Fairy Tail: Perfect Projection

But just then, a hand suddenly landed on Xi Feng's shoulder.

"!!!"

Simon's heart jolted, and his body reacted at once. Both hands shot toward the hand resting on his shoulder.

"Ugh..."

But the instant he moved, Xi Feng struck him across the back with a knife-hand blow. Simon let out a muffled grunt and collapsed unconscious.

The moment Simon passed out, his magic dissipated, and light returned to the entire casino.

"Meow!!"

The cry caught Xi Feng's attention. He turned to see a rope flying toward him, winding around him again and again.

"Meow, I caught him!"

"Nice work, Millianna!!" Seeing Millianna capture Xi Feng, Shu said excitedly, "Now let's take big brother Xi Feng to the Tower of Heaven!"

"The Tower of Heaven!!" Erza's eyes widened at Shu's words. Then she demanded, "Why are you taking big brother Xi Feng to the Tower of Heaven?!"

"Not just Xi Feng. You too, big sister Erza!" Shu slowly walked toward Erza as he spoke.

"Hey, Shu, you're still too naive."

Xi Feng's voice rang out again!

"What?!"

Hearing Xi Feng's voice, Shu hurriedly turned around. Xi Feng wasn't bound at all. Instead, Millianna was wrapped in a golden chain.

"Meow... Sorry, Shu. I'm nowhere near strong enough to tie up big brother Xi Feng." Millianna stuck out her tongue.

"Damn it!!"

With two companions unconscious and another captured, Shu was at a loss. He had planned everything so carefully, but against overwhelming strength, every scheme proved powerless.

After glancing at Simon and the others, Shu gritted his teeth, turned, and ran. Although he had learned magic, Xi Feng's imposing presence was still etched into his mind.

"Hm? Trying to run? Did I give you permission? Chains of Heaven!!"

Watching Shu flee, Xi Feng flicked his hand. A golden chain shot out and bound him.

Chapter 58: Heading to the Tower of Heaven

"Big brother... what should we do? They've come for us."

Erza trembled uncontrollably as she looked at the four silent, bound captives.

"It's all right. I'll protect you."

Xi Feng patted Erza's shoulder, then walked up to the four of them. "I'll go back to the Tower of Heaven with you to see Jellal."

"What?!"

Simon and the others looked up at Xi Feng in disbelief. They weren't the only ones stunned. Erza immediately stepped forward and cried, "No!!"

"Erza..."

"I don't care! I don't care! You can't!" Erza covered her ears and kept shaking her head, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"No... I don't want you to go, big brother... sob... I'm scared..."

"Erza..." Seeing her tear-streaked face, Xi Feng felt a pang of tenderness. He held her in his arms and said, "It's all right. It's all right... Just get some sleep."

As soon as Xi Feng finished speaking, Erza lost consciousness. He turned to the bewildered Wendy and Lucy. "Wendy, Lucy, take good care of Erza."

"But..." Lucy didn't know what had happened between Xi Feng, Erza, and these four strangers in the past, but Erza's expression told her that Xi Feng was about to do something dangerous.

"Don't worry... I'll come back safe and sound."

Without giving Lucy another chance to speak, Xi Feng pulled Simon and the others along and headed outside. After only a few steps, however, he paused and turned back to Lucy. "Don't let Gray, Natsu, or the others follow me either. And you, Juvia-no following me. Stay right here."

"Understood... Lord Xi Feng."

Juvia stepped out from the side, fidgeting with the hem of her clothes. She had been planning to sneak after Xi Feng, but he had caught on, leaving her deeply disappointed.

"Big brother Xi Feng..."

Watching Xi Feng walk away, Wendy pressed a hand to her chest, worry filling her heart.

Aboard the boat heading to the Tower of Heaven, all four remained silent, even though Xi Feng had already released them.

"Big brother Xi Feng..."

"Hm?" Shu approached him and called his name.

"What is it?"

"..." Shu looked deeply conflicted. Finally, he gritted his teeth and asked, "Big brother Xi Feng, why did you betray us back then?!"

"Betray you..." Xi Feng glanced at Shu, then looked out over the sea and asked, "What did Jellal tell you about Erza and me?"

"What do you mean? Eight years ago, you and big sister planted a bomb on the boat and ran away! Don't you remember?! If Jellal hadn't found it, you would have blown us all up! Because you didn't learn magic properly, you and big sister became hopelessly addicted to that power. You wanted to throw away every memory of your time with us!"

As Shu spoke, he grew more and more agitated, until he was shouting.

"That's why we spent eight years completing the Tower of Heaven-to bring you back!!"

"Did Jellal tell you all of that?" Xi Feng regarded him with a faintly amused look.

"What do you mean, did Jellal tell us? Isn't that what you did?! Why are you asking me?!"

"Calm down, Shu."

"How can I calm down? Look at big brother Xi Feng! He still won't admit what he did!" Simon's attempt to intervene only made Shu more agitated.

"Never mind. You should see for yourselves..." Looking at the distraught Shu, Xi Feng shook his head. A red longsword appeared in his hand, and he said quietly, "Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu!"

As his words fell, the longsword in Xi Feng's hand shattered into fragments, and all four of their eyes went blank.

Some time later, the four knelt on the deck, their eyes wide with disbelief.

"How could this be?! This is impossible! It can't be true!" Shu cried out, looking almost crazed.

"..."

Millianna and Wally remained silent. What they had just seen had felt so real that they no longer knew what was true and what was false.

"Shu... maybe we've been wrongly blaming Xi Feng and Erza all along." Simon walked over and patted his shoulder.

"Sob... Who am I supposed to believe?!"

Shu slammed his fist against the deck and burst into tears.

"Meow... I knew Xi Feng and little Erza would never betray us."

Millianna threw herself into Xi Feng's arms and nuzzled against him like a cat.

Seeing Millianna behaving like a cat in his arms stirred a flicker of interest in Xi Feng. He stroked her chin and ears from time to time, and her repeated meows made his blood race.

"We've reached the Tower of Heaven."

"Hm?" At Simon's words, Xi Feng released Millianna and stood up, gazing at the distant Tower of Heaven.

"Are you really going to see Jellal, Xi Feng?"

Simon looked at Xi Feng with a solemn expression.

"Some things need to be settled."

As Xi Feng gazed at the Tower of Heaven, memories stirred in his mind. Then he said, "Simon, once we reach the Tower of Heaven, you should all leave."

"How can we do that?!"

Xi Feng's words made Simon cry out.

"With your strength, you'd only hold me back if you came along."

"..."

Simon fell silent. He had a rough understanding of Xi Feng's and Jellal's strength. If he went along, he would only be able to watch from the sidelines. Finally, he nodded and said,

"I understand..."

"No!!!"

Just then, Shu suddenly shouted. With tears filling his eyes, he looked at Xi Feng and said, "I have to ask Jellal what really happened!!"

"I know you still can't accept all of this. By the time you wake up, it'll all be over."

As Xi Feng finished speaking, Shu felt his head grow heavy and muddled, and finally fell asleep.

"Shu!"

Seeing Shu collapse, Wally and Millianna cried out in alarm.

"It's all right. He's only asleep." Xi Feng reassured Millianna and Wally, then turned to Simon. "I'll have to leave the rest to you. Sorry for the trouble."

"All right..."