Chapter 87

【PS: Aside from a small portion that come with colored contacts, almost all of the Naruto series puppets are high-attack, low-quality knockoffs, fragile as paper. When the author says the Naruto series puppets have reached some level or other, he is purely referring to their attack power, or their special functions.】

【PS2: The author continues to beg all you readers for your votes and flowers~】

"Also, you just said that what I've been pursuing from beginning to end is nothing but a joke?"

Jellal raised his head to look at Konan, smiling as he asked, "What makes your organization come to that conclusion?"

One could tell that if the Tower of Heaven weren't unable to withstand combat of too high an intensity, Jellal would never have been sitting here chatting with Konan at this moment.

"The R-System is one of the two absolute forbidden magics created four hundred years ago by the founder of Black Mages, Zeref."

"Its function is to reverse life and death — through the offering of life, it revives the dead."

After hearing Jellal's words, Konan answered with an utterly serious expression: "Mr. Jellal, your purpose has already been revealed quite obviously as well. It's nothing more than wanting to resurrect the founder of Black Mages from four hundred years ago, Zeref."

"But, what if that person from four hundred years ago had never actually died?"

The instant Konan's words fell, Jellal's pupils visibly contracted in a sharp jerk.

"What do you mean."

Jellal was no longer leaning back in his seat in a languid posture; he sat upright, looking at Konan not far away, his brow furrowing deeply as he said, "You're saying that Zeref never actually died?!"

At this moment, Jellal's face was filled with an expression of utter disbelief.

If that founder of Black Mages from four hundred years ago hadn't died, then back when he himself was imprisoned by the Heimoshu Sect and subjected to severe torture, who was it whispering in his mind?

And who was it that made him keep building the Tower of Heaven, to resurrect a Zeref who had never actually died?!

Sometimes, when you're caught up in the game, you simply can't see things clearly. But once you step outside yourself, or are nudged a couple of times by someone who sees the truth clearly, many things can become clear all at once.

For example, right now, Jellal was hypothesizing that everything Konan had told him was entirely true.

Then the things he himself had experienced during the period when the Tower of Heaven was under the rule of the Heimoshu Sect, as well as the voice in his mind, would be very much worth investigating.

Of course, the premise for all of this was that what Konan said had to be true.

Otherwise, no matter how much he thought about it now, it would all be empty, hollow.

Jellal, as a BOSS who possessed considerable charisma in the early stages, naturally wasn't someone whose will could be shaken and made to deny himself by a few casual words from Konan.

"I cannot prove whether what I've said is correct."

"Anyway, by tomorrow, won't your plan be about to be successfully carried out?"

"When the time comes and the Magic Power comes down, the immense magical force required by the R-System will be completely replenished. Why not just try using a person as a sacrifice to resurrect Zeref?"

Lin Cheng, controlling Konan, shrugged indifferently at Jellal's expression of uncertainty and suspicion.

Although Lin Cheng could have provided Jellal with more detailed evidence to prove the fact that Zeref was still alive — in fact, Lin Cheng was extremely clear on the entire storyline of this world of Fairy Tail, from beginning to end, cause and effect.

However, Lin Cheng had no need to explain things so clearly to Jellal.

As for pulling Jellal into the group and making him a member of the Akatsuki organization, that was merely a spur-of-the-moment idea of Lin Cheng's.

Lin Cheng actually thought rather highly of Jellal's talent. If his later growth went smoothly, and even Aizen Sosuke's Hollowfication technique were applied to Jellal, there was no reason Jellal couldn't possess the strength of a Class-A puppet, or even a Class-S puppet.

"……"

Watching Konan, who clearly had no intention of explaining things to him, Jellal's brow furrowed even more severely. But very quickly, the furrowed brow of Jellal's relaxed once again.

Leaning back gently in his seat, Jellal chuckled lightly: "Then let's wait and see."

What followed naturally became simple.

Erza had been abducted by Jellal of the Tower of Heaven, and Jellal had even deliberately left relevant evidence for his Thought Body, Ikaruga — evidence of his intention to resurrect Zeref.

Under such circumstances, the likelihood of the Fapingyi Society using Magic Power against the Tower of Heaven increased dramatically.

The outcome was already decided. What remained was simply when a concrete result would be discussed, and then Magic Power would be deployed against the Tower of Heaven.

Just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Lucy, along with Natsu and Gray, had already arrived at the island where the Tower of Heaven stood.

……

"Ugh… I feel awful."

Natsu lay sprawled on the small island where the Tower of Heaven stood, continuously dry heaving.

As a First Generation Dragon Slayer, Natsu had never been fond of any form of transportation from the very start. Riding a small boat across the sea was truly a constant test of his limits.

"Natsu, are you alright?"

"Can you recover?"

Lucy crouched beside Natsu with a worried expression, gently patting his back to ease his nausea.

Gray, meanwhile, stood to one side with a solemn expression, surveying the bizarre tower before him that stretched straight up into the sky.