Assassination has long been considered an unsporting form of combat, forbidden by the Senate for guilds. However, the allure of massive bounties often lures dark guilds, which ignore the rules and thrive in the shadows. The Skull and Bones Society, to which the Three Feathered Crows belong, is one such dark guild.
"Do you like rock and roll? Baby~!"The eagle, his sharp nails dancing over the guitar strings, screeched, creating a series of eerie notes that echoed through the air.
Ken's sensitive hearing caught the sound instantly, and a surge of anger rose within him. He might have tolerated the music if he were in a street performance, but there, in the heat of battle, it only grated on his nerves.
"If I remember correctly, his magic controls others, turning them into puppets through sound. I have to take him out first!" Ken's mind raced, and his body crackled with the power of thunder, ready to strike.
"So reckless? Is it my music that's driving you crazy?" the eagle sneered, strumming harder. The music's volume intensified, and a purple-black energy wave formed, hurling toward Ken.
But as the wave hit his chest, Ken vanished in a flash of golden light.
"Afterimage!? When...?" the eagle's face twisted in panic. At that moment, another surge of lightning slammed into the eagle.
"Boom!"The eagle, once so brash, was now nothing more than a smoldering pile of ash.
"Storm Dragon Wings!" Ken shouted, his wings unfurling as he soared into the air, scanning the battlefield.
The owl, seeing the threat, activated the rocket thruster strapped to his back and zipped through the sky.
"I almost forgot," Ken muttered. "This guy can fly, too."
The owl darted left and right in mid-air, staying out of Ken's range. Every time Ken moved in to strike, the owl evaded, frustrating Ken. He clenched his fists, his magic power building.
"There's a chance!" Ken thought as he locked onto the owl's mistake. Just as he prepared to strike, a sharp and deadly magic signature flared from below him.
"Moonless Flow: Yaksha Flashes in the Sky!"
Ikaruga, one of the Three Feathered Crows, delivered a devastating magical slash. Ken immediately formed a shield of rock to defend himself.
"The Cave Dragon's Shield!" A massive rock wall appeared, deflecting Ikaruga's blow. Despite the cracks that formed under the strain, the shield held firm.
Ken shifted his focus back to the owl, who was preparing another high-speed attack.
"The Assassination Guild... they never waste an opportunity to take down a target."
He grinned. "It's too bad you're a beat too slow."
In a heartbeat, Ken sidestepped the owl's desperate rush and countered with his own attack.
"Iron Dragon's Steel Fist!!"
The owl collided with Ken's iron-infused fist, and his body was sent plummeting to the lower floors of the tower.
With one enemy down, Ken turned to face Ikaruga, the last of the Three Feathered Crows. She stood with her long blade drawn, a confident smile on her face.
"Your slashes are fast," Ken said, "but it looks like all your power is channeled into that blade."
Ikaruga's smile widened. "I have no intention of holding back. You're strong, but I'll still defeat you."
"Bring it on."
"Wuyue Flow: Garuda Flash Flame!"
Ikaruga's slash tore through the air, releasing a torrent of flames toward Ken. But Ken had been anticipating this move. With a deep breath, he inhaled the firestorm, swallowing it whole.
Ikaruga's eyes widened in disbelief. "How... how did you...?"
Ken chuckled, the flames swirling inside him, increasing his power.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Strike!!"
Ken surged forward, his arm wrapped in intense fire, and clashed with Ikaruga's sword. The explosion of magical energy sent shockwaves through the tower.
Ikaruga's blade cracked under the pressure, and within moments, it shattered, leaving her wide-eyed and helpless.
"Victory," Ken muttered as Ikaruga fell to the ground, defeated.
But before he could take another step toward the tower's peak, a familiar magic signature reached his senses.
"Was Jellal's missing body just outside the tower...?" Ken whispered.
Suddenly, a familiar magic power surged from behind, and Ken realized someone was about to strike. Halfway through activating his Iron Skin defense, he felt another, more familiar power approach.
He hesitated, his body still exposed.
"Court death!" The voice of Jellal's missing body sneered, and a blast of meteor magic shot at Ken's back.
But just before the magic could strike, a figure leapt out and raised a shield, blocking the blow.
"Erza!?" The missing body's eyes widened in shock.
Erza stood tall, clad in silver-white diamond armor—its defensive magic a force to be reckoned with. She had once blocked the Phantom Lord's Magic Convergence Cannon in a fierce guild battle.
Erza sighed. "It's really annoying. Don't you know how to defend yourself?"
Ken chuckled, relief flooding him. "I knew you'd come. I didn't think it would happen so soon, though."
Ken's eyes sparkled as he glanced at Jellal's retreating form.
"I was just about to go up and take care of him," Ken said, already gathering his strength.
Erza pulled on Ken's arm, stopping him. "Go back. I'll deal with Jellal myself."
Ken blinked. "What? You want to face him alone?"
Before Erza could respond, the two received a sudden message:
"Welcome to the Tower of Paradise, you two. I am Jellal, the ruler here."
"The dark ritual only needs one living sacrifice, but if you're willing, come up to the top. The Council's magical forces will be here soon, but one sacrifice is all I need. As for the other... they will be buried with him."
The message cut off abruptly.
Ken casually picked his ear. "Shall we go? We can go up together."
Erza gave him a hard look, annoyed. "Didn't you hear Jellal's warning?"
Ken shrugged, unfazed. "Well, we were on a ship earlier, so it wasn't easy to use dragon-slaying magic to fight. But we're partners, right? I'm not letting you face this alone."
Erza hesitated for a moment, biting her lip, before finally conceding.
Ken grinned. "Don't worry. No one here is going to die."
With that, the two of them took to the skies, heading straight toward the Tower of Paradise's summit, where Jellal awaited.
==================================================================Next Chapter : The Tower of Paradise - Storm of Lightning and Flame