The other party had already requested a duel of swordsmanship—Kaien had no reason to decline.
"Full Take Over: Yoriichi Tsugikuni!"
Kaien's body began to shift rapidly, transitioning from Gojo's form to the legendary Sword God.
Ikaruga's eyes lit up with awe.
"So this… is the Sword God, Yoriichi Tsugikuni..."
Even though she knew full well it was still Kaien, the stark difference in his form and aura made it feel like another person entirely. Just by standing there, he exuded the presence of a master swordsman who had reached the absolute peak.
"Thank you for accepting my request!"
"No need to thank me," Kaien said flatly. "But I won't be holding back."
Unlike Gojo's playful personality, Kaien took on Yoriichi's composed and serious demeanor during the transformation. Each Take Over subtly pulled his character in the direction of the soul it embodied.
"I wouldn't want you to!" Ikaruga replied with equal seriousness.
"Then, allow me to begin!"
"No Moon Style: Sword Flash!"
Ikaruga drew her katana and unleashed a blazing arc of energy that shot toward Kaien.
Clang!
Kaien unsheathed his blade in a smooth, fluid motion, cutting the sword flash down midair.
"No Moon Style: Multiple Sword Flashes!!"
One after another, Ikaruga fired rapid slashes—crescent arcs slicing through the air at high speed.
Kaien remained calm and elegant, deflecting each of them with perfect, effortless timing.
"Amazing... as expected of the man known as the Sword God."
Seeing her attacks deflected so cleanly, Ikaruga couldn't help but feel shaken.
"Then try this!"
"No Moon Style: Garuda Flame!!"
She channeled magic into her blade and launched a ferocious fire-infused slash.
"Sun Breathing, First Form: Dance!"
Kaien responded in kind, a fiery slash roaring from his blade to meet hers.
BOOM—!!
The two fire slashes collided midair and exploded into a violent conflagration.
"Sword Flash!!"
Using the explosion as cover, Ikaruga fired another slash and darted forward behind it, aiming for a fatal strike.
"Die!"
"No Moon Style: Yasha Flash!"
"Sun Breathing, Fourth Form: Fake Rainbow!"
Her blade sliced through Kaien's body—
—but there was no resistance. No impact.
"What?!"
Ikaruga gasped. She hadn't felt the sensation of striking a real body. Kaien's form in front of her shimmered and faded like mist.
"A shadow? Where's the real one?!"
She turned back—no one. Looked left and right—empty.
"Sun Breathing, Tenth Form: Beneficent Radiance!"
She heard Kaien's voice from above.
Her heart dropped. She looked up—and saw a spiraling sunfire slash descending from the sky like a divine judgment.
Squelch—!!
"Aaaghhhh!!"
Ikaruga screamed as searing pain tore through her body. Multiple deep gashes appeared, each one laced with blazing fire that seared her flesh like an open furnace.
Thud!
She crashed to the ground, blood soaking her once-white kimono.
"B... Beautiful..." she murmured weakly. "So this… is the Sword God's blade..."
"I actually… lost... Ever since joining the guild, this is the first time."
"But… neither you nor Jellal will win. In 15 minutes, a divine light will fall from the sky—one that will erase everything..."
Kaien reverted from his Take Over and said quietly:
"No. I will win."
His voice was calm. Unshaken. Certain.
And with that unwavering tone, even those who heard him couldn't help but believe.
Ikaruga stared up at him with widened eyes—then gave a faint smile.
"Then… may victory find you…"
With that final blessing, she exhaled—and her body went still.
This had not been a spar like with Erza.
This… had been war.
Ikaruga's swordsmanship was excellent—but Yoriichi was greater. Especially when empowered by Transparent World, the same technique that even allowed him to fatally strike Muzan. Against someone like Ikaruga, the outcome was inevitable.
[ ERA – Magic Council Headquarters ]
"Target locked. Adjusting spatial coordinates."
"Due to the mountain region's frequency interference, coordinate locking is unstable."
"Raise the altitude further."
"Magic Fill Rate: 70%… Etherion attribute fusion complete… Countdown to firing: 15 minutes."
One hour ago, Siegrain had successfully persuaded the majority of the Council members to approve the firing of Etherion—on the grounds that Jellal intended to resurrect Zeref, the Black Wizard.
Zeref—the terror of an era. Even after four hundred years, his legend lingered across the continent. If a man like that were to return, the world would plunge into ruin.
Org stared solemnly at the Etherion core.
"To think something like this would happen while the Chairman is unwell..."
Michello sighed.
"It couldn't be helped. With the Chairman absent, all decisions fall to us nine members. Don't worry, Org. This isn't a military act—it falls under Article 27, Section 4 of the Continental Emergency Law."
But Org's hands still trembled.
"I'm not worried about the law… I'm worried we're about to drop a demon onto a country."
Michello responded, "You mean Zeref? If we're going to slay a demon, we can only pray what we're dropping... is an angel."
—
Elsewhere on the council balcony, Siegrain stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching Etherion gather power.
"So… it's finally happening. Master Siegrain, the moment you've waited eight years for is finally within reach."
Ultear approached from behind, voice gentle.
"Aren't you afraid, Ultear?"
"Not in the slightest. I've always trusted you."
Siegrain chuckled.
"Of course you're not scared. After all… you're not the one at risk of dying."
"That's right. Hehe."
"Me, though… yeah, I'm a little afraid. If this fails, I'll die."
"But even if it costs me my life... it will be worth it—for my dream."
[Tower of Heaven – Top Floor]
"…So Ikaruga is down as well."
Jellal narrowed his eyes, watching the monitor.
"As expected of Kaien Blaze—the man who defeated a Wizard Saint. Even the Trinity Raven couldn't stop him."
"But what a surprise… I never thought you'd be the first to reach me, Erza."
A familiar voice answered him coldly:
"Well, you only have yourself to blame, Jellal. You sent all your elite fighters after Kaien. That gave me a shortcut to get here."
"Jellal… why?!" she shouted.
"We trusted you! Why would you betray us like this?!"
Beside her, Hugh stared at Jellal, his chest twisting with grief.
He had always admired Jellal—idolized him, even. He had been their spiritual pillar, someone they believed in when they had nothing else.
But now… he realized that foundation had been nothing but a lie.
A cruel, masterfully crafted lie.
"You're asking why, Huh?" Jellal sneered.
"Because you were all just so easy to manipulate."
"But don't get me wrong—I'm grateful. Thanks to all of you, this massive project was completed in just eight years..."