As the white-haired, masked man leapt down from above, a massive purple magic circle appeared high above the cavern's ceiling.
Moonlight filtered through the sigil, transforming completely into a violet radiance that poured down onto the ice-bound demon below.
Cracks began to spread across the frozen surface.
"What's happening?!" Lucy gasped.
"The ice—it's melting!" Cana shouted, alarmed as the glow intensified.
They all stared in disbelief.
But Gray's expression shifted—not from shock, but recognition. That voice… that tone.
"It can't be… That voice—could it be him?"
"Huh? You know that guy, Gray?" Natsu asked, glancing at his friend, who now stood frozen in place, wide-eyed.
The white-haired man ignored everyone else, his cold gaze fixed solely on Kael. "I've been wondering just how strong a member of the Ten Saints truly is, Kael. Care to show me?"
"Oh?" Kael's lips curled into a faint grin. "You've got guts, kid. Fine—let's see if I can satisfy your curiosity."
A surge of divine magic rippled from Kael's body, light bursting through the darkness.
In an instant, countless blades of radiant energy appeared around Lyon, hovering just inches from his skin.
One even nicked the edge of his mask—shattering it and sending the pieces clattering to the ground.
Lyon gritted his teeth, glaring up at Kael. He hadn't even seen the man move, yet the spell had already been cast.
The sheer pressure emanating from every floating blade told him all he needed to know—their strength wasn't even comparable.
"Damn it…! The difference in power—it's this vast?! Is our plan… over already?!"
But before Kael could strike, a hand suddenly appeared in front of him.
Gray.
"Wait. Leave him to me." Gray's voice trembled slightly, but his eyes were firm. "We were once brothers in training. But not anymore. He's no disciple of our master now—not after what he's done."
He turned toward Lyon, jaw tight with fury. "Lyon… I won't forgive you for this. You've gone too far. Kael, the magic array above—leave it to you."
Kael studied him for a moment, then nodded. "All right. Then show him what you've become, Gray. Make your master proud."
The radiant swords dissolved into light. Lyon, realizing Kael had relinquished the fight to Gray, clenched his fists, his hatred rekindled.
"Brothers, huh?" Natsu muttered, eyes wide. He and Lucy looked between the two men, startled.
"Don't talk to me like that, Gray!" Lyon snapped. "You don't deserve to say her name—you killed our master!"
"I know!" Gray roared back, his fists trembling as frost gathered around his hands. "I won't deny my mistake. But Master Ur gave her life to seal Deliora! I'll never let you undo her sacrifice!"
Their voices echoed through the cavern as both raised their hands, ice forming and crackling around them.
"So be it," Lyon hissed. "Our plan may have failed, but at least this will end between us—once and for all."
Lucy and Natsu stood back, stunned and heavy-hearted. They finally understood the burden Gray carried.
Kael didn't interrupt. Everything—every truth, every wound between them—was now out in the open.
He turned to the others and said quietly, "Let's leave this to Gray. We'll handle what's happening above."
——— Scene Break ———
When Kael and the others reached the temple rooftop, they found a group of Lamia Scale wizards standing in formation.
They were chanting a strange incantation, surrounded by shimmering runes that spiraled upward toward the sky.
Moonlight poured through the floating magic circles, refracting into waves of violet energy that cascaded down toward the demon below.
"What the hell is this…?" Natsu muttered.
Kael's expression darkened. "This is Puriavien's Ritual—also known as the Moon Drip. It can dissolve or dispel any form of magic. Their plan is to use it to melt the seal on Deliora. Isn't that right… members of Lamia Scale?"
The opposing guild members froze, clearly startled that Kael knew so much. He smiled faintly.
"Even if you are one of the Ten Saints, Kael," one of them said nervously, "we won't let you interfere with Lord Lyon's orders!"
"B-but… he's on the same level as Jura!" stammered another—a short, dog-like man whose hands trembled. "Can we really fight him?"
A girl nearby looked ready to faint, her face pale as she stared at Kael.
Yuka, their leader, sighed, clearly exasperated. "I know he's beyond us, but our goal isn't to defeat him—just delay him. With Jura around, Kael won't go all out."
Kael chuckled softly. "You don't have to worry. I'm not your opponent today—they are."
He gestured toward his team. "Natsu, Cana, Lucy—you take care of this. There's another presence I need to deal with."
He began to rise into the air, magic swirling around him.
"Kael, wait—" Cana called out, taking a step forward. She wanted to ask what he meant, what kind of enemy could possibly need his attention. But she stopped herself. If Kael said it, she believed him.
He grinned down at her. "Relax—it's nothing big. Oh, and Cana? Try not to hold back too much this time. Natsu and Lucy are in your care."
Cana smiled faintly, knowing exactly what he meant. Her strength was already far beyond the standard S-Class level—but she'd never taken the official test.
She had once told Kael she wanted her father, Gildarts, to unknowingly be her examiner—to prove to him just how strong his daughter had become.
Kael respected her wish, and now, watching her stand there with quiet resolve, he couldn't help but feel proud.
Far from the temple, near the moonlit shore, a lone figure suddenly stopped walking.
Sensing a familiar power above, she looked up—her crimson eyes narrowing as Kael descended through the air toward her.
"Ultear," Kael called, landing softly on the sand. "Where do you think you're going?"
The masked figure tensed. A surge of magic surrounded her, and in an instant, her appearance shimmered and changed—revealing a tall, elegant woman with flowing dark hair and a crystal sphere hovering beside her.
She caught the orb in her hand, glaring at Kael with icy precision. "So… you already know everything, don't you?"
Kael smiled calmly. "I know more than you think. And come on, no need to run off so fast after seeing me."
He stepped closer, his tone deceptively casual. "After all, we're kind of… coworkers, right? Hmm—no, that's not it. Jellal's one of the Ten Saints, you're not. You're just the one whispering in his ear, steering things from the shadows."
Ultear's expression darkened. Around her, countless crystal orbs began to materialize, humming with power.
"I've heard enough," she said coldly. "You know too much, Kael. So—die."
She had come to retreat quietly, intending to report to Jellal once she sensed Kael's overwhelming magic. But now, caught red-handed, she had no choice but to fight.
Kael sighed, his hand glowing faintly as light flared around him. "So much for a friendly conversation."
The air between them crackled, purple and gold magic clashing under the moonlight.