The other side's large ship might be equipped with some kind of Magic Tools, as we've been pursuing it for most of the night and still haven't caught up.
When they set out, the sun had already set, and now as they continue the chase, the distant sky is beginning to lighten.
Everyone can see the outline of mountains in the distance and a prominent shadow piercing the Cloud Realm.
Simon looked at that giant black shadow and said, "That's the Tower of Paradise."
Lucy exclaimed, "So tall!"
Simon replied, "Of course, because it's a thousand meters high."
A height of a thousand meters is equivalent to several hundred floors, about the height of two Oriental Pearls.
Just constructing it in eight years is already quite impressive, not to mention arranging Magic Arrays, Magic Crystals, and such during construction to form the R System.
It should be said, truly worthy of Zeref's fanatics.
Rhode calculated the route and distance traveled overnight and felt like he had crossed a national border.
Rhode recalled a map he had seen: "The Tower of Paradise is built near the Kai Arum Kingdom's coast?"
The Kai Arum Kingdom is a large island with a developed shipping industry, and it's said to have a formidable naval force, often clashing with the Mina Kingdom to its northeast.
However, the Fiore Kingdom is a neutral nation and trades with both countries.
It's just that this area is frequently troubled by pirates, and there's nothing outstanding in terms of scenery or specialties, and it's not a formal route designated by the three kingdoms, so few merchant ships pass through. Rare tourists come and go.
Plus, the mountains on the shore conceal the area, making it remote and uninhabited for miles, so when the Black Magic Sect chose to build the R System here, there was likely careful consideration.
However, regarding the geographical location, Simon couldn't provide an answer: "Because I haven't left since I was captured as a child, so I don't even know which country we're in."
Simon and his few companions have always lived in the Tower of Paradise, doing nothing but working, sleeping, and at most learning some Magic, without much concept of the outside world.
The information about Erza is likely something Jellal intentionally leaked to intensify their inner hatred.
If they were placed into society, their survival skills might only be slightly better than Rhode's when he first arrived.
"It doesn't really matter where we are; you should at least know how many people are in the tower, where Jellal is staying, and where the ritual is being held, right?"
"Ah, yes, besides Wally and Mirena, there were originally workers and several hundred guards in the tower."
"Originally?"
"Yes, just a few days ago, the workers were temporarily sent away. Jellal said too many people would interfere with the ritual."
"The ritual's official start time should be around noon tomorrow; at that time, the guards will also be asked to await Zeref's arrival beneath the tower."
That saves quite a bit of trouble, Rhode asked, "Are there surveillance Magic Crystals in the tower?"
"Yes, and many," Simon said, "Everything that happens in the tower is under Jellal's control."
"Good." Rhode asked, "How is everyone's Magic Power and stamina?"
Mira: "Already recovered."
Gray: "No problem!"
Natsu: "Ready for action anytime!"
Jubia: "Jubia will definitely help."
Lucy: "I... I'll do my best."
As they were about to enter the scouting range of the Tower of Paradise, Gray created a large platform out of ice, and Rhode summoned Void Nest Insects.
If in doubt, spawn troops first.
Jubia used Magic to create a one-way transparent water film to cover their tracks.
The plan for this operation was relatively simple, with Natsu leading the charge at the main entrance of the Tower of Paradise to attract as much attention as possible.
They excel at this sort of thing.
Simon would be used as a hostage, to see if they could exchange him for Hapi—Erza, on the other hand, the opposing side certainly wouldn't hand over, only Hapi.
As long as they could exchange for Hapi, it wouldn't matter if Simon could help persuade his companions to defect.
After all, they still had the worms to supplement their forces.
Rhode and Mira were responsible for flying into the air, infiltrating from the top or sides of the tower, finding Erza, and leaving. The task of tearing down the tower would be left to the worms and Vanguard.
The worst-case scenario anticipated was encountering Jellal before rescuing Erza.
Although Simon said that person was very strong, he didn't seem to have a concrete idea of how strong.
Rhode had no choice; Erza could be in danger at any moment, and no matter how strong the enemy was, they had to go in.
Even if it was one of the Ten Wizard Saints, he and Mira wouldn't be completely without the ability to resist.
As the Tower of Paradise grew nearer, Rhode extended his hand.
Mira placed her hand on the back of his hand, followed by Lucy, Natsu, Gray, and (with hearts in her eyes) Jubia.
"Fairy Tail..."
"Will prevail!"
Simon wiggled his bound hands, wishing to join in, but was too embarrassed to speak, and no one helped to untie him.
"Action." Rhode summoned a Golem, applied the Crown of Insight for himself and Mira, then summoned Shadow Wolf, as he needed to rely on its sense of smell to find Erza.
Mira embraced Rhode from behind, received Satan's Soul, flapped the wings on her back, and flew upwards carrying Rhode.
She probably avoided a princess carry to save Rhode some face in front of their companions.
Jubia added another layer of water film for the two, hoping to obscure them a bit longer, in hopes that in the air they'd be taken for strange birds.
"Charge!" Natsu tugged on the River Crab's tentacles, urging them quickly towards the shore.
The water film vanished, and the group directly landed on the island from the front.
From a distance, the Tower of Paradise looked like a strange giant tree covered in vines.
But upon closer inspection, it was clear that each 'vine' was a pipeline made of unknown materials, thicker than a person.
The entire island served as its 'roots,' with various pipelines covering the island, some intersecting and intertwining with no apparent order.
Such a massive structure, yet its appearance seemed like a careless joke, seemingly without planning. However, it did have a post-apocalyptic mechanical style.
Even though dawn hadn't yet broken, as soon as the small boat landed, lights from the island shone over, and the guards immediately spotted them, shouting, "Who goes there!"
They were both interrogating the strangers' identity and warning their companions.
Natsu couldn't wait and leaped ashore, shouting, "Give back Erza and Hapi!"
"Intruders! Intruders!"
The guards yelled, trying hard to gather their comrades.
The group that landed wasn't in a hurry to attack but allowed these people to gather.
Gray lagged behind his companions, placed his hand on the sea surface, and created an ice road that led straight to the ice platform where the three Nest Insects were located.
In less than ten minutes, over five hundred worms had been born. They hopped restlessly on the increasingly crowded platform, not daring to run around due to the queen insect's orders.
As soon as the ice road connected to the platform, the three queen insects roared up towards the sky, and the blue-purple worms happily jumped onto the ice road, charging towards the large, seemingly delicious building.
"I can't hold back any longer!" Natsu looked at the gathering enemies, bumped his fists together, puffed his cheeks, and shouted, "Fire Dragon's Roar!"
The firelight illuminated the night sky above the island, heralding the start of the battle.