"H-How... How is that possible?! That's a nine-star beast!"
Everyone was horrified.
Nine-star beasts were the strongest monsters in the Great Forest of Monsters, rulers of their own territories. Swordsmen had killed them before—but only after brutal, life-or-death battles.
"Who is he?!"
Kray was stunned. He had just watched Kael kill the bird in a single hit. One monster like Yoriichi was bad enough—now there was another? Why were there so many monsters in the world?
"I don't know!"
Most people had no idea who Kael Vane was.
"I know! I know! That's Mr. Kael Vane! He's Miss Erza's partner!"
The one shouting was the guard from the city gate. He'd been deeply impressed after watching Erza kill the five-star boar with ease. He'd also watched her in the tournament and had become her biggest fan—so he remembered her partner, Kael, too.
"Miss Erza's partner?! Then he's a wizard from Fairy Tail."
Now that Erza was famous, people had looked into her background. They knew she came from Fairy Tail, a guild in Fiore.
"This is great!"
The king was thrilled. Nine nine-star beasts were down to eight. They had a chance.
Across the battlefield, the remaining nine-star beasts tensed, staring at Kael. The stronger a beast was, the smarter it tended to be—and they could all sense the threat.
Kael then jumped off the wall, dropping toward the ground.
WHOOSH!
He spread his wings and shot toward the closest beast—the Hellfire Tiger.
The tiger roared as it saw Kael flying straight at it.
"ROAR—!"
The roar was deafening, and violent flames burst across its body.
Swish!
Kael formed another spear of light and drove it forward.
The tiger opened its mouth and blasted out a massive pillar of fire, engulfing Kael.
"Kael!"
Erza panicked. Everyone else thought Kael was finished. The Hellfire Tiger's flames could melt steel.
BOOM—!
Kael burst straight through the fire.
Stab—!
The spear of light punched into the tiger's eye.
"ROAR—!"
The tiger screamed in agony. It lashed out with its claws, trying to crush him.
Stab—!
Kael swung the spear.
Thud!
The tiger's giant foreleg dropped to the ground.
"ROAR—!"
It screamed again.
Sonído!
Kael vanished and reappeared behind the tiger's head.
"You're too loud," he said flatly.
Stab!
The spear of light went straight through the tiger's brain.
The roar cut off.
BOOM!
The massive body crashed to the ground, unmoving.
"D-Dead... The nine-star Hellfire Tiger is dead, too?!"
Everyone was stunned. How much time had passed? Ten seconds? Fifteen? It was definitely less than twenty.
In under twenty seconds, two nine-star beasts had been killed.
If they hadn't seen it themselves, they would have thought they were dreaming. Since when were nine-star beasts so fragile? In Kael's hands, they were coming apart like training dummies.
"This is amazing!"
The crowd was still in shock, but they cheered. They had lost all hope when the other five beasts showed up. But Kael had killed two of them in seconds.
"ROAR—!"
Seeing two of their own slaughtered so easily, the remaining beasts sensed danger. They abandoned their fights and charged at Kael Vane.
They knew that if they didn't kill him, they would all die.
"Oh no!"
Everyone panicked when they saw the monsters ganging up on Kael.
But Kael's expression didn't change.
He flapped his wings and flew straight at them.
"ROAR—!"
The Great Earth Bear slammed its paws into the ground.
Rumble!
The earth shook, and huge spikes shot up toward Kael.
BOOM—!
A spear of light shot out, smashing through the spikes.
Stab—!
The spear struck the bear's chest. It only broke the skin—a minor wound. But when the bear saw it, terror flashed across its face.
"Explode."
BOOM—!
The spear detonated, and the Great Earth Bear vanished in the blast.
"Awooo—!"
Swish!
The Dark Panther King appeared behind Kael like a ghost. It opened its massive jaws and bit down.
"Watch out!"
Kael turned—and the panther's teeth clamped onto his arm.
"It's over!"
Everyone thought Kael's arm was gone.
Kael said flatly, "Didn't anyone ever tell you not to eat things you find lying around?"
VMMMM—!
A bright, black light flared between the panther's teeth.
The panther realized it was in trouble. It tried to let go and flee.
"Too late."
"Cero Oscuras!"
SHOOOM—!
A black beam blasted out from the back of the panther's head.
BOOM—!
The Cero Oscuras tore into the horde of monsters behind it and exploded.
"Awooo—!"
Countless monsters were obliterated. The beam carved a huge trench through the forest.
The Dark Panther King had a round hole punched through the back of its head. It was dead.
Just then, the Mammoth King charged at Kael, swinging its massive trunk.
Kael raised his arm to block.
A terrifying force slammed into him.
BOOM—!
The ground beneath Kael exploded, dirt and rock blasting outward.
When the dust cleared, everyone thought Kael had been smashed to paste.
But he was still standing, arm raised—having blocked the trunk head-on.
Everyone's eyes went wide.
"He... he blocked it?!"