The Phantom Lord guild hall loomed over the battlefield, its massive metal legs grinding against the earth as it advanced. The cannon at its front glowed with ominous power, charging for a devastating shot. Fairy Tail members stood tense, their gazes locked on the weapon that could spell their destruction.
"That thing's going to wipe us out!" Lucy cried, clutching her keys tightly.
Bisca adjusted her rifle, her hands trembling slightly. "It's not just a cannon, it's a weapon designed to obliterate everything in its path."
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Erza declared, stepping forward. Her Adamantine Armor shimmered into place, the massive shields appearing in her hands. Without hesitation, she strode toward the cannon's line of fire.
"Erza, wait!" Gray shouted, panic evident in his voice.
"She's going to block it?" Macao asked, his tone incredulous.
"Can she even block something like that?" Happy fretted, hovering anxiously near Lucy.
"She will," Loke said, though even he looked uncertain.
As Erza planted herself firmly in the path of the cannon, the weapon roared to life. A beam of immense energy erupted from its mouth, hurtling toward her with terrifying force. She raised her shields, bracing against the blast as it slammed into her defenses.
The ground shook violently, and the air filled with the deafening sound of magic colliding. Erza's shields glowed brightly and a large magic circle appeared, absorbing the brunt of the attack, but cracks began to form, spreading rapidly across the circle and her armor alike.
"She can't hold it!" Lucy screamed.
Before anyone could rush to her aid, Aelius stepped forward, silent and deliberate. His dark magic flared to life, the green-black aura radiating from him as he extended a hand toward Erza.
"Plague God's Aegis."
A shimmering, translucent barrier of sickly green energy enveloped Erza's shields, reinforcing them as the cracks halted and began to mend. The beam continued to hammer against her, but the added protection held firm.
As the cannon's energy intensified, Aelius raised his other hand.
"Blight Ward."
Another layer of magic formed, rippling with a corrosive aura that deflected the residual energy, lessening the impact on Erza's armor.
The other guild members watched in stunned silence, the sheer power of Aelius's spells taking them aback.
"That's incredible," Bisca whispered, her voice awed.
"Since when could he do that?" Macao muttered, his gaze darting between Erza and Aelius.
"Don't question it!" Gray snapped. "Just focus on what's next!"
As the cannon's assault began to falter, Aelius cast one final spell.
"Contagion Bastion."
Spiked tendrils of energy erupted from the barrier, the tendrils wrapped around the dark magic consuming the blast as fast as it was being output. The air grew still as the beam sputtered out, leaving only the sound of heavy breathing and the distant groan of the Phantom Lord guild hall's machinery. Aelius's eyes never left the massive structure as he watched, his expression unreadable.
Erza lowered her shields, her body trembling but still standing strong. She turned her head toward Aelius, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. "Thank you—"
Aelius cut her off, his voice sharp and final. "Don't."
Before she could respond, he stepped past, his dark magic dissipating as he walked toward the battlefield without looking back. For the first time since he'd returned, Aelius's actions had spoken louder than his words.
As Natsu growled and ignited his flames, ready to charge, Gray grabbed his arm. "Not yet. We need a plan."
Erza straightened, her shields fading as she addressed the group. "This isn't over. We protect the guild, no matter what."
Together, Fairy Tail surged forward, their resolve unshaken. Above them, the Phantom Lord guild hall loomed, but this time, they were ready to fight back.
Above them, the Phantom Lord guild hall creaked and groaned as it loomed ever closer. Its cannon swiveled ominously, charging for another strike.
"They're trying to weaken us before the next shot!" Macao yelled, blasting a Shade with a burst of fire.
"We'll stop it," Erza declared, her voice steady despite the chaos around her. "We always do."
Aelius remained silent, his magic carving through the battlefield like a scythe. Though he stood with Fairy Tail, his every movement felt like that of an outsider, a shadow fighting among the light.
Together, Fairy Tail surged forward, their resolve unshaken. Above them, the Phantom Lord guild hall loomed, its massive shadow stretching across the battlefield. The first cannon blast had been stopped, but the danger wasn't over. The cannon, Jupiter, was recharging, and they had little time before it fired again.
From within the depths of Phantom Lord's guild hall, Jose's amplified voice echoed over the battlefield, his tone cold and mocking.
