After passing through the lifeless sea area, a tall, slender structure standing on the ocean surface soon appeared in their field of vision.
The tower's base was a small island. It gradually tapered as it rose upward, reaching nearly a kilometer in height. The exterior was composed of thick, old, rusted pipes winding around it like a giant vine made of steel, filled with all kinds of debris and waste.
Rather than saying it had a unique design, it was more accurate to describe it as something haphazardly stacked together by amateurs. It had no architectural beauty whatsoever.
"So that's the Tower of Heaven? It doesn't match its name at all. I was expecting something like an amusement park."
Dark Magician Girl had emerged early. She hovered beside Guardian of the Fortress in mid-air, surrounded by the pink glow of her flight magic.
Space for three people was just too cramped. She hadn't sat on Guardian of the Fortress's back.
"Its real name is the R-System. And besides, I think this design is pretty interesting~" Mira said with a smile, sizing up the structure on the water.
Her serious expression made it clear she wasn't joking.
"Ah ha, ahaha. Mira-nee's taste is as unique as ever..." Dark Magician Girl scratched her head and laughed awkwardly.
Even though she was a practitioner who had been exposed to black magic all year round, she preferred cute, pink things.
"Mira. Ready to cause some mayhem?"
Chase slowly stood up. Surging fighting spirit appeared in his eyes.
The dark cape, which had been bundled by her broad chest, immediately stretched, fluttering in the cold wind of the high altitude.
Around him floated the Book of Secret Arts, Pot of Greed, and other buff magic cards, bringing his status to maximum.
"Yes! We can start anytime!" Mira stood up as well.
CRACKLE!
A magic circle crackling with electric arcs emitted dark purple beams. By the time they faded, Mira had already completed her standard Satan Soul Take Over, exuding a mocking, evil aura.
"Then let's give our enemies a warm summoning greeting, my comrades!"
Chase raised his right arm high. The card pinched between his index and middle fingers emitted a brilliant glow.
Guardian of the Fortress instantly understood its master's intent. Letting out a low roar, it flapped its wings and dove toward the Tower of Heaven.
BOOM!!
A blue streak of light crossed the sky and landed at the base of the Tower of Heaven, kicking up a huge cloud of dust and shaking the entire island!
Debris mixed with gravel continuously fell. The huge commotion startedled both the guards and the laborers inside the tower.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Everyone, prepare for battle!!"
Guards near the entrance immediately gathered.
They wore uniform dark-toned armor. Their weapons gleamed coldly. The eyes hidden beneath their steel helmets were fierce and bloodthirsty.
Most of these men were fanatical believers of the Dark Mage Zeref. They were highly loyal to Jellal, who wanted to complete the R-System.
The thick smoke at the entrance gradually dissipated. When the guards saw the true appearance of the "attackers," they were immediately shocked.
A Rock Giant Soldier over ten meters tall. A blue dragon with fangs. A bone demon with cold, piercing eyes. A bone-spiked yellow dragon with flames spewing from its mouth. And a cute beautiful girl floating in mid-air...
Where did these monsters clearly not from the same race even come from?!
What made them even more terrified was that at the very front of these monsters stood two humans whose magic power was as horrifying as hell itself!
"I recognize that guy. He's Chase Fairy Tail's S-Class wizard!"
"What's going on? Is Fairy Tail attacking us? Has the Tower of Heaven plan been leaked?"
"Quick! First and second squads, hold them off! I'll report this to Jellal and the masters!"
They were, after all, disciplined and fanatical believers. The guards quickly made their decisions and assumed battle stances.
And then their vision was plunged into shadow. The Rock Giant Soldier had already attacked.
The giant sword fell. Iron pipes snapped. The heavy force split the platform where the guards stood in two. The resulting shockwave sent them scattering in all directions!
Before they could rearrange their formation, Curse of Dragon's Hellfire roared in.
BOOM!
The exploding firelight illuminated the gloomy sea area, completely starting the Tower of Heaven battle!
"Ara. Looks like I activated my Take Over magic a little early."
Demon Mira looked at the guards lying on the broken ground, incapacitated, and couldn't help but sigh.
In just a few moves, the first wave of resistance at the Tower of Heaven had been completely dealt with!
"Haha. Did we go overboard?" Chase clapped his hands.
As he spoke, magical light flickered repeatedly, sealing the unconscious guards into cards one by one.
Once the fight with Jellal started, the Tower of Heaven would definitely be destroyed. He didn't have the time to discern whether there were innocent people inside. So he would just take them all and hand them over to the Magic Council
for interrogation later.
"It's fine. It's only just begun."
Demon Mira smiled, noticing Chase's little movement. "But Chase really is gentle, isn't he..."
So this was the real reason for starting from the bottom and fighting upward?
He said they would fight on sight — but there's actually a quite clear plan here!
As expected. It's one of the things I like most about—
"W-Who are you people?"
A weak voice interrupted Mira's thoughts.
A group of people in plain clothes with sallow, khaki faces poked their heads out from behind some rocks. They looked this way with cautious, fearful, and panicked eyes.
Judging from the iron shovels and picks in their hands, they were the laborers who had been captured to build the Tower of Heaven.
Chase examined them briefly. Compared to the time when Erza was there when everyone had been skin and bones these people's nutritional state was much better. But they still wore Magic-Sealing Cuffs on their wrists.
The boy who slew the dragon eventually becomes the dragon. Chase wondered how Jellal would ultimately deal with them. In the original story, when Natsu and the others rampaged through the completed Tower of Heaven, these people were nowhere to be seen.
"We are the ones who will liberate you. Those willing to trust me — come into this card."
Chase stepped forward and shook the blank card between his fingers.
Hearing this, the laborers were full of vigilance. They showed no joy. Instead, they stood there hesitantly, uncertain.
Not long ago, Lord Jellal had told them they only needed to work for half a month more before they could go home.
At this critical moment, when freedom was almost within reach, they didn't dare to make any rash moves after being enslaved for so many years.
While they hesitated, the suddenly flashing light of the card magic had already enveloped them all.
"Oh, I forgot to mention. Even if you don't want to trust me — you're still coming in."
Through the card, Chase showed the imprisoned laborers a reassuring smile.
"Devil! This guy is a devil!"
"Damn it! How do I get out of here?!"
"I'm doomed! Goodbye, my life! Goodbye, my childhood sweetheart back home!"
The laborers indeed felt reassured dancing, waving their arms, and jumping around inside the card.
***
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