Standing on the deck, the dark tower in the distance reached into the sky, its looming presence sending a wave of unease through Ken. The area around him was brightly lit, countless moving light spots in the distance. It wasn't until he looked closer that he realized it was a heavily armed night patrol.
There were thousands of them.
"Is it finally here...?" Ken muttered, narrowing his eyes. The wings of the Storm Dragon unfurled quietly on his back, and in a moment, his body shot forward.
On the shore, the patrols quickly spotted Ken's figure and immediately raised the warning signal.
"Enemy spotted! Prepare to fire!!"
A volley of dense gunfire and magic-enhanced bullets rained down on him.
Ken gathered all his focus on the wings of the Storm Dragon, flapping them vigorously. The wind surged outward like an impenetrable barrier, deflecting the attacks. Bullets lost their momentum and splashed harmlessly into the sea.
The garrison captain, unaware of Ken's shield, assumed the attack wasn't strong enough. He barked orders more frantically.
"Fire! Fire!!"
Ken smirked, weaving through the hail of bullets. Rather than rushing directly toward the Tower, he flew in circles, testing his enemies.
The captain, confident his attacks were weakening Ken, raised his voice in command.
"He won't have the strength to keep flying! Aim carefully and fire harder!"
Each time Ken soared, he drew part of his magic into the ocean below. The surface of the water began to churn violently, whipped up by the combined power of his dragon-slaying magic.
Ken grinned, sensing the moment was right.
"It's time to try something new."
With a sudden flick of his arm, he called out,
"Water Dragon's Tide!"
In an instant, the waves surged into the sky, roaring like a massive beast. It was a violent flood, a terrifying tsunami with jaws wide open, ready to devour everything in its path.
"Sea... Tsunami!?" one of the guards gasped, wide-eyed in horror.
The enormous wall of water crashed down with a deafening roar, sweeping the patrols away as if they were nothing more than sand. The shoreline was transformed, leaving only the Tower of Paradise standing.
But Ken paid no attention to the damage caused. His goal had always been the same—reaching Jellal at the top of the Tower and stopping the core mechanism of the Paradise Tower.
At the same time, at the top of the Tower of Paradise.
In the dimly lit room, barely any light illuminated the surroundings. A lone figure stood, gazing down upon the events unfolding below.
The blue-haired young man smiled cruelly as he watched Ken's approach. His expression was filled with a strange mix of confidence and amusement.
"It seems the ceremony is finally about to begin... but this fool has no idea how outmatched he is."
The young man, none other than Jellal, watched Ken's relentless advance with a calculating gaze.
He sneered as he observed the tower's defense crumble beneath the power of the Water Dragon's Tide.
"Such power... those fools still haven't brought Erza back, have they? It's almost time. Perhaps... using this pesky magician as a living sacrifice will do. After all, he's strong enough."
He turned toward the shadows of the room, his voice dripping with malicious intent.
"Trinity Raven, the plan's changed. Ambush the flying magician on the second floor. Do not fail."
Three figures stepped from the darkness, their faces masked and expressions cold.
"Understood, Master Jellal."
Outside the Tower.
Ken, still riding on the wings of the Storm Dragon, felt a sudden surge of magic below him.
His instincts flared as he narrowly dodged to the side.
"Boom!!"
The area where he had been moments before erupted in a flash of magical energy. Ken's eyes narrowed as he saw the figure of a young man standing at the foot of the tower.
A handsome face, but one marred by a cruel scarlet mark on the right side—Jellal.
"Jellal..." Ken's fists clenched tightly, his anger flaring. The man who had caused so much pain in Erza's life stood before him, and Ken's resolve hardened.
"Why is Jellal here, alone? This should be the critical moment for the Tower of Paradise ceremony. He's one of the Ten Holy Mages... he should be using clones to misdirect me, not coming out here in person."
Ken's senses heightened as something didn't feel right. He quickly deduced that the figure of Jellal below him might not be the real one but a clone designed to divert his attention.
He made up his mind instantly—leaving Jellal to his tricks, Ken soared toward the tower's peak.
"If I can reach the center of the Tower of Paradise, the real Jellal will show himself. He'll have no choice but to reveal himself."
With a roar, Ken summoned his magic.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!!"
A massive fireball crashed against the magical barrier of the tower, cracking it open with incredible force.
Ken pushed forward, smashing through the door and entering the tower.
But as soon as he stepped inside, the world around him blurred.
His magic surged uncontrollably, trying to stabilize his senses.
The tower's interior seemed to shift as if he had been pulled into an illusion. The space ahead of him was not the tower's summit but the second floor.
"This is a trick... an illusion," Ken muttered, realizing he had been pulled into a defensive mechanism set up by Jellal.
Just as Ken processed the situation, a voice echoed in his ears.
"Too bad, young magician from Fairy Tail. No one who has ever been targeted by the Trinity Raven from the Assassins' Guild Death's Head Caucus has left alive."
Ken's eyes darted upward. Three figures stood before him: one with long hair and a guitar, another wearing an owl hood, and the last, a woman carrying a long knife.
"The Trinity Raven..." Ken muttered, recognizing the notorious assassination guild.
His fingers sparked with magic, and his fighting spirit ignited.
"Guess I'll push through the way I always do. You three can come at me together!"
==================================================================Next Chapter: Tower of Paradise: Clash of the Dragon Slayers