Chapter 429

Seeing this, Lan Ran shook his head and smiled.

"I could never bring myself to do something this foolish—lifting a rock only to drop it on my own foot."

"Do you remember what I said about the characteristics of the fragments of the Great Will?"

Hearing this, a trace of confusion surfaced in the eyes of Erza and the others.

Not only them—even Lucy was the same,

The keys to the Twelve Zodiac Palaces?

Fragments of the Great Will?

Is there an inherent connection between these two?

Wait…

Just as Lucy suddenly thought this, something Lan Ran had once said suddenly surfaced in her mind, and she raised her head, looking at Lan Ran in shock.

"How could this be!"

"It seems you've figured it out."

Lan Ran said with a faint smile.

"Stop joking around."

Having already broken free, Natsu roared angrily: "No matter the reason, Lucy won't leave with you!"

Rumble—!

Magic gathered, and Natsu, still unwilling to give up, charged at Lan Ran. Flames rose from both his hands as he tried to rescue Lucy from Lan Ran's grasp.

But the result was the same—before he could get close, he was struck down by Lan Ran with a single blow.

"Foolishness has its limits too."

Accompanying this strike, Lan Ran said calmly.

"Since you're so fond of seeking death, I'll grant you that wish. Consider it an honor."

As he spoke, a powerful spiritual pressure gathered at Lan Ran's fingertip, aimed at Natsu, who was still plummeting downward.

Seeing this, Lucy, collapsed at Lan Ran's side, immediately cried out in panic.

"How could you! Didn't you already promise me you'd spare my companions?"

However, Lan Ran merely smiled faintly at this.

"Do you think… you have a choice?"

At this moment, Lan Ran's killing intent in his eyes was no longer concealed in the slightest.

Hum—!

Spiritual pressure gleamed at his fingertip, radiating a terrifying presence.

The next second, a dark spiritual pressure, unlike any before, tore through the sky and blasted toward Natsu.

"Natsu!"

This scene left the fairies present frozen on the spot, and then everyone's magic erupted as they frantically rushed toward Natsu's position.

But compared to them, the dark spiritual pressure was faster—in the blink of an eye it had already appeared before Natsu.

Rumble—!

Terrifying energy instantly erupted, transforming into a dazzling explosion. The energy surged outward in waves like a tide, spreading across the entire world.

At this moment, the entire world fell silent.

GLOSSARY: