Chapter One: Rift of Time

Year X792

"To summarize what you just said, we somehow have to push Acnologia into the Time Rift right when your force it open." Jellal summarized. "And until that happens, someone needs to keep him occupied."

Anna hesitantly nodded. The recent development that took place wasn't within her expectations. The Time Rift suddenly closing down on them after Acnologia simply passing through it was unexpected. It were as if someone gained control over the 'concept' and now can willingly open or close the rift.

"How much time do you need to open the rift?" Rades, the brown-haired male plopped nearby inquired, barely holding himself together inside the Christina Airship.

Since the Motion Sickness Lacrima had been destroyed in order to keep the Black Dragon away from the airship, it was getting diffcult for both him and Wendy to not get all nauseous and feel like throwing up any moment. Due to her low tolerance, Wendy had fainted in Erza;s lap. Gently, the redhead placed her down against a wall.

"I have no clue." Anna worriedly responded, trying her best to sense presence of the Time Rift. "I don't know how but it is being controlled by someone else which is why I am having difficulty in opening it."

"So we have no exact estimate for how much time we need to stall Acnologia." The fromer Wizard Saint mumbled, taking a look outside the window. The Black Dragon was speeding up to them and some parts of Christina had already taken damage. "His long-ranged attacks can finish us any moment."

"I-I will go." Grabbing onto the walls for balance, Rades stood up straight on his feet, slowly dragging himself towards the elevator. "Fighting that jerk head-on will be much better than fighting this losing battle against motion sickness."

"I will go with you." Jellal pressed. "Two is better than one when facing off against someone like Acnologia."

"Your attacks are useless. You saw that beforehand." Rades glanced back at the blue-haired mage. There wasn;'t a tinge of hesitation in his eyes, nor did he seem afraid. He was more than ready to take the Black Dragon head-on with no regard to his own life. "And you still want to do this?"

"I am fully aware that my magic is useless against him." Jellal admitted. "But I can still support you out there. When it comes to speed I am faster than you."

"Do whatever you want." Rades knew there was no point in trying to stop Jellal from facing against the Dragon of Destruction. When it comes to stubboness and being adamant, none can surpass the Heavenly Body Mage. When his mind is made up about something, there is no turning back.

"Jellal, Brother.." Erza mumbled. Even if she tried to stop any of them, it will be in vain. All she can do right now is believe in their strengths and pray that Anna will be able to reopen the Time Rift before Acnologia does any more damage. 'Let this be our last battle.'

She still wants to know more about her mother and father whom she never saw in her life. She never knew she had a sibling to begin with. The truth was hidden from her all this time. She wanted to know more about that woman who claimed to end their lives but then took her own life with the sword, even when she had the chance to finish off Erza. This indeed showed how much she loved her kids and as a mother she could not harm her own children.

With this battle against Acnologia being done with, maybe she finally have the leisure to know about her long lost family from the only surviving member. "Please come back alive, both of you.."

Both the males appeared on the roof of the airship, their eyes fixated on their adversary soaring in the skies. Draconic scales and blue flame patterns begin appearing on Rades's skin with his hair slowly turning into a deep azure color, matching with that of his flames. Tapping into his Dragon Force was a good move since they would be fighting against Acnologia and holding back is the last mistake one can do while facing off against him. Even if it's distracting the Black Dragon and buying time, it is necessary to give it their all.

"Hey blueberry.." Rades called out, earning an annoyed grunt from said blueberry. The latter disliked being called by that name and Rades simply used the name more and more just to push his buttons. "Don't die on me, not like I am letting you die on my watch. And don't keep my sister waiting for too long.."

Despite the Purgatory Dragon Slayer calling him out with that name, Jellal could feel the sincerity of the request in his tone. He had always known there are people who care for him and would even cry for him, get angry for his sake. So throwing his life away is the last thing he would do. He is unsure whether Erza has forgiven him for all the crimes he committed or not because he himself has yet to forgive himself. The guilt always ate him alive despite being the fact that he committed all those crimes under mind control. It never changed the fact that it was him committing all the atrocities.

"She has forgiven you long ago.." The brown-haired male added. Bright azure flames appeared from his back before taking shape of a pair of wings. "All that is left to do is for you to finally forgive yourself and live a free life without your guilty conscience nagging you."

Freedom.

Something all the captives and slaves of the Tower of Heaven yearned for all their lives. The members of Oracion Seis were finally free and they chose to enter in this battle against Zeref and Alvarez forces with their own free will. Even he joined this battle of his free will and this time there wasn't a need to hide his face.

"Meteor." A smile curved up on the lips of the dark green-eyed wizard as his body was surrounding with a cloak of bright golden light. Maybe not for his own sake, but he can definitely live his life for her sake.

Both took off at the same time quickly reaching up to Acnologia and begin circling around him. From the get-go, the two appeared as mere flies when compared to Black Dragon. They flew zigzaggingly around him before Jellal rammed on his neck. Right when he struck, Acnologia began feasting on his magic.

"I told you before. I have no magic type.." He proudly stated.

