Just as the final sigil materialized, a chilling laugh pierced the air. "Did you truly believe I would allow my own pupil to use my teachings against me?" Jellal's eyes widened as his spell unraveled before him. A forceful blow sent him reeling, and as he regained his footing, he faced Zero, whose grin exuded wicked amusement. "How ironic," Zero mused. "You seek to obliterate Nirvana, yet it is through you that its true power shall be unleashed." The ground beneath them quaked. From the depths of the forest, an ominous black pillar of light surged skyward, tendrils of dark magic spiraling around it. This was Nirvana's initial stage: a formidable force capable of inverting the moral compasses of those ensnared between its light and darkness, turning righteous intentions malevolent and vice versa. Jellal's heart pounded as he witnessed the ancient city's resurrection—a colossal, mobile structure designed to traverse and sow discord. Memories or not, he recognized the catastrophic potential of such power. "Behold, Jellal!" Zero proclaimed, his voice a blend of triumph and madness. "Witness as the world succumbs to Nirvana's embrace!" Summoning his magic, Jellal's body became enveloped in a radiant aura. His past transgressions were inconsequential now; what mattered was the present and the imperative to halt the impending devastation. "Nirvana will not be your salvation," Jellal declared, his voice resolute. "I will ensure of it." With a derisive sneer, Zero retorted, "Then come, show me the strength of your conviction." The atmosphere grew dense with anticipation as the two mages squared off, the fate of countless lives teetering in the balance. The air between them crackled with power before Zero struck first. A shockwave erupted as he vanished in an instant, reappearing mid-air above Jellal, his hand outstretched. "Dark Capriccio!" A spiraling blast of black energy crashed toward Jellal. Reacting on instinct, Jellal thrust his palm forward. "Heavenly Body Magic: Grand Chariot!" Beams of light carved through the sky, colliding with Zero's attack in a brilliant explosion that tore through the clearing. Jellal lunged through the smoke, twisting his body in mid-air. "Meteor!" His speed became a blur, vanishing and reappearing around Zero in rapid bursts, striking him with lightning-fast blows. Zero staggered, his coat whipping from the force, but his grin never faltered. "Predictable." The ground beneath Jellal ruptured as Dark Gravity surged upward, the sheer force launching him skyward. Before he could recover, Zero blurred into motion, materializing above him with a manic glint in his eyes. "Dark Rondo!" A sphere of twisting black energy expanded and then detonated in a massive shockwave. Jellal crashed into the earth, the impact leaving a crater beneath him. He gritted his teeth, pushing himself up as Zero landed gracefully nearby, completely unfazed. "Why do you fight so hard?" Zero mused, stepping closer. "You of all people should embrace Nirvana." Jellal's breath came heavy, but he still glared up at the madman. "I will not let this power be used for destruction." Zero chuckled. "Destruction? No, no, no. Transformation." Suddenly, the air grew thick. The pulse of Nirvana's magic intensified, and Jellal's mind began to waver. Images flooded his consciousness—shadows of his past creeping in. He saw the faces of those he had wronged, the atrocities he had committed under a twisted ideology. "You…" a familiar voice whispered. "You hurt so many people." His hands trembled. His breath hitched. Zero's grin widened as he sensed the shift. "Yes… that's right. Nirvana exposes the truth. You don't deserve to fight for justice." The hesitation was enough. Zero struck. "Dark Gravity!" Jellal was sent sprawling once more, his body refusing to respond as guilt and doubt clawed at his heart. "It hurts, doesn't it?" Zero taunted, advancing. "The weight of your sins crushing your body, just as it should. And yet… you still dare to act righteous?" Jellal clenched his fists, but his body wouldn't move as swiftly. Nirvana was sinking its claws into him, dragging him into the past. Zero raised a hand. "Disappear." A final, monstrous surge of darkness swirled around him, ready to engulf Jellal whole. Zero's smirk faltered as his dark energy was abruptly halted, his malevolent spell siphoned away like water into an endless abyss. His eyes narrowed at the figure standing before him—Naruto Uzumaki, palm outstretched, absorbing the force of the attack with an effortless calm. Naruto clenched his fist, dispersing the remnants of the dark magic. His expression was unreadable, but his blue eyes burned with unwavering resolve. Behind him, Erza and Wendy rushed toward the fallen Jellal. "Jellal?" Erza called, her voice uncertain yet laced with concern. "Jellal!" Wendy echoed, her smaller frame kneeling beside him, her hands already glowing with healing magic. At the sight of his former enemy, Ichiya and the Trimen tensed but said nothing, watching Erza's reaction. Natsu and Happy stood beside them, both weary yet alert. Naruto exhaled sharply, shaking his head before glancing at Erza. "You guys seem to know him." He then gestured toward Jellal before turning his gaze back to Zero. "Go." His voice was firm, carrying the weight of authority. Erza hesitated, her hand tightening around the hilt of her sword. "Naruto—" "I have some things to talk about with this guy," Naruto cut her off, his expression hardening. He locked eyes with Zero, the tension thick in the air. "You guys handle that thing." He jerked his thumb toward Nirvana, its massive structure humming ominously in the distance. There was a moment of silence. Then, with a nod, Erza relented. "Be careful." With that, she, Wendy, and the others took off toward Nirvana, leaving Naruto standing alone with Zero. "Don't lose again, Naruto." Carla followed the rest, earning a resigned smirk from Naruto. Before giving a thumbs up as the allied guild ran around towards Nirvana. Zero's face twisted in fury. "How?! How did you escape the Stygian Lacrima?!" Naruto tilted his head, eyeing the madman with a raised brow. "Stygian Lacrima?" His mind quickly pieced it together. He must mean that dark crystal prison that Fake Pervy Sage used on me. A scoff left his lips. "Hmph, you guys really did a number on me." His expression darkened, fists clenching at his sides. "Tell me… how the hell did you even get that kind of vital information on me?" His voice was sharp, demanding.
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