Chapter 78: Turtledove
Dino looked down at Vidaldus, who lay unconscious on the ground, and shrugged. "You weren't half bad, actually. But showing off against me? Big mistake. You just wasted thirty seconds of my time." He stepped over the fallen assassin and continued walking forward.
From his hiding spot, Jellal observed the entire fight through his magical crystal ball. "Vidaldus is down already? Well, no matter. As long as we drain his magical energy, the mission succeeds."
"Hoot hoot! I am Fukuro, one of the Trinity Raven!" A man with an owl-like head emerged, blocking Dino's path. Twin jet injectors were strapped to his back. "If you made it this far, that means Vidaldus is finished. Guess I'll have to finish you myself!" He activated his injectors and rocketed toward Dino at high speed.
Dino didn't even blink. "Out of my way!" His fist shot forward, striking the air itself.
CRACK!
The space before his fist spiderwebbed with fractures. Shockwaves rippled outward, slamming into Fukuro with devastating force.
"GAH!" Fukuro's eyes widened as the injectors on his back shattered instantly.
BOOM!
The ruptured magical devices exploded in a massive fireball.
"GYAAAAAAHHH!!"
Jellal's expression darkened as he stared into the crystal ball. "That idiot Fukuro went down just as easily. Charging in recklessly like that… Still, I learned something valuable." His fingers drummed against his armrest thoughtfully. "When Dino charges up his more powerful attacks, he needs preparation time. The longer he charges, the greater the destructive output."
A cold smile crossed his face. "But even his uncharged attacks are incredibly dangerous. What a terrifying monster we're dealing with."
Magic Council ERA Headquarters
The Council chamber buzzed with tension. Several Council members had assembled for an emergency session after Siegrain made an unprecedented request—to fire the Etherion satellite cannon.
"Are you insane, Siegrain?!" One councilor slammed his fist on the table. "Etherion cannot be fired on a whim! Even the R-System isn't as dangerous as Etherion! That weapon represents the Magic Council's ultimate deterrent!"
"Etherion has enough destructive power to annihilate a small nation!" another councilor added, her voice shaking. "The collateral damage would be immeasurable!"
As expected, Siegrain's proposal faced immediate opposition. Even his considerable political influence couldn't sway the gathered Council members' resistance.
Siegrain leaned forward, his voice grave. "Perhaps you don't understand who controls the Tower of Heaven. It's a dangerous man named Jellal—someone I know as well as I know myself." He paused for dramatic effect. "Do you know who he intends to resurrect using the R-System?"
All eyes turned to him. "Who?" one councilor demanded.
"The most evil and destructive dark mage in history—Zeref."
"WHAT?!" Shock rippled through the chamber. That name alone carried weight—even after four hundred years, Zeref's terrifying legends still haunted the magical world.
Siegrain pressed his advantage, voice rising with emotion. "If the Dark Mage Zeref is resurrected, the Magic Council will be his first target. By then, it will be far too late to act."
He swept his gaze across the room. "Have you forgotten what happened when Dino Maxim destroyed our Etherion relay tower? If Zeref himself attacks, the destruction won't be any slower than what Dino caused."
"Do you want the Magic Council destroyed? Or worse—do you want the entire world to fall because of your hesitation?"
The chamber fell silent. Dino's devastating attack on their headquarters had shattered these councilors' confidence completely. Some here still woke up screaming from nightmares about that day.
"We must vote!" Siegrain urged. "Before it's too late!"
"I vote in favor," Ultear said immediately, raising her hand.
"Ultear?! You too?!"
Ultear's expression remained calm and logical. "The situation may not be as dire as it appears. The Tower of Heaven's location is quite remote from the mainland. If we adjust Etherion's output carefully, we can minimize the affected area."
Her voice softened slightly. "Yes, I feel terrible for the innocent prisoners trapped in that tower. But their numbers are insignificant compared to the entire continent's population."
"If Zeref is resurrected, even a single spell from him could kill more people than currently occupy that tower. Therefore, I support Siegrain's proposal."
The vote proceeded swiftly. Seven in favor, one opposed. The motion to fire Etherion passed.
"Lord Siegrain's persuasion skills are remarkable," Ultear thought privately. "Using Dino's attack to break their will—quite clever. I wonder what Dino's expression would be if he knew he was being used this way?"
Siegrain smiled to himself. "I should thank Dino, really. If these councilors didn't all owe Ultear favors for the reconstruction efforts, convincing these stubborn old fools would have taken much longer."
"And it's all because of Dino that Ultear could earn those favors in the first place," he mused.
"Indeed. Because of him. To properly repay such a generous contribution, becoming a sacrifice for the great Dark Mage Zeref's resurrection seems most appropriate."
Meanwhile
Swish! Swish!
"This young woman is called Ikaruga. It's an honor to meet you, Dino-san."
A beautiful woman in an elegant white kimono stepped into Dino's path. Her cherry-blossom-pink hair swayed as she moved, one hand resting on the hilt of her katana.
Dino stopped and frowned. "A woman? I don't like fighting women. If you don't want to die, get out of my way."
Ikaruga brought her kiseru pipe to her lips, smiling gently behind a trail of smoke. "My, my~ How unexpected. The man known throughout the dark underworld as 'The Destroyer' is actually a gentleman who dislikes fighting women. Truly surprising."
"'Destroyer'?" Dino's eyebrow twitched. "What kind of stupid nickname is that?"
"You weren't aware, Dino-san? Ever since you annihilated thirteen allied Dark Guilds in a single night five years ago, the underworld has called you 'The Destroyer.'"
Dino grimaced. He'd had no idea such a ridiculous title existed. Damn idiots making up names… "I said move!"
"But I cannot step aside." Ikaruga's smile remained serene. "On one hand, Jellal-sama has given me orders. On the other hand…" Her eyes gleamed with something almost like anticipation. "Dying by your hand wouldn't be such a bad fate, would it?"
"Then die!" Dino clenched his fist, done with talking.
VRRRRMMM!
The familiar white sphere of vibration energy formed around his fist—the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
Suddenly—FLASH!
A blade of compressed air shot forward. Dino's instincts screamed. He swung his fist reflexively.
BOOM!
The aerial slash shattered against his shockwave.
But then—slice—a thin line of red appeared on the back of his hand. A shallow cut, already healing, but undeniably there.
Dino's eyes narrowed as he looked at the wound, then back at Ikaruga.
She'd actually managed to scratch him.