With Great Power Comes Great Responsibilty

Chapter 19

A week had passed since the lizard incident, and Professor Clive had returned to teaching, appearing perfectly normal. Yet, Natsu and Gray couldn't shake their concern—they wanted to be absolutely sure he was okay. After class, they decided to visit Erza. One of her coworkers had mentioned she was in the lab, engrossed in some project. But as they approached, strange noises drifted through the closed door.

"Please, stop! Don't touch me!" Erza's voice pierced the air, frantic and desperate. It was quickly followed by the sharp crash of breaking glass and the sound of objects tumbling to the floor. "What are you doing?! Stop it! This is exactly why I left!"

A man's voice barked back, angry and accusing. "Why? Because you found someone else?!"

Confused and alarmed, Gray pushed the door open. "Erza? Is everything alright?"

Inside, the lab was a chaotic mess—equipment overturned, papers scattered everywhere. Standing opposite Erza was a young man, older than Natsu and Gray, dressed in a bizarre mix of safari hunter gear and savage animal hides. His face was handsome, but his eyes burned with a wild, unsettling madness.

"Who are you?" Natsu demanded. "What's going on here?"

"Stay out!" the maniac shouted, hurling a desk at the door with savage force.

While the man was distracted, Erza slipped quietly through the fire escape and climbed onto the roof. The strange man gave chase. Seeing their most trusted friend in danger, Natsu and Gray immediately changed into their costumes and raced after her.

"Erza, you cannot give your heart to another man!" the madman snarled as he cornered her on the rooftop.

"Don't touch me! Stay away!" she cried, backing away as he advanced.

"I love you. I don't want to hurt you."

"That's debatable," Natsu growled, swinging down in his dragon-themed superhero form. He landed a powerful kick that sent the man sprawling away from Erza. Meanwhile, Gray, in his own hero guise, quickly grabbed Erza and pulled her to the safety of an adjacent rooftop.

"Are you alright?" Gray asked, concern etched on his face.

"I'm fine," she assured him, catching her breath.

On the other rooftop, Natsu squared off against the man. The dragon-themed hero was taken aback—the stranger matched his strength blow for blow, a fierce rival on the same level.

"Whoever you are, this is none of your concern!" the man growled.

"After what you just did to Erza, I'm concerned enough to drag you to the police," Natsu shot back, eyes blazing.

The man swung a crowbar at Natsu, but Natsu caught it mid-air and, with a powerful twist, flipped him over the edge of the building.

"Jellal!" Erza screamed, her voice cracking as she watched him fall.

The three of them leaned over the rooftops, scanning the ground below— but there was no sign of him.

"Where did he go?" Natsu asked, eyes narrowing.

"Strange... he just vanished," Gray said, unease creeping into his voice.

Erza's face paled, fear flickering in her eyes like never before. "He'll be back. You can't stop him. Nothing can stop him!"

"What do you mean? Who is that guy?" Natsu demanded.

Erza hesitated, then said, "I'll explain everything — but first, get me out of here. Before he returns."

Without another word, they hurried to Kardia Cathedral and slipped up into the bell tower. There, away from prying eyes, Erza finally told them the whole story.

"His name is Jellal Fernandes," Erza began. "It all started when my mother—a scientist specializing in animology—got transferred to the wild and untamed Galuna Island. She brought me along with her. There, we were guided through the jungle by a local guide, and I quickly became friends with his son, Jellal. We were just kids back then, spending our childhood exploring the jungle together and learning about its wonders.

When we grew up, he took over his father's job as a tour guide and became a skilled hunter. I, on the other hand, studied medicine, traveling between Magnolia and Galuna to find cures for the deadly diseases spreading on the island. Jellal often helped me gather herbs and plants for my research. Over time, our friendship deepened into something more—we fell in love."

"When did he go crazy? Was it the heat or something?" Natsu asked, frowning.

"No," Erza shook her head. "After discovering several exotic plants during my expeditions, I synthesized a drug—a miracle cure for injuries and illnesses. But I wasn't sure if it was stable yet. I planned to test it on an elephant with a broken ankle. Then, out of nowhere, I was attacked by wolves. Jellal saved me but got seriously injured himself. Desperate to save him, I gave him the drug without proper testing. That decision will haunt me forever."

"What happened to him?" Gray pressed.

"At first, he recovered miraculously. But the drug had terrible side effects. It made him feral—primal, beastlike. He went completely mad, acting like a wild animal. He also became incredibly jealous and possessive. After he attacked one of my assistants—someone he thought I was having an affair with—I asked the Galuna authorities to hold him there, then fled to Magnolia to work on a cure. But somehow, he escaped and tracked me here."

"Don't worry, Erza. We'll protect you from him," Natsu promised.

"It's not my safety I'm worried about," she said, her voice trembling. "I know he won't hurt me. But he might hurt someone else just to get to me."

"Do you have a safe place to stay?" Gray asked gently.

"I have an old college friend who might hide me," Erza replied. "But I'm terrified of what Jellal might do if he finds her."

"We'll find him before he finds you," Natsu said firmly.

"And we'll have a clinic hold him until you finish the cure," Gray added.

"I don't know if you two stand much of a chance," Erza warned. "He has your strength and agility combined—anyone with that would be unstoppable."

"Can't hurt to try, right?" Natsu smirked. "Wait, don't answer that. Look, Erza, we can't just leave that psycho running wild in the city. We have to stop him."

"Alright," she said softly. "But please—don't hurt him. He's not a criminal, just... sick."

"We make no promises," Natsu said with a grin.

"We'll try not to hurt him," Gray added with a nod.

"Gray, take Erza to her friend's place," Natsu instructed. "I'll search for animal boy. We'll meet back here in an hour."

"Right," Gray agreed.