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Chapter 251 - Chapter 251: Crimson Bride

Royal Capital of Edolas.

On this originally peaceful day, the city's residents had imagined spending their time leisurely as always, enjoying good food and cheerful songs.

But before the day could end, a group of fierce bandits suddenly stormed into the city!

These Mages charged into the streets without looting or killing.

Instead, they made a desperate rush toward the royal palace, acting as if some great treasure was calling to them.

The Kingdom Army captains, who were deeply revered by the citizens, had now appeared one after another to stop these palace-storming invaders.

However...

Captain Sugarboy was entangled with a half-naked man, entirely unable to support the others.

Captain Hughes was being chased around like a frightened rodent by a flaming beast.

And Captain Erza Knightwalker, acknowledged by the nation as the absolute strongest, was now locked in an incredibly difficult battle.

"Twin Ice-Fire Spears!"

Erza Knightwalker's Ten Commandments Spear suddenly split into two—one burning with raging flames, the other emitting a freezing cold.

She thrust them toward Earthland Erza from both sides.

With a loud shout, Erza, clad in her damage-boosting Black Wing Armor, manifested weapons from both her Flame Empress Armor and Sea Empress Armor.

She met Knightwalker's assault with equal ferocity.

The two battled madly across the sky, standing on the back of a giant Legion beast, their clashing Magic Power occasionally illuminating the entire sky.

Various elements collided wildly as the contest between the two Erzas continuously escalated.

The usage rate and intensity of their Magic kept increasing as both Erzas constantly switched between their various elemental armors and weapon forms.

What began as adapting to each other's combat rhythm soon became purely about proving their superiority.

When they found their Magic equally matched, they immediately shifted to competing in raw physical combat techniques.

The endless collisions of cold steel enhanced by Magic left both of their bodies with similarly severe wounds.

Boom—!

After a fierce exchange between the two war machines, the Legion beast could no longer endure the relentless bombardment from these two powerhouses.

It crashed heavily into a corner of the city.

The two finally separated.

Erza's armor was in tatters as she gasped for breath. Staring intently at the Knightwalker before her, she spoke in a low voice:

"So, it is a draw...?"

"A draw? Do not be ridiculous."

Though Knightwalker's dashing military uniform had been reduced to tattered rags, her expression remained arrogantly confident.

Leaning on the Ten Commandments Spear, she stood up as the weapon once again emitted a dazzling radiance.

The spear underwent another transformation, this time taking on a form never seen before.

The spearhead was embedded with glowing gemstones, extending the blade into a cross-like shape that emitted a soul-piercing, cold gleam.

"Ten Commandments Spear: Ravelt! This is the ultimate weapon, forged through the painstaking efforts of the greatest master craftsmen in the Edolas world!"

Knightwalker held the spear behind her back, gritting her teeth as she coldly declared.

"You come to our world and wreak havoc everywhere. Now you will taste the bitter reality of defeat!"

Erza summoned her fighting spirit, her eyes blazing with anger as she roared back.

"And who was it that dragged us into this world?! Who recklessly uses the Mages from our homeland as mere energy sources?!"

"Knightwalker! With your contempt and oppression of the weak, your disregard and harm toward life—do you even possess the heart of a true soldier?!"

"As someone who shares the name Erza, I am ashamed to bear the same title as you!"

Hearing Erza's hateful and disgusted rebuke, Knightwalker tightened her grip on the spear.

Her eyes turned crimson as she screamed hysterically:

"What do you know?! Do you understand the despair of living in a world where Magic is about to completely disappear?! Here, only Magic can provide us with security and happiness, and now even that is fading away!"

"SHUT UP!"

Before Knightwalker could finish, Erza angrily interrupted her.

After shouting that word, Erza lowered her head, breathing heavily as she silently gathered her emotions.

In her bright eyes, she saw the reflection of the nearly insane 'version of herself' standing opposite.

Looking at her, Erza seemed to recall herself right after escaping from the Tower of Heaven—devoid of any sense of security, able to trust only in cold armor and sharp swords.

