Chapter 107: Chapter 107: The Sixth Cat's Ambush
"Adamantine Barrier!"
The two massive shields fused together, forming a green magical barrier that completely enveloped Erza.
The storm drill, capable of piercing through small mountains, clashed with the Adamantine Barrier but was stopped as if it had hit an insurmountable wall. Its power diminished with each passing second.
"How is it this strong?"
Watching his most powerful attack fail to achieve its intended effect, Erigor gritted his teeth. His eyes darted as he conceived a new plan.
The prolonged battle had taught him that he was no match for the Titania of the Fairy Tail guild. Despite giving his all, she remained unphased. Continuing the fight would only lead to his defeat.
But defeating Erza was not his true goal; reclaiming the cursed flute and heading to the council's meeting in the northern city to play the Death Requiem was.
He only needed to restrain Erza for a moment to retrieve the cursed flute from that insignificant cat and escape to complete his mission.
"Magical Wind Barrier!"
Drawing most of his remaining magic, he cast a spell directed at Erza.
This wasn't an offensive or defensive spell but one designed to entrap the enemy. Using violently rotating winds to create a barrier, even stronger wizards would struggle to break free in a short amount of time.
But as he executed the spell and exhausted his magic, he let his guard down for a fraction of a second—a moment long enough for a transparent blade to strike from his blind spot.
"Sectumsempra!"
George, ever the opportunist, seized the chance to unleash his spell from behind Erigor.
Although Erigor was skilled in assassination and highly attuned to danger, his depleted magic and exhaustion dulled his reactions. Sensing the danger too late, he attempted to activate his Storm Robe, but his drained magic betrayed him. Turning to identify the threat, he saw nothing.
Before he could comprehend what had happened, his head separated from his body.
"I… can't believe I was killed by…"
"Serves you right for being so cocky," George muttered, a cold smirk forming on his face as he watched Erigor's lifeless body fall.
Though revenge is often said to be best served cold, George was no noble soul; he preferred his vengeance immediate.
With Erigor's death, the Magical Wind Barrier dissipated. Erza emerged, now clad in her usual armor.
She glanced at Erigor's headless corpse and sighed. "You were a worthy opponent, but you chose the wrong path."
Turning to George, she nodded in approval. "That spell was executed brilliantly."
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
"Ice-Make: Lancer!"
On the other side of the battlefield, Natsu and Gray unleashed wide-ranging magical attacks, quickly defeating the remaining members of Eisenwald and ending the conflict.
Meanwhile, the royal army, alerted by reports from citizens, rushed to the scene. The council members, who were in the middle of their meeting, also arrived to find a street filled with defeated Eisenwald wizards and a quarter of the southern district reduced to rubble.
Though the destruction wasn't city-wide, most buildings in the affected area were reduced to ruins.
"It's fine, it's fine… George can repair it," muttered Makarov, gasping for air as he tried to console himself.
Without George's restoration abilities, the sight alone might have been enough to send the old man into a fit.
"What an excellent staff body. The magic energy coursing through it is immense. If made into a wand, it would be extraordinary."
After eliminating Erigor, George examined the cursed flute in his hand. Retrieving a small knife from his bag, he planned to cut off a piece of the flute's wood to craft a new wand.
His plan was simple: if questioned, he'd claim the flute sustained damage during the chaotic battle.
After all, it was George who had retrieved the cursed flute from Erigor, making it his spoils of war.
Even if the council demanded its return, presenting the damaged flute would suffice.
However, just as he was about to carve into the flute, its skull-shaped headpiece with three eyes emitted a sinister purple glow.
A malevolent voice echoed from the flute: "How laughable—so many pathetic wizards. Enough. I'll handle this myself. The souls of everyone in this city are mine!"
A massive magic circle large enough to envelop half the city appeared above the flute. Before George could react, the flute vanished from his grasp.
From the magic circle, a three-eyed demon over 100 meters tall slowly emerged, standing imposingly before everyone.
"So the cursed flute's true form is a demon," Erza murmured as she and Natsu joined George.
George discreetly pocketed his knife. He hadn't expected the flute to transform into a demon—much less one of such size and ominous power.
"Fear not this creature! For the glory of the kingdom—archers, fire! Cavalry, charge!"
The royal army, unfazed by the sight of the massive demon, sounded the charge. Arrows rained down, and heavily armored knights brandished their lances, charging along the city streets.
"Pitiful mortals dare to attack me? Then I'll claim your souls first!"
The arrows bounced harmlessly off the demon's skin, like pebbles against a fortress wall.
Turning to the approaching army, the demon opened its maw, unleashing a colossal blast of magical energy.
George estimated the attack's strength to be at least ten times greater than Erigor's strongest move. If it hit, thousands of soldiers would be obliterated in an instant.
"This is bad. Gray!"
Recognizing the danger, Erza grabbed Gray and hurled him with all her might toward the demon and the charging army.
Using Erza's immense strength, Gray rocketed between the demon and the soldiers, landing just in time.
"Ice-Make: Shield!"
A massive ice shield materialized in Gray's hands, blocking the demon's magic blast, albeit temporarily.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
At the same time, Natsu, with his fist cloaked in dragon fire, leaped an incredible height, landing a powerful punch on the demon's face.
The impact staggered the three-eyed demon, forcing it to halt its attack.
"Requip: Heaven's Wheel Armor!"
Erza, the strongest among them, didn't remain idle. Her armor shifted once more, transforming into an ethereal set adorned with four angelic, steel wings—both beautiful and deadly.