrades around her who were shouting in anger.】

【Mirajane walked to Lucy's side with a dark expression.】

【She placed a hand on Lucy's shoulder.】

【"What are you trembling for, Lucy!"】

【Mirajane said in a low voice.】

【"I..." Lucy looked at the big sister figure before her through teary eyes.】

【Yes, ever since they first met, this hot-tempered white-haired girl had forced her to call her 'Big Sister'.】

【Even, if she didn't comply, she would suffer Mirajane's 'loving' discipline.】

【But at this moment, this big sister who usually made people feel afraid did the opposite, stopping Lucy's trembling.】

【"Lift your head and straighten your back, Lucy."】

【"You are a member of Fairy Tail. Since you don't want to go back, no one can take you back!"】

【Mirajane patted her own chest!】

【"I said so!"】

【She stepped forward, blocking Lucy, her gaze fixed on the gargantuan object ahead!】

【"What's there to be afraid of with a piece of trash like Phantom?"】

【"I didn't earn the title of Big Sister for nothing; I've got your back!"】

【Lucy's voice began to tremble.】

【"Bi... Big Sister..."】

【"That's right! For once, I actually agree with this violent woman."】

【Erza also walked up, laughing at herself.】

【"However..."】

【Erza clenched her fists: "Hey! You Phantom guys, listen up!"】

【"No matter what happens in the future, our answer will never change!"】

【Erza gave Phantom a thumbs up, then slowly pointed it downward!】

【"We! Will crush you!"】

【"Ohhh!!!"】

【The inspiring speech instantly ignited the fighting spirit of all the Fairy Tail members.】

【Countless shouts followed.】

【Listening to the shouts from outside, looking at those faces filled with fighting spirit.】

【Jose, inside the castle, gritted his teeth hard.】

【Veins bulged on his forehead.】

【The surrounding dark purple magic power surged along with Jose's anger.】

【Like an erupting volcano, the massive dark purple magic power poured out instantly.】

【It broke through the ceiling, as if to dye the sky black.】

【"Damn you people, you don't actually think you have a chance of winning, do you?!"】

【"Huh?!!"】

【Accompanied by a roar, the sky-piercing dark purple magic power began to spread crazily.】

【It transformed into countless dark ghosts, brandishing sharp scythes.】

【They charged toward Fairy Tail.】

【A comrade immediately swung their fist, striking at the ghost.】

【But they hit nothing!】

【The next moment, the ghost passed through their body.】

【In an instant, it was as if their energy and spirit had been drained, and they fell to the ground, exhausted.】

【"What's going on? My strength... it seems to have been drained?"】

【The person asked in confusion.】

【This scene was seen by others.】

【Especially Cana, whose pupils shrank instantly!】

【She immediately shouted: "Be careful, those are Jose's magic constructs! If you touch them rashly, your strength will be stolen!"】

【"Jose's magic?"】

【"There are so many of them?"】

【"This seems to be a collection of curses; they can even revive after being destroyed?"】

【Seeming to see the look of surprise he wanted to see.】

【Jose's expression finally improved slightly.】

【The corners of his mouth curled up: "That's right, as long as I exist, these ghosts will always exist!"】

【"That old man Makarov is probably still bickering at the Council, and the super-large magic convergence cannon I prepared specifically for you has also finished gathering!"】

【"You have no chance of winning anymore!"】