"I know that.." Jellal coolly responded, not appearing much affected by his magic being suck. Compared to others, he apparently had a larger magic pool, something that made him unique among the Wizard Saints. "And I also know 'his' attacks are the only ones that affect you.."

"Purgatory Dragon Blazing Talon!"

Acnologia was not even halfway done with eating Jellal's magic power when a flame-packed kick landed on his cheek and send him flying backwards. The former doctor knew who this attack belonged to all very well. It just had to be 'her' son. He didn't know the exact reason why but both mother and son's attacks worked on him despite him being immune to all magic-type.

Other dragon slayers couldn't scratch him but those two very could. He even had the potential to land a solid hit on him. He needed to take care of her son on priority basis. Other things didn't matter that much.

Amplifying whatever magic power he had absorbed from Heavenly Body Mage with his own magic power, he charged a powerful roar before firing at the former prince who moved away from the line of attack at breakneck speed. Acnologia didn't stop there and continued the attack, splitting the ocean into two with just one attack.

"Lesson learned..." Rades gulped at the sight of the split ocean in front of him. "Don't give him magic power meals."

"We were naive.." Jellal flew beside the Dragon Slayer. "We thought we could buy time by dodging his attacks. Dodging isn't going to cut it. He will destroy every bit of land in just one or two attacks.."

"The land? Not quite.." Acnologia responded. "I am going to destroy it all. Destroy everything. That's what the Dragon of Destruction is.."

"Keh...who said we are dodging.." Pressing his right fist on his left palm, the brown-haired male declared. "I am going to keep pounding my attacks onto him as long as it takes for Anna to open the rift. Might as well finish him off in the process if I am lucky enough.."

With this declaration, he dashed right in without any fear, his entire body being covered in blue flames before the flames took the shape of a large spear. The dragon in return flew back, reading another roar attack, when he was hit by an uppercut on his underjaw, followed with an ignited kick on his torso.

'I don't have a clue how but my attacks have an effect on him...so I will keep on pounding him more with it..' Making distance between them before Acnologia could slice him with his claw, Rades took a deep breath charging his own roar. He released a humongous breath of bright azure flames, the attack being more powerful due to Dragon Force being active.

The Black Dragon in counter charged an equally powerful dark purple roar of magic. The attacks clashed midair, sending shockwaves throughout the skies. From the resulting smokescreen, a blue blur whizzed past before Acnologia felt a kick right on his head.

'Something's wrong..' Acnologia thought to himself, attempting another swipe with his claws. The results were similar as before, Rades easily dodged them. 'Last time we fought his attacks didn't affect me as much as this..'

His mind went back to the fight they had a year ago, right after he dealt with the Fire Dragon King, Igneel. At that time, Rades's attacks did little to no damage like all other attacks. Something's different this time. The only attacks that affected him were---

'That witch! She must have cast some kind of spell to aid her son!'

That was the only logical explanation here. Her attacks were able to affect him and she must have cast a similar spell on her son. She was powerful enough to change the shape of an entire continent and also send him to the other side of the world in just one attack. Something of this caliber isn't impossible for her.

"Did you think increasing your size would make you any stronger or give you an advantage?" Rades mocked. "Nah that just made you more bigger of a target. You might have had more chance in your human form.."

Their aerial fighting and the exchange of attacks continued. Jellal supported the Dragon Slayer by attacking Acnologia's blind spots whenever he was dealing with Rades's continuous onslaught of attacks. With his superior speed, it was difficult for Acnologia to deal with both of them at the same time.

The rift began forming again in the middle of the sky. Slowly it begin expanding, it's appearance akin to a wormhole.

"There it is!" Both the men cheered, a wave of hope washing over them. Now the only thing to do was to push Acnologia into the rift and it will all be over. "Let's do it!"

Cloaking themselves in their respective magic and giving their maximum output, they both rammed onto the Black Dragon and begin pushing him towards the rift. As they neared the rift little by little, Acnologia started feasting on both their magic. Humans have their limit and same goes for the magic they wield. If he robs them of their magic, these two will be done for. And once he is done dealing with Scarlet Despair's son, there won't be anyone left to oppose him.

'Just a little more..' Jellal felt his magic being sucked out of him and knew very well that he won't last much longer in this state. He needs to end this quick. 'Just a little more and with this I will be able to keep Erza safe--!'

Right when they neared the rift, Rades punched the Heavenly Body Mage straight into the ocean below.

"Now it's just you and me Acnologia!" He declared with a big grin on his face. Finally Acnologia's back touched the rift and he felt himself being pulled in with a tremendous force. "Let's dance together in hell!"

Giving it his all, Rades was able to push Acnologia inside the Rift and ended up being sucked in himself. He knew this was inevitable. When the prospect of pushing the Black Dragon into the rift was brought up after the erratic opening and closing of the rift, it was evident that one of them would have to sacrifice themselves in order to push him inside it. Which was more the reason, he pushed Jellal out of the way.

"BROTHER!!" Cries of agony and sadness filled the air as the rift disappeared into nothingness.