"I'll take care of these."
Everyone looked to Kael Vane.
"Mr. Kael Vane... you..."
The king hesitated. He had very little information on Kael. From what he could tell, Kael was an S-Class wizard—about on par with a nine-star swordsman. And on this mission, Erza had clearly been the one taking the lead.
Now Kael was saying he would fight five nine-star beasts? It was hard to believe.
"I can take on the five nine-star beasts," Kael said evenly. "But after that, I won't be able to fight anymore. I won't be able to protect you. In fact, I'll need you to protect me. My combat power will drop below that of an ordinary soldier."
The king could tell Kael wasn't joking. "Don't worry, Mr. Kael! After you defeat the beasts, I will protect you with my life!"
The other beasts were already being handled. These five were the real problem. The king didn't know what kind of move Kael was about to use, but it was obvious it came at a steep cost.
Even if Kael only killed two or three, the kingdom could manage the rest.
Kael Vane nodded and walked to the edge of the wall.
"Full-Body Take Over—Ulquiorra Cifer!"
Kael Vane's body began to change.
His black clothes became a white, high-collared jacket with black lining. A white hakama replaced his lower garments, tied with a wide black sash. A Zanpakutō sat in the sash. Black socks, white shoes.
His skin turned pale, his eyes turned green, and green tear-like markings appeared beneath them. The left side of his head was covered by a white, horned helmet fragment.
As the transformation completed, the king felt a crushing pressure roll off him.
"So strong!"
Only now did the king truly understand why Kael was on an SS-Rank mission. He'd known Kael's magic was Take Over, but he hadn't realized the difference could be this extreme.
Normally, Kael looked like an average—if handsome—young man.
But in this state, the pressure he gave off was no weaker than that of a nine-star beast.
Still… can he really beat five of them?
Kael's transformation wasn't finished. He knew he could handle one or two, but five was too much. If they broke through, the damage would be catastrophic.
He slowly drew his sword and chanted:
"Enclose, Murciélago!"
"VMMMM—!"
Black spiritual pressure erupted from his body and shot into the sky.
The clear heavens instantly churned with dark clouds. The world dimmed.
Then black rain fell.
This drew every eye—man and monster alike.
"Black rain?!"
People stared in confusion. The black rain struck their faces and bodies, but it didn't make them wet. It vanished the instant it touched.
"This... this isn't real rain... It's liquid magic power!"
As quickly as it had begun, the strange rain stopped, and the sky cleared.
Kael Vane's appearance had changed completely.
His clothes were now a long, white robe. A white, two-horned helmet covered his head. His black hair had grown longer, and the tear-like markings on his face were deeper.
Most striking of all was the pair of giant, black, demon-like bat wings spread from his back.
This was Ulquiorra's First Resurrección form.
A terrifying pressure radiated from Kael Vane.
Everyone near him—including the king—felt as if they were being crushed. Their bodies trembled, as though they stood before a monstrous nightmare.
"Is that... Kael?!"
Erza stared at his new form, uncertain. This was the first time she had seen him use Take Over like this.
Kael Vane didn't waste time. He could only hold this form for a very short while. For his prize money—and for the mission—he had to end this now.
"Screee!"
The nine-star Three-Headed Ice Bird shrieked, spread its wings, and surged toward the wall. As it flew, it spewed frost that froze everything it touched.
"Aaargh!"
"Waaaaah!"
The swordsmen screamed and fled, but they weren't fast enough. The frost swept over them, turning them into ice statues.
Kael watched the bird. "You're first."
"Luz de la Luna!"
Whoosh!
Kael opened his right hand, and a green spear of light formed in his palm.
He stepped forward and drew back, ready to throw.
"Go."
He hurled the spear at the Three-Headed Ice Bird.
SHOOOM—!
The spear tore through the air.
With three heads watching at once, the bird reacted immediately. It opened all three mouths and breathed out frost, trying to freeze the spear mid-flight.
But it underestimated the attack.
Boom!
The spear punched straight through the frost.
Stab—!
It drove clean through the bird's body.
"Screee—!"
All three heads shrieked in pain, the sound making everyone's heart clench.
Kael Vane said a single word: "Explode."
BOOM—!
The spear of light detonated.
A terrifying blue explosion lit up the sky.
"Aaaaaargh!"
"Waaaaah!"
People and monsters below were blasted off their feet. Even the soldiers on the wall had to brace themselves just to stay upright.
A moment later, the light faded. The Three-Headed Ice Bird was gone.
All that remained were three bloody heads, falling to the ground.
"The... Three-Headed Ice Bird... is dead?!"