Chapter 205: Erza’s Clear-Heart Clothing

At that moment, the Owlman spewed dragon-slaying flames while Gray countered with his Ice Make magic. The two clashed, fire against ice, in a fierce magical duel. Nearby, Simon, one of Erza's childhood friends, was injured and kneeling, while Happy fluttered in distress.

"Simon, what’s going on? Weren’t you chasing Sho and Erza? And Happy, where’s Natsu?" Lucy exclaimed in shock, her gaze locked on the Owlman, who was using dragon-slaying magic. His hair resembled Natsu's, adding to her confusion. "But how does he have Natsu’s magic—and that head?"

"Lucy, Natsu was swallowed by that owl monster!" Happy cried, his little wings flapping anxiously.

Simon clutched his side, clearly in pain, as he explained, "That’s not Natsu. He’s Owl, one of the Three Crows of the Skull Guild, an S-class wizard. His terrifying ability allows him to devour enemies and gain their magical powers."

"Just ten more minutes, and I’ll completely digest the Fire Dragon Slayer. His power will be mine!" Owl cackled, suppressing Gray with his fiery attacks.

George was about to intervene, but Juvia, unable to watch Gray struggle, charged forward, yelling, "Gray-sama, I’ll help you! Water Slicer!" Sharp streams of water shot toward Owl, forcing him to evade quickly.

Juvia’s water attack was no joke. As an S-class mage, her water blades could slice through solid rock with ease. Taking advantage of Owl’s distraction, Gray launched his counterattack.

"Ice Make: Cannon Avalanche!" A massive, snow-like force burst from Gray’s ice cannon, slamming Owl into several walls. The powerful attack left Owl dazed, and he promptly vomited up Natsu, who rolled onto the floor groaning but intact.

The combination of two S-class wizards, Gray’s ice and Juvia’s water, proved overwhelmingly effective. Their synergy was devastating.

"Gray’s Ice Make is something worth learning," George mused silently. He’d recently crafted a new wand in his Marvel universe, integrating Yggdrasil with the Frost Giant King’s heart. With its unique ice-enhancing properties, mastering Ice Make would give him a formidable arsenal, capable of unleashing avalanche-level destruction.

"Magical Spirit Cannon will fire in ten minutes," George announced, refocusing on the mission. He quickly issued orders. "Lucy, take Simon and gather Erza’s friends. Get out of the tower and wait on the ocean outside. Happy, grab Natsu and follow me. We’re going to find Erza."

Simon’s injuries left him unable to fight, and Lucy’s Celestial Spirit magic would be most effective on water, making this plan the most efficient. With the team divided, George led Gray, Juvia, and a groggy Natsu toward the tower’s upper levels.

Following his Tracking Charm, George and his group reached a near-top level of the tower.

"This should be it," George said, pointing with his wand.

"Exploding Lightning!" Another blast echoed through the tower as George cleared the wall in front of them. The destructive spell proved its worth once again, effortlessly punching through the tower's fortified magical barriers.

Inside was a massive open space, with a single bridge connecting to the top floor. Standing guard on the bridge was Ikaruga, the strongest of the Three Crows. She wore a cherry blossom-patterned kimono and wielded a crimson magical katana.

However, George, Gray, and Natsu’s initial reaction wasn’t focused on her. It was on Erza.

They had entered just in time to see her purgatory armor shatter under Ikaruga's blade. For a brief moment, Erza stood exposed, only to immediately summon a new outfit—a simple bandeau and dual swords.

"Erza, need a hand?" George asked as the group landed behind her. Ikaruga's strength was clearly formidable if she could destroy Erza’s enchanted armor.

"George," Erza greeted him with a nod. "No, this fight is mine. To defeat someone of her caliber, defense is meaningless. Only by unleashing my full strength in offense can I prevail. Let’s settle this in one strike!"

With a burst of magical energy, Erza charged Ikaruga, her twin swords gleaming. Ikaruga responded, her katana meeting Erza’s attack in a whirlwind of sparks. Though their clash appeared fleeting, it encompassed over a hundred exchanges in mere moments.

"You’re truly remarkable, Titania Erza," Ikaruga muttered as her blade shattered. A heartbeat later, she collapsed, defeated by Erza's relentless offensive.

"Erza, there are only eight minutes left before the Magical Spirit Cannon fires. We need to leave," George urged as he approached.

"I’m staying," Erza replied, her tone firm. "George, you take them and go. I need to confront Jellal and understand why he’s done this. Trust me, I’ll stop him before it’s too late."

George could see the unyielding resolve in her eyes. She wasn’t going to leave, even if it meant sacrificing herself. Realizing this, he sighed internally and gestured to Natsu and the others to remain silent.

As Erza turned toward the bridge, George’s wand flicked subtly in her direction.

"Stupefy!"