Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 365: Evan: “Wisdom, When Have You Ever Seen Me?”

”What… is this thing?!”

Maybe those outside the ring didnʼt fully grasp it, but Troy, standing face-to-face with Mirajane, could feel it clearly. The ominous aura that enveloped her entire body was overwhelming.

”This is basically a demon! That Mirajane whoʼs called an angel in the Edolas world… is such a terrifying existence in Earth Land?!”

Troy was stunned, his voice shaking with disbelief.

”Ara~”

”I have such a cute nickname like ʼangelʼ in Edolas?”

”What a shame. In Earth Land, I donʼt have anything that sweet.”

”In Earth Land… they call me the Demon Woman!!”

Upon hearing about her nickname in Edolas, Mirajane let out a slight smile, but then her gaze sharpened, her eyes turning fierce. The killing intent radiating from her, the same bloodlust that once earned Mard Geer the name ”Absolute Demon” in Tartaros, fell squarely on Troy.

”Ugh…” That overwhelming murderous aura sent shivers down Troyʼs spine. He instinctively turned toward the artificial plant beasts developed by Wisdom and issued a command, ”Attack! Crush her!!”

At his order, the beasts lunged toward Mirajane.

”Thorns.”

Still standing calmly in place, Mirajane extended her finger and elegantly pointed toward the charging monsters.

”BOOM!!”

Suddenly, a deafening rumble echoed from beneath the arena. Enormous thorny vines erupted from the ground, surging toward the plant beasts and sweeping through them like a tidal wave.

”BOOM!!”

Though the summoned plant beasts were classified as A-rank and incredibly powerful, they were nothing in the face of Mard Geerʼs Curse of Thorns.

Even more so, Mirajaneʼs use of this curse wasnʼt hindered in the slightest by Edolasʼs low magic environment, she was operating at full power.

In the blink of an eye, the massive thorns, thick enough for people to run across, annihilated every single beast on the field!

And it wasnʼt over.

The thorns surged straight toward Troy, wrapping around him and lifting him into the air, suspending him upside-down.

”What was it you were trying to do to me just now, boy?”

Perhaps influenced by her transformation into Mard Geer, Mirajaneʼs tone also took on a cold, demonic edge. She stared Troy down and questioned him.

”…”

Troy looked back at her in pure terror, he had already lost the courage to speak.

”Then letʼs tie you up nicely~”

With a cold expression, Mirajane activated her Thorn Curse again. Thick vines coiled around Troy, and countless tiny tendrils split off, wrapping him in a disturbingly artistic fashion.

A few minutes later…

”…”

Troyʼs mouth hung open, eyes rolled back. He had completely lost consciousness.

”Looks like thatʼs enough.”

Seeing this, Mirajane stopped her magic and lowered Troy gently to the ground.

”Winner, Mirajane!”

Mystogan immediately declared her victory.

”Phew~”

Mirajane exhaled and released her Take Over spell.

She reverted to her usual delinquent queen persona.

”Almost fainted from the strain… The Demon Soul is still too much for me.”

Mirajane admitted, still catching her breath. Maintaining Mard Geerʼs soul took a tremendous toll. She could unleash monstrous power for a short burst, but only for about ten minutes. It couldnʼt be sustained.

Still, ten minutes was more than enough to take down most opponents.

”Mirajaneʼs really mastered an incredible spell… Looks like weʼve got to step up too.”

Behind Evan, Erza and Laxus exchanged a look. Even they would struggle facing Mirajane while she wielded Mard Geerʼs soul.

During those ten minutes, their best option would probably be to dodge and find an opening.

”Next time I fight her, I canʼt hold back. Iʼll have to bring out my exclusive weapon, Iron Dragon Gajeel.”

Erza nodded seriously. Mirajane was an opponent worthy of her best.

”Looks like itʼs time to ask the old man to teach me that magic.”

Laxus had reached his own conclusion. He needed a trump-card-level spell too, something strong enough to go out in a blaze of glory if Mirajane ever transformed again.

Right now, both Erza and Laxus had their sights fixed solely on Mirajane. As for Troy, who had just been crushed by her…

It wasnʼt personal, they just didnʼt see the Edolas crew as worthy rivals.

Perhaps if Mystogan himself stepped forward to represent Edolas Fairy Tail, they might actually feel some anticipation…

After all, Mystogan was a genius when it came to holder-type magic. The same equipment wielded by him was far more potent than in the hands of others.