"You think you can stop me, Fairy Tail?" he sneered. "You had a lucky break before, but now you're running out of time. You have less than fifteen minutes until Jupiter fires again. If you want to see tomorrow, hand over Lucy Heartfilia.."
Lucy stood firm, her heart pounding in her chest, but she didn't back down. She knew what Jose was after, her father had put a price on her head, and this was just the beginning.
Natsu clenched his fists, fire flickering in his hands. "You're not getting Lucy. We won't let you take her, not while we're still standing."
Gray stepped forward, his expression serious. "She's part of our guild, and that means we protect her. No one takes her away."
"Lucy's not your pawn to take," Erza added, her voice filled with determination. "We fight for our family, no matter what."
Aelius, standing off to the side with a cold, unreadable expression, glanced at them for a brief moment before speaking. "So, who's this is Lucy Heartfilia?" His voice carried no warmth, just an empty curiosity. "What makes her so important?"
Lucy's heart skipped a beat at the question, but she quickly shook her head. "I'm not some pawn, Aelius. I have my own reasons for fighting. My own life."
Aelius didn't respond, his attention already shifting back to the Phantom Lord guild hall as dark figures began to pour from the building. The Shades, swarming like dark shadows, emerged to do their master's bidding. Their presence was unnerving, but Fairy Tail wasn't backing down.
With a crackling roar, Natsu was the first to charge. "We're not just going to stand here and let them destroy our home!"
Gray, his ice powers already forming, followed closely behind. "We'll stop the cannon, even if it kills us!"
Elfman, his usual bravado on display, surged forward next. "We're not afraid of Phantom Lord! Let's show them what Fairy Tail's made of!"
Happy flew beside Natsu, his wings buzzing rapidly. "Let's go, Natsu! We've got this!"
Erza, despite the heavy toll of the earlier shot, pushed herself to her feet, her sword at the ready. "I'm coming too," she said, determination burning in her eyes. "We're a team. We protect our guild, and we protect Lucy."
But as she took a step forward, she stumbled slightly, her weakened state from blocking the cannon's blast still affecting her. Her armor was cracked and battered, and the effort had drained her more than she let on.
"Erza!" Gray shouted, noticing her struggle. "You need to rest, you're in no condition to keep going."
"I'll be fine," Erza insisted, her voice unwavering, even as her body protested. "This is what we do. We fight for our friends."
Natsu, already charging toward the Phantom Lord guild hall, glanced back at her. "We'll handle the cannon! Stay back if you need to!"
But Erza was already set in her decision, her resolve stronger than her injuries. She couldn't sit back while her guildmates were out there fighting.
The air grew colder, oppressive waves of magic radiating outward from the towering structure. Phantom Lord wasn't finished yet. Shadows gathered in the sky, swirling like ink, before rising into twisted, humanoid forms. Shades, wraiths conjured from Jose's malevolent magic.
"Shades…" Loke muttered, his fists glowing with celestial energy. "They're not just illusions. They drain magic from anyone they touch."
"Focus!" Erza commanded, stepping to the front. Her swords spun around her in a protective circle, the light from her magic clashing against the darkness of the Shades. "They're coordinated and meant to weaken us. Don't overextend yourselves!"
From the back of the group, Aelius stood motionless, watching the wraiths materialize. He tilted his head, gripping the half-empty bottle of alcohol in his hand. Without a word, he let the bottle drop to the ground, shattering against the stones.
"Time to see if Phantom Lord can make this fun," Aelius muttered under his breath.
The Shades lunged forward as one, their shrill cries cutting through the air.
"Spread out!" Erza called, her Heart Cruze armor shimmering into place. She charged into the fray, her sword cleaving through the first wave of Shades. The wraiths dissipated into black mist, only to regenerate.
Gray's hands flashed with light as he unleashed a barrage of icy spears. "Ice-Make: Lance!" The projectiles tore through several Shades, pinning them to the ground before they dissolved.
Natsu leaped into the air, his fist blazing. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" He struck a Shade square in the chest, the flames consuming it entirely. "Come on! Is that all you've got?"
As the battle raged, Lucy summoned Taurus with a flick of her key. The celestial spirit charged forward, swinging his massive axe at the encroaching wraiths.
"They're endless!" Lucy shouted, her voice trembling.
"They'll keep coming until we take down Jose!" Loke called, smashing a Shade into the ground with a burst of light.
