Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
There were about thirty survivors from the Tower of Heaven. Even with Simon and his three companions, the total didn't reach forty.
Although they were provided with food and lodging, a group of elderly people and growing children were subjected to high-intensity physical labor for seven years, painstakingly constructing the Tower of Heaven.
Most importantly, there were no wages!
Only a dubious promise, "Darkness will bring freedom," was used to manipulate these already pitiable people.
That's why black-hearted bosses should be beaten to death and hung from a lamppost!
Since Noah and his group arrived with only a small sailboat, it couldn't carry so many people. This is where the utility of a Molding Mage became apparent.
Especially since Gray was a Molding Mage who specialized in ice.
The return journey was not short, and maintaining a complex ice ship would consume a lot of Magic Power. So, Gray chose to mold a simple but sturdy large ice floe, to be towed by the sailboat.
However, the soldiers guarding the Tower of Heaven didn't receive such good treatment.
Erza simply released Natsu with a stern face. Before she even began to threaten them, the leading soldier immediately knelt and confessed their origins.
The soldiers were sent by the Dark Guild Oración Seis to assist Jellal. Their main job was to guard the Tower of Heaven and prevent anyone from escaping.
Noah didn't expect to hear the name Oración Seis here.
Oración Seis had been a super dark horse among the Dark Guilds in recent years, developing rapidly and rising to become one of the three giants of the Dark Guilds. They even showed signs of catching up to the strongest Dark Guild, Grimoire Heart.
As for whether Jellal was cooperating with Oración Seis or if he was a member of Oración Seis, that was not something a low-ranking soldier from a Dark Guild could answer.
However, a Mage with full Ten Wizard Saints-level power would undoubtedly be a desirable figure to recruit within the dark forces, and his status could not possibly be low.
The soldier couldn't answer, but Ikaruga provided some information.
Jellal had a close relationship with Oración Seis's Guild Master, Brain. Their assassination squad, Trinity Raven, only exceptionally accepted this non-assassination mission due to Brain's influence.
Listening to the information provided by Ikaruga, Erza thought of the kind boy who once encouraged and supported her, now fallen into darkness... truly, fate is capricious.
Natsu and his group also embarked on their return journey, but Noah and Erza did not leave with them, choosing to stay on the island temporarily.
Because the Magic Council had fired Etherion at the Tower of Heaven, directly causing Jellal's plan to revive the Black Mage to rapidly advance, this meant the situation at the Magic Council had spiraled out of control.
Perhaps due to Jellal's Thought Projection, Siegrain, meddling, Jellal had very likely already escaped from the Magic Council headquarters, and his destination was obvious.
Noah planned to wait on the island for half a day. If Jellal came, he would naturally beat him up to vent Erza's anger.
If Jellal didn't return, then it would be next time for sure.
Erza's reason for staying was also simple: she wanted to settle everything with Jellal.
Natsu and Gray originally wanted to stay, as they didn't want to miss a fight. However, if Jellal really returned, there would undoubtedly be a major battle on the island, and so many innocent people would likely be caught in the crossfire.
So Erza sent Natsu and Gray back. Lucy and the three small animals naturally followed obediently.
Less than half a day later, as Noah and Erza were eating grilled fish and singing, a ship flying the Magic Council's flag suddenly rushed onto the island.
Two figures, one in black and one in white, disembarked onto the island. The newcomers were not Magic Councilors, or rather, they had recently abandoned that identity.
They were Jellal in black robes and Ultear in white.
Jellal, who had dispelled his Thought Projection and regained his full power, looked in dismay at the empty island.
Wait, where did my huge tower go?!
Jellal had originally intended to quickly return to control the Tower of Heaven, deal with and sacrifice Erza and her group, but with the Tower of Heaven gone, how could he revive the Black Mage?
Years of effort vanished in an instant, and his rage nearly made Jellal lose his mind, but fortunately, he had a calm Ultear by his side.
"Jellal, don't be angry."
"Aren't there still two guests left?"
Hearing this, Jellal could only force himself to calm down, shifting his gaze to the white-haired young man and red-haired young woman leisurely grilling fish over a campfire nearby.
Undoubtedly, the disappearance of the Tower of Heaven was related to them.
Noah naturally noticed Jellal and spoke irritably. "Staring so wide-eyed, do you think your eyeballs are attractive?"
"What did you do to the Tower of Heaven?"
Jellal stepped forward, his voice low, trying to control the raging impulse within him.
"Oh, you mean that tower."
"Seeing as no one wanted it, I sent it to another world."
Noah's casual reply instantly ignited Jellal's fury.
Sent to another world? Doesn't that mean it was destroyed?!
Jellal didn't know that parallel worlds existed, nor did he know that Noah was telling the truth. His veins bulged, and he felt as though he had never been so angry in his life.
"You bastard, how dare you touch my property! I'll make you pay!"
Noah sneered, as if he had heard something ridiculous. "Your property? In the seven years Erza was forced to leave by your threats, I don't believe you personally laid a single brick or tile for the Tower of Heaven."
"Ultimately, you, Jellal, are just another oppressor."
"Deceiving and exploiting the elderly and children, brainwashing them with pyramid schemes, and not even paying them wages—how is your behavior any different from the Black Magic Cult that enslaved you back then?!"
Erza's expression was slightly odd. Noah's righteous speech wasn't entirely accurate.
Because Jellal had indeed participated in the construction of the Tower of Heaven, but at that time, he was still a gentle young boy with normal values.
Moreover, regarding the treatment of laborers, the later Jellal was much better than the Black Magic Cult. Although he deceived them and didn't pay wages, at least he ensured they were well-fed and rested. For those with magical talent, like Simon and his three companions, Jellal even allowed them to learn Magic.
However, as Noah said, Jellal completely treated his former companions as tools, and in this aspect, he was no better than the Black Magic Cult.
"Jellal, stop this."
Facing Erza's plea to surrender, Jellal at this moment had no desire to dwell on these matters. The tower was gone, but the grudge for his ruined efforts still needed to be avenged.
He needed an outlet for his anger.
Jellal took a deep breath, calming himself slightly, but his eyes, still filled with rage, fixated on Noah. He gritted his teeth and spoke. "Prepare to die and repent in hell."
As soon as he finished speaking, several magical celestial bodies, like sharp blades, were unleashed from Jellal's hands.
Erza acted a step before Noah. Requipping into her Heaven's Wheel Armor, she drew her sword against her former companion who had fallen into darkness. "Your opponent is me, Jellal!"
The young man fallen into darkness and the young woman like a sword-winged angel began their fated battle.
Since Erza had taken on Jellal, Noah could only switch his target to the other person. "Good and evil cannot coexist. Even though you are a beauty, I will not hold back."
"Not a gentleman at all, are we?"
Ultear smiled. "But seeing as you're a handsome man, I'll go easy on you."
"If that's the case, then come on."
"Alright."