Chapter 432

"The dragon actually spoke."

The moment those words left its mouth, Erza and the others froze on the spot, utterly at a loss for how to react.

Still, someone picked up on something in Igneel's words.

"Wait! You're saying Natsu is injured?!"

Staring at Igneel, Erza hurriedly asked.

Hearing Erza's words, the others also came to their senses one by one at that moment.

Injured?

If he was injured, did that also mean Natsu wasn't dead yet?

And right then, Igneel stretched out his right hand toward Erza and the others and opened it, revealing a figure lying unmistakably in his palm.

At the sight, everyone was instantly shocked, their eyes filled with disbelief, and they cried out at the same time.

"Natsu!"

That's right,

the one lying in Igneel's hand was unmistakably Natsu himself.

Just an instant ago, sensing his life was in danger, Igneel had no time to hesitate and immediately left Natsu's body to block that fatal strike.

However, although he had blocked the danger at the critical moment, the tremendous shock still dealt Natsu a heavy blow.

But compared to all that, in Erza and the others' eyes, the fact that Natsu had survived was already enough.

Taking Natsu from Igneel's hand and seeing no missing arms or legs, everyone was instantly relieved.

……

"Is this a dragon?"

"What on earth is going on?!"

Once again pulling the great dragon apart from Ichimaru Gin, Ougartes gazed at the fire dragon on the other end of the battle, his eyes filled with shock.

In fact, even until now.

Whether or not he obtained the 'Fragment of the Great Will,' the gains of this trip for Ougartes had already far exceeded his imagination.

First the otherworlders, then the other world, and now even a great dragon had appeared.

All of this had far exceeded his expectations.

He could not even imagine what an enormous stir these tidings would cause throughout the entire Alvarez Empire once they were all sent back.

"It's time to withdraw."

First the Monu Sect, the Akatsuki organization, and the Shinigami three-way struggle, then the Devil Heart joining in, and now the appearance of a great dragon.

The current situation had already exceeded Ougartes's expectations. If there had still been some chance to snatch the 'Fragment of the Great Will' earlier, then now there was absolutely no hope at all.

Since that was the case, there was no need to keep fighting.

And now both sides had obtained two 'Fragments of the Great Will,' and no one could guess what kind of situation would arise.

With a single thought, Ougartes's intention was transmitted into the minds of Timaria and Wahl.

The moment their minds stirred, the two exchanged a glance, and their figures began to retreat rapidly.

Sharing the same mindset was not Ougartes alone.

On the other side, Precht and Jellal were the same — the 'Fragment of the Great Will' had already been snatched away, and staying on was pointless; better to escape.

After exchanging a glance, they prepared to flee, but at that very moment, a figure suddenly appeared before them — it was Xuanwozhang Sect.

"Think you can leave that easily?"

Ougartes could be let go; with his strength, he wouldn't be taken down so easily.

Besides, Lin Cheng needed him alive to bring the news of this trip back to the Alvarez Empire and generate emotion points.

By comparison, Precht and Jellal had already done everything they were supposed to do and had completely become useless pawns, and such pawns had only one outcome — to be cleared from the board.

· ·······Please give flowers····· ·····

And as the one to clear those two, naturally it was their former leader — Xuanwozhang Sect.

"It's time to settle this score."

Hearing those words, the faces of Precht and Jellal instantly darkened.

Because they noticed that with Xuanwozhang Sect's arrival, the other members of the Akatsuki organization had also already rushed over.

Clearly, the other side had no intention of leaving them even the slightest chance of survival.

……

Rumble—!

"I'll leave Natsu to you; I still have one more thing to do."

After entrusting Natsu to them, Igneel immediately turned around.

"Where are you going?"

Seeing this, as Natsu's partner, Happy immediately spread his wings and flew up to the fire dragon's face to demand an answer.

"And why have you never shown up? Do you have any idea how hard Natsu has been searching for you all this time?"

Facing that towering, mountain-like body, even though the other party was a fire dragon, Happy still showed no fear on his face.

He also couldn't understand why, when Natsu had worked so hard searching for his father, the other side couldn't even bother to show up!

He wanted an explanation!

An explanation for Natsu!

However…

"The answer to that"

Facing Happy's questioning, Igneel did not get angry, but left behind a single sentence and flew off directly.

"If I can live a little longer, I will tell you the answer. If not, then please keep the matter of my appearance a secret."

Boom—!

Spreading both wings, Igneel immediately flew up into the sky toward the distant horizon, and that direction was unmistakably heading straight for where Aizen was.

It didn't give Erza and the others any chance to ask further.

"Live a little longer? Keep it secret? What in the world is going on?" Death.