Even though magic items had fixed upper limits, their true effectiveness depended on things like timing, angle, and accuracy, all of which varied greatly based on the user.

Only someone from Fairy Tail could defeat Fairy Tail.

”Keh keh keh… Wisdom, another loss for you~”

”Lose one more, and itʼs over…”

Evan chuckled from his couch, grinning like a proper villain.

”So what if Iʼve lost two?”

”If I win the next three, Iʼll completely turn the tables!”

Wisdom answered confidently.

”Youʼre awfully cocky, Wisdom.”

To Evan, that confidence was nothing but ignorance, Wisdom didnʼt realize how outclassed he was.

”Give up now, Wisdom! If you surrender, Iʼll call this match a draw.”

”Because as long as Iʼm here, youʼll never defeat Earth Landʼs Fairy Tail!”

Evan gave a generous smile, as always, kind and humble, never boastful, just stating facts.

”Hmph!”

Wisdom snorted coldly at Evan, anger in his eyes.

”Brother, let me fight the next one! Iʼll bring victory to Edolas!”

Erza Wisdom, sensing the danger, turned to Wisdom and offered.

”Evan, leave the next round to me! Iʼll deal with that woman whoʼs only good at stealing someone elseʼs brother~”

Erza Belserion smiled sweetly at Evan, her voice tender as she made a throat-slashing gesture.

”Hehe…”

In the next second, both Erzas turned to face one another, and the moment their eyes met, both of them smiled.

Yes, Erza Wisdom had lied earlier. She wasnʼt fighting for Edolas or Fairy Tailʼs honor.

She just wanted to eliminate her counterpart so she could have Evan all to herself.

As for Earth Landʼs Erza, she simply wanted to eliminate the woman trying to seduce her ”big brother.” After all, her mother Irene had taught her that all scum… must die.

”BOOM!!”

”ZZZZZ…”

As their eyes locked, electricity seemed to crackle in the air between them, sending shivers through everyone nearby.

”No need for you to step in, Erza. Iʼll finish this game myself.”

Evan gently stopped Belserion as she stepped forward. Smiling, he looked across the stage at Wisdom.

”Hahaha! Erza, you heard him!”

”Just like that muscle-headed fool said…”

”Let your big brother handle this. Protecting a little sister is what big brothers are for.”

Wisdom stood up slowly from his wheelchair, eyes locked onto Evan, burning with murderous intent, for stealing the place in his sisterʼs heart that he once held.

If looks could kill, Evan wouldʼve been vaporized a million times already…

”Brother…”

Both versions of Erza looked at their respective ”big brother,” softly calling out to them.

But Evan and Wisdom, without hesitation, walked onto the stage.

”Your eyes donʼt hurt anymore?”

As soon as they stood face-to-face, Evan asked warmly, pretending to be genuinely concerned.

”No matter how much they hurt, itʼs still less than the pain in my heart.”

”Youʼll never understand my suffering, Evan!”

”You, loved so deeply by others, stealing the affection that shouldʼve been mine so easily, how could you possibly understand me?!”

Wisdom gently pressed a hand against his chest, his brow furrowed as he looked at Evan.

Why was it that they were both Erzaʼs older brother, yet he, Wisdom, was the one unloved?

Wisdom searched for an answer he could never find.

”Heh…”

Evan merely chuckled with disdain.

To him, it was a simple matter. If those words had come from someone like the Magic King August, he might have felt moved or even pained…

But from Wisdom?

He just scoffed.

The reason was simple, Wisdom was the type of scumbag who flirted with every beautiful girl he saw. A guy like that didnʼt deserve love~

”Go ahead and make your move. Because once I do, you wonʼt have another chance.”

Evan raised a hand and pointed at Wisdom, then gave a small beckoning gesture, his demeanor the picture of a peerless master.

”Youʼre far too arrogant, Evan. That arrogance will be your downfall!”

Wisdom sneered coldly, filled with confidence in his masterpiece. He believed his latest creation had already surpassed Evan.

”Hmph~”

Evan merely shook his head, not bothering to argue.

”BZZZZT!”

Just then, as Evan shook his head, Wisdom acted. A massive magic circle lit up beneath his wheelchair, the center etched with a terrifying dragonʼs head.

”BOOM!”

In an instant, mechanical parts began emerging from the array, slowly wrapping around Wisdom, like golden metal gaining sentience, swallowing him whole.

Next, that living metal let out a mechanical roar and began transforming. First, it grew colossal wings that blotted out the sun. Then, powerful limbs extended, biomechanically perfect, both elegant and deadly. Clawed talons gleamed, sharp and dangerous.

