Nirvana was, in name, a form of super magic. In practice, though, it was closer to a mobile ancient city. It stood on six thick, octopus like tentacles that supported its city sized body.
"Whoa, this thing's a lot bigger than I pictured."
Kabe, along with Brain and the others, was carried up into the sky by the awakened Nirvana. Standing on a platform that resembled an altar, looking down at the long abandoned, crumbling ancient city below, Kabe's brow furrowed, his expression tinged with distaste.
"Only real flaw is it's kind of ugly. Otherwise, a mobile city this ridiculous, give it a fresh coat of paint and I could've turned it into my own private plaything."
Brain, leaning on his staff, came to stand beside him, shoulder to shoulder. Hearing this, he let out a light chuckle rather than taking offense.
"The mechanical body is just Nirvana's vessel. Its true core is the ancient super magic it carries within. So, have you decided who you'll reverse first? I'd be happy to let you have the first turn."
Brain was still holding onto the hope of cooperating with him as they spoke. But as far as Kabe was concerned, the pleasant, easygoing part of the conversation had already run its course. He turned to face Brain, looking him over from head to toe.
"You know, sometimes I really can't figure out why you villain types always carry around this mysterious, baseless confidence."
Even as he said this, Brain's expression didn't change on the surface. But behind that calm mask, without the slightest hesitation, he'd already readied a surprise burst of dark magic, aimed straight at Kabe's skull.
"Rhapsody of Eternal Darkness!!"
He was, of course, never foolish enough to trust Kabe unconditionally. The reason he'd waited until now to strike was twofold: first, to let Nirvana fully awaken, and second, because he genuinely wanted to try pulling Kabe over to his side. But since Kabe clearly had no interest in joining his grand cause, there was no point wasting any more breath on him.
But though his attack was sudden, Kabe's reaction was even faster than he'd expected. The instant Brain's spell left his hand, the sole of Kabe's foot was already pressed against his cheek. Like a soccer ball, Brain went flying off the altar with a single kick, sailing past the ancient city, past the mechanical tentacles, tracing a perfect arc through the air before crashing down into the forest below.
Once it was done, Kabe turned and gave a small smile to Cobra and the others, all of whom stood frozen, completely unable to process what had just happened.
"I held back, for the record. Ultear and Sorano would probably rather kill this guy with their own hands than have me do it for them."
"Impossible, how did you do that!"
Cobra activated his gift.
"Why can't I hear a single thought in your head?"
Besides being a second generation Dragon Slayer implanted with a Dragon Slayer Lacrima, Cobra also had a unique Sound Magic ability that let him hear other people's thoughts and feelings. But the ability he'd always taken such pride in had gone completely dead against Kabe. Neither when they'd first met nor when Kabe had just struck had he sensed a single thing in advance.
"So your magic's not working, and you expect me to know why?"
Kabe looked at him like he was looking at an idiot. He'd honestly forgotten Cobra had this particular trick and hadn't guarded against it at all. Ignoring Cobra's sour expression, he stretched out his hands and tilted his chin at the group.
"So which is it, you three? Want me to throw you off myself, or are you going to crawl off on your own and go be sparring partners for my friends?"
"This arrogant bastard, who does he think we are, the Six Demon Generals!"
Racer, dressed in his motorcycle racing suit and wind goggles, couldn't stand Kabe's arrogance a second longer. The moment he spoke, he vanished on the spot, breaking apart into a blur of afterimages as he rushed toward him.
"You bastard, even if you're one of Ishgar's Four Heavenly Kings, the strongest man in this world, in front of my world's fastest speed, you're going to stand there and be my target whether you like it or not!"
With that, Racer began circling Kabe in classic fashion, trying to bewilder him with sheer speed before finding an opening to strike. After watching this fool circle him a few times, Kabe simply looked away, shooting Cobra, Hoteye, and Midnight a thoroughly unimpressed glance.
"Has this guy always been this much of an idiot? That speed's barely faster than a granny with a cane, and he calls himself the fastest in the world?"
Cobra and the others were so cowed by Kabe's fearless composure that none of them dared say a word. Only Racer, unable to stomach the contempt, let out a furious roar and lunged at him from the side.
"Shut up! Don't you dare question my speed!"
Facing Racer, now completely past reason and charging straight at him, Kabe simply tilted his head and reached out with pinpoint precision, seizing him by the throat. From Cobra and the others' point of view, it looked for all the world as though Racer had foolishly run headfirst straight into Kabe's outstretched hand all on his own.
"Argh, l-let go."
Racer's face flushed red as he pounded and clawed uselessly at Kabe's arm. But Kabe's grip held firm like an iron band, and no matter how hard Racer struggled or thrashed, it didn't loosen in the slightest.
"I know all about your backgrounds, every one of you. Just like Erza and Sorano, you were victims of the Tower of Heaven. For that reason alone, I won't kill you. But you won't be getting off without whatever punishment is necessary. First, go be sparring partners for my companions. I've got other plans for you after that."