Aelius finally stepped forward, his hands glowing with the sickly green-black aura of his magic. His voice was cold and precise as he spoke his spell:
"Carrion Blight."
A wave of corrosive energy rippled outward, enveloping a cluster of Shades. The dark constructs writhed as they dissolved, their forms breaking apart under the weight of his magic.
"That's new," Loke muttered, sparing a quick glance at Aelius.
Without responding, Aelius extended his hand again. "Carrion Veil." A miasmic barrier materialized around him, disintegrating any Shade that dared to approach.
"Hey!" Natsu shouted over the chaos, flames roaring around him. "You could give us a warning before you let loose with that stuff!"
Aelius turned his masked face toward Natsu, his tone devoid of emotion. "Stay out of my way, Dragneel, or you'll end up like them."
"Why, you–" Natsu started, but Gray grabbed his arm.
"Not now!" Gray barked. "Focus on the fight!"
Erza's voice rang out above the chaos. "Don't get distracted! Keep pushing forward!"
The guild fought as one, their combined magic tearing through wave after wave of Shades. For every wraith that fell, two more seemed to take its place, but Fairy Tail didn't falter.
Aelius stood still, his gaze locked on the unfolding chaos. He wasn't in a rush to act. For now, he was content to observe. The air was thick with the tension of the battlefield, but Aelius was detached, watching, waiting, calculating. He could see Natsu charging toward the cannon, his fiery determination lighting up the field, but Aelius didn't move to intervene.
Natsu's voice rang out, full of anger and resolve. "I won't let you fire that thing!" he yelled, running at full speed, his fists crackling with flames.
Happy was already flying ahead, carrying Natsu to the cannon, his wings cutting through the air. "We've got this!" Happy cheered, as if sheer enthusiasm could somehow overcome the overwhelming power of the weapon they were up against.
Aelius didn't react to them. He just stood there, watching. His mask obscured any visible emotion, but there was no urgency in his stance, no sign of distress. He simply waited. He was used to being patient, biding his time, and he wasn't about to rush into action unless it was truly necessary. The battle around him wasn't his fight, not yet.
He saw Natsu punch the cannon with all his might, flames shooting from his fists in an attempt to break through the massive weapon's defenses. But the cannon stood firm, impervious to the assault.
Natsu landed hard on the barrel, his fists still glowing with heat, but his attack had done nothing. "Damn it!" he yelled in frustration.
Aelius glanced briefly toward him, but there was no sympathy in his eyes. No pity. He knew that brute force alone wouldn't be enough. Natsu and the others would keep trying, keep pushing forward, but Aelius wasn't convinced yet that it was worth his time to step in.
Around him, the battle continued. Shades swarmed from the Phantom Lord guild hall, their ghostly forms moving with purpose. Aelius' eyes tracked their movements, but none came close enough to warrant his immediate attention. If they did, they would be dealt with quickly. For now, though, he was content to let the others handle it.
As the minutes ticked by, Aelius remained silent, his gaze unwavering. He had seen this kind of struggle before, brave, relentless fighters charging into the fray without knowing if they could win. It was almost admirable, in a way. But Aelius wasn't about to jump into the fray just to add to the chaos.
His eyes flicked toward Erza, who was still recovering from her earlier attempts to block the cannon's shot. He watched her carefully, noting the strain in her movements. She was strong, but this battle was different. Would she push herself too far? He didn't know, and part of him wasn't sure if he cared.
Still, Aelius couldn't deny that there was something in her fight that intrigued him. She had a resolve, a determination that might be worth seeing through. Maybe, just maybe, it would be worth stepping in, if the situation called for it.
But for now, Aelius simply waited. He wasn't interested in offering help unless it was truly necessary. His interest was in seeing how this all unfolded, seeing if it was worth his involvement. The shades around him disintegrated into nothingness as they got too close, but he didn't acknowledge their presence.
He was content to let the others handle things, for now, silently observing as the battle raged on. Whether he would help or not depended entirely on how things progressed.
The countdown for the Jupiter cannon echoed across the battlefield, and as the seconds ticked down, the air grew thick with tension. Aelius remained still, watching intently, his hand already hovering near the magic that could shield them from the devastating blast. He was ready, but he didn't act just yet. Natsu and the others were already engaged, pushing themselves to stop the cannon, but it wasn't his fight unless it became necessary.
10... 9... 8...
