Fairy Tail: Becoming stronger by spending money.

Ur knew she couldn't wait any longer and didn't hold anything back.

She immediately told them what happened—how her daughter had joined a dark guild and even participated in the arrest incident.

Now Ultear had been taken away by Caesar.

It looked like she'd have to confront those people herself.

"What?!"

The first person who couldn't sit still wasn't anyone else—it was Erza.

She had escaped from the Tower of Heaven, and she knew better than anyone what it was like there.

Erza immediately turned to Makarov and said, "Master, we'd better leave right now and stop Caesar!"

Makarov looked at her and frowned.

"Give me a reason."

From his point of view, if it was the Dark Order, then even if Caesar lost control and destroyed the place, it wouldn't matter much.

If anything, the Magic Council would likely turn a blind eye—or even reward Caesar with a few extra Jewels.

"In the Tower of Heaven, there aren't just members of the Dark Order.

There are also innocent survivors!

My... my family is there too.

I'm afraid Caesar, overwhelmed by rage, will destroy the entire tower...

Including the people inside."

Erza lowered her gaze.

She couldn't hide the truth anymore.

"Hiss..."

Everyone in the guild took a sharp breath.

Given Caesar's power and emotional state, he might actually do it.

He didn't know there were innocent people inside!

Makarov's scalp tingled.

He immediately roared, "Everyone, get on the ship! We're going after Caesar!"

"Master, I'll go ahead of you!"

Mirajane spoke up quickly and transformed, taking on the form of the demon Halphas without hesitation.

While Satan Soul offered more endurance, Halphas was faster—perfect for catching up to Caesar quickly.

"Alright! Mira, go stop Caesar!

Even if you can't hold him back, at least tell him there are innocent people there.

Make sure he doesn't wipe the place out in one blast!"

Mirajane nodded, flapped her wings, and shot off like a streak of blue light toward the sea.

The rest of the guild mobilized.

Makarov took the lead as everyone boarded the guild ship, pouring their magic power into speeding across the waves to catch Caesar.

…

A golden meteor streaked across the sky.

Caesar carried Ultear, who was clearly on the verge of throwing up, above a secluded sea region.

Setting her down, Caesar looked her in the eye.

"Is this the place?"

"Yes... There's a barrier here... ugh!"

Ultear couldn't hold it in anymore.

She turned away and vomited, completely ruining her elegant image.

"A barrier, huh?"

Caesar turned his gaze toward the empty sea.

Raising his left hand, steam-like magic power gathered rapidly.

"Turtle! Pie! Qi! Gong!"

A dazzling light-blue shockwave burst from Caesar's palm—more than two meters thick—like a roaring dragon, crashing into the invisible barrier.

The collision erupted with a thunderous boom.

Magic power surged violently, shaking the entire barrier.

Though the shield tried to resist by pulling in more magic energy, it was helpless against the sheer force of the Turtle School Qigong.

Cracks appeared.

Then—

Bang!

The entire shield shattered, raining magical fragments across the sky like a display of radiant fireworks.

With the barrier gone, a hidden island appeared below—at its center, a massive tower, more than ten meters tall.

"Found you."

Murderous intent surged in Caesar's eyes.

He dove toward the tower, dragging Ultear with him.

Inside the Tower of Heaven, chaos erupted.

No one expected someone to break through their shield and come charging in like a rampaging beast.

"Alarm! Alarm! Intruder alert!"

"Where are the magic soldiers?! Hurry!"

"No use! He's too strong! We can't stop him!"

"What are you waiting for?! Fight even if it kills you!"

"Everyone—move! Stop him!"

But it was futile.

These members of the Dark Order were no match for Caesar.

As those disgusting uniforms—etched into Caesar's memory—came into view, the obsession buried deep within him fully erupted.

"Out of my way!"

Caesar roared, shoving his fingers into his shoulders as his body rapidly expanded.

He transformed into a giant over three meters tall.

With a shout, his overwhelming aura paralyzed the charging cultists.

Then, in a blink, he vanished.

Hyorinmaru was unsheathed in midair—its initial release completed in an instant.

With a sweeping slash, countless ice spears shot outward, instantly freezing all enemies around him.

Boom!

A punch shattered the ground.

The frozen bodies crumbled into icy debris.

"Don't destroy the tower we worked so hard to build!"

A voice shouted as a rope wrapped around Caesar's arm.

His vision dimmed, and the sounds of projectiles slicing through air filled his ears.

Take Over: Kenshin.

Losing his sight, Caesar heightened his other senses.

Gripping Hyorinmaru, he slashed with precision.

An ice dragon roared to life, freezing everything in its path.

In moments, Caesar's vision returned—surrounding him were several captives, frozen up to their necks.

They were Erza's childhood friends.

"M-Meow... I can't move!"

Millianna squirmed helplessly, but the ice held fast.

Seeing Caesar walk toward her, she panicked.

"D-Don't come any closer!"

Take Over: Shirai Kuroko.

He reached out and touched the ice.

One second, Millianna was screaming—next, she was tumbling into the sea.

The ice floated, and shortly after, her companions Simon and Hugh bobbed up beside her.

"The ones Erza cares about have already been removed."

Caesar glanced around at the rest of the Dark Order members, who were preparing to attack.

He smirked coldly.

"Then let's end this."

In an instant, he vanished again.

When he reappeared, he hovered directly above the Tower of Heaven.

He removed Shirai Kuroko's card... and replaced it with another.

Take Over: Megumin.

A pointed wizard hat materialized on his head.

Megumin's card was unique.

It had only one skill: Explosion Magic.

At first glance, that made it seem weak.

A single skill—even if upgraded to a purple-rank card—was questionable.

But this magic... was absolute destruction.

Explosion Magic was pure magic force channeled into a devastating blast.

The ultimate in offensive power.

As long as the user poured in enough energy, its power had no limits.

And Caesar had plenty to give.

So...

"Explode."