And so, led by Calvin Unknown, the group passed through area after area, evading guard after guard. Just as they finally reached the outskirts of the Tower of Heaven and believed they were about to escape, a sudden, mocking voice made them feel as if they had plunged into an ice abyss.
"Clap, clap, clap—" Clapping his hands, a figure as thin as a flagpole suddenly appeared in their path, jeering: "How does it feel to suddenly fall into hell just when you thought success was imminent? Doesn't it feel utterly despairing, hahaha—" As he spoke, he threw his head back and burst into maniacal, perverse laughter, clearly savoring the look of despair on their faces.
"Hmph! What a bunch of ignorant little brats." An incredibly obese figure appeared next to the thin man. Looking at the group who had dared to try and escape, the fat Mage said with disdain, "Did you really think your plan was perfect? Did you really think we knew nothing?! Heh heh heh, if you thought that, you are terribly mistaken! We knew you were planning to run away the whole time. The only reason we didn't drag you out immediately was because we wanted to see exactly how you planned to escape!"
"Ahahahahaha, suffer! Regret! Despair! Let me enjoy your helpless expressions once more!!! Hahahahaha—"
Both the thin Mage and the fat Mage roared with laughter.
"Damn it—" Calvin's face was deeply grim. Although he knew deep down that this escape attempt was likely to fail, when it actually happened, he couldn't help but feel a pang of despair. Despite having considered this possible outcome, he had still held onto a sliver of hope, thinking, Maybe I actually can get away? He figured he wasn't alone; everyone trying to escape was probably thinking the same thing. After all, everyone holds onto luck.
But based on the words of the two Mages, it seemed that no matter how they planned or how they tried to escape, they were destined to be caught! The reason they hadn't shown up until they were on the verge of success was probably just because they were bored and wanted to mess with them. That's right! They were treating them like a cat toys a mouse, purely for sport! The feeling was like having his heart brutally squeezed at the exact moment it was about to finally relax. It was a despair tinged with utter helplessness…
"Hmph! If the R-System construction wasn't at such a critical, time-sensitive stage, I would have sent all of you to that room already!" the fat Mage sneered.
"But in order not to delay the schedule, I will be merciful for once today," the thin Mage intercepted with an evil grin. "Tell us! If you reveal who the mastermind behind this escape plan is, we will let the rest of you go and only take that one person! Heh heh heh heh. Don't you think we are kind and gentle? You should feel honored by our clemency."
At those words, Shou instantly began to tremble violently! This was because the escape plan had been his idea in the first place!
"Enough! Don't waste our time. Hurry up and tell us who the mastermind is!" Seeing that everyone remained silent, the fat Mage grew impatient. He slammed his magic staff heavily onto the solid ground with a loud, heavy "Thud!"
Startled by the fat Mage, Shou became even more terrified. He buried his head deep into his arms, not daring to look at anyone.
Seeing this, the others immediately understood what was happening. Shou was terrified and backing down. It was understandable; Shou was the youngest among them besides Millianna. This cannot stand, Erza thought. If they further provoked these two Mages, everyone might be in danger! Gritting her teeth, Erza lifted her head and spoke with resolve: "I—"
"It was me!"
"It was me—"
Before Erza could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by two resolute voices that sounded simultaneously. Erza looked up in shock, stunned, because the two voices belonged to two different people: Calvin Unknown and Jellal Fernandes!
Not only her, but Wally, Simon, Millianna, the fat and thin Mages, and even the two who spoke—Calvin and Jellal—were all momentarily stunned!
Calvin and Jellal stared at each other, clearly surprised by the unexpected outcome.
"It wasn't him! The mastermind and leader of this escape plan was me alone!" Calvin was the quicker one to recover. He shouted resolutely, claiming all the responsibility for himself!
He didn't forget to glare at Jellal, signaling him to keep quiet. Jellal, who had been slightly slower to react and was beaten to the punch by Calvin, wanted to say something, but after receiving Calvin's glare, he simply clamped his mouth shut. He knew that anything he said now would be useless. Big Brother Calvin had decided to sacrifice himself to protect the others. If he insisted on interjecting, he would not only ruin Calvin's plan but also pull everyone else into danger. Therefore, he had to remain silent, and he could only remain silent.
However, sometimes, no matter how brilliantly a person's scheme works out in their head, there are always unexpected factors that exist, completely derailing all original plans!
"Oh? Is that so…" The fat Mage nodded his bloated head as if he'd had an epiphany. Just as Calvin was about to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking his plan had succeeded, the fat Mage suddenly pointed at Erza and burst into laughter: "But it looks like it's not you! It must be the girl! Hahahaha! Two people trying to take the blame for you! Your charm must be considerable. Guards! Take her away!" At the end of his sentence, his voice suddenly turned sharp and hard!