Aelius's eyes narrowed, watching the massive weapon, its intimidating barrel aimed at Fairy Tail's very heart. He could feel the pulse of the cannon as it prepared to fire, and despite the chaos around him, Aelius remained eerily calm. His fingers twitched, readying a powerful defense, but he didn't yet unleash it. Not yet.
5... 4... 3...
Erza was still recovering from her previous efforts, and Natsu had charged straight for the cannon, his fiery resolve making him run headfirst into the barrel of the weapon, his flames lighting up the battlefield. But even with all of Natsu's power, the cannon stood resolute.
2... 1...
And then, just as the final countdown reached its last second, the dark energy backfired, its destruction less focused, no less deadly as it poured out from the cannon, destroying it in the process and causing it to fall and crush part of the guild under its rubble.
The massive metal limbs of the guild hall groaned in protest as the cannon crumbled beneath its bulk. Parts of the structure cracked and collapsed, crashing down in a chaotic heap. A loud, metallic screech rang out as the weapon and the floor of the guild hall it had been attached to buckled, causing a large portion of the building to collapse into itself.
Aelius watched impassively as the wreckage fell. He didn't flinch, his gaze unwavering. His hand, which had been raised to unleash his shield, lowered as the immediate threat disappeared in a burst of fire and metal. The cannon was gone, and so too was the immediate threat that had loomed over them.
For a brief moment, silence filled the air, save for the sounds of the guild hall's destruction. The echoes of the attack still reverberated in the distance, and the aftermath was a scene of chaos. But through it all, Aelius remained stoic.
Just as Fairy Tail began celebrating their victory, the ground beneath them trembled. The shades that had been circling the guild hall fell back, their ominous forms retreating into the shadows. But the guild hall, instead of remaining in its crumbling state, began to shift and contort as though it were alive. The towering spires, once a symbol of Phantom Lord's strength, groaned and twisted, their shapes bending unnaturally.
The ground cracked open as massive metal limbs unfolded from the structure's sides. The guild hall was no longer falling apart, it was transforming. The towering walls, which had been threatening to collapse under the weight of the battle, now seemed to merge and meld into one massive, mechanical beast.
Fairy Tail members looked on in shock, their eyes wide as the guild hall contorted into the shape of a giant. Its legs were enormous, with gears and mechanisms grinding and shifting as the colossal figure took shape, its once solid walls now resembling armor plating. The air hummed with the sound of grinding metal and the shriek of gears turning.
Aelius stood at a distance from the group, watching the transformation unfold with his usual calm detachment. His arms remained crossed, his posture relaxed, but his eyes never left the looming behemoth. He seemed unfazed by the spectacle, his gaze more observant than anything else.
"The giant. Phantom Lord's most powerful weapon." Loke said his eyes wide, taking in the sheer scale of the monster. The transformation was unlike anything he had ever seen. "It's like… a walking fortress, but so much more. It's like they've taken the guild hall and turned it into a goddamn city."
His voice was low, almost reverent as if the sight before him was something more than just a weapon. It was an abomination, a testament to the dark power Phantom Lord commanded. Every movement of its massive legs shook the earth beneath them, and Loke could feel the air around him trembling with the force of the energy coursing through the giant's machinery.
"Is it… is it going to…?" he trailed off, unable to voice the fear that settled in his gut. This was no ordinary attack. This was a message, loud and clear, that Phantom Lord was out to destroy, to erase Fairy Tail from existence.
The giant slowly lifted its hand, the air around it shimmering with energy as a massive magic circle began to form. The ground beneath their feet trembled with each pulse of power, and the sheer scale of the spell was enough to freeze the blood in the veins of even the most battle-hardened. Aelius watched from his position, his eyes narrowed, calculating.
"And that's where I draw the line," Aelius said, stepping forward, his cloak waving behind him from the chaos of the battlefield.
Aelius turned his attention to Erza, who was staring at the giant in disbelief. "Scarlet," he called, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. "Do you know any notable members of Phantom Lord besides their master?"
Erza blinked, taken aback by the sudden question. "The Element Four," she replied, her voice low and steady. "They're the strongest under Jose, each controlling one of the four major elements, earth, fire, water, and air."
Aelius looked up at the steadily forming magic circle high above the Phantom Lord's giant, his expression unreadable. "That's why," he said, his voice steady and emotionless. He pointed up at the circle, his finger tracing its growing outline. "If that spell fires, it'll kill all of us, and then some."
