"It's actually you?!"
Laxus's body flickered with electricity.
During this time, Hope had been tinkering with something, his presence so low that Laxus had forgotten about this extraordinary individual while making his plans.
"What did you do?" Fried stared intently at Hope.
The Thunder God Tribe had only just returned to the guild, and their knowledge of Hope was limited to his eloquence in the former Council court; they had no idea he could replicate others' magic.
Hope unhurriedly ate a popcorn and pointed to the Jutsu writing on the main door. "It's obvious. This morning, I saw you sneaking around outside the guild, writing and drawing. After you left, I casually changed a few strokes."
"That's impossible!"
Fried blurted out, "Only... in the guild can decipher my Jutsu magic..."
"Only Levy, who has a high understanding of 'Letter' magic, can decipher it?"
Hope shrugged. "Coincidentally, I also know Levy's magic. And a senior taught me a lot of magical knowledge, including a deep understanding of 'Letter' magic, which allowed me, this opportunistic fellow, to reach the heavens in one step."
"Also, the target of your Jutsu is too obvious. 'No one over 80 years old is allowed to leave'? Come on, besides the Master, who in the guild is over 80? How is that different from explicitly saying Natsu is an idiot?"
Fried hadn't said anything yet, but Natsu, who was inexplicably used as an example, was the first to object. "I'm not an idiot!"
"You're missing the point, Natsu..."
Lucy couldn't help but retort from the side, "This is clearly a personal attack."
"Personal attack? But I'm fine?"
Looking at the pure stupidity in Natsu's eyes, the people around him collectively covered their foreheads. It would be strange if anyone could verbally break through this carefree guy's defenses.
Because Natsu simply didn't understand.
Sometimes being uncultured is a good thing... Erza walked to the front of the crowd, facing Laxus directly. "The extra entertainment should end. Apologize to the Master and everyone, and things can still be salvaged."
"Apologize?"
Laxus sneered, electricity bursting around him. "I, Laxus, never regret my actions! Whether it's the old man or you, Erza, I will defeat you all!"
"I am the strongest!"
However, as soon as his words fell, a one-to-one holographic projection outside the guild door immediately stole everyone's attention.
Laxus noticed the palm-sized recording magic crystal in Hope's hand. Under its operation, the clear image projected into the air was precisely the scene where he had just declared himself the strongest.
Laxus looked coldly at Hope. It was this guy who had messed up all his plans. "Still in the mood to play? After I defeat everyone in the guild, it'll be your turn."
Hope smiled faintly and casually placed the recording magic crystal on the armrest of a chair. "Laxus, go ahead and cause trouble, because when you're finally beaten black and blue and lying on the ground, I'll be even more delighted."
"However, if you consider turning back now..."
Hope's understated attitude made Laxus feel offended. "Turn back from what?! When I get out, I'll definitely smash your dog head!"
"Hehe, what a Lightning Dragon Slayer Mage you are."
Hope rattled the popcorn bucket. "In this world, going dark and becoming evil is no big deal, but I know, Laxus, you've been blinded by your own self-righteousness."
"Then it's up to us, your comrades, to save you. For fairness, how about Erza, Natsu, Gajeel, and Gray—I'll call them the Fairy Four—against you and the Thunder God Tribe?"
Laxus snorted, "Don't look down on people!"
Hope chuckled, "But don't underestimate them. The abilities of those four are as formidable as Jura among the Ten Wizard Saints."
"Each has their extraordinary qualities."
"Each has their unique secret moves."
"Their fighting spirit and endurance are astonishing."
"And their secret weapons will give you unexpected surprises, hahahaha..."
"Alright, let your performance begin."
As Hope finished speaking, the guild fell silent instantly.
Laxus was in a league of his own among the guild's younger generation, with only Mystogan able to contend with him. And among the Thunder God Tribe, their leader Fried possessed strength close to an S-Class Mage, with the other two also being powerful.
Where did Hope get the confidence to think the Fairy Four could stand against Laxus and the Thunder God Tribe?
Even Erza, Natsu, Gajeel, and Gray, whom he named, felt the same, though they were simply unable to accept the nonsensical title "Fairy Four"... "Fight us? Are you out of your mind?!"
As Bickslow spoke, five magical puppets instantly flew out from behind him, and five magic rays shot straight at Hope. The Jutsu prevented them from leaving the guild, but it couldn't block magic Jutsu.
However, before the magic rays could fly out the door, a dazzling white sword light flashed like lightning, cutting off all of Bickslow's magic.
Erza ignored the Thunder God Tribe, her longsword pointed directly at Laxus, her eyes cold as ice. "Laxus, I've wanted to have a good fight with you for a long time. Now is the time."
"Tch, then try to stop me, Erza!"
Laxus showed disdain, golden lightning crackling around him, and a brilliant golden thunder roared as it swept towards Erza.
The moment the battle began, Evergreen took off her glasses, intending to unleash her Petrifying Eye on Erza again, but a wall of ice descending from above blocked her sight.
Gray, who had somehow taken off his shirt, stood shirtless in front of Evergreen. "If you can't see, then your Petrifying Eye won't work, right?"
Evergreen gritted her teeth. This was indeed a weakness of her magic eye, but her strength wasn't solely in those eyes.
"Take this! Fairy Bomb!"
Numerous phosphorescent photon particles instantly blasted open the ice wall, but Gray's figure was no longer there. A gigantic ice prison descended from above, enveloping Evergreen.
Immediately after, Gray also appeared inside the ice prison. In the confined space, he took a step, and his fist, encased in an icy gauntlet, was already before Evergreen.
Evergreen was hit squarely, sent flying and crashing heavily against the ice wall.
Evergreen gritted her teeth and got up. She used 'Fairy' magic, specializing in mid-to-long-range combat, and her physical combat was poor. Once a Mage like Gray, who excelled in both physical combat and magic, got close, the consequences would be severe.
The cramped ice prison didn't offer enough space for her to maneuver. Her only way out was to shatter the ice prison.
She no longer cared if it would damage the guild. Evergreen knew that if she lost to Gray, she would no longer be worthy of following Laxus.
"Everything for Laxus!"
"Fairy Bomb!"
With a wave of her feathered fan, large amounts of fairy dust fell onto the ice prison, and under Evergreen's magical control, it was powerfully detonated.
Gray, hiding behind an ice shield, merely smiled at this sight, allowing Evergreen to destroy the arena he had created.
The ice prison shattered to pieces. Just as Evergreen thought she could finally show off her skills, another ice prison, smaller and stronger, appeared from the surrounding cold air and fell over her head.
Evergreen once again used Fairy magic, blasting the new ice prison into smithereens.
However, Gray merely slammed his right fist into his left hand, and an Ice-Make magic circle once again shaped an ice prison.
The two were directly at odds. The 'Fairy' magic, which specialized in sustained output, faced 'Ice-Make,' which also excelled in attrition warfare. It was like a competition between a demolition crew and a construction team, one desperately tearing down, the other vigorously building up.
After the tenth ice prison was shattered, Evergreen, who had been using magic intensely, was already panting, her magic power nearly depleted.
However, the next second, the eleventh ice prison appeared at an extremely fast speed. Seeing this, she broke down.
"Are you sick?! Do you have unlimited magic power?!"
"Sorry, I really don't run out."
Facing the frantic Evergreen, Gray, who had activated his second magic source, merely shrugged, then shaped a monstrously huge ice hammer and walked towards her with a gentle smile on his face.
"Don't be afraid, take a deep breath. Dizziness is normal next..."
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