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"The R-System was never actually completed."
"I haven't spent these past eight years doing nothing. I've been investigating the R-System. This tower's structure and principles do follow the original design plans, but there's one essential condition to fully completing it."
"And that is magic power!"
"To activate such a massive spell, at least 2.7 billion Edeas of magic power are needed. Even if all the wizards on the continent combined their magic, it still might not be enough."
Erza was silent then asked, "And yet, you know the Magic Council is about to attack this place, and you're not planning to escape. What exactly are you thinking?"
Jellal smiled and said, "There's only three minutes left until the Etherion strikes."
"Jellal!! Your so-called dream ended a long time ago. Are you planning to die here?" Erza was really angry.
"Ah... that wouldn't be so bad. My body has already been taken over by Zeref's spirit. I can't control it anymore. I'm nothing more than a puppet meant to revive Zeref's body."
"I can't save myself, my comrades can't save me, no one can. Paradise... freedom... they never really existed. Everything was over before it even began."
"I know the R-System will never be completed, but Zeref's spirit won't allow me to stop. No one can stop it anymore. I'm like a runaway train, Erza… You've won… Kill me."
Hearing Jellal's words, Erza's hands trembled, and she slowly moved her sword away from his throat.
Jellal sighed in relief.
Suddenly, a voice rang out: "What an idiot. You were just calling out Simon and the others for being fooled, yet you got played like a puppet yourself."
Jellal's face changed instantly when he heard Uchiha Kitaro's voice.
"Kitaro?! You're still here?!" Erza was also stunned by Kitaro's words.
Then her expression shifted. "Are you saying I was deceived? What do you mean?"
"I mean exactly that. You got played, what else?"
"Seriously, you're even easier to fool than the others. Watching you get tricked so thoroughly was honestly too painful."
Buzz—!!
A massive Rasengan formed in Uchiha Kitaro's palm.
"I'm going to destroy this tower right now!!"
Jellal's face changed drastically as he shouted, "STOP—!!!"
Erza turned to Jellal, her eyes full of suspicion.
Jellal no longer cared about hiding the truth. He had to stop Kitaro no matter what. "You can't destroy this tower! If you do, when Etherion strikes, we'll all die!"
"Erza, weren't you wondering where the magic power comes from? I'll tell you—the power is coming from above! This tower is actually a giant magic receptor designed to absorb Etherion's energy. Only by infusing its power can the R-System be completed."
Erza's expression darkened instantly.
"JELLAL!!!"
She roared in fury, realizing she had been completely deceived. This bastard had been planning to use Etherion all along!
At that moment, the sky shifted. A massive, dazzling magic circle appeared above them.
It was the Magic Council's satellite magic array. When it came to magic technology, the Council was second to none.
In terms of causing destruction, they were practically on par with Zeref himself.
The satellite magic array could target any location on the Ishgar continent with pinpoint accuracy. Its power was enough to obliterate an entire nation.
It was like dropping a nuclear bomb directly onto an island nation—instant devastation with no chance for defense.
"It's here!!"
Feeling the fluctuations from the sky, Jellal's face lit up with excitement.
"The satellite magic array has been deployed. At this point, no one can stop it! If you don't want to be killed by Etherion, don't lay a finger on the Tower of Heaven."
...
Uchiha Kitaro smirked slightly and said:
"Tell me… Have you ever experienced despair?"
Seeing the smirk on Kitaro's face, Jellal's gut clenched with unease.
Without hesitation, Uchiha Kitaro slammed his Rasengan into the tower beneath them.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!
The entire Tower of Heaven shook violently as layer after layer was penetrated by Kitaro's Rasengan.
"NO—!!!"
Jellal screamed in utter disbelief and despair.
"Madman! You're insane! You're a complete lunatic!!!"
Jellal couldn't comprehend it. He thought he was the craziest one here, willing to bet his life on the R-System's success.
If it worked, he'd achieve everything he desired. If it failed, he'd lose it all.
He loved the thrill of gambling with his own life.
But now he realized there was someone even crazier than him. Even after he had explained the stakes, Uchiha Kitaro had still destroyed the tower.
Though the Tower of Heaven hadn't completely collapsed yet, its core had been utterly shattered, reducing it to nothing more than a useless ruin.
Erza watched Jellal lose his mind in rage and felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. This bastard was finally facing the consequences of his actions.
"Kitaro, I'm sorry… I got you caught up in this. Now we're both going to die here."
Uchiha Kitaro smiled. "Dying with you? Sounds like an honor."
Hearing those words, Erza blushed slightly. She wasn't clueless—after spending time with Kitaro, she had sensed his feelings for her.
She had some feelings for him too. But with everything that had happened, she had kept herself closed off, afraid of being betrayed again.
Kitaro wrapped an arm around her waist and smirked. "If we somehow survive this, will you be my girlfriend?"
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