The news of the terrorist attack during the Guild Masters' meeting spread across the Kingdom of Fiore like wildfire, within hours.
It was the first time anyone had dared to target the powerful guild masters with such audacity. A strike no one saw coming.
The name "Tyrant" resurfaced once again, and only now did the people of Fiore learn that the infamous "Tyrant" of Ishgar was, in fact, a member of Fairy Tail. This revelation sent shockwaves throughout the nation.
In an unprecedented move, the Magic Council praised Fairy Tail, letting Kael off the hook for the destruction he caused. What's more, the Council covered all the damages from the battle. A shocking turn of events.
Truth be told, Kael felt somewhat embarrassed. With his skills, he could have easily boarded the train, pulled off a flawless heist, and handed over the Eisenwald members to the military at the next stop. A perfect operation.
But when he activated Take Over and took on the form of Fushiguro Toji, something inside him stirred. It was as though another personality had awakened. He lost control, and even he didn't know what he'd do next.
It wasn't just with Toji. Every time he used Take Over to assume another character, it left a subtle mark on him—like an imprint on his very soul.
At that moment, Lucy sat at her desk, writing a letter. She was recording everything that had happened—big and small—since joining Fairy Tail.
Overall, Lucy felt immense gratitude. Joining Fairy Tail had been the best decision she'd ever made. She had formed bonds with so many wonderful friends.
Suddenly—
A small blue cat burst through her window, frantic, its tiny wings flapping desperately.
"It's bad!! Lucy!! Natsu's in serious trouble!!"
"What?!!" Lucy's expression changed in an instant, panic spreading across her face.
"What happened?! He was fine earlier! His body's tougher than a monster's—how could something like this happen?!"
"It's motion sickness. He got hit with it so many times yesterday, now he can't recover! He's on the brink! Come on, you need to see this!"
"Motion sickness did him in?!"
Lucy had never heard of anyone dying from motion sickness… though, to be fair, when you're caught in its grip, it feels like death. Yesterday, Natsu had been on a train, then a wildly speeding Magic Four-Wheeler, followed by a bumpy carriage ride. He hadn't stepped off a vehicle all day.
"Okay! Let's go!!"
Lucy didn't hesitate. She followed Happy immediately, and soon they arrived in front of a house.
"Natsu!! Are you okay—"
Lucy swung the door open, rushing inside.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Tiny party fireworks exploded, confetti showering her as if the world itself was celebrating.
Lucy froze, blinking in confusion.
Inside, a crowd had gathered—guildmates she recognized, all familiar faces. What… what was going on?
Levy flashed a bright smile at her, holding a cup of something in her hand.
"Hey, Lucy! Welcome to Fairy Tail! This is your official welcome party!"
"A welcome party?"
Lucy's voice faltered, caught off guard.
"Yep! It's a tradition here at Fairy Tail. When you first joined, we didn't know you well, but now that we do, of course we had to throw a party for you!"
Lucy's face softened, her eyes lighting up with a mixture of surprise and gratitude.
"Everyone…"
"Hmph! A welcome party, huh? If it really were one, why not hold it somewhere else? You guys just want an excuse to freeload," Kael remarked bluntly, exposing them for what they were.
That's right. This was Kael's house. The guildmates had used Lucy's "welcome party" as an excuse to crash at his place and raid his fridge.
Cana laughed, holding a barrel of booze, clearly unbothered.
"Everyone's just used to coming here! Besides, where else can we find such a spacious and peaceful place to hang out?"
Mirajane chuckled, her voice light.
"Now, now. Let's not nitpick. As long as everyone's happy, it's all good!"
"Party!!"
Everyone cheered, raising their glasses in unison.
The house buzzed with energy. Kael's earlier comments didn't phase them. Thick-skinned as always, they knew he didn't really mind. In fact, it was often Kael who initiated these gatherings.
The atmosphere grew more electric. People were showing off talents, performing tricks, singing, and laughing. The joy was infectious. Lucy, for the first time in her life, was completely caught up in it, feeling like she truly belonged.
And just as the energy reached its peak—
Erza suddenly stood up.
Swish!
Without warning, she pulled a longsword with her Requip. The blade shimmered in the light, and with a practiced motion, she sent it flying into the air, catching it expertly.
It landed with a loud thunk in the floor, inches from Kael's feet.
Her eyes met his—intense, unwavering.
"Kael, fight me. Let's settle this once and for all!"
The room fell deathly quiet.
Kael, unfazed, calmly reached down and pulled the sword from the floor.
"If that's what you want, then let's do it."
There was no hesitation in his voice. Truth be told, he had been itching to test his skills against Erza's once again.
Boom!!
A shockwave of excitement rippled through the crowd.
"OHHHHHHH!!"
"Kael versus Erza!!"
"It's been so long since we've seen this!!"
"This is insane!!"
"I'm fired up now!!"
Everyone erupted into a frenzy. A duel between two S-Class Mages was the stuff of legends.
"N-no way…?! Those two?! Are they serious?!"
Lucy's eyes widened, a mixture of awe and worry on her face.
Kael and Erza—those were the strongest people she'd met since joining Fairy Tail. If they fought, wouldn't it shake the very earth itself?
Elfman crossed his arms, a grin spreading across his face.
"Of course it's serious. A man doesn't hold back in a real fight!!"
Mirajane smiled gently.
"Erza's a woman, you know."
"A monster of a woman."
Gray grinned.
"If we're talking monsters, Kael is the real one."
He remembered how Kael had already displayed S-Class power when he first joined. And since then, his strength had only grown, becoming more terrifying with each passing day.
Elfman added eagerly,
"A clash of monsters! This is going to be epic!"
"I don't want this!! I don't want to see either of them lose!!"
Lucy squeezed her eyes shut, waving her hands as if she could block the fight from happening.
Gray raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
"Wow, she's surprisingly pure-hearted."
But the duel was inevitable. Nothing could stop it now.
The crowd quickly parted, making space for the two of them to battle freely.
Kael looked at Erza.
"When was the last time we fought?"
Erza's voice was calm but serious.
"Half a year ago. You beat me with a single strike. It was perfect—one sword. That battle taught me a lot."
It had been after completing an SS-Class mission. Erza had challenged him, and Kael had effortlessly defeated her with Take Over using Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
That battle had shocked the entire guild. They knew Kael was strong, but they never imagined he was that strong.
Since then, Erza had dedicated herself to perfecting her swordsmanship. Every day, without rest.
"Do you think you can beat me now?"
Erza's voice carried a mixture of resolve and challenge.
"No… but I want to see just how wide the gap between us still is."