When Kael and the others suddenly appeared on the island of the Tower of Heaven, everyone froze in awe.
"So this… is the Tower of Heaven!" Lucy gasped, her eyes widening as she took in the towering structure that seemed to pierce the clouds.
"It's real," Cana murmured, her voice trembling. "Jellal… he actually built it."
"This is the tower Jellal deceived us into constructing for eight long years," Erza said bitterly.
For Erza, Sho, and the others, the moment carried no wonder—only resolve. Their faces hardened as they stared toward the peak of the tower, where they knew Jellal was waiting for them.
"Natsu, hey, look!" Happy's sharp eyes caught something unusual in the distance. "There are two Kaels!"
Still held tight in Millianna's loving arms (so he couldn't fly away), Happy pointed his tiny paw toward the left front slope where another Kael was walking toward them.
"Yo! Good to see you all again."
The second Kael smiled as he appeared before them, his voice calm and teasing.
"What—there really are two of him?!" Lucy blinked rapidly, staring back and forth between the two Kaels. "Cana, could he have a twin brother or something?"
Cana frowned, equally confused. "That can't be right. Kael never mentioned having a brother."
"Two Kaels?" Natsu bounded between them, crouching, jumping, peering close, even poking both of their arms. "They feel the same! What's going on!?"
"Natsu, stop playing around," Erza said firmly. "That's not another person. It's Kael's thought projection."
"Thought… projection?" Lucy echoed, blinking again.
Erza's eyes flickered as she recalled a similar incident—two Jellals existing at once. Understanding dawned on her, and her heart tightened. So that was the truth… Jellal had deceived her again.
"There's no time to explain," Kael said simply. "It's just magic. Let's settle this situation first."
Before anyone could ask more, the two Kaels merged into one, their bodies fusing in a flash of golden light.
A surge of energy rippled outward. Kael's magic power skyrocketed, the pressure forcing even Sho and Millianna to take a step back. His strength was overwhelming—divine.
"The rest of you handle the guards," Kael ordered. "I'll deal with Jellal myself. It's time to end this."
Golden light flared around him again, and in the next heartbeat, his body shot upward like a streaking comet, ascending toward the tower's peak.
Battle on the Island
"Who's there!?"
Armed guards poured out across the stone bridge, weapons gleaming, their faces grim as they confronted the invading mages.
"Attack! Intruders on the island!" the captain shouted, raising his staff.
Before Natsu or Gray could react, a flurry of explosions erupted among the guards, shaking the ground.
"Erza!" Sho called, stepping forward with determination. "Leave them to us. Be careful on your way up. Jellal has hired an assassin guild—Trinity Raven from the Skull Syndicate."
Sho, Millianna, Wally, and Simon each unleashed their magic, holding off the advancing soldiers to protect Fairy Tail's team. For them, this was redemption—a way to atone for their past sins.
Erza nodded. "I understand. Don't worry. This will all be over soon."
Twin blades of light flashed into her hands as she re-equipped, cutting a blazing path through the defenders. "Let's go!"
Natsu, Gray, Lucy, Cana, and Juvia followed her lead, charging toward the upper levels of the Tower.
At a branching hallway, Erza quickly divided the group into three teams for maximum coverage.
"Lucy, you go with Juvia. Cana, you're with me. Natsu, you and Gray are together. Move fast—each pair can handle one of the assassins."
Everyone nodded, splitting off toward their respective targets.
At the Tower's Summit
While the battles raged below, Kael stood silently before Jellal at the top of the tower. The two men faced each other, no words at first—only the sound of the waves crashing far beneath them.
Finally, Jellal spoke, his tone mocking. "Tch… The game I planned barely even started, and now it's already over."
He struck the chessboard before him with a sharp crack, sending the pieces scattering across the floor. Then, reclining casually in his chair, he stared at Kael with arrogant amusement.
"Jellal," Kael said coldly, a blade of radiant light forming in his hand. "You call this a game? You've been playing with people's lives. Living inside your own web of lies… does that truly make you happy?"
Jellal rose slowly, a faint smirk curling his lips. "Happy? Of course I am. Life and death—those are the ultimate emotions. All meaning comes from them. To me, human life itself… has no worth."
Dark magic oozed from his body, crawling up his arms in the shape of crimson runes. His aura pulsed with menace as he prepared for battle.
"Even now, you're still blinded by your madness," Kael muttered.
"Hah! Blinded? Don't make me laugh, Kael. The battle's just begun—let's see who survives in the end!"
"Meteor!"
Jellal's body erupted with black and golden light. He shot upward, accelerating like a meteor, and drove his fist straight toward Kael.
Kael caught it effortlessly with one hand. Then, with a swift turn, he kicked Jellal in the abdomen, sending him crashing into the crystalline wall behind him.
The impact shattered a section of the wall, revealing the glowing lacrima within.
"Tell me, Jellal," Kael said, his voice low. "This entire tower made of magic crystal—how much did it cost you to build it? Where did all that money come from?"
He didn't wait for an answer. Instead, he turned his gaze toward another Jellal standing by the wall—an illusion.
That copy dissolved into light, vanishing without a trace.
"You're overreaching, Kael," the real Jellal sneered. "That's none of your concern."
"Aren't you worried Erza and the others might defeat your assassin guild?"
Jellal laughed coldly. "Worried? Hardly. I know their strength better than you do. Even one of those assassins could handle all three at once. It's already over."
Kael didn't flinch. "We'll see about that."
In a flash, he vanished and reappeared beside Jellal, his sword slicing down. Jellal barely dodged, the blade carving a deep scar into the wall, its edges still glowing from the strike.
Jellal clutched his arm, blood trickling down. His swordsmanship… so fast… I couldn't even react.
"What's wrong?" Kael taunted lightly. "Still holding back? Where's your Heavenly Body Magic? Or are you afraid you'll destroy your precious tower of crystals?"
Jellal's eyes narrowed. "You want to see my true power? Fine… I'll show you."
He leapt high into the air, his body surrounded by spiraling light and darkness. Forming a hand seal, he roared:
"Heavenly Body Magic — Seven Stars Sword!"
The air trembled, the tower itself glowing as seven beams of celestial light formed around him—each one burning brighter than the last.
The battle for the Tower of Heaven had truly begun.