Paradise Game

Ye said, "We'll help you, Erza."

"Ah, on behalf of those deceived by Jellal, I thank everyone."

Natsu grinned. "Aren't we comrades?"

"Aye!"

Ye walked over to the three of them. "Your name is Simon, right?"

"Yes."

"Lead the way. I'll repay what Erza has owed you all these past few years."

"We can't let our guard down. We need to plan this carefully. Jellal is strong, and there are many people inside who were once deceived by him. We need to save them too."

"What a hassle. Fine, for Erza's sake."

Meanwhile, at the Magic Council.

"What?! Is this information true? There are remnants of the R-System?!" Org was utterly shocked by the news.

"Eight years ago, that cult that worshipped black magic invested enormous funds to construct the R-System in order to resurrect the Black Wizard Zeref."

"The seven towers? But weren't they all destroyed back then?"

The chairman of the council pondered. "Perhaps there is an eighth one."

Org hurriedly said, "Could it be... it's already been completed?!"

"According to the information sent back by our intelligence division, it has been completed."

"But why was the R-System discovered at this time?"

Siegrain said, "It is the Paradise Tower, not the R-System."

Org angrily snapped, "I don't care whether it's the R-System or the Paradise Tower. It is a forbidden spell, one that can resurrect a dead person using living people as sacrifices. If they really succeed in reviving Zeref, no one knows how many people will die in the disaster. It poses a grave threat to people's lives. We must immediately send troops to destroy it."

"You fool."

"What did you say, Siegrain?!"

"It is a spell that resurrects someone using living people as sacrifices. Are you sending troops there to have Zeref resurrected ahead of time?!"

Org was left speechless by Siegrain's words.

"The only option now is to use Etherion for a long-range attack."

"What did you say?!"

All the council members were shocked upon hearing Etherion. Etherion was the Magic Council's ultimate weapon, possessing enough power to destroy an entire country with a single strike. It was practically a nuclear weapon, generally used only to deter enemies.

The Magic Council was able to intimidate nations and guilds across the continent precisely because it possessed Etherion. Its destructive power was simply too immense, so it was only used as a threat and had never been deployed against the outside world.

"You want to use the Supreme Space-Time Destruction Magic?!"

"Have you gone mad?!"

"That is something even more terrifying than the R-System!"

Siegrain said excitedly, "Only that thing can deliver a devastating strike upon any location."

"There is no time to waste. Destroying the R-System cannot be delayed."

"I second the motion." Ultear raised her hand in agreement.

At the Paradise Tower.

"Lord Jellal, Erza is on her way here."

"Have they captured Erza? Do those useless fools have that kind of strength? That monster is with her too. It seems they have betrayed me."

That night, the group arrived at the Paradise Tower by boat.

"The Paradise Tower is ahead. We'll proceed according to the plan."

Lucy stared at the towering structure before them in astonishment. "It's so tall!"

Erza stared solemnly at the tower. "So it has been completed."

Sho said angrily, "Yes. It took us eight years, but it was finally completed!"

Sho thought of how he had worked diligently for Jellal for eight whole years, only to be deceived by him all along. He had been treated like a fool.

Simon looked at Sho and understood what he meant. "Don't worry, Sho. It will be over soon. Everything will come to an end."

The boat docked, and the group brought the bound Erza to the entrance. The guards looked at them, opened the doors, and let them in.

After they entered, a massive projection appeared in the air.

"Welcome to the Paradise Tower. I am the master of this tower, Jellal!"

Simon looked at Jellal and said, "Jellal, we have completed the mission. We brought Erza back."

Jellal looked mockingly at Simon and the others.

"You have worked hard. Since you were able to bring Erza here, does that mean you have betrayed me?"

Jellal had exposed them with a single sentence, but Simon forced himself to remain calm.

"What are you talking about, Jellal? We completed the mission, yet you suspect us?!"

"It is because you completed the mission that I suspect you. Do you really think the few of you could snatch his companion away from Ye, one of the Ten Wizard Saints? Do you think I am stupid, or do you think the Ten Wizard Saints are worth so little?"

"Damn it, he still found out."

Sho finally could not hold back any longer and shouted, "Bastard! You were the one who betrayed us!"

"So you finally know. Did you learn it from Erza? I merely came up with a casual excuse, yet who would have thought you trusted me so much? Honestly, you were so easy to fool that I almost feel sorry for you. You can only blame your own stupidity, not anyone else. Hahahahaha!"

"Bastard! I'll kill you!"

Hearing Jellal admit it, all of them wore furious expressions.

Ye's voice came from the card. "Since we've been discovered, let us out."

Boom!

Ye and the others appeared before Jellal.

"Now that everyone is here, let us begin our Paradise Game."

Lucy asked in confusion, "Paradise Game?!"

Erza asked, "What is the Paradise Game, Jellal?!"

Jellal explained, "It's simple. I intend to use you, Erza, as a sacrifice to resurrect Zeref, and your task is to stop it from happening."

"This tower holds the people from the Paradise Tower. If you wish to save them, you must defeat the guards on every floor. Of course, I have three main forces on my side. If you can defeat them, you may come before me. Naturally, I also have some people here."

"Jellal, you beast!"

Behind Jellal, a group of people were also imprisoned, cursing Jellal madly.

Seeing her former companions imprisoned, Erza glared furiously at Jellal.

"Jellal, you bastard!"

Natsu could not stand seeing comrades used as threats.

"I'll send that bastard flying and destroy everything here!" As he spoke, blazing flames erupted across his body.

"I forgot to mention that if anyone damages this tower, I will kill them directly."

Erza shouted, "You wouldn't dare!"

Jellal smirked mockingly. "Care to bet on it?"

"Damn it!"

"Oh, one friendly reminder: the Magic Council may fire Etherion at this place. So you had better hurry, or everyone will die in the end. Enjoy the game."

Everyone was stunned upon hearing about Etherion.

"How is that possible?! You're lying, right?"

Erza said solemnly, "Whether it is true or not, we must save those people. Let's split up."

"Wally and Millianna will receive the people we rescue and take care of the guards outside while you're at it."

"Sho, you're coming with me."

"Um! I want to go with Gray!" Juvia said softly.

"Huh? You don't actually need to get involved."

"I have made up my mind. I will not let them hurt Gray!"

Simon looked at Natsu. "I'll team up with the Fire Dragon."

"Watch me punch that bastard into the sky!" With that, Natsu rushed out.

Simon looked helplessly at Natsu, who had already charged ahead. "Don't be so reckless! Wait for me!" He then hurried after him.

Ye said, "Lucy, Happy, come with me."

"Aye!"

Everyone quickly dispersed.

The enemies they encountered along the way were all taken down by Lucy's Celestial Spirits. Ye deliberately wanted to train Lucy, so he let her do as she pleased.

"How was that, Ye? I'm pretty strong too!"

"You are indeed. Once your strength improves further, you can try those methods I told you about before."

"I asked my Celestial Spirits. They told me it could be done, but I'm not strong enough to do it yet."

"Don't lose heart, Lucy. You have extraordinary talent in Celestial Spirit Magic. Believe in yourself."

"Mm!"