Erza followed his gaze, her eyes widening as she understood the scale of the threat. "What spell is it?" she asked, her voice tight with worry.
"Abyss Break," Aelius replied, his tone as cold and detached as ever. He gestured to the town around them and then to the gathered members of Fairy Tail and the civilians behind them. "It needs all four major elements to cast: earth, fire, water, and air. If they succeed, it'll obliterate everything in its path."
Erza's gaze flicked between Aelius and the sky, her heart pounding with the weight of the situation. "We have to stop it," she said, determination etched in her voice. "But how? How do we take down all four of them?"
Aelius's gaze shifted slightly to Mira as she stepped forward, her expression focused and determined. "For every one of the four we take down, it should slow," she said, her voice calm and resolute. "And once all get removed, it should stop."
Aelius remained silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed her words. "You seem to know a lot about forbidden magic Strauss," he replied, his voice colder. Before turning to Erza. "Hey, Scarlet, who's their master? He anyone of importance."
Erza hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking between Aelius and the Phantom Lord's giant looming overhead. "His name is Jose," she said, her voice steady despite the uncertainty in her heart. "He's a Wizard Saint. Who uses shade magic."
Aelius's gaze remained fixed on the massive creature before them, his expression unchanged. "A Wizard Saint," he repeated, a hint of intrigue creeping into his voice. "That's not something you come across often. I've always wanted to see if they live up to the legend."
"Aelius, you can't be serious!" Erza exclaimed, clearly startled by his reaction. "A Wizard Saint isn't someone you can take lightly! Jose's on the same level as Master Makarov!"
Aelius's eyes remained fixed on the Phantom Lord's giant as it began casting the spell. "I know what he is, Scarlet," he replied, his voice calm but firm. "I've already decided that I'm going, too, save your breath, for something other than nagging. "
Erza hesitated, her gaze lingering on him. "Aelius, this isn't just about you," she said, her voice softer, but still with an edge of urgency. "This is our home, our family, and we need everyone here to stop this."
"Do you ever shut up?" Aelius's tone was sharp, his words cutting through the tension between them like a knife. "It's always the same with you. Always talking, always thinking you know best."
Erza's jaw clenched, her patience wearing thin. "Because I do know, Aelius! You can't face this alone."
Aelius turned to her, his eyes cold and unyielding. "I don't need anyone's help," he said, his voice low and tight. "And I certainly don't need you trying to talk me out of it."
"Don't be reckless!" Erza's voice rose slightly, her desperation clear. "You're not the only one who wants to protect this place!"
Laughter filled the air, soft at first before growing more and more unhinged. Aelius was laughing, a sound that stunned even the attacking phantoms, as well as the rest of Fairy Tail. His eyes glinted with twisted amusement as he turned to face Erza, his laugh echoing across the battlefield.
"Protect?" he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "You think I care about any of this? About saving your precious guild? I came here for one reason, I could leave right now and do just that, let you and your pathetic little guild struggle as the embers of your flame get snuffed out by a phantom."
Erza's eyes darkened, her fists clenching at her sides. "Is that what you think?" she shot back, her voice trembling with the weight of her frustration. "That you can just walk away and leave us to fend for ourselves?"
Aelius's gaze remained cold, his eyes never leaving hers. "It's not like you'd miss me," he sneered. "You and your guild, you're all so eager to see me gone. Well, maybe I'll make it easy for you."
"Stop being such an idiot!" she shouted, taking a step closer. "You think we're here because we want to be? We're here because we have to be because we're fighting for something bigger than ourselves."
"Bigger than me?" Aelius laughed, a sound devoid of warmth. "There's nothing bigger than me, Scarlet. I don't need Fairy Tail or its problems."
"Then why are you still here?" Erza demanded, her voice almost breaking. "Why fight now, after all this time?"
Aelius's eyes flickered for a moment as if something had shifted beneath the surface, but he quickly masked it with a sneer. "Because I feel like it," he said, his voice flat and empty. "Because it's fun to watch you squirm, to see if any of you actually survive this."
"Why are you doing this?" Erza's voice cracked. "Why be so cruel?"
Aelius's eyes softened for the briefest moment before hardening again. "Because that's who I am, Scarlet," he replied, his voice almost a whisper. "A monster fighting for his own reasons. His own greed, not some knight in shining armor.."