"What?!" Everyone was stunned, completely unprepared for the fat Mage's sudden declaration! They were caught completely off guard!
"No! That's wrong! I was the one who planned this whole thing! Can't you see I'm the leader here?! You fat pig!!" Calvin, recovering fastest, immediately pointed at the fat Mage and started yelling insults! His goal was to provoke the opponent into believing he was the true mastermind, not Erza! The reason he decided to do this, Calvin knew, was born of necessity. He couldn't possibly let Shou, a child, risk his safety to ensure the safety of the entire group. After all, his soul was that of an adult; he couldn't stand by and let a child take all the blame, regardless of the morality. It would be a huge loss of face!
Especially when he saw that Erza was showing signs of wanting to take the blame for Shou, it horrified him! Okay, letting one child take the blame is a huge loss of face. But if a girl, an underage girl, manages to steal the blame first, then I, as a real man, might as well give up living! Where would I put my dignity?!
Thinking this, Calvin, in a moment of full-blown male pride, rushed ahead of Erza and single-handedly claimed all of Shou's responsibility for himself! In his mind, he thought, Damn it—I'm going all in!!
Of course, Jellal also trying to take the blame for Shou was something he hadn't expected at first.
But what truly infuriated Calvin now was the fat Mage's intelligence! I can accept that your IQ is low, but why do you have to be so damn self-important?! You're clearly as dumb as a mule! So why, oh why, do you insist on acting so clever?!! Do you really think you're some kind of unprecedented genius!!!
Calvin gnashed his teeth in his mind. The fat Mage's sudden move had completely shattered his plan.
"You have a death wish, boy!!!" Hearing the insult, the fat Mage erupted in fury! He grabbed his magic staff and hit Calvin with a bolt of lightning magic, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Alright, let's go! We should make sure we properly care for this girl who dared to plan and encourage others to escape!" The thin Mage waved his hand and said with a smile, deliberately emphasizing the word 'care for.' He then turned and walked away.
The fat Mage snorted and walked off as well. Jellal and Simon tried to rush forward to say something, but they were immediately served with severe blasts of magic by the still-furious fat Mage.
Afterward, the remaining guards herded everyone back to the dilapidated dwelling and locked them inside.
But this didn't mean that Jellal and Simon were prepared to sit and wait! They exchanged glances, both seeing a look of grim resolve in the other's eyes…
Without needing to speak, the two quickly knocked out the few guards watching the dwelling. Then, they rushed towards the terrifying "room" where Erza was being held captive! To save as much time as possible, they didn't even bother to hide from the guards they encountered along the way; they simply knocked them all down! This was a race against time. The longer Erza stayed in that place, the greater the danger she faced! If they arrived even a moment too late and something terrible had happened to Erza, they would regret it forever!
Reaching the room where Erza was taken, Calvin and Jellal rushed forward without a word! They instantly took down all the guards protecting the doorway!
"Creak—" With Calvin keeping watch outside, Jellal shoved the door open and rushed in.
"Erza—" A sudden cry of shock and anger came from inside the room—it was Jellal's voice! Assuming Jellal had run into trouble, Calvin didn't hesitate. He quickly pushed the door open and hurried inside.
"What's wrong, Jellal?" His eyes scanned the room, immediately spotting Jellal kneeling on the floor near the center, partially supporting Erza. Calvin rushed forward, asking anxiously, "Did something—?" His words died in his throat. Calvin froze, staring directly at Erza, or rather, at her right eye—
"Erza! Your—your eye—" In utter shock, Calvin rushed closer, staring at her right eye socket. His voice trembling, he asked, "Are you saying, are you saying your right eye is already…" His voice trailed off. Calvin looked at Jellal, who was supporting Erza, silently demanding an explanation. What the hell happened?!
"…" Faced with Big Brother Calvin's demanding gaze, Jellal nodded gravely.
"Damn it—" Calvin slammed his fist into the ground, so hard that his knuckles bled, yet he didn't even notice the pain. That was how immense his fury was!
"Don't worry. I swear I will get revenge for you, Erza!" Calvin said darkly to the weakened Erza, his tone cold and menacing! Clearly, his anger had reached its absolute peak!!!
"Now, the only thing we can do is—" Jellal stood up again, looking resolutely at Erza and Calvin.
"Fight!" Calvin finished the sentence grimly, lifting Erza onto his back.
With that, he and Jellal, with Erza on his back, strode out of the room!
The look in both their eyes was one of unwavering resolve and—fury!!!