"Mest... I believe in you. You'll lead this kingdom to a new height."
"From here on... this world is in your hands!"
The voice echoed suddenly inside Mest's mind, halting his steps as he walked through the ruins of the royal capital.
"Hey—look! They're floating!"
"What's happening!?"
"Are they the cause of this?!"
The townspeople stared, wide-eyed, as Kael and the others began to rise slowly into the air. Uneasy murmurs rippled through the crowd. Panic turned to anger, and suspicion filled their eyes.
"It's their doing!" someone shouted. "They're the ones who destroyed our kingdom!"
Glaring and fearful, people turned on Kael and his friends. Some picked up stones, ready to throw.
Fairy Tail's members—Natsu, Wendy, Erza, and the others—tried to speak, but to their horror, they couldn't move. Not even their mouths could open. Their gazes shifted toward Kael, desperate for understanding.
Kael only smiled faintly. Then, suddenly—he laughed.
"Hahaha! From now on, the magic of this world belongs to us!"
Dark energy flared around him. A cloak formed from black light, rippling behind him. A shadowed mask covered his face. In the reflected glow, he looked every bit the villain.
The crowd gasped in horror. Their fear turned to rage.
"Monster!"
"Go to hell, you fiend!"
"Die, Prince Mest!" Kael roared.
He lifted his right hand—black energy condensed, forming countless dark arrows. With a single motion, he unleashed them all toward Mest.
BOOM!
Buildings shattered, the ground quaked—but not a single civilian was harmed. The precision of the attack left everyone stunned.
"It's the prince!" someone cried.
"The prince protected us!"
"Long live the prince!"
"Down with that demon!"
Cheering and fear tangled together as the citizens hurled stones toward Kael's direction, unaware of the truth.
Amid the smoke, Mest stood unharmed, protected by a glowing magic barrier. His expression was heavy—not from fear, but sorrow.
In his mind, Kael's voice echoed again—clear, solemn, resolute.
At the same moment, everyone heard it—Natsu, Wendy, Gajeel, Laxus, and even the Fairy Tail guild far below.
Kael's words carried across worlds.
They all understood. His purpose was clear now.
The laughter, the mask, the villain's act—it was all part of his farewell.
Kael's voice deepened.
"Fairy Tail's farewell ceremony begins now. Remember these three rules, Mest!"
"First— Never, ever spread any word that harms Fairy Tail."
"Second— Never use past missions for selfish gain."
"Third— Even if your path diverges from ours... live with courage. Cherish your life, and never forget the friends you love."
Mest repeated each word softly under his breath. His head bowed, and tears slipped from his eyes.
Beside him, Wendy brushed her cheeks, eyes glistening.
"Understood?" Kael's voice came again, gentle this time.
"As long as you remember the spirit of Fairy Tail, there's nothing you can't do."
Then his tone sharpened.
"Now, show your people the strength of their prince... Mest!"
Kael's eyes flashed. His body shot forward like a black comet.
"I'll take your prince with me—die!"
Black light blazed around his fist as he swung at Mest.
"Prince! Watch out!"
"No, please don't!"
The people screamed, unable to comprehend what was truly happening.
"I understand," Mest whispered quietly.
In an instant, his arm turned dark—the color of hardened Armament magic. With a sharp snap, he caught Kael's punch midair.
Before he could even exert strength, Kael screamed theatrically,
"Ahh! My hand!"
The dark energy around his fist shattered in a brilliant flash, convincing the onlookers that their prince had overpowered the monster.
Cheers erupted across the capital.
Kael grinned beneath the mask.
"Farewell, Mest. I hope we meet again someday."
Mest's expression softened.
"You're really putting on a show... Tell the old man I said hi."
He clenched his other fist—coated it with Armament—and drove it into Kael's stomach.
Kael flew backward, crashing through a row of houses, the impact shaking the air.
"Ha... you didn't have to actually hit me," Kael murmured with a weak laugh.
His body, now free of any restraint, floated gently upward, his form glowing brighter as it began to fade.
The crowd below erupted in joy.
"The prince won!"
"Long live the prince!"
"He's amazing!"
Cheers rose like waves.
Kael looked down, smiling faintly at the people, at his friends—at the family he had found in another world.
"Farewell, Erza," his voice whispered directly into her heart. "You're stronger than you think... Mest will need you."
Erza froze, eyes wide. Her mind flashed back to all the moments Mest had stood between her and danger, silently protecting her.
Without a word, she lifted her Holy Lance—then hurled it skyward.
The weapon pierced through Kael's chest.
He stopped midair, exhaling softly. "Heh… good throw."
With a faint smile, he sent his magic surging into the spear, infusing it with light—ensuring it, too, would travel with him into the next world.
Fairy Tail's members fell silent. None dared move closer to Erza.
Lucy covered her mouth, then suddenly smiled through her tears, waving toward the glowing sky.
Lisanna, sobbing quietly, waved too from Mira and Elfman's arms.
"Goodbye, everyone... I love you all!"
Above them, Carla and Happy fluttered their wings, waving excitedly.
"Wendy! Natsu!" they cried.
Pantherlily stood beside Mest, meeting his gaze for a long moment—both silently acknowledging their farewell.
Farther away, the two mischievous Exceed brothers, Tami and Shimi, were not so lucky. Their aunt and uncle were chasing them through the air, broomsticks in hand.
"You two have gotten bold—sneaking off to the human world again?!"
"Uncle, please! We're sorry!"
"Auntie, help us!"
Their pleas went ignored. The broom whistled threateningly as it came down on them, the blows echoing comically through the sky.
Watching it all, Kael couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Then came the light.
A blinding radiance swallowed the sky as Kael and the others rose higher and higher, their bodies turning to pure energy.
And then—
They were gone.
Vanished through the glowing rift, leaving behind only silence… and hope.
...
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