"Crush them all…?"
Simon blinked in confusion. "Wait, you do realize there's an entire army stationed on that island, right?"
He wasn't exaggerating—Jellal had deployed thousands of guards to the Tower of Heaven. Even if you knocked them down one by one, you'd be exhausted before you were halfway through.
"You're damn right we crush them!"
Gray immediately backed Kaien's plan without hesitation.
"Erza, say something!" Simon turned to her, hoping she'd talk sense into these maniacs.
But to his shock, Erza nodded. "Let's do it. Eight years ago, we toppled the cult that ruled over us. Today, we finish what we started—by bringing Jellal down."
"Erza?!"
Simon was stunned. She used to be so cautious—when did she become this bold?
"That bastard hurt Erza, and now he wants to sacrifice her? No way we let him get away with it!"
Lucy stepped forward, equally fired up. She was angry—for what Jellal had done to Erza, and for what he planned to do.
But she was also confident. After all, they had Kaien on their side—the monster who defeated one of the Ten Wizard Saints. And not just him—they had Erza, Natsu, Gray, and even herself. Add in Juvia, Sho, Simon, and the others, and they were practically unstoppable.
Soon, the boat arrived at the island where the Tower of Heaven stood.
"Whoa, it's huge…!"
Now that they were closer, the tower looked even more enormous than expected.
"Well, it did take eight years to build…"
Sho grit his teeth. Once, he'd been proud of this achievement. Now it just felt like a symbol of everything they'd suffered.
"There are so many guards!"
Lucy's confidence wavered slightly as she saw the masses waiting on the shore.
"I told you," Simon muttered with a sigh.
But by then, Natsu and Gray had already leapt off the ship.
"Who are you people?!"
The guards spotted them and immediately began shouting.
Natsu's fist ignited with flames, his expression fierce.
"You're asking who we are? You don't recognize top-tier enemies when you see 'em?! We're FAIRY TAIL, you bastards!!"
And with that, he charged.
"UAAAHHH—!!"
Guards went flying in all directions.
"We're under attack!!"
More reinforcements swarmed in.
"Ice Make: Lancer!!"
Gray's hands lit up as he unleashed a wave of ice spears.
"GYAAAHHH!!"
More soldiers dropped like flies.
Juvia clapped excitedly, hearts in her eyes.
"Gray-sama is so cool!! I have to do my part too!"
"Water Slash!"
A wave of slicing water surged forward.
"URGHAAAH!!"
Another group was taken out with ease.
"Amazing…!"
Sho, Wally, Milliana, and Simon were stunned.
They'd underestimated them—especially Natsu and Gray. They'd looked so clumsy back in the casino fight, but now, seeing their real power… it was no joke.
So this is what Kaien meant by "crush them all…"
"I'm up too!"
Lucy grabbed a key from her belt.
"Open! Gate of Taurus!"
"MOOOOO!!"
A hulking humanoid bull with a giant axe appeared and charged into the fray. He was strong—knocking out enemies with each swing—but compared to the others…
"…That was kinda plain," Milliana muttered.
"Yeah. Very mid," Wally nodded.
Lucy grit her teeth. "I'll get way stronger one day! Just you wait!"
Seriously, these guys are monsters. Natsu's a literal dragon. Juvia used to be one of Phantom Lord's elite. Gray might not be famous, but in Fairy Tail he's neck-and-neck with Natsu. Compared to them, my performance is fine!
"Requip: Armadura Fairy – Heaven's Wheel!"
Erza transformed mid-air into her armored form, metal wings extending behind her. A steel-clad angel descended from the sky.
"Heaven's Wheel: Circle Sword Dance!"
Dozens of magic swords rained down.
"GYAAAHHH!!"
Another swarm of guards got shredded.
Sho and the others were overwhelmed with emotion. They still remembered the day Erza awakened her magic—how she saved them by wielding countless weapons to drive out the dark mages who ruled over them.
And yet they'd believed Jellal… believed Erza betrayed them. Shame gnawed at their hearts.
Kaien stepped off the boat, planting his foot firmly onto the island. He stared at the colossal tower.
This entire thing… was built on Erza's suffering.
That thought alone was enough to make his blood boil.
"Full Take Over: Edward Newgate!"
Kaien's body rapidly expanded. His clothes morphed into a white coat, a massive glaive appeared in his hands, and a crescent-shaped mustache bloomed across his face.
"SO HUGE—!!"
Milliana and the others gasped. They'd never seen such a towering figure in their lives.
Kaien looked up at the towering spire—so much like the Marineford stronghold in his memories.
"…This thing pisses me off."
He grinned and muttered,
"Since we're here, let's say hello."
CRACK.
Kaien spread his stance and thrust both hands into the air—fingers carving a massive S-shape into the atmosphere.
RUMBLE—!!
The ground trembled.
The entire island tilted.
The ocean split into layers, creating sheer cliffs hundreds—maybe thousands—of meters tall.
"W-WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!"
Everyone on the battlefield was left speechless.