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Gwen – What happened? Wasn't Allen supposed to be on vacation and heading to the beach?!

MJ – Looks like they were attacked... I see, it must be that arc...

Rogue – But this is all wrong. Jellal Fernandes isn't supposed to appear at Akane Resort!

Nikky – No way... Erza's been kidnapped!

Unohana – Putting that aside... I'm worried about my husband's condition.

Eve – I can't even imagine what he's feeling right now. I wish I could be there with him.

Annie – At this rate, Allen might lose his mind—like when Gwen almost died.

Rick – If he snaps, he could lose Lucifer's portion of power in that world. Burps

Aphrodite – Who cares about that?! My beloved is in pain! That damn blue-haired brat—if I had your soul, I'd give you an eternity of suffering!!

Natasha – Allen, I know you can endure this… don't let hate consume you...

...

....

...

The last thing he saw were her eyes before she vanished—the eyes of the girl who had opened her heart to him not long ago, who had trusted him, who had given herself to him. That girl had been taken… right before his eyes.

Unable to contain himself, Allen's rage exploded outward, obliterating the entire front of the casino with a blast of magic.

He'd been played...

Jellal, fully aware of Allen's ability to teleport, had altered space to send him elsewhere. Maybe it was just to spite him. After all, from the beginning, Jellal had planned to use Erza's friends as hostages. With them threatened, she wouldn't be able to act—nor would Allen.

Of course, Allen had the option to abandon that group of strangers and focus on saving Erza. But he knew… if he did, even if Erza didn't hate him, she would hate herself for the rest of her life.

Break the curse? It was possible. But just like Jellal said, the curses he cast on Erza's former companions were imbued with Lucifer's power, which prevented Allen from removing them instantly. And if he tried, Jellal would likely kill them before Allen could free them.

So, Allen swallowed his rage and let Jellal get away with it... Let him take Erza right in front of him.

Lucy ran to Allen and clung to his arm. "It's okay! We'll get Erza back!"

Juvia did the same, grabbing onto him. "This isn't the end! We'll definitely make that guy pay! Juvia won't forgive anyone who hurts Allen-sama!"

Mirajane approached him and rested her forehead on his back. "Allen... I know it hurts, but you heard Erza. She's waiting for you. Don't lose hope..."

"Thank you..." Allen replied, calming the three girls. But his voice quickly dulled. "But that's enough…"

His voice came out with a breath of cold air.

He'd had enough. Lately, Allen had swallowed so much bitterness... and now he was done.

Uncontrollably, his hair turned jet black almost instantly. Without a second's delay, his irises were filled with blood.

Rage... fury... hatred... bloodlust...

Allen's heart was dyed in deep black. What was the point of becoming so strong, if he couldn't even protect his woman? Why had he come this far, only to remain powerless in a moment like this?

Was he just supposed to accept it?

To play along with the stupid game of some bastard?

To trust that if he played by Jellal's rules, Erza would still be safe by the time it was over?

No. The answer was clear. He wouldn't let some brat with a god complex control him. He wouldn't play his game—he'd destroy it. He'd get Erza back and give Jellal Fernandes the most miserable death imaginable.

Someone laughed...

Allen's vision began to darken as the distant voices of Lucy, Mirajane, and Juvia were drowned out by mad laughter. No... that laughter came from deeper—embedded in his soul.

....

Esdeath – This is bad! Wednesday, can't you get into Allen's soul like last time?!

Wednesday – I'm trying but something won't let me!

Artoria – I'm trying too but I can't!... I can't be by his side again!

Albedo – Damn it! Why can't I be of any help at a time like this?!

Makima – Once again we have to stay and watch... how disgusting!

2B – Master...

Rebecca – Damn that's why I hate spiritual things!

Jalter – There should be some way to help him.... damn it!

Kurumi – Silly man...

Bocchi – It can't be....

Nokotan – The owner will be fine, right?

Harley – He'll definitely be fine, he always is!... ha... he should be fine....

....

By the time Allen opened his eyes again... he was no longer in the real world.

Allen had lost himself to uncontrollable rage. After two defeats, after being humiliated, after being torn away from his loved ones, after being forced to face enemies wielding Lucifer's power while his own was reduced—Allen had reached his limit.

The only reason he didn't unleash his full power, tear through space, and rip Jellal's head off was because doing so would permanently lose him Lucifer's power in this world. Not knowing how much of it was still at stake meant he might never reach Lucifer's level again.

So Allen chose another path... one that also came with a cost.

