Watching the enemies outside the tower being cleared out quickly.
Gajeel, who had just been released from a card by Hope, was displeased. "Those two bastards... they actually didn't wait for me! Watch me catch up the score right now!"
Gajeel bypassed the ice-and-fire duo and charged headlong into the tower. Seeing this, Gray and Natsu refused to be left behind and immediately chased after him.
"Men's competitive spirit is really something else..."
Seeing the three disappear, Lucy was left somewhat speechless. In contrast to Lucy's complaining, Juvia had a look of excitement on her face. "Master Gray is so handsome when he's serious!"
"Handsome my foot! When is he not like that during a fight?" Cana curled her lip and instinctively looked back at Hope, who was walking slowly with Makarov.
"Hope, if you keep moving at a snail's pace, there won't even be any grunts left to fight in a bit."
"Don't lump me in with you violent types, okay?" Hope said with an air of righteousness. "Even though I'm also a Fairy Tail Mage, I'm a peace-loving person who has never liked fighting with others."
"Ehh~"
Everyone present let out a sound of disdain.
Where was your peace when you were teasing Natsu on the boat just now... Erza looked at Simon, Sho, Wally, and Millianna, who were following her. "Jellal is very strong. You guys..."
"I'm going with you."
The hot-tempered Wally was the first to speak. "After being deceived for so long, I have to demand an explanation from Jellal no matter what."
Millianna, who loved cats, nuzzled the Happy she was holding and chimed in, "Meow, me too!"
Although Sho was angry about Jellal's deception, he let it go after learning the truth about Erza's departure. Now, he only wanted to follow his companions to take revenge and then live his own life.
Seeing that his three companions had made their decisions, Simon hesitated for a moment before saying, "Jellal is very strong. He's different from the four of us who are self-taught with half-baked magic. Over these past eight years, a mysterious person would come to guide him in magic every so often..."
As soon as these words were spoken, Sho and the other two showed looks of surprise.
Having been in the Tower of Paradise for so long, they really didn't know that an outsider had visited, let alone a mysterious person who came to teach Jellal magic.
Because Simon had known about Jellal's ambition from the start, he had been observing his behavior in secret, which was how he discovered that an outsider was teaching him magic.
"Sorry, for your safety, I had no choice but to keep it hidden."
Sho and the others didn't mind; Simon had done it for their safety as well.
Erza drew her longsword. "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's head out, or else Natsu and the others will find Jellal first."
As Erza and her old friends entered the tower, Lucy and the other two followed. Now, only Hope and Makarov remained outside.
Makarov looked at Hope, who was curiously sizing up the Tower of Paradise. He wasn't taking action because he was there for backup, but what was this kid doing looking here and there?
"Hope, what are you looking at?"
Hope reached out and touched the tower wall. "Nothing, I'm just a bit curious how a building made of ordinary construction materials can hold such a massive amount of magic power."
"That's the brilliance of the Black Wizard."
Makarov said in a low Voice, "This progenitor of Black Magic was a peerless magical genius. If he hadn't taken the wrong path, perhaps he could have benefited the world."
"Benefit the world? Perhaps."
Hope withdrew his hand and looked up at the hundred-meter-tall tower, suddenly thinking of something.
It is said that the 'R System' can resurrect the dead. Could the Black Wizard from 400 years ago have created this magic to resurrect someone?
"Master, let's go in. If we wait any longer, I'm afraid Natsu and the others won't just clear out the grunts, but will also tear down this tower while they're at it."
Makarov thought of the incredible destructive power of his guild members and nodded in deep agreement. Only then did the two walk unhurriedly into the entrance of the Tower of Paradise.
The situation inside the tower was exactly as they expected.
Stunned guards lay scattered all over the corridor. The walls and floor were either covered in frost, marked by charred fist prints from burning flames, or riddled with large holes smashed by iron rods.
"It seems their progress is going smoothly." Makarov stroked his beard, as Natsu's excited roars could be heard faintly from the floors above.
Smooth progress was only to be expected.
Not to mention Erza—Natsu and Gray were already among the strongest below the S-Class in the guild, and Gajeel and Juvia used to be aces and S-Class combatants in Phantom Lord.
Cana and the current Lucy were also quite capable.
With such a lineup, unless the enemy was one of the Ten Wizard Saints, they could practically walk through unopposed. And even if there really was an enemy at the "Ten Wizard Saints" level, wasn't Makarov there?
Hope suddenly remembered something. According to the information Simon provided on the way, Jellal seemed to have hired a few experts... Bang!!
Just as the thought arose, a birdman crashed heavily in front of the old and young pair.
Hoo hoo aww~
The birdman let out a strange cry and stood up. Only then did Hope see clearly that this man was not only muscular but also had a rocket booster for flight strapped to his back.
"Damn Iron Dragon, to actually sneak attack me while I was dueling the Fire Dragon!" The birdman shook his head and turned to look at Hope and Makarov, his eyes lighting up. "The righteous Fukuro is here! Intruders, are you ready to receive my judgment?"
A righteous birdman, huh?
Hope sized him up and recalled the information Simon provided. "Aren't you a member of 'Skullion' who makes a living through assassination? Since when can a Dark Guild claim to be righteous?"
Hearing Hope mention the name "Skullion," Makarov immediately remembered something. "In recent years, among the dark forces, there's been an assassin group called 'Trigonometric Wings' that has been quite prominent. That's you guys, right?"
Trigonometric Wings is the ace of Skullion, consisting of three members codenamed 'Madara,' 'Fukuro,' and 'Vidaldus.' They specialize in swordsmanship, music magic, and physical techniques, respectively; each of them is quite a troublesome enemy.
It is said that eight or nine S-Class Mages have already been killed by the combined efforts of Trigonometric Wings.
Hope looked at the birdman flexing his muscles nearby and felt he didn't seem very bright. He then crooked his finger at Fukuro and said provocatively, "Come at me~"
Having been in the assassination business for so long, this was the first time Fukuro had seen someone dare to provoke him after learning his identity.
Hoo hoo aww—
"Since you don't treasure your own life, then I, the righteous Fukuro, shall teach you a lesson!"
Propelled by the rocket booster on his back, Fukuro lunged fiercely at Hope. Just as a fist the size of a sandbag was about to hit his face, Hope's leisurely Voice drifted over.
"Frost Blossom Shaping: Birdcage."
In the next second, Fukuro's fist could not advance even an inch further.
Chilly vines had already woven themselves around his body into a small, narrow cage. The cold surged up, and the flaming rocket booster gradually died out, turning into an ice sculpture along with Fukuro...
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