Fairy Tail: Becoming stronger by spending money.

"Is it... daybreak?"

The bright light illuminated the dark night.

Standing at the bow of the ship, under Erza's guidance, Makarov squinted into the horizon—only to suddenly notice that the "sun" had appeared right in front of him!

No!

It wasn't the sun!

Makarov's pupils shrank rapidly as he realized it was a massive fireball, formed from an overwhelming concentration of magic power!

"Caesar! No!"

Mirajane, who had arrived first with her magic power nearly exhausted, screamed out in horror.

But it was too late!

Boom!

The gigantic fireball plummeted like a falling meteor, blazing through the sky like a second sun.

In that terrifying instant, an earth-shattering explosion erupted!

Blistering flames and a deafening roar intertwined, as though tearing the world itself apart.

A colossal flame mushroom cloud surged into the sky, blotting out the sun and blanketing the entire landscape.

Moments later, a crushing shockwave blasted outward.

The force hurled Mirajane nearly a hundred meters into the air.

Even the distant ships weren't spared.

The once-calm sea churned violently, waves roaring like a pot at full boil.

The fierce winds howled, making it nearly impossible for anyone to stay upright.

Everyone clung to the deck, pressing their bodies flat just to avoid being blown away.

When the chaos finally subsided, the crew rose unsteadily to their feet.

By the light of the fading flames, they looked toward the island—only to find that the tower was gone.

The part of the island where the Tower of Heaven had stood... had completely vanished.

Everyone turned their stunned eyes toward the young man in midair, wrapped in golden aura.

Tyrant, indeed.

His temper was explosive.

But what was worse—he had the strength to back it up.

No one dared provoke someone like him.

"Milliana! Hugh! Wally! Simon!"

Erza fell to her knees at the bow of the ship, eyes wide in horror as she stared at the destruction.

"Are we too late...?"

Her voice trembled.

Tears streamed down her face.

"Help..."

A faint cry reached her ears.

Erza froze for a moment, then immediately leaned over the ship's edge.

Down in the sea, Milliana and the others bobbed on the surface, eyes rolling and foam at their mouths.

They had been knocked unconscious by the shockwave, but had finally regained awareness and were calling out in panic.

"Milliana! Wally! Simon!"

Erza shouted in disbelief.

"Wait—where's Sho?!"

"Meow... flipped over."

Milliana pointed to a nearby ice block—Sho's head was submerged, and he was drinking seawater uncontrollably.

"Quick! Rescue them!"

At Erza's command, everyone helped pull them out.

As for Hugh?

He was hanging off the side of the ship, drying out like laundry.

He'd be fine once he drained.

…

"So... refreshing!"

Caesar slicked his hair back with one hand, staring down at the obliterated tower with satisfaction.

With the destruction of the Tower of Heaven, the obsession that had plagued his soul was finally gone.

At this moment, he was truly reborn.

Most evident was his increase in magic power.

Before, a blast like that would've completely drained him.

Now?

His magic had grown by at least half.

And his recovery speed was terrifying.

In just a few minutes, he had already regained one-fifth of his magic power.

"This feels amazing!"

Caesar laughed joyfully, his voice echoing with the sea breeze.

Everyone who heard it could sense his elation.

"Damn bastard!"

But a roar suddenly ripped through the sky.

Six stars of magic energy flew toward Caesar.

"Jellal."

Ultear looked up and couldn't help but shout, "Come on! Beat that bastard up!"

At the moment, Ultear was tied up like a caterpillar, inching helplessly across the ground.

She wanted to flee, but Caesar had placed a barrier around her.

The barrier was so strong that it even withstood the explosion from earlier—Ultear hadn't taken any damage.

She felt completely hopeless.

She didn't care about anything anymore—she just wanted Jellal to land one solid punch on Caesar for her.

Win?

She wasn't delusional.

Jellal was talented, sure.

But compared to today's Tyrant?

He was just a firefly challenging the sun.

If he could just land a blow, she'd be satisfied.

"I almost forgot about you."

Caesar looked at the incoming attack and casually slashed his sword.

An ice dragon roared out, devouring the six stars in one gulp.

"Meteor!"

A figure shot forward like a streak of light—sky-blue hair, a tattoo on his right eye.

Jellal.

He punched toward Caesar.

"Trying to save face?"

Caesar dashed forward, golden aura exploding outward as lightning surged across his body.

His black hair instantly turned into golden spikes.

He met Jellal's charge head-on—no skills, just raw physical strength.

He landed a dozen punches straight to Jellal's face.

Jellal plummeted like a falling star, crashing to the ground.

"Drink!"

Caesar formed a blade with his finger.

A surge of magic tore up the ground, blasting Jellal skyward.

"Seven Star Sword!"

Seven pillars of light descended from above.

Jellal struck, channeling their energy toward Caesar.

"Turtle Style Qigong!"

Caesar gathered his hands together and released a massive shockwave.

The blue energy beam swallowed the Seven Star Sword.

"Nine Thunder Stars!"

Gritting his teeth, Jellal fired another blast.

It slowed the Qigong for a moment—before being annihilated.

He tried to dodge using Meteor, but the next instant—Caesar appeared right in front of him.

"Brainwashing, huh?"

Punch.

"Freedom, huh?"

Punch.

"Resurrect Zeref, huh?"

Punch.

Pah! Pah! Pah!

The entire battlefield was frozen in disbelief.

They could only watch, slack-jawed, as Jellal was launched again and again like a ragdoll.

Every time he tried to stabilize or fight back, Caesar was already there.

Fist after fist, beating him like a drum.

Ultear swallowed hard, watching in silence.

There went her fantasy.

She had hoped Jellal would at least get a punch in.

Now?

Not a chance.

Then—boom!

Jellal crashed to the ground right in front of her, looking like a bloated pig's head.

He couldn't move.

Tears streamed from his swollen eyes.

"I was wrong! I was wrong! Please stop! I admit defeat! Don't hit me anymore! I don't want freedom! I don't want Zeref! Waaaah!"

Caesar landed beside him.

The golden aura faded, and he returned to his original form.

Ultear stared at the beaten and crying Jellal, deeply conflicted.

After years of brainwashing...

Couldn't he have at least landed one hit?

Why try so hard, if this is what it came to?