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"Oh, Natsu is really thoughtless. Why does he keep aiming for the face?"
"Gray too, always going for the lower body. What has Noah been teaching him...?"
"But Jellal is still amazing. He managed to get up after being pinned down and hammered with several punches by Elfman in his Beast Soul form."
"To be able to hold his own against so many attackers, he truly is your twin brother, Jellal. It's a pity he went down the wrong path."
Makarov, watching the show, spoke with a half-smile, his words containing mockery, regret, and a hint of probing.
But Jellal acted as if he hadn't heard, saying with a touch of guilt on his face, "I cannot deny that. My brother and I were separated when we were young, but I never expected him to be brainwashed by dark forces and bear a grudge against me."
"Before, he even used our resemblance as twin brothers to deliberately kill members of the Custody Enforcement Unit, attempting to frame me as one of them."
With that, Jellal sighed, seemingly pained by his brother's current state.
But were his true thoughts really so?
Makarov sneered inwardly. Did he really think I couldn't recognize a Thought Projection?
"By the way, Siegrain, besides Jellal, do you have any other brothers? Like that white-haired guy stirring up trouble down there?"
Glancing at Noah, who was acting as a spectator outside the battlefield, Jellal shook his head slightly. "Guild Master Makarov is joking. I only have one twin brother, and that is Jellal."
"Oh, Noah's older brother is also named Jellal. I thought you three looked somewhat alike, but it seems I was mistaken."
Jellal didn't respond. He was incredibly anxious inside.
In the Magic World, there is a special duplication Magic called Thought Projection.
It visualizes the body's intent and consciousness through Magic, forming an individual identical to the body and possessing a certain degree of the body's strength. The specific amount depends on how much Magic the body is willing to transfer to create the Thought Projection.
Creating a Thought Projection requires absolute control over one's own Magic.
Of course, a Thought Projection can also be completed with the help of some Magic tools, but such a Thought Projection only has less than one-tenth of the body's strength. Magic Councilors love to use such Thought Projections to attend meetings in their place.
And the current Siegrain is a Thought Projection.
Watching his true self fall into a disadvantage, Jellal couldn't help but feel a hint of unease.
Originally, visiting Makarov was to keep an eye on him, so that even if something went wrong with his true self killing the Custody Enforcement Unit's undercover agent, no one could stop his true self from leaving.
But he didn't expect that when his true self was killing Angke at the inn, Noah suddenly appeared, and then Fairy Tail was drawn in.
Then, the appearance of Haki caused the situation for his true self, whose strength was already incomplete due to using Thought Projection, to take a sharp turn for the worse.
At this moment, his clone was being watched by Makarov.
Damn it, Ultear, what are you doing? Why aren't you making a move?
Jellal called out the name of his female subordinate, or rather, his partner, in his mind.
Ultear is also a powerful Mage. She infiltrated the Magic Council with Jellal, disguised as a wise but weak and powerless worker.
Her Magic is powerful and special. Even under Makarov's nose, there was a high chance she could rescue his true self without exposing herself.
However, Jellal didn't know that Ultear wasn't unwilling to act, but unable to act.
In a hidden alley not far from the inn, which happened to offer a clear view of the battlefield, a long-haired woman in a white Council uniform dress was blocked by a short-haired young man in a Council Custody Enforcement Unit uniform.
"Lady Ultear, that is a battlefield. It would be best for a weak woman like you not to go there."
"Oh, by the way, allow me to introduce myself. I am the Deputy Captain of the Custody Enforcement Unit, Doranbalt."
The short-haired young man showed a faint smile. Thinking of the task entrusted to him by the respected short old man, he smiled even more happily.
Ultear forced a smile. She could sense the man's surging Magic. She probably couldn't take him down instantly. Forcing a move would only attract the attention of others and expose herself.
Jellal, it seems I can't help you.
At this moment, the battle in the arena could no longer be described as one-sided. Perhaps the word "punching bag" would be more appropriate to describe Jellal now.
A powerful enemy, but not powerful enough to reverse the situation—he was the best choice to test the results of their Magic training and Haki practice.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
"Ice-Make: Death Scythe!"
Fire and ice, one above and one below, attacked Jellal with clear division of labor. A scorching Fire Fist went straight for Jellal's face, while the other sent a chill down his crotch.
"You annoying flies, get out of my way!"
A burst of Magic erupted from his body, but the next second, Beast Soul's iron fist and the giant bear's slap forced Jellal to abandon his Magic and dodge.
The tacit cooperation of ten people made Jellal incredibly frustrated.
As soon as he showed any sign of bursting out, fists covered in Armament Haki would instantly strike from all directions, making him wary.
"Jellal, surrender."
Although Erza was verbally urging him to surrender, the Purgatory Serrated Blade in her hand mercilessly cut a collapse into the ground.
Knowing Jellal's personality, Erza didn't hold out much hope for his surrender. Ultimately, the problem would still have to be solved by force.
"That cut missed, didn't it? Is Erza holding back? You can't go easy just because you have a past with the enemy."
"I want to see rivers of blood!"
The bloodthirsty spectator Noah's remark made Lucy realize that one of the few normal people in this guild was actually not normal either.
The blonde girl couldn't help but hesitate, wondering whether to summon a Celestial Spirit companion to protect herself—not for anything else, but just out of fear of friendly fire from her teammates.
"Noah, that person is also named Jellal. Is he the older brother you are looking for?" Lisanna walked over. She still remembered Noah's initial identity claim.
Lucy had also heard about this and suspected that the Jellal currently getting beaten was Noah's older brother.
But would anyone really cheer while their own brother was getting beaten?
Lisanna's innocent gaze and Lucy's questioning look made Noah notice them. He waved his hand casually. "Don't worry, even though it's the same name and he resembles me a bit."
"But this Jellal is not the older brother I am looking for."
Lucy asked, "How can you be so sure? After all, you've been separated for a long time."
Noah raised an eyebrow slightly, looking back at the blue-haired figure in the battlefield whose movements had slowed. "It's precisely because this Jellal has such powerful Magic that he cannot be my older brother."
After speaking, Noah remained silent, carefully observing every movement of everyone in the battlefield.
The Mage's grand battle—although it was a fight of many against few—was still a rare and spectacular sight.
Unfortunately, before the battle at the inn, he had given all his snacks to Cheese, which made Noah, as a spectator, feel a slight sense of incompleteness.
Fortunately, the battle was coming to an end.
Facing continuous attacks and struggling to cope, Jellal eventually ran out of strength. After being accidentally struck in the back by Erza's broad sword, he quickly succumbed to Gray's Ice-Make: Ice Prison.
Outnumbered, he ultimately fell due to exhaustion.
Although Jellal wouldn't have lasted much longer even if he had more stamina to fight, his power was undeniable.