After Erza defeated Ikaruga, the captain of the Three Crows and a female swordswoman, Lucy and Juvia also managed to bring down Long-haired Rocker through a grueling joint effort! Natsu, however, let his guard down and was swallowed whole by Bird Head!!
Fortunately, Gray suddenly rose to the occasion, taking out Bird Head with his Ice-Make Magic and saving Natsu! Naturally, Natsu himself was far from happy about that...
Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Tower of Paradise.
"These guys..." Sitting in an armchair, Gerard stared at the images relayed through the Magic Mirror before him. His expression darkened, his gaze flickering as he muttered, "Are they trying to surround me? Or are they attacking from every direction because they don't know exactly where I am?! Quite the clever plan, Brother Nameless! Hide somewhere I can't detect or monitor, then wipe me out the moment someone finds me?!! Hmph! But do you really think I'll let you have your way that easily? You underestimate me!! Brother Nameless..."
Gerard was no fool. Since Achill hadn't appeared in the Magic Mirror, a little thought was enough to narrow down the possibilities: either Achill was hiding somewhere without a Surveillance Crystal, or he had destroyed every magical Surveillance Crystal he encountered while sneaking through the tower!
Either possibility posed a serious threat to Gerard! If Achill suddenly appeared from nowhere and killed him at a critical moment, then even if the Tower of Paradise was later completed by absorbing Etherion's immense magical power, it would mean nothing to him...
"With my current magical power, I can't confront that man head-on right now..." Frowning deeply, Gerard immediately rose and slowly walked toward the shadows in the room. "I'll avoid him for now. There's still time to come out once Etherion arrives! Once my