"Then let us fight with you," Erza insisted, her voice steady despite her tears. "Let us prove that you don't have to be alone."
Aelius's lip curled in a disdainful sneer. "Don't flatter yourself, Erza," he said, his voice filled with contempt. "I don't need your charity, and I sure as hell don't need your company."
"Fine," Erza said, her voice tight with determination. "But if you're not going to fight for us, then fight for yourself. Show us that you're not just a coward hiding behind your walls."
Aelius's eyes bored into hers, his face a mask of indifference. "You really think you can change me, Scarlet?" he asked, his tone mocking. "You think one speech, one gesture, can make me care?"
"But I will tell you exactly what I'll do," Aelius said, his voice low and cold, filled with menace. "Consider it a goodbye gift. I am going to walk up to that giant, I'm going to find Jose, and I'm going to fight him. And if you or anyone from your dying guild gets in my way, I will kill them."
Erza stared at Aelius, her expression a mix of disbelief and anger. "You're appalling," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, her hands clenched at her sides. "How can you say something like that? How can you walk away from all this?"
Erza stood frozen for a moment, watching Aelius move past her, his gaze fixed on the looming giant. Her heart ached as she heard his words, feeling the weight of his bitterness in every syllable.
"Don't be naive, Scarlet," he said, his voice low and steady, not looking back at her. "This isn't about bravery or heroics. This is the real world, not the dream you think life is."
Erza's fists clenched at her sides, her jaw set tight. "And what world is that Aelius?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the tremble that threatened to break through. "A world where you just walk away from everyone who cares about you?"
Aelius stopped, turning slowly to face her. His expression was as cold as ever, his eyes hard and unyielding. "A world where people survive on their own," he said, his voice low and emotionless. "Where strength is all that matters."
"Strength isn't just about fighting," Erza retorted, taking a step closer to him. "It's about knowing when to stand up and when to protect others."
"Protect?" Aelius scoffed, his gaze drifting back to the giant. "That word again. I haven't needed to be protected in 4 years, and I'm better off for it"
With that, he turned away, his steps quick and purposeful as he moved closer to the giant. Erza watched him go, her heart sinking as she realized that he might be too far gone to reach.
Mira quickly stepped in front of Aelius, her arms outstretched as if she could physically stop him. "Please," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Please don't do this, Aelius. Please come back—"
Before she could finish, Aelius moved.
With a flick of his arm, a wave of force erupted between them. Mira cried out as she was thrown aside, her body hitting the dirt with a dull thud. Dust rose in the air around her, the shock of it all freezing her in place. Her wide eyes stared up at him, stunned and uncomprehending.
Aelius didn't look back. He didn't falter. His expression remained as cold and unmoved as ever. "Don't get in my way," he said flatly, his voice devoid of remorse or hesitation.
Mira pushed herself up onto her elbows, disbelief written across her face. "Aelius…" she choked out, the tears finally slipping down her cheeks. "Why are you like this?"
But he didn't answer. He didn't even pause. Aelius kept walking, his long strides carrying him steadily toward the massive giant in the distance.
Around her, the rest of Fairy Tail had fallen into stunned silence. A few stepped toward Mira, helping her to her feet, but their eyes were fixed on Aelius as he disappeared into the chaos ahead.
"What's wrong with him?" one of the guild members muttered, anger tinged in their voice.
"Did he really just… throw Mira?" another whispered, horrified.
Erza's jaw was clenched tight as she watched his retreating figure. Her hands trembled at her sides, fingers curling into fists. "Leave him," she said bitterly, though her voice wavered. "If he wants to fight alone, let him."
Mira stared after him, her expression a mix of confusion and hurt. "He's not like this… not really," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. But in her heart, she wasn't so sure anymore.
As Aelius strode forward, the earth beneath his feet began to crumble and crack, yet he never faltered. The others watched, stunned, as his figure seemed to rise, not from jumping or flight, but as though he were defying the very laws of nature.
"Aelius…?" Mira breathed, her voice shaky as she clutched at Erza's arm for support.
It took them all a moment to realize what was happening. Aelius was walking, no, striding, on nothing. His boots stepped forward into thin air, and with each step, faint traces of black-green magic spread out beneath him like ripples on still water. The strange magic shimmered, pulsating softly before dissipating into thin wisps, leaving no trace behind.
