Chapter 55: Ch 55 : Lie
Looking at Jellal, whose throat was pinned by her sword, Erza spoke:
"R-System was never actually completed, was it? Over these past eight years, I haven't been idle. I've conducted some investigations on R-System. While its structure and principles match the original design, there is a crucial missing component..."
"I already told you—I'll use you as the sacrifice..."
"Before that, there's one more problem—the missing component is... magic power." Erza watched as Jellal's expression changed and continued, "To activate such an enormous magic spell, an immense amount of magic power is required. Even if you gathered all the wizards on the continent, it might still not be enough. Human magic alone is out of the question, and even this tower could never store such an overwhelming amount of magic. Moreover, you knew about the Council's attack and yet didn't attempt to escape. What are you really thinking?"
"There are only three minutes left until Etherion falls..."
Looking at Jellal before her, Erza raised her voice, "Jellal, your dream has long since collapsed. Are you really willing to just die like this? Is that your true wish?"
"Ah... that's not so bad either." Upon hearing Erza's words, Jellal showed a relieved expression. "My body was possessed by Zeref's spirit. I lost all control. I'm nothing more than a puppet created to bring Zeref back to life."
"Possessed...?"
"I can't save myself. No one among my former comrades can save me either. That so-called paradise, that so-called freedom... they never existed. Everything ended before it even began. I knew R-System couldn't be completed, but Zeref's spirit wouldn't let me stop. I lost all power to resist. I'm like a broken train that can't stop. Erza, you've won. Finish this. That's why you came here, isn't it?"
A hint of hesitation flashed across Erza's heart.
She withdrew her sword from Jellal's throat and said, "There's no need for me to do anything. The satellite magic array has already been deployed in the sky. It's over. For both you and me... all of us..."