So painful…
Is this what it feels like to be burned by flames?
For the first time in my life, I feel this searing pain, as if it's sinking into my very bones, as if even my blood is about to melt away.
Am I going to die?
Will I really die?
Will I, a Fire Dragon Slayer, be burned to death by flames?
I'm afraid… truly afraid.
But… so what?
It's not over yet.
How could it end like this?
I am Igneel's child! My comrades are still fighting! I won't let it end like this!
Devour it!
Bathed in the sacred flames, Natsu let out a roar, unleashing all of his magic power in that instant.
"Devour it!!!"
"Natsu!!!"
Releasing all of his magic? A good idea, indeed.
"But it's useless," Nord said indifferently. "Even if you unleash every last bit of your power, you still cannot consume my flames."
However, just as Nord finished speaking, an unexpected change occurred within Natsu's body.
A faint, weak flicker of platinum-white flame appeared inside him.
With the help of this very same platinum-white flame, the sacred flame itself, Natsu—before Nord's astonished gaze—devoured all of the sacred flames.
"This is… I see now."
Nord's right eye, marked by a six-pointed star, slowly rotated as he instantly grasped the reason behind the phenomenon.
By all logic, even if Natsu had unleashed all of his magic power, it should have been impossible for him to absorb Nord's flames—after all, these were the flames of a God.
However… during their last battle, when Natsu was burned by Sacred Flame, a tiny remnant of it had remained within his body.
Now, as he faced the flames once more, and with his magic bursting forth at its peak, the Sacred Flame hidden within him resonated with the flames outside, allowing him to devour Nord's fire.
"AAAAHHH, NOEL!!!"
"[Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Altered—Godly Crimson Lotus Exploding Flame Blade]!!!"
Fiery energy, a fusion of red and white, erupted from Natsu's hands.
His entire body spun at high speed, forming a spiraling inferno of crimson and white flames that surged toward Nord.
Nord extended both hands, and a platinum-colored energy barrier materialized before him, intercepting Natsu's blazing cyclone.
Sparks flew where the two forces clashed, producing a sharp, crackling sound.
"Everyone, attack together! We have to break this barrier and give Erza an opening!" Ishu commanded.
"Got it!"
All of them unleashed their most powerful attacks—blinding sword slashes, crackling lightning, spheres of dark energy, countless piercing light needles, blue laser cannons, freezing ice blasts, and massive fists—all colliding against the golden barrier.
But the golden wall's resilience was beyond anyone's imagination—not a single crack appeared.
"Everyone, please—lend me your strength!!"
Lucy's eyes flashed with unwavering determination.
The phantoms of her Celestial Spirits appeared behind her, and an immense surge of magical energy burst forth, crashing against the golden wall.
At last, a slight ripple spread across the Wall of Golden Sighs.
"Not enough!! It's still not enough—AAAAHHHHH!!!" Natsu roared.
-------------------
At this moment, standing at a distance alongside Levy and the others, Mirajane watched the fierce struggle between her comrades' attacks and the Wall of Sighs, her fingers clenched so tightly that they turned white.
(Am I really only capable of standing here and watching?)
(Am I only able to pray for them?)
(Am I going to keep running away?)
These three questions echoed in Mirajane's heart, sending a sharp pain through her chest.
She didn't notice that, as her emotions surged, a gray-black magic circle had already begun to take shape above her head.
(What's happening? Why... why can't I move all of a sudden?)
"Is this the end?" Ishu stared at the golden wall in front of him, unwilling to accept defeat.
Just a little more—just a tiny bit more—and they could have broken through.
Were they really going to lose?
Just as despair began to take hold of Fairy Tail and Ishu, a figure with black bat-like wings and white hair suddenly flew in.
The members of Fairy Tail were all shocked—because this person was none other than Mirajane, in her Satan Soul form.
"[Soul Extinction]" Mirajane whispered softly as black energy gathered in her hand.
Then, a small but incredibly powerful black sphere shot from her palm, streaking through the air and slamming into the trembling Wall of Sighs.
Boom!
Like the final straw that breaks the camel's back, a crack appeared in the protective barrier.
Immediately, all the attacks that had been pounding against it surged through this tiny opening, shattering the golden wall.
A hole had finally been blasted through it—not large, but just enough for one person to pass through.
"Go, Erza!!!"
"[Requip: Moon Goddess Armor]!"
Clenching her teeth, Erza's armor transformed into the purple Moon Goddess Armor, and she charged straight through the broken wall, heading directly for Nord.
"It's useless."
Seeing Erza rush toward him, Nord shook his head and waved his hand, sending a golden energy sphere hurtling toward her.
Yet Erza did not dodge—instead, she charged straight into the sphere.
The moment Nord's divine golden energy came into contact with her Moon Goddess Armor, it erupted violently, melting away like snow under the scorching sun.
At that moment, Erza recalled the words of the Moon Goddess:
"The power of the moon is one of assimilation and harmony—it can neutralize any force that does not exceed the output of its wielder. This armor carries that same power; it can nullify any attack within your limits. However, there are two problems. First, his power far surpasses yours, so even the Moon Goddess Armor will be of no use. But don't worry about the first issue…
Within my soul, there remains a small trace of divine power—just enough to neutralize one of his smaller attacks.
Second, this technique will only work once on that boy. The same trick will never fool him twice.
You must create a decisive opening—then use it at the perfect moment. Do you understand?"
Now, clad in Moon Goddess Armor, Erza had broken through the golden sphere and was closer to Nord than ever before.
She could even see her own reflection in his mismatched purple and blue eyes.
Her hand finally reached him.
(Now that I've gotten close to him, what should I do?)
Before the battle, this question had weighed on Erza's mind.
The Moon Goddess had only told her that awakening Noel depended on her heart but never explained how.
This uncertainty had made Erza hesitant, even afraid to waste this one and only chance.
But the moment she touched him, she suddenly understood.
She didn't need to think.
She didn't need to plan.
She just had to call out to him—
With all the emotions in her heart.
"Please... wake up!! NOEL!!!"
Tears streaming down her face, Erza tightly embraced Noel, crying out his name.
Whoosh!
The purple radiance of the Moon Goddess Armor surged brilliantly.
As Erza shouted, the violet glow of her armor transformed into countless shimmering streams of energy, flowing endlessly into Noel's body.
"You understand now, Erza Scarlet. Only through the most sincere call from your heart can your soul truly connect with this boy's. Only then can the power within the armor be transmitted into him…"
From within the Moon Goddess Armor, the residual soul of the Moon Goddess let out a gentle, satisfied chuckle before gradually fading into silence.
Only a faint, wistful sigh remained:
"Thank you, Erza Scarlet. I hope… this child can find happiness. Back then, I… couldn't save Claude… He resembles him so much. Well, that makes sense. After all, he is the descendant of Claude and me. Call it guilt, call it hypocrisy… but even if it's just a little… I want to do whatever I can to help him."
Inside the Moon Goddess Armor, the Moon Goddess figure gradually blurred—until it completely vanished.
-----------------
"...Is this… the power of humans?"
Nord, still held tightly in Erza's embrace, felt the purple energy infused with deep soul power continuously pouring into his body, merging with the part of him that was still "himself."
A complicated expression crossed his face.
"The other me… I think I understand now. That bet we made—when you were severely wounded, I thought I had won. But now… looking at this…
I lost.
I lost to you, my other self."
Suddenly, a brilliant violet light erupted, enveloping both Nord and Erza.
The radiance was so dazzling—no one could bear to look directly at it.
--------------
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