Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Sun Will Not Kneel
Narration (Lucy): I've never seen such power… Not even Erza's magic has ever burned so bright."
Curse Song (roaring): HHHHRAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!"
[Countless black spikes explode from the demon's twisted body, hurtling toward Escanor from every direction.]
Escanor (calmly): Hide...? That word does not exist in my dictionary."
[He raises one glowing palm toward the sky.]
EEscanor: God Breath Cannon."
[A golden flame detonates from his palm, enveloping Curse Song in a sun-sized blaze. The demon thrashes and howls as it's seared alive. Its massive body collapses into ash.]
But then—
Lucy (terrified): The flute! It—it's still glowing!"
[The black flute floats free from the ashes, pulsing. It draws in gravel, earth, even remnants of Curse Song's aura—reforming the demon.]
Erza (tense): It's regenerating again?!"
[Escanor calmly cleaves through the demon's attacking tentacles with Rhitta.]
Narration (Gray): No matter how many times it tries… he just cuts them down. It's like Escanor is untouchable."
Escanor (bored): Hmph. This loop is getting tedious."
[He raises his axe. Light glimmers along its edge.
Escanor: Dust Slash—God."
In a single flash, every tentacle is severed. The demon's form crumbles and bursts again—yet still reforms, even larger than before.
Escanor (smirking): Oh my~ So durable."
[Curse Song unleashes black magic, pulling everything into itself like a vortex. At its core, a black crystal pulses.
Makarov (shouting): That's its heart! The true Curse Song… sealed in that crystal!"
[The demon fires a storm of black magic blades. One after another, they rip toward the Guild Summit.
Erza (bracing the barrier): They're targeting the guild masters!"
Gray (gritting his teeth): We can't hold them off much longer!"
[Escanor summons his divine form—the golden Will Incarnation.]
Narration (Happy): That… that's not magic. That's like a sun-given form…"
Escanor (firmly): Eight-Shaku Curved Jewel"
[Golden curved jewels launch like comets, intercepting each black blade. The sky explodes in rings of gold and black. The earth shakes.]
Lucy (shielding her eyes): It's like the sun is fighting the void…"
[Curse Song begins charging its final Curse Song Magic—dark energy gathers at its throat.]
Escanor (voice like thunder): No time for lullabies."
The curved jewels explode into the demon's mouth. Its head is obliterated.]
Silence.
Makarov (gasping): It's over…"
Suddenly—
Narration (Erza): Wait—why is the flute glowing again?!"
Lucy: The real Curse Song magic… It's coming from the flute?!"
[The flute pulses violently. A dark sphere forms around Escanor.
Erza (sprinting forward): ESCANOR!!"
Her blade slams against the black mist. Sparks fly—no damage.]
Erza (desperate): Let him go… Let him go!!!"
Inside the black mist. A void. Silence.
Escanor stands alone.
Escanor (arms crossed): So… you finally show yourself."
Ankhseram (voice oozing malice): Hehehe… Escanor. The anomaly. You've reached the threshold of divinity."
Escanor: This stench. This presence. You're Ankhseram… the god of death."
Ankhseram (smiling): How observant. Join me. Reap souls in my name. Become my chosen—my reaper."
Escanor (mocking): A janitor for the shadows? How flattering."
Ankhseram (threatening): I offer infinite life… divine power. The world is broken. Together, we could rebuild it in my image."
Escanor (eyes narrowing): So… Zeref refused. And Acnologia… accepted?"
Ankhseram (laughing): The dragon devours for me… but you—you could rule."
Escanor: I don't kneel. Not to men, not to monsters. And definitely not to frauds hiding in fog."
Ankhseram (voice rising): I am a god!!!"
Escanor: Then why do you need pawns? Why can't you touch this world? Let me guess… the World Will rejected you."
[The black mist quakes. Ankhseram's rage pierces the void.]
AAnkhseram: You insolent maggot. I will erase your soul. Strip it down to embers and scream with you as it burns!"
Escanor (stepping forward): Then come. But remember this: I will find you. And when I do... you'll burn."
Ankhseram (final laugh): The path to godhood is paved with ruin… Ask the Ancient Gods. Oh wait… they're all dead."
Escanor (smirks): Then I'll be the first to survive it."
[The black mist bursts outward. Escanor reappears in a wave of golden light. Erza grabs him instantly.]
Erza (tears in her eyes): Don't ever vanish like that again…"
Escanor (whispering): Ankhseram… I won't let you win. Not now. Not ever."