"So strong, so strong! I'm fired up!"
Natsu, seeing Kenichi instantly take down two, didn't want to fall behind.
After excitedly shouting, Natsu slammed his fist and palm together fiercely. At that moment, a crimson flame rose around him.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Without any hesitation, Natsu immediately clenched his fist and launched an attack on Simon.
Since Kenichi took down two, he'll take care of this last one.
That's what Natsu thought.
But just as Natsu's fist was about to hit Simon, Simon raised his hands and said: "I surrender!"
Thud-
Hearing this, Natsu fell face-first to the ground.
'Surrender?'
'I've already taken off my pants, and you tell me you're backing out?'
'Give me back my fighting spirit!'
At this moment, Natsu's heart was very stifled.
Kenichi, looking at Natsu lying on the ground, couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.
"Why? We haven't even fought yet. Why surrender?"
Natsu asked Simon with an unwilling expression.
"Because... I came to ask for your help!"
Simon looked up at Erza and Kenichi and spoke.
"Help? Weren't you here to capture Erza?"
Gray looked at Simon, completely puzzled.
"That was just an act for Wally and Milliana!"
Simon glanced at the frozen Wally and Milliana over there, pondered for a moment, then continued: "Eight years ago, after Erza left us, Jellal said..."
Eight years ago, after Erza defeated the guards of the Tower of Heaven, she invited Jellal to leave with her.
But by then, Jellal had already been brainwashed by the [Ghost of Zeref] and refused Erza's invitation.
Of course, Simon didn't know about Jellal being brainwashed by the [Ghost of Zeref].
He only knew that after Erza left, Jellal told them that Erza had betrayed them.
Although Milliana, Wally, and the others believed Jellal's words, Simon never did.
Then Erza also spoke about how she had invited Jellal back then and how Jellal had threatened her with the lives of Simon and the others.
After combining Erza and Simon's accounts, Gray spoke up: "So, that means Jellal has been deceiving and using you all along to build that so-called Tower of Heaven for him!"
"Correct. Now the Tower of Heaven is complete. Jellal wants to use Erza as a sacrifice to resurrect the legendary black mage, Zeref!"
As soon as Simon said this, the faces of both Gray and Erza changed dramatically.
Erza was shocked that the Tower of Heaven had actually been completed.
Gray was shocked, stunned by the name Zeref.
Mentioning Zeref, Gray immediately thought of the demon that had taken his master's life, Deliora.
"He actually wants to resurrect Zeref, the one who created demons like Deliora!"
"If Zeref is resurrected, the world will truly be over!"
Gray said through gritted teeth.
Hearing Simon and Gray's words, Kenichi remained calm.
'Resurrect Zeref?'
'Zeref isn't even dead, okay?'
Although Kenichi really wanted to tell Gray and the others: "Zeref isn't dead."
Even if Kenichi said it, Gray and the others probably wouldn't believe him.
After all, Zeref is a figure from hundreds of years ago.
How could a normal person live that long?
Furthermore, even if they did believe it, it would require a lot of explanation.
Therefore, Kenichi couldn't be bothered to say more.
Moreover, they would find out sooner or later that Zeref was still alive.
While Kenichi was thinking, Simon said to Kenichi, Erza, and the others: "If Jellal really succeeds in resurrecting Zeref, the consequences would be unthinkable."
"So I want to commission you to stop Jellal!"
Erza herself would naturally not refuse Simon's request, but...
But she didn't want Gray, Natsu, and the others to take this risk with her.
"Jellal's strength is very high..."
Erza looked at Gray and Natsu beside her and spoke.
But before Erza could finish, Simon looked at Kenichi and said: "If we have this person's help, we should be able to stop Jellal!"
Simon had witnessed the strength Kenichi displayed earlier.
Although Erza was very strong, Simon knew that, given Erza's personality, she would absolutely not strike ruthlessly against her former companions.
To stop Jellal, Kenichi was the most suitable person.
Hearing Simon's words, Erza looked at Kenichi.
Erza didn't know Kenichi's true strength.
But she could sense that Kenichi's strength was definitely not below hers.
"If it's Kenichi..."
Just as Erza was thinking, Simon suddenly said: "I'm willing to pay 10,000,000 J to commission you!"
"10,000,000 J!"
Simon's words were like a bombshell. Lucy, Gray, Natsu, and Happy were all dumbfounded upon hearing this astonishing figure, and they immediately began fantasizing about a life of wealth.
'With 10,000,000 J, I could buy this, and that, and all of that!'
"Erza, let's take this commission!"
Lucy, Gray, and Natsu impatiently said to Erza.
"But, Kenichi..."
Erza looked at Kenichi and asked in a tone seeking approval.
Lucy, Gray, and Natsu again looked at Kenichi with shining eyes.
"Then let's take it, this job."
After hearing Kenichi agree, Natsu, Gray, and Lucy were overjoyed.
And Happy also fantasized about having lots of fish to eat.
"Simon, where did you get so much money?"
Erza asked Simon.
"Of course I don't have that much money, but he does..."
Simon said somewhat sheepishly, then pointed at the frozen Wally over there.
Although Wally and Milliana were frozen by Kenichi, they could hear the conversation between Simon and Erza very clearly.
After Kenichi dispelled the ice on Wally and Milliana, they were extremely angry about Jellal deceiving them for eight years.
And they were willing to pay 10,000,000 J to commission Kenichi and the others.
'Jellal, Wizard Saint... Perfect to test the power of this Iron Fire Dragon Mode!'
Kenichi looked at the Fire Dragon Slayer Magic attribute and Iron Dragon Slayer Magic attribute on the system screen, clenched his fists, his face full of anticipation.