The air around the canyon grew heavy—an unnatural silence before the storm.
Dust settled over the wrecked train. The Lullaby flute, cracked and pulsing with dark light, floated in midair. The wood twisted and groaned like it was alive, splintering into grotesque roots.
A shrill, warped sound tore through the air—a scream disguised as a melody.
The flute's body expanded, splitting apart as black magic poured out. The earth shook.
Erza's eyes widened. "It's awakening…"
Kael stepped forward, air magic rippling around his boots. "Everyone, stay back."
The light exploded.
A massive shadow burst forth, blotting out the moon.
Where the flute once lay, a gargantuan wooden demon rose—a monstrous creature with roots for legs and a face carved from twisted oak. Its hollow eyes glowed purple. Vines crept across its limbs, pulsing with magic power.
The air itself screamed.
Cana's flask dropped from her hand. "That… that's not a flute anymore."
Gray clenched his fists, frost coiling around him. "Zeref's demon… Lullaby." His voice dropped to a growl. "Just seeing it makes my blood boil."
Erza re-equipped instantly, black wings unfolding from her back.
Black Wing Armor shimmered with crimson light. "Then we destroy it here and now."
---
The demon's hollow mouth opened. A Magic Seal glowed within.
Kael's eyes widened. "Incoming! Get clear!"
A blinding beam of light tore through the canyon, slicing straight through the mountainside. The explosion destroyed stones, shaking the entire valley. The wind pressure sent trees flying, and the Royal Army stationed nearby turned tail, terrified.
Gray whistled between breaths. "It just blew up half a mountain…"
Cana gritted her teeth. "And scared off the army. Perfect. Now it's just us."
Kael's expression hardened. "Then that's all it needs to be."
---
Kael took to the air in a spiral, using Air Steps to circle above. "Gray, lock its roots! Cana, disrupt its core! Erza, you're with me on the upper flank!"
Erza nodded, wings flaring. "Understood!"
Gray slammed both palms to the ground. "Ice-Make: Prison!"
Ice spikes erupted, crawling up Lullaby's legs, freezing the wooden tendrils mid-swing.
The demon bellowed, cracking the ice with brute force—but it slowed just enough.
Cana threw her cards, each glowing a fiery red. "Explosive Draw!"
They detonated against its chest, blasting chunks of wood away and exposing a glowing sigil within.
Kael shot downward, air pressure building beneath his palms. "Compressed Air: Air Cannon!"
A burst of wind slammed into the sigil, staggering the demon backward.
Erza followed, descending from above with her sword gleaming black. "Black Wing Strike!"
Her blade tore through Lullaby's shoulder, black feathers scattering in the air.
The demon roared, staggering—but not defeated. Its hollow chest pulsed like a heart.
It swung an arm the size of a house, smashing through the cliffside.
Kael reacted instantly, throwing up both palms. "Vacuum Zone!"
The air pressure vanished, canceling the impact wave.
Still, the force sent him tumbling through the air.
He caught himself midfall, boots skidding on invisible air platforms. "It's got power to match its size…"
Erza joined him, panting slightly. "Then we don't give it time to recover. Push forward!"
Gray leapt up, forming two massive spears of ice. "Ice-Make: Lance Barrage!"
He hurled them straight into Lullaby's mouth, shattering the glowing seal before it could charge another beam.
The explosion rippled inside the demon's throat. It howled, staggered, and collapsed to one knee.
Kael didn't hesitate. He pressed both palms together, air condensing until the space between his hands hummed violently. "Erza! Give me an opening!"
Erza nodded, darting forward and slashing across Lullaby's chest. "Now, Kael!"
He thrust his palms outward—
"Compressed Air: Atomic Wave!"
A half-circle shockwave burst from his hands, sweeping across the battlefield in a 180° arc. The compressed air exploded on impact, tearing through Lullaby's chest. The sound echoed like a thunderclap across the canyon.