"He's walking… on air?" Bisca whispered, barely believing the words leaving her mouth.
Loke adjusted his glasses, his gaze narrowing as he pieced it together. "No, look closer." He pointed upward, his finger trembling slightly. "He's walking on his own magic, he's creating a platform under his feet with every step."
A ripple of amazement swept through the gathered members of Fairy Tail.
"Wait, he's, he's holding himself up with that?" Macao stammered, his voice laced with disbelief.
"How much magic power does it take to do something like that?" Lucy added, eyes wide as she strained to see the strange, glowing magic beneath Aelius's feet.
"Forget how, why is he even walking like that?!" Wakaba barked, a mix of awe and frustration in his voice.
But none of them could tear their eyes away.
From below, Aelius looked almost otherworldly as he ascended step by step, rising higher toward the looming magic circle of Abyss Break. The black-green magic trails beneath his feet painted an eerie path across the sky, like stains bleeding into reality itself.
Erza watched with narrowed eyes, her voice low. "He's completely unfazed… How far does his power go?"
"Hmm actually I've changed my mind, why should I take care of your issue for you? Gray, Natsu, and Elfman are already in there, so I'll wait, you all can take a crack at Jose yourselves and only when you're all knocking on death's door, will I step in."
Erza's narrowed gaze sharpened further at Aelius's sudden words, her fists clenching at her sides. "What did you just say?"
Aelius stopped mid-step, the faint hum of his black-green magic crackling beneath his feet like an unnatural storm. He turned his head just slightly, just enough to glance back at them from over his shoulder, his face a mask of cold indifference.
"I said," he began, his tone slow and dripping with disdain, "why should I clean up your mess for you?"
The others stared in stunned silence as Aelius lowered himself just enough to hover a few feet above the ruined earth, his arms lazily crossing over his chest. The platform of magic beneath him pulsed steadily, like a heartbeat that didn't belong in this world.
"You have three of your strongest brats already storming the thing," he continued, his voice calm and detached. "Gray, Natsu, and Elfman are in there fighting their little hearts out. Why should I waste my energy when they are so eager to throw their lives away?"
"What?" Erza's voice shook with barely restrained anger. "This isn't a game, Aelius! That spell will wipe out everything, our guild, the town, innocent lives! If you can stop it, why are you-"
"Innocent lives?" Aelius cut her off, his lips curling into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Don't make me laugh, Scarlet. You think lives mean anything to me? That your lives mean anything?"
Erza took a step forward, her teeth gritting. "And yet you're here. If you didn't care at all, you wouldn't have come to Fairy Tail in the first place!"
"Hmm." Aelius tilted his head, considering her words before letting out a soft, humorless chuckle. "You're persistent. I'll give you that." He lifted a hand, gesturing lazily to the enormous magic circle forming in the sky above them. "Here's how it's going to work, Scarlet. I'm going to wait."
"Wait?" Mira echoed in disbelief, stepping forward beside Erza. "Wait for what? You think we have time to spare?"
Aelius's eyes darkened, the energy around him rippling ominously. "I'll step in when you're all knocking on death's door. When your brave little charge fails, when Gray, Natsu, Elfman, and whoever else you send up there are broken and bleeding on the floor, I'll consider helping."
The words hit like a physical blow, leaving the guild staring at him in shock. Even Loke, normally composed, frowned deeply. "You can't be serious…"
"Oh, I'm perfectly serious," Aelius said, floating lazily back into the air, his black-green platforms reforming beneath him. "Consider it a test. Maybe you're all stronger than I thought. Or maybe you're exactly as weak and desperate as you seem."
Erza's hands shook at her sides. "And if we fail?" she demanded, her voice low and deadly.
"Then you'll die," Aelius replied simply, turning his back to her. "But don't worry. I'll make sure to clean up what's left."
Mira took a shaky step forward, her voice breaking. "Why are you doing this? You don't have to-"
"Don't." His voice snapped like a whip, silencing her. "I don't owe you anything, Strauss. None of you."
With that, Aelius resumed walking on air, rising higher with each step, his dark silhouette framed against the growing glow of Abyss Break.
From below, Erza glared after him, her voice low and trembling with fury. "Coward."
Aelius didn't turn around. He didn't even pause. But his cold, unfeeling voice echoed down to them one last time.
"Call me whatever you want. I'm not the hero of your Fairy Tale."