Kael instantly felt an immense surge of magical energy well up from his core, flooding every fiber of his being. The power he'd previously exhausted wasn't just fully restored—his total capacity had expanded dramatically.
Is this the power of six-star magic?
Kael realized that his current reserves were more than double what they'd been at five-and-a-half stars. The newfound strength gave him a major boost in confidence; he felt that even without relying on his Take Over Magic, he could go toe-to-toe with an S-Class wizard in raw physical power.
This wasn't arrogance—it was simply the reality of his new level.
[Guild Master Jose has accepted the challenge!!]
[This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! We are about to witness a member of the Ten Wizard Saints in combat with our own eyes!]
[Fairy Tail vs. Phantom Lord: Match 6!!]
[Begin———!!]
Clang!
"Makarov's little brat… I've heard of you. They call you the 'Tyrant,' don't they?"
Jose's voice was icy.
"It's said you've taken down tens of thousands of bandits, but you need to understand something: the Ten Wizard Saints stand on an entirely different level from common thugs."
"Don't let a little fame go to your head. Today, I'll show you exactly how many steps you still have to climb… because at the peak, there's always someone stronger waiting to look down on you."
Murderous intent flickered in Jose's eyes. Kael, however, completely ignored the posturing and trash talk.
"It's time for this one to come out,"
Kael muttered.
"Full-Body Take Over: Edward Newgate!!"
Kael's frame swelled rapidly, muscle piling onto muscle as he towered over the arena. His clothes shifted into a billowing white captain's coat, and Murakumogiri—one of the twelve Supreme Grade Swords, Whitebeard's signature weapon—appeared in his grip.
The most striking change was the thick white mustache shaped like a crescent moon beneath his nose. His face became a blend of his own features and the legendary pirate's, radiating an overwhelming, domineering aura.
"He's huge…!"
The audience gasped in shock at Kael's massive 6.66-meter stature.
"Kael turned into an old man!"
Happy chirped.
Aside from Natsu, Gray, and Lucy, the rest of Fairy Tail was seeing this transformation for the first time. They stared in disbelief.
"What in the world is this?"
Elfman shouted, eyes wide. "Is this Kael's new form?!"
"Aye!"
Happy replied proudly. "Kael is super strong in this state!"
Natsu and Gray were visibly fired up. Having seen the power of this form before, they knew that if Kael won here, Phantom Lord would be utterly humiliated.
Jose, however, only sneered.
"Hmph. If you'd grown into a giant like Makarov, it might be worth mentioning, but this size means nothing. Wizards don't get stronger just by getting bigger; a large body is nothing more than an easy target. Fall!"
Jose swung his hand downward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of violent crimson explosions erupted directly beneath Kael's feet, swallowing him in fire and debris.
"Kael!"
Mirajane's heart sank as she cried out. The rest of the guild held their breath. This was an attack from a Wizard Saint—taking it head-on would leave most people dead or permanently crippled.
"Hey, watch it! Who's setting off fireworks out of season?"
Kael's voice drifted calmly through the thick smoke. "Your timing is awful. Don't you have any manners?"
Bang!
A sudden shockwave blasted the smoke away in an instant. Kael stood exactly where he'd been, completely unscathed.
"What?!"
Jose's expression twitched. He hadn't expected to end the fight with a single blow, but seeing the boy standing there without a scratch was unsettling.
"He's okay! Kael's fine!"
The Fairy Tail members erupted in relieved cheers.
Jose's eyes narrowed into slits.
"You've got some tricks, brat. But a bit of durability isn't enough to act arrogant in my presence. I'll show you the real gap between a child and a Wizard Saint!"
"Phantom Arrow!"
Jose raised his palm. A purple magic circle expanded in front of him, and a barrage of shadowy spectral arrows hissed through the air toward Kael.
Kael didn't flinch. He clenched his fist, and a translucent white glow began to hum around his knuckles. Then he punched the air straight toward Jose.
Crack! Crack!
The very atmosphere seemed to splinter like glass, webbed with jagged fractures. A terrifying vibration rippled out from his fist.
Boom!
The vibration wave didn't merely intercept the Phantom Arrows—it pulverized them. The shockwave continued forward, ripping through the air toward Jose.
Rumble!
The entire arena—maybe even the entire city—began to shake violently.
"Aaaah!"
Spectators screamed in terror as the ground rolled beneath them. A massive fissure split the earth, racing from Kael's feet straight toward his opponent.
"Help! The stands are collapsing!"
The section of the stadium reserved for Phantom Lord crumbled under the force of the vibration. Their members tumbled down, screaming in panic.
As the dust settled, the audience stared at Kael in stunned silence. The scale of the destruction was beyond anything they'd imagined.
"He's a monster…"
Someone whispered.
[Attention, audience members! The destructive power of these two wizards is too great!]
[Please evacuate the arena immediately! The rest of the match will be broadcast via lacrima relay!]
[Please evacuate for your own safety!]
The crowd didn't need to be told twice. They fled the stadium in a frantic swarm. The earlier matches had been entertainment—this was a disaster zone.
Kael looked at Jose and flashed a sharp, confident smile.
"A Wizard Saint, huh? I wonder… can you actually give me a real fight?"
Jose's face hardened.
"You arrogant brat… don't think you've won. This battle has only just begun!"
"Dark Helix!"
Twisting dark energy condensed around Jose's arm. He lunged forward, unleashing a spiraling beam of darkness that ground the earth to dust as it surged toward Kael.
Kael gripped Murakumogiri with both hands. Armament and Conqueror's Haki coated the blade in a shimmering black-purple aura.
"Break!"
Kael roared, swinging the massive polearm in a vertical arc.
Whoosh!
The Dark Helix was cleaved cleanly down the middle, the energy split into two.
Boom! Boom!
The shockwave from the slash tore onward, carving a massive trench into the already ruined arena floor. The wind pressure alone sent the remaining Phantom Lord members flying like ragdolls.
The slash extended for hundreds of meters, leaving a trail of absolute destruction.
Cold sweat trickled down Jose's forehead. He'd barely dodged. If that strike had connected, even as a Wizard Saint, he would have been severely wounded—or worse.
Jose's face contorted with rage and humiliation. He was one of the Ten Wizard Saints, yet he was actually feeling fear toward a child from Makarov's guild. It was an insult he couldn't stomach.
His magic power flared, turning the air heavy and oppressive.
"Perish, you miserable brat!"