"Wow! Look at that!"
"We're actually going to see the moon destroyed with our own eyes!"
"Finally, we can go back to being human!"
The villagers crowded around, eyes wide with hope and anticipation as they stared up at Kael's massive figure.
"Destroying the moon…"
Lucy whispered, her voice trembling.
"Even if Kael is this strong, trying to hit the moon feels like a stretch, right?"
"Yeah," Gray added, his brow furrowed. "The moon is thousands of miles away. There's no way a physical attack can reach it."
Both of them were deeply uneasy. If Kael failed to deliver on his promise, they had no idea how they would explain it to the desperate villagers. Natsu and Happy, however, didn't share those worries.
"This is going to be awesome!"
Natsu shouted, slamming a fist into his palm.
"I'm all fired up!"
Kael, in the form of the legendary Whitebeard, finished gathering his strength. He planted his feet, twisted his torso, and drove a massive punch straight toward the glowing orb in the sky.
"—————!!"
CRACK! CRACK!
The air itself shattered like a mirror. A terrifying shockwave of pure vibration erupted from Kael's fist, screaming into the heavens.
BOOM!
Visible fractures appeared across the face of the moon.
"Ooooooh!!"
The villagers erupted in cheers, jumping and hugging one another.
"You've got to be kidding me!!"
Gray and Lucy yelled in unison, their jaws dropping. He was actually doing it—he was cracking the moon!
But it didn't stop there. The fractures didn't remain confined to the moon; they spread across the dark canvas of the night sky. In the blink of an eye, the entire firmament was covered in a web of shimmering cracks.
"The sky… the sky is cracking open!"
BANG!
The "sky" finally gave way. But instead of the world ending, the scene changed. The cracked layer peeled away, revealing a beautiful, pure white full moon hanging peacefully overhead. Gentle silver moonlight washed over the island.
Thousands of purple crystal fragments drifted down like glowing snow, glittering brilliantly under the real moonlight.
"What on earth is happening?"
Natsu muttered, blinking as a purple shard floated past his nose.
Phew!
Kael released his Take Over, shrinking back to his original size.
"It's exactly what it looks like," Kael said, catching his breath. "There was a massive layer of crystal hovering above this island—like a glass ceiling. It was a byproduct of Lyon and his team collecting moonlight for their ritual. When the moonlight passed through that purple crystal, it distorted the light. All I did was break the glass."
"But… they haven't changed back,"
Happy noted, pointing at the villagers. They still had horns, wings, and claws.
"Does that mean the curse is permanent?"
Kael shook his head and offered a faint smile.
"No, Happy. They've already returned to their original state. This is what they really look like. The purple moonlight didn't change their bodies—it confused their minds. It gave them false memories, making them believe they were humans who had been cursed."
Natsu looked baffled, but Lucy's face went pale. The realization hit her like a physical blow, and chills ran down her spine.
"No… no way…" she stammered.
Kael looked at her and gave a bright, knowing smile.
"That's right. They were demons to begin with."
"WHAT?!"
Natsu and the others froze. Lucy actually sank to the ground, her mind racing. She could deal with a curse, but living in a village of actual demons? That was another matter entirely.
"Is… is it true?"
Gray asked, turning to the nearest villager.
"I… I think so," the villager replied, staring down at his own claws. "It's all coming back to me now."
"Remember those ruins?"
Kael added.
"We thought there was a barrier keeping people out, but there wasn't. The ruins were simply filled with holy light. Dark creatures like demons can't stand to be near it, but humans can walk right in. That's why you guys couldn't go there."
Lucy looked up at Kael.
"Did you know this the whole time?"
"Not exactly," Kael replied. "I just noticed the crystal in the sky first, and I figured the rest out as we went along."
"This is amazing!"
A broad-shouldered demon shouted as he approached.
"Thank you, Wizards! You really saved us."
"Bo… Bobo…?"
The village chief gasped. It was his son—the one everyone believed had died.
"Wait, isn't that the guy who brought us here on the boat?" Lucy asked.
"But we thought you were killed!" Natsu added.
Bobo laughed heartily.
"Can a simple sword through the chest kill a demon? Not a chance! Once my memories came back, I realized how insane it was that we all thought we were human, so I left the island for a while to clear my head."
"Bobo!"
The village chief threw his arms around his son, tears of joy in his eyes.
"You're alive!"
"Dad, you're finally back to yourself!"
The fear that had gripped Natsu and the others quickly faded as they watched the demons celebrate. The joy of the reunion was infectious.
"Let's have a banquet!"
The chief shouted.
"A feast to celebrate our true selves!"
As music and dancing filled the village, the scene shifted to a tall tree in the distance. A woman in a striking white outfit sat on a high branch, watching the celebration through a glowing crystal ball.
"Did you see all of that?" she asked.
"I did," a voice replied through the crystal. "It's a shame about Deliora. If I could have controlled that demon, I'd be much closer to my goal."
"I'm sorry, Lord Siegrain,"
The woman—Ultear—said.
"I didn't expect Ur's magic to be so powerful that it would actually kill the beast over time."
"It's fine. I've always admired Ur's power. If she were alive today, she'd undoubtedly be one of the Ten Wizard Saints."
"You flatter her,"
Ultear said coldly.
"She was just a woman obsessed with magic—abandoned by everyone."
"Regardless,"
Siegrain continued, his tone sharpening.
"I didn't expect Kael to be quite this formidable. To see him use that form… his power is truly frightening."
Ultear nodded. She had seen Kael split the air with her own eyes.
"Fortunately, he has a clear weakness. The stronger the form he takes over, the faster his magic drains. He has overwhelming power, but very little endurance. If we wear him down in stages, he'll run out of steam eventually."
In a distant hall, Siegrain—one of the Ten Wizard Saints—brushed the emblem on his chest.
"A monster, is he? I only hope he doesn't get in my way. Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to remove him."