Jellal's heart suddenly skipped a beat as he looked at Erza, who had shed all her armor, her eyes filled with resolve.
In those clear eyes, he seemed to see some bond about to slip away from him forever.
But a moment later, that strange flutter was completely swallowed by the fury surging in his heart. His expression darkened as he growled, "You really are underestimating me..."
"Don't make me laugh, Erza!"
His rage erupted in a furious roar. Then he crossed his hands sharply overhead, the power of Celestial Magic frantically intertwining and compressing between his palms. A pitch-black sphere radiating an oppressive force rapidly took shape.
Gales instantly whipped up around him, forcing Natsu and the others in the distance to raise their arms to shield themselves.
"What is this magic power?! It feels awful..." Natsu's expression grew grave.
"The shadows are stretching toward the light source?!" Gray's eyes widened slightly.
Yet Erza did not waver in the face of that terrifying magic, which seemed capable of warping space itself.
She gripped her sword's hilt tightly with both hands, its tip angled toward the ground. Slowly closing her eyes, she steadied her breathing and focused, forcing every last bit of magic power in her body into the blade.
In an instant, an eerie, bloodthirsty gleam spread over the Demon Sword's white blade!
"This won't work... She doesn't have any defenses at all!" Hughes's face was as white as paper. He stared fixedly at the ever-growing, black-hole-like ball of magic in Jellal's hands, his voice trembling uncontrollably:
"That's Jellal! If that attack hits her head-on, Erza will die!!"
Unable to help himself, he stepped forward, only for an arm to bar his way with unquestionable force.
"Why are you stopping me?!" Hughes instantly lost control, screaming hysterically at Gray,