Near the casino bar.
"Whoa!"
A figure tumbled out of Juvia's body.
"Ahem!" Gray took a few sips of water.
"Cough, what happened? It suddenly went pitch black, and then it felt like I was in water."
"No, you were inside Juvia's body."
Gray was startled by Juvia's words. Juvia continued, "To avoid being detected by the enemy, Juvia protected Gray-sama by enveloping him in a water current."
"That's overdoing it! Didn't that just give the enemy a chance to escape? Where's that guy Natsu?" Gray looked around, knowing Natsu was just over by the roulette wheel.
Suddenly, a violent flame erupted from a distance.
"Boom!!" The decorations hanging above were destroyed.
"Ow, that hurts! I—!!" Natsu leapt up, clutching his throat.
"Natsu!!
"Who puts bullets in other people's mouths when retreating?! Ha?! It hurts a lot!! I might be seriously injured!!"
Gray grumbled, "Normal people would have been dead by now... In the guild, Kyros has the most terrifying physical endurance, followed by Natsu. Dragon Slayer Magic transforms a human's physique into a dragon's."
"That cube bastard!! I won't let you off—!!"
Natsu yelled, running to the other side of the casino.
"Chase him! That guy's nose is sharper than a beast's!" Gray immediately ran after Natsu.
Soon, Natsu reached the poker and stud area of the casino.
"Boom!"
The door was smashed open by Natsu, and his figure appeared in front of everyone.
"I found you! Cube bastard!"
Natsu's eyes immediately locked onto Wally.
"It's you?! You're still alive?!" Wally was taken aback. He had shot the other person in the throat; how could the other side still be alive?
"You bastard! Give me 'Happy' back!"
"Boom!"
Natsu stepped forward, his body quickly rushing in front of Wally.
With flames burning on his fists, he punched Wally in the face.
Wally had no time to react.
"Boom!"
"Ughhhhh!"
Wally screamed and was knocked out.
Gray also arrived with Natsu at this time. Seeing Simon, his face changed, and his hands began to use Ice Make magic.
"Ice-Make: Lancers!"
Ice javelins shot towards Simon and the others, but a figure appeared in front of Simon – it was Erza.
Gray's face changed when he saw her, and he immediately stopped the magic.
"Kick-kick!" However, a few ice lances still shot towards Erza, and she endured them all without making a sound.
"Erza, what are you doing?!" Gray was puzzled by Erza's behavior. Even Natsu, who wanted to continue fighting, stopped to look at Erza.
"They were all my former comrades. Please, don't kill them. This is a debt I owe them."
"Former comrades?!" Gray and Natsu were both stunned. They wereenemies; how could they be former comrades?
Kyros looked at Erza and said, "Erza, please explain. What's going on? Those people were your former comrades, but we're your current comrades. When the current comrades get hurt by the former ones, it's hard to feel at ease."
"Just say anything. You know I'll help you, no matter what it is."
Erza's body trembled at Kyros's words, and she slowly began to tell her story.
It happened more than ten years ago. A group of dark mages broke into the peaceful little village where Erza lived.
They captured everyone and sent them to an isolated island to work as slaves, building the Tower of Heaven. Erza was one of those captured.
Lucy couldn't help but cover her mouth in shock when she heard this. Natsu and Gray were also visibly shaken. Slaves—what a cruel fate. They couldn't believe Erza had such a painful past.
On that island, Erza formed bonds with a few others. They supported and relied on each other to survive in that harsh environment.
But the conditions were too brutal; some couldn't hold on and died, and anyone who yearned for freedom couldn't bear to continue living that way.
So they planned to escape. But the plan failed. Erza was caught and tortured, losing her right eye in the process.
A young man named Jellal bravely killed three of their captors and came to rescue Erza, but he was also found and tortured.
To set an example and prevent the slaves from reigniting thoughts of escape, the oppressors chose not to kill Jellal immediately, but instead captured Erza.
In her pain and despair, Erza decided to lead the resistance. She raised her arms, rallying the slaves to fight for their freedom. Inspired by her courage, everyone took up arms and fought back.
However, the formidable magic soldiers of the dark guild appeared. Their magical prowess was far beyond what ordinary people could handle, forcing the slaves to retreat.
An elderly man who had been caring for Erza and teaching her magic sacrificed his life to protect her. In extreme pain and anger, Erza's latent magical power was unleashed.
Erza controlled all the available weapons and defeated the magic soldiers. Seeing Erza's triumph, the slaves regained their courage and resumed their resistance, ultimately overthrowing the Dark Cult.
But everything changed when Erza confronted Jellal. The once good-hearted Jellal turned evil. He not only took control of the Tower of Heaven but also vowed to resurrect Zeref.
Jellal, now possessing incredible magical power, defeated Erza and drove her away.
He threatened her, warning that if she ever revealed the truth, he would kill everyone. He vowed that if Erza came near again, he would kill, starting with physical torment, ensuring she lived forever with the guilt of betraying her companions.
"Boom!"
In a fit of rage, Kyros's Conqueror's Haki exploded, shattering the ground beneath him. Natsu's eyes burned with fury, and though Gray remained calm, his fists were clenched tightly.
Millianna and Wally were confused and shocked. The truth Erza revealed was completely different from what they had known.
Suddenly, a voice filled with suppressed anger echoed: "You lie!! You're lying! The truth is not at all what you say!!"