Chapter 228: Free the Slaves
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"Don't give up yet, old man! There might still be hope. Let me try something."
Renzo could tell that Rob's will to live was crumbling. The purpose that had kept him alive for so long was fading, and with it, death was starting to creep into his body. Alarmed, Renzo quickly stepped in.
"No need for that, kid," Rob said with a warm smile, shaking his head. "You're a good child... but I know my own condition. My magic—"
Before he could finish, Renzo raised his hand and cast several waves of Holy Healing.
Golden light poured down, enveloping Rob's frail body. It flowed through him, seeping deep into his core. And right before everyone's eyes, his wounds began to heal—visibly, rapidly.
His dried-out body regained strength and color. But the most shocking change was something only Rob could feel: the shattered core of his magical source… was slowly knitting itself back together.
"This... what...?"
Rob was stunned.
In the world of Fairy Tail, healing and restorative magic were already incredibly rare—some even considered them lost arts. But to repair a shattered Magic container? That was thought to be completely impossible.
And yet, Renzo wasn't just using any healing magic. What he cast was something beyond imagination.
In all of recorded magical history, there had never been a case where a broken Magic container was restored.
Among mages, it was a known truth: once your source shatters, your life begins a countdown. You enter a slow decline—your magic fades, your body withers, and eventually, you die of magic depletion.
But Renzo had just shattered that truth.
"You really are... full of surprises, kid."
Rob's eyes sparkled with amazement as he looked at Renzo.
"Heh, I try," Renzo chuckled, clearly proud of his work.
Once Rob's Magic container was fully restored and stabilized, Renzo finally let the healing spell fade.
"Alright. Time to wrap things up."
His gaze turned toward the remaining members of the Dark Guild—most had already been taken care of by his clone. Without wasting another moment, Renzo activated his Eternal Sharingan.
"Dōjutsu: Takamagahara."
"Projection Domain—Annihilate!"
In the blink of an eye, a field of energy expanded across the battlefield, engulfing every last member of the Dark Guild who was still alive. And then—just like that—their life forces vanished.
Renzo had erased them from existence without even laying a finger on them.
Thud, thud...
Rob watched in awe as Renzo's eyes shifted and glowed, just before dozens of enemies simply collapsed, lifeless.
He was stunned. "That... that's terrifying. It's like a silent version of Fairy Law—targets only the enemy and wipes them out completely."
Except Renzo's magic was even quieter... and deadlier.
"Alright, now that the trash is cleaned up, let's get everyone out. Start unlocking the other cells and have everyone meet at the shore. We're getting out of here."
"Got it!"
Soon, every prison cell was opened. Survivors poured out, each one guided by Renzo's clone toward the coastline.
By the time they arrived, a massive wooden ship was already waiting for them—crafted by Renzo's Fantasy creation cheat.
Thousands of rescued prisoners boarded the ship in an orderly fashion.
As they prepared to set sail, Rob stood beside Renzo and glanced back at the towering structure behind them—the Tower of Heaven.
"What are you planning to do about that thing?" he asked grimly. "We can't just leave it there. Should we report it to the Magic Council?"
"That's Zeref's resurrection device, isn't it? R-System!" Rob continued. "It's pure evil. The Council outlawed it long ago. Some Dark Guilds tried building several towers like this in the past, but they were all destroyed in time."
"Yeah," Renzo nodded. "No need to call the Council. I'll just destroy it myself."
With that, he rose into the air. As his clone took command of the ship and guided it out to sea, Renzo reached into his dimensional storage and pulled out his Zanpakutō.
"Shatter—Kyōka Suigetsu."
"Ice Slash!!!"
In the next instant, four terrifying slashes—each over a hundred meters long—shot out, tearing through the Tower of Heaven like it was made of paper. The entire structure disintegrated into dust, and even the island it was built on crumbled away.
Everything was reduced to rubble, swept away by the massive waves the attack unleashed. Within moments, it was all gone—swallowed by the sea, like it had never existed.
Everyone on the ship stared in shock, mouths wide open.
"...Was that really necessary?"
That monstrous Tower of Heaven… wiped out like it was nothing?
"Whoaaa!!!"
"Yes! It's gone! The Tower is finally gone!"
Cheers erupted across the ship. Some people were even crying from the sheer relief.
The nightmare was over. Their torment had ended. Now, they could finally look forward to a future filled with light and hope.
Erza and the others stared at Renzo, who stood proudly in midair, their eyes practically sparkling.
"He's so cool and powerful!"
The girls couldn't help but feel a flutter in their hearts, while the boys all looked at him with admiration and awe, thinking:
"One day, I want to be a mage as awesome and strong as Renzo!"
— — —
"Mm-hmm, yeah! We found Grandpa Rob… Yep! Saved all of them!"
"Haha, Guild Master, no need to be so polite. We're all family, after all."
"Yes, I'll ask Grandpa Rob to notify the Magic Council so they can send people to help resettle the survivors… Most of them are just kids. A lot of their villages were completely wiped out by the Dark Cult. They've got nowhere left to go."
"…Talented ones? Oh, for sure! Quite a few! I mean, the Dark Cult had their eyes on them for a reason—and the ones who survived all this have incredible resolve and strong hearts. I bet they'll be fast learners when it comes to magic!"
"Oh? You're thinking of selecting a few early on? Sure, I can recommend some names."
"Haha, alright then. Talk soon!"
After ending his communication with Makarov, Renzo turned to Grandpa Rob and said, "I've already contacted the Guild Master. He'll inform the Council and make sure they send people to take care of the survivors."
"Good, good," Rob nodded, then chuckled as he recalled the conversation. "That Makarov... still as sly as ever. Trying to snag new talent before anyone else can, huh? Can't say it's a bad idea!"
"Right?" Renzo laughed. "It's good for Fairy Tail and for the kids, too. Honestly, I don't think there's a better guild out there than Fairy Tail."
"Hahaha!"
Rob threw his head back and laughed. "Now that's what I like to hear! You really are one of us, through and through!"
Just then, a young voice chimed in.
"Grandpa Rob! Renzo-niisan! Can I join Fairy Tail too?"
Erza stood nearby, eyes wide with hope.
"And us too! We want to join Grandpa's and Big Brother's guild!"
Jellal and the others quickly gathered around.
Off in the distance, Sorano Agria (Angel), Erik (Cobra), Sawyer (Racer), Richard (Hoteye), and Macbeth (Midnight)—five children who, in the original timeline, would've been taken by Brain and raised to become the Oración Seis—were also watching Renzo with bright, hopeful eyes.
Clearly, they had the same idea.
Renzo noticed them and smiled, nodding in their direction before speaking to them telepathically:
"I've got my eye on you kids. Once we get to Magnolia, you're all welcome to join our guild."
Their eyes lit up with joy, and they nodded enthusiastically.
"Hahaha! Of course you can join Fairy Tail!" Grandpa Rob said warmly, ruffling Erza, Simon, and Jellal's hair. "You're all good kids!"
"I've got no objections either," Renzo added with a grin.
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