Chapter 273: I Am a Wizard Saint!
"You're all quite impressive. Strong, beautiful... it will be a pleasure to kill you," Jose said, his smile widening into something grotesque.
"That's just perverted."
"Definitely a pervert."
"Agreed. Total creep."
"I didn't think the Master of Phantom Lord would be this gross."
"It's disgusting."
Ultear and the others didn't hold back, each delivering a scathing comment as they watched Jose's expression twist.
"You bastards! How dare you speak to me like that!"
Jose's smile vanished, replaced by a dark scowl. As the master of the number one guild in the kingdom, no one had ever dared insult him so brazenly.
His magic power erupted uncontrollably. An immense, crushing pressure surged outward, creating shockwaves that blasted in all directions. The floor beneath his feet cracked and shattered, fragments floating into the air.
The entire room began to shake. The Magic Giant itself trembled under the force of Jose's power. Outside, the ocean churned, sending waves crashing against the shore.
"Whoa! Whose disgusting magic is this?"
"It's so strong!"
"I can feel it all the way out here!"
On the ground, guild members stumbled as the earth shook, some getting hit by Shades in the confusion.
"That's Jose's magic. It's impressive," Makarov noted, looking at Noah's Thought Projection beside him. "Are you fighting him?"
"No, he's fighting Ultear and the others."
"What?" Makarov looked alarmed.
"Don't worry, I'm watching. And they aren't weak. Oh, right. Let me show you."
The projection snapped its fingers. A screen of light appeared in the air, showing the battle between Jose and the five women.
Yukino, who was resting nearby to recover her magic, immediately moved closer to see her sister. Wendy, Meredy, and the injured members they were treating all craned their necks to get a look.
"You all want to see? I'll make it bigger."
Noah snapped his fingers again, and the screen expanded, allowing everyone behind to see clearly.
"Hey! Don't just stand there watching TV!"
"Yeah! We're fighting for our lives here! Stop slacking off!"
"Hurry up and recover so you can get back in the fight!"
The members still fighting Shades shouted at the spectators. Wendy, Meredy, and Yukino blushed and ducked their heads, quickly returning their attention to healing. But the resting combatants just waved them off. "We're still resting! We'll join when we're ready!"
"Not only can we see, we can hear them, too."
"Aren't you worried about what's happening inside?"
Noah ignored the chatter. He knew they wouldn't truly slack off when it mattered. He turned to Yukino. "If you want to watch your sister, go ahead. Don't worry about anything else."
Yukino hesitated, but her concern for Sorano won out. She looked up at the screen. Wendy and the others snuck glances as well.
The area around the screen quieted down, the only sounds coming from the battle broadcast. Everyone listened intently.
"Jose's getting serious! Be careful!" Ultear warned, slamming her fist into her palm and crouching, ready to cast Ice-Make magic.
The others raised their guards, preparing for Jose's assault.
"You've likely never witnessed power like this before. Consider it an honor to die by it," Jose said, not attacking immediately. His confidence was absolute; he believed their defeat was inevitable.
Ultear and the others were happy to talk; it gave them precious seconds to recover their stamina.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Sorano said without hesitation. "Our Master holds the same title as you. If you have this kind of power, so does he."
"Makarov? Yes, he possesses such power," Jose sneered. "But he is old. I am younger, and my strength has grown significantly since six years ago. The current Makarov is no match for me."
"Confidence is good, but overconfidence is dangerous," Mirajane said, shaking her head. "Even excluding the Master, our guild has at least three people as strong as you, maybe stronger."
"Impossible! Are you dreaming? Besides Makarov, Fairy Tail has three people equal to or stronger than me?" Jose scoffed. The idea was laughable. He was a Wizard Saint, one of the ten strongest mages on the continent. For one guild to have one was rare. To claim they had three more was delusional.
"Now I understand what Noah meant when he said ignorance breeds arrogance," Erza said, shaking her head in pity. "Here is a perfect example."
"Indeed. I'm glad I've seen more of the world, so I won't end up like him," Cana agreed. Having traveled with her father, Gildarts, Jose's boasting seemed comical.
"Heh. Has my power frightened you into speaking nonsense?" Jose's eyes were cold, his smile cruel. "Don't worry. Soon, you won't be afraid anymore. I'll kill you all, and your fear will end."
"We might not be on their level yet, but don't think we'll be easy prey," Ultear said seriously.
Magic began to rise from her body, cold mist spreading out and freezing the ground beneath her.
Erza and the others followed suit, gathering their magic. The floor cracked and shattered under the pressure, debris floating into the air. Shockwaves radiated from them, colliding with the waves of force emanating from Jose.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The sound of colliding magic was deafening. Individually, they were weaker than Jose, but together, their combined pressure rivaled his. They were still at a disadvantage, but they weren't being crushed. They could fight.
Seeing this, Jose's expression twisted further.
"I didn't expect you to possess such power. That just makes it all the more necessary to kill you now."
Looking at their young faces, and remembering the intel on their ages, Jose's killing intent spiked. The oldest among them wasn't even 20. To have this much power so young... he couldn't imagine what they would become in a few years. He had to destroy them now. Attacking Fairy Tail had been the right choice.
Feeling his murderous intent, Ultear and the others sharpened their focus, locking eyes with him. The battle was about to erupt.
Natsu's group didn't stop running after bursting out of the room.
"This way!" Natsu led the charge, with Gray and Elfman close behind.
They heard the sounds of battle erupting behind them but didn't look back. That fight belonged to Ultear's team. Their job was to defeat the Iron Dragon and the rest of Phantom Lord, as ordered. If they finished early, they could go back and help.
They ran down a long corridor and reached a door.
BANG!
Natsu kicked it open without hesitation.
Gray, right behind him, saw Gajeel walk out from another door inside the room, wearing his usual arrogant grin.
"That's the Iron Dragon? Looks cocky. Not manly at all," Elfman commented.
"The Iron Dragon is mine. The rest of the Phantom members are over there, I can smell a lot of them gathered together," Natsu said, pointing down another hall.
"Fine. He's all yours. Don't lose," Gray said.
"Of course not. You guys neither," Natsu replied without turning around.
Gray and Elfman turned and ran in the direction Natsu had pointed. Natsu stepped into the room. Happy followed but stayed by the door, ready to watch.
"Just as I thought... I smelled you coming, Fire Dragon."
"Iron Dragon!"
Natsu's body erupted in flames, the heat sending waves of distorted air in all directions.
"Gi hi hi! Let's see which dragon is stronger!" Gajeel laughed, kicking off the ground and charging at Natsu.
"Bring it!"
Natsu retracted his flames, leaned forward, and launched himself at Gajeel.
"Iron Dragon's Club!"
Gajeel opened with his signature move, his arm transforming into a long iron pillar as he thrust it toward Natsu.
~~~
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