Even after gaining companions, she had remained trapped in a dilemma of constant worry and insecurity.

Fortunately, after going through so much, with the support and protection of her companions and brother, Erza was able to become the carefree, passionate, and powerful Fairy Queen.

If she hadn't met everyone in the guild, if she hadn't met her brother, perhaps she would have ended up exactly like this broken version of herself.

Erza's expression was complex.

She let out a long exhale, and then her beautiful features revealed a determined, peaceful expression.

"I will prove it to you—even without Magic, without armor, and without spears, we can still live happily in this world."

A faint, warm glow enveloped Erza's entire body, immediately putting Knightwalker on high alert.

But soon, a look of absolute shock appeared on Knightwalker's face.

Unlike the various heavy, powerful armors and weapons from before, what Erza wore this time was... an elegant wedding dress.

"Requip: Wedding Dress"

A pure white veil adorned her crimson hair, while the wedding dress, light as pale clouds, perfectly complemented the girl's translucent, fair skin.

Unlike other wedding dresses, beneath the delicate layers of tulle, a smooth cherry-red hue resembled a dreamlike, fluid gemstone.

It gradually transformed the entire ensemble into an even more captivating and breathtaking form.

Erza held a bouquet of brilliantly blooming flowers, an irresistible smile gracing her lips.

Looking at her now, who could possibly tell she had just endured a grueling, bloody battle?

"Fighting me in a wedding dress?! Have you lost your mind?!"

Knightwalker felt deeply insulted.

Her fury ignited as she summoned all the power of Ravelt.

With her crimson eyes blazing, she lunged forward, unleashing a devastating force capable of total annihilation.

"Die! Ravelt!!"

Watching Knightwalker unleash her ultimate attack, Erza's heart swelled with newfound clarity, completely free from the hostility and rage that had consumed her moments before.

"Only love is the true answer," Erza murmured softly.

The bouquet in her hand transformed abruptly, extending into a beautiful, gradient blade.

"Scarlet: Bride."

This was the sword-spirit weapon Ankh had forged and gifted to Erza—a weapon capable of evolving and strengthening, taking on whatever form its master truly desired.

Perhaps even Ankh hadn't anticipated that Erza, a natural combat prodigy, would manifest her exclusive weapon so swiftly.

But then again... this was Erza.

Her secret dream of marriage surpassed all others, so potent and pure that even the sword spirit was swiftly influenced!

Facing Knightwalker's spear strike, which carried enough destructive force to obliterate half the city, Erza raised the Bride's Sword.

Though her motion was gentle, it was resolute and unwavering as she swung.

Swish!

Their figures crossed paths, but instead of the expected cataclysmic explosion, a heavy silence fell over the ruins.

Knightwalker's eyes widened in disbelief as she watched her sacred spear shatter, dissolving into crimson petals that drifted beautifully through the air.

Soon after, her body weakened and collapsed.

Her eyes were filled with unwillingness as she fell heavily to the ground.

"Why... did I lose...?"

Erza, holding the bouquet with the retracted blade, smiled serenely and spoke softly.

"Erza, since you possess the exact same vulnerability and kindness that I have, you must also hold the love and tenderness I cherish."

"Make peace with yourself and the world. You have held that spear for far too long. It is time to shed your armor and don a wedding dress."

Hearing Erza's gentle words, Knightwalker, on the verge of losing consciousness, forced a faint smile and muttered.

"You... just how badly do you want to wear a wedding dress...?"

The battle ended with Knightwalker's defeat.

The streets returned to their usual tranquility, though the area lay in ruins—a harsh testament to their fierce conflict.

Fortunately, this wasn't a residential district.

Teased by her alternate self, Erza blushed deeply and quickly changed back into her everyday attire.

This equipment and weapon were Erza's most cherished companions, so precious she usually hesitated to use them in battle.

Had her opponent not been 'herself'...

Erza glanced around furtively.

'Surely no one saw me in that wedding dress, right?'

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