It was a blank space—no walls, no ceiling, just a floor that stretched infinitely behind him.

An infinity of white color...

Allen walked forward in silence as a gentle breeze pushed against him, begging him to turn back. But he didn't heed its whispering plea and pressed on.

His gaze was void of emotion—yet filled with determination. In this world, Allen had learned weakness. Weakness forced upon him by Lucifer—or so he used to say. But that was an excuse. If Allen had been stronger than Lucifer, would he have been forced into this? Would he have had to gamble against the devil? Would he have accepted being torn from his family?

No.

All of this happened because he lacked the strength to face Lucifer. So now what? Erza had just been stolen from him—his woman taken right before his eyes. Was he going to let that happen again?! Was he going to allow it?!

No! Even if it meant drenching himself in blood, Allen wouldn't let it happen.

"I need more power!"

There was a tinge of melancholy in his eyes. He knew that once he did this, he could never return to Fairy Tail. No more fun days with that rowdy, wonderful group. No more smiles from people too kind for their own good. Allen knew... he didn't belong there. The number of lives he'd taken branded him as a heartless monster. And yet—he didn't regret it. He'd decided long ago never to regret his actions... no matter what others thought, no matter what he had to give up, or what he had to become.

He stopped. The breeze had grown stronger, tossing his silver-gray hair wildly. But his clear eyes didn't waver as he faced the end.

Before him, the white void gave way to a new place—one of endless black stretching across the horizon, divided by a boundary that separated light from darkness.

Allen stood at the edge, staring into the abyss.

"It's been a while…"

A laugh echoed from the shadows—one laced with mockery and amusement, but not surprise. As if it had expected this all along.

"Hahaha... You always do the same thing, Allen. When you can't handle something... when your power isn't enough... when you want the strength to do what must be done... when you just feel weak... YOU ALWAYS COME TO ME!"

From the darkness, a figure made of tar emerged, broken and barely able to hold its shape.

"..."

"You always come here... to this dark part of yourself... for power! You damn hypocrite! But it's okay. I forgive you. Even if God doesn't... even if the world condemns you... even if no one but me understands... I will always forgive you... and accept you. Because no matter the hatred and disgust I feel... we are the same... we are the same person"

Allen stared at the abominable creature before him—this monster—but he couldn't deny it. This was part of himself.

"You look awful," Allen said, eyes emotionless, but tinged with resignation.

"I look like you," the creature replied, smirking with shameless delight.

"..."

"What did you expect? That bastard Lucifer almost wiped me out. But it's impossible—no one but you can get rid of me. And the same goes for you."

They stared at each other.

"What are you waiting for?! Come to take all my power, your power! Just do it already! You must destroy that bastard! You must spread his body throughout the world! Make everyoughout the world! Make everyone understand what happens when someone messes with you! Let's slaughter anyone who dares question you!"

"..."

"What's with that face? Did you forget how you destroyed that civilization?! How did you kill Morlun in agonizing pain?! How you had no mercy for the Invincibles?! You've killed so many! That's who we are! That's who you chose to be when you accepted me, when you chose this path!"

"..."

"DON'T LOOK AT ME WITH THOSE EYES NOW! WE'RE NOT LIKE THEM. YOU'RE NOT LIKE THEM. YOU CAN NEVER WASH THE BLOOD FROM YOUR HANDS!"

"I know, Void... no—Allen."

This creature, Allen called Void, was never someone else. It was always him. Calling it Void was just hypocrisy—a way to pretend it was separate. Even after saying he'd accepted it, Allen still used the name "Void," just to avoid fully embracing the monster he'd become.

Allen closed his eyes and replayed the events of the day. He knew his Dolls would accept him no matter what—even if he was an arrogant bastard who killed without mercy. But the smiles, the faces of Lucy, Juvia, and Mirajane... those might disappear. Because the Allen they knew was someone without this.

In this world, someone like Allen isn't an ally. He's an enemy. And while he didn't know what enemies lay ahead... he was likely far worse than any of them. So how could he ask to sit among them again?

Impossible. But that's okay.

Allen extended his hand toward the monster. It grinned and reached out in return.

"That's right. Don't worry... that brat will regret ever taking your woman."

Allen's hand began to coat in tar...

...

Seated in front of a live stream screen, Lucifer narrowed his eyes with a hint of pity.

"So that's your decision, Allen? ...Surprisingly, we're not so different after all."

...

Allen closed his eyes as he felt a massive surge of magic within him. The magical restriction was still in place, but if Void's magical foundation merged with his own, it would be like doubling his strength.

