"Sorry," Kael's calm voice came from behind her. "Looks like you were just a bit short."
Uluthea's eyes widened. She quickly lifted her gaze to confirm—the Kael trapped within the massive ice spike was still there.
"No need to look," Kael said lightly. "That one's just a projection of light."
With a snap of his fingers, the Kael within the ice began to glow. A loud boom followed, and both the ice and his image dissolved into countless specks of light that drifted into the air.
"Damn it," Uluthea muttered bitterly. "Even combining two forms of magic isn't enough to defeat you? I see now why they call the Ten Saints powerful… or maybe your strength has already reached the level of the Four Heavenly Kings?"
Kael brushed the dust from his cloak, barely marked by their battle. Uluthea could only stare, her wariness deepening. No matter what she tried, not a single attack had managed to harm him.
"Flattered," Kael said with a faint smile. "But I'd suggest you drop any clever tricks."
A sudden crack of thunder echoed—light swords materialized behind Kael, one of them slicing cleanly through the air. The glowing blade intercepted an ice spear that had been hurtling toward his back, cleaving through it and continuing on, cutting the forest behind him in half. Trees fell in perfect lines, leaving behind nothing but stumps.
Without turning around, Kael redirected the sword toward Uluthea. But the figure he struck exploded into shards of ice—it was just a decoy.
The sword didn't slow. It veered again, slashing toward the far end of the beach, striking an inconspicuous stone. The stone cracked apart, transforming into magical chains that wrapped tightly around a struggling figure.
"So you found me…" Uluthea's voice trembled slightly. "If I could've obtained Zeref, I would've completed the Grand Magic World. Then I… I could've crossed time itself and seen her again… But now… it's impossible, isn't it?"
Her resistance faded. The illusion melted away, revealing her true form. She didn't struggle as the chains bound her.
During the battle, she had created a clone and hidden her real body among the scattered rocks, transforming into one of them. Her plan had been simple—make Kael believe she had fled, wait for him to leave, and then slip away unnoticed.
But such a trick would never fool Kael. The moment she'd changed forms, he had sensed her presence.
"I think the next part of this might involve you," Kael said, smiling as he watched her sitting there, bound and defeated. "So until everything's over—you're not going anywhere."
Uluthea didn't respond. She knew escape was impossible now that she was in Kael's hands.
"You don't want to see your mother, Ur?" Kael asked softly. "Ask her yourself… why she left you?"
"What—how do you know that?" Uluthea froze, her face pale. She stared at him in disbelief. The emptiness in her eyes was suddenly replaced by shock.
"Could it be… I could really see her again?"
Her heart, long numb and hollow, began to tremble. For the first time in years, it beat with something like hope.
"There's a chance," Kael said evenly. "And with your help, that chance will grow even stronger."
He glanced toward the horizon. "Let's go. The others are probably getting impatient."
A golden magic circle flared beneath their feet. With a surge of light, Kael and Uluthea vanished from the beach—reappearing deep within the cavern.
Inside the cave, Gray sat on the ground, his eyes dull and lifeless. He stared at the massive demon sealed in ice before him—Deliora—the creature that had brought him nothing but pain and regret. His mind drifted back to the days of training with Ur and Lyon… when life had still been filled with laughter.
Natsu, usually loud and restless, was silent now. The others, too, stood quietly, their expressions solemn as they watched Gray. They had just learned the truth of his past—of Ur's sacrifice, of Lyon's obsession—and no one wanted to disturb him.
Then, a low hum filled the cave. A magic circle appeared, light spilling across the cold floor. Kael and Uluthea emerged from the glow.
"Ahem," Kael cleared his throat. "I'm back—and I brought someone with me."
He stepped aside, revealing Uluthea behind him. Standing next to Cana, he casually rested an arm around her shoulders.
Gray and Lyon turned at the same time. Their eyes widened as they stared at Uluthea's face—so much like Ur's that for a moment, both of them whispered the same word under their breath:
"Ur…?"
"Uluthea," Kael said gently. "Why don't you introduce yourself?"
Uluthea hesitated, frozen for a moment. Kael could read the conflict in her eyes—guilt, confusion, and hesitation. She was facing the two disciples of the woman she once loved and blamed herself for losing.
"I… I'm Ur's daughter," Uluthea said quietly. Then she turned away, her gaze fixed on the massive ice-bound demon, ignoring the others' astonished expressions.
"Which means," Kael added with a teasing grin, "that technically, she's your elder sister."
That one sentence left all three of them—Lyon, Gray, and Uluthea—speechless.
Especially Gray. The realization that his master's daughter was still alive filled him with unexpected joy.
"Hey, Kael," Happy suddenly piped up, raising a paw. "What about that enemy you went after?"
Kael didn't even pause. "Handled. Easily."
"Aye, Kael's the strongest!" Happy chirped.
Uluthea sighed, clearly overwhelmed by their banter. Gray's eyes, filled with a warm, almost familial affection, made her even more uncomfortable. (Purely sibling affection—nothing else, just to be clear.)
Turning away, she looked at Kael. "You said… you could let me see my mother again. When do we start?"
"What!?"
Everyone turned to Kael in shock.
Gray and Lyon's hearts leapt—they both looked at Kael, hope blazing in their eyes. Could it really be possible?
"There's a chance," Kael confirmed with a nod. "But I'll need your help, Uluthea. Restart the Moon Drip ritual. I'll need its magic."
"Understood," she replied immediately.
Under Kael's guidance, Deliora's frozen form was transported outside to the open field. The Moon Drip ritual began anew—but this time, its light did not touch the ice.
Instead, Kael gathered the moonlight with his magic, condensing it into a single sphere—a shimmering violet-white core radiating soft, divine energy.
Kael, Uluthea, Gray, and Lyon surrounded the glowing source, joining hands. The others stood around them, also linking hands.
At last, Happy and Natsu placed their hands on Kael's shoulders, completing the circle.
"Ready?" Kael asked, his eyes shining with determination. "The magic begins now."
Everyone nodded. "Yeah."