A long tail unfurled behind it, lined with diamond-shaped bone spurs, another deadly weapon.

Finally, a ferocious dragonʼs head formed, its maw brimming with razor-sharp fangs that glinted ominously.

This metal monsterʼs sole purpose seemed to be, slaughter, destruction, and annihilation.

”Look closely, Evan!”

”This is the upgraded version of my Super Metal Dragon Knight PLUS, now itʼs the PRO version!”

”After more than a hundred refinements, itʼs now far stronger than the original. It can even rival a true dragon!”

”I poured all of Edolasʼs resources into creating this weapon specifically to defeat you! Even you, Evan, must be afraid seeing this, this is the power of magic! The power of magi-technology!”

”With this mech, I can face you head-on. Before your magic runs out, you might not even be able to defeat me! This time… I wonʼt lose so easily.”

Inside the Super Metal Dragon Knight PRO, Wisdom looked down at Evan and proudly introduced his ultimate weapon.

He had calculated this based on Evanʼs punch that had once obliterated his prototype.

Now, after two massive upgrades, this mech could finally face Evan on even ground, if only briefly.

This mech was Wisdomʼs ultimate creation, meant to restore his lost dignity as Erza Wisdomʼs brother.

In Wisdomʼs mind, Erza only admired Earth Land Evan because he was strong. If he could prove himself stronger, better… then maybe he could win her heart back.

But Evan… could only shake his head.

Wisdom didnʼt understand human emotions.

”My full power? When have you ever seen my full power?”

”I donʼt recall ever using it against you.”

Evan cracked his neck, bones popping, and looked at Wisdom calmly.

”What…?”

Wisdom froze.

”You mean when you destroyed the original mech, and even when you fought Selene in Elentear, you still werenʼt using full power?! Thatʼs impossible…”

Wisdomʼs pupils contracted. He couldnʼt believe it. Heʼd spent countless sleepless nights analyzing Evanʼs every move, factoring in terrain boosts, energy fluctuations, and yet…

”If you really want to see my full strength… then open your eyes wide and donʼt blink.”

Evanʼs voice remained composed.

If Wisdom had brought this new mech out a year ago, before Evan had absorbed the Dragonʼs Tear, maybe it wouldʼve been a tough fight.

But now?

There was a massive gap between who Evan was then and who he was now.

”BOOM!!”

As Evan began gathering his power, all the magic across Edolas surged toward him like a tide. It was as though the very essence of the world was being summoned, drawn into him.

Magic energy spiraled around him, forming a vortex clearly visible to the naked eye.

”The sky… itʼs changing color…”

Outside the battlefield, the mages of Edolas Fairy Tail stood frozen. Under the swirling torrent of magic, Evan looked like a walking god, divine and untouchable.

”Still not enough.”

Even after draining nearly every speck of mana for miles, Evan shook his head.

Edolasʼs magic levels were still too weak, insufficient for a true full-power attack.

”If Edolas doesnʼt have enough magic… then bring it in from another world!”

Suddenly, Evan opened his eyes wide and looked skyward.

”BZZZT~”

Ripples shot through space. Above his head, a massive spatial gate opened, its destination, the magic-rich world of Elentear.

From beyond the rift, endless mana poured into Edolas.

The pressure was so immense, the world itself began to wail.

”The world is cracking apart!!”

Down below, Edolas Fairy Tail mages stared in awe. Words failed them.

He had pierced the boundaries of worlds, connected dimensions with sheer will, something normally requiring massive machines and advanced subspatial soul magic.

Evan had done it alone. And faster. And stronger.

”Evan… have you really reached that level?”

Wisdomʼs eyes went wide. This scene, this overwhelming power, reminded him of his first crushing defeat.

The one who gave him that defeat had been the beautiful, haughty, divine being known as the Moon Dragon God, Selene.

And now, Evan… looked just like her.

”Azure Dragon, Fist of Collapse!”

Evan didnʼt answer. Instead, he launched a single punch.

That punch tore the heavens apart.

”So itʼs true… Youʼve really reached that realm. Iʼm so jealous of you…”

Wisdomʼs voice trembled as he watched the destructive force approaching. He realized he might never surpass Evan, not in this life.

”BOOOOM!!”

As Evanʼs punch landed, the world shook violently. Clouds roared and the earth cracked.

From space, it looked as if someone had split the planet right down the middle.