The demon's body split apart, roots writhing as dark magic erupted from within.
Lullaby shrieked—a deep, distorted sound that wasn't a song, but a scream of rage and agony.
Its limbs turned to ash. The glowing runes across its body flickered, one by one.
Kael landed, breathing hard, blood running down his arm.
Erza dropped beside him, armor cracked but unyielding.
"Is it over?"
Gray lowered his hands, ice melting off his knuckles. "No demon could survive that."
Cana kicked a smoking root. "If it can, it deserves to live just for trying."
The ground pulsed once, then fell still. The Lullaby demon collapsed, its body disintegrating into fragments of dark wood that crumbled into the wind.
Kael exhaled deeply, sweat dripping from his jaw. "It's done."
---
Clover Town's morning sun rose bright and calm. The chaos of the night before felt distant now.
Inside the Council's meeting hall, Fairy Tail's most destructive team stood before Makarov—who looked far too smug for the situation.
"So," he said, crossing his arms with a grin, "you defeated one of Zeref's demons, saved the Council, and destroyed half a canyon in the process. I'm not sure should I be proud I could cry or scold you for destroying half of the canyon."
Cana muttered, "You did cry. Twice."
Gray smirked. "He also bragged to the Council that we're the strongest team in the guild."
Makarov turned red. "And I was right to do so!" He puffed up proudly. "Team Scarlet Heal—truly the pride of Fairy Tail!"
Kael rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, Gramps, we kind of leveled a mountain…"
Makarov waved it off. "Collateral damage builds character!"
Erza sighed. "Master, that's… not how that works."
---
The Council members—visibly annoyed but too grateful to argue—handed over the official recognition scroll.
Cana accepted it with a grin. "Guess we're heroes now."
Gray leaned against the wall. "I'll take the title if it means we get a bonus."
Makarov blinked innocently. "A bonus? Oh, yes, I'll get right on that."
Kael narrowed his eyes. "You said that last time."
"Exactly! Consistency is important in leadership."
---
When the team stepped through the guild doors, the entire hall exploded in cheers.
"Team Scarlet Heal's back!"
"They beat a demon!"
"Kael leveled a mountain!"
Food and drinks flew instantly. Someone threw a barrel of ale, which promptly exploded against the ceiling.
Kael blinked. "Did… someone just throw an entire barrel?"
Gray laughed. "Welcome home, man."
Erza smiled faintly. "It's good to see everyone safe."
Cana raised her flask. "To us—Team Scarlet Heal!"
"TO FAIRY TAIL!" the guild roared back.
---
Within five minutes, chaos ruled.
Natsu sulked in the corner, pouting. "They got to fight a demon without me…"
Happy tried to cheer him up. "Aye, sir! You'll blow something up next time!"
Kael laughed as food flew past him. "I can't tell if this is a celebration or a warzone."
Gray smirked. "Both"
Erza was already enforcing order—by decking a drunk mage through a table. "Respect the tables!"
Cana toasted again. "To the strongest team in Fairy Tail!"
Kael raised his glass with a grin. "And to our poor, destroyed mountains!"
Laughter erupted again.
Makarov stood atop the counter, ale in hand, tears streaming down his cheeks. "My children… you make this old man proud!"
"Put him down before he passes out again," Gray muttered.
---
As the night wound down, the guild grew quieter.
Kael sat near the window, watching the lanterns outside sway with the wind.
Cana leaned beside him, voice softer than usual. "You did good, Kael."
He smiled faintly. "We all did. Lullaby's gone. No one got hurt."
She chuckled. "You sound like a real hero."
He glanced at her, teasing. "You worried about me again? You'll really make people think you like me."
Cana flicked his forehead, smirking. "Keep dreaming, Keal."
He laughed, looking up at the stars. "Yeah… maybe I will."
Outside, the wind carried the faintest whisper—a calm breeze, not a song of death, but one of peace.
For now, Fairy Tail could rest.