No… this would go far beyond that.

"Allen…"

"…?"

Allen's eyes opened when he heard someone calling his name. His irises, which were slowly shifting from a light gray to a deep wine red, showed confusion. Right now, at this very moment, why would someone call to him? Who would it be?

"Don't do it…"

"Wh-?!"

It was a man's voice—kind, pleasant even—but carrying such an overwhelming presence that Allen could only compare it to Lucifer himself.

His first thought was The Presence, the God of the DC Universe… but why would such an entity interfere at this moment? It made no sense.

"Who are you?! Aahhh!" Void had to retreat as he was struck by an unbearable pain, like his very existence was being torn apart.

Allen turned to look behind him and saw the silhouette of a towering man clad in the most beautiful armor he had ever seen. Long silver hair cascaded down, and his entire presence seemed to contain a light of its own.

"Who are you?"

His face was dim, indistinguishable.

"Don't worry… I won't interfere with your path. I just wanted to lend you a hand…"

...

Lucifer hurled his wine glass against the wall.

"Michael?! That's impossible—he should be dead!"

Lucifer, the man who always seemed to know everything, clever and delighted by the spectacle of others, now had bloodshot eyes and veins bulging from his forehead.

This being—once the first conscious creation of The Presence—had a twin brother: Michael Demiurgos.

Before humanity, before Earth, before gods or cosmic entities or even the concept of existence itself, there were Lucifer and Michael. Each was the counterpart of the other, near-omnipotent, yet lacking what the other possessed.

Michael was gifted with the Demiurgic Power—the ability to create matter and energy from nothing. He was the architect of the multiverse. But he could not shape what he created.

Lucifer, on the other hand, was given the fire of Will, allowing him to shape creation and bend reality itself through infinite resolve.

Together, they forged the DC Universe—with "Universe" encompassing every possible cosmos, timeline, or dimensional branch under DC's existence. But Lucifer despised serving The Presence. He desired independence—a being beyond divine influence. So he rebelled… only to be defeated and exiled by Michael.

Much later, the archangel Sandalphon conspired to capture Michael—almost miraculously—with the intent of using his Demiurgic power to create more angels and overthrow The Presence, to become the absolute Omnipotent himself. Yet Lucifer, despite everything, couldn't allow such power in another's hands. So he "rescued" his brother only to drag him into an extra-dimensional space… and killed him, using his power to create his own cosmos.

Lucifer, a bead of sweat on his brow, looked at the image of his brother. "Back then… I feared your death would destroy all of creation… would provoke The Presence itself. I thought of reviving you—but I didn't. I kept your power sealed in my own cosmos… and unexpectedly, The Presence never intervened. Michael… I've regretted it ever since. Because despite everything, you were my brother—and I respected you…"

Lucifer sat back down and conjured a new wine glass with his hand. "I never wanted to be omnipotent. I thought The Presence would take back the Demiurgic power—but He never did. Maybe… as a reminder that I killed you for it…"

"Michael... there you are?"

...

In this place—where only Allen and those with a soul-deep connection, such as a Doll, could exist—how could anyone else be here?

Allen froze. He hadn't lost his original power—he'd simply chosen not to use it due to his wager with Lucifer. So, how could someone have entered his soul without him knowing it? Or… had they always been there?

"Don't worry… there's no need to fear me. It would be foolish to do so…"

The solemn entity smiled—free of malice or hostility. Yet his presence was so immense that Allen could barely breathe.

"I only came to give you a gift… We'll meet again someday… Allen."

Allen said nothing as the figure vanished, leaving behind only an iridescent feather that slowly descended into his hand—transforming into a thick, familiar greatsword.

"This is—?!"

"You can't leave me!"

Allen turned to see Void crawling on the floor, half his body already gone. The space around them had changed—the darkness nearly erased.

"I am you!"

"I know…" Allen smiled—not with hatred or disgust, but with calm acceptance, looking upon that twisted, grotesque thing. "From the beginning to the end, I never rejected you. But… for now, I'm okay without you."

Allen turned his back.

"You!! You'll come back! You always do! No matter how much you grow, no matter the world—you always come back to me because you're weak!!!"

But Allen didn't look back. He simply kept walking—further away, but never saying goodbye.

....

Allen opened his eyes—to find himself surrounded by three girls clinging to him, which made him smile.

"What's happening?"

"Allen?!"

"Allen-sama?!"

"Allen-kun, are you alright?!"

"I'm fine… I'm sorry for worrying you."

The three girls let out sighs of relief.

