Chapter 46 : Tower of Heaven!!!

Erza's gaze bore into him with piercing intensity. Simon spoke calmly, "We're constructing the Tower of Heaven, Erza. We require your strength."

"Tower of Heaven?" Erza paused, then clenched her teeth. "You're still building that abominable thing?"

"Abominable?" Shô protested. "Sister, you fail to grasp the magnificence of the Tower of Heaven!"

"Oh, magnificent," Erza scoffed. "Constructing a structure that brings greater calamity at the expense of innocents, how does that qualify as magnificent?"

"Weren't all our hardships back then due to the Black Magic Order's erection of the Tower of Heaven?"

"And now you're repeating the same mistake!"

Silence fell on the opposing side.

Erza took a deep breath. "It's Jellal, isn't it?"

"That's correct," Puppet-faced Wally affirmed. "He requested it, and he requires the strength of a traitor like you."

Erza gazed at him, her expression initially somber but then filled with resolve. She turned to Lucy, offering a soft smile. "Lucy, inform Natsu and the others that I have personal matters to attend to."

"Erza!" Lucy, astute as ever, had already surmised Erza's intentions and cried out, "Don't do anything foolish! We're comrades; we should face this together!"

"Sister isn't like that," Shô sneered. "She's the type to abandon comrades without hesitation in times of crisis."

"Shut up!" Lucy retorted, "Erza isn't the person you're portraying!"

"No need for arguments," Erza stated coldly. "Lucy, I don't owe anyone an explanation."

With that, she turned to Simon. "I'll return with you. Some things are destined to be resolved. I've been awaiting this day for a long time."

Having said that, Erza donned her everyday armor.

"Erza, don't go!" Lucy cried out desperately, but Erza paid no heed and departed with the group.

"Damn it!" Lucy struggled against the ropes binding her, her magic seemingly sealed, unable even to summon her celestial spirits.

The ropes constricted tighter and tighter.

"Lucy-"

Natsu's voice echoed from a distance.

"Natsu!" Lucy called out urgently.

'Boom'

With a burst of frenzied flames, Natsu dashed to Lucy's side. Seeing her bound and tugged by the ropes, her body contorted backward, he abruptly ceased his laughter.

"Hahaha, Lucy, what kind of mess have you gotten yourself into?"

"Natsu, you blockhead! Hurry up and help me untie this, my bones are about to snap!" Lucy snapped angrily.

"I know," Natsu replied lazily, sprawling on the ground.

"Hey, hey, hey, what do you think you're doing?" Lucy watched helplessly as Natsu's face loomed closer.

"I'm gonna help you chew through the rope," Natsu declared.

"Ah, wha—"

He sunk his teeth into the rope around Lucy's armpits.

"Eek!" Lucy yelped as a rush of warm air brushed against her armpits, causing her cheeks to flush.

Natsu chomped down hard, breaking the rope, and Lucy quickly stood up.

"This is bad, Natsu!" Lucy exclaimed urgently. "Erza followed a bunch of shady characters, they're headed to some sort of Tower of Heaven."

"The Tower of Heaven," Everit interjected suddenly, appearing out of nowhere.

"Everit, were you spying on us? Why didn't you stop her?" Lucy demanded, her frustration evident.

"Erza has her reasons. Sometimes, you just have to confront things head-on," Everit replied, adjusting his glasses.

"Everit, you probably stirred up trouble, didn't you?" Natsu asked with a serious expression.

He had just been ambushed by a puppet-like figure, but the attacker's strength was lackluster. Natsu had swiftly dealt with him, sending him crashing with a single punch. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that his assailant wasn't entirely human.

"Indeed," Everit confirmed with a nod. "If we defeat all of them here, there'd be no need to venture to the Tower of Heaven."

"What do you mean?" Natsu inquired, puzzled.

"The Tower of Heaven is dangerous, and its controller is a formidable enemy," Everit explained, twirling a card on his fingertip. With a flick of his finger, the card shot upward at high speed, embedding itself into the ceiling before morphing into a black streak with hints of gold, returning to his palm.

"Erza intends to face it alone," Everit continued, "but family can't help but..."

"We'll go help her!" Natsu declared resolutely.

"Agreed," Everit concurred.

"So that was your plan," Gray's voice chimed in.

Lucy turned to see Gray and Juvia approaching, with Gray still nursing his head, clearly battling a headache.

He glared fiercely at Everit and spoke, "So, it was you who acted at that moment, huh."

"That's correct," Everit nodded.

"You," Gray said helplessly, "You should've informed us beforehand, at least."

"Your acting skills are lacking, especially yours, Natsu," Everit shook his head.

"Asshole, who are you looking down on!" Natsu erupted in anger, breathing fire.

"By the way, does your magic have such an effect? The one you just used can't be a newly learned magic," Gray asked with doubt.

Everit's magic had always revolved around deceiving the five senses. Even if it could manipulate emotions, it had little effect on him and Natsu.

But for a moment just now, he and Juvia had been powerless to resist, and they were "scared" into fainting.

"It's just a small breakthrough," Everit smiled modestly, then said, "Okay, let's not waste any more time. You go find the ship. I'll have a talk with the guild master first."

"Okay."

Natsu and the others set out to find the ship.

Everit retrieved a communication crystal.

"Everit, what's the matter?" Mirajane's face appeared in the crystal.

"Miss Mirajane, good evening. Is the guild master available?"

"Yes, he just fell asleep after getting drunk."

"I apologize for disturbing the guild master's rest, but please wake him. I have something very important to report to him," Everit said seriously.

"Okay," Mirajane nodded.

On the endless sea,

"The direction hasn't deviated," Gray felt a bit uneasy.

"No," Natsu, lying at the boat's edge, reluctantly raised his trembling hands.

"Are all Dragon Slayers like this? Mr. Gajeel also struggles with transportation," Juvia remarked in surprise.

"Perhaps," Gray nodded.

"Huh?" At that moment, Natsu suddenly stood up, looking in a certain direction warily.

"What's wrong?" Gray's expression shifted. He could tell Natsu was serious and immediately prepared for battle.

"I don't know, but it feels weird," Natsu began, but before he could finish, the ship shook, and he slumped back down limp.

****

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