In the real world, they hadn't understood what was happening to Allen. After Erza had been taken, the entire place had shaken, filling them with a fleeting, terrifying sense of dread. But they didn't leave. Juvia, Lucy, and Mirajane had held on to Allen as if he might vanish forever.

"Well then…"

The girls released him, and Allen took a few steps forward. In that moment, his hoodie began to glow—stretching, shifting into a long mantle. His hair became gray again, no, almost white, and his eyes became clear and even more beautiful, containing the brightness of the universe. Moreover, the spell had disappeared showing his true face.

Allen stopped and looked back with a smile. "What's wrong? We need to hurry, right?"

Something had changed. The fatigue had vanished from his face, the shadows gone from his eyes. His smile—simple and warm—made the girls' hearts skip a beat. Still smiling, Allen looked into the distance.

"It's time to bring Erza back…"

"You… are you the same guy from before?" Simon asked, dragging himself up from the floor. "Please… help Erza!"

Allen turned his eyes to the man lying on the ground. Simon, cursed by Jellal, bore tattoos over his body that slowly pushed him toward death.

Of course, Jellal had broken his promise to Erza—he had let Simon die.

Allen smiled still giving him a sidelong glance, "You've got some nerve asking that… when you were one of the ones who accused and tried to kidnap her in the first place."

Simon coughed up blood and trembled. He knew he'd been deceived by Jellal. But worse—he had chosen to believe him over Erza, despite having sworn loyalty to her.

"I have no right. I'm guilty… But still—I beg you to save her…"

In an instant—faster than a blink—Allen drove a sword straight into Simon's forehead. Lucy, Juvia, and Mirajane gasped, unable to understand what had just happened.

"Huh?" Simon opened his eyes in disbelief. Then… his gaze softened with resignation. 'This must be my punishment—for breaking my promise, for failing her…' he thought. His only regret was not being able to make amends.

But death didn't come. Instead, the agony vanished. A shriek echoed through the air, startling the girls.

"Urgh!"

Simon felt as though his skin were on fire. The grotesque tattoos on his body writhed like living creatures… then peeled off and fled—only to be reduced to ashes in front of Allen, who still had a calm, reliable, and pleasant smile.

"You don't have to ask me to save Erza… It's both my duty—and my desire." Allen withdrew his sword from Simon's head without leaving a single wound.

"I see…" Simon lowered his head, a bitter ache in his chest—but a smile on his lips, knowing Erza had finally found a hero to pull her from the depths.

Allen said nothing more to Simon. He rested his sword on his shoulder, confirmed he could wield it in this world, and looked toward the horizon.

"So..." He looked at Lucy, Juvia, and Mirajane, "Are you ready, girls?"

"For what?" Lucy asked, almost in a daze—still unable to grasp what had changed in him.

Allen didn't answer right away. He smiled—brimming with confidence, "Of course… to bring back our—my Erza. It'll be quick. And we'll hit hard!"

His mantle stretched, enveloping the girls—and the entire place.

[Allen, are you okay? How do you feel?]

"More than okay…" A broad smile formed across his face, illuminated by moonlight. His clear eyes shimmered with that same old confidence—but warmer, somehow.

Allen had reclaimed his crown…

Simon shut his eyes briefly. And when he opened them again—they were gone. He sighed and tried to stand. As he did, he looked toward the horizon.

"I think… I just met someone incredible…"

...

[Crown of the Clown (Arcane Form) – Iridescent Rank: Once destroyed by Lucifer, now rebuilt by Michael. More than just an Innocence—it is a crown. A crown for the Clown King, imbued with Demiurgic power… Currently, it has been adapted to qualify as a magical artifact to avoid violating the accords with Lucifer. Abilities: Transformation, Adaptation, Selective Destruction, ?????, ?????]

[Fragment of Michael Demiurgos – A spark of all creation. A portion of Michael's power, from which all existence was born. Its origin is unknown—perhaps it had always been there. Past – Once upon a time, there was a being comparable to Lucifer in power, complementary in existence, and at the same time contradictory to him. After his death, Lucifer acquired most of his power… but not all. Current state: 'Dormant.' The system can only awaken 0.0000001% of the Demiurgic power… Conditions for awakening: unknown.]

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A/N: Probably no one was expecting this chapter.... I didn't put the title because it would be a spoiler the size of a meteorite, but it would be this "Sacrificing Light, Tinged with Darkness, Equal to Lucifer - Michael Demiurge And Reclaiming The Crown".

More chapters on patreon: Patreon.com/_Aizen